Wichita State University students narrowly defeated the Shock the Future referendum to fund academic facilities improvements by 107 votes.

Students voted online Monday through Wednesday. The certified voting results from the web-based program Simply Voting were opened after voting ended at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday, March 6) by Director of Student Involvement Nancy Loosle. Loosle was accompanied by several administrators and students including Student Government President Shelby Rowell, SGA Interim Vice President Matt Madden and SGA Treasurer Stella Yang.

Loosle said 3,469 students, or 28.4 percent of those who pay student fees and are degree seeking, voted. The final tally was 1,681 (48.5 percent) for the referendum and 1,788 (51.5 percent) against.

“We’re thrilled that so many students came out to vote in this referendum,” said Teri Hall, vice president for Student Affairs.

In comparison, 12.3 percent of students voted in the 2018 Student Government Association election.

The next step will be to seek alternative student funding for the new business school building, which already is about 60 percent funded through donor gifts.

The overall package of proposed Shock the Future improvements will be reassessed.

“These are changes that our campus needs, and we’ll continue to look for ways to make them happen in the future,” said Acting President Richard Muma.