It’s all ‘Monotony’
Bernie & friends hire a new head of security
PERSPECTIVES
Celebrating black history Remembering the story of Dolores Ginyard ‘58
COMMUNITY
The Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
Friday, February 21, 2025
Vol. 111, No. 15
Is GCC up to snuff?
Grove starts reaccreditation process Violet Whitmore News Editor
This semester Grove City College began the first stages of reaccreditation, a process which initiates a two-and-ahalf-year procedure involving faculty, students and staff. The College reaccreditation works through the Middle States Commission on
Higher Education (MSCHE). An “accreditation process ensures institutional accountability, self-appraisal, improvement and innovation MARKS through peer review and the rigorous application of standards within the context of institutional mission,” ac-
cording to the MSCHE website. The institution-wide effort is led by co-chairs Kimberly Marks, director of acaWELTON demic records, and instruction librarian, Gary Welton, assistant dean for institutional assessment and professor
of Psychology and Darren Wood, associate professor of Biology. This is Welton’s third and final round of this process. “All three of us WOOD have served on the Institutional Assessment Committee, which organizes and oversees the assessment across
all offices and departments of the College,” he said. Accreditation is a process that ensures that the College maintains academic quality and excellence in every avenue. Last semester, surveys sent to the campus community aimed to gather information on the priorities around campus. These institutional SNUFF 2
Grad shares word on weed
Workin’ the wheel
Matthew Purucker Staff Writer
LUKE PAGLIA
Ceramics teacher Chris Bauer does a bottle throwing demonstration for students in the Ceramics I class in PFAC. Take a look at “Through the Lens” to see more from this week’s pottery class.
On Monday, 2007 graduate of the College, Dan Bartkowiak, spoke to audience members in Sticht Lecture Hall about the marijuana legalization in Pennsylvania from a Christian perspective. The lecture “Truth on Weed: A Christian Response to Marijuana Legalization” discussed increased bipartisan support for legalizing marijuana in the state, the harms of using recreational marijuana and why Christians should oppose marijuana legalization, despite state politicians dismissing marijuana as safe. “To me, this issue is no laughing matter, and those types of statements by some of these lawmakers, frankly, is showing an archaic view of marijuana legalization and not what today’s marijuana is all about,” Bartkowiak said. Bartkowiak is the chief strategy officer for Pennsylvania Family Institute and a spokesman for Truth on Weed, an organization aiming to inform the public of
the dangers of marijuana use. The increased potency of THC is one of the many concerns Bartkowiak argued has heightened the risk of marijuana addiction and other societal consequences, especially in states with legal recreational marijuana. “You can’t roll your eyes at what this evidence that we’re seeing, particularly the high potency of impact. It’s very real, and it’s, again, understanding what today’s version of marijuana is doing. It’s not the Woodstock weed. It’s not from the ’80s or ’90s. This is very different, and it’s impacting families in very different ways,” Bartkowiak expressed. Junior political science major Jacob Reese, a reWEED 3
Christian Writer’s Econ. Dept. conference honors Berry hosts scholars Grove City College
The College’s annual Christian Writer’s Conference “Complicity and Hope in Wendell Berry’s Membership” will take a deep dive into the work of agrarian author Wendell Berry and feature a concert by keynoter Andrew Peterson. The conference begins today and continues through tomorrow. This year, the Department of English is bringing students, scholars, writers and community members together to explore and discuss Berry’s work and the interplay between faith and writing. The conference also serves as the Eastern Regional Meeting of the Conference on Christianity and Literature. The conference features sessions and discussions curated by Grove City College
English faculty, including Drs. Andrew Harvey, Louise McCray, Eric Potter, Michael Rawl, Virginia Rawl, Annie Shepherd and Kristen Waha. Peterson, an accomplished author and singer-songwriter, will be performing a selection of his most popular songs this evening in Crawford Hall auditorium on campus. PETERSON Known for his soulful music and captivating storytelling, Peterson offers a unique blend of music, faith and narrative. His works includes the highly acclaimed “Wingfeather Saga” book series and several chart-topping albums, including the “Resurrection Letters” series and “Behold the Lamb of God.” Berry, who published his first novel ‘Nathan Coulter’
in 1960 and returned to his native Kentucky in 1965, is best known for his essays, such as “The Unsettling of America” and “The Gift of Good Land,” and novels and stories, specifically those about Port William which include “A Place on Earth,” “Jayber Crow” and “That Distant Land.” This conferBERRY ence marks the 50th anniversary of one of the more significant events in the life of Wendell Berry’s fictional Port William community: the loss of Andy Catlett’s right hand to a mechanized corn picker. This may seem like an odd episode to inspire a conference, but as the autobiographical character in WRITER’S 3
Christa Bashinski Staff Writer
This weekend, Grove City College will be hosting its 21st annual Austrian Economics Conference. Founded in 2004 by Dr. Jeffrey Herbener, chair and professor of the Economics Department, the event is modeled after the Austrian Scholars Conference, an annual academic convention designed to steep students in the Austrian tradition. It is generously funded by College alumnus Richard Fox ‘70 whose foundation has made the event financially possible. The conference invites both undergraduates and graduates from all over the world to Grove City’s campus to present and discuss their research. Following a traditional conference style, the audi-
ence will consist of students and faculty with hotel accommodations provided for out-of-town speakers. The student papers will be judged by a faculty panel, and presenters will compete for cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000 and $500. In 1957 Grove City presented Ludwig von Mises with an honorary doctorate as a leading Austrian economist whose writings remain relevant today. The presented papers will mirror his school’s thoughts, encouraging a deeper exploration of Austrian principles. Following his death, the College collected Mises’ papers from his wife, including 20,000 pages and previously unpublished manuscripts, to create an on-campus archive, which can be found at ECON 3
Editorial
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The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Feb. 21, 2025
From the Tower
For the love of diners With our country so divided, I have to ask myself: what makes us feel united? It’s not our music. It’s not our language or the accents with which we speak. It’s not our religion and it’s most definitely not our politics. Don’t say freedom, because that means something different to every American you meet. When you’re driving on a dark desert highway, a winding twisting mountain route or on a flat coastal road with the ocean flanking your left and a beach town pressed up against your right… East coast, west coast, northern border or southern -what will be there, no matter where you are? Answer: the American Diner. I’m partially joking, but mostly serious, when I say that something so essential to American culture is not even our cuisine, but where we eat it. I’m not asking for a crab cake in Wellsboro, Pa. and I’m not asking for a cheesesteak in Park Pacifica, Calif. But if I pull over somewhere, anywhere with vinyl booths, a bell above the door and a simple one-page menu -- it doesn’t matter what I order, it’ll taste homemade and nationally consistent. There’s a sense of familiarity and comfort that comes from eating in a diner. While they are all a little different, they are all pretty much the same. If I’m eating here in Grove City, Pa. at our very own Main Street Diner, I could be seated away from a window and never truly know if I was in Glen Burnie, Md. or Green Valley, Ariz. Diners are ever present in art and media: Monk’s in Seinfeld, the song Tom’s Diner, the Double R in “Twin Peaks,” Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page,” the entirety of Tom Waits’ “Nighthawks at the Diner” and Edward Hopper’s painting “Nighthawks.” It’s the creator of “Twin Peaks,” the late David Lynch, who said, “A poet could write volumes about diners, because they’re so beautiful. They’re brightly lit, with chrome and booths and Naugahyde and great waitresses.” They represent time spent with family, a late-night meal on a road trip or a breakfast with a visiting friend. Diners are reliable. Diners are ubiquitous. Diners are American.
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Collegian Staff Editor-in-Chief
Copy Chief
Managing Editor
Business Manager
Section Editors News
Copy Editors
Emma Rossi
Grace Scheller
Kathryna Hoyman John Remaniak
Emily Fox
Anastasia Brown Olivia Emerick Kendall Lambrecht Bonnie Pittman Hannah Williams
Perspectives
Staff Writers
Violet Whitmore
Community
Grace Scheller
Entertainment Catharine Runion
Sports
Mia Gallagher
Photo Chief Luke Paglia
Dom Puglisi Matthew Purucker Madison Lynch Christa Bashinski Garrett Gess
Staff Photographers John Hake Luke Dieter
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.
the Green
Eyeshade Award This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Copy Chief Kathryna Hoyman for her attention to detail and dedication to AP Style. The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.
AMAZON
The problem with entertainment Catharine Runion Entertainment Editor
If you’ve come through the American education system, you’ve likely read (or heard about) Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World,” George Orwell’s “1984” or any number of the 20th century’s iconic dystopian novels. If you haven’t read any of those, maybe you’ve heard Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence,” or maybe you’ve obliquely heard people talking about how we as a society are “amusing ourselves to death.” That phrase is the title of a 1985 book by Neil Postman, in which he argues that any form of media is only suited to a certain level of communication. At the time, Postman’s argument was primarily against television. He said that television wasn’t a suitable medium for real news since it is such a production – theme music, anchors’ coiffed hairdos, commercials – and that our perception of news is fundamentally screwed. It’s probably a good thing that Postman didn’t stick around to see the advent of social media. If television was already bad in the ’80s, I shudder to think what he would have had to say about
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continued from 1 priorities have culminated in four areas of interest, namely affordability and scholarship support, quality of educational offerings and experiences, development of Christian formation and greater transparency and effective communication. “Accreditation is critical to the College. It shows prospective students, parents, graduate programs and employers the value and effort that Grove City College places on providing the best possible living and learning experience for our students. As a result, accreditation makes us more competitive and adds to the value of a Grove City College education,” Welton said. “The primary work in the coming fall semester will be handled by seven working groups. The leadership of these groups includes campus leaders who 1) know how to meet deadlines, 2) have amassed a critical amount of institutional knowledge and 3) have the respect of the campus. These seven work-
TikTok. No one nowadays is denying that our culture has an entertainment problem. Whole niches of content are devoted to “rotting” and “overconsumption,” and though there’s been a few trends trying to “de-influence” consumers, all we have so far is vague self-awareness. Of course, it’s much easier to diagnose our problem than it is to actually fix it. I don’t think it would be terribly hard to rip myself away from social media, but have I actually done that? No. When the TikTok ban was briefly in effect, millions of users took to Instagram to complain and even cry about the lost app. Our emotional dependence on social media cripples us, and it’s even worse for those whose businesses and careers depend on social media. We have built a society that depends on social media for its very survival -- why are we surprised that we topple when it gets taken away from us? I can’t sit up here and preach about how much better I am than the TikTok addicted masses. I frequently get lost in my Instagram feed, sometimes for hours. As the entertainment editor, I spend hours a week consuming media … just this week I watched all two hours of the SNL 50th Anniversary Special for an article when I really should have been doing my Christ Civ reading.
I’m learning very quickly that if I don’t moderate my media consumption, I, too, end up entertaining myself to death. It doesn’t make me feel better to scroll for hours, regardless of how much I think it will help me decompress. The harmful effects of social media have been trotted out to us for years. It’s almost cliché at this point to say that it’s bad for our mental health. But we’re all still stuck with it, and it’s not going anywhere (TikTok certainly didn’t). So, what do we do? Here are your overdone solutions. Set screen time limits on your phone, read a book, touch some grass, read the newspaper (write for the newspaper!). Start with selfawareness and then do with that what you can. The moral of my story isn’t that entertainment is the devil. It would be awfully hypocritical for me to say that, and I don’t think that’s true. There’s plenty of media that’s good and worthwhile. But consuming it in excess is only going to harm you. Watch out for your entertainment consumption: watch that it doesn’t become a god in your life. We’re still a ways off from “Brave New World” becoming our reality, but it’s never a bad idea to revisit 20th-century dystopian fiction. We could use a little more mindfulness in our approach to social media.
ing groups each contain at least 10 members, representing the College administration, faculty, staff and students,” he said. The team evaluates the school on how well they met certain accreditation standards. “What are your goals, to what extent do you collect data to help you understand what is working well and what could be done better and how are you using that information to make further improvements? This is the reason that students keep getting surveys, often from me, asking them to provide more data. I wouldn’t be surprised if my tombstone will say, ‘Give me the data!’” Welton expressed. According to the College’s accreditation website, MSCHE is a program that ensures standards are met while preserving the school’s mission, goals and values. “By allowing us to review the quality of our educational experience through the lens of our institutional mission, Middle States enables Grove City College to achieve accreditation without compro-
mising our calling to provide a Christ-centered living and learning experience,” the website says. “The standards provide guidance for what institutions should examine to gauge their own progress in achieving their mission and goals. Rather than prescribing a single way to achieve educational excellence, the Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation are uniquely applied by each institution because they are examined through the lens of the institution’s mission,” the website adds. Students can get involved by attending events, participating in surveys and spreading the word by sharing incoming information. An evaluation team will assess the College in 2027 at the end of the process. The next project will not begin until 2035. For questions concerning accreditation, reach out to Gary Welton, Kimberly Marks and Darren Wood.
Publication Note
HOYMAN
The Collegian will go on a publication break for spring break and the weeks before and after. The next issue will be on the stands on March 21.
Correction for Feb. 7 Issue In Luke Deiter’s “Through the Lens” contribution, Dieter was inaccurately labeled a sophomore. Dieter is a senior.
News The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
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Mises archives go online Grove City College After his death more than 50 years ago, famed economist Ludwig von Mises’ papers and library were entrusted to Grove City College, home of the country’s leading undergraduate Austrian School economics program. The 20,000-page archive has yielded a raft of academic papers, journal articles, books, and more in the decades since, but only for scholars who could make the pilgrimage to the College and put in the hours and days necessary to study Mises’ letters, manuscripts, monographs, and notes in person. But that is about to change. A years-long effort to fully digitize the archive was recently completed and now scholars can access the documents online – anywhere, anytime – at gcc.historyit. com . The Mises collection is a magnet for visiting scholars, according to College Archivist Hilary Walczak ’09, who oversaw the digitization effort and fields regular requests for items from researchers around the world. “Usage, or the desire to use it, is high. Having it all online creates a valuable resource for the economics community,” she said. “Prior to digitization, it could take months for us to meet a request for a researcher. Now we can provide these resources to everyone.” Getting the collection online is a significant moment for students of the Austrian School and Mises, according to Dr. Jeffrey M. Herbener, chair of Grove City College’s Department of Economics.
“By giving access to interested scholars around the world, the Mises digital archive will stimulate new lines of research on the Misesian approach to economics,” he said. Hewing to that same approach for the last eight decades has made the College an economics powerhouse, punching far above its weight in scholarship and advocacy for the Austrian School, which puts human action at the center of the study of what some call “the dismal science.” Over a career that spanned two World Wars and the Cold War, Mises advanced a case for free markets and limited government intervention that influenced key economic voices, including Friedrich Hayek and Murray Rothbard, and provided a crucial counterpoint to postwar economic orthodoxy. Mises’ contributions to the study of economics are outstanding, Herbener said. “He gave us the explanation of the business cycle – why we see these ups and downs in the economy and what policies should be implemented to mitigate or even eliminate them. He gave a devastating critique of socialism and central planning where he showed that this is not an arrangement for a modern economy that is workable at all.” The questions that Mises asks and answers have important consequences for the welfare of billions, Dr. Caleb S. Fuller ’13, associate professor of Economics, said. “Mises was interested in the most foundational questions in social science. He is inter-
WRITER’S
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Berry’s fiction, Andy Catlett’s life story and tragic accident offer a way to consider the central drama of Berry’s imaginative work. Conference organizer Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, professor of English, spoke to the importance of this story. “Andy’s missing hand becomes a perpetual reminder of central questions that we all must live with: How do we imagine our complicity in and responsibility for systemic evils? How do we respond to our failure to live up to our ideals? How do we make do as maimed members of wounded communities,” Bilbro said. “Christians have long wrestled with what it means to dwell on earth as exiles, and Berry’s writings offer us ways of living with this longing for a home and a wholeness that we know can never be realized on this side of the new creation,” Bilbro continued. As Andy reflects in Berry’s short story “Dismemberment” on the meaning of this loss, he comes to the conclusion that the machine took his hand “as the price of admission into the rapidly mechanizing world that as a child he had not foreseen and as a man did not like, but which he would have to live in, understanding it and resisting it the best he could, for the rest of his life.” For more on the conference, including a full schedule, session and registration information, visit gcc.edu/ engl.
search fellow for the Institute for Faith and Freedom (IFF), worked as an intern at Pennsylvania Family Institute in the summer of 2024. “I was grateful for the opportunity through the Institute for Faith and Freedom to bring Dan in, the guy on taking a Christian perspective on opposing recreational marijuana. I was thrilled to be able to do that and hopefully to spark a conversation and some deeper reflection from the students and campus community here,” Reese shared. Reese researched the effects of marijuana and tracked marijuana-related communications at the state capital during his internship. “I hope that this event will kind of whet the appetite of everyone. Whether or not they agreed with the position Dan took or not, I hope it exposes them to the importance of the issue and the nuance of the issue that’s needed, so we can dive in and have a productive policy conversation,” Reese said. Near the end of the speech, Bartkowiak quoted numerous Christian scholars and organizations speaking out against legalizing marijuana. “If we love our neighbor, we should not want to see an increase in youth use, an increase in more families being destroyed by marijuana’s impact, mental health (cases), driving (accidents). All these things we’re seeing in states experimenting with marijuana legalization,” Bartkowiak said. The lecture is on IFF’s YouTube channel.
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ested in anthropology. What is a human being? What is the nature of the human person? Why is it that some societies are so fabulously wealthy while other societies languish in squalor?” Those questions persist and there are more scholars working in the Austrian tradition than ever before because of the efforts of Mises, Sennholz, and institutions like Grove City College. Their work is important, said Dr. Shawn Ritenour, professor of Economics. “What our society needs now, more than ever, is economic wisdom. We need people to understand how the economy really works. We’re trying to break down the barrier between the artificial ‘classroom’ and the ‘real world’,” Ritenour said. The Mises Digital Archive promises to contribute greatly to Mises and Austrian School research. “The Ludwig von Mises collection at Grove City College is one of the most important scholarly collections of original material anywhere in the world,” Fuller said. Grove City College became home to the Mises collection in 1978 when the economist’s widow Margit von Mises sought out Sennholz to make the College the permanent home to his papers and library. The College has been working on digitizing the collection in-house for years. Last year funding was provided to complete the job, and 90 boxes of documents were shipped to Portland, Maine, where they were processed by HistoryIT, a digital archive service.
MISES INSTITUTE
Ludwig von Mises and wife, Margit. Margit entrusted his papers and library to the College in 1978. tific community, as science is not done in a vacuum,” Dr. continued from 1 gcc.historyit.com. As one of Fuller, associate professor of the world’s leaders in under- Economics, said. graduate studies of Austrian Students of all majors are economics, this conference invited to attend, as the conmarks an important opportunity to further engage with ference offers a free resource to gain direct insight into Mises’ legacy. This year there will be 24 the ways that the Austrian student speakers at the con- framework is applied. ference. The majority un“The ASSC is a further step dergraduate lineup marks for students along the path a shift from the traditional graduate-dominated pre- to academic careers. Over sentations. The papers will the years, several students cover a diverse range of top- who presented at the conferics from “Inflation in Ethio- ence are now professors of pia” to “Moneyball’s Legacy: economics in American and Technological Innovations and Competitive Balance in European colleges and universities,” Herbener said. Major League Baseball.” Dr. Guido Hulsmann, a The conference kickoff professor of Economics at starts on Friday, Feb. 21 with University of Angers, will dinner, a short documentary be the keynote lecturer, presenting on “The Value of In- and the Hans Senholz Meheritance” and “A General morial Lecture. Events will Theory of Interventionism.” resume on Saturday, Feb. “It simulates the sort of ac- 22 with a series of presenademic conference that factations, dinner and awards, ulty would attend as part of their scholarly identity, and and will conclude with the it demonstrates how scholar- Ludwig von Mises Memorial ship occurs as part of a scien- Lecture.
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Community The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
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GCC ARCHIVES
Dolores Ginyard ’58, GCC’s first Black student, stands in the center of a group of YWCA signers. Ginyard was a music education major during her time at Grove City. She was involved in the orchestra and other ensembles.
Ginyard blazed a trail In 1954, GCC’s first Black student faced challenges Emily Fox
Norristown, Pa. Her father worked as a chemist for the military during World War II, and while he was serving, she visited the South during a time when segregation and Jim Crow laws were still enforced. When the time came to consider where she would attend college, Ginyard expressed hope to attend a school close to home with some of her friends. However, it was important to her father that she attended a school committed to encouraging and practicing Christian values. She learned of Grove City from a teacher
Community Editor Each year during the month of February, our country takes the time to remember and honor Black history. The College also recognizes the value and contributions of its Black faculty and students, and has taken care to preserve and remember their history at Grove City. One of the most notable figures in the College’s history is Dolores Ginyard, the first Black student to attend Grove City College. Ginyard was raised in
who was an alum of the College, and was accepted and began her collegiate career studying music education in the fall of 1954. The dean of women at the time, Jean MacLeod, told her she was the first and only Black student to ever attend the College. “She looked at her dad, and he said ‘Well, the bill is paid.’ And she was taught that you don’t waste your father’s money,” College archivist Hillary Walczak ’09 said. During her time at the College, Ginyard was a part of the choir, orchestra, the Schubert club and the
YWCA. “Although things weren’t always easy, she did make friends and have fond memories of singing at friends’ weddings. She didn’t always have a community on campus, so she recalled it could be lonely at times, but she said she was born to be tough and get through,” Walczak said. After graduating from Grove City College in 1958, Ginyard returned to Norristown and got a job as a substitute teacher. She was the first Black substitute teacher at the school and eventually became a music teacher for the elementary school. She
spent 36 years working in education, many of which she was vice principal. Ginyard was passionate about women’s sports and coached the track and field team. She still volunteers for PIAA track and field today. Ginyard has held many titles over the course of her life: daughter, teacher, vice principal, coach, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother. Through every stage of her life, she was been an example of how God works for the good of those who love Him, even through times when it isn’t easy.
Dr Love: ‘Swifties’ strike again My girlfriend has been really cold to me for the past couple of weeks because I rooted for the Eagles instead of “Taylor Swift’s boyfriend.” I feel like this isn’t something that should be causing us serious problems in our relationship, but I guess it’s really important to her. How do I get back into her good graces? -Swiftie Victim Oh that’s not…Anyway, let’s get one thing out of the way. GO BIRDS!!!! I listen to Taylor Swift as much as you would think any true Dr. Love does, but obviously I was going to root for the Eagles (as anyone who isn’t a Chiefs
“AUTOMATIC”
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admit it, that I would marry you in an instant / Damn your wife, I’d be your mistress just to have you around” and a bittersweet chorus saying, “But I was late for this, late for that, late for the love of my life / And when I die alone, when I die alone, die I’ll be on time.” While “Automatic” voices
fan would). When it comes down to it, we don’t know celebrities. They don’t know the individual people that support them, nor should they. When it comes to a mega-celebrity like T-Swift, it’s true that some people can get really invested in their life and their relationships. As long as it’s fun and you
a similar honesty, it cuts straight to the point without disguise or apology. The second tract of “Automatic” perfectly articulates the overall vibe of the album, demonstrating a clearer-cut lyrical style and an amplified sense of ironic humor only seen in echoes of their work in the past. This shift is evident in a striking change in their cover art. Their past work has
have friends that you can be goofy and giggle about your fav celebrity with, I don’t see anything wrong with being a fangirl! Personally, I’m a fangirl of a lot of groups and celebrities, but only as much as they pop up on my “for you” page on Instagram. I do think it starts to get a bit odd once you start to take things personally about your fav celebrity. In my opinion, it doesn’t seem like you were rooting for the Eagles because Travis Kelce happens to be on the Chiefs. Taylor Swift having a boyfriend on the Chiefs doesn’t mean that the Chiefs should automatically get everyone’s support. Now, onto the real heart of the question. You seem like
a good guy from what I can tell. What you did doesn’t appear to be malicious or an attempt to upset your girlfriend. May the best team win, am I right? Since you want to make up with her, I can see the effort you’re trying to make in order to ensure she isn’t upset – the dream. I would say a cute way to get back into her good graces is to pick up a “Tortured Poets” album (or whatever her favorite TayTay album is – if she likes physical albums/vinyls) and make it the playlist for your next date. Show that you care about her interests and that it wasn’t an attack on her or her favorite celebrity that you didn’t support the team Taylor’s boyfriend
is on. If you’re feeling especially contrite, root for the Chiefs in their next game or make a big deal about how you feel sad about Kelce’s alleged pending retirement. Next time Taylor comes to the good ol’ Burgh or somewhere close, think about taking her! Yes, I know ticket prices are CRAZY, but the memories will last forever. I wish you luck Swiftie Victim.
a muted display of poetic, nonspecific images — works of art, simplistic designs or the mystical image of silent movie star Theda Bara. “Automatic” screams of a bold, new randomness, a multicolor array of static on a television screen. It’s a loudand-clear expression of “the variety of ways we numb ourselves while trying to combat both boredom and overstimulation,” Schultz voiced in an
interview with “Clash”. Despite accomplishing widespread renown in folk rock, Shultz and Fraites express a rather humble appreciation toward their work. Shultz remarks that they are “still standing, and that’s something,” simply “doing something that we’re truly crazy for,” a sentiment encompassed in the general unseriousness of “Automatic.” Considering growing is-
sues such as media overconsumption and public violence that “Automatic” seeks to address, this difference in sound in The Lumineers’ collection is logical, but it teeters between disappointment and intrigue. In either case, it leaves listeners eager to see where this new trajectory takes The Lumineers in the future.
Dr. Love Love M.D.
The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
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Keeping caffeinated
Seven questions with…
Abigail McConaughy Contributing Writer
For a busy college student, it helps to know what caffeine supplies are located nearby. Thankfully, in Grove City, Pa., there are three coffee shops close to the College’s campus. Beans on Broad and Collage Coffee are located on Broad Street, and Dunkin’ Donuts is positioned just across from Carnegie Alumni Center. While all three shops serve coffee, each has its own unique features. Beans on Broad, or “Beans” as it’s often nicknamed, offers a cozy atmosphere that is perfect for studying or getting together with friends for a little break. For students who host group events, an added treat is that the Beans on Broad can be reserved for private use. Next is Collage Coffee. Collage has a high standard for their beans, making their coffee a quality choice for someone seeking some caffeine. They even offer a coffee bean subscription for those who would rather enjoy their coffee in the quiet of their own dorm room. The third option is Dunkin’ Donuts. Since Dunkin’ is a chain, it offers a broad menu with a variety of drink op-
Kendall Hunter
Director of the Imago Dei Center Abigail McConaughy Contributing Writer
LEYLA ZWOLINSKI
Sophomores Emily Haught and Abby Bonaquist study at local coffee shop Beans on Broad. tions, as well as a collection of seasonal favorites, like the iconic pumpkin spice latte. It also has an impressive rewards program, making coffee more attainable on a college budget. While each shop has distinct features, there are two key elements all three shops have. Each shop offers several alternatives to coffee for those who aren’t fans of the taste or caffeine rush. All
three also have food items on the menu. Baked goods and filling lunch options that serve as a break from Hicks food are available to pair with each shop’s drinks. Beans on Broad offers the most variety when it comes to food, extending beyond breakfast into lunch, or for some people even a light dinner. Dunkin’ Donuts has the best prices, between their rewards program and oc-
casional deals for its mobile app users. Collage Coffee is the only shop that also sells kombucha, which is a fermented tea rich in probiotics. While there are plenty of ways to get coffee on campus, an afternoon enjoying some coffee at Beans, Collage or Dunkin’ is perfect for affordable off-campus breaks or a study session with a change of scenery.
Training future teachers Emily Fox
Community Editor Each year, Grove City sends a new generation of teachers out into the world to introduce children of all ages to an expansive arena of learning and growth. However, before they’re ready to welcome students into their own classroom, they must spend time being mentored by the teachers who have come before them. Student teaching is more than a state requirement to become a teacher. There’s a lot of time and thought put into placing student teachers in classrooms that will best equip them to educate kids for years to come. The Education Department works with schools and cooperating teachers to set up student teaching positions a year before Grove City students step into the classroom. When matching student teachers with schools, coordinators consider the commute between the College and the school, as well as the potential professional relationships student teachers may form with their school and their assigned cooperating teacher. They also make sure to review student teachers’ educational needs and their strengths. The Department also takes care to ensure that cooperating teachers meet state guidelines for student teaching programs. They work with schools to match student teachers up with educators who share their area of
“A teacher, every day, takes whatever society hands them and rejects the notion that there are limits on a child’s potential. Being immersed in the life of a school for a whole semester allows our students to step into their possible future all while helping to make the possible futures of their students bigger and wider.”
- Dr. Constance Nichols
expertise when it comes to subject matter. To facilitate the best matches, the Department sets up communication networks with the participating schools and requires student teachers to fill out an extensive application. Student teaching is an essential part of the process of becoming a teacher. Student teachers encounter real situations and challenges in the classroom that typical courses cannot prepare them for. “A teacher, every day, takes whatever society hands them and rejects the notion that there are limits on a child’s potential. Being immersed in the life of a school for a whole semester allows our students to step into their possible future all while helping to make the possible futures of their students bigger and wider,” Education Department Chair Dr. Constance Nichols said. “(Teaching is) being there when the buses roll in and maybe being the first encouraging words a kid hears in the morning, and it’s being there at the end of the day and into the evening, perhaps sitting in the stands at a play or school sporting event and
helping a kid see that you are their champion. It’s learning about the needs of a community and learning about how to support and develop all the kids in a school while simultaneously learning to develop each kid in your care,” she said. “It’s being able to simultaneously encourage kids to exceed their goals while also honestly coaching and reporting their progress in the moment. You cannot learn these things in a college classroom, and you cannot learn them from watching videos of other teachers doing it. You have to be there, in the moment, elbow to elbow with your fellow professionals and face to face with children and their caregivers,” Nichols shared. Senior Madison Johnson is currently a student teaching at Mohawk Elementary in New Castle, Pa., where she teaches math, science and STEAM to third grade students. Johnson discussed some of the practical lessons she has learned about being a teacher from working with kids in a classroom setting. “I have learned to be open
to change and challenge. As a student teacher, you are a guest, not the new sheriff in town. The amount of freedom given in experimenting teaching styles may vary. It is important to remember that what works best in your teacher’s class may be different than how you will run your future class,” she said. “Student teaching is fun! The moment you lose sight of that is the moment something needs to change. This is not a season of defeat, but a season of learning through the failures and triumphs!” Johnson said. Student teaching is a holistic process concerned with educating future teachers about how to interact with children in a way that helps them to grow intellectually and emotionally. It’s a program that takes great care to prioritize the needs of the children in the classroom, as well as the student teachers it serves. Those interested in learning more about Grove City’s student teaching program should visit the College’s website for more information.
What is your favorite part of your job? My favorite part of my job is having a chance to work with such a wide range of students. I’ve definitely gained a ton of perspective just by hanging with students over lunch and getting to know their stories. What’s an unpopular opinion you have? Ranch dressing is a result of the Fall. What are your plans for spring break? Not going anywhere this year, but I’m looking forward to playing Nintendo Switch with my sons. If you were to lead a Fiver, what would it be about? I’d love to lead a Fiver on cultural evangelism and apologetics. If you could bring another fast-food chain to Grove City, which would you choose? Popeyes. Easy. If you could plan an SNL skit, what would it be about? I’ll be honest ... I do not watch SNL, so I’m not sure! Where was your favorite vacation you’ve ever taken with your family? I was never a huge Disney fan, but going to Disney World with our kids made me change my mind!
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WHAT’S FRESH AT THE GROVE
In the Little Theater... Spring Play: ‘An Ideal Husband’ Feb. 20 - 22 5:30 p.m. Don’t miss the closing weekend of Grove City’s rendition of Oscar Wilde’s “An Ideal Husband.”
In Crawford Auditorium... Andrew Peterson Concert Feb. 21 7:30 p.m. Get your tickets for one of the most anticipated events of the semester. Andrew Peterson will be performing on campus next tonight at 7:30.
In Rathburn & SHAL... Christian Writer’s Conference Feb. 21 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Feb. 22 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Read more about this year’s annual conference on page 1!
In Ketler Rec... Lunar New Year Celebration Feb. 22 6 - 8 p.m. Join the Pan Asian Association and MuKappa for authentic Chinese food, traditional dance, calligraphy and games this Saturday.
Through the Lens
Through the lens, Feb. 22, 2019
The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
Clay creations
Emma Rossi
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The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
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Emma Rossi
Grove City College art students spin pottery
This Tuesday, the Collegian were flies on the wall in Ceramics teacher Chris Bauer’s studio. With hands covered in clay, students sat focused over their wheels, shaping bottles that will be fired in a Japenese Climbing kiln later this semester. Bauer built the kiln, which is wood powered, himself. Students from each ceramics course offered at the College are preparing for a one day art show on April 10. In late March, a visiting ceramicist will visit the College and host workshops for students to hone their craft. Emma Rossi, Editor-in-Chief
Photos by Luke Paglia, Photo Chief Contributor: Emma Rossi, Editor-in-Chief
Perspectives The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
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Vance vs Vatican
CHURCHLEADERS
Separation of church and state lost Benjamin Jones Contributing Writer
In an unusual and unprecedented exchange, the White House and the Vatican find themselves embroiled in a theological debate over immigration policy. The recent deportation operations carried out by the Trump administration have sparked criticism from Pope Francis, leading to a public confrontation between the head of the Catholic Church and Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic convert. At the heart of this dispute is the ancient theological concept of “ordo amoris,” invoked by Vance to justify prioritizing American citizens over immigrants. The Pope, however, counters with a broader vision of Christian love, rooted in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Vance, who converted to
Catholicism in 2019, defended the administration’s immigration policies in a Fox News interview and later on social media. “You love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country. And then after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world,” he said. He draws from the works of St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, arguing that charity must follow a proper order, beginning with those closest to us. Pope Francis, however, issued a pointed response in a letter to U.S. bishops. “Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extend to other persons and groups. The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan — that is, by meditating on the love
that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception,” he wrote. The pope maintains that nations have the right to defend themselves from those who commit violent crimes, but he condemns any policy that equates illegal status with criminality. He argues that deportations harm vulnerable individuals, placing them in positions of defenselessness and stripping them of dignity. The debate also touches on broader theological tensions within Christianity. Vance’s argument is rooted in Aristotelian philosophy, borrowed by Augustine and later expanded by Aquinas, emphasizing an ordered love that prioritizes those closest to us. Meanwhile, Pope Francis represents a more modern interpretation of Christianity, emphasizing universal brotherhood and a responsibility to care for the most vulnerable, regardless of national boundaries.
Jesuit Father James Martin further critiques Vance’s position, arguing that it “(misses) the point of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan.” He asserts that Jesus’ message is clear. “Everyone is your neighbor, and it is not about helping just your family or those closest to you. It’s specifically about helping those who seem different, foreign, other,” Martin said. This unprecedented theological battle between nation and Church appears to be the result of Vance’s decision to turn a political disagreement into a theological one. The question remains — why engage in a theological dispute when the United States maintains a separation of church and state? The Trump administration’s decision to invoke Catholic doctrine in defense of immigration policy may have been a misstep, opening itself to theological scrutiny it was not prepared to handle. Theologically, both sides
are leaning on progressive, non-biblical philosophy to support their claims. Vance’s ordo amoris argument, derived from Aristotelian thought as interpreted by Augustine and Aquinas, frames love as hierarchical. Conversely, Pope Francis promotes a works-based theology, emphasizing social justice and universal fraternity. However, framing national policy through theological rhetoric risks entangling religious doctrine with governance in ways that may alienate both the faithful and the secular. I don’t think either side is getting the situation right. The Trump administration most definitely should not be intermingling American policy with their own religious views, as that contradicts America’s freedom of religion clause in the Constitution. On the other side, the Pope has no business telling America what religious doctrine it should follow.
Books are art, not media
Emma Rossi Editor-In-Chief
We need to stop treating novels like media that is created to consume. Rather, we need to treat them as art. American author and novelist Ottessa Moshfegh said it best. “I wish that future novelists would reject the pressure to write for the betterment of society. Art is not media. A novel is not an ‘afternoon special’ or fodder for the Twittersphere or material for journalists to make neat generalizations about culture. A novel is not ‘Buzzfeed’ or ‘NPR’ or ‘Ins-
tagram’ or even Hollywood. Let’s get clear about that. A novel is a literary work of art meant to expand consciousness,” Moshfegh said. While there are elements of objectivity to art, what makes art one of the most powerful forces for communication, expression and discussion is its subjectivity – art should never be limited by the culture within which it is created. The greatest novels are ones that tell stories of flawed humans enduring or succumbing to the great challenges that life poses. In a neat and tidy, noncontroversial and easy-to-digest bounding box, these stories cannot be told. “We need novels that live in an amoral universe, past the
political agenda described on social media. We have imaginations for a reason … We need characters in novels to be free to range into the dark and wrong. How else will we understand ourselves?” Moshfegh continues. Some stories make the reader uncomfortable, other stories offend and some even disgust – but just because they aren’t agreeable doesn’t mean they don’t hold value and aren’t worth being told. As soon as authors start to care too much about what their reader thinks of them as an individual, the story will lose its edge. Just because a character is immoral doesn’t make the author immoral. Likewise, just because a character is moral doesn’t make the author moral ei-
ther. Stories are far more accessible and transferable than paintings or sculptures, live music or performances. This doesn’t change their status as art. I think of Picasso’s painting, “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon,” which depicts a scene from a brothel. It had such a profound impact on its audience that it stirred up controversy and still does over 100 years later. I think of Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which time and time again has been banned and unbanned across the nation for its themes of rape and use of racial slurs. Both are art. Both tell stories that are necessary to tell. One is hung in the Museum of Modern Art and the other
can be found on a million bookshelves across the nation. Adversely, just because stories are easy to access and share with millions of people, they don’t become pieces of media to consume and discard. Novels should not be subject to the same kinds of criticism one would extend to an article or a podcast. Rather, they should be judged based on creativity, clarity of the message and their overall impression. It is essential that we recognize novels as works of art or we risk losing the interminable and universal force of literature as a means for storytelling.
The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
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Will DOGE do any good? Owen Pfaff
Contributing Writer The national budget deficit stands at $2 trillion and change. This is an unfathomably large amount of money that President Donald Trump and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk hope to shrink via their constitutional and legal (thank you Obama) brainchild, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). They are faced with an assortment of challenges in the form of democratic judges, special interests and the technical capacities of elevators in limestone mines. Unbelievable as it may seem, the last item on that list is indeed real. According to Musk, the highest number of federal workers that can be retired in a month is 10,000. This is because all the retirement paperwork is held in a limestone mine which is made accessible through one elevator. At times, that single elevator will break down, at which point the stream of retirees simply stops moving. Bureaucracy is like an el-
KNOWYOURMEME
evator in a limestone mine — slow, inefficient and at times it just doesn’t work. Despite these challenges, there is hope that real budget cuts can be forced through. It is undeniable that Trump has the support of the people, evidenced by his overwhelming victory in both the electoral college and popular vote. This real shift in public opinion may herald a new age of government solvency and transparency. Even if it
does, there is one major flaw in all the executive branch’s plans: the action proposed to be taken, cutting roughly $1 trillion over the course of the presidency, isn’t extreme enough. Cutting the federal deficit in half over the course of four years would probably be one of the greatest achievements ever attained by a federal body, but the harsh truth is that it would be too little too late. The national budget
English saves souls
Sir Benjamin Treadwell Contributing Writer
Often when people ask what I’m going to do with an English major (that perennial semi-snarky question), I tell them that I’m going to use it to become a worldfamous author and make millions. I’m kidding — I say that to silence the sarcastic humanities-haters. But I do want to use my English major to write stories that, even if they do not make me monetarily rich, lead people to think and to influence their hearts toward the Truth. And I think we need more English and communication majors with this mindset. Stories are far more influential than people think. Indeed, stories are some of the most persuasive things in the world. A dry recitation of facts, or even a persuasive presentation of the facts, will be far inferior to a good story that says the same thing. Ask any reporter or lawyer or advertiser. Weave a narrative and you will win your audience, because stories can appeal to the heart along with the head. So, we need lots of Christian storytellers, and more importantly, we need excellently trained Christian storytellers. In what has been labeled the culture war, the
enemies of Christianity have proven themselves far better storytellers than we are. The leftist newspapers are very good at creating a narrative (though they’ve grown a bit ridiculous of late). Disney has demonstrated excellent skill at weaving stories that seem perfectly innocent on the surface, but in fact subtly whisper lies into the hearts of the audience (though when they became blatant in their messaging, the quality of their stories, and therefore their popularity and power, decreased). Plenty of other studios have forged the same stealthy stories. Many works of fiction published now are designed to tear down traditions and morals. Christians have responded partially correctly — we’ve tried to answer with good Christian stories. Unfortunately, we have produced so much chaff, cheese and twaddle that the very term “Christian movie” has become derogatory. Woe upon us! Unskilled storytellers have shot their own beliefs in the foot. The solution is better training in Christian institutions like ours. So, I say we need Christian English and communication majors. Why? Because this is the primary means of training Christian storytellers. If you want to write a great book or make a great movie, you must study the master storytellers of the past and
present. We must see how they told their stories, how they built their narratives, what manner of subtly they used to simultaneously bring delight to their audience and teach their audience. Christians must relearn how to weave their message deeply into their story, to have an underlying and unforced theme. This is what an English major is ‘good for.’ Then, we must train Christian storytellers in the specifics of their chosen story format, whether it be a story on the page, stage or screen. A beautiful, compelling movie is a rather different beast from a beautiful, compelling book. Even those pursuing journalism can learn to tell the story in a Christian manner — as in, they can learn to report the truth, and how to make the truth appealing. To make the truth appealing is the ultimate goal. Jesus followers, after all, have a far better reason for wielding the power of story than any of their current adversaries. We are endeavoring to point our audience back to God -- back to His holy Word -- though our own words and images. Beware, English major critics. The answer to the question, “What are you going to do with an English major?” might just be, “Oh, I’ll be working with God to save souls.”
would still be $1 trillion over tax revenue. Most of the government waste is not contained in the miscellaneous bureaucracies that riddle the diseased halls of the Capital. The vast majority of the budget goes towards Medicare, Social Security and interest racked up on previously accumulated debt and war. Unfortunately, DOGE is forbidden to touch these items. As long as they ex-
BASKETBALL
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points per game) kept the game from being close and held Bethany well below its scoring average. “Bethany had a hard time scoring on us in that second half and my teammates did a great job of finding me when I was open. I had the easy job of hitting the open shots,” senior guard Chase Yarberough said. Yarberough paced Grove City with 18 points and five assists. Sophomore forward Isaac Cherry, junior guard Mike Christenson and junior guard Kyle Randle also reached double-digit points. Meanwhile, junior forward Cole Dailey led Bethany by scoring 15 points. Sophomore guard Ben Guffey and junior guard Troy Hixson each hit two three-pointers in the first half to build the Bison’s early lead, which lasted over 15 minutes. However, Bethany’s team three-point shooting percentage plummeted from 50 percent (5-10) in the first half to 16.7 percent (3-18) in the second half, contributing to the loss. “We were down by nine going into halftime when we played Bethany at their place, so we didn’t panic. We knew that statistically speaking, they were a first-half team, so we knew we were in a good spot going into halftime,” Lamie said. The Wolverines often beat the Bison down the court, earning 12 fastbreak points, compared to Bethany’s one
ist, a journey towards true solvency will be borderline impossible. The destructive effects of credit-fueled inflation will continue and it will be accompanied by the slow march to bankruptcy. Despite the grim appearance, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. If the movement around DOGE to shrink the size of the government is truly supported by a populace who are willing to withstand the natural consequences of budget cuts — an immediate economic recession — then this half measure may lead to a full one in the years to come. If the American people truly believe that the solution to the country’s problems do not stem from further government interference in the economy, then and only then will the U.S. be able to move towards a more sustainable future. Without this kind of resolve, voters will simply switch platforms once the hard times hit. While Trump and Musk are certainly doing a fine job of showcasing the federal government’s most abusive uses of taxpayer money, more decisive action must be taken to right size the federal government. point. Likewise, Grove City capitalized on Bethany’s miscues, scoring 19 points off turnovers to Bethany’s eight. “We have two good teams left to play in the regular season, which will be a good test going into (the) playoffs. We just need to keep the same mindset that we had against Bethany. When we play at our best, we are the best team in the PAC,” Yarberough said. Senior forwards John Ward, Russ Gump, Jaxon Weyforth and guards Jonah Bock, Ben Gano and Yarberough, all scored on their Senior Day. They played on Grove City teams that had a combined record of 49-53, but for this season, they are seeking more. “I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome on senior night; that was a great game. If that was my last game on our home court, then I have no regrets. Although, I’m hoping we can secure a home playoff game next week,” Yarberough said. While Grove City celebrated the accomplishments of its seniors before the game, The Wolverines want a greater celebration to come in the form of a PAC Championship. “Not only has this senior class been successful on the court, but they have done a great job in mentoring our younger players and being role models for them. Our program is in a better place because of what they accomplished collectively,” Lamie said.
Entertainment The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
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Tunes from the tower
Glass Houses
Emma Rossi Editor-In-Chief
SNL celebrates 50
Catharine Runion Entertainment Editor
In Oct. 1975, NBC was scrambling to fill in a gap in weekend airtime and hired a young producer named Lorne Michaels. He, in turn, hired Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Dan Akroyd, John Belushi and several other young comedians for the first season of what was then known as “NBC’s Saturday Night.” It’s been 50 years since that first season, and “Saturday Night Live” (SNL) has come to have a significant presence in the entertainment world and social culture. Many of the best comedians of the last 50 years have come through SNL – it is thanks to them that we have Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg and countless others. The show has been celebrating its 50th season over the past several months, and last Saturday SNL hosted their 50th Anniversary Special. The event drew dozens of celebrities, singers, movie stars, comedians and show alums, and the show itself was packed full of familiar faces and even more familiar sketches. The monologue was delivered by the great Steve Martin with an appearance from Martin Short – arguably the
only two people who could be worthy for such an honor, seeing as both have hosted SNL more times than anyone can count. Nearly all the sketches in this celebration were callbacks to the most beloved sketches and characters from over the years, both old and new. Young viewers were thrilled to see Marcello Hernandez’ “Domingo” (and his equally charismatic brothers, Renaldo and Santiago) and Pete Davidson’s “Chad” return. “Close Encounters” featured the return of Kate McKinnon’s crass “Colleen Rafferty” and even introduced her mother, played by Meryl Streep. “Black Jeopardy” came back and, of course, featured Tom Hanks’ MAGAhat-wearing character Doug. “Scared Straight” even came back for another episode, though the inundation of sexual jokes and Will Ferrell’s legs in those shorts might have been more uncomfortable than funny. Longtime fans of the show must have been thrilled to see “Bronx Beat with Betty and Jodi” come back, reuniting Amy Poehler and Maya Rudolph, and nested within that sketch was another SNL icon: Mike Myers’ “Linda Richman.” This one had me all ‘verklempt.’
The return to “Debbie Downer” featuring Rachel Dratch’s career-defining character wasn’t quite as well written; it mostly recycled some of Debbie’s old lines in a pretext that wasn’t very amusing. Despite the flaws, though, we got to see Robert De Niro try to strangle Debbie, and there was a callback to the original sketch. That first sketch may be one of my favorite SNL sketches ever, so that was a definite nostalgia point. Along with these sketches, SNL scattered in a few digital shorts and compilations. A supercut of the best physical comedy of the show, an “In Memoriam” to sketches and characters that have aged like milk and a montage of the best commercial parodies in SNL’s past gave us a fun look back at the long history of the show. Andy Samberg returned in a big way to his musical comedy roots, singing a song with Bowen Yang revealing that all of the SNL cast members in history had crippling anxiety (and IBS). The song goes hard, and anyone who remembers the golden days of The Lonely Island was likely taken back to the good ol’ days of “happy birthday to the ground.” Weekend Update with Co-
th
NBC
lin Jost and Michael Che was funny as usual, getting in a few digs at past (and present) hosts – Seth Meyers had a segment and Bill Murray appears to rank the best Weekend Update anchors. Cecily Strong reprised her iconic role “The Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started a Conversation with at a Party.” Though most of my favorites returned for the show, I was saddened by the notable absence of Dan Akroyd and Bill Hader. Akroyd wasn’t able to make it, but Hader actually declined his invitation. This was a sad blow; in my opinion, Hader’s time on the show was the best SNL era since the old days and many of the show’s most iconic characters were played by him. The show was still good without Akroyd and Hader, but I think they would have made it SO much better. Going back to the same jokes and sketches is difficult because these things are never as funny the second time, but the point of SNL50 wasn’t to be completely original and new: it was to appreciate what the show has been able to accomplish over the last 50 years. This was a lovely trip down memory lane, and it served the fans exactly what they wanted.
Lumineers release ‘Automatic’ Ana Geike
Contributing Writer Erratic strums of guitar, the throbbing pulse of drums, threads of lyricism conjuring visions of shattered love stories: this artistry has become characteristic of The Lumineers. Emanating from their work is an aura so wildly beautiful and gripping that one thirsts to be swept up in such a story — one of harmony and enchantment, of course, but perplexity and tragedy as well — as achingly raw and enlivening as countless other compositions of theirs. “Automatic” entered the scene last Friday as an homage to the ground lead cofounders Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites have covered in the past and a glimpse into new territory the artists have in their sights. Described by Emma Harrison of “Clash” as ranging from “aching vulnerability to
acerbic humor,” “Automatic” retains much of the true and honest sound characteristic of The Lumineers. It is equal parts dance-around-yourkitchen and wipe-lovelorntears-from-your-eyes sort of
vibe. However, “Automatic” also breathes new air into the band’s sound, and the nature of this change is debatable. The Lumineers are never shy in showing that love, and life in general, can be just as
lousy as it can be lucky. “Cleopatra,” a highlight from their album of the same title, tells of a lost love, with the honest lines “Well, I must “AUTOMATIC” 4
Billy Joel’s early successes were headlined by ballads and highlighted his softer sound, and critics had begun to discredit Joel’s rock-and-roll roots. “Glass Houses” sought to correct the critics and prove that Joel could do both, making his seventh studio album a masterclass in pop rock as presented by Billy Joel. “Glass Houses” turns 45 years old during the Collegian’s publication break, but it deserves to be celebrated prematurely. The album opens with the distinct sound of glass breaking and the energetic guitar riff that introduces the first track, “You May Be Right.” “Don’t Ask Me Why” gives listeners a break from the rock sound and introduces a soft percussive sound and Joel’s softer, crooning voice. “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” is the best song on the album. Perhaps summarizing the theme of Joel’s new sound, he calls out the shift in the music industry and his desire to stick to what he knows – rock-and roll. “Hot funk, cool punk, even if it’s old junk, it’s still rock and roll to me,” he sings. “C’etait toi” is the odd one out on the album, and a very unusual song to come from Joel. He wanted to recreate the popularity of his hit “Honesty” which took off in France. Unfortunately for Joel, when he sang this song at a concert in France, the audience didn’t sing with him – they thought he was singing in Polish. “Close to the Borderline” is lyrically similar to a lot of the tracks on “Streetlife Serenader,” and the sound is the most rock-and-roll of the album. The message is classic Joel – disillusionment and disorientation with the pressures of modern city life. The final track of the album is “Through the Long Night,” a somber ballad that, juxtaposed with “Close to the Borderline,” puts Joel’s diversity of style on display. Following “Glass Houses,” Joel released “Songs in the Attic,” a collection of live recordings of some of his most popular songs. “Songs in the Attic” was undoubtedly a result of Joel crafting “The Nylon Curtain,” a reflection on his youth in the wake of war. “Glass Houses” is an album essential to the sound of Joel, and while it isn’t as popular as the albums it precedes and succeeds, it serves as the vital transitional work for the artist.
Sports The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
Page 11
Volleyball opens PAC play with two statement wins Mia Gallagher Sports Editor
Team one has secured two PAC ‘dubs! After a slow start to their inaugural season, the Grove City men’s volleyball team made a statement to the rest of the conference last Thursday, Feb. 13 with a hard fought, five-set victory over the Saint Vincent Bobcats. The exciting decision came down to the wire with the Wolverines clinching a 1510 win in the final set of the match. Pacing the Wolverines’ offensive front was sophomore Max Gianneski who tallied a dozen kills on the day. Gianneski was followed by classmate Andrew Kessler, who put away 10 points, and freshman Keith Otto, who notched eight points. Also getting in on the scoring action was junior Tieg Malcolm, whose seven kills and season-high six service aces helped secure the victory. Orchestrating the offensive effort was sophomore setter Craig Fair, who se-
cured 34 assists. Kessler, Otto and Malcolm led the defensive effort with five blocks a piece. They were followed by Gianneski and senior Quintin Norris, who together tallied five blocks and 16 digs in the win. “With this being the firstever varsity season, being able to win our first ever PAC matchup means a lot. Our team’s strong culture has a large role to play in that. Every single one of us plays for one another, which is something that I love about this team,” Kessler said. “I’m very proud of how this team has grown to get to the position where we are today. When talking about growth, I think it’s important to look back to last year when we were still a club team. The seniors that year really helped to set the tone and culture that this team will have for the foreseeable future. Making the transition to varsity has been great for us as a team, and the improvement we’ve experienced is noticeable,” Kessler continued. On Tuesday, Feb. 18 the team traveled to Bethany, W.
Va. to take on the Bisons for their second PAC matchup. Their 3-1 victory saw a similarly balanced offensive and defensive showing. Gianneski once again led the way with 14 kills, followed by Norris and Otto, who each posted 12. Their combined efforts produced a .292 hitting percentage for the team and turned into 40 assists for Fair. Defensively, Malcolm turned in four blocks, with Fair and Gianneski not far JOHN HAKE behind with two blocks a Sophomore Craig Fair (pictured here) had 34 assists in the piece. From the back row, Gi- Wolverine’s win on Feb. 13. anneski and freshman libero Ben McVey recorded a combined 11 digs for the night. “It’s a long season, and there are plenty of talented teams in the PAC, but I’m very confident that when we’re playing together at our best, we’ll be able to compete with the best of them,” Kessler said. Men’s volleyball will continue their inaugural PAC Men’s Basketball (15-9): campaign at 12 p.m. tomorrow, Feb. 22 with a match-up W, Bethany (85-67) against the Golden TornaL, Geneva (63-55) does of Geneva College in the Women’s Basketball (14-9): Wolverarena. W, Bethany (64-62) W, Geneva (80-77)
Sports at a Glance
Results
Men’s Lacrosse (1-2): L, Ohio Wesleyan (12-18)
Women’s Lacrosse (1-0): W, Marietta ( 12-10 )
Baseball (1-1)
W, Averett (DH) (14-1) L, Averett (DH) (2-5)
Men’s Volleyball (7-8): W, Bethany (3-1)
Upcoming
Men’s Basketball:
at Saint Vincent Feb. 22 @ 3 p.m.
Women’s Basketball:
at Saint Vincent Feb. 22 @ 1 p.m. EMMA ROSSI
The College’s club frisbee team poses for a photo at the conclusion of their overnight tournament.
Frisbee team hikes to Huck through the Heart Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
While Grovers spend Valentine’s Day eating romantic dinners in Hicks and taking long walks around the quad, the special day’s celebrations look a little different for the College’s ultimate frisbee club team. Every year, the team travels to Erie, Pa. to play in an overnight tournament called “Huck Through the Heart.” The tournament runs from about 9:30 p.m. on Friday to about 4:30 a.m. on Saturday morning – and teams play all night long. The tournament’s odd name comes from the tradition of “hucking” a frisbee through a heart-shaped cutout while the bracket for the tournament is made, and because the event is always on Valentine’s weekend. The College’s frisbee team is large enough that they split in two for Huck, with one team playing as their real name “Doomsday” and
the second team playing as “Tuesday” (a common mishearing of the team’s real name). This year, Tuesday placed fourth overall in the tournament and Doomsday placed fifth. Senior women’s team captain Ruby Ramgren and senior Kenny Schley have played at Huck all four years they’ve been on the team. “Frisbee all night long is a wild experience. As soon as I start thinking about how late it is, I realize how tired I am, and it gets so much harder to play. But the energy and atmosphere of Huck is so fun. Everyone knows that we’re doing something absolutely insane, but we all love the sport, so we have a great time,” Ramgren said. “Sometimes you’ll feel like it’s 4 a.m. when it’s only 10 p.m. or you’ll be feeling fresh and hyped for a game starting at 2 a.m. It’s an otherworldly feeling playing all night and then getting back to school while the sun is coming up.
It really doesn’t hit you until you walk out of the dome,” Schley added. The club team has been around since 2005, and Ramgren is captaining the first women’s team the club has ever had. Last year, Ramgren was joined by only five other women at the tournament, but this year, the representation doubled. She leads the women’s team with assistant captain Emma Armstrong. “It has been so encouraging to see these women grow in the sport and in friendship with one another, myself included, and I can’t wait to see what the women’s team can become as we head into the spring season,” Armstrong said. With Huck behind them, the teams have shifted their focus to conferences, which will be played around Easter. If they perform well enough there, they will advance to regionals in the beginning of May.
Swim and Dive:
at PAC Championship Feb. 19-22
Track and Field:
at PAC Championship Feb. 27
Men’s Volleyball:
vs Geneva Feb. 22 @ 12 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse:
vs R.I.T. Feb. 22 @ 12 p.m.
Women’s Lacrosse:
at John Carroll Feb. 22 @ 1 p.m.
Baseball:
vs La Roche Feb. 25 @ 3 p.m.
Water Polo:
vs Washington and Jefferson Feb. 22 @ 9 a.m.
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
Jeremiah Knowles Track and Field Newcomer of the Week
Lydia Bennett Track and Field Track Athlete of the Week
Andrew Kessler Men’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Evan Gill Men’s Lacrosse Newcomer of the Week
Kiara White Track and Field Newcomer of the Week
Sports The Collegian, Feb. 21, 2025
PAC playoff party
Page 12
Wolverines secure playoffs with senior day wins Garrett Gess Staff Writer
The Wolverines women’s basketball team closed their final home stretch with two victories: last Wednesday over Thiel 81-52 and last Saturday over Bethany 64-62. Hosting Thiel, Grove City fell behind early to the winless Bobcats 12-4. The Wolverines came back very strong, outscoring the Bobcats 23-8 in the second quarter. It was more of the same as the game went on with the Wolverines dominating the contest, particularly in the second half, where they outscored Thiel 48-22. Grove City had a balanced offensive attack, with several players contributing significantly to the win. Senior guard Mara Polczynski led the way with 14 points and nine rebounds in 22 minutes, while senior guard Haley Hertzler added 10 points and seven rebounds. Senior guard Clara Hannon contributed seven points, while junior forward Meredith Sherrerd also posted seven points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Jaden Davinsizer chipped in six points and two assists. The team shot 42 percent from the field, including 35 percent from three-point range, while also dominating in the paint with 48 points. Their defense was stifling, forcing 19 turnovers and turning them into 28 points off turnovers. The bench also played a crucial role by contributing 37 points, with sophomore guard Alexa McDole adding eight points off the bench. Grove City’s strong performance on both ends of the floor, including fast break points (16) and secondchance points (18), helped secure the victory. The team’s largest lead of the game was 33 points in the final minutes, displaying their commanding presence throughout the contest.
Senior guard Mara Polczynski goes for a layup in Saturday’s 64-62 win over the Bethany Bison on Senior Day. Against Bethany, the win improved Grove City’s overall record to 14-9, with a 12-6 mark in the PAC. The game started with a tough first quarter for the Wolverines, where they found themselves trailing 22-13. However, they quickly regrouped and came out strong in the second, outscoring Bethany 18-11. The Wolverines used this momentum to cut into the deficit and enter halftime with a one-point lead. From there, it was a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging the lead multiple times. The third quarter saw Grove City take control for a while, as they played solid defense and capitalized on fastbreak opportunities. However, Bethany made things difficult for the Wolverines in the final minutes, pulling to within striking distance. Still, Grove City’s defense remained strong down the stretch, limiting Bethany’s scoring chances and forcing critical turnovers. Hannon led the Wolverines with 13 points, mak-
The team’s win secured their fourth seed standing in the conference. ing significant contributions with five field goals, including a three-pointer. She also added four assists and a steal, playing a pivotal role in the win. Polczynski chipped in with eight points and eight rebounds, helping anchor both the offense and defense. Hertzler added seven points and senior forward Em-
ily Wentworth provided key contributions off the bench. The Wolverines found their rhythm in the second half and were able to make key free throws to secure the victory. They outperformed Bethany in second-chance points and points in the paint, ending with 14 and 26, respectively.
JOHN HAKE
JOHN HAKE
At 12-6 in the PAC, Grove City stands as the four-seed in the conference. They close out the season at Saint Vincent tomorrow, and the Wolverines will face off against the Bearcats again in the PAC playoff quarterfinals, with both teams as the number four and five seed, respectively.
Bethany bested on senior day Matthew Purucker Staff Writer
Senior guard Chase Yarberough is officially a member of the College’s 1000 point club.
DAVE MILLER
Despite a closer first half than the team wanted, the Grove City men’s basketball team prevailed over Bethany (7-16, 2-16 PAC) 85-67 at the Grove City College Arena last Saturday on Senior Day. Grove City (15-8, 12-6 PAC) celebrated its seniors by scoring its third-most points of the season in a comfortable victory. Bethany was looking for an upset up 34-27 with 3:14 left in the first half. However, the turning point in the game came when the Wolverines scored 10 straight points before halftime (37-34). Later, they tallied five more points following intermission to
complete a 15-0 run, which stalled the top-scoring offense in the PAC (82.3 points per game). “Our defense had a lot to do with our run. In addition, we stuck to just one way to attack their multiple defenses. That simplified things -we didn’t overthink things; we just attacked,” Grove City Head Men’s Basketball Coach Steve Lamie ’85 said. Afterward, Grove City’s shooters found their rhythm, going six for 12 from threepoint range as part of a 48-point second half, helping the Wolverines run out to a large lead. The top-scoring defense in the PAC (65.7 points per game) kept the BASKETBALL 9