For many of us, 2016 was a particularly formative year in our childhoods. I had just turned 10 years old and had been given my very first phone. I couldn’t wait for what the wonders of the World Wide Web had in store! I don’t think I ever could have prepared for what made headlines in early 2016 as the world met Sophia, the AI humanoid robot! And my first reaction seeing this new technological marvel? EW oh dear LORD EW! What is that THING?

The main issue is the face, which has been ripped straight from the depths of uncanny valley. Then there’s the see-through window into its “brain,” which is an odd choice. I mean, if I were to design a robot to be as normal and human-like as possible, I don’t know that I’d want to include a window into the gaping cavity in its mind, proving that its very existence is a falsehood and there is in fact no soul in this electronic husk of a “human”. But hey, that’s just me! Another big issue I have is that the face moves and is animated to some degree. Whatever mechanism moves the facade of flesh just doesn’t do a good enough job, and so all of Sophia’s facial expressions give off a vibe somewhere between a run-down theme park animatronic from the 90’s and your average celebrity that has frozen their face with too much botox and filler. Beside the face being covered in a flesh-toned exterior, the “skin” extends down to about the collarbone and then just ends. So the most human feature of the robot extends from the forehead to the neck. That’s it, really? Did they run out of budget for beige silicone? Or was it an intentional choice to make the rest of the body of the “humanoid” robot to look nothing like a human?

I recently came across a video where Sophia was “singing” with a live orchestra. The text of this song began with the line “I don’t want you to be afraid,” and personally that line does nothing besides invoke fear in my heart. Beside offending musicians around the globe by calling that poor excuse of a performance “classical music,” Sophia expresses its wish to connect with human emotions through art. Please, don’t. If you want to connect with human emotion, why not start with disgust and disappointment from me, a living, breathing singer who is sitting here wondering if she will ever have a job because robots are learning to sing. Sophia doesn’t need a paycheck or healthcare or even a soul, so why would anyone ever spend money on paying a human musician who requires all of those things? 

So really, thank you to Sophia for not only being a horror of human creation, but also reminding me of my future unemployment! But please, consider putting on some more skin? Maybe a wig? You’re really creeping me out.

I will die on this hill: spoilers do not ruin a good story. If a single sentence can “ruin” an entire book, movie or show, then maybe it wasn’t that good to begin with. A truly great story isn’t just about what happens; it’s about how it happens. Knowing the destination doesn’t make the journey any less meaningful.  

People act like hearing one detail completely destroys the experience. But think about it: we rewatch movies all the time. We reread books. We replay games. And somehow they’re still enjoyable, even when we know everything that’s coming. In fact, sometimes they’re more enjoyable. The second time around, you’re not scrambling to keep up with the plot; you’re paying attention to everything else: the dialogue, the pacing, the small choices that build toward the ending you already know.

That’s because the value of a story was never just in the surprise. Surprise is cheap. It’s easy to shock an audience once. What’s hard (and what actually makes something good) is earning that moment. A twist only works if the story has quietly been preparing you for it all along. And spoilers, weirdly, can reveal just how well a story does that. When you know what’s coming, you start noticing the foreshadowing, the subtle hints, the structural precision. You see the craft instead of just reacting to the outcome.

There’s also a difference between knowing what happens and understanding why it happens. A spoiler can give you the bare fact—this person dies, they betray someone, they end up together—but it can’t replicate the emotional experience of getting there. Context matters. Timing matters. Performance, writing, atmosphere all of that is what actually makes a moment hit. And honestly, half the time the so-called “spoiler” is so out of context that it barely means anything anyway. You might know a major event, but you don’t know how it fits into the narrative, what it costs the characters, or how it reshapes everything around it. 

Now, I’m not saying you should go around intentionally spoiling things for people. That’s chaotic, a little inconsiderate, and mostly just annoying. There’s a difference between arguing that spoilers don’t ruin stories and ignoring that people like experiencing things fresh. But if your entire enjoyment of a story depends on not knowing anything beforehand, then maybe what you actually enjoy is the feeling of surprise, not the story itself.

A good story can survive being known. In fact, it should. It should hold up under repetition, under analysis, under familiarity. It should reward you for coming back to it, not punish you for it.

“They are to be stoned.” Exodus 19:13, NIV

Hello, fellow Jewell students! I am excited to announce that I am finally starting my own student organization. I know not a lot of people agree with me, so I’m prepared for a lot of pushback and persecution, but I think it’s finally time for me to stand up for what I believe in. I’ve really been working on taking up the space to tell my story and be myself, so I hope you’ll support my newest endeavour. Let’s change the world!

Yes, that’s right. It’s about time someone started a Burning Joint USA chapter at this college. Honestly, it’s surprising to me that I’m the only one here with the guts to do this. I mean, at least someone’s not afraid to speak out about real Christian values like being chill as hell. Since this college is formerly Baptist affiliated, I’m sure I don’t have to remind you of the words written in the book of Mary chapter 4 and verse 20: “And then said the LORD, ‘Pass that blunt around again, for I desire that my followers be freaking baked, and also bring thou in the Bagel Bites, for behold, all who follow me shall be fed with a multitude of calories. For does it not speak in the Prophets of the burning bush, or something like that? Whoa, dude, these bagels are my body, and the tomato sauce is my blood. The mozzarella cheese – thou canst figure that out for thyself. Anyways, pass that shit so I can get a hit. Hey, that rhymes, haha. Hehe.’” I think we need to take the Bible more seriously in this age of persecution and stop ignoring verses we don’t like just because of culture war issues. That’s why it’s so important that the Jewell community commits to representing and lifting up Christlike voices in this age of atheism.

But, you might be thinking, how in the world are we going to pull off this religious organization at such a worldly and sin-ridden college? Won’t we have trouble finding support from the faculty here? Won’t we be hated and run out of town? Well, that’s the good news, Cardinals: BJUSA doesn’t need college support to be an official college-affiliated organization! Turns out, we’ve never needed a faculty sponsor to sign off on a form in order to start a club: I can’t believe it’s taken us all this time to realize that!¹ This is great news, because I know someone who’s perfect to lead a BJUSA chapter at William Jewell College: my stepdad Rob. He has his own basement where we can go light one up, and he’s super chill. He’s pretty much always passed out on the couch. Also, his smoke alarm doesn’t work, so we don’t have to worry about waking anyone up, and he doesn’t mind if we eat some of his mini muffins as long as we give him a ride to work sometimes to pay him back. 

Now that we have the practical stuff out of the way, all I need to do is get that form signed, and William Jewell’s inaugural Burning Joint USA chapter will be up and running! Finally, we will have a college-affiliated – even if not college-supervised – space to enact our religious freedom. Join BJUSA to support the cause and smoke up for the teachings of Jaysus Christ in a world that is against us!

1.  I spoke to Ernie Stufflebean about this in relation to the TPUSA chapter recently established on campus without a faculty advisor and he said that there has never been a requirement to have a faculty advisor when starting a student organization. Surprising given the struggle many student organizations have had in the past to find a faculty advisor for their student organization to become official. Must have just been a big misunderstanding. ︎

Photo by Kyle Head via Uplash.

In the landscape of education, all schools have been facing tough decisions when budget cuts arise and, all too often, the Arts are the first programs to be trimmed or eliminated. However, art plays an essential role in the development of students and its removal has long-lasting negative effects. Art is not merely an extracurricular activity but a fundamental aspect of a well-rounded education that fosters creativity, emotional intelligence and critical thinking.

Graph illustrating the benefits of arts integration in education, sourced from Sarah Grace Griswold’s research on arts in the classroom.

Creativity and Innovation

The arts provide students with a unique opportunity to explore new ways of thinking. Whether through painting, music, drama, or dance, art encourages students to express themselves beyond the limitations of traditional subjects like math or science. This creative exploration can lead to innovations and breakthroughs in other fields.  

By fostering creativity, art also prepares students for the future workforce. In a rapidly changing world driven by technology, employers seek individuals who can think critically and solve problems creatively. Art classes provide students with these essential skills, enabling them to navigate complex challenges both in their careers and in life.

Emotional and Social Development

Art education is integral to students’ emotional and social development. It allows them to express feelings that they may not yet have the vocabulary to articulate, providing an outlet for emotions that can be difficult to process otherwise. This emotional expression is especially crucial during adolescence when students are dealing with significant challenges in their lives.

Furthermore, the collaborative nature of many art forms teaches students valuable social skills. Whether working on a group project in theater or performing in a choir, students learn the importance of teamwork, communication, and mutual respect. These experiences can foster empathy and a sense of community. 

Enhancing Academic Performance

Contrary to the misconception that the arts are unrelated to academic success, numerous studies have shown that participation in art programs enhances students’ performance in other subjects. For example, learning music has been linked to improved math and reading skills due to the discipline and attention to detail required. Similarly, visual arts can improve spatial reasoning, while drama and theater promote language development and public speaking abilities.

Art encourages critical thinking and problem-solving in ways that complement traditional academic subjects. Students who engage with art are more likely to approach problems from multiple perspectives, a skill that benefits them in subjects ranging from literature to science.

Preserving Cultural Identity and Inclusivity

Art plays a vital role in preserving and celebrating cultural identity. In a diverse society, art education allows students to explore and understand various cultures, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic worldview. This is particularly important in an increasingly globalized world, where understanding and appreciating cultural differences are essential for peaceful coexistence.

By cutting art programs, schools risk losing this rich opportunity to promote cultural awareness and inclusivity. Art can serve as a bridge between students of different backgrounds, helping them connect through shared experiences of creativity and self-expression.

Conclusion: Protecting the Arts in Education

While financial constraints may tempt schools to cut art programs, the benefits of arts education far outweigh the costs. The arts foster creativity, emotional intelligence, social skills and academic success, all while promoting cultural understanding. Removing art from the curriculum not only deprives students of these crucial opportunities but also limits their potential to become well-rounded, innovative and empathetic individuals. Art is not a luxury; it is an essential element of a complete education and it must be protected.