Wichita State University Archives

Sep

Rethinking the city and the community for a post-pandemic world

How has the pandemic affected cities in general and Wichita specifically, and what are implications for the future? Recently Chase M. Billingham, who is Associate Professor of Sociology at Wichita State University, delivered an online lecture titled "Rethinking the city and the community for a post-pandemic world." In the lecture, Billingham covered topics such as the nature of cities and urbanism; how the pandemic has affected cities; how cities have suffered during pandemics throughout modern history, but have also led in innovation, medicine, and research.; COVID-19 will likely accelerate ongoing trends, especially economic trends; the effect of remote working on…

Jul

By Bob Weeks

Project Wichita survey

The Project Wichita survey is about to end. Will it have collected useful data? Project Wichita is "a community engagement process to identify the future we want for our home and the steps necessary to achieve it." [1. Project Wichita. Available at https://www.projectwichita.org/.] So far it has held focus groups that collected ideas for the future of Wichita, in which "an astounding 3,800+ people [2. With the population of the city of Wichita at about 388,000, (U.S. Census Bureau. 2012-2016 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates), nearly one percent participated.] shared their vision in 239+ focus groups," according to the project's…

Jun

By Bob Weeks

Wichita State University controversy continues

A full-page advertisement critical of the leadership of Wichita State University, from "Advocates for Integrity, Transparency and Accountability," appearing in the Wichita Eagle, Sunday June 3, 2018. For the advertisement as it appeared in the newspaper, click here. This is part of a continuing series of advertisements debating the course of Wichita State University. For previous ads, see: Wichita State University thinking innovatively, says ad Wichita State University degraded, says ad. PAID POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY, IT’S TIME TO LIFT THE SHADE A growing number of alumni, faculty, staff and citizens are concerned about decisions being made at Wichita…

May

By Bob Weeks

Wichita in ‘Best Cities for Jobs 2018’

Wichita continues to decline in economic vitality, compared to other areas. NewGeography.com is a joint venture of Joel Kotkin and Praxis Strategy Group. Its annual "Best Cities for Jobs" project ranks metropolitan areas according to growth in employment. Of 422 metropolitan areas considered, Wichita ranked 383, dropping 28 spots since the previous year. Among 100 medium size metropolitan areas, Wichita ranked 93, dropping 5 spots from the previous year. NewGeography.com uses employment data from the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics from November 2006 to January 2018. [2. "The methodology for our 2018 ranking largely corresponds to that used in…

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Wichita State University thinking innovatively, says ad

A full-page advertisement defending the leadership of Wichita State University, from “Friends of the University,” appearing in the Wichita Eagle, Sunday April 22, 2018. For the advertisement as it appeared in the newspaper, click here. For the advertisement from the week before, which criticized the university leadership, click on Wichita State University degraded, says ad. INNOVATIVE THINKING FOR TODAY’S REALITIES IN HIGHER EDUCATION The playing field of higher education is rapidly changing. The models of the 1970s, or even 1990s, are no longer applicable. With state public funding now paying only about 35% of total educational costs, roughly half of…

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Wichita State University degraded, says ad

A full-page advertisement critical of the leadership of Wichita State University, from "Friends of the University," appearing in the Wichita Eagle, Sunday April 15, 2018. For the advertisement as it appeared in the newspaper, click here. WHOSE UNIVERSITY IS IT ANYWAY? As Kansans and taxpayers, we protest the degradation of our public democratic institution, Wichita State University. The current university leaders have eroded the bedrock policies and values upon which the university was founded. Some examples: With their intimidations and threats to underfund The Sunflower, the student newspaper, they have assaulted freedom of the press With the creation of the…

Project Wichita right to look ahead at city’s future

Apr

By Bob Weeks

Project Wichita right to look ahead at city’s future

We can understand self-serving politicians and bureaucrats. It's what they do. But a city's newspaper editorial board ought to be concerned with the truth. In February the Wichita Eagle editorialized about Project Wichita, a ramping-up effort to do something about the future of Wichita. [1. Wichita Eagle Editorial Board. Project Wichita right to look ahead at city’s future. Available at http://www.kansas.com/opinion/editorials/article198178899.html.] It's worthwhile to take a look at the op-ed, if only to learn something about the quality of Wichita Eagle editorial writing. I understand civic boosterism; the desire to paint a positive image of the future. But this rosy…

WichitaLiberty.TV: WATC and WSU Tech President Sheree Utash

Jan

By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: WATC and WSU Tech President Sheree Utash

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Wichita Area Technical College (WATC) has formed an affiliation with Wichita State University, to be called the Wichita State University Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, or WSU Tech. Sheree Utash, president of WATC and future president of WSU Tech, joins Karl Peterjohn to discuss these institutions. (Bob should be back next week.) View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 181, broadcast January 27, 2018. Shownotes Announcement: It’s official: WATC will become the WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology WATC website

Downtown Wichita report omits formerly prominent data

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Downtown Wichita report omits formerly prominent data

The new State of Downtown Wichita report for 2017 is missing something. What is it, and why is it missing? Recently the Wichita Business Journal reported: When you're Jeff Fluhr, you don't spend much time in park -- it's usually full speed ahead. It was no different when a couple of members of the Wichita Business Journal's newsroom visited with the president of Downtown Wichita and the Greater Wichita Partnership in early October. On this day, Fluhr was excited to pass out copies of the 42-page 2017 "State of Downtown" report, which had just been released. [1. Horwath, Brian. Downtown…