1. First, find the nearest bowl. You will also need some sort of utensil—a spoon, or a fork (if you are a monster). These tools will be essential in consuming this delectable, crunchy breakfast meal.
2. Next, you will need to select the type of sweet, grainy flakes of food that will find their home in your bowl and then your stomach. Furthermore, select the type of milk that you like. You may choose classic cow—whole cow, half cow, very little cow, whatever you prefer. Remember, you’re not fat, and you could be drinking whole if you want. You may also choose nut milk (which is not real milk, by the way) if you don’t like the idea of drinking something from an animal, or if you’re lactose intolerant. This breakfast meal is easily vegetarian and vegan, as there are many organic options! 
3. Once you have all of the materials you need to begin the tedious cooking process (bowl, utensil, flakes and milk), you will begin by setting your bowl down on a flat, sturdy surface so it doesn’t overturn your meal and your day. Take your choice of sweet grain pieces and pour them carefully into the bowl. You’ll want to pour until about 4/7ths of the bowl is filled, so you leave room for the milk. 
4. Next, take hold of your milk carrier, whether it is cow or soy, and twist the lid to the right until it comes off. Then, carefully tilt the carrier and pour the milk until it fills the bowl, so that the grainy flakes reach the lip of the bowl. 
5. Once your flakes and milk are united inside the bowl, you may now take your choice of utensil and carefully place it in the bowl. Some may choose to lightly mix the combination together to equally wet all pieces of grain, although eating this meal is a delicate process. If you don’t eat fast enough, your flakes may become soggy and overwetted. This is unpleasant and renders your meal unworthy of being consumed. 
6. Finally, take your utensil and bring the food to your mouth. You have now successfully made this delicious, grainy treat, perfect for your mornings! 

On Nov. 28, 1953, Dr. Frank Olson died on impact after falling 13 floors from his room in the Statler Hotel in New York City. After a police investigation, it was determined that Olson either jumped or fell to his death — a tragedy that was not entirely uncommon in New York City. When Olson’s family was informed of his unexpected death, they were discouraged from viewing the body as it had allegedly suffered significant facial disfiguration. The case was closed, then, until 22 years later in 1975 when a news story was published concerning further information related to Olson’s death. 

Olson was a U.S. Army scientist who specialized in work with biological toxins, germs and aerobiology, using his skills to work in biological warfare laboratories to produce technology that sprays chemicals onto enemy combatants. He began working in a special operations division during the Cold War, shortly promoted to the chief of the division, and was given the task of collecting any relevant information on microbiology that could be used in warfare and coordinating with the CIA to share the information. 

He continued to specialize in aerobiology, inventing and manufacturing weapons disguised as every-day items, such as lipsticks and shaving creams containing deadly chemicals that killed within instants. He later stepped down from his position as chief and began working directly in the CIA research facilities, where he met Sidney Gottlieb and Robert Lashbrook, two of the most prominent figures in the secret CIA project involving extreme interrogations and non-consensual LSD experiments. 

The nature of Olson’s death is complicated and foundationally involves a secret organization funded by the CIA that was initiated after the end of the Second World War. This organization, known as MKUltra, came about due to the CIA’s paranoia concerning the Soviet Union and their alleged “mind control” and “brainwashing” warfare. The rumors of such warfare began as American Prisoners of War returned from Europe having been allegedly converted to communism due to brainwashing techniques. 

Sidney Gottlieb, the CIA chemist at the head of MKUltra, was inspired by his fear of this new weapon and began tormenting and dehumanizing forms of experimentation on both consenting and non-consenting people with the goal of analyzing the effects of LSD on the human mind. Gottlieb was obsessed with discovering methods of destroying the existing mind of a person, then replacing it with a new mind and personality under his own control. These methods of behavior modification included sensory isolation, electroshock, a variety of drugs and chemicals and much more. Gottlieb performed these experiments on American soldiers, prisoners, European detainees and even the mentally-impaired youth.

Olson began working with Gottlieb after stepping down from his position as the chief of the special operations division in the U.S. Army. He worked at a CIA research station, where the top-secret organization of MKUltra would be run by him, Gottlieb and his deputy, Robert Lashbrook.  Olson witnessed extensive animal and human suffering during his time working in the CIA research station, something that apparently affected him to a greater degree than the MKUltra CIA agents had expected. Gottlieb performed brutal interrogations exercising methods of hypnosis, torture and mass-dosage of LSD and other toxins. 

On Nov. 18, 1953, 10 days before his death, Olson was invited to a retreat of CIA agents and scientists exclusive to the MKUltra project. Shortly into the trip, Gottlieb drugged each of their drinks with a dose of LSD. This experience reportedly altered Olson’s behavior since, afterward, he started showing signs of doubts concerning his line of work. Olson began expressing desire to quit the MKUltra project, undoubtedly as a reaction to the horrific scenes of torture and to the unexpected hallucinations and significant alteration to his mind. This reaction to his experience of LSD, if the conspiracy is true that he was secretly murdered by the CIA, was the turning point in Olson’s life, which lasted only another week. 

His expressions of concern alarmed Gottlieb and other MKUltra agents as the project was top-secret and destined to fail if any information were to be leaked from the few members that had any knowledge of the organization. Olson spent much time working around research centers and knew more about the inner workings of MKUltra than most others. His desire to leave the project, or expose the secrets of the organization, could only be devastating, and Gottlieb viewed the failure of his project as the inevitable downfall of the United States to communism. 

Over the course of the few days before Olson’s death, he was referred by Gottlieb to an MKUltra-affiliated physician, Harold Abramson. Abramson was a loyal agent that could be trusted by Gottlieb to delve into Olson’s mind and determine to what degree he was a threat to the project. Abramson, in his meeting with Olson, convinced him to voluntarily submit himself to a sanatorium until he was better oriented. Olson agreed, and later that day, he got a room in the Statler Hotel on the 13^th floor with Lashbrook, where he would spend his final night. 

Olson’s death was temporarily covered up to prevent exposure of the MKUltra as a malicious, highly illegal project. However, Frank Olson’s story and suicide was published by the Washington Post nearly 22 years later. The article sparked controversy concerning the actions of the CIA and Gottlieb, who admitted to dosing Olson with LSD in the days before his death, which clearly caused his resulting disorientation and panicked state. 

However, it was noted that Olson was not feeling depressed or seemingly suicidal up until his death but rather frantic and doubtful of his line of work. It was clear that Olson was afraid, whether it was his unstable state of mind due to his drug experience, or from the very real potential actions of the CIA against him. Gottlieb and the CIA had great motive to remove Olson from the picture as someone who would likely destroy the past 10 years of research and experimentation toward the twisted end of succeeding the Soviet Union in “brain warfare.” 

Perhaps the best evidence of the conspiracy theory, however, is the re-examination of Olson’s body by his son, who suspected more than a drug-inspired tragic suicide. The body of Olson did not reveal severe facial disfigurement but rather showed a suspicious wound above his left eye, despite landing on his back from his fall, or push, from the window. It is more likely that Olson has been struck in the face by a person or object and then thrown to his death outside the window. The apparent suicide was the perfect cover-up, something that the CIA has mastered to protect its malicious inside-operations. 

Frank Olson’s death was not investigated further after his re-examination, however, as his family was paid off by the CIA with a fund of $750,000. They could not sue the CIA and force them to declassify the information on Olson, and the case was once again closed. However, the conspiracy theory remains strong, including murder concerning biological warfare and a man likely to reveal information that would interfere with the CIA’s private agenda.

Note: This article accounts for only one theory about the event discussed and should not be taken as fact. The Hilltop Monitor encourages our readers to undertake independent research into the event discussed in this article to come to their own conclusions.

William Jewell College’s new Student Senate Cabinet, Your Voice on the Hill, was elected early October.  The Cabinet is composed of President Olivia Eggleston, senior nonprofit leadership and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry major; Vice President Tavarus Pennington, junior communication and English major; Secretary Grace Garbe, junior communication and nonprofit leadership major; and Treasurer Ireland Hawkins, senior accounting major.

The Cabinet’s main goals for the year include supporting the diversity and inclusivity clubs, student and community engagement, and general health and safety here on the Hill. The Cabinet has the responsibility of electing Student Senators into office, a process that, in the past, has been informal and inconsistent. They plan to address these concerns through a process of effective communication, putting emphasis on the value in a variety of representation from all the clubs and activities at Jewell.

The general goals of the Cabinet have been categorized as progress towards inclusion, engagement and safety. The Senate plans on supporting various groups and giving funding to events that will improve student engagement on campus, particularly for clubs in support of minority groups that promote inclusivity on campus, such as the Black Student Alliance and Gender Issues and Feminism club. 

They also plan to promote student involvement through modification of the traditional Coffee with the President, changing it to a broader student outlet for questions or a forum and allowing more access to the president and the administration. Safety is particularly important on campus this year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cabinet finds it important to demonstrate a positive attitude towards the campus safety guidelines, encouraging correct mask procedures, safe living spaces and mental health awareness.

“As a Cabinet we want to encourage protocols regarding COVID. Fostering a positive attitude toward mask wearing is important for the senate to demonstrate,” Eggleston said.

The main focus of the Cabinet this year is dependent on flexibility and close accordance to feedback from the student population, utilizing the Senators as the “eyes and ears of the broader student community.” The 16 Senators, four from each grade, are expected to contribute to the Senate meetings and work to achieve the goals established through their communication between the student population and the Cabinet. This requires a variety of representation of clubs from each Senator to ensure input from minority groups on campus.

The election of Student Senators has historically been inconsistent, varying each year with no expectations set for the involvement of the Senators. In the past, the Cabinet has picked people from within their social circles to fill empty positions, resulting in a lack of representation in student government and difficulties in progress for the College. However, Your Voice on the Hill set specific expectations and standards for the selection of student officers this year, and despite the delay of Senate elections due to the pandemic, the Cabinet has made a great start to the year for change.

The Student Senators this year are elected with consideration to their abilities of leadership and communication skills, along with those who have excelled academically and can show that they care about the needs of the College. They should be passionate about the positive environment of the college and have well-developed time management skills, as Student Senate is a large time commitment. The Cabinet claimed it is essential that the Senators are chosen based on their involvement in a diversity of activities. 

All of these qualifications for this year’s student government are put in place to ensure the positive progress in the functions of the College.

“The ultimate college experience for our Students and making our campus the place students want to be,” Eggleston said. 

The Cabinet is also considering working on additional projects. One of which is a student needs cabinet. The project, which was the centerpiece of the Cabinet’s campaign, is spearheaded by Alex Theissen, senior political science, economics and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry (ACT-In) major. Theissen is in the process of implementing the cabinet through new organization Cardinals Care, aimed to increase student welfare by providing products for students who do not have access to hygiene products and other resources. The Student Senate Cabinet aims to help Theissen in the implementation process.

The Cabinet described the need for such a student needs cabinet. The dining hall on campus is closed during breaks, meaning student-athletes, international students and other students who stay on campus during break often don’t have resources for food. Similarly, some students may have a hard time accessing hygienic products due to lack of funds. The Cardinals Care cabinet intends to address these concerns, allowing a place for students to access necessary resources. Senate is in contact with Theissen, willing to work with him and help fund his project if necessary.

The first-year student senators are Calvin Heit; Oxbridge institutions and policy major; Chloe McDonnell, Oxbridge history of ideas major; Hattie Miller, international relations major; and Luke Zahnd, Oxbridge institutions and policy major.

The sophomores are Carly Mantia, biology major; Christian Santiago, history and political science major; Claire Henry, digital media communication major; and Gabrielle Fournier, Spanish and international relations major.

The juniors are Hailey Wall, psychological science major; Jacqueline Mikkelsen, English major; Ky Schardein, Oxbridge institutions and policy and international relations; and Kylie Phipps, nonprofit leadership major.

The senior senators are Garrett Peoples, business administration, accounting and ACT-In major; Madison Carroll, Oxbridge institutions and policy and international relations major; Anthony Hansen, nonprofit leadership and business administration major; and Megan Sprague, psychological science and nonprofit leadership major.