Collegian
The
Netflix releases ‘House of Cards’ season four.
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Friday, March 11, 2016
Textbook thief at large
Grayson Quay Managing Editor
On a campus that prides itself on trust, a recent series of textbook thefts has baffled students and Campus Safety alike. According to an email to the Collegian from Director of Campus Safety Seth VanTil, there have been five reported textbook thefts on campus since Jan. 30: one from a lounge in Mary Anderson Pew West Hall, two from the Hicks Café coat room, and two from Henry Buhl library. These five instances, which VanTil said constitute an unusually high number, may not even account for every case of textbook theft, since two students who lost textbooks and were interviewed for this story, sophomore Ethan Turner and junior Rachel Leung, did not report the theft to Campus Safety. Leung said she chose not to report it because she felt she had no chance of getting her book back. Although VanTil admitted that textbook thefts are “notoriously difficult to solve” due to the large number of identical copies of each textbook on campus and the rarity of students marking their books with names or ID numbers, he urged students to report thefts. Even if a student never gets his or her book back, VanTil explained, he or she may still be able to help Campus Safety to protect other students in the future by reporting the THIEF 2
Vol. 102, No. 16
The Grove City College Student Newspaper
Illusionist amazes GCC Zack Caloritis Contributing Writer This past Friday, March 4, Tom Coverly, known as “The Illusionist,” put on a pro-life performance at Grove City College. The evening began with a brief message from Paul
Isaacs, a representative from the “Save the Storks” charity, with whom Coverly was partnering that evening. Save the Storks works to prevent abortion by offering a chance for pregnant women to see an ultrasound image of their baby before choosing to have an abor-
tion. This is a noble goal for those who do not support abortion, because statistically pregnant women who see the ultrasound of their baby are 73 percent more likely to keep their child. All of the proceeds from ticket sales of Coverly’s show went to the organization, and they raised
close to $2,000 for Save the Storks. After the message from Isaacs, Coverly began his act. Generally, he used very tried and true magical methods in his act, while making sure to incorporate some huILLUSIONIST 4
ANSON HADLEY
“The Illusionist” Tom Coverly performed a pro-life show at Grove City College this week. His show included a mix of magic tricks and emphasizing the importance following scripture in the lives of Christians.
Nancy Reagan dead at 94 Global gastronomy gratifies Grovers
Grayson Quay Managing Editor
Nancy Reagan, the former First Lady of the United States and wife of one of Grove City College’s most revered heroes, the late President Ronald Reagan, died Sunday of congestive heart failure at the age of 94. She was born Nancy Davis on July 6, 1921 and became a professional actress after graduating from Smith College in Massachusetts with a degree in theatre. According to her White House biography, she met her future husband in 1951 when both were acting in Hollywood. At the time, the future President of the United States was also serving as president of the Screen Actors Guild. The two married the following year and remained married until Ronald Reagan’s death in 2004. The couple had two children, Patti in 1952 and Ron JOBSNHIRE.COM
Life The forBrothers concert last week was a hit! Check out this recap. Page 3
E! Frank Underwood has returned to Netflix, to the excitement of fans. Page 4
REAGAN 2
Breanna Renkin Staff Writer
Alpha Mu Gamma, the foreign language honorary, and Modern Languages Department Chair Dr. Amy Barber hosted the International Food Fair last Wednesday in the Great Room in the Breen Student Union. This annual event allows students to try delicious foods from countries around the world. This year, the Fair featured food from India, Slovakia, China, France, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Sweden and Greece. “This event is different and unique because it’s international! Students and faculty can make food that represents their culture, reminds them of home, or just seems interesting to fine!” senior Elizabeth King said. Although students did not need to pay for admission, each food item cost a certain
Perspectives Is homeschool the best option for kids? Check out this author’s opinion. Page 6
number of tickets, which students could purchase at the event. King said she enjoys hosting the event because it allows students to experience a culture that they may not experience otherwise. “The International Food Fair provides a chance to feel outside of the Grove City bubble, even if just for those few hours, by trying other foods and learning from the cultural experiences of others,” King said. The proceeds from International Food Fair benefitted Heifer International, which combats poverty and hunger by providing livestock to communities in need. In addition to the Fair, AMG also hosts an International Praise and Worship Service as well as an Amigos for Mexico clothing drive.
Sports Men’s track and field team competes in ECAC Tournament. Page 7
The Collegian
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DJ Wags on sabbatical Molly Wicker News Editor
On Monday, March 7, Dr. DJ Wagner, Assistant Professor of Physics at Grove City College, travelled to The Bear Creek School in Redmond, Wash. to teach high school freshmen taking conceptual physics as well as to speak about her journey from English major to physics professor. “I started English and accounting and ended with a double major in English and physics. My sophomore year of college I enrolled in a Modern Physics class because it sounded interesting,” said Wagner. “I kept the English degree and thought about being a science writer. In graduate school I found I loved teaching. I wrote a lab manual and discovered a fascination in how to improve instruction. Then I learned about the then-exploding field of Physics Education Research (PER) and decided to pursue teaching and PER for a profession.” Students also had the opportunity to talk more candidly with Wagner at a lunchtime question-andanswer session. The trip was part of Wagner’s current sabbatical. Wagner earned bachelor’s degrees in physics and English at the College of William and Mary before continuing to Vanderbilt University, where she received her Master of Science degree and Ph.D. in theoretical particle physics. While she was finishing her studies at Vanderbilt, Wagner became interested in the growing field of physics education research (PER). She turned her interest to PER after graduating. After holding visiting professor positions at Angelo State University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Wagner joined the faculty at Grove City College in 2001. “I love interacting with students. The words, ‘that makes sense now’ are the best words I can hear,” she said. Wagner’s research focuses on students’ understanding of density, pressure and buoyancy. As part of her current sabbatical, Wagner has spent much of her time in Seattle working with the University of Washington’s Physics Education Group, one of the first groups in the country to systematically research how students learn physics and how physics instruction can be improved. In addition to her visit to The Bear Creek School, Wagner also plans to meet with students at Issaquah High School, Holy Names Academy and Providence Classical Christian School.
March 11, 2016
Emmett Till Film recalls racially charged murder
Molly Wicker News Editor
Together, the Department of Communication Studies and Visual Art and the Students Excited About Diversity (S.E.A.D.) sponsored a screening of “The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till.” “It was my hope that we could in some small way bring an awareness of Emmett Till to the GCC campus through showing this film and discussing it,” Associate Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Kim Miller said. “I am very pleased by the number of people who came out to share in this story, and also for the wonderful questions and conversation that followed the film. I’m hopeful we can do more of this kind of thing in the future to continue the conversation and work to end racial tension,” Miller said. The documentary, directed and produced by Keith Beauchamp, presents a sobering reminder of the racial tensions that gripped America in the 1950s and continue to plague our country today. The film chronicles events that took place in Mississippi during the 1950’s. A black teenager named Emmett Louis Till come to Mississippi from Chicago to visit his uncle. After whistling at a white woman in public, Till is kidnapped and brutally murdered. The filmmakers revisit the public outrage that followed, revealing the courage of Till’s family in standing up
to racism during a precarious time. “One of the things that strikes me most about Till’s story is how powerful it is and yet how few people actually know what happened. Until I saw this film, I admit to knowing only a fraction of the story,” said Miller. “As far as the film itself, I connected deeply with Till’s mother, and was so moved by her courage and ability to be emotionally and intellectually strong enough to recognize the importance of this event not just on her own family – which certainly would have been enough – but to also see the bigger picture and know that the way she handled herself, Emmett’s funeral and the subsequent trial, was going to have lasting impact. Those were things I’m certain I’ll never forget.” Dr. Todd Allen, Professor of Communication Studies, and Natalia Harris ’12, Director of Multicultural Education & Initiatives, collaborated with Miller to host the event. Harris also advises Grove City College’s chapter of S.E.A.D., which seeks to provide a safe and inviting atmosphere in which all students may engage in communal reflection and reconciliation on matters concerning race, ethnicity and culture. Although the film is not playing in theaters, it is available online and at major retailers across the country.
NBCNEWS.COM
REAGAN in 1958. Nancy Reagan served as First Lady of California from 1967 to 1975 and as First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989. During her time as FLOTUS, she supervised significant renovations of the White House and became famous as the face of the “Just Say No” anti-drug campaign. Monday night, Dr. Paul Kengor, author of the book “God and Ronald Reagan” and a Professor of Political Science at Grove City College, appeared on the Fox News program “The Kelly File” to share an anecdote about the late first lady with anchor Megyn Kelly. The day after the 1981 assassination attempt in which President Reagan was shot, Mrs. Reagan found herself in need of spiritual counsel and called on Louis Evans, the pastor of the Presbyterian Church that the Reagans had begun attending following their move to Washington, D.C., Kengor said. At the White House, Mrs. Reagan told Evans that she was “really struggling with a feeling of failed responsibil-
ity,” following the shooting. “I usually stand at Ronnie’s left side. And that’s where he took the bullet,” she explained, adding that she wished she had been on his left side the previous day so she could have taken the bullet for him. Evans first shared this anecdote with Kengor in 2006, and Kengor shared in publicly for the first time earlier this week. After her the assassination attempt, Mrs. Reagan, a Presbyterian, turned increasingly to astrology to protect the president, sometimes canceling events if the omens appeared unfavorable. Kengor told the Associated Press that Nancy Reagan did have a “mystical side,” but was otherwise a reasonably devout mainline Protestant who seldom addressed her faith publicly. After the former president’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease in 1994, Mrs. Reagan became an advocate for embryonic stem cell research, hoping that researchers could use stem cells to find a cure. Nancy Reagan will be buried next to her husband at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, Calif.
Sink or swim in the Shark Tank The competition bites back
Caleb Harshberger Life Editor Today, March 11, the annual Shark Tank competition will be held at 7 p.m. in Sticht Lecture Hall. The competition includes groups from across campus looking to get funding for their proposals. The proposed plans must, as a rule, seek to fix a problem on campus, fund an event on campus, or promote the improvement of the campus. According to the Grove City College entrepreneurship department website, the objective of the Shark Tank competition is to “spur and facilitate creative thinking from students in regard to problem solving and events relating to campus, to im-
prove the campus, to provide continuing opportunities for students to utilize the entrepreneurial spirit.” Shark Tank is an opportunity for students both to improve the College, and also to work on real life business and venture skills. The winner of the competition will be awarded $1,000 to make their dream a reality. Sophomore Sam Calhoun won Shark Tank last year with his proposed addition of Spike Ball to Grove City College’s intramural sports program. “It was a great experience overall,” said Calhoun. “It was kind of daunting.” Calhoun was a freshman at the time when he came up with the idea of proposing Spike Ball at Shark Tank.
THIEF theft. “If we see a pattern of times or locations we would have better odds of publicizing the problem or catching someone in the act,” VanTil said, adding that the “the number of items left unattended across campus makes this a losing battle in most cases.” Leung’s textbook, a $300 Intermediate Accounting book, was stolen between 12-2 p.m. on Feb. 22. Leung had left her book, along with some other supplies, unattended on a table in the Library while she went to class and lunch. When she returned, the book was gone. Professor of Accounting Dr. David Baglia confirmed that one other student in the same class had also had the same textbook stolen. This student also did not report the theft to Campus Safety. Unable to find her book, Leung went to the front desk to ask if any of the librarians had seen what happened, only to
Once he was awarded the funds, he set out to make the plan a reality. “We used the school money to buy Spikeball sets and t-shirts,” said Calhoun, explaining that use of the funds can both be effectively and also simply divided. Of the $1,000 prize, $450 was spent on Spikeball nets, Calhoun explained. “We got a great deal from Spikeball.” The rest of the money was spent on t-shirts advertising last year’s tournament and introduction of Spike Ball into Grove City College intramurals. Spike Ball will continue at the College with intramural seasons taking place once a semester. “Probably in a little less than a month or so,” said
find junior Carly Stahl asking the same question. According to Stahl’s post on the Facebook page “Lost and Found at GCC,” Stahl’s Sensation and Perception textbook was stolen from the Library on the same day. Like Leung, Stahl has not reported the crime to Campus Safety. Leung said she was “annoyed about [the theft] for obvious reasons,” including having to “drop another $300 that I don’t have” and the loss of notes and homework assignments that had been tucked between the pages. Sophomore Ethan Turner, who became a victim of this seemingly widespread crime on Feb. 11 and did not report it to Campus Safety, told the Collegian he was “very discouraged; first that someone would be that immature to steal a book that I have paid for with my hard earned money, and second that the thief probably does not even need the book and is just adding to the stress of college,” calling the theft “just unacceptable.” VanTil said that despite it being the middle of the semester, the timing of
Calhoun. “Hopefully every April.” Calhoun is currently looking for a Spike Ball commissioner, so he needs someone to make sure everything is scheduled, prepared and generally runs smoothly. Calhoun and his Spike Ball initiative is one example of a Shark Tank competition winner going on to create a project that impacts the school every semester after it is first implemented. This Friday, Shark Tank will take place once again. Students can attend and see who will be the next to win the $1,000 prize and attempt to change the school forever.
these thefts is “unusual, but not overly so,” due to what he called “a very large and diverse market for reselling textbooks” at any point in the semester. In addition to encouraging students to report stolen textbooks to Campus Safety, VanTil also stressed that “despite the fact that it is a common practice,” students should not leave personal belongings unattended in public areas. VanTil also advised students to have a friend watch their belongings if they have to leave them, to write their names in their textbooks and to report any suspicious activity. “If you see something or someone that seems out of place, report it right away … Deterrence is our best weapon. It is always better for us to investigate a possible problem before it becomes an actual one,” VanTil said. Campus Safety can be reached at 724458-3000. Their office is located in the basement of Crawford Hall and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Life
March 11, 2016
Page 3
Pittsburgh Events Kristen Bishop Contributing Writer There are several events coming up in the city of Pittsburgh this month that provide a great way to get off campus and experience new and exciting venues. forbrothersmusic.com
Brothers bring Armenian sound Rio Arias Staff Writer On Saturday, March 5, folk band forBrothers performed a free concert in the Breen Student Union at Grove City College. Made up of two sets of brothers –Ben and Cole Marino and Shaant and Aram Shismanian – the group’s sound has been described as “folk on steroids,” featuring Armenian influences from the Shismanian siblings, as well as an occasional trumpet in their songs. Though the group identifies under the category of folk, many Grove City College students who do not normally listen to that genre were thoroughly impressed with the music, and excited to hear the encore performance of a love song written to lead singer Shaant Shismanian’s fiancée Jasmine, who was also in the audience that night. The group was described as “engaging,” “trendy” and even “hipster” by students who attended the event.
The band first performed together during a Marino family wedding in 2013, where the two sets of brothers received lots of compliments and were encouraged to keep performing as a group. Together, they made the choice to pursue a musical career, and with the help of people close to them fundraised $15,000 to selfproduce their own album titled “Fool” in June of 2014. Featuring nine songs, the album is available on iTunes, Amazon music, Spotify and Google Play. The band has been playing together for two years, and all music on their album is original and written by the group. The inspiration for their music comes from their faith, as they all are Christians. And while there are different aspects of influence in their songs such as cultural heritage or personal experiences, the majority of the band’s songwriting centers around their beliefs. Likewise, forBrothers also writes about issues that they
believe need to be addressed, with one song being about suicide and another celebrating the love between engaged couple Shaant Shismanian and Jasmine. While God is often the inspiration for their music, the band also seeks to reach people who do not identify as Christians as a way of introducing them to the faith and extending the love and grace of Jesus that has shaped the life of each brother. Liked on Facebook by over 1,000 people, forBrothers travels all over the country to perform their music for crowds. Two weekends before arriving at Grove City College, the band played in Los Angeles for Valentine’s Day weekend at the Hotel Café, one of the most popular venues the group had performed at. Another prominent show was at a festival in Maine hosted by the Salvation Army on a nearby beach, where the brothers got to perform with other bands for a large gathering. The band was invited to
play at Grove City College through the support of the Multicultural Education and Initiatives Office (M.E.I.) and the student organization Students Excited About Diversity (S.E.A.D.), due to their unique sound and Armenian influence. They were also welcomed to campus because Director of the M.E.I. Office Natalia Harris attended Grove City College with Jasmine, who often travels with the band, and introduced the two. While the initial crowd at the event was small, many students arrived as the night went on, being particularly drawn to songs sung in Armenian. S.E.A.D. also hosted an ice cream fundraiser throughout the night to support more influence on campus. By the end of the performance, many students of the College had posted videos of the band on their Snapchat stories and had sought them out on Facebook or Twitter.
March 18 This year is the 200th anniversary of Pittsburgh’s official incorporation as a city in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Cultural District is hosting a celebratory event where you can go from gallery to gallery as part of an art-inspired tour. Later that day you can pop over to the pop-up market and one-night festival that is Night Market, featuring a wide variety of vendors selling everything from food to jewelry. It is all part of Pittsburgh’s Bicentennial Celebration.
March 19 The city is putting 20 Pittsburgh food trucks in one place at the same time. They will be located outside Voodoo Brewing in Homestead if you are looking to enjoy some fast and delicious food. This epic food truck rally will have plenty to eat and drink, so come hungry. The band Nameless in August will be performing live music, and Voodoo Brewery will be serving up some of their famous brews. There is no cost to admission, just bring yourself and your friends.
March 23
Kiss outdated traditions goodbye “Guys, do I have to ask her father’s permission before we begin dating?”
met before and is asked to judge his suitability as suitor.
So unless her dad is Father Abraham himself or she specifically asks that
No, you do not have to ask her fa-
Dad is now put in the uncomfort-
you show her parents respect in this
ther’s permission. Then again, you do
able position of choosing what is best
way, there is no need to satisfy Harris’s
not have to pay for dinner. As Chris-
for his daughter without the benefit
invented custom, circa. 1997.
tians, it is important to realize that the
of a genuine first impression. Worse
I feel it is safe to say that you should
Bible has nothing specific to say about
yet, what has this awkward interaction
never ask her father’s permission be-
modern dating. Before you begin fran-
accomplished for the relationship in
fore a first date. Then again, why ask
tically searching, neither does C.S.
question?
after you have been dating an entire
Perhaps, in this case, it is the cer-
year? If he says “no” are you willing to
There are no rules nor command-
emony that matters most. When it
part ways? Even asking for permission
ments by which to live your dating
comes to matters of mating, dating
to marry may not be such a good tradi-
lives. Nevertheless, we cannot reason-
and marriage, never is tradition and
tion to maintain.
ably avoid some form of dating, and we
ceremony more important. After all, is
The practice implies, to a certain ex-
are called by Christ to “love each other,
this not the way good Christian people
tent, that the father owns his daughter
as I have loved you,” meaning these
dated for centuries before postmod-
and can choose not to give her away. It
sorts of questions need answers.
ernism ruined God’s America?
assumes that the daughter cannot re-
Lewis.
Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy will be performing at Stage AE at 6:30 p.m.
March 25 G. Love & Special Sauce will be performing at Mr. Smalls Theater with The Bones of JR Jones at 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. Each of these upcoming events is a great opportunity to explore the city of Pittsburgh with friends.
Write for The Collegian
No, you do not have to ask her dad
In fact, nobody in the long history of
sponsibly choose for herself. Perhaps
Interested in writing for The Collegian? The Collegian provides excellent opportunities for students who are interested in journalism careers, in writing and in exploring
– or mom for that matter – for per-
the world has required this odd con-
the gesture is romantic, but it becomes
campus events and issues.
mission to date their daughter. Should
vention. For that you can thank Josh
problematic if taken too seriously.
you? That’s a different matter.
Harris, author of the apocryphal scrip-
Let me preface my response by say-
tural text “I Kissed Dating Goodbye.”
Instead, find ways to involve parents in serious relationships that seem
ing that if daughter or father requires
Intending that Christian dating mir-
headed towards marriage. Both sets
that you ask this question, you should
ror Christian marriage, Harris invent-
of parents should be given the chance
ask the question, no counter-questions
ed the ritual to mimic the traditional
to know who their son or daughter in-
asked. Always be willing to respect
talk between father and future-son-
tends to marry. You would be foolish
family practice in these situations.
in-law, “Mr. So-and-So, can I please
not to learn from their marriage and
marry your daughter?”
family experience.
Otherwise, I see little reason to play
collegian@gcc.edu.
out that awkward little cliché scene be-
Ironically, even that original conver-
Parents deserve to play some role
tween fathers and unlikely-to-be-sons-
sation is a mimicry of patriarchy long
in their child’s spousal search, not
in-law. Some dads may even appreci-
dead to modern life, and thankfully
because they have ownership, but be-
ate your lack of effort.
so. When a daughter’s worth was mea-
cause they know and love you best.
Think about your question from his
sured in terms of the offered dowry
Save yourself, your boyfriend or your
perspective. Most likely, you do not
and political connections, then asking
father the embarrassment, and kiss
previously know her father, and, un-
the father for permission made more
less you wait until Parents Weekend,
sense. “Mr. So-and-So can I marry
you will have to dial in your chivalrous
your daughter in exchange for 50 spot-
request. He receives a call or answers
ted heifers?” “Yah, throw in a string of
the door to a young man he has never
camels and you have yourself a deal.”
Josh Harris goodbye. The anonymous Doctor invites you to anonymously email your questions to about love and dating to collegian@ gcc.edu
Connect with us! Twitter: @GCC_Collegian Facebook: The Collegian: The Grove City College Newspaper Instagram: GCC.Collegian
Entertainment
March 11, 2016
Page 4
Pick of the Week Need Your Light
Sam Farley
WSAJ Contributor
THEFISCALTIMES.COM
Waiting for the collapse ‘House of Cards’ prepares viewers for the inevitable fall
Matt Hoekstra
Contributing Writer The first two seasons of Netflix’s premiere original series, “House of Cards,” are regarded by critics as some of the best television in recent years. The first two seasons detail Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) rise from House Majority Whip to Vice President and, ultimately, to President of the United States. Underwood is cold, calculating, immoral and willing to do anything it takes to obtain power. In season three, however, the show lost a lot of what made it compelling. The promise that comes with the name of the show is that, eventually, everything Underwood worked so hard for – this precarious house of cards – will come crashing down. After he achieves everything he has ever wanted at the end of season two, the audience naturally expects to delight in Underwood’s failure. However, season three just delays the inevitable: Underwood runs for reelection. He deals with partisan
ILLUSIONIST mor. He of course had some audience volunteers come up on stage, but most importantly he performed some fun and amusing illusions. Midway through the show, however, it began to become clear that his main purpose for being here was not the tricks. Coverly prudently used his stage time in order to fulfill an even more important agenda. He took this opportunity to share his testimony with the audience and further spread the word of Jesus. His tricks, while fun and amusing, but in his own words, “all of this stuff, this is just an illusion [pointing to
Jacob Sziraky
politics. He makes deals with Russia. Although pitfalls come along the way – the season ends with his wife, Claire (Robin Wright), leaving him – for the most part, Underwood’s house of cards remains intact. In season three, “House of Cards” lost its bite. I was anxious for season four. I was anxious because it seemed like a natural place to end the show, and yet, the show had already been renewed for a fifth season. I was anxious because I wanted to watch Underwood finally face the failure that has been coming, and I did not think I was going to understand it. First, I need to address season four’s biggest weak point. The plot definitely drags, and the pacing of the show is strange. It starts during February primaries, spends a lot of time building up a threatening primary opponent, quickly discards her, fills several full episodes late in the season with the Democratic National Convention and then jumps ahead, only
to end a mere three weeks before the general election. Season four feels like it could have been condensed, but was drawn out in the interest of squeezing another season out of the series. With that said, season four is a vast improvement on season three for one main reason – the house of cards starts falling down in earnest. President Underwood faces challenges bigger than anything he has ever faced before. His marriage troubles are made public, he stares down terrorism and assassination attempts, the Republican nominee is a charismatic modern-day JFK and, worst of all, a very nosy reporter starts looking deeper into Underwood’s greatest sins. At points during the season, Frank is defeated, dejected and numb to his fate, and the season ends with his boldest and most desperate countermove yet. It is a vulnerable position that we have never seen him in before, and it is a refreshing taste of what is sure to come. The relationship between President and First Lady Un-
his props, and set], but this [as he held up a Bible], this is what really matters.” Many times Christian entertainers receive a bad rap. They cannot seem to catch a break. They either are accused of being too preachy during their acts or they get reprimanded for not doing quite enough to further the cause of the coming Kingdom. Many times, Christian art is accused of the truely unforgivable artistic sin: creating a bad product. This, however, did not seem to be the case with the illusionist Tom Coverly. Instead, he presented a picture of a truly fantastic entertainer who has a truly fantastic faith.
derwood is the focal point of the season, which greatly benefits the show. Frank and Claire Underwood are at their best when they are together. And, instead of being pitted against one another, like the end of season three suggested, they realize that they need to work together. The Underwoods are not relatable in any sort of way, but they are compelling. At one point, Claire Underwood reflects on Thomas Yates (Paul Sparks), the author who shadowed the couple and wrote a book inspired by them. She says, “I felt like he ... saw me.” For most people, this – truly being understood by another person – would be a good thing. For the Underwoods, it is the worst case scenario. While season four of “House of Cards” does not quite match the glory of the first two seasons, it is a step up from season three. It successfully built anticipation for the inevitable collapse of Frank Underwood’s empire.
ANSON HADLEY
In the time Ra Ra Riot has been around, they’ve been all across the board in where they have placed their sound. They’ve ranged from heavy, autotuned synth pop all the way to incredibly detailed orchestral pop. With their most recent album, Need Your Light, they’ve found the in between that utilizes the best from both ends of the spectrum. Back in November, Ra Ra Riot released their first single, “Water,” which was a bit tame compared to their last, more eclectic album. The single managed to retain who they were as a band, though, and was a sneak peek into what they now had to offer. The new album is, on average, relatively similar to what they’ve released in the past, but that is to complement their management of rhythm throughout Need Your Light. The album has high points, low points, and keeps the listener engaged through active listening, which is often hard to do within the realm of indie pop. That being said, the album relies heavily on two of their most distinct characteristics: their singer’s incredibly high falsetto and also their often buoyant strings. Ra Ra Riot floats through songs, bouncing from note to note while maintaining a consistent high energy. The album has a similar feel to that of Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead” and “Take a Walk.” Both of those songs are upbeat jams that sway with the ever-changing melody. Ra Ra Riot has a similar style, but in a more abrupt way that allows for quicker shifts and more unique structures within songs. This staccato style and unique structure allow for them to break out at the right times and to the right extents. Overall, given this warm weather and the seemingly early arrival of spring, Ra Ra Riot’s Need Your Light is the perfect fit for the time being. They have released an album that is warm, upbeat and energetic, ideal for the warmth and sunshine. It also provides a great break and small escape from the stressors of everyday academics in this time before spring break and midterms.
‘Spotlight’ steals the show
Entertainment Editor Whether you enjoy the host or not, whether you like the dance numbers or not, whether you think that the Oscars are a sad shadow of what they used to be, they are still hailed as the industry standard for showcasing the elite films and filmmakers of the past cinematic year. Winning any Oscar is considered a tremendous honor. However, there are three awards that are considered the cream of the crop: Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Picture. These are the gold medals of the Oscar Olympics. Each year, everyone has their pick as to who will win.
We all know that Leonardo DiCaprio finally snagged his for Best Actor, which successfully broke the internet. The film for which he won it, “The Revenant,” was also predicted to win Best Picture, making Leo responsible for two Oscar wins. However, those who predicted a Best Picture win for the frontier revenge sage forgot one of Hollywood’s classic mantras: “Everyone loves the underdog.” No one expected the film “Spotlight” to win best picture, but sure enough, the relatively obscure film clinched the victory. The film, “Spotlight,” featured huge names such as Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams and
Stanley Tucci. It tells a story of a news team from “The Boston Globe” investigating a widespread sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, following the reporters’ investigations, which lead them all across the country, uncovering more and more victims and abusive clerics. Despite the all-star cast, the film does not inherently seem like an original plotline. Stories following investigative reporters uncovering earthshattering truths have been popular since the Golden Age of Hollywood and can be seen in films ranging from “All the President’s Men” to “Citizen Kane.” The angle of church corruption is also not original
and was highlighted very prominently in the 2008 adaption of “Doubt,” starring Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour-Hoffman. However, both of these plot points put together brought about something very original and different. The film is potentially controversial in its portrayal of the Catholic clergy, and the screenplay went unproduced for several years. Josh Singer, one of the writers along with Tom McCarthy, responded to possible accusations of anticlericalism, saying “This story isn’t about exposing the Catholic Church. We were not on some mission to rattle people’s faith. In fact, Tom came from a Catholic fam-
ily. The motive was to tell the story accurately while showing the power of the newsroom – something that is largely disappeared today. This story is important. Journalism is important, and there is a deeper message in the story.” Although this underdog won only one other Oscar, for Original Screenplay, its strong performances and dedication to the journalistic pursuit of truth as a means of protecting the powerless resonated so strongly with Oscar voters that they sent it home with the night’s biggest award.
March 11, 2016
Perspectives
Page 5
Taxes and marriage
Ryan Brown Staff Writer
U.S. tax law imposes a higher burden on married couples then on the unmarried. This is not intentional but an inevitable outcome of any progressive income tax. When a couple marries, their respective incomes are combined together and seen as one. This can push it into a higher tax bracket than two separate incomes would be otherwise. In order to avoid this problem as much as possible, the tax brackets for married couples have been spaced further apart than for unmarried couples. But this creates problems of its own. By creating new tax brackets for married couples, marriages where both partners work full time are penalized, relative to ones divided between a homemaker and a breadwinner, since their income might fall into a lower bracket than it would have been in pre-marriage. In practice, marriages where income is distributed closer to 50-50 than 70-30 receive a tax penalty, while those distributed closer to 100-0 than 70-30 receive a benefit. The ultimate solution would be some major change, such as getting rid of the graduated system and implementing a national sales tax, such as the FairTax, or introducing an ungraduated tax
system like the flat tax. Given our current tax system, however, the only feasible solution is to tax income from a married couple completely separately. This would not mean filing taxes separately for the couple. They could still jointly file, but the income would be taxed separately, both incomes in their own bracket taxed at their own rate. This would require a major bureaucratic overhaul, of course. IRS lawyers, printed material, lawyers who assist with tax preparation and families would all have to adjust. Some might even argue that it is a good thing to provide a tax break for marriages that are more traditionally organized, where the woman stays at home while the man goes to work. I disagree adamantly with such a position. It is a travesty that the government gives financial incentives to the subservient position of women in society. What this policy does is financially incentivize women to stay at home and focus on domestic duties instead of a career, while it gives men an incentive to spend more time at work and away from their families. Our society looks down upon working women. Women are far more likely to specialize in domestic affairs, and marriages where women make more than their hus-
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bands are significantly less happy. So in many marriages, men specialize in work and women in domestic duties. This is a backward attitude that keeps women out of high positions in industry and government and keeps men from being at home for their children and families. Having closer to a 50-50 split in income would be better for most families and better for women in general. It is horrible that families with closer to that even income split are taxed more. It is also a poor tax policy because it is clearly regressive. Families in the lowest quintile tend to have closer to a 50-50 split, since both spouses must work to make enough to stay alive. We discourage marriage among the poorest of the
poor in the U.S. and help to perpetuate cyclical poverty. The tax law also discourages marriage among those in the top quintile since the people in that quintile tend to be work-oriented. They too tend to have close to 5050 income splits. Current tax law discourages marriage far more than it incentivizes it, since most couples face a marriage penalty, not a marriage subsidy. This is damaging to the fabric of society, since the basic building block of society’s fabric is the family unit. Tax policy is broad and sprawling. These unforeseen consequences are unavoidable, but that does not absolve government of its responsibility to be wary of such ripple effects and fix them.
Between two extremes
Tucker Sigourney Contributing Writer
Recently, there has been a bit of an exchange in the Collegian regarding the provocatively labeled “scourge of scientism.” Though I am aware that I am a bit late to the party, I figured I could use my experiences in the most extreme reaches on either side of the campus – the philosophy and physics departments – to contribute something to this discussion. I will state the problem that I believe Ryan Brown wished to point out a little differently than he did: scientists are often granted an excessive degree of authority. I mean this statement in two ways. For one thing, scientists are allowed to speak to the general public on scientific matters without being questioned – a privilege enjoyed in very few other academic disciplines. In fact, it surprises me that campuses further to the left than ours have not already added the term “science privilege” to their counterdiscrimination arsenal. To give you an example, I think quantum mechanics is the single most beautifully maddening feature of the created order, and when that belief of mine comes up in conversation, I am invariably asked to explain it. I have come to recognize that when I talk about quantum mechanics, I am given near-absolute authority on the matter, to be trumped only by someone who has actually completed a physics degree. But I also like to talk about philosophy, and that is a totally different story; I do not know that a single person has ever simply taken my word on any philosophical position of mine.
I think it would be difficult to deny that this disparity extends well beyond my own experiences. The second sense in which I mean “excessive authority” is this: scientists are often conceived as authority figures “simpliciter” – authorities not only on science, but on anything at all that sounds even remotely “sciency,” from education and technology to ethics and metaphysics (which is most emphatically not a branch of physics). Here are a few things that are not science: mathematical logic, technology, reason, natural phenomena and engineering. No scientist, simply in virtue of being a scientist, has special expertise on any of these things. I believe most scientists know as much and are honest about it, but I also believe that they themselves tend to have a particularly difficult time of cutting another distinction – the one between their own spheres and that of philosophy. Scientists are not entirely to blame for this; after all, the distinction has become more and more difficult of late, and cutting difficult distinctions is a philosophical technique (another one of those things that is not science). But the general public is even worse at drawing the distinction than scientists are, and as a result, the scientist’s sphere of influence is extended in ways he or she often does not recognize. Unintentional or not, the conflation of science with philosophy becomes by far the most egregious encroachment of scientists beyond their proper territory. As science presses deeper into areas like cosmology and human biology, the lines become more and more blurred, until men like Lawrence Krauss can make state-
ments like “universes can come from nothing.” It requires only an elementary understanding of the term “equivocation fallacy” to recognize not only that he is laughably wrong, but also that he does not speak as a scientist when he makes such a claim. And yet vast herds of people bleat in delight when they hear him “stick it to the theologians.” Philosophy’s proper domain includes a vast collection of eminently practical questions, such as “what is at the bedrock of reality?” and “what is most important?” and “how should life be lived?” The inevitable failure of any attempt to fill such big shoes with such specialized machinery as science is precisely the reason why the only real physicalists are nihilists. Here is the bottom of the matter: most people do not have the time or interest to check and weigh for themselves the beliefs that they come to have. Placing trust in some authority or another makes for an expedient and necessary substitution. Any such placement of trust is a conferring of power, and any power that rests ultimately in human hands is easily abused. It is a simple fact that scientists are one of the most prominent authorities in our day. To prevent abuses then, checks on this authority are needed; checks that, for the most part, are simply not there. My concern about the scientific enterprise is of the same nature as my concern about government. Both are marvelously useful things, and both belong within certain boundaries. Both become wildly dangerous when those boundaries are overstepped. This is what Brown was picking at, or, at least what
he should have been picking at. I will close with a few considerations that provide disanalogies between science and government (read, “points in favor of science”). First, science’s authority is not backed with guns. You can believe the claims in which it results, or you can reject them, and social ostracism is the most radical consequence you can expect. Usually, you will not face even that. Second, those who direct the scientific project – namely scientists – are many, and none can come to lead the others except by writing good papers, so that it is far more difficult in science than in government for one or two to run the whole show. The one unfortunate exception to this comes with statements that run neither in line with experiment nor counter to it – that is, unscientific statements, such as Mr. Krauss’s above. These ebb and flow with the tides of fashion just as freely among scientists as among politicians. Third, science is quite good at the thing it properly claims to do. Since its days under the name “natural philosophy,” its innumerable jaunts into the nature of our universe have invoked awe. That some do not know the difference between those morsels of awe that belong to science and those that do not is not the fault of science, but of individuals – scientists and non-scientists alike. It is by individuals, and not by institutions, that we should gauge our criticisms and corrections. My hope is that my comments will motivate the future of this discussion, within and without the Collegian, to walk the middle ground between desecrating and disavowing our temples.
Section Editors News Molly Wicker Life Caleb Harshberger Entertainment Jacob Sziráky Perspectives Colin Combs Sports Joe Setyon Photography Julia Williams
Design Chief Nate Pittman
Copy Chief Gabrielle Johnston
Copy Editors Erin Pechacek Angell Fonner Becky Tzouanakis
Section Designers Karen Postupac Bri Doane Laura Counihan
Staff Writers Stephen Dennis Thomas Kutz Kayla Murrish Breanna Renkin Annabelle Rutledge Bradley Warmhold Jon Matt Josh Fried
Photographers Andrew Irving Rebekah Wheat Cameron Holloway Kirsten Malenke Ryan Braumann
Advertising/Business Manager Reagan Georges
Staff Adviser Nick Hildebrand 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.
GREEN EYESHADE AWARD
This week’s award goes to News Editor Molly Wicker for her dedication and hard work on the Collegian. The Collegian Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors who have demonstrated consistency and excellence in their work.
March 11, 2016
The Collegian
Fencer slices cultural barriers Rio Arias Staff Writer
Fencing has a long and proud heritage around the world. As one of only four sports to compete in every modern Olympic program since 1896, it has been renowned for its complexity and detailoriented scoring system. But like many well-established traditions, it has only been accessible to a small group of people in the upper class. It is estimated that the average fencing player spends over $2,000 per year on equipment. Three-quarters of adult fencers hold college degrees, and many only took interest in the sport because someone close to them introduced it to them personally. In recent years, attempts have been made to attract a younger and more diverse audience. Through the use of plastic and foam swords, the cost of equipment has been significantly reduced. While only a small portion of colleges offer fencing as a university sport, the ones that do tend to be more ethnically diverse, therefore allowing more students to try the sport than might have otherwise had a chance to progress in their athletic abilities. Lower costs are not what always attract people to the sport. Fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad developed an interest in playing at the age of 13, solely because it was one of the few sports that would honor a modest dress code. Fencers are known for wearing long sleeves and pants as well as face masks, so there is no conflict with Islamic law. Competing all throughout high school, Muhammad attracted the attention of Duke University at the age of 17, where she received a scholarship to keep fencing. “I was looking for a job, and what sort of drew me to
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the idea of trying to go for the national team was honestly the lack of diversity. I wanted to change that,” she said. Qualifying in 2010, she earned her spot on the team and eventually secured a spot to compete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro this August. She will be the first Olympic athlete to compete for a U.S. team while wearing a hijab and one of the few Muslim women to represent the fencing team. Unfortunately, she has not reached this achievement without difficulties. One of five children in a middle-class family, Muhammad can recall “going to competitions in high school and having parents from other teams tell me that fencing wasn’t for black kids, or Muslim kids. And I wanted that to be different for other kids in the future.” Her qualification to the Olympic team is not just about standing out among the crowd or wanting to be noticed. As a female Muslim on the American fencing team, she is sending a message to all young girls: they can play sports regardless of their race or ethnicity, and be successful at it as well. This in turn sends an encouraging message in the midst of Islamophobia and political candidates like Donald Trump who scapegoat the Muslim population: being Muslim does not make you any less American. There are very few honors in life greater than representing your country before the world, and doing so in a hijab makes it all the more monumental.
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Is homeschooling the best option? Chelsea Weber Contributing Writer
When couples become new parents, they have a decision to make. Where is the best place to raise their child, the best place to give them a good education and the best place to foster a love for learning? Will that place be at school, or in the home? It is many people’s opinion that the best place for the child, for both academic and religious growth, is in the home. Thus, many Christians should view homeschooling as the best form of schooling for both academic and spiritual growth. Homeschooling is instruction and learning which takes place primarily at home in a family setting with the parent acting as teacher or supervisor. Homeschooling is a great way for parents to take control of their children’s education so they can shape their child into a Christian in all areas of their life. This is done through carefully relating their great book, the Bible, into the lessons they are teaching. It is integrated freely into all subject matters. Some Christian parents only want the freedom to relate some religious ideas to their children. Others want to integrate it into every aspect of their child’s life to encourage a Christian lifestyle in their children, free from the corruption of society. This allows parents to educate the hearts of their children as well as their minds to create overall better citizens for society. Children learn to serve others, not themselves, in this type of environment. Furthermore, it gives young Christians the consistent moral training they will need all through their lives. In addition to providing children with a strong foundation for what it truly means to be a Christian, homeschooling has many
other academic benefits as well. The curriculum is not made for, or taught to, bundles of students, but instead one child. Therefore, children who may have been put in lower level classes are able to thrive in the individualized environment; this comes from a more authentic connection to their teacher. Discovery learning is natural in a homeschool setting and not rushed or forced like in a classroom. The child can move at their own pace and truly learn all the subject matter. And in a Christian home, they learn while making very real connections to God. Homeschooling works so well academically because it can create a proper environment for the child to learn in. By working at home, children are able to build strong familial ties. Behavioral issues are stopped faster by working one on one with the parent. Strong ties with the parents can stop children from resorting to destructive behaviors like drugs or selfharm. Older siblings may help the younger children, which helps them grow, learn and mature together. Finally, even though these children are called “homeschoolers,” their education need not stay strictly in the home. Parents of homeschoolers enrich their children’s education by taking them on field trips or to different homeschooling groups. These activities give the children a chance to socialize with one another and gain friends. As a result, children who are homeschooled are still just as well socialized, if not more so, than their schoolhouse counterparts. While they socialize, Jesus can be kept at the center of the activity in which they are participating. These are all valid points, but personal choices do not
diminish overall lacking qualities in both public and private schools. When a parent sends their child to public school, they do not receive the best emotional or moral education needed to face adult life. Not to mention the lack one-onone education. As such, since most of the time the children spend is away from home, children do not have the same rapport with their parents. In the end, public schools fail in shaping our children to become well-rounded individuals. Private schools also have their problems. They are sometimes too expensive, or lack in resources as well as high-quality teachers. In the end, it all depends on how much Christian parents want to have control over exactly what their children learn. For those that want to solely stick to God’s word, homeschooling is the best option. For those who want to challenge their children’s faith, public or even private school is a good place to send their children. The best place for a differentiated learning with a chance to discover knowledge is in our good o l d homes.
CLIPARTPANDA.COM
Sports
March 11, 2016
Page 7
GCC
GCC athletes prepare for the ECAC tournement in Staten Island N.Y.
Still going strong
Men’s track and field team competes in ECAC Tournament Alyssa Baldwin Contributing Writer
Four Grove City College students, Nick Betz, Ryan Buchalter, Quaide Simek and Brandon Ward, wrapped up the indoor track season by participating in the 2016 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. The meet took place March 4-5 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y. On Friday, junior Nick Betz qualified for the 60-meter hurdles during a preliminary heat with a time of 8.36 seconds. He continued on to place eighth on Saturday morning with a time of 8.51 seconds. “The conference went pretty well,” Betz said. “I ran my second fastest time ever, didn’t do as well in the fi-
I told them I would do it [track] as long as I didn’t have to do hurdles, but look at me now. That’s exactly what I ending up doing. nals, but it was still a blessing to be able to run.” Betz also participated in the 4x400-meter relay with junior Ryan Buchalter sophomore Quaide Simek and senior Brandon Ward. Together the team totaled three minutes, 25.93 seconds, which put them in 20th place. Grove City’s indoor track season ended at a good spot, especially as it was only the second season that students had competed in. “We’re definitely in a better place conditioning-wise than last year, and we set ourselves up well for the out-
Small but mighty Softball team prepares for season Alison Kjergaard Contributing Writer “Small but mighty” is the perfect way to describe the Grove City College softball team this year. This year’s group is smaller than usual; it includes only 11 girls. There are only two substitutes, meaning that there is zero room for injuries, but the team is not letting that get to them. “The small team is making us more tight-knit. When you are in a team this size it just becomes one friendship,” junior Aimee Wooton, one of the pitchers for this upcoming season, said. “There is good chemistry with a small team,” junior and centerfielder Maddie Brubaker said. Chemistry aside, however, the lack of subs does put additional pressure on the players to perform well and consistently. “If you are having a rough time in a game you just have to work through it,” Wooton said. Having a small team also means taking some precautions in training. “You want to give everything you have, but you also have to be a little more careful with how you push yourself,” sophomore second basemen Michaela Cashmer said. However, these girls
have a lot to look forward to this season. “I can’t wait to be outside and not practicing in the IM room,” Wooton said, laughing. At this point in the preseason, the small team has many players questioning how everything will click once games start. “We have lots of potential. It’s going to be cool to see how we all come together this season,” Wooton said. “I’m excited to see how our team will fill the shoes of the seniors, how this small team will perform. I’m also excited to shock some teams,” Brubaker said. “It’s fun to be the underdog and cause the upsets. I think we might just make some magic on the field this year.” This season will give Grove City softball fans a chance to root for an underdog that might just surprise them. There may not be many of them, but the girls have been playing for years together and are close friends off the field, strengthening their game on the field. “Softball is amazing because it’s a group of people coming together, working together to achieve this common goal. We grow in the sport as we experience success. That’s how I came to love the sport,” Brubaker said.
door season,” Betz said. The NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships take place next weekend in Grinnell, Iowa. Betz is qualified to attend after his time of 8.21 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles at Youngstown State University’s Icebreaker meet on Dec. 4, 2015. Competitors in the NCAA event are selected from the top 15 athletes from each event. When asked how he felt about competing at a national level, Betz said, “I’m super excited.” Preparation for the championships will not include hardcore workouts; Betz’s main focus is on form. “One
of the things I love about running is that it’s such a great mental and physical challenge,” he said. Betz started running his sophomore year of high school because his football coaches wanted him to improve speed. “I told them I would do it as long as I didn’t have to do hurdles, but look at me now. That’s exactly what I ended up doing.” After getting sixth in state his junior year, Betz devoted his senior year to track: “I quit football and decided [track] would be my main sport” The indoor track season is a great way for the Wolverines to prepare for the outdoor season, of which they are two-time defending PAC champions.
Going for 4
Pirates reach for postseason for fourth Joe Setyon Sports Editor
After three straight postseason appearances, the Pittsburgh Pirates are going into 2016 with high hopes, having retained many of last year’s players while also making several key additions. The Bucs have been very successful over the past few seasons because they have been able to maximize talent, despite their relatively low payroll. This year, they will try to do more of the same, but this task may turn out to be difficult as they will need to find a way to leapfrog the perennial contender St. Louis Cardinals and World Series favorite Chicago Cubs if they want to take the NL Central. It starts on the mound, where the Pirates have several capable starting pitchers. Leading the pack is Gerrit Cole. The young phenomenon broke out last year with a 2.60 ERA, an All Star appearance and a fourth place finish in Cy Young voting. Behind him is Francisco Liriano. The 32-year-old, who is in the second year of a three-year, $37 million pact, is coming off a great season that saw him pitch to a 3.38 ERA in 186 innings with 205 strikeouts. The Pirates are definitely top heavy in the rotation, but they might be able to count on new addition and
PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Andrew McCutchen leads the Pirates to new heights in 2016. former New York Met Jon Niese, who has a very solid 3.91 career ERA. The bullpen is a little more questionable, but Mark Melancon was rock solid as the closer last year. The Pirates will also need some of their key hitters to have good years. Most important is Andrew McCutchen, the face of the franchise who has been one of the top five players in the National League in each of the last four seasons. He got off to a slow start last season, but ended up with a .292 batting average, 23 homers and 96 RBIs. At 29, he is in the middle of his prime. Also in the outfield are Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte. The former was a top prospect going into 2014, but he struggled to the tune of a .256 average last season. The Pirates hope he can develop into a more consistent hitter, but he has not been able to prove that yet. One
player who has done so is Marte, who won a Gold Glove last year and was worth an impressive 5.4 WAR. Other important hitters include catcher Francisco Cervelli, shortstop Jung Ho Kang and utility man Josh Harrison. Cervelli played his first full season in 2015, and hit .295 with seven homers and 43 RBIs, softening the blow of losing Russel Martin. Kang got injured late last year, but was a Rookie of the Year candidate when he played, hitting .287 with 15 homers and 58 RBIs. Finally, Harrison made the All Star team in 2014, but regressed in 2015, hitting .287 with four homers, 28 RBIs and 10 steals. If he can get back to playing at an All-Star level, the Pirates will be thrilled. The Bucs have several question marks going into 2016, but if their key players perform, they should be in good shape.
Sports A season to be proud of
March 11, 2016
Page 8
Despite fall, wolverines make progress
Joe Setyon Sports Editor
Despite its untimely end, no one can deny that the 2015-2016 season was a fantastic one for the Grove City College men’s basketball team. The squad won 18 games overall, the most since the 2002-2003 season, and went an astounding 13-5 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference games. In spite of this record, Grove City faltered near the end. After getting knocked out of the PAC Tournament several weeks ago, they qualified for the ECAC South Tournament, but fell there as well. On Wednesday, March 3, Grove City, the sixth overall seed, took on third-seeded Penn State Behrend in the quarterfinal round of the ECAC Tournament. Grove City kept things close as the game started off, and with just over 11 minutes left in the first half, they trailed their opponents by just four points, at 20-16. Unfortunately, things only got worse from there. Penn State Behrend went on a 16-0 run, helped in large part by four insane three pointers converted in that span. At halftime, Grove City trailed 4122. The Wolverines cut into the lead a little bit later in the game, thanks to a 9-0 run, but the Lions simply took
over once again after that. In the end, Grove City was defeated 69-50. Despite the loss, there were some good performances from the Wolverines. Sophomore Andrew Beckman had a team-leading nine points and also accumulated seven rebounds. Meanwhile, seniors Isaiah Reeves and Erik Carlstrom, each of whom were playing their last game in a Grove City uniform, collected eight points each. One major contributor to Grove City’s loss was their struggle to shoot the ball efficiently. As a team, they converted just 34 percent of their shots and just 23 percent of attempts from beyond the arc. Senior Joe Vermilya, who is usually consistent, went one out of seven from the floor, while senior guard Stephen Tam was successful in just two of nine shots. However, Grove City still has a lot to be proud of at the end of the season. The squad’s head coach, Steve Lamie, was selected as the PAC Coach of the Year. He transformed a struggling team into a fearsome foe, and he deserves a lot of credit for the Wolverines’ turnaround. Meanwhile, Vermilya was honored on the All-PAC Second Team. He led the team in scoring, with 12.3 ppg for the season and also averaged 4.5 rebounds per contest. Forward Andrew Beckman was
GROVE CITY COLLEGE
Head coach Steve Lamie, who earned the conference Coach of the Year Award, was a big part of Grove City’s successful season. honored as well and received an All-PAC Honorable Mention. Beckman was one of the brightest spots in this Wolverine season. He averaged 10.3 ppg, and led the team in rebounding with 6.6 rpg. Moreover, he was second on
the team with 78 assists and on the squad with an amazing six blocked shots. As he is only a sophomore, he is expected to remain a focal point of the team’s offense over the next several seasons. Despite not winning any
tournaments, Grove City made a lot of progress this year. Even though some seniors are leaving, there should be plenty of talent to lead the team to even greater heights in the future.
Getting in gear Baseball team starts in full swing
Joe Setyon Sports Editor After four consecutive losing seasons, the Grove City College baseball team might just be starting to turn things around. Last year, the squad went 14-22 overall and, disappointingly, 9-15 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. This year, with a new head coach and some great freshman talent, the team is off to a great start at 2-1. Last weekend, the Grove City team travelled to Kentucky, where they took on Berea College in a three-game series. Grove City won the first two games, and even though they lost the final contest, this set of contests offers a lot of hope for the rest of the 2016 Wolverine season. On Friday, March 4, Grove City started their trip well by defeating Berea 3-2 in the first game. Junior Cameron Lawson started on the mound and was great for three and one-third innings, giving up no runs and only one hit, with four walks and four strikeouts. He was relieved in the fourth inning by freshman pitcher John Bini, a Staten Island native who played at Xaverian High School. The game was scoreless through the end of the seventh inning until Grove City finally broke through. After a hit-by-pitch and two walks, freshman Travis Auth hit a sacrifice fly that gave
GROVE CITY COLLEGE
With a new head coach and plenty of new and returning talent, the baseball team is getting their season into full swing. his team a 1-0 lead. Berea scratched a run across in the bottom of the inning, and junior Nolan Myers put down a great bunt that scored the runner from third. After a sac fly from sophomore Drew Landis, Bini attempted to close things out in the bottom of the ninth. He allowed a run, but got himself out of trouble to earn his first collegiate win. Over his five and two-thirds innings, Bini gave up two runs on four hits with five strikeouts, and the Wolverines triumphed 3-2. The next day, Grove City came back for more. In the first game of the day’s doubleheader, Grove City came out swinging early. In the first inning, junior Andy Fritz hit a two-run double, while junior Brandon Gresh’s sac bunt and freshman Micah Burke’s RBI single gave Grove City an early 4-0 lead. Grove City kept adding on thanks to several errors and scored eight runs overall in the 8-3 vic-
tory. In this contest, Burke had three hits, as did freshman Shane Hammel, while junior Matt Waugaman had two. Myers, meanwhile, got another hit and is now on a 20-game hitting streak. On the mound, Landis allowed two runs over five innings, with six strikeouts. Grove City was not so fortunate in the nightcap, as Berea scored seven quick runs and cruised to a 9-2 victory. Despite the loss Fritz, Waugaman, Landis and Auth all had hits. Early on, freshmen have been a big part of Grove City success. Hitters Auth, Burke and Hammel have all come through at different points, while pitcher John Bini has been great on the mound, showing that he has the talent to be a great pitcher for the next four years. If they keep up the good work, it should not be hard for the Wolverines to continue winning games.
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