CONTENTS

We're all familiar with the inner rumblings of bowling centers, the thunder of rolling balls across conditioned lanes, the sound of setting pins like deus ex machina — cacophonous to some, cathartic to Lonnie Waliczek ’96.

For 17 days, the world watched 2,526 athletes from 77 countries go for the gold in the 19th Winter Olympics staged in Salt Lake City. Americans were filled with pride as U.S. athletes won 34 medals in 10 of 15 sports, far more than the 20 originally hoped for. The 70,000-80,000 people who daily packed the sport venues for a thrill-packed view included some 18,000 volunteers — and among them were six students from Wichita State University.

The tribal peoples known as the Asmat are influenced, simultaneously, by three interwoven yet distinctly different realms: the spirit world of their recently dead, the sacred world of their omnipresent ancestors and their real, physical world of people, trees, water and mud.

Readers respond to the winter 2001/02 issue of The Shocker.

Shockers everywhere, at events long ago to happenings just the other day, always have something interesting to say. Take this sampling as a Shock Talk example:

By Chris Shank '69, WSU Alumni Association president

By Brad S. Beets '87, WSU Alumni Association executive director

Wichita State honors alumni and faculty at annual awards banquet.

Members of the WSU Alumni Bands Club return to campus to rock the roundhouse by playing with the current student pep band during the Jan. 22 Shocker men's basketball game.

From a revamped MBA degree to "beyond baby talk," check out what's going at Wichita State this spring.

This June, Walter Myers, College of Fine Arts dean, retires after 39 years with WSU, 24 of them as a faculty member and 15 as an administrator. One of the first things he and his wife, Kaye, plan on doing after his retirement is visiting his sister in South Africa.

The afternoon of Feb. 22, WSU’s George Washington Bicentennial Memorial Bridge, located just south of Levitt Arena, received its inaugural dedication. This fact may strike some people as odd, since the bridge was constructed in 1932.

A gallery of both literary and visual art, Shock Art showcases works by Wichita State alumni, faculty and students.

David Nordling '96, David Lenhert '97, Ian Goodman '00 and Timothy Wetzel '00, who is shown here during research activities at NASA this past fall, have all experienced the adventures of microgravity, thanks to Wichita State 's strong relationship with NASA.

The Wichita State University Alumni Association continues its membership promotion "We Are Wichita State" campaign with Ronda Hamilton and Joe Palacioz.

Shocker baseball is off to a blazing start this season.

Men's and women's basketball players gain recognition in The Valley.

Doug Mirabelli, Deana (Alexander) Torgerson, Mornay Annandale and Bob Hodgson are inducted into the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame.

Check out the latest news in Shocker sports for spring 2002.

Rowena Ahlberg, 1916-2002

Margaret Glades, Wendell Carter and these other university graduates and friends leave lasting legacies.

Jedd Beaudoin '01 writes about his experiences in Poland.

Marilynn Ault '60 retires from her position as director of the YWCA's BBattered Women Task Force.

Albert Goldbarth wins a second National Book Critics Circle Award for poetry.

Bill Gardner '81/83 owns Gardner Design in Wichita.

Check out this spring's mix of eclectic Shocker news, with original illustrations by Wade Hampton.