A whirlwind of a week!

Broadcasting legend Cokie Roberts visited Wichita State University as part of her national author's tour, and generously gave her time to several campus events, including a speech Wednesday night, a "Conversation With the Provost" Thursday morning and about an hour on the air during KMUW-FM's spring pledge drive. Cokie, promoting her updated best-seller "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters," has plenty to say about the changing roles of women, the expectations of men, the current state of politics and business, and much more. It will be a challenge to package the video footage we collected into just an hourlong show, but it's a good challenge to have. Several people have stopped me to ask when they could see "Wichita State & The World's" Cokie episode — look for it in May. (And check back for updates!)


Thursday night, local TV icon Anita Cochran hosted an in-studio Tweetup for her Twitter pals during the 10 o'clock news. Tonight is her final broadcast for KSN, Ch. 3, and though Wichita viewers will miss her terribly, I couldn't be happier for her. She decided a few months ago to invest more time in her family life, specifically her tween-age daughters. I may be biased; I made a similar move in 2007. Anita won't languish at home with daytime TV and bonbons (for those of you who cling to stereotypes!); she has some exciting projects in the works.

Oletha recognized as a leader

Congratulations to Kansas Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau of Wichita's 29th District — she is among the 40 members of the 2009 Leadership Kansas class, the Kansas Chamber announced today.
I worked with Oletha on her campaign last fall, and it is a testament to her commitment to the community and her work as a state representative that she earned 70 percent of the vote in the general election. It was a historic moment: She is the first African American woman chosen by voters to serve in our state Senate.

It is fitting that she's been selected for Leadership Kansas, a program that works to develop and motivate future leaders in Kansas. More than 500 people are nominated each year. The 40 who are chosen participate in training sessions in six Kansas communities over the course of the year. Discussion topics include business, education, agriculture, public policy, societal health and development, economics and government.

Way to go, Oletha!

A victory for Wichita

So satisfying to see Wichita City Council candidate Janet Miller elected Tuesday. She is going to do a great job representing District 6 (a wedge that starts downtown and runs along I-135 on the east and the Big Ditch on the west). Integrity isn't just a campaign buzzword when it comes to Janet; it's central to her character.

I served as her campaign media coordinator, which meant working on everything from postcards to TV ads to Web site content. Greg Sullivan of Sullivan Gang Graphics did an outstanding job on her "visual message" (everything from developing her logo to designs for mailers and the Web site) and offering gentle counsel — he's worked on countless local and state campaigns.

And the volunteer organization was awesome. I especially admire those who gave up their weekends to walk neighborhoods in the wind, rain, cold (13 degrees one day!) A severe ankle injury kept me from joining them, but I'm not sure I would have made it that day even if I had been whole!

After 26 years in a newsroom, where professional ethics prevented me from taking an active role in a political campaign, it is so good to be able to do more to ensure that voters get a clear view of the best candidate in a race.

Changing things for the better: Dr. P

I'm so happy with how the new episode of "Wichita State & The World" turned out. This month, Provost Gary Miller talks with WSU Professor Ken Pitetti — one of my favorite people on campus.

Ken is one of those rare human dynamos who manages to inspire everyone he comes into contact with — without wearing them out. His generous spirit means he is as giving to aspiring nurses and medtechs in the classroom as he is to autistic kids and his fellow amputee veterans in the research environment. His personal story — of, yes, tragedy and triumph — has led him on a winding but fascinating career path.


I first "met" Ken through my husband, WSU Associate Professor Dan Close, in 1991. Dan had interviewed Ken for a magazine profile and came home mightily impressed with his ground-breaking work, his character, his innate curiosity, his humor and grit.

I've never taken a course from Ken — maybe one day! — but I've learned a lot from him.

I hope you'll check out the show. This episode debuts at 8 p.m. Thursday, April 9, with repeats at 7 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 8 p.m. Thursday, April 23
and 7 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

For more info and links, go to www.wichita.edu/provost and scroll down to the center of the page.

Next stop, Wichita . . .

Cokie Roberts — award-winning broadcaster, best-selling author — is coming this month to Wichita State University for two days of appearances, and folks are going wild. Her campus visit is part author's tour (an updated version of her book "We Are Our Mothers' Daughters" has just been released) and part fund raiser for public radio station KMUW.

The moment tickets were made available to her public appearances, the organizers were overwhelmed with requests.

I'm happy to be part of the team that's documenting her visit, including her "Conversation With Provost Gary Miller" before an audience of primarily students and faculty. Those who don't have the chance to attend the WSU events will have a chance to see her in May via "Wichita State & The World" on WSU-TV, Cox cable Ch. 13.

Telltale numbers

As we approach the 10th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, you will no doubt be confronted with lots of "where are we now" stories. Consider these results from a new survey of K-12 teachers:

— 2 in 5 teachers have faced verbal or physical aggression from a student's parent or guardian.

— 1 in 4 say a pupil has attacked them.

— 1 in 3 teachers in primary schools say they have experienced physical aggression, compared with 1 in 5 in secondary schools.

More evidence that American kids are out of control? No.

This data comes from Britain, where nearly 60 percent of those who took part in the Association of Teachers and Lecturers' survey said they thought student behavior had worsened during the past five years.

Horror stories included 6-year-olds trashing rooms and computers, pulling knives, and attacking teachers and other students.

In contrast, my time last year filling in as an English and history teacher at Wichita's East and North high schools — which many people perceive as "inner-city" environments — was rewarding and low-conflict. Just a thought.