Third floor – Pryor Learning Commons

Pryor Learning Commons’ third floor may be the most well-known studying spot on campus. This space features collaborative seating areas, two sound-proof conference rooms and a coffee shop, The Beak. With floor-to-ceiling windows facing East and West, the area is illuminated by the morning’s soft yellow glow and the afternoon’s warm orange tint. Located just off the quad, students often use this spot to grab a coffee, chat and relax in-between classes.

Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. — especially on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — the floor tends to be bustling with students. Before and after hours, however, the area holds a professionally productive atmosphere with plenty of space and seating for all types of studying styles.

Second floor – Pryor Learning Commons

The second floor of Pryor Learning Commons is a place for when peace and quiet is a necessity for studying. Ubiquitously known as a quiet area, the only sounds that tend to echo the floor are frantic typing, occasional printing and the whispers of those passing by. Although the floor’s muted atmosphere is typically widely respected by students, especially loud chatter from the third floor can bleed in during social hours. As with the third floor, floor-to-ceiling windows line the East wall of this area, allowing students to enjoy natural lighting in the mornings.
The second floor also hosts part of the Critical Foundations Collections library, from which anyone can pick up a book and start reading. Conference rooms and staff offices border the West wall, and an impressive variety of seating arrangements divides the floor. Daytime or nighttime, the second floor is a favorite among students looking to cram with no distractions.

Biochem Library – White Science Center

A hidden gem in White Science Center, the Biochem Library is the epitome of cozy and productive. Although the room is primarily used by STEM students, those of all majors may find themselves paying the library a visit from time to time. Located on the first floor, next to Lecture Hall 107, the library is just a short walk away from the department’s professor offices and labs. While students are allowed to open the windows, noise from the faculty parking lot, construction zone and football field tends to reverberate into the room.

In collaboration with Tri-Beta, the Biology department cultivates an array of plants upon the east-facing window sills, adding to the room’s feng shui. Currently, the science departments are working on updating the library this fall by trimming their massive textbook selection and introducing a new carpet; they hope students and faculty can better utilize this area following the renovations.

Physics Lounge – White Science Center

As one of the newer additions to White Science Center, the Physics Lounge is a popular study spot on campus. Students often meet with physics professors in this area — on account that their offices line the East wall. With comfortable couches amidst traditional tables and chairs, students can take advantage of the lounge’s versatility as a collaborative environment or individual study space. However, with the west wall made entirely of glass, the lounge is not free from distraction as students funnel in and out of the nearby lecture room WSC 304. 

Regardless, the space is a favorite for campus organizations looking to hold collaborative sessions, such as for the weekly “Physics Minute” meetings hosted by the Physics Department.

IdeaX Lounge – Jewell Hall

Unknown to many, the IdeaX Lounge in Jewell Hall was designed with collaborative study in mind. Featuring comfortable seating and plenty of outlets, students often use this space for work-focused meetings and study sessions. Although the room’s three televisions are not set up, students can still utilize the whiteboard walls, multiple seating areas and surplus of outlets. The lounge’s couches and chairs are movable, so students can be sure that they can arrange the room as needed.

Compared to last year, not as many students have been seen using the lounge. As an added bonus, students can reserve this room via 25Live for organization meetings or set study times.

Second Floor – The Union

The second floor of the Union is more of a social study area, but nevertheless, it remains an excellent place to hold study groups or conduct meetings. Connecting to the Union’s atrium, the area’s classy atmosphere tends to suffer during lunch and dinner hours as students bustle in and out of the cafeteria. However, many students may enjoy the openness of the floor, multiple seating sections and ambient music outside of dining hours. With its obvious proximity to the cafeteria, many student groups choose to hold informal lunch meetings during Jewell time on this floor to avoid unnecessarily long walks to the PLC.

Around the corner of the seating areas lies the Multicultural room, the Career Development office and one of the nicest restrooms on campus. The Multicultural room serves as a safe space for student organizations dedicated to enhancing diversity and inclusivity at Jewell; often the room is used for recurring meetings such as for BSA, Mi Gente, QUILTBAG and GIFT. Students are welcome to study, socialize and support each other in the Multicultural room as long as they leave the area tidy.

Outside – The Quad

As the weather cools down, studying outside proves to be a popular option among students. At all hours of the day, students can be seen occupying the benches, tables and scenic nooks all over The Quad. On nicer days, professors even teach classes outside, pulling a whiteboard in front of the PLC as students sit upon the steps. On hot afternoons, the sun unrelentingly batters The Quad, so students should choose shaded areas or stay hydrated during these hours. Additionally, students with allergies may come to despise the many flowers, plants and grass yards that divide the courtyard; however, when the weather is in the mid-60’s and the sun is peeking through the trees, there is nothing quite like the tranquility of studying alongside nature.

Photos by Liz Payton and Koda Payton.

This letter was submitted to The Hilltop Monitor by Calvin Heit, president of College Republicans and first-year Oxbridge institutions & policy and international relations major.

On Wednesday March 31, I placed College Republicans fliers in the Pryor Learning Commons with the intent to build some new momentum for the club and promote our sign-up table in the Union on April 19. 

However, that Saturday morning I received word that the fliers were vandalized, ridden with hateful messages. “Republican Party” was replaced with “white supremacy.” They also claimed that College Republicans had blood on their hands. The act itself was incredibly upsetting, but I was even more upset that this happened on our campus. 

I knew the fliers would generate some disagreement from a large portion of our student population, but I honestly did not believe that kind of hate existed on this campus. These kinds of acts highlight the importance and necessity of clubs like College Republicans and College Democrats in promoting civility about issues filled with division. Despite the hate exhibited by this act, I am confident this incident can spark a period of growth for all of us here at William Jewell College.

Since joining College Republicans, I have been increasingly excited about the future of the club, so this kind of retaliation felt personal. It was not the civility and respect that are supposed to constitute so much of our campus’ identity and culture. It is the purpose of our club to add to the civility and constructive discourse at Jewell. 

We are not here to be exclusive, talk trash to those with differing opinions, or plan a riot on the steps of Jewell Hall. Indeed, it is essential for clubs like College Republicans to promote a diversity of perspectives. We, as future leaders, cannot sacrifice original or constructive thinking because we are afraid to be wrong – let alone when a member of the Jewell community attempts to deride it through misrepresentation. It is our aim to create a constructive and well-informed discussion of what it means to be a Republican in the 21^st Century, and foster respect in our bifurcated political discourse. We should all strive to improve our understanding and beliefs through civil discourse and experience – most importantly with people whose beliefs differ from our own.

Jewell’s commitment to inclusivity and civility is admirable, exemplified in its CTI curriculum and branding. However, we still have a long way to go, together. We place a lot of emphasis on being empathetic and understanding of someone else’s identity, be it socio-economic, ethnic, race, gender, sexuality or anything else. That is fantastic and should be continued and encouraged as much as possible. But empathy is not confined to understanding others’ identities, it also requires respect for their ideas and values that differ from your own. 

Civil interaction between differing ideas and agendas is what drives the advancement of our society, both academically and culturally. Music, technology, art, marketing, sports, are all advanced when diverse sets of well-informed, experienced individuals participate in civil discussion about the future. That is what we as future leaders must strive to encourage, just as much as the inclusivity of identities. It is of course a noble effort to vie for equality of people, but in order to produce a better world for our future selves and our children, we must also strive for the civility of ideas.

We, College Republicans at Jewell, want to attract people of all sorts to discuss how to build a better America, one based on strong individuality and families – that ensures the protection of freedoms and rights without the abdication of responsibility or duty. We will oppose any unjust discrimination against any persons or groups on the grounds of race or ethnicity, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation or birthplace. 

We stand for an American future that is both anchored and open. We acknowledge the wealth of discussions and debates about these issues across the U.S. and within the Republican Party. But we are very confident that many Americans – of all sorts of colors, identities and creeds – will find these ideas attractive as we work together to reform American political life.

By the way, we know that everyone will not agree with our ideas. That is why we will never ask Jewell’s Student Senate to use your student fees to go to our club. We challenge other political clubs at Jewell to do the same.

So to whoever wrote those horrible things on our fliers, thank you. You have exposed a problem on our campus that we should all commit to removing. I was insulted to be told I have blood on my hands, as if my ideals and beliefs celebrate violence or violate morality. As if the Republican party, like any other large ideological group, is defined solely by its worst actors, not those attempting to improve and redefine it. 

In order to truly achieve our goals of equality and inclusivity, we must also strive for civility and respect, which I know we are all capable of. Take this event not as one of injury for our student body, but as one of growth for our campus community. When faced with problems like this, we must look it square in the eyes and never back down. That is why political clubs exist, and it is how civility and respect will carry all of us into the future. See you April 19.

Letters to the editor can be submitted for publication by emailing monitor@william.jewell.edu.

Have you ever wondered what the most talked about subjects are at William Jewell College? Since The Hilltop Monitor is the No. 1 source for all on campus news, we’ve compiled this list of the most common sayings that can be overhear in the Pryor Learning Center. After months of research and careful note taking, this is what we’ve found.

1. “I just really want it to snow again!”
2. “So last night I was thinking about Mill again. That book really changed my life.”
3. “Can you imagine if Jewell was cliquey like high school was?”
4. “Did you hear they might be shutting down all the frats and sororities? Apparently no one joins them.”
5. “Spring break was so long. I just wanted to be back on campus the whole time.”
6. “I don’t know why more people don’t join the Oxbridge program. It’s so fun and easy!”
7. “Did you hear Jewell won the game last night?”
8. “There are so many fun things to do in Liberty! I’m so glad we’re not downtown.”
9. “Honestly I wish my classes were harder. They’re just all too easy.”
10. “I was going to major in business administration but I was worried it’d be too hard.”