A very Collegian Christmas Festivities on campus, a grover gift guide, and holiday music
Collegian The Christmas spirit at the Grove
Students and local community celebrate Light Up Night this past Tuesday, an annual event that lights the star on top of Rockwell. The Carnegie Concerts began this Monday and the last concert will begin at 12 p.m. today. These concerts featured GCC bands, choirs, and orchestras that performed holiday themed songs.
Education majors raise awareness for Israel
Study abroad sparks action
Violet Whitmore News Editor
Three Grove City College students are raising awareness for Israeli relief this fall in a semester-long project connecting their experiences studying abroad during the Israel-Hamas war.
“Leadership for Teachers” is a class for education majors to engage in a semesterlong project that aims to help a people group in need. An idea for the project sparked
when seniors Alyssa Gundell, Makenzie Lefever and Amanda Hall communicated their first-hand experience and interest in the current crisis in Israel.
“When considering a group of people who are in extreme need, my mind immediately went to the Israeli people,” Gundell said.
This semester, the students began reaching out to their contacts, researching organizations and programs working in Israel. Many schools
are in active war zones and have not been in session since the war began last year.
“Everything becomes very unstable, and education needs to remain in contact for these students to break the cycles of violence and fragility,” Lefever, who is interested in teaching in Israel in the future, said.
The ongoing war and humanitarian crisis has killed thousands and displaced even more. While much of the world’s attention is fo-
Harp retires after 25 years
Matthew Purucker Staff Writer
cused on the impact on Palestinians in Gaza, Israeli citizens have been subject to devastating rocket attacks from the country’s adversaries.
“Many families traveled with only the clothes on their backs and limited resources. My group’s hope is to raise awareness about these issues that many Israeli families are currently facing and call people to support their needs,”
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When a cherished professor retires, there is often a feeling of sadness mixed with gratitude among students and faculty. In the case of Dr. Gillis Harp, that combination of emotions is no different.
Harp will be remembered fondly for his time at Grove City College, which began in 1999 when he jumped at the opportunity to teach history here.
“After teaching at secular institutions for 14 years, I began during the late 1990s to look for a Christian college with high academic standards. I left a tenured position to come to GCC,” Harp said.
Throughout his career at the College as a history professor, Harp has particularly focused on United States history. He taught various classes, including both halves of the U.S. survey, History of Britain to 1783, Women and Minorites in US History and the Senior Capstone Seminar.
“HIST 379 (American Intellectual and Cultural History) has often been a favorite,” Harp said. “This was partly because of the fascinating primary source documents we read and discussed in-depth, along with the excellent students, who really invested themselves personally in the material,” he elaborated.
Outside of teaching, Harp has written three books, which are each about American history, and several academic articles. He has also contributed to academic societies of American history, including the American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians, in addition to giving papers and chairing panels at their meetings.
“I hope to continue my research and writing during retirement in addition to spending more time with family, including now three adorable grandchildren,” Harp said.
While Harp has enlightened many students and others on much of the history of the United States, he has also earned the admiration of his fellow professors. Grove City College history professor Dr. Mark Graham commended Harp for his accomplishments.
“Dr. Harp is the ideal teacher and scholar. He has earned the right to his con-
HARP
LUKE PAGLIA
LUKE PAGLIA
LUKE PAGLIA
From the Tower
Virtue in discipline
Coming off of Thanksgiving break, much of the feedback I have heard from fellow students centers around the matter of productivity.
Along with most of my friends, I was not as disciplined this break as I had hoped to be. A week ago, I would have said that on Sunday, Dec. 1 I would have had all three of my papers written and been well-rested for finals.
At the moment, I am continuing to procrastinate my homework by writing this article, and each of my papers are somewhere in the stage of “just started.” On top of that, all I’m living off of is the sum of two hours of sleep and a nap in the car.
From what I’ve observed, I am not alone in this experience either. Most Grove City students I have talked to have said that they are coming out of break reeling from an excess of sleep and food and nearly stumbling into two of the craziest weeks of the semester.
At a certain point, romanticizing the academic life, swearing to “lock in” and resorting to all-nighters just doesn’t work. Losing motivation and drive for academics is crippling, and after a break where I feel like I’ve lost both, how do I recover for the homerun of finals week?
One of my most prominent contemplations on this subject originally stems from my brother, a Marine officer who is also one of the most driven and persevering people I know.
As he has taught me time and time again, much of the value behind doing grueling work is not found in the immediate results, but in the operation of our discipline through it. Like a muscle, discipline can be toned through use and exertion, or it can grow weak from neglect and misuse.
I present the next point with a disclaimer: grades and individual assignments are important, despite what I say. However, from what I’ve seen, the average Grover errs on the side of taking grades too seriously and already has an established tendency to worship assignments.
With that in mind, I offer an imploration for all of us this finals week to look beyond the good of letter grades to the practical skills we are gaining through our efforts. As we think and study and write, we are developing skills of critical thinking, efficiency, time management, endurance, problem-solving and most importantly, discipline.
The discipline we exercise and gain when we commit ourselves to any strenuous thing is applicable in every area of our lives – nothing can be done well without it.
Again, I am not asking anyone to ignore their GPA, but I am yet another voice at this College reminding even just myself of the value of hard work in and of itself.
Finals week, no matter the grades that come from it, is a gifted opportunity to stretch our discipline in pursuit of becoming individuals of higher character, stronger work ethic and greater imitation of Christ than we were before.
Kathryna Hoyman
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A tale of ten movies
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Comm Majors are often mocked with the quip, “Oh, what’s your homework?
Watching a movie?” and while I didn’t do any of my homework over break, I did watch ten movies.
“Social Network”
I was inspired by the Winklevoss twins’ recent visit to campus. Highlights of this movie include Brenda Song (best known for playing London in “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”). I was disappointed that while they did mention Howard Winklevoss, they did not mention his alma mater. I think the whole thing would’ve been better if Michael Cera played Zuckerberg. “Vice”
cally) story. Robin Williams plays the main villain in the movie, and watching him alongside Pacino was a delight. I would recommend this movie for their dynamic alone.
it’s unremarkable and not worth the watch (sorry Redford).
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“Dick Cheney made money off the Iraq War” and other classic themes of the early 2000s take center stage for this masterpiece. Christian Bale is absolutely brilliant. My favorite part was when Bale addresses the camera directly. Like in the movie “W,” Bush is always eating something in this one (weird).
“Bombshell”
I was underwhelmed by this movie in spite of the extraordinary story it tries to tell. The story follows three women who work(ed) for Fox as they expose CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment. I think where this movie fell short is in its assumption that the viewer remembers all the ins and outs of the situation. Nicole Kidman as Megyn Kelly is spot-on and by far the most memorable part of the movie.
“Insomnia”
Al Pacino made this movie worth watching. It tells an absolutely brilliant yet sometimes yawn-worthy (ironi-
HARP continued from 1 clusions through detailed study and thoughtful analysis. As a true scholar, he resists the role of ideologue,” Graham said. “To him, history is about careful and wise truth-telling, rather than the shortcut of advocacy, which has become so attractive to many on the left and the right these days,” Graham continued.
Harp helped found Grace Anglican Church and has an “insatiable obsession” with historic church architecture.
“Shock and Awe” Is it embarrassing to say Woody Harrelson is one of my favorite actors? I’ve never seen him in a movie where he disappointed me. He came close in this one. The story follows two journalists, played by Harrelson and James Marsden, who are trying to prove there are no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. This movie was like a Dollar Tree remake of “All the President’s Men.” The movie lacked exposition when necessary, and it seems like the writers realized and decided to add a scene where Marsden (expert on Iraq) goes on a date with a lady who blushingly confesses she’s read up on Iraq and info-dumps on him and therefore the audience. Bad. Don’t watch it.
“World War Z”
Brad Pitt? What are you doing here? This movie met two of the qualifications I have for stupid movies, one, there were zombies, and two, there was one man with a troubled past who is the only one who can save the world. The zombies in this movie were scarier than most others I’ve seen and the way the world fell into the apocalypse was really cool too.
“Conspirators”
The movie, directed by Robert Redford (who plays Woodward in the aforementioned “President’s Men”), gets a lot right. The story follows the lawyer assigned to defend Mary Surratt, the first woman executed by the U.S., after being convicted as a coconspirator in the plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln. It also showed Lewis Powell (played by Norman Reedus) attempting to kill Secretary of State William Seward (the movie doesn’t explain that he was unsuccessful). Overall,
He also has a beloved dry sense of humor and was the focus of a rumor, which was one of Graham’s favorite memories of him.
“Years ago, some students started a rumor that in his younger days, Dr. Harp was a Canadian speed ice skater and even an Olympic champion. Many believed it over the years. Can we be sure it is not true?” Graham said.
Harp has made many memories here, with the two biggest he mentioned being him seeing his three daughters graduate from Grove
“USS Indianapolis” Nicholas Cage stars in this movie based on the USS Indianapolis, which was commissioned on a top-secret assignment to transport key parts of the atomic bombs that would eventually be dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The ship is sunk by Japanese missiles, leaving 860 men stranded in sharkinfested waters. It’s like the “Titanic” meets “Jaws” meets “Pearl Harbor.” Despite its goriness, the movie’s efforts to honor the victims are notable.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Al Pacino and about four million other famous people are in this movie. Great stuff. Quentin Tarantino is known for two things: his weird choice of putting feet in every shot (huh?!) and panning right every other shot. This movie was three hours long and yet I was entertained throughout its entirety.
“Chappaquiddick” Despite its best efforts, this movie failed to make me feel bad for Ted Kennedy. After RFK Sr. is assassinated, Ted feels pressured to run for president. He doesn’t want to! In a very Troy Bolton moment, he confronts his father and tells him that being president isn’t Ted’s dream, it’s his father’s dream! He wants to sing in the musical! But wait, he can’t. He drives drunk and kills his passenger and then flees the scene of the crime. The movie follows the aftermath. Ted Sorenson and Robert MacNamara both make an appearance as characters in the movie, which I enjoyed. At one point, they have MacNamara say that Chappaquiddick was worse than the Bay of Pigs. I’m just gonna go out on a limb and say that this isn’t accurate.
City College and him having made many friends and colleagues along the way.
“First, I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to all of my students and colleagues over the years. My time at GCC has been an enormous blessing,” Harp said. “Second, given our country’s polarized politics at present, my prayer for the College is that it will continue to protect its distinctive Christian witness against any partisan or ideological agenda,” he expressed.
EMMA ROSSI
This article was intended for publication in the Nov. 15 edition but a production error resulted in the wrong story being published under this headline. This is the corrected version.
Fundraising ahead of schedule
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Chair of the Board of Trustees Ed Breen ’78 provided an update on the Impact 150 Campaign at the Department of Graduate Program’s Leadership Summit last week.
Breen said the campaign is “going phenomenally.”
The Board of Trustees would like to increase the scope and size of the Campaign, whose goal of $185 million is now closer to being achieved than previously anticipated.
The goals of the campaign are oriented around increasing the College’s endowment for need-based and merit-based scholarships. Currently the endowment is approaching $250 million, growing over the past decade from $90 million. The goal is to increase need-based aid by 5 percent more, with a total of $500 million on the horizon.
Breen explained that there is a demographic problem plaguing college admissions across the country. After 2025, there will be a 15 per-
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Gundell said.
“Our project is more about awareness of the ways that people could help with the education of Israeli youth and how important it is to help educate those living in conflict zones,” Lefever said.
The group is currently working on a website that will include testimonies, information on funding and organizations, teaching and aiding in the creation of an international curriculum.
While studying abroad in Italy, Gundell took a course on the Holocaust through the Italian perspective from a native Israeli professor living in Florence who had immediate family in Israel.
“During the course, we discussed the social aspect of the Holocaust and how Italians turned on their Jewish neighbors and the prominence of antisemitism. While all of this was occurring, the war broke out and there began to be protests for both sides of the war in Florence and other European cities that I visited,” she said.
“My professor asked some of the students including myself if their American college was having such protests or stances against Israel. I was in the minority in telling her that my college was in support of Israel,” Gundell ex-
cent drop off of high school graduates.
“Our applications are the highest they’ve been in school history,” said Breen. “We’re in a very good spot, but I do think we will be affected by the cliff.”
By increasing the endowment, students who choose to attend the College will be provided with an increased level of support to realize their goals of earning a Grove City College degree.
Following a the top priority of increasing the endowment for need-based aid, the campaign focuses on the funding for the Rockwell renovation, the Bubble by the soccer field that will give athletics an indoor practice facility for the colder months and renovating the men’s dorms.
Due to the majority of the student body living on campus, the renovation of the men’s dorms will have to be gradual. The process will begin with redoing the plumbing, adding air conditioning and outfitting the buildings, namely the two oldest- Lincoln and Ketler, with new windows.
plained.
Her professor did not speak on the events during the time, but later sent an email to students. “October 7th, with the atrocious slaughters, rapes and the denial of the most minimal dignity of man, left Israel in trauma. Just as it took the world years to acknowledge the trauma, so it seems will happen now,” Gundell’s professor wrote.
“It was incredibly eyeopening to come across someone who has such deep connections to Israel and who was experiencing the pain and effects of the war first-hand. The entire course was a new perspective of the terrible hatred against Israel and was extremely impactful, but her closing words stuck with me the most,” Gundell said.
Hall’s interest in helping Israel was inspired by a relative who was visiting Israel on Oct. 7 last year when Hamas militants attacked Israel and sparked the current war and later evacuated.
“Hearing the sadness of the families she met and trauma they experienced inspired me to want to learn more and make a difference.
As a future educator, my immediate thought was how the children close with having a disrupted education and ways I could help,” Hall said.
Grads and undergrads partner up in class
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Grove City College graduate students and undergraduate students worked together to raise over $13,000 for Camp Susque, a non-profit Christian camp located in Trout Run, Pa. Director of Camp Susque Peter Swift ’07 and Graduate Student Team Lead Juliet Harshbarger ’19 worked with undergraduate students to conduct a digital marketing campaign to support fundraising efforts for the Camp’s new swimming pool.
The campaign was a result of the College’s unique opportunity for students in graduate course MNGT 590 and students in undergraduate course MARK 110 to collaborate for a semester.
Building a new swimming pool is the most expensive project the Camp has ever pursued, with a 1.2-milliondollar price tag and an anticipated construction completion date in early Summer 2025.
“We have seen extraordinary generosity from many people, but this has stretched our staff a lot, so when we were offered the support of a digital marketing team from Grove City, we jumped on it,” Swift said.
“(S)eeing the business acumen from both the grad and the undergrad students literally helping to support a nonprofit ministry is a perfect collaboration that benefitted Camp Susque and provided a unique opportunity for the students. This is almost like an entire internship fitted right into a class.”
For the past eight weeks the students have raised more than $13,000 in funds via email and social media marketing, which surpassed the students’ initial goal by $10,500.
“The amount raised has far exceeded our initial expectations and can only be attributed to God’s faithfulness reflected in Camp Susque’s community,” Harshbarger
said.
“The project had the opportunity for great success due to the combination between the undergrads social media savvy and new ideas and the grad students real-life team and project management experiences,” Harshbarger continued.
The students collected stories from Camp’s alumni about the experiences in the old pool, and they raised awareness about the project through online advertising.
The students also created the “Pieces of the Past” campaign, a unique fundraising initiative inviting supporters to own a piece of Camp Susque history. Pieces of the old pool preserved in glass jars are available for the Camp’s supporters to buy, with all proceeds directly contributing to construction of the new pool.
“It was amazing to see the (students) go from idea to execution in just a few days with some of their proposals, and while I am always concerned about our organization’s branding and the way we communicate ourselves to the public, the team did an excellent job,” Swift said.
“When I was an undergrad at GCC, I did not have any opportunities like the one MARK 110/MNGT 590 provides; however, having a joint course where undergrad and graduate students work together towards a common goal is brilliant. While the undergrad students are getting a small taste of real-life work expectations, the graduate students are learning how to manage the incoming workforce,” Harshbarger said.
“As an aspiring leader and manager, the joint class offered valuable insights and opportunities for personal reflection, which overall, helped me identify key areas for growth and improvement in the way I will approach management in the future,” she continued.
Swift graduated from the College in 2007, returning to
complete his master’s degree years later, which he has now accomplished, making him a two-time graduate of the College.
Last fall, Swift took MNGT 590 and served as a team lead for another group of undergraduates. Through this collaboration, Swift and his team were able to increase merchandise sales for the Camp using “meme-marketing.”
“(When) one of the undergrads brought up the idea of meme-marketing, I was initially very hesitant, but using a focus group of Camp Staff, I realized that memes were a viable and useful way of humorously sticking out, and we blew away our sales goal for the entire semester in the first week of class,” Swift explained.
“The memes were a big hit, and without the undergrad team, I never would have even considered it. We had a blast coming up with and publishing memes about mugs and honey, and we set new sales records for our camp store that semester.”
Harshbarger graduated from the College in 2019, and even though it has only been five years since she graduated, she still found a huge difference between generations that contributed to the success of the project.
“The joint Digital Marketing project provides the undergrad students a huge opportunity to not only get a feel for reporting to a manager, but also, to start building their professional network. The undergraduate students taking this course have a huge head start on their peers who opted out of this class,” Harshbarger said. “Without having to compete for a job or internship, the undergrads were able to work alongside industry professionals, who, if they liked the work produced, will be able to assist these undergrads in future internship and job opportunities.”
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LUKE PAGLIA
Ed Breen ‘78 delivered the keynote address at the Leadership Summit on Friday, Nov. 9.
GCC
Students pose with Camp Susque merch for their digital marketing class. Pictured from left to right are MBA students Luke Rios, Juliet Harshbarger ‘19 and Peter Swift ‘07, and undergraduates Ellie Gardner and Matheus Melo.
Christmas off-line
The best places in Grove City to score unique Christmas gift finds
Tieg Malcom Contributing Writer
If you don’t have Christmas gifts picked out for family and friends yet, now might be the time to start thinking about it … Christmas is approaching fast and will be here before you know it.
In the digital world we now live in, it can be tempting to settle for shopping online.
Not only is online impersonal and unmemorable, but it can also be overwhelming to have to filter through the endless slew of cheap foreign junk. Instead, consider picking out your gifts from real stores, here in Grove City. Fortunately, there are plenty of unique destinations to choose from. Let’s take a look at a list of five great local places to purchase Christmas
gifts from this season.
The first is a small candy store called Shannon’s Kandy Kitchen. While some gifts can be difficult to pinpoint the right size, color, brand, etc., candy is a “one size fits all” kind of item. Everybody loves some good candy, especially during the holidays. Available at Shannon’s Kandy Kitchen is a delicious array of assorted choco-
lates and chocolate-covered goods. To sweeten the deal even further, the products come in fancy boxes that make them very easy to wrap. You can find Shannon’s Kandy Kitchen at 213 South Broad St. Next is Mr. Bookman. I know you are probably sick of books as a Grove City student, but that doesn’t mean your family and friends are.
Consider gifting a book or two for Christmas this year. The right book for the right person could be a gift that leaves a more lasting impact than something superficial. Mr. Bookman has an impressive 50,000 books in its collection, including local authors and rare volumes. Mr. Bookman can be found at the
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Glad tidings in Grove City
Maddie Lynch Staff Writer
With the coming Christmas break approaching and only a week of finals left, the hustle and bustle of returning home to continue old traditions begins.
Before going home, check out some community Christmas events in the Grove City area and start some new traditions here! Although there
are plenty of opportunities on campus to celebrate Christmas, there are many other wonderful opportunities off campus as well.
If you’re looking for gifts for friends or family, one place to go is the Grove City Outlets. Some shops to visit for finding gifts could include Bath & Body Works, Fudgie Wudgie Fudge and Chocolate Factory, Tinman Sweets, Yankee Candle and numer-
ous clothing outlet stores. Near the outlets in Mercer is the Amish Peddler furniture store that will be selling charming Christmas ornaments and gifts.
In addition to the many concerts and performances on campus, there are also many opportunities to support musical groups off campus. On Monday, Dec. 9 at 7 p.m., Tower Presbyterian Church will be hosting a Hol-
iday Handbell Concert with groups from the community handbell choir, the Revelation Ringers of Grove City College and the Glenn Memorial Ringers. The concert is free to attend and will be livestreamed from the Tower Presbyterian Church Facebook page.
The Shenango Valley Chorale has a concert on Tuesday, Dec. 10 and Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7:30 p.m. featuring
an 80-voice choir, harpsichord, horns, piano and organ. The event will be hosted at First Presbyterian Church in Sharon, and tickets cost $15.
There are also many local events if you’re looking for fun excursions with friends. From Nov. 15 to Jan. 1, Keystone Safari on Mercer Butler Pike is hosting holiday light
‘I’ll be home for Christmas’... but where?
My fiancée and I are fighting over whose family to stay with for Christmas. My family lives in Pennsylvania, and her family lives in North Carolina. We can’t be in both places at once, but it’s important to both of us to be with our families for the holidays. How can we work this out without hurting each other or either of our families?
Family Man Grover
I can’t believe that it’s already almost Christmas. Where did 2024 go? I can’t complain though.
I absolutely love the winter. Cue the Mariah Carey music (unless you’re not into that…maybe Michael Bublé then?).
Congratulations to you and your fiancée! Holiday plans are different for every
family, so I’m going to suggest a few different options. The first option that I would recommend (and I would personally choose) is to spend this year with each of your families individually. It’s potentially your last Christmas unmarried that you get to spend with your families. You have the rest of your lives to figure out a schedule for who should be with what family when. You alsoZ have the rest
of your lives to spend every single holiday together. Once you get married, then I would say you can officially figure out if you want to alternate holidays with your family and your wife’s family or create a different plan. Take the time to soak in the last Christmas that you will experience with just you and your family.
Nobody gets hurt, you get to be with your families, each of your parents gets one last Christmas with just you or just your fiancée and you can anticipate the next year’s holidays with your wife.
Another option could be traveling. You could spend a few days plus Christmas Eve in North Carolina. Then, you could travel through the evening and night to get to Pennsylvania (or vice versa) for Christmas Day and a few days after that.
Luckily, Pennsylvania and North Carolina aren’t that far apart. You’d get to be with both of your families for holiday celebrations, but it would definitely be a sacrifice with all that travel. It wouldn’t be cheap, either, in terms of gas or plane tickets.
Judging from others’ past experiences, this isn’t really the most enjoyable option, but it does meet all of your goals.
A third option could be choosing a day to celebrate Christmas with your family before the actual day and then celebrate the actual day with her family (or vice versa). This could also be a tradition that you bring with you into your married life: alternating which family you spend the actual day with annually. Choosing a weekend before Christmas and doing alllll the fun holi-
TIDINGS 5
day things with your family could be so fun! The Christmas spirit doesn’t need to be limited to just one day. When you get married, it will be up to you whether you want to alternate the holidays between the two families or choose something more like the third option I suggested. Making sure you talk with both families is also important. They should get a say while you guys are considering. Enjoy the holidays! Eat some good food and spend quality time with those you love (and maybe watch “Elf” while you’re at it -- it’s the best Christmas movie, no questions asked).
Auspiciously,
Dr.
Love Love M.D.
LUKE PAGLIA
Grovers ring in the holiday season at the annual light up night on Tuesday. Along with on campus events, there are just as many opportunities to celebrate the holiday season off-campus in the Grove City area. Check out two articles below about the best places to go Christmas shopping and to attend themed events this December.
Dancing through the Fall
Megan Brock Contributing Writer
It all comes down to this moment.
The stage lights come on, the music starts and you find yourself walking out in front of hundreds of people ready to perform. Feeling nervous and excited, you think of all the work and dedication you put into this moment. Attending weekly rehearsals, practicing in your dorm room with friends and hours of tech week rehearsals.
Being a member of Orchesis at Grove City College takes both dedication and passion.
Orchesis Dance Company is a student-run organization in which students come together and share their love of dance. Orchesis plans, produces and presents a show every fall and spring semester, according to the College’s website. This task involves the selection of student director and assistant student director, choreographer auditions, casting auditions and weekly rehearsals.
But what about students who have a desire to dance
but don’t have the experience or the time? Orchesis has got that covered too. New this semester are recreational dance classes offered in the Pew Fine Arts Center dance studio.
Every Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., a different style of dance is offered and taught by Orchesis members. Class offerings include ballet, hiphop, contemporary, modern and jazz.
“We know that not everyone that has a desire to dance is able to be involved in Orchesis for various reasons, so we wanted to offer an outlet for everyone no matter their skill level,” Student Director of Orchesis senior Caroline Dawson said.
According to Dawson, classes are taught by current Orchesis members to offer them an opportunity to give back to the community on campus.
Senior Katelyn Sipes is a current student and not a member of Orchesis but has attended these dance classes.
“I liked that there was no pressure to keep up with everyone else, but instead it was more welcoming to ev-
Jordy Searcy concert
eryone regardless of skill and experience level. Instead of trying to all be at the same level, it was an opportunity for each individual to stretch, practice and be immersed in dance,” Sipes said.
Sipes says that she had dance experience prior to her time at the College, but did not commit to Orchesis due to time constraints.
“I have been wanting to go outside my comfort zone more and this class was a great way to jump back into something I used to love while also trying something new on campus,” Sipes said.
Dawson said that while the recreational classes will not be showcased in the fall and spring semester shows, their purpose is to connect the Orchesis community with the rest of the campus.
“The recreational classes have always been an idea we have considered, so we are excited to finally see it come to fruition this year. These classes open another opportunity to engage the participants in Orchesis to give back to the organization and to the dance community on campus,” Dawson said.
On Nov. 16, NBC’s “The Voice” alum, Jordy Searcy performed for students on campus.
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Grove City Premium Outlets next to the Nautica outlet.
The next place is Thyme in Your Kitchen. Also located at the Premium Outlets, this store is a culinary boutique that covers all kitchen-related needs.
This sort of gift is ideal for mothers or whoever cooks in your family. They stock a number of top brands, as well as quality artisan products.
Third is called All Good Things Thrift Shoppe. Like the title suggests, it’s a thrift store. We all know that thrift stores can be hit or miss or even a bit sketchy sometimes, but students can be confident that this thrift store provides interesting finds and a friendly atmosphere.
The small shop is a great place to find something exclusive while remaining inexpensive. Even better, it is located extremely close to
campus at 532 East Main Street Ext.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t include our very own Grove City College bookstore. Most Grove City families can’t get enough college merchandise.
The bookstore is often overlooked but always makes a good place to find a present. If you haven’t been there in a while, they constantly restock items, so it’s always fresh.
Seven questions with…
Dr. Ryan E. Miller ’99 Professor of
Business Analytics
Natalie Hanna
Contributing Writer
Why did you decide to teach at Grove City?
As an alum, I experienced first-hand how Grove City’s Christian values and excellent academics prepared me for a successful career. Now, I’m excited to give back and help shape the next generation of GCC graduates.
If you could participate in a TED talk, what would your topic be?
I’d discuss the hidden dangers of PFAS and BPA in our clothing. It’s surprising how prevalent these chemicals are, and I’m passionate about raising awareness of their impact on our health and the environment.
What’s your favorite Christmas movie/special?
It’s a tie between “A Christmas Story” and “Christmas Vacation.” Both never fail to make me laugh and really capture the holiday spirit.
What’s your go-to Chickfil-A order?
The Spicy Chicken Sandwich with extra pickles, a
TIDINGS
continued from 4
nights with light displays and warm refreshers.
The event also includes reindeer, giraffe and barnyard animal feeding and their new kangaroo. Visitors are welcome to meet Santa and the Grinch or watch an ice carving show in the swan pavilion. The zoo has a wide variety of animals, from hyenas to penguins to lions. Tickets cost $18 for the walkthrough.
Another fun and free event to attend with friends is the Christmas displays in Memorial Park. Drive through an array of lighted displays from local businesses, organizations, individuals and families. The lights are exhibited from 5 to 11 p.m. every night until Jan. 2.
Over in Hermitage, Kraynaks Christmas Land features an indoor starlit avenue of beautifully decorated artificial Christmas trees, each with a specific theme with scenery and a cast of characters. This annual
side of waffle fries and a Sunjoy to drink. It’s my perfect combo!
What are your plans for the holidays?
I’ll be spending time with family, catching up on some reading and hopefully taking a trip to see the holiday lights at Kennywood.
If you could plan a team building event for your department, what would it be?
Kayaking on Lake Arthur at Moraine State Park. I’ve organized this with teams in the past, and it’s always a great way to bond while enjoying the outdoors. What are you looking forward to as the semester wraps up?
I’m excited to see my students pass their Tableau and Excel certifications. It’s rewarding to watch them develop skills that will give them an edge in the job market.
event is free to attend and has themed displays from over the previous years.
In the downtown Grove City area, there will be a Light Up Night with extended shop hours, a tree decorating contest and a scavenger hunt. Finally, Grace Anglican Church will be holding a white elephant Christmas party on Wednesday, Dec. 11 for congregants and guests. If you’re up for a drive, An Impromptu Christmas Carol will be held in Collingwood Center in Campbell, Ohio on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 14. Hopewell Senior High School is presenting a Holly Jolly Christmas Concert tomorrow, Dec. 7 with special guest appearances and refreshments. Finally, The Philadelphia Brass will be showing “Let the Trumpets Sound!” in Lincoln Hall during the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 8.
WHAT’S FRESH AT THE GROVE
In Ketler Auditorium...
A Musical Christmas Concert
Dec. 6
7:30 p.m.
Come to Ketler auditorium tonight to hear Christmas tunes from GCC emsembles including the Jazz Band, the GCC Singers, Concert Choir and the Orchestra.
Join the Okies, Sigma Alpha Sigma and Epsilon Pi to spread some cheer at their Christmas party. Eat good food, play games, watch a skit and worship tonght at 7.
In the Student Union... Winter Ball Dec. 7
8 - 11 p.m.
Enjoy music from the Jazz Band while dancing with your friends at the Ballroom Club’s winter dance this Saturday. Get your tickets in the SAC on Friday for a reduced price. In Ketler Rec... Okie Sig Pi Christmas Party Dec. 6 7 p.m.
In the Student Union...
Cookie Decorating
Dec. 7
8 - 10 p.m.
Come get some hot chocolate and decorate Christmas cookies this Saturday at 8 in the SAC.
BLAISE KILMARTIN
Hoops in the Arena
Grove City basketball teams kick off the 2024 season
Winter sports are officially underway. Both of the Grove City College basketball teams have been playing since mid-November and show winning records.
These are two talented teams that are entertaining to watch. Make sure you check the Grove City College athletics website to find the schedule. Come to the Grove City Arena to support both the men’s and women’s basketball teams. by Luke Paglia, Photo Chief
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Don’t blame the kicker
There’s no one reason for the end of the season
Mathew Purucker Staff Writer
On Saturday’s playoff game against Johns Hopkins, sophomore wide receiver and kicker Daniel Sullivan missed a field goal attempt from 27 yards out. With nine seconds left, it was game over for the Grove City team that nearly pulled off an incredible comeback. From down 17-0 with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines fought until the bitter end, scoring two touchdowns and getting in position to tie the game (or win with a touchdown).
However, as much as you might want to blame the kicker for the defeat, it is important to understand Sulli-
van’s miss was not the main reason the College lost.
Going back to the Wolverines’ final drive, you could argue that they should have scored a touchdown with a first and goal from the Johns Hopkins’ 10-yard line, but that is also far too narrow of a view.
Instead, if you glance at the final statistics, you’ll learn that Grove City finished with -13 rushing yards, averaging almost a one-yard loss with every run. While that does not tell the entire story, it does reveal, even if you did not watch the game, that the John Hopkins’ defense dominated the line of scrimmage, especially when Grove City tried to run the ball.
For a team that averaged 181.7 yards per game on the ground during the regular season, aside from being
a great disappointment, it practically eliminated senior Nico Flati and junior Ian Demeri from the offensive game plan. The two prolific running backs combined for over 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns, with Flati reaching 1,000 rushing yards for the second consecutive season.
Also, it was not as if Johns Hopkins was some defensive juggernaut. The team gave up 93.3 rushing yards per game, which is good, but not so breathtaking that anyone would expect an opponent to finish with negative rushing yards, especially a team as strong as Grove City.
With the running back duo making little to no impact, the passing game had to carry the load of the Wolverines’ offense, and it did. Senior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer threw for 273 yards and a
touchdown, with an astonishing 231 of those yards going to fifth-year senior wide receiver Scott Fraser. It took a lot of time, however, for that connection to make an impact.
Grove City’s first four offensive possessions ended without a first down, and it took until the second half for the Wolverines to cross midfield. By the time the Grove City offense finally discovered the Blue Jays’ defensive weaknesses, it seemed like it was just too late.
Nevertheless, credit must be given to the Wolverines’ defense and special teams units for giving them the chance to win the game. The defense kept the Wolverines in the game by only allowing 17 points, and senior safety Shay Aitken came through with two massive plays:
blocking a Johns Hopkins punt with 3:42 left, which sophomore safety Jase Herrick recovered for a touchdown, and intercepting a pass that set up Grove City’s final drive.
The Wolverines were unusually fortunate to attempt the field goal in the first place. It is so rare to see any team come back from down three scores with under six minutes remaining, which they nearly did.
As with all sports, you win and lose as a team. Johns Hopkins entered the game with a superior strategy and played better; but despite being outplayed for 54 minutes, the Wolverines nearly pulled off the improbable, so don’t blame the kicker. They built brick by brick, but they barely failed to finish the job this time.
Play hard, recover harder
Emma Herrmann Contributing Writer
I remember the day I tore my ACL. I felt pain—searing pain—shoot from my knee throughout my body. I was helped up and I tried to take a step, but my knee gave out and I couldn’t walk. The pain then spread to my head. Not like pain from a headache, pain from the realization of what had just happened to me.
A torn ACL. And not just the ACL. My lateral and medial meniscus and my MCL— all torn.
As a soccer player, my sport has consumed most of my life. I’ve easily wrapped my identity in it which is why it felt like my entire world
was ripped away from me when I got hurt.
That’s the one thing the doctors and physical therapists don’t always prepare you for—the emotional and mental impact that injuries have on an athlete. You wake up every day faced with the reality that you cannot do something you love to do. And that’s what is overlooked in the sports world— the emotional and mental challenges that injured athletes face.
A 2022 study that the University of North Dakota conducted on the psychological impact of an injury pointed to how injured athletes face many unknowns, like “injury severity, timing of surgery, rehabilitation plan, or process of returning to pre-injury level of functioning.” A range of emotions can also be experienced, from temporary
emotional difficulties like fear and frustration, to diagnosable health conditions.
In some cases, these emotional difficulties can even prevent athletes from returning to their sport. The same study found that 45% of athletes do not return to competitive play after ACL surgery because of a lack of psychological readiness. Doubt and fear can become crippling and lead to a longterm negative effect if not addressed.
At GCC, injured athletes do not have access to help that could allow them to push through these mental barriers.
Coaches, doctors and athletic trainers don’t always have knowledge of the mental side of an injury and consequently tend to brush off the problems of these players because, hey, it’s only a phys-
ical issue, right? They’ll be fine once they can run again, won’t they?
A lack of access to sports psychologists is another issue. These professionals exist, yet are not present here on campus, specifically for athletes.
But there are solutions out there that can help injured athletes. Intentional action needs to be taken to ensure athletes’ overall wellbeing is looked after throughout rehab.
Those in leadership positions in athletics need to be aware of the mental side of injuries. The University of North Dakota suggests that coaches, athletic trainers and doctors should educate themselves and their athletes on “normative emotional responses, effective coping strategies and knowing when to seek mental health treat-
ment.”
The Zerbe Health and Wellness Center also offers the Counseling Center, which could partner with GCC athletics to provide injured athletes with counseling and mental health resources during their rehab.
Most of all though, injured athletes need a strong support system around them— people who will simply be willing to listen to their frustrations and fears. It’s easy to bottle up the emotions and mental struggles that accompany injury rehab. But when an athlete has a reliable person that they can vent and open up to, it contributes to a successful comeback.
Injured athletes need to know that there is hope beyond the mental challenges of rehab.
Sometimes, they just need a little help seeing it.
LUKE PAGLIA
STEM students, time to step up
Elise Schlemeier Contributing Writer
With STEM majors making up a significant portion of students at Grove City College, there are multiple buildings dedicated to STEM. No one can argue against their need for space to work and study, with up-to-date technology and equipment. Which is, of course, why the Rockwell building is being renovated. This renovation will be a significant improvement to the building, integrating modern technology and overhauling old HVAC and power systems. But allow me to propose a way to take the Rockwell Renovation to the next level: have our students build it.
“Our students?” you ask, “But they wouldn’t know the first thing about the Rockwell Project!” Hear me out: For a school like GCC, supplying qualified students shouldn’t be an issue. The college is high-quality and nationally recognized, churning out multiple successful engineering alumni. While this fact certainly bodes well for the college’s reputation, what is an even better way for the college to prove itself? To have a building on campus constructed by its own students!
The mechanical engineering students can construct the building itself, and the electrical engineering students will do, of course, the electrical system. That’s right, meces and sparkies, grab your hard hats. If the GCC admin truly believes its students are well-educated and qualified, this is the perfect opportunity to put their beliefs into play.
The Impact 150 website states, “Key features of the renovation emphasize active, hands-on learning and
research experiences and engagement across all the sciences.”
Active, hands-on learning, huh? Well, where better to learn hands-on than a construction site? Hopefully you engineering majors paid attention in class. If the students can successfully build Rockwell, it only further proves that they deserve to graduate into an industry and world looking for quality workers.
Finally, everyone knows that the Rockwell renovation is costing GCC a lot of money. The project is donor-funded, of course, but wouldn’t it be nice if we could use some of that money on other things, like the GCC sports program?
With the college’s recent success in football, we should at least onload an extra 100 players or so.
Using GCC engineering students to build Rockwell saves money on labor costs; students don’t need to be paid when they’re getting college credit! While GCC would still have to purchase building materials and equipment, a significant portion of the funding could go to other projects.
Using engineering students for construction wouldn’t save on all the labor costs though; a project this large still needs managers. And this would be an issue… if GCC didn’t also have a management major. Not only can our engineers earn credits and real-world experience, but so can our management students! Truly, what is better than a multidisciplinary project like this?
And what about other costs, like building design, financial management, the computer system and equipment and material transportation? Students can cover those too!
For students interested in various aspects of design, this is the perfect project! Sure, you may think interior
design sounds like a waste, but some students like having a nice-looking room to cry in while they think about their homework.
Furthermore, if we already have the school of business in on the project for management, why not include other majors? Accounting and finance majors don’t even have to do any of the heavy lifting (because we all know they couldn’t, anyway); all we need them to do is work the numbers! A $48 million project does need some financial organization to succeed.
While we’re talking about (the lack of) heavy lifting, who better to mention than the computer science students? They may only be able to lift a monitor, but we’ll need them to successfully integrate modern and up-to-date technology with Rockwell’s new design. They
can even collaborate with the electrical engineering students to get the computer systems up and running!
But, back to heavy lifting, who can do it? Well, who better than our very own champion football team? If GCC wants to keep up its winning streak, its athletes need to stay in top shape. Brick by brick, you say? Fortunately, there are plenty of bricks, steel beams, and power tools for them to put in place! But what if they get hurt? Good thing we have not only nursing majors, but exercise science majors—many of whom are aiming to become physical therapists—on campus to aid with recovery!
Finally, what project doesn’t need a Human Resources department? Lucky for GCC, not only do we have a major in HR management, but we also have multiple social work and psychology
majors! Time to finally impress mom and dad and put those skills to work!
While some may be concerned about this plan, this is truly is the best course of action. An exceptional school like Grove City College that produces knowledgeable and well-rounded students should trust those students to do it justice in practice, not just theory. Not only will this benefit the school, but the students as well. They can earn credit and experience on something that will stand monument to their efforts for many years to come. And of course, having our GCC engineers construct Rockwell (and including students from the schools of business and arts in other aspects) will save a significant amount of money, allowing the college to fund other projects that may have been put on the back burner.
AI isn’t the problem, misuse is
Jack Davis Contributing Writer
You’ve probably seen a section in a syllabus discussing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in class. AI has become a more prominent part of education in recent years, gaining a reputation for making cheating easier. That does not mean AI can’t be used for good. AI can be used as a tool to enhance education if it’s used responsibly. Take editing, for example. AI can help students edit their work. AI powers spell checker, a tool that can catch spelling and grammatical mistakes. Some software’s AI, such as Microsoft Word’s, offer writers suggestions to make their writing clearer and more concise.
Search engines, such as Google, use AI to enhance their searches. According to Google, its AI narrows down results to give a more personalized search. Google’s AI also includes a summary of the search at the top of the list. This makes research more effective, especially for gathering background questions for a paper.
AI can even help with developing ideas. According to Forbes, AI technology such as prompt generators take questions or statements and gives the users a set of prompts they can use to further stimulate creativity. Think of it as an interactive Pinterest board. These generators can work as a good place to get ideas to start a project, an assignment and so much more.
Does this mean we should fully embrace the use of AI? Definitely not. AI is programmed by humans and is far from perfect. The National Education Association says that, because AI follows an algorithm that tracks the user’s history, its input can tend to skew toward the interest of the user, creating a bias.
Bias isn’t the only flaw AI has. Spell check does not catch every mistake, search engines do not always bring up accurate answers and prompt generators have a limited number of ideas. AI certainly has its limitations on what it can do.
That’s not even mentioning ethics. “Ethics regulate the behavior of students,” Stanislav Ivanov writes in an article for Service Industries
Journalism. Cheating is a good barometer for student ethics. AI has become associated with cheating, due to how convenient AI makes it. Education Week estimates that 63 percent of teachers have caught students using AI to cheat.
Cheating reflects the quality of one’s character. Writing a paper or studying for a test requires good time management and work ethic. Typing a prompt into a chatbot does not. Cheating shows that someone is not willing to take the time to do the work fairly, nor put true effort into the work.
While all these reasons make AI look worth ditching, these are the exact reasons we should teach people how to use it. As previously mentioned, AI is more prev-
alent in our world than ever before. As it grows, so will misconceptions and misunderstandings. Its capabilities, limitations and, most importantly, its ethics need to be understood so that we can use AI in the best way possible.
It is important to remember that AI won’t solve all our problems. In fact, it can even create some with irresponsible use. Yes, AI has the potential to harm education, but that does not mean we should throw the baby out with the bath water. AI can also be a great help in enabling learning. We can’t let the fear of AI keep us from its untapped potential. At the end of the day, AI itself is not the problem — the misuse of AI is.
NICHOLAS HILDEBRAND
ADVOCATE
‘Wicked’ opens
Wonderfully whimsical or woefully overhyped?
Mia Gallagher Sports Editor
Goodness knows that every compelling story deserves the chance to transcend the bounds of its original medium and cement a place for itself within popular culture. And while some attempts to reimagine tales only see one short day of glory, others defy expectations – and gravity – to become instant mainstream success.
21 years after its premiere at the Gershwin Theatre, “Wicked” has finally made its silver screen debut. Much to the delight of die-hard musical theatre fans and movie fanatics alike, the film adaptation of this beloved “Wizard of Oz” prequel has become a dominant pop culture force, already grossing a staggering $385 million just a week after its Nov. 22 release.
The Tony award-winning musical, originally written by Stephen Schwatz and Winnie Holzman, tells the story of Elphaba Thropp (played by Cynthia Erivo) – better known throughout Oz as the Wicked Witch of the West. The whimsical tale invites
viewers to question how wickedness happens and alludes that the line between good and bad may not be as clear as originally thought.
Finding herself as the newest student at Dear Old Shiz University, Elphaba must navigate her way through the challenges her unusual green-colored skin holds – including those challenges created by her unlikely roommate, a young Glinda the Good (played by Ariana Grande). Throughout the musical, however, what was once utter loathing between the pair evolves into a tender friendship, one that is tested numerous times as the tale unfolds.
With powerful vocal performances and unmatched chemistry from Erivo and Grande, “Wicked” is a production one cannot help but fall in love with. Director Jon M. Chu’s vision and attention-to-detail truly bring this magical tale to life, drawing viewers into the wonderful land of Oz and causing the lengthy two hour-40 minute run time to fly by.
The careful considerations that went into each produc-
tion element – from the decision to build larger-than-life sets, to planting nine million tulips for a single scene, to Erivo deciding to perform and sing during her incredible stunt – not only convey the intentionality of all involved but deliver audiences an enchanting, memorable experience.
And yet despite all of its incredible cinematic and theatrical triumphs, I absolutely hated “Wicked” the first time I saw it. Don’t get me wrong, the music and performances were spectacular – definitely the redeeming quality that convinced me to see it a second time.
But as someone who has never been a fan of the Wizard of Oz, nor seen the original stage production, I found the story confusing at times and some elements extremely cheesy.
Although Jonathan Bailey and Peter Dinklage’s performances as Fiyero and Dr. Dillamond were respectively stellar, I found their introduction to the plot abrupt and their screen time too limited. If you’re willing to add almost an hour worth
of content to what would normally be an hour and a half long act, I feel like more could have been done with these characters and others.
My biggest problem with production, however, is the choreography. While the rest of the internet and pop culture world is gushing over the dance numbers, I personally found them uninspiring. At times, I felt like I was watching a cheesy Disney Channel movie like “High School Musical” or “Descendents” rather than the big blockbuster success “Wicked” has become.
Despite these few qualms, I chose to reenter the land of Oz and absolutely loved it – even cried a few times. If you can look past the slight cheese-factor and lengthy run time, it’s definitely a movie I could watch again and again.
With its incredible music and impressive performances, “Wicked” will certainly leave you dancing through life for days – allowing you to experience a piece of the extraordinary land of Oz amidst the ordinary of everyday life.
Philly sings again
Luke Paglia Photo Chief
Over the past couple years, The Philly Specials have released a Christmas album right around the holidays. This year was no different. The Philly Specials is a musical group featuring the Philadelphia Eagle’s former center Jason Kelce, as well as current offensive tackles Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata. While these three are the main stars, each album features other NFL icons and musical groups such as Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and music legend Stevie Nicks.
The 2024 album titled, A Philly Special Christmas Party, released on November 22.
A Philly Special Christmas Party has 12 songs in the album and features 2 originals alongside 10 covers of Christmas songs we all know and love, with a little Philly flare.
The 2 originals in the album are It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights),
and Loud Little Town. It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights) is led by Jason Kelce and features his younger brother Travis Kelce alongside the well-known group Boyz II Men. This is a unique piece that ties the hometown heritage of the Kelce brothers into an original Christmas carol. The other original track in this album is Loud Little Town. This song is a sweet duet between Jason Kelce and his wife Kylie Kelce. The song reflects their family, specifically their three daughters, in the form of a heartfelt Christmas Carol.
My favorite track on the album is a cover of the Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas song, Its Christmas Don’t Be Late. This song features all three of The Philly Specials, Jason, Jordan, and Lane. It is a perfect trio of vocals that work great together. From Jordans high vocal tones to Jason’s low raspy voice and the friendly banter too, all three of them
produce easily the best song on this album.
The most popular song on this year’s album is Santa Drives an Astrovan, which is a reimagination of the song, Astrovan, by Mt. Joy. This song not only covers a popular Mt. Joy track, but it also actually features Mt. Joy in the song. The collaboration between Mt. Joy and The Philly Specials creates an entertaining song that is worth a listen.
Even though Mt. Joy’s feature song is the most streamed according to Spotify, The Philly Specials also perform a cover of Maybe This Christmas, originally by Ron Sexsmith, with music icon Stevie Nicks.
While the third and final album produced by The Philly Christmas Specials is certainly their most popular and includes the most respectable features, I don’t think it’s their best album. Personally, I favor the first album which features seven amazing covers of some of
A
classic rock take on Christmas
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Spotify can’t stop recommending it, radios can’t stop playing it, and grocery stores can’t stop blasting it, but that’s fine with me, because it’s the only thing I want to write about in Entertainment this week: Christmas music, but specifically my top three favorite Christmas songs performed by classic rock icons.
1. “Please Come Home for Christmas” by the Eagles
The Eagles may not be everyone’s favorite band, but they cooked in the studio in 1978 when they recorded their single. The Aside is “Please Come Home for Christmas,” and the Bside is “Funky New Year.” Their cover of the song peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at 18, making it the first Christmas song to land in the Top 20 since 1963. In true Eagles fashion (see “Best of My Love”), drummer and vocalist Don Henley makes the lyrics more depressing than the original. He changes the line “glad, glad news” to “sad, sad news.”
Maybe Henley was feeling sad, as bassist Randy Meisner (the voice behind “Take It to the Limit”) had just left the band. Meisner was replaced by Timothy B. Schmidt. While Schmidt is a talented bassist, Meisner’s departure was the first domino to fall in the Eagles’ collapse. The band split only two years later.
2. “Wonderful Christmastime” by Paul McCartney
the most beloved Christmas songs. Santa Clause is Coming to town, and White Christmas are two of the best covers on that album. The best track on this album however is the reading of the Night before Christmas by the iconic voice of the Philadelphia Eagles, radio announcer, Merrill Reese.
Even though the first album is the best, my favorite song comes from the second album. The song is a duet between brother Jason and Travis Kelce called Fairytale of Philadelphia. This is a reimagining of The Pogues Fairytale of New York, except with a Kelce Twist to it.
They say third times a charm, but that’s not always the case. The third and final Philly Specials Christmas album had some highlights, but overall, it does not quite compare to the first two albums released by The Philly Specials.
McCartney seemingly spent his solo career feeling jovial, jolly and joyful, considering this is the most lighthearted song on this list and one of the happiest and simplest secular Christmas songs you hear. It’s a very synthy song, and indicative of the trajectory of both McCartney’s music and music in general. It was released in 1979, after all. McCartney recorded every part of the song himself. He used a Yamaha CS-80 synth to create the distinct backtrack, which would have been a challenge because all other instruments would have been played around the synth’s timing.
3. “Getting Ready for Christmas Day” by Paul Simon Released in 2011 on his album “So Beautiful or So What,” the lyrics are different than the average Christmas song, but it is distinctly American, like the rest of Simon’s songs. The main theme of the song is the men and women serving in Iraq. Simon sings of his nephew serving his third tour in Iraq, who he believes will end up “turkey dinner on some mountain top in Pakistan.” Simon calls back to his childhood in a lighthearted final verse.
Dispersed between each verse are the words of prewar American Christian preacher and gospel singer Reverend J.M. Gates’ last sermon in 1941.
Collegian,
Football falls short in NCAA berth
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Wolverine football fell to the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays in a 17-14 decision last Saturday in Baltimore, Md.
This was the second consecutive season the Wolverines played in the NCAA Division III Playoffs. The Wolverines were scoreless until the last seven minutes of the game in a whirlwind effort led by senior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer and fifth-year wide receiver Scott Fraser on offense and senior safety Shay Aitken on defense.
“To be down the way we were and come back to give yourself a chance to win was special. I’m proud of the way our guys continued to stay focused and give everything they have no matter the circumstance,” said head coach Andrew DiDonato ‘10.
The Blue Jays opened scoring on their first offensive possession of the game on a 6 minute and 15 second drive gaining an early lead.
Midway through Hopkins’ drive, senior nose tackle Kobe Bonanno and junior linebacker Ben Bladel sacked Blue Jay’s quarterback James Rinello for a loss. This gives Bladel a season total of 10.5 sacks.
Bladel was awarded 2024 Division III Coaches AllAmerica squad second team this past week. Bladel and the Wolverine defense held Hopkins to only 7 points for the remainder of the half.
To begin the third quarter, the Blue Jays added another three points to their score; followed after by another touchdown drive, Hopkins led 17-0.
With just over seven minutes left in the game, the Wolverine offense had yet to put points on the board. Pfeuffer and Fraser connected on two consecutive plays,
“To be down the way we were and come back to give yourself a chance to win was special. I’m proud of the way our guys continued to stay focused and give everything they have no matter the
circumstance.”
-- Andrew DiDonato ‘10.
moving the offense 25 yards closer to their target.
After another catch from Fraser, a 3-yard gain from senior running back Nico Flati, the Pfeuffer-Fraser connection clicked again on a 10-yard pass, giving the Wolverines’ their first points of the game.
Fraser finished the game with 231 yards and 19 catches. He finishes his career with 4303 yards and 38 touchdowns across 48 games. “(Fraser) continued to live in his vision and make plays no matter what the defense was throwing at him. It was an incredible performance to have the game he did despite the focus the other team was giving him,” said DiDonato.
When the Wolverine defense took the field, they
forced the Blue Jays to punt after junior linebacker Jack Jollie and senior defensive end Bryce Spolnik brought down Hopkins’ running back Geoff Schroeder to only a pair of two-yard rushes.
Hopkins opted to punt from their own 35-yard line, but Aitken blocked the attempt. Sophomore safety Jase Herrick recovered the ball in the endzone adding another six points to the Wolverines tally.
A good extra point from sophomore kicker Daniel Sullivan made the score 17-14 with three-and-a-half minutes left in the game. When the Hopkins offense took the field again, they didn’t make it far. After a sack from Spolnik set them back, Aitken struck again, intercepting
National small college champions
Sports
Glance Results
Men’s and Women’s Swim: 12/5-7 @ Wheaton Invitational Men’s and Women’s Track 12/7, 11 a.m. @ CRWU Invitational Women’s Basketball: 12/7, 12 p.m. vs. Chatham Men’s Basketball: 12/7, 2 p.m. vs. Chatham
Football (9-2): L, John Hopkins (14-17) Men’s Basketball (5-2): W, Westminster (70-57) Women’s Basketball (4-2): W, Westminster (62-47) Men’s Swim (3-1): W, Rochester (152-142) Women’s Swim (1-3): L, Rochester (70-223)
a pass at the Grove City 29yard line. Aitken’s interception gave the Wolverine offense one last shot at the game. Grove City made it 61 yards down the field but couldn’t convert on the 3rd down. They chose to kick a 27-yard field goal instead, but the kick hit the left upright and the heartstopping five-minute comeback ended.
“Our guys left it all out on the field Saturday and gave everything we had. The defense played a fantas-
tic game, from start to finish, the offense never gave up and special teams made game changing plays,” said Pfeuffer.
“That blocked punt by Shay (Aitken) was huge for momentum and then on the next drive for him to get that interception was incredible… I could not be prouder of the efforts of this team. To be back-to-back PAC champions and go to the NCAA playoffs two years in a row is an incredible accomplishment,” Pfeuffer continued.
Swim preps for mid-season meet
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Men’s Swimming & Diving has secured a 3-1 overall record early in the season, winning their one conference meet against Saint Vincent 161-95.
Most recently, the Wolverines hosted the University of Rochester on Saturday, Nov. 23. The men’s team came out on top, defeating the Yellowjackets 152-142, thanks to winning performances from several swimmers.
Junior Will Sterrett, sophomore Owen Hancock, sophomore Bryce Pope and junior Nathan Beukema opened the meet by winning the 200-medley relay in a time of 1:35.31.
Sophomore C.J. Mayhew won both distance events, posting a winning time of 10:18.88 in the 1000 and taking the 500 in 4:58.46.
Junior Caleb Einolf earned victories in three events. He won the 100 breaststroke in a time of 56.04 seconds. He then added wins in the 100 free (46.74) and 100 butterfly.
The team is not only preparing for the conference championship at the end of February; they also have the NCAAs on their minds.
“Besides winning PACs again, the men's team's main goals are to send some relays to NCAAs,” said Einolf.
With a 1-3 overall record, the Wolverines still hold a 1-0 conference record, defeating Saint Vincent 161101.
In their latest meet against Rochester, the Wolverines fell 223-70.
Sophomore Ashley Rauhauser earned the Wolverines points in two events, placing first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:02.15 and taking third in the 100 free with a time of 58.14. Freshman Freja Kile earned second in the 200 free with a time of 2:03.26. The teams get back into action this weekend at the Wheaton Invitational in Ill. Their first competition begins today at 9:30 a.m. and continues tomorrow through 5 p.m.
LUKE PAGLIA
Seniors Nico Flati and Brady Brungard, pictured together in this file photo from this victory against CWRU earlier this season.
LUKE PAGLIA
Junior linebaker Ben Bladel earned Second Team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association this week.
LUKE MORTON
With a commanding 45-5 victory over Macalester on Nov. 23, the GCC men’s rugby team clinched the Men’s Division III Small College championship.
Turkey Day Takedown Wolverines triumph over Titans
Mia Gallagher Sports Editor
Women’s basketball continued their 2024 campaign last Tuesday, Nov. 26 with a dominant 62-47 win over the Westminster Titans.
The team, who has achieved a four-game win streak after opening the season 0-2, put up an impressive showing against their PAC rival with numerous players stepping up to secure this key victory.
The first half of this rivalry match saw a back-and-forth exchange of leads between the two teams, with Grove City dominating the first quarter 15-7 and Westminster battling back to go into halftime with a narrow onepoint lead at 28-29.
The battle continued into the third quarter as a trio of Wolverines – senior guard Jaden Davinsizer, senior forward Clara Hannon and
junior center Meredith Sherrerd – put up consecutive layups to reclaim the lead. Although Westminster rallied back in the final minutes of the third, a commanding final-quarter performance from Hannon and Sherrerd sealed the 62-47 victory for Grove City.
Leading the Wolverines offensive effort was Hannon, who put away 18 points for the team. Sherrerd followed Hannon, posting 16 points and eight rebounds to secure the win.
Further bolstering Grove City’s effort was senior guard Mara Polcynski, who led the team with 11 rebounds, five assists and five steals.
Sophomore guard Bethany Thompson also tallied six rebounds and three assists to propel the Wolverines to victory.
Defensively, a trio of Wolverines – Hannon, Sherrerd and junior guard Reese Has-
ley – each recorded a pair of steals. Grove City also held Westminster to a shot percentage of 33 from the floor. Overall, the Wolverines went 26 of 69 from the field
shooting, holding an edge in total shots and shooting percentage over the Titans. They also ended the match with a season-low 10 turnovers.
After battling the Presi-
dents of Washington & Jefferson Wednesday, Dec. 4 at home, the Wolverines will travel to Pittsburgh to face off against the Chatham Cougars tomorrow, Dec. 7.
Basketball topples Titans to secure Thanksgiving sweep
Kaitlyn Erickson Contributing Writer
The Grove City College men’s basketball team earned their fourth consecutive win last Tuesday, Nov. 26 with an impressive showing against PAC rival Westminster College.
The 70-57 victory against the Titans not only showcased a commanding offensive effort by the team, but also secured a sweep by both the men’s and women’s squads on the day.
Grove City entered the second half of play leading Westminster 35-26 and continued to add to their lead thanks to sophomore Isaac Cherry, who scored with a
layup and dunk. Sophomore Caleb Haller further extended the Wolverines’ lead by supplying another layup.
Although Westminster attempted to shore up the score halfway through the second half, bringing the score margin within five points, Grove City brought it back, re-enforcing the gap with an 11-2 point scoring run to close the match.
Leading the offensive effort for the Wolverines was junior Mike Christenson, who recorded 21 points match-up. Following Christenson was senior Chase Yarberough and junior Kyle Randle, contributing 14 and 10 points, respectively. To further propel the Wol-
verines to victory, Yarberough led the Wolverines with seven rebounds, followed by sophomore Austin Johncour, Cherry and Christenson, who each added six. Christenson also lent four assists to the team’s efforts.
Grove City went 27 for 53 shooting from the field, amounting to an incredible shot percentage of 51 percent that blew the 36 percent produced by Westminster away.
After hosting the Presidents of Washington & Jefferson in the second game of a men’s and women’s double-header Wednesday, Dec. 4, the Wolverines will travel to Chatham to face off with the Cougars at 2 p.m. tomorrow, Dec. 7.
JOHN HAKE
Freshman Kailey Devlin making a contested shot in this file photo from the Wolverine’s win against Waynesburg on Nov. 20.
JOHN HAKE
Senior Clara Hannon lead the Wolverine offensive effort, pictured here in a file photo.
JOHN HAKE
Senior Chase Yarberough making a leaping shot