The Collegian – September 27, 2019

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Smacking down

Volleyball continues strong season with five wins

SPORTS

The

@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper

TAP-ing onto the stage Linklater back in the theater

Students prepare One Acts for annual shows

COMMUNITY

Latest movie is a “sentimental look” at family life and love

ENTERTAINMENT

Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper

Friday, September 27, 2019

Vol. 105, No. 5

Students object to the text Western Civ. book open to interpretation

Erin McLaughlin Contributing Writer

Some students say Grove City College’s Western Civilization textbook expresses a socialist and anti-Christian perspective that undermines Grove City College’s values. They don’t like how “A Concise Survey of Western Civilization” by Brian A. Pavlac presents socialism, Stalin, the Bible, American exceptionalism and other

subjects. With some exception, professors on the committee that selected the textbook counter that the presentations are, in context, historically accurate. The committee consisted of Drs. Gillis Harp, Mark Graham, Paul Kengor, Andrew Mitchell, Paul Schaefer, Jason Edwards and former professor Robert Clemm. Several books were considered, but professors emphasized the low cost and

short length as the motivation for selecting Pavlac’s book. Harp noted that Pavlac’s text was “the least bad” and “not grossly inaccurate.” Even so, Harp noted several places where Pavlac was historically inaccurate. Graham went further, saying that he knew 12 places where he thought Pavlac was “dead wrong.” “If somebody were to write a Grove City style Western Civ textbook, it would look different from this in fundamental ways,” Graham

said. Senior Ally Rapson said that the book “goes against Grove City’s values and vision. The fact that it’s being required of most Western Civilization professors would lead one to conclude that Grove City supports these views.” Dr. David Ayers, the Interim Provost, said he has received student complaints saying that the text promotes “Soviet communism” and is “anti-American and

Time to freshen up Ketler? Paige Fay News Editor

For many in Grove City College’s music and theatre programs, Ketler Auditorium is a second home. Recently, many in the department have voiced concerns about updating the multi-purpose space. Certain technical aspects of the auditorium—such as lighting systems and wiring—have not been updated for several years. “There are different products available now that would make life easier in a lot of different ways,” Technical Director of Pew Fine Arts Center Daniel Wolfe said. “We were just hoping to move on to different solutions that would be a little bit easier to use, give us a better look and ultimately be safer to use since they are newer.” The biggest concern is the band shell that sits behind the band and choir to help with acoustics during performances. According to Wolfe, it was added in the 1970s. The shell is made of very heavy wood and is more difficult to move compared to modern band shells. “It’s very heavy, so if we had a new one that was lighter it would be safer. Not that this one is unsafe, but there’s

anti-Christian.” He said that “our professors and administrators care deeply about input from students, and that we take that into account as we review what we do in our courses, including the text we require.” Ayers also noted that most professors use texts containing “content with which they disagree, and often profoundly.” The issue, he said, is how they balance that in their classroom CIV 3

IFF kicks off the year Fiona Lacey Staff Writer

formances and which require some troubleshooting. “A lot of it is just figuring it out as we go along,” Johanna Young ’19, a stage tech

The Institute for Faith and Freedom’s (IFF) monthly Freedom Readers lectures have officially returned, kicking off Tuesday with a talk on early American Socialism by Folsom Hillsdale College’s Dr. Burt Folsom. Addressing a room packed with students, professors and Grove City residents, the distinguished conservative fellow critiqued the government subsidizations and praised free market capitalism and competition, telling the story of 18th century steamship tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt and his competitor steamship operator Edward Collins. “Raise your hand if you’ve heard this story in your history textbooks?” Folsom asked the audience. No one raised their hands. Folsom nodded and made his point. “That’s what I mean. No one

KETLER 2

IFF 3

PAIGE FAY

Junior Meghan Walsh rehearses her lines for “1776,” the Theatre Program’s musical this semester, in Ketler Auditorium, which needs maintenance according to students and staff. a certain amount of danger with something that weighs so much when we could have another option that doesn’t weigh so much,” Wolfe explained. According to senior Caro-

lyn Connors, a media services student tech in the theater, the old technical systems can cause some inconveniences that are especially noticeable for the theater media services technical team during per-

Polk’s closing sends ripples Anna DiStefano Community Editor

Fiona Lacey Staff Writer

The state is shutting down Venango County’s Polk Center, a home for the developmentally disabled founded in 1893, Teresa Miller, Pennsylvania secretary of human services, announced last month Miller’s announcement caused concern among Polk’s employees and residents, as well as the students of Polk Christian Outreach, a ministry led by Grove City College students. The ministry visits Polk’s residents weekly. Despite the recent news, both students and residents look forward to continuing the development of those special relationships every Wednes-

day night. “Polk gives us the opportunity to serve an underserved group in our community. We get a great opportunity to love these people as Jesus did,” Katie Rish, senior conservation biology major and vice president of Polk Christian Outreach, said. Reverend Jay Montgomery, a chaplain on contract with Polk, has been leading the College’s ministry since 2006. “It’s a very special relationship the people have developed through the years with [the students]. They enjoy meeting with you, [hearing you] say hi and maybe even remembering their names,” Montgomery said. Montgomery began working at Polk in the 80s, when around 2,000 people resided

at Polk. Today, Polk houses only 194. The decline in part explains the state’s rationale for closing the center. According to Montgomery, many residents have lived most of their lives at the center, including some who came at three years old and are now approaching their seventies and eighties. For those who live and work at the center, Polk is its own community, to which Grove City College students contribute. On ministry nights, students teach a Bible story, sing songs, color and visit the residents with whom they have built longtime relationships. This special time, according to senior Shelley Downward, is one where residents POLK 5

FIONA LACEY

The students of Polk Christian Outreach pose on the grounds of the home for the developmentally disabled. The state recently announced it is shutting down the home, causing consternation among students, staff and residents.


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