Faculty hold closed forum on salary issues
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Michelle Oltman
Staff Writer
Faculty Award presented at Convocation
With summer around the corner, freedom
and fun aren’t the only things on students’
minds. There also will be plenty of fam-
ily time as students head home for the
summer. For members of HateBusters,
however, reunion times mean more than
picnic foods and multi-generational photos. HateBusters, an orga-
nization devoted to fighting bigotry and ignorance, will celebrate
its annual Human Family Reunion April 24 on campus. On Page
5, find out which members of this “family” will be honored for their
commitment to eradicating hate.
HateBusters sponsors Human Family Reunion, Page 5
Fighting Fear
While William Jewell College
students are used to hearing about
supernatural experiences on cam-
pus—such as meetings with Mona
the ghost in Brown Hall—one
College first-year makes his own
magic happen. Jason Steenstry, an
amateur magician, competed at a
regional magic show recently, prov-
ing his talents go beyond entertaining first-year men in Eaton
Hall. On Page 6, discover some of the many tricks Steenstr y
has hidden up his sleeve.
College magician competes at regional show, Page 6
Talented Trickster
Phi Gamma Delta begins disciplinary process, Page 6
Party Foul
After controversy follow-
ing an on-campus party
sponsored by Phi Gamma
Delta, the William Jewell
chapter of the fraternity
has begun the disciplinary
process. The party, which
occurred during FIJI Is-
land three weeks ago,
caused many members of the College community to question
the f raternity’s decisions. On Page 6, read about the members’
early disciplinary discussions and how the fraternity hopes to
move beyond the incident.
On the Inside
Friday, April 20, 2007
Volume 21 Issue 24
www.thehilltopmonitor.com
After defeating eight teams at their home
meet, the William Jewell College men’s
and women’s track teams are gearing up
for their final competitions of the semester.
The team already has a number of national
qualifiers, and numerous individuals and
relay teams are hoping to qualify for the
national tournament in California at upcoming
meets. On Page 8, learn which team members already are
preparing to compete for championships and which athletes
hope to join their peers at the national tourney.
Track team looks to set College records, Page 8
Picking up the Pace
Emily Wales
Editor-in-chief
William Jewell College’s Award-Winning Student Newspaper
For some members of William
Jewell College ’s faculty, payment for
faculty contributions is long overdue.
Faculty members met Monday
for a forum devoted to addressing
“resource allocation” issues, which
involves faculty salaries, merit pay and
departmental funds. After opening
the meeting, chairman of Faculty
Council Dr. Gary Armstrong noted
the sensitivity of the topic. Members
briefly discussed the issue of privacy,
and Monitor staff was asked to leave
the forum.
In a later inter view, Armstrong
said that Dr. John Westlie, vice
president for Academic Affairs and
dean of the College, made brief
comments about the importance of
allocation issues. Westlie then left the
room with Dr. David Sallee, president
of the College, and Dr. Anne Dema,
chief of staff to the President, so that
faculty members would be able to
express their concerns openly.
According to Armstrong, a
histor y of disagreement about
salaries and resources led up to
Monday’s discussion. “Increases
this year were—I think—2 percent
across the board, and the increase
across the pool for salaries was even
greater,” Armstrong said, noting
that the inflation index during the
same period was 3.5 percent. As
the College’s administration works
toward completion of the Strategic
Plan, the goal of “competitive
faculty salaries” has resulted in many
questions, according to Armstrong.
“ The administration says ‘ We want
to get more resources for our faculty.
We know there are not enough.’ But
they’re not comfortable committing
to an empirical goal at this point,”
Armstrong said. “ We want to
significantly increase resources. That’s
obvious. If we do that, though, what
will those resources go to—new
faculty, increased salaries, merit pay
or better programming resources?”
Monday’s forum, in Armstrong’s
opinion, was the beginning of a long
discussion. “ We have not had a good
conversation about this discussion as
a College in a long time, and a lot
of frustration has built up,” he said,
noting that this meeting provided a
chance for faculty members to “release
frustrations.”
“As I listened to my colleagues
[Monday], many people were
concerned that there have been years
of faculty raises that are below the
inflation index or don’t happen at all,”
Armstrong said. The second major
complaint that Armstrong observed
was the belief that “a culture of
secrecy has developed about salaries,
contracts and resources.” Although
not all faculty members agree, “some
of my colleagues believe it’s time to
publish salaries,” Armstrong said.
“A few years ago, department
chairs were given data for every
academic department. I’m sure it
provoked some jealousy…but at least
people felt that they knew what other
departments were receiving,” he said.
Armstrong said chairs also received
information about the salaries of
department members. All faculty
members also had more information
about average salaries at the College.
“Contract letters, which include
offers for a particular salary, used to
be given out to faculty members with
a range of what people were earning
at each academic rank. None of that
information is distributed anymore.”
For Armstrong, the solution to
a sense of unnecessary secrecy is
obvious. “It’s possible to fix that now
by going back to what we used to do,”
he said. Although faculty members’
“memories are different” about when
these changes occurred, Armstrong
Stor y continued on Page 4
Colloquium celebrates
undergraduate research
Danielle Mills
Associate Editor
Every year a committee of faculty
members picks an outstanding senior
to receive the Faculty Award. Emily
Wales was named this year’s Faculty
Award recipient last night at Honor’s
Convocation. Wales competed
with an impressive list of five other
finalists: Jenilee Morrison, Erin
Thess, Joel Bryce, Amanda Flanigan
and Elizabeth Hall.
Morrison, an Oxbridge molecular
biology and bioethics major, is excited
to continue to graduate school at
Indiana University after graduation.
She enjoyed the benefits that come
with attending a small college. “ You
get to know your professors. I’ve
gotten a lot of research experience
and they can really help me with
that,” said Morrison.
Thess, a communication and
Spanish major, also will receive
certification in American Humanics.
“My biggest contribution [to the
community] was involvement in the
American Humanics program. It’s a
fairly new program, but in the last few
years, we’ve worked hard to market it
and make it a legitimate program. It’s
been one of the best experiences of
my Jewell career,” she said.
Bryce is an economics and business
major with an emphasis in banking and
finance. Bryce believes the best part
about the College is “the willingness
of professors to take students on and
invite them into outside projects and
build relationships with students.”
Flanigan is a nursing major who
will be working as a registered nurse
at Children’s Mercy after graduation.
“Being involved in Student
Affairs and being an RA [are my
biggest contributions to the Jewell
community]. I feel like it has given
me an opportunity to mentor and
guide students,” said Flanigan.
Hall, a Spanish and education
major, was awarded a Fulbright and
will go to Uruguay for eight months.
“It’s an honor to be selected and go
through the process. The other five
are great people and I’m honored
to be in their company through the
process,” she said.
Wales is a communication, political
science and Spanish major. “For me
the best part had to do with getting
involved in organizations. I think I’ve
had a great academic experience, but
I’ve been most challenged by my work
with the Monitor,” she said.
Finalists for the Faculty Award pose after Convocation. Shown left to right are Amanda Flanigan, Eliz abeth Hall,
Jenilee Morrison, Joel Bryce, Erin Thess and Emily Wales. Wales was this year’s recipient. Kyle Rivas / Hilltop Monitor
Michelle Oltman can be reached at
oltmanm@william.jewell.edu.
Rather than attending classes
yesterday, students and faculty had
the unique opportunity to attend the
seventh annual David Nelson Duke
Undergraduate Colloquium.
“ This is a day to celebrate work
students do campus-wide, not just
department-wide, to allow students
to present their work,” Dr. Maggie
Brewer, assistant professor of physics
and Colloquium committee member,
said. “It allows other students to
know what can be done and what
scholarship is like in those fields.”
Students across academic
disciplines delivered presentations
about individual areas of study. “I
see this day as a celebration of what
students are doing on campus,” Dr.
Ray Owens, professor of psychology
and Colloquium committee co-
chair, said. “Although we are a small
college, we separate into groups of
particular interest. This is a day to
share what we have been doing with
the College community.”
Psychology students exhibited
research in poster displays in the
Union. “I really feel that students
benefit a great deal by knowing a
subject well enough to present it,”
Owens said.
Students also were honored for
individual achievements during
Honors’ Convocation. Academic
departments presented awards to
deserving students.
The David Nelson Duke
Undergraduate Colloquium named
to honor the memor y of the late
Dr. David Nelson Duke, former
member of the William Jewell
College religion department. “ There
was nothing better than to create a
day to celebrate the life of the mind.
That was what David was all about,”
Owens said.
In order to participate in
Colloquium, students were required
to submit applications and abstracts
to be reviewed by the Colloquium
committee. “ We had a couple less
slots this year than last year, but the
presentation quality is going to be
great this year,” Owens said. “People
are doing some exciting things.”
Danielle Mills can be reached at
millse@william.jewell.edu.
pg_0002
The Hilltop Monitor
Friday, April 20, 2007 • Volume 21 • Issue 24
Copyright © 2007. All Rights Reserved
The Hilltop Monitor is published by the students of William Jewell
College, Liberty, Mo. Subscriptions are available for $30.00 per year.
Entered as First Class matter Sept. 27, 1911, in the post office of
Liberty, Mo. 64068, under the act of March 3, 1880. Editorial
comment does not necessarily reflect the views and policies of
the College.
Editorial staff:
Emily Wales, Editor-in-Chief
Danielle Mills, Associate Editor
Vicky Hill, Assignment Editor
Andy Kirk, Entertainment Editor
Erin Thess, Business Manager
Kyle Rivas, Photo Editor
Jennifer McKnight, Distribution Editor
Jonathan Entzminger, Sports Editor
Rebekah Bouas, Copy Editor
Staff writers and photographers:
Ashley Billinger, Lindsey Blundell, Kristina Brase, Amanda Brasher,
Chris Carr, Lacey Crough, Mark Davis, Naphtali Faris, Stephanie
Gonzales, Josh Hastey, Emily Hyder, Amanda Joiner, Amanda
King, Andy Kirk, Jesus Lopez, Joy Mason, Michelle Oltman, Cattie
Price, Ajanta Raman, Aimee Smolczyk, Trisha Stan, Alison Ward,
Nathan Weinert
Contact The Hilltop Monitor
Letters to the editor, story suggestions, ad inquiries, subscription re-
quests, or other correspondence can be sent to the following addresses:
e-mail: monitor@william.jewell.edu
phone: (816) 781-7700, ext. 5426
mail: WJC Box 1016, 500 College Hill, Liberty, MO 64068
website: http://www.thehilltopmonitor.com
SPEAK O
U
T
Emily Wales
Editor-in-Chief
O
pin
ion
HM
2
www.thehilltopmonitor.com
Friday, April 20, 2007
. . . from the staff
Stephanie Gonzales
Staff Writer
B
ursting the Bubble
Danielle Mills
Associate Editor
Second Thoughts
First Place Awards
Editorial writing: Nathan Weinert “Bursting the
Bubble”
In-Depth repor ting: Emily Wales, Nathan Weinert,
Danielle Mills “Nebraska WesSalleean?” and
“Institutions in the Balance”
Sports Writing: Julia Nurse “Age knows no boundaries”
Enter tainment review: Andy Kirk “V for Vendetta”
Second Place Awards
Newswriting: Emily Wales “Sallee to remain at Jewell”
Sports Photography: Kyle Rivas “Shootout”
The Hilltop Monitor was awarded 15 certificates of
merit at the Missouri College Media Association
conference April 14.
This weekend Emily Wales, Dr. Lois Anne Harris and
I traveled to the Missouri College Media Association
conference. Earlier in the semester, Emily and I sent off
a number of Monitor articles, columns, photographs and
cartoons to be judged, and we hoped we would earn at
least one award. At the awards banquet Saturday night,
we received not one, but 15.
Also on Saturday, we had the opportunity to view
displays of entries sent in from across the state, as well
as our own. It was a little bit like a treasure hunt looking
for the pieces of our paper among all the others, and to
remember all the all the time we had spent working on
those issues. And then we found our cartoons, including
one that unfortunately is still true today.
Last year, around the time the FIJIs were in trouble for
illegal items found in their house, we ran a cartoon with
the caption, “Self-governance means never having to say
you’re sorry.” Given the lack of public (Greek) response
to the FIJI’s latest bad call, our observance from last year
is ringing true.
During the fallout caused by the front page Monitor
story, I heard f rom a number of Greeks that something
needed to be done to show explicitly that FIJI actions
were not acceptable to the William Jewell College
community, especially not to the Greek community. Well,
it is three weeks later and nothing has happened. It seems
as though with Greek self-governance– assumed to be
found in the Greek Judicial Council, Panhellenic and
IFC–something should have been done already. Alright
Greeks, whatcha gonna do? If Greek students, or any
student for that matter, are really as appalled by the
situation as they claim to be, there should have been an
immediate response from the community condemning
the actions of the FIJI’s. Instead, it has been three weeks
with no action.
The Greek Judicial system was created to make
needed, official responses to these sorts of issues, making
members of the system accountable for their actions.
Obviously, if the Greek Judicial Council is reluctant
to act formally and publicly, there is not much of an
incentive to abide by the rules. There have been rumors
of actions to be taken by the Greek Judicial Council, but
when will those be announced? These decisions need to
be made publicly so the entire College community can
rest assured that individual Greek organizations that do
not abide by the rules are punished just like any other
student or student organization would be. Anything less
is doing a disservice to members of the College who were
not involved in the latest FIJI situation but must still
contend with the stigma of attending a College where
activities like this take place and students are allowed to
get away with it.
In my three years at Jewell, I’ve seen and heard a
lot about Greek pride. Well, Greeks, it’s time for you
to take pride in your organizations and hold the system
accountable. Self-governance only works if you use it.
Third Place Awards
Investigative reporting: Nathan Weinert “Health
Department official confirms mold, poor air quality in
Marston, Brown”
In-Depth repor ting: Nathan Weinert “College to
pull plug on KWJC”
Page one design: “ Nebraska WesSalleean?”
Spor ts photography: Kyle Rivas “Men’s basketball”
Honorable Mention Awards
Spor ts writing: Julia Nurse “Hornback wins 200th
game”
Regular column: Andy Kirk “ Talk to the Andy”
Feature page design: “Institutions in the Balance”
Editorial/Op-Ed page design
News photography: Kyle Rivas “First-year
enrollment”
I have two weeks left at William Jewell College. Hmm. Weird.
As corny as it sounds, the College really has become my home for the
past two years, and I think that I will be lost for a while after leaving.
I would like to take this time to reflect what Jewell has taught me. Or
rather, what its people have taught me. To clear up any confusion, I
am not graduating, but transferring due to different reasons, mainly
financial ones.
I came here not knowing a single person, but I’m leaving with many
friends, who have been influential because they challenged me to step
out of my comfort zone and seek God. They supported me when I was
going through some rough times and showed me what true community
means. If I happen to be at Je well every weekend next year, this is why.
But my close group of friends are not the only ones who deserve
recognition. With only one exception, I genuinely have felt that all
my professors took a personal interest in my academic success. I am
admittedly not the most responsible student in the world, but several
times, I received grace from professors when I accidently slept through
a quiz or forgot to finish an assignment. However, they also encouraged
me several times to do better and told me that this is what was expected.
It worked into a nice balance, and I began to develop better skills for
learning.
What is also amazing to me is that Jewell’s support staff also cared so
much about me. Countless times I was asked by custodians and cafeteria
staff about my day. Becky Gerken, the cafeteria baker, learned my name
just by reading my card and always strikes up pleasant conversations.
While living in Ely, I was able to spill my problems to and get hugs
from Desi Gray, our custodian. When my car broke down, campus
security and maintenance figured out that my battery cables were loose
and proceeded to tighten them.
As any liberal arts education should do, my time at Je well also gave
me the opportunity to come in contact with people different than me.
Again, I know it’s corny, but this has taught me a lot about myself.
I came to college as a conser vative Christian from Western Kansas.
While I still claim to be a conservative Christian, I now know why I
believe certain things I do, and I am now able to recognize the certain
biases I have because of where I was raised and am able to examine
whether or not those still hold true for me.
So despite recognizing some visible flaws I see on this campus, I
confidently can say that I will reflect on at my time here with good
memories and an appreciation for how the community works together.
Usually, when I get kicked out of something, it’s because
I’ve done something wrong. When I was demoted from
my job as the narrator for Stone Soup in second grade, it
was because I refused to use the script, preferring to make
up my lines. When I was let go from my job as a store
clerk, it was because I gave my boss a piece of my mind
about her (lack of ) parenting skills.
This week, I was booted from the faculty forum on
salaries, and as far as I can tell, this one wasn’t my fault.
When article topics get touchy, it ’s not unusual for
people being interviewed to hesitate to go on the record.
With controversies this year in the Greek system and at
the administrative level, I’ve had more than my fair share
of conversations about what’s okay to print and what’s
personal. You can understand my frustration, then, when
faculty members think their discussions would be better
with me out of the way. (You can put it in nicer terms, but
walking out of the room in front of 70 College faculty
members feels about as comfortable as tripping down the
stairs in the Union. Awkward.)
For the first time this year, I’m openly disappointed
with the quality of a front page news story. Of course,
there are mistakes about which we obsess and stories we
wish we could improve upon, but in general the staff of the
Monitor prides itself on providing fair, accurate coverage
of the news that occurs on campus. I couldn’t help but feel
as though we weren’t given the opportunity to provide
that ser vice to the College community this week because
follow-up inter vie ws and casual descriptions of Monday’s
meeting don’t do this story justice.
Let me provide some background. Monday’s meeting
was intended as a forum for faculty members to discuss
some difficult issues about salaries. With College salary
increases hovering between 0-2 percent in the last five
years and national averages at 4 percent each year, it’s
no surprise people have strong opinions. Despite an
increasingly stable financial position, William Jewell
still is recovering from years of unfortunate investments
and insecurity. We lost the Missouri Baptist cash, had
a tornado and can’t seem to get prospective students
interested in what we offer. Times are tough. But then
again, aren’t they always?
This latest feeling of discontentment isn’t really all that
novel. College faculty members have heard for years that
improvements are coming down the pike, and better times
are around the corner. With limited information coming
to faculty members about how the College currently
allocates funds and will prioritize those commitments
with the Strategic Plan, I’d say our faculty has plenty of
cause for concern. (Disclaimer: Much of this is based
on the minimal information released to students and on
speculation because, as you may now know, I wasn’t at the
meeting Monday.)
I want to make clear, of course, that I do not take
this criticism lightly. I certainly understand that, in
William Jewell’s not-so-distant past, faculty members
had a legitimate fear of repercussions by speaking out
against administration policies. Although I appreciate
their concerns, I believe it’s important to realize there
can be middle ground. Working with the student press
in a productive way can be beneficial to both groups.
My productive and open interview with Dr. Gary
Armstrong, chairman of Faculty Council, was a start,
but we could do better.
Here’s what I wish I had been able to say in my column
this week: I’m backing the faculty. They deserve more
money. They shouldn’t have to wait until the Chronicle
of Higher Education is released to discover what College
employees are earning.
I completely support their efforts for increased
transparency, but I think they should be the first campus
constituency to begin that trend. At some point, faculty
members need to learn to trust College newspaper staff
to be thoughtful in their coverage of delicate issues.
Off the record, many faculty members are more than
willing to throw out suggestions for the newspaper,
particularly when they can benefit from the exposure
of some campus issue. “Cover this” and “Make sure the
administration hears about that” are statements I’ve
heard numerous times during my two years as editor-in-
chief of the Monitor. I’m supportive of faculty members’
rights to discuss these issues in confidence. The problem
of course, is that you can’t have it both ways. You can’t
tell me you need me to take a risk for you and then get
cold feet when the threat of a student reporter is too
great to chance.
It seems almost counterintuitive to write that the
administration has one-upped the faculty in my book this
year. When two other Monitor editors and I were present
at Dr. David Sallee’s interview at Nebraska Wesleyan in
November, Sallee didn’t hesitate to acknowledge that our
presence was justified. Although caught off guard and
obviously concerned with what might appear in print
soon after, Sallee didn’t ask that we leave, and the option
certainly was available to him.
Sallee understood that the short-term risks of having
Monitor staff cover his interview didn’t outweigh the
long-term benefits of open reporting. In my opinion,
that’s a lesson all members of the College community
need to learn.
pg_0003
Perspectives
H
M
3
Volume 21 Issue 24
www.thehilltopmonitor.com
Nathan Weinert is studying in
Hong Kong. He can be reached at
weinertn@william.jewell.edu.
Nathan Weinert
eading the ea eaves
R
T
L
When I was enrolling in classes
before coming to Hong Kong, I
decided to take a Mandarin class
because I thought it would be a
shame if I came to China (Hong
Kong, at least) and didn’t learn
some Chinese (even if it wasn’t
the local dialect). I’d pulled down
good grades in my college foreign
language classes and had convinced
myself that I could do well in
foreign language classes.
Big mistake. I should have
remembered that there’s a reason
that despite taking five different
Spanish classes in high school and
college I’ve never advanced past the
equivalent of Spanish II. I’m not
particularly talented when it comes
to foreign language. Unfortunately,
by the time I remembered this, the
add/drop period had passed and
I was stuck. GPA, I apologize—
again.
Really, there are only a few things
that make Mandarin particularly
difficult, but that’s like saying there
are only a few reasons why Don
Imus should have been fired. The
first, second, third and fourth of
these things is that Mandarin is a
tonal language. In English, the tone
you use on a word rarely matters.
In Mandarin, there are four tones,
and the tone you use can make the
difference between asking “How
much for the dumplings?” and
“How much for the night?”
In other ways, the class resembles
every other foreign language
class I’ve e ver taken. Earlier this
semester we gave a presentation
on what our parents’ occupations
were. The professor gave us a list of
occupations that included president
of a country, senator and party
central committee member (thanks
to a student from Russia years ago
whose father was a member of the
Russian Senate). For the assignment
I was going to tell the class that
my mild-mannered parents were
actually a spy and an astronaut, but
those professions weren’t listed and
I realized I couldn’t keep a straight
face while doing that.
My Mandarin professor is more
than a bit crazy—prim and proper
with a somewhat erratic teaching
style and a grading system that
makes me cringe. She taught the
class how to say “damn it” one
day, but ran into trouble while
tr ying to define that to students
who spoke English as a second or
third language and were
learning Mandarin as yet
another language. The
Americans in the class
were called on to try to
explain what it meant
and quickly discovered
that the easiest way to
define profanity is often
with more profanity.
She participates in tai chi
sword competitions (yet another
example of her secret sadistic side)
and, after winning one, brought
candy for the class. I think it was a
bribe to make up for the fact that
her teaching style makes very little
sense to some (most) of us. Her
approach to the material is less
than systematic, and as our class
is reaching the end of the book
I’ve been amazed at the number
of times I’ve thought “Wow, we
learned this two months ago and it
would have made a lot more sense
to learn that now.”
Our book is home to some of
the worst example dialogues ever.
Particularly amusing was this
dialogue, where a guy uses Chinese
zodiac signs and a rabbit to ask a
girl if she likes him. In deference
to local custom concerning the
ignoring of copyright law (but,
hey, the entire second season of
The Office for $6!), I’m copying the
section verbatim in its entirety:
Li Wenlong: (Giving a bundle of
flowers to Fang Xueqin) Happy
Birthday!
Fang: Thank you!
Li: (Bringing out a rabbit from
behind him) Here you are. A new
friend for you.
Fang: How lovely it is!
Li: What pet do you like best?
Fang: I was born in the year of
rabbit. Of course I like the rabbit
best.
Li: Do you like dragon?
Fang: (Feeling shy) You may ask
the rabbit.
Li: Bunny, do you like dragon?
Listen, it said: “Yes!”
Fang: (Feeling shyer) I didn’t
hear.
Book’s Note: Li Wenlong
chose a rabbit as a birthday present
for Fang Xueqin, because she was
born in the year of rabbit and she
naturally likes the rabbit best. Liu
took this opportunity to ask Fang
whether she liked the dragon. What
he really means is to tr y to find out
whether she likes him, because
he has in his name the character
long, which is a legendar y animal
symbolizing happiness and one
of the 12 zodiac animals.
(China
Panorama, Language and Culture
Press, 2001. p. 193-96.)
My note: HAHAHAHAHA
Our professor explained the
dialogue as being an example of
how Chinese people don’t like to
address things like that directly.
If the nation as a whole is that,
then China is well on its way to
being the most socially awkward
superpower ever, and summits of
Chinese and American leaders will
probably resemble this:
American official: Your country
should allow increased religious
freedom in your country.
Chinese official: (bringing out
rabbit from behind him) Do you
like rabbit?
American official: Uh, what?
Chinese official: Let ’s ask the
rabbit. Bunny, should we allow
increased religious f reedom in our
country? Bunny says no chance,
and we’re going to issue our own
report on American human rights
violations and start militarizing
space.
American official: (leaves table)
If China’s in trouble in the
future, my grade in the class is
in trouble in the present. I’m just
hoping that after this class likely
torpedoes my GPA I can staple
pictures of me at the Great Wall
to my transcript. Maybe grad
schools will find “I visited the
Great Wall—and it snowed!” to be
more compelling than whatever I
manage to earn in Mandarin.
SUMMER HOUSING 2007
Summer housing applications are online: www.jewell.edu. Click on Campus Life - Student Affairs – Resi-
dence Life – Summer Housing to download the summer housing application. Bring completed application to
Student Affairs, office hours are 8 to 5, Monday thru Friday.
Housing for William Jewell students will be provided this summer from Saturday, June 2, 2007
through Sunday, July 29, 2007 in Melrose Hall.
The cost will be $400 per four-week session, payable in advance ( June 1) to the Business Office. A $55.00
room damage deposit will be required and payable at signing of application/contract, in order for you to reserve
a room for the summer. Housing assignments will not be made until your deposit is received. Housing applica-
tions are due by April 20th.
In addition, if you move-in prior to the beginning of summer school ( June 4), the cost
will be pro-rated at $100 for that week.
It is important for you to realize that all residence hall policies remain in effect during
the summer months, and you will be expected to abide by these.
A kitchen facility is available in Melrose; you may furnish your own meals. Dining Services
will not be offering a summer meal plan.
Residence halls will open at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 2, 2007 and must be vacated no
later than 12 p.m. on Sunday, July 29, 2007.
Dear Editor,
This morning I woke up and started my early morning ritual here in
Ireland. This includes getting some breakfast and sitting down to the
computer to check my email and the BBC News website. I was alarmed
to see a headline that shouted something like “Over 30 Dead in Virginia.”
What!? First of all, how did I not hear about this yesterday? I am an ocean
away because I’m studying in Dublin this semester, but this was big news.
After reading a quote about how America has “a histor y of school shootings”
and after seeing a series of gruesome pictures, I utter a few audible sighs and
thought to myself, “Another school shooting? How is this possible?”
I pondered this story on my long walk to college. When I arrived, I talked
to my Irish friends Rob and Aoife about V irginia Tech. The first thing out
of Rob’s mouth was “ Why do they let people own guns in America? I can’t
believe that it’s in your constitution that you can own a gun.” Whoa Rob, I
thought! Couldn’t you express some sympathy for the 33 people that died
before you start judging my country? And then I thought, wait, he has a
really good point.
When I got home from class, I decided to do a little research. I wanted
to see the difference between the crime rate in America and the crime rate
in Ireland. Even though the shooting happened in Virginia, I wanted to
check out KC’s stats, because I figured they might ring more true with Jewell
students. According to Kansas City, MO’s Commission on Violent Crime
Final Report for 2005, there were 127 homicides in Kansas City in 2005,
and 119 of those were carried out by using a firearms (with handguns being
used in the majority of these fatalities). In all of Ireland in 2005, there were a
total of 54 murders. Irish authorities were very troubled because this number
was up 46% f rom the previous year’s 37 murders. For fairness I thought
I should compare population sizes for these two locations. In 2005, there
were an estimated 445,000 people in the KC area. In Ireland, there were
approximately 4,000,000 people in 2005.
If you are like me, you’ll see a huge difference in these numbers. One
hundred and twenty-seven homicides in a city with 445,000 people compared
to 54 homicides in a country with 4 million people? Gun violence seems out
of control in the states! So why is Ireland so different from KC and other
major US cities? It’s simple: they have laws against owning guns. The only
way you can obtain a gun in Ireland is by going through the superintendent
of the Garda (the Irish police) and asking permission. Basically, you will only
ever get a gun if you “deer stalk” (hunt), if you target shoot, or if you live on a
farm and need to shoot off perpetrating wildlife. In fact, not even the Garda
carry guns. How interesting!
So what’s my point with all of this research? Well, I feel that the VTech
incident cannot be separated from other gun crimes in the States. Surely this
“loner” killer did have some mental issues that provoked his behavior, and
there are probably other additional factors that I am forgetting to mention,
but the actual culprit for this series of crimes was a gun, just like it was the
culprit in 119 homicides in KC in 2005. I’m probably going to risk perturbing
my NRA-supporting friends by saying this, but the solution seems simple:
get rid of the weapons that are enabling all of these tragedies. Shouldn’t
we value life more than the right to own a gun? How many more school
shootings like Virginia Tech will the US have to endure before we revoke
or amend the constitutional right to bear arms? When can we get rid of our
reputation as a country with “a history of school shootings?”
Perhaps we should take some hints f rom the Irish. Or at least, we should
listen to their and other European and Asian countries’ perspectives on the
issues of gun control. We need to support VTech at a time like this, but let’s
not miss an opportunity to discuss the root of the problem. I will always be
an American at heart, but I’m with the Irish on this one.
Sarah Ebright
William Jewell junior studying in Dublin, Ireland
April 18, 2007
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor,
Dr. Kauffman’s letter last week proved to be an inspiration. With the
return of the warm weather and sunshine, I was one of many students
who decided to politely ignore the signs and take a break on our beautiful
Quad. I assure you, the group of us were very harmless, simply sitting and
talking, and so you can imagine our annoyance when the sprinklers came
on suddenly and chased us off. We would have chalked up the occurrence
to bad timing, yet surprisingly, once we were back on the dry land of the
sidewalk, the sprinklers immediately turned off. You can imagine our sus-
picion.
So, let this ser ve as a warning to all students: feel welcome to take back
your Quad, but you might want to bring an umbrella.
Katie Adams
CUA presents
Jewellstock
Wednesday, April 25
3:30 p.m. in Browning Bowl
Picnic dinner served
Featuring Black Violin, local bands and
College artists
The recent events at Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State
University have caused concern as
to the state of security at William
Jewell College. Ever y summer the
College’s Crisis Response Plan
is revised. Currently, the plan
outlines procedures for an array of
emergencies, ranging from chemical
threats to tornados to psychological
crisis. “The Crisis Response Plan
creates a basic foundation by which
we respond to crises. It doesn’t
outline every scenario because it’s
impossible to outline every scenario,”
Dr. Rick Winslow, vice president of
Student Affairs and dean of students,
said. Emergencies are subdivided into
minor, major and catastrophic. In the
event of an emergency, a team of first
responders will set up an emergency
center before the president declares a
state of emergency, if necessary.
If this occurs, the College will
begin a notification process. “If we
were to need to communicate a
state of emergency, we would use
every means necessary,” Winslow
said. Some methods could include
e-mail, voicemails, building lock-
downs or utilizing the residential life
staff. William Jewell is looking into
a software program, Microsoft Live,
which would allow the College to
send e-mail via text messages to a
compiled list of cell phones.
A similar process, mainly e-
mail, was used at Virginia Tech
and scrutinized due to the delay in
notifying students. That same delay,
although probably on a smaller scale,
could also be a potential problem for
William Jewell. This is because the
situation would need to be properly
assessed by the president who would
be notified after the first responders
respond to the situation.
Most campus buildings can’t be
locked easily. Security must lock them.
In an emergency similar to Virginia
Tech, that could be a hindrance,
according to Winslow. “ When
de veloping plans, because you can’t
foresee what the scenarios are, you
balance security with buildings being
able to lock. When you’re planning,
you have to balance all possible
scenarios,” Winslow said.
William Jewell security officers,
although not commissioned by the
state like those at public universities,
are certified with pepper spray as well
as firearms, although “the school has
opted ver y intentionally to not carry
firearms,” Winslow said. And if any
situation arises which our security
officers feel they can’t handle alone,
the Liberty Police Department is
close by and has a response time of
less than two minutes to the campus.
Campus security examined in light of Virginia tragedy
Michelle Oltman can be reached at
oltmanm@william.jewell.edu.
Michelle Oltman
Staff Writer
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Friday, April 20, 2007
When students enrolled for next
semester’s classes, anyone looking
to fulfill their general education
requirements could no longer find
“GEN” classes on MyJewell. General
Education at William Jewell College
has been re vamped and is now called
Critical Thought and Inquiry, or
CTI. Along with the new name, the
program now includes a major.
Applied Critical Thought and
Inquiry, known as ACT-In, will
be available to students as a second
major in Fall 2007, according to
Dr. Anne Dema, associate dean of
general education. “I anticipate the
first graduates in May of ’08,” she
said. Juniors, sophomores and first-
years have the opportunity to declare
this second major, as will future
students. “My long-term vision is
that every student who graduates has
it as second major,” Dema said.
In addition to the 38 hours of core
curriculum, students who major in
ACT-In must also have one applied
learning experience in three areas:
disciplinary scholarship, reflective
citizenship, and active engagement.
Disciplinary scholarship is one
that many majors already require,
Dema said. “There’s potential for
every primary major to have a course
in the first area,” Dema said.
Reflective citizenship aims “to
strengthen campus engagement”
in the community, according to
Dema’s draft document. This includes
activities such as study abroad and
mission trips. “ They’ll have to be
reflective in some sort of public
presentation,” Dema said. The third
area of engagement was created
so students can “get involved with
something that they’re passionate
about,” according to Dema. Students
will be “making connections between
the classroom and the world,”
according to the draft.
In all three areas, possibilities
for applied learning experiences are
various. “ There’s huge potential for a
lot of different choices,” Dema said.
“It’ ll be fun to see what we haven’t
thought of as we move forward.”
Many applied learning experiences
will be headed by faculty members
or staff, according to Dema. She
said that there has already been “a
lot of enthusiasm” about potential
experiences from faculty and staff.
A committee with representatives
from several areas of the College will
approve potential projects.
The approval process for applied
learning experiences will begin this
summer, according to Dema. By the
time the Fall 2007 semester begins,
students not only will be able to
declare ACT-In as a second major,
but they also will be able to begin
planning their experiences. For
those who may have already had an
experience, such as study abroad,
but did not completely fulfill the
requirements, “we’ ll work with those
students,” Dema said.
A benefit of the ACT-In major is
that it ties together ever ything in the
core curriculum, according to Dema.
“ The curriculum is not just a hodge-
podge of classes,” Dema said. “ The
major is designed to move students
from unsophisticated ways of
knowing to sophisticated. That goes
across disciplinary boundaries.”
said there are two beliefs: first,
that the dispersal of information
“ground to a halt” during former
Provost Dr. Nina Pollard’s term as
academic dean and Westlie left those
changes in place; or second, changes
continued to occur during Westlie’s
time as dean. In either case, however,
Armstrong said the changes cause
frustration. “The faculty handbook
declares that chairs should be making
recommendations about salaries, and
that’s impossible when chairs don’t
have the necessary information.”
Although some faculty members
may hope for “clear, concrete
benchmarks” for salary increases,
Armstrong said the College’s “ big
deficit” of over $2 million means
that “we don’t have the resources
to allocate.” The administration, in
Armstrong’s opinion, is committed
to providing faculty with needed
resources when they become
available. “ When they say it, I
believe it. Many of my colleagues
don’t,” Armstrong said, noting that
all faculty members are well aware of
basic facts—that salaries are below
those at regional, comparable and
aspirant institutions.
As for Monday’s meeting,
Armstrong hopes productive steps
will follow open discussion. “ We’ve
reached the first part this discussion,
and that’s venting. And that kind of
venting is okay as long as it’s the first
step,” he said. If the conversation is
pushed to the back burner, however,
Armstrong fears “a hurricane could
occur next year.”
“ Faculty Council is putting
together a survey about priorities,
and we’re also asking the
administration to allow Jewell to
participate in a national sur vey
[on faculty priorities].” Although
Armstrong won’t serve as chairman
again next year, he said he’s sure
they’ll “continue the discussion
about salar y priorities and how to
distribute increased resources.”
Armstrong also said he is
confident that the issue will be
a priority for the administration
in upcoming months. Following
faculty support of the ACT-IN
changes to General Education,
Armstrong said Westlie reported,
“I will be an advocate for increased
faculty resources.” Armstrong said
Westlie had been “fairly open that
he may not have been an active
advocate for faculty resources, but
he’s going to change—and we need
him to.”
Salaries
Story continued from Page 1
Emily Wales can be reached at
walese@william.jewell.edu.
ACT-In major to affect ’08 graduates
Joy Mason
Staff Writer
Joy Mason can be reached at
masonj@william.jewell.edu.
William Jewell College’s Students
in Free Enterprise team was named
champion in a regional competition
held last month in Arkansas. The team
now will advance to nationals May 6
where they will compete against seven
other regional champions.
“ We’re practicing to improve the
presentation for nationals,” Deborah
Scarfino, Sam Walton Fellow and
assistant professor of business
administration, said. “ We were invited
to nationals last year and are being
invited again this year. That’s not bad
for a three-year-old team considering
there are many older SIFE teams that
never get invited.”
The team will compact the year’s
work into a 24-minute presentation.
Because the team cannot discuss
all 34 of this year’s projects, they
will highlight the more significant
ones. “‘Significant projects’ is a ver y
subjective term,” Scarfino said. “We
had to leave out so many good ones
because time is so limited.”
SIFE is an organization that
challenges its members to create
community outreach projects
that meet five educational topics:
market economics, success skills,
entrepreneurship, financial literacy
and business ethics. One project
this year was ChessMates, for which
SIFE members mentored elementar y
school children. SIFE students played
chess with students in order to teach
important skills. “This ser ves two
purposes,” said Scarfino. “The kids
are getting the emotional support
they need in addition to learning
to use their critical thinking skills.”
In addition to taking this project to
the national competition, members
of SIFE presented it at Colloquium.
The project was headed by juniors
Katie Perko, Melissa Herschlag and
Brian Place.
Scarfino hopes that with the
addition of the new ACT-In major,
SIFE will be able to play a bigger role
on campus. “With the CTI major,
the work SIFE is doing is going to
connect well with Active Engagement
and Community Involvement.”
The team will be leaving shortly
after graduation and returning May 8.
If they succeed at Nationals, the team
will then be offered a chance to attend
the SIFE world championship.
SIFE heads to national competition
Jesus Lopez
Staff Writer
Jesus Lopez can be reached at
lopezj@william.jewell.edu.
pg_0005
Volume 21 Issue 24
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Maggie Wable was born to be an elementary school
teacher. Telltale signs that scream “educator for small
children” follow her around like a pesky first grader. Not
only did Wable live with two teachers, but she also enjoys
reading children’s books and perusing kids’ catalogues.
Both of her parents straddled the fence between grown-
up world and kid land. “I lived my whole life in a school.
I went to school where my mom taught. My brother and I
would get there early, hang out in her classroom and stay
late,” Wable said. To her, other teachers weren’t known as
Mr. or Mrs., they had first names and a life outside the
classroom. “ I have always been in schools. It’s something
I’m good at. I love kids and I sometimes have the mentality
of a six year old,” she said. “Once I got over my dreams of
being a Broadway star, I knew that this is what I wanted
to be.”
Along with her elementary education major, the junior
recently declared a history minor. In high school, Wable
participated in the accelerated credit program. “ You can
take college courses and get credit through University of
Missouri-Saint Louis. I did that and took mostly history
courses,” she said. “For elementary education, you have to
have 20 credits in an area of emphasis. I just needed one
more class for a minor.”
Taking additional history classes was no punishment
for Wable, who loves the subject. “I think it is so interesting
to learn about how people lived in the past and to see how
that applies to life today. People are so cyclical. If you know
what people did 100 years ago, you’ll know what is going
to happen now,” she said. “I like seeing the correlation
between the past and the present. There’s a lot of good
historical fiction out there too. It’s sad to say, but that is
where I get a lot of my historical facts.”
She also likes dissecting
historical non-fiction. The Bible
has provided a great source for
historical discussion. Although
not technically a history class,
her Sacred and Secular General
Education requirement, Judaism,
Christianity and Islam, was one
of her favorite classes. “Even
though it was a religion course, it had a lot
of histor y. When you are looking at scripture, I think it is
important to look at the historical context,” Wable said. “I
learned a lot about my own religion—Christianity. It helps
you to understand why you believe what you believe.”
Wable certainly did not need help understanding one
belief—that William Jewell College was the place for her.
Ever since age 12, she has been convinced William Jewell
was the college. “ The summer after my seventh grade year,
my church youth group went to Super Summer here,”
Wable said. “ We stayed in Ely. I loved the campus. I
looked at other colleges just so I could say I looked, but I
knew I was going here.”
In addition to a great education program, William
Jewell offered a college experience just three hours away
from her home in St. Charles, Mo. “It ’s pretty much the
same as Liberty but bigger,” Wable said.
Global positioning may vary, but the biggest difference
between the two areas is the way Wable relates to people
within each zip code. Each place has its own atmosphere
and community of people that affect Wable’s behavior.
“ When I go home, I don’t really see that many people, just
my family and people at church. The church members are
much older,” she said. “I have more history with them in
a sense because I have known them longer, but in reality
I have more history with people here. I have known
them less time but they know me better. At Jewell, I’m
surrounded by my peers.”
This difference doesn’t detract from the relationship
she has with her parents. “ We have a ver y close and
good parent-child relationship,” Wable said. “ While we
get on each other’s nerves, it has been open enough that
we can have discussions. They have given me the ability
to question things. It is okay and good to question and
confront things. I’m proud of the way I’ve been raised.”
Wable hopes to return the favor when she has children.
“ The thing I think is good that I really appreciate about
my parents is their commitment to tell the truth and
E v e r y o n e ’ s
S
t
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By Emily Hyder
]
[
be honest. Even if it’s uncomfortable, you shouldn’t
sugarcoat things. Tell kids things in a manner that
doesn’t overwhelm them,” she said. “It’s okay to talk
about big issues when children are little.” Wable
appreciated her parents’ honesty when she was growing
up and plans to extend the same openness in her own
household.
Luckily, she will
be able to utilize a
treasured pastime
to confront those
tough issues head
on with her future
students as well as
her children. Wable
loves to read—not
just historical fiction, but also books geared toward a
younger audience. One of Wable’s favorite children’s
book authors, Doreen Cronin, weaves tales about
Farmer Brown’s animals. Her stories often take a
political bent like cows that go on strike and hens that
do some collective bargaining for anchovy pizza. Duck
for President, one of Cronin’s best according to Wable,
revolves around a rather troublesome duck.
“ The duck is in charge of mowing the lawn and
grinding the espresso. He decides to have an election
to replace Farmer John and then proceeds to run for
president,” she explained. “I like it because it is all about
the election process but geared toward elementary
aged kids.” The book e ven addresses recounts and
hanging chads. Tools like these will help Wable tackle
controversial issues in a language young kids can
comprehend.
Children’s books aren’t her only source of literary
pleasure. “Adult books” are on Wable’s reading list as
well. “I like to read because it’s a little bit of escapism.
You enter this imaginary world and it just begs you to
put yourself in it and imagine the characters and enter
this world that is different,” she said. “Books can help
address issues that aren’t easy if you just say them.”
Her own life is no stranger to escapism. “I tend to
be very loud and obnoxious, especially when you first
meet me, but I’m shier than I seem. I’ve gotten to the
point where I’m not afraid to be who I am, even if I
look like a moron,” she said. But that initial outgoing
impression is not a picture of her real personality. “I
think I give off the aura of an extrovert and a people
person. I don’t necessarily think that is who I am,”
Wable said. “Part of me is, but as a child and in high
school I was so shy. Finally, I just gave up caring what
people thought. Now I’m so much the crazy person
that people don’t see the quiet, introspective, thoughtful
person who doesn’t say stupid things.”
[
]
“ I looked at other colleges
just so I could say I looked,
but I knew I was going
here.”
—Maggie Wable
Kyle Rivas / Hilltop Monitor
Lacey Crough
Staff Writer
Phi Gam B.O.T.A.B. raises $4000
For the last 13 years the men of
the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity have
been showcasing their comedic
and musical talents at Battle
of the Air Bands. This year,
along with all four sororities,
Kappa Alpha Order fraternity
and CSM, the fraternity
attempted to raise over $2000
for the American Red Cross,
their national philanthropy.
B.O.T.A.B. raised $4000.
B.O.T.A.B. is, according to
senior Jacob Lisby, a variety
show much like Saturday Night
Live. The fraternity puts together
skits and each sorority performs a
dance number. The dances are then
judged by a panel of special guests.
Also, campus groups were invited to
showcase a commercial representing
their organization. CSM was one
of the organizations to get involved.
“One of our primary goals as CSM is
to partner with other organizations on
campus in as many ways as possible,”
Jeff Buscher, Campus Minister, said.
“The commercial is really just a fun
representation of CSM.”
To generate campus involvement,
the Fiji’s invited Chiefs cheerleaders,
as well as Jeriney from 96.5
The Buzz to attend the event.
The fraternity also had a special
musical performance by senior
Kameron Gall. “ The event
was a great success. We had a
check presentation to the Red
Cross, and our sponsors came to
participate. Overall I am hearing
that it was very entertaining and
people enjoyed it,” Lisby said.
“The event was a great success.
We had a check presentation to
the Red Cross and our sponsors
came to participate.”
—Jacob Lisby,
FIJI senior
Lacey Crough can be reached at
croughl@william.jewell.edu.
Along with long days, flowers and
playing Frisbee on the Quad, the
arrival of summery weather signals
the beginning of a less anticipated
tradition - family reunion time.
While many students will have
the pleasure of enduring another
smothering-aunt, complaining-
cousin, screaming-kids-filled family
reunion, all students will have the
opportunity to attend a family
reunion of a very different sort, the
Human Family Reunion.
Sponsored by HateBusters, a
nonprofit, volunteer organization
founded by Dr. Ed Chasteen at
William Jewell College in 1988,
the event will take place on Tuesday,
April 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Yates-
Gill College Union.
“We invite people of all faiths,
all colors, all creeds, to come, and
we’ ll have people there of all faiths,”
Chasteen said. “Our primary
purpose is to get to know each
other. There is no question of who’s
right.”
All are invited to attend the
potluck dinner at no cost. Students
are encouraged to bring food or to
get a to-go box from the cafeteria
and bring it to the dinner.
HateBusters was started by
a race-relations class taught by
Chasteen to “help people who had
been hurt because somebody hated
them,” Chasteen said. “Any time
somebody gets hurt we go and help.”
According to their membership
card, their practice is “ To oppose
hate wherever we find it and in
whatever form it takes. To teach
others how to oppose hate and why
they should.”
The dinner will be honoring two
former classes, Chasteen’s pluralism
classes from Fall 2005 and Spring
2006. The students, who during
the class were challenged to take a
look at world from the perspective
of a different faith, will give
presentations.
HateBusters also will honor Dr.
David Sallee and William Jewell
with the Lighthouse Award for
being a guiding light in fighting
hate. “The lighthouse they have
become among us guides us all as
we seek to be the best and care the
most,” the award states.
Those interested in becoming
card-carrying members of
HateBusters will be able to do so
at the dinner. Membership cards
will be available. “Everybody in the
world is a member, because nobody
is born hating,” Chasteen said.
“Anybody who hates can send us
their name, and we will take them
off our membership list.”
HateBusters believes that “until
we get to know each other, who’s
right is the wrong question.”
“The purpose of the dinner is to
get to know each other,” Chasteen
said.
HateBusters recognizes
outstanding citizens
Trisha Stan
Staff Writer
Trisha Stan can be reached at
stant@william.jewell.edu.
pg_0006
Life &
Entertainment
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Friday, April 20, 2007
College magician impresses
at national competition
Vicky Hill
Staff Wr iter
Members of the Chamber
Orchestra, Symphonic Band,
Handbell Choir and Flute Choir
performed in their departmental
concert on Sunday, April 15. There to
listen to the performance of his own
new piece “Canto di Primavera (Song
of Spring)” was Italian composer
Paolo Viola.
Dr. Tony Brandolino, conductor
of the Chamber Orchestra and
Liberty Symphony Orchestra, said
that members of both orchestras
reacted to V iola’s visit with “a bit of
apprehension because he is a living
composer.”
“It’s intimidating,” Cor y Reames,
sophomore, said. “To play the piece as
[V iola] intends it to be can be scary.
I wanted to meet his expectations
along with others in the orchestra.
We wanted to show to the audience
what he had written on paper and
had in his mind.”
Despite students’ hesitations about
performing for a living composer,
Viola enjoyed the concert.
“[It was] beautiful,” Viola said,
as translated by Brandolino. “Many
compliments to the groups that
played.”
Sunday, the Liberty Symphony
Orchestra will join Chapel Choir,
Chamber Singers and Concert
Choir (collectively called the Grand
Chorus) for an all-Italian concert.
The collaboration of ensembles has
become a spring tradition at William
Jewell College. The program will
include Mascagni’s “ Intermezzo
from Cavalleria Rusticana,” Puccini’s
“Messa di Gloria,” Rossini’s
“ William Tell Overture” and Viola’s
“Manhattan the Day After,” an
American premiere.
“I just had to write this piece
about the twin towers because I just
felt so sad,” Viola said. “It was ver y
moving.”
According to Brandolino “[the
piece] really describes a foreigner’s
impression of a terrible incident in
America.” Viola’s piece, written in
reflection of the terrorist attacks on
9/11, first begins with an orchestral
arrangement. The choral arrangement
is then added in using the text that
Viola wrote himself.
“The text [is unique],” V iola
said, “and the prayer for those who
committed the crime - it’s that feeling
of, I guess, forgiveness. The text came
first, then I wrote the music to match
the text.”
This week marks the first time
that all ensembles will have the
opportunity to rehearse together.
Rehearsal was held Tuesday evening
with Liberty Symphony Orchestra
and the Grand Chorus. Another
rehearsal is scheduled for tonight.
Some students, like Rachel DeV ilbiss,
sophomore, are involved in both
Liberty Symphony Orchestra and the
Grand Chorus.
“ When rehearsing with [choir
or orchestra] I could hear the whole
thing in my head,” DeV ilbiss said.
“Getting to see the orchestral part
and the choral part helps me to see
the big picture.”
Sunday’s performance will begin at
3 p.m. in the Liberty Performing Arts
Theater at the Liberty Community
Center. Tickets are free for William
Jewell students with an I.D. Tickets
cost $5 for non-William Jewell
students, $14 for senior citizens (age
62 and above) and $18 for adults.
Tickets are available through the
Liberty Community Center Box
Office at 816-792-6130.
Orchestra premieres Italian pieces
Alison Ward
Staff Writer
Alison Ward can be reached at
warda@william.jewell.edu.
When Jason Steenstr y, first-
year, became interested in magic in
third grade, he was less interested
in trickery and more intrigued by
the psychology behind each trick.
Though his curiosity about magic
waned over the years, Steenstry
picked up the trade again last June.
“I always had an interest in it. I just
finally took the initiative to do it,”
Steenstry said.
Since then, Steenstry has
competed in two informal magic
competitions. At the most
recent competition, a convention
sponsored by the Society of
American Magicians, Steenstry
walked away with second place.
“It was encouraging [to place],”
Steenstry said, later commenting that
he is already looking for ward to future
conventions and competitions.
Though Steenstry dabbles in
metal bending, his preferred medium
is cards. One of his specialties is “ The
Ambitious Card,” a trick created by
David Blaine, renowned illusionist
and close-up performer.
Though he knows 138 card tricks,
at the March competition, Steenstr y
performed only three of these in
addition to five set cuts and five phase
changes. Competitors were judged
both on the clarity with which they
performed each trick and on their
own creativity.
Steenstry, who devotes two or
three hours each day to practicing,
always carries a deck of cards with
him. “You have to be familiar with
[the cards],” Steenstry said. “ That’s
the only way I can do it. I play with
these cards all the time.”
According to Steenstry, most
of the competitors were around
the same skill level. However, “ The
guy who won was a lot better than
I am, by far. He did a lot of new
tricks that I haven’t even tried to
learn yet,” Steenstr y said.
Steenstry is anticipating the
large-scale SAM Convention,
which won’t take place until July
2008 and will be six days of shows,
competition and displays of new
tricks.
“I go more because I like it
and not to win the competitions,”
Steenstry said. Steenstry also
hopes to entertain in restaurants
this summer.
Vicky Hill can be reached at
hillvi@william.jewell.edu.
Kyle Rivas/Hilltop Monitor
Three weeks after a party that
garnered campus criticism, members
of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity
are continuing their internal
disciplinary process. FIJI President
Taylor Evans, sophomore, said
the fraternity’s decision was made
by current leadership and alumni
advisers. “ We concluded our judicial
hearing Monday night,” Evans
said. “Our fraternity has a judiciary
committee made up of undergraduate
and graduate advisers which reviews
any alleged violations of College
policy, f raternity policy or any other
matters the chapter feels should be
addressed.”
While numerous fraternity
members were part of the process,
Evans said disciplinary action may
be taken against particular members.
“Some individuals have been asked to
take partial responsibility. However,
the majority of the committee’s
decisions and determinations will
affect the way the chapter plans,
advertises and executes social
functions in the future.”
Although details of proposed
action will remain closed, Evans said
Student Affairs was presented with
the chapter’s decision. “The chapter
has not been charged with any formal
violations of student policy. However,
the chapter’s judiciar y committee’s
findings have been presented to
Student Affairs,” he said. “Dr. [Rick]
Winslow [vice president for Student
Affairs] has expressed that he intends
to follow up, but he will need time to
review the case first.”
Winslow said Tuesday that his
staff still is evaluating the chapter’s
proposed disciplinary response. “ The
Phi Gams have referred the individual
whom they allege misrepresented
the party to the internal disciplinar y
system,” Winslow said. “ They
brought us an over vie w of their
decision. I have yet to review and
think about whether their decision is
appropriate.” Winslow said Student
Affairs hopes to have reviewed the
decision by next week. “Over the
next few days, my staff and I will
review what they brought in and see
whether it addresses appropriately
what occurred at FIJI Island.”
Evans stressed that the fraternity
is eager to move past this current
controversy. In addition to noting
the areas on campus in which FIJIs
have been active, Evans said he
believes the chapter will learn from
the experience. “ There has been
a remarkable amount of internal
leadership this year. I believe that we
are and have been making excellent
progress towards achieving the goals
we set for ourselves,” Evans said. “I
do not see this situation as a setback
but as a learning experience and,
more importantly, an opportunity to
exercise self-governance.”
The party, which occurred
March 27, was sponsored by the
fraternity during FIJI Island, an
annual fraternity tradition. Women
were invited to attend an “evening
wear” party at the house, and many
attendees sported lingerie or robes,
taking on a “Playboy” atmosphere.
The party was reported to Student
Affairs as a “mixer [with]…old prom
dresses, suits and tuxes” when it was
approved prior to FIJI Island.
FIJIs begin disciplinary process following party
Emily Wales
Editor-in-chie f
Emily Wales can be reached at
walese@william.jewell.edu.
pg_0007
Volume 21 Issue 24
HM
7
www.thehilltopmonitor.com
Life &
Entertainment
Meet the Robinsons
Amanda Joiner
Disturbia
Naphtali Faris
To See or Not to See?
talk
to
the
Andy Kirk
and(y)
Reviewed by Emily Hyder
A bite to eat at Cupini’s
Countless dining options beckon
us to sample their tasty wares once
we cross over the highway into North
Kansas City. However, a new crop of
food establishments has planted itself
within walking distance of William
Jewell College. Not just the quaint
downtown we tout to prospective
students and grandparents, the
Square slowly has renovated its image
into a college f riendly social hub.
Along with new boutiques dotting
the storefronts, three new restaurants
recently opened their doors. I felt the
need to investigate. With studying
abroad in Italy in my future, I couldn’t
help but make Cupini’s my first stop.
Here are the results of my taste
bud detective skills.
Cupini’s Pasta and Panini
Liberty’s branch is one of
four family-owned Cupini’s
restaurants. I had heard mixed
reviews about this local Italian
chain. Supposedly customers
picked already prepared food
from a display case and waited as
the item was warmed and served.
So much for the ‘fresh’ idea.
In reality, the confusion
comes from Cupini’s dual role
as a restaurant and deli. Prepared
dishes like green bean salad, olive
tapinade and their famous spinach
pies can be purchased at the counter
and taken home. While Liberty’s
deli selection isn’t large, the original
location in Westport has a vast array
of imported delicacies like fresh
pasta, Italian chocolate and Proscuitto
Parma.
Instead of utilizing the deli,
my friends and I decided to enjoy
the large, open dining area. After
ordering at the counter, we chose to
sit at one of the many nicely spaced
tables. A rustic wooden bar near the
front window, strewn with coffee
table books about Venice, is a relaxing
alternative for single patrons.
Their watering hole was
impressive, with fountain drinks,
tea and Cupini’s special blend of
Roasterie Coffee. What bumps this
up a notch is the individual packages
of flavored creamer, lemon and lime
slices and the multiple flavors of
tea bags available. I wasn’t as easily
convinced about the cuisine. The
menu is comprised of hot and cold
panini sandwiches, eight salads, pasta,
pizza and a few classic desserts.
Normally fairly carnivorous, I
decided to try half a Mediterranean,
one of their Panini Vegetali, with half
a house salad. Not the typical pressed
panini like what you’d expect, my
sandwich came on a hard (although
tasty) baguette. Unfortunately, the
flavors I was anticipating from the
roasted red peppers, cucumbers,
ricotta salata cheese, caramelized red
onions and roasted garlic hummus
didn’t materialize. Although the
dressing was good, the salad was
a plebian mix of lettuce, a slice of
tomato and a few rings of red onion.
My companions faired better. A
hot chicken panini had an excellent
balance of ingredients. The lemon
chicken had a mild tang without being
overwhelming and complemented
the fresh pesto sauce perfectly.
Roasted red bell peppers and gooey
provolone were great additions. Also,
heat greatly improved the baguette’s
texture. Although this raised my
opinion of a Cupini panini, traditional
pasta dishes are the stars here.
Sitting in a pool of chunky
marinara, the lasagna is a masterpiece.
No fewer than 10 layers of al dente
noodle, hearty meat sauce, ricotta and
Parmesan are
topped with
a d d i t i o n a l
ladles of extra
sauce. A sprinkling of Parmesan and
chopped parsley make the dish as
appealing to the eye as it is to the
taste buds. The vegetable lasagna
doesn’t have as much visual appeal,
but is still a good choice. For dessert,
Cupini’s offers several cakes and
tortes, like flourless chocolate cake,
fruit tarts and cannoli. They also ser ve
gelato—Italian ice cream. Coming
from someone who never had gelato
before, Cupini’s version wouldn’t
break my allegiance to Maggie Moo’s
dark chocolate ice cream anytime
soon. The pineapple gelato was
refreshing but too icy, like a mix
between sherbet and a slushy. A
more adventurous friend tried
the roasted garlic white chocolate
gelato. Her sour face and lack of
words said it all.
With four women dining
together, we couldn’t resist trying
the Ultimate Chocolate Cake.
Five layers of thin chocolate cake
were sandwiched between a mild
chocolate frosting. The f rosting
was heavy on the powdered sugar
with little chocolate flavor and
tasted vaguely of toffee. The cake
itself had decent flavor but was rather
dry, a quality accentuated by its cold
temperature. Our first attempts to dive
in resulted in chunks of cake flying
across the table due to its cold, slightly
hard form. I’m sure it was humorous
t
o onlookers but disappointing for
us four chocoholics.
Even though Cupini’s doesn’t
really have waitresses, the woman
who brought our food was attentive
but not annoyingly in-your-face. At
six on a Monday night, the place
was virtually empty. Only two other
groups were eating. I’m definitely
going back, but next time to sink my
teeth into my own plate of lasagna.
Tip: Get 10 percent off with student I.D.
Cupini’s
8 E. Franklin St., 816.415.8832
Food: * * * (out of five)
Service: * * * *
Atmosphere: * * ½
Hours: M-TH: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.,
F- SAT: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Menu Sampler:
Half sandwich, half House Salad, $6.25,
Lasagna, $6.40, Soda, $1.50, Ultimate
Chocolate Cake (slice), $3.50
More Info: www.cupinis.com
Emily Hyder can be reached at
hydere@william.jewell.edu.
I have a love/hate relationship with scary movies. I love watching them, but I am
incredibly easy to scare. I hate it when things pop out of nowhere or some mysterious
man appears in the shadows. I had nightmares about The Sixth Sense for years and I
think I may be the only person in America who f reaked out in Gothika. I have yet to
make it all the way through any of the Saw movies because, let’s face it, they’re on a
whole other level of disgusting. Having said all this, what I love is the psychological
aspect. I love Hitchcock movies because he could heighten the tension without ever
having to be explicit. Hitchcock skillfully created a world in the mind of the audience,
and one could ne ver be sure what the truth of the situation was.
When I first read about Disturbia I thought it sounded remarkably like Hitchcock’s
Rear Window (1954) in which an injured Jimmy Stewart is stuck in his apartment
so he watches his neighbors through a telescope. He eventually becomes convinced
that one of the neighbors murdered his wife. In Disturbia, Kale (Shia LeBeouf, of
Disney channel fame) is kept in his house by an ankle bracelet as part of his house
arrest, a punishment for punching his teacher. Like any scar y movie for the YouTube
generation, there are plot holes and serious lapses in logic. Yet, if one can suspend his
or her disbelief for long enough, Disturbia is worth watching.
What makes this movie interesting is the acting. LeBeouf walks the narrow line
between smart and smartass, and pulls it off. Aaron Yoo is hysterical as the slightly off-
kilter, average teenaged best friend of Kale. It is David Morse, however, who deser ves
most of the credit for making the most of this movie. Morse plays Kale’s neighbor,
Mr. Turner, whom the boys suspect of chopping up girls above his garage. What sets
Disturbia apart f rom its peers is that it actually cares about the characters. Time is
devoted to character development, something practically unheard of in the genre, and
it is done without sacrificing the action or tension-inducing sequences. Yes, there are
the standard scary movie stereotypes like people running through the basement with
the killer on their trail, but would it really be a scary movie without them? Disturbia
is not a reinvention of the genre, but it ’s a cool movie with cool actors. Sometimes
that’s all you need.
Disney’s new film is the best thing to happen to the company since Lilo and Stitch.
For the last couple of years I have been disappointed with the all the films Disney has
been making. If they aren’t releasing unneeded direct-to-DVD sequels, they are locking
away classics in the dreaded “Disney Vault.” Meet the Robinsons is not part of this recent
losing streak. This wonderfully-zany computer graphic flick completely wowed me.
The story is about Lewis, an eccentric orphan obsessed about science, who often will
stay up for nights on end working on his latest project, much to the dismay of his sports
playing roommate. Lewis’ hard work pays off, and he creates an invention that is able
to show people’s memories. He enters his project in the annual school science fair, but
before he has his chance for victory his work is sabotaged by a slightly deranged visitor
from the future. This man is known only as “bowler hat guy.”
Lewis then receives another futuristic visitor named Wilbur. Wilbur came back to
the past to tr y and stop the devious bad guy, but he is forced to take Lewis back to
the future with him instead. That is where Lewis encounters the Robinsons, Wilbur ’s
wonderfully insane family. The Robinsons use their antics to try and help Lewis fix
his past because if he fails the future as they know it won’t exist. Add singing f rogs, a
caffeine addict and a T-rex with tiny arms and you have the best animated film Disney
has ever made by themselves, excluding Disney-Pixar films such as Cars.
The movie was a stunning visual masterpiece f rom beginning to end. It didn’t feature
20 different big name celebrities for the voices. I appreciated that the Robinsons didn’t
flaunt the actors in your face, though I was excited to find out that Adam West voices
one of the Robinsons.
If you are like me, and you enjoy going to see quality children’s movies be sure to
buy a ticket to Disney’s Meet the Robinsons. This movie will not disappoint, and it will
definitely entertain.
With the knowledge that this is
our penultimate paper, and unclear
as to whether I’m going to continue
“ Talk to the And(y)” in Fall 2007,
I’d like to begin by saying thank
you to everyone who’s ever picked
up an issue of the Monitor. More
specifically, thank you to the nine
people who’ve looked at my column
without being forced and read my
random, written regurgitations about
childhood trauma, teenaged trauma
and Gingers.
If I had a nickel for each instance of
love and support from you, I’d almost
have enough to buy a Twix from a
vending machine. However, there’s
something about “ Talk to the And(y)”
that not everyone knows: in my legal
contract/Emily Wales-sanctioned
blood pact that allows me to write
for the Hilltop Monitor, I am allowed
one serious column per semester.
My lawyer interprets “serious” as
not being the same as “unfunny,” so
I can’t count the monstrosity about
Achievement Day or that god-awful
one about stalkers. I actually have to
write something with the intent of
not being humorous. Plus, if I don’t
use it now, it’s gone forever. Like cell
phone minutes or Cage points, these
things do not roll over for future
periods of time.
I started out this week intending
to write about my experiences
playing paintball last Sunday for
the first time – the thrill of finding
an outlet for repressed masculine
aggression, the agony of a receiving
a neck shot resembling a hickey and
my frustration when it comes to
shooting guns of any kind, thanks
to that screaming fit I pitched
after placing dead last in a game of
laser tag when I was 12. However,
the events of Monday morning at
Virginia Tech were enough to squash
any column about guns immediately,
even ones filled with orange paint. As
I talked to Lois Anne at our weekly
Monday Monitor meeting, I told her
my original column idea and was
about to ask for a new one when
she interrupted, wide-eyed, to ask,
“You know that idea would be totally
inappropriate, right?”
I was offended. How could
I, or anyone, be so insensitive to
write something humorous about
a shooting that claimed the lives
of 32 innocent people? Of course,
then I remembered the previous
week’s article, in which I satirically
called for all redheads to be placed
in concentration camps. Oh, and it
was during Holocaust Remembrance
Week. Yeah. Whoops.
I guess I’ve always had a twisted
sense of humor. My favorite comedy
of all time is Simon Birch, and my best
friend and I once wrote on a baby
with eyeliner. I have told and laughed
at Helen Keller jokes. I have accepted
the fact that I am an awful person,
but I would like to think that I have a
limit to my perversity. I would like to
think that no matter how disgusting I
may appear, there is a line that I would
never cross. For me, the Virginia Tech
tragedy absolutely falls beyond that
line, but as I kept reflecting on taboo
subjects, I began to ask myself what
else is forbidden to joke about, not
only for me, but for our society.
Recently, racism has not only been
a hot topic in national news with the
Don Imus scandal, but also a hit too
close to home at Jewell last Januar y
with a widely-publicized racially-
motivated incident. These incidents
are different from each other, yet
related in that upon the media’s
awareness of each, prominent leaders
tried to top one other in a contest of
who could display the most outrage,
conveniently venting in front of a
news camera. These incidents are also
similar in that after each, a debate
has taken place about the use of
language.
What is free speech, what is hate
speech, and how can each be used?
I don’t know if I can adequately
comment on the outrage of black
students because I’m white, and while
I agree that racist statements harm
people of all races, I do not want to
misconstrue the opinions of black
students. As a gay student, I assume
I have the right to comment about
slurs specific to my group, so I’ll tr y to
adapt the dialogue to my situation as
efficiently as I can. Can I say the word
‘faggot?’ If so, to whom can I say it? If
you aren’t gay, can you say the word
‘faggot?’ What if the word isn’t used
with the intent of being harmful—
like a comedian using it in a joke?
Is it ever right to completely ban a
word? And as a humor columnist,
where is the definitive line between
joking about homosexuals and being
homophobic?
I think I disagree with a
colleague who wrote in last week’s
staff editorial that the FCC should
consider completely banning some
things because I have no idea where
the line would be. In fact, I think that
there is no definitive line for each of
these complex situations. There are
many twisted, cur ving, uneven lines
for any sensitive topic of which I can
conceive. However, when considering
the Don Imus situation, I have
realized that no specific person or
group can or should have the power
to completely silence him, as much
as I disagree with his statements.
His comment, the backlash and the
subsequent dialogue are all painful
but necessary steps. Through this, we
will not clarify what is unacceptable
in itself but what is unacceptable for
those of us who oppose ignorance
and racism. The public should hold
the power to decide what they believe
is acceptable, and if something isn’t
for them, they reser ve the right to
raise hell.
There are a few problems with the
public deciding what is correct (just
because there were a lot of Nazis
doesn’t mean they were right), but I
haven’t yet found a better solution. If
you disagree, for the love of God, write
a letter to the editor. I’ve been called
out before for being inappropriate
in a column, but without feeling the
embarrassment or shame of being
owned I wouldn’t learn anything and
neither would anyone else.
At the end of the day, what is
the point of me rattling on about
racism, paintball and things that are
universally inappropriate? For me, it’s
all about humor. I think that humor
is unique and sacred in the fact that
we use it to heal how we’ve been hurt
or offended, but if its bounds are
overstepped, someone has to fight
to protect it. As long as we approach
these issues rationally, passionately
and openly, we can hope for a greater
understanding of one another.
There. I’m off the soapbox, and
it’s back to torturing myself for your
reading pleasure. I was planning on
picking up a hitchhiker and taking
them to IHOP, but if you think it’s
inappropriate, write a letter and I just
might reconsider.
pg_0008
Friday, April 20, 2007
Volume 21 Issue 24
www.thehilltopmonitor.com
Spo
rts
HM
8
Jewell track teams continue
successful tournament runs
Softball team passes .500 mark
Women’s tennis team
ranked 4th in HAAC
Jonathan Entzminger
Sports Editor
Kristina Brase
Staff Writer
Jewell’s track team roster is heavy
with school record holders and record
chasers, so it is no surprise that they
are going far this season.
Wade Smith, senior, is one foot
from the school record in weight
throw. Jennifer Reinhardt, senior, is
eight inches f rom the hammer throw
record.
The women’s 4x800 team of Alex
Braden, junior, Jennifer Ghidoni,
junior, Amber Parker, junior, and
Michaela Taylor, sophomore, is 13
seconds from the school record.
“ Thirteen seconds is a lot less
than it sounds like. If they all cut off
a few seconds, it is very reachable,”
Ted Graves, head coach, said. Last
Saturday Jewell hosted their home
meet and defeated eight other schools
in a landslide victory.
“Our home meet is one of our
three most important meets. It lets
us see who our competition is for
conference,” Graves said.
Jewell is strong in many events.
“I’m ver y encouraged by our sprinters.
We are in a strong sprint conference,
so [the women] are going to have to
keep coming. We really have a strong
throwing crew. A lot of kids did well,”
said Graves. He said he owes much
of the team’s success to the assistant
coaching staff. Graves said, “They’re
easy to work with and knowledgeable.
You don’t find a staff like this ver y
often.”
There are only a few meets before
nationals. This weekend the team is
heading to the University of Kansas
and the University of Central
Missouri for meets.
“ To get qualified for KU means
you’re having a heck of a year. This
week is tuning up,” Graves said. “We’ll
ease up on the number of events, so
they aren’t worn out.”
This season, Jewell is sending
three of its track team members to
nationals in California, May 24-
26. Luke Geisinger, sophomore, is
competing in the 110 meter hurdles,
Reinhardt in discus throw and Smith
in weight throw. There are some
potential qualifiers as well for other
events as the season comes to an end.
Kristina Brase can be reached at
brasek@willliam.jewell.edu
Last year the William Jewell
softball team ended its season with 32
wins. This season they have a chance
to come within a few games close to
that, as they stand with a record of
21-17.
“It has been an outstanding
opportunity. I have inherited a great
group of softball players and young
ladies. We have had an outstanding
recruiting season, signing six girls
who can really play and will be great
additions to the program,” Dustin
Combs, head softball coach, said. “ I
am very optimistic about the future
of William Jewell softball. This is an
outstanding community with a lot of
support. I feel very blessed to be a
Cardinal.”
Winning 21 games this season
hasn’t been easy. The team made a
coaching change and has no returning
seniors. However, that hasn’t stopped
the women from winning against
conference rivals like MidAmerica
Nazarene University, where Megan
Suelter, junior, came out and helped
pitch the team to a 2.00 era on Mar.
27. Since then, the Cardinals have
kept a team era of fewer than 4.00.
“It is nice to have a pitcher who
is keeping her earned runs to a
minimum, but what we have to do
is lower our unearned runs that we
are giving up,” Combs said. “We
have to make routine plays from here
on out in order for us to be able to
accomplish the goal of winning the
HAAC tournament and getting into
the Regional tournament.”
The Cardinals are 3-3 over their
last six games, scoring 35 runs and
33 RBIs (runs batted in). During that
span, their biggest wins came against
Haskell Indian Nations University
and York College. In both games
combined, the Cardinals scored 17
runs, limiting their opponents to just
one. Against Haskell, junior pitcher
Gretchen Geest had four strikeouts
in five innings of work. In the
second game of that double header,
junior pitcher Mary Suelter had four
strikeouts over a six inning stretch.
This was the sixth double header this
year in which the women won both
games but only the second in which
they held opponents to one run.
“I have yet to find the formula
for that,” Combs said. “It is a mind
set. You really have to stay focused
between games. In our case I don’t
feel it is a matter of fatigue. It is more
a matter of focus.”
Combs prefers to play a certain
style of softball which, according to
him, helps the team win games. He
believes that when the women stick
to the fundamentals of softball, they
are able to be successful.
“ We really have just tried to
change our approach to winning,”
Combs said. “ We focus extremely
hard on the fundamentals and try to
perform them more consistently than
our opponents. Offensively we have
had some girls really step up and do
a great job for us. I would have to
contribute a lot of our success to our
offense.”
The Cardinals have five games left
on the schedule before the postseason
begins April 27, in Springfield, Mo.
During that span they must face
conference rivals Avila, Missouri
Valley and Rockhurst before heading
to the conference tournament.
“Our goal is to win the HAAC
tournament,” Combs said. “I really
don’t know where we will be seeded
and really that won’t matter. You have
to beat anyone you play. We have
been playing well in April and that ’s
important. It really doesn’t matter
what you have done in Februar y and
March. It is how you’re playing in
April that is important.”
Combs’ goals for the rest of season
revolve around keeping the women
focused on winning games and
playing hard through doubleheaders,
among other things.
“My biggest goal is to continue to
build on what we have accomplished,
build on the strides that we have
made in becoming a well respected,
hard working softball program,”
Combs said.
Jonathan Entzminger can be reached
at entzmingerj@william.jewell.edu,
The women’s 800 team posed for a team shot earlier this season. This team of sophomore Michaela
Taylor, junior Jennifer Ghidoni, junior Alex Braden and junior Amber Parker is 13 seconds from
tying the College record.
Kyle Rivas/Hilltop Monitor
Tues. April 16 Evangel University - Springfield, MO W 7-1
Mon. April 15 Graceland University - Lamoni, IA W 7-2
Sat. April 14 University of Illinois Springfield
St. Louis, MO W 7-2
Fri. April 13 McKendree - St. Louis, MO L 8-1
Tues. April 10 Benedictine College - Liberty, MO W 6-3
Mon. April 9 Johnson County Community College -
Overland Park, KS W 7-2
Fri. April 6 Missouri Valley - Marshall, MO W 9-0
Tues. April 3 Baker University - Liberty, MO L 6-3
Women’s singles player Jessica Williams, senior, hits a backhand.
The team currently ranks fourth in the HAAC Conference.
Sophomore Kristen Marshall bunts the softball during a game
earlier this season.
Kyle Rivas/Hilltop Monitor