Prepping the big game Women’s soccer hosts PAC title game tomorrow
SPORTS
Praise him all day
Students lead 24-hour worship service in chapel
COMMUNITY
Cross-over success
Kanye blends secular and Christian with new album
PERSPECTIVES
The
@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Friday, November 8, 2019
Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
Vol. 105, No. 8
Bending the rules
Kengor debuts Reagan film David Zimmermann Staff Writer
IVY NOWAKOWSKI
From left to right, sophomores John Wishing and Molly Miller own the stage alongside senior Ally Echard as Founding Fathers John Adams, Richard Henry Lee and Benjamin Franklin in “1776,” the Theatre Program’s fall musical which ran last week in Ketler Auditorium.
Musical refreshes old story with new casting Alejandra Flores Staff Writer
Grove City College’s Theatre Program took on a tremendous challenge this month: telling a familiar story in a fresh way. The program produced “1776,” a hit musical from the 1960s recounting the signing of the Declaration of Independence, as its annual fall musical. That story is one any good American knows like the back of their hand, presenting Tyler Crumine, director of the musical and artist-inresidence, with the problem of how to present a new take
on an old story. The play found its unique twist with gender-blind casting. Because the play had only two roles for women, Crumine wanted to give the women of Grove City College more roles and opportunity. In fact, most of Congress was played by women. Men filled less than half the cast. While it may seem like a feat to many, junior Jared Stonefield, who played Andrew McNair, hardly took note of the cast’s gender reversals. “Well, I barely even noticed. It’s actually a lot more MUSICAL 3
IVY NOWAKOWSKI
Echard peers at fellow senior Matthew Gervasi, who plays Thomas Jefferson. The musical used gender-blind casting.
Grove City’s very own Guthrie Theatre hosted a one-night-only screening of “The Divine Plan” last night. Based on research by Dr. Paul Kengor, professor of political science and senior chief Kengor academic fellow with the Institute for Faith & Freedom, and directed by Robert Orlando, the documentary chronicles the unlikely relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II as they joined political forces to defeat Communism in the 1980s. Adapted from Kengor’s biography “A Pope and a President,” “The Divine Plan” features interviews with experts such as Douglas Brinkley, Bishop Robert Barron, Anne Applebaum and Kengor himself. Incorporated with historical footage, the documentary also presents animated artwork similar to that of a graphic novel, making it a truly unique film compared to other documentaries. “It’s beautifully done, not just from a historical standpoint but artistically. Watch the film, and you’ll see. It’s a visually riveting work,” Kengor said. In April 2017, the idea for the documentary was born when Orlando was invited to one of Kengor’s lectures at the College. In fact, Kengor intended to speak on some other topic, but his colleagues urged him to talk about his new book, “A Pope and a President,” coming out KENGOR 3
Hume fills Crawford for annual lecture Paige Fay News Editor
Crawford Hall Auditorium was packed Wednesday night with students and community members eager to hear from FOX News Channel’s Senior Political Analyst Brit Hume. Hume took a break from his reporting at the channel in New York City to speak in the Institute for Faith & Freedom’s 13th annual Ronald Reagan lecture. College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 and the Institute’s Senior Chief Academic Fellow Dr. Paul Kengor joined him on the stage to discuss the relationship between the press and the presidents. Hume’s career in broadcast journalism began in 1973 when ABC News hired
him as a consultant in the network’s documentary division. Later, he was promoted to Capitol Hill correspondent and covered George H. W. Bush’s presidential candidacy. According to Hume, covering presidential campaigns are exhausting work for journalists. “You have to start your day before the candidate does,” Hume said. He continued to explain that it was challenging to always stay ahead of the candidates that were being covered and he was “burning the candle at both ends” for weeks during the coverage. Hume also covered the Clinton impeachment proceedings. He said that impeachment was handled with HUME 3
PAIGE FAY
President Paul J. McNulty ’80 leads Brit Hume and his wife Kim on a tour of campus. Hume, a FOX News analyst, spoke Wednesday in Crawford Auditorium for the 13th-annual Reagan Lecture on the state of American media in the age of Trump.
Editorial
Page 2
The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Nov. 8, 2019
From the Editor’s desk
Losing my family James Sutherland Editor-in-Chief
Nobody told me that growing up would be hard. Well, that isn’t really true. Lots of people told me growing up was not all the fun it looks like to a petulant little six-year-old. Even though I heard the exact same speech from family, friends and teachers my whole childhood, I never felt like growing up would be this hard. I’m sure every Grover, especially my fellow seniors, long for the elementary school days of yore. We could all put together the same list of the anxieties that sends us to a box of Tums: trying to find a job; paying eight different kinds of taxes (I might vote for whoever the libertarians run); trying to manage crippling student debt (I also might vote for Bernie); not being allowed to lie in bed all day because the night before your favorite basketball team couldn’t dribble through a basic press and lost a 30-point lead in the last eight minutes of a game. But, for me, one trial of growing up has been harder than the rest: losing my family. Don’t worry—no one has died (yet). I’m using “lose” in a much more figurative sense. I grew up in a family of all boys, the youngest of three sons. My brothers and I shared a bedroom our whole lives. We used to burn the midnight oil with our knock-down, drag-out debates about whether Ichiro is a first-ballot Hall of Famer (he is).
We used to share pretend seasons of football, basketball and baseball together, using the living room as the field for whatever sport’s championship we were currently winning in dramatic fashion. We watched the same five baseball documentaries during every lunch and on every car trip (I know pretty much any fact about the 2002 World Series, in case you wanted to know). But we don’t get to be that close anymore. My oldest brother lives in D.C., not far from where we grew up. My middle brother lives in Philadelphia and I live here, making a nice triangle with 200 miles on any side. Sure, we keep up on the phone and over text, but it isn’t the same. We don’t have the free time to just talk like we used to. We’re starting to build our own lives, starting into career paths and hopefully starting families (the middle brother has a girlfriend now and thinks he’s the bee knees; it’s gross). I’ve only just started to realize that this is a permanent state. There will not be some time in the future when we all move back in together and share a bedroom and yell at each other about whether Kawhi did the Spurs dirty. I miss the time when we did have those things. I never appreciated that time for what it was. We’ve still got holidays and vacations and hourlong phone calls after basketball games. But what I’m realizing, more than anything else, is how important it is to savor those times – they aren’t as plentiful as they used to be.
‘OK Boomer’
NBC NEWS
Generational wisdom is best heeded Josh Tatum
Perspectives Editor “OK, boomer” (stylized “OK Boomer”) has been, over last week or so, the subject of a piranhic media frenzy. It started last Tuesday when the New York Times style section–after sifting it out of the dregs of video-sharing app Tiktok– marked the phrase as “the End of Friendly Generational Relations.” The phrase gained some more momentum when it was used offhandedly in the New Zealand Parliament by a young MP and when a radio host called “boomer” the “nword of ageism” on Twitter. Big whoop. For the uninitiated, the phrase is used by Generation Z (those born after 1995) as a comeback to the condescension of some Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964). A typical exchange will go something like this. BOOMER: Kids these days can’t write in cursive, balance a checkbook, or hold a job. GEN Z-ER: OK,
Boomer. The subtext of this clapback is a two-fold sentiment. One, that at least Gen Z-ers didn’t wreck the economy and environment. And two, that Baby Boomers are in part responsible for the incapability of Gen Z-ers. With the definitions out of the way, in my view, the phrase itself is contrived (buy the T-shirt!) internet ephemera and will probably dissolve as such. “OK Boomer” is, in the lingo, a forced meme. Not to mention that the subtext is quite misdirected. Most if not all tribalistic attempts to identify the “real enemy” usually go over rather poorly, and grandma and grandpa aren’t it. Rather, the mistakes made in postWorld War II America were, as is typical for the alienated, no individual’s fault. That being said, both the condescension of some boomers and the use of this phrase (insofar as both actually happen), show an unwillingness to talk about the real issues. The generational tension, however, is quite exaggerated. Gen Z feels as
though they have a lot of work to do to make the world right, but the blame is usually allocated more intelligently (like towards corporations and government waste). This phrase, ephemeral as it may be, is at least a good segue to talk about the general problem of activism, something boomers were better truly better at. This is not to approve of all their tactics, but at least the youth of yore had the gumption to actually go out and do something, like invent rockand-roll, monkey-wrench construction equipment and assassinate politicians. Today’s armchair activists are content to sign a change. org petition, hold a sign and sleepily fall into the waiting arms of a paternalist government. At least activist boomers knew how to stick it to the man. To quote the eternal Benjamin Franklin, “an old young man, will be a young old man.” So, we have something to learn from our elders, and while the occasional condescension of a vocal few is irritating, it is wrong to flout a generation at large.
Collegian Staff Editor-in-Chief
Business Manager
Managing Editor
Social Media Manager Matthew Moody
Section Editors News
Copy Editors
James Sutherland Grace Tarr
Paige Fay
Community
Anna DiStefano
Perspectives Josh Tatum
Entertainment Nora Sweeney
Sports
Connor Schlosser
Photo Chief Wes Kinney
Copy Chief
Britney Lukasiewicz
Davis Miller
Jessica Hardman Claire Josey Michael Martin Lauren Ness Ashley Ostrowski Elizabeth Schinkel Joanna Thorpe Sydney Travis Caleb West
Staff Writers
Katheryn Frazier Fiona Lacey David Smith Mackenzie Stine Mallory Trumbull Jules Wooldridge David Zimmermann
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 Davis Miller. Davis may be the only staffer to literally shed blood for the paper. He did his job this week despite tearing his ACL. Thanks for the great work Davis! The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.
Davis Miller
COLLEGIAN
An odd cartoon from 1969’s Collegian. Bonus points if you can make any sense of the wackiness.
This week in Collegian history
Sadie Hawkins and wacky cartoons Nov. 1, 1939 “Topsy-Turvy Leap Week Will Start Tomorrow: Go Get ‘Em Gals- It’s Your Turn Now”
We’ve all heard the song “Sadie Hawkins Dance” (whether or not we’ve actually been to such an event). In 1949, the Student Council held their first Leap Week Dance which, attended by “bold females and shy males,” bears remarkable similarity to the song. Women were admitted for free, but were required to “provide two bits plus a buffalo” in order to get her date into the dance. Wild!
Nov. 5, 1969 Inexplicable comic above Two bits and a buffalo to anyone who can explain this piece of work to the satisfaction of Collegian staff. Nov. 2, 1979 “David and Goliath Meet Nov. 13” When someone refers to “the court case,” a phrase which is uttered with reverence (and occasionally contempt), every Grover ought to know exactly what case to which they are referring, that being the historic GCC v. HEW. The gist of the case is thus: Grove City does not take government money, therefore the government has no jurisdiction over her
inner life. The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare did not share this belief. “The College is seeking to preserve certain Constitutional freedoms - the right of private institutions to remain under private control, the right of students to have a choice between the large, state-controlled college systems and privately controlled schools. GCC will be fighting in the courts for both its freedom from government control and for the freedom of students across the nation to choose the kind of education which best meets their needs.”
Jules Wooldridge
Staff Writer
News The Collegian,
Nov. 8, 2019
Page 3
This week in the markets
Contributed by the Crimson Collegiate Investors
Third quarter blues Third-quarter earnings season is coming to its end, this week in our weekly Collegian business and finance article we discuss all the gainers and losers for the third quarter of 2019. So far for the year as a whole, the S&P is 22.5% to 3,075 points while the yield on the 10-year U.S. treasury note has fallen considerably to 1.86%. The financial year is broken into four quarters, with the months of July, August and September comprising the third of those quarters. By the end of this week, nearly 85% of corporations will have reported earnings. So far, the quarterly aggregate reports have come in at about 3% higher than what the median financial analyst had been predicting. 52% of companies have reported higher revenues, and 65% higher earnings per share, than expected. Consumer Staples and Technology are two sectors that have fared best. At the end of October both Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT), the world’s two largest companies, reported higher than expected revenues and profits. For Apple
MUSICAL continued from 1 common in theater than people think – gender blind casting occurs in many, many shows, just not normally on this scale,” Stonefield said. “For our cast members, there was very little trouble with songs – even though the music was written for males, the notes can often translate well into female’s voices.” The show premiered at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday Oct. 30 and performed until Saturday night, Nov. 2, to packed houses. With a good mixture of history, comedy and music, 1776 had much to offer. The play began with John Adams, played by John Wishing, pleading his fellow Congressman to vote for Independence. It takes Adams on a journey through the hardships, such as the longing for home, the issues of slavery and the constant reminder of death portrayed by George Washington’s letters from the front lines, to finally create that beloved document, the Declaration of Independence, ratified July 4, 1776. Wishing performed an excellent show Saturday night with great vocals as well as bringing to life the well-
HUME continued from 1 a much graver attitude that led to balanced coverage. This is in contrast to the attitude towards the current impeachment proceedings with President Trump. Hume stressed the importance of unbiased journalism in political settings. “Never argue with the politician, your job is to ask questions and just let their answers be answers,” Hume said after showing the clip of CNN’s Jim Acosta interviewing Trump at a press conference. He said that journalists
and Microsoft, third quarter profits came in at a stunning $10 and $13.2 billion. Other companies have not fared so well. Energy in particular has struggled as a sector, with 58% of companies reporting lower than expected profits. Royal Dutch Shell reported missed profits the last day in October, its stock fell 4% on the news. The mostly positive earnings forecast has been a big contributing factor to the overall rich valuation of the market. The Shiller Price to Earnings ratio, a metric of market valuation relative to profits, sits at around 30. That means the current market valuation is roughly 80% higher than the 40year Shiller PE average of 16.7. But if valuations are to mean-revert, it doesn’t appear like that will be happening this earnings season. In the weeks ahead, we will keep you updated on further market movements, including Federal reserve monetary policy and market related election news.
George Daughtary
Head of Financials Sector, Crimson Collegiate Investors known historical figure, John Adams. One of the highlights were the endearing moments when he wrote letters to his wife, Abigail Adams, played by the amazing vocalist Julia Barnes. The cast this year had the crowd laughing with fun hits like Richard Henry Lee’s “The Lees of Old Virginia” sung by Molly Miller, which told of her ancestor’s long history in America, and Martha Jefferson’s “He plays the Violin,” sung by Meghan Walsh, which shed a humorous light on the stoic character of her husband and writer of the Declaration, Thomas Jefferson. While the play overall had a light tone, there were still some very compelling scenes. For example, the song “Molasses to Rum” touched on the issue of slavery both in the North and South during that time and grappled with the issue of whether or not slavery should have been abolished in the Declaration. Sophomore Anna Bigham said the song was moving. “It brought tears to my eyes. I think if you don’t want to run away during that song it’s not done right, and it really lived up to my expectations. I was really glad that they did it like they did and weren’t afraid to commit to it, because it’s a scary song.” should not ask questions to draw attention to themselves, they are asking questions to get answers. He also said that the Trump deserves respect simply because he is an elected official. “It does not matter what we think of a president. Any president media journalists cover is entitled to be treated fairly and respectfully, by virtue of the fact of who we are and who he is. Not because of he’s a great person, but because he is the elected official,” Hume said.
GCC
President Paul J. McNulty ’80 and Interim Chaplain D. Dean Weaver ’86 pray for Andrew and Norine Brunson, missionaries who were imprisoned in Turkey. Andrew spoke in chapel Oct. 31.
Jailed for faith
Missionary speaks on courage in chapel David Zimmermann Staff Writer
To conclude Kingdom Week, Andrew Brunson, an American pastor imprisoned in Turkey for two years, spoke about his time in jail and how his experience Brunson strengthened his faith. Before Brunson was arrested in October 2016, he, along with his wife and three children, served as missionaries in Turkey for 23 years. As a result of their ministry, they founded Izmir Resurrection Church, one of the few Christian churches in the Muslim nation. Despite the fear of either being hurt or killed, Brunson and his family decided to stay for a higher purpose. “We said to God, ‘Unless you tell us to go, we will remain and trust that you will protect us. If you do not, then we assume it will be because it will bring greater glory to you.’ So, we were prepared for that,” Brunson said. Because Brunson was a religious minority in Turkey, he was called names such as a “Dark Priest,” “Terrorist Priest” and “Agent Priest,” accused of spying on the Turkish government for the U.S. Generating laughs from the audience, Brunson said: “They also called me ‘Rambo
KENGOR continued from 1 that May. “In retrospect, maybe that was providential,” he said. “Or, at least, Rob said so.” After the lecture was over, Orlando approached Kengor and asked him if the film rights for the book were already bought. Unfortunately, for Orlando, the answer was yes, but he decided to do something different that would not infringe on the film rights. He decided to create a documentary. Not only did both the Pope and the President perform in theater, but they also used their political positions as a world stage. “Rob devised a compelling angle never pursued before, analyzing John Paul II and Ronald Reagan from the vantage of their experiences as literal actors ascending a grand stage in the 1980s,” Kengor said. “This was may-
priest.’ I kind of liked that one.” As a result of a failed coup d’état against the Turkish government, Brunson and his wife, Norine, were caught in the crossfire and arrested. Norine was released after 13 days. However, the Turks decided to keep Brunson in prison for the next two years, claiming he was an enemy of the state. Although Brunson never thought he would have gone to prison for his faith, he said that his imprisonment was for a reason even though he did not understand that reason. “I did not choose to become an example. I did not have that in mind,” he said, “but I thank God that he didn’t give me a choice about going to prison because I wouldn’t have done it.” Brunson said that while in prison he suffered from doubt, anxiety, isolation, fear and uncertainty. He even contemplated suicide and lost over 50 pounds. Although he was struggling physically, mentally and spiritually, Brunson, not knowing if he would ever be released, said that he had a decision to make. “I made a decision that I was going to turn my face toward God,” he said. “Almost in defiance, I said to God, ‘Whatever you do or don’t do, I will follow you. Whether you speak to me or not, I will follow you. Whether you give
me your presence or not, I will follow you. Whether you release me or not, I will follow you.’” As a result of his decision, Brunson said that God began to rebuild his heart. “When I did come out of prison, there had been a lot of healing that already took place, and I came out not broken but in a position of strength.” In October 2018, after two years of hardship, Brunson was released from prison due in part to President Trump’s diplomatic efforts. Apart from human intervention, Brunson said that his release could not have happened without the prayers and support from other people. “An unprecedented prayer movement focused on one person started. In living memory, there hasn’t been a prayer movement like this. Just very, very unusual. There’s no way this could have been led by a person,” he said. Norine added, “The Lord took this case all the way to the President. How often does that happen?” On a final note, Brunson urged young Christians to stand unapologetically for Jesus and recommended to the audience a prayer that he often prayed before his arrest. “O God, draw me so close to your heart that you will be able to trust me with the authority necessary to start waves.”
be their biggest performance yet — a global theater in a real-life drama to defeat a genuinely Evil Empire and to win the Cold War.” The similarities do not stop there. Additionally, both men were almost assassinated in 1981, only within six weeks of each other. It was not until a year later that they met and realized that they were both spared for a higher purpose — a Divine Plan as Reagan called it. Kengor continued discussing the underlying theme of the film and how it relates to the audience. “Importantly, the film not only deals with the historical but also the theological and even the theatrical angle,” he said. “It deals carefully and thoughtfully with the notion of a “Divine Plan,” and how and where and if we know if God is calling us to a certain purpose. That kind of discernment is always difficult for all believers.” Kengor continued, “The
trick, the difficulty for us all, is discerning precisely what God’s plan is. That’s never an easy process for any believer. It’s a perennial problem of mankind through the ages.” Following the screening, both Kengor and Orlando led a Q&A session with the audience, allowing for valuable insight into the film. After seeing students and faculty in attendance, Kengor hoped that increased Christian interaction with faith-based media would inspire a shift in the entertainment culture. “We Christians frequently complain that Hollywood doesn’t do or support enough faith-based films or meaningful films generally,” he said. “Well, here’s a chance to show Hollywood that Christians are willing to support such films. If Hollywood sees that support, then maybe films like this can get funding in the future.”
Community The Collegian,
Nov. 8, 2019
Page 4
Keeping the worship going Students hold first 24-hour service in Harbison Chapel Anna DiStefano Community Editor
Continuous praise and worship poured from Harbison Chapel throughout Tuesday and Wednesday as part of the first-ever 24-hour worship event. Seniors Adam Bannister and Amanda Mittelman organized the period of continuous worship that took place from 9 p.m. Tuesday to midnight Wednesday. The event was fueled by the desire of a group of students who worship nightly in the chapel at 11:00 PM. “It began as an idea last year, and the Lord has been moving things into place to make it happen this fall,” Bannister said. The event included diverse worship sets lead by over thirty worship leaders. Music ranged from contemporary praise with multiple singers and instruments to traditional worship with strings and woodwind instruments. Senior Molly Irish served as one of the worship leaders. She noted that the event allowed students to embrace being surrounded by a community that can worship and experience God together. “We are in such a unique place to come together and worship with fellow students our age,” Irish said. “It’s so important to give our adoration and praise to the creator of all things, and as we welcome His presence more and more on campus, He will move in ways that we can’t even imagine.” Sophomore worship leader Annie Passaro agreed and recalled her excitement when Bannister told her about his
Students gathered in the Chapel throughout the day to participate in the first 24-hour campus worship event. idea of “continuous worship.” “I am so excited to get to be a part of an event that glorifies God as we come together as a body of believers to give Christ that which He rightfully deserves through the act of worship,” Passaro said. In the lead-up to the event, organizers had been praying over this year’s theme: John 4:24. The verse declares that “God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The purpose of the event was to provide a place for students to encounter God, worship and be transformed. All this planning was to offer a time when students could pause and be reminded that worship can be done every day, throughout the day.
Bannister and Mittelman hoped that the time of worship could be an encouraging encounter with God during the week. “Our hope is that this event will encourage everyone on campus to worship God more throughout each day, acknowledging that every moment and aspect of our lives is a time to give Him praise,” Bannister said before the marathon event. “Our hope is that the event as a whole will be … an opportunity for everyone who walks into the chapel to have an encounter with God, regardless of when they come and what worship background they come from.” Brooke Bannister, a sophomore who served as a worship leader, recalled her own forgetfulness to worship
PAIGE FAY
“Our hope is that this event will encourage everyone on campus to worship God more throughout each day, acknowledging that every moment and aspect of our lives is a time to give Him praise.” Adam Bannister throughout the day, citing the event as an important and welcome reminder. “He continually blesses us, and too often I do not stop and praise him for what he has done and for what he is doing,” Bannister said. “My prayer is that we would all surrender our lives and give him worship and praise through every hour of every day.” Ultimately, it is for this reason that Adam Bannister and Mittelman chose to
provide a time of continuous worship to the campus community. A continuous worship event had never been put on before this year, but Bannister looks forward to more opportunities for this largescale event throughout the coming years. “I hope for it to continue in the future, maybe even more than once a semester,” Bannister said. “We are praying for and desiring revival.”
Hogworts hullaballoo hits GCC
Nicholas Mullins Contributing Writer
At Grove City College, a small student population does not stop those who seek even the most unique of activities from finding them. Whether you’re a Harry Potter fan, looking for a niche sport or both, the Grove City College Quidditch Club may be the group for you. Based on the made-up sport from the popular Harry Potter book series featuring wizards and witches flying around on magical broomsticks, a real-life adaptation of quidditch has taken root on Grove City’s campus. The team meets to practice once a week on Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m., and is open to all who wish to participate. While the players do not use straw brooms, they do use specialized PVC rods along with a myriad of equipment from other sports. This repurposed gear includes partially deflated volleyballs, dodgeballs and a tennis ball, referred to in-game as quaffles, bludgers and snitches respectively. Aside from the obvious lack of magical items, the game’s rules closely resemble those in the book. The sport is quite complex. Although at first glance it may seem as though the
THE INDEPENDENT
Quidditch, the fictional sport made popular by Harry Potter, is a popular club sport at Grove City. point of the game is to get the ball through a hoop suspended in the air, there’s much more to it. Players are substituted without a pause of gameplay, point systems change based on which ball is currently being used and at any time a player called a ‘snitch’ may run onto the field with a tennis ball strapped to them that when caught yields that team game winning points. Team captain and junior computer science major Alec Muchnok described it as “quite a bit like hockey.”
The club competes in tournaments with several other colleges and has hosted a tournament at Grove City College as well. “We are really hoping to host another one on Thorne Field sometime this semester again,” Muchnok said. Regarding the makeup of the group, Muchnok explained, “We get a lot of Harry Potter fans, but we do have a few people on the team who have never seen the movies and are just interested in the sport.” Some are somewhere in
the middle. “The Harry Potter thing was more of a bonus,” senior accounting major Ellen Nestor said. “I went to the first info meeting and the people were really great, the game looked quirky, so I came to some of the practices and I loved it and it stuck!” Getting the word out about the club has always been a struggle. “It’s an interesting spot (with recruiting). Some people like Harry Potter but think the sport is too sporty for them, other people are
really sportsy but think the game is too nerdy for them,” Muchnok explained. Freshman communications major Isaac Goniea said that he found out about the club via a joke made at a Student Life and Learning presentation. While being told about the wide variety of activities on campus, it was mentioned that if people wanted to run around with a stick between their legs, they could do just that. “So, I said, ‘hey that’s really cool,’ and I signed up,’’ Goniea explained. However, if you think the club sounds a bit unique, the members would agree with you. “You kind of get in on the joke, and really just get used to it,” Goniea said. “This is different from anything else I’ve ever done, anybody can do it, and the people playing really care about it...because we are such a small community, we really bond over that.” Muchnok agreed regarding the team bond, saying “I’m really glad we have this team.” Even if you aren’t ready to take up a broom and join in the game yourself, it never hurts to drop by a tournament or a Saturday practice, watch a scrimmage and cheer on your school’s one and only quidditch team.
The Collegian, Nov. 8, 2019
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Through the lens,
Nov. 8, 2019
Page 6
On the ice
The Grove City College club ice hockey team is taking big strides this semester. While students have organized a roller-blade team, this is the first year in living memory with a team playing on ice. The Wolverines are not disappointing, putting together a strong start to the season.
Photos by Marisa Shrock
Through the lens,
Nov. 8, 2019
Page 7
Perspectives The Collegian,
Page 8
Nov. 8, 2019
A culture of death Trump celebrates killing of al-Baghdadi
Andrew McDevitt Contributing Writer
On Sunday, Oct. 27, President Trump announced the successful killing of infamous ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. This clearly good news was nearly overshadowed by how the President handled the situation. Trump’s speech officially announcing al-Baghdadi’s death was a clear disaster due to both his attitude and his behavior. It does, however, raise concerns for our culture in general. Our judgment of his attitude forces us to take a further look inward on how we treat death in our culture. The entire speech was a catastrophe. Trump graphically described the end of al-Baghdadi with gratuitous and unnecessary jargon. At what could be an incredible moment of victory for Trump, he embellished in another inappropriate and childish attempt at showmanship, ruining the reception of a huge success. The announcement of al-Baghdadi’s death took Trump 50 minutes to complete, whereas Obama was able to announce the killing of Osama bin Laden in just under ten. Instead of making the announcement and giving the reporters the needed details, Trump praised himself, lauded his internet presence, spread misinformation, lied about a book he had written, and spewed inaccurate, unnecessary narration of the terrorist’s death.
Paige Fay News Editor
AP/ANDREW HARNIK
As much as I want to be able to give Trump credit for such a colossal operation, his treatment of the scenario makes it nearly impossible for me to do anything but address the incredibly inappropriate behavior of the Commander-in-chief. As disturbing as Trump’s behavior is, it leads us to even greater concern about our culture’s treatment of death and killing. There are very few who would argue that killing in this scenario would be wrong. However, how we treat this action defines who we are just as much as the action itself does. Killing al-Baghdadi was by no doubt the correct decision to make for the situation. But should we as a culture celebrate death with such vigor?
Is it not at all concerning how joyful the reaction to killing a man is, even one as notorious and evil as al-Baghdadi? If we choose to wield death against our enemies, we must treat it with a greater respect than they do. Cheering and celebrating a man being killed makes us no better than the terrorists we’ve sworn to stop. That does not mean that this is not an occasion for celebration. Do not, however, celebrate death: celebrate life. The world is now a safer place because we were able to put a stop to the actions of a monster. Celebrate the increase of security and freedom, not the slaughter it took to get there. Death in any form calls for mourning, not celebrat-
ing. Mourn that there was a person who was able to be as twisted as al-Baghdadi. Mourn the man the al-Baghdadi could’ve been if not for the monster he chose to be. Mourn that we are heartened by the death of a man. Mourn that we live in a world where death is received with a cheer. Mourn that it is such a fallen world that has claimed and warped many men into monsters. Celebrate the world being safer. While Trump’s actions and attitude are clearly dismal, our society has no right to judge as we applaud the slaying rather than the soldier. If we choose to be a culture that revels at the sound of killing, we are living as the terrorists do rather than how the liberators should.
Joe Biden? Not a chance. Erin McLaughlin Contributing Writer
On some level, the Democrats already know how the 2020 election will play out. Sleepy Joe Biden cannot be characterized as the “ideal” presidential candidate. He’s intensely boring. He’s too Establishment, and unfortunately for him, the Democratic Establishment has been out of vogue for a while now. Yet he’s leading the polls. So despite our disbelief, he has to be doing something right, ought he not? So what’s the skinny? Let’s turn to leading conservative columnist and publisher at the New Criterion, Roger Kimball, for answers. In an article for the Spectator USA, “Why Joe Biden Can’t Win,” Roger Kimball explains Biden’s popularity within the Democrat Party: “Why? Nostalgia, for one thing. There was dear ol’ Joe for eight years of the Obama administration.” Kimball also highlights the Party’s generational differences: “The real reason that Joe Biden is the darling among the grownups in the Democratic party is this: he is, or at
Hill learns a valuable lesson
least appears to be, sane. He is not an obvious fruitcake. He is not ‘woke.’ (Indeed, it is not always clear that he is awake).” So, we know Biden’s edge is with the Betty Whites and Uncle Alberts of the nation— his generation. The Establishment’s generation. The question is, does curried favor with the old Establishment win elections? If we’ve learned anything from the upset which was the 2016 election, the answer, my poor naïve liberals, is certainly not. The stats would make them wince. The Pew Research Center explains that:
“The three younger generations – those ages 18 to 53 in 2018 – reported casting 62.2 million votes in the 2018 midterms, compared with 60.1 million cast by Baby Boomers and older generations.” Whoops. Looks like the former Vice President has greatly overlooked a ginormous portion of the electorate. The funny thing is, this information is accessible to anyone. Pew showed that their sole source is a public U.S. Census Bureau report. Hello!
Whoever said that “hindsight is 20/20” forgot to come up with something clever for those too stubborn to second-guess themselves. For the party of change, they’re not very progressive. One would think that after the Great Embarrassment of 2016 the Dems would learn to tweak their Establishment instincts and pick a more suave candidate. They’ve had three whole years, including a midterm election cycle, to run the gambit and test the waters. But the Democrats never were too good at losing. They whine; many of them are unwilling to change because they don’t think they were the reason they lost the election. The Russians stole it! And that darn Electoral College… No wonder liberals can’t play the role of the comeback kid: the movement doesn’t have the motivation. If the Establishment picks another candidate who doesn’t appeal to younger generations, they may end up watching their own version of “Groundhog Day”—Bill Murray style—unfold before their eyes. Hillary has even hinted at picking up where she lost and doing it all over again. Surprise!?
Resigning from office because of sexual misconduct is never pretty. Right now, the nation watches another politician step down from office for that very reason. But this time the classic story has a twist: a politician had an affair with a woman, but said politician is… also a woman? Democratic Representative Katie Hill of California is now in the hot seat. She admitted to having a sexual relationship with a female staff member under her supervision which violates the House’s prohibition against such relationships. After pornographic photos of her surfaced online, she said she chose to resign from her position so her situation wouldn’t distract from the impeachment proceedings. In her last floor speech, she says she resigned because of a “double standard” that allows President Trump to remain in office despite the “credible” allegations made against him. She also included jabs at Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Her career is facing its demise and Hill wants to throw blame anywhere she thinks she’ll get some sympathy. Hill’s situation is sad— having inappropriate photos leaked to the internet is terrible. As unfortunate as the situation is, she is getting the same treatment that any man would get for the same situation but complains that it is a direct attack on women in power. Plenty of male politicians have resigned from their offices for accusations equal in caliber to her own. If she wants gender equality, she’s a prime example. For Hill to try to paint Trump and Kavanaugh as worse than her should be embarrassing to the very women she’s attempting to protect. Hill made a big mistake and she should own up to it without pointing fingers. That’s how real women handle things. What happened to Hill is tragic, but sympathy is limited. She wasn’t paying attention to the multitude of scandals and resignations that preceded her own. Her resignation was beautiful in that this country is a land of equality. To all the little girls Hill believes look up to her, she is teaching them a valuable lesson: whether man or woman, no matter your sexual orientation, the rules apply. Now that’s fair.
The Collegian,
Nov. 8, 2019
Page 9
Twitter Pulls the Plug Company bans political ads with election looming Andrew Furjanic Contributing Writer
CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey announced in a series of tweets on Wednesday that Twitter would no longer be allowing political advertisements on its platforms. This comes on the heels of rival Facebook’s decision to allow all political ads, regardless of the veracity of their claims. While Facebook has made some legitimate claims that it cannot reasonably be expected to fact check all the content that advertisers create, Twitter’s decision marks a more effective way to ensure social media companies are not paid to spread falsehoods. Twitter, it seems, has taken a quantum leap towards countering misinformation online. But let me back up: what right do these companies have to censor advertisers’ content? Does banning political advertisements prevent free speech? Are Facebook and Twitter even responsible for what advertisers say? Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act states that “No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by
another information content provider.” In other words: platforms are not liable for things users post. Facebook (or Twitter or other social media companies) can allow users and advertisers to post whatever content they want, and Facebook cannot be sued or fined for that content. On the other hand, Facebook and Twitter are private companies, and unlike government organizations, they are under no obligation to adhere to the First Amendment protections of free speech. Facebook can legally choose to ban its users from saying anything it chooses. As a private business, it is completely within its rights to disallow users from saying things the company disagrees with. While social media giants can choose not to permit certain types of content on their platforms, Facebook and Twitter have taken the stance that they are facilitators of free speech. Considering the social media companies’ role as a virtual marketplace of idea, limited regulation on users’ speech allows the companies to give voices to marginalized groups, to give constituents direct access to their political representatives and to give companies an ear to listen to their customers. Social media has, in many ways, enabled greater discourse, and as long as users abide by the platform’s terms of service (usually some form of “don’t post violent, porno-
SLATE
graphic, or directly threatening content”) they are free to post whatever they please. The issue of these past weeks, however, has been advertising. With the commitment to social media users’ free speech has come a commitment to allowing all forms of advertising free speech. Companies can pay Facebook and Twitter to algorithmically direct their advertising content toward specific users. An important corollary to this is that “advertising” in this case specifically refers to paid, targeted advertising, which Facebook and Twitter are paid to target specific users. In this case, the platforms aren’t acting as
A chapel a day keeps the provost away Andrew McDevitt Contributing Writer
One of the most iconic parts of a typical Grove City student’s day is attending chapel. The chapel program has given us some amazing talks for some and some extra time to be on our phones for others. Chapel can be the peak or the basin of a Grover’s college experience. The chapel program is well intentioned for sure, but the application does not produce the results that such program should. This is in no way the fault of the chapel staff; they have put together some incredible events and invited amazing speakers in the past. While not every speaker has been stellar, the issue is with the nature of the program itself. You can require attendance to chapel, but you can never successfully require participation. For many people, chapel is the largest exposure to faith they will receive. The existence of chapel is not in question here, only it’s requirement enforced with threat of punishment. By requiring a certain amount of chapel credits, the religious experience chapel creates becomes a simple quantitative experience. The greatest joy you receive from chapel is not from its content, but from finishing your chapel credits. It is worthwhile to point out that many people continue to attend the chapels they are interested in even after they have re-
ceived the required number. They are definitely not the problem; we need to instead focus on the more religiously reluctant and how the quantification of religious participation affects them. By requiring a certain number of chapel attendances, the incentive for attending becomes the avoidance of punishment instead of engaging with the content itself. For many people, religion lacks a personal element; it is nothing more than inconvenient routine for them. Mandatory chapel credits reinforce that attitude sevenfold. Requiring chapel attendance may grow contempt for religion instead of affection. By using punishment as a secondary inducement, chapel erases the wonder and power of their sermons; the incentive then becomes to not have to engage with religion, the opposite of what is intended. While this is in of itself reason enough to not require chapel, it altogether ignores the moral questions raised. The truth is that there are students on this campus that are not Christian. Forcing faith upon them is the most harmful way to expose them to religion. While we attend an overwhelmingly religious school, there are those on the campus that are here for other reasons. Personally, the Christian environment had little to no impact on my decision to attend Grove City. I chose here for the affordable high-quality education, and I am nowhere near alone. While the atheist Grover will be plenty exposed to faith throughout their classes and
activities at the college, chapel may be what defines faith for them most concretely. While you may not find required religion morally ambiguous, put yourself in their perspective. What if you attended a predominantly atheist school because it was the only good education near enough to you that you could afford? How would you feel if you were forced to attend events where you are pushed constantly to abandon what you believe? You will be very unlikely to give up your faith. Most likely you’ll only be hurt and ostracized, possibly harboring resentment for atheists. You would never even begin to consider whether or not they were doing something morally right. This is exactly what happens to any atheist attending Grove City. If the school wants to attempt to inform or convert them, force and threat of punishment are the least effect and most harmful tools to use. If chapel credits weren’t required, I would still attend chapel. I would go to the speakers that I would be interested in hearing. Right now, the vast majority of the campus attends chapel for a scanned I.D. instead of the sermon. By removing the stick poised to strike should we stray from the path of the preacher, students might actually attend for the carrot. Religion is about belief. Forced belief is impossible and highly damaging. A chapel program based off of its content instead of its consequences would be instrumentally more effective.
facilitators of discussion, but instead as advertising media used to present ideas to consumers. Ultimately, this proposes a huge problem for social media companies: should they profit from ideologically motivated discussion? Should they allow propaganda, falsehoods, and even ideas that they may not agree with on their platform? Facebook’s decision not to fact-check political ads represents an attempt to avoid censoring free speech. Unfortunately, by continuing to run false ads, Facebook is profiting from spreading false information. While Facebook cannot be asked to police all the ads submit-
ted to its site, it also has a moral obligation to democracy to avoid spreading and profiting from falsehoods. This is the brilliance of Twitter’s solution. By abstaining from political advertising, it avoids deliberately spreading targeted misinformation. On the other hand, it preserves user’s free speech by allowing them to post whatever they wish on their own accounts. This middle ground solution is the best choice for Twitter in the long run, both morally and financially, as their newfound moral high ground will allow Twitter to bolster its legitimacy as a marketplace of ideas to users.
A meditation on ‘hillbilly’ Alejandra Flores Contributing Writer
The word “hillbilly,” brings certain things to mind. Stereotypically, hillbillies (or bumpkins or rednecks) are poor, uneducated, uncultured and live in trailer parks, etc. But what is the truth behind this characterization? What does it really mean to be a poor, rural white American? The truth is— simply put— the stereotype is not true. These derogatory words are used based on the outward appearance, but the underlying struggle of the people the word is levied against is something harder than many think, and an underserved community that needs help. Cultural, social and economic stagnation is a prevalent issue in these poor rural areas. There is no growth, no movement or increase in status. It’s a cycle that many people get stuck in. Many are just trying to survive, living day by day, paycheck to paycheck. So stuck in this endemic cycle, intangibles like politics, tax plans or foreign policy become irrelevant. Many just want to put food on the table and make sure that their kids have enough to have a good life. Being in these poor rural areas create many obstacles that keep these poor people there. It becomes not only a battle to stay afloat, but to
make it anywhere in life. In an interview with J.D. Vance, author of the Hillbilly Elegy, he mentions many different factors that keep poor, rural, white people stuck in this cycle. Many times, they themselves are either dealing with drug abuse and/or alcohol abuse or know one or more person who is. On top of that, many children in these homes do not have a stable family dynamic which adds another obstacle for them. When asked about the issue, sophomore Fiona Lacey said, “I have sympathy for those living in rural towns. Sometimes I feel as if they don’t have as many resources as those do in the city. I think we sometimes forget about the existence of these low-income white families dealing with low employment, depressions, suicide and opioid addiction. It makes me sad.” The stigma around these people is stiff, which gives way to the characterization of “hillbillies” or “rednecks.” People see this social class living in trailer homes, dropping out of high school and many times disheveled, and assume the worst. The problem with this is the ignorance of the people passing their judgments on others. There needs to be more understanding in a community, especially in America, the land self-made people. Every circumstance is unique, and to cast a stereotype on an unknown person creates an unhealthy and unrealistic mentality that feeds into division.
Entertainment
Page 10
Nov. 8, 2019
The proof is in the lyrics Kanye transform his style, substance on new album
Wes Kinney Photo Chief
When Kanye West’s new album ‘Jesus is King’ came out a few weeks ago, it was written off by many Christians, including myself, as just another money grab. I was never a fan of West in the first place, so why listen to a seemingly blasphemous album by somebody who has previously claimed to be a god himself in the song “I am a God” off of his 2013 album, Yeezus? Despite the dislike I had for West in the past, I figured I would in fact try to give this new album a listen. At first glance, one might notice that this album is not explicit like previous albums put out by Yeezus himself. This is because it is not just another West album. Every single one of these songs is a gospel song. Accompanied by a choir, West busts out lyrically sound and genius tracks, each with uplifting and fresh beats. West leaves no stone unturned in this album. He speaks to his earthly struggles and the pain that he has gone through in the past and raps about how great God has been in his life and how wonderful his new saved existence is. All of this seems truly genuine and not just a
HIGHSNOBIETY
Once the bad boy of music, Kanye seems to have made a genuine change for the better with his new gospel-rap hybrid project. stunt. West seems to have found a nice balance between uplifting, godly music and secular accessibility. As a previously secular artist, West’s audience is mainly that of secular ears. With this album he bridges the gap between awkward Christian rap and that classic West style. Making scripturally based praise music easier for all ears to hear without sacrificing the use of “Jesus” and “God” in the lyrics.
An important thing to take note of is West’s attitude while making the album. In an interview with DJ Zane Lowe, West explains that he asked all people included in the album’s workings to abstain from drug use, as well as sex outside of marriage. This shows that West is aware of the industry he is in and wants to take a stand against the evil within. West knows that he cannot change anything he has
done in the past. Whether he blames that on drugs or the work of the devil in his life, he does seem like a changed man. I mean for goodness sake he is married to somebody that became famous for making a sex tape. As hard as it can be to accept, God is bigger than all of that. God is able and willing to forgive all sins no matter how large they may seem. I think in the years to come
we will see a major change in music coming from West. I am, for one, excited to see what comes of this new transformation in such an influential artist of this century. This is a fresh start for Kanye. If you have previously not been interested in his music, give this new album a listen. You might just be pleasantly surprised at just how much truth is contained in his lyrics.
Streaming wars Katheryn Frazier Staff Writer
Many speculate that the increase in different streaming subscriptions has harkened the return of a cablelike model once again. Do not fret. Competition is likely to spur more content creation, price variations and options within the market. Current players within the streaming wars include, but are not limited to, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and YouTube TV. Although, the aggressive introduction of Disney+ and HBO Max has marked the peak of an already saturated and fruitful market. What could consumers possibly earn from the two newcomers? On Nov. 12, Disney+ will be launched as the latest streaming provider to the public. Upon the initial announcement, the service seemed to be quite a formidable force to competitors as brand loyalty, varying content, unlimited downloads and multi-million-dollar investments of original content would aid the success of the service. Few households can escape the brand derived from Disney, Pixar, Marvel or Star Wars. Disney+ even made headlines when they later decided to partner with Verizon to provide the subscription to Verizon customers for a free year, allowing a larger pool of people to get exposed to the site. However, not far behind the mouse house followed Warner Media’s approach to streaming called HBO Max. The anticipated May 2020 platform launch looks to be just as prestigious as Disney+ with its preexisting customer base, content ranging from 11 conglomerate entertainment entities and a
momentous budget set aside for original shows. Yet again, HBO patterns Disney+ as it sought to pair with the telecommunication business AT&T, who happens to own Warner Media. Both newcomers have certainly made it clear that they know how to entice consumers, leaving other platforms to modify their product positioning in light of more adversaries. With so many options, how do consumers choose what subscription service to watch if there are so many choices? The two most essential or common components that are considered when evaluating if a service is worth purchasing is the cost and amount of available content. Customers must consider prices based on both monthly, usually between $5 to $15, and yearly purchases. Of course, the price is only considered valuable if the variety of content is understood as an acceptable amount or outweighs the fee being paid. Companies are increasingly pivoting well-beloved or original content to draw viewers. The mix of price and content will likely ensure a higher rate of subscribers to join, but in the end, every consumer is different even as sites differentiate themselves. The business of streaming is becoming more and more complex by the minute. It’s mind-boggling to think that the concept of streaming television and movies was originally adopted in 2007 by Netflix. The simple idea was based on the premise that consumers could choose what to watch and when to watch videos in the advent of the technological boom. Ultimately, streaming would change the entertainment industry and customer experience forever.
FAR OUT MAGAZINE
Venezuelan-American folk artis Devendra Banhart released his 10th album,”Ma” in September to critical acclaim. The project explores his relationship with his mother through introspective music
‘Ma’ is a must listen
Caitlin Salomon Contributing Writer
Devendra Banhart’s new album ‘Ma’ is a little bit of everything. As the title implies, the album is a glimpse into an insightful songwriter’s relationship with his mother, but also a thoughtfully constructed mosaic of life via song that leads the listener to introspective ballads as gracefully as otherworldly barrages. The first five tracks of the album are a gentle tug through Banhart’s emotional layers, dealing with loss, aging and a world “where the signal is strong and the tech flows like wine.”
Track 6, “Now All Gone,” abruptly jolts the listener from this pastel-tinted portrait to a new, chaotic sound, punctuated by bluntly delivered proverbs like “You must give up control in order to win.” Banhart is kind enough to ease us back into loose, comfortable songs once more in his next two tracks, one a breezy 70’s love ballad, the other a Father John Misty-esque track. Like Father John Misty, Banhart’s lightheartedly plunked piano song contains recollections of national violence in his home country Venezuela, sung in his native Spanish. Traversing from strange
questions like “Do you ever think colors say ‘Hey, who’s your favorite human?’” on “Taking a Page,” to commonplace observations like “These last few days have been all rain here in L.A.” on “The Lost Coast,” is what sets this album apart. It is a breadth of sincerity. Sung in four different languages, Banhart creates an honest portrait of living: strange, mundane, painful and otherwise. There are images of a loved one in a hospital, of falling in love without end and of buying vitamins at the store. This is an album you will want to come back to on a rainy, fall day with a cup of coffee in hand.
The Collegian, Nov. 8, 2019
Page 11
Sports at a Glance News Cross Country The men’s and women’s cross country teams finished fourth and third respectively in the PAC Championships Saturday.
DAVE MILLER/GCC
Senior Emma Hartshorn and Grove City advanced to the PAC semifinals after upsetting third-seeded Bethany 3-1 on the road Tuesday.
Digging out a win Volleyball picks up upset in PACs
Emily Rupczewski Contributing Writer
The sixth-seeded women’s volleyball team upset thirdseeded Bethany 3-1 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference playoff action Tuesday. Bethany got on the board first, winning the opening set, but the Wolverines locked in to win the next three straight sets to dethrone the defending PAC champs. The dramatic upset is the culmination of a surprisingly successful season for the Wolverines, who finished with their best record since 2007 and a .500 record in PAC play. First-year head coach Leo Sayles and assistant coach Brett Heckathorn ’19 joined forces and combined different coaching styles and approaches to maximize the team’s success. “Both coaches were vital to the successes we had this year, with Coach Sayles always being one step ahead of the other team, while Brett paced us to take it one point at a time. Their balanced approach has made us a better team,” senior Monica Fitzgerald noted. The team picked up key contributions from newcomers, especially freshmen Faith Keating and Ellianna Fry. Keating is also a two-
time PAC Rookie of the Week and ECAC Rookie of the Month. Returning sophomore Cassidy Kohmann and junior Elisabeth Sems also added to the team’s success. Kohmann totaled 719 assists on the regular season and ranks second in the PAC with 8.36 assists per set. Sems led the team in service aces, ranked third in the PAC with 39 service aces this season. Additionally, Sems tallied 272 kills, ranking second on the team and eighth in the PAC. This year, the team’s four seniors, Monica Fitzgerald, Emma Hartshorn, Maria Boris and Katie McClymonds, have contributed in various ways to the team and its culture. Hartshorn recorded a season-high 21 kills last Saturday against Bethany in five sets and has totaled 262 total kills on the regular season. Hartshorn has served as an integral part of the volleyball team and its culture all four seasons at Grove City, serving as a leader and team captain. Following Hartshorn’s kills, the bench can often be heard chanting “All hail the queen!” in reference to her title as Grove City’s 2019 Homecoming Queen. Libero Katie McClymonds recorded 505 digs in regular-season play, reached her
1,000th career dig in October and finished fifth in the PAC in digs. Middle hitter Maria Boris led the team this season in blocks tallying 67, ranking fifth in the PAC. The team’s senior leaders truly believe in the power of a Christ-centered team culture, something that has caught the attention of Grove City’s opponents. “We stand out from other teams because of our championship culture. We love each other, and that has and will carry us through,” Fitzgerald said. A big part of the team’s success, according to Fitzgerald, is the bench’s energy. “People talk about our bench: the refs talk about our bench. You can hear the bench all the time, cheering us on, doing ace cheers, falling on the ground after an amazing kill and doing other crazy cheers we have come up with,” Fitzgerald said. Regarding her vision for the future of the team, Fitzgerald said, “My hope for next year’s team is that they wouldn’t lose their excitement for one another. Keep embracing your roles well.” Grove City faced Geneva yesterday in the PAC semifinals. The game was played after The Collegian printed.
National sports column
Kanter speaks his mind
Connor Schlosser Sports Editor
Andrew and Norine Brunson shared an impactful testimony about their trials and tribulations while serving in Turkey in chapel last week. It is a blessing to see the result of God’s hand of protection over them as they stayed strong in their faith, even to the point of imprisonment. Unfortunately, not all stories in Turkey have a happy ending. Turkish basketball player and political activist Enes Kanter has shared his story with the American press. Kanter traveled to the United States to make a name for himself at the University of Kentucky playing college hoops. His nearly seven-foot frame and tremendous rebounding ability made him a top selection in the 2011 NBA draft. He has since stayed in the league and currently plays with the Boston Celtics. Off the hardwood Kanter is very involved with American communities, setting up basketball camps and pouring his
time and love into kids from across the country. This past summer the big man set a record 45 free basketball camps for the kids. Outside of basketball Kanter is a vocal critic of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, going as far as to call him the “Hitler of our century.” Erdogan is no angel. A reasonable case can be made to call him a dictator. But as a Turkish citizen, you have no license to critique the president or his government. Failing to “keep your mouth shut” may be taken as a threat and will find you in a jail cell or worse. From countless social media posts to in-depth interviews, Kanter remains persistent with his outspoken analysis of the oppressive Turkish government. Although protected under American first amendment rights, Kanter is unable to return home. His father is imprisoned and his family under a close eye by the Turkish government. Refusing to leave the United States mainland for fear of his life, the young Turk finds himself stuck in between worlds. Luckily for the outspoken
activist, several politicians have met with Kanter, trying to better understand his situation and attempt to help his family in any way possible. The Clintons, along with several other Massachusetts state politicians, such as Representative Joe Kennedy III and Senator Ed Markey, have supported Kanter’s endeavors. Enes has taken full advantage of his stage of popularity as an NBA player in the country of free speech. Yet his outspokenness has cursed him with death threats and has created collateral damage in his father’s imprisonment and family’s endangerment. Like many athletes of today advocating and “speaking out” for change in their respective communities in the States, Kanter is doing the same for his country on the other side of the world. Kanter, a Turkish citizen living in the United States, has invested so much already into American communities and is making a difference through his actions. Kanter is practically fighting for his family and freedom, he is doing much to bring attention to Turkey’s tribulations.
Swimming & diving The men’s and women’s teams both fell to Carnegie Mellon in a non-conference home meet Saturday. Four men earned runner up finishes: senior Ben Slate, sophomores Luke Mason and Noah Berkebile and freshman Elias Griffin. Senior Anne Shirely Dassow led the women’s team by winning the 200 fly. Football Grove City continued its hot streak Saturday with a 35-20 road win over Saint Vincent. Senior running back Wes Schools continued his outstanding season, rushing for 179 yards and three touchdowns. Schools earned PAC Offensive Player of the Week, joined on the conference honor rolls by freshman linebacker Curtis Freyermuth as Rookie of the Week. Schools also took ECAC Player of the Month honors.
Results Football (6-2) W, Saint Vincent (35-20) Volleyball (19-9) L, Bethany (3-2); W, Bethany (3-1) Women’s Soccer W. Bethany (4-0); W, Saint Vincent (7-0); W, Washington & Jefferson (2-1); W, Washington & Jefferson (2-0) Men’s Soccer W, Bethany (8-0); W, Saint Vincent (4-2); L, Washington & Jefferson (1-0); L, Washington & Jefferson (2-1) Women’s Cross Country 3rd/9 PAC Championship Men’s Cross Country 4th/9 PAC Championship Women’s Swimming & Diving L, Carnegie Mellon (239-55) Men’s Swimming & Diving L, Carnegie Mellon (238-62)
Upcoming Football Nov. 9 vs. Geneva Women’s soccer Nov. 9 vs. Chatham Swimming & diving Nov. 9 @ SUNY Geneseo Men’s basketball Nov. 12 vs Hilbert Women’s basketball Nov. 12 @ Mount Aloysius
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
Wesley Schools Football PAC Offensive Player of the Week
Curtis Freyermuth Football PAC Rookie of the Week
Hailey Weinhart Women’s Soccer PAC Rookie of the Week
Elias Griffin Swimming & Diving PAC Rookie of the Week
Sports The Collegian, Nov. 8, 2019
Page 12
Tennis wraps up season Connor Schlosser Sports Editor
ELIZABETH SCHINKEL
Junior midfielder Shannon Brawley contests a ball during Grove City’s 7-0 thrasing of Saint Vincent last week. The game closed Grove City’s home regular season schedule and served as Senior Day for a stellar class of players.
A shot at glory Wolverines get ready for conference title game
Joanna Thorpe Copy Editor
The women’s soccer team kept the ball rolling in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship Tournament with a 2-0 home win over Washington & Jefferson Tuesday. Grove City advanced to the finals of the PAC tournament with the shutout win. The Wolverines will host Chatham at 7 p.m. tomorrow on Don Lyle Field. Senior midfielder Jess Book put the Wolverines on the board with a header after 20 minutes. In the second half, junior midfielder Shannon Brawley sent one to the back of the net at the 63-minute mark. The defense was able to keep Washington and Jefferson scoreless throughout 90 minutes. The Wolverines continue their undefeated 6-0 streak at home since the christening of Don Lyle Field. Looking back, the women’s team closed their regular season with a strong four-game
winning streak, finding their footing in a few close calls while gaining confidence in preparation for playoffs. The Wolverines took a 4-0 Senior Day shut out over Bethany on Oct. 26, controlling play with remarkable field presence. The next home game against St. Vincent on Oct. 30 resulted in a 7-0 blowout, with seven different players getting in on the action and driving Grove City to further conference success. The final regular season face-off with Washington and Jefferson challenged the Wolverines for the full 90 minutes but left them with the 2-1 victory. Despite this season’s challenging, traveling start, the Wolverines are looking to carry their season-ending success and build on Tuesday’s win. “Being on the road for all of September was tough, but we got to play some of the top teams in the country which challenged us and taught us resilience,” junior goalkeeper
Columbia Harkrader said. “We learned to persevere through long trips, injuries and tough losses. Going into post-season, we can play the game we love and leave everything on the field. As long as we stay disciplined and resilient with our eyes fixed and focused on Christ, our Audience of One, I am confident in our post-season success.” From players to coaches, the team has attributed their progress and season-long preparation to the challenges they have faced along the way. “It seems like nothing has really come easy this year: in a lot of ways, that’s satisfying because we’ve fought. This team has had to battle for everything. We haven’t quit at any point, and we have battled through whatever has come our way,” Head Coach Melissa Lamie said. The Wolverines have shown a lot of heart in close matches and kept pounding the turf, even when time seems against them.
“We’ve played a lot of strong teams and suffered some tough losses in playing them. While those games were hard at the time, they taught us a lot, forced us to adapt to different styles of play and helped to build resilience within our team,” senior midfielder Brooke Thomas said. “Several times we have gone down in a game and come back to win in the last few minutes. It is encouraging to know that our team has the perseverance to keep fighting after going down and the ability to come out with a win. This fight is so valuable during PAC playoffs.” The women’s team is hoping to continue the fight with their second playoff game tomorrow. The winner will secure the bid to the national tournament. “In one game your whole season gets decided,” Coach Lamie laughed. “But again, we’re just going to go play. We know it’s going to be hard, but we’ve been up against that all year.”
The Wolverines concluded their fall season, winning silver after their 5-3 loss against Washington & Jefferson in the PAC championship match on Saturday, Oct. 26th. Despite the loss, the women had a successful 7-0 undefeated PAC record within their 10-2 overall fall regular season. Grove City has historically found title-winning success, earning four of their last six titles in PAC championships. Although the record assumes a season of ease, the team had some difficulties along the way. “The biggest challenge we faced was having a young team,” junior Morgan Happe said. “Our underclassmen gained a lot of experience this year and I am looking forward to what they will bring to the table next year.” The freshman core accounted for half the team’s roster this year with six out the twelve being new faces to the team. Head coach Henry Boyle and assistant coach Karolina Lagerquist, along with the upperclassmen, will continue to help the freshmen get acquainted with the team as they transition into the spring season. “The key to our success was our determination,” Happe explained. “As a team we were able to fight in the close matches, especially when we were down. The team will look to continue their strong resolve into the spring season also. “This is great experience for the team, and I think we will come back stronger next year,” Happe anticipated. “My hopes for the spring season is that we will get good practice and we will be able to grow more as a team.” The Wolverines will have the opportunity to redeem themselves in the second half of this academic year. The Women’s team will swing back into action on the tennis courts in the spring.
Grove City falls short in PAC tourney Connor Schlosser Sports Editor
The fourth seeded men’s soccer team fell just short to first seeded Washington & Jefferson in a 2-1 overtime cliffhanger Wednesday. Washington & Jefferson, who beat the Wolverines in their last regular season game, got on the board first holding and then held the Wolverines scoreless for almost the entire 90 minutes. A miracle goal from freshman Sam Belitz with 39 seconds left in regulation tied up the game 1-1 just in the nick of time. Washington & Jefferson with Grove City through a stalemate first overtime with no score. It was not until five minutes remained in the second overtime that Washington & Jefferson found the back of the net ending the game and the Wolverines’ season.
DAVE MILLER/GCC
The men’s soccer team gathers at midfield after ending its season with a 2-1 loss at W&J. The Wolverines appeared to have started to turn their season around just in time for playoffs, yet Washington & Jefferson were able to advance. W&J outshot Grove City 22-16 keeping sopho-
more goalkeeper Luke Greenway on his toes to the final minutes. The Wolverines managed to take a few close shots on goal, but to no avail. The last three regular season games showed promise
for Grove City heading into playoffs. In their game against Bethany the Wolverines had shooting gallery display in their sweeping 8-0 win on Oct. 26. Everyone on the field
essentially got a chance at to light up Bethany’s goalkeeper. Senior forward Christian Caporaso led Grove City’s offensive deluge that game with two goals. Building on that confidence booster, the Wolverines rolled past Saint Vincent in a 4-2 victory. In a 1-1 tie at the half, Grove City clamped down to get ahead of the Bearcats thanks to the help of senior midfielder Ryan King’s first career game-winning goal. In their last regular season game of the season, Grove City fell short to Washington and Jefferson in a 1-0 loss. Grove City was outshot by Washington and Jefferson by a large deficit of 21-9. Entering the playoffs, senior foward Justin Lind pinpointed the heart of the team. “Without a doubt, the team’s greatest strength this season has been our incredible culture,” Lind said.