The Stylus

Marcus Castro Reporter

A new semester begins at Park University and as a student enters campus, the first thing they see is scaffolding towering above MacKay Hall.

Repairs are currently being made atop this building and it has been grabbing the attention of many students and staff within the last few weeks.

On Monday, April 10, 2023, a lightning strike hit the top of MacKay Hall, requiring repairs that are now in motion. “When the lightning hit that very top finial, it made a very big concussion and it actually blew out the bottom portion of the finial and damaged it really badly,” said Kevin Martineau, associate vice president of facilities and operations for Park. “Along with that, there were several tile in that top steeple area that were loosened.”

In addition to finial repairs, insurance

is covering the replacement of both the steeple and roofing tiles. “The roof was in good condition before, but because of the work, it has to be replaced so that they can make sure it all matches,” said Martineau.

See Repairs on page 4

Above, MacKay Hall currently has scaffolding in front of the main entrance to repair damages caused by a lightning storm in 2023. Left, a close up shot of the tallest finial shows damages left behind by the 2023 lightning strike.

Park University hires new dean of students

Taylor Crims Reporter

Molly Pierson just began her tenure as the new dean of students on July 25. The position remained vacant for six months when her predecessor, Jayme Uden, moved into the role of Chief Human Resources Officer at Park University. The dean of students plays a vital role in a university. They function as the liaison between the student body and teaching faculty to ensure a harmonious

execution of the university’s mission, student services and campus life.

Pierson has already gained experience working as an assistant dean of students at Washburn University in Topeka, Kan., beginning in 2021. Her resume also includes roles in leadership at the Office of Residential Life at Washington University in St. Louis and time spent as a program coordinator for Saint Louis University’s honor program.

Pierson has already laid out her ambitions for her new position as dean.

“My first goal is to partner with fellow community members to cultivate a Park culture where all students feel they belong,” Pierson said. “My second goal is to create communication pathways for students’ voices to be heard to best support them in making the most of their Park experience,” which aligns closely with Park’s vision for strong student advocacy.

She will also oversee student

PHOTO/Marcus Castro

PHOTO COURTESY/Park University

OPINION

September 13, 2024

Officeth maketh the man: Rating the Presidents

Damon Grosvenor Editor

There have been 45 men so challenged with the glorious burden of the Republic, like Atlas, to hold the shining city upon their shoulders. But Democracy is a harsh employer. For some, their actions echo through the halls of history in triumph. For others, their portraits are collecting dust in the closets of the White House. And what matters most to a president? How they are remembered! And what better way to measure that than by a simple ranking.

Everyone has an intuition leading them to rank things, from favorite restaurants to favorite musical artists. Historians are no different. Beginning in 1948, historians across the Union have been asked every few years to rank the presidents. This began as an informal ranking with no rules and has evolved to a C-SPAN sponsored survey of historians, journalists and biographers. But only the elite are asked their opinion by C-SPAN.

As a historian who doesn’t hold a Ph.D. or a professorial position at an Ivy League school, the chances I would get asked to share my opinion are equal to the chances that George Washington will rise from the grave to give everyone a solid third option in the coming November election. But since no one asked, I am going to give my rankings of Presidents.

Many people including historians who have been asked to participate (as well as those who haven’t), critique the objectivity/subjectivity inherent to comparing a president from the early Republic to a president from the 20th Century. There is no getting around the truth that rating the presidents requires a certain level of bias and self-delusion to think one can do it. I am perfectly biased and completely self-deluded, thus I will make the best rating to have ever been. If you disagree with my rating, it must be because you aren’t invited to the kinds of parties where the attendees rate the presidents for fun.

I have ranked the Presidents in five categories: Great, Near Great, Average, Near Lemon and Lemon. I choose Lemon because no president has actually failed in their capacity; the Union is still here. But while they may not have failed, some have left a real sour taste in our collective mouths.

This issue I will be going over the Great Presidents. These men have succeeded in steering a course for America that has benefit-

ed all and their actions in the Oval Office have saved the Republic from enemies Foreign and Domestic.

The Great: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and Theodore Roosevelt Abraham Lincoln - There is an old saying that the only man who has had more words written about himself than Abraham Lincoln is Jesus Christ. And in the American pantheon of presidents, Lincoln is the Martyr whose blood and sacrifice cleaned the stain of slavery from American fabric.

Lincoln’s tenure in the office was the most consequential of any presidents. That cannot be argued. Lincoln was the only one who actually had a chance to lose the nation. But his leadership united the north and prevented disaster from cascading. Lincoln is also among the few presidents to be assassinated. This martyrdom probably leads Americans to hold him in a higher regard than he might otherwise have earned if he had finished his second term. No one knows how he would have handled reconstruction. But what we do know is that Lincoln not only saved the Union, but the Nation.

George Washington - If there is any other president beside Lincoln that could be said to have held a near religious place in the hearts of Americans, it is George Washington. Stanford historian Thomas A. Bailey wrote, “[Washington] was perhaps the only man in the history of the presidency bigger than the government

the promise of “equality and justice for all.” He broke the trusts, regulated the railroads and ensured oversight into food mass-produced food. His love of nature led to the creation of the national parks and preservation of America’s bountiful natural resources. He opened the Panama Canal, connecting the Pacific and Atlantic for international trade, and put America on the map with his Great White Fleet and negotiated the end of the Russo-Japanese War, for which he won a Nobel Peace Prize. His tenure was unquestionably good for the nation and for the world.

ILLUSTRATION/Damon Grosvenor

itself.” Every action Washington made during his terms was precedent setting. And he made no blunders, a task only the lucky and destined can achieve.

He held the infant Republic in his arms. He has been criticized as too aristocratic by some, but he could not have been anything else. Introducing Jacksonian democracy to this fledging Republic would have overpowered and destabilized the nation. There was a reason the Constitutional Convention occurred. He was party-less, but his ideas and bias to Federalism were well-founded and steadied the nation to withstand its first partisan election in 1796 between two other Founding Fathers. Without the guiding hand of Washington, there is a good chance the Great Experiment in self-government would have gone the way of the dodo bird.

Theodore Roosevelt - The old Bull-Moose is one of those characters in the great play of the Republic whose presence on stage overshadows all the other actors. Roosevelt is one of those men whose entire life is interesting. He was always doing something, and that something is almost always important. Teddy brought an end to the string of mediocre presidents of the Gilded Age and brought the United States to the global stage at a crucial time in world history.

Domestically, Roosevelt’s policies targeted the excesses of the Gilded Age. His passage of the “Square Deal” was a modernization of

Thus ends my rankings of the three Great presidents in U.S. history. There are many who are almost great, but, if the category is to retain any meaning in this meaningless endeavor, only a select few can be considered Great. Next issue, I will be discussing the Near Great Presidents. The men who achieved more than most expected and gave something back to the American people. Whether it be civil rights, land, honor on the world stage or seriously needed leadership in times of crisis.

Staff List

Editor-in-chief

Abby Beagel

Asst. Editor-in-Chief

Matalyn Smith

Design Editors

Damon Grosvenor

Francisco Reyes

Reporters

Marcus Castro

Taylor Crims

Lorenzo Leone

Mateus Carvalho

Destiny Pearson

Adviser

Melody Alexander

September 13, 2024

One hell of a roller coaster: Politics during summer 2024

Damon Grosvenor Editor

The 2024 Presidential election has already proven to be one for the history books.

For the first time in Millennial and Zoomer lives, two one-term presidents were running for office, both claiming a term in the Oval Office. For the first time, a televised debate ruined a sitting president’s incumbent party nomination. For the first time in the 21st Century, a former president and current presidential nominee was the target of an assassination attempt.

The race on August 23, when Vice Pres. Kamala Harris was anointed the Democratic presidential nominee, looked vastly different than the race did on July 21 when President Joe Biden announced on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he was dropping out of the race. And this outcome seemed to many people unthinkable when classes ended in May. So let us catch up with this roller coaster of a summer.

The most pivotal event for the current presidential race occurred on June 27. It was supposed to be the first of two debates between Biden and Donald Trump.

This debate was unique in several ways.

First, it was the first presidential debate to not be organized and planned by the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD), established in 1987 in bipartisan fashion, since the CPD’s establishment.

After the poor debates in 2020, both because of the pandemic and poor moderation, neither candidate wanted nor trusted the commission this time around. Thus, the two candidates went outside the commission for the debates.

Second, neither candidate had officially been nominated by their party. Trump had gone through an interesting primary process, never really being in danger of losing his chance at a second term but showing his unpopularity within the Republican party. The Democratic party technically had a primary process, but, in reality, Biden and his party squashed any intra-party disagreement to his candidacy. At least until after the debate.

Third, Biden’s performance was so bad that he was forced by his party to drop out of the race. While Trump was his usual self, hyperbolic and brash, Biden proved critiques of his age were more than partisan attacks. From the very first moment that Biden was on stage, meandering with

that elderly walk we all know, the American public was shown just how old Biden is. The media nor the Democrats could whistle past the graveyard, or in this case the debate stage, any longer.

The media’s reaction was immediate, and despite attempts to lessen the blow of Biden’s “halting” performance, the deluge of calls to drop out were deafening. But the decision to drop out, itself a historic event, did not occur until after another historic event.

On July 13, while the Democratic polling was slipping to unthinkable levels, Trump was holding an outdoor rally near Butler, Penn. This rally was in preparation for the Republican National Convention the next week. In a stunning show of incompetence, the Secret Service allowed a young man to get on a roof with a rifle and fire three shots at Trump, who was struck in the ear while a rally-goer was killed. The dramatic photo of Trump raising his hand with his blood splattered face in front a large American flag was immediately picked up and thought to be a defining moment in the race.

And it was. Trump was ahead of Biden in the polls, both due to the implosion of the Biden Campaign and the assassination attempt. There was a brief moment

in time when it seemed that American politics might cool down, with both candidates calling for a cooler temperature in rhetoric. It didn’t last the week. Biden posted a statement on X that he was dropping out of the race on July 21. He did not name a successor to his candidacy, mainly because he wasn’t actually the nominee yet. The Democratic party went from calling him old and incompetent to run the office, raising the specter of the 25th Amendment even, to praising him, with Nancy Pelosi claiming he deserved to be on Mount Rushmore. He had such an impressive record that, in his own words, “merit a second term,” and yet he was obviously not able to run a campaign to beat Donald Trump nor make it through a second term.

So, here we are in September, just two months away from the election. Harris has been anointed the Democratic nominee, and the two candidates are preparing for the first of their debates. The political fortunes for Trump have gone from almost certainly another term in the Oval Office to a neck-to-neck race. Given this track record, it wouldn’t be out of the question to expect another historic turn of events in the interim.

A deep-fried, farm-grown, entertainment-filled Missouri State Fair

Damon

Grosvenor Editor

The Missouri State Fair, hosted at the Missouri State Fair Grounds in Sedalia, ended on Aug. 19, 2024. It was ten days of live music, greasy food and carnival entertainment.

For Martin T. Roberson, a secondary education junior at Park University, this year’s State Fair was his first. “The drive getting up there was pretty long but enjoyable,” he said. “The part could have been the ample free parking.”

The State Fair began on Thursday, Aug. 8 and closed on Sunday, Aug. 18. Folks that went were greeted with free

parking, exceptional assistance from Missouri State Troopers and Fair employees in finding a parking spot. Tickets were for sale online or at the gate.

Roberson was looking forward to seeing all the award-winning animals, but his hay fever precluded him from seeing them. “Because of this, and the heat of the day, some of my favorite experiences were indoors,” he said.

Roberson enjoyed the wide variety of pies, puzzles, and arts and crafts inside the Home Economics Building. The Home Economics Building was adjacent to the Conservation Hut. Roberson said that the Conservation Hut “…made me realize that there are way more fish in

Missouri than I thought.”

The food was a classic mix of corndogs, deep-fried Oreos, and BBQ. It was up to the visitor to decide if they wanted a delicious, greasy turkey leg or crunchy, deep-fried carnival treat. “I personally am partial to the classic corndog and a lemonade, but my girlfriend was far more adventurous,” said Roberson.

Finding a drink was never an issue, either a cold beer, crisp soda, or refreshing water. Water was offered for $1.50 at fair-sponsored booths along most intersections on the fair ground, providing a cheap, healthy and responsible option for fairgoers.

Every day had unique entertainment

offerings, from rodeos and bull riding to live agricultural and floricultural demonstrations to contests and attractions. Several prominent bands performed, from Foreigner on Aug. 8, the Goo Goo Dolls on Aug. 10, and Alabama on Aug. 17.

Roberson was at the Alabama concert. “The music was great, but the lead singer kind of reminded me of Joe Biden,” joked Roberson. “He has some sort of hypnotic power to make the crowd move as he demanded. I have a working theory that he is a wizard.”

Alabama has been around since 1969 and the lead singer, Randy Owens, is 74-years-old.

CAMPUS LIFE

‘Studio Illustration: Page Studio 24’ opens at Campanella Gallery

Abby Beagel Editor-in-Chief

Park University’s Campanella Gallery, located in the Norrington Center, has opened its 2024-25 season with a new exhibit by illustrator and painter Cody Page. Titled “Studio Illustration: Page Studio 24,” the exhibit features a diverse collection of Page’s work, showcasing his distinct approach to blending decorative art with practical function. Through his illustrations and paintings, Page presents compelling narratives on two-dimensional surfaces, creating a rich visual experience for viewers.

Page, who draws inspiration from the realism of Gustave Courbet and the romanticism of Eugene Delacroix, both influential Golden Age artists, emphasizes storytelling in his art. “As an illustrator, I like both hearing and telling stories. Whether vague or specific, actual or imagined, the story is what I like to paint,” Page said. His work reflects a deep

Repairs

Continued from page 1

So far, the only impact this construction will bring upon students and staff is just the ongoing noises of repairs being made on the building, which can be heard from the inside but mostly outside of the building. “There will be a little bit of restriction around the building, but it won’t prevent people from going into the building using any of the doors,” said Martineau. Classes and other activities done within MacKay can continue as usual.

The conclusion of these repairs will soon be in reach. Martineau said, “It’s scheduled to be completed by the end of September.” It may even be done within early October.

Along with the scaffolding getting removed from the building, the radio tower will be powered on again as well as the

appreciation for the power of visual storytelling, inviting viewers to interpret and engage with each one of his pieces.

The Campanella Gallery, directed by Andrea Lee, an associate professor of art and design at Park University, continues to provide a platform for artists to connect with the university and local community. The exhibit is open to the public and will be on display through Thursday, Oct. 31, offering plenty of time for visitors to experience Page’s artistic vision.

The gallery’s regular hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. During fall break, from Saturday, Oct. 5, through Sunday, Oct. 13, the gallery will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and closed on weekends.

Students and local community members are both encouraged to explore “Studio Illustration: Page Studio 24” and see how Cody Page’s work brings storytelling to life through art.

tower has never been damaged by the lightning strike, but it had to be turned off to prevent workers getting sick from the emitting frequencies on the roof according to Martineau. “As soon as they are finished working, it will be turned back on,” he said.

PHOTO COURTESY/Park University

clock tower chimes. The radio

PHOTOS/Abby Beagel

Work by artist Cody Page is currently on display at the Campanella Gallery.

MacKay Hall sustained roof damage during the April 10 lightning storm.

ENTERTAINMENT

The rise of Missouri’s princess, Chappell Roan

Abby Beagel Editor-in-Chief

From the small town of Willard, Mo., just a few hours away from Parkville, Chappell Roan is making a remarkable leap from local talent to national sensation. With her vibrant persona and distinct musical style, this Missouri native is not only captivating audiences across the country but also putting our home state on the map in the music industry. Roan’s rise is a testament to how exceptional talent can come from the most unexpected places.

Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, better known as Chappell Roan, has quickly become a name to watch in the music industry. Growing up in Willard, a small town just outside of Springfield, Roan’s early life was shaped by the unique and down-toearth qualities of the Midwest. Her musical journey began on YouTube, and in 2014, she released her first song. But it wasn’t until last year that her career truly exploded.

Pierson

Continued from page 1

leadership and engagement, new students and parent programs, Park Student Government Association, crises and advocacy, counseling, and student conduct.

“My final goal is to provide accountability and opportunities for students to learn and grow during their time here that will contribute to their success post-graduation,” Pierson said. Additionally, she will hold the titles of chief judicial officer over Park students nationwide and deputy Title IX coordinator for students. She is a native of Topeka, Kan. and now resides in metro Kansas City with her partner and three children.

Now 26 years old, Roan has seen her career gain significant momentum with the release of her debut album, “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.” The album has been celebrated for its innovative approach to pop music, showing Roan’s unique blend of theatricality and authenticity. Tracks from the album, including the standout single “Pink Pony Club,” have resonated with listeners, securing her place as a rising star in the industry.

Roan’s early work, including the EP “School Nights,” demonstrated her impressive vocal range and songwriting skills. However, it was her bold reinvention and commitment to embracing her true artistic self that set her apart. Her vibrant, colorful image, heavily influenced by drag culture, and unforgettable live performances have captured the attention of fans across the country. Roan’s connection to the queer community is particularly notable, as she has become an icon for queer representation, with early experiences in drag performance at Hamburger Mary’s, a local Kansas City drag restau-

Aside from work, she enjoys coaching her daughter’s soccer team. She is pursuing her doctoral degree at The University of Kansas, and says she spends many late nights writing her dissertation in bed after her kids fall asleep.

rant, helping to shape her artistic identity. Despite her recent success, her journey has not been without its challenges. Navigating the music industry with the support of a major label, Island Records, she has faced the typical hurdles of a rising artist while remaining true to her unique style and vision. With her debut

album making waves and a growing fan base, Chappell Roan is set up for continued success with those Midwestern roots. Her story spotlights the potential for talent to emerge from anywhere and serves as an inspiring reminder of the extraordinary things that can come from humble beginnings.

PHOTO COURTESY/Ryan Lee Clemens

PHOTO COURTESY/Park University

SPORTS

September 13, 2024

Park University scores big with historic jersey sponsorship deal

Francisco Reyes Editor

Park University made history by announcing that Hardscape Construction has become an official jersey sponsor for the Park men’s basketball team. The company’s logo will appear on the top front corner of the jerseys starting in the 2024-25 season.

Park University reached this historic agreement because the NAIA changed its bylaws in April to allow schools to sell uniform sponsorships. The first school to announce a uniform sponsorship was Grace College, an NAIA school in Winona Lake, Ind.

Kristin Gillette, athletic director of Park University, said the agreement is significant. “It’s a three-year deal, which is typically how long uniforms last for both away and home jerseys,” she said. “That sponsorship includes funding for all three years, which helps us with any jersey replacements.”

She said the sponsorship will help reduce fundraising efforts. “We’re excited about the opportunity this gives us to fundraise in a way we haven’t been able to in the past,” she said. “A lot of times, that money goes directly to uniforms; now, we can use it to extend to travel bags or travel gear that we otherwise have to fundraise for.”

She further clarified that the new bylaw means NAIA has a system for sponsorships as well. “What they’re allowing us to do—and you might see it in some professional NBA and WNBA jerseys—is the small 2-inch logo on the left,” she explained. “This helps us allocate our operational budget dollars in a different way.”

A crucial factor in the process of obtaining Hard-

“We’re excited about the opportunity this gives us to fundraise in a way we haven’t been able to in the past.”

Kristin Gillette, athletic director

scape Construction as a sponsor was Head Coach Jason Kline, Gillette explained. “This was all Jason,” she said. “He has a great relationship with the owners, and it is easy for Coach Kline to talk about the value of his program and Park University.”

Founded in 2003, Hardscape Construction LLC specializes in designing and building custom outdoor living spaces. Serving the greater Kansas City metro area and nearby communities, this family-owned and locally operated business is fully licensed and insured.

Efrem Shimlis, the current coach of the men’s soccer team who has coached for 23 seasons at Park University, it happy with the outcome. “I think it is a good idea, especially at a small level,” he said. “Since we are a small community, there are local businesses that would like to advertise, so why not? It will be financially beneficial for us and for them. Imagine if an advertisement is placed on our team jerseys; it is not only the local people who will see it. We have players from various countries, and there are people watching us everywhere. I’m glad they did it.”

The Park University staff director is currently working on a project to create uniform sponsorship agreements for all the teams so that, in the future, every team can represent a company and benefit from these improvements.

Park men’s basketball jerseys will feature the Hardscape Construction logo for the next three seasons due to a new NAIA sponsorship bylaw that allows logos on jerseys.

Women’s volleyball conference season begins Tuesday

Mateus Carvalho Reporter

Park University’s women’s volleyball team will kick off its conference season with a match against Baker University on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, at 7 p.m. The game will be held at Park’s Breckon Sports Center, where the Pirates are seeking to defend their 2023 Heart Conference championship title.

Park had three Pirates named All-Americans last season, each who played an important role in the team’s Victory. Setter Arianna Marino, middle blocker Deborah Bernardi, and outside hitter Grecia Ung also won All-Conference awards after winning the Heart of America Conference title. Their leadership continues to motivate this year’s team as they aim for another championship run. Their performances were

essential in helping the team win the conference in 2023.

The Pirates, who are currently ranked No. 14 in the country, are ready to play this game. During the 2024 Park Classic tournament held Sept. 6 and 7, the team won all four of their matches against Ottawa University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical, Missouri Baptist, and Saint Mary to go undefeated. With six straight wins during this run, they have an outstanding 8-2 overall record for the season.

With a history that includes three National Championships, Park University’s women’s volleyball team has made an excellent name for itself. As the Pirates look to expand on their winning run and maintain their excellent start to the 2024 season, expectations are high.

In the Pirates’ opening conference test of the season against Baker University, fans are invited to attend and show their support.

PHOTO/Francisco Reyes

Three former student-athletes receive top honors

Mateus Carvalho Reporter

Park University will host a Wall of Honor Celebration at the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27 for three former student athletes: Rob Cordero, Robert Palmer and Thelma Broxey-Thomas.

The next day, Saturday, Sept. 28, the nominated athletes will be recognized between the women’s and men’s soccer games at 2:15 p.m. on Julian Field.

The Wall of Honor contains 44 individuals and teams, and it honors those who have had exceptional success in their chosen sports and also demonstrated the moral principles and character that Park University believes in the highest standards.

Rob Cordero, a volleyball legend at Park University who is from Venezuela, led the Pirates to two NAIA National Championships and totaled 4,384 assists in his career. A three-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American, he won five national titles as an assistant coach.

Robert Palmer, a 2012 Park graduate and soccer star, was a defender who

Three former Park University student athletes are joining the Wall of Honor. Thelma Broxey-Thomas, left, is a 1994 graduate who holds women’s track and field top 10 titles in seven different events. Center, Rob Cordero led the Pirates to two NAIA National Championships. Right, Robert Palmer, a 2012 graduate, was the 2008 Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year and had multiple American Midwest Conference First Team All-Conference seasons before starting his indoor soccer career.

helped the Pirates qualify for many NAIA tournaments. After that, he went on to have a successful career playing indoor soccer professionally, winning two Major Arena Soccer League Defender of the Year titles and breaking league records.

Thelma Broxey-Thomas is a 1994 Park

graduate who broke many records in track and field, with a focus on the 100m hurdles. She is still listed in Park’s Top 10 for seven different events and is a threetime NAIA All-American.

The three athletes will be honored for their outstanding contributions to the

university’s athletic history during the ceremony. Their pictures will be added to the Wall of Honor by the Park University Athletic Department.

This year represents the ninth year in a row of the Wall of Honor nominations, a tradition that began in 2015.

Olympian inspires athletes despite scoring zero points for Team USA

Matalyn Smith Assistant Editor-in-Chief

Heptathlon runner Chari Hawkins scored zero points in the high jump event at the Paris Olympics for the USA team.

The women’s heptathlon is a two-day event that consists of seven events: 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter run, running long (broad) jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter run.

The heptathlon started on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024 with 100-meter hurdles. In this event, Hawkins scored 1100 points for Team USA. The second event was high jump. The high jump bar starts at the height of 1.56 meters and is increased 3 centimeters each time it is cleared by the athlete. The athlete then gets three attempts to pass.

Hawkins passed on doing 1.56m, 1.59m, 1.62m, 1.65m, and 1.68m. She decided to start with the height of 1.71m and failed at all three attempts to get over the bar, receiving zero points or “no height” for the high jump event, a fate that surprised her fans, and even herself.

Hawkins stated in a recent Instagram post, “I came into the high jump competition

at a conservative height for me—one I can clear with my eyes closed and lower than all the bars I cleared in my warm up jumps.”

After scoring zero points in the high jump event, Hawkins said she was unsure if she should finish the heptathlon. She decided to finish the event knowing there was no possibility of her medaling at the Olympics. Hawkins ended up finishing 21 out of 23 for Team USA.

Hawkins said this was a very hard choice for her to make on a clip posted to Instagram Sunday, Aug. 11, after the heptathlon was over. In the snippet, which was taken right after her high jump failure, Hawkins is gasping for words and shaking, not knowing what to do.

In the comments, fans were giving her lots of support. Many said they were proud that she decided to finish the event. Others said it showed a lot of courage and bravery that they found inspiring.

Following the heptathlon, Hawkins has been open about her experience at the Olympics on social media, showing how hard Olympic athletes must work mentally and physically to get to that level. In doing so, Hawkins’ story is seen as an inspiration for all athletes.

PHOTOS COURTESY/Park Athletics

September 13, 2024

Park University’s golf scramble to support athletics

Abby Beagel Editor-in-Chief

Park University will host its annual golf scramble tournament on Monday, Oct. 14, at the National Golf Club of Kansas City. The event will raise funds to support the university’s athletic programs, which are essential to the campus community.

The day will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Participants will enjoy a full day of golf, including 18 holes with a cart, access to the driving range, on-course games and contests, and the chance to win flight prizes. The $1,000 registration fee for a team of four also includes a box lunch, on-course beverages and snacks, and a reception following the tournament. Additionally, participants will receive admission for two to Stanislav & Friends, the International Center for Music’s premiere event, scheduled for March 1, 2025.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for businesses looking to get involved. Those interested can contact Celeste Lupercio, director of corporate and foundation relations, at celeste.lupercio@park.edu or 816-584-6399 for more information.

This fundraising event aims to engage alumni with staff and student-athletes while attracting new corporate sponsors. Proceeds will directly benefit Park University’s athletic programs, which are a cornerstone of the campus experience. Park’s Parkville campus has 19 sports teams competing in the NAIA and the Heart of America Athletic Conference. The university fields teams in men’s and women’s basketball, cross

country, golf, soccer, indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball, baseball, softball, women’s beach volleyball, co-ed competitive cheerleading, and Esports. Additionally, there are JV programs in men’s and women’s basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, and volleyball.

Teams can register for the golf scramble at park.edu/golf.

Park’s annual golf scramble raises funds for the university’s athletic programs.

New members try out for Esports team at Park

Park University hosted Esports tryouts Aug. 26, 2024 through Aug. 30, 2024.

PHOTOS/Marcus Castro

PHOTO COURTESY/Park Athletics