Marvel Studios’ “WandaVision” is the first of Marvel we’ve seen since “Spiderman: Far From Home” was released in 2019, and it was certainly worth the wait. The show is Marvel’s first time including its primary characters and storylines in television shows rather than feature films. With several more Marvel shows on the way – including “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Loki” and “What If?” – “WandaVision” set the stage for the superhero power-company to usher in a new age of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“WandaVision” rightfully shocked and impressed audiences with its uncomfortable nostalgia. The show focuses on Wanda Maximoff, or the Scarlet Witch, and the Vision. Despite both characters being Avengers in the last several Marvel films, neither had previously received extensive focus and character development. “WandaVision” explores the power and depth of both characters with more emotional force than Marvel audiences have seen in a while.

The show transforms throughout the series and harkens to sitcoms of decades past, but it does so with a level of unease. It recognizes its audiences didn’t actually watch television sitcoms of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s so it creates a nostalgia that recognizes its own inauthenticity. “WandaVision” plays with expectations, characters and settings like only the product of blockbuster film-level funding and production can. 

Full of twists, turns and questions, “WandaVision” keeps audiences constantly figuring out what each episode means before realizing the ground is falling out from beneath them. While not everything is shocking or unpredictable, the show plays with the expectations of die-hard Marvel fans and cultivates a sense of discomfort and fleetingness. 

Elizabeth Olsen as Maximoff and Paul Bettany as Vision shine as they show range and vulnerability. Olsen specifically steals her own show with skill and depth she hasn’t previously had the opportunity to show in the Marvel Universe. Her emotional and relatable performance made the large-scale production come together.

Fan-favorite side characters – including Darcy Lewis of “Thor,” played by Kat Dennings; Jimmy Woo of “Antman,” played by Randall Park; and Monica Rambeau of “Captain Marvel,” played by Teyonah Parris – return to play central roles. However, Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness gave a performance rivalling Olsen’s. She stole the hearts of audiences and facilitated the greatest surprise of the series. 

Hahn and Olsen are captivating, and I cannot wait to see them continue exploring the depth of these characters in future Marvel projects. 

“WandaVision” truly vaulted over my expectations and somehow felt exactly like a Marvel movie without feeling too comfortable or familiar. It sets an intriguing base for future Marvel TV shows and the coming phase of Marvel generally. If “WandaVision” is a good indicator, I anticipate this phase will develop a new age of Avengers with more emotional complexity, nuance and cinematic skill than audiences typically expect from superhero films.

All in all, “WandaVision” was a 10/10 and a delightful highlight in these dreadful pandemic times.

On Monday, April 12, William Jewell College announced the formation of a Racial Reconciliation Commission. The official email announcement is printed below.

Hello, Jewell Family:

Today, with the endorsement of the William Jewell College Board of Trustees, I am launching an initiative that I believe will be among the most significant—and generative—in the College’s history.

It is important to me and the Board that our Jewell Family be the first to hear of this important endeavor, which will be shared broadly later today.

As you know, our Jewell community is working with intent and purpose to create a diverse and equitable culture at Jewell.  Our aim is to advance the shared prosperity of our Region by educating and graduating diverse, critical thinkers who are devoted to creating opportunities without barriers for everyone in Kansas City.  I recently hired Dr. Rodney Smith to lead these efforts as the founding Vice President for Access and Engagement.

As part of this work, the Board of Trustees and I recognize that it is time we address and speak to our history, and in particular our founding in 1849.  Accordingly, today I am founding a Racial Reconciliation Commission at William Jewell College, Chaired by Dr. Rodney Smith, and guided by experts within our faculty, our Liberty and Kansas City communities, and the Black Archives of Mid-America Kansas City.  Use this link to access our press release and video announcing the launching of the Commission

To be clear, this endeavor will include acknowledging that many of our founders were slaveholders; the Commission also is likely to uncover evidence that enslaved people worked on our campus.  These are historical facts we cannot change.  But we can give voice to our past and then allow that past to inform our future.

The work of the Commission will not be undertaken lightly—nor will it occur in haste or be influenced by any one perspective—because the predicate of our effort is simple:  Facts aren’t frightening.  It is our duty to tell Jewell’s story deliberately and thoughtfully over the course of the next year with the aim of finding and expressing both an historical and moral truth about the racial history of William Jewell College spanning the years of our founding until today.

I am grateful to Commission members and community advisors for giving of their intellectual energy to this vital initiative, including the following individuals:

Commission Membership

• Dr. Rodney Smith, Commission Chair and Vice President for Access and Engagement
• Dr. Donna Gardner, Chair of the Education Department
• Brynesha Griffin-Bey, Student Representative
• Moses Harper, Assistant Football Coach
• Marcus Jones, Student and Treasurer of the Black Student Alliance
• Dr. Anthony Maglione, Director of Choral Studies 
• Chris McCabe, Head Men’s Basketball Coach
• Mark Mathes, Distinguished Alumnus and Liberty Historian
• Hayley Michael, Student Participant in “Slavery, Memory, and Justice” Course
• Clark Morris, Vice President for Advancement
• Hunter O’Connor, Student and Kappa Alpha Order Number One
• Keith Pence, William Jewell College Trustee
• Dr. Andy Pratt, Dean Emeritus of the Chapel
• Eileen Houston-Stewart, William Jewell Trustee Emerita and Alumna                    
• Dr. Vernon Howard, Distinguished Alumnus and President, Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Kansas City   
• Dr. Cecelia Robinson, Professor Emerita and Historian of Clay County African American Legacy, Inc.

Advisors to the Commission

• Vincent Paul Gauthier — Kansas City Community Advisor
• Dr. David Sallee, President Emeritus of William Jewell College — Liberty Community Advisor
• Dr. Chris Wilkins — Faculty Expert Advisor on Slavery, Memory, and Justice
• Dr. Carmaletta Williams and The Black Archives of Mid-America Kansas City — Research Advisor

As the work of the Commission unfolds, Dr. Smith and I will serve as spokespeople for the Board, sharing our William Jewell story with the larger community in the days and months ahead.  Please forward any inquiries from community members or media to Cara Dahlor at dahlorc@william.jewell.edu, and she will coordinate communication on behalf of the College.

I’m proud to serve as President of an institution of higher learning that embraces this opportunity with transparency and authenticity.  The Board and I see the upcoming work of the Commission as a driving force for good on The Hill and beyond.  I know you join us in being open to what we will discover, honest about its impact, and hopeful for the vibrant future of William Jewell College and our Region.

With my best,

Elizabeth MacLeod Walls

To the delight of students over 21 from Melrose to Senior House, the cafeteria will now provide White Claw on tap. After shooting to popularity in recent years, White Claw – a spiked sparkling water – has become a staple for college students everywhere. Through some silent pleading and the cafeteria staff’s uncanny ability to know what students want, the beverage will now be available to accompany a nice Tendy-Tuesday lunch.

It remains unclear which flavors will be available and whether the Claw will replace the new favorite, Bubly, in the soda fountain. Regardless, this legal adult is anxious to try mixing the DIY flavoring with the boozy option. 

Students appear to be looking forward to the potential pick-me-ups Claws will provide. 

“Nothing sounds better than drinking an ice-cold black cherry White Claw with my beef sancho at 10:30 a.m. on a Wednesday,” said White Claw enthusiast and senior international relations and Oxbridge institutions and policy major Christina Kirk.

Keep an eye out for the new beverage in the caf and continue following this story to learn whether White Claw will be delivered to those unfortunate souls in quarantine, who are unable to retrieve their own drinks from the cafeteria.

Like many other students, I have hardly taken advantage of our first couple spring break days. They’ve been just as stress- and homework-filled as most other days. With our would-be spring break impending, I’ve decided to plan a Kansas City staycation so I can enjoy one of the upcoming days off. With that, I present my ideas for the best KC staycation. 

1. Start with a nice brunch in the park.

Whether you’re an early riser or a late-sleeper, brunch is a great way to start your day. To stay COVID-safe, you can pick up brunch and head to a park. My personal recommendation – and plan – is to stop by Crow’s Coffee to grab a specialty coffee and pick up a bagel from Einstein Bro’s. I may even bring a small, personal-sized bottle of champagne and some juice to make a little mimosa. 

With my little breakfast in hand, I will go to Loose Park, set up a blanket and have a personal picnic. I’ve found there’s nowhere better to spend a slow, lazy morning to myself than in Loose. I plan to get set up on a picnic blanket, have my brunch while listening to a podcast, then leisurely read a book. Maybe a dog will come over and greet me.

1. Grab some boba and a snack.

After spending several hours in the park, I’ll go for a walk around the park and head to the Plaza. I love window shopping and strolling around the Country Club Plaza, and having a nice drink makes the walk better. I just saw a new boba place, Bruú Café, opened on the Plaza. I personally love Taro bubble tea, and Bruú has a taro boba latte I cannot wait to try. 

If all the laying in the park and strolling have you hungry after brunch, there are plenty of places on the Plaza to grab a little snack or lunch.

1. Walk around the Nelson-Atkins or Union Station.

Depending on how you’re feeling, you can wander around the Nelson-Atkins sculpture park and art museum or check out Union Station. I am partial to walking around Union Station, seeing if the planetarium is showing anything and taking the streetcar, or walking, to the Crossroads, Power & Light and the River Market. The planetarium is potentially my favorite place in Kansas City and it has never let me down. I highly recommend stopping by whenever you have a chance.

My favorite walk in the city starts at the World War II memorial and goes to Power & Light. While it can be a long walk, it’s also just fun and allows you to wander all over. There are plenty of cafes, shops and benches to stop at and spend some time. The streetcar also runs along the walk so you can always give yourself a break as necessary.

1. Grab tacos, drinks and ice cream in the River Market.

After taking a long walk, I’ll hop on the streetcar to get the rest of the way to the River Market – maybe I’ll even walk all of the way there. I’ll get dinner at KC Taco Company. There are fantastic tacos, chips, salsa, guacamole, queso and margaritas that put together a perfect meal. I particularly like KC Taco Co. because the variety of flavors and tacos feel unique compared to the Mexican food I typically get. 

If you choose to spend your day with others, maybe check out Blue Nile Cafe for some delicious Ethiopian food. The food is served communally and is absolutely delectable.

Finish off the meal with ice cream from the newly reopened and improved Betty Rae’s.

1. Finish off with an evening walk at the River.

I’ll finish off my staycation day with a walk along the river. The path from the River Market to the river is beautiful and you will often see dogs, which makes any walk better. After walking as far as I like, I’ll ride the streetcar back to Union Station to pick my car back up.

Honorable mentions for activities to do on a staycation day include:

• Getting your nails done
• Finding new coffee shops
• Going to the KC Zoo
• Walking around Crown Center

Enjoy your days off, fellow Cardinals!