Shockers everywhere, at events long ago or happenings just the other day, always have something interesting to say. Take this sampling as a Shock Talk example:
“We should foster excellence in our universities, not cradle mediocrity.”
— Garrett Scott, Sunflower columnist, in his Sept. 3 commentary on Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson’s call to the Board of Regents for a strategic plan to improve the national rankings of the state’s institutions of higher education.
“On Tuesday night I could not sleep. Why? Because I knew what was going to happen the next day. One hundred forty students, one hundred and forty minds that were going to help me improve my mind. I was so excited.”
— Ravi Pendse ’85/94, Wichita State’s chief information officer, associate provost, interim dean of university libraries and professor, as quoted in the Wichita Eagle about the start of the new academic year.
“I’m a Midwest guy and Wichita State presents a great opportunity.”
— Wade Robinson, vice president of WSU's division for Campus Life and University Relations, about his new position. Robinson started at WSU on July 27, after 15 years at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, where he was associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs. At WSU, he oversees student life, enrollment services, the Rhatigan Student Center, TRIO/GEARUP programs and university relations. He also serves as the university’s liaison to the alumni association.
“Fairmount car carrying 100 nightshirters, celebrating Alva game, leaves the straight and narrow for a grocery store. (No, aunty, the naughty rah! rah! boys did not wreck the car; the motorman took the curve too fast.)”
— The Oct. 20 Fairmount College calendar entry in the 1912 Parnassus.
Our beloved WuShock often frequents the pages of The Shocker. As usual, Wu is quite at home in this issue — but there is a mascot trespasser, as well: that pesky bear that belongs to Missouri State University. Why would we allow such a travesty?
To celebrate the return of homecoming. That’s right. Members and staff of the alumni association — along with members of Shockers Forever, the student alumni organization — have started planning for homecoming festivities that will center around the Shocker men’s basketball home game against Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State) in February. Homecoming 2010 is slated for Feb. 12-14.
In addition to homecoming proper, the alumni association will be hosting special Shocker basketball watch parties at Fox and Hound Pub & Grille in Wichita — watch parties that will help build to a homecoming crescendo.
And we here at The Shocker are asking you to start thinking “Homecoming 2010” by searching for all the Missouri State Bears hidden in selected sections of this issue. They might be anywhere, some bigger than others. Bear season is officially open.
Happy hunting!
