Injuries are common in sports at any level and here at William Jewell College our athletes are no exception. We’ve all had friends with broken arms, sprained ankles and torn ACLs from last week’s game. But how those athletes received medical care was not always the same. 

Up until this year, it was largely up to the student to pay for their own healthcare. Athletes could opt-in to a college sponsored insurance plan, but most chose to remain on their parent’s insurance, and every insurance is different. That meant that some injuries did not just result in missed playing time and trips to the doctor –- it meant thousands of dollars in medical bills. 

Students have pushed for the college to front mounting medical bills, but budget restrictions meant that was not possible –- until now. 

In an Aug. 2nd press release, Jewell and Liberty Hospital announced a new partnership centered on care for student athletes. 

In the release, it said that this partnership would provide an “enhanced level of care [that] includes but is not limited to athletic training, strength and conditioning, physical therapy, and care from physicians and orthopedic surgeons.” 

The main benefit of this new partnership is that there is now no cost of care for student athletes; there is no out-of-pocket cost for any Cardinal athlete or member of the spirit squad. 

“This new insurance policy was necessary because athletes weren’t getting the financial support they deserve for injuries during a Jewell-sponsored athletic events or practice,” said Kaylie Kapplemann, sophomore psychology and non-profit double major and member of the women’s soccer team. 

After breaking her leg in a game last year, Kapplemann voiced her concerns to President MacLeod Walls and Tom Eisenhauer, Director of Athletics. 

“Jewell had the lowest insurance policy in the conference. Thus, to keep up with our conference and other D2 schools, it was necessary to make an effort to get full coverage for Jewell athletes,” said Kapplemman.  

The new insurance policy is a huge relief to athletes who no longer have to worry about paying for care for their injuries. 

“It’s nice to know that if I get hurt  I’ll have it taken care of with this new partnership – that’s an added bonus” said Nicholas Bradley, senior accounting major and member of the men’s basketball team. 

Campus officials also seem excited about the new insurance plan. 

“The partnership builds upon strengths of two Liberty institutions, allowing each to focus on its core expertise while ensuring the health and vitality of the students we serve,” MacLeod Walls said in the press release. 

Eisenhauer said “ I am confident this partnership allows us to provide support better than we ever have before.” 

Students are already starting to see the payoffs of the new policy. 

“I think this new policy is excellent and a huge step in the right direction for Jewell athletes,” Kappelmann said.  “Already, I’ve noticed a considerable difference, especially in the training room with the number of trainers and staff in there throughout the day to help athletes with whatever they need.”

The new insurance plan is effect for the 2019-2020 school year. No word has been released yet about extending the policy long term.

The U.S. Federal Government just reopened after the longest shutdown in its history. For 35 days government employees across the country were told not to come to work, while others who were deemed essential were forced to work without pay.

The shutdown started Dec. 21 when Congress refused to approve a spending budget for 2019. The main point of contention was over a majority of representatives, most of whom were Democrats, refusing to funnel $5.7 billion into building a wall along the southern border. Several Republicans claim the wall, which was a quintessential element of Trump’s 2016 campaign, will solve what they call an immigration crisis at the U.S. southern border.

President Trump claimed he would make Mexico pay for the wall. However, in May of 2018 , Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto responded to one of Trump’s tweets saying his country would never pay for a border wall.

Eager to please his base and fulfill his campaign promises, Trump told Congress in December he would not approve any spending bill that does not contain funds for a steel wall. Thus, the longest government shutdown in history began.

Congress and the president agreed to end the shutdown Jan. 26 when they passed a three-week spending bill that did not include funds for the border wall. While the problem has been temporarily solved, the long-term impact of the shutdown is still unknown. The economic impact of the government shutdown in 1995, which previously held the record for the longest shutdown at 21 days, was estimated to be $1.4 billion,  equivalent to approximately $2.1 billion today.

Rental assistant was delayed, and TSA, Coast Guard and FBI officials were forced to work long hours without pay. Some National Parks were open but not adequately staffed, and visitors caused damage that could take more than 200 years to fix.

Perhaps the effect of the shutdown that will hurt Americans the most is the cutbacks at the International Revenue Service (IRS). 89 percent of IRS employees were furloughed or working without pay. With tax season looming closer, tax returns are expected to be severely delayed and there is a chance some Americans may not receive them at all.

The effects of the closing of the Federal Government spread far beyond Washington D.C. Approximately 9,000 federal employees were furloughed in the Kansas City area. The majority of those workers are from the IRS office where they were forced to work without pay. Unlike other employees affected by the shutdown, they could not apply for a second job to make up for lost funds.

Without an income for a month, federal workers in the city organized a protest in front of the IRS building to voice their frustrations Jan. 10. The streets were crowded with angry employees about to miss their first paycheck and passerbys could hear cries of “Hey, hey, ho, ho, government shutdown got to go”.  Little did they know the shutdown would last another 15 days and cost them two more paychecks.

The shutdown also caused federal court cases to be delayed and may cause delays in February food-stamps in Kansas and Missouri. Most of the people who receive food stamps have children and/or family members with disabilities.

The shutdown also had major implications for the Kansas City International Airport (MCI). Air traffic controllers were forced to work without pay. Jan. 17 controllers protested their situation by handing out fliers to travelers. They read in part “No one should be under the illusion that it’s business as usual for aviation safety during the shutdown.” There were also longer lines and flight delays thanks to TSA officers who were not being paid.

The shutdown also delayed the building process of the new single-terminal airport. Before construction crews can begin the 3 year-long project, the plan has to be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The shutdown meant there was no one available to approve the environmental assessment. There has been no update on the issue since the shutdown ended.

The government is now open again, but if Congress does not approve a long-term spending plan the country will face another shutdown Feb. 15. The odds of the Democrats and Republicans coming to an agreement over border security do not look promising.

The president himself has even seemingly given up on negotiations, tweeting “Democrats, despite all the evidence and Caravans coming, are not going to give money to build the DESPERATELY  needed WALL.” He also said since the Democratic House will likely not pass a bill with funding for the wall, “There’s a good chance we’ll have to [declare a national emergency].”  

If he does declare a national emergency, the president could take funds from the the Pentagon’s military construction budget to build the wall without congressional approval. A state of emergency would give Trump a arsenal of executive power he has not had access to and limit any control the other two branches would have over his actions.

If Congress does not pass a spending bill and the president does not declare a national emergency, there could be another government shutdown. This time, many federal workers will not have a safety net to fall back on, having spent their savings in December and January. Kansas Citians could expect long lines at MCI airport, federal workers lining up at food banks, delayed tax returns and delayed food stamps, plus many other unknown ramifications. This means the city – and the county – could be in major social and economic trouble in the near future.

The New York Times published an anonymous editorial Sept. 5 that sent shockwaves through the country and White House officials scrambling for answers. The piece, written by a senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration, claims the White House is a rogue state where senior staff members must secretly protect the nation from the “misguided impulses” of the president. It also claims those staff members have formed a secret resistance and are essentially running the country instead of the president.

The revelation of a chaotic state of affairs within the White House is no surprise. People ranging from former FBI Director James Comey to former White House aid Omarosa Manigault Newman have made their disastrous experiences with the president well known the minute they left the White House.

In the year and a half since Trump took office, whispers of chaos, instability and cover-ups have circulated throughout the media. It only takes a few minutes on Twitter to notice the president is prone to quick judgments and quick actions. Rumors of what staffers call an interior “resistance” are as old as the president’s administration. This anonymous editorial confirmed those rumors.

Instead of focusing on the alarming allegations, much of the focus is on whether The Times should have published the anonymous editorial in the first place.

Anonymous editorials are rare. According to The Times op-ed editor, James Dao, the newspaper has published anonymous articles before, but it is only done when the safety of the writer is at stake. Earlier this year, The Times published an anonymous opinion piece by an asylum seeker from Guatemala. In 2016, the newspaper made the same decision to protect a Syrian refugee.

There is no doubt that if the newspaper used Anonymous’ real name, the White House would have immediately fired that person. If the unnamed author is exposed, and resistance loses a vital member, the country is left unprotected.

Trump and his team rebuffed the editorial, claiming its contents are an issue of “national security.” Trump immediately turned to Twitter and wrote “TREASON?”

In my opinion, the information provided by Anonymous was, as Dao says, “an important piece of opinion journalism.” It is only through reporting by those who interact with the president on a day-to-day basis that the public can grasp the dysfunction within the White House.

The most shocking revelation was that staffers have discussed invoking the 25th amendment. This would have officially declared the President of the United States unfit to hold office. The significance of this cannot be overlooked.  

I understand why President Trump considers this article a threat to national security. He clearly doesn’t want everyone around the world to see the fragility of the United States and the disarray within the president’s inner circle.

But I believe the only way to fix the issues that plague this nation is to embrace The Times and the anonymous author. The American people need to know the truth about the state of their union. We have to expose problems in order to fix them.

Whether you agree with the president’s decision or the motives of the anonymous senior official, this country is better because of watchdogs like The Times. This is the role of journalism.  

The media serves this country by providing a place where important information can be shared with the public and problems can be exposed. Without journalists, chaos and instability would reign free.

I understand many people are upset The Times allowed an anonymous person to write an editorial. Without knowing the source, we have to trust the Times’ vetting process. I do.

Newspapers rely on anonymous sources all the time. During the Watergate scandal, The Washington Post received an anonymous information from an informant they named ‘Deep Throat,’ and clearly, Deep Throat’s information was correct.  

What makes this article different is the informant was not just a source for a news story. They became the story. By identifying themselves as part of the resistance to the president, they confirmed the country’s worst fears. The leader of the free world is not in a position to lead.

I believe The Times decided to publish an anonymous editorial instead of a news story because it was guaranteed to stand out and grab people’s attention. The anonymous nature of the editorial, and the key insight the author provides, gives credence to the gravity of the situation in the West Wing.

Most of the information the editorial contained is not new. Dozens of former employees have disclosed similar concerns. What is new is that this information came from someone still in the White House who is willing to protect the country from Trump’s “impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective” leadership style.

Some will continue to criticize The New York Times for publishing the article, but we should all be glad to live in a society where the press has such freedom. Journalistic integrity was put to the test this week, but The Times’ editorial staff showed the intrinsic value of a free and open press.

I applaud The Times for publishing the article. It gave the public an unprecedented inside look at the dangerous turmoil that exists within the White House. That is access the public could never see without the unnamed author.

Photo courtesy of Declan & Company.

Mural on the Liberty Square.

The recently completed $5 million renovations to the Historic Downtown Liberty started a renaissance – one that merchants say they hope will attract William Jewell College students. The renovation updated 80 year-old infrastructure, and the city added new landscaping, lights and benches. It also widened the sidewalks to 14 feet wide throughout the square, making it more pedestrian-friendly and compliant to ADA requirements.

The renovations have re-energized the downtown area.

“Now the Square is almost full… (it is) absolutely due to the facelift,” said Rob Jones, president of Historic Downtown Liberty Inc.

Jones was optimistic about a renewed connection with Jewell and its students. He says President MacLeod Walls has been more receptive to fostering community ties than previous presidents.

The HDLI is excited about Jewell students being back on campus and hopes they will spend time on the Square.

In the past few years, the Square has added more local business that cater to college students like Hammerhand Coffee shop, Rock and Run Bar and Grille and boutiques such as Nickel and Suede and Wild Juniper. The HDLI is looking into creating a discount program for Jewell students at some of the businesses. For instance, Hammerhand offers a 10 percent discount to Jewell students.

HDLI is also sponsoring 4th Fridays, which encourages businesses to stay open later on the fourth Friday of each month. They hope this will attract students and other community members to check out stores they may miss otherwise.

The Square will host its first annual Tea Crawl this Saturday, Sept. 8, from 5-7 p.m.

The update also included the new Public Art Sculpture Program. The program, now in its second year, features six original three-dimensional sculptures displayed around the Square. At the end of the one-year period, the Liberty Arts Commissions will pick the most popular sculpture and purchase it for the city.

Spiral Blooms #6 – Spring Buds; Artist: Christopher Thompson; Forged steel and powder coat

Thought of a Trebble Clef; Artist: John Banks; Artist website: sculpturebyjohnbanks.com

Open Heart; Artist: Matthew Duffy; Welded, laser-cut aluminum diamond plate

The new sculptures were unveiled in July and will be up for students to look at all year. For students interested in the artwork, download the Otocast app to hear the artists describe their work and vote on which sculpture the city should buy.

The updated Square also features the Great American Sculpture Series. The series began in 2013 with a statue of George Washington and was continued in 2016 with Mark Twain. The Arts Commission has announced their next American hero to be embodied will be a woman, though they have not decided on the model. The finished sculpture will be unveiled in June of 2019, in celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the passing of the 19th amendment in Missouri.

“It’s about time we have a woman,” said Jones.

Sculpture of Lawrence “China” Slaughter, a crossing guard in Liberty from the mid-’50s to the early ’80s.

A key element of the downtown update was maintaining the architectural integrity of the historic square and establishing the city as a National Main Street member, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“Preservation is a hallmark of main street communities,” said Vicki Vance, executive director of HDLI.

During the two year project, the design team was careful to maintain as much of the historic charm as possible. They managed to save parts of the large marble markers on the sidewalks at each intersection, and they built the new sidewalks around the remains.

While the new programs and improved streets have been popular, some local residents who did not want to be named, had some concerns with the changes. They claim the two-year makeover stripped the town of some of its history. Their biggest criticism is the removal of the brick-lined streets. Some citizens also don’t like the changes made to the large marble markers at the sidewalks at each intersection.

Residents also cite concerns about the year-long delays in construction and the frequent flooding and loss of power during the remodel as problems with the update.

The HDLI, however, claims the remodel has been a success and has triggered an uptick in business and tourism. The organization did not provide the figures to support those claims as they only began tracking last year.

While the Downtown Square has seen huge improvements recently, other parts of Liberty have also had serious upgrades. The new Liberty Commons, located at the southeast corner of I-35 and 152, was finished in July. The $85 million investment boost 15 stores, seven restaurants and is adjacent to the new B&B theater.

Jones and Vance are not worried about the new shopping centers in Liberty. They say the differences in the atmosphere of the newer parts of Liberty and the Historic Downtown mean they do not compete for business. While the Liberty Commons is home to well know chain stores, the majority of businesses in the Square are locally-owned small businesses and boutiques.

“When you’re shopping here you will probably meet the owner of the store,” said Vance.

Jones and Vance, are confident the charm of local business will continue to lure students and other members of the community.

“There’s just something about a town square that attracts people,” said Vance.

Mural on the Liberty Square.

Photos courtesy of Cassie Hayes.