The @Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper
Friday, February 15, 2019
Collegian The Grove City College Student Newspaper
Vol. 104, No. 13
Grief hangs heavy
Campus wrestles with the loss of two Young Life high school students Paige Fay
Community Editor Grief is not an easy thing to talk about. It’s painful, awkward and, as hard as we try, sometimes the words just can’t capture the feelings. Grove City students and community members gathered together Wednesday night to grieve the loss of two Hickory High School students who died in a car crash while traveling to a Young Life placement ceremony at the College. Alexis Myers, 16, and Danielle Nelson, 15, both of Hermitage, were in a car with two other girls at 7:20 p.m. Sunday on Interstate 80 near Mercer, Pa., when it slid out of control in the ice and snow and was hit by two tractor-trailers. The other girls in the car suffered serious injuries and were
Myers
Nelson
transported to Pittsburgh hospital. The tragedy has left much pain and grief in its wake, especially among the students and leaders in Young Life ministry. Students and community members somberly gathered in small groups to talk about the event and pray for those involved and affected. Grove City’s interim chaplain Rev. Dean Weaver, pastors from local churches, counselors from Zerbe Counseling Center and the regional director of Young Life, Alex Eckard, and his wife were also present. Weaver encouraged students to help each other and not try to “fix” the
Sailing high
Basketball teams ride wins into PACs SPORTS
grieving students. Just be with them and pray for them, he said, but don’t try to make them feel better so that you feel better. “The number one thing is the ministry of presence. Just be with them, whether it is a walk, or a trip to Beans on Broad to get a coffee together. Secondly, pray with them. Pray for God’s comfort, peace and presence,” he said. Weaver said that feeling bad is how we heal. “If you don’t process grief well and suppress it, it comes back to bite you in really detrimental ways and will affect your emotional and mental wellbeing,” Weaver said. Elizabeth Messer, the Women’s Ministries coordinator, explained the importance of faith in trying times. “We place our hope in things unseen and look
forward to a new heaven and a new earth where God will restore all and make all things new. We believe that in times of tragedy that ‘God is near the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in Spirit’ and that God will send the Comforter—another name for the Holy Spirit—to us in these times of grief and mourning,” she said. The Counseling Center emphasized that grief is an individual process. “It is okay to not know what to say during this time, so we encourage people to not feel like you have to say the ‘right thing’ because there is no ‘right thing’ to say,” Zerbe counselors said. “For some people, grief may look like talking with trusted friends or mentors about their experiences, but for others it may be a time for quiet,
Bundy look-a-like?
Zac Efron raises a storm with his portrayal of infamous killer ENTERTAINMENT
private reflection.” The Counseling Center, Campus Ministries and Residence Life are available to help students dealing with grief. In addition, Campus Ministries has just implemented a weekly grief support gathering that will meet Tuesday nights from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Grace Room of Rathburn Hall. Claire Megles, a hospice chaplain from the area, is helping to lead the gathering. These gatherings are for students who have experienced any kind of loss in their past. “We want to be able to provide something for students that will help them process in a healthy way,” Weaver said. “People don’t make dealing with grief a priority. Sometimes people don’t pay attention to grief until later when it becomes more of a crisis than before.”
Make an Impact
Student group reflects on God’s creation
COMMUNITY
The Collegian
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Feb. 15, 2019
Editorial
The Great Orator
Analysis
James Sutherland Editor-in-Chief
Presidents’ Day is Monday, offering a good chance to reflect on how we remember the men who have led our country. Washington is the American Cincinnatus, the first president and the great model of public virtue. Jefferson is the great American theorist, the author of our creed. In different ways, the Roosevelts, Kennedy and Reagan are all great American reformers. Of all the presidents, Lincoln resists reduction to a single statement more than any other. He is certainly the Great Emancipator, but he is so much more. He might be the greatest example of the American Dream: a boy born to poor frontier settlers teaches himself how to read and write and practice law, rises to the highest position in the land and dies at the peak of his popularity and power. Lincoln may also be the Great Leader, dragging the country behind him through the Civil War with dogged resolve and unwavering surety. But, I think, more than anything Lincoln is the Great Orator, the definitive American speaker. Lincoln’s words echo through the halls of American history because he was a brilliant speaker, a master of the language on par with Churchill and Shakespeare. Lincoln knew how to balance his cadence and rhythm, always trading one long sentence for three short. He spoke in language that was both plain and common, and also steeped in Biblical and Romantic tones. He knew how to cast America as the great City upon a Hill, as the Messianic nation, without sounding hollow or soapy. Most of all, he used his speech to unify the country in its most divided time. His second inaugural address, perhaps the peak of American rhetoric, is a perfect example of Lincoln’s brilliance. With the Civil War wrapping up, Lincoln sets out to lay the foundations for peace, reconciliation and rebuilding. He did so without absolving the South of blame or overburdening it. Lincoln recognized that, for the Union to heal, it needed to accept its rebellious states back, to forgive wrongs and to help those states heal too. He ended his speech with one of the great sentences in the English language, a sentence that speaks volumes to us in our own divided time about how we ought to live and heal: “With malice toward none; with charity toward all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan—and to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.” Amen. This Presidents’ Day let us remember Lincoln’s great speech, and let us work towards that just and lasting peace in all that we do.
Collegian Staff 100 Campus Drive Grove City, Pa. 16127 gcc.collegian@gmail.com
Editor-in-Chief James Sutherland
Managing Editor Grace Tarr
Section Editors News Rio Arias
Community Paige Fay
Perspectives
Michelle Jeffries
Sports
Aly Kruger
Photo Chief
Wesley Kinnery
Design Chief Karen Postupac
Copy Chief
Jessica Cameron
Copy Editors
Gabrielle Capaldo Natalie Dell Britney Lukasiewicz Lauren Ness Elizabeth Stevenson Honora Sweeney
Section Designers Shaun Jorstad Hannah Stiller
Staff Writers
George Daugharty Anna DiStefano Alejandra Flores Katheryn Frazier Emily Geiger Connor Schlosser David Smith Mackenzie Stine Price Styer Joshua Tatum Mallory Trumbull
Business Manager Nathanael Curry
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 the
This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Anna DiStefano for her excellent copy editing and writing. Keep up the good work Anna! The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.
Anna DiStefano
Trump’s best falls flat Joshua Sikora
Contributing Writer
President Trump’s recent State of the Union address appears to have been one of his finest moments as president. Various outlets have been praising the speech and reporting high approval numbers. However this idea ignores much of the halftruths, Trump’s own policies and Orwellian doublespeak contained amongst the “U-SA” chants and emotional appeals used by the President to mask his shortcomings and lies. The first major issue is Trump’s discussion of abortion. He rightly criticized New York’s new abortion law and the governor of Virginia’s support of postbirth abortion. However the President’s time in office has done little to combat the slaughter of children beyond rhetoric. Trump has signed federal government budgets which contained funding for Planned Parenthood. Additionally, his Supreme Court picks have referred to Roe v. Wade as the “law of the land”—Gorsuch—and a legal precedent—Kavanaugh. If Trump was serious about combating abortion, he has yet to show it. One highly praised moment of the President’s address was his statement against the calls for socialism that the United States would never be a socialist nation. What was ironic is that throughout the speech Trump was calling for and praising socialist policies. He called for more socialized defense spending, socialized funding for a border wall and trade tariffs. Furthermore, Trump called for more socialist policies to be passed. Among these were nationwide paid family leave, government healthcare spending and government built infrastructure. Either the president does not understand the type of socialism being advocated for by people such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Oc-
asio-Cortez, he is blatantly lying to the American people. Along with his comment against socialism, Trump stated that America was founded on liberty and not government coercion. While true, the statement is laughable when coming from the President. In the address he called for numerous increases in government that would require the coercive power of government to raise tax revenue. Additionally, Trump’s policies have been openly hostile to liberty. His first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, was one of the least friendly men in the nation to liberty. Additionally, Trump has taken the fight against liberty through policies such as banning bump stocks, enforced stricter drug policies and pursued harsher border policies, which includes a wall that could be used to keep Americans in a growingly authoritarian country. The Trump administration has been no friend to liberty, and his invocation of such an ideal is dishonorable. The last bit of hypocrisy came from his several references to God in his speech,and referring to America as a Christian nation. Certainly there is nothing wrong with appealing to God, but to do so coupled with the policies he carries out and praised in the same address. Trump has been aiding terrorist groups and assisting authoritarian, murderous regimes around the world. Hardly either of these could be considered Christian actions supported by God. During the address Trump praised himself for placing harsh sanctions on Iran, a move which will significantly harm innocent civilians who have no part in the Iranian regime’s actions. The direct, intentional targeting of civilians, can in no way be considered God-sanctioned behavior. Beyond the President’s hypocrisy were his blatant lies about his success as president. One point was his taking credit for the destruction of ISIS in Syria. Claiming to have defeated ISIS while attacking their enemies and providing military and fi-
nancial aid to countries that assist ISIS—Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar—is an outright falsity. Any credit for eliminating ISIS belongs to Assad and Putin who actually fight ISIS, rather than helping them directly or indirectly. Another mistruth seen in the State of the Union was Trump’s touting of economic performance. He touted the increase in wages, but failed to mention that real wages have seen no increase recently as inflation has kept pace with wage increases. Trump praised the increase in job numbers, specifically manufacturing, while driving away businesses with his tariffs and reducing America’s wealth by decreasing the division of labor available to the American economy. Additionally, the President excitedly reported on low unemployment, while the labor force participation rate is still below numbers from the early Obama presidency. Trump’s economic policies have negatively impacted the American economy, and his reports on the improving economy fall apart by further observation. The last major issue of the State of the Union address was Trump’s proposal of false solutions to major problems combatting the country. President Trump repeatedly called for increased border security and a border wall to solve the problems of drug cartels, human trafficking and illegal immigration. Rather than discussing legitimate solutions to these problems (ending the drug war, decriminalizing prostitution and ending the welfare state) he wants to put a bandage on a massive wound and misunderstands how to resolve the issue. President Trump’s State of the Union address was filled with hypocrisy on numerous accounts, blatant lies about the country and his policies, and false answers to problems. Trump continues to disappoint as President to anyone who seeks consistency, honesty and a better society. Beyond this, Trump maintains his opposition to freedom, a growing economy and moral action.
Letters to the Editor Policy Space will be provided for Letters to the Editor. However their inclusion is at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief. Letters will be printed as submitted unless the editors choose to delete words or portions that are in poor taste, libelous or unnecessary to convey essential meaning. Letters should be no longer than 400 words (typed and single-spaced). The editors may condense longer letters. Letters must include verifiable contact information, such as an email address. Anonymous letters
will not be accepted. The author’s name will appear with the letter. Statement of fact and opinion in letters to the editor, editorials and commentaries are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff, the college, its faculty or staff or the student body. Letters must be received by 5 p.m. on the Monday prior to the publication. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication from students, faculty, staff and alumni. To be accepted for publication, a letter must meet one of the fol-
lowing criteria: it relates to an article published in or issue discussed in paper; it contains information of interest to all, or a segment of our readership (alumni, parents, donors, students, faculty and staff); it relates to college news or policy. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, correct grammar and punctuation, and length. We will not publish unsigned letters. We will not republish a letter that has appeared in another publication in part or in whole. Letters will be printed in the next edition of the paper in which space is available.
News
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Feb. 15, 2019
GCC buys building
Coffeehousin’ it up
Laurie Davis
Contributing Writer
ALY KRUGER
SGA hosted its first coffeehouse of the semester Tuesday night. Student-led groups performed, while other students munched on tasty snacks.
Blunt wisdom for Grovers
George Daugharty Finance Reporter
Author, entrepreneur and investor Ron Muhlenkamp spoke at the Freedom Readers lecture this Tuesday, put on by the Center for Vision and Values, which promotes Christian values and free market principles. Muhlenkamp is a twice published book author who currently helps manage a $187 million mutual fund, and holds degrees from both the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard.
The event was promoted with advertisements on the tables in dining halls leading up to the event, and offers of drinks and sweets to anyone who RSVPed ahead of time. Speaking on the theme of policy or economic theory, this week’s speaker gave practical advice for college graduates entering the workforce. Reading from a list of his own personal “Muhelkamp Maxims” the speaker encouraged college graduates to “bring more value to their employers than what they
will receive in wages,” after all he claims the “only way to make money in the economy is to serve,” to furnish a value-adding product or service. The audience listened intently as Mr. Muhelkamp jumped from maxim to maxim. “You can’t spend yourself rich” he preached “as long as you consume less than you produce you will have prosperity.” Other than a series of proverbs and platitudes, some listeners had a hard time following the structure of the lecture, even if the
overall speech was enjoyable. “He had lots of good practical advice and tidbits,” remarked senior finance major Quinn Peebles, “I was pleased with his message, I thought it was kind of rambling but wise.” Freshman economics major Hannah Bowser also enjoyed the talk. “I was surprised by the bluntness, but he definitely got his ideas across,” she said, adding that he “seemed really experienced in his field and I thought the lecture was entertaining.”
Information warfare in the modern age Collegian Staff Colonel Abdullah Haruna Ibrahim of the Nigerian Army and Lieutenant Colonel Shaw Pick of the U.S. Army addressed students regarding the weaponization of social media and the rising threat of Boko Haram Wednesday. Grove City College’s political science department partnered with the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and the U.S. Army War College to put on the event. Pick spoke on the issue of information war that rests in the use of new technology to promote misinformation campaigns. These information breeches serve to spread false information across media platforms. Russia and China both engage in such attacks. The inves-
tigation into Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election has awoken concern in America. Hacking, intellectual property theft and deliberate misinformation are common tactics used by the Russians to achieve not so much a global goal as a Russian supremacy objective. In contrast, China is business-centric and focuses on spreading power into other countries. Putin is still largely in Cold War era supremacy while China is colonizing through indebting other countries and gradually penetrating. “I don’t know that we appreciate the severity of what is being done to us in the information space,” Pick said. Information wars are also waged by restricting information. These
information blocks serve to repress the people of a nation and prove difficult to unblock. “A lot of times, technology is not the problem, it is law and culture,” Pick said. So, how do we solve the issue of misinformation? The answer is in part a matter of adapting how we live in a technological world. “Become more savvy consumers of information,” Pick advised. Ibrahim Spoke on Boko Haram in his home country of Nigeria. The terrorist group Boko Haram terrorist group started 2002, focusing their activity in Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger. The group was first classified as a terrorist organization after they kidnapped 276 Nige-
rian girls. The Nigerian government, however, was slow to respond and did not address the case until a week after the initial kidnapping. “There is nothing as bad as having a government that is not responsible to the people,” Ibrahim said regarding the delayed response. Nigeria continues to work with nations like the United States to eradicate Boko Haram. “When you have terrorist groups growing in one part of the world, the likelihood is that it will take over other parts of the world,” Ibrahim said. The address to the student body was well attended in Sticht with a variety of majors represented.
Securing our elections Collegian Staff The Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvania’s Election Security, co-chaired by Grove City College President Paul McNulty ’80, issued its final report of recommendations last month. The commission recommended legislators consider bond issuances to help counties purchase voting systems with paper ballots and implement mandatory
post-election audits and election emergency plans before the 2020 presidential election. “Sophisticated and vigilant actors determined to weaken national security by undermining the democratic process have targeted voting infrastructure in Pennsylvania and in states across the nation. We must identify and correct vulnerabilities and develop systems with redundancies that ensure ev-
ery vote can be counted, even in the aftermath of an attack,” McNulty, who served as Deputy U.S. Attorney General under President George W. Bush, said. McNulty co-chaired the commission with David Hickton, Director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security. “We know we are under attack, we know methods of attacks and we know the points
within the architecture that are most at risk. Ignoring those risks until we are forced to respond to a successful attack would be irresponsible and dangerously negligent. We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand on this issue,” Hickton said. Tom Ridge, who served as Pennsylvania’s 43rd governor from 1995-2001 and as the nation’s first U.S. BLUE RIBBON 10
Grove City College recently expanded its efforts in community outreach through the acquisition of a new offcampus property. The College’s new addition is both the largest and farthest property from campus. The building, which boasts over 77,000 square feet, was once home to the corporate offices of USIS, otherwise known as the United States Investigative Services. The corporation went bankrupt in 2015, leaving the space otherwise unoccupied until the college’s recent purchase. The expansion of the College will house multiple offices to oversee the enaction of a variety of the college’s undergraduate, and post graduate efforts, as well as being the hub to expand the community outreach. These efforts specifically including major initiatives involving en-
trepreneurship, rural ministry and graduate education. The building will also house Grove City College’s Center for Vision & Values, the core to overseeing the next generation of American leaders, and to promote the principles of faith and freedom. “The acquisition of this building has been made possible primarily with the support of generous College trustees and represents the College’s commitment to the town of Grove City and the region. We see wonderful opportunities ahead for meaningful connections with the community through the center’s initiatives,” College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said. The building is the largest off-site investment in the college’s history, and is sure to be an interesting project that changes the way the future Grove City College student body interacts with both their predecessors and current community.
GCC
Grove City College bought the former USIS building last month.
Building common ground Rio Arias
News Editor Half a dozen students gathered last weekend to hear Dr. Lisa Hosack, professor of social work, speak about her experiences engaging other cultures at this month’s Common Grounds. Hosack emphasized her perspective as a social worker and how her professional training overlapped with various cultural theories. “She had two big points, the first being that as humans we are naturally primed to be suspicious of people that are different from us. And secondly, that when we embrace that we are God’s beloved, we don’t have to be afraid, and can engage others without being afraid or being threatened by them,” junior Daniel Diaz explained. Diaz speaks both Spanish and English, and serves as the junior chair of Students Excited About Diversity (SEAD). “She also talked about how impressed she was with what SEAD does with the message of racial reconciliation, and giving minorities a voice in topics of culture,” Diaz said. He indicated that it was a relaxed group setting and discussion
was common. “It was a great talk,” Justin Jose, Director of the Office of Multicultural Education and Initiatives (MEI), added. Common grounds is sponsored by MEI to facilitate healthy discussions between students who are interested in issues of ethnicity. The event began in the 2014-2015 academic year under previous MEI director Natalia Harris. Jose said that since he became director, some changes have been made, namely being the location of the event. Beginning last semester, students and invited speakers began meeting at the Lascell house, owned by the College, instead of Beans on Broad, where the event began. “The move was prompted by assessment that I did with previous Common Ground attendees from 2016-2017 school year that articulated a desire to have a quieter, more cozy, relaxed space,” he said. “Also, my office saves money using a space the college owns,” Jose explained, referring to how in past years his office would both rent the upstairs of the coffee shop, and provide coffee and scones for students.
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Community Adventuring on purpose
Feb. 15, 2019
Paige Fay
Community Editor There’s a group on campus that glories in the work of God’s hands through nature. The outdoor adventure learning program, Impact, is sponsored by the Office of Student Life and Learning and “strives to develop exceptional leaders grounded in Scripture and characterized by thoughtful engagement.” The group is led by Coordinator of Outdoor and Adventure Education, Joshua Hayes. Hayes started Impact in 2016 through conversations with Larry Hardesty and President McNulty to fill the student body’s need for outdoor adventure. Impact is centered on developing leadership. “The intention of Impact is to train and develop student leaders so that they, in turn, can lead their peers,” Hayes said. The trips are also designed to teach students to engage with the outdoors and learn how God shows us who he is through what he has made. Impact desires that students think more deeply and develop an awareness about why we are drawn to nature and how God shapes his people through his world. Besides leadership, Impact hopes to foster reflectiveness in students. Hayes emphasized the importance of “being able to take the time to pause and think about the experiences and the things that are happening to them and how they’re shaping them.” During and after trips, conversation is facilitated that focuses on topics to help students understand what is going on around them and inside them. Another quality Impact seeks to develop is compassion. Students will learn how to care for themselves and others well.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMPACTGCC
Junior Freddy Raup, senior Bryton Maclennan and sophomore Justin Panzarella stand in the mountains in Ouray, Colo., on a trip led by Impact. The group went to Ouray this past January to experience God’s creation through ice climbing. Impact helps students develop leadership skills as they engage with the world around them. “There’s much need for grace and mercy and love for each other,” Hayes said. Hayes was involved in an outdoor ministry program when he attended Gannon University that was also called Impact and inspired the name for Grove City College’s program. The program introduced Hayes to integrated outdoor education and was the setting for his Christian conversion. As an education major, Hayes realized what a valuable space Impact is for learning – removed from distractions while engaging in God’s creation. Gan-
McNulty hosts seniors Anna DiStefano Staff Writer
Senior women are cordially invited to “Lord, teach us to pray,” a Bible study hosted by First Lady Brenda McNulty and taught by Women’s Ministries Coordinator Elizabeth Messer. The study, which held its first meeting on Feb. 6th, focuses on learning different types of prayer: gratitude and adoration, surrender, provision, forgiveness, protection and intercession. Each type of prayer is taken from phrases of The Lord’s Prayer. Anticipating the popularity of such a study, McNulty and Messer decided to limit it to senior women. Senior year is a tumultuous time for many students, so many participate in the study to stay grounded. McNulty and Messer have found that even though all the participants are seniors, the group is diverse, whether that be in maturity of faith, prayer life or plans after graduation. It is with this audience in mind that Messer chose prayer as this semester’s topic. In the introduction to the study’s workbook, Messer writes to the students, “What tools can we share with you to equip you for this season of transition that lies before you? …
As I listened and prayed, I kept coming back to prayer.” Senior Emily Paszko serves as one of the student leaders of the study, a group of eight women who went through the study in the fall semester and lead the small group breakouts this semester. “I chose to accept a leadership position because I thought this study, focused on prayer, would be meaningful and help me deepen my faith in God,” Paszko said. Referencing Isaiah 40:8, which explains the eternity of the scriptures, McNulty emphasized the importance of being a part of a Bible study, “If we study the Bible and understand what it says we will put its principles to work in our lives and that will make people want to know Jesus more. Knowing Jesus and loving him and my neighbor leads to a blessed life.” Paszko appreciates the topic of the study, saying, “I have learned how essential prayer is to finding rest and true peace.” Both McNulty and Messer enjoy being a part of students’ lives through the study. “My favorite part of the study is when we break up into small groups and you can hear from the participation in the smaller group PRAYER 5
non’s program was through the Coalition for Christian Outreach which Hayes has worked with for 15 years. Impact leads trips from a day of hiking to week-long trips in places around the country. Last January, the group went ice-climbing in Colorado. Other long trips have been to Joshua Tree, the Grand Canyon and New Hampshire. For shorter trips, Impact has traveled to McConnell’s Mill and other local areas for hiking, biking and rock climbing. Past trips have taken place over spring and January
breaks, but the shorter, local trips can take place on a weekend. There are several ways to get involved in Impact. The first way is through the student leadership team, which involves an application process that takes place in the fall. It is for students who not only want to participate in these kinds of opportunities, but also earn how to design and create these opportunities for others and be intentional with outdoor space. The second way is to participate in an open-enrollment trip. These could be anything
from a two-hour clinic to an hours-long weekend trip that teaches different outdoor skills. The break trips are also a great way to get involved. The last way is being involved in another group on campus. Hayes works with other groups, such as ICO trips and sports teams, to develop certain skills and do team building exercises. If you have any questions or are interested in learning more about Impact, follow Impact on their Instagram page (@impactgcc) or contact Hayes in the Student Life & Learning Office.
Scrambling for the ring Alejandra Flores Staff Writer
Down the steps. To your right you see the Grove City sign, and anxiety begins to build. It’s been three years now, and you couldn’t be happier. But in your gut, you know the next step will have to be made, if you and your boyfriend are going to make it all the way. And that’s why you breathe a heavy sigh as you take step after step on those stairs that you’ve walked up holding hands so many times. Anticipation begins to claw its way through your entire body. Your friends told you to “meet” them at rainbow bridge at sunset. What are the odds? And that’s when you see him, kneeling. He’s holding a small red box tied with a ribbon, and you feel the tears begin to stream down your face. That’s when the smile slowly spreads as the spring chill wisps your hair out of your face. All those jokes you and your friends would make freshman year just came true. You became the typical Grover Couple. Ring by spring, the typical Grover catch phrase, has been around for longer than
T. Scott Gordon, director of student activities and programs, can remember. Gordon has seen many things in his nearly 30 years on staff at Grove City, especially when it comes to relationships and marriages. “The phrase ‘ring by spring’ is, and always has been a student-inspired saying,” Gordon said. In fact, at various points the phrase has been “down played by the College administration—because of course marriage is a highly personal and individual choice.” Hilary (Lewis) Walzcak ’09, College archivist, said that ring by spring marriages were common in her days as a student. “When I was a student I would say it was as prevalent as it is now but there might be more engagements now than when I was a student.” “The class before me had far more engagements than my class. I think if you looked back to the 1950s and 1960s you would see a much higher rate of engagement and marriage.
Many factors combine to create the intense pressure students can feel to get that ring by spring, Gordon said. “Our campus offers many opportunities to begin and strengthen strong interpersonal relationship. There are over a 2000 women and men on campus who are of like mind, like belief and entering a stage of life when they are at liberty to contemplate remaining single or dating,” Gordon said. “We are a Christian college campus and if seeking a life partner is something that a student desires these four years provide an opportunity,” Gordon said.
Community
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Feb. 15, 2019 Who said there’s NOTHING to do in Grove City?
Tonight Orchestra Concert 7:30 - 8:30 p.m., Ketler Auditorium Ballroom Club 5 - 6:30 p.m., PLC Dance Studio Chinese New Year Celebration 5:30 - 9 p.m.,
Mendelssohn Choir members bring their program “Let My People Go” to Grove City College at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Ketler Auditorium. the performance highlights Black History Month to portray to experience of the underground railroad.
GCC
Honoring black history
Katheryn Frazier Staff Writer
The College will hear angels sing when the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh showcases their program of “Let My People Go” at Grove City College. The program is under the musical direction of Matthew Mehaffey, who directs the Oratorio Society of Minnesota and is an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. In addition, the college’s very own Touring Choir will assist in singing alongside the Mendelssohn Choir for the performance. The event will take place tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Ketler Auditorium. “Let My People Go” portrays the experience
of the underground railroad and was composed by Donald McCullough. Spiritual and code songs are emphasized in the piece from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Slavery and the celebration of African American culture are especially highlighted in the program. Actors will inform the audience on a piece’s historical background during the performance and four soloists are featured. Emily Stewart, Communication Manager for the Mendelssohn Choir, said that the choir worked on the music for the program for a year and partnered with one of the oldest churches in Pittsburgh because of its connections to
the underground railroad. Those interested in history and music should especially take interest in the program. “Each and every one of these people are fantastic musicians in their own right, and everyone is extremely dedicated and passionate about music,” Stewert said “I have been a member of this choir for the last 13 seasons, and it’s such a pleasure to come to rehearsal and perform with these incredibly talented and dedicated singers!” The choir was founded in 1908 and is known for being the oldest performing arts organization in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has worked with the group on multiple occasions
and have performed at other regional venues around the state. The ensemble is considered professional even though only 30 singers are professional. The remainder of the 110 members consists of community members of different backgrounds from teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, nurses and other professions. The group holds a Steinway Artist recognition – the only chorus with the unique distinction – and recently sang with Andrea Bocelli last December at the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Stewart noted that the choir is very versatile as it has been able to sing classical works to more contemporary pieces. Previously,
the ensemble has performed music by Danny Elfman, Radiohead, U2, Gershwin, Handel, Beethoven and Haydn. The ensemble has even premiered “The Times They Are AChangin’: The Words and Music of Bob Dylan” composed by Steve Hackman. Later in the season, the choir anticipates performing in celebration of Queen Victoria’s 200th birthday in May. Admission is needed to attend their performance of “Let My People Go” tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. in Ketler Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online. Fees are as follows: student admission: $10; faculty or staff: $15; and general admission: $20.
Staff Writer
Tomorrow, Grove City College will have a blast—a math blast, that is. This event is designed to provide fun and active math lessons for children kindergarten through eighth grade. Each child chooses two lessons to attend that are designed for their respective age ranges. This event has been going on at Grove City College since 2002 and usually hosts about 90 to 130 children from the surrounding community. The Grove City College Department of Mathematics pays for all expenses. Education majors attending Grove City College will teach the lessons with a couple of volunteer students acting as aides. “We rely on many volunteers, as each lesson is taught by one teacher and one or two aides,” Dr. Kelleen Bonomo said in reference to volunteers for the event. It is too late to volunteer to help this year, however, the event happens annually and is a good way for students to get involved in the community next year.
This year’s age ranges include kindergarten through first grade, first through second grade, third through fifth grade, fifth through seventh grade, sixth through eighth grade, and seventh through eighth grade. The event is broken up into three sessions. The first session is registration. During this time, the children from the community will sign up. The event has no pre-registration. The next session is the first lesson that each child will attend. There are two choices for each of the age ranges. The first lesson lasts from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Then, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m., the second lesson takes place. Each child will choose a different lesson to attend from a new selection of lessons during the second time slot. The co-chairs for the event are Mary Buchanan, Hali Songer, Belle Kivala, Monica Boyd and Jordan Bucci. There are 18 lessons this year that include, but are not limited to, Pattern Penguins, Egyptian Math and Gymnast Geometry. Registration will start at 9 a.m. in HAL.
Saturday Swimming & Diving PAC Championships 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Physical Learning Center Galentine’s Day 7 - 9 p.m., STU Great Room Mendelssohn Choir Performance 7:30 - 9:30 p.m., Ketler Auditorium Hymn Sing 9 - 10 p.m., Harbison Chapel
Sunday Vespers 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.,
Math blast comes to GCC Jacob Schiela
Ket Rec
Harbison Chapel
Monday Monday Night Dancing 9 - 11 p.m., PLC 283
Tuesday Grief Group 7 - 8 p.m., Rathburn
Wednesday Men’s Lacrosse vs. Mount Union 7 - 9 p.m., Swing Dance KAREN POSTUPAC
First Lady Brenda McNulty and Elizabeth Messer, Women’s Ministries coordinator, host a weekly bible study for senior women in the McNultys’ home.
PRAYER continued from 5 how the students are already processing what they have heard, and God is planting seeds in their lives that will bear fruit over time,” McNulty said. Messer enjoys hearing how the students have gotten to where they are, commenting that the study is
“one small part of what God’s already up to.” Being a part of a study means building a community of believers that can come together, keeping each other accountable and serving as a source of encouragement. Messer emphasized that in a group, people can get to know God in a fuller way. “You’re going to meet him someday,” McNulty
said, “don’t you want to know more about him?” McNulty and Messer hope that the study will be an opportunity for students to grow closer to God and prepare for their spiritual life after Grove City. “It is my hope that these senior women will leave GCC and find a study somewhere, organize one if they can’t find one or teach one,” McNulty said.
7 - 9:30 p.m., Crawford Auditorium
Thursday Tartuffe Performance 7:30 – 10:30 p.m., Ketler Auditorium Warriors for Christ 9 - 10 p.m., Harbison Chapel
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Feb. 15, 2019
Through the Lens
PHOTO COURTESY OF LIBBY STEWART
Pledges go active
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID PERRINE
PHOTO COURTESY OF SERENITY MORRIS
PHOTO COURTESY OF JACOB GISH
The Collegian
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Feb. 15, 2019
PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH RECTENWALD
Reflecting on Pledge As Greek Unity Week ends and new actives take their place in their respective groups, I can’t help but think about how much we grow after signing a bid. Many of us choose Greek life for the social community, the friendships or quite honestly the weekend plans. But we leave our groups as leaders, and men and women who choose to set aside our differences to share the same traditions. I learned how to earn not only the friendship but respect of my sisters, and will always be grateful for the women who saw my true potential before I saw it in myself. There is beauty in individuality but true joy in unity. And Greek or not, we owe much to the people who lift us up in our college years and beyond. Rio Arias ’19 Sigma Delta Phi PHOTO COURTESY OF LiIBBY STEWART
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMI BARTEK
Perspectives
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Feb. 15, 2019
Love to hate on Valentine’s Day
Joshua Tatum Staff Writer
I hate Valentine’s Day. I hate the sappy cards. I hate those little candy hearts etched with romantic platitudes. And most of all, I hate those smarmy couples brazenly brandishing their new-found puppy-love everywhere they go. But that’s just the cynic in me: the reality is far worse. The reality being that Valentine’s Day is but a one-day intensification of the larger ever-present pressure to find true love while at college. At Grove City, it’s “ring by spring,” the disembodied dinning of “Wolf Creek” across campus and the horror of seeing your purportedly sane friends dropping like flies around junior or senior year. At home, it’s worse. For the men, it’s a tongue-in-cheek ask of how many girls he’s had to “fend off with a stick.” For the women, it’s the ever-present pressure to get their “MRS” degree. Indeed, according to the Women’s Independent Forum, 63 percent of women enter college expecting to meet their spouse. The men – too busy hiding their true emotions under a mask of stoicism – could not be reached for comment. All of these pressures conspire to do two things. The first is to jovially lull the young lovers into an eternal, unbreakable bond. And the second is to remind the singles just how alone and unwanted they truly are. According to Facebook data, among religiously-affiliated schools, there is a particularly strong trend of marrying a fellow classmate or alum. The LDS-owned Brigham Young University had, as of 2013, an astounding 60 percent of graduates married to a spouse that also went to BYU. It doesn’t have to be this way. If we assume that the happiness of a marriage is directly related to the compatibility of the persons involved, it should be a simple matter of potential partners meeting as many criteria as possible. For many, Grove City is the first opportunity to dip into a dating pool of similarly interesting and well-educated people. The important thing is to realize it won’t be the last opportunity. For example, online dating simplifies the otherwise arduous dating process to the point that not finding someone who ticks a majority of your boxes is a near statistical impossibility. To state my own biases, all three of my happily married sisters found their husbands online. Still others will meet their Venus or Adonis through mutual friends, work or church. The point here – and I’m looking at you freshmen – is to slow down and tread lightly. I know I’m not the same person I was when I arrived. Rather, my growth continued within a new context. College is about individual self-discovery and by choosing a romantic relationship as one’s context, it is possible to be insulated from that all-important growth. There are, of course, those exceptional people who find true love here and it works out beautifully. But you and I, mortals that we are, are probably not one of them. To summarize: stick to your studies and just stay buddies.
Forgetting to forgive Paige Fay Community Editor
Since when did the concept of forgive and forget get forgotten? The situation with Virginia Governor Northam and his blackface scandal elicits a lot of thoughts and feelings related to political correctness, partisanship and decorum. However, the strongest feeling is that of fear. The Northam scandal is merely a microcosm of forgiveness in the secular world. Northam is not the brightest politician (almost moonwalking at a press conference about the blackface scandal? Really?), but his actions in office speak much louder than his actions in medical school 35 years ago. He’s the posterchild for liberal policy. Abortion is a woman’s unrestricted right? Check. Opposes absolute rights to gun ownership? Check. Allow illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses? You bet. You would think that at least Democrats would try to defend him because of his efforts to appease them. In the weeks before the photo was released, Northam celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with First Baptist Church in Capeville, VA, a church at which King him-
Northam is not the brightest politician (almost moonwalking at a press conference about the blackface scandal? Really?), but his actions in office speak much louder than his actions in medical school 35 years ago. self preached. He also is contributing his childhood experiences with Samuel Outlaw, a black blacksmith from his hometown of Onancock, for a documentary about his life for a local museum. Those don’t sound like the behaviors of a blackfacewearing racist. Instead of defining him by his recent actions, he is being crucified by Democrats, Republicans and the media alike for a mistake made 35 years ago in a time where political correctness was not the authoritarian it is today. But the problem of this situation goes much deeper than race. It boils down to being human. I have my fair share of mistakes from the past that I would like to keep there; everyone does. We all have those decisions that hound our thoughts even years lat-
er. What makes Northam any different? His record while in office has been a clean one, showing that he has been reaching towards the high standard of conduct placed on individuals in the public eye. Is that not enough to show a heart that has had 35 years to change? But, apparently, the high standard of conduct today means perfection. Understanding my own faults and being aware of others’, how long before it becomes impossible to ever pursue a career in politics? If someone doesn’t like you or your policies, they simply have to dig around in the distant past to find some dirt that will make you resign. Perfection is impossible, so best of luck to any aspiring politicians. Part of forgiveness is acknowledging that we aren’t perfect. The other part of forgiveness is growth. Only from forgiveness can we be allowed to grow from imperfection. Forgiven mistakes shape and form us and make us into who we are today and who we will be tomorrow. This applies to politics and to everyday life. As recent events have shown, the world doesn’t seem to find forgiveness relevant. But as Christians we know that forgiveness is more relevant than ever. In a world that has forgotten to forgive, we must forgive their forgetfulness.
Weed: The good, the bad and the ugly Emily Geiger
Staff Writer
The debate over marijuana legislation is increasing. Some states, like California and Colorado, have already legalized the plant for commercial use. Others, like Arizona and Montana, only allow marijuana for medical use. So the question has to be asked, should states continue to allow the legalization of marijuana? Or is this a major error in our legislative system? Medical marijuana, just one type of marijuana that is being debated, has a lot of speculation. Some cry out that medical marijuana can be life changing, while others say that it is more dangerous than it is worth. Those in favor of medical marijuana say it can relieve the spasticity of the muscles that is sometimes associated with multiple sclerosis and paralysis. They also argue that it can help treat appetite loss associated with conditions such as HIV/AIDS and certain types of cancers. Many says that marijuana is safer than some other medications prescribed to treat the same symptoms. For example, it may be used instead
of opioids for pain management. Opioids are highly addictive and are typically not recommended for long-term use in treating chronic pain. Proponents argue that marijuana can help fight against the opioid epidemic. They also cite recent studies which say that smoking marijuana alone does not increase the risk of lung diseases. Lastly, cannabis proponents say that it does not need to be smoked to be medically beneficial. Products such as cannabidiol oils, topical treatments, edibles and other non-smoking applications are now available. On the other side, opponents say that frequent marijuana use can seriously affect your short-term memory. As a result, common use can impair your cognitive ability. Even taking account of those recent studies, opponents say that smoking anything, whether it’s tobacco or marijuana, can seriously damage your lung tissue and contains cancer-causing compounds. Finally, they cite the fact that marijuana has played a major role in automobile crashes. As I researched this topic, I came to the conclusion that medical marijuana should be legalized. Although I am not for it recreationally, I believe WEED 9
Perspectives V for Venezuela
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Feb. 15, 2019
President Maduro continues to lead Venezuelan nation into poverty
Connor Schlosser Staff Writer
The oppressive legacy of Hugo “El Comandante” Chavez lives on - a man who promised an end to corruption and poverty, and established equality among social classes was ultimately unsuccessful. Chavez was able to deliver equality to the people, but it was through nationwide poverty. Chavez, who passed away almost six years ago now, is still very much alive in the form of his successor, Nicolas Maduro. A dedicated disciple to the political ideology referred to simply as “Chavism,” Maduro is arguably a more ruthless communist poster boy than “El Comandante” himself. Venezuela, which originally elected the non-traditional leader Chavez and consequently now Maduro, has been suffering from exhaustion thanks to the failures of their own government. “1st in proved crude oil reserves, 7th in proved natural gas reserves, 8th in crude oil exporting,” reads the numbers on CIA Factbook for
Venezuela’s energy world ranking. How is Venezuela ahead of Saudi Arabia in crude oil reserves, yet is subject to severe inflation where citizens cannot afford the most basic of necessities such as toilet paper? Perhaps, maybe the better question is, “How has Venezuela gone on like this for so long?” With heavy nationalization of industry and increasing government debt, Venezuela has been another victim of a cruel communist experiment. In order to secure his position and support, Nicolas Maduro constructed a new legislature solely out of his own advocates and fellow Chavists in 2017. His act of bypassing the pre-existing legislature known as the National Assembly of Venezuela and his own designing of a “Constituent Assembly” has been subject to criticism by the people of Venezuela and many countries worldwide. The New York Times wrote, “The new entity, the Constituent Assembly, was formed to rewrite the Constitution, though its members quickly granted themselves wideranging authority to write and pass legislation, allowing the body to supersede
the National Assembly. Now in 2019, the Constituent Assembly unseemly holds all legislative power while the National Assembly remains irrelevant. Venezuela has been devastated by poverty and is (to say the least) agitated by its own government. Out of the several riots that have ensued in recent months from this agitation appears a Venezuelan politician who desires change for his country. The majority leader of the existent yet powerless National Assembly, Juan Guaido, has emerged as a political leader that Venezuelans have so suddenly begun to support. Guaido has boldly proclaimed himself as the new interim president publicly. His unflinching desire to see change for his country has gained the support of the majority of his fellow Venezuelans. Fellow South American countries have echoed their support in recognizing Guaido as interim president such as Guatemala, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Columbia, Argentina and Brazil. Beyond South America, the UK and the United States have also recognized the young Guaido as president of Venezuela.
In contrast, Bolivia, Cuba, Mexico, Turkey, Russia and even China have refused this motion and believe Maduro is the rightful leader. The European Union warned Maduro to hold a new election for president since he has made a controversial move to have himself re-elected recently. Maduro stubbornly rejected this ultimatum. Many European nations have since joined in for support of Guaido. Yet Russia has accused both the U.S. and the EU for interfering with Venezuelan decisions. The U.S. has involved itself with Venezuela in order to restore democracy to the country. Sanctions have been implemented by the U.S. against Venezuela. A source from CNBC states, “The sanctions aim to transfer control of Venezuela’s oil wealth to forces that oppose socialist dictator Nicolas Maduro and deprive the strongman of resources that
Super Bowl is super influential Alejandra Flores Contributing Writer
The Super Bowl, watched by millions, is loved for the sport, commercials and halftime show. Even if you do not watch football, you watch the Super Bowl. It is the great American sports even. But what happens when it becomes political? Over the past years, the NFL has become more political, with individuals such as Kaepernick sparking the controversial kneeling movement that made many people question the NFL’s tactics and motives. Kaeprnick’s protests sparked a debate over whether the NFL should be political or not. Fast forward to Super Bowl 53. This year many of the commercials were hitting on racial issues and stressing racial equality and diversity. Playing the Super Bowl during Black History Month makes many question whether their motives for such an emphasis on issues dealing with race were influenced and almost forced upon by Black History Month. However, while they may have good intentions, many feel that so many commercials and emphasis on racial issues during and after the Super Bowl is not the NFL’s territory. It
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is safe to assume that the NFL now has been emphasizing racial issues because of issues like the kneeling during the national anthem. While this makes sense, many argue that even though this may be a just cause, the NFL has no right to publicize such political opinions. After all, games aren’t a classroom; people actually want to be at them. But the issue with this logic lies with the fact that as Americans we have a right to be heard and a right to say things as well.
Even though the Super Bowl sets itself as something that all may enjoy despite their race, political opinion or religious background, it is still allowed to say something. While they do not necessarily deal with that field of thought, they are still allowed to play commercials that emphasize racial issues, politics or even religion. Raising awareness for issues may seem unrated at times, but the more people know the better. There are still racial issues in
America. Many times, people want to sweep that under the rug and pretend like there’s nothing there. However, commercials and comments made during the Super Bowl do raise awareness for issues such as these. Whether you agree or disagree or believe just not at the same extent, commercials like those make you think. They inform you causing you to be aware, to be aware of whether you agree or disagree. If anything, the emphasis on diversity issues causes
people to question our justice system and reevaluate whether or not what America has been doing is right and just. That is the beauty of America, no matter what shows, who talks or where you are, you have the choice on what you will believe and what you support. Therefore, while the Super Bowl may just be another day for the pigskin, remember there are issues that need fixing and because of where we live we have the power to change them.
could prolong his grip of power.” Major world powers have all been choosing sides on this crisis. An established, originally elected, yet corrupt and reckless government has been the centerpiece of an economic proxy war. A large number of those countries in support of Maduro have, at one point or another, been linked to communist control, while those against Maduro have typically been under democratic government. It would be negligent to ignore the history the two sides share. Is this Venezuelan geopolitical conflict another Russian-American tug of war or something more extensive? Many Venezuelan families have been uprooted and are leaving their homes behind to escape the internal struggle of poverty and violence for years now. Pray Venezuela will soon find peace and stability.
WEED continued from 8 that the benefits outweigh the costs. As long as marijuana is regulated properly, like any medical drug, I believe it can bring a lot of help to a lot of people. I believe that it shouldn’t be smoked, in order to avoid lung damage and cancer causation. It should be people who are experiencing extreme pain, and not as a replacement for ibuprophen or other pain relief drugs. Lastly, it should be illegal to drive with the substance in your system to prevent risk. I think medical marijuana should be an option to people who are experiencing extreme pain and want to avoid the dangers of other powerful drugs. A few years ago, my grandmother died of stage four melanoma cancer. It was horrible for her. She was a 68-year-old diabetic whose body grew extremely weak. She was taking so many opioids for the pain. By the end of her life, all she wanted was relief from the physical suffering she had to endure. If she would have been allowed to have medical marijuana, the last few months of her life could have been more comfortable, enjoyable and manageable. I wish she would have been able to have access to it, because it would have made that dark time easier for herself and my family. Evil will always exist. There will continue to be drug lords who kill, abuse and hurt those in their way. There will continue to be bored teenagers who want to smoke to forget about their problems. People who want to abuse marijuana will continue to do so even if it is illegal. However, people who could actually use the plant for its intended use still continue to not have access due to legislative restrictions. I believe that medical marijuana should be given to those who actually need it and should be regulated in order to prevent issues.
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Feb. 15, 2019
Entertainment
Bundy conversation resurges Grace Tarr
Managing Editor Former teenage heartthrob Zach Efron is branching out from his genre of teenage romance and romantic comedies to explore a psychologically disturbing role as Ted Bundy in Netflix’s newest crime thriller. The movie is based upon the real activities of the ‘70s law student turned suave serial killer, Ted Bundy. Until the ‘70s, the notion of a serial killer was essentially unknown in America. With the tensions of Vietnam still fresh and widespread political unrest after Nixon, the ‘70s were a time of societal strain in America. In the Northwest, killer Ted Bundy began his rash of murders against this backdrop of discontent. Bundy received his bachelor’s in psychology and was notably intune with his motives and the inner workings of his mind. He was a showman in interviews when in prison, and interviewers found that they could not get information about his motive until they asked him to speak in the third person. When Bundy began narrating his life, the shocking revelation of his troubled mind was revealed. Bundy said that his obsession with torture and murder began with an addiction to pornography. From this, he began to play out his sick fantasies in real life, abducting and murdering women between the ages of 18-24 across the north and south west of the country. “Extremely Wicked,
USATODAY.COM
Zach Efron plays Ted Bundy in the upcoming 2019 film “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile” which follows the life of the 1970’s serial killer. Efron’s casting caused controversy over Hollywood glorifying a serial killer. Shockingly Evil, and Vile” has received criticism for casting Efron as the lead because of his charm and the concern that producers are glorifying a killer. Bundy himself was noted to be a charmer with rugged good looks and a promising future in politics. However, will this new drama highlight these attributes in such a way that glorifies the hideous legacy of a serial killer? One of the most chilling aspects of the Ted Bundy case is that he was respected and loved by his friends, girlfriend and LDS Church community. Yet, this seemingly normal and successful young man had the ability to brutally molest and murder young women in cold blood. It is disconcerting to realize that monsters do not always lurk in the
shadows, sometimes they stand in broad daylight. It is the ageold discomfort with a sheep in wolf’s clothing. Kevin Fallon from the Daily Beast said, “There’s little in the way of dissection or even depiction of the murders, which has the absurd effect of elevating Efron’s winsome Bundy into a protagonist you root for getting away with it all,” Fallon writes. “And as for any insight into Bundy’s psychology— why he did it, how he thought he could get away with it, why he maintained his innocence for so long— there’s none of that.” The Ted Bundy case raises questions of societal trust, the power of presentation and humanity’s discomfort with the depths of darkness possible in the human heart. The backlash to the casting of Zach Efron as
Twitter users state their opinions pertaining to Zach Efron’s casting as Ted Bundy for “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile.” Ted Bundy is perhaps more indicative of the natural dissonance created by such a criminal mind. Netflix recently released a documentary
‘Cold Pursuit’ shows Neeson in unorthodox thriller David Smith Staff Writer
In the past 10 years since “Taken,” Liam Neeson has been in action/thriller films. “Cold Pursuit” is no exception. However, this film might just be his best leading role since the 2011 movie “The Grey.” “Cold Pursuit,” a remake of the 2014 Norwegian film “In Order of Disappearance,” is the story of a father whose son is mysteriously murdered by a local drug gang. Neeson, who plays Nelson Coxman, is a snowplow driver who is awarded “Citizen of the Year” in the resort town Kehoe, Colorado. His life is seemingly perfect until he is told that his son has died from a heroin overdosed. Eventually, the pieces of the puzzle come together, and Coxman is determined to avenge his son. The plot later thickens when
the drug lord assumes that the local Native Americans are on his tail and betrays their trust. Consequently, both Coxman and the Native Americans are unknowingly collaborating to bring down the drug lord. What makes “Cold Pursuit” an interesting film is that it is not a conventional action/ thriller. It is not like Neeson’s past action films. “Cold Pursuit” incorporates an appropriate amount of humor, albeit dark and uniquely tacky. There is one scene in particular where Coxman asks one of the drug lord’s correspondents who the better quarterback is: “Elway or Manning,” and the man answers “Elway,” which is the correct answer. However, Coxman is merciless and shoots him anyway. There are plenty of jokes in the film, some of which are off-putting, and there is
the depiction of family life as a beautiful aspect that can easily be taken for granted. Overall, the film lets the audience know the importance of family, which makes it quite endearing. Upon its release, “Cold Pursuit” has been receiving excellent reviews. Johnny Oleksinski of the New York Post writes that the film “is a rollicking good time and one of the action star’s better revenge tales.” Oleksinski also writes that the film “is the best thing about Liam Neeson’s horrible week.” Neeson has been stirring up controversy with a recent interview about a time, roughly forty years ago, when his friend was “brutally raped” and he felt the urge to avenge her. However, Neeson explained in the interview that the man was black, and so Neeson has been accused of racism. Still, stars like
Michelle Rodriguez, Whoopi Goldberg and Terry Crews are supporting Neeson, stating that he is not racist. Neeson expressed remorse in a follow-up interview on Good Morning America. It is easy enough for a person to get caught up in his or her emotions when injustice is perpetrated against someone he or she loves. Neeson may not have used the right or politically correct words when attempting to make a connection between “Cold Pursuit” and his friend’s tragic story, but that does not detract from the film or his character. “Cold Pursuit” still managed to be the third highest grossing film this past weekend, although it did not perform as well as expected. Regardless, it is a film that will fit well into Neeson’s impressive filmography.
series titled “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” which is a fitting precursor to the movie set to be released in late 2019. Netflix plans
to release the movie in theaters so that Efron can be nominated for awards before they release it to their streaming service.
BLUE RIBBON
commission’s recommendations were steps in the right direction. “I am hopeful that with recommendations like this from the Blue Ribbon commission and other parts of the country that real progress is going to be made,” he said. The independent, bipartisan commission was convened in May 2018 by Hickton and McNulty, both former U.S. Attorneys, with support from The Heinz Endowments and the Charles H. Spang Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation. The commission is hosted by Pitt Cyber and is in collaboration with Verified Voting and Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute CERT Division. The commission assessed the cybersecurity of Pennsylvania’s election architecture, including voting machines and election management systems, the voter registration system, and recovery and resilience in the event of a cyberattack or other technological failure.”
continued from 3 Secretary of Homeland Security, said the report underscores the need to quickly implement changes. “The significant threats to the security of our election system demand swift and bold action by Pennsylvania’s leaders,” said Gov. Ridge. “The Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvania’s Election Security has issued a thoughtful and thorough report that provides a clear roadmap for officials to do what is needed to protect our democracy. Now is the time to act.” In September, the commission released interim recommendations to replace insecure Direct Recording Electronic (DRE) voting systems with those that incorporate votermarked paper ballots, such as optical scan machines, and for state and federal governments to help counties cover associated costs. Speaking to the Collegian in September, Jeff Greenburg, Mercer County’s Director of Elections, said that the
Sports The Brow is on the move
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Feb. 15, 2019
James Sutherland Editor-in-Chief
The major news at this year’s NBA trade deadline was less about which players moved teams, and more about which player did not. Anthony Davis, a 6’10” forward who can shoot, dribble and run like a guard, publicly asked the New Orleans Pelicans to trade him a few weeks before last week’s deadline. Davis’ preferred destination was obvious: Los Angeles, to play with LeBron James and the Lakers, not least because Davis is represented by Rich Paul and Klutch Sports, the agency that LeBron co-founded. Davis is one of the handful of players in the league that can rightly be called “championship stars.” Like LeBron, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and a few others, Davis can single-handedly put a team into title contention. He is one of the few truly transformative players in the league, an offensive and defensive force. Last season he propelled the Pelicans into the playoffs with a late push, averaging 31 points and 12 rebounds per game as the Pelicans closed the season with a 20-7 record. But now Davis wants out, fed up with the Pelicans injury mismanagement and poor team-building. The problem is, the Pelicans
have all the leverage. Davis is under contract until the end of next season, so New Orleans did not need to rush to trade Davis. And they did not. The Lakers reportedly threw every valuable asset they had on the table: five young players, including Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram, as well as four or five first round draft picks. The Pelicans turned that offer down. Part of the reason for their rejection may have been out of spite for the Lakers, who were widely perceived to have violated league rules in covertly encouraging Davis to leave. But most of the reason is because the Pelicans, wisely, realized that this summer will provide more interesting opportunities for deals. In the summer, the Boston Celtics can join the bidding and offer their much more interesting package of assets. Whatever the Celtics offer will certainly be built around Jaylen Brown, a potential All-Star caliber player, as well as a bevy of first round picks and other solid young athletes. The Pelicans are wise to wait until the summer. They can sit Davis the rest of the year, tanking for a higher draft pick. Then, in the summer, they can flip Davis for more and better picks than what the Lakers have to of-
Davis is one of the few truly transformative players in the league, an offensive and defensive force. fer, jump-starting their own rebuild while letting Davis get his wish. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference was ablaze with action. The New York Knicks traded their young star, Kristaps Porzingis, to the Dallas Mavericks for two players they will let go and player they do not value as much this summer. Why trade such a valuable young star for relatively little? Because the Knicks have longer-term plans in mind. This trade helped them clear the cap space necessary to sign two star players. Which stars? Most likely it will be Golden State’s Kevin Durant and Boston’s Kyrie Irving. The Knicks’ trade is gutsy, but if it works then that franchise will be set for years. The three main contenders in the East all, somewhat quietly, improved. The Milwaukee Bucks and Toronto Raptors both picked up big men who add an offensive and defensive edge to their teams.
Track and field compete at Baldwin Wallace
Price Styer
Track Beat Writer Grove City College’s indoor track and field teams competed Friday night at Baldwin Wallace University’s MidFebruary Meet. The women’s team finished the meet with 30 team points, earning them seventh place in the team standings. Division II Indiana University of PA women’s team won the title with 136 points. The men’s team recorded two wins with two other men setting program records, placing them fourth out of nine teams. They finished with 70 team points. Division II Indiana University of PA men’s team joined the women atop the podium, winning the title with 128 points. On the women’s team, senior Elizabeth Donahoe led Grove City’s efforts by winning the 500 meters, breaking her own Grove City record with a time of 1 minute, 21.98 seconds. Donahoe also took fifth in the 200 meters with a time of 28.33 seconds. Sophomore Karen Prem took fifth in the mile while sophomore Emma Lizewski earned fifth in the triple jump with a best mark of 33 feet, 5 3/4 inches. Sophomore Ellie Reed captured fifth in the pole vault by clearing 8 feet, 6 inches. Sophomore Olivia
GCC
Track and field compete at the Mid-February Meet at Baldwin Wallace University. Lowe took seventh in the 800, one spot ahead of junior Maddie Graner. Graner took eighth in a time of 2:43.40. Senior Tabitha White placed eighth in the 400. On the men’s team, senior Ryan Budnik led Grove City’s effort on the track by winning the 3000 meters in a time of 9 minutes, 3.92 seconds. Sophomore Jared Gay won the shot-put with a best mark of 48 feet, 6 1/4 inches. Sophomore Matthew Becker set Grove City’s record in the weight throw with a top heave of 39 feet, 9 ¾ inches. He placed sixth overall. Meanwhile, sophomore Christopher Sweeney posted a Grove Cityrecord time of 6.92 seconds in the 55-meter dash. Sweeney took seventh in the 55 meters. Budnik also took second in the mile while Sweeney took second in the triple jump with
a best leap of 42 feet, 2 inches. Freshman Andrew Longjohn placed second in the long jump with a mark of 20 1/2 inches. Sophomore Seth Ray cleared 6 feet, 3 1/2 inches in the high jump to earn second place overall and first among Division III competitors. Freshman Zachary Neu placed fifth in the 55 hurdles while Sweeney placed sixth in the long jump. Sophomore Thomas Troxel finished seventh in the 800. Sophomore Kevin Ballentine and senior Ethan Conto tied for seventh in the pole vault as each man cleared 11 feet, 5 3/4 inches. Sophomore Jacob Dybas took eighth in the long jump by marking at 18 feet, 7 1/4 inches. The Grove City track and field teams will return to action tomorrow at the Mount Union Invitational in Alliance, Ohio.
NOLA.COM
Anthony Davis, the New Orleans Pelicans’ star forward, shook the NBA to its core with his trade request. The Pelicans will wait until at least the summer to trade Davis, after not moving him at the trade deadline. The Philadelphia 76ers, already built around a solid three-man core of Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Jimmy Butler, added a crucial fourth piece: forward Tobias Harris. Harris is a good addition for the Sixers, but he came at a steep cost: the Sixers traded three players and four picks
for him. The trade deadline saw no action on the biggest story line, but a bounty of action along the edges. In the end, how much did it actually affect the championship? Maybe not much. None of the Warriors competitors got better, and Golden State avoid-
ed having to face the monstrosity of LeBron and Davis on the same team. At the same time, the Eastern Conference beefed up, improving at the edges and tying up loose ends. The NBA playoffs will be interesting regardless, but the trade deadline definitely added another wrinkle.
Sports
12
Feb. 15, 2019
Nothin’ but net Men end on strong note Mackenzie Stine
Men’s Basketball Beat Writer
With two games left in the regular season, the Grove City College men’s basketball team broke their winning streak with two tough losses this week, leaving their record at 13-10 overall and 8-6 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference The Wolverines faced non-conference Penn State Altoona Feb. 6th and Thiel Saturday in a conference match. The Wolverines only led once in their 79-65 loss to Penn State Altoona. After Altoona came out with a 21-11 lead, the Wolverines pulled the game to a nail-biter with a 2726 score. However, Altoona took back the lead into halftime and maintained it for the duration of the game. Junior guard Nate Peters and sophomore forward Joe Meola put up 12 points each to lead the Wolverines’ scoring. Senior guard Isaac Williams and sophomore guard Justice Rice in-
creased the score with 9 points apiece. Meola had 5 rebounds for Grove City. He has 116 rebounds total for the season. The Wolverines had a game-high number of steals with 12 during the game. Freshman guard Ben Rose and Peters each claimed 3 steals. The Wolverines then went on the road to play conference opponent Thiel. The Wolverines took a 78-63 loss, dropping the team to fourth in the league. During the game, junior forward James Wells put on a show by putting up 18 points. Wells is the team’s leading scorer with 365 points for the season. Rice added 14 points and Williams put in 11 points. Williams still leads the team in three-pointers with 62. He has a nearly 50 percent three-point average. Wells also had a strong defensive showing with nine rebounds.
GCC
Sophomore Jessica Bowen led Grove City Wolverines with 19 points against Thiel on the way to PACS.
Women soar to PACs Mallory Trumbull
Women’s Basketball Beat Writer
GCC
Senior Isaac Williams shoots against Westminster Wednesday. Williams helped lead the Wolverines to a dramatic overtime win.
With an on-the-road win against Thiel this Saturday, the Grove City College women’s basketball team moved to a record of 14-9 overall. The win over their Presidents’ Athletic Conference rival puts them at a conference record of 9-5. In Saturday’s competition, the Wolverines scored 59 points while the Tomcats scored 47. Sophomore Jess Bowen led the Wolverines with an outstanding 19 points and 9 rebounds. Senior Laura Buchanan wasn’t far behind with 14 points scored in the game. Senior McKenzie Black contributed to the Wolverines offensive efforts by sinking three three-pointers to score a total of 9 points in the
game. Junior Kate Balcom was able to pull down 6 rebounds and score 8 points against rival Thiel. On the defensive end, Balcom had 4 steals to help curb the offensive efforts of rival Thiel. Sophomore Jordan McConnell also contributed 3 steals to help in the win on Saturday. McConnell also recorded a game-high 5 assists to help her team to victory. Grove City forced Thiel to commit 23 turnovers in Saturday’s game. The Wolverines also had a 4334 edge on the glass over their PAC opponent. Grove City shot 22 of 62 from the field, totaling to a shooting percentage of 36 percent. Thiel was only 14 of 50 from the field, totaling to a shooting percentage of just 28 percent.