1. Sports | The Lady Blues soccer team was the most successful fall team at Washburn this semester. Finishing 15-1-6 this season in the NCAA Regional finals marked the first time this team took the MIAA title. It’s also important to note the team has only existed for four seasons. Tim Collins, head coach, has been a great leader when it comes to recruiting and retaining people on the team, as there were 10 seniors who were recently honored on Senior Day. Three of those seniors – Jenna Hatlestad, Meagan Horvath and Lauren Schwindt – and one sophomore, Jessica Mainz, were also honored on the 2006 NCAA Division II National Soccer Coaches Association/Adidas All-Central Regional first team. We can tell the Lady Blues have a very bright future ahead of them. Search keyword on Web: soccer team

2. WSGA | The Washburn Student Government Association passed a $12 increase for the student activity fee. While the Board of Regents will still need to pass it at its next meeting, it’s a great first step to improving student life at Washburn. The Campus Activities Board has been in desperate need of an increase to fund more well-known acts in order to attract more people to events. Student Publications is also in need of more funding, as printing costs have skyrocketed the last three years. Overall, this will help WSGA build new programs like the USAToday Readership program, free printing at the library and investing in an on-campus coffee house. Search keyword on Web: activity fee

3. Money | A $2 million donation here, a $1 million donation there – could this semester have gotten any better in donations to the university? With a total of $5 million in large donations this semester already, it’s looking to be a record-setting year for the Washburn Endowment Association. This organization is becoming integral to the future of the university by helping to raise money for projects like Stoffer Science Hall and the new Strength and Conditioning Facility. While it’s important to thank the WEA for its efforts, it’s important to also thank the philanthropists. It’s good to know Topeka is committed to Washburn, and we can tell that through the $2 million donation from Capital Federal bank and a large donation from Security Benefit. Geneva Seybold and Ron Richey are also people we can model ourselves after when it comes to giving money. Both are giving generously when it comes to scholarship money for students and, through that, advancing education for all Washburn students. Search keyword on Web: alumni

4. Classroom debates | No matter what side you were on in the debate about whether or not professors are bound to lecturing every day in class, it was a good educational debate to be had. Loran Smith, a professor in the political science department, decided to go on “strike” in order to encourage more discussion in the classroom. Professors face this problem every year, but many students still think being interactive in a classroom doesn’t have any benefit. Not all students are doing this though – we think it’s great two students, Lisa Sieger and Steve Guinn, found one of their books they were using in their American Ethnic Fiction class was plagiarized. They are going beyond the classroom and exploring things that are unassigned – even things the professor didn’t catch – and that is truly how education happens. Issue Archives on Web: Sept. 18, Oct. 16

5. Entertainment | The Mulvane Art Museum opening in September shows the significance of art on this campus. Having the new art building is great, but having a place to show off student and faculty work is also essential. Central to the museum is also the new art lab that will concentrate on art education, especially for children. The renovated building allows for more space to show more of the permanent collection as well as allowing for more special exhibits. It’s a historical building on campus, and it’s good that we invested some money in it so that it can continue to thrive as an arts center in Topeka. Issue Archives on Web: Sept. 18