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The Collision:
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Turn inside for The Collegian's semesterly satire page, The Collision.
Charger Softball swept its double header this past weekend.
Freshman Mark den Hollander spent years training and working as a pastry chef . See A8
Vol. 146 Issue 26 – April 27, 2023
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Alumna Kat Timpf publishes No. 1 bestselling book By Maggie Hroncich Editor-In-Chief The most traumatizing and sensitive topics are the most important to joke about, argues Hillsdale alumna Kat Timpf ’10 in her new book. Released on April 18, “You Can’t Joke About That: Why Everything Is Funny, Nothing Is Sacred, and We’re All in This Together,” is this week’s No. 1 Amazon bestseller in nonfiction. Timpf, whose mother, grandmother, and family dog died within months of each other, was dumped by her college boyfriend over text, and nearly died from a perforated bowel, says humor enabled her to cope with a series of challenges she faced early in her career. “I was waiting tables, I was super broke, I was living in squalor, and also I was performing stand-up comedy.
I had only done it like twice before when I was in college, but I really felt like talking about my dumpster fire life on stage,” Timpf told the Collegian. “It gave me power over the things that were making me feel so powerless, and it became one of my only means of connection during the loneliest times in my life.” Timpf, who is a comedian, columnist, and co-host on Fox News’ “Gutfeld!,” said social pressure not to joke about sensitive topics made her feel isolated. “When my mom died, it was such a tragic, sad thing,” Timpf said. “But it was only made worse by the fact that I could tell everybody that was around me and talking to me after my mom died was so afraid to say the wrong thing that I felt like they couldn’t have a real conversation with me.” In her book, Timpf, who
is a self-described libertarian and free-speech absolutist, explores cultural attitudes toward grief and comedy – and what is considered acceptable to joke about. Her book details countless personal and popular culture instances – from her own experience receiving death threats for a joke about Star Wars, to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. “We’re emotional creatures, and it’s a good thing to express yourself and share your feelings,” Timpf said. “Where it becomes not about sensitivity anymore is when you expect the world to revolve around those feelings, which is what a lot of this stuff is really about.” Timpf said there’s a misconception that people who are overly concerned about speech regulations are sensitive, when in reality, they tend to be oppressive.
“A lot of the rules that our culture has put in place for speech, they’re supposed to be there to protect people who are going through tough things, but I think the opposite is true,” Timpf said. “I think that it prevents people from really being able to communicate honestly and with comedy and ultimately keeps us from being able to make connections with one another.” Timpf said she got the idea for the book after her emergency bowel surgery in 2020, when her dad told her, “You’re only 32, but what have you not been through?” Timpf said she realized the things she has been through helped her build connections with others who had been through similar situations, but it didn’t matter if she couldn’t laugh and talk about it. The feedback Timpf has
received so far has been “amazing,” she said, and she has heard from people across the country who have also used humor to cope and heal. “I think that it’s a little different of a book than people can expect because I hit all sides. I really do mean everything can be joked about, I really do mean nothing is sacred,” Timpf said. “I wrote this because it’s something I’m super passionate about and I feel like if our discourse would change surrounding the way we talk about these things that we would all be better off.” Professor of History Brad Birzer, who taught Timpf while she was at Hillsdale, said though he hasn’t yet read the book, he agrees humor is an essential part of political and cultural discourse. “Kat’s humor comes out of an older tradition of satire — so famous in the 1970s be-
cause of Saturday Night Live, etc,” Birzer said. “And, I’m sure that being canceled is a serious threat for all kinds of comedians at whatever level.” Birzer said he is proud of Timpf ’s career. “Her path to success is as unique as she is,” Birzer said. Maria Servold, assistant director of the Dow Journalism Program and former roommate of Timpf ’s, said the book is true to her personality —witty, irreverent, and smart. “Kat and I lived together for a summer in D.C. when we were students and I told everyone it felt like living with my own personal comedian,” Servold said. “I am not at all surprised that she has been able to handle so many difficulties with humor, and I think it’s important we all learn from her example in that regard.”
Ohio man attacks student athletes By Josh Newhook Digital Editor
Junior Claire Hipkins, sophomore Cecelia Cummins, junior Orlagh O'Donohue, dog Aggie, and junior Vinny Hill enjoyed SAB's Taste of Manning event this past weekend. It was the first time since 2021 that it wasn't canceled for weather. Courtesy | Student Activities Board
WHIP student speaks at Heritage Foundation Anniversary Gala headed by Tucker Carlson By Quinn Delamater Collegian Reporter Young conservatives need to turn legal systems back to their constitutional intent, junior Joseph Sturdy said during a speech at the Heritage Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C. on April 21. About 2,300 guests attended the event, where former Fox News host Tucker Carlson was the keynote speaker. While participating in the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program this semester, Sturdy interned at the Heritage Foundation in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies department. According to Sturdy, the Meese Center is responsible for
dealing with law, courts, and all legal issues. “At Heritage, I've had the opportunity to form meaningful relationships with influential decision-makers and colleagues,” Sturdy said. “What's more, nowhere gives young people the ability to engage with constitutional law in the way that Heritage, and specifically the Meese Center, does.” In his speech, Sturdy also explained how over the past few decades, progressive principles have afflicted the American political system which desperately needs conservatives in the coming generations to fight against this. “Since the 1960s, America has seen the law and the courts
plagued by radical ideology, so there's perhaps nothing more pressing than regaining control of legal institutions to fight for what is right and true,” Sturdy said. “America needs young conservatives — Generation Z — who not only have the right ends in mind, but also a commitment to the means and processes called for in the constitution.” Sturdy said while young conservatives find themselves in a difficult place fighting for their beliefs, hope is on the rise. “Conservative institutions are seeing an uptick in applications—a welcome sign that, though our work is cut out for us, we are up to the challenge,” Sturdy said. Fellow junior and WHIP
participant Elizabeth Troutman was present for the speech and praised Sturdy. “Joseph’s speech representing the next generation of the Heritage Foundation truly made Hillsdale proud. His delivery was spotless and the content of his speech was inspiring,” Troutman said. “It makes sense for a student of the most influential conservative college in America to represent the future of America’s largest conservative think tank.” Junior and WHIP student Duggan Foley said Sturdy impressed him. “Joseph was the right man for the job,” Foley said. “He represented Heritage and Hillsdale very well.”
Prosecutors charged an Ohio man on April 21 with seven counts of resisting arrest and simple assault and battery after tackling senior track team member Isaac Waffle April 20. Austin Matthew Crist, 28, of Montpellier, Ohio, was arrested on Mauck Road about a mile-and-a-half east of Half Moon Lake Road, according to Hillsdale County Sheriff ’s Office reports. The site is approximately two-and-ahalf miles from the center of campus and a mile-and-ahalf from Hayden Park. Crist’s probable cause conference is tentatively scheduled for May 3 at 10 a.m., according to MiCourt Case Search. If convicted as charged, Crist faces up to two years in prison. Waffle and sophomore track team member Caleb Bigler said they were running east on Mauck Road as they usually do multiple times a week. “Isaac as a senior has probably run down this road hundreds of times,” Bigler said. “We run there all the time.” On this occasion, the runners planned to run six miles, three miles out and back, Bigler said. Bigler noted he was at 2.9 miles on his running watch when something strange happened. “This dude has just walked out of a driveway and onto the road, and he’s got two big dogs next to him,” he said. “He starts drifting into our side of the road and steps right in front of Isaac and sticks his arms out and says, ‘You want to see black Jesus?’ and tackled Isaac into the ditch in a headlock.” Bigler said he and Waffle did not see it coming because
Crist was not acting unusual. “Being a naive Hillsdale College student, I thought he was just out for a walk with his dogs,” Waffle said. “There are people like that out there, so you just have to be smart.” As soon as it happened, Crist’s family sprinted over and pulled him off of Waffle within 10 seconds, Bigler said. Bigler was never touched, and Waffle said he wasn’t hurt in the incident. “I had the most minor scuff mark on my shoulder,” Waffle said. Waffle noted Crist was never actually choking him and that he did not fight back. Waffle said he just sat there with Crist wrapped around him. “He was not in immediate danger of suffocating, and he was only there for a couple of seconds before his family got there,” Bigler said. After the incident, a neighbor at the house next door who had seen the commotion told Waffle and Bigler she would call the police. “She thought the dogs had attacked us, and wanted to shoot them,” Bigler said. “The dogs actually never even barked at us. That could have gone very bad if the dogs hadn’t been so chill. They could have ripped our arms off.” It took four police officers to get Crist handcuffed and in the back of a police car, Bigler said. “His brother and a family friend, who were both bigger guys, were struggling to keep this guy down,” Bigler said. “I think he hit one of the cops in the face.” After about half an hour, the two teammates ran back to campus and finished their run unscathed.
“You want to see black Jesus?"
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