The Collegian – February 8, 2019

Wolverines rolling Fresh twist on a classic

Phil saw his shadow

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga pop on-screen

Students travel for Groundhog Day

Women’s basketball rides winning streak SPORTS

The @Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper

Friday, February 8, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

COMMUNITY

Collegian The Grove City College Student Newspaper

Vol. 104, No. 12

Sasse for Class of ’19 Senator to speak at Commencement

Collegian Staff U.S. Senator and bestselling author Ben Sasse will deliver Grove City College’s 139th Commencement Address at this year’s graduation. Sasse, the junior Republican senator from Nebraska, will speak to graduates on May 19, 2019. He has gained a reputation as someone who is both unafraid to work across the aisle to build con-

sensus and is unafraid to criticize his own party. “Ben Sasse is a unique voice in Washington,” Grove City College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said. “His remarkable intellect, extraordinary communications skills, refreshing independence and, most importantly, deeply-rooted convictions and exemplary moral character make him an ideal person to inspire and challenge our graduating class.”

“I’ve had the privilege of being his friend for more than 20 years, and I’m extremely grateful for his willingness to serve our country at this important time in history,” McNulty said. Sasse was elected to the Senate in 2014 in a campaign where he emphasized the importance of restoring the Constitution to its rightful place in American governance. He advocated for term limits and humbler leader-

ship in Washington, D.C. He has focused on a number of policies during his first term in the Senate, including reforming entitlements, modernizing national security and helping restore a sense of optimism in the American Dream. “Ben Sasse is not a typical politician,” McNulty said. “Anyone who follows him on Twitter or reads what he has SASSE 3

Alum has big plans for Queen of Broad Street

U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse

Forbes 30 under 30 Laurie Davis

Contributing Writer

WESLEY KINNEY

The Guthrie Theater has been a staple of Grove City since it opened in 1927. The theater has, however, been shut down since May due to water damage. Spencer Folmar ’10 and Veritas Arts bought the theater with hopes of renovating and re-opening it.

The show must go on Collegian Staff Grove City’s historic Guthrie Theater is holding a “Renew the Guthrie” donor reception tomorrow in an effort to get the Queen of Broad Street back on its feet. The reception runs from 7 to 9 p.m. and will give the community a preview at the work new owners, Veritas Arts, has already put into the theater. Tickets cost $20, with proceeds going towards renovations. Veritas Arts bought the 92year old theater, which has been closed since May due to water damage, from the Thomas family. Spencer Folmar ’10, president of Veritas Arts, independent filmmaker and

Grove City College graduate, said that he had fond memories of going to the Guthrie during Folmar his time at Grove City and wanted to save an important part of Grove City’s identity. Folmar said Veritas has already begun work on renewing the Guthrie, working on returning the theater to its original, 1920s Art Deco style. “We want the theater to resemble the great vaudeville theaters of the 1920s and to be a premier venue for both cinema and live entertainment in the area,” Folmar said. Folmar and Veritas hopes

that tomorrow’s donor reception can “show the community what the Guthrie could be one day with financial support.” The theater has long been a staple of students’ free time. Its closeness to campus and low prices make it more attractive than driving to a bigger chain theater. “I went to the Guthrie very often for a multitude of movies,” senior Cole McCook said. “I saw a good amount of Marvel movies, including ‘Infinity War,’ there and what kept drawing me back was the prices and the proximity to the school.” Students also appreciate the historic element of the theater. Built in 1927, the theater is one of the last

single-theater movie houses in Pennsylvania, and has changed little since it first opened. “It’s historic and it gives you the same feeling of going to a museum,” senior Jacob Gish said. Freshman Patrick Kriley said he had never been to a theater like the Guthrie, and going to the re-opened theater would be a new experience. “It’s an older style theater and not something you see too often,” he said. “I think it’s nice that it’s a little town theater, and really traditional,” junior Natalie Kriley said, “It feels homier.” All students agreed that the theater would be good to GUTHRIE 10

Forbes Magazine recognized alumnus Troy Demmer ’11 in their “30 under 30” list of young stars in the energy sector for his work co-founding Gecko Robotics, a company that uses robots to perform safety inspections for various industrial facilities. Gecko Robotics strives to Demmer complete true, predictive maintenance on boilers. Before the companies used robotic technology to scan boiler walls using ultrasound transducers and a HD visual camera, these tedious maintenance inspections were completed by hand. And even then, the analyses would ultimately be unable to span more than 1 percent of the boiler. Demmer’s solution was to introduce robots that allow for safer, more complete inspections. The company was cofounded by Demmer and Grove City alumnus Jake Loosararian ’13. The two worked with various Grove City College engineering students to put together the design for robots that were able to utilize technology necessary for matinence testing. They credit their time in college for beginning the innovation behind the company, as well as giving them important skills needed in the business world. Demmer, a finance and economics major at Grove City, reflected on his time at the college, saying “I had some very impactful professors at Grove City who really cared about my development. The College gave me a solid foundation that allowed me to get a great job out of school.” That foundation enabled him “to pick up so many of the skills and experiences I needed for Gecko”. The company has raised $9 million in funding, and generated $1.7 million in sales, according to Forbes.

The Collegian

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Feb. 8, 2019

Analysis

Editorial

Citizen Mark James Sutherland Editor-in-Chief

Remember when Mark Zuckerberg was an American hero? We used to think he was just a geek who liked coding and used his skills to achieve massive fame and fortune. He was, in some ways, the modern American dream: with nothing but a computer and his brilliant mind, he made it for himself and his family. He seemed like a good, decent guy. In 2012, he married his long-time girlfriend, Priscilla Chan, and had two daughters with her. He was generous with his money, signing a pledge, alongside Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, promising to give away at least 50 percent of his income. Yet, look where he is now. Last year was his nadir: the Cambridge Analytical scandal and his company’s problems during the 2016 presidential election all culminated in a tense, high-profile congressional hearing in April. Zuckerberg went from being an American hero to being a global villain, hated all around. He was once talked about as a presidential candidate; now he is talked about as an enemy of democracy. Zuckerberg’s arc parallels one of film’s most iconic characters: Charles Foster Kane, in Orson Welles’ 1941 masterpiece “Citizen Kane.” The story of Citizen Kane is the story of corruption: an innocent child is taken from his idyllic home, given all the money in the world and then corrupted by it. His pursuit of power and control leaves him hollow and empty. Right now, Zuckerberg looks like Kane at the end of the film: a shady, powerful figure no one really knows or controls, living in his own , having gained the world but lost his soul. Zuckerberg’s story could be a cautionary tale of the dangers of success and fame. But I think there is a bigger picture here: the dangers of technology and the power it gives. Silicon Valley and the technology and social media it produced started out as good things, ways to improve our lives and connect us even more to the people we love. But, like everything, technology has unforeseen consequences. It has immense power to shape our lives, oftentimes in ways we do not see. The tech companies figured that out early on and have capitalized—literally—on that. They farm search histories and private messaging to find out our personal interests, and then use the data to recommend new searches and products. They design their products to be narcotics, to suck us in and never let us out. Technology companies, and the people like Zuckerberg who run them, have immense and unchecked power over our lives, relationships and habits. How much do we really know about Zuckerberg? How much do we know about the workings of Amazon or Google or Apple? And how much do they know about us? Those are scary things to consider.

Collegian Staff 100 Campus Drive Grove City, Pa. 16127 gcc.collegian@gmail.com

Editor-in-Chief James Sutherland

Managing Editor Grace Tarr

Section Editors News Rio Arias

Community Paige Fay

Perspectives

Michelle Jeffries

Sports

Aly Kruger

Photo Chief

Wesley Kinnery

Design Chief Karen Postupac

Copy Chief

Jessica Cameron

Copy Editors

Gabrielle Capaldo Natalie Dell Britney Lukasiewicz Lauren Ness Elizabeth Stevenson Honora Sweeney

Section Designers Shaun Jorstad Hannah Stiller

Staff Writers

George Daugharty Anna DiStefano Katheryn Frazier Emily Geiger Connor Schlosser David Smith Mackenzie Stine Price Styer Joshua Tatum Mallory Trumbull

Business Manager Nathanael Curry

Staff Adviser

Nick Hildebrand

The Collegian is the student newspaper of Grove City College, located in Grove City, Pa. Opinions appearing on these pages, unless expressly stated otherwise, represent the views of individual writers. They are not the collective views of The Collegian, its staff or Grove City College.

Greed, vengeance killed Standard

Bradley Evans Contributing Writer

To the naïve observer, the recent demise of the conservative magazine The Weekly Standard may represent any number of snide mantras: that print just won’t sell anymore, that an antiTrump publication can never succeed and that the “Washington elites” are on the losing side of history. And it may well mean those things. But not necessarily. On Friday, December 14th, the Standard’s parent company Clarity Media Group announced that the magazine would be publishing its last issue. A 23-year run was coming to a close. A proper understanding of the Standard’s shuttering requires two bookending contexts: the whims of a conservative billionaire and the surprising re-emergence of an old publication. First, the billionaire. Philip Anschutz, a conservative philanthropist and owner of Clarity Media Group, bought the magazine in 2009 from fellow billionaire Rupert Murdoch. But by 2018, Anschutz, whose fingers can be found in an assortment of pies as diverse as the Los Angeles Lakers, The Chronicles of Narnia film series and Coachella, was ready to sell. But why? According to Clarity Media CEO Ryan McKibben, the decision was purely a financial one. “[T]he financial performance of the publication over the last five years – with double-digit declines

in its subscriber base all but one year since 2013 – made it clear that a decision had to be made,” McKibben said. The media executive commended the Standard’s history of excellence and in particular, the quality of its writers – “some of the industry’s most dedicated and talented staff.” Despite the high praise, however, no amount of writing talent could save the magazine from being “hampered by many of the same challenges that countless other magazines and newspapers across the country have been wrestling with.” Put more bluntly, the Standard was no longer viable. For many, however, money didn’t tell the whole story of the Standard’s collapse. John Podhoretz, the editor of the conservative Commentary magazine and a co-founder of the Standard, described the magazine’s death as a “murder,” decrying the “deep pettiness and a personal desire for bureaucratic revenge on the part of a penny-ante Machiavellian.” (Yes, that would be McKibben.) New York Times columnist David Brooks, himself a longtime Standard editor, agreed, writing that “Anschutz and McKibben murdered The Weekly Standard… They didn’t merely close it because it was losing money. They seemed to have murdered it out of greed and vengeance.” Greed and vengeance are strong words. The “vengeance” part is clear to Standard readers. The magazine had taken a decidedly critical stance toward Donald Trump, a harder line than that of other conservative publications like National Review. As the Times

reported, Standard employees were convinced that Philip Anschutz simply did not “want to own the leading Trump-skeptical publication in conservative media.” But the “greed?” That leads to the second context. On December 3rd, less than two weeks before the Standard closed, Clarity Media made a different kind of big announcement: The Washington Examiner (the company’s other Washington-based publication), would be relaunching its weekly magazine. Clarity Media was choosing to kill off one print magazine and resuscitate another. The difference between the Standard and the Examiner was straightforward: while the former had been known as the chief anti-Trump magazine on the right, the other had always been a more Trump-friendly publication, one less interested in stoking internecine conflict in the world of conservative media. But that’s not the whole story. Remember McKibben’s “dedicated and talented” staff? By shifting its focus to the Examiner, Clarity Media could not only shut down the Standard; it could harvest its writers. Thus for a columnist like Brooks, the move is about greed. As Politico’s Jack Shafer put it, “the Standard is dying so the Examiner can live larger.” Whether the move was based in greed, vengeance, financial responsibility or some combination of the three is up to the individual observer. What is clear, however, is that the death of The Weekly Standard is about much more than it first appears.

Under Construction

Green Eyeshade Award the

This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Paige Fay for her oustanding writing and editing and her effervescent attidue. Great work Paige! The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.

VOX

Paige Fay

The Collegian always strives to produce a clean, professional newspaper for Grove City College’s community. Our staff works to produce objective, unbiased reporting on campus life, to cover politics, culture and society from a distinctively Christian worldview and to present students’ perspectives on all those topics. Moreover, the Collegian always works with the College’s core values in mind: faithfulness, excellence, community, stewardship and independence. This semester the Collegian will be trying new things, in light of our effort to make a better paper. We will be working on both the visual design and the writing of the paper. We ask you, our faithful readers, for two things. First, patience. Please bear with us as we work out the paper in the open. Second, feedback. Please let us know what you like and do not like, what worked and what did not. Feel free to email us (gcc.collegian@gmail.com) and give us feedback. We thank you for your patience and continued readership.

News Investing in the future

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Feb. 8, 2019

George Daugharty Finance Reporter

Grove City College’s Student Investment Society is starting the semester with some new changes. The student-led society, which began six years ago, has developed into a resource for undergraduates at the College interested in wise investing and learning more about financial markets. Many students are drawn by the allure of being a part of the society’s $50,000 fund, which provides a real-world experience for students interested in wealth management and investment research post-graduation. The society proved key for Daniel Hibshmen, a senior accounting & finance major, who attained an internship at the Pennsylvania employee $30 billion pension fund this past summer.

“Involvement in the society certainly made me stand out amongst other candidates,” remarked Hibshmen, who served as president of the club from the fall of 2016 to this spring semester. “I was able to discuss my experience and expertise, and even reference previous investment society presentations during the interview process,” he said. Hibshmen’s position as president helped in beating out over 80 other candidates for the prestigious post. His successor, junior Quinn Peebles, hopes to improve the group even more, starting with its name. The society will change its name to the Crimson Collegiate Investors, in order to encourage a higher stan-

dard among members. “The new name reflects a higher degree of professionality and a de-emphasis on the clubs mere ‘student run’ nature,” Peebles said. The idea for the new name came to Quinn last spring, at the University of Southern California’s annual stock pitch competition. Quinn, along with juniors Zane Laws and Timothy O’Brien, interacted with other investment clubs from across the U.S. and Canada, and pitched ways to rebrand the

group. Peebles says his main goal is to “fill everyone with a passion for investment finance,” and spread the “investment bug” to others on

campus, via fresh initiatives and a building of community amongst investment enthusiasts. Quinn hopes that with these new efforts and improved fund performance, professionality and the club’s success will continue to grow. So far, the Crimson Collegiate Investor’s fund is up 4.76 percent in the current year and new members are encouraged to join.

College climbs to top of ranks Collegian Staff

ADWEEK

Cardi B starred in Pepsi’s Super Bowl commercial. Viewers criticized this year’s set of commercials, saying they did not create a convincing desire for their products and services.

Super Bowl commercials fall flat

Rio Arias

News Editor The Grove City College Marketing Department held an informal class session on Monday, February 3, to discuss Super Bowl advertisements that aired the day before and how they performed. The department encouraged students of all majors to come and participate in the discussion over lunch. It was hosted by Dr. Scott Powell, along with Laura Havrilla and Robert Kocur, professors of marketing. The event was hosted for the first-time last year and was put on again after successful

SASSE continued from 1 to say about politics and issues will immediately be struck by his nonpolitical insights and remarkable sense of humor. He’s not about slogans and political clichés. I also know that his faith is the most important thing in his life. He strives to do everything in a way that is faithful to his Christian calling.” Sasse is also an accomplished author. He wrote a book last year on the importance of working with those with whom you disagree and the dangers of political tribalism, titled “Them: Why We Hate Each Other—and How to Heal.” He has also

conversations with students. Powell explained the idea behind it, saying “Given that the Super Bowl attracts the largest TV audience of the year and is a showcase for advertising, it just made sense to us to debrief with marketing majors, many of whom hope to be involved in promotion as a career.” Senior marketing major Megan McGinnis attended because of her passion for her major, and also because she watched the Super Bowl the day before with friends. “Having this talk the day after the game means it’s fresh in our minds, and

everyone was willing to talk at some point in the discussion.” She described the event, saying that while mostly marketing majors attended, there were some students outside the major who were also present. “There was a group from my retail management class who hopped next door to join in on the discussion too,” said McGinnis. The general consensus from the studentfaculty led discussion, however, was that the advertisements fell short of the Superbowl hype. “A few of the ads were entertaining, but nearly all of them failed

to accomplish a primary marketing objective,” said Powell, “which is to give people a compelling reason to consider buying the advertised product.” McGinnis confirmed this, saying “They spent outrageous amounts of money to get a laugh out of people and then they don’t even get their message out there.” She added that since a large number of Super Bowl fans tune in for ads, not the game, it was especially disappointing. Powell, along with Havrilla and Kocur, agreed that the event was a success and would likely be put on next year.

wrote the best-selling “The Vanishing American Adult: Our Coming-of-Age Crisis—and How to Rebuild a Culture of Self-Reliance,” published in 2017. Sasse is outspoken on his convictions, even criticizing his own party and President Donald Trump. In a lengthy Facebook post from February 2016, during the middle of the Republican primary, Sasse explained his opposition to Trump, saying that Trump’s “relentless focus is on dividing Americans, and on tearing down rather than building back up this glorious nation.” Sasse continued to say that a president who “boast about what he’ll do during his ‘reign’

and refuses to condemn the KKK cannot lead a conservative movement in America.” More recently, Sasse made news this week when he introduced a bill to the Senate that would protect babies born in third-trimester abortion procedures from what he called infanticide. The bill came after Virginia governor Ralph Northam advocated for a bill in Virginia’s House of Delegates that would make it easier to get third-trimester abortions. Sasse said Northam “tarnished the American idea of equality under law. He betrayed the universal truth of human dignity and he turned the stomachs of civilized people not

just in this country but in every country on Earth.” The bill did not pass the Senate. Before joining the Senate in 2014, Sasse served as president of Midland University, in Fremont, Neb., for five years. The 130-year-old Lutheran college was struggling when he arrived and became one of the fastest-growing higher education institutions in the country by the time of his departure. He holds a Ph.D. in American history from Yale University and an M.A. from St. John’s College. Sasse earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard University, where he was recruited for the wrestling team.

Grove City College is one of the best schools in the nation for internship placement, according to The Princeton Review. The respected educational services put the College at number 11 on its list of Top 25 Best Schools for Internships based on student surveys. Caleb Vits ’09, assistant director for Employer Relations & Internship Development in the College’s Office of Career Services, said the recognition acknowledges Grove City College’s commitment to supporting students in obtaining practical experience through internships. “We strive to partner with employers and faculty in providing students with experiences that help them explore career options, develop their skill set and prepare them for their profession,” Vits said. “We believe an internship complements what students are learning in the classroom by providing them with real-world engagement and, ultimately, helps students identify and pursue God’s vocational calling.” The ranking was released in tandem with The Princeton Review’s 2019 edition of “The Best Value Colleges: 200 Schools with Exceptional ROI for Your Tuition Investment.” Grove City College is one of the schools profiled in the guide and online at PrincetonReview.com. Princeton Review identified the College as an affordable and academically outstanding college that stands out for “success at guiding students to rewarding careers.” “Only seven percent of the nation’s fouryear colleges made it into this book,” Rob-

ert Franek, lead author and The Princeton Review’s editor-in-chief, said. “We salute them for their stellar academics and generous aid awards to students based on need and/or merit. They also provide their undergrads with career services from day one plus strong networks of alumni connections.” The Princeton Review chose the 200 schools based on a comprehensive analysis of data from its surveys of administrators and students attending more than 650 colleges in 2017-18 and PayScale.com surveys of alumni of the schools about their starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction. More than 40 data points were considered in the guide’s methodology. Grove City College posted a Return on Investment ranking of 89. According to the “The Best Value Colleges” guide, students going to Grove City feel confident that their education will give them a head start once they graduate. Grove City also prides itself on helping students succeed during and after their formal education. Grove City College, which is also included in Princeton Review’s 2019 “The Best 384 Colleges”guide, has the lowest tuition of any private college in Pennsylvania and an on-time graduation rate of 80 percent. The College reports that 96 percent of its most recent graduates were gainfully employed or enrolled in a post-graduate program within six months of graduation. Compensation data collected by PayScale.com indicates an average starting salary of $52,300 and mid-career earnings of $103,300 for alumni.

Community

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Feb. 8, 2019

TAYLOR HUNKER

Grove City College students participate in a panel on mental health, sharing their unique experiences. The panel was part of Focus Week’s theme of mental health awareness and treatment on campus.

Mental health in focus

Paige Fay

Community Editor Focus Week is not just a great opportunity for chapel credits, it’s also an amazing opportunity to learn more about topics that are relevant to students today. The Focus Week Committee is made up of students and staff with a desire to serve the campus. The head of the committee is Joe Cirelli, assistant dean of student life. Other members on the committee are Taylor Hunker, resident director of MAP West; Jody Vernam, counselor; Steve Friebe, resident director of Hicks; Hannah Hebenthal, junior biblical & religious studies major; Chas Bomgardner, senior chemistry major; and Maverick Dickson, junior political science major. All members on the committee have equal voice in the decisions

made. Together they choose the speakers, topics and events through discussion and prayer. “We believe in collaboration and try to emphasize each committee member’s strengths in the tasks they carry out,” Cirelli explained. In the spring, the overall theme is chosen by a student panel. All are volunteers and their goal is to pick something that will impact the other students on campus. Then, in the fall, the committee chooses the speakers that they believe best fit the different sessions. Everything is ready by the end of fall semester for the spring. The time chosen for Focus Week was purposeful. The committee wanted to be able to reach students before the first round of exams and papers which typically comes the third week of classes. Focus Week, funded

by the Office of Student Life & Learning, first came about in the 2014-15 academic year. It was created to identify themes important to the student body and to look at them through different lenses throughout the week. The different perspectives are given through the experience and wisdom of individuals from inside and outside the community. “I think the speakers and events we provide for students is very important and really reflects how the staff and administration view certain topics,” Hebenthal said. Hebenthal is also the president of Stigma, a mental health advocacy ministry group on campus. “I appreciate the opportunity to work alongside folks who care about GCC and its students as we attempt to catalyze conversations on topics that are pertinent to our com-

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Taylor Hunker, resident director of MAP West and member of the Focus Week committee, speaks on the issue of mental health during chapel. munity,” Cirelli said. Attendance for the events varies. Some sessions are sparsely attended, and others have between 25 and 40 students. Each program is evaluated after Focus Week to ensure that they can better select programs for future Focus Weeks. “I hope students realize just how critical our mental health is and how important it is to talk about it in a helpful and loving way,” Hebenthal said. “There are many people here on campus that are hurting, and it is our job as brothers and sisters in

No planz but the Ganz

Christ to bring them the hope of Christ. I genuinely hope that people realize that hope is real and change is possible. You are not alone in your struggles and it’s okay to ask for help.” “I hope they take from [Focus Week] what they need and attend the sessions that will be helpful to them,” Hunker said. Due to the weather, some of the Focus Week events have been moved to next week. “Identifying and Understanding Warning Signs” presented by Pastor Clyde Bomgardner will take place Feb.

Opera gala

Alejandra Flores

Jacob Schiela

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

The most-attended event of the year. 1,100 plus people. One long line. That is what comes to mind when you say the Ganza. At first, you might be intimidated by the rumors of the lines and the waiting, but soon you would quickly be drawn into the excitement radiating through the doors of Hicks. While the TLC isn’t the best hang out, the building is still full to the brim with sharply dressed college students eager to enter the event of the year. The Extravaganza, called the Ganza by students, is hosted by the Tri-Rho housing group and has been a long-standing tradition for 34 years. Putting in hard work, Anthony LaRosa, senior head of Ganza, and Jesse Kolb, junior head of Ganza, spent hours planning the Ganza to beat all Ganzas. The event was sponsored by the Men’s Activities Board and the Student Government Association. Coming in with over 1,100 people, this year’s Ganza broke the record for attendance. Pulling out all the stops, the Rho’s ensured prime entertainment with a DJ that LaRosa said practiced every day for “four plus hours for two weeks straight just to make sure everything would

Grove City College hosts its second-ever Opera Gala at 7 p.m. tonight in Arnold Recital Hall. This is a concert for the voice music students at Grove City College. This is an opportunity for Grove City College students to experience traditional vocal music. Sasha Pisaro-Tedford, a music instructor for voice with Grove City’s music department, organized the event. “It is a great performance opportunity for our voice students and was very well received last year by the audience,” Tedford said. She also stated that they are hoping to keep the event running annually during upcoming years. The performers are all members of Grove City’s voice studio, including freshman Brooke Bannister, sophomore Katheryn Frasier, juniors Julia Barnes, Alexa Diehl and

TRI-RHO

Sophomores Jesse Belitz and Kara Daugherty, senior Morgan Ziegler and junior Molly Marino enjoy the 2019 Extravaganza hosted by the Tri Rhos housing group.

GANZA PHOTOS on pages 6 and 7

be perfect.” The Rhos really go all out. Converting Hicks into an extravagant dance floor in itself is astonishing. Everyone sees it merely as a cafeteria, but nevertheless the Rhos pulled through. They also had a photobooth! Many people were waiting to take their pictures with tacky, but fun, accessories adding a festive scene to the already exciting party. And you can’t forget the mocktails! Mocktails were the Rhos’ way of adding class to the event. We as college students look for more than just the average high school dance, so adding

14 at 4 p.m. in the STU Great Room. Later that day, also in the STU Great Room, “Faith, Therapy, and Medicine” with Lanie Timko, LPC, and Elizabeth Messer, women’s ministries coordinator, will be at 8 p.m. “Perfectionism and Mental Health” with Pastor Matt Harmon of Christ Presbyterian Church in Grove City, Pa., will be offered for a chapel credit. Time and placed to be determined. For further information, check out Focus Week’s Facebook page: @gccfocusweek.

mocktails and shrimp cocktails gave the dance a level of elegance many people search for. The dance was definitely one for the books. Not only did they party hard, but they worshiped hard too. It wouldn’t be a Grove City dance without some contemporary Hillsong music. As the night closed, “Oceans” was one of the closing songs. While at first many seemed confused, as soon as the first lines blared through the speakers, hands were lifted and voices were raised as many swayed to the music. Hopefully you made it to the dance, but if not there’s always next year. Ganza 2020, you have a lot to live up too!

Ashley Donaldson, and seniors Jonathan Lees and Kirsten Ward. They will be singing a variety of song from “The Tales of Hoffman” by Jacques Offenbach, “Orpheus and Eurydice” by Willibald Gluck, and “Don Giovanni” by W.A. Mozart, among others. “I’m most excited about performing and acting out the character. I love music because it is such a great avenue for storytelling,” Shoenthal said. “I hope the audience enjoys the story and the character I portray.” The event should be no more than an hour long. After the event there is going to be a cookie reception for other students to talk to the performers, ask about their music and ask about their experience singing traditional style music as well as their experience in the Grove City College voice studio. This is a great opportunity to support fellow Grove City College students as well as experience traditional music.

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The Collegian

Feb. 8, 2019

Dancing the night away Anna DiStefano Staff Writer

Are you looking to show off your dance moves? To have a fun time with friends? To eat Oreos outside your dorm room? Look no further than the Black and White Ball. Grove City College’s Ballroom Club will host the fourth annual Black and White Ball tomorrow from 8-11pm in MAP Café. The event is free and open to the entire campus. You do not need to have a ticket or be a member of Ballroom Club to attend. “Dancing is a great way to get to know other people and have fun with your friends,” Alexa Diehl, co-President of Ballroom Club, said.

The Black and White Ball will resemble the Ballroom Club’s other events. Unique to this event, however, is its black and white theme, and Ballroom Club encourages attendees to have fun with the night. Come dressed in your best black and white attire (although not required). If you are feeling a little daring, or simply need a pop of color, sport a bright shoe, pocket square or lipstick. Ballroom Club will provide light refreshments at the ball, and yes, these refreshments will include everyone’s favorite black and white cookie, Oreos. The night will include partner dancing, the aforementioned snacks, and a variety of music

that suits both ballroom and swing dance styles. “There will be all styles of ballroom including waltz, foxtrot, tango, cha-cha and more along with swing,” Jared Kettinger, CoPresident of Ballroom Club said. “You do not need a partner; it’s a social dance where everyone is encouraged to dance with everyone.” Diehl encourages students to attend the ball and try out Ballroom Club. “Ballroom Club meets on Fridays in PEW Rehearsal Hall from 5-6:30 p.m. If anyone wants more information, they can contact me,” Diehl said. The Black and White Ball is a great opportunity to meet new people while having a blast.

GCC BALLROOM CLUB

Freinds and couples gather for an evening of waltz, foxtrot, tango, cha-cha and swing dancing at the Black and White Ball.

GCC BALLROOM CLUB

The Black and White Dance, hosted by the Grove City College Ballroom Dance Club, offers a night of classy dancing for Grovers.

Phil forecasts flowers

Who said there’s NOTHING to do in Grove City?

Paige Fay

Community Editor Thousands of people, many of them Grove City students, made the pilgrimage to Punxsutawney, Pa., Saturday to see the famous Phil the groundhog make his prediction for the year. The small town was wide-awake in the early hours of Groundhog Day, despite the darkness. An enormous crowd huddle together in front of the stage at Gobbler’s Knob in 10-degree weather. During the waiting, attendees listened to loud music and danced to stay warm, watched fireworks and heard Groundhog Daythemed parodies to get into the spirit of the holiday. Occasionally the festivities were broken up by thousands of voices shouting “Phil! Phil! We want Phil!” This year, Phil announced in ‘groundhoguese’ (translated by his keepers: The Inner Circle) that spring is just around the corner. This is only the 19th year in the 123 years that Phil has been predicting the weather that he has announced an early spring. Though he is merely a groundhog, Phil has thousands of faithful followers who travel each year from all distances to see ‘the seer of seers and the prognosticator of prognosticators’ determine whether or not there will be six more weeks of winter.

Today Track and Field 4 p.m., Baldwin Wallace Invitational Koinonia Movie Night 7 p.m., STU Great Room Opera Gala 7:30 p.m., PFAC 106 VICTORIA AUTIERI

GCC students Emily Kuhn and Naomi Shrom-Kuc stand next to one of the many groundhog statues in Punxsutawney, Pa. Groundhog Day brings thousands of visitors, including GCC students, each year to see Phil make his forecast. Despite his title, don’t go pulling out the sunglasses and swimsuits yet. The National Weather Service says that he is not a reliable weather prognosticator and, according to Stormfax Almanac data, Phil has only been right in 39 percent of his predictions. Looking at his stats, it may seem paltry to wake long before dawn and stand in cold snow to hear his forecast, but many Grove City students eagerly made the journey to Punxsutawney. “I went because Groundhog Day is a

national holiday and I wanted to fulfill my duty as an American citizen,” sophomore Catherine Root said. Root and her friends traveled to Punxsutawney in the early hours of the morning and felt that it was definitely worth the trip. “It kind of felt like a cult,” freshman Sophia Beatty said. “There was a lot of chanting and enthusiasm all for a groundhog named Phil. The Inner Circle encouraged ‘groundhog supremacy.’ I kind of felt like Moses when he comes down from the mountain and sees his

brother worshiping the golden calf.” “It’s definitely something you only do once,” freshman Addie Slate added. “I mean, the fireworks were cool, but waiting in the bathroom line for twenty minutes and not even getting to go is not something you do more than once.” Beatty and Slate traveled together to see Phil make his prediction. Both felt that it was an experience like no other. Only time will determine Phil’s reliability as the nation eagerly awaits the promise of spring.

Saturday “From Liberty to Captivity” Film Screening 2 p.m., PFAC Auditorium Black and White Dance 8 to 11 p.m., MAP Café

Sunday Vespers 6:30 p.m., Harbison Chapel

Monday Monday Night Dancing 9 to 11 p.m., PFAC 283

Tuesday Freedom Readers Dinner 5:30 p.m., Rathburn Great Room Coffee House 7 to 10 p.m., STU Freedom Readers Lecture 7 p.m., Rathburn Morledge Great Room

Wednesday Professionalism and Etiquette Night 5 p.m., Rathburn Great Room Hymn Sing 7 p.m., Crawford Audiorium

Thursday Swimming and Diving PAC Finals 6 p.m. PLC Pool Warriors for Christ 9 to 10 p.m. Harbison Chapel

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Feb. 8, 2019

Through the Lens

Wesley Kinney

Fans of the Ganz

Food. Music. Dancing. The Tri-Rho housing group provided all three of those things with their annual Extravaganza, or Ganza, dance Friday. A photobooth with tacky props let you take wacky photos. The DJs, who practiced days in advance, kept the dancing going all night. And the Rhos provided the food and the mocktails. Overall, the campus classic delivered yet again, providing another fun night for Grove City students. Tri-Rho

Wesley Kinney

Tri-Rho

Tri-Rho

Tri-Rho

The Collegian

7 Feb. 8, 2019

Tri-Rho

Wesley Kinney

Tri-Rho

Tri-Rho

Tri-Rho

8

Feb. 8, 2019

Perspectives Yellow vests, red scarves

Connor Schlosser Staff Writer

Another week of chaotic protesting ensues in an infuriated France. With the eleventh week of the emphatic “Yellow Vest” movement transitioning into yet another week of protests, France is showing signs of impatience. The Yellow Vests originally had formed in November over French president Emmanuel Macron’s implementation of a fuel tax. The fuel tax was designed to discourage consumers from using fossil fuels for a cleaner environment. This angered the common citizens who require fossil fuels for everyday life. Additionally, alternatives of fossil fuels are typically more expensive for any consumer. The French had been forced to pay increased prices for a daily necessity. Thus, the French middle and lower classes united together over the issue while sporting the mandatory yellow vests that French citizens wear during a car breakdown. Yellow Vests took to the streets, rioting and vandalizing in opposition to Macron’s leadership. Cars had been burned and barriers placed by the rioters to blockade highways and streets as part of their scheme and show of frustration. Landmarks have also been vandalized and damaged, most notably the Arc de Triomphe; being forced to close for repairs. It took time for Macron to respond with action, but he finally abandoned the tax increase weeks after the riots began, listening to the people’s violent demands. But the Yellow Vest riots have continued weeks well

beyond Macron’s disposal of the fuel tax. Why does the rioting persist if the original issue has been resolved? The President of France is quite unpopular with the people. Citizens claim that President Macron is out of touch with the everyday citizen and fails to understand the issues of the people. The people have shared their voice with the world in an opinion poll from last year. An article by Politico from November of last year states “The survey by pollster BVA found only 26 percent of French people have a favorable opinion of Macron.” To put that in perspective, Macron is less favorable with the French than the British are with UK Prime Minister Theresa May or Americans are with President Donald Trump. May and Trump have become increasingly unpopular recently. With May’s dealing with the Brexit situation and Trump’s handling (or lack thereof) of “the Wall,” people have shown dissatisfaction. But Macron’s own dealings have proved an even deeper divide between the French president and his fellow citizens. In response to the havoc brought on by the Yellow Vests, a counter protest has formed calling themselves simply the “Red Scarves.” Although similar in name to their French protesting counterpart, they claim to differ in principle. French citizens gathered in the thousands sporting the colorful neckwear at a rally in Paris. Photos show citizens marching through the city united by a banner that reads, “Stop the Violence - France is a republic indivisible, secular, democratic and social.” The Red Scarves have one apparent unified goal: to

stop any harm or inconvenience the yellow vests may be causing. A spokesman of the movement, Phillipe Lhoste, states, “We decided to organize this march at the Place de la Nation today, so that people can express how fed up they are because people have been exasperated for the past two months. We have to express this exasperation in a peaceful way. And to show the Yellow Vests that they don’t speak for all French people.” The Yellow Vests have halted traffic on highways and closed shops. Additionally, the rioting has claimed the lives of ten citizens and injured thousands. The French police are under scrutiny for allowing the protesters to cause such harm to themselves and others. The number of Yellow Vest protesters have decreased over the weeks, but time will tell if this new Red Scarf movement will either boost or slow their actions. The Yellow Vests have reason to be distraught, but the chaos that has followed puts their movement in a negative light. The Red Scarves appear to march peacefully and point to the solution being solved over dialogue and debate democratically. Macron, who famously started a slogan “Make our planet great again,” believes he has the responsibility and power to be the ecological protector of the earth. His environmental agenda, although noble in nature, is being prioritized over the welfare of citizens. Macron must find a way to bridge this gap of ensuring his people security (first and foremost) and protecting the environment before France tears itself apart; a tall order for just one man.

Using identity to unite instead of divide

Rio Arias

News Editor Us versus them. This is the era of our identity-driven culture, which countless politicians and celebrities capitalize on. But as Christians, we are blessed to share God’s word as a unifying force. Our common ground exists because we have a shared set of beliefs, rather than dividing on outward issues of black and white, or red and blue. And by honoring our similarities over our differences, we enjoy unity in Christ. Yet we must also acknowledge that our perceptions of the world are also shaped by other identities. Kwame Anthony Appiah, a professor of philosophy at New York University, describes this idea in a New York Times editorial saying, “Because members of a given identity group have

experiences that depend on a host of other social factors, they’re not the same.” My experiences as a Latina differ from many of my peers because I am also monolingual - speaking English only - and live in the suburbs. And when we read God’s word and understand biblical justice, we do so in line with our other identities. Take the parable of the unmerciful servant in Matthew 18:2325. A progressive believer might see that as an example of showing mercy to those who cannot pay their debts, and infer that charging large amounts of interest or loans to the poor is unfair. A conservative believer might deduce that the bible is showing why personal charity and the mercy of believers sets us apart from the rest of the world. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, urges Christians to think about the issues on which we

cannot be silent on, however. “Racism is a sin, violating the second of the two great commandments of Jesus, to ‘love your neighbor’,” says Keller. “The biblical commands to lift up the poor and to defend the rights of the oppressed are moral imperatives for believers. For individual Christians to speak out against egregious violations of these moral requirements is not optional.” Though Keller is not a large fan of identity politics, he touches on an important issue. Our identities have the power to unite us on what is right and wrong, and though we may have different ideas of what they are at times, we are able to come together for a common cause because of them. And that is why even in the church, we should not ignore the power of identity politics. Instead, we should be willing to discuss the ways in which other identities shed light on aspects of God’s jus-

tice or love we missed before. In my life, I’ve seen ways that I believe racism is still around today, something that other believers have denied. Because of my identity as a Latina, I take notice of when my classmates make fun of their professors for having accents, something my grandparents have. I see the way people look down on hip-hop as the empty morale of today’s generation, not realizing that rap was created to give a voice to the marginalized and shed light on injustice. But as a Christian, I am able to rely on those experiences to bring something new to the table in the church – seeing God as someone who redeems what is broken or misrepresented. In the church, we often shy away from identity politics, and strong moral convictions, in order to keep the peace. We can point to abortion and say it is wrong, or convict our fellow believers

that racism is a sin without causing controversy. But we also try to downplay the importance of our other identities - the racial, political and personal ones - because it’s messy. It becomes harder to love your neighbor when they use the bible to defend the very thing that offends you, and worse when they share a church pew with you. But sometimes talking about those outside perspectives brings healing, and allows those hard discussions to be had without all the hurt, because as Christians we all share genuine love for one another. So next time you see someone raise the issue of identity in conversation, or even in the church, dont shy away from it - hear what they have to say. Because we learn best from those different than us when we realize we’re not so different after all.

Perspectives

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Feb. 8, 2019

No right to life in New York

Noel Elvin

Contributing Writer “May almighty God have mercy on this state!” cried of one person in the New York Senate on the evening of January 22nd. A standing ovation occurred, and applause resounded for the legalization of what is no longer considered murder, but rather “a fundamental component of a woman’s health, privacy and equality.” Abortion was removed from the New York Penal Law. What once read “Homicide, Abortion, and Related Offenses”, now reads “Homicide and Related Offenses.” Five sections of article 125 of the New York Penal Law were repealed, resulting in abortion no longer being considered murder under any circumstance in the state of New York.

According to section 2599 – AA of article 25 – A, Reproductive Health Act, abortion is no longer illegal after 24 weeks, but now legal up to birth if “according to the practitioner’s reasonable and good faith and professional judgment, based on the facts of the patient’s case…the abortion is necessary to protect the patient’s life or health.” Health does not have a legal definition; therefore, it must abide to the traditional definition which is “a person’s mental or physical condition.” Mental relates directly to the mind, therefore, abortion is legal to protect the mother’s mental state, which is not a life threat. Protecting the mother is important, but when did the belief that one life is superior to another get accepted? Everyone was once a fetus within their mother’s womb. Some were the results of accidental pregnancies, but because their mothers remained strong, they

WASHINGTON TIMES

have life. Everything should be done to protect the mother’s life, but not at the baby’s expense. This baby deserves life just as much as the mother does. Whether the baby is believed to be alive yet or not, mothers have taken it upon themselves to deem whether this po-

A winter warning

tential life is worth living or not. Neither the mother, the doctor nor anyone else has that right. Abortion isn’t just killing babies, but rather it is killing their potential: their potential to improve the world, make it beautiful and spread love. Abortion kills the potential that

Emily Geiger

Staff Writer

Staff Writer

The verdict is in, last week was really frickin’ cold. In the Midwest, the polar vortex brought the wind chill to minus-50 degrees, leaving 24 dead and hundreds with frostbite. Grove City, while not directly in the firing line, still had a brush with the Arctic. Wind chill brought already below freezing air temperatures to an extreme low of minus-32 degrees on Wednesday, which can give exposed skin frostbite in just under 15 minutes. For those in Colonial, a walk to upper campus could have meant arriving with fewer digits than they left with. Thus, after much deliberation, the head honchos in Crawford finally made the decision – along with several other schools in the tristate area – to cancel classes. And there was much rejoicing. If the 1,500-strong Change.org petition is to be believed, the overwhelming majority, of which I count myself among, agree that the administration made the right decision. But aren’t we becoming too fragile? Are we becoming, if you’ll pardon the pun, snowflakes? The keywords here are preparation and experience, two things students from warmer climates may be without. Of course, people from those brawny cities like Chicago, Denver or even Grove City itself are well-accustomed to hellish winters. For the rest of us sun-soakers, however, Grove City’s seemingly never-ending winter

Gender is a concept that has been bent and shaped dramatically over the last few years. In the past, your biological sex was the only definition of gender. As time moved on, transgender people started speaking up about having personality gender that is different from your sex assigned at birth. Now, there are a lot of blurred lines regarding gender. Many identify as non-binary, or someone who does not attribute to either a girl or a boy. Some believe that gender is fluid, that a person’s gender can be personalized to them. Others hold the belief that gender is fixed and cannot be changed. This topic has been a touchy subject for some time, but it’s important to analyze the merit of both arguments. Kate Hudson recently gave birth to a daughter, Rani Rose. She announced to the public that she was going to raise her daughter in the same way she raised her two sons, without any gender stereotypes. She considers this method as “genderless

wonderland can come as a real culture shock. This shock, unfortunately, can come in the form of forgetting gloves, underestimating how long frostbite takes to set in or failing to take precautions like packing a car emergency kit. And it’s these unprepared people, particularly within the freshman class, that Grove City’s winter will take the highest toll on. While our neighbors seven miles to the south may feel differently, classes are not a chore, but a service we’ve paid top dollar for and cancelling them is a last resort. Being, however, that our campus is a mere 0.28-square miles in area, the threshold for cancellations should be set with walking distances in mind. Students living in the dorms will never need to spend more than a few minutes walking outside. For Colonial residents, however, it can take up to 15 minutes to get to upper campus. In fact, it was only when the forecasts came in of 15-minute frostbite that the decision was finally made to cancel. Commuters, faculty and staff are, however, exempt from this morbid calculus in

that they are better-accustomed to these conditions. Thus, 15-minute frostbite seems to be a prudent threshold. There will be times, of course, when the decision to cancel is a little more clear-cut. Take for instance the 1912 cold wave, during which Grove City saw the air temperature reach – without wind chill – a balmy minus-32 degrees. Acts of God aside, there are a couple of things, however, that the College could do to prevent winter-related injuries, cancellation or not. The first has to do with the College’s marketing material which nearly never depict a snow-covered campus. It may seem minor, but the image of the College has a real effect on what each incoming class prepares for. The second would be to provide winter-safety related information. In the same way that the College provides ample information on active shooters and fires, there should be some words on winter weather preparedness. It’s truly these little things that will make someone think twice and maybe save someone’s life.

baby or even ever come face to face with them, but either way, these mothers will have to live with their decision. Would you rather live knowing you killed potential or knowing you birthed it? No one is asking you to raise it.

Breaking out of molds

Joshua Tatum

DAILY HIVE

every child has when they are born. Society should be encouraging mothers to give their baby a chance to impact the world. Because of this baby, these mothers have the opportunity to birth change, to birth love, and to birth potential. These mothers don’t need to raise their

parenting.” Growing up as a tomboy, I do see some merit to Hudson’s thought process. I liked having a mix of interests pertaining to boys and girls. I would dress up like a princess one day, but play the Lego Star Wars videogame the next. My parents weren’t thrilled about my boyish side, but never stopped me from interacting with what I wanted. I think raising someone to fit all stereotypes of gender isn’t healthy. Some girls are more masculine, and some guys are more feminine. I do not see a problem with a boy playing house or a girl playing war. I just think it’s problematic if you raise a child in a way that they have no idea what their gender identity is, because there really was no definition for them. I believe that God creates bodies for his children as they are intended. I believe that men and women both have different roles that are required of them. Men and women are both made equally, but they are indeed differently and complimentary. Men have certain characteristics that women lack, and vice versa. When these two gen-

ders come together and take the responsibilities that are required of them, that is when God’s plan for a holy family is achieved. This does not mean that girls need to be raised to cook in the kitchen and boys need to play with toy guns and soldiers. It’s about girls learning about their innate talent to connect with other humans and for boys to learn their skills in protection and honor. Like all difficult social topics, I believe the best way to find an opinion is to look into the Word. There are many examples in the Bible that speak of gender, but one of the earliest examples can be found in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Notice here that God made men and women, there is no mention that God created non binary. He designed certain genders to perform certain tasks. I believe that boys and girls can do what they want, even if it isn’t stereotypical of their gender. However, I do not believe that it is right to distort God’s framework of humanity and ignore his plans for us.

Letters to the Editor Policy Space will be provided for Letters to the Editor. However their inclusion is at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Letters will be printed as submitted unless the editors choose to delete words or portions that are in poor taste, libelous or unnecessary to convey essential meaning. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, correct grammar and punctuation, and length. We will not publish unsigned letters. Letters will be printed in the next edition of the paper in which space is available. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication from students, faculty, staff and alumni. To be accepted for publication, a letter must meet one of the following criteria: it relates to an article published in or issue discussed in paper; it contains information of interest to all, or a segment of our readership (alumni, parents, donors, students, faculty and staff); it relates to college news or policy.

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Feb. 8, 2019

Entertainment Measuring a musical

Katheryn Frazier Staff Writer

THE NATIONAL

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga play opposite each other in the 2018 remake of the classic 1976 “A Star Is Born.” The remake boasts strong vocals by the duo.

A star film is born

David Smith Staff Writer

In this day and age, sequels and remakes are prevalent and popular and in most cases, the second film does not fare as well as its predecessor. However, “A Star Is Born,” starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, contradicts the stigma placed on remakes. The 2018 remake of “A Star Is Born” is the fourth installment of the classic love story, and it is Cooper’s directorial debut. The previous installment, starring Barbara Streisand, Kris Kristofferson and Gary Busey was a major box-office success in 1976, but it was only received with lukewarm reviews from critics. Both the 2018 rendition and the one from 1976 had similar trajectories; however, the new one delves into the hearts and souls of its characters. Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” is the story of an

aging Rockstar, Jackson Maine, who is battling demons and struggles with addiction. In the opening scene of the film, Cooper walks to the front stage, staggering, and consumes a handful of painkillers. After performing to a sold-out show, Maine directs his chauffeur to drive him to the closest bar. At the bar, Jack discovers that it is a drag joint and finds it humorous. But his attention quickly shifts to the charismatic, female singer named Ally. When she is done performing, Maine is persistent in getting to know her; he is utterly infatuated by her beauty and talent. Jack and Ally slowly fall for each other as the night turns into morning, and she reveals to him that she is also a songwriter. Maine invites her to his next show, but she is reluctant in going. Once persuaded, Ally attends the show and performs her song with Jack. Here is where the

unceasing romance between the two begin. Although Jackson Maine is someone who seems to have everything, there is something eating at his core. Even after falling in love and having a stable and successful relationship, he cannot stop living in the past and self-medicates to forget it. As a child, Maine was raised by his father, he later reveals, and is mother was never in the picture. His father passed away when he was a teenager, so he was left on his own. The little guidance Jack received in his life was from his much older brother, Bobby, played by Sam Elliot. Despite the tribulations Maine endured, he is a gifted guitarist and singersongwriter. You would think that Ally would be the solution to the void in his life. Still, he continues to make a fool out of himself as a complete drunkard. It is miraculous that Jack and Ally are able to produce

such wonderful music throughout the duration of the film. In fact, the magic between the two is what will keep you interested while on this rollercoaster of a story. “A Star Is Born” is a film with an all-star cast, excellent directing from a newcomer, and overall perfection. The soundtrack is breathtaking and calls for you to sometimes sing along – and in some cases cry. In fact, the film was so well received that it is one of the front-runners for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. Randy Myers of the “San Jose Mercury News” writes, “Somehow, though, the bloat is almost appropriate in a story about excesses, and the devastating pitfalls of fame. ‘A Star Is Born’ portrays both poignantly, movingly, well.” Indeed, “A Star Is Born” is the kind of film that will stick with you long after viewing.

Country music now is poppin’ Samantha Funderlich Contributing Writer

Over the past few years country music has changed drastically; where we would have heard mandolins, acoustic guitars and violins, we now hear a loud electric guitar, synthetic bassline and occasionally “cringey,” auto tuned-vocals. This new trend of making country music pop does not mean old country music is dead or even a dying breed — the mainstream formats of the genre are simply taking on popularized trends. The genre shift is bringing more listeners to call themselves country fans but is creating tight tensions with those who have called themselves lovers of country music for many years. Asked her opinion of the genre shift, Julie Wilson, long time country fan and junior at Grove City College, had lots to say and her im-

mediate response was soaked with disgust. “They [new country artists] took the meaning of country music and warped it to attract a larger audience, but the point of the songs got lost in translation.” Not only are trends in the sound of country music shifting, but the themes and lyrics of songs are as well. Some of Wilson’s favorite artists include Alan Jackson, George Strait and Toby Keith. After viewing the data on Spotify, one can see the steady rise in country pop and the decline in interest with old country. While these old country artists such as Brooks and Dunn are still doing fairly well on streaming platforms such as Spotify, they are clearly taking a hit, attaining 208.3k streams for the week of Sunday, January 20. During the same week, Dan + Shay, a new country group, are hitting 752.8k. Last month both art-

NASH COUNTRY DAILY

New country music duo Dan+Shay continue to rise in the charts as traditional country falls by the wayside. ists stay fairly consistent to their weekly numbers, but you can notice the slight fluctuation in new country while Brooks and Dunn remain steady. The true pattern change can be noticed when reviewing the statistics over the last four years. Since 2015, Brooks and Dunn have remained at a steady listener rate, but this

chart shows how much groups like Dan + Shay have rocketed within the last year, jumping from 208.3k to 900k at their peak. Is new country music replacing classics like Dolly Parton, Brooks and Dunn or Johnny Cash? The numbers say yes, but classic country fans continue to applaud traditional style and sound.

There are five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes in a year. This fact is evident among musical theater fans as the song “Seasons of Love” has become a staple among the community. The plot of “Rent” revolves around seven artists surviving in New York City. The two main themes of the show are love and acceptance in the midst of the HIV and AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. The musical originally debuted off-Broadway in 1996 and later received Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer awards. In 2005, a movie adaptation of the successful musical was released. On January 27, “Rent” was revived again on live television, titled “Rent: Live” by the cable network FOX. Celebrities including Vanessa Hudgens, Jordan Fisher and Tinashe starred in the production. The performance did not gain much support from critics who claimed the live version did not live up to their expectations. They claimed the plot was slightly outdated and the transition from taking the musical to a television format (with the inclusion of camera work) was not good. However, the music was praised as the best attribute of the performance. FOX and NBC have pushed the notion of live musicals on television within the last decade. The timeline of live musicals include “The Sound of Music” (2013), “Peter Pan Live” (2014), “The Wiz Live!” (2015), “Grease Live!” (2016), “Hairspray Live” (2016) and “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” (2018). Celebrities especially have been used to spur interest and excitement in live televised musicals. Some examples include Carrie Underwood’s portrayal of Maria in “The Sound of Music,” Julianne Hough’s portrayal of “Sandy” in Grease Live! and John Legend’s portrayal of Jesus Christ in “Jesus Christ Superstar Live.” Overall, critics have concluded that “Jesus

GUTHRIE continued from 1 have back. “I think I’d try to go there more if it reopened,” Natalie Kriley said. “I think it is good for students because it’s a positive outlet for us to relax and let off some steam from the stresses of college,” Gish agreed. Part of what motivated Fulmar and Veritas

Christ Superstar Live” has been the most wellreceived out of all the live musicals. Meanwhile, the majority of the other live musicals have starkly received dismal and low ratings. Which bears the question, is the trend of live televised musical performances worth it? Should viewers rejoice or dismay at the trend? A benefit to this trend has been that musical titles have gained more exposure to mass audiences that would otherwise not have known about the variety of musicals. Musicals have recently become a more frequent topic of conversation as widely recognized musicals like “Hamilton,” “Dear Evan Hanson” and “Wicked” have gained wider support than the musical theater community. I have personally been a fan of musical theater since I was young and am happy to see the medium gain more recognition among the public sphere. It is such a unique form of storytelling that is performed by talented people working on their individual craft, whether it be stagecraft, music, acting, lighting or costumes. On the other hand, the quality and essence of the performances have not been upheld by the televised versions. In this format, the production has more pressure to gain viewership in a short period of time. Celebrities may peak the interests of viewers, but ratings are not correlated to the hype of celebrities. It also does not guarantee that a celebrity is capable of performing in a lead role that has already been portrayed as a beloved character by actors before them. Viewer interest, casting, promotion of the event and videography are the top considerations in rating live TV musical performances. Live musicals have yet to figure out the best way to translate an initial stage adaption to a televised event that both spurs people to tune in and retains the original intent of the production. In the end, it will be interesting to see how FOX and NBC go forward in presenting live musicals. Arts to try and save the Guthrie was their own experience as independent filmmakers. “We have been frustrated by the lack of opportunities for fellow independent filmmakers to have their movies seen on the big screen,” Fulmar said. “It is our larger mission to distribute independent films across the world and be a reputable company of integrity that filmmakers can trust.”

Sports Pre-PAC preparation

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Feb. 8, 2019

Sherri Barr

Contributing Writer Grove City College’s swimming and diving teams hosted their rival Westminster Jan. 31, just weeks before they will meet up once more at the final Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships. The men topped their competition with a score of 187-109 and the women turned out a thrilling 4-point win with the last race of the day ending in a score of 152-148. Following the meet, two Wolverine swimmers earned PAC Honors. Senior Rhys Dickhudt won Player of the Week for his three individual victories, while freshman Luke Mason took Rookie of the Week. Grove City College will host PACs from Thursday to Saturday and will compete against Westminster, Saint Vincent, Washington and Jefferson, Bethany and Chatham. The closing meet of the

season promises thrills as the women fight to keep their 10-year running title and the men vie to break school records and earn spots at the national championships. The men’s team is looking to come back this year by finishing strong and reclaiming the PAC title after last year’s 5-point deficit. Many of them are close to breaking records and qualifying for the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships, held in Greensboro, Nc., in late March. Athletes to look out for include Dane Hoselton, Luke Mason, Calvin Brouwer and Ben Slate in addition to the turnout of the Men’s 200 medley. The women’s meet will likely be very close as it might be determined by a matter of points, not unlike their recent match up with Westminster. Other swimmers and divers to watch out for include Reilly Diggins, Danielle Ledyard, Kimberly

GCC

Senior Rhys Dickhudt swimming in Grove City’s meet against Westminster Jan. 31. Dickhudt took PAC Player of the Week for his strong outing at the meet, winning three individual events. Wendelschaefer, Britt sacrificing their physiByer, Denali Hutzel- ological status. Head mann and Anne Shir- coach Dave Fritz has ley Dassow as she looks commented on how for a spot at the NCAA the women are staying Championships. focused and dropping With only a few days time as well as getting to go in a 5-month long healthier while the men season, the sprinters, are gaining confidence mid-distance and dis- in their abilities. As tance swimmers have the summit of the seaall started their vari- son approaches, Coach ous taper programs. Fritz is emphasizing Removing dry land and to his team the imporweight training from tance of everyone’s role their day allows the and the impact attitude athletes to recover and and work effort are in GCC restore their neuro- inspiring teammates muscular and psycho- and contributing to Senior Sarah Haley preparing to dive into the pool. The women’s team grabbed a dramatic victory over logical states without their college’s history. Westminster.

Wolverines bring home three conference wins Mackenzie Stine

Men’s Basketball Beat Writer The Grove City College men’s basketball team added two more wins last week, putting them on a three-win streak and giving them a 13-8 season. The Wolverines hosted the Chatham Cougars Jan. 30th. They won 67-56 and held Chatham to a season low score. The Cougars also hold a 13-8 season. Grove City had a strong game with three players scoring more than 10 points apiece. Sophomore forward Joe Meloa tied his career high with 18 points. He is averaging 6.8 points per game on the season thus far. Junior forward James Wells scored 15 points and sophomore guard Justice Rice had 11 points. Sophomore center Garrett Clark was also able to tie his career high with 8 points. Chatham took an early lead, but the Wolverines would not stay behind for long and maintained the lead through the entire second half. Grove City had a strong defensive showing with both teams having 13 turnovers. The win pushed Grove City to the only team in second place in the conference. Grove City then handed rival Geneva College a loss at home Saturday. The 84-75 win gave the Wolverines their ninth win in 11 games since the first of the year. In addition to the win, it was a big game for multiple players

USA TODAY

Tom Brady cheers in victory as he becomes the first quarterback in history to win six Super Bowl rings.

Patriots dominate

Aly Kruger Sports Editor

GCC

Sophomore center Garrett Clark matched his career high of eight points in the game against Chatham. and was Senior Day for Isaac Williams, the only senior on the 20182019 team. Williams demonstrated why he is a valuable asset to the team putting up a game high 14 points. He has 226 points on the season and shoots 50 percent on three pointers. Wells followed with 13 points and Meola followed with 11 points. Junior guard Nate Peters rounded out the ove r-t e n-p oint -c l ub with 10 points. Clark put up a new career high with nine points and Freshman guard Ben Rose put up a season high seven points. This was the 173rd meeting between Grove City and Geneva.

Grove City then lost a tough road game to Penn State Altoona Wednesday. The Wolverines dropped the game 7965 after trailing for nearly the whole game. Altoona charged out to a 21-11 lead before Grove City answered with a 16-5 run to take its only lead of the game. Altoona led 40-33 at halftime. The Wolverines twice pulled to within one in the second half but could not reclaim the lead. Altoona outscored Grove City 18-7 over the final six minutes to seal the win. The Wolverines take on Thiel College at 3 p.m. tomorrow in College Arena.

In a game that was expected to be a show of offensive power between the powerhouses of the NFL, defense reigned supreme as the New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams to clinch their sixth Super Bowl title. The Patriots now share that record with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this Super Bowl made Tom Brady a record-holder in yet another category: the most Super Bowl wins by any single player in history. Following an uneventful first half, Tom Brady and the Patriots scored the only touchdown of the game in the final quarter. With a record low-scoring game of 3-3 score going into the final 14 minutes, fans were unsure what to expect from either team. The passing game eluded both teams, with underwhelming performances dominating both sides of the ball.

Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi provided the halftime show, in a collaborative 13-minute performance that flabbergasted critics and was as equally unentertaining as the uneventful first half that preceded it. In spite of early miscues, Brady, the oldest winning quarterback in a Super Bowl, completed four straight passes, including a pair covering 47 yards to Gronkowski. The second, on which the star tight end beat two defenders, ended at the Los Angeles 2, the only time either team was inside the 20-yard line. Sony Michel clinched the final points for New England with his dash into the end zone for his sixth postseason touchdown. The Patriots would maintain possession in the final minutes, thanks to an interception by pro-bowler Stephon Gilmore with a little over four minutes remaining, leading to a Gostkowski field goal that solidified the win

of 13-3. Wide receiver Julian Edelman was awarded MVP for his 10 catches and 142-yard performance, as well as his impressive season. He became the seventh wide receiver to clinch the award. Goff and the Rams were equally atypical in performance, with a mere three points on the board and a total of 57 yards for the half. It was the first time that head coach Sean McVay had been scoreless at halftime, in what became the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history. The Brady-Belichick era cemented itself in the record books yet again, and will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in seasons to come, as Brady has said that there is “zero” percent chance that Super Bowl 53 was his final performance. Although the game itself was called lackluster after the fact, there is no doubt the Patriots will continue to dominate the AFC and the NFL in coming seasons.

Sports

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Feb. 8, 2019

Wolverines roll past Geneva

Mallory Trumbull

Women’s Basketball Beat Writer The Grove City women’s basketball team has moved to an overall record of 13-9 over this winter break. Their President’s Athletic Conference record moved to 8-4 with a Senior Day win over PAC rival Geneva Saturday. The Wolverines beat Geneva 65-40. Defense was a key factor in Saturday’s game against Geneva. The women were able to force their opponent to commit a whopping 30 turnovers. The Wolverines were able to turn those 30 turnovers in to 31 points for themselves. Junior Kate Balcom led the team with seven steals while sophomore Jess Bowen was close behind with five steals. Grove City was able to hold Geneva to 31 percent shooting from the field. The women dominated on the offensive side of the game as well. Senior Laura Buchanan scored in the double digits with 13 points for the game. Bowen was able to

contribute 13 points as well with Balcom adding another 11 points. Balcom led Grove City with a grand total of nine rebounds for the game while Buchanan and sophomore Sedona Campbell pulled down seven rebounds each. Sophomore Gretchen Elsey added eight points, scoring a pair of three-pointers in the first half. Senior McKenzie Black recorded four assists for the game. Sophomore Lauren Frederick hit a pivotal three-pointer in the fourth quarter to help secure the win for the Wolverines. The Wolverines took time before the game on Saturday to celebrate their seniors: McKenzie Black, Laura Buchanan, Emory Ujano, Cass Book and Erin Logue. Friends and family gathered to celebrate the ladies’ wonderful accomplishments both on and off the court. They remembered past seasons and all the joyous memories that accompanied them. The Wolverines return to action at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Thiel College.

GCC

Senior forward Emory Ujano is a constant contributer to the success of the women’s basketball team. The Wolverines play at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Thiel.

Sayles to lead spiritual life

Paige Fay

Community Editor

GCC

Sophomore Jared Gay shot putting Saturday at the Jim Wuske Invitational. Gay broke his own program record at the event, one of the two records Grove City broke that day.

Setting the record straight

Price Styer

Track Beat Writer Four Grove City College men’s and women’s indoor track and field athletes set program records Saturday as the Wolverines competed in Mount Union’s unscored Jim Wuske Invitational at Peterson Field House. For the women’s team, junior Katlyn Adams set Grove City’s indoor standard in the long jump with a best mark of 16 feet, 3 inches. Adams, the reigning Presidents’ Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week, took sixth in the event. Meanwhile, junior Rohanna Foote took eighth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 8.25 seconds. In the preliminaries, she broke her own school record in the event by recording a time of 8.16 seconds. Sophomore Karen Prem recorded Grove City’s top

individual placement as she earned fourth in the mile with a time of 5:31.40. Which now ranks as the No. 3 all-time finish at Grove City. Prem also took ninth in the 800-meter, running in 2:34.55. Adams also finished seventh in the triple jump, jumping 32 feet 2 inches, while senior Elizabeth Donahoe placed seventh in the 800 with a time of 2:32.50. For the men’s team, sophomore Jared Gay broke his own program record in the shot put with a best mark of 49 feet, 9 inches and placing seventh overall. Meanwhile, the 800-meter relay quartet of freshman Andrew Longjohn, sophomore Christopher Sweeney, sophomore Cameron Drake and senior Aaron Bliss posted a time of 1:36.60, surpassing the school standard as well as earning them fifth place in the meet.

Bliss, sophomore Thomas Troxel, freshman Einar Trosda and senior Ryan Budnik earned second in the 4000-meter distance medley relay with a time of 11:14.82. Sweeney helped lead Grove City’s field performers by taking second in the triple jump with a best leap of 41 feet, 5 3/4 inches. He finished first among Division III competitors. Budnik also took third in the mile, finishing in 4:29.71, while sophomore Seth Ray took fifth in the high jump by clearing 6 feet 1¼ inches. Freshman Matthew Hay placed fifth in the 5000-meter with a time of 18:53.46. Drake also took eighth in the 60-meter hurdles, 9.04, while freshman Bryce Lowe took 10th in the triple jump, 39 feet 3 inches. Grove City returns to competition today at the Baldwin Wallace Invitational in Berea, Ohio.

There is a new face behind Grove City College’s women’s volleyball team. The College selected Leo Sayles as the new coach for women’s volleyball and he began his duties on Jan. 7. He spent the last 15 seasons as a collegiate head coach, with the most recent years spent as the NCAA Division I Gardner-Webb University head coach in North Carolina. “I can’t wait to begin working with the current players,” Sayles said. “They appear ready to be challenged. I can see their desire to elevate the program.” “We are all really excited to have Coach Sayles this year! We are looking forward to having a coach that will be able to support us well in our faith while also pushing us to reach the next level in our play,” junior volleyball player Monica Fitzgerald said. Sayles brings extensive experience in sports ministry to Grove City, on top of his athletic qualifications. Sayles also serves as Associate Director of Athletics for Sport Ministry. “Coach Sayles’ experience in developing Christian athletic culture will serve our entire athletic community as our department strives to glorify God in all that we do,” Todd Gibson ’02, the College’s Athletic Director, said. Sayles has several Gardner-Webb coaching records in volleyball and his team has

done well both on the court and in academics. He also earned the American Volleyball Sayles Coaches Association (AVCA) team Academic Award seven seasons in a row. In 2017, he had 14 volleyball honorees on the conference’s Presidential Honor Roll. He began his collegiate coaching career at Bryan College in Dayton, Tenn., and led their team to a 70-14 record in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) during his last five seasons there. He also led them to the AAC regular season title and to the National Christian College Athletic Association national semifinals in 2009. In 2006, he earned AAC Coach of the Year. In addition to athletics, Sayles has served as a youth pastor and minister of music in urban, suburban and rural churches over 15 years. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of LaVerne and completed graduate work at Central Connecticut State and University of CaliforniaRiverside. Sayles recently wrote a 31day devotional designed for athletes, coaches and sports fans called “Ordering Our Steps: Committing Life and Sport to Christ.” Sayles said, “We have work to do in developing a championship culture for the Wolverines, but I am ready to get started.”

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS Junior Katlyn Adams won PAC Field Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week. Adams set Grove City College’s indoor track and field record in the long jump Saturday, landing 16 feet, 3 inches.

Senior Rhys Dickhudt earner PAC Swimmer of the Week for his outstanding performance in Grove City College’s meet against Westminster College, finishing with three individual victories.

Freshman swimmer Luke Mason took PAC Rookie of the Week after helping lead Grove City College to a win over Westminster College, winning two indidivual races and finishing second in another.