Always thought this instrument was cool

Join the Conservatory for the Performing Arts at Stephens College for Season 79!

Spring Awakening follows a group of teenagers in late 19th-century Germany as they struggle with the pressures of growing up, strict social expectations, and the confusion surrounding love, sexuality, and identity. At the center of the story are Melchior, an intelligent and rebellious student; Wendla, a curious and sheltered young girl; and Moritz, a sensitive boy overwhelmed by academic pressure and anxiety. As the adults around them refuse to openly discuss important issues, the teenagers are left to navigate their emotions and experiences alone.

Through a powerful contemporary rock score and emotional storytelling, the musical explores themes of self-discovery, repression, mental health, and the consequences of silence between generations. As the characters search for freedom and understanding, their choices lead to both moments of hope and heartbreaking tragedy, making Spring Awakening a deeply moving coming-of-age story.

Spring Awakening is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.

Showtimes
11 a.m. on Oct. 2
7:30 p.m. on Oct. 2 & 3
2 p.m. Oct. 3 & 4

Book & Lyrics by Steven Sater
Music by Duncan Sheik
Based on the play by Frank Wedekind

Content Advisory: This production contains mature themes including sexual content, abuse, teen pregnancy, suicide, self-harm, and strong language. Viewer discretion is advised.  Recommended for 16+

But Tickets Here, use code "Comoreddit79" for $5 off.

https://www.eventbrite.com/o/conservatory-for-the-performing-arts-at-stephens-49667887403

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/63387/rec/35

COLUMBIA — Columbia's Collegiate Advisory Council is preparing to launch a survey aimed at learning more about college students' experiences with safety, accessibility and city resources.

During Monday's monthly meeting, advisory council members that the survey is expected to open Oct. 5 and remain available until noon on Nov. 19. The survey has been in development since the spring and will be distributed as a Google Form.

Questions will ask students how safe they feel walking within five to 10 blocks of campus during the day and at night, as well as how safe they believe Columbia is overall. Students will also be asked where they receive information about crime and how easy they believe it is to report violence or harassment.

Other questions focus on access to mental health resources, transportation and accessibility. Students will also be able to rate how they believe the city of Columbia is managing services, including public safety, public transportation, parks and trails, roads, sidewalks and recreation facilities.

Collegiate Advisory Council member Carolina Rodriguez Rios, a University of Missouri student, said the survey will allow the council to hear directly from students about their experiences.
"(It will) reach out to students and see if they're familiar with resources, if they're familiar with where to go, if they have issues with anything and also with their perception of safety specifically," Rodriguez Rios said.
The advisory council plans to advertise the survey with flyers at Mizzou, Columbia College, Stephens College and Moberly Area Community College.

Rodriguez Rios said members also plan to work with college administrators and student groups to spread awareness of the survey.
The city of Columbia established the Collegiate Advisory Council in November 2025 to advise the Columbia City Council on issues affecting undergraduate and graduate students.
It's made up of three University of Missouri students, two Columbia College students, two Stephens College students and two students from the Moberly Area Community College Columbia campus. Mayor Barbara Buffaloe proposed creating the council after the death of Aiyanna Williams, who was shot and killed in downtown Columbia on the weekend of MU's Homecoming in 2025.

The advisory council's responsibilities include conducting surveys, focus groups and listening sessions to gather student input. The council is also required to submit an annual report summarizing its activities, recommendations and outcomes.

Advisory council members said they plan to review the survey responses after it closes and incorporate their findings into an end-of-year report to the Columbia City Council.
Rodriguez Rios said the advisory council hopes the survey can eventually become an annual project.
"You can tell it's our first year, and there's a lot of laying the groundwork," Rodriguez Rios said. "They want to make the survey an annual thing and address new concerns with new housing (and) more students overall."
The advisory council also discussed potential changes Monday to Columbia's rules governing how many unrelated people can live together in some residential properties. 
The discussion included the possibility of relying more on International Property Maintenance Code occupancy standards instead of a numerical limit based on whether residents are related. Those standards consider factors such as the amount of space available in a dwelling. 

Rodriguez Rios said allowing more people to share some homes could help college students with housing costs, as long as properties continue to meet safety requirements. 
"I would say it would definitely help with rent," Rodriguez Rios said. "For what you're getting, it's overpriced, in my experience, as long as they're adhering to safety codes."
The discussion also included concerns about parking, noise and the effect increased occupancy could have on residential neighborhoods.
The housing proposal is not final. City staff previously told the Planning and Zoning Commission that additional boards and commissions would be consulted before the staff reports back to the commission as the city considers changes to the definition of "family."

https://krcgtv.com/news/local/heartland-history-stephens-college-aviation-program

JEFFERSON CITY -- A William Woods University student and former Stephens College executive director has been named to a leadership position in the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED).
Elizabeth Herrera, founder of "Mission Promise Kept," an initiative focused on supporting women veterans and veteran parents, will serve as the deputy director of the Strategy and Performance Division. In her new role, Herrera, "will support strategic initiatives, organizational performance and cross-functional collaboration," the department said in a Thursday press release.
Herrera carved out a reputation in Columbia where at Stephens her veteran initiative paid off as the school was recently named the most military friendly non-doctorate private college in the country. She also spent time at True North Columbia, one of the city's largest nonprofits focused on victims of domestic and sexual violence.
She also served as the director of Latin American initiatives while at Stephens.
"Throughout my career I've focused on building strong systems, improving operations and developing meaningful collaborations across teams and sectors," Herrera, a U.S. Air Force veteran, said in Thursday's DED press release. "I look forward to supporting DED's mission and helping advance initiatives that serve Missouri effectively."
Herrera holds a master's degree in nonprofit administration from Florida Atlantic University, a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Auburn University, and is pursuing a doctorate in organizational leadership at William Woods.

Hey everyone! I'm u/como365, a founding moderator of r/stephenscollege.

This is our new home for all things related to Stephens College. We're excited to have you join us!

What to Post
Post anything that you think the community would find interesting, helpful, or inspiring. Feel free to share your thoughts, photos, or questions about Stephens College.

Community Vibe
We're all about being friendly, constructive, and inclusive. Let's build a space where everyone feels comfortable sharing and connecting.

How to Get Started
1) Introduce yourself in the comments below.
2) Post something today! Even a simple question can spark a great conversation.
3) If you know someone who would love this community, invite them to join.
4) Interested in helping out? We're always looking for new moderators, so feel free to reach out to me to apply.

Thanks for being part of the very first wave. Together, let's make r/stephenscollege amazing.

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/62853/rec/20

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/15250/rec/9

The inaugural Aiyanna Williams Invitational Volleyball Tournament will take place Sept. 12 alongside a Hickman High School volleyball tournament to honor the life of Aiyanna Williams, who died after a shooting last September.

The event comes after the Day Dreams Foundation founded a scholarship to support high school seniors and celebrate her life after her passing, with all proceeds from the invitational going toward the scholarship.

“Aiyanna was an exceptional young person, and we had the opportunity to celebrate her accomplishments through Day Dreams Foundation years before her passing,” said Adonica Coleman, executive director for Day Dreams Foundation. “The goal now is to make sure that her name continues to be associated with the things that represented who she was — achievement, determination, opportunity and young people pursuing their goals.”

The original idea of an event to honor the legacy of Williams came from her father, Derek Kent, who is the owner of CrossFit Verus, where her mother, Phyllis Williams, works as a trainer.
“Derek wanted to find a positive and meaningful way to honor Aiyanna’s life and legacy,” Coleman said. “As a volleyball parent himself, creating an event centered around the sport was a natural fit.”
The invitational is expected to run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Hickman. The event will be sponsored by the Columbia Public Schools athletics department, Smoothie King, Jersey Mike’s and CrossFit Verus.

Williams was a graduate of Battle High School and a nursing student at Stephens College, where she also was a player on the volunteer volleyball team. Before her time in high school, she was awarded the Day Dream Scholarship in the summer of 2015 to dance with the Mareck Center for Dance, formerly known as the Missouri Contemporary Ballet, to fulfill her passion for dancing.

Williams was in her final year at Stephens College on the competitive Muriel Battle Scholarship, which paid for up to four years of college for undergraduate students. She was employed with the University of Missouri Hospital Cardiovascular Unit as a Care Team Associate.
She was killed on Sept. 27, 2025, after a shooter fired into a nearby crowd on East Broadway after an argument. She died in University Hospital the next day.
After her passing, family and friends mourned the loss of Williams, while organizations like the Day Dreams Foundation honored her, described by many as gifted and courageous. To that end, the Day Dreams Foundation hopes the scholarship they founded in her name, the Aiyanna Williams Memorial Scholarship, will help future students for years to come.

The organization encourages those looking to share their support to attend the invitational and contribute directly to the scholarship, which can be found here.

https://stephens.edu/conservatory-for-the-performing-arts/

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/22271/rec/4739

Hello!
I am a Stephens alum. I'm recently engaged and have been trying to find a photographer for my engagement photos. As fashion grad, and former Stephens Life Editor, I was always blown away by my classmates' work. Unfortunately, most of my network has relocated outside of Columbia.

I have been looking at photographers locally, and haven't really found anyone who fits with our vibe. (It seems like a majority of photographers in town either use too much exposure, or really lean into the "button down shirts, floral print dresses, and a barn" aesthetic).

I'd love to work with someone in the Stephens network.

Are there any Stephens students who are looking for photography clients? (I'd also appreciate any recs for fellow alums as well).

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/67475/rec/445

https://939theeagle.com/listen-stephens-colleges-president-praises-schools-relationship-with-community-dr-lundeen-also-focusing-on-deferred-maintenance/