Walking through the quiet courtyards and sleepy halls of UMKC during the summertime is eerie in comparison to the fall and spring.
Most areas of campus remain empty aside from the small stream of prospective students touring the campus.
Many staff and faculty members continue their work through the summer. One faculty member who stays through the summer is Dani Wellemeyer, a librarian in the Miller Nichols Library as head of outreach and engagement.
“I like the ebb and flow of the semesters and summer. It’s kind of like the campus has its own seasons,” said Wellemeyer.
The library’s Robot cafe is closed for the summer, contributing to the chill atmosphere.
Although the floor is labeled “regular conversation,” it was as quiet as the silent floor.
Another building open this summer is the Swinney Rec Center, where we could hear people playing basketball.
The Rec Center stays open through the summer to both students and community members, making it one of the busiest spots on campus.
“It’s been very quiet. People get in less trouble because it’s mainly community members and they follow the rules,” said Swinney Center student employee Maddie Williams.
The quad was unsurprisingly empty on the 90+ degree day.
After passing through Royall Hall with its chairs flipped on tables, we ran into Joshua Jackson, assistant teaching professor and media lab director.
“Summer is like halftime,” said Jackson, “It has given me the chance to get to know my colleagues better.”
Last spring was Jackson’s first semester teaching full time. He has used the summer to make adjustments and prepare for the fall.
A prevalent factor across campus this summer is construction. It has started in the student union for the Foodiverse, 51st street for the walkway, and the fourth floor of the Miller Nichols Library.
Although the summer is the campus’s off season, there is still plenty of activity on campus but with a more calm vibe.
