The Collegian, Oct. 23, 2026

The

Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper

Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 Vol. 112 No. 6

GCC mourns The Collegian launches prof’s death website Ricky Andrews

Elizabeth Jenkins

Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

On the morning of Oct. 13, Samuel Stanton died suddenly from a heart attack. Stanton was 57 and had been a political science professor at Grove City College for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Vicky, and his two sons, Samuel Jr. and Nathan. Though born in 1969 in North Carolina, Stanton identified as a native of Arkansas, where he grew up. On campus, Stanton leaves behind a strong legacy not only as a professor, but as a mentor to his students and a friend to his fellow faculty members. Stanton’s teaching assistant, junior political science major Isaiah Hogeterp, emphasized how much Stanton cared about his students. “He was never unreasonable,” Hogeterp said. “He treated you like a serious adult, and he gave you the respect that you gave him. … When you went to talk to him in his office hours, he was very helpful. … And he welcomed you with open arms (to) sit down, talk about what the problem is.” On Tuesday, a week after his death, a memorial service was hosted in Harbison Chapel, which Chaplain Donald Opitz led. Michael Coulter, Andrew Harvey and Eric Bardy, all personal friends of Stanton, spoke in his honor.

Boasting 135 years as a newspaper, The Collegian has won many awards over the years and has kept the black and white alive on campus. Current members of The Collegian see this move as essential not only for the publication’s growth, but for preparing future journalists. “It was time for The Collegian to adapt to modern trends,” The Collegian Editor-in-Chief Matthew Purucker said. “The Collegian is a training ground for its writers and editors to practice skills in preparation for a future career in journalism or a related field.” Purucker said expanding The Collegian’s online presence will allow the newspaper to publish more stories with the same high quality the publication is known for. The Collegian currently plans to run print and digital copies in tandem. For Collegian Advisor and Director of College Communications Nick Hildebrand, the website offers an exciting way to broaden The Collegian’s horizons and audience. “I’m excited about The Collegian’s new website and its ability to take the news, features, sports and opinion journalism that the student staff produces on campus to a larger audience off campus,”

Students sit in prayer at Stanton’s memorial service Tuesday. “The Sam I got to know was a man of constancy, steadfastness. … Sam had your back,” Harvey said. Harvey reinforced this statement by sharing a time when Stanton took Harvey’s place on a travel course so he could stay home

GCC

with his wife, who was in the hospital. In addition to his work as a professor, Stanton was wellknown within the Grove City College community. He served

STANTON 10

Ground broken for new athletic facilites

Steven Mauch

Assistant Business Manager New athletic facilities are under construction at Grove City College, with the William C. Stewart Baseball Field and the McNulty Athletic Center scheduled for completion in early 2027. Jeffrey Prokovich, vice president of advancement, noted that work has already been done, with preliminary preparations and earth removal occurring over fall break. Due to the rather isolated construction location, Prokovich estimated the construction project will suffer little disruption and should be done in a matter of months. While not exactly speedy, this timeline is a change of pace from the recent construction project on Rockwell and Smith Hall, which took two years to complete. The new baseball field will be built on the site of R. Jack Behringer Field, the current baseball field. The McNulty Athletic Center is being built on the field between the Physical Learning Center (PLC) and

the soccer field. According to Prokovich, the current baseball field has been an “inferior field for many years,” and renovations for PLC weight rooms “are long overdue.” Prokovich said Stewart Field should be ready for baseball in the spring and cost approximately $5 million. The McNulty Athletic Center is estimated to cost around $7 million. For staff and students who spend most of their time on the field or in the gym, these renovations mean more than just aesthetics. “They’re also going to put in new batting cages, new dugouts (and a) new backstop, which is going to make everything safer for everybody,” said Assistant Athletic Director and men’s soccer coach Mike Dreves. “If you go out to the baseball field now, you’ll see its grass, and right field is 10 feet higher than home plate. The field’s not level, even. “We’ve got a great baseball team, and I think we will have a great facility for them to play in. The bubble is going to provide tennis courts, indoor

Scan to see the website. Hildebrand said. “The current staff, led by Matthew Purucker, deserves all the credit for developing the website.” While already online as a digital flipbook on the publishing platform Issuu, The Collegian’s website will offer more interactive options. “We modeled it after professional news outlet websites, but we focused on catering the website more toward smartphone use than they do,” Purucker said. Purucker expressed excitement about the potential of the digital medium for the future of The Collegian. “We also hope to expand into doing more visual and audio content — more social media, more videos, maybe a podcast, who knows? We’d probably need some more students with those skills, but I believe the website allows us to do much more than we previously could with just the print edition,” Purucker said. Some students, however,

WEBSITE 10

Skill games present dilemma Liliana Shadlow Staff Writer

ing turf. “It will help our fielders get better with their fielding and also get used to playing on other people’s fields, because right now, we practice on our field,” Romer said. “And that gets us to be used to our field hops and not the other people’s, so it’s better overall for sure.” A field hop, or the behavior or bounce of a ball depending on the ground it lands on, can vary greatly depending on the

Recent state action prohibiting most businesses from operating “skill games” machines raises questions about the economic and moral implications of unregulated gambling, according to Grove City College professors. Skill games, previously prevalent in many convenience stations and even nonprofits, have been classified as a kind of video game gambling. Before June, Pennsylvania laws classified skill games as separate entities from regular gambling slot machines. According to an article by 2822news, while slot machine players rely on a “math equation or algorithm that’s in the game” for earnings, skill game fanatics rely on their own “skill,” even in something as simple as pressing a button to win. Under this classification, having a skill game in an es-

GROUND 10

SKILL 10

Construction vehicle prepares ground for new baseball field. track, locker rooms and then a weight room, which is going to provide great athletic facilities for our athletes, but also relieve the strain on the PLC.” Graham Romer, a sophomore pitcher on the baseball team, agrees. “I think it’s going to be awesome,” he said. “We will get to practice a lot more and play a lot more when (at) times, we wouldn’t have been able to because of weather.” Romer also hopes the Athletic Center will provide new training advantages by includ-

GCC

Too East of Eden?

Remembering Sam

Chinese culture, American education

John Steinbeck’s classic comes to Netflix.

Coulter shares remarks during Stanton’s memorial.

Chinese students struggle to adjust to college life.

ENTERTAINMENT 5

PERSPECTIVES 8

COMMUNITY 3

Editorial

Oct. 23, 2026

Page 2

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On faithful life from death If you have heard the news elsewhere or read the front page of this edition of The Collegian, you know that Sam Stanton, a political science professor at the college, has died. Given how recently he died, and how close the Grove City community is, saying this is a difficult time may feel like a gross understatement. However, we know God has saved Stanton, as he will save us as believers. We can’t fault anyone for being sad, especially considering the sudden nature of his death, but we would like to offer some encouraging words. God has a plan for each of us. It often confuses us, especially in a circumstance like this one — the death of a man whom we believe has served his college, his community, his country and, most importantly, his God, in reverent faith. But ultimately, God is in control. We can point to a myriad of Bible passages to confirm this thought, but we invite you to find a passage meaningful to you and reflect on it, especially in this time of grief. We would guess most students have experienced at least one death near to them, like a grandfather or greataunt, but none that they did not expect. We want to offer our condolences to those who have suffered the loss of a loved one close to them, but we, in the Tower, questioned whether death has really impacted us. Fortunately, we found it did not affect us closely, but we have tried to find some ways to cope with a loss like this one and share them. In addition to reflecting on God’s Word, we encourage you to pray for Dr. Stanton’s sons, his wife, his father, his sister and others connected to him. We can only imagine the sadness they are suffering, and if you know them, we encourage you to reach out to them when the time is right. The Collegian’s staff also seeks to honor Stanton as much as possible through articles in this week’s newspaper and now online at stuorgs2.gcc.edu/thecollegian/. The Collegian published Ricky Andrews’ front-page news article on Stanton’s passing (“GCC mourns prof’s death”) and Perspectives Editor John Hatzis’s piece on loss (“Wondering together”). The Collegian also published political science professor Michael Coulter’s remarks about Stanton (“Remembering Sam”) during his memorial service Tuesday. The latter two articles are on page eight in the perspectives section.

Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief

The Collegian Staff Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief

Luke Paglia

Managing Editor

Editorial Board

Editing

Julia Kramer

Olivia Emerick

News Editor

Anastasia Brown

Community Editor

Randall Elvin

Entertainment Editor

John Hatzis

Perspectives Editor

Copy Chief

Copy Editors Kendall Lambrecht Maddie Miller Jaci Morell Vivian Waner Andrew Wang

Natalie Hanna Sports Editor

Art & Photography

Staff Writers

Elijah Faris

Sam Fetherlin Liliana Shadlow Christopher Shaw Madelyn Taliaferro Reagan Thomas

Advisory Nick Hildebrand Staff Advisor

Comic Strip Artist

Advertising Ian Schartner

Business Manager

Steven Mauch Assistant Business Manager

Jessica Pratt

Social Media Manager

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 award goes to Jessica Pratt, our new Social Media Manager! She did a great job preparing social media posts to promote the paper this week. Keep up the great work, Jess! The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors who demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.

JESSICA PRATT

Hanna attended an accounting leadership program at Sisterson & Co. LLP in May.

NATALIE HANNA

Insight into accounting internship struggle Natalie Hanna Sports Editor

As I’m sure most can relate, I felt like I was perpetually stressed last school year. The thing is that it usually had little to do with school and mostly to do with applying for accounting internships. I constantly had an open Chrome window of 20-30 tabs, each one a possible internship to apply to. I would go weeks without applying because it simply felt like a mountain too great to climb, and then one day I would suck it up, sit down and apply to a bunch over the span of a couple hours. This was basically the cyclical theme of my entire sophomore year. The main source of my stress came from feeling the need to secure an accounting internship for the summer before my junior year and, therefore, wanting to apply to as many as possible. But I also had schoolwork piling up at the same time, and I felt like I couldn’t make time for applications without sacrificing homework or studying. Deciding which area to prioritize each day came down to which felt the most important in the moment. I ended up spending a lot of time on applications and was able to apply to an inordinate number of internships between September and April. I wish I had kept count, because considering how much time I spent, it must be a very large number. And yet … not only did I fail to secure an internship, but I also was never even offered a single interview. It was one of the most disappointing aspects of my sophomore year: sacrificing countless hours for these applications, only to hear nothing from most of them and receive rejection emails from the rest. Increased competition in the accounting internship market might be the result of a decrease in hiring. According to Deloitte Partner Doug Hart, while Deloitte’s hiring has not significantly decreased, it has gone down over the last couple of years, partially due to

the firm actively trying to understand the impact of AI on entry-level jobs. I suspect this is common among other companies as well. Courtney Baum, director of talent at Pittsburgh regional firm Sisterson & Co., said one of the primary reasons internships have become increasingly competitive is that “colleges and universities are placing greater emphasis on the value of practical experience. As a result, many students are competing for opportunities while also maintaining strong academic performance and gaining exposure to accounting, public accounting or other relevant experiences that make them more attractive to employers.” Additionally, over the years, firms have begun to open applications earlier. For example, I have noticed that several summer 2028 accounting internships are closing in a few days. That means students are applying for internships a year and a half before they begin. These early application windows can further increase the difficulty of securing an internship because students miss opportunities before they even know to look for them. This trend seems to result from firms reacting to what others are doing. One company created a sophomore program to identify candidates earlier on, and the rest followed. Now, most firms have mini programs for freshmen and sophomores designed to lead to an internship down the road. One firm started posting earlier application deadline dates because it wanted to secure better candidates before competitors, and the rest followed. Now, most firms have application deadlines dated at least nine months before an internship’s start date. “Firms also want to hire individuals who will be a longterm fit,” Baum said. “The earlier students are exposed to a firm, the industry and the profession, the better opportunity they have to determine where they want to begin and even continue their careers. Just as students compete for the same opportunities, employers are also competing for top talent, which has led many companies to develop new and creative ways to engage students

earlier in the process.” Another detail of my situation is that I applied for internships strictly within the New York City metropolitan area, known as a highly competitive location. Hart, who works in this area, noted that from what he has seen, perfect GPAs and resumes are not the most notable attributes of those who tend to land internships in the NYC area. Rather, attending a target school and having connections seem to be the most shared characteristics. The “target schools” strategy is common, as seen by many Pittsburgh companies hiring Grove City students for internships or entry-level jobs. They know the school, have connections with people here and have had good experiences with Grove City students. In fact, I was able to attend two accounting leadership conferences over the summer in Pittsburgh due to these Grove City ties and then followed that up by accepting an internship offer with one of them for next summer. It’s really true: connections, connections, connections. If you are in the same boat I was in last year, do not fret! Just because you aren’t receiving “congrats” emails does not mean you are not a good candidate. It might simply come from a lack of connections or not attending one of that company’s target schools. And even if you do have these advantages, maybe God is trying to direct you to a different path for your summer. In my opinion, there is too much pressure put on everyone, but specifically accounting students, to acquire early internships. While it is important to maintain a competitive advantage, I think everyone needs to chill out for a second. Yes, we are in the early adulthood stage of our lives, but we are also still college students and have the rest of our lives to work. In the grand scheme of things, it might be inconvenient, but it is not the end of the world to have an internship-less summer. Don’t take nine months like I did to register that concept.

Community Chinese culture, American education Page 3

Oct. 23, 2026

International students on campus Jaci Morell

Contributing Writer Many Grove City College students live far from their family, but few come from as far as Chinese international students, who live an ocean away from home. According to Statista, around 265,000 Chinese students have chosen to study in the United States, with 11 studying at Grove City, making up about 30% of the international student body. Despite making up a fraction of the overall student body, students from China have made an impact far greater than their numbers suggest. Chloe Wilhelm is the director of the Imago Dei office, a department of the college dedicated to aiding international students, green card students and missionary children in adapting to the college environment in the United States. She described her job as centered on “connection and relationships,” listing several possible difficulties international students face, from increasingly strict visa requirements to the lack of English second-language resources on campus. With such a dramatic culture change, Chinese students have learned to adapt to an American way of life. One key part of the switch from China to the United States is the

name change. Most Chinese international students use an English name for their time in the States because their Chinese names are often too difficult for Americans to pronounce. Wang “Andrew” Nanxi is a freshman studying English at Grove City. Originally from Nanjing, he chose to attend Grove City College because of its values and rigorous academic requirements. He has been impressed by how welcoming the campus has been, although the American custom of using “how are you” as a greeting was initially confusing to him. “I wondered, ‘Why is everyone so friendly?’” Wang said. He’s since learned the correct response is to say “fine” or “good.” Wang’s favorite thing about campus is the natural environment, as it’s a huge change from his urban life in Nanjing. Wang remarked that back home, it sometimes “feels like the ground was always cement, and the grass is what’s intruding.” He enjoys the wildlife here on campus, such as the squirrels, which are not present in China. Wei “Berkeley” Xiangbo, also from Nanjing, likewise found the difference between urban life and the rural life of Grove City to be a stark change when immigrating. Some aspects of American humor also proved to be a hiccup.

INSTAGRAM

Members of the Pan-Asian Association and other student attendees pose for a photo at the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival last fall. “Sometimes people laugh, and I don’t know why they laugh,” Wei said, explaining some differences between American and Chinese senses of humor. He sometimes has to “try to be as American … as I can,” and sometimes, that means laughing at things he doesn’t find funny. The largest hurdle for the students, however, was the food. Wang did not speak highly of the food on campus, saying it was “hard to get used

to,” and Wei found it was “too unhealthy.” Zhou “Sarah” Yutian, president of the Pan Asian Association (PAA), said that, for Chinese students, food is often “not just the thing you eat. … It carries so much of the culture.” In China, food is integral to celebrations and holidays, and most families eat at least one meal together every day. All three students preferred MAP cafeteria over Hicks. Being a foreign student

comes with challenges. Zhou had to “try extra hard to reach out.” Zhou encouraged American students to help bridge the culture gap, even by doing something as small as asking a Chinese student to get lunch. For students wishing to learn more about Asian culture, PAA is hosting its Mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday. All students are invited to enjoy Asian food and take part in activities from lantern-making to calligraphy practice.

Who wants to be a gentleman? Anastasia Brown Community Editor

A poster that appeared around campus last week promised a lecture focused on “The Spirit of the Gentleman (And How To Marry One).” It was a sufficiently intriguing title to draw over 50 attendees to Rathburn Monday night to hear a visiting professor discuss this classic topic. The student-run reading group The Fugitives brought Luke Foster, assistant professor of government at Hillsdale College’s Washington campus, to Grove City College. John Hatzis, current president of The Fugitives, was instrumental in coordinating the event and was pleased his work paid off. The number of attendees was a pleasant surprise and “the lecture received rave reviews from men and women alike,” Hatzis said. One of those reviews came from sophomore Theodora Brown. “I liked that he was challenging the Romantic concept of unreserved authenticity,” Brown said. “Like, you don’t need to tell everyone exactly

what you’re thinking, and you can be polite without it making you ingenuine.” Sophomore Sylvia Adams also found the lecture illuminating. “I felt encouraged by the genuine desire of the people present to pursue a life greater than themselves,” Adams said. “I was also impressed by the evident desire to live rightfully, even when it is hard and requires self-sacrifice. “Both the guys and the girls present wanted to understand how to better honor and respect each other. It certainly reminded me that the online gender war is not as all pervasive as the media would try to claim it to be!” Hatzis was pleased by the interdisciplinary spread of attendees. “What surprised me is that we drew quite a few computer science, engineering (and) other science majors to the event, who also spoke very highly of how winsome Dr. Foster was at explaining the different philosophical, religious and literary contributions to the ‘spirit of the gentleman’ across the western tradition,” Hatzis

JOHN HATZIS

Attendees packed into Rathburn for Monday night’s lecture by visiting Hillsdale professor Dr. Foster on the topic of “The Spirit of the Gentleman” in the Western imaginary. said. “So well-received was the lecture that it sparked considerable group discussion: the program did not formally wrap up until 8:30 thanks to group discussion and Q&A, and virtually the entire audi-

ence remained for the whole program,” Hatzis said. “After the formal program concluded, the next hour was spent in fellowship with the attendees.” The Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI) sponsored the

event. The institute is a national organization that trains “the next generation of leaders and teaches them principles of ordered liberty and virtuous leadership” through campus clubs, publications and events.

What’s Fresh at the Grove? In STEM...

In Rathburn...

Along Wolf Creek...

Mole Day Ice Cream Party

Global Missions Week Worship Night

Wolf Creep Haunted Trail

October 23 6 p.m.

October 23 6:30 p.m.

October 24 8 p.m.

Enjoy ice cream made by the Physics Club with liquid

Come and worship together to close out the Global Missions

Organized by the ABT sorority and PPP housing group,

nitrogen! I imagine it would be everything you loved best

Week with an encouraging time reflecting on the praise that

this event scared the community editor so badly in her

about elementary school science fairs!

is being lifted up from all corners of the globe!

sophomore year that she hasn’t been back.

Page 4

Oct. 23, 2026

Doctor Love

Keep it in the family Up until a few weeks ago, a sorority sister of mine was dating a guy. I always thought he was shy, sweet and kinda cute. They broke up a few weeks ago. Now, I can’t stop thinking about him. Am I being disloyal to my sister by indulging this fantasy? Is it bad if I start dropping hints to him? I may be part of a different sorority, but girl, I know who you are talking about, and they are back together. I saw them eating in Hicks the other week. Sorry, but you’ve got no chance with him. Honestly, that’s probably good news for you. There are few better ways to obliterate sisterhood than running off with a sister’s ex before she even had time to recover. That is unkind, ungracious and a shocking betrayal of trust. If your sorority sister breaks up with a guy, your first duty is to her. Comfort her, be kind, hear her story and be ready to cry with her. Perhaps he did something wrong, she did wrong or no one did wrong. Nevertheless, you should support her. If you hear the story and realize that the guy you like isn’t a monster, great — give it six months before you do anything. Sound dramatic? You rushed the sorority — you are a part of that family now, and that family carries both rights and responsibilities. Let the dust settle (and, preferably, let the ex-girlfriend graduate), then take stock of your options.

ANASTASIA BROWN

Students lead worship and share about their experiences with Red Box GO at a Faith for Life lecture in the evening of Oct. 21.

Red Box GOes to the nations Madelyn Taliaferro Staff Writer

Through Grove City College’s Red Box Global Outreach program, students can turn a calling for summer missions work into an opportunity to serve around the world. This week, as Grove City celebrated Global Missions Week with chapel programming and special events, students who participated in Red Box GO shared their experiences. Founded in 1975, Red Box GO has sponsored Grove City students to serve in more than 80 countries globally. Each year, the program selects several students from a variety of academic disciplines to serve on a cross-cultural mission trip. These students can choose where they want to go and which mission organizations to partner with and

share their experiences when they return to campus. The students who served this past summer gave a Faith for Life lecture Wednesday. One such student, a senior English major who will remain anonymous for security considerations, spent the summer in Southeast Asia. She felt called to relational ministry and wanted to use her experiences in on-campus roles and English education for the kingdom of God. Red Box GO gave her the opportunity, and she found her ministry partners through Global Missions Week last year. Throughout the summer, she worked at an orphanage, served in after-school English programs and clubs and worked with at-risk women and children. The most powerful part of her experience was truly living alongside the people she

served. “By living with people and building relationships there, I came to love the people I met. Initially, I was uncertain of what life would be like … because of stigmas and stereotypes,” she said. “However, by meeting real people and having real conversations with them, I have come to realize that these people are just as much God’s beloved creation.” She described how beautiful it was to see God moving among the nations and softening hearts for the Gospel. As she returned to campus, she was “overcome with clarity” that this was the type of relational ministry she could continue for the rest of her life. Back at Grove City, the relationships she builds and work she does can apply to missions. Another student spent the summer of 2025 in southern

Africa through Red Box GO. There, she could use her math major and classical education minor to help a developing classical education program. She taught, shadowed teachers and served at a local church. Witnessing firsthand the faithful ministry of so many impacted her. The people she lived and worked with were committed to the Lord’s work right where they were and serving where they were planted. She explained that missions can be incredibly challenging, but she was confident that it was the Lord’s calling for that season of her life. For those considering missions, she recommends strong spiritual journaling and prayer habits, and she cannot overstate the importance of understanding the culture and context you are entering.

Showcasing 150 years of archives

If you’re still crazy for him after that, fine. Do what you want. In the meantime, hold on tight and keep your mouth shut. Who knows? Maybe another guy will come by — or maybe the man you’re after will once again find himself on the market. Either way, no good would have come from pursuing him right after a breakup — so you should thank your lucky stars they reconciled before you went in for the kill. Auspiciously,

Pop over to the Pew Fine Arts Center before Nov. 25 to see the “Celebrating a Legacy of Faith and Freedom” exhibit, assembled by campus historians and including over 200 photos and objects from the school’s archives. Dr. Love Love M.D.

GCC

Word on the street What is something you believed as a kid that you later learned wasn’t true?

Interested in Community? Join our team! Learn how to be a staff writer or send tips for stories happening at Grove City College and beyond by emailing BrownAH21@gcc.edu

When fish go to stay at My parents don’t like My sister told me another person’s house, they spicy food and raised that, since cherry pits change color. We were pet-sitme to think there was no contain cyanide, if I ate ting a fish and it changed virtue to putting spice one, I would die. And color (because it died and my in food. I now love spicy then one day, I did eat dad bought a new one) food - within reason. one.... Anna Schwartz ‘28 Ella Baldwin ‘28 Austin Zeilstra ‘28 I thought that when you ate food, the bites would reassemble in your stomach into the original food. So if I ate a burger, the burger would come together again inside my stomach. Charlie Cratty ‘27

My dad would write notes with tiny handwriting, and I was convinced it was proof of the Tooth Fairy. Cole Davis ‘28

Nothing. I was a well-informed kid.

Anna Earman ‘29

Oct. 23, 2026

Entertainment

Page 5

WHAT’S N�W to review?

Zach Bryan EP Randall Elvin

Entertainment Editor

NETFLIX

Too ‘East of Eden’? Randall Elvin

Entertainment Editor Can Netflix’s “East of Eden” live up to John Steinbeck’s 70-year-old classic? His book, rooted in family conflict, jealousy and the ultimate struggle of good versus evil, was published in 1952. If the name sounds familiar, it is because the title “East of Eden” comes from the biblical story of Cain and Abel in the book of Genesis. Hopefully, we Grovers are familiar with Cain killing his brother Abel and then being banished to the land of Nod, east of Eden. Steinbeck uses this biblical reference to explore the struggle of sinful actions and the possibility of redemption. Netflix revives the story by introducing a seven-episode limited series in October. The adaptation stars Florence Pugh as Cathy Ames. Christopher Abbott and Mike Faist also star as half-brothers Adam and Charles Trask. Rather than simply retelling a classic, the series offers an opportunity to reconsider the novel’s characters and themes for a modern audience. The central question is whether

the adaptation can preserve what made Steinbeck’s work so enduring while making it accessible to viewers who may never have read the book. Set in California’s Salinas Valley, “East of Eden” follows the Trask family across generations. The novel explores complicated relationships between parents and children. The brothers are constantly competing for approval. Individuals struggle to understand their own moral choices. Although its setting belongs to another era, these themes help explain why it continues to attract readers because the conflicts at its center remain recognizable. Netflix’s adaptation retains these central concerns, presenting a story in which personal decisions and family history shape the characters’ lives. The series also places particular emphasis on Cathy Ames, whom Pugh plays, whose relationships with the Trask family drive much of the drama and who is the show’s focal point. But they had to decide which characters and perspectives deserve the most attention. This is one of the biggest

challenges of adapting a novel. A television series must communicate much of that information through dialogue and visual storytelling, while a book can spend hundreds of pages exploring a character’s thoughts. Pugh’s portrayal of Cathy is a major focus of the adaptation. Cathy is one of Steinbeck’s most unsettling and complicated characters, and her motivations have long been open to interpretation. By emphasizing her perspective, the series can explore her as more than a source of conflict for the other characters. The supporting cast also brings familiar figures to the screen. Abbott plays Adam Trask, while Faist portrays his brother Charles. Their relationship establishes many of the family tensions that continue across generations. Hoon Lee plays Lee, a character whose intelligence and compassion provide an important perspective on the family’s struggles. These performances matter because the story depends on characters who cannot easily be divided into simple categories of good and evil. The more

effectively the series communicates their motivations, the more successfully it can preserve the moral complexity that defines Steinbeck’s novel. The series also has room to interpret the source material rather than reproduce it word for word. Kazan, who wrote all seven episodes, has described the project as an opportunity to explore the novel’s expansive story and its characters more fully. Netflix’s adaptation is therefore not simply a replacement for the book; it is another interpretation of the same material. A notable difference is how the series approaches Cathy. In the novel, Cathy is often presented as a deeply disturbing figure whose motives remain difficult to understand. The adaptation takes a more sympathetic approach to her background, expanding on the experiences that may have shaped her behavior. This approach does not necessarily excuse her actions, but it encourages viewers to consider whether a person’s choices can be understood through the circumstances that shaped them.

EDEN 10

Marvel’s new Vision Luke Paglia

Managing Editor Vision has been introduced, killed off and reintroduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe numerous times. And he embodies that in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU): no one is ever truly dead. He returns for another stint of heroism in the new TV show “VisionQuest,” which is said to be a narrative bridge between the Wanda Maximoff and Vision story and the upcoming movie, “Avengers: Doomsday.” First introduced into the MCU in “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” the synthezoid Vision has been a superhero character in a couple of the franchise’s movies and TV shows. Originally created by a combination of Bruce Banner, Tony Stark, Dr. Helen Cho and Ultron, a lightning strike from Thor ultimately brings Vision to life. Despite Ultron, the evil, sentient AI being, wanting to use Vision as his greatest weapon, because of Vision’s complexion of human design and Asgardian vitalization, he ends up having a moral conscience that leads to him

fighting alongside the Avengers against Ultron. Following the events of “Avengers: Age of Ultron,” Maximoff and Vision lived at the Avengers’ compound until the events of “Captain America: Civil War” take place. They fight for different sides of the dispute in this movie; however, they come together afterward and go into hiding in Edinburgh, Scotland, where they begin a secret life. Not too long after, the beginning of “Avengers: Infinity War” interrupts this life. Thanos’s children are after the Infinity Stone, specifically the Mind Stone embedded in Vision’s head, his energy-life source. Though the attempt fails, this conflict drags Maximoff and Vision into the plot. By the end of the movie, Thanos rips the stone out of Vision’s head, and Vision dies. We see a distraught Maximoff use her magic to conjure up a fake world in “WandaVision,” where she brings Vision back to life, and they have kids. To know more about this chain of events, watch “WandaVision” and the spinoff, “Agatha All Along.” During “WandaVision,” the secret agency

DISNEY+

S.W.O.R.D. collects pieces from the deceased Vision and crafts him back together; however, he no longer has the Mind Stone and therefore does not remember his past or feel any of the same connection to Maximoff. After a battle, this kind of new entity, now known as White Vision, flies off into hiding. It isn’t until the show “VisionQuest,” which came out Oct. 13, that we see White Vision again for the first time, and we see him in his human

form disguised, working at a bar. He seems to be trying to live out his life and figure out who his old self was. As he retreats into this world that he built in his mindspace, we are shown characters with familiar names, but for the first time, they have faces. We meet J.A.R.V.I.S., F.R.I.D.A.Y., E.D.I.T.H., D.U.M.-E. and U. They are different AIs Stark created during his time in the MCU. At some

VISION 10

Zach Bryan returns with his newest EP, “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs.” After listening, it delivers on hype, heart and honesty. Released Oct. 16, the eight-song project follows his January album “With Heaven on Top.” Bryan has been gaining popularity since his music began attracting attention online in 2019, while he served in the U.S. Navy. Since then, Bryan has become one of country music’s biggest stars known for raw vocals and emotional songwriting. One of the EP’s biggest strengths is its ability to balance quieter songs with crowd-focused works. “Lodi When” stands out for its gradual build, moving from a more atmospheric opening into a fuller, singalong-style chorus. It captures what Bryan does well. “Backwards” also stands out, reflecting on regret, personal growth and the challenge of moving forward while remaining attached to the past. The EP’s most attention-grabbing collaboration is “Lies,” featuring Lana Del Rey. The pairing is unexpected, as she is known for alternative pop littered with dreamy vocals. Her music often features darker, more atmospheric songs, not Zach Bryan’s typical music. However, they do have similarities. Both artists have built careers around complicated relationships and emotional storytelling. The piano and string arrangements give the song a dramatic atmosphere. Their contrasting vocal styles offer something different from Bryan’s usual solo performances. Still, the project is not without familiar patterns. Bryan sings reflective lyrics in rough vocals while themes of regret remain central to his sound. For longtime fans, that consistency is likely part of the appeal. However, listeners who want a dramatic departure from his earlier work may find that some songs feel more like extensions of his established style than a major reinvention. The difference is that the EP experiments with arrangements and collaborations while keeping his songwriting at the center. For fans thinking about returning to Bryan’s music because it feels personal, press play. likely part of the appeal. However, listeners who want a dramatic departure from his earlier work may find that some songs feel more like extensions of his established style than a major reinvention. The difference is that the EP experiments with arrangements and collaborations while keeping his songwriting at the center.

BRYAN 10

Oct. 23, 2026

Through the Lens

in full

sw

Page 6

F a l l

g i n

Page 7

Oct. 23, 2026

The colors of the leaves are changing again. The crisp, cool air is beginning to bite early in the morning. This means sweater weather for many. People are putting pumpkin in everything: pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin bread, pumpkin desserts and even pumpkin risotto (that may just be me). One of the best parts about fall is the coffee, specifically Collage’s Butterbeer latte, it is the best seasonal coffee item in the world, I would argue. I was recently reminded that the leaves changing color year in and year out is a sign of God’s everlasting faithfullness to us, that he is faithful through every season. No only in the physical seasons but also in the season’s of our lives. So let these pictures be a reminder to you, God is faithful in your life, no matter what you are going through in the busyness of academic and extraciriculars, God is faithful.

by Luke Paglia, Managing Editor

Oct. 23, 2026

Perspectives

Page 8

Remembering Sam Dr. Stanton loved students, Savior

Dr. Michael Coulter ‘91 Contributing Writer

Grove City College held a memorial service for Samuel Stanton Tuesday in Harbison Chapel. The following article is Michael Coulter’s remarks at that event. To maintain the spirit of his obituary, we are publishing the entirety of Coulter’s remarks. Sam Stanton loved many things; he loved God, he loved his wife and children, he loved political science and teaching political science to undergraduates, he loved supporting community organizations and being an active member of the community, and he loved friends and conversing with them. And in his own way, he loved Grove City College. “The things we love tell us what we are,” wrote Thomas Merton. And in his friendly but sometimes cantankerous way, Sam, if he were here, would give me a hard time for quoting a Catholic monk and poet to help describe him. Over many conversations during those 20 years as a member of the political science department — including time when he was my department chair and a time when I was his — and also several years as my next-door neighbor, we had many, many conversations. He was raised mostly in the South, and he graduated from high school in Arkansas. It surprised me, and so it might surprise some of you, that Sam played in the marching band during part of high school. After high school, Sam joined the Air Force, and he had hoped to stay longer in the military, but in the 1990s there was a reduction-in-forces policy making it hard to have a career in the military, and so Sam turned his energy and intellect towards academia. Sam earned a bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science at Arkansas State University; he then headed to Lubbock, Texas, where he worked on a Ph.D. in political science. Sam’s interests were quite broad in political science — besides specializing in comparative politics and international relations, he also

took several classes in political theory — always a good sign. A political theorist that I knew had him in class there and spoke very highly of him. While at Texas Tech, he also did something more important than those degrees: he met and married Vicki. Their first son, Samuel S. Stanton III — I’ve always called him Sammy — was born in Lubbock. Their second son Nathan was born not long after the Stantons arrived in Grove City. He was so excited for the opportunity to come to Grove City College. He loved teaching the Research Methods class. For many social scientists, teaching the research methods class is seen as a chore to be endured, but for Sam it was a special class. It would enable students to begin a path of “knowledge production.” Sam taught several different classes in international relations and comparative politics, including Nuclear Deterrence, Terrorism and Counterterrorism, African Politics, Asian Politics, Great Power Politics and International Politics. Students who took a Stanton class were presented with challenging topics, careful descriptions of important concepts and introductions to debates within the discipline and among policymakers. Those students would be required to write a lot, and those essays were subjected to careful scrutiny. He famously had his “Stanton’s Picky Rules.” By the way, I suspect Sam had “Picky Rules for Memorial Services,” and I’m concerned we might be violating some of those rules today. I want to share here some comments — some sent directly to me and some posted under my Facebook post about his passing — from students who took those classes. “Dr. Stanton had an unforgettable classroom presence. I think all political science majors were a little scared of him, but I remember he was so warm and charming when I would visit him during office hours. I still remember his Research Methods class as one of the best I took at GCC. The college has lost a great academic mind and very effective teacher.” “Dr. Stanton may have begun my time at GCC as an in-

GCC

timidating guy, but he became a dear advisor and friend. I am thankful to have been his student assistant. I still have the playlist I made for his class. He was truly a legend.” “He inspired me to get into national security and challenged me in a way few other teachers have.” “I will never forget his encouragement during freshman year when I was grieving and really struggling with the loss of my dad. I am grateful to have known him.” “He challenged me to become a critical thinker, an articulate writer, and a prudent policy analyst.” “He pushed us hard towards excellence; we were better students because of his standards.” “His music videos were legendary, as was his teaching.” There are others that I could cite, but those quotes present a committed teacher and advisor. Those quotes can also be an encouragement and a challenge to the present faculty at Grove City College. Our work can have a great impact on students — if we are serious and committed in our teaching and mentoring. Sam also shared with me his

work as a scholar. He loved working on scholarly projects and going to academic conferences. We attended some political science conferences together, and let’s just say that I have vivid memories of those trips. I have focused on Sam’s professional life, but you would miss an important part of Sam’s life, not to speak of his engagement with the community. Sam loved sports; he was incredibly supportive and engaged with the Little Eagles local youth football program. He beamed when he would tell me how well Sammy or Nathan did during a game. He was treasurer for the local organization — and that was a big job. Sam was also a leader — the board president — in the ABC Football league, a regional youth football organization. Sam was also active with the wrestling booster organization. For the past several years, Sam turned his non-college time to being a football official – and a softball and baseball umpire. Youth sports need officials and referees — and no one is getting rich being an official. It’s a service to youth sports to be an official. Because of his excellence as

a treasurer for the G.C. Little Eagles, Sam was asked to be a treasurer for the local Salvation Army. Sam quietly, faithfully and excellently carried out that role. Sam certainly loved his Savior and was active in the local churches he attended. He was a part of two efforts to start local churches. Most recently, he attended Rocky Springs PCA outside of Harrisville. I told him that he was probably the “most Baptist person ever” to be a part of a PCA church. It’s hard to sum up a life. But Sam loved the world — traveling in it, studying it, teaching about it and writing about it — and he loved his local community. He wasn’t just theoretically interested in his community. He was committed to the work that keeps communities vibrant. And while he taught about dark things such as war and terrorism, he sought to be a light to those within his reach. Eternal rest grant unto Sam, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. as war and terrorism, and he sought to be a light to those within his reach.

Wondering Together John Hatzis

Perspectives Editor Dr. Coulter’s obituary for Dr. Stanton is lovely and kind. For those who could not hear it in person at the memorial service, I hope you read it. While I never knew Dr. Stanton personally, I know there is something profound lost when a small community like ours loses a member, and I am thankful to Dr. Coulter for representing our community well. Now, the Calderwood school faculty will no longer pass Dr. Stanton in the hallway or have him as an office suitemate. Students will not be able to finish their semester with him. His family will feel the loss even more deeply. Loss is worth grieving, but it is hard for me to know how I ought to feel and what

I ought to express. What do I say to fellow students? What do I say to faculty members? I love several professors here, but struggle to know what I ought to say to them. The whole situation got me thinking about the momentum of college life. At Grove, life goes by so quickly that we can find ourselves without space for reflection. When space for reflection does arrive, we are so malformed by busy culture that we use it poorly. This predicament can lead us to leave peripheral losses (losses that touch those around us, but not us personally) unprocessed. Our lives abound with peripheral losses — a friend’s mother gets ill, a student drops out of school amid struggle or a faculty member passes away. Without a rich theology of loss, we will move on from sad news onto the next task. The temptation to move on is understandable: the loss of a pro-

fessor will not make deadlines or responsibilities disappear. Better, says the subconscious, to say a quick prayer and get on with living (whatever that means). Of course, for Dr. Stanton’s family and close friends, their loss cannot be “moved on from.” And it strikes me as wrong for us on the peripheries to not respond to loss in a reflective and meditative way. I experienced my own version of a college loss with the passing of Ms. Roxie, a kitchen worker in MAP dining hall, last year. Her enthusiasm and charm radiated across the hall as she inquired into students’ thoughts on the meal. She made sure to visit Fugitives Dinner every week to say hello. I appreciated Ms. Roxie’s kindness, but I was always too timid and awkward to strike up anything more than polite, brief conversation. But whenever I ate with John Garrett or Austin Zeilstra, they would al-

ways ask Ms. Roxie about her day and how she was doing. These conversations were joyful and encouraging. I always admired that John and Austin did this; it vividly expressed their genuine care for people different than them. I came to regret being controlled by my awkwardness after Ms. Roxie passed away. I missed the chance to have a personal relationship with her. Yet even after the loss of Ms. Roxie, life goes on. MAP dining hall is still open and serving students, only with a little less brightness. There’s something so humbling about how quickly our bodies fade. Our legacies are the same way. No one reading this article will likely have their name echo through human history. Even on this campus, statues fade into the background of landscapes. Names inscribed into rocks grow forgotten. Names on buildings

get renamed or turned into acronyms. The glory other men give us ends in obsolescence. I suppose loss, then, should stir up a longing to know what lasts. Relationships certainly outlast an individual life. But even our loving relationships with other humans cannot conquer death. It is humbling to realize that the highest honor we can ever receive is having Someone Else inscribe our name into the Book of Life. We can, to some degree, earn the statue or the name on the building – but we can never earn our place in the Book. Loss calls us to question, weep and wonder together. When truly lived into, loss reveals vain pretensions and the lusts of the flesh as the hollow things they are. Loss ought to force us to wonder. In my experience, it is the wondering, wounded heart that seeks and finds.

Page 9

Oct. 23, 2026

Faith, freedom and hypocrisy Christopher Corbin Contributing Writer

Almost a year has passed since Grove City College’s Board of Trustees instituted the statement of faith. This was the first such statement in our college’s history. Previously, as President Lingo put it, “faculty members were required to affirm that they would ‘fully support’ the college’s commitment to ‘biblical doctrine, ethics and practice,’” but not sign their names to any particular statement of belief as to what those “biblical doctrines, ethics and practices” were. The time has come to measure the effects of this monumental decision and decide as a community whether it has indeed strengthened us, as the administration claimed it would. The effects of the statement of faith on the faculty of the college were immediate and detrimental. It was first introduced to faculty in a meeting without debate and at which an effective ultimatum was issued — those who had been hired by the college under the old affirmation system had to sign the new statement or cease to be hired to their positions again in the coming years. To add insult to injury, the meeting was held mere weeks before the school year began, providing even less time for any form of meaningful comment or reasonable disagreement. The ultimatum divided faculty into camps, namely, those who were in favor of the new statement and those who were not. Those who were in favor of the statement split into two groups: the staunch partisans of the particular theological and political views espoused by the statement of faith,

whose only complaint was that it didn’t go far enough, and those who agreed with the statement of faith but disliked the way it was being implemented. Similarly, those who didn’t agree with the new statement were also split into two groups: those who couldn’t in good conscience sign the statement, and those who disagreed but would sign anyway out of fear, financial need, hope for its repeal and other personal reasons. As those who couldn’t sign have begun to resign or retire – fired by another name – what are we left with? A faculty divided between those who refused to see the suffering of their fellow faculty members, and who at times aided in it, and those who saw their fellow faculty’s suffering and did nothing, or little, to stop it. The statement of faith has created a situation in which the empathy and kindness of Christ is denied to our brothers and sisters in the faith, by the actions of the administration and apathy on the part of Grovers. The statement of faith has not even succeeded in establishing the conformity of beliefs the administration hoped for. As one member of the last subcategory of faculty put it, “If the college wants to make me wear a clown nose to teach, I’ll do that too.” Those who disagree with what they believe is a nakedly denominational and politically divisive statement of faith continue to teach at the college, and the college will hire new detractors of the statement in the future. So then, what have we obtained through this course of action? Nothing. In short, we are left with a divided faculty community, now made to teach through strict doctrinal conformity, even if many do not truly believe in it. This begs the question: what

was to be gained by shielding ourselves from differing viewpoints? Again, nothing. Teaching is meant to instill in a person the ability to think for themselves, not to tell a person what to think. In creating an atmosphere where teaching is based around political and theological conformity, we stifle the very point of education. Those whose faith and political creed cannot survive contact with others have weak faith, and unfounded or unsupportable political views. If we must stoop so low as to stifle those beliefs that aren’t our own, even within our very faith, in order to justify our worldview, then we show our faith and politics to be just that: weak, unfounded and unsupportable. Our ministry to the world is further weakened by the dividing of our faith and community. Take for example, the case of Sean Rowe. Rowe, a Grove City College alumnus, is the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopalian Church. This man, who was the officiant of the funeral of President Jimmy Carter and is the acknowledged leader of a major Protestant church, would not be allowed to teach at Grove City College, as his beliefs go against the statement of faith. We divide ourselves from parts of the Christian faith, all while steadfastly maintaining that we are non-denominational! What then is the statement of faith? The statement of faith is an exercise in hypocrisy, tearing down the very community it claims to strengthen and breaking the very principles we claim to hold as sacrosanct. We cannot continue to claim to be an institution that supports “faith and freedom,” while censoring those ideas we find distasteful, and shunning those denominations we don’t prefer.

“Poster Efficency” by Elijah Faris

Letter to the Editor “Very little of your digital technology is optimized for your flourishing.” So said Grove City College philosophy professor Christopher Franklin, as the Collegian reported on Oct. 9 (“Prof promotes digital minimalism”). His prescription is a 30-day fast with no social media, no phone alarm and no Google Maps. The instinct is old and honorable. Christians have fasted from good things since the desert fathers, and Professor Franklin plainly cares about the students he watches walking down the stairs with their eyes on their screens. However, digital minimalism is not a fast. It is a creed, and I would call it the gospel of subtraction. It holds that the good life begins with the question of how much is just enough. It gets the disease wrong. The late Stanford scholar René Girard, who came to the Christian faith through his study of great novels, showed that most of our desires are borrowed. We want what we see others want, and the people we imitate soon become our rivals. When those rivalries grow unbearable, the crowd finds someone to blame and expels him. The feed is that crowd, open all night. Delete it for 30 days, and you have not left it. You have only stopped watching, and your rivals will be waiting for you on day 31. Blaming the phone is what crowds have always done. The machine is a perfect scapegoat because it cannot answer back. It also gets the cure wrong.

Christ never asked how much was just enough. He turned water into over a hundred gallons of wine and fed 5,000 men with 12 baskets to spare. He sent the Twelve out to heal the sick, raise the dead and cast out devils (Matthew 10:8). Then he promised that those who believed in him would do greater works than his (John 14:12). He meant it, and we have started. A stranger with a defibrillator brings a man back from death on a sidewalk. In Lausanne, Switzerland, a man paralyzed for over a decade walked again through an implant that carries his thoughts past the break in his spine. Children going blind from an inherited disease have begun to see again through gene therapy. Drugs first made for diabetes are being tested against addiction, and early results suggest they quiet the cravings that hold men in bondage. With superintelligence we can go much farther, toward the dead raised and the demons cast out. A gospel that promises peace and safety in exchange for a smaller life should give any reader of Paul pause (1 Thessalonians 5:3). Christ promised something larger. He does not call us to digital minimalism. He calls us to greater works, with every tool we can build to do them. The answer to minimalism is maximalism, and a new era of Christ’s miracles. Build it. The Rev. Dr. Timothy Rosenberger is an adjunct instructor of business law at Grove City College.

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News

Oct. 23, 2026

Page 10

Alumni recruiters

GCC

Dr. Michael Coulter speaks at Stanton’s memorial service Tuesday.

STANTON

continued from 1

GCC

Career Services at Grove City College held its annual career fair Oct. 9. The college welcomed many different organizations, a large number of which had alumni representatives.

SKILL

continued from 1 tablishment did not require a license or registration, and for many small business owners it provided a semi-reliable means of passive income. However, in June, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that skill games are, in a legal sense, the same as slot machines. The deadline for businesses to remove the machines or obtain a license to operate them was Oct. 13, after which all unlicensed skill games were categorized as illegal. Now businesses that want to keep their skill game machines in operation must apply for a license. For smaller establishments with a limited number of machines, paying for this gambling license would tank any profits the machines could be expected to make. Shawn Ritenour, a Grove City College economics pro-

WEBSITE

continued from 1 foresee possible difficulties in the change. Madison Miller, a copy editor for The Collegian, said that with both an Issuu page and a newspaper, the website might have to work harder to meet readers’ needs. The website also contains a backlog dating back to the fall 2025 semester. Purucker said The Collegian does not plan to add more, citing the “hit or miss” nature of some of the older school newspaper

VISION

continued from 5

point, Vision had downloaded these AIs into his processor, and they now reside in his mindspace. He also has Ultron AI in his mindspace, which he keeps prisoner. Each AI plays a different role in Vision’s day-to-day functioning as he learns about his past, and then a bounty hunter, Paladin, who was hired to kill him, attacks him. At this point in the show, the motive is unclear. With his first unsuccessful attempt, Paladin captures Vision’s son Tommy to lure Vision into a trap, but they manage to escape. The goal of this show, as it continues to air, is to continue Vision’s storyline and

fessor, spoke on the impact of these new regulations for small businesses. “With added regulation comes added cost. If this cost is high enough, businesses just won’t have (skill game machines),” Ritenour said. Ritenour said the immediate effects of the removal of skill game machines would include reduced net income for businesses and decreased traffic into the store, which would lower sales overall. He also discussed the economic implications of setting a precedent with high government regulations. “In general, the more regulation we have, the less prosperous we are,” Ritenour said. “It’s hard to reduce the reach of the government.” Wayne Biddle, a Grove City College business professor, highlighted the importance of maintaining high ethical standards within business to pre-

vent the need for government overreach in the first place. “The myriad of laws that need to be followed by businesses can be seen as an invasive arm of government control,” Biddle said. “But as a business owner, you need to think: do you want to generate profit from a game of chance that could prey on an individual’s weaknesses?” While currently illegal, skill games are far from leaving Pennsylvania, and legislators are still trying to agree on a reasonable tax rate for this new type of gambling. State police have said they will provide a grace period for businesses if they need an extended deadline for the physical removal of the machines. According to Patriot News, police will “provide a timeline for completion of removals (of skill games) that is proportional to the amount of equipment promised to be removed.”

records. Miller noted that a larger backlog would appeal to readers interested in The Collegian over the years or its takes on major world events that occurred during its more than century-long publication history. Purucker said he first proposed the project in 2024, but Business Manager Ian Schartner and Purucker started developing the website in May. “It wasn’t until I became editor-in-chief in May that it got off the ground,” Purucker said. “Ian and I have been working

pretty hard on it since.” Purucker said the new website will provide a greater opportunity for students who want to serve God through journalism. “I believe the website allows us to do much more than we previously could with just the print edition,” he said. Readers can view the website by typing this web address (stuorgs2.gcc.edu/thecollegian) into a search engine or by clicking the website link on The Collegian’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

introduce new characters that could become important pieces of the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” film. This includes Vision’s kids, Tommy and Billy, who have superpowers, all of which are set up to potentially appear in future MCU projects. different AIs Stark created during his time in the MCU. At some point, Vision had downloaded these AIs into his processor, and they now reside in his mindspace. In addition, he also has Ultron AI in his mindspace, which he keeps prisoner. Each AI plays a different role in the day-to-day functioning of Vision as he learns about his past, and then bounty hunter, Paladin, who

was hired to kill him, attacks him. At this point in the show, the motive is unclear. With his first unsuccessful attempt, Paladin captures Vision’s son Tommy to lure Vision into a trap, but they manage to escape. The goal of this show as it continues to air will be to continue the storyline of White Vision and finding his old self, Vision, as well as continuing to introduce new characters into the fold that could become important pieces of the upcoming “Avengers: Doomsday” film. This includes both his kids, Tommy and Billy, who have superpowers, all of which are being set up to potentially make an appearance in future MCU projects.

as the treasurer for the local Salvation Army and was heavily involved with his church, Rocky Springs Presbyterian Church. With a passion for youth sports, he spent years as a referee and a leader of multiple local youth football clubs. In his teaching and leadership, Stanton cared about guiding his students and helping them understand the implications of politics in life. As he wrote in the Grove City College directory, Stanton enjoyed showing students that “to engage in scientific study of political phenomenon means understanding causality; that all political actions were caused by something, and that these political actions cause other outcomes.” Many students who were taking classes with Stanton are now wondering what their future studies will look like. According to Coulter, another political science professor, this is the first time in decades that

EDEN

continued from 5 That distinction matters because Steinbeck’s story is not simply about identifying good and evil; it also asks readers to consider human nature and the possibility of choice. By changing how audiences understand Cathy, the series changes how they may interpret one of the novel’s central moral questions, leaving the ending to even larger options of interpretation. Ultimately, comparing the book and the series requires looking beyond which version is better. The more interesting question is how each medium tells the story and what each allows audiences to understand about its characters. excuse her actions, but it encourages viewers to consider whether a person’s choices can

BRYAN

continued from 5 Compared with the 25-track “With Heaven on Top,” this shorter release feels more concentrated. Eight songs give Bryan less room to wander. Ultimately, “Young Manhood and Other Donatable Organs” is a worthwhile addition to Bryan’s growing catalog.

GROUND

continued from 1

field you play on. Players who can practice on fields that create a similar “hop” to where they compete will be better able to predict the movement of the ball. While it will immediately benefit current students, Romer believes this renovation will have a great marketing allure, saying the better fields may bring in more recruits.

a currently employed professor has died in the middle of a semester. For the remainder of this semester, other faculty members are teaching Stanton’s classes. Stanton’s spring classes, however, will not receive the same treatment. “We’ve made the decision, with the Dean, to cancel Dr. Stanton’s two upper-level classes in the spring,” Caleb Verbois said in an email to students enrolled in those courses. Verbois, chair of the political science department, said in the same email that affected students can take other classes, even if they are listed as full, to prevent any issues with graduation requirements. Students and faculty alike who are experiencing the shock and sadness of the loss of Stanton are reflecting on the finitude of life, including Verbois, who said, “We know and trust in the hope of the resurrection, and because of that we know that Dr. Stanton is now in the presence of our Lord.” be understood through the circumstances that shaped them. That distinction matters because Steinbeck’s story is not simply about identifying good and evil; it also asks readers to consider human nature and the possibility of choice. By changing how audiences understand Cathy, the series changes the way they may interpret one of the novel’s central moral questions, leaving the ending to even larger options of interpretation. Ultimately, comparing the book and the series requires looking beyond which version is better. The more interesting question is how each medium tells the story and what each allows audiences to understand about its characters.

“Lodi When,” “Backwards” and “Lies” offer particularly interesting moments, while “Plainsman” and “Robot Killed the Working Man” show different sides of his musical interests. For fans who return to Bryan’s music because it feels personal, this release gives them another reason to keep listening. Dreves is already thankful for the renovation and foresees big things for Grovers who want to play ball. “We’re just really thankful that people have contributed financially to make this possible,” Dreves said. “We’re appreciative of the opportunity that we’re going to have to have some really nice facilities. And, I think, in our league, we have the potential to have, top to bottom, (the) best facilities in the conference.”

Sports

Oct. 23, 2026

Page 11

Sports at a Glance

Results

Football 52-7 (4-2) W, Hiram

Men’s Soccer 6-1 (11-2-4) W, Washington & Jefferson

Women’s Soccer 1-0 (12-1-3) W, Washington & Jefferson

Women’s Volleyball 3-0 (18-4) W, Bethany

Men’s Golf

4th/11, PAC Fall Championships

Women’s Golf

2nd/10, PAC Fall Championships

Women’s Tennis 7-0 (10-1) GCC ATHLETICS

Noah Gray has been a great asset to the men’s soccer team. He currently has 12 goals this season.

‘Building a living monument’

Sam Fetherlin Staff Writer Soccer has always been integral to the life of Grove City College senior Noah Gray. “From a young age, my brother and I played soccer,” Gray said. “It’s been a big part of my life from when I was a kid. The routine was basically school and then soccer pretty much every day. It was a big part of just growing up.” Now, Gray is preparing to graduate from Grove City College. As he completes his final season, he will leave behind an impressive legacy. Gray ranks among the top 10 for career goals and assists, and last season he helped the Wolverines win their first President’s Athletic Conference (PAC) title in 20 years. While these successes are important, Gray was hesitant to value statistics and wins too much. Instead, he remembered his college decision-making process. Having attended a Christian high school, he prioritized team culture when choosing between Grove City, Messiah University and Gordon College. “After I visited the three schools, the decision was pretty easy,” Gray said. “The Grove City culture, even from just one night with the team, I could tell was special and different from the other schools. That’s what sold me.” Four years later, that team culture remains central to

Gray’s Grove City experience. Gray and the seven other seniors on the team immediately developed a meaningful bond as freshmen. “I know I’m going to be friends with these guys for the rest of my life. They’re going to be in my wedding,” Gray said. “There’s been a constant level of support on and off the field, friendship and love for each other. Despite these highlights, Gray’s freshman year brought adversity as he struggled for playing time. “We talk a lot as a team about identity and where soccer should be in the hierarchy of your life,” Gray said. “Not playing exposed me to the fact that soccer was something I was putting on a pedestal in my life.” This realization helped Gray blossom over the next two seasons, culminating in last year’s PAC title. After the Wolverines lost in the conference final during his first two years at Grove City, the victory felt like overcoming a hurdle. “It was a huge thing,” Gray said. “It was a special team; we were very tight-knit.” Through it all, Gray paired impressive offensive production with a humility that stands out to Wolverines coach Mike Dreves. “Noah is an extremely hard worker and great teammate,” Dreves said. “I am so happy for his success, but more happy for his approach to soccer. He works at it and takes it very

seriously, but genuinely realizes that his identity is Christ, which is the most important growth or accomplishment of all. Not only does he score goals, but he creates them as well, and a little too often, as he just passed by me on the alltime assist list,” said Dreves. As of today, Gray has racked up 35 career goals and 18 career assists. “It’s very hard not to chase those stats and records,” Gray said. “Our big goal as a team is what we call ‘building a living monument.’ It’s not for us or for our glory. Ultimately, it’s for the glory of God. My goal is to be as good of a teammate as I can, to get a win for the team in any way that I can, and ultimately to glorify God and not myself.” As Gray’s final season wraps up, he wants to improve on last year’s NCAA tournament appearance. “My class and the team want to start to put Grove City on the map on a national stage,” he said. “We want to make the Round of 16.” More importantly, though, Gray wants to make the most of the time he has left. “(This last season is) definitely bittersweet. … It feels like yesterday I was just a freshman and had three years ahead of me, but now the season is dwindling, and I only have a couple games left in my career,” Gray reflected. “I’m going to look back on these four years and have nothing but good memories.”

WOMEN

continued from 12 and scored. The Wolverines could not mount a final effort to win. “Last-minute goals are never an easy mental battle to come back from, but they are an opportunity for us to test our mental toughness,” sophomore Ady Waters said. The Wolverines outshot Allegheny 21-8. Of those, 13 were shots on goal for Grove City compared to Allegheny’s three. The Wolverines posted at least four goals in their previous four matches. In its penultimate PAC match against Washington & Jefferson, Grove City relied on senior defender Hannah Mitchell, who netted the game’s only goal for the Wolverines off a free kick in the

MATT DURISKO/MAGNOLIA MEDIA PA

Defender Hannah Mitchell scored the lone goal against W&J. 34th minute. She has scored two set-piece goals this season. The Wolverines outshot the Presidents 15-7. Mills also logged her 25th career win,

tying her for the sixth-most in program history. The victory also marked the monumental 400th in college women’s soccer history. As of Wednesday, Grove City

W, Saint Vincent

Men’s Cross Country

12th/19, SUNY Geneseo Mike Woods Invitational

Women’s Cross Country

4th/17, SUNY Geneseo Mike Woods Invitational

Men’s Swim & Dive

2nd/4, Webster Fall Classic

Women’s Swim & Dive 2nd/4, Webster Fall Classic

Upcoming Football

Oct. 24, 12 p.m. at Waynesburg

Men’s Soccer

Oct. 28, 7 p.m. vs Geneva

Women’s Soccer

Oct. 27, 7 p.m. vs Geneva

Women’s Volleyball

Oct. 24, 1 p.m. vs Franciscan

Men’s Swim & Dive

Oct. 24, 4 p.m. at John Carroll University Heights

Women’s Swim & Dive

Oct. 24, 4 p.m. at John Carroll University Heights

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

Jack Dare Football Newcomer of the Week

Tori Stevenson Women’s Soccer Offensive Player of the Week

Josie Jones Women’s XC Newcomer Player of the Week

Chaeli Keenan Women’s Swim/Dive Swimmer/Diver of the Week

Margaret Bandstra Women’s Swim/Dive Newcomer of the Week

George Witte Men’s Swim/Dive Swimmer/Diver of the Week

Carson May Men’s Swim/Dive Newcomer of the Week

sits atop the PAC standings with one conference match remaining. The Wolverines currently lead second-place Saint Vincent, who has two PAC matches to play, by four points, 26-22. Grove City will claim the No. 1 seed in the PAC tournament with a win against Geneva or if Saint Vincent fails to win out. Looking at the national tournament, 43 of the 64 qualifying spots go to conference champions. The NCAA Performance Index rankings fill the remaining 21. As of the initial Oct. 14 rankings, Grove City is the 26th team in the nation, 25 places ahead of Franciscan – the next highest-ranked PAC

team. Tuesday’s conference finale against Geneva is also Grove City’s second-to-last regular season match. As always, team culture remains a focus for the rest of the season. “I am enjoying how supportive the team has been,” Freshman Taylor Leary said. Leary has started all season and is second on the in minutes played to Mitchell. “From my first game, I received so much encouragement, and I felt as though I have been part of this team for years.” The women will conclude their regular season at home against Penn State Behrend Oct. 30.

Oct. 23, 2026

Football handles Hiram

Sports

Page 12

Wolverines dominate in 52-7 victory Reagan Thomas Staff Writer

Grove City College football continued its impressive run through the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Saturday afternoon, cruising to a 52-7 victory over Hiram College at Robert E. Thorn Field. The game marked the Wolverines’ fourth straight win and improved their record to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in the conference. The Wolverines controlled the game on both sides of the ball, piling up 434 total yards while limiting Hiram’s offense to 211 yards. Grove City surpassed the 200-yard mark in both passing and rushing, finishing with 233 passing yards, 201 rushing yards and 31 first downs. Offensively, sophomore running back Braxtyn Brown led the way with two rushing touchdowns and 89 yards on 15 carries. Senior wide receivers Darviae Gray, Seth McGroerty and Luke Shuagis each found the end zone through the air, while senior running back Sutton Ellis added a rushing score. Quarterback Mike Hollomon completed 19 of 31 passes for 187 yards and two touch-

downs, helping orchestrate an attack that never allowed Hiram back into the game. The Wolverines first struck midway through the opening quarter when Brown capped a drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Just minutes later, Hollomon connected with Gray for a six-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 14-0. Grove City continued its fast start when senior safety Dominic DiNinno stepped in front of a pass from Hiram quarterback Sean Tejeda and returned the interception for a 77-yard touchdown, pushing Grove City’s lead to 21-0 on the first play of the second quarter. “Before the play even started, I expected it to be a pass play because they were not running the ball too much against us,” DiNinno said. “My man ran about a 10-yard out, and once I felt like I was in a good position on him, I looked back at the quarterback and saw that he underthrew the ball. Once I caught it, I had to take advantage of the opportunity and get points for the team.” The defensive touchdown energized an already dominant Wolverine squad. “I think it gave us a lot of momentum,” DiNinno said.

Wide receiver Darviae Gray receives a pass from quarterback Mike Hollomon. “Even though we were already up by 14 points before that, big plays like that always give the team a lot of energy, no matter what the score is.” After a 31-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Brady Lane, Hollomon found McGroerty for a four-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the first half, sending Grove City into the locker room with a commanding 31-0 advantage. Brown added his second touchdown of the afternoon on a nine-yard run in the third quarter. Ellis followed with a two-yard score early in the fourth quarter, and backup quarterback Bryce Graham connected with Shuagis for a 23-yard touchdown pass, Graham’s first of his collegiate career. While the offense filled the stat sheet, Grove City’s defense also delivered one of its strongest performances of the sea-

son. The Wolverines recorded a season-high five sacks and consistently pressured Tejeda, who entered the matchup as the conference’s leading passer. Hiram managed just 149 passing yards and converted 12 first downs. DiNinno credited the unit’s success to a strong week of preparation. “It all starts in the week of practice that we had,” he said. “All week the linebackers and defensive linemen were focusing on how they could grow in their vision and how they could be successful on game day. When we got to Saturday, it came easy for them because they put in the work all week long.” DiNinno believes the group’s focus on creating impact plays has fueled the success. He also highlighted the growth of a unit that has improved significantly during the team’s fourgame winning streak.

DOUG NASHTOCK

“We have a lot of young guys on our defense, so every single week they are learning more and more,” DiNinno said. “Injuries have been a big part of our season, so a lot more guys have had to step up and play a much bigger role. More guys are learning how to play in our defense, and we are all making each other better every day.” Grove City now turns its attention to a road matchup Saturday at Waynesburg, looking to extend its winning streak to five games and remain undefeated in conference play. “The biggest challenge this week is making sure we are where our feet are,” DiNinno said. “Waynesburg is a really good team, and if we are not locked in all week, the outcome could go a way we don’t want it to go. If we stay anchored in our identity, it will allow us to play fast, full and free.”

Senior Day sweep solidifies strong record Women

unbeaten in PAC

Garrett Gess Staff writer

Grove City College women’s tennis earned the No. 2 seed in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference tournament after sweeping Saint Vincent at home, finishing the regular season 10-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play. The team honored seniors Isabel Kleiman and Jacqueline Marriott before the match. The Wolverines have had a great season so far and look to make the next big step. “Throughout the season, Coach Shea has emphasized the importance of our mentality each day. She got us really thinking about the way we are thinking during practice, lifts, and matches,” sophomore Grace Stitt said. “Instead of simply going through the motions, Coach is encouraging us to take advantage of every opportunity with a positive, growth mindset. “I think part of the reason why this season has been so successful is that everyone on the team is headed towards one common goal — to glorify Christ in everything we do. With his strength, we have been able to pull out some impressive wins this season.” The Wolverines swept all three doubles matches to take the doubles point against the Bearcats. Sophomores Grace Yurko and Emma Flanigan won 6-1 in the first doubles match, while Stitt and freshman Reagan Dougherty earned a 6-1 victory to follow.

Christopher Shaw Staff Writer

GCC ATHLETICS

The women’s tennis team swept Saint Vincent on Saturday and honored its two seniors, Isabel Kleiman (left) and Jacqueline Marriott (right). Sister duo Jacqueline Marriott and sophomore Jenna Marriott then completed the doubles sweep with a 6-0 win. The Wolverines continued their dominance in singles, winning all six matches in straight sets. Stitt claimed a 6-0, 6-2 victory, while Yurko won 6-0, 6-2, and Dougherty added a 6-0, 6-0 win. In the second half of singles, junior Iris Kiehl earned a 6-0, 6-1 victory, sophomore Blaire Beatty won 6-0, 6-0 and Kleiman completed the sweep with a 6-0, 6-0 win. The Wolverines aim to build on their strong regular-season performance by winning the conference title against Allegheny, with the winner qualifying for the NCAA cham-

pionships. With a title victory, Grove City would extend its storied history with its 32nd PAC championship, a conference record by far. While the Wolverines’ last title was three years ago, this year’s team looks almost completely different from the 2023 squad. All this year’s starters were still in high school when Grove City won its last PAC title. With a victory, the 20262027 team could create its own legacy. “As we look towards the end of the season, it is clear that competing in the PAC championship is going to take endurance,” Stitt said. “At this point in the season, our bodies and minds are tired, and it’s going to take hard work to stay ded-

icated to the goal of winning the PAC; however, with the grit of this team, I am confident that we can end on top.” While Grove City lost to Allegheny 5-2 during the regular season, the Wolverines defeated Saint Francis, who beat Allegheny 5-2. The championship rematch between the Wolverines and Gators could be a very compelling match between two competitive teams. The standout Yurko was undefeated in eight PAC singles matches this season. Additionally, Dougherty and Beatty went 7-1 in PAC singles. The Wolverines earned a bye in the quarterfinal round and hosted their semifinal match against No. 3 Washington & Jefferson Thursday.

The Grove City College women’s soccer team traveled to face the Allegheny Gators for a 1-1 tie Saturday and defeated Washington & Jefferson 1-0 Tuesday. The Wolverines and the Gators remained undefeated in Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) play. In the seventh minute of the first game, a senior defender Megan Tischler shot was deflected into the middle of the field. Tori Stevenson collected it with her back to the goal, spun and fired a long shot from outside the box over the keeper and into the top corner. The unassisted effort was her 13th of the season in 15 matches. Grove City (11-1-2, 8-0-2 PAC) took the early 1-0 lead. The minutes continued ticking by as Grove City and Allegheny (6-5-3, 4-0-4) traded possessions and shots. Grove City piled on 20 more shots but could not find the back of the net. With darkness falling and only six minutes remaining, Allegheny’s Madeline Schneider drove up the pitch and slid a perfect through ball into the box. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Mills closed down from goal, but the Allegheny striker slipped the ball around her

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