Kudos to local state lawmakers for obtaining $4.75 million in state funding for Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research. The money is a wise investment in a program with a proven economic development track record. Every dollar the state has invested in the institute’s research has leveraged $11.60 in federal and industry investment, according to the university. As Rep. Jason Watkins, R-Wichita, noted, “It directly leads to jobs.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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15 Comments
Now isn’t this a much better and more proven investment than a downtown arena? Other areas for research might benefit, and benefit us in the process. A world-class genetics lab or an ecology school or artist/ architectural apprenticeship program could bring in dollars and improve the quality of life here much better than some third-string football team.
Jed you are right in one respect. Any money spent on research and developing students for the real world of being gainfully employed is money well spent.
Being a huge sports fan I can only say that having a first class football program will get more of the community involved at WSU much as has basketball and baseball when it was a national player.
Football!?
Again??
Let the rich sobs who want to get drunk and cheer themselves hoarse on Saturday pony up the money if they want a team so bad.
Oh, wait, rich people stay rich by spending other people’s money, not theirs.
My bad.
My old proposal for how to resurrect football at WSU. I invite all boosters to feel free to use it:
Football at Wichita State?
Proponents of bringing big-time football to Wichita State University have been pressing their case lately. However, their advocacy of this action lacks a plan to make this happen. I would like to propose a concrete action plan to bring football to WSU:
1. Hold a mammoth rally at Cessna Stadium to demonstrate community support for the effort. Proponents of a big-time football program should expect tens of thousands of fans to attend the rally. At that rally collect money that would serve to begin the establishment of an endowment fund for the football program.2. Place the funds collected into a secure account to serve as the base for further fund raising. The University can provide information to the football advocates as to the level of revenues required to establish the program.3. Continue fund-raising until enough money has been raised to cover the costs both of renovating Cessna Stadium and of building a football program.4. When sufficient funds have been collected; turn the account over to University officials so that they can establish the program.
If, in fact, there is sufficient support in the community for a viable football program at WSU the proponents of such a program should have no difficulty in raising this money. If successful, this fund-raising will demonstrate that support.
Go for it!
Be sure to raise enough money at the rally to fund the additional scholarships needed to comply with Title IX as well, as well as the costs associated with starting new women’s athletic programs to ensure their opportunity to compete athletically.
Yep …
WSU will have a Division 1 football program is my life’s goal.
Football is a community growth event, the gathering people are civic greatness. Combined voices make much noise, heart of the community is heard.
Everyone needs a Saturday and they cheer for something!
WSU football and Cessna Stadium have no correlation. That path is broken forever.
I don’t see any large group in Cessna Stadium ever, cheering the idea of WSU football.
Maybe in Koch.
Maybe if concerts are thrown that could fill Cessna Stadium.
Never just for that event. There is no turning funds over to WSU, their decisions to make alone.
WSU administration will be at meetings and gain financial partners.
County, City, investors, will help WSU “pay” for Division 1 football, build a new stadium and practice facilities.
Boosters and fans of WSU can pay any amount to the college for general scholarships. Increased WOMEN and Mens scholarships will happen.
People can get tax breaks donating to WSU for scholarships and money to the campus maintenance funds.
Growth of WSU, more scholarships, students, degrees offered is the goal.
Wichita will be improved with a new stadium for WSU football and other events possible.
Football CAN be brought to Cessna Stadium; it can be done in 2007. Friday nights – select City League games. Saturday – select Chisolm Trail games (especially ‘cross-district).
Pick the first few before the season begins; then select games that loom large in regard to standings. Make it an honor to the teams to be chosen for the shawcase games.
Ben,
Cessna stadium does have high school football games, city league and maybe county schools. The problem, they have to pay WSU to play on that field.
It’s the only field the high schools do have to pay. Over the seasons for years, that adds up.
WSU future college football and Cessna Stadium have nothing in common. The idea is bigger than what Cessna Stadium can do as a sports facility.
Cessna Stadium will always have the track. New Stadium for WSU football won’t.
Mrage – I am dealing with the present reality. Not some future “maybe”
Gee, I was hoping to get people going on funding something useful here, not start a discussion on how to get football!
Jed,
You asked for;”artist/ architectural apprenticeship program”
Why not Wichita create a company like HOK or Ellerbe-Becket, design companies like well known stadium and arena designers. Students from WSU going to intern for awhile in Kansas City.
All the other buildings created nearby stadiums and arena’s for better streetscape.
Artists draw much of design plans so people can see what could be constructed.
Can a local design company create a great stadium or not?
Put the teaching in classes to local projects.
Football is a sport, but much has to be architecturally designed and constructed. Artists conceptual drawings are important.
The educational improvements you want can be in partnership with WSU football projects.
You can rally people at any time to increase funding for educational improvements at WSU.
Maybe football players will take those classes and do well. Maybe the women who got new scholarships from the football process, take those classes.
A genetic scientist on the way to medical school could be a former WSU football player.
Many college football players don’t play in the NFL.
Some of you people spend other people’s money quite cavalierly.
I wonder why Rep. Watkins actually voted against funding this program if he said it “directly leads to jobs”. I knew there were a lot of anti-tax Republicans in Kansas, but I never knew there was an anti-job contingent in the party. I guess no-wage solves the problem of low-wage.
Joshua – Maybe Rep. Watkins voted against the entire spending measure because it was bloated and was the 2nd largest increase in KS history. Your attempt to distort his record is an interesting attempt at spin. I would suggest you include his individual votes on NIAR – 100% yes for funding that program. That’s not something that any Sedgwick County Democrat can say. Every one of them has a recorded vote against it! Your assertion that there is an anti-job contingent in the GOP is weak and in-valid. Try backing up your statements with some facts. Here are some facts for you: Republicans pushed through major tax breaks for business in an effort to create jobs. Sedgwick County Democrats fought to eliminate tax breaks and increase business taxes. Republicans reduced work comp rates. Democrats fought to increase work comp rates. Try taking a look at the ratings for legislators from Kansas businesses. Sedgwick County Republicans all get extremely high marks. Democrats, well, not so good. I guess we should trust the opinions of the people actually creating the jobs and not some guy posting propaganda on a blog somewhere.
Following your line of reasoning I guess I should reason that most Sedgwick County Democrats like abortions because they vote against abortion restrictions. I should reason that they like voter fraud because they voted against voter I.D. I should reason that they ignore federal and state law and favor illegals. Oh, and finally, I should then reason that every person who voted for the final funding bill loves out of control deficit spending that can’t be sustained without raising taxes, and therefore they love tax increases.
Yep, I think I have it. Your reasoning is faulty and if I were to follow your line of reasoning, well…