On this episode of “The Newman Bond” podcast, Newman students Andrew Meyer and Cameron Schroder discuss their experiences in history and how the past shapes the university’s identity today.
They share personal insights on teaching, learning and why understanding history matters for students and the broader community. The conversation highlights how Newman’s mission and traditions continue to influence campus life and academic culture.
Overview of conversation topics
Read on to skim or find timestamps of specific topics covered in this episode.
Introduction to the history project (0:00–1:03)
Kelly McFall, professor of history and director of the Honors Program, introduces the episode by explaining that students in his historical methods class researched Newman University’s past using the university archives, then produced research papers. He notes that Andrew Meyer’s and Cameron Schroder’s papers stood out.
Meet the student researchers (1:03–2:21)
Andrew Meyer introduces himself as a seminarian and philosophy student, while Cameron Schroder shares that he is a history major, a men’s soccer player from Canada, and Newman’s last current history major “for now.”
Schroder’s focus: the history of Newman’s campus buildings (2:21–7:26)
Schroder explains that his experience as a residence assistant and resident in multiple dorms led him to study the history of campus housing, especially Beata Hall. He describes how early campus life included only a few buildings, with the south building later becoming the original Beata Hall.
Beata Hall’s many identities over time (5:04–9:05)
The original Beata Hall was not always a dorm. It served at different times as a boys’ school, a convent, classroom space and faculty offices before briefly becoming a dorm in the mid-20th century. Schroder also discusses the strong emotional connection students and faculty had to the building, including a major ceremony surrounding its demolition in the late 1980s.
The new Beata Hall and Merlini Hall reflect student needs (8:25–11:00)
Schroder says the newer Beata Hall was intentionally built as a dorm and remains that way today. He also explains that Merlini Hall was constructed during a housing crunch, when Newman needed better on-campus options for a growing student population.
Co-ed housing brought change and tension (10:17–11:00)
Schroder highlights that Merlini marked a shift to co-educational dorm living, which created some early difficulties as campus leaders worked to balance student life with Newman’s Catholic identity.
Meyer’s focus: Why Sacred Heart College became Kansas Newman (11:00–16:42)
Meyer says he originally expected the name change to be mainly about honoring St. John Henry Newman, but his research showed that the shift was driven more by practical concerns. Leaders wanted to move away from the image of an outdated all-women’s college and better reflect a modern, coeducational institution.
How the new name took shape (13:29–15:39)
Various names were considered, including ones tied to local geography and prominent campus figures. Meyer explains that President Rev. Roman Galiardi favored “Newman,” while “Kansas” was added to emphasize regional identity and help prospective students feel the college was rooted in their home state.
What the research revealed about Newman’s identity (16:42–21:59)
Meyer reflects that Newman today intentionally integrates St. John Henry Newman’s ideas, especially the relationship between faith and reason, into campus culture and academics. Schroder says his research made him see campus buildings differently, especially as physical symbols of Newman’s resourcefulness, mission and student memories.
Archival discovery and next steps (23:11–25:38)
Both students describe the archives as rich, human and sometimes messy in a productive way, full of photos, maps, records and unexpected materials. The episode closes with Schroder sharing plans for law school and Meyer discussing his path toward seminary and the priesthood.
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