The Collegian – Nov. 1, 2013

There’s no typical day for a Campus Safety officer.

Pg. 3

Friday, November 1, 2013

Collegian

The

Est. 1891

The Grove City College Student Newspaper

Vol. 74, No. 7

Les Misérables fever sweeps campus

MAGGIE KEATING/THE COLLEGIAN

Andy Hickly (center), playing Javert in the College’s production of Les Misérables, stands amidst the revolutionaries at the barricade. For more photos from the musical, see pages 6-7, or see page 5 for The Collegian’s review.

Student’s recruiter app helps athletes Emily Nicklas

Contributing Writer After years of practicing, training and traveling, athletes across the world await their shining moment of being recruited from college scouts. Samantha Weber, a senior at Grove City College, knows all too well that this recruitment fantasy does not just magically happen.

Weber played soccer for both Freeport High School and a nationally ranked club soccer team that traveled throughout the country. She played in competitive college showcase tournaments along the East Coast, but had a difficult time connecting with college coaches and scouts attending. By her senior year of high school, Weber had few college recruitment offers.

“I spent a lot of time and money trying to get recruited, and it never happened for me,” Weber said.

Weber, along with many other talented athletes, was completely overlooked due to the faulty college recruiting system.

Weber is hoping to permanently fix these glitches in the recruiting process with a new application she developed with

Strategic Plan yet to meet aid goal

Josh Evans

KIRSTEN MALENKE/THE COLLEGIAN

Senior Sam Weber proudly displays the app that will help high school student-athletes connect with recruiters.

students this year.

According to Thomas Ball, News Editor Director of Financial Aid, the Despite significant advanc- relative lack of growth of need es, Grove City College has still met is due to an expanded fofallen short of a financial goal cus on the inclusion of more according to the first year sum- students through lowered QPA mary report of the College’s requirements. five-year strategic plan.

“There are two variables here: The plan is composed of nine the renewal QPA and the perstrategic initiatives, the fourth centage of need met,” he said. of which “ We ’ r e concerns to The College has failed to meet trying itself reduce or with the this objective, only providing r e m o v e provision for 40 percent of unmet need in one of the 2012-2013 academic year. t h o s e of an affordable variables education for students.. By pro- so that we can then focus our efviding students with a QPA of forts on raising the percentage of 2.0 or higher with 70 percent of need met.” their unmet need, this initiative Because the final reduction in seeks to extend affordability to QPA will be relatively small, Ball all students. is confident that the College will However, the College has soon be able to focus on increase failed to meet this objective, the percentage of need met. only providing for 40 percent of “We’re at the point where unmet need in the 2012-2013 we’re very close to being able to academic year. The College did reduce the renewal QPA further make significant strides in the so that leaves us to go after that other component by reducing goal of 70 percent,” he said. the minimum QPA from 2.5 to However, the success the stra2.25, which has opened access to STRATEGIC PLAN 2 financial aid for an additional 44

the help of AlphaLab, a startup accelerator that helps innovative technology companies launch

their ideas quickly and successfully.

News

Life

E!

Perspectives

Sports

Students react to intervis hours on the camel’s favorite day.

Pg. 2

Altoona alumni prepare students to implement their faith in the working world.

Pg. 4

A show with as many zombies as ‘The Walking Dead’ definitely requires brains.

Pg. 8

Reformation Day should not be a proud holiday many Christians observe.

Pg. 9

The women’s cross country team has won the PAC crown since before current freshmen were born.

Pg. 12

APP 10

Page 2

The Collegian Students react to Wednesday intervis

Louis Petolicchio Staff Writer

Almost two months have passed since the extension of established intervisitation hours on upper campus, and the inclusion of Wednesday night intervisitation was announced.

Intervis has been extended until 10 p.m. on Sundays and added from 7 to 10 p.m. on Wednesday nights. Some students are still adjusting to the change.

While most students have been breathing sighs of relief at the desired change, others believe intervis is out of place in the middle of the week.

The change has been long awaited by many who have been quietly pushing for longer intervis hours, and the reaction has been generally favorable.

“I actually really enjoy it,” senior Lizzy McFall said. “I can go dance at Swing Club, and then still go hang out with friends or watch Psych without using a lobby.”

“I like the change… it makes intervis less special,” fifth year senior Clayton Sandham, a resident assistant in Alumni Hall,

said. “Some guys and gals treat an invitation to hang out as a super special occurrence. I think that the hours on Wednesday nicely split up the week and make inviting a girl over less of a big deal, encouraging normal interactions.”

Some have been concerned that the new hours will put a strain on the RAs and other residence staff, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

“Someone is on duty every day anyway, so it doesn’t really change RA duty. If anything, intervis makes RA duty more interactive, that way you’re not walking down a hall of closed doors,” junior RA TJ Waldy from Hopeman Hall said.

Both Waldy and Sandham acknowledged that while the rounds are different on an intervis night, they are not necessarily any more difficult. According to Waldy, in addition to nicely breaking up the week, it also gives people who work on the weekends a chance to spend some time with their boyfriends or girlfriends.

The bigger question is whether or not most people have been

BEST robotics competition

STRATEGIC PLAN tegic plan is dependent upon resources received from donors and other sources. These donations have been on the rise thus far, with the highest amount of financial aid awards in the College’s history scheduled for the 2013-2014 academic year. In fact, Ball added that although 70 percent of need is the current goal, the financial aid may eventually go beyond this figure if resources permit.

“I think that when we reach the point of giving 70, and we have more resources available, I don’t think we’re going to say ‘no, we’ll stop at 70,’ but that is down the road,” Ball said.

The remainder of the report detailed a number of other successes across the nine strategic initiatives, as well as several deferrals and delays.

Among the highlights mentioned, the College has made significant progress toward professional accreditations across several disciplines, including chemistry and computer science. Also, under the initiative for maintaining a Christian environment, the College has implemented an alternative chapel series dealing with virtue and has begun looking at the possibility of revising the Red Box program.

However, the College did fall short of its goal for alumni donor percentage for unrestricted giving. The number of applications received for the 2013 fall semester was also below the goal, although it did surpass the number of applications last year by 3 percent.

able to take advantage of it.

“It’s frustrating because so many groups and organizations have their meetings during those times on Wednesdays,” sophomore David Werner said. “I’ve only got to take advantage of Wednesday intervis like, twice this year.”

Several others noted similar conflicts.

“It was introduced so late that groups that meet on Wednesday night didn’t have the opportunity to re-evaluate meeting times [or] days,” Sandham said.

In general, however, the campus seems to enjoy at least having the option.

“There has not been an overwhelming flood of gentlemen taking advantage of the additional hours on my hall, but I believe the overall opinion is that they like the new hours,” Sandham said.

While it will undoubtedly take some time for students to settle in to its new routine, the new intervis hours look like they are here to stay. Only time will tell if further changes are down the road.

Nov. 1, 2013

Presidential search committee begins

Claire E. Healey

dent as well as the need to re-

Editor-in-chief

spect applicants’ confidentiality.

The search for a new president of Grove City College began on Oct. 17 with the first meeting of the Presidential Search Committee. The committee consists of eleven members, including several trustees and faculty and administration representatives.

David Rathburn, chair of the Board of Trustees, serves as the Search Committee chair. The committee is working to find a successor for Dr. Richard Jewell ‘67, who announced in August that he would be retiring at the end of the year.

“Selecting the right search partner is just the first step in the long journey of finding our next president,” Rathburn said.

“We are excited about a process that will engage our community and will showcase nationally the unique qualities and characteristics of Grove City College.”

The committee participated in a team building exercise and discussed the anticipated timeline for selecting a new presi-

It also selected CarterBaldwin Executive Search as a partner consulting firm to help conduct the nationwide search for a new president.

CarterBaldwin is an executive search firm that fills senior executive positions for academic clients like the College. It works closely with academic institutions to attract and recruit candidates that fit with the institution’s mission.

“Grove City College’s unique history and its practical focus on a holistic education create a compelling story,” CarterBaldwin partner Price Harding said.

“The wonderful characteristics that have attracted a nationally acclaimed faculty and students from across the globe will also attract the very strongest presidential candidates.”

World News Roundup Compiled by Megan Baak

CAMERON HOLLOWAY/THE COLLEGIAN

A student enthusiastically guides his team’s robot through an event.

Josh Evans News Editor

On Oct. 18 and 19, middle and high school students from across the region gathered at Grove City College to compete in the annual Wolverine Boosting Engineering, Science and Technology Robotics competition.

For the fourth year in a row, Cornerstone Christian Preparatory Academy placed first in the overall competition to qualify (along with five other top teams from this competition) for the Northern Plains Regional BEST robotics competition to be held at North Dakota State University.

The teams were required to

100 Campus Drive Grove City, Pa. 16127 Phone: 724.458.2193 collegian@gcc.edu

build robots that could assemble coat hangers, wooden dowel rods and foam puzzle pieces into a structure meant to represent a central processing unit.

Students were judged not only by the performance of their robots, but also by their engineering notebooks, marketing presentations, team exhibits, spirit and sportsmanship.

Over 300 students from more than a dozen schools participated in the competition, which was sponsored by the College and ANSYS, Inc. The BEST robotics competitions are designed to attract more students to fields in science and engineering.

Editor-in-chief Managing Editor News Section Life Section Entertainment Section Perspectives Section Sports Section Copy Chief Copy Editors Staff Writers

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.

Design Chief Photography Manager Photo Selection Director Photographers Advertising Manager Business Manager Distribution Manager Social Media Manager Staff Adviser

Spain accuses NSA of surveillance

Southern UK devastated by severe storm

Spain has charged the United States with monitoring millions of telephone calls, texts and emails of Spanish citizens in December 2012 and January 2013. They have demanded that the U.S. hand over whatever information they collected. It is not clear how the suspected surveillance happened, whether it was through monitoring fiber-optic cables, data obtained from telecommunication companie, or other means. The National Security Agency allegedly collected the sender and recipient addresses of emails, the message file size and sometimes the top or subject line of the message.

A huge storm hit the southern part of the United Kingdom, resulting in four deaths as well as many economic, social and technological problems. As of Monday morning, 166,000 homes were still without power. BBC forecasters stated that the storm, which began overnight and saw heavy rain fall across many areas and wind speeds of more than 70 mph, moved out of the UK shortly after 12 p.m., leaving a “broadly windy day.” The highest recorded wind gusts were 99 mph.

Explosion in Mexican factory kills at least one In the Dulces Blueberry Factory in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, a boiler exploded, causing the ceiling to collapse.

At least 300 workers were in the building at the time of the explosion and several are still unaccounted for. Fernando Mota, the city’s civil protection director, commented that firefighters found a body inside the factory and that six of the many injured workers were in serious conditions.

Penn State settles with Sandusky victims In more local news, after a year of negotiations, Penn State College is expected to pay $59.7 million to settle claims by 26 young men who said they were sexually abused

by Jerry Sandusky. 69 year-old Sandusky is serving 30 to 60 years in prison after being convicted of 45 accounts of child sexual abuse last year, according to NBC News.

“We hope this is another step forward in the healing process for those hurt by Mr. Sandusky, and another step forward for Penn State,” University President Rodney Erickson said.

Claire E. Healey Dan Johnson Josh Evans, Katie Koller Stephanie Pitman, Cristina Totten Grayson Quay, Rich Christman Kyle Burko, Esther Hoyt Ian Mikrut, Jessica Smith Chelsea Tarolli Andrew Eissen, Catherine Fitzhugh, Sarah Flenniken, Megan Hays, Michayla Wicker Megan Baak, Zoë Gowen, Kara Halin, Ryan Hampton, Brad Hummel, Mark Mariani, Louis Petolicchio, Breanna Renkin, Paul St. Jean, Jacob Sziráky Marissa Candiloro Caroline Bennett Sarah Logie Nathan Bergey, Oliver Kent, Kirsten Malenke Erika Bastian Michael Trombly Faith Marquardt Victoria VanBuskirk Nick Hildebrand

Life

Nov. 1, 2013

Page 3

Runners help wounded vets

A day in the life of Campus Safety

More than meets the eye?

Jacob Sziráky Staff Writer Whenever the topic of Campus Safety is mentioned, the first thought that comes to many students’ minds concerns the men who drive around Grove City College in the trucks parked outside Crawford Hall. However, many students may not realize what being a Campus Safety officer actually entails.

Similar to the lives of students on campus, no two days are alike in the life of a Campus Safety officer. Campus Safety officer Jim Dickson outlined the responsibilities of the officers.

“As far as a typical day, there really is no typical day,” Dickson said.

An officer never knows what kind of call he is going to get, or if he will get a call at all. Dickson recounted that one day, he received seven distress calls, but none the following day.

Despite the fact that no two days are exactly alike, certain elements do carry over from day to day.

“A lot of the job is basically patrol work,” Dickson said.

Each shift is six hours and most officers take two different shifts per week . That’s roughly 12 hours of roaming around campus in their trucks.

“After a while, you begin to

know what’s out of place,” Dickson said.

Suspicious characters and emergencies are not the main issues to which Campus Safety responds. “We respond to more medical calls than any other calls,” Dickson said.

Calls that involve transportation from the Zerbe Health and Wellness Center to the hospital, injuries during intramural sports, students passing out and other such medical occurrences are all part of a Campus Safety officer’s responsibilities.

Dickson believes that the most important part of his job is “the overall safety of our students,” which only well qualified officers can ensure.

Officers who are well qualified are well versed in CPR, AED and first aid. However, the officer in charge also must have an ACT 235 certification. The ACT 235 is a training program offered by the State of Pennsylvania and required by the College.

Though these base qualifications are required by the College, Dickson has his own standards for being a good officer.

He stresses the importance of customer service in his job.

“I have kids, and I want to treat and do my job like I would want it to be done as [if] it were my kids … I take it pretty per-

sonally, but I think doing it that way you can do a good job,” Dickson said.

To people like Dickson, the central job of being a security guard is to respond to emergency situations.

He noted that students need to report more of what they see. A lot of the time, students do not want to get involved. He wanted to make it clear to students that they should call in things even if they just seem like they don’t belong.

“It’s easier to deal with things before they happen,” he said.

Unfor tunately, Dickson does not believe that students shed Campus Safety officers in the most positive light.

“I don’t think we CAROLINE BENNETT/THE COLLEGIAN are looked favorably Officer Dan Patton serves alongside Officer upon by the student Dickson on the campus safety team. body,” he said.“We’re always here to help.”

Rachel Watson Contributing Writer

On Nov. 2, the Zeta Zeta Zeta sorority and Sigma Alpha Sigma fraternity will be hosting their annual Trick or Trot 5k run or walk to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. The purpose of the weekend festivities is more than simply to have fun with friends; it is also a way to support the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Wounded Warrior Project works to honor and empower wounded soldiers across the country who have been injured fighting for our freedom.

“We are very excited about the race this year and expect a great turnout,” one of the chairmen of the project, junior Ellen Glenn, said. “The proceeds all benefit the Wounded Warrior program, which is a great way to help out our community.”

A Wounded Warrior representative will be present at the event for people to talk to about the project or thank for his service.

The local sponsors have also been a big part of making all this possible.

Runners can go online to register either on ‘mygcc’ or by following the link on the group’s Facebook page. It is 15 dollars to participate. To add extra incentive, runners receive a t-shirt and a candy bag when they finish the race.

Due to the race’s proximity to Halloween, runners are also strongly encouraged to wear On Oct. 25, a new art exhibit, their favorite costume when curated by Gendrue, was put on running.

“I’m really excited about the display featuring a potter Michael Stek’s work. race. Who wouldn’t want to “The gallery is such a unique dress up and also help out the and aesthetically pleasing place community?” freshman Lauren on campus,” Gendrue said. “I Pearce said. personally think visiting the art “It is just a great, fun way for gallery will be enriching to all the students of Grove City to students’ college careers. At least come together support a great open your mind to the beauty of cause and celebrate Halloween art and appreciate the gift God in a fun way,” junior Emma Ruhas given us.”

Gallery hours are from 12 dolf said.

The race will start promptly at p.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through 10 a.m. and awards will be given Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays and is closed on Sundays to the top male and female runand Mondays. ners.

Campus gallery overlooked

Showcases aim to expand artistic minds

Alyssa Dillon

Contributing Writer What may appear to be a plain, unpopulated area situated in the corner of the PEW Fine Arts Center is actually a treasure trove of artistic enjoyment.

The on-campus gallery, situated in the Pew Fine Arts Center, is a hidden gem of Grove City College that is too often overlooked. The gallery frequently runs art exhibits featuring students, faculty, alumni and traveling artists.

For a campus where the arts are normally linked to the typi-

cal coffeehouse concert, this gallery is slowly paving the way for the development of the fine arts.

“The arts in general and specifically the art gallery are definitely an overlooked part of campus,” Emily Gendrue said, a junior communications major and gallery worker.

Kathy Rhoades, a professor in the art department, is in charge of the gallery and works to use this venue to further the cultural minds of the students. She consistently encourages students to submit pieces to the annual student showcase that takes place near the end of each semester.

Despite her busy schedule of ceramics and visual art classes, she holds the gallery as a priority in expanding artistic minds.

Typical showcases include pieces from artists around the Western Pennsylvania region, as well as traveling exhibits possessing Christian themes. Recently, there was a showcase which featured works from various artists in Grove City. Even a few well-known college professors showcased their talents for the exhibit. Among the pieces were sculptures, collages, prints and watercolors with the majority of pieces available for purchase.

READY FOR YOUR NEXT CHALLENGE? A master’s degree from Geneva College can help you excel toward a more promising future with greater understanding, elite professional skills, and meaningful service.

Choose one of seven, high-demand advanced professional degrees that can equip you for principled and wise Christian service to your organization and the world. Geneva’s graduate programs are offered in a variety of formats and locations to make it easier for you to accept the challenge!

GENEVA COLLEGE

G R A DUAT E PROGR A M S

For more complete information on each program, please call

724-847-6571 or 800-847-8255 or visit www.geneva.edu/graduate_programs

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP • COUNSELING • S P E C I A L E D U C AT I O N

Life

Page 4

Nov. 1, 2013

Alums prepare college students for working world Claire E. Healey Editor-in-chief

Making the adjustment from college to the working world is a seismic change for any undergraduate, and few Grove City College alumni have dedicated their livelihoods to preparing students for life after college.

In 2007, Vince Eilenberger ’02 and Matt Garber ’01 founded Living Stones Resources (LSR) in Altoona, PA, to support discipleship and church planting.

They desired to serve collegeage students as well, and in 2011 began Rail City Discipleship Ministries under LSR to minister to young adults.

The ministry’s main mission is to allow students to experience God as they grow as leaders.

“Altoona… is just an ordinary place, like a lot of normal, ordinary places in the United States.

But, we firmly believe that God is powerfully at work here in this ordinary place,” LSR discipleship coordinator Derek Campbell said.

Campbell and Eilenberger are employed full time by LSR, while Garber recently left the organization to return to law school. Garber, serves as a board member along with leaders Bruce Muller and Paul Stauffer.

Campbell felt called to return to Altoona after participating in an ICO trip in the city during his time at the College.

“Discipling relationships are vitally important to our work in Rail City Discipleship Min-

istries. Any outreach, program or activity that we do is grounded in developing a deeper and truer relationship with God and with one another,” Campbell said.

Rail City Discipleship Ministries runs two main programs to execute its mission. The shorter program, Encounter, is available to students from various colleges over fall and spring breaks.

During Encounter, students spend much time in discussion, prayer and the study of scripture. They also interview leaders in the community to discover how their faith has affected their work.

“Encounter is sort of like an ICO, but our goal is to make it a more rounded program, not completely service-based,” Campbell said.

At the end of the program, students develop a plan to exercise their new skills in their community.

The longer program, Immersion, takes place all summer, and takes the elements of Encounter even further. In addition to the Encounter events, students develop one-on-one discipling relationships with leaders in the program.

“Discipling relationships are vitally important to our work in Rail City Discipleship Ministries … It was this vision of discipling relationships that actually attracted me to Altoona,” Campbell said.

During Immersion, students also meet weekly for Bible studies and book discussions. They

PHOTOS COURTESY DEREK CAMPBELL

Students participate in recreation and service during their Immersion program. end each week with an all-day community outreach project.

Student participants come from a variety of faith backgrounds, as do the leaders.

“I think the best service our group offers is the opportunity to really dive deep in your faith,” Campbell said.

Campbell and the other leaders hope the ministry continues to grow.

“I am excited for more young, college-aged student leaders to be able to experience our programs in order to dive deeper in their faith,” Campbell said.

Professor Spotlight

Dr. J. Harvey Cole Zoë Gowen Staff Writer

Leaning forward with his hands folded, Dr. J. Harvey Cole, professor of German, reflected on his childhood. He squinted his eyes in thoughtful contemplation before meticulously telling his story.

Cole was born and raised in Augusta, Wisconsin. From an early age, he remembered German was spoken with an English accent on surrounding farms.

Conveniently, this allowed his mind to adapt more easily to the structure and enunciation of the German language.

Originally a business major, Cole wished to expand his imaginative approach to academics and switched to foreign languages. Cole received his A.B. in Spanish, with a minor in German, from Northwestern University. He spent a year in Ger-

MYLAN SCHOOL OF PHARMACY AND THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES

Earn your Pharm.D. on the Weekends

This unique program provides flexibility and support for students juggling work, family and pharmacy school. By combining on-site weekend courses and educational learning technologies, post-bachelor’s students can earn a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in four years.

GET STARTED IN PHARMACY TODAY! VISIT: www.duq.edu/weekend-pharmacy OR EMAIL THE ADMISSIONS TEAM: pharmadmission@duq.edu

many studying at the University at Hamburg before returning to Northwestern University to receive his M.A. in German.

Cole began working at Grove City College in 1962. He has remained on campus for last 51 years due to the excellent academic environment.

“I liked the administration, my colleagues, the students and the philosophy of the College,” Cole said.

Cole expressed his deep appreciation for the strong work ethic that his students exhibit.

After experiencing academics at other colleges, Cole realized the wonderful inquisitive and insightful nature of his students here. He said that this love for education enhances the learning experience and enriches the subject of interest.

Being at the College has challenged Cole to investigate and acknowledge the differences in his worldview.

“The College has given me the opportunity to associate with fine minds; both students and colleagues have opened me up to a broader acceptance of human inquiry and potential,” Cole said.

However, this is not a onesided opportunity. The campus should be encouraged to expand and become more globally minded, according to Cole.

“Fewer than I would wish to see here have an internal mindset,” Cole said.

Developing a viewpoint that is focused on both domestic and international well-being and growth is valuable for developing as individuals, according to Cole.

When asked to offer a piece of advice to the student body, Cole immediately replied, “As a pragmatist I ask, can you market your major?”

Cole agreed that academics are important, but stressed that companies also look at the profit they gain from hiring each individual. Thus, Cole emphasized the need to develop marketable skills for a future vocation.

“You need to think about work not just in the short term, but the long term as well,” he said.

Nov. 1, 2013

Entertainment

Page 5

‘Les Mis’ lives up to hype Sophia Nell

Contributing Writer In 2012, “Les Misérables” hit the silver screen with top name actors and special effects that had never before been seen or used in any other rendition. The film won three Golden Globes and three Oscars. Now, one year later, English professor Dr. James Dixon brings this story to the Grove City College stage.

After months of rehearsal, a summer of vocal coaching and one year of anticipation, the cast of “Les Mis” debuted their talent on Tuesday, Oct. 29. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, “Les Mis” tells the story of Jean Valjean (junior Jonathan Warren), an escaped prisoner who has been given a second chance.

Warren brings incredible vocal talent to the part and convincingly portrays the play’s theme of redemption through his character’s inner conflict. Javert, played by junior Andy Hickly, is a police inspector who devotes his life to finding Valejean. As the play progresses, his motive for capturing Valjean moves beyond a fiery commitment to duty into a pursuit of vengeance.

Although Warren and Hickly, who are foils throughout the play, could have conveyed more tension in their scenes together, both men brought unbelievable talent to the characters. Hickly’s cold, raw emotion brought depth to his character without overdramatizing the role.

Next, the audience is introduced to Fantine (junior Laura Foley), a poor factory worker who is fired from her job. Forced to sell her hair and body to send money to her daughter, Fantine becomes ill and is rescued by Valjean. Foley brings depth to her acting that exceeds collegelevel theatre. Her emotions are compelling, while her voice complements and transcends the heartfelt lyrics of her songs.

Pledging to take care of Fantine’s daughter, Cosette, Valejan rescues her from her villainous caretakers, the Thénardiers.

Young Cossette (Molly Miller) plays her part well, aided by a sweetly innocent manner and voice.

Thénardier (junior Ethan Mitchell) and his wife, Ma-

Pick of the Week Let’s Be Still Lauren Farley WSAJ Contributor

CAMERON HOLLOWAY/THE COLLEGIAN

Ethan Mitchell and Ashley White Brothers as the Thénardiers solicit much laughter from the audience. dame (sophomore Ashley White Brothers), encourage much laughter from the audience.

Each time they appear, their ridiculousness and comedic physicality increase. Eponine (senior Colette Sackman), the daughter of Thénardier and Madam, grows up and falls in love with Marius, a man who only has eyes for Cosette. In this love triangle, Sackman had the audience rooting for her. Her rendition of “On My Own” strikes many hearts, as does her tragic death.

Marius (junior Jack Krimmel) is a young revolutionary who falls in love with Cosette.

Krimmel is a natural on stage and brings focus and believability to his character. Grown-up Cossette, played by senior Emily Peterson, is the sheltered, adopted daughter of Valejan.

Peterson’s flawless vocals and chemistry with both Krimmel and Warren tie the three characters together perfectly.

Marius’s friend, Enjolras (sophomore Timothy Lagoy), leads the revolutionaries in the battle that rages around the barricade during the second act.

Lagoy brings intensity to his character both in vocals and acting ability. He exudes passionate leadership in a convincing character portrayal in every scene.

Though they fulfill less significant roles, junior Taryn Cole and freshman David Tharnish bring impressive expertise to their characters. Cole plays Gavroche, a streetwise urchin who joins the revolutionar-

Jonathan Warren gives a stellar performance as Jean Valjean. ies behind the barricade, while Tharnish plays the kindly Bishop of Digne, who gives Valjean a chance at redemption.

The direction of Dixon, Leuenberger and Mickey has been well received thus far; however, the audience has walked away more in awe of the cast’s vocal ability. The most moving and powerful scenes have been those sung by the entire cast. Although the stage direction seems repetitive at times, the overall movement of the characters is fluid. The sets are detailed enough to be memorable, but not grand enough to

match the actors’ talent. Costuming is brilliant and brings an authenticity to every scene.

“Les Misérables” is a story of love, tragedy, patriotism and redemption. Hollywood first saw its potential, but the theatre department at the College recreated the story with power and elegance. With all five performances sold out, and a standing ovation on opening night, it may be safe to say that this year’s musical production is a rousing success.

Bridgefest strikes a chord with concert-goers Mark Blank

Contributing Writer The first annual Bridgefest took place this past Saturday, which consisted of a series of musical performances throughout the evening. A few of the talented artists included former Hawk Nelson leader singer, Jason Dunn, Joel Ansett and other Grove City College students and alumni.

Bridgefest drew crowds of students who came to see some of the College’s most talented alumni, as well as other musicians, perform on campus from 2 to 10 p.m. The event took place in two separate venues: a more intense rock/metal experience was held in Old Map while an acoustic concert took place in Rathburn Hall.

The headlining artist was former Hawk Nelson lead singer, Jason Dunn. Dunn was excited to perform at Bridgefest, where he also chose to release his new album, “Abandon Progress.” He played a variety of songs, from throwback Hawk tracks to songs from his new album, such as his solo debut single, “Insecurity.”

Dunn’s song list for the night even included a cover of Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Getting Back Together.”

“I loved playing for you guys,” Dunn said. “Consider me for the second annual Bridgefest.” Since

Dunn has traditionally played at large venues throughout his musical career, it was an honor and an exciting opportunity to watch him perform at Bridgefest. On stage, he connected with the audience through his quirky sense of humor.

Dunn joked about his days with Hawk Nelson.

“I came up with the name because Hawk Nelson was a name I used when I would play this snowboarding video game,” he said. “Now they are stuck with it.”

Joel Ansett ’12 and Dan DeCristofaro ’13 drew the biggest crowd of the night. Saturday was the first time the two musicians had played together since DeCristofaro’s graduation last May. The two demonstrated their talent for song writing as they played originals written by both artists. At several points, the crowd joined in with the lyrics.

DeCristofaro considered it one of the greatest feelings for a musician.

Ansett admitted it was rejuvenating to be playing back at his alma mater. After playing countless bar shows throughout his career, he reflected on the refreshing feeling of performing back at the College.

Ansett was outspoken about the meaning and inspiration behind his songs. He summed up his inspiration by saying,

The Head and the Heart open their newest album, “Let’s Be Still,” with a melancholy sense of nostalgia. In the first track, “Homecoming Heroes,” the group sings about the forgotten glories advertised in news headlines and the misplaced elevation of individuals on a soon-tobe-removed pedestal.

A musical transition that contrasts with their debut album is evident. Whereas the previous album opened with a song that rushed into dogs barking and cats meowing, this recent release communicates that a degree of the sunniness of the band has been lost.

The name of the album itself, “Let’s Be Still,”seems to aptly mark the change in attitude, suggesting a rest from the intensity of their first album.

The album cover art features two individuals lying on their backs against a barren landscape and staring up into a gray, cloudless sky. The two individuals are not particularly close, suggesting a chosen isolation even when given the opportunity for companionship. Nonetheless, the cover art still illustrates a contentedness in the couple’s individuality. They are aware of their small presence in a vast expansion.

The emotional change in the album is not reflected in its musical composition. Several of the same driving forces are present: the pounding piano melody lines, impeccable harmonies and infectious rhythms all remain.

Still, the playfulness takes a backseat to the elected loneliness throughout this album.

Instrumental sections have more of a focus and are comprised of fewer instruments.

Referencing the cover once again, there is solace in its solidarity that is reflected throughout the entire album.

“Let’s Be Still” marks a departure from the band’s first album, but provides a new perspective that is beautiful in its simplicity.

PHOTO FROM JOELANSETT.COM

Alumnus Joel Ansett was among the performers at Bridgefest.

“If we believe God is our Creator, then any story I tell in my songs is a story worth telling.”

Bridgefest organizer and current Grove City junior, Estee Beasley, performed with her Ohio-based band, Bethesda.

The group has released several albums including their latest album, “The Reunion,” which is available on vinyl. Bridgefest provided a different scene for the band, who also made an appearance at Bonnaroo Music and

Arts Festival.

“I like playing here,” lead singer Shanna Delaney said. “It’s different because in college people are discovering their musical tastes.”

It took a lot of planning and organizing by the members of Stonebridge, but at the end of the day, their hard work paid off.

Bridgefest just might become an endeared Grove City College tradition in the years to come.

Fall Photo Contest Submit your fall break photos by next Sunday for a chance to be featured in our November 15 photo spread! gcc.collegian@gmail.com

Page 6

Through the Lens

Nov. 1, 2013

Nov. 1, 2013

Through the Lens

Page 7

PHOTOS BY MAGGIE KEATING, CAMERON HOLLOWAY AND NATHAN BERGEY/THE COLLEGIAN

Entertainment

Page 8

Nov. 1, 2013

‘Gravity’ won’t let you down Nathan Mancini ’13 Alumnus Contributor Director Alfonso Cuarón released his seventh film, “Gravity,” on Oct. 4. Cuarón previously directed critically acclaimed films such as “Children of Men,” “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” With “Gravity,” Cuarón sets his eyes upward and gives audiences one of the most dazzling, chilling and realistic space films to emerge in the past decade of cinema.

“Gravity” stars Sandra Bullock as Ryan Stone, a relatively young medical engineer on her first space mission, and George Clooney as Matt Kowalsky, a seasoned astronaut on his last flight before retirement. These are the only significant characters in the film; Bullock and Clooney hold the film almost entirely on their

own, with the possible exception of Ed Harris, the voice of Mission Control (in a welcome nod to another space film, “Apollo 13”).

One long, majestic shot opens the film to introduce viewers to Stone and Kowalsky as they make adjustments to the Hubble Space Telescope. It is not long before disaster strikes: dangerous debris from a defunct Russian satellite fly into Stone and Kowalsky’s work zone, and they cannot get inside their shuttle fast enough to avoid the oncoming debris. As huge pieces of metal crash all around them, the two become detached from the telescope and lose contact with Mission Control. They are floating in space while Stone loses oxygen, with nothing to propel them except Kowalsky’s thruster pack, which has limited blasts.

“Gravity” becomes a fight for survival in a place that is seemingly devoid of life and hope.

Clooney provides both levity and comfort in his fatherly role, but it is Bullock’s strong performance that grounds the film and keeps viewers captivated throughout the relatively short, 91 minute running time.

With its string of tragedies and close calls, the plot is almost unbelievable at times. But Bullock’s reactions to each situation are both realistic and moving, and the space visuals in the film are constantly mesmerizing.

Each shot is like a new adventure transporting the audience to unseen places above earth’s atmosphere. While the plot may invite some incredulity, the other aspects of the film pull it together into a worthwhile outing.

If nothing else, “Gravity” is

PHOTO FROM GRAVITYMOVIE.WARNERBROS.COM

unique in its limitless cinematography (the camera moves in ways never seen in a film before), its minuscule but talented cast and the simplicity of the story’s question: what would you do if you got lost in space?

“Gravity” broke several box office records almost immediately. Its opening weekend claimed the record of the highest October opening of all time, and it was

also the biggest opening ever for a film starring Clooney or Bullock. Strong word of mouth has encouraged many moviegoers to go see the film, particularly in 3D and/or IMAX, rocketing “Gravity’s” box office total to almost $300 million worldwide to date.

Even now, a month after its release, it seems as though “Gravity” has nowhere to go but up.

The Walking Dead shuffles back on to AMC Kara Halin Staff Writer

Films and television programs have milked the vampire sensation for all it was worth, and now entertainment is moving on to bigger and better things: zombies. During the past few years, theaters have been fed a steady supply of zombie movies. AMC’s original series, “The Walking Dead,” is the 2010 sensation that inspired the zombie trend, and the show is now more popular than ever.

The fourth season of “The Walking Dead” premiered Sunday, Oct. 13, and reached 16.1 million viewers. This exceeded even the massive audience of 10.3 million viewers of the “Breaking Bad” series finale. In its fourth season, “The Walking Dead” qualified as the mostwatched drama series in basic cable telecast history. The show has succeeded in capturing more viewers than AMC’s critically acclaimed and awarded programs, such as “Mad Men” and “Breaking Bad.” The show’s plot revolves

around Rick Grimes, a sheriff from outside Atlanta, who wakes up in the hospital in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. He sets out to find his wife and son, and encounters many other survivors along the way.

Though the show is about zombies, the word “zombie” is not mentioned. Instead, the term “walker” is used to describe the undead.

One of the likely reasons for the success of “The Walking Dead” is its many unique characteristics in the story.

The show manages to strike a perfect balance between action and emotion, which attracts both male and female viewers.

The show’s plot would not work if it was simply 42 minutes of the survivors killing walkers. While the often gratuitously violent zombie killings are exciting and warranted, the characters make the show worth watching.

Despite the show’s apocalyptic set, the characters are very relatable.Their problems highlight issues such as struggling to be in a leadership role, navigating complicated friendships and roman-

‘Don Jon’ illustrates modern romantic issues the girl he has taken home is

Stephen Dennis Contributing Writer

“Don Jon” is Joseph GordonLevitt’s directorial debut, starring Gordon-Levitt and Scarlett Johansson. As if acting and directing duties were not enough for Gordon-Levitt, he also wrote the screenplay.

The film tells the story of a Roman Catholic man who eventually discovers that he prefers pornography over having sexual relations with a real woman. Gordon-Levitt plays a character that is neither nerdy nor quirky, unlike many of his previous roles. Johansson also reveals her acting strength as she adopts a heavy Brooklyn accent.

Most of the strength in “Don Jon” comes from its directing.

The film’s cinematography contains opening and closing shots that are similar in order to show how far Jon has come as an individual during the course of the film. Outside of this framing, “Don Jon” uses a repetitive structure which follows Jon’s weekly life for several months to illustrate subtle changes in Jon’s life over the course of the film.

Each week of Jon’s life starts with his workout routine in the local gym, where he recites his allotted “Hail Marys.” After this, the film moves to a scene of his Friday nights at the club, where he always impresses his friends by taking the prettiest girl home.

The scene then changes to a shot of Jon’s bedroom, where

fast asleep. Viewers watch as Jon sneaks out of bed to go watch porn.

Finally, the film includes a scene of Jon at church confessing the same two sins: masturbating to pornography and having sexual relations with a woman out of wedlock.

All this changes when he meets Barbara, the first woman Jon believes he has ever loved.

The trailers exaggerate Barbara’s interest in romantic films and Jon’s love of pornography as the main conflict in the film. However, while this conflict does serve as a catalyst for the changes in Jon’s life, the true conflict comes from Jon’s self-revelation.

He eventually recognizes that his pornography addiction is a symptom of his inability to let himself get close to a woman instead of using her for his personal pleasure. Once he finally learns to lose himself in someone else, only then is he able to get over his addiction.

While “Don Jon” is classified as a romantic comedy, it does not have a promising recommendation as a date movie, since there are multiple clips of Jon’s pornographic videos. Some of these aspects were toned down so that the film could be downgraded from an NC-17 rating to a more theater-friendly R–rated movie.

Although “Don Jon” certainly is not a film for all audiences, it does have an intelligent plot about the problems of modernday relationships.

tic relationships and maintaining the will to live in a frightening world. The survivors’ struggle to survive and to maintain their humanity creates a story that captures the audience’s attention and is, in itself, a compelling reason to watch the show.

Viewers are often caught off guard by the manner in which “The Walking Dead” eliminates some of its main characters without warning. The characters who are at the start of the season are not always the same ones who appear at the end. Some characters even fail to make it through an entire episode. Episodes commonly end with cliffhangers that leave the audience begging for more and giving viewers a reason to watch the next episode.

The show also provides an element of escapism for the viewer.

The show paints a vivid picture of the zombie apocalypse. This allows the viewer to escape into another world for an hour in a truly immersive experience.

“The Walking Dead” has forged the way for

several new shows in the horror genre, including “American Horror Story,” “Sleepy Hollow” and “Dracula.” While “The Walking Dead” is certainly a drama as opposed to a horror show, the zombie element labels it as a horror series.

“The Walking Dead” is also an example of a television show that has greatly benefitted from a partnership with Netflix, who began streaming episodes of the show when it first aired on television. When the show became one of the most popular series on television, it was available on Netflix for instant viewing.

T h e show’s success has also led to a companionlive after-

THINGS2DO Fri. Nov. 1 Fall Food Fest 8 – 11 a.m.

HAL Courtyard Battle of the Bands 7 – 10 p.m.

Ketler Rec Les Misérables 7:30 – 10 p.m.

PFAC – Ketler Auditorium Sat. Nov. 2 Les Misérables 7:30 – 10 p.m.

PFAC – Ketler Auditorium

show called “Talking Dead,” which is hosted by Chris Hardwick and airs immediately after “The Walking Dead.” “Talking Dead” premiered during season two of “The Walking Dead” and serves as a setting for Hardwick and his guests to discuss episodes of the show. It features cast members, the crew and celebrity fans.

Celebrities who have appeared on “Talking Dead” include Patton Oswalt, Joe Manganiello and Nathan Fillion, among many others.

Seasons one through three of “The Walking Dead” are available for streaming on Netflix, and new episodes air Sunday nights at 9p.m. on AMC.

PHOTO FROM IGN.COM

Tues. Nov. 5 Big Man on Campus 7 – 10:30 p.m.

TLC Auditorium Wed. Nov. 6 Internship Fair 2 – 4:30 p.m.

Breen Student Union – Great Room SGA Coffee Concert 7 – 10 p.m.

Breen Student Union Thurs. Nov. 7 Alternative Chapel – “Billy Graham’s Final Sermon” TBA Rathburn Hall

Perspectives

Nov. 1, 2013

Why we struggle to learn A media ecology lesson

Mark Mariani Staff Writer

This article is for the suffering student who does not understand why he cannot concentrate on an assignment for more than thirty minutes at a time without taking a break. This is for the student who finds his academics depressingly impaired, often discovering his motivation consistently deflated due to this lack of ability to concentrate.

In the opinion of the author and some professors on campus, the main problem seems to be an unchecked evaluation of media students use daily on campus (text messaging, television, Facebook, Twitter, internet surfing, etc.) which, if left unchecked, molds the student’s mind into one unfit for academic vocation.

Media ecologists such as Marshall McLuhan, Neil Postman and Nicholas Carr have written about how the mediums students use to receive information determine the way they think and retain information. To speak tangibly, consider that the average length of a commercial advertisement from the 1950s was one minute (there were some commercial advertisements, like Coca Cola, that lingered for up to five minutes). Today, the average is near 10 seconds.

One might find himself curious about this disparity. According to leading media ecologists, the difference in length should be attributed to the difference in primary means of retaining information. For example, in the 1950s, most avenues of information reception came through written means: newspapers, books, pamphlets, etc. Today, most westernized citizens receive their information through Twitter updates, short video clips from news website, or 200-word

articles that explain only the gist of a story.

Moreover, Postman especially notes the way information has become trivialized. He absolutely despises the false pretenses of news channels because they present information as significant, when in fact they are simply reporting the newest fashion

he receives information and his academic woes. Not only is he the product of a culture that does not endorse reading as its primary source of information reception, but he is also the product of a culture that fails to distinguish between significant and insignificant information.

While it might be interest-

ing to see what Bob wore to the dance last Friday on Facebook, of what practical significance does that truly have on the onlooker? All of this explains why a student, if nurtured by his culture, cannot apply his sustained, prolonged attention to a reading assignment, project, paper or class lecture.

Is it the author’s suggestion that one abandon all forms of modern communication?

To some extent, yes. The student will realize that applying his mind to mediums that unquestionably reduce his attention span will diametrically oppose

one abandon all forms of modern communication and only pass information through written letters (although written letters are highly recommended).

Rather, the hope of this author is that the student will walk away aware of the mediums that shape his mind and employ personal responsibility in their use. This enables students to better pursue their primary vocation of being a student, which requires sustained attention on a single task for long periods of time.

Reformation day should not be celebrated Kara Halin

Staff Writer

Every year on October 31, many Protestants celebrate Reformation Day to commemorate when Martin Luther is said to have nailed his 95 Theses to the doors of the church in Wittenberg, Germany.

While the 95 Theses represent Luther’s divergence from the Roman Catholic Church and the beginning of Protestantism, it also represents something even greater: the brokenness of the Christian church on Earth.

The truth of the matter is that the Reformation is not a happy occasion, nor is it a cause for celebration. It is extremely sad that the church has so many divisions in it because this is not what God intended.

In 1 Corinthians 1:10, Paul says, “I appeal to you, brothers

and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Paul speaks of church unity again in Ephesians 4:3-5 when he says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism.”

Countless other verses show Jesus’ desire for the Church to be united as one body. The language of the Bible could not be clearer about this. Christians are constantly told to live in harmony with each other and to be one body of Christ, yet divisions between different sects of Chris-

tianity prevent this from occurring.

The celebration of Reformation Day gives the impression that Christians are satisfied with the division in the church and even encourage it. Christians should not be pleased with these divisions. The Reformation is more or less a divorce of the church. Celebrating Reformation Day is similar to if someone were to celebrate a divorce.

While one may be happy a divorce has occurred, it is not an event to be celebrated.

The number of denominations in existence is constantly growing. This shows the lack of unity among Christians and the divisions that are still being created. Instead of placing a focus on the differences between denominations, Christians should focus on our common beliefs.

Too often, different denomina-

Editorial

The Collegian: A new look Dan Johnson

him to his academic requirements. This will produce times of study that are quite comparable to yanking teeth, but will ultimately be beneficial to the student.

On the other hand, it is not the suggestion of this article that

ILLUSTRATION BY BRANDON FERRIS

fad.

Postman linked this to the development of telegraphy, which was originally intended to save a man’s trip from Maine to Texas by simply communicating via this medium. However, people then began to report less significant information. For example, fires in Texas were being reported in the Maine news. While a house burning down in Texas is certainly significant, of what value is it to a citizen of Maine, thousands of miles away?

To relate all of this to a struggling student, he must consider the correlation between the way

Page 9

tions draw lines between themselves which cut off any chance of a relationship.

Whether one is Catholic or Protestant, the end goal should be the same: unity of the church.

We will all be united in Heaven, and emphasizing our differences on Earth serves no constructive purpose. All Christians have things in common that can unite them with a powerful relationship.

Perhaps in the future, Christians can look at Reformation Day as a solemn occasion instead of a cause for celebration. Using the day to evaluate the divisions in the church and to pray for unity can serve to bring about some much needed reflection.

Managing Editor

Chances are you picked up this paper and noticed a change or two.

Change can be a little difficult to handle, both as a reader and as a staff member. We’ve spent many hours making sure that these modifications and alterations are necessary and helpful for making this paper better. We think they’ve done just that.

The biggest and most obvious change is the size of the paper. We switched publishers to reduce costs and have our printer physically closer to the College.

Along with that change, we’ve extended the length of the paper. You will get more content, more pictures and more material.

This year, we set out to create an aesthetically appealing publication. A number of our changes have been based on what we think would make a better-looking and more informative paper.

Our nameplate has grown to reflect the changes in paper size and the new side of The Collegian. The text has stayed the same, though — we want to remember our roots as well as pay homage to 73 years this paper was published before the current staff was given the reins.

That’s why we have also added our establishment date on the front cover and the new graphic, created by Ryan Hammond ’13, next to the staff list on page two. The color Crawford tower graphic hearkens to the history of the College as well as the paper and the tradition of those who have gone before us.

We have put more of an emphasis on good art, establishing a team of photographers and including a large number of photos every week.

We’ve even mixed in a few great illustrations, like the one on [page xx].

One more change is underway. You can expect to see The Collegian in more locations around campus in the near future. We want to make your newspaper more accessible, and that means putting it in more places so you can grab a copy at your convenience.

We’re proud of the work our staff does every week, but we could always use more help.Whether you are looking to write, take pictures, check facts or work alongside our design team, we would love for you to join us.

We at The Collegian are excited to keep producing this paper for you, and are always looking for ways to improve it.

Let us know what you think by emailing us at collegian@ gcc.edu.

Making bank

Exploring the most profitable investments in America Scott Alford Contributing Writer If there existed a market investment in which investors could make millions or billions by investing small amounts of money, most people would believe it was “too good to be true.” Skepticism would be a perfectly rational reaction.

Welcome to the world of the corporate and union lobbyists: a world of political favor and

special privileges which really are too good to be true.

Lobbying in Washington, D.C. is a rent-seeking scheme which allows lobbyists to manipulate the tax code and regulations to give them privilege and advantage in the market. Through this system of lobbyist favors, the state has become a vehicle by which the privileged few live at the expense of everyone else. In fact, it is often more profitable to rely on the government than to outproduce and out-compete fellow

competitors in the marketplace.

Lobbying has become an increasingly lucrative investment, with lobbyists’ efforts garnering massive returns for their employers. A well-known lobby group, The Carmen Group, Inc., demonstrated the huge payoffs that lobbying can generate, according to the Washington Post. In 2004, Carmen collected $11 million in lobbying fees, while generating $1.2 billion in benefits for its customers. While this payoff may seem high, it

is rather typical for modern lobbying in Washington. James A. Thurber, a professor at American University and a noted expert on lobbying, has observed that “the investment in lobbying is minimal compared to the outcomes,” according to the New York Times.

Today, total lobbying expenditures, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, exceed $3 billion per year, and the payout regularly exceeds the investment.

However,

loopholes, anti-competitive regulations and subsidies extracted from government by large corporations come at a heavy price, as consumers and taxpayers bear the costs of these practices. Smaller competitors, who are unable to afford the expense of lobbying, cannot gain the same advantages, allowing large unions and corporations to push around small companies without who lack a voice.

BANK 10

Perspectives

Page 10

Nov. 1, 2013

The libertarian contingent responds

Maintaining ideological principle essential Jon Nelson

Contributing Writer An article in the Collegian last week made the claim that libertarians are too willing to sacrifice political and intellectual integrity to secure the “stoner vote.” The article falsely looked at three arguments that libertarians often use for the legalization of marijuana.

The first argument was that libertarians claim weed is both a medical miracle and a savior of the textile industries. While some libertarians may believe these points and advocate for legalization on these grounds, few intellectual libertarians focus on these.

The second argument was that legalizing and taxing marijuana would create a great enough revenue stream for the government stream to save the economy. This is a common argument from liberals for ending marijuana prohibition, but nearly no one who advocates for smaller government uses this argument. In fact, most libertarians would say that this would be the worst result of legalization.

The final claim was that libertarians look to the true, but alienating, racist conspiracy that led to the criminalization of weed. Again, this may be a popular argument among leftists and conspiracy-loving libertarians, but those in the intellectual lib-

APP “Coaches are missing talented players, and this app will help make sure what happened to me won’t happen to someone else,” Weber said.

The application, called ProfilePasser, connects college coaches with soccer players at showcase tournaments.

“I struggled to know which college coaches came to different tournaments,” Weber said.

“My experience getting recruited is why I started this company.”

Because soccer coaches receive countless emails from high school players, they will often delete the messages without even reading them. Weber is hopeful that ProfilePasser will solve this problem once and for all.

With this app, players can create a profile that includes their academic, athletic and personal contact information. The players can then highlight their statistics, school, GPA and SAT scores on their profile and share their information with college coaches by checking in at an event they attend.

Once coaches check into events, they can perform advanced searches for players who meet specific criteria. Instead of leafing through a book to find out information, coaches can quickly identify certain players.

“If a coach is looking for a midfielder with a GPA between 3.5 and 4.0 from Pittsburgh, they can search for players who meet those prerequisites,” Weber said.

ertarian camp usually refuse to associate themselves with conspiracy theorists.

So what arguments do libertarians actually use to advocate for the legalization of marijuana?

Certainly not a medical one or one that requires the confirmation of a conspiracy theory, and definitely not one that advocates for increased taxation and regulation.

Libertarians simply look to economics to show why the legalization of marijuana — and even the decriminalization of all drugs — would be beneficial to society.

Over 20 percent of inmates in American prisons are being incarcerated for drug-related crimes. Many prohibitionists view this as a good thing, as it removes drug users and dealers, who they claim are violent and disorderly, from the streets.

However, many of these inmates are in prison for non-violent crimes, such as possession of marijuana. In fact, marijuana users tend to be some of the least violent members of society.

But surely it is a good thing to have violent drug dealers off the streets. One must inquire why drug dealers tend to be more violent than liquor store owners. A quick look at economics shows that it is prohibition of drugs that leads to violence between drug dealers and their customers, rather than the drugs themselves.

Because drugs are illegal, dealers cannot rely on the legal enforcement of their exchanges. If someone steals a loaf of bread from a grocery store, the grocer can call the police to recover the bread and bring the thief to justice.

A drug dealer has no such recourse. He must resort to extralegal and even violent enforcement. If one of his customers refuses to pay him, he may simply hire a hit man to kill the customer.

Most people who advocate for the continued criminalization of weed and other drugs certainly have good intentions: they want to keep drugs, which are harmful and even fatal, away from people to protect them. However, as the economist Milton Friedman said, “one of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results.”

Since President Nixon declared the war against drugs in the 1970s, there has been nearly no decline in drug use among Americans, despite drastic increases in federal spending for drug enforcement and prevention.

Several years ago, Portugal decriminalized all drugs, and saw a decrease in drug use and drugrelated violence.

In the United States, violence associated with drugs has continued to increase along with the incarceration rate of non-violent drug users. The drug war, not drugs themselves, are to blame.

So libertarians should keep fighting for the legalization of marijuana, not to secure the “stoner vote,” but because the incarceration of non-violent drug users is only a violent means to the unachievable end of removing marijuana and other drugs from society.

College soccer coaches, such as those of Geneva College and the University of Pittsburgh, are endeavoring to get more coaches signed up as well as getting ProfilePasser into other big showcase tournaments.

AlphaLab is equally supportive of the app. AlphaLab chose ProfilePasser out of hundreds of other startup companies to fund Weber with $25,000 in investment capital, office space in Pittsburgh and mentorship support.

After the startup period, Weber will present ProfilePasser at the AlphaLab demo day to investors and media in hope of receiving $500,000 in funds.

Once she receives the proper funding and proves the app really works for soccer, Weber hopes to eventually incorporate a total of eighteen sports into ProfilePasser.

As a young female college student, gaining credibility for ProfilePasser was not an easy process for Weber. Yet, her passion and vision for the app was the driving force towards her success in achieving the necessary funding.

“I love sports, startups and seeing hard work pay off,”Weber said. “Setting out to accomplish a goal and seeing that hard work does pay off over a long period of time is very rewarding.”

BANK

GREEN EYESHADE AWARD This week’s award goes to junior Mark Mariani for his consistent and thoughtful approach to writing, as well as his ingenuity and insight in conceiving his pieces.

The Collegian Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors who have demonstrated consistency and excellence in their work.

Mark Mariani

Each week, The Collegian editors select a reporter, photographer or staff member who has made a valuable contribution to the paper. The award makes a valuable addition to a portfolio or resume.

General Electric is an excellent example of this crony collusion.

Since 2010, GE has invested nearly $30 million per year in lobbying expenditures, gaining special tax exemptions, loopholes and preferential regulations.

GE hired 375 lawyers to focus exclusively on understanding and exploiting loopholes in the tax code. As a result, GE paid a much lower tax rate than many other companies. The company also collected billions in subsidies from the federal government.

Instead of gaining profit by

Marijuana battle already won

Marijuana legalization is just one of many controversial issues that showcases the desirability of libertarian political solutions.

Over half of Americans polled favor legalization while over 70 percent of Americans favor legalizing medicinal marijuana.

Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational use of marijuana, a measure that passed by a strong 10 percent margin. To say legalization is a fringe issue of “dirty hippies” is to ignore the facts. Even televangelist Pat Robertson favors legalization, saying, “I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol.” Marijuana legalization is a mainstream political issue with strong national support. While certain “half-baked” arguments for legalization exist, there are also many compelling arguments supporting its usage.

Some argue that marijuana has many legitimate medical benefits. Celebrated neurosurgeon Dr. Sanjay Gupta has painstakingly documented the health effects and legitimate medical uses of marijuana. The substance successfully reduces pain associated with cancer and neurological illnesses, helps control PTSD and manages convulsive disorders. While tobacco is legal, and is directly involved in the death of many of those addicted to it, marijuana is less than a third as addictive. International

studies of have repeatedly failed to link marijuana use to lung or colorectal cancer. Tobacco is incredibly carcinogenic, addictive and legal. Marijuana use is many times safer than either tobacco or alcohol consumption.

Deficit hawks point to the cost associated with the prohibition of a relatively harmless substance. Non-violent marijuana offenders are jailed at taxpayer expense to the tune of $1.2 billion yearly. Across the nation, marijuana-related law enforcement costs $20 billion annually.

With all this spending and incarceration, marijuana usage rates have not changed in over 40 years. To add insult to injury, the age of first-time marijuana users has steadily fallen to 17 years old.

It is no wonder that 67 percent of Republicans and 71 percent of Democrats believe enforcement of marijuana prohibition simply is not worth the cost.

Senator Rand Paul, R-K.Y. has pointed to the human cost of marijuana prohibition. Mandatory minimum sentencing for non-violent marijuana users clogs the prison system. Prisons are breeding grounds for sexual assault and gang violence or recruitment, which both pull families apart. A quarter of all people incarcerated — about 350k people — are non-violent drug offenders. Paying billions to place non-violent people in jail for harming themselves and society less than an average tobacco or alcohol consumer is unconscionable.

Marijuana legalization is not merely a winning issue for libertarians; it is an issue that Libertarians have already won.

being innovative in the market, GE lobbied the government and has profited at the expense of the taxpayer and other competitors.

Yet, despite GE and other organizations’ abuse of congressional authority, a bloated and expansive government is more to blame than the lobbyists.

As the federal government controls larger and larger shares of the economy, GE and other lobbyists will allocate more of their resources to influencing government decision makers.

A large federal government enables and encourages lobbyists to engage in rent-seeking.

Reducing the size and scope

of government is the best path toward eliminating Washington’s cronyism.

One of the unique characteristics of the free market is that the best way to succeed in the market is to create value. Apple, for example, is a successful business because of the company’s ability to provide consumers with quality products. Successful companies provide goods and services which consumers want and are willing to pay for. Rent-seeking never creates wealth; it can only transfer or destroy wealth.

Lobbying is quintessential rentseeking.

Daniel Amico

Contributing Writer

Sports

Nov. 1, 2013

Four score, one game to go PAC playoffs await Wolverines

DAVE MILLER/ADM PHOTOGRAPHY

A number of underclassmen led in the Chatham victory, including sophomore Madison Zajicek, who led the team with five shots.

Brad Hummel Staff Writer

After a resounding home win against Chatham University on Oct. 23, highlighted by an exhibition of younger players’ talent, the women’s soccer team eyes a return to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference championship tournament. Four different Grove City underclassmen scored in the dominant 5-0 victory, indicating both the depth of the Wolverine roster and the squad’s future potential.

At a cold and rainy College Field, the Wolverines came into the PAC meeting with the Chatham Cougars undefeated in conference play. Judging from Grove City’s past success against the Cougars, Wolverine head coach Melissa Lamie elected to

start sophomore goalkeeper Nicole Lapia as well as a number of players typically employed as reserves. The youthful lineup soon proved their worth as freshman striker Sammie Wild finished a rebounded shot in the 12th minute to give the Wolverines an early advantage.

Freshman Natalie Silk quickly gave Grove City a comfortable 2-0 lead in the 20th minute on a well-placed cross from junior right wing Sarah Flenniken. Grove City carried that lead to halftime while accumulating fourteen shots. With the Cougars tiring throughout the second half, sophomore Kristin Thomas was able to outmaneuver her defender on the left side to lift the Wolverine lead to three in the 58th minute, with Silk earning the assist.

Perhaps the most impressive

performance in the underclassmen showcase came from freshman Lindsey Reichert, who, like teammates Silk and Wild, had never scored a collegiate goal prior to the Chatham match.

Reichert finished Grove City corner kicks from both sides of the field in the 73rd and 86th minutes to bring the team to its five-score total.

The Grove City defense remained unfazed and untested against the Cougars, with Lapia earning a shutout without a single Chatham shot. Meanwhile, the relentless Grove City offense took a total of 38 shots, including 23 on goal. Sophomore midfielder Madison Zajicek led the team with five shots, while Silk recorded four. Thomas, Wild and junior defender Julie Eckendorf each contributed three shots to the offensive barrage.

While Grove City would go on to suffer a disappointing 3-1 loss at Westminster College just three days later, its 5-1-0 record in PAC play places the team in excellent position to qualify for the conference’s championship tournament, which starts this Tuesday.

Moreover, the win against Chatham showcased the success of younger players in the women’s soccer program as well as the readiness of its reserves.

Facing archrival Thomas More College in the regular season finale tomorrow at College Field at 12 p.m., the Wolverines can be confident in a team that has had field experience and success throughout its roster in recent outings.

Keeping it simple

Young team driven to ‘just play’ Ian Mikrut Sports Editor

“Just play” — the simple request almost sounds like a play on a Nike slogan. It is also the motto for the 2013-2014 Grove City men’s basketball team.

“We’re a pretty veteran team this year; we’ve been around the block,” junior Mitch Marmelstein said. “A lot of things last year put us in a kind of box. This year we need to get out of that.”

Hence, “just play.” It is a minimalist concept: just take away any external factors and variables that were limits on individuals and the team as a whole and simplify the game. However, it is also easier said than done.

“For example, for me, overanalyzing my stats last year was a box,” Marmelstein said. “I’d look at them and define myself as a player. We all have our own boxes and we have to unlock them this year and just play,” he said.

The Wolverines are looking to bounce back this season after last year’s 10-16 effort (6-10 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference play) and eventual loss in the first round of the PAC tournament to Thiel College.

The team graduated forwards Nate Rambacher and Steve Battaglia, who made up the bulk of the Wolverine’s frontcourt.

This season the team is looking at a much smaller lineup and will rely on 6’6” sophomore Erik Carlstrom to battle in the post along with 6’4” junior Ford Reinalda and 6’3” junior Brian Giesler.

With the loss of only two seniors, the majority of the returners this year have a bulk of experience. Ten players returning this season started at least one game last year. The Wolverines’ depth will be a huge factor for their success.

“We have really good players backing up really good players,” Marmelstein said.

Guard Evan Schell is the lone senior on this year’s squad, and the team will rely on his leadership and scoring ability off the bench.

DAVE MILLER/ADM PHOTOGRAPHY

Lone senior Evan Schell looks to lift a young team any way he can.

“I’m definitely more of a vocal leader this year,” Schell said.

“As far as my role on the court, I’m trying to contribute as much as I can, whether that’s statistically or in terms of encouragement and leading by example.”

Returning for their third year as starters, Marmelstein and junior J.T. Schwartz will look to continue carrying the bulk of the scoring load for the Wolverines in the backcourt. Marmelstein and Schwartz led the team in points per game last season with 13.8 and 11.2, respectively.

Schwartz has taken on more of a leadership role this season as well.

“We have a lot of young guards who are going to be a big part of the future of this program and I want to try to help them along as best as I can,” he said.

Schwartz has also sought to provide a good example on the court, bringing energy and motivation through big plays. His team-high 49 steals last season attributed to the types of instances within games where momentum can easily be swung.

The team started this year’s

preseason with a home scrimmage against La Roche College followed by the annual “Late Show,” an intrasquad scrimmage which allowed fans to get out and see the team for the first time as well as participate in oncourt activities.

The Wolverines will open regular season play in the Coaches vs. Cancer Tip-Off Tournament at Geneva College on Nov. 15. The home opener against Mount Aloysius College will be held Nov. 23.

Winning the PAC is at the top of every list of goals for any team in the conference. The Wolverines, however, are aiming for other tangible goals as well.

“I think we can easily be the best three-point shooting team in the conference,” Schell said.

“It’s something we may need to be since we don’t have as strong of an inside presence as we’ve had in the past.”

For the Wolverines, achieving these goals will be simple — all they have to do is play.

Page 11

Bonding over baseball

Dr. Paul Kengor

Professor of Political Science Editor’s note: Another version of this article first appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

My cousin Drew is a 45-yearold veteran of the first Gulf War (1991), which he served aboard a battleship in the Persian Gulf. A former high school quarterback out of Western Pennsylvania, he has always been carefree and a little wild, and always fun to be around. Today, Drew is confined to a wheelchair. He suffers from what was officially diagnosed as “Gulf War Syndrome.” The condition has manifested itself as advanced MS, which he believes he contracted on the ship after being forced to take an experimental drug designed to counter the impact of a (suspected) chemical-weapons attack by Saddam Hussein.

This isn’t where Drew expected to be in his mid-40s.

Drew and I haven’t been in touch much since we were kids. I’ve always regretted that. I would call him occasionally and we’d engage in whatever small talk we could, usually about politics and the country.

In August, I phoned Drew again, after no contact for a while. His sister told me his condition had worsened. “How are you?” I began. “Well,” he sighed.

“I’m still alive.”

After some uneasy words, our conversation picked up and lit up when we suddenly hit upon something we hadn’t discussed in years: baseball. Specifically, the focus was Pittsburgh Pirates baseball. The Pirates were looking at their first winning season in over 20 years. Drew and I talked for probably a half hour just about the Pirates.

But the dialogue didn’t end with that phone call. I soon thereafter learned that Drew loves to send text messages. I don’t, and (up until then) had resisted learning how. But the growing onslaught of Drew text messages forced a reappraisal, especially because the subject was baseball.

Over the course of the next three months, not a Pirates game went by where Drew and I weren’t texting throughout. It was a blast. When I was on vacation and didn’t have the local cable channel that carries the Pirates, Drew handled the playby-play for me. It was like a livefeed, accompanied by Drew’s usual color and (uncensored) flare.

One afternoon, I was driving my 11-year-old daughter home from swim practice with the game on the radio. My phone repeatedly chimed in with various snippets of analysis by Drew.

My daughter intercepted them with a bemused glance. After one particularly awful Pirates’ error, I heard the chime and told her she might not want to read that one.

She caught the four-letter word and blushed and giggled the rest of the way home.

Beautiful. Classic Drew.

When the Pirates finally made the playoffs, for the first time since 1992, Drew texted to inform me that he ventured out and bought a 60-inch big-screen TV for the occasion. I have no idea how he got to the store, got the TV in a car, and got it inside the hotel room where he lives, nor got it hooked up. But not unlike his ability to somehow fly himself to Europe when he gets the urge, or get himself to a Pirates game—a 103-mile oneway cab ride to Pittsburgh— Drew made it happen. He always made things happen.

I texted him about half an hour into the game. “How’s the TV?” I asked. “Awesome,” he replied.

Our communication continued during down time in between games, when we discussed (always via text) the latest on politics, the world, Syria, Russia, Iraq, and the circumstances in the Middle East that had contributed to his condition.

His texts have been much more frequent than mine. I have seven kids and I’m never alone.

Drew is alone. He’s confined.

But every single message makes me smile. In fact, as I write this sentence, another just came in.

Happily, the texts have continued beyond the Pirates’ exit from the post-season. Throughout the championship series in each league, whether the Cardinals vs. the Dodgers or Red Sox vs. the Tigers, we exchanged texts. I asked Drew for an update on the 60-inch TV, and got it: “I also bought the surround sound system that went with the TV and it is awesome. Watching a ballgame on it is unbelievable.”

It’s a “smart TV,” has some sort of “flex belt.” Drew says the TV is smarter than him. And me, too, I’m sure.

My point, of course, is this: what has happened is that Drew and I bonded over baseball, beginning with the resurrection of our beleaguered Pittsburgh Pirates. We’re now in touch more than ever before.

Baseball has long been America’s past-time, bringing friends and family together for over a century. It’s there every day, day in and day out, from April to October. It’s still our past-time.

It still brings people together.

That’s an intangible that doesn’t appear anywhere in any box score.

Support Your Wolverines!

November 1-7 Women’s Cross Country Sat. 11 a.m. Presidents’ Athletic Conference, Chatham University Men’s Cross Country Sat. 12 p.m. Presidents’ Athletic Conference, Chatham University Football Sat. 1 p.m. Geneva (A) Volleyball Sat. 4 p.m. Saint Vincent (A) Women’s Soccer Sat. 12 p.m. Thomas More (H) Men’s Soccer Sat. 2:30 p.m. Thomas More (H) Swimming and Diving Sat. 1 p.m. Saint Vincent (A)

Sports

Page 12

Nov. 1, 2013

Multi-faceted attack

Mitch White

Contributing Writer The Grove City women’s basketball program began practice last week. The Wolverines look to bounce back from last year’s 9-14 season. The team will be led by seniors Annie Wells and Hannah Jo Coneby, along with juniors Brandy Nickoloff, Cayley McClean and Kelsey Shirey.

The squad will also look for key contributions from a strong sophomore class, some of whom made an impact on the court last season.

At the end of last season, the team voted for a “leadership group” which consists of Wells, Coneby, Nickoloff and McClean. This group wants to become servant leaders and foster a positive atmosphere on the team on and off the court.

Part of the off-court atmosphere team leadership is trying to create comes from increased involvement in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Coneby points to this as a huge way to become the servant leaders that she and her teammates strive to become. The theme for the team this season is “more than conquerors,” and the goal is to put this into practice by both playing hard and bringing the glory to God in their performance.

“Our main goal is to glorify God in everything we do,” McClean said. “That’s our number one team expectation, and other than that I would say we want

to play our best and represent ourselves and the College well.

It wouldn’t hurt to win some games along the way.”

With the loss of two seniors last season, including 1,000-point scorer Leah Gibson, the remainder of the team will have to pick up the slack. Many of the girls in the program this year have mentioned team chemistry and team basketball as a huge key to this year’s success.

“We realize that it needs to be a team effort,” Wells said. “I believe there will be many contributors statistically, which will make us a stronger team overall.

It’s harder to stop a team than it is to shut down a few players, so if we can continue to be team-oriented moving forward, I think we’ll be in a very good spot in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.”

Nickoloff echoed Wells’ statement regarding the team as a whole and becoming more team oriented this season.

“Part of our program’s culture is to exemplify selflessness as teammates,” Nickoloff said.

“Once this is established to your teammates, it is easier to have trust and loyalty flow between the team as a whole.”

The team is still returning with a lot of experience as seven of the 10 women who were on the roster last season started in at least one contest during the year.

“We have an extraordinary amount of talent coming from underclassmen, and they con-

PHOTO BY TIM SOFRANKO

Senior Hannah Jo Coneby and others will take the floor under new leadership. Head coach Chelle Fuss and assistant coach Christine Slater are both new to their respective positions. tinue to improve,” Coneby said.

“That alone should shake up the scouting reports and teams won’t be prepared to defend our widespread offensive capacity.”

This widespread offensive capacity will be directed by head coach Chelle Fuss and assistant coach Christine Slater. This will be Fuss’ first season at the helm for Grove City as head coach after spending seven seasons as an assistant.

“Coach Fuss really understands the game and knows what she is talking about,” Wells said.

“I love her style of play and her practice structure on the court.

a better player. She was able to show my potential as a player, and I’m thrilled to have her as my coach. I feel like she will be a huge help with our post play this season.”

Coneby went on to reemphasize the offensive capability of the women’s squad this year, and wants the fans to keep an eye out for the sophomore class and a new, exciting style of play.

The team will take the floor for its first game on Nov. 15 against John Carroll University in the Penn State-Behrend TipOff Tournament.

Closing out

A fresh take on Lacrosse

Tyler VanWingerden

Off the court, she is a very genuine person, and we are very lucky to have her as our head coach.”

Slater, a 2011 Grove City graduate, fills Fuss’ former position in her first season as a member of the coaching staff.

Slater is a three-time First Team All-Conference selection and a four year starter. She graduated as the program’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,634 points.

“Coach Slater’s credentials speak for themselves,” Coneby said. “She was a senior when I came in as a freshman and she really pushed me to become

Cross country team chases history

Julie Fijal

Contributing Writer

PHOTO BY COREY FURMAN

Grove City’s lacrosse team is among the top ten in the nation.

Paul St. Jean Staff Writer

The Grove City men’s lacrosse team recently wrapped up its fall offseason play with a scrimmage against the University of Pittsburgh. Ranked among the 10 top teams in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association, the Wolverines are looking forward to the spring season.

The team went through a coaching change this offseason as head coach Andrew Stimmel moved on to make way for incoming coach Daniel Carson, who graduated from Marymount University in 2012.

Tyler VanWingerden is a senior defenseman for the Wolverines. Last year he advanced with the team to the MCLA National Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina, where the team was eliminated in the second round of play by No. 4 ranked Liberty College.

Besides playing lacrosse, VanWingerden also studies business and is a brother of the Epsilon Pi fraternity.

The Collegian had a chance to sit down with VanWingerden and talk with him a little bit about the upcoming season: What position do you play?

Close defense.

How does this lacrosse team measure up with those

of past years?

We’re looking really good this year. We have a lot of new players but everyone is learning really fast.

How has the coaching change affected the team?

Coach Carson brings a more creative game plan to the offensive side of the ball. It involves a lot of playing off the teammates’ moves on the field and keeping the other team guessing. The team is a family and that hasn’t changed. Everyone loves everyone.

What are you most excited for going forward this year?

I am very excited for the season in general. I really want to win our conference and get back to nationals. Senior year, no holding back now.

What do you want to see for the future of Grove City lacrosse?

I would like to see Grove City lacrosse be a [team] that is respected and feared by other teams across the country.

What will you miss most about lacrosse here?

I will definitely miss the atmosphere of the team the most.

It’s been great to be a part of this team and a ton of fun. It’s a bunch of great guys and I will miss the friends I’m leaving behind.

As one of the first sports of the year to near a close, the Grove City cross country team is taking this week to reflect on their past season and look forward to their competition this weekend.

The cross country team suffered a huge loss in its numbers after graduation last year, losing nearly half of its team with 19 graduating seniors. Since then, the upperclassmen testify to the great attitudes and efforts of the rising freshmen and sophomores.

“Our team is fresh, fast and young,” senior captain Laurel Skorup said. “We are rebuilding, and having such a young team will prove to have a lasting effect on the Grove City women’s cross country program in the years to come.”

Despite the scare at the beginning of the season, the new team has devoloped into a promising one.

“We have one of the fastest mens teams we’ve had in a long time, but also one of the closest,” senior captain Matthew Mucha said. Skorup continued his thought, adding, “In fact, in the three years I have been here, this year is the fastest and deepest our team has ever been.”

This year has also been one of special importance. This Saturday, the team will be competing at Chatham University in the PAC conference championship.

The women’s team has championed this race for the past 24 years and is looking to complete a full quarter century of victory.

“I am excited for the challenge, especially since this would be the women’s 25th PAC championship in a row,” senior captain Austin Powell said. “I expect to see great competition. If victory came easily, I believe that we would not have deserved it.”

Head coach Sean Severson spoke about how the team will face such a challenge.

“The three main things they need to meet this challenge are excellent fitness, which has al-

DAVE MILLER/ADM PHOTOGRAHY

The women’s team looks to seal a quarter century of dominance by winning a 25th consecutive PAC title this Saturday. ready been achieved through months of training; mental toughness, which comes from being grounded in the Gospel and team unity, which our upperclassmen have been building throughtout the season.”

Championship races are six kilometers for women and eight kilometers for men. The women’s biggest rival is looking to be Waynesburg University, and the men are gunning to take the PAC title from Saint Vincent College after an absence of three years.

In anticipation of the race, the team has been scaling back the intensity of training.

“During this final preparation for the big race, one thing we do differently is to substitute our focus on developing excellent fitness with more of a focus on recovery and healing,” Severson said.

The team has been “tapering” this week, giving their bodies time to recover. The goal for the team is to have their strongest day of the season at Chatham.

Two weeks after the conference championship, there will be a regional competition to end the season. However, this race has not been one of the team’s goals this year.

As the cross country season comes to a close, the senior athletes give their final reflections on past years. Senior captain Alec Schultz sums it up best.

“It’s hard to leave a sport that has been at times a hobby, a passion, an obsession, an addiction, a hatred and soon, a fond memory,” he said.