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Water Tower

March 2023

Greetings Shocker families,

We are off to an exciting spring semester, and Commencement will be here before we know it. The campus is alive and active, despite the cold weather outside. As students prepare for midterms and spring break, I want to draw your attention to the rapid increase of fentanyl-laced drugs we are seeing in the Wichita and campus community. Student Health Services is working closely with University Housing to educate students on the risk of fentanyl-laced drugs, as well as how to recognize the signs of opioid overdose.

If a student suspects a friend or peer is experiencing an opioid overdose, they should call 911 immediately. It is important that students stay with an individual experiencing signs of an overdose until emergency responders arrive. WSU’s policy 8.05 handbook section 7 on Amnesty Through Responsible Action ensures that neither the student experiencing an overdose nor the friend who called on behalf of someone else receives disciplinary actions, sanctions, or citations. 

If you are concerned about a student’s drug use, Care Team can help. You can file a concern at www.wichita.edu/care to get connected with campus and community resources. Integrating this life saving measure into student spaces demonstrates our commitment to creating a culture of care.

Thank you for your ongoing support and here’s to a successful spring semester! 

Alicia A. Martinez Newell
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs