Bardo response to student protest Bardo response to student protest

Yesterday (Tuesday, March 14) about 40 students staged a sit-in outside Wichita State President John Bardo's office in Morrison Hall. They brought a list of concerns and discussed many of them with members of the president's executive team. Below is a statement that was sent to students, faculty and staff this morning (Wednesday, March 15).

President John Bardo statement:

Thanks to the students who developed a meaningful list of concerns and brought them to my office Tuesday afternoon (March 14). I'm sorry I wasn't on campus, but I'm glad that three members of the executive team, Tony Vizzini, Lou Heldman and David Moses, were available to hear the students who have come together as We the Students.

I'm traveling the next two weeks for Kansas Board of Regents meetings, the Shockers' tournament appearance in Indianapolis, spring break and Washington meetings.

When I'm back on campus at the end of the month I'll work through the list of concerns with my team. Then we'll schedule a meeting in the first half of April with representatives of We the Students and other interested groups.

While I'm gone, I'm encouraging Teri Hall, vice president for student affairs, and Marche Fleming-Randle, president's assistant for diversity, and others to continue the dialogue with concerned students.

Change is always difficult and I appreciate that all of us who love Wichita State may have different ideas about the best ways to position our university for future success. I look forward to discussing this further.
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Contact: Joe Kleinsasser, director of News and Media Relations, 316-978-3013, cell 316-204-8266 or joe.kleinsasser@wichita.edu.