a n d i   e n n s

By Andi Enns
Feature Editor

If Angelica Hodgdon falls down, she will die. No ifs, ands, or buts about it – the freshman secondary education major wouldn’t stand a chance.

“I don’t really like talking about my disability,” says Hodgdon. “And I don’t want to be treated differently than anyone else. But I don’t want to take a risk walking from my car, either.”

On August 18, the Department of Campus Safety announced that residential students will be limited to Shepherd, Dearing, and Chesnut parking lots. The Julian Field lot, previously available to both commuters and residents, is now commuter-only. The overflow Copley Quad traffic is expected to park by the other dorms.

“It’s such a long way to walk,” says Rachel Dryden, sophomore physical geography major. “With that and the new parking fee next year, I might as well park down by Stone Canyon Pizza for free and walk to Copley. It’ll be less work and less expensive.”

The immediate outcry among students from brand-new freshmen to experienced seniors, immediately caught the attention of new Park Student Government Association president and secondary education sophomore Jordan Korell. She took an informal poll last week in the Copley Quad lobby and found the strong majority of residential students felt opposed to recent parking legislation on campus. However, after the Senate retreat last weekend, Korell didn’t feel comfortable offering an opinion on the matter.

“We just don’t know enough about this issue yet to take a stance,” says Korell. “We represent all students, not just residents, so we need to explore what’s best for everyone before we take sides.”

It is unclear where this new parking measure originated. Many students were unaware it was even being considered, and the student government president doesn’t  know definitively who voted on it to put into place.

“We’re doing research to get to the bottom of this,” Korell said. “To find out what committee decided on this, and why. Obviously the administration feels this is what’s best for all students on campus, so until we have the facts, it’s something we’re going to have to trust. However, the role of Senate is not just to legislate, but to inform. We’re investigating so you can be informed.”

Eric Blair, assistant dean of student life, says the students can’t reverse this with any amount of Senate pressure.

“This has always been the plan,” says Blair. “We just kept Julian open for residents for the first couple years of having the new dorm. We do have plans to build more parking by 2015, but that’s a long-range goal and one with financial obstacles.”

Hodgdon said she thinks this isn’t good enough for the current students – even as a freshman, her own prospective graduation is a year sooner than the plan Blair references.

“My feet already slip on the steep road up by Chesnut,” says Hodgdon. “In the winter, it’s going to be even worse! I don’t want to have to get a handicapped parking pass because I don’t want that to be my identity, but I don’t think I’ll have any other choice.”
Blair doesn’t think the distance is a problem for the student body.

“We want to encourage the students to be more pedestrian,” says Blair. “To encourage residential students to not bring cars because they don’t need them as much.”

It’s not just those with health concerns like Hodgdon, or a distaste for walking the distance like Dryden, who oppose this new measure; students report that walking from Chesnut to the Quad at night is “scary.”

“I have a lot of female friends who say they feel frightened walking from up there,” says Nick Joseph, junior chemistry major. “And an escort from Public Safety can take 20 minutes or more! I think safety is a big concern.”

Park University has been nicknamed “a working campus”, meaning that the majority of students work. An informal poll of Quad residents shows this doesn’t just apply to commuter students, but the informal survey suggests a majority of all Park students hold some sort of steady employment.

“I leave a lot for work,” says Hodgdon. “I’m on a full scholarship and I still work. I need my car!”

“I don’t like that it’s a 24- hour rule,” says Kate Davies, senior Spanish major. “I leave for work at 6 a.m., so I’m gone before commuters or faculty get here. It would be nice to have an exception at night.”

Students the Stylus interviewed are opinionated on this issue. However, it’s unclear what will happen over the course of the next few weeks. Even more concerning than the swirl of opinions are the questions. “What happens if I have to park up by Chesnut in an ice storm?” “Is it safe to walk from Copley to Dearing in a heat advisory?” “Can I really carry all of my groceries from one dorm to the other?”

Published in The Stylus Newspaper, 27 August 2010

Keith Taylor and I appeared on the Walt Bodine Show on KCUR 89.3 FM Kansas City talking about our trip to Uganda doing peace journalism.

Listen to the show here.

By Andi Enns
The Stylus Staff Writer

For Julie Dolezilek, sophomore journalism major, school spirit is a personal issue. As an exuberant blonde cheerleader, Dolezilek sees spirit – or lackthereof – every week at athletic events.

“I’m a cheerleader, and you’d think I’d see a lot more spirit. But actually, being on the squad has pointed out our lack of spirit at Park. Sometimes we’ll be cheering, and the people in the stands aren’t really into it. They don’t cheer with us, they just look at us,” says Dolezilek.

That’s part of the reason Dolezilek joined Student Senate this year, where she now heads the Student Life committee. Since the committee directly affects the student body, she feels that she has the most impact on the Park community. As part of her mission to improve the school, her committee has put together the School Spirit Forum on Friday, February 26 at 2 p.m. in the McCoy Meeting House. The forum will feature several panelists as well as an open discussion format.

“An informed student body is better off. If they know about a problem, it’s more likely to change. With this forum, we’re trying to give the students ideas and spark questions,” says Joshua Evans, sophomore psychology major and student senator. “Get them to ask, What am I doing to be proud of my school? What am I doing to make my school a place to be proud of?”

The student life committee hopes that students will bring ideas for how to improve spirit at Park to improve event attendance, local economy, and general excitement. Dolezilek emphasizes that the senators aim to represent the student population, and the forum is one avenue students can take to make their voices heard.

“I came here from a small high school that had a lot of pride. People stood through whole games and we had to fight to get a cheer in edgewise! Coming here, it’s bizarre how different it is,” says Dolezilek.

“A decade ago, Park had school pride. There’s a picture in Thompson of students painted with the letters to spell PARK PIRATES. Now it can be hard to find enough students in the stands to spell PARK. Somewhere between then and now, we lost something that we never found again. But it could change,” says Evans. “It’ll take work from all of us. But so many people say ‘no one goes to events, why should I go’ – what if all of those people actually went?”

Dolezilek emphasizes that spirit – or lack of spirit – surrounding athletics is just one of the more visible symptoms. However, she believes that the community in general lacks pride for Park and for the things that happen here.

“When people think of spirit, they tend to think of athletics – but spirit affects school in general. Everyone has a reason to be here. It might be a really great scholarship or an opportunity in athletics, or our really small class sizes,” says Dolezilek. “People get hung up on negative things, like the Copley stairs being closed or the parking being tough right now. Instead, they should remember all the great things about our school and why they love being here!”

Both Evans and Dolezilek believe that school spirit is improving this year, and will continue to improve.

“Men’s basketball has been really helped with spirit this year. They’re a really phenomenal team. Hopefully this momentum will carry on and students will support our teams even if we have a bad year,” says Dolezilek.

“I was awestruck – literally breathless – at the turnout to the white-out game. There was cheering and chanting and whooping! Everyone was standing. Everything that represents school pride was there. I felt like I was at a different school,” says Evans.

The tentative agenda for the forum includes topics such as building a pirate ship, as discussed on Facebook earlier this academic year, as well as ideas for improving attendance at various events. Suggestions for improving attendance include creating banners, more giveaways at games, and more benefit games.

Published 26 February 2010 in The Stylus Newspaper.

by Andi Enns
Staff Writer

“I have a dream that one day … the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.” – Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963

In a brightly lit kitchen in downtown Kansas City, eighteen Park University students, two Park faculty members, and a dozen community volunteers worked side by side to make 1500 hot meals last Monday. If one was to take inventory of the people, they would see that the group was diverse. Every color was represented, several religions, many different backgrounds and stories. Despite any cultural barriers that some could claim, these volunteers seemed like a true team as they prepared bacon, made garlic bread, and tossed salad.

“I think it is important for our students to spend at least part of our holiday honoring Martin Luther King,” said Caroline Heckman, Coordinator of Student Leadership & Engagement. “Being a servant to others is big part of Dr. King’s message, and as students, faculty and staff at Park University, we want to honor that message with the giving of our time.”

Every year, groups nationwide celebrate legendary civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday by serving their communities. Park University students gave their time to KC Community Kitchen, a charity run by Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral. Each afternoon, they serve 500 hot meals to the area’s homeless. Park students assisted in preparing for three days of meals. 70% of the food served is donated by local merchants, and serves over one million meals each year.

“Service helps me be aware of the world,” said Amanda Hall, junior. “It helps me to be thankful for what I have.”

Park students have a strong presence in the community, especially with the new service scholarship requiring students to serve hours over the semester. Last semester, freshman served all over the greater Kansas City area, from churches to charities. Student organizations also make community service a priority. Roteract gave money for lunches to an elementary school in Uganda, Africa to get kids through a famine. Campus Activities Board raised money for Relay For Life with Bash Out Cancer car smashing event in December.

“I believe service is important to Park students because it broadens our horizons,” said Ben Zibers, senior. “Like any university, we have a tendency to stay involved in our culture of our friends and our lives, and forget about everything else. Service helps us remember the bigger world.”

This was the fourth service event of the school year, following service days at Operation Breakthrough and Harvesters in the fall. Upcoming this semester is Relay for Life – a fundraiser for cancer research – on April 23 2010.

“I like to do service because it really touches people’s lives,” said Zibers. “It might be the only time a person ever experiences love.”

Students interested in serving the community can join Park Service Organization, a student organization that provides service opportunities for the betterment of the self and community, meeting every Monday at 4:30pm in the conference room of Copley Quad.


Sidebar:
Ways to involve service in everyday life:
- Use your hobbies for good. Knit hats and socks, sew baby blankets, cook meals, build websites, or otherwise use your skills to benefit local organizations.
- Visit websites like http://www.thebreastcancersite.com that donate money for every click, or http://www.goodsearch.com/ that donates money when you use their search engine.
- Write letters to the newspaper and your representatives to advocate for causes you care about.
- Sign online petitions that support bills to better the community.
- Donate old cell phones to help troops or domestic violence victims.
- Conserve energy by turning off lights to fight global warming.
- Write letters to wounded soldiers and send them through organizations like SoldiersAngels.com.
- Buy extra school supplies and donate them to children in need.
- Re-use bags and containers to conserve energy.
- Donate unwanted clothes to local homeless and domestic abuse victim shelters.
- Don’t spread gossip or perpetuate stereotypes.
- Smile at the next person you see!

Published in The Stylus, 22 January 2010

by Andi Enns

Stylus Staff Writer

Walk into the Campanella Gallery in McAfee Library, and you will be faced with a pile of metal junk. Weapons. Doors. Wheels. Anchors. Most pieces rusted or tarnished. Some twisted and melted beyond recognition. This is the lair of the Bugbear, the Scandinavian version of the boogey man.


“I imagine the Bugbear as a forest creature who loves to collect shiny things, like a raccoon,” said Michael Wickerson, creator of Bugbear: Findings And Castings. “These are all things you might find in his lair.”

The exhibit, though it carries Wickerson’s name, is a collaboration of many people. The metal pieces of the collection were metal-cast by Wickerson, students from Shawnee Mission High School and Kansas City Art Institute, and Wickerson’s colleagues.

“Each piece has a story for me,” said Wickerson. “This piece [an iron thumb] was made by me for my wife, while I was in the woods. This [a metal wheel] was made by a student who didn’t know what to make, so I told her to draw a wheel in the sand and cast it. And this [a brass figure] was brought to me to to fix, but the owner never came back.”

Each item is placed according to whim, and Wickerson rearranges as he speaks during the reception. He hides “morbid” pieces, such as a miner’s hat with a skull instead of a light, and brings special pieces forward. He spreads the items out and then compacts them back in. As he speaks and arranges, Wickerson resembles the Bugbear, obsessed with his shiny stash.

Though he loves every piece, he is in the process of gifting pieces of the exhibit away to friends and strangers. “Why keep it around? Why do I feel the need to see it every day? Even if I give it away, it’s not gone. Even if they throw it away, it’s not gone. It’s in a landfill or the ocean, and it’ll be around for hundreds of years,” he said.

Wickerson became interested in sculpture when he was a math and physics major at York University in Canada. Eventually, he received a degree in art and is now a professor at Kansas City Art Institute. He is hoping to create a partnership with Park University, to bring hot metal casting to Park students.

The display is what Wickerson calls “dead sculpture,” because the pieces are not being utilized. However, he plans on taking some pieces – such as the large bells – back to his property after the exhibit is over.

“I named each bell for a woman in my family,” he said. “I put their names and birth years on each one. One bell says ‘Wickerson 2009′ because I was sure my baby was going to be a girl named Isabel. But it was a boy, we named him Oscar, and now I call it the Isaboy bell.”

Each piece was created using “hot casting” – heating metal up to 2500 degrees and pouring into a handmade mold. This is a more dangerous technique than “cold casting,” which is used for concrete and other non-metal casting. Wickerson says he loves hot casting because it’s more exciting.

“The metal can actually splash back up,” said Wickerson. “It can go through our leather suits. It’s hot enough to melt bone. And I’ve gotten it in my mouth twice! It’s not something I ever want to happen again,” he said.

Wickerson’s next move is creating a simple forge on his home property powered by windmill energy. He says he wants to get back to a simpler time. He also loves the social aspect of this form of art – an art that requires two or more people to pour the metal to create a piece.

You can see Bugbear’s lair for yourself every day in the Campanella Gallery through Wednesday, November 25 2009.

Published in The Stylus Newspaper, 13 November 2009

By Andi Enns
Staff Writer

“I want a divorce.”

This is how Jourdan Turntine’s upcoming senior theatre project, the romantic comedy Coming Apart, begins.

“It’s a play about a romance novelist and humor columnist who are married,” Turntine said. “It’s a lot of fun. I really wanted a play that would brighten up the main stage after these tragedies, and this was perfect.”

Turntine plays Fran, the lead, opposite Chris Lakin, senior, who plays Colin. Also appearing are Aaron Gotzon, sophomore, and Rachel DeVilbiss, senior, as Bert and Sylvia, respectively.

“They’re all great,” Turntine said. “And Chris is absolutely hilarious.”

“I got into theatre at Jewell to spend more time with my girlfriend,” Lakin said. “Then last spring, Jourdan asked me to audition for her show. I was flattered, because I don’t really think I’m a good actor, but I was even more surprised when I was cast as a lead!”

Turntine started looking for her senior theatre play last fall. “Coming Apart was actually the first one I read,” she said. “I read a bunch, but this one was pretty much perfect.”

Senior theatre projects require the student to find the script, cast actors, design costumes, setting, lights and sound. Turntine was given a budget of $300 to produce Coming Apart. “My biggest expense has been paint,” Turntine said. “The costumes are from the actors’ wardrobes, and a lot of the other stuff was already around here.”

The actors from the production have helped with the technical side, which is different from traditional shows.

“We all do the tech work,” Lakin said. “On main stage shows, actors don’t really have to worry about stuff like that.”

“I’ve learned a lot during this production. For one, I’ve learned how to accept help. That it’s even alright to ask for it! For example, I asked Damen [Webster, senior], my stage manager, to run to Wal-Mart for me. He’s been wonderful about that,” said Turntine. “Oh yeah, and I’ve learned a lot about theatre, too.”

Another difference between this show and regular production is the small cast. “The smaller cast is better because we can all encourage each other and really get to know each other,” Gotzon said.

Turntine will not be done with big projects after this, however. Next semester the theatre education and education double major will be student teaching before she graduates in July. Lakin is also moving on to big things; he and his sister are starting a theatre production company called Show Me ARTS. Because of this start-up, Coming Apart will be his last production at William Jewell.

“I’ve found a way to bridge my major and my love of theatre,” Lakin said. “It’s in the extreme start-up stage right now, but we have a lot of ideas.”

One of Turntine’s most memorable themes of the play is the book her character is writing. While going through the process of divorcing, the romance columnist (Turntine) starts writing a book about surviving marriage. There are flashbacks throughout the play to earlier scenes between the couple, though Turntine promises the audience won’t be confused.

“Aaron or Rachel will put signs on the stage with the date of the scene,” Turntine said. “There’s a lot of coincidences in this play,” Turntine said. “For one, one of the dates in the play is also my birthday, June 15, and one of the characters is from Kansas City.”

Another major date in the show is Dec. 12, which happens to be when the play opens. Coming Apart opens at 7 tonight and tomorrow night. Tickets are $5 each. Group tickets (five or more) are $4 each.

Published in The Hilltop Monitor, 12 December 2008

by Andi Enns
Staff Writer

The idea for a Men’s Workshop started last year when Donette Alonzo, director of MultiCultural Student Affairs, realized that “sometimes men need to be together as men. They want to know how to be mentors to each other, how to hold each other accountable and how to have respectful discussions together.”

Jamele Adams, slam poet, accepted an offer from Alonzo to lead a workshop for men to bond and work through different topics.

“We have an issue with male student retention here,” Joe Endicott, junior Oxbridge Molecular Biology major and a member of the workshop’s leadership group, said. “Especially athletes. A good portion of our leadership group is athletic, though we come from all backgrounds.”

Endicott mentioned another issue to be covered: “We don’t have a lot of faculty diversity on campus. A lot of the professors here fit the stereotype of heterosexual white Christians, and we want some variety.”

Adams started leading workshops like this because of his own college experience at Baker University. He had trouble with grades and relationships, but eventually overcame them. When he reflected on that time, Adams wanted to help other young men through their collegiate issues.

“He’s coming to answer the questions, ‘What is a man? What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to be a male leader – not only here on campus, but in the world?’” Alonzo said.

Adams was on campus earlier this month for a slam-poetry night. He used that visit as an opportunity to get to know the leadership group, as well as the campus.

“We spoke briefly to him after the slam,” Endicott said. “We mentioned some issues we want to address when he comes back for the men’s workshop.”

The other members of the leadership group are seniors Tim Jones and Will Ogorek, juniors Jonathan Entzminger, Alexander Hart, Jesus Lopez and Daniel Webster and sophomores Ryan Florence and Curshion Jones.

The Men’s Workshop with Jamele Adams is Sunday, Sept. 28 from noon to 5 p.m. The day starts with lunch, followed by a spiritual service with Rev. William Johnson. The men will work with Adams until 4 p.m. when male professors and coaches join them. This event is free and open to all male students who can RSVP with Donette Alonzo (alonzod@william.jewell.edu).

Published 19 September 2008 in The Hilltop Monitor