Photo by Channel 82 via Uplash.

Who Was Pope Francis?

Pope Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, passed away Monday, April 21 on Easter Monday—a day rich in symbolism for Christians around the world. 

Originally from Argentina and the first non-European pope in more than a millennium, he leaves behind an indelible legacy within the Catholic Church. And yet, looking back, nothing seemed to predestine Bergoglio to ascend to the highest position in the church. Named after St. Francis of Assisi, his humanist values and simple lifestyle became the cornerstone of his papacy. But what lessons can we draw from his time as pope?

A Reformist Pope?

The choice of the name Francis was far from trivial. A Jesuit by background — an order rooted in education, service and social justice — Pope Francis aligned himself with the ideals of St. Francis of Assisi, who preached humility and poverty. His papacy was marked by a deep concern for the oppressed and for the structural inequalities that divide humanity.

One of his most visible battles was against xenophobia, particularly condemning the actions of western governments toward migrants. These efforts demonstrated his deep commitment to humanitarian causes. In a world increasingly marked by division and fear of the “other,” Pope Francis embodied the belief that love and compassion can still guide us.

He broke long-standing taboos when he famously said, “If a person is gay and seeks God and has goodwill, who am I to judge?” Later in his papacy, he went further, authorizing blessings for same-sex couples. These gestures, though modest by some standards, represented significant steps toward a more inclusive church. In this way, Pope Francis sought to break with the past and champion a vision of Christianity rooted in love and acceptance — principles that defined his 12 years at the helm of the Vatican.

Some Things Never Change

Despite his progressive image marked by strong advocacy for human dignity and condemnation of growing inequalities, Pope Francis faced serious criticism for his handling of sexual abuse scandals within the Church. This deep-rooted issue, which continues to tarnish the institution, was not met with the decisive action many had hoped for. Although he issued some condemnations and initiated reforms, his response was often seen as tepid and inconsistent.

The recent revelations surrounding Abbé Pierre only reinforced this perception. While Pope Francis claimed that the Vatican became aware of Abbé Pierre’s misconduct years after his death, multiple sources indicate the Vatican had knowledge of his Abbé Pierre’s wrongdoings  as early as 1955. ​​Pope Francis’ approach to the issue underscored the complex institutional dynamics and longstanding patterns in how the Church has addressed abuse allegations in the past.

Despite this scandal, Pope Francis nonetheless leaves behind a vision of hope and compassion. But now, the question turns to the future: What comes next?

What Can We Expect From the Upcoming Conclave?

According to church tradition, a new pope is elected within 15 to 20 days of the previous pope’s death. A conclave — a gathering of cardinals tasked with electing the next pope — will soon convene. As dramatized in Edward Berger’s recent film Conclave this process is often full of intrigue and unpredictability. While there may be favorites, the final choice frequently defies expectations.

This election carries significant weight. Pope Francis expanded the church’s global reach by appointing numerous cardinals from Africa and Southeast Asia and championing a more inclusive worldview. But with democratic institutions retreating and nationalist movements gaining momentum across Europe and the United States, the progressive momentum he initiated now hangs in the balance.

The next pope will have enormous influence over the church’s direction. With more than 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, his voice will matter. Beyond theological and social priorities, he will also face the urgent task of reforming the Vatican’s finances and, most critically, addressing the institutional failures that have allowed sexual abuse to persist.

Photo by William Jewell College via LinkedIn.

Over the weekend of March 14, the William Jewell Speech and Debate team competed at the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence  (NPTE)and became the new national champions. Third years, Patrick Terry and Trent Dixon, spent the academic year competing against some of the most renowned debate teams in the country. For Terry and Dixon, their previous summer was filled with preparing to compete against the country’s best and they walked away as the first William Jewell National Champions since 2007. Both will be returning to the team next year as seniors and are hoping to look at an undefeated season. 

“We are hoping to maintain our NPTE championship,” Terry said.

They are wanting to make the community of debate more welcoming . Parliamentary is an impromptu style of debate that gives the competitor 30 minutes to prepare for the entire round. Once the round begins, the teams aren’t allowed to engage in research or search through their files. Therefore, the competitors have to be prepared for any possible outcome. This skill set can take months to years to master, and many debaters can still struggle with this version of the event. As stressful as this may seem for those just starting, Terry explained that the upperclassmen are always ready to help. 

“We love coaching just as much as competing,” Terry said. “It helps build a spirit of success.” 

With the season now at a close, the duo is now looking forward and focusing on what is to come. They have already started to concentrate more effort into the team building and structuring it for next year. William Jewell is continuing to find ways to support its students with the resources they need but the team’s passion has never stemmed from obtaining money. Terry described their feelings for debate as a “love for the game” and something that he wants to grow more in the upcoming months. 

“We have a dedicated team and a great staff,” Terry said.“It’s a great way to build a community.” 

As the team known as Jewell DT, or team Dixon and Terry, goes into its last year at the college, debate teams all across the country are ready to see what they accomplish next. With a winning streak hot on their heels, Terry and Dixon are excited to see what comes next for their debate careers. 

“We are hoping for an undefeated season next year,” Terry reiterated “That would be the dream.” 
The team plans to hold on to their coveted title earned with unwavering dedication in the year to come. With this spotlight being shone on the William Jewell Debate Team, the hope is that they can continue to grow and high school students will continue to come after hearing about the program. Head coach, Mason Remaley, will continue to lead the team next year and, through the dedication of Terry and Dixon, the college is able to add another national championship under its belt and expand its horizons once again.

Photo by Briana Tozour via Uplash.

If you’re looking for a good sports city and atmosphere, Kansas City is your place to be. It’s host to four major professional sports teams across three different sports: baseball, football and soccer. This article aims to be a survey of Kansas City sports, highlighting each team and providing a little history for each.

Chiefs Kingdom: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs are the oldest professional sports team in Kansas City, although they weren’t established in Kansas City. Our beloved Chiefs were established in 1960 as the Dallas Texans by then-American Football League (AFL) founder Lamar Hunt.

A minor tangent about the AFL: The AFL was created as an alternative to the NFL by Lamar Hunt. To avoid a talent war, the AFL merged with the NFL to create one league in June 1966. The AFL became the American Football Conference (AFC), whose title still bears Mr. Hunt’s name. The first AFL-NFL championship in 1967, amusingly called the World Championship, kicked off what would become the Super Bowl era.

In 1963, the Dallas Texans moved to Kansas City and rebranded as the Kansas City Chiefs. Since then, they’ve won six league titles (four Super Bowls and two AFL championships, before the AFL and the NFL merged) and are currently one of the best teams in the league. Under the leadership of star quarterback Patrick Mahomes II and head coach Andy Reid, the Chiefs have won their division for nine straight years, the AFC championship game for five of the last six years, and three Super Bowls.

On first arrival in Kansas City, they played at the Municipal Stadium on E. 22nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue. In 1972, the team moved to Arrowhead Stadium in Jackson County, where they have played for the last fifty years.

Across from Arrowhead is the second team we’ll encounter on this tour of KC sports: Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals.

The Boys Are Playing Some Ball: Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals inhabit Kauffman Stadium (in the same sports complex as Arrowhead), named after entrepreneur and philanthropist Ewing M. Kauffman. (His family foundation also contributed significantly to Kauffman Gardens and the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, both located in downtown KC.) Like the Chiefs, the Royals also played in Municipal Stadium until 1972.

The Kansas City Royals are currently in-season. As of the time of writing, they place third in the American League Central, trailing the Cleveland Guardians and the Detroit Tigers. The Royals haven’t seen as much success as the Chiefs. They’ve only won the World Series twice, in 1985 and 2015. Since that win in 2015, the Royals have only made the playoffs once.

That said, the Royals are looking to turn things around this year and build on their AL playoff appearance last season. Stars like Bobby Witt Jr. (#7) have garnered significant attention; Witt Jr. was selected as a starting shortstop on the US national baseball team. Last year, KC Royals ace Cole Ragans (#55) was named to an All-Star team, and the Royals hope he can continue to deliver.

The Other Midwestern Football: Sporting KC

Sporting KC came to Kansas City in 1996 as the Kansas City Wiz, creating electric football from the second they landed in Kansas City. A decade and a half of KC Wiz brought an MLS Cup (2000), a US Open Cup (2004), and a dramatic victory against Manchester United in 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium; Man Utd. would go on to win the English Premier League that year.

In late 2010, the Wizards rebranded as Sporting KC and opened their own stadium, Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, although they’ve kept elements of the Wiz heritage ever since. Six years of MLS playoff appearances through 2017 have been followed by what the Sporting website politely calls a “dip in form.” Although the team is third last in Major League Soccer, they’ve won two of their last three matches against St. Louis and San José.

Making a Splash: KC Current

The Kansas City Current are KC’s newest addition to professional sports, playing in the NWSL – the National Women’s Soccer League. In Dec. 2020, the NWSL awarded an expansion franchise to Kansas City, and the city was up for the challenge. KC Current owners constructed CPKC Stadium for the club, the first stadium in the world specifically created for a women’s professional sports team.

While some may be tempted to write off the Current due to a rocky start in 2021-23 (where they had two seasons placing in the bottom three), the Current have made waves in the league ever since. They qualified for the 2024 playoffs as the #4 seed and made it to the semifinals, losing to top-seed and eventual NWSL champions Orlando Pride.

The Current have substantial talent on their side, including 2024 Golden Boot winner Temwa Chawinga (#6), whose 20 goals last year set an all-time NWSL record. This year, the Current have only allowed one goal this season and won their first five regular season matches, the only team in the league to do so. Their only loss came to the North Carolina Courage on Apr. 26, 3-2.

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Whether you prefer watching boys in blue or exploring #TealTown, Kansas City knows how to bring the energy to its local sports teams. At home, away, and at the stadium, there is always a KC sports team for you to discover.

Dec. 5 declaration of exigency

From | Jewell President

To | All students

Subject | Reimagine Jewell: The Path Forward

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To our students,

We are reaching out today with an important update.

Like many small liberal arts colleges across the country with modest enrollments and endowments, Jewell is facing significant financial challenges brought about by increasing costs. There have been many strategic innovations in the last several years leading to increased enrollment, but the cost of operations has increasingly exceeded the pace of revenue. It’s essential that we confront inefficiencies to build a solid foundation for future growth and sustainability. 

The College has implemented a variety of strategic cost-cutting measures to achieve efficiencies. These included asset sales, savings on what we purchase, operational cost cuts, deferral of non-essential maintenance expense, and most recently, a reduction in administrative staff. Additional immediate cost-saving measures must be implemented to balance our budget and ensure Jewell’s future success.

Following extensive analysis and thoughtful deliberation, the William Jewell College Board of Trustees has voted to declare financial exigency, an intentional step toward creating financial stability and securing the path forward for the College. In doing so, the Board is deploying an important tool that enables reallocation of resources, restructuring of academic programs, scholarships and significant reductions in force. We will transition out of the financial exigency period in less than one year after efficiencies are being achieved according to plan.

This is a challenging time and will involve difficult decisions. Ultimately, we exist for you, our students, and your futures. We are passionately committed to navigating these challenges to transform William Jewell College—now and for decades to come. We are grateful to faculty for their collaboration and for engaging in meaningful ways in this process to ensure Jewell’s future relevance as a leading higher education institution.

A committee comprised of faculty and members of the Board of Trustees will be tasked with evaluating departments, programs and majors in the context of marketplace demands and needs of prospective students. Further details will be shared in the coming weeks as the College’s leadership, faculty and staff act to deliver programs more cost effectively and responsive to marketplace demand, while maintaining our reputation for the quality education and highly developed critical thinking skills demonstrated by our graduates. 

We recognize this is a busy time as you prepare for finals and the upcoming break, and we are here to answer as many questions as possible. Faculty Council will host open office hours from 10:45-11:55 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, in Yates Dining Room to discuss the work we are doing. We also encourage you to reach out to your faculty advisor, coach or other Jewell staff at any time, and visit jewell.edu/reimagine to learn more.

We are committed to reimagining a Jewell that serves students, employers and our Greater Kansas City community long into the future. We welcome feedback and questions at president@william.jewell.edu.

With Gratitude and For Jewell,

Bill Gautreaux, Chair – William Jewell College Board of Trustees, Class of ’85

Susan Chambers, Interim President – William Jewell College, Class of ’90

Feb. 3 academic restructuring announcement

From | President

To | All Students

Subject | Update on Academic Programs

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Dear Students,

We are glad to have you back on campus and look forward to a great spring semester. We want to update you on the College’s recent announcement and share recommendations made by the Financial Exigency Management Committee (FEMC) and approved by the Board of Trustees on January 22.

The approved plan reorganizes majors into five new Academic Divisions: 1) Business and Communication, 2) Behavioral and Natural Sciences, 3) Analytical Science, 4) Community Engagement and Applied Arts, and 5) Culture, Society and Justice. View our full list of majors at www.jewell.edu/programs.

Jewell remains committed to scholarships awarded to current students for the remainder of this year and into 2025-26. All majors, courses and athletics programs are continuing as planned for the spring 2025 semester. An athletics task force convened by the Board of Trustees and comprised of department leaders, coaches, athletic alumni and Trustees is working to complete the new vision for Cardinal Athletics before the end of the academic year.

Beginning with the 2025-26 academic year, the following majors will be phased out: Nonprofit Leadership, Healthcare Leadership, Integrated Healthcare, Theatre and Musical Theatre. Non-major programs that will be phased out include The Honors Institute, Cardinal Sound athletic band and French language courses. For students with majors being discontinued, teach-out planning is underway to ensure currently enrolled students can complete their major as planned. Despite savings from unfilled positions and 13 retirements and resignations, a reduction in force of 14 faculty and 18 staff was necessary as part of the reorganization of work college wide. This process has required much work and discussion, and we are grateful to faculty for engaging in meaningful ways in this process to ensure Jewell’s relevance as a leading higher education institution.

Students in impacted programs have been engaged by faculty and leadership to learn more and plan. Faculty advisors will be meeting soon with all student advisees to help them understand the revised academic structure and what it means for each of you.

We appreciate your support and patience as we work to sustain Jewell’s mission. We are committed to ensuring the Jewell community has the information it needs throughout this journey. Please send questions or comments directly to president@william.jewell.edu.

For Jewell,

Bill Gautreaux, Chair – William Jewell College Board of Trustees, Class of 1985

Susan Chambers, Interim President – William Jewell College, Class of 1990

Mar. 25 Core announcement

TO: All Students

FROM: The Student Success Center and Dr. Sara Morrison, Associate Dean for the Core Curriculum

RE: New Core Curriculum Requirements: Effective Immediately

DATE: March 25, 2025

As of Spring 2025, there are some changes to the Core Curriculum that have gone into effect

immediately; this memo explains the new requirements. Please read this memo in advance of

Advising Day (4-1-25) and discuss the new requirements with your academic advisor. If you have any

questions, please see your advisor or email Dr. Morrison at [institutional email redacted].

The following Core requirements are effective immediately, and Self-Service has been updated to

reflect them.

NOTE: There are two new requirements in Level 1—Writing in the Disciplines (WR, in Self-Service)

and Quantitative Reasoning (QR). All current students have likely completed these requirements

already, so this change should not affect current students.

All New Core Requirements:

• CTI 100, 150, WR or 102, QR
• World Language Requirement for BA students, up to 112
• CTI Level 2: 3 different Level 2 areas, with no exemptions based on majors
• CTI Capstone

Things to be aware of as you’re planning your Fall 2025 course schedule:

1. CTI 100, 150, and the Capstone requirements did not change.
2. World Language Requirement: BA students must complete language courses through 112.
3. Level 2 Requirements: Students are required to take courses in 3 different Level 2 areas, but those areas are their choice. There are no longer exemptions based on students’ majors. (For example, students majoring in the Sciences may now take CTI Level 2: Science, Technology, and the Human Experience.)

NOTE: Students must have Sophomore status to take CTI Level 2 courses.

4. DU/DG Requirements: This requirement has been eliminated. The majority of CTI courses have been DU/DG certfied, and maintaining a diverse curriculum remains a priority. Even though this requirement has been eliminated, students will still take courses in the Core with a focus on diversity in a range of ways.

Apr. 22 Spanish announcement

From | Dr. David Lisenby, Professor of Spanish

CC | Dr. Sara Morrison

To | All current students with a declared Spanish major or minor

Subject | Spanish major and minor program

This email is for all students with a declared major or minor in Spanish. If you are graduating in May, you may disregard. Here are several points all others should know:

1. The Spanish major will be discontinued at Jewell, but all students with a currently declared SPA major will have a pathway to program completion. This decision was made by the Financial Exigency Management Committee (FEMC).
2. The Spanish minor will be retained, and 300-level SPA courses will continue to be offered for the minor (and for already-declared majors). The minor requirements will likely be revised to increase flexibility. Any revisions will not present obstacles for students. More information to come. There are no changes to Fall 2025 SPA courses scheduled. The Spring 2026 course schedule is not yet determined and may include a 200-level SPA course as well as a 300-level SPA course, either of which would count toward the minor.
3. A new major called “Literature & Culture” is being created, and upper-level SPA courses will count toward this program. It will be available to current Jewell students as well as new ones. If you want more information, reach out to me or Dr. Sara Morrison, Professor of English ([institutional email redacted]).

The changes above will have little or no impact on academic planning for most of you. If you are a student who has not yet taken SPA 211 or 212 and have declared a Spanish major or minor, you should consult individually with me.

Reach out with any questions. I’m here to help.

Atentamente,

Dr. Lisenby