The
Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
HOMECOMING!
Friday, Oct. 9, 2026 Vol. 112 No. 5
Grove faculty teaching recognized Julia Kramer News Editor
LUKE PAGLIA
Homecoming King and Queen, Bryce Pope and Jasmine Hoagland, attend the 2026 Homecoming parade. Themed “Decades,” the parade wrapped around campus and featured floats from the college’s Greek groups. The day saw numerous class reunions from 19662021, as well as the annual football game and firework finale.
Parkhurst persists through struggles Editor-in-Chief
Liliana Shadlow Staff Writer
Chick-Fil-A employee hands student her meal. “Everyone has different reasons for leaving, but from what I’ve heard, it is usually due to either management, the high-stress environment mixed with a lot of responsibilities, lack of employees, which makes shifts more stressful, or any combination of those.” Parkhurst Dining’s staffing has been “good,” per Parkhurst Dining Supervisor Jennifer Fisher. Adequate staffing can depend on the student workers Parkhurst Dining has each year. Fisher said new students working for Parkhurst Dining this semester have helped. “We get new students com-
JULIA KRAMER
ing in and applying, and then once they graduate, then we need new ones coming in,” Fisher said. “Yeah, we love to have the students come in, so then they get to know what’s all involved. … It is enjoyable working here. It may not look like it, but we do; we have a great time here. We’re always hiring.” Parkhurst Dining also replaced the ice cream freezer in Hicks Café last week after a Grove City College Dining Instagram post said the previous one was “damaged beyond repair.”
PARKHURST 2
TEACHING 10
Prof promotes digital minimalism
Matthew Purucker Parkhurst Dining has largely solved staffing problems and other concerns around Grove City College, but some issues linger. Chick-fil-A has gone through several changes this year, including implementing new hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and reopening kiosks that had been closed for the first few weeks of the semester. The schedule changed because Chick-fil-A does not have enough full-time or general employees, according to Chick-fil-A Front of House employee Daniel Griffith. [NH1.1] This issue was why students could not use the Chick-fil-A kiosks this semester until recently. “Early in this semester, we only had a few people in the kitchen, so if we have two people on register and then open two or three kiosks, the kitchen gets a large influx of orders that can’t be handled,” Griffith said. Griffith has worked at the Grove City College Chick-fil-A since it opened in September 2023 and has been a Chickfil-A employee for over five years. The senior mechanical engineering major said staffing was “a big problem” early in the semester. “This, however, has been an issue since our location opened,” Griffith said. “We have been through a lot of shift leaders and managers that usually only stay between a few months to a year.
Grove City College earned its highest ranking in the U.S. News Report for Best Colleges of 2027 for its commitment to teaching, despite fluctuating rankings in other categories. The Report asked college presidents, provosts and admission deans from across 1,500 different colleges which campuses had “faculty with a remarkably strong commitment to undergraduate teaching” and tallied the total of nominations each institution received. Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Peter Frank found these results represented his observations. “The men and women who serve this college are unparalleled in their dedication as teachers and scholars,” Frank said. “This is what makes Grove City such a special institution; the faculty believe that providing our students with
“Very little of your digital technology is optimized for your flourishing,” Grove City College philosophy professor Christopher Franklin said Monday. In a world that seems consumed with technology, Franklin offered a different approach: digital minimalism. “Not a lot of us need convincing that digital technology produces a problem,” Franklin said. However, the problem many people face is wondering what to do about their overuse of, or even addiction to, the digital universe. Facing a room full of eager listeners, Franklin asked students to consider two questions about their technology use. Does your digital technology support human flourishing, and if so, does it “strongly” support human flourishing? According to Franklin, the addictive algorithms, constant social comparison and hours spent caught up in online relationships are the result of over-immersion in the online world. Franklin noted that the real danger with technology use isn’t what we’re doing, but what we aren’t doing. Every hour spent online is an hour not spent developing real-life relationships, learning a new hobby or cultivating the mind. “Technology is only important insofar as it opens up what
we can do,” Franklin said. What we can do with technology can be significantly less FRANKLIN important than what we could do if we took time to unplug, look around and focus on the here and now. Franklin encouraged everyone to do a 30-day technology fast — cutting out unnecessary tech for 30 days. No social media, no phone alarm clocks, no Google Maps. Anything that isn’t needed for “professional success” or “basic daily survival” would need to be deleted or, if you have an incredible amount of willpower, avoided for 30 days. While Franklin acknowledged the withdrawal people would experience initially, he emphasized the restfulness that would eventually come with a break from the constant noise of the online world. Students seemed to receive “In Defense of Digital Minimalism” well. “Given that our lives are infiltrated with both good and bad technology, I think it is very important to balance and discern what is good technology and what is practical and useful, while also maintaining a healthy balance in recognizing when it has been bad for our souls,” senior philosophy major Kaitlyn Rumbuc said.
FRANKLIN 10
The pursuit of excellence
On Megan Basham: Time heals some wounds
Five TDs for football in conference opener
Paglia reflects on misunderstood idea of excellence
Basham’s talk reveals journalism’s complications
Hollomon ties program record, Wolverines win
EDITORIAL 2
PERSPECTIVES 8
SPORTS 12
Editorial
Oct. 9, 2026
Page 2
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Midterms don’t need madness Believe it or not, Grove City College is about halfway through its fall semester. The fall midterm time, generally this week through the week after fall break, can be an interesting time of year. I have always felt it is a time to assess where I am in many parts of my life. My grades often come to mind now, but other aspects of my life are more important to focus on. My habits regarding my progress in my relationships with God and others seem the most significant, but various tasks I have been neglecting also tend to surface during these weeks. And I should improve them. As this edition of The Collegian publishes, nine weeks remain until the first day of finals, eight weeks not counting Thanksgiving recess. Plenty will change. The temperature outside will get colder, classes will probably get harder or something will break and become a minor or major inconvenience. But the incoming gloominess of midterms, finals, the weather or anything else you can imagine can’t also change all the good you have done. Yes, you can focus on the bad, as I often do — and we should remove the bad from our lives — but we should keep the good, the fun, the excitement, the friends, the fellowship and the delightful as part of our college lives. College is all about balancing our time, and if we can keep our commitments balanced through these remaining two months, I’d say we did well. And perhaps some pleasant surprises may be in store. Thanks for coming to my TED Talk; I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you read the rest of the midterm edition of The Collegian. I promise it’s great.
Matthew Purucker Editor-in-Chief
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
Sam Mitchell
Sam Fetherlin Liliana Shadlow Christopher Shaw Reagan Thomas
Comic Strip Artist
Advisory Nick Hildebrand
Advertising
Staff Advisor
Ian Schartner
Business Manager
Steven Mauch
Assistant Business 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.
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KramerJR@gcc.edu THE GREEN EYESHADE AWARD
GCC
The pursuit of excellence Luke Paglia
Managing Editor
“Excellence is being able to perform at a high level over and over again. You can hit a half-court shot once. That’s just the luck of the draw. If you consistently do it ... that’s excellence,” Jay-Z once said. While Jay-Z may not be the best person to take advice from, I have lived by this idea of excellence for most of my life. In my family, I am the oldest child. For those of you who are also the oldest, you know that often comes with a lot of pressure. While most of the time it was assumed and not actually there, I felt pressure to perform at a high level in everything I did, set the perfect example for my two younger brothers, never let my parents down and be the perfect Christian son my parents were raising. Let me say, that was exhausting. For many years, I played baseball. On all my teams leading up to high school, my dad was my coach, so he saw everything. Every practice, every game, I felt the need to perform exceptionally. Mistakes were not an option. I felt the need to be perfect. This was justified by the fact that I convinced myself I was pursuing excellence on the baseball field. It didn’t end there. I played baseball for my first two years of high school as well, where the pressure became even greater because the competition became greater. This usually resulted
in many nights of tears because of the stress that came from this, but again, that is normal when we pursue excellence, right? I finally decided to stop playing baseball so that I could focus on academics. Of course, you would think that made everything better — no more stress from trying to pursue excellence in baseball by performing at the highest level. Wrong. It only got worse. I began to find my identity in pursuing academic excellence. While it certainly is not a bad thing to care about and do well in school, when one’s whole world becomes engulfed by the idea that one’s value and worth are defined by the letter on a sheet of paper, it is no longer the pursuit of excellence. Outside the classroom wasn’t any better. I was very involved with religious extracurriculars: FCA, youth group, church and serving. I did Bible studies, led groups and even shared a few messages. I seemingly had it all together and was working to pursue excellence in the eyes of God. Except I wasn’t; that’s what I wanted people to see. In reality, I was working to achieve more and “perform” at a higher level in these Christian circles. I wish I could say that this all ended when I came to Grove City and magically understood what excellence really was. But that is not the case. During my freshman year, these false pursuits of excellence overran my life until it was just too much. After much time, and prayer and counsel from others, I came to under-
stand what excellence really was and how the pursuit of Biblical excellence is what we all ought to strive for. The Greek word for excellence is “arete” and only occurs five times in the New Testament. That is because this word reflects the idea of excellence I have talked about this whole time, trying to perfect ourselves based on our own ability and achievement. The more commonly used Greek word when dealing with Biblical excellence is “telos,” which describes something’s purpose. In this context, pursuing Biblical excellence is recognizing that God has made us for a purpose, and moving toward that purpose is moving toward excellence. I wish I could say I have perfectly achieved this mindset of excellence, but that would be me falling back into my old ways of trying to be excellent at pursuing excellence. What I can say is that when you lean on God, trust that He has a purpose for you and you work to fulfil that purpose, it is rewarding and brings so much joy, not the stress and anxiety that come when trying to pursue our own man-centered version of excellence. As I opened with a quote from Jay-Z that poorly depicts what God intended excellence to be, I felt it would only be appropriate to close with God’s word to show his true intention. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them,” Ephesians 2:10.
Help Wanted: Photo Chief
This week’s award goes to staff writer Liliana Shadlow for writing two excellent articles and remaining committed to strong journalism standards. Keep up the great work Liliana. The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.
Luke Paglia, standing third from the left, is recognized at 2026 recognition convocation alongside other high achieving students.
LILIANA SHADLOW
Interested in taking photos for The Collegian? Enjoy designing and collaging photos? The Collegian is now hiring a Photo Chief for the 2026-27 academic year. If interested, please email your interest and some samples of your photography to Editor-in-Chief Matthew Purucker (PuruckerMT24@gcc.edu) and Managing Editor Luke Paglia (PagliaLR23@gcc.edu).
Community
Oct. 9, 2026
Page 3
An offer you can’t refuse Annual event brings 150+ employers to campus Madelyn Taliaferro Contributing Writer
Grove City College’s Career Services Office hosted its annual career fair Wednesday, bringing in more than 140 organizations to meet, engage with and recruit students. The event included 119 companies and 34 graduate schools, with more than 300 recruiters in attendance, including over 100 Grove City alumni. Joanne Smith, assistant director of career services, has coordinated the Career Fair since 2020. According to Smith, this year’s fair was the largest of the past four years, making it a significant event for both CSO and attending students. She encourages all students of all class years and ages to go, as no matter what field students want to enter, practicing putting one’s name and resume out and talking to recruiters is a valuable lifelong skill. As the largest recruiting event of the year, the career fair was surrounded by a flurry of activity. In the weeks leading up to the Fair, the Career Services Office (CSO) led resume workshops, interview prep and even hosted recruiters for on-campus interviews. The night before the Fair, CSO hosted a “Mix & Mingle” event where students could meet recruiters in a more informal setting before the official fair began. Several recent alumni returned to the Career Fair, ready to recruit the next generation of Grove City College students. Owen Gensemer, class of 2026, represented the
company for which he now works and recommended the fair. “The career fair was a great opportunity to get my foot in the door and have GYF (Grossman Yanak & Ford LLP) put a face to my resume,” Gensemer said. “It helped me land an internship spot, which led to a full-time audit position.” The entire IM gym was filled with career fair activity. Besides the recruiter tables, there were various refreshment stations, student tables for regrouping and note-taking and a LinkedIn photo booth station. At almost every booth, conversations were taking place. Recruiters and students swapped resumes for company merch and built connections for the current hiring cycles. For students actively looking for summer internships and full-time positions, opportunities do not end with the career fair. All recruiters who attended have positions posted on Handshake, the college’s preferred job platform. Students can sort jobs by field, year in school, location and position type, including internships and full-time roles. CSO is a resource for students year-round, not just at the Career Fair. The office hosts events, helping students explore majors and internships, resume and interview prep, grad school advice and more. If any of these resources could help with a calling and career journey, those interested can book an appointment on Handshake or email Career Services at career@gcc.edu.
Students explore the PLC during the Career Service Office’s annual Career and Internship Fair.
GCC
Students explore digital frontiers Olivia Emerick Copy Chief
ABBY BONAQUIST
Senior Abby Bonaquist presents on her social media internship this summer for Portage Learning.
As social media dominates the cultural landscape, Grove City College students prepare to enter the workforce with a thorough understanding of the digital world. Before the 21st century, students did not need to know how to post Reels, write engaging Instagram captions or respond to negative comments online. Now, in the digital age, these skills are useful. Brands are searching for people who understand how to use social media to its fullest potential. Tava Derr got a job with Parkhurst Dining Services after graduating in May 2026. She previously worked there as a marketing and engagement intern and Parkhurst Dining asked her to return as a marketing coordinator. Derr, who graduated with a degree in communication arts, said she was drawn to social media marketing because she “wanted a role where (she) could make things.” “And so, (with) social media, you can take pictures,
which I love,” Derr said. “You can make videos. You can make graphics. It’s kind of everything that I enjoy doing in one space.” Another Grove City student, senior Abby Bonaquist, spent this summer working as a social media intern for Portage Learning. “I helped brainstorm things for the larger marketing department. … I helped create carousel posts or come up with TikTok ideas,” Bonaquist said. “I acted in some TikToks, filmed them, managed their calendar scheduling system.” Both students credited the college with giving them the skills to succeed in these positions. Bonaquist found the social media writing course she took with communication arts professor Kimberly Miller especially helpful when dealing with online negativity. “In that class we talked about dealing with conflict … or dealing with rude comments online,” Bonaquist said. “Part of my job with my summer internship was to reply to the Google reviews, and sometimes those would be bad.”
Bonaquist could take the tools she learned in this course to handle and respond to these reviewers, “reaching out to them and truly apologizing and saying sorry for their experience,” while also “making a good impression for other people.” Both Derr and Bonaquist acknowledged the importance of maintaining a balance of knowing what is happening on social media without sinking all their time into it. “I actually got an app blocker thing, so I try to limit myself to 9 to 5. … And then after that, in the evenings, no social media,” Derr said. Besides its addictive nature, there are other negatives to being on social media. “You have to remember that people will only post what they want to post. … People are crafting these messages and editing things,” Bonaquist said. “I think girls especially will look online and be like, well, this girl’s doing it all. This girl has perfect balance, perfect body, perfect everything.
DIGITAL 4
What’s Fresh at the Grove? In MAP South Lobby...
In Ketler Auditorium...
Across campus...
The Riverside Concert
Orchestra & Wind Ensemble Concert
STEM Discovery Day
Friday, October 9 7 p.m.
Friday, October 9 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 10 9 - 2 p.m.
This folk trio from Southern California will be bringing
Sit back and enjoy the repertoire that the orchestra and wind
Grove City College Admissions is inviting high school stu-
thoughtful songrwiting and beautiful harmonies to cam-
ensemble student musicians have been working on since the
dents interested in STEM degrees to come and explore
pus in this intimate concert!
start of the year!
what GCC has to offer!
Page 4
Oct. 9, 2026
Doctor Love
Home and away I’m a freshman, and I’ve been dating a girl from high school since our sophomore year. She decided to go to a big state school in our home state, and I haven’t seen her since arriving at Grove City. It’s been harder than I thought to maintain long-distance, and I constantly feel like she is putting me on the back burner. Our calls are short, and it’s awkward to try to connect with her about college things because our experiences are so different. Meanwhile, I’ve gotten to know a girl in one of my classes who is really great. I know very little about her, which is scary since my only other girlfriend is someone from my hometown that I have known for years. But should I take the leap, break up with my current girlfriend and ask this new girl out? Dating a non-Grover!? Yuck! (Just kidding … I knew that would ruffle a few feathers …) Part of my answer is conditional on the “home state.” Is this home state outside of Pennsylvania? If so, how far? There’s a big difference between being from Ohio or Maryland, where the campus is a day’s drive away, versus California or Florida. If you are within a six-hour drive of your girlfriend, call her and tell her you’d love to visit for a weekend. Make the drive and tour the campus. See all her favorite sights. Meet her friends. Get a sense of her academic and community obligations. Go to her church. Then, go home, reflect and debrief with your roommate. If you are not within a six-hour drive, reach out and ask her to block out an hour every week to call – say, Monday at 9 p.m. Also, make a plan to text a check-in sometime during the week. Resisting these recommendations? Think they are too much? It may be because you’re not as committed to this relationship as you think. If she resists these recommendations, or if she thinks they are too much, she may not be as committed either. Long-distance relationships require, above all, commitment. Lacking that commitment is not necessarily wrong, but delaying the inevitable breakup by denying your lack of commitment is. To be clear, your girlfriend deserves some grace. She’s off meeting new people and absorbing a new culture. She is changing, but maybe the growing differences you sense are reconcilable. However, if being her boyfriend feels like a chore and you are getting the cold shoulder, it might be time to start chatting with the girl in class. Auspiciously,
Dr. Love, MD
Debate team triumphs at first tournament Maya O’Dell
Contributing Writer Eighteen of the past 19 years, Grove City College’s debate team has won an individual or team national championship, and this year hopes to continue the tradition[NH1.1]. In the first tournament of the year, the team had a second-place finisher and a champion in two individual competition brackets. Faculty coaches Jason Edwards and Andrew Harvey lead the college debate team, and they invite both those with extensive debate or public speaking experience and those new to the world of arguing for the truth with conviction, grace and skill. This year, the team has already welcomed a few new teammates, some of whom have already joined returning members to participate in their first tournament of the season. According to Elias Freire, a longstanding and experienced member, time debating is more than a fun hobby. “It’s definitely contributed to my education and learning,” Freire said. Weekly team practices use lectures, practice rounds and drills to train team members in proper argumentation and integrity of thinking and speaking. In a field that can tend toward relativism, the Grove City team stands for the truth and strives to win debates honorably. All debaters are required to attend two of the three practices that take place each week to participate in weekend tournaments. Edwards, the head coach, is
Debate team coaches Jason Edwards (professor of Education) and Andrew Harvey (professor of English) pose in front of a barbeque restaurant. The debate team frequently celebrates wins with barbeque outings, and they joke that they are also the barbeque club. a professor of education at the college, and Harvey, the assistant coach, is a professor of English. The team loves them, and Freire summarized their impact by saying, “They take the time to get to know us but also are very knowledgeable and also very helpful for preparing for debate tournaments and … prepping our cases.” Those interested in debate or what the team is all about can stop by a debate practice on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday in SHAL 103 from 7-8 p.m. The team is always excited to welcome newcomers, and the coaches are always looking for new talent. Bethany Kuechly, a student in one of Harvey’s HUMA classes, received an invitation to join after presenting on debate in class. Although she had
no prior experience, the team was excited to have her join. “Debate team encourages me to know the names of those in office and what they stand for,” team member Sophie Spilak said. “This club has been an excellent way for me to engage positively with current events and remain aware of larger national and global issues.” Team members are given the chance to hone their knowledge of various topics while also having a great time. Freire explained that the team has become great friends even outside regular debate activities, but they can also enjoy their debate trips by having their traditional barbecue stop at the end of tournament trips. “We’re also the barbecue club,” Freire said.
GCC
Tournaments can be online or in-person. Though, according to Freire, the team generally prefers the excitement of in-person debating over virtual face-offs. Live debates are usually two-day affairs, so the team packs up and hits the road on Friday afternoon to reach the opposing school in time to check in and compete Friday night. They get up Saturday to compete again throughout the day before heading back to Grove City Saturday night. The college funds the debate team, so students can participate in these tournaments at no personal cost, which the team appreciates. And, Freire said, “It doesn’t hurt that we win a lot.”
DIGITAL
Marching band sets the pace
continued from 3 “You just have to remember that, I mean, a lot of times it’s just these people’s jobs to look like that, and they’re getting paid to literally look perfect for social media.” According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 70% of American adults have some social media. According to Derr, social media is a fast, easy and cheap way to reach vast numbers of people. “It’s where the people are,” Derr said. “And we, the marketers, have to go where the people are.”
Interested in Community? Join our team!
LUKE PAGLIA
The marching band led Saturday’s Homecoming parade and brought energy and enthusiasm to the crowds of alumni, students and community members.
For more info about writing for Community, email
BrownAH21@gcc.edu
Word on the street Staying on campus for fall break? Word on the street is there’s lots of fun fall activities to try and day trips to explore in the area! Drive to Niagara Falls, Fallingwater by Frank cross into Canada, and Lloyd Wright is 2 hours walk through Queen away and is a piece of Victoria Park! architectural beauty that happens to be gorgeous in the fall!!! Lindsay Byrd ‘28 Molly Miller, ‘27 Irons Mills Farmstead in New Wilmington - it’s Amish Country, which is fun to tour, and there’s a pumpkin patch! Liz Fraser ‘27
Try Lottie’s Coffee Shop in New Wilmington! Always good to find a place beyond Collage and Beans! Madeline McMahon ‘27
Dr. Graham says that the Cleveland Museum of Art is one of the most comprehensive collections he has ever seen, with artifact from every major civilization! Anastasia Brown ‘27
Gettysburg because can you believe we live on historic ground? And our country is really cool! Elizabeth Swan ‘28
McConnell’s Mill - go down to the mill and hike to see the waterfalls! Rebecca Froyd ‘27
Oct. 9, 2026
Entertainment
Page 5
AI in music
Not the ‘Endgame’?
Randall Elvin
Entertainment Editor
Luke Paglia
Managing Editor It is the year 2019. You have been waiting since April 2018 for the final installment in the Avengers franchise, “Avengers: Endgame.” You sit through three hours to see Steve Rogers travel back in time and get his dance with Peggy Carter. Then the screen goes black. The film “Avengers: Endgame” ended by concluding the storylines of many original Avengers with the thought that they would not be returning to the big screen. Of course, we still see newer members of the franchise getting successful movies and paving their paths in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). A few years after the events of “Avengers: Endgame,” Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige announced an upcoming new class of Avengers movies, beginning with “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty.” Originally set to release in 2026, “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” was scrapped in 2024 because of a leading actor’s legal issues. They then announced its replacement, “Avengers: Doomsday.” “Avengers: Doomsday” will dive into the story of the infamous Fantastic Four villain Dr. Doom. This movie is set to release in December and is the most highly anticipated premiere since “Avengers: Endgame.” “Avengers: Endgame” was the last time we expected to see the mainstream Marvel actors like Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr. in the MCU. The writers began focusing on characters like Peter Parker (Spider-Man), played by Tom Holland, Loki, played by Tom Hiddleston and Sam Wilson
Thanos attacks the Avengers using the infinity guanlet. (Falcon/Captain America), played by Anthony Mackie. Holland starred in a few solo movies, Hiddleston got two seasons of a TV show and Mackie was the face of a TV show and a film. These characters were set to be the future of the MCU. When the writers changed to start working on “Avengers: Doomsday,” they had to release a cast to the public. Marvel unveiled who would play Dr. Doom at the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con. It was none other than the actor who formerly played Iron Man in the MCU for 10 years, Robert Downey Jr. This came as one of the biggest shocks to many MCU fans, but fans quickly came to love the decision.
As the cast list continued to be released, familiar names like Mackie and Hiddleston were expected. But a name that caught many by surprise was Chris Evans. He was thought to have retired from the MCU after playing Captain America for seven years. This created its own problem: how would they bring his character back into the storyline after concluding his story at the end of “Avengers: Endgame”? Marvel Studios re-released “Avengers: Endgame” in theaters with an extra five minutes of added footage. These scenes brought back characters who were seemingly out of the story so they could be part of the biggest MCU movie since 2019.
MARVEL STUDIOS
The first extended scene is of the original closing scene from the 2019 “Avengers: Endgame.” Rogers and Carter dance “happily ever after” when the screen would typically go black. Instead, the film continues, and there is a knock at the door. In walks Loki, who is leaving his post at the Temporal Loom, where he is holding all of time together, as we see in the TV show “Loki.” Loki says that he needs to help them with the timeline. Then the first of the extended scenes cuts off. This reintroduces both Rogers and Carter back into the upcoming storyline in “Avengers: Doomsday.” The next scene is a
ENDGAME 10
‘Wondering’ what he’s been up to? Randall Elvin
Entertainment Editor At 76, most people have set their careers behind them. Retirement usually means taking it slow and living life apart from their job. Elton John no longer tours. Cher has announced retirement tours, while Barbra Streisand has stepped down from touring and recording. Stevie Wonder has defied the patterns of his musician peers. He continues to perform and release music at 76 years young. On Sept. 28, Wonder released four songs from 1976. These unvaulted songs would have been part of his album “Songs in the Key of Life” from that same year. Instead, Wonder released a foursong EP that allows listeners to hear what was under wraps for over 50 years. For those unaware of Wonder’s place in music history, his career is difficult to overstate. He remains one of the most influential 20th century artists. Songs such as “Superstition,” “Sir Duke,” “Isn’t She Lovely” and “I Wish” helped make him a household name.
Stevie Wonder Performs in 2026. His work as a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist established him as far more than a performer. “Songs in the Key of Life” produced some of Wonder’s biggest hits on the way to becoming one of the most iconic albums of the decade. It won Album of the Year in 1976 at the Grammys and has continued to influence musicians long after its release. Yet Stevie Wonder thought the album had more to give after half a century.
TICKETMASTER
The new EP opens with “It’s Easier,” a smooth, bossa nova-influenced song about the difficulty of walking away from love. “My Life Story of Love” follows with a more romantic sound and was co-written with former Supremes member Susaye Greene. “I Can See the Sun in Late December” takes a more reflective approach, pairing a slower sound with themes of hope and looking toward better days. The final track, “I’m Into Livin’,” brings the energy
back up with a funkier sound and lyrics about leaving an old lifestyle behind and embracing a new commitment. Wonder’s cultural footprint extends beyond his music. His blindness has become one of the most recognizable parts of his public identity, to the point that his name is frequently used as shorthand in popular culture for someone who cannot see. Rap artists have repeatedly referenced Wonder’s blindness in their lyrics, while comedians and television shows have made similar jokes. Wonder himself has played along with the reference, once joking about being able to “see 20/20 in the dark.” That is especially relevant for younger listeners today. A college student in 2026 might recognize Stevie Wonder from a lyric, a television joke or a reference to blindness before recognizing “Superstition” or “Songs in the Key of Life.” Beyond the cultural shorthand, Wonder has been making music for more than six decades, spanning many musical eras.
Writing music isn’t for everyone. Music can take anywhere from days to years to make. But now it can take … minutes? You didn’t write a melody, you didn’t provide any vocals and you certainly didn’t play an instrument. Yet there is a complete song made according to the prompts you gave AI. Is that music? Two recent developments have emerged from this burning question. One is from Universal Music Group who announced a licensed AI music platform in partnership with ElevenLabs. According to their announcement, “The platform is intended to allow fans to create songs, remixes, mashups and new interpretations using participating artists’ music, with the companies emphasizing licensing and compensation for artists and songwriters.” Music fans can experiment and interact with their favorite artists’ songs and put a new spin on them. Additionally, they can simply use the built-in AI to create songs of their own which can be shared on the platform for the next user to remix. The second comes from Australia and seems to contrast with Universal’s approach. The Australian Recording Industry Association, or ARIA, announced that entirely AI-generated recordings would no longer be eligible for its official music charts or ARIA Awards. However, they qualified that music that uses AI as a supporting tool can still be eligible if it is mainly human made, which raises the question of how much can AI be used and how much use would disqualify it. The decision came after an AI-generated version of Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” gained significant attention in Australia and reached the top 10 of the country’s music charts. To whom does the song’s credit go? The person who wrote the prompt? The company that created the AI? The AI itself? AI could give people without traditional musical training the ability to experiment with songwriting and production. It could provide artists with another creative tool, make certain parts of music production more accessible and give fans new ways to interact with their favorite musicians. At the same time, musicians have legitimate reasons to be cautious. AI is trained from past songs, so theoretically all AI-generated songs are borrowing from other people’s work. Some argue that this is unacceptable and amounts to stealing while others note that most musicians are inspired by other artists anyway. Universal is betting on a future where AI becomes a tool, while Australia wants the era of AI music to be over for good.
Oct. 9, 2026
Through the Lens
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Football and fireworks The annual night game is played following a day full of Homecoming festivities.
GCC
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Oct. 9, 2026
GCC
by Luke Paglia, Managing Editor
GCC
Oct. 9, 2026
Perspectives
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On Megan Basham: Time heals some wounds Liliana Shadlow
Jamar Tisby spoke on what he called “The Fierce Urgency of Now.” His 20-minute lecture took a passage from the book of Esther and used it to speak on Martin Luther King Jr., the Black Lives Matter movement (of which he did not express either clear support or disapproval) and how the racial tensions of the day are what could be called “such a time as this.” “We are living in the modern-day Civil Rights Movement,” Tisby said. “Freedom, justice and democracy, especially for black people and other people of color, are in imminent danger.” Inspiring words? Inappropriate for a chapel message? Regardless of your knee-jerk reaction, you could probably find another person on campus who feels the same; his lecture received very, very mixed reviews. In 2021, parents, students and alumni filed a petition opposing his message and a handful of Grove City course materials, student trainings and coursework they believed went against the principles the college stood for. When the Grove City College Board of Trustees released a report condemning teaching what it labeled “wokeness” and “critical race theory,” a second petition was released that encouraged Grove City to apologize to Tisby and “not censor or silence viewpoints or
perspectives that promote understanding the world around us.” Are you feeling the controversy yet? It gets even more complicated. This entire scene was brought into the national spotlight by a handful of notable Christian figures, authors and reporters, one of whom was, you guessed it, Megan Basham, a journalist and podcaster for The Daily Wire. In 2022, she drew atten-
tion to the report the board published, saying it addressed the issues at hand and was comprehensive in its analysis. Basham then touched on the Grove City controversy in her 2024 book, “Shepherds for Sale,” where she listed Grove City as a school that fell victim to progressive ideologies but got back on the right track. This September, the story came full circle. Basham, despite openly criticizing Grove
City a few years ago, came to campus as part of the Institute for Faith and Freedom’s Conservative Mind Lecture Series. In speaking with students before and after the event, it seemed most had no idea who she was. However, among faculty, it was a different story entirely. Everyone I spoke to knew the name “Megan Basham,” and, surprisingly, it
That this peer pressure exists sheds light on a deeper issue. The problem is not just that students steal snacks, but that students normalize behavior they know is wrong. Why have we stooped so low as to steal food when one of our core values is excellence? There is apathy toward stealing and a passivity to intervening. Some people don’t even have to justify their actions now — it’s just normal. We are supposed to be a student body chasing after the good, the true and the beautiful. This decadent behavior shows that the standards we make for ourselves are crumbling. If we sincerely aim to hold ourselves to the highest standards, and if we truly hold God’s law as supreme, a debate on this matter should not exist. If one really must justify stealing from Hicks Market in their mind, is it truly justifiable? And if one knows it
is stealing, knows stealing is wrong and chooses to steal anyway, is that not a sign of a deeper spiritual issue? If the fact that it is stealing does not persuade you, let me make a Biblical case. In Exodus 20, God speaks the Ten Commandments to the Israelites at Mount Sinai. One of the commandments regarding the love of our neighbors is, “You shall not steal” (NIV). These Ten Commandments are Christian law. If you steal from Hicks Market, you break this God-given commandment. You are stealing from the college, and by extension, depriving options from those who rightfully pay for their snacks. You are imposing a financial cost on the college and, inevitably, on tuition-paying students. Personally, I don’t like many of the limited options in Hicks Market, and I would like the Pick 3 program to monetarily equate to a dining hall meal
swipe. However, I (or any oth-
Perhaps this article caught your eye because you watched the “Stealing from Hicks” skit in this year’s Orientation Board Off Broadway, or maybe you have stood behind a group raiding everything in Hicks Market before you get a chance to choose your “Pick 3” on-thego meal. In Hicks Market, the Pick 3 program is a way to grab a meal on the go by selecting one of the designated entrees, sides and drinks in Hicks Market and MAP Mart. Students often avoid the official options by picking something undesignated, essentially stealing the item. Before I leap into criticizing this “cultural norm,” I must admit I felt the temptation to steal too. Funnily enough, it was the aforementioned
OBOB skit (and some of my friends) that convinced me to change my ways, and I hope to provide a case for why this cultural norm is a sign of Grover decline and why the thievery should stop. The Cambridge Dictionary defines the verb “steal” as “to take something without the permission or knowledge of the owner and keep it.” In this case, students are permitted to pick from the designated snacks to count as a meal swipe. Taking the undesignated snacks, and especially not paying or using a meal swipe at all, is stealing. Some students defend snatching snacks by saying the Pick 3 meal is worth about $6, whereas a typical meal in the dining halls is worth about $13. Others say there is no difference between designated and undesignated snacks. Of course, peer pressure is also a factor.
The purpose of the Perspectives section is to give a space for student voices. Here, student writers have the space to critique, question and analyze the world around them. Perspectives articles represent the views of the individual writer. They do not represent the views of The
Collegian, The Collegian staff or Grove City College. While pieces in Perspectives are subjective by nature, The Collegian has standards for publication. Articles submitted for publication are expected to provide arguments of substance that rely on fact and are void of foundationally emotional
and biased arguments. This is not a space to parrot party lines. Perspectives articles are expected to take original stances, and, where applicable, consider the interaction of faith within their topic. This is a space where all voices can be heard. It is our goal as The Collegian staff
that Perspectives reflect the diversity of thought represented on the college’s campus. Additionally, The Collegian will not accept a Perspectives article if the topic has not been reported on by the newspaper. This means that the publication of a submitted or proposed article may be delayed so The Collegian
can provide a factual, unbiased context for the paper’s readership. If you would like to submit an article for publication or want further clarification of The Collegian’s expectations contact Editor-in-Chief Matthew Purucker, Managing Editor Luke Paglia, or Perspectives Editor John Hatzis.
Contributing Writer Something I’ve found writing for the college paper is that trying to cover a news story rarely leaves you with material you can use in the news. News stories are designed to be informational, unbiased and should “tell it like it is,” but catching people on the street and holding spontaneous interviews rarely leaves a reporter with untainted facts. Last week’s edition of The Collegian contained what could have been a controversial story: a piece on Megan Basham’s recent speech at the college. But compared to the information gleaned while conducting interviews about the event, the story itself seemed a bit milquetoast. (I can say that because I wrote it.) Luckily for interested readers, The Collegian offers more than just a news section. Before I can dive into the hard-hitting opinions on Megan Basham that I collected but left out of my last article, I need to give you a brief history lesson on Basham and Grove City College. In October 2020, during a regular Wednesday chapel service, a guest lecturer named
WIKIMEDIA
Hicks Market thievery: culture or chaos?
Kyrie Reitz
Contributing Writer
Perspectives Policy
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er student) do not have the authority to override the system and subscribe to a different set of morals just for some latenight grub. So, as students, are we doomed to forever choose between mediocre snacks and stealing? Not at all. There are three ways we can change this chaotic cultural norm. First, we can encourage others not to fall into this peer-pressure trap of stealing (or even thinking it’s not stealing). Second, we can go to the Student Government Association’s Food Feedback Forum and voice our suggestions instead of passively complaining. Finally, we can thank God for all the bountiful gifts He has blessed us with and let this joy shine through us.
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Oct. 9, 2026
Cheer up, America, we’re not as divided as we think Lucian Gideon Conway
GCC Professor of Psychology The Institute for Faith & Freedom
INSPIREDPENCIL
Scout’s dishonor
John Hatzis
Perspectives Editor In my final conversation with my scoutmaster before I received the Eagle Scout award, my scoutmaster asked whether I planned to continue with the Scouting program as an adult. I told him I was doubtful I would because of the direction the national program was taking. While my troop had largely resisted the effects of the organization’s nationwide drift, I struggled to justify continuing to support Scouting America’s (the renamed version of the Boy Scouts of America) deliberate efforts to obliterate what once made the organization special. Much has been written about the national council’s decision to remove the “Boy” from “Boy Scouts,” discontinuing one of the last spaces where masculine virtue was pursued. The decision has been rightfully lambasted for denying boys the ability to grow into manhood and have intimate friendships with other boys. As the growing loneliness and radicalism of young men attest, the elimination of avenues for the cultivation of manliness has caused both sexes to suffer. A less discussed but also dangerous development in Scouting America was the implementation of a new Eagle-required merit badge, Citizenship in Society. National leadership announced the merit badge in a June 2020 statement, claiming it was meant to complement the newly mandatory DEI initiatives covering “every element of our programs.” The merit badge imposed ideological conformity on Scouting. Diversity, equity and inclusion were exalted and
social activism promoted. In an ironic testimony to Scouting’s decline, Scouting America refused to require Scouts to build overnight shelters to get the Eagle award but did require scouts to talk about the importance of their “identity” in “self-expression.” These decisions were made because the men running Scouts are weak. The national board allowed a belligerent minority to bully it into making decisions its predecessors would have found outrageous. The Devil loves weak men: he has had a field day with Scouting. The story has taken a new twist with the federal government intervening. Threatening to pull military sponsorship of scouting troops, Secretary Pete Hegseth secured concessions from the organization, including the elimination of the Citizenship in Society merit badge (which a Military History badge will replace), the dissolution of DEI programs and the introduction of a new requirement that troops be organized by biological sex, not gender identity. The response of the executive board to Secretary Hegseth’s threats can only be described as cowardice. If the executive board believed in the principles it incessantly preached, it would have been willing to defend those principles when the going got tough. The Boy Scouts defended a ban on homosexual scoutmasters all the way to the Supreme Court in 2000. Regardless of the policy’s validity, Boy Scout leadership was courageous to defend its principles amidst intense pressure. Bravery is a requirement of the Scout Law – the national board lived up to the principles it idealized. In this recent case, however, the leaders of Scouting America caved before Secretary Hegseth took any disciplinary action. Scouting America’s
years of preaching DEI were revealed to be empty words. The DEI evangelizing was dropped the moment Secretary Hegseth demanded it. The Boy Scouts that went to the Supreme Court in 2000 to defend their right to independence (and won!) no longer exist. Moms and dads have noticed and pulled their children out, leading to an over 80% decline in membership since 2000. Secretary Hegseth has taken it upon himself to push Scouting America towards its founding ideals. I commend his efforts. His video message to Scouting America made clear he has little patience with Scouting America’s emasculated corporate overlords. Since my conversation with my scoutmaster, I have grappled with my lack of enthusiasm for Scouting America. Earning my Eagle Scout award was one of the proudest moments of my life. Skills were cultivated, friendships were formed and an outlet was provided to serve others. The second virtue listed in the Scout Law is loyalty, and I sense I ought to owe the program some loyalty. But it is difficult to be loyal to an organization so disloyal to its principles. Brokenness is innate in any organization, but it is hard to know, in this case, whether good men can right the ship or whether the ship has sailed on reforming Scouting America. I hope that one day the Boy Scouts of America will return, proud of its heritage and mission of raising godly men. In the meantime, I hope Scouting America serves as a cautionary tale to Christian youth organizations, teaching vestries and governing boards that without firm principles, their programs will inevitably drift from what makes them special.
Americans feel down about our political divide, and there is no sign that we’re going to feel better anytime soon. A 2024 Marist poll showed that 82% of Americans believe our divisions are a threat to our democracy. A 2025 Pew poll revealed that 80% of Americans believe Republicans and Democrats cannot agree on basic facts. A more recent Pew poll showed that a majority of Americans see our divisions getting worse in the future. If all you read were these polls, you would think American society is in a polarization death spiral from which we cannot recover. To be clear, there really are deep divisions in American society. Those divisions will partially have to be worked out at the voting booth or at the dinner table. However, I believe there is an even deeper danger here. That danger starts with a fact clearly demonstrated in my own field of psychology: Americans believe their enemies disagree with them more than they actually do. For quite some time, data has shown that American liberals and conservatives wildly underestimate how much they agree with the other side. In 2012, prominent researchers Jesse Graham, Brian Nosek, and Jonathan Haidt showed that liberals and conservatives generally share a lot more moral values than they think they do. A 2022 Northwestern University study showed that this kind of agreement underestimation occurs in part because people imagine extreme (and non-representative) examples of the other party. Even apparent differences often mask underlying similarities. For example, it seems like conservatives and liberals radically differ on DEI. But years ago, a study compared how conservatives and liberals felt about the precursor to DEI, affirmative action. And it turns out that conservatives and liberals did differ on affirmative action, but underlying this apparent disagreement was a striking level of consensus about the importance of merit: Both groups preferred affirmative action when they believed it was tied to rewarding excellence (and supported it less when it wasn’t). The gap between perception and reality is likely getting worse over time. After the 2024 election, I pointed out that while in our data both Republicans and Democrats agreed that Nazis were terrible, they both believed the oth-
er side endorsed Nazism more than they actually do. We collected data this summer similarly revealing that whereas both liberal and conservative Americans agree that authoritarianism is bad, both sides believe the other side is far more authoritarian than they actually are. This exaggerated sense of division is potentially dangerous: The false perception of a threatening enemy might ultimately create real division out of people that largely agreed in the beginning. Recent research from our own lab shows that perceived threat is a consistent predictor of authoritarianism across every geographic region in the world—for both left-wing and right-wing people. While these data are correlational, they nonetheless suggest that the perception of (even false) threat can cause a real authoritarian response in the long run. Republicans shouting that Democrats support stolen elections or Democrats shouting that Republicans support dictatorships may in one sense be standard political fare worthy of an eye roll from the average citizen. On the other hand, to the degree that such language causes people to misperceive the intentions and beliefs of the other side, it might eventually drive us to the edge of a cliff that we cannot come back from. We’re not close to that cliff edge yet. The constant talk of doom and gloom has to be placed against a historical background. It’s worth remembering that we’ve actually been through much worse. We survived Andrew Jackson using the post office to censor his enemies. We survived a civil war. We survived the riots and unrest of the 1960s. And while we cannot take anything for granted, the odds are, we will survive this too. We are, by far, the world’s longest standing democracy. None of our European neighbors even come close. In fact, in the time we’ve been a democracy, almost all of our European allies have had dictatorial forms of government at one point or another, some of them not that long ago in historical terms. Europe had barely scratched the surface of a stable representative democracy when we were born as one. Europe has gone through countless dictators since then. And yet here we remain. Still standing.
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News
Oct. 9, 2026
TEACHING
continued from 1 excellent courses and academic mentoring is their most vital professional mission.” While “teaching” is the newest category in the U.S. News survey, Grove City College received a ranking significantly higher in this category than any other, including engineering. According to Grove City College’s most recent press release, the college still maintains a leadership position in the undergraduate space for engineering programs for its 123rd placement; however, stats are down from 2017 results, which previously placed the college 52nd. Assistant Dean for the School of Science, Engineering and Mathematics and professor of mechanical engineering Eric Bardy found these results intriguing but not representative of his experience. “Our programs, in my opinion, have improved over the years,” Bardy said. Commenting on the college’s smaller status, Bardy hypothesized
that the lower results could be more a publicity issue rather than anything else. “I think sometimes what we do at Grove City College is not always well known outside of the people that know the school,” Bardy said. Being a smaller, private campus may have contributed to the college’s ability to provide high-quality teaching. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, compared to public colleges with ratios closer to 20:1, according to SAGE Scholars, Grove City College professors have more time to invest in each student. For senior computer science and mechanical engineering major Henry Tan, the college’s “smallness” was one of the things that persuaded him to enroll. Originally from Australia, Tan knew he wanted to attend a private U.S. college with an ABET certified engineering program unlike what he knew others endured in larger colleges. “In my experience of talking to seniors and things like that, (the classes) are very flooded,” Tan said. “So, choosing
a smaller school with actual availability of professors is really important.” In an engineering context, where concepts build on one another throughout one’s entire college career, Tan saw Grove City College’s “availability of professors” as a unique part of the college’s engineering program, something not available elsewhere. “If you don’t get something and you’re in a bigger school or you have a larger cohort, you’re just going to get left behind,” Tan said. Although Tan explained that a significant portion of his fellow engineering majors have switched majors or quit entirely over his three and a half years at the college, he maintained that office hours and the college’s student-to-teacher ratio help those who take advantage of them. Bardy, who has found his teaching experience at the college uniquely compelling, said office hours are the “minimum way” that he has witnessed faculty express their deep investment in students. “It’s not the paycheck,”
Page 10 Bardy said, concerning what keeps him and others teaching at the college. “It’s the totality of what this place represents.” “I’ve visited other schools. I have even interviewed with a few places, and I’ve always decided to stay,” he said. “I think there’s a common theme about how we teach, and how we connect with our students.” Coming from more than 20 years of teaching at Grove City College, Bardy described his philosophy on what good instruction looks like, and how the college allows professors to invest in and mentor students more than just intellectually. “We’re here because we want you to know Jesus more deeply, to understand more clearly who you are as the Bible describes you and to grow in knowledge, confidence and maturity in your chosen field,” Bardy said. Like its ratings in recent years, Grove City College ranked in the top 10 for “best overall” college for 2027 and has continued to receive national attention for the quality of its education and faculty.
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“If something breaks down, we get it fixed, or we replace it,” Fisher said. “Sometimes replacing it takes a little longer, just for the fact that trying to get it shipped and whatever from wherever it’s coming from.” One remaining concern involved MAP Market’s new Pick 3 program, which debuted this year. Students currently cannot use a meal swipe there until Parkhurst Dining replaces the malfunctioning card reader on the checkout kiosk. Fisher said a replacement is “coming in pretty soon.” “It would be great to have more people on the team who can work consistent shifts, so if you are interested, please apply. It would really help us a lot,” Griffith said. “I appreciate the students’ patience even though there’s a lot going on right now.”
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wasn’t from the lecture series. Many professors felt Basham and other journalists blew things out of proportion and caused the college permanent damage. One faculty member referred to Basham as being “wrapped up in the Christian nationalist movement,” while another said she was “divisive” and “dehumanizes people.” Another faculty member said that Basham’s performance as a reporter is “nothing but shock value; it’s fear.” Another faculty member
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Freshman mechanical engineering student Alex Farrey touched on the importance of taking individual responsibility for our online activity. “We get to decide where our values lie,” Farrey said. “As a STEM major, a lot of my STEM classes have digital homework (and) digital resources; it’s not helping us stay away from the digital world. There are proven studies that reading something that involves scrolling leads to your brain retaining less information.” Junior history and philosophy major Christopher Garrett said he would love physical textbooks, as well as physical IDs, to make a comeback. “I learn so much better with physical textbooks,” Garrett said. “If we can keep our phones doing less things for us, we can be less tethered to them.”
ENDGAME
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mid-credits scene where we see Bruce Banner, the Hulk, in a self-containment facility after his Hulk incident in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” He seems to be conducting some sort of testing on himself when we hear the ominous voice of Dr. Doom say, “Mr. Banner, I’ve come to collect you.” Then the Hulk is gone, and all that is left are the glowing green runes of Dr. Doom. This sets up Banner’s return in “Avengers: Doomsday.” The final two added scenes are of less relevance. The third is a look into the Time Variance Authority, where multiple incursions pop up. This foreshadows the timeline problems in “Avengers: Doomsday.” The final added scene is a callback to what was heard at the end of the original “Avengers: Endgame” credits: the sound of metal being hammered. Initially, this was believed to be a flashback of Iron Man forging his suit in the cave from “Iron Man.” However, this time around, there were flashes of Dr. Doom’s helmet being forged. Whether this was their original intent when that sound was added is unknown and left for the viewer to decide. Marvel has gone through great effort since 2022, when “Avengers: The Kang Dynasty” was canceled, to continue to build the storyline with movies and TV shows to get to where it is now. The stage is almost set for “Avengers: Doomsday” to release. “VisionQuest,” which will premier on Wednesday, Oct. 14, is the last piece of the puzzle avid MCU fans need to be ready for “Avengers: Doomsday.”
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GCC
Juniors Atticus Hillebrand and Evan Yoder perform on top of the Theta Alpha Pi sorority and Sigma Alpha Sigma fraternity float in Saturday’s Homecoming parade. said having Basham on campus was a poor choice, regardless of whether she spoke on the controversy in 2022, saying that she uses her platform to accuse people of being “wolves” (in reference to her book) simply for being connected to other problematic people. “She gets facts wrong,” the professor told me, “and she talks wrongly about other people.” One faculty member simply referred to the entire event as “odd,” saying, “I’m not surprised the Institute for Faith and Freedom brought her, but I am surprised Grove City In a post-lecture interview, Franklin spoke on how he sees technology addiction at the college. “One way in which I see students dependent on (technology) is the moment they walk out of class, walking down the stairs, bumping into other students, they’re on their phone,” Franklin said. He also spoke on the impact of technology on attention span and productivity. “Some students are petering out on abilities that are there but never actualized because of their engagement with digital technology,” Franklin said. More than just using less technology, Franklin promoted intentional times away from the noise and chaos of the political and social world. Franklin said spending intentional time in silence is when our minds can best think. “Silence and solitude are the laboratory of the soul,” Franklin said.
brought her.” Faculty also expressed concern about what associating with Basham said about Grove City College. “So many people that she’s criticized are good people,” one professor said. “By extension, by platforming her, we’re agreeing with her.” But not all faculty were concerned with her coming to campus. “I’m encouraged by her coming to campus … her coming here is a sign of her endorsement of us,” said one. One student said hosting Basham on campus was a good sign of progress on behalf of the college, and that bringing
her to campus allowed her to reevaluate Grove City as an institution. Basham herself said she felt well-received during her time on campus, referring to Grove City students and faculty as “so gracious” and “welcoming,” while also saying she was very pleased with Grove City as an institution. So, what do I think? I think I’ll keep reporting and interviewing and leave you intelligent readers to formulate your own opinions. When it comes to Megan Basham, that is something we certainly aren’t lost on.
This isn’t by accident. Our system, more than any system in history, is set up to absorb the kind of serious division that can throw societies into an authoritarian lurch. Our Founding Fathers truly were political geniuses. They created, both in spirit and in practice, a system designed to overcome the fatal flaw in democracy: That one side can win an election and force everyone to agree with them by fiat. Our system thus purposefully divides power across many avenues in order to protect the people who lost the vote from the people who won it. So, cheer up, America! Despite all the negativity that often surrounds media narratives these days, despite all the mudslinging our politicians engage in, America is still objectively an awesome place to live in. World Values Survey data consistently show that Americans are among the most racially and religiously tolerant people in the world. We are also one of the most generous countries in the world. America still ranks among the world leaders in economic freedom. And despite all our differences, 86% of Americans say they are grateful to live here. Americans, we woke up today in the longest-running democracy in history. Let’s not throw it away because we imagine monsters under our bed from the other side of the political aisle. At least talk to them over dinner first.
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GCC
Grove City cheerleaders perform a pyramid stunt at the Homecoming football game on Saturday..
For more info about writing for Entertainment, email ElvinRJ23@gcc.edu
Sports
Oct. 9, 2026
Page 11
Hat trick helps secure homecoming win Sam Fetherlin Staff Writer Four goals in eight minutes helped Grove City College’s men’s soccer team overcome an early deficit against Chatham University on Friday night in front of a Homecoming weekend crowd. The undefeated Wolverines entered the match as the favorite against Chatham, which had one win this season, but at 3:20, Chatham defender Charlie Ayers headed home a central free kick to take a 1-0 lead. It took 20 minutes for Grove City to mount a response, but when it did, the game quickly turned in its favor. The tide turned at 21:09 when Ayers was shown a red card for bringing down Grove City senior midfielder Noah Gray on a breakaway. A minute later, the Wolverines won a corner kick on the right. Senior defender Theo Campbell curled the ball directly into the far corner of the net, leveling the score at 1-1 and celebrating with his teammates in front of the home fans.
JOHN HAKE
Midfielder Noah Gray recorded his second career hat trick on Friday against Chatham. “It felt great to score directly from a corner kick, especially with it being the game-tying goal at home on Homecoming,” Campbell said. “I had a lot of family at the game, as well as former teammates at the game, so it was pretty cool to score for them. The bonds I have with guys who have graduated are super strong, so it was awesome to see them and mark the occasion with a win.” Campbell also notched an
assist at 26:02, again from a corner kick. Senior defender Colton Hudson rose highest to redirect the ball home from six yards out. A quick pair of goals from Gray in the following few minutes gave Grove City a 4-1 lead, and sophomore forward Andrew Perry registered a fifth before halftime. Perry drove the ball past the diving goalkeeper into the bottom-left corner from well outside the
penalty area. “It obviously didn’t feel great to concede early,” Campbell said. “But we knew we were the better team and had a game plan to win. We were never worried and just continued to do the things we knew we had to do to win. “What stood out to me was our ability to move the ball quickly around Chatham’s defense. We just kept going at them down the flanks, and
eventually it paid off.” Grove City held a 7-3 edge in first-half shots but stepped it up in the second half, outshooting Chatham 14-0. Gray completed his hat trick at 49:30, and sophomore midfielder Cristian Garcia scored from the penalty spot at 52:15. The match finished 7-1, extending Grove City’s perfect start in conference play to 5-0. The win improved its chances of a top two finish and a bye to the playoff semifinals. Winning the conference outright would also ensure home-field advantage for those playoff games. “We want to repeat what we did last year and win the PAC while going undefeated in the conference,” Campbell said. “Beyond that, we want to go on a run in the NCAA tournament, and we have the squad to do so.” The Wolverines also beat Westminster on Wednesday and will travel to Franciscan University of Steubenville, last year’s PAC runner-up, for a 7 p.m. game Saturday.
Sports at a Glance Results
Football 40-20 (2-2): W, Bethany
Men’s Soccer 4-1 (9-1-3): W, Westminster
Women’s Soccer 5-1 (9-1-2): W, Westminster
Women’s Volleyball 3-2 (16-3): W, Westminster
Men’s Tennis 6-1 (3-1): W, Penn State Behrend
LUKE PAGLIA
Midfielder Tori Stevenson receives the ball in Wednesday’s matchup against Westminster. The Wolverines defeated Chatham on Saturday followed by a 5-1 win against Westminster on Wednesday.
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change the picture and create unpredictable chances in front of the net.” The quick response following Chatham’s goal helped Grove City maintain momentum and prevent the visitors from gaining confidence. “Chatham was able to create some great pressure against our whole team, so it was a relief when we were able to put another goal away quickly after the score went 2-1,” Plunkard said. “Although we gave up a goal, we continued to push forward as a team and
get a few more in the back of the net.” Plunkard’s goal was her sixth of the season, a new career high. She credited both the team’s chemistry and her personal mindset for her offensive success. “The biggest shift in my play personally is the way that God has allowed me to play in complete freedom and joy regardless of mistakes or outward approval,” she said. The match was also the team’s Breast Cancer Awareness game. Players wore pink as the program honored former 1998 graduate and Grove
City women’s soccer standout Jody (Swauger-Simms) Armstrong, who died from breast cancer earlier this year. The team finished with a commanding 30-5 advantage in shots, including a 15-2 edge in shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper Maddie Mills played the first half and recorded one save, while sophomore Ella Lotz preserved the win in the second half. The Wolverines defeated Westminster on Wenesday and now turn their attention to Franciscan, traveling to Steubenville, Ohio, Saturday for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff.
WAYNESBURG
W, Saint Francis
Women’s Golf:
2nd/8, Grove City Fall Invitational
Upcoming Football:
Oct. 10, 7 p.m. at Westminster
Men’s Soccer:
Oct. 10, 7 p.m. at Franciscan
Women’s Soccer:
Oct. 10, 4:30 p.m. at Franciscan
Women’s Volleyball: Oct. 14, 7 p.m. at Thiel
Women’s Tennis:
Oct. 10, 10 a.m. vs Allegheny
Men’s Golf:
Oct. 12-13, 10:30 a.m. at PAC Fall Championships
Women’s Golf:
Oct. 12-13, 10:30 a.m. at PAC Fall Championships
Men’s Cross Country:
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ference victory against Westminster on Wednesday, the Wolverines will go on to face Washington & Jefferson tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Grove City College Arena. “That’s what we must do whether we play good teams or worse teams: just play our game. Many teams run different speeds of play, a faster or slower offense, which can throw a team off and make them sink to the opponent’s level or panic, but we’ve done a really good job this year of not letting the other side of the net dictate how we play,” Dorst said. “So, we just need to keep doing what we’re doing, keep our eyes fixed on the prize of Christ, and the wins will come.”
Women’s Tennis 4-3 (9-0):
Oct. 16, 12:45 p.m. at SUNY Geneseo Mike Woods Invitational
Women’s Cross Country:
Oct. 16, 12 p.m. at SUNY Geneseo Mike Woods Invitational
Men’s Swim & Dive:
Oct. 16, 5 p.m. at Webster Fall Classic
Women’s Swim & Dive:
Oct. 16, 5 p.m. at Webster Fall Classic
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
LUKE PAGLIA
Junior Brooke Manfull jump serves on Wednesday versus Westminster.
Reagan Dougherty Women’s Tennis Newcomer of the Week
Ana Hahn Women’s Soccer Newcomer of the Week
Kendra Klusch Women’s Volleyball Defensive Player of the Week
Sports
Oct. 9, 2026
Page 12
Soccer Five TDs for football rolls in conference opener past Wolverines secure win on homecoming against Bethany Chatham Natalie Hanna Sports Editor Sophomore quarterback Mike Hollomon threw a record-tying five touchdowns Saturday night at the Homecoming game, resulting in a 40-20 victory in Grove City’s first PAC matchup, bringing the team to a 2-2 record. After an impressive 59yard kickoff return from junior Noah Wheeler, the Wolverines made quick work of pushing the ball down the line for their first touchdown of the night. Only 3:39 into the game, the team completed a six-play, 37-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown reception from sophomore wide receiver Kaden Spencer. Following a short possession and shanked punt by Bethany, Grove City began its next drive at the Bethany 37, quickly converting four plays into a 27-yard reception in the endzone from senior receiver Darviae Gray. Gray completed his second touchdown pass of the night with 12:07 remaining in the half, the seven-yard play extending the Wolverines’ lead to 20-7. Senior wide receiver Seth McGroerty also caught a three-yard touchdown pass, Grove City’s fourth of the night, with 0:26 on the clock. The Wolverines led 30-7 at the half. “Getting my eyes off myself and just focusing on Christ helped me play great,” Gray said. “It’s just a blessing being able to previously take a year off and come back to this team as a senior and contribute the way I did, through God, through Christ. It has just been the biggest blessing of my life to just help the team and represent all the people before me.” The first points of the second half came in the fourth quarter with the Wolverines’ final touchdown of the night from freshman running back Nico Casciato. “It was an incredible feeling to score my first college touchdown in front of a large crowd, especially knowing so many people there helped build this
Reagan Thomas Staff Writer
LUKE PAGLIA
Quarterback Mike Hollomon prepares to pass the ball. He had five touchdown passes Saturday. program brick by brick,” Casciato said. Hollomon became the third Grove City quarterback to throw five touchdown passes in one game. Current head coach Andrew DiDonato first set the record against Carnegie Mellon in 2009, and Josh Ehst tied him five years ago in an ECAC bowl victory over Utica. “Being able to serve this team as quarterback is one of the greatest honors of my life,” Hollomon said. “This program has already done so much for me, long before I took a meaningful snap, that I am indebted to it, and any opportunity I get to give back is an honor and a privilege.” Hollomon threw for 196 yards, completing 20 passes on 33 attempts. Spencer and Gray led receivers by catching six passes for 58 yards and five passes for 64 yards,
respectively. Gray contributed two touchdowns, and Spencer added one. The Wolverines also totaled 171 rushing yards. In addition to closing out Grove City’s scoring with his touchdown reception, Casciato had 12 carries for 79 yards. Sophomore running back Braxtyn Brown also recorded a career-high 54 yards on 11 rushes. “Every position group on our team has a specific position vision, and for running backs, it’s simple: find green grass,” Casciato said on strategy. “Knowing that my coaches trust me and have confidence in my abilities allows me to play fast, full and free, which play a big role in the game.” Sophomore kicker Brady Lane made four of five extra point attempts and went 1-for1 on field goals. Senior Devon Thomas made one field goal in
the fourth quarter. Defensively, sophomore linebackers Aiden Kitts and Andrew Moberg led the team with nine and seven tackles, respectively. Moberg had three tackles for loss, while Kitts had one. Wheeler also had six tackles. Sophomore cornerback Cameron Epps recorded the lone interception in the third quarter. The Wolverines will travel to New Wilmington, Pa. to play Westminster for their second conference game of the season at 7 p.m. Saturday. “We take this game very seriously and have great respect for them, but as always, our focus will be on our vision,” Hollomon said. “Our goal is to grow deeper in it every day and, as a result of that, bring our best to the Titans.”
The Grove City College women’s soccer team continued its strong season Friday afternoon, defeating Chatham University 4-1 at Don Lyle Field as part of the college’s Homecoming weekend festivities. The Wolverines dominated from the opening whistle, outshooting Chatham 20-4 in the first half and scoring four goals in a decisive 22-minute stretch. Grove City improved to 8-1-2 overall and 4-0-1 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference play. Freshman midfielder Ana Hahn opened the scoring in the 24th minute, netting her first collegiate goal. Senior forward Hannah Plunkard doubled the lead less than 10 minutes later, finishing a well-executed offensive sequence for what proved to be the game-winning goal. “It was really a team effort,” Plunkard said. “Emily Horst received the ball on the right side of the field, took a great touch inward as I made a run across from the left side of the field. She then played a great ball which barely needed to be redirected into the goal. Ana Hahn also made a run which allowed for the opposing goalkeeper to be distracted.” After Chatham cut the deficit to 2-1 on a goal from freshman Amelia Anderson, the Wolverines quickly responded. Senior midfielder Emma Dailey scored her first goal of the season just moments later, and sophomore midfielder Sasha Sansone capped the scoring with her second goal of the year in the final seconds of the first half. According to Plunkard, Grove City’s offensive success was no accident. “This season has been great offensively, as we have been able to generate 46 goals so far,” she said. “In our recent game against Chatham especially, we were very fluid offensively and were able to
SOCCER 11
Women wallop Waynesburg Christopher Shaw Staff Writer
The women’s volleyball team dominated the visiting Waynesburg Yellow Jackets in a three-set homecoming sweep Saturday. The Wolverines stormed to a 25-8 first-set win, proceeding to secure the second 25-10 and the third 255. The Wolverines logged 31 kills, with senior Kendra Klusch and sophomore Annie Atwood each contributing seven. Senior Alayna Dorst added another five. Senior setter Brooke Manfull extended her 12-game double-digit assist streak by putting up 10, with senior Sarah Harris contributing seven assists. In addition, Grove City logged 13 aces to Waynesburg’s one. Dorst and freshman Reagan Riordan led the defensive effort with 10 digs each, closely followed by junior libero Lilly Wojtala, who had eight. Klusch also contributed defen-
sively with a team-high seven blocks. Homecoming, besides hosting reunions and a parade, is also a day for sports. “Since I’ve been on the team, we have always had an away game during Homecoming weekend,” Klusch said. “So having a home game this year was definitely special. We also had so many people show up, which always makes the game atmosphere more exciting.” The Wolverine fans turned out, packing Grove City College Arena with 350 fans. In any sport, the cheering and presence of a crowd builds the perfect mix of excitement, intimidation and momentum, Atwood noted. “We are so grateful that everyone there took the time from all the other activities on campus to come support us,” Dorst said. Grove City is just starting its run through PAC opponents. After a 13-3 non-conference slate, nine PAC matches fill
the Wolverines’ schedule over the next four weeks. They will face each of the 11 teams once, with conference record determining playoff seeding. Geneva and Waynesburg, Grove City’s two conference wins so far, have yet to beat a conference opponent. As of Oct. 4, Franciscan, Westminster, Hiram and Grove City are atop the standings, all undefeated. The Wolverines, defending PAC champions, will fight for the top seed and a home path back to the championship. “Our focus is always on what’s right in front of us. Our goal is to win another PAC championship and go further in the NCAA tournament, but that starts with doing our job in the next game,” Klusch said. “We play with a next-ball philosophy, meaning that we are constantly living to better the next play and not worrying about what just happened.” Dorst also commented on the team’s strategy.
MATT DURISKO/MAGNOLIA MEDIA PA
Senior Alayna Dorst serves up the ball. She had three aces against Waynesburg. “The thing we’ve been focusing on all season is just to play our game,” she said. “That’s when we thrive, is when we focus on just running our speed of play, being disciplined with
the little things and bringing the energy every point regardless of the score.” Following their third con-
WAYNESBURG 11