On Nov. 3, William Jewell College’s Student Senate hosted their first Town Hall meeting of the academic year. At the meeting, the Student Senate Cabinet and six Senate Commissioners presented proposed initiatives that they plan to work on throughout the upcoming semesters. After the presentation, those  in attendance were encouraged to ask questions and discuss additional issues not addressed by the Senate Commissioners.

In 2021, Student Senate narrowed down their list of student representatives to include just a handful of Commissioners to represent six aspects of life at Jewell: Academic Affairs; Diversity and Inclusion; Student-Athletics; Residence Life; Greek Life; and Student Involvement. Accordingly, each Commissioner is responsible for addressing issues raised by students regarding those specific areas, while the Student Senate Cabinet oversees the organization’s operations.

Among the 2022-23 Senate Commissioners is a temporary student representative specifically dedicated to resolving any mold issues experienced by students.

A common theme of the presentations and the Town Hall — as well as the interviews below — is the importance of student involvement to Student Senate’s mission. Student Senate hopes to improve Jewell through changes that are meaningful and important to students. The Senate explains, however, this can only accomplished if they know what the student body feels needs to be improved. Student Senate asks the student body to attend the future Town Hall meetings and to reach out at any time to suggest changes or discuss challenges. Student Senate can be reached via email at senate@william.jewell.edu. Each Senate Commissioner can also be contacted through their individual emails (listed below). 

The Nov. 6 Town Hall meeting was an introduction to this year’s Student Senate Cabinet, the Commissioners and their goals. Below is an interview with three Senate Commissioners and a summary of the initiatives put forth for this year.

President of Student Senate and Senate Commissioner for Academic Affairs Ben Wardlow, sophomore Oxbridge institutions and policy, and philosophy major.

How long have you been a part of Student Senate?

This is my second year of serving on Student Senate. Last year I was the Senator for Academic Affairs.

Is there anything you would like the students to know about you?

Despite holding the position of Student Senate President for only three months, serving the students of William Jewell College has been one of my greatest honors and privileges. 

On the Hill, in addition to the roles I hold in Student Senate, I am a Cardinal Host and a Cardinal Blazer. I am majoring in both Oxbridge institutions & policy and philosophy. Off the Hill, I am a fellow in the 2022-23 National Humanities Leadership Council and am an intern at the law firm of Johnson, Vorhees and Martucci.

What is the most valuable information you want students to know about the Nov. 3 Town Hall?

The Town Hall was intended to convey to all students the issues and initiatives that each Senator is resolved to work on this year. A majority of those issues and initiatives are [detailed below].

When can we expect another town hall?

Student Senate is planning to host another Town Hall in February 2023. The exact date of that Town Hall is [yet to be determined].

Is there anything else you would like to add?

This year, Student Senate has already dealt with, and will continue to deal with, issues that significantly impact the quality of the student experience. The individuals who compose this year’s Student Senate are both competent to serve – and passionate about serving – the student body. However, the extent to which Student Senate is effective in promoting the quality of the student experience is dependent on how engaged the student body chooses to be in Student Senate’s initiatives. Consequently, I challenge all Jewell students to become more engaged with the efforts of Student Senate.

Senate Commissioner for Diversity and Inclusion Erin Wenzel, first-year psychology major.

How long have you been a part of Student Senate?

This is my first year.

Is there anything you would like the students to know about you?

Part of having that job title means that I’m working with the Diversity and Inclusion department here at [Jewell]. The majority of what I’m doing this year is working with students and student groups to better understand the issues [that] students are facing.

What is the most valuable information you want students to know about the Nov. 3 Town Hall?

The most important point I want people to take away from the town hall is this: If you see a problem here at Jewell that you feel the Student Senate should address, then please reach out and tell us. 

My job – and the job of everyone else on the Senate – is to serve the students of Jewell. Unfortunately, we are a relatively small group of people when compared to the student body, which means there are many problems students face that we are unaware of. To combat this we turn to you, the students, and ask you to use your voice and bring these issues to our attention. We can only find solutions to problems we are aware of, so if there is a problem going unanswered by the Senate, then make us aware. Come to Town Hall meetings, email [Student] Senate or even message the Commissioners directly. Use your voice so that we can use ours. Together we can create a campus environment that is safer, stronger and more inclusive for all students, both current and future. 

The Student Senate email is: senate@william.jewell.edu.

What can students expect from you this year?

There are two big problems I will be working to solve this year. First, I will be addressing the deadnaming issue in the student records and emails. I’ll be working to find a more permanent solution –  rather than students being forced to manually change their name in the records each year, only for the problem to repeat in the following year.

Second, I will be working to improve the accessibility of Jewell’s campus. This could include building a ramp or other wheelchair-accessible devices outside of the Mathes dorm building as there are [currently] no wheelchair accessible entrances to the building. This project will potentially extend further into the coming years as the planning and approval process, as well as construction, could take longer than the time remaining in this school year.

Senate Commissioner for Students’ Charter of Rights and Responsibilities Matthew Parker, first-year Oxbridge institutions and policy major.

How long have you been a part of Student Senate?

I am a freshman, so this is my first year on Student Senate. I’ve been intending to be part of Student Senate since I decided to attend Jewell, having learned about Student Senate from the current President Ben Wardlow while on a campus visit in April of this year.

Is there anything you would like the students to know about you?

As a member of Student Senate, my dedication is to a pair of principles. The first is that Senators are here to express and actualize the will of the students whom they represent, and the second is that Senators must put the good of the student body and of the College before personal expediency. I hope — and indeed believe — that I speak for all of Student Senate in affirming that I will be operating by these principles for my entire time on Student Senate, this academic year and hopefully beyond.

What is the most valuable information you want students to know about the Nov. 3 Town Hall?

The Student Senate Town Halls are your best opportunity to express your perspective as a student to us as members of Student Senate, and [attending] is the best way for us as members of that Senate to do our job of representing you and your interests accurately and fairly.

What can students expect from you this year?

What students can expect from us as Student Senate is that we as a collective will work to collaborate with both students and college administration to improve the student experience at Jewell and to improve the currently strained state of student-administration relations. What students can expect from me personally is a visible and active presence in the student body, a ready ear willing to listen to your views and wishes and a dedicated representative who will serve the interests of his community.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

If I would add one thing, it would be a simple plea to the Jewell community: Be involved with Student Senate; participate in the Town Halls; discuss challenges you are facing with members of the Senate. You have the power to improve your student experience, and we as Student Senate are here to serve as the tools for you to express your wishes, but your wishes are only heard and acted on if we can hear your voice.

Senate Commissioner for Student-Athletics Aubrey Avalos, junior political science and international relations major.

How long have you been a part of Student Senate? 

I have been a part of the Senate since September of this year. 

Is there anything you would like the students to know about you?

I am a super-involved student and am here to help all students. I obviously primarily focus on athletes, but I am here to help Jewell be a better place for all students. If there is anything you think would be helpful, please let me know. I love talking about new ideas.

What is the most valuable information you want students to know about the Nov. 3 Town Hall?

 At the townhall I announced my major initiatives I am working on. These include:

1. Increasing mental health resources for student-athletes. I am currently working with school administration to seek out specialized mental health resources for student-athletes. 

2. Creating a better balance between academics and athletics. To aid student-athletes – and any other organizations – with academics when traveling, we are working on getting [Wi-Fi] hotspots for students that are traveling for Jewell-related activities.

3. Our last goal is more intended for the whole student body. We are attempting to create an overall better athletics experience. What this means is making the game environment more energetic and active. We are working with the [Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)] to plan some fun activities during basketball season. We are also working with other Commissioners to pursue long-term goals like creating a better game culture at Jewell.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I would like to add, on the last goal, if you have ANY input please let me know. I want to hear from as many students as possible to learn about what the student body wants to see at athletics events.

General issues and initiatives of Student Senate

Senate Cabinet

• President Ben Wardlow (wardlowb.21@william.jewell.edu)
• Vice President Tatyana Turner (turnert.21@william.jewell.edu)
• Records and Finance Officer Ian Wooldridge (wooldridgei.21@william.jewell.edu)

General Initiatives

• Senate Commissioner for Students’ Charter of Rights and Responsibilities Matthew Parker (parkerm.22@william.jewell.edu)

1. Generate incentives that encourage more students to stay on campus during the weekends.
2. Ensure that the Charter of Students’ Rights and Responsibilities is respected.
3. Secure more convenient dining hall hours on weekends, specifically during conventional breakfast hours.
4. Improve the quality of lighting on campus.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

• Senate Commissioner Diversity and Inclusion Erin Wenzel (wenzele.22@william.jewell.edu)

1. Make campus more wheelchair accessible.
2. Rectify the issue of deadnaming with regards to student emails and financial aid services.
3. Roll out the Intercultural Development Inventory.

Student-Athletics Initiatives

• Senate Commissioners for Student-Athletes Aubrey Avalos (avalosa.20@william.jewell.edu); and 
• McKinzie Thompson (thompsonm.21@william.jewell.edu)

1. Provide mental health resources that are specifically designed for student-athletes.
2. Improve both student turnout and active engagement at sporting events.
3. Provide hotspots for student-athletes to use for homework while traveling to and from sporting events.

Residence Life Initiatives

• Senate Commissioners for Residence Life Nirbhay Vohra (vohran.22@william.jewell.edu); and 
• Trent Dixon (dixont.22@william.jewell.edu)

1. Ensure that the quality of Wi-Fi is improved, potentially by way of a campus-wide network that would enable students to use electronics outdoors.
2. Improve the bathroom conditions (such as securing or repairing paper towel dispensers).
3. Ensure that every dorm on campus does not pose health risks, specifically health risks generated by mold.

Mold-Related Initiatives

• Ad-Hoc Senate Commissioner for Mold Kamerin Hull (hullk.21@william.jewell.edu)

1. Ensure that all Jewell spaces used by students are safe and pleasant by eradicating any mold that poses health risks or is surface level. 

Student Involvement Initiatives

• Senate Commissioners for Student Involvement Owen Kerrigan (kerrigano.22@william.jewell.edu); and 
• Ethan Naber (nabere.22@william.jewell.edu)

1. Create a calendar that contains every Jewell event and can be accessed at the homepage of every student’s Brightspace.
2. Improve the promotion of all Jewell achievements (such as students or faculty presenting at conferences, receiving awards, etc.).
3. Modify the Jewell Activities and Organizations website to include new clubs, remove obsolete clubs and renovate existing clubs to include their social media and contact information. 

Greek Life Initiatives

• Senate Commissioners for Greek Life Dammy Idowu (idowua.21@william.jewell.edu); and 
• Alexander Walls (wallsa.21@william.jewell.edu)

1. Ensure that there are equal mental health and safety resources for each Greek Organization.
2. Provide printers to each wing of the Sorority Complex.
3. Create a fraternity wide philanthropy event.

Summary of Initiatives provided by Wardlow.

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Students at William Jewell College will soon move in, beginning with new students Aug. 22 and ending with returning students Aug. 25. Due to health precautions implemented to best maintain the Jewell community’s health during the COVID-19 pandemic, move-in will be noticeably different than in years past.

Before move-in, students must fill out a COVID-19 Campus Housing Screening Form no sooner than 24 hours before moving in to campus. Once on campus, instead of going straight to their residence halls, students will report to the Mabee Center – where they will be screened for temperatures and given a stamp that allows them to move into their designated residence halls. New students will also receive their iPad from the Mabee Center upon check-in.

This is the first year that Greek life and other students will not be present on new student move-in day to assist with first-year move-in. Instead, all students – both new and returning – will be able to have no more than two guests help them move in. Once screened and approved, students and their guests will make their ways to residence halls, where there will be separate staircases for entering and exiting to promote distancing.

Masks are required to be worn properly by all in attendance. Gloves, which are also required to be worn, will be passed out at check-in. Students will be given a 90 minute designated time slot to move in to ensure minimal congestion of the residence halls and adhere to capacity guidelines. Since guests are not permitted in dorms while the campus is at level B or C of the campus housing protocol, guests who are helping students move must leave campus immediately following the end of the designated 90 minute time slot.

Once students are moved in they must adhere to the housing, dining and campus policies associated with the threat level matrix – which are categorized in increasing threat from 0, A, B, C and D, with D meaning cluster cases have broken out on campus. The current threat level can be found by viewing the threat level flag placed on the quad or on the Jewell website. The color of the flag – bright green for level 0, light green for level A, yellow for level B, light red for level C and dark red for level D – will denote the current threat level and appropriate precautions to be taken.

The only new housing policy for the 2020-21 school year is the Quarantine and Isolation Policy, which was recently put out by the College. The document states that “students must be ready to act swiftly should they find themselves in one of the final two categories [exposed to, showing symptoms of or diagnosed with COVID-19]. Residential students should also have an immediate off campus housing contingency plan (return home, stay with friends or relatives, etc.) in the event of an unanticipated campus closure.”

Asymptomatic residential students who have been exposed to someone suspected to have or diagnosed with COVID-19 must temporarily relocate to a room designated for quarantine use by Jewell staff. Students under quarantine are prohibited from having visitors and can arrange for meals to be delivered to their room. If a student under quarantine does test positive for COVID-19, they must begin isolation. 

Students diagnosed with COVID-19 or another highly contagious illness must begin isolation if they are unable to leave campus. Students under isolation may leave their room only to use the restroom or in case of emergency and will have isolation room calls from the College nurse practitioner. Visitors are prohibited in both instances. Students will be released from quarantine and/or isolation following 14 days free of COVID-19 symptoms and upon permission from the nurse practitioner.  

In addition to the changed move-in and housing policies, the College is taking other steps to make campus safer as students return to campus. Plexiglass has been installed in high traffic consumer areas and in certain classrooms. All students and employees will be expected to track symptoms daily using this form. 

Two cloth masks will be provided to students upon arrival – as they are required to wear on campus at all times unless otherwise instructed – and there will be stations for disposable masks throughout campus. Custodial services will be cleaning high-touch areas at least once a day. The College is also encouraging students and employees to clean high-touch areas after each use, following the “wingtip and wipe method,” wherein one wipes down every area within reach of one’s open arms.

Testing and contact tracing will be followed throughout the semester. Testing is always available through the Clay County Health Department and is free for Jewell students. Preventative testing of asymptomatic members of the Jewell community will be directed to the Clay County Health Department to be tested. Those who are symptomatic or asymptomatic with recent exposure will be tested at either the Student Health Center or Liberty Hospital, chosen on a case by case basis. Those directed to be tested at Liberty Hospital will not be responsible for the cost of the test, according to Jewell’s COVID-19 testing policy. 

Students will be tested periodically if they are participating in activities in which facial coverings are not required and distancing cannot always be executed. According to the testing policy, students who fall under that category are those participating in “team physical exercise, athletic practices and weight training, and athletic performances in which distancing is difficult and facial coverings are not advised,” as well as those in “ensembles, rehearsals, and vocal or theatrical productions (performers only).”

To ensure these precautionary measures are effective, the College strongly suggests that all students get tested no less than 72 hours before returning to campus. 

For more information on measures the College is taking, refer to Jewell’s Campus Guide During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In the midst of COVID-19, William Jewell College will begin to reopen this summer. Starting June 1, employees will be allowed to return to campus to work and some students will be housed on campus. The College is currently in Level B of their Operation Safe Campus and will likely remain in this level throughout summer. 

Employees will be asked to take their temperature every day for fourteen days prior to returning to campus in addition to engaging in other self-monitoring activities regarding COVID-19. They will also be asked to submit a pre-screening form to Human Resources before returning to campus. Those with symptoms will quarantine an additional 14 days and be directed to medical evaluation.

Facial coverings and masks will be required on campus. Students, faculty and staff will be required to wear facial coverings in Levels B, C and D when they are in public and unable to maintain six feet of social distance. The College is in the process of buying personal protective equipment, masks and other cleaning and prevention equipment for use by all employees. Open and shared workspaces must not have more than one employee per 100 square feet. Plexiglass will be installed in high traffic consumer areas. Cleaning of all high touch occupied areas will be mandatory. 

This summer, Jewell will host a total of 23 student residents on campus. Seventeen residents will live in Mathes Hall, one nursing accelerated-track (AT) student will live in the Coventry House and five visiting students from Park University will live in Senior House. Ernie Stufflebean, director of residence life, explained that these facilities are those best suited for Jewell’s summer COVID-19 plan. The summer housing session will last from May 31 to July 28.

Summer housing was restricted to students who are enrolled in at least one summer course, have an internship or practicum, are working under a summer research grant or who are from outside the greater Kansas City metro area with a job to pay for college. 

Stufflebean described the protective measures in place this summer to minimize COVID-19 exposure: 

Each resident must complete a COVID-19 Screening Form one week prior to arrival.

Each resident’s temperature will be taken prior to moving onto campus. Anyone with a temperature over 100 degrees will be referred to the College’s Nurse Practitioner for screening.

Each resident will live in a single room (no roommate). We dispensed with single room fees for this summer.

Each resident will be assigned to use a specific restroom with their own non-shared sink, toilet and shower. The minimal number of summer residents makes this possible.

Residence Life Staff will facilitate “no contact” check-in.

All summer residents must attend a mandatory hall meeting the evening of move-in day at which COVID-19 education and wellness guidelines will be shared. The meeting will occur within social distancing parameters outlined in the wellness [guidelines].

We’ve added a “COVID-19 Preparedness” section to the Campus Residents Resources Moodle course. Included are the wellness guidelines and other COVID-19 resources for residential students. This information will be updated as needed.

– Ernie Stufflebean, director of residence life.

Summer residents were also asked to bring the following items to campus as part of our COVID-19 preparedness:

• Disposable or 5-7 washable face and nose masks/coverings
• Thermometer
• Alcohol-based disinfectant wipes
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Disposable gloves

In addition to these measures, Jewell’s nurse practitioner, Paula Brown, will be available in the Student Wellness Center in Mathes Hall. Brown may be contacted at the Student Health Center at (816) 415-5020 or via email at brownp@william.jewell.edu. The summer hours for the Student Health Center will be Monday through Friday from 8-10 a.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but if one has been exposed to or exhibits symptoms of COVID-19, they should call ahead before visiting the Student Health Center. The Clay County Health Department will provide free COVID-19 testing for Jewell students. 

“I think we’ve assembled a good, comprehensive COVID-19 plan for summer housing, but it will require all summer residents’ support and cooperation,” said Stufflebean. 

Dr. Anne Dema, provost of the College, discussed the decisions regarding what programming to host on campus or virtually.

“All courses for summer are online, which is normally the case except for in the Nursing Program and some graduate [education] courses,” Dema said. “This summer those courses have also moved online due to the pandemic. That said, the Nursing Program will have students on campus for labs and simulation but they have plans to keep the group sizes to less than 10 and will implement social distancing, utilize PPE, and follow a rigorous cleaning regime. We are also hosting parts of the May AT orientation on campus Monday, [May 18] so they can get their iPads, ID’s, etc. and then they will have a virtual experience for the rest of orientation.”

The campus will be closed through May 31. However, exceptions to this closure include some employees and a few research programs which will be allowed on campus in May and through the summer. These programs include the Pillsbury Scholars program and National Science Foundation-funded research in biology – with Dr. Lila Rahn-Lee – and in physics – with Dr. Patrick Bunton.

In order to make decisions about which programming would be on campus, Dema was in consultation with appropriate department chairs about various programs. They would discuss the potential to maintain in-person programming while maintaining safe practices in line with guidelines published by Clay County. 

Many classes needed to remain online or in a virtual format – in most cases this was standard practice anyways. Some programming could not be moved online – including scientific research, nursing arts laboratories, nursing practice simulations, etc. In these cases, the appropriate chairs developed plans for safe on-campus conduct. Once plans were developed, Dema shared the requests and recommendations to President Elizabeth MacLeod-Walls, who gave final approval.

Dema described the process of planning for summer 2020 during the time of COVID-19. 

“Early on the [COVID-19] planning group developed parameters for summer activities on campus. There was agreement that we wanted to limit the number of external groups on campus and to privilege our students making progress towards their educational goals,” Dema said. “This also meant that all outside groups that often came to campus in the summer to use the College’s facilities for camps were canceled. The Athletic Department also canceled any plans for student-athletes to be on campus this summer and planned instead to use online tools to promote conditioning and connections among team members during the summer, just like they have been doing since spring break.”

“We also moved new student activities virtual, including Cardinal Days and Summer Fling. The County guidelines for limiting group sizes, and our desire to limit crowds on campus, prevents these activities from happening in person – Admission, Academic Advising, and Student Life have been developing plans to accomplish the goals associated with these traditional events through online or virtual experiences. We are excited to see how the adaptations work and are open minded that some of these changes may create new opportunities for us when working with new students who are getting ready to attend in the fall,” Dema continued.

“The guiding rationale is that we want to do all we can to have a safe campus this summer and to ensure we can re-open in the fall. Limiting outside groups and keeping the density of people low, consistent with Clay County guidelines, should help us mitigate the risk of exposure to active COVID-19 cases or having cases on campus this summer. It also gives us time in the next couple of months to ready the campus for more people and new social distancing practices that will need to be in place in fall when more people return,” Dema concluded. 

Regarding testing, an email announcement about Operation Safe Campus provided the College’s recommendations.

“Clay County is in possession of COVID-19 tests available to all Clay County residents, without cost, and regardless of whether or not individuals being tested are symptomatic. You are encouraged to visit the Shoal Creek testing center if you wish to be tested and certainly if you believe you have been infected with or exposed to COVID-19. The College will not require employees to be tested in June or July, but will require testing as we return in August. Much more information about testing will be forthcoming later this summer,” the email stated.