The Collegian, March 20, 2026

‘You Can’t Take It with You’

Emily Fox Editor-in-Chief

After tickets sold out for the Grove City College Theatre Program’s spring play, “You Can’t Take It with You,” the cast performed an additional show Wednesday.

The play, written by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, tells the story of Alice Sycamore, played by sophomore Abigail Worlfgang, and her concerns about introducing her fiancé, Toby Kirby, played by sophomore Austin Zeilstra, and his family to her wacky relatives. Over the course of the play, the audience learns the value of choosing to do something you’re passionate about in your vocation and loving the people in your life, even with their quirks.

Grove City’s production features two faculty members: Professor of English Dr. Eric Potter plays Alice’s grandfather, Martin Vanderhof, and Assistant to the President, Miss Betty Tallerico, plays actress Gay Wellington.

The cast will take the stage twice more tomorrow at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Little Theater at the Pew Fine Arts Center.

GCC team finalist in business competition

Olivia Massucci Staff Writer

Four Grove City College students from the Winklevoss School of Business will compete as finalists in the DICK’S Sporting Goods & Pitt Business Strategy Case Competition on March 25-26 at the DICK’S Sporting Goods corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh.

The team includes senior Alexander Barbetta and juniors Sophia LoDico, Benjamin Forastiere and Modesta Grossman, who advanced out of the highly competitive pre-

Student publishes mystery novel

Julia Kramer Staff Writer

Grove City College junior

Anastasia Brown celebrated the publication of her first novel, “The House on Breaker’s Ridge,” at its public reading, which students and faculty attended March 18.

As a project she began in eighth grade, the novel was originally written for her family’s enjoyment, with its protag-

onists, the Trelawney children, inspired by her own siblings. However, after winning a young authors contest, Brown was offered a publishing deal by Booklogix, a non-traditional publishing and print services company supporting independent authors.

“It was a very whirlwind surprise, you know, out of the ordinary,” Brown said.

MYSTERY 5

liminary round of 56 teams from 40 universities.

The national competition tasks undergraduate students to analyze a real-world retail strategy case and present their recommendations to DICK’S Sporting Goods judges. The top three teams advance to the third and final round, competing for cash prizes of $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000.

Last year’s Grove City team finished outside the top three in the main event but won the Wildcard Competition. This year’s team will compete

against finalist teams from Boston University, Purdue University, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Houston, the University of Kansas, Texas A&M University and the University of Pittsburgh.

Assistant Professor of Business Analytics Ryan Miller requires all students in his Retail Management class to compete in the preliminary round, though only one team from each school can make the final BUSINESS 11

Bradley preaches economic prosperity

Matthew Purucker News Editor

Former Grove City College economics professor Anne Bradley presented “A Christian Case for Economic Freedom” to attendees on March 10 in Rathburn Hall.

Bradley promoted that a Christian, pro-free-market view of economics and economic policy leads to human flourishing. The George Mason University professor reasoned that economic freedom spurs innovation, increasing human quality of life.

“The market economy allows us to extend our talents to people through the commercial sphere and serve them,” Bradley said.

As part of her talk, Bradley emphasized the importance of Adam Smith’s free market BRADLEY 10

Smith Hall wins award

Olivia Massucci Staff Writer

Grove City College’s renovation of Smith Hall of Science and Technology won a 2025 Master Builder Association (MBA) Building Excellence Award for its revitalization of one of the oldest buildings on campus for modern STEM education.

The college shared the award, recognizing renovations of over $20 million, with contractor Landau Building Company of Allison Park, Pa. and architects Smith Group of Pittsburgh. The total cost of the renovation was approximately $48 million, funded entirely by donations and gifts to the college.

“It’s wonderful for the colSMITH 10

JENNA MILLER

Brown’s recently

Q & A with Brown.

On dispositions and (self) denial

On March 12, a gunman rushed into an Old Dominion University classroom of ROTC students in Norfolk, Va. Many shots were fired, but the attack killed only one — Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, the instructor teaching at the time of the event.

When the gunman opened fire, Shah lunged at the shooter, saving lives by taking a majority of the shots, according to Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger. The ROTC students, two of whom were hospitalized with injuries, also rushed at and subdued the gunman, with one stabbing him with a knife. The shooter was declared dead on the scene, according to The Virginian-Pilot. The political implications of this attack remain under discussion.

Even with the hazy specifics being investigated, the occurrence of another campus shooting is relevant to us at Grove City College, especially following September’s swatting incident.

The decisive and self-denying actions of those within the Old Dominion classroom, specifically Shah, stand out in their prevention of potential mass casualties.

In the immediacy of the response, Shah’s resolute action clearly resulted not from deliberation, but rather a disposition of resolve and selflessness. The outcome of the moment of tragedy was not reduced to what happened in the classroom, but by how Shah lived. What is to be applauded is not only Shah’s heroic action, but the many, many small decisions he evidently made throughout his life that formed him into the kind of person who took bullets for his students in the instant of the threat.

Each year, when Grove City College graduates its seniors, the world they are stepping out into is unknown. We current students, like the ones who came before, are unaware of what our time at the college will need to mean for us. We are ignorant of what we will go out from this place to face.

Occurrences like this in history — when one man’s inclination to lay down his life for his students was tested and determined in the span of a moment — can deliver reminders that these four years at college do more than shape us for career fields: They shape us as people with characters and dispositions and souls.

Grove City College, more than most schools anywhere, recognizes this. In this 150th anniversary year and following this week’s inauguration of President Lingo, I hold great hope that the school’s attention will remain primarily on nurturing students into good humans who strive to live well before cultivating them into good scholars and loyal employees.

That said, most personal formation, even at this school, falls onto us students, to take advantage of opportunities to learn, to find professors who we respect and be mentored by them and to remain in prayerful consideration of growing in self-denial, so that in being faithful in little (though the little on this campus often feels quite consequential), we may grow to be faithful in much.

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THE GREEN EYESHADE AWARD

This

Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.

A century and a half of leadership

Mia Gallagher Celebrate 150 Correspondent

What are the qualities of a good leader?

Some lead with levelheaded benevolence. Others rule by fear and force. Still others rely on earned respect and credibility.

The Bible, however, tells us good leaders are stewards of men, individuals who inspire greatness in those they’ve been tasked with overseeing. This is the style of leadership Christians are called to. And it is this style of leadership that defines the presidency of Grove City College over its 150-year history.

family discouraged him from taking the academy job because it was a risky move going from a stable teaching job to a brand new school. But he had a feeling something more could come from this school,” Director of College Archives and Galleries Hilary Walczak ’09 said.

Celebrating a legacy of faith and freedom

To celebrate Grove City College’s 150th anniversary, The Collegian is exploring the College’s history, traditions and culture in this ongoing series.

vision. One of which was to bring the campus to the other side of Wolf Creek,” Walzcak said.

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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.

“Each of (the presidents) loved this college and helped protect our commitments to faith, freedom and excellence,” President Bradley Lingo ’00 said. “Their pictures hang in the lobby of my office and remind me that I’m stepping into a story that’s much bigger than any one person. My role isn’t to change who we are, but to care for this place well and pass it on — strong and faithful — to the next generation,” he said.

Just nine men have preceded Lingo, who was officially inaugurated Thursday as the 10th president of Grove City College, and each has had an impact. Two of them – both named Ketler – held office for more than half of the College’s history. Others’ terms of office ranged from a few years to decades.

Who were they? We’re glad you asked.

Isaac C. Ketler: 1876-1913

As the college’s first president, it’s easy to assume Isaac Ketler was this institution’s sole founder. But history tells a different story. In 1853, local Presbyterian pastors decided to establish a prep school for kids interested in attending college or seminary, which eventually became Pine Grove Academy. In 1876, they hired Ketler, who was just 23, to serve as principal.

“Isaac Ketler had recently graduated from Edinboro Normal School and was teaching in nearby London, Pa., where the outlets are now. His

Under Ketler’s leadership, the small prep school grew quickly into the higher educational institution he and the town of Grove City, which supported the school, believed it could be. With the help of local leaders and industrialist Joseph Newton Pew, Ketler transformed the academy into Grove City College in 1884 and spent the rest of his life building it. When he died in 1913, he had served 37 years.

Alexander T. Ormond: 1913-1915

Upon Isaac Ketler’s death, the college offered renowned Princeton philosopher Alexander Ormond the top job. Ormond sought to elevate and expand the college’s curriculum during his term in office, which was cut short by his death. His efforts yielded new standards, which brought a new level of rigor and excellence to a Grove City education.

Weir C. Ketler ’08: 1916-1956

Weir Ketler, son of Isaac, entered his tenure as the college’s third president at the age of 27, which made him the youngest college president in the country at the time. He led the college for a record 40 years.

“Weir Ketler, funny enough, didn’t really want to become president of the college, but knew that it was his duty. So, he took to fulfilling his father’s

And fulfill his father’s vision he did. Working closely with J. Howard Pew, the younger Ketler brought in the Olmsted Brothers to plan the construction of upper campus, which was completed during his tenure. He provided solid leadership through decades of change on campus and off.

“Weir was a very logical and levelheaded individual which made him a perfect leader for the Great Depression and world wars. He immediately worked on solutions on how to get the college through,” Walczak said.

J. Stanley Harker ’25: 1956-1971

Alumnus J. Stanley Harker inherited the office at a pivotal time in higher education history. After WWII and the Korean War, college application rates skyrocketed nationally; civilians and veterans alike began to realize the value of post-secondary education. Because of this trend, Grove City’s enrollment grew from 1,200 to 2,056, requiring the college to expand to meet this demand.

Under Harker’s direction, the college met this challenge head on — first with an increase in faculty members, then with an increase in college capital. He oversaw the continued expansion of upper campus and increased the college’s academic offerings and library resources.

Charles S. MacKenzie: 1971-1991 Best known for his stand against federal interference in higher educa-

Onward to Oxford

Kathryna

Hoyman Managing Editor

One of our very own Grovers, Ginger Schiffmayer, is on her way to Oxford University after receiving the esteemed Barry Scholarship.

Schiffmayer, a senior history major at the college, was nominated by Dr. Carl Trueman, professor of Biblical and Theological Studies, for Canterbury Institute’s Barry Scholarship. She will pursue a master’s degree in Late Antique and Byzantine Studies and has expressed interest in a career as an archaeologist or, more recently, a professor.

She emphasized how the influence and intentionality of her professors at the college have spurred her to not only enjoy history but also to recognize its indispensability in education. “So many of our cultural issues are issues with people not knowing the past, and I think history implicates humility,” she shared.

The Barry Scholarship is extremely competitive, and Schiffmayer’s achievement is a testament to her dedication and pursuit of excellence, as well as the devotion of the professors she studied under while at Grove City College.

“Her selection sends a clear signal that the best Grover students are academically worthy to stand side by side with the best from anywhere,” Trueman said in the college press release on Schiffmayer’s accomplishment.

Schiffmayer follows in the footsteps of another student of the college, Kaitlyn Bennet, who attended Oxford with the Barry Scholarship after graduating in 2021. Like Schiffmayer, she was recommended by Trueman, and she went on to earn a Master of Philosophy degree in music performance at Oxford and graduated with distinction.

Bennet shared with Schiffmayer that throughout applying and anticipating her time at Oxford, she frequently prayed Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 1:11 — “And she made

a vow, saying, ‘Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.’”

Schiffmayer has thought on this prayer often as she considers her upcoming time at Oxford and the ways she hopes to love the community while living in the United Kingdom. Her prayers center around God using her for his purposes, praying for him to “open doors for me to get involved

with the Oxford community, to communicate my views respectfully in a way that brings what I have to bring as an American homeschooler, but not to be abrasive or unyielding about my cultural perspective, and I want to be humble when they correct me. All of these prayers came out of this really good piece of advice that I got to pray, that if you give this to me, then I will give it to you,” Schiffmayer said. Schiffmayer grew up in Evergreen, Colo., and expressed nothing but fondness for her hometown, but studying in the U.K., specifically at Oxford,

Bookends swaps for mission

Emily Fox

Editor-in-Chief

Bookends Bookstore held its first book swap fundraising event on Tuesday. The event invited local bibliophiles to donate $5 and bring up to five books to swap with another fellow book-lover. All proceeds raised from the event went towards Grove City local Allie Beatty’s upcoming mission trip to Scotland.

Beatty is a junior at Liberty University, and in May she will travel with the school’s mission program LU Serve for 10 days to cities across Scotland, including Glasgow, Stirling, St. Andrews, Edinburgh and Cairn Brae to share the message of the gospel.

LU Serve hosts exposure events, workshops and training sessions on Liberty’s campus and gives students the opportunity to go on mission and disaster relief trips. The program works with organizations that share their mission with the goal of “providing engaging educational and ministry experiences for students” according to the university’s website.

According to Beatty’s fundraising resources, only 39% of Scotland’s population identifies as Christian and 51% does not identify with any religion. LU Serve is partnering with Young Life International Scot-

land in Cairn Brae, Cornerstone Community Church in Stirling and Hope City Church in Edinburgh to do outreach ministry in their communities. Beatty will also assist in setting up a summer camp while serving in Scotland.

“I decided to go on this mission trip to put my faith into action. I felt very uncertain at first and wasn’t sure if going was the right thing since I’ve never even been out of the country before, but I felt like God was pushing me to trust

Him and to just go for it. I am excited to see how this trip will grow my faith and impact the communities in Scotland,” Beatty said.

“I want to share the hope and love of the gospel message to the Scottish people. 51% of Scotland does not identify with any religion, so I am excited for the opportunity to reach others that I would never be able to meet otherwise,” she said.

Beatty is the daughter of Bookends owner and Grove

City alumna, Tonya Beatty ’95. When Allie Beatty signed up for LU Serve, the program suggested several fundraising ideas to meet the $3,800 goal that will fund her trip. One of those options was to host a clothing swap, so the Beattys decided to put their own spin on it and instead host a book swap at the store, creating a fun experience for Grovers and community members to share their favorite books and love for reading with each other.

Tonya Beatty hopes to continue hosting book swaps monthly and to donate the money she raises to a different charity each time. All of the leftover books from Tuesday’s event and future events will be donated to the Grove City Community Library to use for book sales that raise funds for the library.

Those who missed the event and want to financially support Beatty’s ministry in Scotland can Venmo her at Allie-Beatty-3. Grovers wanting to participate in future book swaps and looking for ways to serve as stewards to the Grove City community should keep an eye on the bookstore’s Instagram page, bookendsgc.

has long been a dream of hers. She has been incredibly invested in the campus at Grove City College as a Trustee, co-captain of the debate team, editor-in-chief of Cogitare Magazine, executive style editor of the college’s Journal of Law and Public Policy and co-president of the history honorary. T here is no doubt that with Schiffmayer, Oxford University is adding a highly qualified student to its ranks, one who values investment in her neighbors and immediate community in the midst of worldwide pursuits.

PINES

continued from 8

During my time on the Orientation Board, we would arrive on campus a few days before the new students to prepare to welcome them on campus. The campus always seemed so empty without everyone back for the school year. Grove City College came to life when everyone was finally moved in. Even when waiting in the long lines stretching out of the door to Hicks Dining Hall during those first few days back, it was undeniable: Life returned to Grove City College.

So why does Grove City College matter? It is a school that has been a witness to growth, a demonstration of consistency, proof of living in the light and a place of life. Though many people only interact with Grove City for a short amount of time, there remains one similarity between everyone who steps foot onto Grove City College’s campus: These are the halls we love. I am forever grateful I have had four years to study, grow and learn ’mid the pines.

This annual event partners with Mercer County AWARE to

Doctor Love

Moving on

“I broke up with my girlfriend about a month ago and, honestly, I am still pretty heartbroken. But I have also been spending a lot of time with a girl who is friends with my ex. We have classes in common, and she has been really understanding and sympathetic to the breakup. I think I am starting to have feelings for her, and I am wondering if I should ask her out. But is it too soon?” - Friends-to-Lovers?

Wow, there are a lot of variables at play here. I have so many questions. How long were you and your ex dating? Is the girl her best friend, in her friend group or like a class friend? Did you guys part on good terms, or was it messy?

If you dated your ex for a few months, a month is just enough time, especially since you just started to catch feelings for someone new. If she and your ex are close, that’s a HUGE no-no when it comes to girlcode. If you ask anyway, be prepared for her to say no, because that’s what a true girl’s girl would do. If she says yes and claims to be your ex’s close friend, things are about to get chaotic in your life.

That’s a lot of ifs, my guy. Honestly, when a past relationship ends on bad terms, it makes it that much easier to move on. There is nothing to hold on to. You said that you broke up with her and you didn’t immediately move on, going so far as to say you are heartbroken. To me, that means that the breakup was likely kind of messy (at least for you), so I’m assuming it is not because you had feelings for someone else at that point in time.

You THINK you are starting to have feelings for her … I would say to find out if you have strong feelings for her before you make any drastic decisions like asking her out too soon. The best relationships grow out of strong friendships that don’t have any strings attached to exes. Just saying.

A word of caution: Don’t mistake sympathy and basic kindness/friendliness for catching feelings on her end. Sometimes people are just nice. Regardless of what Harry says to Sally, it is possible for a girl and guy to just be friends, in my opinion. I would not ruin a good thing by moving too fast. Finally … don’t start a new relationship while you’re still “pretty heartbroken” about the last one. Start a new relationship because you genuinely enjoy the other person’s company, not because they’re good at listening to your whining about your last breakup.

From what you’ve said, just give it a bit more time. Trust me. I know best.

Intellectually yours, Dr. Love

Coffee club comes to campus

Anastasia Brown Community Editor

There’s a new club on campus this month, and it’s all about building community through everyone’s favorite beverage: coffee!

Sophomore Ada Vandergoot, one of the founders and the current president of the newly formed Coffee Culture Club, has big ambitions for the group. “One of the goals of the club is to foster a deeper appreciation and understanding of coffee!” she explained. “It is such a simple but powerful drink that brings so many people together.”

She’s right — most Grove City students have die-hard favorite local coffee shops, and many important conversations between new acquaintances and old friends seem to happen over cups of coffee. “In our culture, we know it as a way for fellowship,” Vandergoot described.

One of her co-execs, the current treasurer and secretary of the club, is sophomore Scout Burck, who is “gung-

LEADERSHIP

continued from 2

tion, Charles MacKenzie guided the college throughout the 1970s and ’80s. The 1984 Supreme Court decision in Grove City College v. Bell, which led the college to cut ties with the federal oversight, was a highlight of his presidency. But MacKenzie’s accomplishments weren’t limited to that battle. Given his background in theology and education, MacKenzie sought to revamp the traditional model for liberal arts education. From this desire came the Keystone curriculum, an educational model designed to expand a student’s academic prowess beyond the bounds of their major,

“The court case would ultimately be what MacKenzie was best known for,” Walzcak said. “I had the opportunity to interview him a few years before he passed, and he said he had never really intended for it to be that big of a thing. It was not his goal to make it a huge national fight. Something he was truly proud of was the Keystone curriculum that gave

nothing more attractive than a godly

ho!” about the initiation of the group. “I think it’s neat that our club is fellowship-based. I’m super excited to get to know people in the context of Christ, coffee and the pursuit of knowledge!”

The “pursuit of knowledge” Burck mentioned is knowledge about the culture around coffee — a place for members to share what they know about crafting the perfect cup of joe.

a more well-rounded liberal arts education.”

Jerry H. Combee: 1991-1995

Before his presidential term, Jerry H. Combee served as vice president of academic affairs under MacKenzie’s administration. His expertise in educational oversight and reform was instrumental in realizing and extending MacKenzie’s Keystone curriculum — namely, by developing the modern humanities core. Combee also instituted the college’s computer program, whereby all incoming freshmen receive a laptop.

John H. Moore: 1996-2003

With the college cutting its final ties to the federal government in 1996, it fell to Combee’s successor to advocate for the college’s financial health. Enter John Moore, whose term was defined by landmark capital campaigns and campus expansion efforts

But it is also a concern for knowing more about coffee’s broader effect on the world at large. As Vandergoot also pointed out, “We don’t see the impact its production has on the countries that grow it. So, in the club, we aim to foster fellowship among students over the enjoyment of coffee while also providing education about its lesser-known impacts on the world.

that propelled Grove City into the 21st century.

In addition to orchestrating the college’s Change and Commitment capital campaign – which raised over $60 million – Moore pushed for international education initiatives and brought internet access to campus. He also oversaw the college’s 125th anniversary.

Richard G. Jewell ’67: 2003-2014

“The hope is to hold member meetings that are fellowship-based and education-based. One of the big visions of the club is to put together an ICO trip to Honduras or Costa Rica to go see what coffee farming actually consists of … and maybe even have the opportunity to help!”

Freshman Caden Barker and junior Faith Wilbur both serve as vice presidents of the Coffee Culture Club, and the faculty advisor is Eric Fehr. The club is still working out various logistics before launching any official events, but it will be worth any coffee enthusiast’s time to keep their eyes peeled for upcoming information about the club’s official kickoff!

Burck summed up her hope for why students should get involved with this new group: “I think the mission of the club is really cool. I’m super passionate about the relational aspect of humanity and the importance of fellowship, and I can’t imagine a better way to bond with one another than over a beloved drink!”

and the construction of Breen Student Union, STEM Hall, Colonial Hall Apartments and Rathburn Hall. His fundraising efforts also led to increased financial aid opportunities for students.

Paul J. McNulty ’80: 2014-2025

Following in Moore’s footsteps, alumnus Richard Jewell oversaw a capital campaign of his own: Grove City Matters, which raised over $90 million.

Jewell, a phenomenal fundraiser, helped build the college’s advancement office into the fundraising powerhouse it is today. He was deeply involved in the college’s governance before his presidency as a member of the college’s Board of Trustees. Known to some as “Mr. Grove City,” Jewell had an encyclopedic knowledge of the college history.

His term was marked by major campus improvements

campus?

Having been taught by MacKenzie and mentored by Moore and Jewell, Paul McNulty entered his presidential term prepared to build upon their combined legacies.

Throughout his tenure, McNulty oversaw marked improvements to the college’s Christian character, academic excellence and campus infrastructure. His vision and leadership helped establish the Winklevoss School of Business, the Johnson School of Nursing and the Center for Rural Ministry and Center for Faith & Public Life. He spearheaded a major investment in athletics and began the ongoing Impact 150 capital campaign, which has a fundraising goal of $200 million.

Golden glory

Biggest moments from the 2026 Oscars

Molly Miller Contributing Writer

This past Sunday evening, ABC aired the 98th Academy Awards Show.

Of the film and television award shows, few to none are more highly anticipated and widely viewed as the Oscars. The red carpet fashion, jokes that don’t quite land and the commended and controversial award choices always draw a crowd, either from live viewers, day-after “best dressed” reviewers or Twitter cinephiles.

The Academy, while always thanked by award recipients, is not always thanked by film fanatics and cinephiles, and this year boasted the usual controversial picks.

As it stands, it’s been an interesting year for film. The highs have been high, and the lows have been low. Some

have called “One Battle After Another” the “movie of the decade,” and “Sinners” broke the record for the most Oscar nominations ever, cashing in at a whopping 16.

Movies like “Marty Supreme” and “F1” were also box office successes with some nominations, including both for Best Picture, but other than that, 2025 was a year filled mainly with high-grossing franchise films, remakes and sequels, with a few decent indie projects mixed in.

This presents a critical question: Are the films sweeping the Oscars this year actually that good, or are they simply better than the slop Hollywood has been churning out recently?

In his second run as host, Conan O’Brien remained mostly inoffensive (other than the usual political digs), but his bits, including a 20-min-

ute opening monologue, have been criticized for being too long winded and not all that funny.

Of the biggest award moments, “One Battle After Another” was the night’s biggest winner, walking away with six awards, including the coveted Best Picture and Best Director (Paul Thomas Anderson).

“Sinners” was also a big winner with four wins, including Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan) and Best Cinematography (Autumn Durald Arkpaw). Arkpaw fittingly made history as the first woman to ever win the award, after her work on “Sinners” made history as the first film to be shot on film using her method.

After an almost perfect sweep of the best actress category this awards season, having already won the category at the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, Actor Awards,

Controversial or credible?

Randall Elvin Staff Writer

Oscar-nominated actor, Timothée Chalamet, was recently thrust into the entertainment spotlight due to remarks he made about ballet and opera during an interview.

The spotlight was not one of acclaim, but of scrutiny and criticism. The young actor’s comments quickly circulated online and drew responses from opera singers, ballet companies and celebrities. What began as an offhand remark during a discussion evolved into a larger debate about whether classical performing arts are dying or not.

Chalamet was being interviewed at the University of Texas at Austin for an event hosted by “Variety” and CNN. In a conversation with fellow prestigious actor Matthew McConaughey, Chalamet discussed the ever-changing entertainment industry and the future of movie theatres in the age of streaming. Chalamet then contrasted cinema with older performing art traditions.

“I don’t want to be working in ballet, or opera, or things where it’s like, ‘Hey, keep this thing alive, even though it’s like no one cares about this anymore,’” Chalamet said, drawing laughter from both McConaughey and the audience. He quickly added, “All respect to the ballet and opera people out there … I just lost 14 cents in viewership. I just took shots for no reason.”

Some critics considered this comment to have contributed to him not winning Best Actor for “Marty Supreme,” but with the Academy Award voting

already closed, the comments will not hurt his No. 1 frontrunner status due to the film and him already taking home Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice and more awards for their performance.

Chalamet’s insensitive comment struck a nerve among members and fans of the performing arts community. Even with the humorous disclaimer, the remark of 14 cents again shows how little he thinks of the community’s reach. His comments dismissed centuries of art forms that require immense discipline, training and dedication.

Pushback included Canadian mezzo-soprano, Deepa Johnny, describing the statement as a “disappointing take.” Actress Jamie Lee Curtis echoed a similar sentiment, “Why are any artists taking shots at any other artists?” on social media. Millions of people on TikTok also showed their disapproval through videos and reposts.

Organizations heard his remarks as well and stood their ground on the relevance of ballet and opera. Seattle Opera used the free promotion and put out a tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign.

Their upcoming production of “Carmen” held a promo of tickets being 14% off using the codename TIMOTHEE. “Timmy, you’re welcome to use it too. See you at the opera!”

This controversy also highlighted irony in Chalamet’s own background, as he grew up surrounded by the performing arts through his mother and sister who attended the prestigious School of American Ballet. It is surprising that he would diss an industry that

directly complements his personal life and his work life as an actor.

Despite the backlash, Chalamet’s remarks also touched on a reality that many art organizations openly acknowledge. Compared to Hollywood films, ballet and opera operate with a significantly smaller audience. By comparison, performances in the United States are estimated to bring in a total of between 1.4 and 3 million tickets sold.

Even a single successful film release can reach a larger audience than many opera or ballet seasons combined, as the American movie industry sells over 800 million movie tickets annually.

Because of this obvious difference, many ballet companies and opera houses frequently discuss what they call a “graying audience.” The term refers to the younger generations being harder to attract to traditional art.

The disparity in audience size between Hollywood and ballet/opera is difficult to ignore, but dismissing centuries-old art forms is disrespectful.

Most people could name five elite actors without thinking twice, but naming five opera singers or ballet stars often requires much deeper thinking or an online search — a small irony considering how many people rushed to defend the art forms from Chalamet’s comments.

The performing arts survive in their niche communities, while Hollywood has a broad overarching global community. In the end, Chalamet’s comments were controversial but credible.

BAFTA Awards and several others, Jesse Buckley completed the set for her role in “Hamnet.”

The seventh ever tie in Oscars history went to both “The Singers” and “Two People Exchanging Saliva” for Best Live Action Short Film.

The moment was almost stolen by an awkwardly early pan away from the winners’ acceptance speech. After taking away the microphone and panning to O’Brien, the camera awkwardly returned to the winners and let them finish their speech.

“Marty Supreme” was a notable snub at this year’s Oscars. After receiving nine nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Josh Safdie) and Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet), the film left empty-handed. Several have cried injustice for Chalamet, and others have

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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the editing and publishing process took much longer than Brown anticipated, with the novel remaining largely untouched until her first year of college. While not ideal, Brown found that the delay allowed her to relive the unique familial closeness of her youth, while providing her with fresh eyes to see the weaknesses of a plot she had not looked at since ninth grade.

So, with the publishing company’s approval, Brown rewrote much of the book and majorly altered the climax. Like most authors, however, Brown struggled to know when to stop editing.

“We’re finite human beings, we are never going to make something perfect that lives up to all our hopes and aspirations, and so just being comfortable with our own limitations, I think, was an important thing for me to realize,” Brown said. “At some point, it is just right to put it out in the world.”

“The House on Breaker’s Ridge” is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Strand Books and others. Written for kids ages 8 to 13, the novel follows the Trelawneys’ children who come to live in an “old ancestral mansion” full of secrets. Although categorized as a mystery novel, Brown wanted more than hidden passages to catch the readers’ attention.

“The main theme of the book is about a family.” Brown said, “It was the driving force that got me putting a story on a page.

“The fun thing about a family is everybody is so different. And the thing that keeps us together is that we’re a family.”

commented that it serves him right for his recent comments regarding opera and ballet as a dying art form.

The most impressive original song performance must go to “I Lied to You” from “Sinners,” as Miles Caton and a colorful ensemble featuring actors and dancers from the film, as well as Shaboozy, Brittany Howard and ballet legend Misty Copeland.

Despite the nearly euphoric performance perfectly capturing the essence of the film, the Best Original Song actually went to “Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters.” “KPop Demon Hunters” also won for Best Animated Movie.

All in all, it was a very eventful night, full of big wins for not just the specific movies represented but the film community as a whole. And now it’s time to look forward to the 2026 season.

Junior English major Molly Miller appreciated this theme at the book reading event, saying, “It was so sweet and beautiful to hear how the characters in the book were based on her own family and friends. … I am eager to read the rest of the book as soon as my copy arrives in the mail room.”

Hosted by the Hearth, the reading of Anastasia’s novel had four narrators who took the audience through the first two chapters.

“It was one of the best-attended Hearth events so far. … And (it was) a lovely example of how students encourage students in life-giving activities,” Dr. Joshua Mayo, chair of the Department of English, said. “As a department, we are very proud of Anastasia.”

The event closed with a question-and-answer session where audience members asked Brown about her inspirations and writing technique, as well as for encouragement for those wondering how to approach novel writing and publication themselves.

These days, Anastasia is enjoying the challenge of writing short stories, and while no new novels are in the works, the possibility is certainly not written off.

“I think we are in the best moment in time. … There’s plenty of resources, plenty of different routes to get things out to the world,” Brown said before cautioning audience members to keep their writing enjoyable. Speaking about her own experience, she shared that “It was a blessing, but it just began with doing the project for the joy of it, that was probably what got me continuing to do what I love today.”

Livin’ la vida Lingo

Grove City College welcomed its 10th president, Bradley Lingo ’00, at the beginning of the 20252026 school year. Lingo has been a part of many long-standing traditions here at the college throughout his first year.

Lingo started off the year helping the freshman move in and welcoming students into SHAL on the first day of classes. He also was a part of his first opening convocation and homecoming as president.

One of the hallmarks of this school year was the opening of Smith Hall in the fall. Lingo was a part of the rededication of this building. This building is a monumental part of what students and faculty are doing in the STEM department and Lingo started his presidency by introducing it to the college.

The Lingo family experienced their first Christmas at Grove City College, among other classic winter events, like the beloved moonlight breakfast.

The spring semester kicked off with the 100 days out dinner, where Lingo celebrated nearing the end with the senior class. Then he was officially inaugurated Thursday.

Lingo has exprienced a number of the traditions that presidents before have been a part of, and he will get to continue to partake in such traditions as the school year wraps up.

by Luke Paglia, Photo Chief

What makes Grove

A note from the editorial board

Why this place – our college – matters

Birthdays are a time of celebration. On those special days, we reflect on the blessings we’ve received, the prayers that have been answered and God’s continued ministry in our lives. As we begin to celebrate the 150th birthday of our college through the tribute in Pittsburgh and the inauguration of our new president, we at The Collegian wanted to reflect on the legacy of the college we love. We reached out to a few campus leaders to solicit articles on the theme “What makes Grove City College special?” The following are the responses we received, which we proudly present as a testament to God’s continued goodness towards this college.

A return to the pines

“The life of Grove City is found in the people who fill it, the lessons that are shared and the interactions that shape the community.”

Julia Sikora Contributing Writer

In 1876, Isaac Ketler welcomed 13 students to Pine Grove Normal Academy, which would later become Grove City College. The town now known as Grove City was originally called Pine Grove, an area surrounded by pine forests and wilderness.

The name of the town mattered enough to Isaac Ketler to include it in the name of the school. Considering the history of Grove City College, a pine tree is the perfect representation of why Grove City matters today.

A pine tree is a witness to growth. The oldest living tree in North America is a nearly 5,000-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine. Thousands of years of development, species and innovation have passed, yet the pine tree still stands.

People come and go at Grove City College, but the intellectual, moral and spiritual growth of students who interact with the institution is undeniable. At the very least, Grove City College is a witness to hundreds of students obtaining degrees each year — degrees that represent four years of growth in knowledge of their field, the humanities, the natural sciences and the liberal arts.

As a senior education major, I can confidently say that my field experiences, pedagogy

classes and semester student teaching prepared me well to grow as a teacher. Outside of classes, I have met individuals who encourage me to become a better person and a better Christian simply by the way they live and interact with others. I remember overhearing a conversation in Hicks Dining Hall about how we often tell people that we will pray for them, but how much more impactful it would be if we prayed with them at that moment. What an encouragement to spiritual accountability! Grove City College is a place of learning; a SHAL classroom is not always necessary to make that happen.

A pine tree is consistent. Pine needles do not change with the season. They remain green all year long, rightfully earning the nickname “evergreen.” Grove City College demonstrates the same devotion to the Christian faith as when Isaac Ketler first opened the doors of the college.

The heart of Grove City College has remained the same. A commitment to faithfulness continues as one of the core values of the school. It is such a blessing to begin classes with prayer, attend chapel services every week, participate in campus ministries and engage in constant conversations about Christ.

It is truly edifying for believers to come together and pray, and living with one another allows for those interactions to occur. I am confident this consistency is due

to Grove City’s commitment to faith and freedom, welcoming like-minded individuals to continue demonstrating those core values in their everyday interactions.

A pine tree lives in the light. Pine trees struggle to thrive in the shade. The first words that I read when stepping foot onto the campus of Grove City College were from Psalm 119:105: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Those words on the side of the Breen Student Union revealed to me the depth of Grove City’s faithfulness.

From that moment onward, I understood that Grove City College was truly dedicated to following the Lord. After four years, I know that dedication to the service of God and His people is central to what makes this school excellent.

A pine tree is a symbol of life. The Vatican hosts a Roman bronze fountain of a pinecone in the Cortile della Pigna that represents the adoption of the ancient symbol of life, a promise of new growth. The life of Grove City is found in the people who fill it, the lessons that are shared and the

interactions that shape the community.

What would Grove City be without students? Without classes? Without sports? Without music or clubs? It is this life that gives purpose to Grove City. Guided by the Holy Spirit, there dwells within us all the spirit of life, able to flourish in this Chrisitan community. Otherwise, there would be lonely buildings and unkept lawns that contrast the purposeful landscape and vibrant activity around campus.

GCC pursues true, good, beautiful

Joshua Mayo ’10

Contributing Writer

As we celebrate the 150th birthday of Grove City College, we reflect on what this institution means to us. We take stock of the goods we have received from this place and marvel at the audacity of its mission, which remains just as compelling today as it must have been at its inception — perhaps even more so, given the present challenges of our cultural moment. It is not easy to put such weighty matters into words, but gratitude obliges us to try.

First, I am grateful for the college’s commitment to Truth. And not just any truth, the generic truth of academic

“Isn’t it marvelous to see a college that defies the typical pattern of institutional entropy?”

inquiry or the rarefied truth of tenured expertise, but the living Truth incarnate, as manifested in the person of Christ and proclaimed in the mystery of the gospel.

When Jesus boldly proclaimed in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” he was making an important intellectual claim, identifying himself as the archetypal human ideal and thus the focal point of every truly humane enterprise. Make no mistake: In the next 150 years, Christian colleges will either double down on their theological convictions or cease to be. Isn’t it marvelous then to see a college that defies the typical pattern of institutional entropy? Isn’t it invigorating to watch

a school become increasingly Christian over time, not less Christian?

Second, I want to express my gratitude for the college’s mission to conserve good things.

I choose my direct object here advisedly, for, as any true conservative will tell you, there is nothing intrinsically righteous about being traditional. Wisdom sometimes demands that we hold onto the past; at other times, she asks us to embrace the new. As the Preacher teaches in Ecclesiastes 3:3, there is “a time to tear down, and a time to build.”

But is there any question right now about which direction the prevailing winds are blowing? Is there any doubt about which side colleges and

universities are more likely to err — the Scylla of blind tradition or the Charybdis of radicalism?

At times like these, we need institutions of higher education willing to tack into the wind, believing, with the likes of Roger Scruton, that “good things are easily destroyed, but not easily created.”

Some reading these reflections might find these points unextraordinary. There is nothing unique, they might say, about these commitments, because other schools share the same core convictions — and these readers would be right.

Still, I am not sure our primary task during this 150th celebration ought to be a focus on what makes Grove City College absolutely unique. Rather, we should celebrate those distinctives that will make us last.

Consequently, my notes of gratitude here have more to do with beauty than with branding. For it is not uniqueness alone that will enable a college to survive the 21st century — not its state-of-the-art dormitories, its technological fanfare or specialized majors — but the beauty of its academic vision.

May Grove City College ever be committed to Truth—not just any truth, but the Way, the Truth and the Life! And may it conserve what is good, drawing its inspiration not from its own institutional identity but from the object of its vision! With such propitious conditions for education, we can be confident that we will celebrate its legacy for many years to come.

City College special?

Outward and upward

Kinley Bowers Contributing Writer

This article could be all bones — percentages, national rankings and ROI ratios that serve as objective testaments to Grove City College’s merit. I could exhume and assemble these statistics into some sort of static diplodocus exhibit right here in The Collegian: orderly rows of cervical vertebrae, heavy fewmurs and dorsal ribs.

Instead, the following is my attempt to put flesh on the skeleton and give life to the reasons why I love this school.

Last week, in my Food and Feasting class, Dr. Mitchell veered into a lecture on sin and its proclivity for making things shrivel. Indulging in gluttony, pride, sloth, envy, etc., Mitchell argued, will make you less

“In an age that is dismissive of tradition, duty, beauty, humility, community and Christianity, Grove City is a bubble with brilliant resilience.”

of a person.

Mitchell used Tolkien’s Gollum to illustrate his point: The longer Gollum cleaves to the ring, the less there is of Smeagol. This is the case with many classic villains and monsters, who, in conjunction with their evildoings, grow ever less human.

People, places, activities and relationships can either be expansive or insulated. Unventilated relationships are the ones that tend to become toxic and inimical. At Grove City College, I believe that it is more difficult to be isolated than it is to be integrated, since the professors and students, the classes and clubs, the mission and action all press into an expansive approach to life.

Dr. Biddle calls this cam-

pus “the bubble,” but it’s also a bubbling world. It’s a place that lifts you out of yourself and teaches you how to live expansively and humanly.

With open hours, Ed Talks, Fivers, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, the Christian Writer’s Conference, ISI forums, the Hearth, theater productions, concerts, recitals, public debates … there are constant opportunities for students to seize the day.

When we stop learning and engaging, our world grows smaller and consequently less true to reality. Wendell Berry once complimented a group of men by saying that they “acknowledge freely and without embarrassment their love for the things they are trying to save.”

This can be said of the college as well. In an age that is dismissive of tradition, duty, beauty, humility, community and Christianity, Grove City has no choice but to be a bubble and it does so with brilliant resilience.

Our school teaches its students not only what to do for a living, but how to live. At the organizational leadership meeting, President Lingo stated that “this is not just a time to prepare for life and leadership, this is a time to live it. I’m sure that most of you in this room want to be great leaders.

So, become a servant.”

The servant-leader is the person with the most expansive view; he has an outward focus from the bottom and the top.

I certainly fall short of expansive living time and again.

But I’m thankful for places and people that have taught me repeatedly to look away

from myself and toward the bigger picture.

I’m reminded of this when listening to Dr. Rawl recite “The Wild Swans at Coole” in Emmett’s Orchard, tapping a maple tree with Dr. Wood and his young family, reading Dr. Trueman’s “The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self,” conversing with Dr. Brooks about the productive household and watching Dr. Edwards watch Elvis Presley sing.

This also happens with my peers, with young men and women who delight in a life lived for others. I’m thankful for irreplaceable people and a college, a home, that strives after the transcendentals.

As I warned you at the beginning, this is an inadequate attempt at invigorating the reasons why Grove City College matters. But I hope at the very least, you saw the diplodocus blink.

Community is our defining feature

Anastasia Brown Community Editor

Now that I am well over halfway through my “college experience,” I have begun to get self-reflective.

Am I spending my time wisely and doing all the things I always expected of myself when I was in high school, dreaming about the mythologized college years?

In many ways, yes. I am writing for the campus newspaper (something I believed would be tremendously glamorous when I was young — and it definitely is! Everyone should write for The Collegian!), I have wonderful friends who live on my hall and sometimes we stay up late to watch movies and make ramen, like the college girls in TV shows.

But in other ways, my time in college has morphed in unexpected directions. I have been challenged in many ways to think less about my “college experience” (the résumé builders and Instagram-worthy

“So much of the labor done by Grover-achievers is rooted in a love of people, not resumes.”

spring break trips) and more about the community in which God has placed me for four years and the ways in which I can serve to build it up.

“Community” is probably one of the top five words used in campus conversations (it doesn’t help that I edit the Community pages of The Collegian!), but I think it is the defining characteristic that makes the Grove City College experience special.

Community is demonstrated so clearly by the professors at our school. I never expected when I first arrived at college that so many of my professors would be welcoming students into their homes for meals or afternoons of conversations.

I even went stargazing with a professor and her two little boys last spring. The openness of our faculty to share their lives with students is remarkable.

The community modeled by our professors is mirrored by the community students are

building in a thousand different ways each day. Students are committed to self-sacrificial community-building — you see it in how many robust campus organizations exist on campus for a myriad of different causes. I even see it in Greek life — these groups certainly build community internally, but they also are often the initiators for some of the campus’s most-loved events and traditions.

So much of the labor done in a day by the typical Grover-achiever, in my experience, is rooted in a love of people and not résumés.

What’s more, community is not just formed by events — I walk down my hall and am impressed by how many students leave their doors open, hoping someone will drop by.

It is humorous but endearing that many of us, when we want to go out and see friends, go and sit in the library until someone drops by and joins our table. Even our habit of

leaving phones and backpacks to mark our spots in the cafeterias and SAC demonstrates our confidence in the community we have built here.

As Christians, we see the community of local churches as holding special value. I’ve grown up as a pastor’s kid, so maybe church involvement came too easily to me — it was just the thing that my family did. But arriving at school and seeing so many of my peers committing to finding a church and then taking initiative to find ways to serve (through worship, volunteering in the nursery or serving at potlucks) has been inspiring to me.

Some friends who live in the apartments recently coordinated a post-church tea party for the little girls of their church. Looking at the photos from that afternoon made me smile — and reflect on the specialness of a college campus that can facilitate that broader community-building.

While studying abroad in Oxford last semester, I was introduced to the term “town and gown” — the historic disconnect (and even festering

resentment) between college campuses and college towns. Colleges too frequently build community on their direct campus while sapping their broader communities of resources and providing very little return value.

May that not be so of us! President Lingo has launched a service project initiative for the fall, as RAs and members of the Orientation Board welcome the incoming class of freshmen.

The class of 2030 will be getting out in our surrounding community in their first weeks on campus — I pray this can help continue to expand our vision of community and service on a larger scale than our immediate campus.

Community at all these levels — between students and faculty, in local churches and in the rest of the Grove City area — is distinctively strong. I hope this is something we continue to strive for, because community can never be held on pause.

It takes consistent, intentional effort and self-sacrifice — but it is worth it.

Former college music chair Arnold dies

GCC News Release

Grove City College released a statement mourning the death of Dr. Edwin P. “Doc” Arnold, longtime band director and chair of the Department of Music.

Arnold, who died on Monday at age 80, joined the faculty of Grove City College as director of bands in the fall of 1975. In 1981, Arnold was appointed chair of the Department of Music and Fine Arts. He retired from Grove City College in August 2013.

During his tenure at Grove City College, Arnold held several senior administrative positions, including assistant dean of the college, executive assistant to the president, vice president of external affairs and administrative liaison to the Commission on Higher Education. He also served as director of the J. Howard Pew Fine Arts Center.

Professor of Music Stacy Paparone met Arnold at band camp during her freshman year at Grove City College and worked closely with him as a student.

“I was fortunate to have him as (a) trusted advisor and mentor,” she said. “In the western Pennsylvania region, his influence in music education has been vast, as many graduates who were his students stayed in the area.”

Professor of Music Jeffrey Tedford, another former student, now holds Arnold’s job as chair of the college’s Department of Music.

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and wealth-building work, “Wealth of Nations,” noting to the audience that its 250th anniversary was the day before (March 9).

“Greed, of course, is wrong from a Smithian perspective, and of course, more importantly, from a scriptural perspective, greed is always wrong,” Bradley said. “But what Adam Smith is not saying is that this (self-interest) can never include sacrifice.”

Bradley then discussed how economic freedom led to the invention of synthetic insulin and increased human flourishing.

“(Because of) 100 years of living in a country with economic freedom that unleashes human capital, innovation, entrepreneurship that saved my kid’s life, he has a chance, and so does everybody else who has type one diabetes,” Bradley said.

Throughout the talk, Bradley connected her points to a Christian view of economics, emphasizing the need for action for this view to be valid and reflect God.

“As Christians, we understand very well that our job is to help improve the world by loving our neighbor, by raising families, by fulfilling our role in the church,” Bradley said. “And economics is a pathway to help us do that. It’s not the only way, but it’s a tool that I think God has given us to help us do that.”

As Bradley was closing her speech, she noted what she believes are the five factors of economic freedom that contribute to human prosperity.

“Limited government, low levels of regulation, protection of private property,

“I had the privilege of learning from Ed Arnold as a student, as an alumnus through many conversations and lastly as a colleague and friend. ‘Doc’ was instrumental in the development of my confidence and leadership skills and provided so many opportunities for me to grow, even when I didn’t realize it in the moment,” Tedford said. “It was an honor to work alongside him when I was first hired, and I will treasure every conversation we had.”

A Beaver Falls, Pa. native, Arnold received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Geneva College, Master of Music Education from Duquesne University and doctorate from the University of Houston. While at the University of Houston, he served on the band directing staff and assisted in developing halftime performances at the Astrodome.

Bands and orchestras sought out Arnold as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator for high schools, colleges, festivals and military ensembles throughout the United States and Canada.

“Outside of music education, his impact on the lives of hundreds of band alumni cannot really be measured. He shaped the lives of his band students, especially those in the Wolverine Marching Band, through his leadership and care,” Paparone said. “No matter how busy he was, he always had time for a conversation and a laugh. The culture he built in the marching band led many of us to form lifelong friendships that still flourish today.”

freedom to trade and sound currency. Those are the five things that economists measure,” Bradley said. “When countries embrace those five things, this is what they get: exponential economic growth.”

After the lecture portion of the event ended, attendees also asked Bradley questions about economic issues and policy beyond her lecture. Those questions included concerns about the rising national debt and liabilities to Social Security and Medicare.

“I think one of the problems is (deficit spending) might be fine for a while, and by the time it’s not fine, the people that have done the damage are long gone, and that’s where we are right now,” Bradley said. “And so, I think that’s a real problem right now, the young college students in this room, their grandchildren, have debt that they have not consented to. And I think that’s a moral, a fiscal and a spiritual problem, and they will have to deal with it.”

Questions also mentioned the gold standard and tariffs, allowing Bradley to reinforce key parts of her lecture.

“The higher the economic freedom score, the less abject poverty is in that country,” Bradley said. “In the countries that score the highest, there’s literally no abject poverty, meaning living under $2 a day, and there’s rich, robust social welfare programs to help people who fall into poverty. … So economic freedom helps us unleash our gifts on society, to help other people, but it also helps us to be generous, which we’re called to do, as Christians.”

Staff Editorial An outrageous mandate GCC’s

new ID policy aids technological addiction

John Hatzis Perspectives Editor

The Collegian’s March 13 article “College switching to digital ID’s” was the most shocking and alarming story I have ever encountered during my time at Grove City College. Grove City’s new ID policy will have radical implications for students and staff. Starting Oct. 5, physical identification cards will no longer work. Students will be required to always have their phone on their person to complete basic tasks.

Every student will need to have their phone on hand to enter their dorm, eat, pick up a package, check out a library book, print documents and even scan into chapel.

The college’s plan to require all students to bring their phones to chapel is particularly disheartening. The chapel program has struggles enough with students being distracted with cellular devices during the service.

I understand why the students are on their devices in chapel. Phones are designed to be addictive. Massive corporations have spent millions researching how to maximize temptation for young people. It can be hard to go 45 minutes resisting the urge to check texts or scroll on so-

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lege to be recognized in this way. This was such a big project for us, bigger than anything we’ve done in a very, very long time, if ever,” Vice President for Advancement Jeff Prokovich said. “It was taking a building that hadn’t been renovated or kept up to date as much as other buildings on campus, transforming it and making it into a design that would be great for the next 50 years was a big deal, a big accomplishment.”

The renovation provides students with a state-of-the-art academic environment featuring advanced technology, improved lab safety systems and a variety of study spaces. Vice President for Operations Susan Grimm said the updated facility also helps prepare students for the future.

“We’re providing a state-ofthe-art technology package so when somebody walks out of here, they have a better understanding of how to function in a business environment or graduate program,” Grimm said. Prokovich added that the building serves the entire campus, not only STEM majors.

“We have design classes and design faculty teaching and working out of Smith Hall as

cial media.

To resist the temptation to go on their phones, many students leave their phones behind when they go to chapel. Grove’s new ID policy will make that responsible act no longer possible. The new ID policy is, in effect, an “always online” mandate. Some students already feel they cannot go through life without their phones: starting Oct. 5, all students will, quite literally, be unable to go through life without their phones.

By far the most alarming and grotesque portion of the new policy regards exceptions to the “always online” mandate. According to the March 13 article, the main criteria for exemptions will be for those who lack a compatible device — and even they will have to pay a fee.

Never mentioned in the exceptions section is personal conscience. If I ever did a technological fast on say, Sunday (a fast, by the way, I have been required do as part of my Introduction to Ethics course), I would be forced to forego my meal swipes on the Sabbath. In fact, after going to church, I would not be able to get back into my dorm. Would ITS grant me an exemption to the “always online” rule, or must even techno-skeptic Christians be forced to bend the knee to the almighty iPhone?

Not to put too fine a point on it, but as someone freed

well,” Prokovich said. “So, it’s broader than just the STEM majors that one would think of in a science building.”

The project aimed to keep the character and charm of the original science hall while transforming it into a building for the future.

“When you look at the quad that was designed by the Olmsted brothers back in the day, that science hall really was the centerpiece or the showplace of the entire campus,” said Prokovich.

Grimm added to that statement, addressing the historical significance of the building.

“I think the neat thing about the building, why it was important to us to renovate instead of replace it, is that it was built during the Depression. Part of the reason that we built Rockwell in the ’30s was to keep the townspeople employed during the Depression,” Grimm said. “It was important to us to make sure that during that renovation, we still spoke to the history of the building. So, though it was modernized, every finish was picked to maintain the heart of the building.”

Both Prokovich and Grimm stressed that the project would not have been possible without Grove City’s partners. Grimm

by Christ from slavery to sin, I am not terribly keen to become a slave to my iPhone. Sneaking this policy into effect without consulting the student body at large is unprofessional. Allowing no exceptions for those who object to being “always online” and fining those who lack a compatible device” (which can often be for financial reasons) is unjust.

I know many people who are deeply disturbed by this new policy and are seeking to be charitable to staff while standing firm in their convictions. We love this place, and the people in it (if you don’t believe me, please flip to Perspectives). My criticism here is, truly, not meant personally. As Proverbs says: “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”

That said, there is a time to be congenial to changes we may not approve of, and there is a time to be bold. Now is the time to be bold. If we cannot be bold with the little things, we never can be expected to be bold with the big things.

To Information Technology Services: I will never get Crimson Card+. Never. I do not plan to pay the college’s “conscience tax” either, but if that is what I must do to evade Grove City’s new “always online” mandate, it is a price worth paying.

highlighted the close personal bonds formed during the construction project.

“The successful completion of the Rockwell to Smith renovation was made possible through the trust, collaboration, respect and exceptional dedication shown by the entire team of architects, contractors and the college,” Grimm said. “There’s so much pride in this project because we had the most cohesive project team that I’ve ever worked with. We were so bonded together as a team. … We’re still friends, and we still do things together.” Smith Hall was renamed from Rockwell following a lead gift to the project from alumni and technology entrepreneur William “Bill” Smith and his wife Dieva.

Although the Building Excellence Award brought meaningful outside recognition to the project, Grimm said the team’s pride in the project existed even before the honor.

“I think that that award really represented what we’ve done and what we wanted to achieve with the Rockwell to Smith renovation,” Grimm said. “The award was the icing on the cake. If we wouldn’t have won that, our team would be so proud of that building anyway.”

Reagan Thomas Staff Writer

Sports

Wolverines challenged at Carthage Water polo competes in CWPA DIII matchups

The Grove City College women’s water polo team faced a challenging doubleheader Saturday at Carthage College, competing in a pair of Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division III contests. Despite strong individual efforts and stretches of disciplined play, the Wolverines came up short in both outings, falling to Austin College 16-7 before dropping a 14-6 decision to host Carthage.

Grove City opened the day against a fast-paced Austin squad, with sophomore Frances Baksa setting the tone offensively. Baksa tallied three goals and added three assists, factoring into the majority of the Wolverines’ scoring chances. She credited her success to the team’s chemistry and trust within the offense.

“I was able to find my rhythm through the trust of my team. I have a very distinct style of play that my teammates have learned to work with and use to our advantage. They trusted me with the ball, which allowed me to produce offensive opportunities,” Baksa said.

Junior Shastyn Tihansky

continued her strong form with two goals, while senior Kiley Sill and sophomore Emma Strahorn each found the back of the net to round out Grove City’s scoring.

Defensively, the Wolverines remained active throughout the contest. Tihansky led the effort with five steals, while Strahorn added four. Baksa and senior goalkeeper Lea Steen each recorded two take-

aways. Steen anchored the defense with 10 saves, battling through heavy shot volume to keep Grove City competitive.

“Against Austin, we were really looking to stop them from making quick moves down the pool. If we stopped that, we were generally successful. I was trying to prevent good passes from getting off, and I was able to block a few shots that turned into steals for us,”

Baseball drops doubleheader

Natalie Hanna Staff Writer

The Grove City men’s baseball team dropped an 8-7 decision to Depauw on Saturday, followed by another loss in the second game of the doubleheader.

According to freshman Nick Remish, who plays third base, the team battled until the end in both games. “The hitters did not show quit despite chasing most of the time … (and) the pitchers did good at throwing strikes and getting outs early in the inning,” he said.

The team did, in fact, fight until the very end in the opener, trailing 8-2 as they entered the ninth inning before racking up five runs. After Remish and sophomore Kallen Durbin each drove in an RBI single, sophomore designated hitter John McIntyre drove in a run on a sacrifice fly, and an error allowed two more runs. Grove City stranded the tying and goahead runs on base at the close of the game.

Both senior first baseman Colin Marinpetro and junior right fielder Caleb Backos went

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competition.

“Otherwise, I am confident we would have had more teams in the final round,” Miller said.

Miller, who spent 25 years in the retail industry, said the competition provides valuable real-world exposure for students.

“Retail is tremendously complicated and simple all at the same time. You’re putting the right product in the right place and offering it at the right price, which sounds pretty simple, except it’s not, especially in a competitive landscape,” Miller said. “Competitions like this give our students direct exposure to real-world strategic problems and to the recruiters and executives at companies like DICK’S Sporting Goods. It’s a tremendous opportunity for Grove City students to demonstrate that they can compete — and win — against much larger universities.”

two for four. Senior pitcher Kenny Lavrich started and pitched three innings, allowing six runs. Freshman Bryce Trischler relieved Lavrich and allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings. Freshman Wyatt Hopson closed out the eighth.

The Wolverines trailed 9-6 in the seventh inning of the nightcap but managed a threerun rally led by a Marinpetro double. Remish walked, immediately followed by an RBI double from Backos. Remish then scored on a single from Durbin, while a groundout from sophomore left fielder Ben Barnes brought in Backos as the tying run.

However, the Tigers brought in three runs in the bottom of the eighth to break the tie and pull out a 12-9 win over the Wolverines.

Remish recorded three runs batted in, scored three runs and hit a home run during his three-for-four showing.

Marinpetro doubled twice while Backos doubled and singled. Freshman shortstop Kyle Rhineberger also contributed to the offensive front with two hits.

Drawing from his experience entering the industry, Miller said he enjoys watching students grow their understanding of retail and values the opportunity to guide them.

“I really didn’t know anything about retail until I started my job,” Miller said.

“Watching these guys coming from a very similar situation over the course of the past semester really grow in their knowledge of retail throughout the class and be able to pull that all together in a comprehensive strategy that makes a lot of sense and that is offering DICK’S and Foot Locker some strategic advantages is really exciting.”

Team strategy lead Barbetta described the team’s initial challenge of figuring out where to start.

“When you open up a file and see thousands of lines of data, it’s a bit overwhelming, but once we got started, it became a lot easier and a lot more fun,” Barbetta said. “The most rewarding part was definitely getting the email that we

Freshman Graham Romer started and pitched 3 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs. Freshman Noah Mackie pitched 3 1/3 relief innings and took the defeat, striking out three hitters but allowing four runs.

“I think the most important thing to improve on is taking advantage of opportunities. We had some innings with runners in scoring position, and we failed to get the job done as hitters. As well on the pitching side, we just couldn’t finish off some innings when we got to two outs, which is crucial for momentum,” Remish said.

After opening their home schedule against Wilson on March 9, Grove City begins Presidents’ Athletic Conference play with a home face-off against Chatham tomorrow. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m. at Jack Behringer Field.

The Wolverines plan on entering their PAC schedule with the mindset that small wins create bigger ones. They know they need high focus and intent to start out PAC play with wins.

had made it to the final round. Seeing that our team’s hard work and effort paid off was a really good feeling.”

Barbetta emphasized the importance of the team’s collaborative effort.

“Without their expertise and guidance, there is no chance that our group would have made the final round,” Barbetta said. “Sophia, Molly and Ben all did exceptional with their parts, and it really helped that all of us had strengths in different areas, so we were able to put all those strengths together and reap the rewards.”

Looking ahead to the final rounds, Miller expressed confidence in both the team’s performance and the broader impact of the opportunity.

“Frankly, I feel good about our chances,” Miller said. “I have three goals here. First, to glorify God in everything that we do. Second, to raise the profile of Grove City College. DICK’S does not directly recruit students here, and we have a tremendous group of highly qualified students

verines with three goals, giving her six on the day, while Baksa, Hervey and Strahorn each added a goal.

Sill provided veteran leadership with three assists, and Hervey added another helper as her confidence continued to grow in her freshman season.

Defensively, Tihansky and freshman Emily Addison each recorded three steals, while Steen made three saves and remained vocal in organizing the defense.

Baksa said. Freshman Amelia Hervey added an assist in the opener, continuing to establish herself as a reliable young contributor.

In the second matchup against Carthage, Grove City stayed within reach through three quarters, before the hosts used a decisive 5-0 fourth-quarter run to pull away. Tihansky led the Wol-

“We have a very small team and only one sub, so it’s hard to maintain pressure when the opposition can rotate fresh players. They beat us down the pool on counterattacks, which led to power-play opportunities and goals. But overall, we learned a lot from that game and will be ready to face them again if we have to,” Baksa said.

While the Wolverines did not leave Carthage with a win, the day highlighted the team’s growth, emerging depth and continued development across the roster.

The Wolverines return to action at 4 p.m. tomorrow, traveling to Erie, Pa. to play Penn State Behrend.

Sports at a glance

Results

Men’s Lacrosse (2-6): L, Kenyon (10-7)

Women’s Lacrosse (5-3): W, Geneva (22-0)

Men’s Volleyball (9-14): L, Saint Vincent (3-0)

Baseball (5-8): L, DePauw (12-9) Water Polo (3-14): L, Augustana (Ill.) (14-7)

Upcoming

Men’s Lacrosse: March 21, 6 p.m. at No. 9 York (Pa.)

Women’s Lacrosse: March 21, 1 p.m. at Washington & Jefferson

Men’s Volleyball: March 21, 12 p.m. vs Geneva

Baseball:

March 21, 1 p.m. vs Chatham (DH) Softball: March 20, 3 p.m. at Carlow (DH) Water Polo:

March 21, 4 p.m. at Penn State Behrend Men’s Tennis: March 24, 4 p.m. vs Franciscan

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

right in their own backyard that they’re missing out on. I want us to be impossible to ignore. And third, I just want my students to have an awesome time.”

Miller hopes the competition will inspire rising juniors and seniors to register for next year’s MNGT 312 Retail Management class and consider careers in retail.

“I plan to continue making this part of my class each year,

build stronger and stronger teams each year and, ideally, open internship and full-time positions at DICK’S Sporting Goods for our students,” Miller said. “I hope to inspire a passion in a few students to pursue a career in retail. I think that they can have a very satisfying, fruitful career, and perhaps in a domain that they had never considered before.”

Battle in Buffalo

Women’s lacrosse extends win streak to four

Garrett Gess Staff Writer

The Grove City women’s lacrosse team won four straight games as they finished non-conference competition on a hot streak. Most recently, the Wolverines took down Buffalo State on the road, winning 11-9 on Saturday.

Grove City ran through a gauntlet of tough teams, all of whom were opponents from outside Pennsylvania. The Wolverines lost their first three games by a combined point differential of just four goals, all of which were winnable games. The team showed resolve, winning their next four competitions, two of which included games where they overcame a deficit of three or more points. Against Buffalo State, after the Bengals drew first blood, junior attack Gwen Shilling sparked the offense with two first-quarter goals, assisted by junior midfielder Tori Stevenson and sophomore midfielder Jess Robinette, respectively. This helped Grove City stay even at 3-3.

The game shifted in the second as junior attack Taylor Blythe and Robinette connected to give Grove City the lead. Robinette followed with backto-back scores to raise the advantage. Sophomore midfielder Mia Mygatt added another goal, capping off Grove City’s five-point unanswered streak, as the Wolverines built a great 7-4 lead heading into halftime.

In the second half, senior goalie Mia Gallagher and Grove City’s defense stepped up to protect the lead as Buffalo State had a strong third quarter. Robinette added another goal off an assist from senior attack Jackie Rowell, then sealed the game with her fourth goal in the fourth quarter to win 9-7.

“Getting the win this weekend felt amazing, especially because the last two years we came up short against Buffalo State. It made it even more exciting and meaningful for our team. I think it really showed how much we’ve grown and how hard we’ve been working. This game gave us confidence and momentum heading into our upcoming PAC matchups, and it showed us what we’re capable of when we play together,” Robinette said.

A secret weapon for the women’s lacrosse program has been their talented first-year class. Midfielder Avery Anderson, defender Sophia Happel, midfielder Maddie LaForte and defender Gabri Hallam, are all freshmen who have competed in and contributed

Gwen Shilling contesting a draw from the team’s March

“It truly was a team win starting from our goalie in the back all the way to the attacking end. This game prepared us to work as a unit and to make sure we come out with grit and hustle as we begin PACs.”

to all seven games.

“This win was HUGE! It was great to play in my hometown and win against the team that Grove City has never beaten before. It truly was a team win, starting from our goalie in the back all the way to the attacking end. This game prepared us to work as a unit and to make sure we come out with grit and hustle as we begin PACs. Our team will continue to find success by continuing to work as a team that is focused on giving glory to God,” Hallam said.

The win against Buffalo State, a school over double Grove City’s size, and who have beaten the Wolverines in the last two seasons, could very well be the auspicious moment that leads to future success.

“Going into this stretch, we’re

— Gabri Hallam

really focused on taking it one game at a time and not looking too far ahead. Each game is important, so we’re preparing for each opponent individually and staying locked in on what we need to do,” Robinette said. “If we keep that mindset and continue working together as a team, we’ll put ourselves in a good position to be successful.”

Grove City looks to once again win the PAC, and this time, advance in the NCAA playoffs. Before these big goals can be achieved, however, the Wolverines must first take care of business one game at a time. Head Coach Emma Olsen, now in her second year leading the Wolverines, is 11-0 against PAC opponents. As this year’s conference favor-

ite, Olsen and Assistant Coach Emily Rowell look to extend the streak. Grove City hosted Geneva on Saturday and head to Washington & Jefferson to

face the Presidents at 1 p.m. tomorrow, followed by a home game against Allegheny at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Men’s volleyball bests Hiram in three

Mia Gallagher Sports Editor

The Grove City College men’s volleyball team rounded out the first half of their PAC schedule on March 10, securing a crucial 3-0 victory over Hiram.

This win closes out a difficult start to PAC play for the Wolverines, who went 2-4 in the opening stretch. The Wolverines, however, demonstrated their ability to bounce back with this win over the Terriers, which bodes well for the team as it enters this final stretch.

“We've certainly had our struggles thus far in conference play. Beating Hiram 3-0

was crucial; not just for our record, but for our confidence moving into the second half of the PAC schedule,” senior Tieg Malcolm said.

Headlining the team’s offensive performance was sophomore Keith Otto, who tallied six kills and a season-high five aces against the Terriers. Otto was joined by Malcolm, who generated five kills and three aces. Junior classmates Max Gianneski, Carson Good and Andrew Kessler rounded out this offensive showing with a combined 22 kills. Junior Craig Fair supported their efforts, supplying 31 assists. Defensively, Kessler led the

Wolverines with five blocks from the net. Good and Malcolm each posted three blocks as well. From the floor, Otto and freshman Evan DiMalanta combined for 14 digs.

“Coming off a very successful first season, there is definitely more pressure on the team now. My hope is that this pressure would motivate us rather than intimidate us,” Malcolm said.

After dropping a 3-0 road decision to Thiel on Saturday, the Wolverines hosted Saint Vincent Wednesday at 7 p.m. They will return to action at 12 p.m. tomorrow against Geneva.