Like many other students, I have hardly taken advantage of our first couple spring break days. They’ve been just as stress- and homework-filled as most other days. With our would-be spring break impending, I’ve decided to plan a Kansas City staycation so I can enjoy one of the upcoming days off. With that, I present my ideas for the best KC staycation. 

1. Start with a nice brunch in the park.

Whether you’re an early riser or a late-sleeper, brunch is a great way to start your day. To stay COVID-safe, you can pick up brunch and head to a park. My personal recommendation – and plan – is to stop by Crow’s Coffee to grab a specialty coffee and pick up a bagel from Einstein Bro’s. I may even bring a small, personal-sized bottle of champagne and some juice to make a little mimosa. 

With my little breakfast in hand, I will go to Loose Park, set up a blanket and have a personal picnic. I’ve found there’s nowhere better to spend a slow, lazy morning to myself than in Loose. I plan to get set up on a picnic blanket, have my brunch while listening to a podcast, then leisurely read a book. Maybe a dog will come over and greet me.

1. Grab some boba and a snack.

After spending several hours in the park, I’ll go for a walk around the park and head to the Plaza. I love window shopping and strolling around the Country Club Plaza, and having a nice drink makes the walk better. I just saw a new boba place, Bruú Café, opened on the Plaza. I personally love Taro bubble tea, and Bruú has a taro boba latte I cannot wait to try. 

If all the laying in the park and strolling have you hungry after brunch, there are plenty of places on the Plaza to grab a little snack or lunch.

1. Walk around the Nelson-Atkins or Union Station.

Depending on how you’re feeling, you can wander around the Nelson-Atkins sculpture park and art museum or check out Union Station. I am partial to walking around Union Station, seeing if the planetarium is showing anything and taking the streetcar, or walking, to the Crossroads, Power & Light and the River Market. The planetarium is potentially my favorite place in Kansas City and it has never let me down. I highly recommend stopping by whenever you have a chance.

My favorite walk in the city starts at the World War II memorial and goes to Power & Light. While it can be a long walk, it’s also just fun and allows you to wander all over. There are plenty of cafes, shops and benches to stop at and spend some time. The streetcar also runs along the walk so you can always give yourself a break as necessary.

1. Grab tacos, drinks and ice cream in the River Market.

After taking a long walk, I’ll hop on the streetcar to get the rest of the way to the River Market – maybe I’ll even walk all of the way there. I’ll get dinner at KC Taco Company. There are fantastic tacos, chips, salsa, guacamole, queso and margaritas that put together a perfect meal. I particularly like KC Taco Co. because the variety of flavors and tacos feel unique compared to the Mexican food I typically get. 

If you choose to spend your day with others, maybe check out Blue Nile Cafe for some delicious Ethiopian food. The food is served communally and is absolutely delectable.

Finish off the meal with ice cream from the newly reopened and improved Betty Rae’s.

1. Finish off with an evening walk at the River.

I’ll finish off my staycation day with a walk along the river. The path from the River Market to the river is beautiful and you will often see dogs, which makes any walk better. After walking as far as I like, I’ll ride the streetcar back to Union Station to pick my car back up.

Honorable mentions for activities to do on a staycation day include:

• Getting your nails done
• Finding new coffee shops
• Going to the KC Zoo
• Walking around Crown Center

Enjoy your days off, fellow Cardinals!

On Oct. 29, William Jewell College Provost Anne Dema emailed all students announcing changes to the spring semester. The biggest announcement was the change to spring break. The five days that make up a regular spring break have now been spread out over the course of the entire spring semester, meaning that there will be no classes on the days of Feb. 5, Feb. 24, March 16, March 18 and April 14. 

“This change enables a less interrupted mid-semester schedule, which is a time that often involves personal travel, thus mitigating increased exposure risks,” Dema stated in the email.

While I wish things could return to normal by next semester and we could have our spring break as usual, both the school and I believe that is unlikely, and it would be irresponsible to act as if things were normal. So it was clear that Jewell had to make some adjustments to the next semester. 

About a week before the announcement, the College sent out a survey to students to gauge the student body’s opinions on how to change spring break. Apart from the option that has been approved, the others were to either have spring break as planned, with required testing added on, or have no spring break and school would end for the summer a week earlier. 

Ultimately, after the results of the survey, the school chose to spread out spring break, given that survey feedback indicated that faculty and students preferred that option over the others. 

I personally agree with Jewell’s decision, and I believe it is the best option for the spring semester of 2021. Going without many days off this semester has been very difficult on myself and many other students, so having no break would have been my least favorite option of the three. And while I would have liked to have a normal spring break, it would not be very responsible if the virus is not under control and would require copious amounts of testing, which is expensive. 

The only problem I have with Jewell’s plan for the spring semester is the dates for the days off from class. Only one of them falls on a Friday, and none of them fall on a Monday, meaning only one three-day-weekend will come from these extra days off. I personally prefer extra long weekends as opposed to a day off in the middle of the week because it gives me extra time to complete homework from the weekend, although this may not be as big of a deal to others.

Overall, I do agree and support Jewell’s decision to spread out spring break over the course of the semester. While I wish we could have a normal spring break, it would be too risky in the current situation we are in. I believe that Jewell made a fair and balanced choice that will keep the school and the surrounding community safe, while also providing students with opportunity for breaks during the semester.

On Thursday, Oct. 29 William Jewell College announced changes to the spring semester schedule. The regularly scheduled Spring Break will be removed in favor of taking five miscellaneous days off throughout the semester. Each respective class is planned to have a single mode of delivery for the entirety of the semester. Additionally, all students, faculty and staff will be required to take a COVID-19 test prior to the beginning of the spring semester.

The email announcement from Dr. Anne Dema, provost, and Shelly King, dean of students, stated that rather than having a week off for Spring Break, there will be no classes on: Friday, Feb. 5; Wednesday, Feb. 24; Tuesday, March 16; Thursday March 18; and Wednesday, April 14.

“Faculty will be encouraged to make a clear statement in spring syllabi that these are days off, and they recognize the importance these breaks have to the student experience” the email stated.

These days off are intended to reduce interruptions while still providing breaks throughout the semester. They are intended to truly be days off – without increased workload for students.

“This change enables a less interrupted mid-semester schedule, which is a time that often involves personal travel, thus mitigating increased exposure risks… The College will still observe one Advising Day (Mar. 30 (T)), Good Friday (Apr. 2), Easter Monday (Apr. 5), and Colloquium Day (Apr. 23), meaning there are no classes on these days.  Feedback from faculty and student surveys indicate that this is the best option among those considered, other than wishing things were normal and no changes were needed and we could enjoy a normal Spring Break – a hopeful position but one that doesn’t seem likely,” stated the email announcement.

Each respective class intends to have a single method of delivery for the duration of the semester. Each professor will choose a mode of delivery prior to the start of classes. The College does not intend to go completely virtual other than when it may be required by Operation Safe Campus.

All students, faculty and staff will be required to participate in COVID-19 testing prior to returning to campus in January 2021. Faculty, staff and select student groups will have an opportunity to test Wednesday, Jan. 6 on campus. Employees – excluding those essential to on-campus operation – will work virtually the week of Jan. 4 – Jan. 8.

Students, both returning and new students, will be tested during the week of Jan. 11 – either on-campus or through an at-home test.

Results of these tests will determine when members of the community are able to return to campus. If faculty and staff test negative, they will return to campus Jan. 11. If students test negative, they may return to campus beginning Jan. 17. Spring semester classes will begin Jan. 19.

After opening Jan. 17, residence halls will remain open until the end of the semester.

Everyone who tests positive will be expected to follow the Isolation Guidelines in Operation Safe Campus. The College will provide more details about the testing in the future.

The email announcement also confirmed that commencement is planned for May 15, 2021. The plans will be adapted as needed given the state of COVID-19 at the time.

The changes to the calendar were approved by the president’s cabinet and were informed by feedback from faculty and staff. The email emphasized the need to make the changes now in order to begin planning for the spring.

“Please know that none of these decisions were made lightly or in haste. They are the result of good deliberations among members of the Jewell community with the best interests of all in mind and a desire to be proactive in support of Operation Safe Campus,” stated the email.

Those with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact Olivia Eggleston, Student Senate president and senior nonprofit leadership and Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry major; King; Dr. Ian Coleman, faculty council chairman; Chris McCabe, staff council chairman; or Dema.