William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri: Life on the "Hill"

Time magazine's Liberal Arts College of the Year for 2002." That's what I heard and read as I was making my college decision, and throughout my four-year stay in Liberty, Missouri . Although this became a cliche factoid among us Cardinals, there was good reason for Jewell to be awarded this distinction. If you happen to be attending William Jewell College this Fall or are considering Jewell as an option for the future, I hope this guide to the campus and surrounding area will be helpful.

Things to do on campus:

One of my favorite things about being a Jewell student is that there is always something happening on campus. One of the benefits of having a small, close-knit student body is that it's not hard to spread the word about activities and since the majority of Jewell students live on campus, there's usually someone to enjoy them with! Here are some ideas:

*William Jewell College has about 70 recognized student organizations. Getting involved with them is easy and will provide activities specific to your interests.

*The Perch - The new coffee shop offers coffee and pastries in the union with seating that overlooks the first floor. It's a comfortable place to meet a friend or work on a paper.

*The Library - Curry Library has become a place for study sessions and meet-ups between classes. It's a convenient place to quickly check your email or catch up on local news, and it also hosts the William E. Partee Center for Baptist Historical Studies. Oh, and then there's the books.

*The Observatory - Retired physics professor Dr. C Don Geilker hosts monthly viewings from the top of White Science Center. I have been privileged to see the Andromeda Galaxy, Saturn, and the Moon on several occasions. These should not be missed.

*The Cage - The place to grab a bite after cafeteria hours, and a daily stop for students who live on campus as this is where the mailboxes are located. The couches are comfy, too.

*The Mabee Center - There really isn't anything better than a free gym membership. The Mabee center has a weight room, pool, and racquetball courts all free to Jewell students.

Things to do off campus:

William Jewell College is located in the heart of Liberty, MO. This town of 27,000 people has everything you need and more. William Jewell has a good relationship with the surrounding community so it's easy to get involved, and in our case - settle down, in local life. Liberty is located 20 minutes away from Kansas City and Jewell students often venture in to the larger city for more opportunities on weekends. It was also just recognized as one of the 100 best places to live by cnnmoney.com. Some of the options for entertainment around town are:

*The Square - Within walking distance from campus you will find the historic Liberty square. It is full of fun shops and restaurants and there are concerts and fairs and farmers markets held there frequently.

*Zona Rosa - Not too far from Liberty is a great pedestrian shopping center with some of the most popular stores including Barnes and Noble and New York and Company.

*Local Churches - William Jewell's website has a list of area churches. There are more, but here is a place to start. If you are interested in a specific denomination, try that denomination's website or ask the campus chaplain.

*Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary - Very pretty views and trails right near campus.

*Harriman Arts Program - Jewell and are music venues have joined together to provide world-class music, theater, and dance productions that are free for students. Vans shuttle students to and from events. Students love this opportunity to dress up a little and hit the town.

For its size, William Jewell College has an extraordinary amount of things to please an active college student. Even three years without a car on campus gave me no excuse for boredom. It is important to make good use of your time there like anywhere, but it can be sure that there you won't be lacking for ways to fill it.