Upon arrival at Wichita State University, a significant number of students settle in on-campus dormitories, but most settle within driving or walking distance around the university. The latest statistics on Wichita State University’s percentage of commuters, or students who live off campus, were 87.5%. 2022-2023 academic year. There are so many events and organizations to get involved with that every student needs to be involved in something. One of the best ways for them to get involved in campus life is by attending sporting events.
Wichita State offers a variety of sporting events, including soccer, baseball, and volleyball, as well as bowling, taekwondo, and disc golf. Mainstream events like basketball and volleyball have NCAA men’s and women’s teams, and underground sports like taekwondo and disc golf have clubs. There’s a huge variety of sports on campus, so you’re sure to find something you like.
Commuters who find a sporting opportunity can join that sport or club, or simply attend a match or event. Either way, this creates a sense of community. Joining a sport or club allows you to make new friends and acquaintances, and learn new hobbies all at once. Or, if you’re attending a game or event, you’ll get to know what the campus community is like. They will see fans cheering for their team and want to join the fans right away.
I’m also a commuter, living in El Dorado, Kansas, 30 minutes from Wichita, and this is my 4th semester. When you come here for your first semester, what to expect when you come to campus, what clubs and organizations will you join, what new people will you meet, what games will you go to see, etc. I did not know. I was interested in watching the men’s basketball team and went to a few games.
By going to the game, I was able to talk about the team with many students and faculty. It would be interesting to hear their opinions from an on-campus perspective. As you attend classes and join different types of organizations and clubs, you will hear different evaluations of sports culture and the impact it has on campus.
I feel like a bit of an outsider because I commute, but that’s okay. I have attended games with friends and it was fun to hear their opinions on the game and how well their team played. What I especially like is how laid-back the team here is. That allows the audience to come find them without over-promoting themselves.
While here, I learned quite a bit about the campus and its sports culture. I am very happy to be attending this university and being able to participate in all of it.