The Collegian – December 6, 2019

Women continue hot streak

The faith betrayed

Basketball wins seven straight as PAC play opens

SPORTS

Putting on a show

Music department kicks off Christmas with extravaganza

COMMUNITY

The

@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Friday, December 6, 2019

Culture war claims another win with Chick-fil-A’s capitulation

PERSPECTIVES

Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper

Vol. 105, No. 10

Bon Appetit innovates with menu

David Zimmermann Staff Writer

Recently, Bon Appetit has been making changes to the dining options on Grove City’s campus.

Opinions vary, but most are content with the changes.

“I like the new foods a lot, but I think they should be put on more of a rotation and not have the same thing every day for a week,” senior

Margaret LaGrand said.

Junior Ethan Harvey added, “The improvements Bon Appetit has made have been good, but it would be nice to see a little less grease in the meals I am being served.”

While there are still complaints among students regarding the food, it is important to keep in mind that the College itself had prepared the food in the past instead of a professional food service

provider.

Joining the College in the mid-1990s, Bon Appetit hoped to add something more to the table.

According to the College’s Vice President of Operations James Lopresti, “Bon Appetit and the College have always maintained a highly collaborative relationship with the mutual goal of delivering an optimal dining experience to our students.”

Without the students, there would be no opportunity for Bon Appetit to continue to improve the food. Realizing that, both the College and Bon Appetit are thankful for student feedback conducted through the Student Government Association’s monthly food feedback forums and the new customer engagement messaging app.

“We’ve been encouraged by the responsiveness pro-

Friend or foe?

vided by the Zingle texting platform and think there is a continuing role for the SGA’s food feedback forums.

The College and Bon Appetit welcome student feedback,” Lopresti said.

Without ways for constructive criticism, new additions such as the “Grab & Go” and “food truck” stations in Hicks, the healthy fruit bar DINING 3

Former student passes away Paige Fay News Editor

WES KINNEY

Kitty Purry snarls as she stalks student leftovers outside of SAC. Her frequent apperances on campus have divided student opinion.

Campus cat causes fuss Anna DiStefano Community Editor

Kitty Purry has become the unofficial second mascot of Grove City College in the past year.

The black and white outdoor cat made her first appearance on campus last fall, stalking squirrels and students alike. Since then she has only grown in popularity, becoming a full-fledged member of the campus community with her own Instagram fan page.

Opinion surrounding her is mixed.

Many students see the cat as a symbol of the greater campus community, some going as far to call her an “asset” to the College.

Junior Alison White enjoys Kitty Purry’s presence on campus.

“She brings out the best from our campus and she brings us all together,” White said.

This community around Kitty Purry is concentrated in her following on an Instagram: @gcc_kittypurry.

The page is a platform where KITTY PURRY 3

Kitty Purry enjoys a belly rub from a friendly student.

JOHN KALAJIAN

Student research on exhibit

James Sutherland Editor-in-Chief

Grove City College will showcase student and alumni research during its Symposium of Student Research and Scholarly Activity Monday.

Sponsored by the Committee for Student Research, the Symposium will feature a combination of talks and poster presentations on a wide range of topics from 3-6 p.m. in HAL. The Symposium will open

with an hour of student talks in three rooms: HAL 116, 215 and 216. It will then close, at 5 p.m., in HAL Atrium with 17 student posters and refreshments.

Dr. Michael Jackson, professor of mathematics and head of the Committee, said that the Symposium is an excellent opportunity for student researchers.

“Presenting research is an important piece in doing research. By presenting in our Symposium the students have a chance to share their

work in a friendly atmosphere that celebrates their achievements. This can be used to prepare students to present in other environments,” Jackson said.

“Research also builds a deeper understanding of the discipline than can usually be achieved in the classroom.

In addition research activities are an important item to include on resumes and applications to graduate and professional schools. These research opportunities also help students decided on ca-

reer and educational paths,” he said.

Theo Stangebye, a senior electrical and computer engineering major, agreed.

“Before beginning research, I really wasn’t sure that I wanted to stick with engineering,” Stangebye said.

“However, after three years of independent research, I love electrical engineering and am applying to electrical engineering PhD programs!”

Stangebye is not alone in RESEARCH 3

Former Grove City College student Brady Hunker, 18, died Nov. 25 after battling Ewing’s Sarcoma, a form of bone cancer, for three years.

Hunker, of Mount Pleasant Township, Pa., was a freshman in the College’s mechanical engineering program and a member of the Trustee Scholar program.

He and his wife Mollie Landman Hunker, also a former student, had begun formHunker ing their community at the College when his illness forced him to end their attendance.

“He was really grateful for the time he had at Grove City,” Mollie said.

They developed a close relationship with their professors and were grateful for how accommodating they were to their unique situation. After withdrawing, he and Mollie traveled for the remainder of their time together.

On the difficult days, Brady and Mollie found encouragement in their Christian faith.

“We would read Scripture together and pray together.

It was faith in Christ that carried us through and carries me through, but we were also there for each other,” Mollie said.

Hunker was in a lot of pain but the cancer didn’t lessen his hope in Christ.

“He told me often that he would be willing to go through what he was going through over and over again for people to come to know Jesus because of watching him battle cancer,” Mollie said.

“Brady was an amazing young man and truly demonstrated what it looks like to live a life fully devoted to Christ,” Larry Hardesty, Vice President of Student Life & Learning, said.

Hunker’s memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the New Stanton (Pa.) United Methodist Church.

Editorial

Page 2

The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Dec. 6, 2019

From the Editor’s desk

To my mother

James Sutherland Editor-in-Chief

This is my last edition at The Collegian, after twoand-a-half of the longest, most tiring and most rewarding years of my life.

I met some of the best people on campus at the paper. I have waxed lyrical about how those people pushed me to be a better writer and, more importantly, person in this column a number of times this semester.

I have written about how spending 20 hours a week on the Collegian was a transformative experience, and how the paper will continue to be great after I leave (in large part because I had little to do with its greatness while I was here).

I have used this column as a bully pulpit to talk about nearly everything important in my life: my brothers, my father, sports, politics, music and books.

One person has been conspicuously absent from this column, a person who had a greater impact on my time at this paper than anyone else: my mother.

She made me a reader.

She taught my brothers and me to read herself, somehow wrangling restless 4-year olds into a chair for 30 minutes a day for lessons. She read to us every morning from the sports page of the newspaper, quizzing us on trivia while secretly building our skills. Whenever we were home for lunch she read to us too, often working through books over the course of a summer.

Every day of every summer she dragged my broth-

ers and I to the local library to pick out books. She was careful about what we read too, screening books for content and quality. She would not have us reading most of the garbage children and YA books that fill the shelves.

She pushed us to write, too. Most summer days she made us write for 30 minutes, celebrating whatever terrible thing we produced like it was a Faulknerian masterpiece.

As we grew older she grew harsher in her critiques. I have yet to meet a copy editor as helpful and hurtful as my mother. She endlessly cudgles me for overusing semicolons; I just cannot help it!

She is the only person I trust to edit anything I write, from this column to class papers to personal statements for graduate school applications, mainly because she is the only person who is not afraid to offend me.

If I have written anything well in these pages, it is because of my mother. If any of my columns were enlightening, if any of my reporting was insightful, if any of my writing was compelling or witty or compassionate, it is because of my mother.

The sad thing is that much of my writing has failed to live up to the investment my mother made in it. She would not agree, because she is a good (nay, the best) mother, but even writing this column makes me frustrated I cannot pay proper tribute to her. My poor pen is not skilled enough to give her the praise she deserves.

I suppose, then, that this is the best I can do: love you mom.

Collegian Staff

ELEPHANT JOURNAL

Diseases of despair Fast-paced life is destroying America Josh Tatum

Perspectives Editor The prime of life may no longer be prime if a new article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) is to be believed (and it is).

As per its abstract, life expectancy in the U.S. – particularly in the Ohio Valley and the Northeast – is decreasing for the first time in almost 60 years, from 78.9 years in 2014 to 78.6 in 2017.

This modicum of decrease is considered especially concerning for three reasons: (1) the decline is most pronounced for those in their midlife working years (ages 25 to 64), (2) the decline cuts across race (but not class, obviously), and (3) the midlife decline has been primarily caused by so-called diseases of despair (defined as “drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, suicides, and a diverse list of organ system diseases” by JAMA).

So why is this? Rich Lowry ponders this same question in his syndicated column on Wednesday in which he quite ignorantly asks, “How is it that a society as technologically advanced and affluent as ours can’t provide ... the support to keep people from doing themselves grievous harm?”

This question, however, implies that “our” affluence and technologization have not, respectively, been at the cost of and to the detriment to our social fabric.

I would, in fact, like to suggest the opposite.

JAMA’s data show that the midlife mortality rate has, with the exception of California and Wyoming (for some reason), increased in every U.S. state. Which suggests that, while some areas are more hard-hit than others, the despair at the root of these deaths is nationwide.

French philosopher Jacques Ellul, in his criminally overlooked “The Ethics

of Freedom,” in a refinement of Karl Marx’s idea of alienation as caused by capitalism, instead identifies technology (la technique) as the root cause of alienation.

Not technology in our informal sense of iPhones and smart speakers, but the entire “technical milieu” which includes any rational creation aimed at efficiency.

(To get a better idea of this, I would suggest watching Godfrey Reggio’s Koyaanisqatsi.)

It is this technical milieu which so enforces efficiency as the ultimate good but leaves man mechanized and alienated.

And it is this alienation which drug and alcohol abuse and suicide seek to suppress, especially when de-alienation is impossible.

We do not need, as Lowry suggests, further technologization to help those in the riptide of technologization.

We need to slow down and ask, is our pace of life incompatible with living?

This week’s in Collegian history

Editor-in-Chief

Business Manager

A changing student body

Managing Editor

Social Media Manager Matthew Moody

Dec. 2, 1929 “I can remember when…”

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 James Sutherland for 2 1/2 years of dedicated leadership at the award-winning Grove City College Newspaper. The editors and contributors are grateful for his wit, vision and hard work. Thank you!

Moody

‘‘I can remember when the ladies (God bless them!) used to wear hoop-skirts to the Class ‘Hop’; ‘When nearly every male student wore sideburns and carried a cane; ‘When the annual sleigh ride was the big Whoopee! of the year!”

“Yes, and we can remember when College Men used to work laboriously and lengthily over letters to folks back home! But that has been eliminated by the Telephone. There’s one near you, and Home is only a few minutes away! Just for fun… call Home tonight.”

A lot may have changed in the past ninety years, but it seems that folks talking about the way things ‘used to be’ will always stay the same. I can remember when the ladies used to wear boot cut jeans and the young men wore sideswept bangs…

Dec. 6, 1939 “A Fossil Looks At His Students” “It is good to be young and to be a college student. The next best thing is to be a teacher of college students,” writes Dr. Charles Platt, then a professor of education, in a long-awaited article requested by Collegian editors.

The subject? The student body, always changing and full of differences.

“The young people of this new world, as a rule, come to the college halls eager and adventuresome… forgetting that time has taken its toll on us, we [faculty] mingle with Youth again not realizing that what we think is enthusiasm for our company is really a fine and priceless tolerance of us--a polish-

ing of the apple perhaps, but we like it.”

Overall, Platt finds that college students may vary in things like confidence and ability and commitment, but they are a blessing to be around and mingle with, and he finds that he is certain the young people around him represent what will “prove to be a high grade of manhood and womanhood… Yes, the Fossil looks at college students, and he finds them good.”

Dec. 3, 1969 “Drugs Create the Good and Bad” In this article courtesy of the ’69 Collegian, contributing writer Dennis Moore makes an argument one would certainly not expect from the hallowed grounds of Grove City College… that while hallucinogens are mostly bad, their use can in fact have benefits. It offers freedom from rigid patterns, “oneness” of thought, action, the body, and even the environment. Furthermore, government regulation concerning them, he argues, treats all types of drugs as the same material.

One cannot say that Moore supports drug use, however.

“Most American drug users,” he says, “are not looking for anything this profound when they go into the drug experience.” He brings up physical complications, legal complications, psychological consequences. The most effective arguments against drug use, too, come from former users or people who have intimate experience with drug use.

A complicated topic, then, even if the conclusion we come to in the end remains firmly against the use of drugs.

Jules Wooldridge

Staff Writer

News

The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 3

Working from home College expands online course offerings

Clark Mummau Contributing Writer

Grove City College is increasing its online course offerings in order to reach more high school and adult learners and to further enable current students to graduate early or pursue additional majors and minors.

“We know that online education is logistically important to so many young learners and we want to be there for those who require an online modality,” Dr. Christy Crute, Director of Graduate and Online Education, said.

Crute views Grove City College as a “safe haven of high-quality education” for all learners. She believes that the College has a responsibility to share its education with private, public and homeschooled students as well as adult learners.

“I love that high school students now explore college early. That seems like a great transition for them prior to physically coming to campus,” Crute said. “The good news is that many of our dual-enrolled high school students are planning to do just that.”

During the fall and spring semesters, high school students, part time students and adults can take online cours-

Grove City College announced it is expanding its online course offering last month. es, but traditional students are prioritized in summer, May and winter terms, Crute explained. In this way, everyone can take advantage of these new course offerings.

“Right now, we are working to put together one year of programming for dualenrolled students for each major. We are definitely not there yet, but that is the goal,” Crute said.

Courses in the humanities core and other general requirements have always been

offered online, and this will continue with the new offerings. By taking these classes outside the normal term, students can open their schedules to pursue additional majors, minors, and concentrations or simply to explore different subject areas.

While online education is useful to many people, not all students like the expansion, including freshman Jonathan Collins.

“I believe that online education at Grove City proves

Looking towards China

continued from 1 seeing his time at Grove City as preparation for an academic career. Many graduates have gone on to successful research careers, including two alumni who return Monday.

Dr. William Ross ’09 and Dr. Anna Wargula ’11 will each present research in

students can share photos of themselves with Kitty Purry and her general daily life at the Grove.

Even President McNulty has posed for a photo with the famous cat, posting a photo this summer with Kitty Purry relaxing on campus while students enjoyed summer break. Kitty Purry’s popularity and high-profile has some students urging for a more permanent embrace of the beloved cat.

Senior Emily Stein provided many reasons why Kitty Purry should replace Willie the Wolverine as Grove City’s mascot.

Her list included practical comments like the cat’s punny name and visibility on campus, but it also included more creative reasons like the fact that Kitty Purry “would probably be better received as a statue than Willie was.”

Kitty Purry, however, is not without her scandals or critics.

In an email sent to all students this September, Director of Campus Safety Seth VanTil listed “leaving food out for Kitty Purry” as a possible attraction for the skunks that were reported on campus. The feline also has grown accustomed to residence life. Some students bring Kitty Purry into the

dorms, resulting in her darting into residence halls and other buildings on campus.

“I don’t like that it is practically an outside cat and it’s let inside all the time,” junior Anthony Hamilton said. “I mostly don’t like it because it always seems to find its way not only into my room but into my bed, and I find that disgusting coming from an outside cat. And as a CRON I love the CRONS.” Junior Katie Clarey also draws the line at Kitty Purry’s participation in open hours.

“I’ll pet her, but I won’t let her into my room. She’s an outdoor cat,” Clarey said.

Perhaps the strongest opinion about Kitty Purry comes from Memorial RA Jesse Belitz, whom Kitty Purry has awoken in the middle of the night more than once by climbing through his screenless windows.

“Kitty Purry may foster unity, but at what cost? She is entitled, prancing on campus knowing she’s about to get whatever attention she wants,” Belitz said.

“We as a campus only encourage her bratty nature by doting and gawking over this menace. She absorbs it, and it all goes to her head, becoming extremely selfish and vain as a result. The Instagram doesn’t help.”

While opinions may be divided, it looks like Kitty Purry is here to stay.

attractive and smart option for students.”

Until then, Lopresti, on behalf of Bon Appetit, hopes that students will enjoy the new and improved meals.

“Our hope is to deliver the best dining experience possible for students, which in turn, contributes to the best overall college experience,” he said.

As the College is commit-

ted to excellence, so is Bon Appetit, Lopresti assures students.

“Excellence is one of the core values of this College — in everything we do — and dining halls are no exception,” he said.

“We are confident that Bon Appetit will continue to work hard and remain committed to the highest standards of excellence at the College.”

continued from 1

Contributed by the Crimson Collegiate Investors

SHOWCASE

that Grove City has forgotten the intent and the purpose of education because it believes that education can be bought and consumed,” Collins said.

“Online education destroys the professor-student relationship and tends to believe the idea that education is for a degree only.”

Crute agreed that online education has the potential for losses.

“To ensure that we do not have educational losses, GCC has tasked an Online Teach-

KITTY PURRY

This week in the markets

In this week’s edition of the Collegian’s business and finance section we discuss China’s and the ongoing corporate leverage and default concerns coming out of the Orient.

Thankfully for American equity investors on a year to date basis, the market remains strong. Since January first, the S&P is up 23 percent to 3,090 points while the yield on the 10-year U.S. treasury note remains around 1.73 percent.

China is the world’s second largest economy, its also the most levered in the developed world, save for Hong Kong. Encouraging indebtedness was the implicit strategy of the Chinese Communist Party in “combatting” the Great Recession.

Today China’s corporate debt to GDP stands at 157 percent. Investors have been on edge most of the year thanks to a bank run on Baoshang bank in May, prompting the first state takeover of its kind in two decades.

This past Monday investors got their latest reason to be concerned. Beijing based electronics company, Tung-

GCC

hsu Technology, missed an interest payment on its $241 million loan. It is the third Chinese electronics firm to default in December alone and the 45th Chinese company to default so far in 2019.

In aggregate, over $16.7 billion in corporate debt payments have been delayed in the current fiscal year, up from 2018 which in turn was quadrupole mire than that of 2017.

One of the biggest concerns to investors is the outright finacial reporting fraud of these distressed institutions. It was only this past September that Tungshu Technologies reported $2.4 billion dollars on its balance sheet!

If Monday wasn’t enough, an even bigger default occurred with a missed interest payment from stateowned Peking University Group. This hiccup was of even greater a surprise as Peking Group had a AAA rating, the highest possible.

The defaults have increased in recent years in large part due to unfavorable exchange rate movements for Chinese corporations. The Renminbi has

depreciated significantly in recent years from roughly 6:1 to 7:1, making U.S. issued bonds more difficult to cover for Chines based firms.

Interestingly, the frequency of those dollar denominated corporate Chinese bonds, or Kungfu bonds, has exploded since 2014.

To add complexity to the matter, the vast majority of these Kungfu bonds get underwritten through Hong Kong, a difficult place to do business in recent months.

The tiny city state has been the gateway for Chinese corporations to the financial markets of the world, accounting for roughly one quarter of all global underwriting.

If the Chinese Communist Party continues to successfully stimulate the economy and inject liquidity into the financial markets, and if a clear trade deal could be signed with the U.S. than problems in this market may subside. Until then, it remains one of the top concerns for investors as we move into 2020.

Sticht Auditorium from 4-5 p.m.

Ross studied the Septuagint as a Cambridge Trust Scholar and now teaches at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, N.C. Wargula is an assistant professor in the Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering at the United States Naval Academy.

DINING

George Daughtary

Head of Financials Sector, Crimson Collegiate Investors

continued from 1 in MAP, and the stromboli selections at the pizza station would not exist. Lopresti voices that there will be even more upcoming improvements soon.

“The future of the MAP dining experience is currently being discussed,” he said.

“We want this space to be an

ing Committee of some of the College’s finest faculty with Online Quality. The goal of this committee is to ensure that all new online courses meet GCC quality standards,” she explained.

“It’s very important that GCC does online education with the same quality as you get in GCC traditional courses,” Crute continued.

“As with all things at GCC, we want this to be studentfocused and of the same high quality as all other work, so there is a lot of integrity in the effort.”

Crute explained that online courses can also help graduates learn new information relevant to their career without returning for a semester.

Online and on campus learning are not “distinctly different,” Crute said. She explained that both are important and together they allow students to build their college experiences to meet their individual needs.

“College transforms you in ways that you will never be able to fully define. It completely changes your life.

Expanding that transformational reach is so important to me,” Crute said. “That is the most exciting thing about online expansion.”

Community The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 4

Thrifty response

Concert to bring Community raises funds in wake of robbery cheer Fiona Lacey

Taylor Williams

Staff Writer

Contributing Writer

Thrifty Threads and the Community Food Pantry were robbed on Nov. 18, and to owner Traci Gerard’s surprise, the Grove City community replaced all the money (and more) in less than a day.

“The food pantry has been robbed,” Gerard posted on their Facebook. “There is no question that the food pantry is a joyful place, but not this morning.” She explained what was stolen: all the money in the cash register, and (just in time for Thanksgiving) all of the annual turkey fund.

“The turkey fund was an accumulation of donations that was meant to purchase turkeys for our thanksgiving distribution,” Gerard wrote.

“We currently have 550 families on our register, and each and every one of them will be thankful for your help.”

But the story doesn’t end there. Within minutes, comments poured in from companies and families all over Grove City, promising money and pledging donations.

“I am the owner of the ATA Martial Arts Academy,” Christian Weber commented. “Please let us know how much was taken and we will see how much we can help you.”

“We are the owners of S&A Technology in Mercer and we would like to help contribute,” another user commented.

According to other news sources, Gerard has been receiving constant donations, by cash, check, and even turkeys, since the day of the robbery.

“She told us she was hav-

GCC

Freshmen Avalon Parsons, Paige Crawley and Olivia Whiteman raised $75 to support Thrifty Threads after it lost its annual turkey fund. The Grove City community has raised over $2,200 for the local charity. ing a hard time staying mad,” Jessica Saskowski, barista at local coffee shop Beans on Broad, said.

Saskowski is also the leader in helping Beans on Broad contribute to the community effort to help Gerard and the pantry.

“We took away our tip jar and just put out a jar for the food pantry instead,” Saskowski said.

“We had a goal of $50 and raised $200. I knew they would donate if I put something out there.” In two days, the money was raised and delivered to Gerard herself.

Our own Grove City College students, freshmen Avalon Parsons, Paige Crawley and Olivia Whitemen, spread the word and raised $75 through a GoFundMe page

Grover

they created.

A local, Camryn Billig also created a GoFundMe page and in one day, met her goal of $800 for the food pantry.

The fund now has $2,164 with a new goal of $6,000.

“We have moved up the money value. We’re trying to raise enough to hopefully get [the Food Pantry] a security system!” Billig wrote.

“I have known Traci for quite some time now. She gives up so much just to help out the people in our community,” Billig said. “I knew she would do this for me if I ever needed it.”

Grove City Chamber of Commerce Director Beth Black is not surprised by the overwhelming community engagement. “The Grove City community has a history

of stepping up and helping when there is a need.”

Black is inspired by the people in her town, and looks forward to more acts of community engagement.

“I am proud of the Grove City community and their quick response to assist, raising more than the original sum in just one day,” Black said.

The robbery, while discouraging, leaves its locals with a new spirit, as the community has gone above and beyond what many thought they could accomplish.

“I’m so grateful to live in a town that helps anyone who goes through such a tragedy,” Billig said.

“This really did turn out to be a good thing,” Saskowski said.

Beat

An occasional satirical feature exploring life at Grove City College

Undercover SGA meeting The following transcript was produced by the Government Accountability Office and purchased using our sizable Investigative Journalism Fund. [[Since reporters and students are not allowed access into the chambers where the Grove City Student Government Association (henceforth SGA) deliberates, we sent our reporter, who acted under a false name, James Fiorino III. Since a too small number of students ran for positions on the government, the positions are now routinely filled by application. As his acceptance letter stated, James was admitted into Grove City’s highest deliberative body on account of “being a living, breathing student.” James hid a mic within his cummerbund to

secure this recording at the first meeting he attended.

The following is the transcript of his encounters]] Senator S: We will now induct our newest member, James Fiorino III. Senator B: All rise!

Senator G: Do you solemnly swear to uphold the principles of SGA, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of this honor, and never let a funding request through unquestioned?

James: I swear.

[At this point, the mic was muffled when James was hit repeatedly with a large paddle] Senator A: You may all take your seats. Today we have three requests to consider. The first is an event with coffee and live music in the sac. The second is in Ket

Rec and will consist of bands playing music, and we don’t have details yet on the third event, but I have been promised something truly different.

Senator B: Sir, we just received the form and it is actually another coffeehouse.

Senator S: Darn!

Senator B: Enter funding request 636.14.a.

[Three students entered.

Their request has been redacted to protect their lives.]

Senator A: I would like to filibuster this request.

Since we are Student Government, any funding request we approve would thus require an increase Government spending, which I oppose on moral grounds. Taxation is…

Senator F: Do you realize that you have to miss classes

to filibuster?

Senator C: Oh nevermind, I could never do that.

Senator B: I move that we deny the request. how can we know if the music will be good? Did they play anything for us? No. Senator U: They didn’t even know how much coffee $50 would buy.

Senator E: Well in all fairness, they know how much in gallons.

Senator L: But they didn’t know how much in cups or ounces!

Senator A: Hear, hear!

Senator T: I have an idea!

How about we don’t fund the event, but put on a coffee house ourselves. It would be completely different from the other coffee houses!

[The vote passed by a sweeping majority]

The Christmas spirit will fill Ketler Auditorium tonight as the Grove City College Music Department performs “A Musical Christmas.”

The event is a collaborative concert featuring the bands, choirs and orchestras of the Grove City College Department of Music.

Performing groups include: Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Stage Band, Concert Choir and the Grove City College Singers.

The students have been working hard for the concert and are really excited about the event.

“I am looking forward to bringing the whole college together with the community to share some wonderful Christmas music!” junior Kevin Dick said. He went on to say, “it is a concert everyone will love, and it features a ton of students with a lot of different musical abilities!”

Dick is especially looking forward to playing “Christmas Festival” by Leroy Anderson, which will be played in Chamber Orchestra.

Many students are members of multiple music ensembles.

For example, Dick will perform with the Wind Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble and Stage Band.

Katelyn Dauer is also very excited about the event tonight.

She will be performing with the Grove City College singers and playing the viola in the Chamber Orchestra.

While she is excited for her part of the performance, Dauer is looking forward to enjoying the other ensembles’ performances.

The concert is opened to the entire community and wants to be a community Christmas Celebration.

Unlike most concerts, “A Musical Christmas” will feature a sing-along finale during which the audience and performers can come together in the Christmas spirit.

“I love when everyone joins together to sing the Christmas carols,” Dauer said about the much-anticipated sing-along element of the concert.

Audience members can expect to hear traditional Christmas Carols and Christmas favorites like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “Sleigh Ride,” “Carol of the Bells” and “White Christmas.”

“A Musical Christmas” begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts center.

Connect with us!

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The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 5

Learning to fail

Championing mental health

Olivia Whitmore Contributing Writer

College is a big transition in our lives — one of independence, responsibility and punctuality.

Or at least that’s what the adults tell you. If we’re being honest, it’s really more of a lesson in how to do the absolute bare minimum and still become functioning members of society.

“When you’re applying to schools you have a lot of pressure to pick some big fancy major, but when you consider the workload you start thinking about how you actually want to spend your time,” says Ellie Ruffing, a freshman at Grove City College.

Here’s a curated list on how to avoid doing work, while still making the grade.

1. Show up late, if at all (you already missed 15 minutes, so what’s the point?)

Being on time isn’t important, you get more work done in your dorm anyways.

You’ll be on time tomorrow.

At Grove City, class size can range from nine to 30 people, so it can be quite a feat to go unnoticed — being early is being on time. Punctuality is a virtue, but consider this: a future employer isn’t going to dock your pay if the traffic was bad, or the weather was inclement. You were sick, then recovering, then giving yourself a few more days to recover, then an extra one to catch up on “work.” You can’t help that! What are they gonna do, fire you?

2. Rely completely on test grades, but don’t study Homework is just busy work — maybe if your teacher actually taught you instead of making a piece of paper do their job, you’d be passing! It’s not giving you any new information, and plus, you’ve been stressing about it all day, why not lay back and watch Netflix? You can just do it in the morning. It’s not due until 9 a.m. anyways.

3. Copy, copy, copy!

You’re just biding your time until the weekend!

Why would you do your

Anna DiStefano Community Editor

GCC

Worried about how to balance work and play? Look no further. We have seven helpful tips for ensuring a happy life at GCC. homework yourself and get a 3/10 when Sarah gets a 10/10 every time? When will you ever have to do your own work with absolutely no help in the real world? All anyone ever talks about now is how employers hire people solely based off their ability to work in a group. Think about it this way — the whole world just copies and recycles information constantly, so any attempt at originality is futile.

4. Completely ignore your professor Your teacher works for you. Without you, they’d be out of a job. Who do they think they are? It’s not like they went through extensive schooling or student teaching or passed a certification test or anything.

Also, you’re an adult now, so you’re basically equals.

Why are they writing so fast?

What does that say? Ugh, forget it. Just put in your earbuds and get the notes later (just kidding, you won’t get the notes later).

5. Prioritize anything and everything else Friends, parties, concerts — all well and good ways to waste time, but those are big commitments and oftentimes cost money.

Here’s a life hack for you broke college students — simply stay in your dorm and mindlessly scroll through Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. Rotate between these three apps for six hours,

stress about your accumulation of work and then take a nap. Repeat daily.

6. Keep a closed mind Keeping a closed mind is key. You already know everything your professor has said in the past 10 minutes, which is basically the green light for you to zone out for the remaining 30 minutes of class.

It’s cool and all that they are super into their job and know a lot about calculus, but you did this in high school. Plus, your teacher’s ancient, you have a much fresher perspective than them. You could teach the class at this point.

7. Keep telling yourself some of the richest people in the world dropped out!

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg — they all have one thing in common: they dropped out of college!

That “Grover-achiever” thing is lame anyways.

Now these “disappointments,” as your parents would say, are all household names.

All they had to do was work low level jobs and network for a few years, and then they were on the rise! Heck, you’re already doing the first part!

In all honesty, college is a milestone many remember fondly.

It’s an experience centered around learning how to selfgovern, exercise self-control and get organized, even when impulse seems impossible to ignore.

Relatively new, Peer Support is a student-run organization that advocates for mental health on campus through all-campus events and one-on-one assistance to students.

Senior Lindsey Lanham spearheaded the program along with Head of the Counseling Center and professor of psychology, Dr. Suzanne Houk.

Lanham serves as the lead trainer for the group.

As a lead trainer, she works with other members of Peer Support to organize campuswide events focused on mental health.

Peer Support members receive most of their training through a one-credit class taught by Houk.

In addition to this class, members also use a training manual that contains basic information about mental health.

Lanham noted that many colleges and universities have some sort of Peer Support program on their campuses.

She hopes that Grove City’s program can become as wellused as these and provide a positive impact in the campus community.

“My goal is for our program to expand in utilization by the student body and to normalize the importance of mental health,” she said.

“I think often there is a stigma regarding mental health, which is very saddening when it deters individuals from seeking assistance,” Lanham said.

“I would really love for this program to just take off next semester and after I graduate.”

This semester, the group has promoted conversations about mental health on campus through various events.

Events included an informational booth about depression on National Depression Screening Day and a viewing of the film “Tolkien” in conjunction with Cinema Club.

In the final weeks of the semester, Peer Support will

set up an accomplishment Christmas tree that students can use to reflect on all that they have accomplished as the end-of-semester stress begins to increase.

Next semester, the group plans to work with AWARE, a non-profit that provides assistance to victims of sexual assault.

Peer Support also plans to have a speaker-led discussion about eating disorders and healthy eating in February.

“Educating students and assisting them in becoming more comfortable talking to peers about emotional problems raises the mental health of the campus,” Houk said.

“Peer supporters learn when to support and when to refer to counseling. Students can reach hurting students that we as professionals do not.”

Peer Support is not in place of but in addition to the resources available at the Counseling Center.

Lanham hopes that Peer Support can be another resource for students to utilize, especially at Grove City.

“Identifying when you need help managing mental health is important,” Lanham said.

“Often students are highly involved in extra-curricular activities, rigorous academics, plus just normal life things that always pop up, and everything together can feel like a lot to handle for one person.”

“Reaching out to others, maybe even Peer Support, might help ease the load.”

All students also have access to the Counseling Center located in Zerbe Health and Wellness Center.

Counselors offer appointments between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and are on-call 24/7 to handle student crisis calls while students are on campus.

The center offers a variety of means for helping students, inclduing group and individual counseling as well as training programs.

The office also hold a biannual DeStress fair around finals week, with counselors active around campus.

Collegian Crossword ACROSS

28. Tortured feeling

DOWN

1. Lil Nas X’s “___ Town Road”

30. Cleopatra, the Sirens, or Delilah, for example

1. Wilde, Isaac, and the Grouch

4. “It’s all _____ to me”

34. Buttocks, in Britain

2. The L in NFL and MLB

9. Yankovic’s parody of “Bad”

38. The Committee

3. Strongly dislike

40. Skull-themed frat

4. Sad’s opposite

41. Malek of Bohemian Rhapsody fame

5. Short summary, for short

12. One half of a teetertotter 13. At the nadir 14. Baseball stat.

15. One in a clowder or a glaring 16. Kayne just bought 6,713 of them in Wyoming 17. Highest note on Guido’s scale 18. The gays supposedly have one 20. To regard with reverence (esp. God) 21. Coldplay’s A ____ of Blood to the Head 22. A dish-baked “pie” 26. In mathematics, collections of elements 27. Chin-centric beards

6. Cob

42. Trademarked sticky note

7. Informal señor

44. Suffix for an ideology

8. A ship’s speed, briefly

45. TV’s defense attorney Perry

9. Mr. ______, of Gotham

48. Thurman of Kill Bill fame

11. TLC’s Toddlers & ______

49. Trump’s rumored “___ tape”

19. World’s largest highway system (Abbr.)

50. Latin meaning “to this end”

30. “Of the same ______”

36. Of clothes, revealing

20. Tantrum

31. One end of a pencil

37. Will matter

51. Well-suited

23. With -phobia, fear of crowded places

39. A tiny shovel, essentially

52. To do it is human

32. For lights, alternative to a switch

24. Negating prefix

53. Grove’s associate dean of Student Life

25. Salary or wages

33. Philly rapper featured on “Bad and Boujee”

54. Caustic ash-derived hydroxide

Follow us for the solution!

10. On fire, fiercely

28. Valued as 1 or 11 in Blackjack 29. Receive, for short

@Collegian_GCC

@gcc.collegian

43. Not twice nor thrice 45. PC competitor

34. Website pop-ups

46. “Without further ___...”

35. B’rit milah in Judaism, for one

47. Bashful

The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper

The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 6

Photos by Wes Kinney

The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Located about a mile up the road from Slippery Rock’s campus, Rock Falls is a privately-owned outdoor event space. Most weekends of the year, this park is known for hosting concerts featuring local bands. With a large stage, many events through the year and camping available, this is a great place to spend some warmer weekends.

On weekends that there are no events, you are almost certain to make a few friends fishing, smoking a cigar, or swinging on the rope swing. If a long walk is more your fancy, you can walk one of the many trails around the area.

The park does have a box for donations so if you plan on spending the day there, be sure to throw a few dollars in the box to help support the owners.

Page 7

Perspectives

Page 8

The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

A bad aftertaste Chick-fil-A backtracks on LGBT

Erin McLaughlin Contributing Writer

Here we are again, lamenting another casualty of the culture war.

This time, it’s Chick-fil-A that is among the body count.

The fast food megalith shamelessly officially – and very publically – traded one bedfellow for another when it alienated itself from several historically Christian organizations and cozied up with a prominent LGBT organization.

Chick-fil-A announced that it will cut off funds from several groups, including The Salvation Army, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Paul Anderson Youth Home, each a victim of LGBT activist harassment.

To further pacify the outspoken LGBT community, Chick-fil-A immediately announced that they will began donating to Covenant House, an unabashedly pro-LGBT rights group which provides housing to young people.

LGBT sensitivity is baked into the core operation of this organization.

Covenant House denies potential employees if they object to homosexual and transgender activities.

Employees don gender pronoun buttons and their bathrooms are gender neutral. (I could keep going, but I think I’ve made my point.)

What happened? Chick-filA’s brand was uncompromisingly Christian and distinctly American until now.

Recall Aug. 2, 2012, Chickfil-A’s “record-setting day,”

Alejandra Flores

TIBRINA HOBSON/GETTY IMAGES

when thousands upon thousands of faithfuls waited hours for the famous set of waffle fries and breaded patties to prove to Chick-fil-A that they were not alone in the fight to preserve the traditional family.

Dan Cathy, CEO was quite frank at the time: “We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives.

We give God thanks for that... we know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles.” Oh, the

irony.

THAT is the Chick-fil-A my family and I – and tens of thousands more – believed we supported.

Imagine the hit Chick-filA will take after performing this stunt.

Those loyal customers who patiently bore the long lines on Chick-fil-A “Appreciation Day” are probably pretty ticked off right now.

There are likely unsatisfactory financial consequences when you alienate the demographic that handed you a record-breaking day in sales.

But I’m no expert.

Chick-fil-A’s actions follow years of the left’s harassment of this popular chain. This, of course, includes prominent

wings of the LGBT community and major media outlets such as CBS, ABC, CNN – you know, the usual suspects.

One of MSNBC’s anchors, Thomas Roberts, referred to Chick-fil-A customers as “chicken-eating Judas.”

Multiple schools and cities have also banned the popular fast food restaurant.

Similarly biased, New Jersey’s Rider University denied Chick-fil-A’s bid for a franchise on campus due to “the company’s record widely perceived to be in opposition to the LGBTQ+ community.”

Most recently, the chain has been rejected at several airports and even from the United Kingdom, all because of its past stance on gay mar-

Christmas can be a time for joy, pain, dread, happiness, fear, loss, etc. While Christmas may bring many different emotions. As many people say, “What is the reason for the season?” Christmas whether it brings joy or sadness, has a pur-

pose: the remembrance of the birth of Christ. While the day is not accurate, it’s a special time to reflect on the beginning of the beautiful story of redemption.

Because of this many Christians in America gather together with family and friends to celebrate; consequently, this tradition has become more to others.

In this society, Christmas has become much more gifts become numb e r o n e pri-

riage.

Chick-fil-A has been burdened by no small amount of political and cultural pressure for years.

And they’ve unfortunately given way. “There’s no question we know that, as we go into new markets, we need to be clear about who we are,” recently proclaimed Tim Tassopoulos, President and Chief Operating Officer of Chick-fil-A. Who would’ve believed that seven years (less than a decade) after Chick-fil-A Day, conservative news outlet headlines would read like Breitbart’s, for example: “Chick-fil-A Sells out the Christian Faith for Greed”?

Ouch.

Keep Christ in Christmas

Contributing Writer

Thanksgiving has come and gone. No longer do houses smell like pumpkin pie and the crisp smell of fall, instead, the smell of pines, eggnog, and the crisp scent of the cold pierce the air.

Thanksgiving reemphasizes important values such as family and gratitude; however, these ideals are shortly outlived as the consumerism takes over on Black Friday.

As the first wave of holiday festivities comes to a close, there is no delay in preparation for the next, Christmas.

Lights of blue and white, silver and gold, green and red, replace pumpkins and ghosts, snow begins to fall (in most places at least!) covering the last remnants of fall, and stores begin to fill with books, toys, and gadgets of all kinds waiting to be bought and placed in their new home under the Christmas tree.

But what is Christmas? To one person Christmas is family getting together laughing by the twinkle of lights on the Christmas tree.

To another person Christmas is stress-

ful as they try to find the perfect gift, deal with family drama, or face a loss. To others, Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of the Savior and everything beautiful he brought and brings to this world, the beginning of redemption, the magnificence of God. And yet to others, it’s a time to make more money, sell more gifts, make more profit, put in those extra hours for o v e r t i m e .

ority in many homes, and the season’s true meaning can be forgotten.

But is it wrong to participate in this consumerist society? I mean after all, the wise men brought gifts to Jesus, but what does that mean for Christians.

There’s nothing wrong buying people you love things, but the problem rests when it becomes the sole purpose for that season.

When Christmas comes the first thing on someone’s mind that day should not be presents, but Christ, and if that’s not you, then there’s the problem. Presents and family should be second to Christ. Let Him be the guiding factor for celebration this year.

Unfortunately, Christmas shouldn’t end on Christmas.

Everyday should be Christmas in the sense that it is a celebration of Christ.

Every day should be filled with a thankfulness for the love Christ showed every person on this planet.

This year as you listen to Christmas music, eat way too much good food, and open presents enjoy yourselves, but also don’t forget the true reason for the holiday: Christ.

I mean after all Christ is in the name!

Merry Christmas everybody!

The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 9

Exposure to pagans is good Maverick Dickson Contributing Writer

I was having a conversation with a friend the other day, and he was arguing that there are some people who are worse than others, based on the sins they commit.

It is important to note here that while this is not the only type of person I see here (there are plenty of people here who perhaps stray to over-acceptance), it is a significant point of discussion among many Christians I see here, and a point worth addressing.

He brought up the kings in Israel as an example: some of the kings were clearly worse than others, and were punished by God accordingly.

I think that such a thought, while not inherently wrong, points toward a dangerous mindset of earthly comparison. Here at Grove we like to see ourselves as Christians going to a good Christian college. This type of personality is one I have found prevalent here at Grove. We look for ways to constantly improve ourselves to make ourselves better Christians, and not be “one of those bad people” who are punished by God (like what happened to the Israelite kings of old). This constant effort is born out of good thought, but leads to judgmental thought patterns.

To see improvement in your good Christian life, you look for ways to improve yourself. To find ways to improve yourself, you compare yourself to something, or someone (a standard). And most often, here at Grove, we are just comparing ourselves to other Christians around us. When we do this, we begin to “rank” our sins, as if some are worse than others.

One person looks at his addiction to porn, and ranks it as a “better” sin, because it is widespread, but judge another man for his addiction to alcohol, or a girl for her constant gossiping. Then we tally our sins, and measure to see who comes out on top.

Ultimately, in our search for righteousness, we begin to shun people. Other professing Christians are shunned because they are not “holy enough,” and will not “spur you on to righteousness.” To hang out with those people is to risk perverting and weakening your faith and your pursuit of more righteous living. When someone fails to do what is best – not even what is wrong, but not what is best – you talk to them about it, and tell them they need to do better.

We forget that this was not the focus of Jesus. Jesus was not known for positioning himself among the most righteous. He was known for hanging out with tax collectors, prostitutes and sinners.

He called a tax collector to be one of his closest followers. He called a man who

If we are called to be like Jesus, then it does not mean cloistering ourselves away with other Christians to make ourselves holier. It does not mean preaching the Gospel on the streets and then leaving to go back to a closed, nice little Christian community. skimmed off the top of their money (and would ultimately betray him) to be one of his closest followers.

If we are called to be like Jesus, then it does not mean cloistering ourselves away with other Christians to make ourselves holier. It does not mean preaching the Gospel on the streets and then leaving to go back to a closed, nice little Christian community. It means spending time, and living life, with unbelievers, with the uncouth and with sinners. We say we follow God and love the unrighteous, but forget that friendship is a time investment, a daily walk and not a hit-and-run form of evangelism. To be like Jesus is to live and engage with unbelievers as a fundamental part of your life.

But even beyond hanging out with unbelievers, we could still do so and still judge others for their sinfulness. Ultimately, those who do that forget what great sinners we all are. We measure ourselves against other people, when we should be looking to what God demands – and see that we fall horribly short. We study the Scriptures to know how to better live Christian lives, forgetting that this is the very thing Jesus called out the Pharisees for in John 5:39, when they thought that studying the Scriptures would bring them closer to eternal life.

This struggle to be more holy most often drives us to a comparison, which the Pharisees were practicing back in the days of Jesus.

We say we are pursuing righteousness for God, but our standard of comparison is other people. That standard is not a Godly standard.

Porn, drunkenness, gossip or any other sin, it does not make a difference: a Godly standard would say both are going to Hell (but for the salvation of God). But we compare ourselves because it makes us looks good. And in this way we can say “I thank you, God, that I am not like that man who was drunk last night, or that girl who won’t stop gossiping. I thank you for my holiness, for I pray every day, and I only hang out with good Christians.”

We say this instead of seeing ourselves as we are, and saying “forgive me, a sinner,” for only then are we truly justified.

Spy state Surveillance oft goes awry Janna Lu

Contributing Writer Last week, Amazon revealed that it had considered adding facial recognition to its Ring doorbell, a homesecurity camera.

Facial recognition has seen much media attention and debate. People argue that it would put too much power and information into the hands of companies, while law enforcement contends that it will make society safer. Police will be able to analyze a larger amount of footage in a shorter amount of time, and possibly with greater accuracy.

In 2017, BBC reporter John Sudworth did an experiment in China to find out how long it would take the authorities to find him if he was flagged in the closed-circuit television (CCTV) system.

It only took seven minutes after he

started walking around outside.

The United States is still far from these levels of surveillance, and several cities have outlawed the use of face-recognition cameras in

law enforcement. In addition, facial recognition still largely stays in the hands of consumers, through the newest phones and personal cameras. In turn, private companies “own” this data, and users have raised concerns about the protection and usage of this information. Some propose for the government to manage and protect the footage instead.

Government protection of data sounds scary, but it definitely has more tools and resources than a private individual has to safeguard and manage data. As a government, it can also misuse the trust placed in them. As long as the government is righteous and maintains transparency in legal proceedings, normal people have

nothing to fear. The government will be better e qui p ped to punish evil and keep society safe.

Howev-

er, if the government holds different values of right and wrong, widespread use of CCTVs with facial-recognition abilities spells doom for the upright citizens.

In the Hong Kong protests, citizens and protesters fear that the police have been using facial recognition to link faces to identities, which would make it impossible for them to dodge the court if they face charges. The police claimed that they did not, but protesters tend to disbelieve it. They started wearing face masks and baseball caps. As the law system may not be as transparent as it once was, protesters treat facial recognition cautiously, and even with some fear.

Hong

Kong is only one example of how facial recognition could go awry when employed by a non-transparent government.

A powerful tool dependent on those in power, facial recognition can make citizens or criminals tremble for their lives.

A note on Buhl Josh Tatum

Perspectives Editor For many, Buhl Library is a sacred place. Indeed, for the sedulous and broadly misophonic student, Buhl is one of very few places on campus that a hard day’s work can get well-done. Like any sacred space, however, Buhl is easily sullied.

There are too many too comfortable to have full-blown conversations, to let their phones loudly vibrate on the wooden tables, to let their headphones bleed

(sometimes hemorrhage) sound, and to incessantly click their mice.

This sacrilege, however, is also, either out of politeness or complicity, generally overlooked by most students. The social pressure to not appear “rude” would seem to outweigh the social pressure to be respectful to the students around you. This brief note hopefully will help us talk about this issue more freely, hopefully.

But this leads us to the larger issue of the lack of good study locations on campus (with the exception of those four carrel desks in the far back corner of the second floor stacks). That is, if the

library isn’t sacred, then nowhere is.

The obvious counterargument to this is Al Franken’s “it’s easier to put on slippers than to carpet the whole world,” that is, “put in earbuds you spaz.” But for those that prefer absolute silence, the solution to noise is not more noise.

In my hometown library, for example, there is a phone- and laptop-free area of the library with a sign that reads something to the effect of: “ZIP IT.” Designating a space like this on campus seems like an easy step to take for the misophonics among us.

Letters to the editor policy Space will be provided for letters to the editor. However, their inclusion is at the discretion of the editor-inchief.

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.

The editors may condense longer letters. Letters must include verifiable contact information, such as an email address.

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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. Letters to the Editor should be sent to.

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 following 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.

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Letters will be printed in the next edition of the paper in which space is available.

The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 10

The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 11

Sports at a Glance News Swimming & Diving

DAVE MILLER/GCC

James Wells rises above the crowd during Grove City’s dominant 73-45 win over Waynesburg. Wells scored 20 Wednesday, leading the Wolverines to a victory in the first conference game.

Back on track Men open PAC play with win

Connor Schlosser Sports Editor

With their solid win over Waynesburg Wednesday night, the men’s basketball team has played a total of eight games improving to a record of 3-5.

This red-out win at home with a comfortable margin of 73-45 comes as a relief for a Wolverines squad that has struggled to get past their opponents on the road.

After their narrow but humbling loss to Hilbert at home, the Wolverines have pushed through a six-game road trip, grabbing two wins along the way over La Roche in the Geneva College Tournament and against Houghton.

The Wolverines competed in the Allegheny College Tournament which took place Nov. 15th and 16th.

Senior guard Nate Peters led the Wolverines in points, contributing 24 against Allegheny. The Wolverines kept the score within a reasonable margin throughout the game’s entirety but could

not get enough momentum in the second half, falling short 76-69.

Facing John Carroll in the second game of the tournament, the Wolverines again could not get enough points on the board to match their opponents offensive drive.

Despite senior forward James Wells’ double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds, John Carroll prevailed in the end with a score of 88-71.

Sandwiched in between two tournaments, Grove City traveled to face Franciscan on Nov. 20th. The Barons got ahead of the Wolverines early and defended the lead throughout the rest of the game. Wells recorded another 16-point, 10 rebound double-double, but Franciscan prevailed 76-68.

In the first matchup of the Geneva College Tournament, the Wolverines grabbed their first win of the season against La Roche. Junior forward Joe Meola led the Wolverines in their offensive push with 20 points and eight boards.

Everybody got a piece of the offense, including sopho-

more guard Ben Rose who had eight points in his season debut. The Wolverines triumphed 86-70.

Capital topped Grove City in the second game of the tournament. Junior guard Justice Rice added 12 points and distributed 3 assists along the way. Capital kept their foot on the gas throughout the entirety of the game to vanquish the Wolverines 66-48.

A well-balanced offensive scheme brought Grove City their second win of the season against Houghton. Four Wolverines had double-digit points in the contest led by Rice and junior guard Erik Meiners who both had 16.

Houghton outscored Grove City by two in the second half, but it was not enough to upset the Wolverines.

With the much-needed victory over their first PAC matchup, the reloaded Wolverines will now face Saint Vincent in their second conference contest of the season on Saturday.

National sports column

Lamar is just too good Connor Schlosser Sports Editor

Another one bites the dust at the hands of Lamar Jackson and the hungry Baltimore Ravens squad. The now 10-2 49ers have been added to the growing list of powerhouses falling victim to the one-ofa-kind talent of Jackson.

What is it about this 22year old athlete? Jackson has stretched some of the best defenses thin, leaving coordinators and coaches scratching their heads and looking for answers in their playbooks. Will his young, mobile play style keep the momentum for Baltimore, or will it fragment under playoff pressure?

His second year in the league upon replacing former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, Lamar Jackson has transitioned into his sophomore year as a pro with tremendous improvement.

Drafted as the last pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft, Jackson was the fifth quarterback to be selected and clearly the best out of the other four.

NFL analysts and reporters will be the first to tell you that Jackson plays a unique out-of-the-box style, scrambling around after the

snap looking for options either to run or launch a pass.

The Louisville product has grown to be more than just a “running quarterback” though.

“That’s the thing about playing quarterback: it’s never one thing,” Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said. “Lamar has worked along in every area equally and has improved all across the board.”

With a 66.5 percent completion rate and 25 touchdowns to date, Lamar has shown reliable accuracy to compliment his mobility.

Even against top defenses like San Francisco and New England, Lamar Jackson remained unaffected, maintaining an above 60 percent completion rate and combined 162 rushing yards in both key matchups. Jackson has 977 rushing yards this season alone and is ranked ninth in the league and in the top 30 at the quarterback position.

The 22-year old has earned the respect of his fellow quarterback colleagues.

Seattle’s quarterback, Russell Wilson, who also shares a mobile offensive style, complimented the already tremendous season the Baltimore QB has had.

Jackson’s teammates, as well as MVP candidate rival, Deshaun Watson, have all shared the genuine opin-

ion that Lamar should take home the honors this season.

“Always love, keep grinding and MVP,” Watson wrote on his jersey exchanged with Jackson.

The Ravens continue to show up when it matters. Many were skeptical of whether the 22-year old could maintain his consistency of play against the big matchups at midseason. Each of those times the Ravens prevailed. The Seahawks, 49ers, Patriots, Texans and even last year’s runner-up Rams have all fallen to the high-level offense of Baltimore.

The Ravens are essentially locked in for playoff action, even though last year saw a forgettable performance by the Ravens, as they lost to the Chargers of Los Angeles 17-23. And although rookie Lamar of yesteryear threw two touchdown passes, it was accompanied by an interception with a completion percentage of 48.

The playoffs are a different beast. Cliché as it sounds, younger players can rarely hold it together when the pressure is heightened with elimination on the table.

This young MVP in the making has displayed greatness in the regular season, but when the chips are down, we will see what this guy is truly made of.

Both the men’s and women’s teams have struggled in nonconference matchups, falling to Case Western and Rochester in a tri-meet Nov. 23. Seniors Ben Slate and Anne Shirley Dassow led the men’s and women’s teams, respectively, by sweeping the 100 and 200m breaststroke races.

Grove City sports Grove City College men and women’s sports were each ranked second in President’s Athletic Conference All-Sports trophy rankings. The men’s teams collectively have 21 points sitting behind Washington and Jefferson, and the women have 28, just behind Westminster.

Results Football (9-2) W, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (41-38)

Men’s basketball (3-5) L, Allegheny (76-69); L, John Carroll (88-71); L, Franciscan (76-68); W, La Roche (86-70); L, Capital (66-48); W, Houghton (75-61); W, Waynesburg (73-45) Women’s basketball W, Hiram (80-72); W, Allegheny (74-55); W, Pitt-Greensburg (75-54); W, Franciscan (79-34); W, Houghton (69-44); W, Waynesburg (77-56) Men’s Swimming & Diving W, Saint Vincent (137-120); L, Case Western Reserve (174-126); L, Rochester (152-148) Women’s Swimming & Diving W, Saint Vincent (136-126); L, Case Western Reserve (204-80); L, Rochester (174-122)

Upcoming Swimming & Diving Dec. 5-7 @ Calvin College Winter Invitational Men’s Basketball Dec. 7 @ Saint Vincent, Dec. 10 @ Bethany, Jan. 4 vs. Chatham Women’s Basketball Dec. 7 @ Saint Vincent, Dec. 10 @ Bethany, Dec. 20 vs. Berry, Dec. 21 vs. Juniata (both at Baruch College) Jan. 4 vs. Chatham

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

Wesley Schools Football First Team AFCA All-American

Ruby Mattson Women’s soccer Second Team USC All-Great Lakes

Michaela Burke Women’s Soccer Third Team USC All-Great Lakes

Christian Caporaso Men’s soccer Second Team USC All-Great Lakes

Sports The Collegian, Dec. 6, 2019

Page 12

In the ‘twilight zone’ Student athletes reflect on challenge of winter break

Connor Schlosser Sports Editor

Students will soon wrap up the semester, finishing their finals and packing up for home to the much-awaited Christmas season.

Grovers will be free from classes and enjoying a welldeserved break. Campus will sit eerily silent waiting for students to return in late January.

But for our winter sports athletes, there is no off-season.

From the time they drop their pens and turn in their last final to the first day back for the spring semester, with the exception of Christmas, the Wolverines will be hard at work. They will be preparing and continuing to compete into the next half of their seasons.

So, while it’s all quiet on the academic front, the courts and pools of the PLC will see our friends and fellow students put in work.

What is it like for winter sports athletes practicing, competing and living on campus during this quiet time also known by the men’s basketball team as the “twilight zone”?

“I love the twilight zone!” senior basketball player Nate Peters exclaimed.

“It’s a time of just basketball and it’s a great time to spend with just your teammates and grow together.

The relationships between teammates get so much closer because there is no one else here to hang out with.”

Senior basketball player Jess Book, who also starred for the women’s soccer team, said campus is eerily quiet.

“I specifically remember being one of three people in the dining halls for breakfast before practice and walking

Collegian Staff

DAVE MILLER/GCC

Senior guard Nate Peters is a four-year veteran of the “twilight zone,” the eerie period over winter break when the only students on campus are athletes. The basketball and swim teams have to get creative to stay sane, organizing team activities and outings. down my hall when it was completely dark and silent, because I was the only person currently on campus out of all of my neighbors,” Book said.

It is especially important for the younger wave of players to get acquainted with their respective teams during this time.

“My freshman year it was an especially important time spent building connections with the team, since I had missed much of the early teambuilding moments while I was in soccer season,” Book explained. “I still really value intersession as a time for deeper levels of teambuilding.”

“The swim and dive teams really rely on intersession for team bonding and especially for incorporating our freshmen into the team culture,”

senior swimmer Anne Shirley Dassow said.

“Intersession provides an opportunity for all of us to be on campus and be solely focused on swimming and diving and the team itself.”

Outside of the many practices, athletes find new ways to spend their extra time with each other strengthening team bonds.

“The swim and dive teams are full of traditions,” Dassow exclaimed. “Over intersession, we have the girl’s team white elephant party, we take a team trip to Pittsburgh, we host team movie nights and we do our annual scavenger hunt.”

“We spend a ton of time together as a team during intersession, obviously practicing and playing basketball games, but also playing card games, watching movies and

just relaxing,” Book said.

“Previous years, we have had specific events where we learned how to decorate cupcakes, went to see a movie at the Guthrie and had a Bachelor viewing party.”

Although this time away from the rest of the student body seems difficult, the Wolverines focus on improving themselves as athletes and as a team.

“Overall, I do look forward to the time in-between semesters,” Book remarked.

“As a senior reflecting on how fast college athletics go by, I am extremely grateful for the time between semesters to enjoy being a part of a collegiate sports team!”

“It’s a fun experience,” Peters said. “But when the last week hits, you’re ready to get back into the regular everyday life.”

Women keep win streak alive Connor Schlosser Sports Editor

The women’s basketball team is making history this season, rolling Waynesburg 77-56 for their seventhstraight win.

Grove City outscored Waynesburg in all four quarters. Senior forward Kate Balcom guided the Wolverines point production tallying 25 for the evening.

The women have remained strong throughout their matchups keeping a solid lead through all games this season. Here is recap of their most recent stretch.

The Wolverines plowed through their first string of games heading into the Allegheny College Tournament to follow their victorious season opener against Mount Aloysius.

In the first game of the tournament, the Wolverines grabbed a win over Hiram 80-72, the closest margin out of this first stretch of games. Grove City controlled the game for the first three quarters, but Hiram gained momentum in the fourth, outscoring the Wolverines 28-13 that quarter. Grove

Backto-back bowl champs

DAVE MILLER/GCC

Senior forward Kate Balcolm attacks the hoop Wednesday at Waynesburg. Balcolm dropped 25 in a 77-56 win.

City managed to shut down Hiram’s late game stretch, led by junior guard Jess Bowen’s team high of 26 points.

Moving on to face the host of the tournament, the Wolverines made quick work of the Gators from Allegheny to win 74-55. Although down 1112 after the first quarter, the Wolverines kept their foot on the gas led by sophomore forward Allison Podkul’s 18 points and seven boards.

Facing Pitt-Greensburg was just another stop on the

Wolverines road trip, easily winning 75-54. Grove City put the clamps on against Pitt-Greensburg, holding them to 33 percent shooting.

The Wolverines’ offensive strike was led by Bowen who had 16.

Grove City continued their historical streak proving their dominance at home over Franciscan in a 79-34 slaughter. Franciscan could not hit any of their attempts, shooting an abysmal 17 percent against Grove City who

piled on the points led by freshman guard Emma Vezzosi’s 14-point contribution.

Grove City prevailed yet again at home against Houghton 69-44. Only scoring three points in the final quarter, the Wolverines had enough leeway ahead of the Highlanders to stay ahead down the stretch. Junior center Sedona Campbell recorded a double-double, leading the offense with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

The Wolverines have had an extraordinary start to their season with a 7-0 record. At their 4-win point, this year’s squad had their best start since Grove City’s 1982-83 season. Now increased to seven wins, the Wolverines have gone above and beyond making history with this season opening.

The women’s team will face Saint Vincent in their second PAC matchup tomorrow followed by Bethany in their third conference game Tuesday. After the upcoming pair of contests, the Wolverines will travel to the Big Apple to face Berry College from Georgia and Juniata in tournament action held at Baruch College, N.Y.

After a year of dramatic victories, it is only fitting that Grove City capped its season with an equally dramatic win.

The Wolverines won the James Lynah Bowl 41-38 over RPI at home last month, clinching the game with a patented game-winning drive.

Down 38-34 with just five minutes left, most teams would be overwhelmed by the moment. But Grove City is used to tight games. This was nothing new.

The Wolverines put together a clinical and methodical drive, covering 75 yards on 11 plays and sucking up four minutes of clock.

Junior wide receiver Cody Gustafson topped off the drive with a Sportscenter Top 10-worthy catch.

With just a minute left in the game, sophomore quarterback Josh Ehst lofted a pass towards the five-yard line.

Gustafson climbed a ladder above his two defenders to pull in the pass, before shedding the pair and waltzing into the end zone untouched.

The touchdown gave Grove City a 41-38 lead with just 57 seconds left.

RPI responded with a miracle drive down the field, but missed a chip-shot field goal as the clock expired, handing Grove City the win.

The Wolverines finish the season 9-2, its best record since 1997.

Grove City led for much of the game, entering halftime up 20-10 and extending that lead to 34-17 midway through the third.

RPI responded with 21 unanswered points, before the Wolverines sealed the victory.

Gustafson’s acrobatic catch was the cherry on top of an outstanding individual performance.

The junior hauled in 239 yards, a school single-game record, and three touchdowns.

Senior running back Wesley Schools finished his historic career with another stellar performance.

Schools rushed for 165 yards, his eighth hundredyard game this year, and two touchdowns.

Schools ended his career with a historic year, finishing first nationally in rushing touchdowns and second in yards. He earned First Team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association and Presidents’ Athletic Conference Player of the Year.

Schools is the first Grove City player to earn the honor since R.J. Bowers won the award in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Gustafson and senior tackle Sal Spinosa joined Schools on the PAC’s All-Conference First Team, with 10 more Wolverines across the second and third teams.