Collegian
Summit features
Pence & Winklevosses
Grad department hosts students and star speakers
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
On Nov. 8 and 9 the College’s Department of Graduate Programs hosted their annual Leadership Summit.
The Summit featured guest speakers Former Vice President Mike Pence and Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, providing Grove City
graduate students a chance to learn directly from those who have had great success and impact in their careers.
The Summit is a two-day conference offering several guest lectures, a reception for graduate students and time for students to work together on projects from their courses. Grad students com-
Winklevoss School of Business dedicated
Grove City College
Grove City College gave Howard E. Winklevoss ’65 a shot.
That was all the teenager from Mercer, Pa., needed to embark on a journey of success that led to a successful career in the field of business technology and came full circle Thursday when the College honored Winklevoss by adding the alumnus’ family name to the College’s business school.
The newly minted Winklevoss School of Business is being supported in part by a $4
million Bitcoin gift from its namesake. It was the first digital currency donation in the College’s history.
During a ceremony celebrating the naming, Winklevoss shared his Grove City College story, which began 60 some years ago with a trip to Penn State, where Winklevoss intended to enroll after high school.
Winklevoss said his entre-
preneurial spirit was fostered at the College. He was inspired by the courses taught by Dr. Hans Sennholz, a protégé of Ludwig von Mises and a leading voice for Austrian economics. “I fell in love with freedom, capitalism, and everything the Austrian school is about,” he said. At Grove City College, he earned a degree in Accounting and met his wife Carol, who also graduated in 1965.
His groundbreaking book “Pension Mathematics with Numerical Illustrations” revolutionized the industry and led him to found multiple
Pitch perfect at business battle
Madison Lynch Staff Writer
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
(E+I) held its annual Elevator Pitch Competition at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13 in Sticht Hall.
The event began with 169 pitches with students from thirty different majors, and a group of seventy-five original reviewers made up of individuals that have worked in relevant fields and other associates.
This final round features only nineteen of the original 169 pitches, which was evaluated by a panel of judges who awarded cash prizes to
the first three winners. The judges for the event are Don Tharp from Hudson Financial Advisors, Chris Camp from Fun Fore All, Lori Brinker the Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch, Mitch McFeely the Vice President of Treasury Management of NexTier Bank and Dan Sumner from Westinghouse. Additional prizes provided were the fan favorite vote, the Social Impact Prize by the Grove City Foundation and a prize from the Hudson Financial Advisors.
The social impact prize of $500 presented by Dorene Powell went to Sarah Karns for Play It Forward. The Hudson Financial Advisors
award of $1000 was presented by Jason Burtt in place of Don Tharp to Audrey Karwowski for InSight. Third place for social enterprise was a tie between Abigail Mason with First 3 and Emily Haught with SocialPal. Second place was also a tie between Eleni Kasiandides with SproutRoute and Karis Mall and her group with CanvasCare, and first place went to Sarah Karns for Play It Forward.
Commercial third place was a tie between freshman Gavin Rhodes with Chameleon Boots and sophomore Ian Martti with The Ball
ventures, including Winklevoss Consultants, a financial consultant to over 125 major corporations, and Winklevoss Technologies, a company that builds software for the actuarial consulting community to model and administer defined benefit pension plans. Winklevoss Technologies was acquired by Constellation Software for $125 million in 2023. In recent years, Winklevoss has become a Bitcoin advocate. The digital currency is the answer, he said, WINKLEVOSS 3
Near 100 candidates in the race for office
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
As the semester progresses, the search for the ninth president of the College has expanded to almost 100 candidates.
President Paul J. McNulty ’80, now in his eleventh year as president, announced his retirement over the summer. The search for the next president is being conducted by a committee of eleven College representatives led by Chair of the Board of Trustees Ed Breen ’78, comprised of several members of the Board of Trustees and including professor of electrical and computer engineering Dr. Mike Bright and professor of biblical and religious studies Dr. Carl Trueman.
Consulting firm CarterBaldwin has been retained to aid in the process. CarterBaldwin is a nationally prominent executive search firm that fills senior level executive positions for academic, not-for-profit and corporate clients.
Breen gave attendees of the Department of Graduate Programs an update on the search at last week’s Leadership Summit. In early December, the search committee will hold an all-day meeting in Pittsburgh, where they will narrow down their list of 80 to 100 serious names to less than 10. Their goal is to present the final one or two names to the Board of Trustees following CarterBaldwin’s background searches.
Breen spoke highly of McNulty’s work as president, acknowledging his effort to strengthen the College’s mission on the core pillars of Christianity and Conservatism. This work, according to Breen, gave the College more opportunity to be nationally recognized, evidenced by Former Vice President Mike Pence’s role in the Center for Faith and Public Life and the newly dedicated Winklevoss
Above, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss meet with senior Eleni Kasianides after their Q&A about cryptocurrency at last Friday’s summit. Below, Mike Pence addresses the audience on Friday morning.
Pictured here are the winners of this year’s Elevator Pitch Competition.
Tourney game
From the Tower
Calm down, you are not being robbed
I can’t count how many times someone has complained that the updates on campus are resulting in an increase of their tuition.
It’s just not true.
The College is transparent about their budgeting and provides students with updates of costs, breakdowns of where our tuition money is going to and where the College is getting the funding for other on-campus renovations and restorations.
Here a few key things to know about the College’s budget:
You are not paying for the Rockwell renovation. All of the funding towards the renovation (about $48 million) is coming straight from the campaign. This means the money is donated.
You didn’t pay for the Grove sign. Maybe it’s just seniors who remember this misunderstanding, but the Grove sign was a senior class gift, meaning it was funded by the Class of 2022.
You are not paying for a new field house or paying for the Bubble next to the soccer field. Both of these buildings (if you can call the Bubble a building) are funded directly by, you guessed it, Impact 150.
You didn’t pay for the library renovation. Feel free to complain about the library’s aesthetic, but don’t claim it came from your pocket. That was funded by a private donation.
-Here’s what you get from the Impact 150 Campaign:
-An increase in need-based and merit-based scholarships. (Hooray!)
-Updated buildings (including Air Conditioning in dorms eventually)
-A Bubble next to the soccer field.
“But I’m not a student athlete,” you say. I know, me neither. But do you ever play IM Sports?
With the addition of the Bubble, our beloved IM Sports will also have more space. No longer will your C League IM Pickleball game be cancelled, postponed or relocated because a varsity sport needs to practice inside.
“Hooray!” you say.
Emma Rossi
Editor-in-Chief
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The Collegian is the student newspaper of Grove City College, located in Grove City, Pa. Opinions appearing on these pages, unless expressly stated otherwise, represent the views of individual writers. They are not the collective views of The Collegian, its staff or Grove City College.
AI and altered algorithms
Violet Whitmore News Editor
Facebook and X are two of the largest social media platforms used globally. Every day, they are used by millions of human users—and AI chatbots.
Most people have been fooled by a funny AI photo, video or song before with no real harm done. I find that as AI becomes more mainstream, we become less picky about our consumption, but were we really that picky to begin with? (I’m looking at you, keyboard cat).
On TikTok, there is a familiar comment I see repeated regarding viewer interaction with random, meaningless content: “this proves I will watch anything”. As our daily engagement with online media is climbing to new heights, discernment and media literacy is at an alltime low.
AI riddle prominent social media platforms such as Facebook and X, irreparably damaging platform algorithms and curating a feed full of worthless AI garbage. Many times, we can’t even tell.
This fall from authenticity is called the Dead Internet Theory. Coined in 2021, the theory is an online conspiracy of sorts that asserts when AI chatbots got introduced to the internet around 2016, original content “died” as bots began to replace real users, liking, commenting and leaving unrelated spam comments on posts to alter discourse online.
AI is not as obvious as it used to be and is not always fostering harmless engagement.
Some have been fooled out of money by an AI dating profile or a scam advertisement for a product. Others have succumbed to Instagram accounts asking them to invest in Bitcoin. Some have watched AI generated deepfakes and been manipulated into aligning with certain political views that are patently false.
It’s not just your grandparents watching an AI video of Barron Trump singing “God Bless the U.S.A” anymore.
As more computer-generated content is consumed, it perpetuates an algorithmbased feed of mind-numbing posts that farm likes and comments. The days of forums for discussion and creative pursuits are disappearing as users opt to discuss topics with AI chatbots and
ask robots to create art for them.
Human generated content is put on the back burner as people opt to chat with and consume carefully constructed and easily manipulated media. The incentive is lost for creativity to flourish in online spaces as clickbait titles of YouTube videos are prioritized over creative or well-researched videos because they are picked up by the algorithm.
More clicks mean more recommendations and views, which in turn allow content to be monetized by an AI channel for virtually no real work. We are actively rewarding and funding lazy, destructive content. Content quality no longer matters in a world of random and shockvalue generated nonsense.
I won’t deny that AI is a helpful tool and can produce interesting, human-like content. It’s not that the bots themselves are destructive, but their use as a replacement for human inquiry is a disservice to our humanity in
discussion-based spaces. What does it say about our society when authentic community can’t even be found online anymore, a place that is already replacing other forms of connection? Third places that have been moved online are now being pushed out in favor of consumerism, engagement, and marketing. Online discourse on Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, and X itself have tens of thousands of notes about why this is happening and how to stop it with no real answers. Social media in general is overdue for companies to implement ethical standards into their missions, as daily misinformation and disinformation circulate widely online, unregulated and ignored. This isn’t to say AI should be eliminated completely or that most of the content we see isn’t human. However, it’s absolutely true that AI algorithms manipulate what we see. The internet didn’t used to seek you out—you sought it. Can we really still say that’s the case?
HOW-TO GEEK
The Collegian, Nov. 15, 2024
Impact 150 fundraising ahead of schedule
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
As the semester progresses, the search for the ninth president of the College has expanded to almost 100 candidates.
President Paul J. McNulty ’80, now in his eleventh year as president, announced his retirement over the summer.
The search for the next president is being conducted by a committee of eleven College representatives led by Chair of the Board of Trustees Ed Breen ’78, comprised of several members of the Board of Trustees and including Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Mike Bright and Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies Dr. Carl Trueman.
Consulting firm CarterBaldwin has been retained to aid in the process. CarterBaldwin is a nationally prominent executive search firm that fills senior level executive positions for academic, not-for-profit, and corporate clients.
Breen gave attendees of the Department of Graduate Programs an update on the search at last week’s Leadership Summit.
In early December, the search committee will hold an all-day meeting in Pittsburgh, where they will narrow down their list of 80 to 100 serious names to less than ten. Their goal is to present the final one or two names to the Board of Trustees following CarterBaldwin’s background searches.
Breen spoke highly of Mc-
National
News
Nulty’s work as president, acknowledging his work to strengthen the College’s mission on the core pillars of Christianity and Conservatism. This work, according to Breen, gave the College more opportunity to be nationally recognized, evidenced by former Vice President Mike Pence’s role in the Center for Faith and Public Life and the newly dedicated Winklevoss School of Business.
“We’ve been very blessed with Paul and Brenda. He did it for the right reasons and you can see it,” Breen said.
The committee is looking
for candidates with qualities of servant leadership, excellent capacity for teamwork and experience with communication. Breen not only values candidates that adhere to the College’s foundational principles, but also those with experience in complicated managerial jobs.
Breen emphasized that the new president must understand the culture of the College “100 percent.”
“We are not changing at all,” he continued. “The responsibilities of the administration are to maintain the guardrails (of Faith and Freedom).”
The further future of America: the abortion ballot
Madison Lynch Staff Writer
Although the central focus of this year’s national ballot was the presidential election, another critical issue was abortion.
Abortion rights were on the ballot in 10 states: Maryland, Missouri, Arizona, Colorado, New York, Montana, Nevada, Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota.
In both Florida and South Dakota, the measures failed, while Nebraska passed more stringent restrictions on abortion. However, in the other seven states, policies were either loosened, allowing more access to abortion, or enshrined abortion as a fundamental right in the state constitution.
In Arizona, the state can no longer interfere before fetal viability, which is estimated to be 22 to 24 weeks,
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School of Business.
“We’ve been very blessed with Paul and Brenda. He did it for the right reasons and you can see it,” Breen said.
whereas it was only legal within the first 15 weeks previously.
In Colorado, the amendment now prohibits the state and local government from disallowing the use of health insurance to cover abortion.
In Maryland, the state cannot infringe at any point on an individual’s right to reproductive freedoms, including preventing, continuing or ending the pregnancy.
In Missouri, the election passed an amendment allowing individuals to make and carry out decisions about all matters relating to reproductive health care, including prenatal care, childcare, birth control and abortion. It also prevents the government from discriminating against anyone providing or obtaining reproductive health care.
In Montana, the ballot issue now prohibits the government from deny-
The committee is looking for candidates with qualities of servant leadership, excellent capacity for teamwork and experience with communication. Breen not only values candidates that adhere to the College’s foundational principles, but also those with experience in complicated managerial jobs.
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Marker Pen, second place went to senior Audrey Karwowski for InSight and first went to freshman Lauren Deleonardis with HandSong. The fan favorite went to Rhodes with Chameleon Boots, and he won an additional commercial prize chosen by the judge’s sixyear-old son. An additional surprise donation with increased prize money for each winner and $75 for each contestant was presented at the end of the presentation.
This event is a presentation pitch where students introduce their business venture within the time that it would take someone to ride up an elevator (approximately two minutes). This helps students develop effective communication skills, public speaking skills and practice personal presentation strengths.
The contestants are divided into two groups based on their presentation type: commercial or social enterprise.
The commercial enterprise focuses on developing physical products. Products from these presenters include a visual music app for the deaf
WINKLEVOSS continued from 1
to a longtime Austrian school problem: Money. Bitcoin, he said, is solid money that is independent of government. “It is the future of money,” he said. “It gives me great pleasure to donate the world’s soundest money to the school that first taught me about these concepts 60 years ago.”
Grove City College, he said, stands in contrast to other higher education institutions and is poised to play a significant role in the future. “We don’t have to make Grove City College great again. It already is,” Winklevoss said. “I think the world of this College. Not because of what it has done, but what it can do.”
Winklevoss’ twin sons, Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, spoke about their fa-
ing the right to terminate a pregnancy before fetal viability and prevents the government from punishing patients or providers who exercise their right to carry out decisions about the pregnancy. Two years prior, voters also rejected the Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, which declared that infants born alive, even after an abortion, are legal persons.
Although the measure in the ballot must be approved again in 2026, the issue on the ballot in Nevada would establish pregnancy-related matters as a fundamental freedom, where the state can only regulate abortion after fetal viability.
New York passed a measure that approved pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes and reproductive health as matters safeguarded by the constitution.
Breen emphasized that the new president must understand the culture of the College “100 percent.”
“We are not changing at all. The responsibilities of the administration are to maintain the guardrails (of Faith and Freedom),” Breen said.
and hard of hearing, a hat for those with visual impairments that uses sensors and vibration feedback, an AIbased platform to deal with airplane parts, a baking sheet for cut-out cookies and trail markers that connect to mobile devices to provide hikers with trail conditions, weather and SOS.
The social enterprise category features organizations, websites and networking systems. Some of these business ventures include online art therapy, an online Christian marketplace, a childhood development tracking app, a community resource management for fresh produce and a nonprofit for providing sports equipment to lower income families.
The 19 pitches were presented from students from a variety of majors: Entrepreneurship, Finance, Supply Chain Management, Applied Science and Engineering, Design and Innovation, Computer Science and Management. The contestants expertly equipped a combination of research and statistics, their personal experience and passion for their company and emotional connections.
ther’s affinity for Grove City College and how the ideals and values learned ‘mid the pines shaped their family and their understanding of economics, which they both studied at Harvard.
“Grove City College is a special place for individual learners. It is a bastion of independent thought,” Tyler Winklevoss said. “This school gave our father a shot,” Cameron Winklevoss said. “It saw something in our father.”
“Grove City College played a pivotal role in shaping my career and success and has always been a champion of free enterprise and independence,” Winklevoss said. “This gift is a way to give back to an institution that has given me so much. I hope it will inspire future generations of students to pursue excellence and make a positive impact in the world.”
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plete their degrees entirely online, meaning this summit is not only an opportunity for professional development, but also for them to meet the peers they’ve developed a rich community with inperson.
“GCC offers the best of both worlds in my opinion: online model, synchronous delivery and two on campus leadership summits per year. In this way, the program is accessible for working professionals with families, many residing outside western Pa., and yet we have these amazing opportunities to make real relationships with our fellow students,” graduate student Kristin Toth said.
“I am in my third year of the program, so some of the men and women I’ve had the pleasure of making meaningful, personal relationships (with). It’s a great core group of students, many of whom helped launch the MBA program. Getting together in person helps to fortify those relationships and grow in our faith and careers alongside each other,” Toth continued.
Pence spoke on the core tenants of leadership that he has practiced throughout his career, especially in the White House: orientation to authority, humility and wisdom.
“The greatest need in
America today is the rising up of men and women to leadership,” Pence said.
Pence elaborated on the need for humility in public service. “Democracy depends on heavy doses of civility. I’m not convinced our country is as divided as our politics,” he said.
Pence has spent the semester co-teaching a class with President Paul J. McNulty ’80 on the intersection of faith and public policy.
Sons of Howard Winklevoss ’65, Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, spoke to graduate and undergraduate students on the role of Cryptocurrency in the economy and it’s relation to Austrian economics.
College Board Chair and CEO of Dupont Ed Breen ’78 and Alumni Council Chair and Pittsburgh Business Leader for Gilbane Building Company James Dudt ’07 also addressed the summit’s attendees.
Breen was Friday’s keynote speaker and spoke from his several decades of experience as an influential businessman during his time with Comcast, Dupont and Tyco International.
On Saturday, Dudt served as the day’s keynote speaker and covered the transition from task-oriented work to a role in leadership.
LUKE PAGLIA
Ed Breen ‘78 delivered the keynote address at the Leadership Summit last Friday, Nov. 9.
Music in ‘The City’
Choir celebrates 40 years at their annual Christmas performance
Emily Fox Community Editor
Grove City College boasts a vast variety of musical ensembles on campus, but where do they take their talents post-grad? After graduation, many Grovers leave their alma mater and are scattered across the country to return to their homes, start families or even move to a new place to launch their career.
Some, however, choose to make their home in Grove City. And they don’t leave their love of music on campus. One place where many alumni have continued to practice their musical abilities is a notable Grove City
community choir, The Bach Society.
This year, the society celebrates their 40th anniversary of their Christmas performance.
The group was formed by 16 original members in 1984. For three years, Grove City’s own John Moset led the group as they produced both a Christmas and spring concert. Several alumni have led the group since then, including Dr. Richard Konzen, Erich Lascek and David Mruk.
The group’s current director is Grove City Head Volleyball Coach and Associate
Athletic Director for Sports Ministry, Leo Sayles. The group also has a history collaborating with the College’s orchestra, choir, Revelation Ringers and the College’s satellite group of the Pittsburgh Youth Chorus, according to the society’s president Dianne Gordon.
Now, the group averages between 35 to 45 members. The group sings a vast variety of choral genres including classics, motets, madrigals, contemporary pieces, folk music and even pop and Broadway pieces.
“I joined the society in 2020 as a member, as I was missing the opportunity to sing in a choral setting. When David Mruk, the former di-
rector, retired that spring, I was invited to apply for the position. I am a former high school choral director and majored in choral conducting, so I was delighted to do so. I had not directed a choral organization in 20 years, but music is a part of my life, so I am thankful that God provided such an opportunity through the Bach Society,” Choral Director Leo Sayles said.
The Bach Society is currently preparing for two anniversary Christmas concerts. The performance will feature Christmas selections chosen to kick off the season and put the audience in the Christmas spirit. The first show will be Friday, Dec.
6 at Center Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, and the second will be Saturday, Dec. 7 at Tower Presbyterian Church in Grove City. Both shows start at 7:30 p.m. The shows are open to the public, and the group encourages students to attend.
“Our Christmas concert is a great experience for anyone who appreciates Christmas music. It will help set the tone for the Christmas season,” Sayles said.
Students interested in learning more about the group, the Christmas performance or who are interested in joining the society can visit their website at bachsocietycommunitychoir.com.
Orchestrating Orchesis
Madison Lynch Staff Writer
Unlike musicals and plays, Orchesis relies on movement and music to convey a story. This year, the fall Orchesis production brings us an array of stories right off the shelves in their show “Dancing through the Library.” This performance will be based on many books and narratives: “Little Women,” “Frankenstein,” “1984,” “Beautiful Boy,” “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey,” “The Great Gatsby,” “The Perks
Check it out!
View Orchesis photos in the photospread on pages 6-7.
of Being a Wallflower,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Paradise Lost,” “Four Horsemen,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Sarah’s Key” and “Alice Through the Looking Glass.” However, the most important story is that of how the show all came together. The chronicle of this dance begins with choreographers auditioning their pieces.
They each present a 30-second clip that aligns with the theme of the performance. This involves first considering the atmosphere and the message of the dance. What idea, narrative or emotion are you trying to convey to the audience, and how do you display it? As choreographer senior Jessica Pratt describes it, deciding on a final piece requires determining how it will fit on the stage, with the dancers and with the message. This involves understanding musicality in connecting movement to this
music.
The choreographers do this mainly through experience, but as they listen to the music they will incorporate research, previous ideas and improv into developing a sequence of steps.
“How can I make something unique while still paying respects to a certain style of dance,” Pratts asked herself.
After the choreographers finish creating their audition piece, they submit it to the heads and advisors of Orchesis and explain their vi-
sion for the dance. They are then selected, and the second chapter of auditions begins. Dancers interested in Orchesis attend the initial info meeting and choose the pieces they want to audition for. After an hour of learning from the choreographer, the auditionees are sent a video of the combination for the audition and have one day to learn it. They then perform the piece in groups of two or three, and the show is cast later that night. The danc-
ORCHESTRATE 5
FRATernizing with the enemy...
My boyfriend is thinking about joining a frat. I remember when my sister’s boyfriend joined a frat, he changed a lot, and it resulted in them breaking up. I’m afraid the same thing might happen to me and my boyfriend. I really don’t want him to rush. What should I do?
My advice WITHOUT any sugar-coating: Don’t date a guy that wants to rush if that’s not something you want or are comfortable with. It’s fully his college experience and his decision, but it’s also fully your decision to date or not date someone in a frat. I know so many people who have
broken off situationships because the guy was in a frat and therefore had that stereotypical personality (not just at Grove). I think it depends on the frat he wants to join. I’ve seen it happen: some guys (not all!) join a frat and then they become eerily simi-
lar to the people that they spend time 24/7 with. There are lots of factors involved -- peer pressure, wanting to be accepted, all that jazz. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, brotherhood and all. I’d like to think that on Grove’s campus, it’s more of a positive than a negative. However, the frat boy stereotype is a stereotype for a reason. Judging from your sister’s relationship, it can definitely create some obstacles.
There are plentyyy of relationships that survive one of the people joining Greek life while the other doesn’t, but to your point, some don’t. If you haven’t had a sit-down conversation (I know, I know, I recommend
these types of convos a lot, but they DO work), I would do that and present exactly why you don’t love the idea of him joining a frat. Go into detail about why it didn’t work out in your sister’s relationship (feel free to send it to me as well, because that would really help in giving future advice haha). Then, ask him about why he does want to join a frat and why he thinks it’s a good idea. There are plenty of great housing groups that could be a compromise between you two, unless you consider a housing group equivalent to the frats. If he is set on a frat that has a certain reputation that you don’t want him involved with, voice those
reasons! Communication is always a great thing. In the end, it is his decision. I would hope he takes your reasons into account and makes a decision that considers what you think, but it’s ultimately in his hands. If it is something that neither of you is willing to compromise on, it’s better that you two find that out early on.
Auspiciously,
Dr. Love Love M.D.
BACH SOCIETY
The Bach Society will be performing their 40th annual Christmas Concert under the direction of Women’s Volleyball Coach Leo Sayles, Dec. 6 and 7.
SAYLES
First lady reflects on role
Natalie Hanna Contributing Writer
“McNulty”… For anyone affiliated with Grove City College, the first person that usually comes to mind when they hear that name is Paul McNulty. But this article is not about the president of the College. This story is about the one and only Brenda McNulty, first lady of Grove City College.
McNulty attended Grove City as a student in the late ’70s. The world was a vastly different place during that time, especially in terms of the distinctive lack of technology. “We … did not have personal computers, so a student had to stand in line to register for classes in person each semester. Having to show our IDs for meals created long lines as well,” McNulty explained. In fact, she and President McNulty met in one of these long dining hall lines.
After their dining hall introduction, President McNulty called his future wife a few weeks later asking if she would be interested in joining him to fulfill a class assignment by attending a religious service at a synagogue. After the service, they talked for hours at a nearby Pizza Hut, and the rest is history.
During McNulty’s time as a student here, the biblical studies department had a particularly important influence on her life. She was not raised in a Christian home, but she “wanted to know more from people who believed the message and
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ers then spend the next two months learning and practicing. They don’t get on stage with the costumes, lights and spacing until tech week, which is a span of only three days before the show. At this point, the stage managing and light crew comes into play. The stage manager regulates the audition process, communication and costumes prior to the show. When tech week arrives, the stage manager directs the light crew through
would faithfully teach it to me.” As a result, she studied under Dr. Bibza and many other professors who “made the persons of the Trinity come alive,” as she said.
When she became the first lady of the College, she used her faith to shape how she served the students. Despite her busy life, McNulty started the senior women’s Bible study, which she and others have been running for the last 10 years, communicating the truths of scripture to over 500 students.
“It’s been our hope that most of these participants will lead, host or at least attend a worthwhile study that contributes to their evergrowing love of the Lord once they leave the campus,” McNulty said.
In addition to the Bible study, McNulty spends her time gardening, a hobby that began during her time as a college student—in the raised bed garden in the backyard of the President’s house, which is open to the College community. She hosts various events in her home, meets a multitude of donors and alumni both on campus and in many exciting locations across the country and world, including Utah, London, Washington D.C. and Italy, to name a few.
Amy Frank ‘95, the wife of Grove City College Provost Peter Frank ‘95, spoke of McNulty’s welcoming nature enthusiastically. “She welcomes whatever God brings into her life, she welcomes adventure, and most of all,
the light queues, which can range from five to 30 per dance.
In orchestrating this performance, there are numerous roles that each play critical parts. Although experience is beneficial, anyone can audition for the dances and learn them with practice. To become a choreographer, you must have at least one semester of previous experience with Orchesis. Even if you don’t have much background with choreographing, Kevin Garvey, the company advisor and dance instructor, leads an advanced class for
she welcomes people. She has been quick to help new folks in town feel like part of the community … and she always makes … guests feel welcome with her humility, enthusiasm and genuine care for them,” Frank said.
McNulty also aims to serve the students by being a source of encouragement, whether through one-on-one
developing choreography. The lighting design is open to all lighting technicians in the theater department. Finally, the stage manager position is open to anyone, but it is recommended that you first work as assistant stage manager and talk to others with experience in order to better understand the requirements of the position.
To orchestrate this dynamic performance, each of these roles contributes to producing one cohesive and complex creation.
chats or by attending music, sports or theater events.
“Her primary concern has been to show others the love of Jesus,” Frank expressed. McNulty has made a significant impact on the students and faculty during her time as Grove City’s first lady. Without a doubt she will be leaving behind big shoes to fill.
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WHAT’S FRESH AT THE GROVE
In Ketler Auditorium... Orchesis
Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
Nov. 16 at 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
Join Grove City’s dance company as they “Dance Through the Library” this weekend. Enjoy performances inspired by famous books.
In Harbison Chapel... GCC Singers
Nov. 15
7:30 p.m.
Listen to GCC’s women’s choir perform a variety of selections tonight at 7:30.
In Ketler Hall... Possum Escape Rooms
Nov. 15 & 16
7 p.m. - 12 a.m. Nov. 17
7 - 10 p.m.
Bring a team and try to escape the ‘Veggie Tales’ or ‘McNulty’ themed rooms.
Nov. 16
7 p.m.
Enjoy a night of music at the Student Union featuring Jordy Searcy.
In Ketler Rec... Little Italy
Nov. 15 5 - 7 p.m.
Join the Alpha Sigs and Delta Iota Kappas for music and pasta. Listen to a band of Grover musicians over an Italian dinner tonight at 5. Tickets available in SAC.
Professor of Biblical & Religious Studies
Why did you decide to teach at Grove City?
My wife and I are both alums. After we moved back to the area to plant a church, I was invited to be part of the initial Project on Rural Ministry team in 2019. As the project grew, so did the opportunities to teach. I started as an adjunct in the fall of 2022 and became a fulltime member of the faculty at the beginning of the 2024 spring semester. I’ve always loved teaching about how to apply the Bible and a Christian theological framework to life.
What are your plans for Thanksgiving break? I plan to relax with my wife, our four kids and lots of extended family. (And we’ll probably take on a house project or two!)
If you could guest star in any TV show, which would you choose?
“This Is Us.” With the exception of live sports, we watch almost no TV. However, while “This Is Us” aired, my wife and I had a standing date every Tuesday night at 9:00.
If you had to teach a class in another discipline, what would you teach?
I love entrepreneurial ventures, so I would teach in entrepreneurship.
If you could create a float for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, what would your theme be?
I absolutely love books. I think I would create a float about reading or children’s literacy.
If you could enter the world of any book/ movie, which would you pick?
In the Arnold Recital Hall... Crimson Prov Showcase
Nov. 16
7 p.m.
Cheer on the members of the campus’s resident improv group at their showcase Saturday Night. In STU... Jordy Searcy Concert
I was going to say “Lord of the Rings,” but the chances are good that I might get killed in that world. “Narnia” seems adventurous without the heightened risk of a violent death.
What are you looking forward to as the semester wraps up?
The semester wrapping up! Rest. Christmas. Rest.
Grove City’s first lady Brenda McNulty, helps OB during move-in.
Performances and pirouettes
Grove City College Theater Program and dance troupe perform
Matt Fittro
Matt Fittro
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Last week, the Grove City College Theater Program performed their fall musical, “Fiddler on the Roof.” The cast performed four shows over the course of four nights.
This weekend, the Orchesis dance troupe is performing their show “Dancing Through the Library.” The drama filled line-up features 14 unique dances.
Make sure you support your fellow Grove City College students in the arts and come out to Pew Fine Arts Center to check out Orchesis’s fall performance.
by Luke Paglia, Photo Chief
Matt Fittro
Luke Morton Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
Luke Morton
The trouble with chapel
Megan Brock Contributing Writer
If you asked the student body at Grove City College what they truly thought of the chapel requirement, many would tell you that it is agonizing.
With assignments and exams piling up, who wants to spend an hour on Wednesday or Friday listening to another lecture when you can use this time to get ahead on schoolwork or simply get some extra time in your day? Maybe it’s time to reconsider the requirement.
The hard truth is that if you force us to be there, you can’t force us to listen. The chapel requirement diminishes the spiritual freedom many stu-
dents seek at the College.
Don’t believe me? Research by Andrews University suggests that requiring chapel actually can reduce spiritual growth in young minds.
“Not only do (institutions that require chapel) reduce students’ intrinsic motivation, they also create an improper mindset in the budding spiritual lives of students,” Lyle Goulbourne of Andrews University said.
Is there a way Grove City can maintain spiritual freedom without including the requirement?
Chapel “is an integral component of the living and learning experience that defines Grove City College,” the Christian Formation Office (CFO) stated. While this is true, there are other ways the College and the CFO are
accomplishing this end that make the chapel requirement unnecessary.
“We envision a campus community that is grounded in Christ-centered worship, webbed together in loving relationships and engaged in whole-life discipleship,” the CFO mission statement says. Spiritual freedom comes in all forms, and the CFO brings a variety of opportunities to the table.
For more passionate worship, there are Met by Love and Warriors for Christ that offer weekly worship services for those who find deep connection in music.
The Grove City website mentions over 20 studentled ministry groups and Inter-Community Outreach (ICO) trips available for students which help foster and support student spiritual
growth and purpose. Regular speakers are invited to speak on campus every semester and offer additional talks beyond chapel. This semester, the College’s website says they have hosted Jordan Kauflin, Nick Prugar, Matthew Soerens, Lydia Lyu and Dr. Ligon Duncan.
Finally, students can become involved in the chapel program through the worship team or by reading scripture in chapel. The chapel program actively embodies the CFO mission statement and should not be removed.
However, as soon as you tack “required” on a service, the spiritual freedom gets lost.
That is why the opportunities within and beyond the chapel program set a firm foundation for spiritual freedom on campus.
These on and off-campus
opportunities maintain the mission and goals of the CFO and promote a campus that is engaged in whole-life discipleship.
What sets Grove City apart from other Colleges is our commitment to Christian values in daily life. I believe that lifting the chapel requirement will allow room for spiritual flourishing in students while maintaining the values and missions of the College and CFO.
While giving up the chapel credit tradition may be a difficult change for Grove City, the requirement is not necessary to make this campus “engaged in whole-life discipleship.” The CFO programs and the students make our campus strong in faith, requiring chapel does not.
Do all grades go to heaven?
Abigail Kengor Staff Writer
As a freshman, there were two campus catchphrases written on notecards that decorated my dorm halls: “Grades don’t matter, people do!” and “Grades don’t go to Heaven.”
I have distinct memories of reading these notes and getting mildly enraged at the culture of academic apathy that I thought these statements must be promoting. Back then, my complaint (still partially legitimate) was this:
Yes, it is true that grades don’t go to Heaven and, despite school being our main concern and occupation as students, it would be wrong
to obsess over them and value them over our spiritual growth. Eventually everything terrestrial will pass away and our aptitude in chemistry will not translate to getting either an F or an A+ at our Judgement. However, as long as we are still on Earth, grades do matter a decent bit, especially since giving effort to our studies is glorifying to God. We are not called to waste our time on Earth pining for Heaven, but to work to bring a foresight of the City of God to Earth, beautifying our culture and society. All of our work should find purpose and direction in that goal. Saying that our work doesn’t matter because eventually it will give way to Heaven is to forget that we do everything for Heaven. And yes, any given per-
son is much more worthy of love and care than any honor or success, considering that only one of those bears the Image of God. But one thing being much higher than another does not totally discount the value of the lower. Grades do matter, and there’s a difference between sacrificing an occasional assignment to comfort a distraught friend and habitually squandering one’s education for socializing. After all, why would we be in college if we did not want to study?
Now, what I did not realize as a freshman (which I am still painfully discovering) is how grades really work and that studies and grades are very different. Studying your heart out, getting three hours of sleep, ignoring all of your friends and forgetting to eat in preparation for an exam
cannot be denied the title dedication. But that does not make this lifestyle good. And when that exam is returned with a big, red C-, the message is not that you are a lazy student, just that the class is hard … and an exhausted brain could also be a factor. No matter what grade you get, what is important is that you have given your studies an ordinate amount of care -- not obsession, not neglect, just moderation. It also takes humility and patience to accept a bad grade. Remembering that grades don’t go to Heaven but that Heaven does exist can put all of your work into proper priority in your heart. It can also prevent you both from sacrificing health for school and from the opposite failure of sacrificing school for pleasure. We should seek and work for
good grades but shouldn’t lay down our life for anything but Christ and His people.
So, at the time, the “grades don’t matter” mantra seemed to me a total disregard for scholastic integrity. I still think it might be unwise to deliver this idea in such a dismissing phrase, but it makes more sense applied to our large population of Groverachievers: perfectionist students susceptible to academic scrupulosity.
While the phrase carries some risk, when understood correctly, this is just what our all-nighter-pulling students need. Grades do matter, but the work behind them and the purpose behind that work matter a lot more.
Make Thanksgiving great(ful) again
Sir Benjamin Treadwell Contributing Writer
We are in the month of November now, and Christmas looms on the horizon. But first, Thanksgiving break! Now, the holiday that grants us this break is, in my opinion, the most underrated holiday of them all.
Sure, sure, some minor holidays get ignored, but none get upstaged like Thanksgiving. It might have a parade, and the main dish of Thanksgiving gets a football game named for it, but Christmas, especially secular, commercial Christmas, aggressively ousts Thanksgiving. Probably it’s the music -- whoever heard of a Thanksgiving song?
That said, I think the holiday of Thanksgiving deserves more attention, especially from Christians.
Certainly, as Christians, we ought to celebrate the birth of our glorious Savior and King Jesus Christ. There’s no hope and even no gratitude for good gifts without Christmas. Yet as saints, as the saved, as the Church, we are often commanded in the Bible to “give thanks” or “offer thanksgiving.” A frequent motif in the Psalms, we learn that the children of God have more reason than anyone else to speak, show and sing of our gratitude. Who else has such a generous God? Who else can rejoice in the enormous favor and incomprehensible measure of grace God pours out? A holiday around giving thanks is certainly a good time to celebrate the gifts Yahweh lavishes on His children. Our thankfulness is a sacrifice which glorifies God! If the Psalm is true and it is the inspired word of
God, then it explains why the Apostle Paul repeatedly commands Christians to frequently give thanks. We should give thanks in prayer and in everything. It is a fault of this culture that we don’t focus on the virtue which is thankfulness.
We live in a culture which can suck away our contentment through encouraging us to desire more and more, yet God tells us to be thankful to Him, to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and learn the virtue of gratitude. Thanksgiving, if we approach it in a Christian manner, is a holiday, a clear occasion, in which we can praise God and practice a biblical virtue. Could we ask for a better chance to grow spiritually? Yet another holiday season to remind us of our God and how to live for Him! You might begin practicing gratitude by writing down one thing you are grateful for every day. Offer up a short prayer of gratitude to God after doing so. If you don’t already, thank God for your food before (or after) every meal. Thank Jesus for saving you.
Away with this “Turkey Day” business! We are not celebrating merely the munching on delicious meat, nor are we only celebrating family time. Here’s more to thank God for, this is not the whole meaning of the holiday. This is Thanksgiving! This is a time to rejoice in the blessings of our God. Give thanks this November, Grove City. Give thanks for your freedom that other countries long for, give thanks for your fantastic education here and give thanks for amenities that would make medieval lords envious.
Go, as Christians, as cultivators of virtue … Make Thanksgiving Great[ful] Again.
Why do we give rom-com cheaters a pass?
Kristiana Shirk
Contributing Writer
What does the average person want to see in a chick flick? Not an open, honest, faithful couple, I can tell you that. In films like “You’ve Got Mail,” “The Notebook,” “Sweet Home Alabama” and more, the main character engaging in a romantic affair while in a relationship is a common trope.
From a writing standpoint, this trend of infidelity or cheating actually makes sense. To form a coherent plot, writers need to create a character who recognizes something she wants and a reason she can’t have it. In romantic movies, the character is often a woman who wants a man, but she can’t have him because she already has a boyfriend. And her dilemma rarely resolves in a conversa-
tion before things go too far. That wouldn’t be much of a plot, and it wouldn’t be entertaining.
The inclusion of a romantic affair for plot purposes is not a problem in itself: it’s an unfortunate reality. What is a problem, though, is that infidelity is usually brushed off in the narrative. Cheating exists, it would be unreasonable to pretend it doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean it should be romanticized.
As an audience we need to view the treatment of romantic affairs in film with skepticism, and writers should morally attend to infidelity in their productions. Romcoms are a valid form of entertainment that can and even should be enjoyed and appreciated, but we must recognize them as the unrealistic fluff they really are.
When we watch these films with romantic affairs, we need to consider what they’re really saying. Usually,
they encourage the idea that you can be unfaithful to your partner as long as you’re pursuing your true love.
Sure, if you know it’s not going to work out with your partner, call it off. But generally, people frown upon being secretly romantically invested in someone else. Rom-coms usually don’t acknowledge how cheating violates the values of trust, faithfulness, honesty and self-control.
Somehow though, chick flicks get away with the main character being unfaithful time and time again, and the guy who gets dumped conveniently moves on and many viewers turn a blind eye. These films pretend that everyone is fine, but in real life, cheating is incredibly painful for the person who gets betrayed.
Why do these rom-coms get away with casual cheating when we know it’s wrong and painful?
Because they’re good movies. They’re well-written, well-acted and well-produced. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks can do whatever they want on screen because people love the characters they help create.
Annie in “Sleepless in Seattle,” for example, becomes completely obsessed with Sam, so much so that she writes to him and seriously considers flying to New York to see him. She does all this while hiding it from and lying to her fiancé (I’m shocked), and he nonchalantly accepts her decision to call off the wedding (who would’ve guessed). Regardless, I love Annie and Sam and the story.
These movies are so appealing because they are detached from reality, which is not inherently bad. We watch them because they make romance entertaining and sugar-coated. What is bad is that they violate relational morals and gloss over the heartbreak
of betrayal.
I’m not going to stop watching these movies, and you don’t need to either. You should, however, make sure you know why infidelity is included in the plot and how the film (unrealistically) treats it.
The media you consume affects how you view the world. It sets your expectations for everything from religion and politics to relationships. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself starting to find infidelity reasonable if you’re watching chick flicks without skepticism.
The more we watch these movies that say cheating isn’t a big deal, the more normal infidelity will seem, and we can bid values adieu.
If the film doesn’t bat an eye when a character cheats, there’s a good chance you’re not going to care either unless you acknowledge that rom-coms are not about morality. They’re about impulsive love and entertainment.
Lightfoot’s legend lives on
‘Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ turns 50
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
The Wreck
Almost 50 years ago, Gordon Lightfoot released his magnum opus, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” a six-and-a-half-minute long song immortalizing, memorializing and chronologizing the steamer that had sunk only a year prior to the song’s release.
This past Sunday marked the 49th anniversary of the sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes steamer commissioned by Northwest Mutual to haul various American-made goods across the lakes.
At 2:15 p.m. on November 9, 1975, the ship set sail from Superior, Wis. with 26,000 tons of taconite ore in her hold. The captain, Ernest McSorley, and his crew of 28 men were headed for Detroit, Mich. when a massive storm originally predicted to hit south of the freighter changed course and moved quickly towards the ship.
As the waves grew larger and the storm’s eye approached, the ship started to take on water. McSorley radioed back and forth with other ships on the radar, providing the few details of the ship’s final moments.
On the final radio call, a crew
the trouble. The last words heard from McSorley were his reply, “We’re holding our own.”
The captain redirected the ship’s route to dock in Whitefish Bay and wait out the storm. They never made it. Shortly after 7 p.m., the ship split in two and sank, leaving no survivors and for almost two decades, no remains. Four days later, the Coast Guard would find the wreck in deep water using a sonar scan. An investigation was conducted, and the Navy’s automated underwater vessel captured the wreck months later.
The sinking of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald is steeped in legend and mystery, as the true cause of the ship’s demise is not completely known. While a USCG Marine Board investigation blamed the wreck on “deferral of maintenance and repairs, in failure to prepare properly for heavy weather,” many
one and only body found in the wreckage was recovered. The man was wearing a cork vest and laid only feet away from the ship’s radio, where a distress call could’ve been made, but wasn’t.
The Music
Gordon Lightfoot was an Ontario-born singer and songwriter who gained notoriety in the early ’70s thanks to his debut album “Sundown.” The inspiration for his most famous song came after he saw the ship’s name misspelled “Edmond” in a newspaper. He felt it was a dishonor to the 29 who died and penned the mournful ballad in response.
The first four verses of the song tell the story of the wreck, with some artistic license taken considering that very little was known about the disaster at the time Lightfoot wrote it. In the song’s haunting fifth verse, Lightfoot acknowledges the mystery, “Does anyone know where the love of God goes/When the waves turn the minutes to hours?/The searchers all say they’d have made Whitefish Bay/If they put fifteen more miles behind her.”
The song is a lyrical masterpiece, emblemizing the folk genre’s ballads during this era.
Lightfoot had become so intertwined with the maritime disaster that after his passing in May 2023, the Mariner’s Church of Detroit rang its bell 30 times, one for each of the ship’s crew and once for
What’s left of Coldplay
Cat Runion Staff Writer
Coldplay is one of the most defining bands of the 2000s and early 2010s. With hits like “Viva La Vida,” “Yellow” and “Sky Full of Stars,” the band’s mix of indie rock and acoustic with consistent lyrical integrity cemented its place in pop culture over the next decade, with songs like “Sparks” occasionally becoming TikTok trends and surging in popularity.
The band has consistently released albums every couple of years since the 2000’s “Parachutes” release. Their latest album “Moon Music” came out in October of this year.
Coldplay has always had a place in indie genres, sometimes flirting with new sounds or patterns and especially acoustic styles. Much of this style is a product of their genesis; as an emerging group at the turn of the century, Coldplay took much of the style of ’90s indie music and played a critical role in defining the sound of the early 2000s.
Beginning with album “A Head Full of Dreams” in 2015, the band saw a notable shift in style and in sound. They began to include eastern influences and non-traditional sounds, and pivoted to a more shallow lyric body. This new album digs Coldplay deeper into the
trenches of that choice. Whereas before the band seemed to focus equally on sound and lyrics, the lyrics in the new album are hollow and repetitive. In fact, all of the album seems to be focused on the sound and the “vibe,” even though the original band’s sound only features occasionally.
“Moon Music” features many tracks which merely explore sound with a single repetitive lyric. In other songs, there is somewhat of a return to stories and ballads, but the lyrics utterly undermine whatever sound they create. One track, “JUPiTER,” repeats bland statements such as “love who you love,” “be yourself” and “never give up.”
Regardless of sentiment, this stereotypical pseudo-activism fails to leave any lasting impression due to the album’s lack of depth.
There are several more stereotypical love songs on the album, similar in nature to the band’s early work, such as “feelslikeimfallinginlove,” “All My Love,” “GOOD FEELiNGS” and “iAAM.” These songs are upbeat and catchy and don’t attempt any ideological statements, but the lyrics are once again only surface level and nonspecific. With the songs that do attempt some sort of vocal activism, such as “WE PRAY,” “JUPiTER,” “ONE WORLD” and “(rainbow emoji)” (yes, they do have a song with a title that is merely the rainbow emo-
Tunes from the Tower ‘The Secret of Us’
Ana Geike Contributing Writer
“I always stopped writing on the piano whenever I heard footsteps because it wasn’t for anyone but myself.” As a glimpse into the past life of Gracie Abrams, the artist’s confession to “Vogue” embodies the journey of a songwriter growing into her calling and into herself.
It is the echo of the cautious but distinct footsteps of a natural-born songwriter from the sanctuary of the bedroom walls where she sung in breathy whispers every night into the expanse of a deafening world awaiting a still note of truth.
In stark contrast to this vision, a passing glance at trending stories scream Abrams’ success. She has been an opener for Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour, achieved the release of “The Secret of Us,” housing several trending and chartclimbing songs, performed a worldwide tour spanning the course of this November to July of next year and had camaraderie and collaborations with the big names of the industry.
Nobody would have thought that Abrams was inspired to write about her feelings in her third-grade classroom or sing her consoling prose to herself until she worked up the courage to scatter songs over social media, sowing seeds for such future success.
“It quite literally sounds like the stream of consciousness running through your head while writing in a diary,” Leila Atta writes on BeatRoute. “Thoughts straight from your brain to the page, and completely confident in the fact that no one else will ever know this is what you were really thinking.”
Abrams’ repertoire provokes an emotional confusion and a contemplatively moody haze, but in “The Secret of Us,” this has settled and solidified into a sure portrait of the mixed emotions that culminate in relationships shattered to pieces, started in haste and tested by confusion.
“I think I have the best sense of myself today than I ever have before, and that’s probably why this album is more extroverted,” Abrams reflects regarding her current and past works.
ji), none of the lyrics are complex enough to actually explore the topics in question further than what a high school student might post on her Instagram story.
Many songs pull in or involve phrases like “Mina ngiyakuthanda weh,” which is Zulu for “I love you.” These don’t play a large function in the album, but show up several times, in addition to a sound clip of Maya Angelou singing an African spiritual. The lyrics are so shallow that the only lyrical thru-line to the whole album is Chris Martin singing “la-la-la-la” in various contexts. Literally: in every single song except for one or two, “la-la-la” is a central motif. “La-la, la-la, la, la, that’s all / all I can say” is a direct quote from the lyrics of “ALL MY LOVE.”
This album has been met with mixed reviews, but the general consensus is that it is somewhat mediocre. My opinion – which may be better suited to the Perspectives section – is that Chris Martin essentially abandoned the rest of the band back in 2015 and is now vainly aspiring to some conglomeration of Pink Floyd, David Bowie and John Lennon. Martin apparently “wants to write songs that change the world,” but due to a shocking lack of lyrical integrity, the album aspires to little more than a half-hearted “you can do it!”
This “Gracie haze” that is so central, and an appealing aspect of her style strikes a balance between unleashed emotion and weighty introspection. It teeters between confidently calling out jerky boyfriends and emotional manipulation and regretfully admitting hypocritic patterns and vengeful fantasies … a portrayal of the truest and most relatable facets of the twisted teenage (and human) heart.
“And you look stupid going out/If she’s got a pulse, she meets your standards now/You feel nothing and yet you still let her,” Abrams croons in Blowing Smoke, while lamenting, “That’s just the way life goes/I like to slam doors closed/ Trust me, I know it’s always about me/I love you, I’m sorry,” in “I Love You, I’m Sorry.”
Some of the best artists retain what made them unique in the first place, and all the more when such facets are their style and their persona is something that prompts the world to lend an ear to in more ways than one.
Vrinda Jagota notes Abrams’ practice in contemplating the thoughts of various feminist authors in her article on SPIN. “Through reading, quieting herself and learning more about worlds beyond her own, she intentionally created ‘room to absorb real truths and experiences that are not my own,’” Jagota says, quoting Abram herself. Abrams’ quiet truths spoken in bold confidence are a cry to the world to own up to the raw bittersweetness of circumstances and to appreciate the gift of feeling.
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Sports
Wolverines outlast Spartans in Senior Day showdown
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Wolverine football won their last regular season home game against the Case Western Reserve Spartans in a 30-20 win. The team also celebrated their 29 seniors.
With a win this Saturday against rivals the Westminster Titans tomorrow, the Wolverines will earn a share of the conference title, securing no less than a conference co-championship.
The Wolverine offense scored on their first drive, with running backs senior Nico Flati and junior Ian Demeri rushing the ball down the field. A 32-yard run from Demeri to cross the goal line earned him his seventh touchdown of the season and the Wolverines’ first of the game.
The Grove City defense held the Spartans to 21 rushing yards on 18 attempts while the Wolverines' ground attack amassed 201 rushing yards. Flati had 144 yards on 29 carries, with two touchdowns on the day.
Sullivan improved the Wolverine’s score to 9-0 after hitting a 38-yard field goal towards the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was scoreless until Grove City’s penultimate offensive drive of the half, when a 15-yard touchdown run improved the Wolverine’s score to 16-0.
To close the first half, senior punter Dan Berube kicked his career-best, a 63yard punt. On Saturday, Berube boomed three punts over 50 yards. He dropped three punts inside the 20, placing two balls at the CWRU 10 and one at the 15. Berube now leads the conference with a 42.3 punting average. Grove City's single season record for punting average is 40.8, set by Brian Neefe in 1969.
Berube’s performance has earned his PAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in a four-week span.
Early in the second half, a shanked punt from the Spartans gave the Wolverines the ball at the Case Western
20, setting senior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer up for a touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Ryan Heckathorn. The good extra point attempt from sophomore kicker Daniel Sullivan improved the score to 23-0.
After the Spartans rallied to change the score to 23-13, the Wolverine offense took the field and put the game away with a 12-play, 80-yard drive that took 7:24 of the fourth quarter. Flati scored his second touchdown of the game with a four-yard run.
The Spartans scored one final touchdown on their last possession, making the final score 30-20.
Senior safety Jason Muench intercepted a pass for the Wolverines. Senior defensive end Bryce Spolnik and junior linebacker Ben Bladel both had quarterback sacks. Spolnik has 6.5 sacks this season, while Bladel has 10.
Spolnik also had three tackles for loss. Junior linebacker Jack posted seven tackles while Spolnik had six total stops.
Men’s Basketball triumphs in season opener
Mia Gallagher Sports Editor
Men’s basketball opened their 2024-25 season with an impressive double-digit win over Penn State DuBois last Friday, Nov. 8.
The 88-78 non-conference victory saw stunning offensive and defensive performances from seasoned veterans and talented underclassmen alike, boding well for the team’s prospects this year.
“Coming off of preseason, the team looks great. Lots of guys have been getting in the gym and getting shots up on their own or with others. The work ethic has been the best we’ve had on the team since I’ve been here. Our scrimmages have shown that we haven’t lost a step since the end of last season and the start of this one, and we’ve only gotten better,” junior captain Mike Christenson said.
The Wolverines maintained a commanding lead throughout the match up, upholding an eight-point
lead headed into halftime and jumping out to 22-point lead with seven minutes left. They then blocked the Lions comeback attempt at 56 seconds left with senior guard Chase Yarberough going four for four from the foul line to secure the win.
Pacing the offensive effort for the Wolverines was senior guard Jonah Bock, who posted 22 points, 18 of which came from the threepoint line. Junior guard Kyle Randle followed Bock by chipping in 16 points while Yarberough went five for six, shooting to tally 15 points.
Sophomore center Issac Cherry also added 14 points to the team’s effort and led the Wolverines with three assists.
Overall, the team went 30 for 59 from the field for a shooting percentage of 51 percent. Grove City also cashed in on nine of their 20 three-point attempts.
Defensively, the Wolverines maintained a 44-26 edge in rebounds, with five veteran upperclassmen each contributing five rebounds to
the effort.
Leading the Wolverines with four steals was freshman guard Anderson Skelton, followed by Randle, who posted three takeaways. Collectively, the team tallied 15 turnovers.
“The first four games are non-conference games. These games are usually good to get us comfortable playing again. There’s no way of simulating a college basketball game besides playing one,” Christenson said.
“We have a couple big conference games to start the year, the first one being against Waynesburg at home on Nov. 20. It’s a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal game, one that we won, and will be a great game to set the tone for the early part of the season,” Christenson continued.
After just falling short to Pitt-Greensburg in overtime last Saturday, Nov. 9 and hosting Pitt-Bradford Wednesday, Nov. 13, the Wolverines will be back in action at home against Fredonia State at 1 p.m. tomorrow.
NIL partnership announced
GCC Athletics
The Grove City College athletic department and Opendorse, the industry leader in Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) marketing, have entered into a partnership that will allow Grove City student-athletes to maximize NIL opportunities as part of their experience at the College.
Grove City is the 20th NCAA Division III institution to partner with Opendorse.
Athletes use Opendorse to build and monetize their name, image and likeness with support from hundreds of colleges and thousands of brands, fans, donors and partners including Team
USA, LEARFIELD, Keller Williams and more.
Opendorse maximizes NIL opportunities for studentathletes while delivering security and simplicity for all involved parties.
"In the ever-changing landscape of college athletics, helping student-athletes utilize NIL to help maximize their student-athlete experience is a must for programs that are competing to be the best," Grove City College athletic director Todd Gibson said.
"Partnering with Opendorse gives our student-athletes, and businesses that are interested in working with them, a safe, secure and NCAA-compliant marketplace to navigate this new world. Opendorse works
Sports at a Glance
Results
Football (8-1): W, CWRU (30-20)
Men’s Soccer (12-4-3): L, Franciscan (1-2)
Women’s Soccer (13-3-3): W, Westminster (4-3)
Men’s Swimming: W, Saint Vincent (161-95)
Women’s Swimming: W, Saint Vincent (161-101)
Men’s Basketball (1-2): L, Pitt-Greensburg (76-78 / OT) L, Pitt Bradford (83-78)
Women’s Basketball (0-2): L, Alma (58-60 / OT)
Women’s Volleyball (15-14): W, Oberlin (3-1)
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
with the best colleges and universities in the nation and we are proud to be part of their team," Gibson said.
The Opendorse-powered marketplace is built on a decade of athlete marketing technology and experience. Opendorse has facilitated thousands of NIL deals and endorsements with athletes at every level of sports.
"Equipping Wolverine athletes with the tools to build their own brands, as well as the many other benefits this partnership provides, is a small way of saying 'thank you' for all that they do while representing Grove City College athletics in competition, practice, the classroom and the community," Gibson said.
CHAMPS continued from 12
national tournament. Our key to success will be continuing to play from a place of freedom and trusting one another. We’re hungry for more and grateful we’re not done yet,” Venus said.
At 11 a.m. tomorrow, Grove City will head to Dallas, Pa. to face Misericordia University in the Coal Region. The Misericordia Cougars compete in the MAC Freedom Conference with a 17-1-2 overall record and are ranked sixth in the United Soccer Coaches D3 Poll.
Freja Kile Women’s Swimming Newcomer of the Week Will Sterrett Men’s Swimming Swimmer of the Week
Dan Berube Football Special Teams of the Week
Ryan Turner Men’s Swimming Newcomer of the Week
LUKE PAGLIA
Senior runningback Nico Flati scored two TDs in senior day game.
Sports
Back-to-back champs Wolverines topple Titans to defend PAC title
Garrett Gess Staff Writer
For the second straight year, Wolverine women’s soccer has claimed the PAC Championship after securing a thrilling 4-3 win at Westminster. This marks Grove City’s fourth PAC title in the past seven years.
The Wolverines entered the title match undefeated in conference play (8-0-2), coming off a commanding 6-2 win against Allegheny in the PAC semifinals 6-2 last Saturday.
Back in mid-October, the Wolverines and Westminster Titans met in a back-andforth contest. The Titans had a 2-1 lead late, but a goal at the 87th minute by senior forward Natalie Merrick, assisted by senior forward Britta Lagerquist, tied the game at 2-2 for the final.
Down in the locker room before the PAC Championship, the Wolverines were very calm, cool, collected and ready to affirm their position as the conference’s best women’s soccer team.
The pressure did not get to Grove City early on, as they were playing in a championship game which they expected to get to. With Grove City at number one in the preseason polls and Westminster at number two, it was a game they had been waiting for all season.
“Since August we knew this is where we wanted to be at the end of the season: competing in the PAC final. This is something we have been working towards all season, so we were eager and excited to play,” senior midfielder Erin Venus said.
“Before warmups on Saturday, we were in the locker room singing ‘there’s nothing better than you.’ It was such a sweet moment that preceded the game, because we all believe that the Lord is our greatest reward regardless of any result. Saturday was such a sweet victory because we competed from a place
“We are pumped to compete on a bigger stage in the national tournament. Our key to success will be continuing to play from a place of freedom and trusting one another. We’re hungry for more and grateful we’re not done yet.”
-- Erin Venus
of freedom in Christ, and I think this really showed in how much fun we had and the way we worked for each other,” Venus said.
Grove City started out fast, with two goals achieved very early on by sophomore defender Emma Dailey and senior midfielder Emma Herrmann, both in the first 15 minutes of play and bringing the score up to 2-0.
The Titans countered with two goals of their own later in the half to tie the game at 2-2 apiece.
The Wolverines made the halftime adjustments that they needed to get back ahead. Around 20 minutes into the second half, sopho-
more forward Tori Ste venson broke the ice to go up 3-2. Towards the end of the contest, Venus scored the gameclinching goal to go up 4-2, which ended up being a vi tal cushion, as Westminster scored to tighten the game to a 4-3 final.
“It was surreal scoring, es pecially like that ... I am just so proud of our team and the way we played. It was a huge team effort,” Venus said.
Last season, Grove City traveled to Cleveland, Ohio to face Case Western in the NCAA playoffs, but lost 5-1.
In 2018, Grove City de feated UChicago 2-1 in the first round, which was the
team in the NCAA playoffs.
“We are pumped to com-
Rugby clinches ARU title and national playoff berth
Mia Gallagher Sports Editor
After a tremendously successful fall program, the Grove City College men’s rugby team has secured the Allegheny Rugby Union (ARU) Small College Championship.
The Wolverines’ 29-28 victory over the Robert Morris University (RMU) Colonials this past Saturday, Nov. 9 further builds upon the program’s success in the past few seasons and bodes well for its success in both 15s and 7s play going forward.
“What a game! It was our best game of the year, both in our performance and in the level of competition we faced. A lot of us scored and everyone on the team had great moments during the game,” sophomore outside center Jackson Ford said.
“Both teams left everything on the field in a razor-close game, and by the end we didn’t know what the score
was! When RMU scored just before time ran out, they thought they had won and started celebrating. The referees got together to add up the total … and announced that Grove City won, 29-28, and we all went crazy!” Ford said.
Contributing to the Wolverines remarkable victory were the efforts of 10 rookies who have been integral to the team’s triumphs this year. With the help of program veterans and senior captain Tyler Wofford, this young group of players stands ready to tackle the challenges ahead of them.
“Bringing the championship to Grove City shows how excellent our rugby program is. We repeatedly beat bigger teams because of our unmatched teamwork and understanding of the game. Hard work beats everything else, and we were able to show our hard work this weekend by winning the championship,” Ford explained.
The title game victory secured the Wolverines the union’s automatic bid into the National Small College Rugby Tournament. The team will travel to St. Louis, Mo. to face off against various competitors on the national stage.
“We’re so excited to represent Grove City on a bigger stage and test our undefeated record against the other champs,” Ford said.
“Day by day we get better and better! Many of us will play sevens this spring, and we will return to 15s next fall. With another year of experience under our belts, we will continue to pursue excellence and improve our game,” he expressed.
To receive updates and stay up to date on the rugby team’s journey at the national tournament, be sure to follow them on Instagram @ grovecitycollegerugby.
JOHN HAKE
Above: The Grove City Women’s Soccer team celebrating their PAC championship. Below: sophomore midfielder Tori Stevenson, who was named Most Outstanding Player for her performance in the 2024 PAC tournament.
CHAMPS
LUKE MORTON
Men’s Rugby will advance to the national tournament in St. Louis.