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Rhos share inside scoop on the Ganza
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@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Friday, Feb. 7, 2020
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Vol. 105, No. 12
No plans but the Ganz
Ed. prof leaves legacy David Zimmermann Staff Writer
in this material and see how she wrote stories and getting practice writing the things she never got to finish. It’s been a humbling and exciting enterprise” Wilson said. Wilson spoke in chapel Tuesday morning was titled, “Seeing Oneself Rightly.” She shared later that evening in Sticht Lecture Hall discussing “Why Flannery O’Connor’s God Yells More Than Whispers.” O’Connor wrote on topics of racism, violence, pride
After 14 years of teaching at Grove City College, education professor Patricia Scheffler will retire at the end of the semester. With degrees from Covenant College, the University of Mississippi and the University of Pittsburgh, Scheffler has dedicated her life to the education field, teaching higher Scheffler education for 21 years. Before her turn to higher education, she taught elementary school for eight years in five different states, started a small Christian school, substituted in both public and private schools and owned a business representing homeschooling families. Accustomed to moving every few years, Scheffler was glad to have settled in western Pa. where she taught at Butler County Community College, Clarion University and the University of Pittsburgh before coming to Grove City College. Dissatisfied with secular education, Scheffler stayed at the College over the past decade because she could openly express her Christian worldview to students and holistically mold them into future Christian educators. “It has been such a joy and delight to be at Grove City to seek and to develop my students in every aspect of their lives spiritually, emotionally, academically and professionally,” she said. Scheffler’s philosophy of education is based on the three tenets in Micah 6:8 — do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. “Do justice means that I
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Gabriel Cirio ‘19 and Senior Ian McGrew chill at last year’s Ganza. The Rhos host the anticipated dance tonight in Hicks. For insights on how to make the most of the dance, see Community.
Reading write-ly
English dept. hosts Christian writer’s conference Lauren Ness Copy Editor
Dr. Jessica Hooten Wilson was this year’s featured speaker for the 20th annual Christian Writers Conference focused on American author, Flannery O’Connor. The conference aims to “explore the intersection between Christian faith and literature,” Dr. Collin Messer, professor and chair of the English department, said. This year’s conference partnered with Grove City’s Newman Club to highlight the
influence of the Southern, Catholic writer who published novels, short stories, and essays. Wilson is the Associate Director of Honors Scholars Program and assoWilson ciate professor of Creative Writing at John Brown University, as well as the cofounder of Sager Classical Academy. Additionally, Wilson was the 2019 winner of the Hiett Prize for Humanities. She has authored three
books and her most recent, “Giving the Devil his Due: Flannery O’Connor and The Brothers Karamazov,” won Christianity Today’s 2017 Book of the Year in Culture and the Arts. Wilson first read O’Connor at age 15 and has been enamored ever since. O’Connor died in 1964 at age 39, leaving behind an incomplete novel. Wilson is currently working to prepare the unfinished novel, “Why Do the Heathen Rage,” for publication. “It’s been wonderful to be
McNulty, Verbois respond to acquittal Anna DiStefano News Editor
For a student’s take on the Trump hearings, see Perspectives page 9
The U.S. Senate voted Wednesday to acquit President Donald J. Trump of the two articles of impeachment on Wednesday. The decision came after months of investigation into Trump’s alleged abuse of power Trump and obstruction of Congress, impeachment by the House of Representatives and a Senate trial on the charges. As a result of the Senate vote, Trump will remain in office and continue to seek re-election in the fall. Professor of political science Caleb Verbois acknowledged that “it was always unlikely that Donald Trump would be removed from of-
fice” given the party polarization. Professor of history Gillis Harp said the verdict is “deeply troubling, or should be, for genuine conservatives who care about the Constitution, limited government, and executive accountability.” President Paul J. McNulty ’80 also cited the partisanship of the impeachment proceedings. “This impeachment has involved far more bitter partisanship than the Clinton proceedings which I witnessed first-hand. Any lingering doubts about the Democrats’ true intentions were erased by the Speaker’s disdainful behavior at the SOTU address,” McNulty said. “This case boils down to the nature
of the conduct in question. If the President’s actions were sufficiently egregious and worthy of removal from office, clearly meeting the socalled threshold, there would have been some GOP support, and it’s incredibly telling that in the end only one out of 250 House and Senate Republicans supports impeachment and removal.” Harp has found “some solace in Sen. Romney’s courageous stand. These days, it is sadly rare to see anyone rise above the most unprincipled sort of partisanship.” Even though the trial is over, the country will feel both short-term and longterm effects in the wake of Trump’s acquittal. “Just as with Clinton in the 90s, it appears that a failed impeachment attempt has ACQUITTAL 3
A raucus caucus Collegian Staff
The democratic presidential hopefuls all took the podium to offer victory speeches last Tuesday after the State Democratic Party was unable to determine the winner on schedule. The Iowa caucus is the first weathervane of the presidential election and candidates typically focus much of their energy on winning over the vote in Iowa to gain an early lead. Iowa typically makes headlines on an election year, but this year they made headlines for the wrong reasons. Democratic presidential hopefuls aimed their sights at the Iowa caucus after the seventh democratic primary debate was held on Jan. 14, 2020 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. The voting system suffered
due to a new app that the democratic party launched to show the results of the caucus. The New York Times reported that the Iowa Democratic Party commissioned Shadow Inc. to make the app only two months before the caucus. The unproven technology caused confusion for many voters and volunteers were not adequately taught how to troubleshoot the app. The app also did not properly transmit the data and officials noticed that the app data did not match paper copies. Because of this issue, Chairs were instructed to report simply by emailing photos of their worksheets. The caucus debacle set the vote count back days while the Iowa Democratic Party counted the votes by hand. CAUCUS 3
Editorial
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The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Feb. 7, 2020
From the Editor’s desk
Parting with parties Grace Tarr
Editor-in-Chief My earliest political memory is of sitting cross-legged on my parent’s bed watching President Ronald Reagan’s funeral. I was five years old and didn’t understand why the flag was draped on his casket or why men in fancy uniforms holding guns lined the room. I still didn’t really understand death or the many ceremonies we use to engulf our sorrow. But I do remember knowing in that moment that something significant was happening. My generation – the generation that can’t remember 9/11 and barely holds to ghostly memories of twentieth century leaders, are coming of age in a new era of politics. Political pundits have popularized the term “Trump era” to explain the political shift that manifested itself in 2016. I say manifested, because no real cultural or political shift happens overnight. Plenty of ink has been spilled on both sides trying to diagnose why exactly Trump won, how his victory reflects on the country and what will happen in the 2020 election. With tensions mounting during the Russian investigation and impeachment hearings, each party dug their trenches and leveled their machine guns. Party loyalty certainly isn’t a new phenomenon, and those who hyperbolize the present tensions have ignored their history books. Considering this tendency, it is with great care that I dare suggest that my generation of conservatives are homeless. We have no
party rooted in ideology to fall back on and no reason to believe that our conscientious objections will be seen as anything short of political blasphemy. This was made clear this past week by the Republican blackballing of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT). Romney voted in line with the Senate Democrats to call for more witnesses in the trial. He was the only Republican to step from the party line, and as a result, he was uninvited to speak at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) which is the largest gathering of conservatives nationwide. Certainly, Romney is far from a staunch Republican. There are many issues to which I wish he would hold tighter than he does. But whether you agree or disagree with Romney’s vote, the truth is this: going against your party has political, social and personal ramifications on a massive scale and requires courage. This is true of Democrats and Republicans alike. At the end of January, I attended the March for Life on the National Mall, the largest pro-life gathering in the world. Brave Democrats shared the stage with Republicans to step aside from their party line and stand firm in their conscience. I applaud politicians who are willing to step out from their party trenches into the line of fire. The truth is, no political party will ever embody every value we hold dear and no politician will ever be the incarnation of all our ideology. If we toe the line on every party decision, we will surrender ourselves to the rhetoric of division. To the homeless conservatives coming of age in 2020, hold principles over party.
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Community Fiona Lacey
Perspectives Josh Tatum
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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... Joanna Thorpe for dedicated copy editing and unflinching attention to detail. Joanna’s cheerfulness, enthusiasm and work ethic are appreciated by the entire team.
THORPE
NATIONAL REVIEW
State of the theater C-SPAN goes to Broadway
Josh Tatum
Perspectives Editor “State of the Union 2020” is perhaps best encapsulated but with a single adjective: perfervid, a word which here means so full of cremastertightening emotion as to be intoxicating. Broadcast on Tuesday night from the south wing of the U.S. Capitol Building, the tasteful 78-minute piece, as per the usual, centered around the monologue of the President (played by Donald J. Trump). Trump, while a relatively inexperienced and aged actor (having had only a few minor roles in American comedies like 1992’s comedy “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” and 1994’s “The Little Rascals”), proved himself, in front of a 33-million-strong audience, to be a true thespian with a robust range. While the long-running franchise has gone through slews of directors, actors and writers over the years, this latest run – co-written by elusive and eccentric scenarists Vince Haley and Ross Worthington (H&W) – has truly hit a top note for American melodrama and post-war neorealism. Namely, H&W’s choice to spotlight otherwise unseen supporting actors in a number of striking motifs throughout the piece was
brilliant, encouraging the audience to have a moment of sonder. In particular, the moment with Army spouse Amy Williams (herself), wherein she is reunited with her reallife husband, Sergeant First Class Townsend Williams (himself), was groundbreaking. H&W’s blurring of stage and reality will do perhaps for future SOTU productions what prank shows did for comedy. The decision to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh (himself) also proved to be a striking but controversial moment. The silent pair Vice President (Mike Pence) and the Speaker of the House (Nancy Pelosi) operate beautifully as a reflection of the inner emotional conflict of the audience. On one hand is Pence, affecting the look of proud son and approving comrade both, drinking in each word with gratitude. And on the other is Pelosi, with the permanent furrowing of the brow and deepseeded grimace of a spurning mother. Pelosi’s improvisation at the end, choosing to rend in twain H&W’s script, suggested a superseding of the President and perhaps the show at large. Pelosi’s brilliance was the insight to bring her character to the logical conclusion of a record of grade-school pettiness and cowardice. In a post-show interview,
Pelosi said that ripping up the speech was “the courteous thing to do considering the alternative,” the alternative undoubtedly being the respectability of her character among fans. To speak of Pelosi, however, is to speak of the unmentioned but unmissable subtext of the entire performance, which was the very real drama of Pelosi’s drive at ousting Trump from his role as President. And, as we saw on Wednesday, while this drive fell short, the antagonism between the actors themselves spiced up an otherwise pedestrian performance. The Trump-Pelosi handshake debacle, in particular, was masterful in heightening the drama where before there was none. The brilliance of this moment truly, however, was in the ambiguity as to whether the turning Trump ever saw Pelosi’s offer for a handshake, thus subjectifying the show for each audience member. At this rate, audience involvement will become a welcome cornerstone of future SOTU productions. Now if only something could be done about the camerawork.At this rate, audience involvement will become a welcome cornerstone of future SOTU productions. Now if only something could be done about the camerawork.
This week in Collegian history
Safety, snakes and sports Jules Wooldridge Staff Writer
Feb. 3, 1930 Disarmament In 1930, Great Powers met in London to discuss naval disarmament, representing a step forward in international goodwill and outlawing of war. The author, however, reminds us that merely reducing military power “is not true advancement towards peace.” The creation and maintenance of a military does not cause war. Twelve years prior, “the World War was not brought about by the existence of large armies and navies, but by the actuating
forces which brought them into being.” The author warns that there can be no real limitation of armaments and no real end to war until the causes of international disputes are removed. Feb. 14, 1940 Help, snakes! If anyone wonders why snakes, specifically the boa constrictor, are not acceptable tank pets on our campus, look no further than “one of our most ardent biology students,” Don Robinson. Thanks to his snake’s altercation with a local cat, Robinson was asked to remove it from campus. Apparently, Bowey the snake,
who was dubbed a “friend of everybody in the Science Hall,” had been found in the woods. He was a little thing then but had grown significantly by the time of the altercation. Feb. 15, 1950 Sports Sputters It was a good week for Grove City basketball this time in the 1950s. The Wolverines beat Thiel 56-49, as well as Fredonia 75-41. Connie Stover set a new basketball point record of a whopping 91 points, not only beating out previous record holder Alex Edgars by 5 points, but also representing the highest score in YMCA basketball at the time.
News The Collegian,
Feb. 7, 2020
Page 3
SCHEFFLER
WILSON
hold students accountable. Another way I say it is that I raise the expectations,” Scheffler said. “Loving mercy is esteeming the learner, which means that I engage them. I don’t just lecture them, and I value their insights and reflections. Walking humbly looks like a relationship to me. I say to lead with collegiality or collaboration.” Exhibiting all three tenets herself, she coaches her students one-on-one and takes the time to improve the necessary skills required for education. Scheffler views her students as fellow learners and dear friends. “I don’t really need students to be my friends, but it is such a collegial relationship that we have. I think the way that they pour into me is by demonstrating the best practices that I taught them.” Many of her students value the impact that Scheffler has made on their academic lives. “Dr. Scheffler has pushed me to become a better educator because she emphasizes the power and impact of education in everything she does,” senior Elementary and Special Education major Margaret LaGrand said. “She encourages us to carefully think through everything we do in the classroom and to craft lessons and instruction with care.” “Dr. Scheffler never stops learning. When I was in her class, she would talk about how she is always adapting, improving and learning, whether that is in her
and the grim realities of human brokenness. As Wilson explained in her lecture, O’Connor desired to challenge her audience’s understanding of their Christian faith, that they may understand God’s word as the double-edged sword that it is. “Flannery is trying to understand how we are all made in the image of God. She wants to point out that we are ‘goods under construction’, would be her phrase,” Wilson said. Wilson points to O’Connor’s significance as the only predominant American Christian author we have. “For Christian students, she should be someone we should all read and understand,” Wilson said. Regarding the role of the Christian writer, Wilson urges the importance and necessity of reading rather than conveying a specific message. For the Christian seeking to imitate Christ’s humility, reading is a means to practice this mentality. It gives the reader eyes to see from another’s perspective, causing the reader to put themselves aside. “Choosing the right books is about training away from pride but also training our eyes towards beauty. One of the most revolutionary things you can do is go read a book,” Wilson said. To continue the conversation on Flannery O’Connor, a play written by sophomore Ashley Wright will be staged at 7 p.m. on Feb. 14 in the Little Theatre. Additionally, a film adaptation of O’Connor’s short story, “The Displaced Person” will be shown at the Guthrie Theatre at 7 p.m. on Feb. 13.
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SCHEFFLER
Education professor Pat Scheffler poses with senior education majors Kelly O’Malley, Lexie Hernandez and Kiley Henehan. teaching practices or some- vating a family farm that was the most out of the upcoming thing simple like expanding passed down to her. chapter in her life. She plans “My husband and I are to move to Chapel Hill, N.C. her vocabulary or improving her handwriting,” junior El- going to create a beautiful to write children’s books and ementary and Middle Level space for our children and possibly serve as an educaEducation major Nicole Am- our grandchildren to come tional consultant while renoand be a part of our life,” vating a family farm that was stutz said. Scheffler hopes to make Scheffler said.thing simple passed down to her. the most out of the upcoming like expanding her vocabu“My husband and I are chapter in her life. She plans lary or improving her hand- going to create a beautiful to move to Chapel Hill, N.C. writing,” junior Elementary space for our children and to write children’s books and and Middle Level Education our grandchildren to come possibly serve as an educa- major Nicole Amstutz said. and be a part of our life,” tional consultant while renoScheffler hopes to make Scheffler said.
Local politics roundup
Campus Congressmen Elizabeth Finnegan Contributing Writer
With all the buzz going on about elections, it is fitting to look at the key players in Pa. politics and the issues that define their political careers. Representative Mike Kelly (R), 16 District According to his website, Rep. Kelly began his career in politics after the federal government took over General Motors in 2009, which inspired him to launch his career in the House of Representatives. Impeachment: In a controversial statement during the impeachment debate, Rep. Kelly compared the impeachment of President Trump to Pearl Harbor, saying that both are horrific, unjust, and mark days that will live in infamy. Abortion: As an evangelical Christian, Kelly opposes abortion as a fundamental religious belief. As a politician, he has voted against taxpayer funded abortion and voted in support of protecting the religious freedom of individuals and organizations. Security & Defense: Rep. Kelly supported the killing of Qassam Soleimani, the Iranian major general in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who was killed by the U.S. in 2020. Kelly views “peace through
strength” as the best approach to foreign policy and defense. Senator Pat Toomey (R) Toomey joined the Senate nine years ago, basing his platform on economic and financial issues, according to his website. Toomey is also a conservative and strongly supports conservative fiscal policies, as well as championing conservative social policies. Impeachment: According to Fox News, Pat Toomey voted against bringing in witnesses for the Impeachment trial of President Trump, claiming that bringing in witnesses was the Democrats’ way of trying to drag out this trial and bring down President Trump in an election year. He denies the legitimacy of the charges against President Trump, claiming that they are purely partisan and more of a political tool to win the next election than anything else. According to the Wall Street Journal, Toomey proposed a onefor-one witness deal, where both the Democrats and the Republicans could call for one witness to appear before the Senate. Abortion: Senator Toomey is prolife and supports laws that protect the unborn and the rights of religious groups. Security & Defense:
Toomey strongly supports equipping the military with all tools necessary to defend the American people. He supports President Trump’s approach to national security and public defense, especially the budget increases in previous years for the military. Senator Bob Casey Jr. (D) Background: Sen. Casey is a career politician who has been a member of the Senate since 2007 and is a key member of the Senate’s Democrat base. Impeachment: Sen. Casey called for impeachment, stating that Trump’s abuse of power counted as a “high crime and misdemeanor,” and, therefore, required the Senate to take action. According to his website, Casey claims that the impeachment of the president is necessary in order to maintain the integrity of our constitutional system. Abortion: Sen. Casey supports the right to choose, claiming that anti-abortion advocates discriminate against pregnant women. Security & Defense: Sen. Casey supported President Trump in the killing of Soleimani, claiming that the world is a safer place without Soleimani in it. Historically, Casey has supported the building of the military and pro-foreign defense policies.
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actually raised the President’s level of support,” Verbois said. “It’s entirely possible that he will win reelection in 2020 and not feel any meaningful restraints on his conduct.” Looking ahead, Trump’s trial could set a precedent for future impeachable offenses, according to Verbois. “[Trump’s lawyers] have tried to argue that attempting to bribe a foreign leader with funds legally appropriated by Congress is not wrong, and that there is no possible abuse of power, short of a violation of criminal law, that would ever be impeachable,” Verbois said. “That fundamentally goes against the Founder’s understanding of impeachment, and potentially removes one of the few real remaining checks on presidential power claims.” Verbois critiqued both parties’ arguments over the course of the trial, suggesting that the outcome could have been very different. “I think there was im-
CAUCUS
continued from 1 Jeff Greenberg, Director of Elections from Mercer County, reflected on Iowa’s plight: “I have some sympathy for Iowa, even some election professionals have had critical meltdowns. It can happen to anybody.” How can other local governments learn from Iowa? “Pa. does not allow transmission of any election results via technology in order
peachable conduct here. But the Democrats’ prosecution was more of a primal ‘screamout’ than a serious attempt to demonstrate impeachable conduct, and the Republicans’ defense was more a set of whataboutism claims than a meaningful attempt to fulfill their role as members of a Legislative Branch with a duty to check the Executive.” Similarly, McNulty warned that such a political divide could nullify the impeachment’s power to check the Executive Branch. “We’ve endured two politically-tainted impeachments in 21 years. This important and extraordinary constitutional remedy now teeters on the edge of uselessness if we cannot recover the Framers’ intent,” McNulty said. Considering the climate and culture surrounding American politics, Verbois cautioned against both demonizing and romanticizing politics. “While politics is important, given its role in improving or harming the world around us, remember that it cannot save us, and it is not our source of hope.” to protect against the possibility of those results being hacked,” Greenburg said. He added, “the Iowa caucus is run by party officials, whereas Pa. elections are run by government professionals.” The issues with the Iowa caucus are not fatal. “In the case of Iowa, it doesn’t appear that the results are unverifiable, the issue is that the process is taking longer than anticipated,” Greenburg said.
Community The Collegian,
Feb. 7, 2020
Page 4
Juniors Liz Franz, Dana Ross, John Lyon and Lizzie Higgins pose at the photobooth during last year’s Ganza.
Ganza guidebook
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Rhos’ recommendations for the big night Kylie Jasper
Contributing Writer The Tri Rhos’ annual Extravaganza is tonight, but before you put on your favorite party dress, we recommend you read up on some elementary Rho’s Do’s and Don’ts. The Rhos were careful in their selection of venue. “We feel that we can achieve the classy atmosphere the best in Hicks cafeteria,” senior manager Adam Ross said. So, it’s important to dress
for the venue. Cocktail attire only, Ross advised. If you wear something remotely resembling your mother’s 70’s wardrobe, “you will not be permitted entrance into the dance.” “Practice your dance moves,” sophomore Rho Barnabas Chen noted. No one wants to be that one guy who ends up on TikTok the next morning because he did the “sprinkler.” There will be a photobooth, so get your picture taken. “We didn’t set up the pho-
tobooth for ourselves,” senior Tony LaRosa noted. “Come early!” Chen said. Many students know, due to past experience, the long wait in the line reaching from the TLC to Hicks. “If you come late, you might have to wait in line for two hours.” Don’t want to wait in line? Don’t worry, there’s a twodollar fast pass, so you can bypass the line and get to the shrimp before it’s all gone. You don’t even have to dance, Ross advised. For those not interested in the
prospect of dancing all evening, the Ganza provides additional options for entertainment. There will be a designated area for snacks and mingling, and even a photobooth with prize giveaways. We don’t have cocktails, but we have mocktails,” LaRosa said. “Get drunk on mocktails.” “Drink the water, it’s really good,” LaRosa advised. Make sure to stop by the water fountain on your way in.
Dudt reflects post attack
As many past attendees know, the Rhos hand out live goldfish at the end of the night. Make sure to get one but treat it like a pet and not a late-night snack. “Goldfish are friends, not food,” LaRosa added. Seriously, just come for the food and mocktails, Ross said. “There’s something for everyone here, and it’s worth the trip.” And finally, do not leave early, LaRosa said. “‘Oceans’ by Bethel will be played.”
7 questions with...
Clark Mummau Contributing Writer
On Monday, Nov. 4, biology professor Dr. Jan Dudt taught his regular classes of Studies in Science Faith and Technology (SSFT) and Plant Taxonomy while experiencing pain in his chest. He blamed the pain on medications he was taking but thought better once he sat down in his office and thought, “this is hurting too much, and it’s not going away.” He called his general practitioner, who told him to immediately go to the emergency room. His wife called him almost as soon as he hung up with his general practitioner to ask him how he was doing. “Actually, I’m not doing well,” Dudt said. One of his arteries was nearly 100 percent blocked. The blood had broken through the artery and had clotted. He was taken to the Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh by 2 a.m. with plans to operate at 4 p.m. Fortunately, the doctors “weren’t concerned—it wasn’t life or death,” he described. “That was Wednesday. Thursday afternoon, I was back,” Dudt said. “I missed four days of classes and only did lectures for the next week.” Although he was back to teaching the next week, he
Dr. Collin Messer
FIONA LACEY
After his heart attack in November, Biology professor Dr. Jan Dudt takes time to reflect on life and what makes it all worth it. had a 5-pound lifting limit for the beginning of his recovery. He didn’t follow this perfectly because “a gallon of milk weighs 7 pounds,” he said. He still did small chores on his farm, “which was probably healthy,” he continued. Dudt’s recovery allowed him to reflect on his life, relationships, and medical advancement. “It surprised me that I was not identified as an individual of risk,” he explained. “It was a reminder to me that you may be more frail than you think you are.” Dudt said that heart attacks run in his family. Regardless, he is now paying
more attention to his diet to protect his health. “When you get into the situation where you have lost control, it’s in the hands of others. You can put some trust in that,” he said. “Part of trusting the Lord is trusting the healthcare providers.” When it comes to technology, we live in a “changed era,” according to Dudt. We should thank God for technological and medical advancements. “The recovery from a heart catheter is much better than one from a wisdom tooth extraction,” he said with a laugh. Dudt was also thankful
for the support he received throughout his recovery from his family, his church and the College. The support was not surprising, Dudt said, and it demonstrated the strong support networks that already existed in his life. “The Lord has protected me from a really debilitating situation,” Dudt said. He looks to God, who he believes was at work through his surgery and recovery. Through this, Dudt was able to reflect on God’s hand in his life. He wants to echo the many blessings God has given to him and others through medical advancements, strong support networks, and good health.
What do you listen to in the car? Nothing. I try to be silent before I get to school. I talk a lot. What book are you reading for fun? “A Canticle for Leibowitz” by Walter M. Miller Jr. What is a piece of advice that you identify with right now? Sometimes the best deal is the one you don’t make. What is your family’s favorite Restaurant? Springfield Grille. It’s this old-fashioned steakhouse in Youngstown, Ohio. What movie makes you cry? The same movie that makes my dad emotional: “A Christmas Carol.” What’s one thing you are looking forward to today? My Southern literature class. We are finishing a difficult Faulkner text today. What character quality matters most to you? Grace.
The Collegian,
Feb. 7, 2020
Page 5
Ashley Wright, playwright When she was a high school senior, sophomore Ashley Wright discovered the writing of Flannery O’Connor—that same year, she wrote “Unseemly Love,” a play which will be performed Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theatre of the Pew Fine Arts Center. To her teacher’s content, Wright was immediately drawn to O’Connor’s Wright works like “Wise Blood” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” “It felt like those stories were getting at something really important, but I couldn’t put my finger on why,” Wright explained. Due to O’Connor’s short life of sickness and confinement, she didn’t experience “one of those crazy modern-writer lives, like James Joyce,” Wright explained. O’Connor was, however, able to write with power, and create characters that were real and interesting. “I thought that was so fascinating,” Wright said. “So, I dug into that, and out of that my play was born.” Despite writing the play in high school originally, Wright encountered a few odd coincidences as she approached this second production: Fiona, a main character of the play, happens to be a recent college graduate from Pittsburgh. “That was before Grove City was even on my radar; I’d never been to Pittsburgh before,” Wright said. While Wright performs as O’Connor in the show, senior Lauren Tebben will direct. “The production is a staged reading,” Tebben said. “So the focus will be on captur-
ing the voices of the characters, both in the sound (we have genteel deep-South accents, back-woods slang, and characters from Pittsburgh) and in the sense (Flannery’s unique presentation of the gospel message and the agnostic young writer who meets her).” Wright happened upon a more notable coincidence when she decided to deeply revise her work over this past summer. Unaware that this year’s Christian Writers Conference was focused on O’Connor, Wright asked Dr. Colin Messer to read through the second edition of the play and provide feedback this past fall. “He was really excited to have it read close to the conference to kind of bring the theme through the whole month,” she said. Wright is excited for students with any level of experience of O’Connor’s work to see the performance. Prior knowledge is unnecessary but come ready to learn about O’Connor’s last few months—you may leave the theatre with more than you anticipate. “I’m hoping the audience will take away this idea of how important seeking the truth is, because that was what Flannery was so passionate about; this idea that the truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it… it doesn’t change no matter what era, what time we live in,” Wright explained. “The way she’s able to put it in her writing is so powerful that the true meaning of the gospel hits you so differently.” “Especially for those who have grown-up in Christian communities,” Tebben said. “It is a wonderful reminder of how shocking – how marvelous – Christ’s sacrifice truly is.”
41. 3D medical scans (Abbr.)
53. Suffix with cyto-, proto-, or ecto-
43. Carnivorous swarming fish
54. Standard deviation symbol
44. Apron-wearer
57. Ran away
34. 23andMe concern (Abbr.)
45. “A future ______ those who seek peace” (Psalm 37:37)
58. “____ the twain shall meet”
36. “It’s _ __ from me.”
46. Derek Jeter, for example
39. Surmounting
47. Scope
63. Kinshasa’s country (prev. Zaire)
40. Danish brick maker
49. The “L” in LIBOR
64. Pikachu’s pal
Johanna Gamble Contributing Writer
KYLE KIRCHHOFER
Junior, Paige Stitt, reflects by the Sea of Galilee in Israel during Grove City’s recent trip to the country in January.
Thank you, Israel Trip invites student reflection Katie Leon
Contributing Writer This winter break, a handful of students were given the opportunity to experience the land in which their faith is rooted: Israel. What they did not expect, though, was to realize that in returning their religious and political presuppositions had turned on their heads. Joining up with over 40 other Christian colleges across the nation through an organization called Passages, 41 of our own Grove City College students toured the historical sites of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. They were also exposed to the troubling conflict surrounding the people of Palestine, Israel and their neighbors. According to the students, they were led up to the very border of the Gaza Strip, being warned to look out for airborne missiles. “Before I went to Israel, I knew hardly anything about the Israeli-Palestinian con-
flict, and in my ignorance I held a bias toward the Israelis,” sophomore Jocelyn Wiggins said. Biases like that of Wiggins made up the majority of thinking from GCC students. Wiggins goes on to say that “an issue like this has two perspectives that must be considered. My prayer for the people of Israel should be that they will seek to bring people together in peace instead of tearing each other apart in hostility.” With the eruption of mass media coverage, we tend to overlook the state of our world and the lives of those around us. Junior Dana Ross, another attendee, approached the opportunity for Israel with some caution, wondering why an organization would go through such lengths for so many college students. Ross later realized the excellent job done on part of Passages, who gave them “a wellrounded view of the conflict.” Ross received some per-
spective into the reality of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. According to Ross, Passages goes through these lengths to educate the younger generations of Christians just how complicated things can be. Ross brings to light the recent peace plan signed by President Trump and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She stressed that how we vote affects the world. “We elect senators and representatives who make decisions for people all over the world,” she continued. For Ross, the voice of the oppressed, whether it be in Israel or Palestine, is not being represented on the world stage. “We are people who have been given a great deal of power [yet we] abuse the voiceless,” she said. Many of these students are reflecting and will be reflecting for a while on these complicated and real-world issues.
Collegian Crossword By Joshua Tatum ACROSS 1. “God and Ronald Reagan” author 7. “Introduction to Sky Motions and Planets” professor 11. “Arthur” airer (Abbr.) 14. Falling Florida lizard 15. “Reach” and “Combat Evolved” franchise 16. Investor’s yield (Abbr.) 17. Add, as a bonus (two words) 18. And others (Lat.) 19. Ye olde hotel 20. “Writing That Makes Sense” author 22. Flavor-enhancing additive (Abbr.) 23. Suffix with age, sex, and monastic 26. “Surgeon’s Photo” subject 27. ____ or No ____ 28. Draws 30. 1/31,536,000 of a yr. 31. Spooky 32. GCC Debate Team head coach 35. “At ____, soldier!” 37. The “M” in CMU 38. Vietnam incendiary 42. Office memo abbr. 44. GCC poli-sci chair (and former Collegian editor-inchief) 45. “Christian Marriage” author 48. U.N. labor agency 50. Boo-Boo Bear’s buddy 51. Like some celebrity sculptures 52. Boy Scouts groups
55. Not neg. 56. Flik in “A Bug’s Life,” for example 57. “A Minimal Libertarianism” author 59. “I Like ___” 60. Touch down 61. Order of business 65. Downing Street digit, famously 66. Amazon smart-speaker 67. Libels 68. Game, ___, and match 69. “The failing machine” professor, allegedly 70. SSFT-founding physics professor DOWN 1. ___ Kat 2. I (Lat.) 3. Prefixes for metal and disco 4. Deep cut 5. Satirical site The _____ 6. F2-F6 for Freddie Mercury’s vocals 7. Feta or bleu, for example 8. Atomic crystalline structure 9. Overjoy 10. Whack-a-____ 11. 2004 time travel film 12. Miniaturized tree 13. Uncuffed 21. Snake’s sibilant sound 23. Thing 24. Fries or coleslaw, say
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The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper
Through the lens,
Feb. 7, 2020
Page 6
Adventure within reach
The Clarion Trestle, an epic railroad bridge, is located just 40 minutes away from Grove City College. The drive is relatively easy and does not require any four-wheel drive. As you walk up the hill from the parking area you are met with a giant tunnel. It would benefit any adventurer to have a flashlight as there is water in the tunnel. This is an extremely high bridge. It is roughly 150 feet from the highest point to the water. ~Wes Kinney
Through the lens,
Feb. 7, 2020
“This bridge is part of an abandoned railroad line. The railroad line this bridge served enters long tunnels on both ends of the bridge. This bridge is a very impressive high level bridge with very large pin-connected deck truss spans, supported by riveted steel bents, which in turn rest on concrete. The concrete substructure bears the date 1928...However it is possible that the deck truss superstructure is older. The truss spans have a somewhat older and more lightweight appearance than the bents which support them.� ~Bridgehunter.com
Page 7
Perspectives The Collegian,
Page 8
Feb. 7, 2020
Opposing perspectives Are The Crimson’s rules too restrictive? Rules are good for community
Clark Mummau Contributing Writer
Rules have always been, and will always be, a key part of your life – whether or not you like them. Grove City College lists rules “for the wellbeing of both the individual and community at large” in each year’s Crimson. These rules cover many topics, from honesty and integrity to the oft-maligned open and quiet hours. While some students may gripe at the list of rules they are supposed to follow, it is better to outline standards for wise living rather than to allow students to discover wisdom on their own. “Although Grove City College has rules that can at times feel restrictive, the reality is that we actually allow a lot of space to learn how to live wisely. We believe that the rules we have in place help create an environment that allows students the ability to learn how to live wisely, but also offers support and grace to those who make mistakes,” Jonathan DiBenedetto, Director of Residence Life, said. As a Christian institution, Grove City College should list rules for students to follow, just as God has given us rules to follow. The college would be neglecting its responsibility as a Christian authority in students’ lives if it did not list rules to teach students wise living. “Our hope in Student Life and Learning is that our students learn how to engage and thrive. If students are able to learn these things while they are students, then when they graduate, they will be able to tackle the difficulties of life outside of our college community,” DiBenedetto said. “Rules are good, [but] it’s a matter of the heart,” Dr. Seulgi Byun, chair of the Biblical & Religious Studies department, said. He gave the example of David, who was considered a man after God’s own heart even though he often sinned. “Rules are like bumpers in bowling. They don’t guarantee that you’ll get a
Grove City rules need re-evaluation
strike; they’re there to prevent you from falling off a cliff,” Byun said. Just as students have a responsibility to follow these rules, those enforcing the rules should do so out of love and a commitment to the community rather than a commitment to following the rules. I can personally attest to the awesome power of self-righteousness and merely pointing to the rules as a great way to drive division and inspire hate in groups. Resident advisors and administrators are not perfect, so there will be instances of unfairness, whether in what is punished or how infractions are punished. “I do my best to address problems I see occurring, and as many in residence life would agree, I don’t seek out the problems to be addressed. If every RA was actively on the hunt for policy violations, we would have a much more negative atmosphere,” junior Jesse Belitz, a Resident Assistant in Memorial Hall, said. “Measures are in place to ensure that everyone is still respected and kept safe when rules are followed,” junior Elsie Becker Resident Assistant in the Mary Anderson Pew dormitories said. “Having community standards in place allows others to step in and stop the behavior that is harming the other residents on the hall.” Even though some of the college’s rules may be tedious or bothersome to students, we all have a responsibility to maintain a healthy community on campus, and this can only be done with certain rules being set in place and enforced with love. Ultimately, “community standards were designed to protect students, not to ruin your good time,” DiBenedetto said.
Brennan Webb Contributing Writer
Aside from being a school that greatly values academics and boasts a high job placement rate, there’s something else Grove City College is known for: rules. The two areas that surprise people who are unfamiliar with the school are policies surrounding open hours and alcohol. Regardless of the faith-centered commitment of Grove City, these policies demand attention. According to The Crimson, Grove City’s student handbook, the policies regarding open hours and alcohol are in place because “members of the student body are expected to behave in a manner consistent with the college’s desire to provide an authentically Christian environment.” There are multiple issues with this rationale. Grove City at no time in the admissions process has prospective or accepted students sign a commitment of faith. Thus, students do not have to profess Christianity to attend the school. Imposing Christian rules on students who may not even be Christians is an issue. The other problem with this rationale relates to students who do profess Christianity. Being authentically Christian does not mean that one cannot be in a room with a person of the opposite sex with the door shut, and it does not mean that one does not consume alcohol. Being an authentic Christian means that a person would approach both
of these situations responsibly. The word “responsible” appears 60 times in The Crimson. Clearly, cultivating responsible students is a mission of the college. By having open hours and alcohol rules in place in the manner that they are, Grove City is actually taking away the decision-making process that is necessary in order to be responsible. Revising these two rules would not be easy, but here are some potential solutions: Freshman and sophomore students should adhere to the rules in their current form. To be responsible decision makers, they should first be taught to understand the importance of the rules. Students over the age of 21 should not have rules regarding open hours. As mentioned previously, forcing students to follow rules without the opportunity to make the decision themselves does not create responsible adults. It creates rule followers. These same students should be able to have alcohol if, and only if, they live in the apartments and roommates and company are of age. Of course, if students are unable to exhibit self-control and respect for their neighbors, there should be consequences, but the school should encourage responsible moderation over rule following. Revisiting longstanding rules is, in no way, an easy thing for a college to do, and when rule changes take place, there are bound to be issues that arise. Like any process of growth, however, these issues can be helpful. It is in the school’s best interest to give the right to make decisions back to students, as it is an undeniably effective way to learn, reflect and grow. The question Grove City College and its students alike must ask themselves is whether the school creates people who simply follow rules or equips people to make the right decisions. At the moment, the answer seems to be clear.
Private loans don’t cut it Joshua Tatum
Perspectives Editor Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg led by a narrow margin in Iowa on Wednesday night (with 92 percent reporting), but Iowa is hardly the touchstone of the Union. If current forecasts by data-wielders FiveThirtyEight are any indication, there’s a good chance that democratic socialist Bernie Sanders will be the nominee in November. And for college students, such a November result is of particular interest. Namely for Sanders one-two-punch plan against student loan
debt (all $1.6 trillion of it) which is to (1) cancel all student loans made, guaranteed, or insured by the federal government (students with private loans would need to apply to the Department of Education within six months to have their debt cancelled) and (2) to make all public colleges tuition-free (students at private colleges would still be able to take out federal loans with a 1.88 percent cap on interest rates). Needless to say, such a plan (or a plan such as Elizabeth Warren’s) would quickly bankrupt Grove City College (and other private colleges) being that admissions departments would no doubt have trouble finding applicants who would rather pay for something (with in-
terest) they could otherwise get for free. Grove City’s situation, however, would be further complicated by the fact that the Grove City (along with Hillsdale College) does not allow students to take out federal Stafford loans to pay for their education, exclusively opting instead for PNC Bank loans. Grove City made the decision back in 1996 after the process was deemed too intrusive. Lee Wishing, speaking to the Observer-Reporter in 1996, said “they want to know the size of our faculty, the salary of our faculty, the number of women on our athletic department. These things have nothing to do with student loans whatsoever.”
The problem with this insularity becomes, however, when such a policy backfires, and it has. Because as much as Grove City needs its precious privacy, the reality is that by not allowing students to take federal loans, students are put at a disadvantage in the form of interest rates. While the interest rate on federal Stafford loans has not exceeded 7% since 2000 (and currently sits at 4.529%), the interest rates of PNC Bank loans are tied to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus either a margin of 3.30% or 4.60%, depending on whether the applicant has a cosigner or not, respectively. The LIBOR rate currently sits at 1.83% but reached as high as 5.42% in 2007. And
whether PNC Bank would adjust to future increases remains unclear. What’s more, the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program (which cancels the student loan debt of government or non-profit employee), for example, is not available to Grove City students. The College itself is even put at a disadvantage as they are not included in the College ScoreCard, a program which provides information to prospective students. Faith and freedom, yes. But freedom for who? For the College to keep the number of women on the athletic department a closely-held secret? Or for the students to escape college with manageable amount of debt?
The Collegian,
Feb. 7, 2020
Page 9
Not guilty!
Senate acquittal exposes Democrats’ motives Erin McLaughlin Contributing Writer
On Wednesday the Senate acquitted President Donald Trump and with that vote, the Democrat architects of one of the greatest political shams in history lost. There’s a long train of abuses. From the beginning, President Trump was denied due process. The House passed impeachment with a narrow, one-party majority – no Republicans voted in favor. It was an attempted political execution. Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the impeachment of the 45th president a “sad and somber day.” After a long three weeks of procrastinating the trial of the man they deemed an imminent “national security threat,” the House Managers, hand selected by Pelosi, eventually came to the Senate. That is, after they ran out of commemorative limitedtime-only golden impeachment pens. What a sad and somber day, indeed. The Managers arrived at the Senate to deliver the articles, only to pressure Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell into procuring more witnesses to prove the case they couldn’t prove themselves. Trump’s legal team exposed the hypocrisy of the left, who attacked Trump for wanting to investigate Hunter and Joe Biden for corrupt dealings in Ukraine. As Trump lawyer Pat Philbin emphatically argued, “It’s stunning that they don’t
AP PHOTO
have the evidence they need to present their case, and that they don’t really have a case. If a litigant showed up in any court in the country, on the day of trial, and said to the judge, ‘Actually your honor, we’re not ready to go. We need more discovery. We need to do some more subpoenas. We need to do some more work,’ they’d be thrown out of court and the lawyers would probably be sanctioned.” But as Sen. Ted Cruz simply lays out, “It’s not an impeachable offense to investigate credible evidence of corruption.” Hunter is not clean. Soon after his father was made the lead U.S. foreign policy point man for Ukraine, he was hired to the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas company, to work for an industry of which he had no prior knowledge.
Hunter earned nearly one million dollars a year from that job – $83,000 per month. Not a bad gig. Trump’s defense expertly maneuvered from a defensive position into a strong offense when they called out the Bidens for doing exactly what the Democrats accused Trump of doing. Trump’s team broke down all the gory details of the Hunter-Joe entanglement. Lawyer Pam Bondi showed that multiple media outlets reported on their suspicion that Hunter’s new job was tied to Vice President Biden’s stake in U.S.-Ukraine relations. She remembered that VP Biden successfully leveraged his own quid pro quo and strong-armed Ukraine, under threat of reneging one billion dollars in loans, into firing the prosecutor sent to investigate Burisma.
Voters notice these discrepancies. Gallup just revealed Trump is polling at an all-time high with 49 percent approval. The GOP is at its highest approval since 2005. The Democrats need to rewrite their playbook. And this is why the House Democrats seek to deny the voters their constitutional right to choose their president by removing him from the ballot. Impeachment – the Democrats’ last Hail Mary before they have to face the voters in November – exploded in their faces. Through the brilliant floor speeches and expert defense of the Trump legal team, it was obvious that the Constitution is on their side. Citing the letter of the document and the vocal opinions of the Founders on the appropriate form of impeachment, Trump’s lawyers vindicated him. So what’s next? This im-
peachment is over, but the Democrats aren’t finished. This historical maneuver should stand as a cautionary tale for future Democrats. If they again attempt to pull another unconstitutional coup against the Executive branch, they will be called out. The Democrats will in all likelihood draw up new articles. On what claim they will do so is anybody’s guess. They’re hell-bent on taking him down. Democrats lost in 2016, therefore the election must have been unfair. Every scheme to rectify their bruised egos has come up short, and impeachment has only strengthened Trump and emboldened his base. You can’t trump Trump.
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WIN $8,000 FOR FIRST PRIZE! The Zingale Big Idea Competition is a funding request presentation contest Student teams present concepts in one of three areas: for-profit business, non-profit business, or hybrid social venture. The annual competition will award students with a whopping total of $20,000 in total prize money, with a top prize of $8,000! The contest emulates the experiences seen on the popular CNBC broadcast, Shark Tank. Unlike Shark Tank, the Zingale Big Idea distinguished panel of judges do more than evaluate the student teams’ business models — they offer constructive feedback, coach, and encourage students.
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The Collegian, Feb. 7, 2020
Page 11
Heroes behind the Heroes:
Men’s basketball Connor Schlosser Sports Editor
We all grow up with people we admire. That admiration manifests itself differently from person to person. Maybe it’s a character from your favorite movie, perhaps an artist whose music you connect with or an athlete that you watch in awe. Maybe it’s not a celebrity or fictional character, but rather someone who has invested in you, such as a teacher, coach, mentor or even a parent. While our Grove City athletes are the face of our sports programs and representatives of our student body, who are the heroes and people who have helped bring them to where they are today? For senior guard and team captain, Nate Peters, “King James” was one of those memorable figures. “As a kid, I always loved watching Lebron James play, especially since I am from Cuyahoga Falls, just ten minutes down the road from Akron, where Lebron grew up,” Peters explained. “I loved watching him play for the hometown team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and even after he left for Miami, I couldn’t help but admire how great of a player he was,” Peters said. “I still remember watching the 2016 finals with my family; it was truly one of the greatest times of my life. Even now that he plays for LA, I can’t help but enjoy the greatness while he still plays.” When it comes to role models for Peters, it is his father, who was also his high school coach, at the top of that list. “He is a model of Christ for me and has taught me how to be a man. I have been truly blessed to have him and my mom as parents,” Peters said. “I’m so blessed to have played basketball in high school with my two brothers and my cousin, with my dad as head coach,” Peters remi-
Sports at a glance
News GCC
Junior forward Joe Meola jumps for a basket during a game this season. nisced. “Basketball has been what was happening in the a huge part of our family, game,” Rice said. “We would and I have been playing my play a mini full-court game whole life. Basketball has on the two Little Tike hoops created bonds in my life that he had bought for me one I am so thankful for: it has Christmas. The love my taught me many life lessons dad helped instill in me for that I wouldn’t have learned the game of basketball has other than playing the game never left, even today I play I love.” with the same passion as I For junior guard and fel- did back on the Little Tike low team captain Justice hoops. I guess you could say Rice, it was former North that the love my dad showed Carolina point guard and me is like the love I have for Tar Heel great, Kendall the game of basketball and I Marshall, who was the most am thankful for him!” inspiring athlete. Senior forward and “I am a big North Carolina 1,000-point record breaker, Tar Heel fan and when he James Wells, watched playwas going through college, I ers at all levels of competiwas in middle school,” Rice tion growing up to learn new explained. “I would watch ways to improve his game. all the North Carolina games “(Since) my dad went to to see how he played and Duke, I watched them frewould try to translate some quently on the college scene, of the things he did in games and being from New Enginto my play.” land, I watched the Celtics “Kendall played a pass- frequently as well,” Wells first style as a point guard, said. “I tried to find moves meaning he often looked to that fit into my skill set and pass and get his teammates try to incorporate those into involved before looking to my game.” score himself. This is simi“My role model is defilar to the way I’ve played nitely my father,” Wells said. my whole life and still play “He introduced me to bastoday.” ketball, and I started playIt was Rice’s father who ing competitively in the 3rd introduced him into the grade. Because he worked game of basketball. out of state, he taught me “As early on as I can re- the meaning of sacrifice and member, I was watching perseverance.” North Carolina basketWe all have heroes we ball games with my dad, watch in awe when we are and during every game he young, but it’s the ones who would pause the tv to try to love us the most that stick teach me something new with us and shape us the about basketball based on most.
National sports column
It’s the Chiefs
Connor Schlosser Sports Editor
Andy Reid will get his victory buffet and Patrick Mahomes is going to Disney World. The comeback Kansas City Chiefs have done it again, this time on the world stage against a formidable San Francisco roster. Kansas City now has a pair of Super Bowls under its belt. On the 100th year anniversary of the NFL, the Chiefs decided that it was time to win another Super Bowl since their last one was 50 years ago exactly. And they did it in typical Kansas City fashion with a 31-20 victory in Miami. I was wrong. I had predicted that the 49ers defense and San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan were going to be the downfall of KC. Instead, Jimmy Garoppolo decided to throw two morale-crushing interceptions with the final pick being the nail in the coffin for San Francisco in the fourth.
But Mahomes threw two picks throughout the game as well and had a worse completion percentage than Jimmy G; he did, however, have two more touchdowns, one coming via rush. But it was not the Chiefs game until the fourth quarter. The 49ers got on the board first with a field goal. Both teams had a field goal and touchdown apiece. By halftime, their scores were identical at ten. The 49ers offense was back on the turf first. Another San Francisco field goal woke up the 49ers attack. The third belonged to San Francisco, scoring 10-0 and leaving the Chiefs scoreless while adding to a 21 unanswered point total against KC. San Francisco closed the quarter with a fair 20-10 lead over Reid and company. In the final 15 minutes, all eyes would be on the Chiefs to watch for a response. Throughout this year’s postseason, KC did not disappoint in the clutch. The fourth quarter belonged to Mahomes. Kansas City responded to San Francisco’s 21 unanswered points by
scoring their own 21 unanswered in the fourth. The 49ers could not respond offensively, and Garoppolo could not find his targets late-game. Not surprisingly, Mahomes was named Super Bowl MVP. He places that title next to his regular season MVP award. As for Big Red, he has finally kissed the Vince Lombardi trophy. A welldeserved accolade for a Hall of Fame coach. Now with a ring, his trip to Canton appears more guaranteed than ever. But Reid has no plans for calling it quits. “You know what I really haven’t (thought about retirement),” Reid said on Monday morning. “I still enjoy doing what I’m doing. I’ve got this young QB over here that makes life easy for me every day. It’s a pleasure to come to work and have an opportunity to coach him and his teammates.” It seems that this Chiefs team will be a force in the League for years to come with a young franchise quarterback just starting to blossom.
Men’s Basketball Senior forward James Wells became the 29th all-time 1,000-point scorer in Grove City College men’s basketball history last Saturday against Bethany.
Results Men’s Basketball (13-7) W, Saint Vincent (68-64) W, Bethany (75-66) W, Chatham (74-65)
Women’s Basketball (18-2) W, Saint Vincent (68-65) W, Bethany (81-42) W, Chatham (86-61)
Men’s Swimming & Diving (3-6) W, Westminster (162-132)
Women’s Swimming & Diving (3-6) W, Westminster (183-111)
Upcoming Swimming & Diving Feb. 13-15 vs. PAC Championships
Men’s Basketball Feb. 8 @ Geneva, Feb. 12 vs. Penn State Altoona
Women’s Basketball Feb. 8 @ Geneva, Feb. 12 vs. Penn State Altoona
WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS
Elias Griffin
Freshman Swimmer PAC Rookie of the Week
Sydney Laughlin Freshman Swimmer PAC Rookie of the Week
Luke Mason
Sophomore Swimmer PAC Swimmer of the Week
Sports The Collegian, Feb. 7, 2020
Page 12
Setting records
Well played, Wells
Basketball beats Bearcats back-to-back
Connor Schlosser Sports Editor
Jordan McConnell Contributing Writer
Since its foundation in 1954, the Presidents’ Athletic Conference has been nothing but competitive. On Jan. 29, the competitive nature of the PAC was clearly demonstrated on the basketball floor, as the Grove City College Wolverines and the Saint Vincent College Bearcats battled to the finish. For the first time in PAC history, the Wolverines walked away with two victories against the Bearcats with nearly identical scores: the men winning 6864 and the women 68-65 respectively. In prior matchups, the two Wolverine basketball teams had never beaten the Bearcats on the same night. “There is definitely a rivalry between us and Saint Vincent,” senior guard Nate Peters said. “I think when there is a team that has always been as successful as Saint Vincent, you want to beat them when you play them. They are always very talented and when you see them on your schedule, you definitely want to get the win.” After being accepted into the conference in 2006 and beginning competition the following year, the Saint Vincent Bearcats have been a powerhouse. They play at a high level in all sports, particularly in basketball. The men have gathered four conference championships, while the women are the defending champs, having earned their first PAC title in the 2018-
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Sophomore guard Ben Rose looks for a pass during a match-up. The men and women Wolverines walked away with two record-breaking victories against Saint Vincent College. 2019 season. “Saint Vincent has always been near the top of the conference ever since I’ve been here,” senior forward standout Kate Balcom said. “We’ve climbed up the conference ladder over the years, so there is always lots of excitement when playing them because they are a great measuring stick to see where we are at. And who doesn’t want to beat the defending champions?” For the men, the two teams have competed 28 times in conference play. While Saint Vincent holds a 22-6 edge over the Wolverines in matchup history, all but eight games have concluded with a single digit difference in scoring. “Every game is anyone’s game and it makes it super competitive and very fun to play in,” Peters said. On the women’s side, the teams have met 30 times with the Bearcats owning a 25-5 advantage in the series. With the past unfavorable for both the men and women when stepping
onto the court with the Saint Vincent Bearcats, earning two victories in the same night is a significant achievement for the Wolverines and their basketball programs. For both programs, beating an opponent at the caliber of Saint Vincent provides a great confidence boost, as well as a continued desire to grow stronger. “It just gives us more motivation to keep getting better,” Balcom said. Regardless of the winner, when the final seconds tick off the clock and the buzzer sounds, it is the competition between two strong PAC members that creates an electrifying environment and brings fans to the arena. As the women’s assistant coach Lexie Arkwright said, “Competitions between us and Saint Vincent demonstrate what the President’s Athletic Conference is all about: good athletes, good teams and good programs getting the opportunity to perform at their best in good, clean competition between one another.”
All set for a PAC-ed house Joanna Thorpe Staff Writer
The men and women’s swim teams finished the season’s Pre-PAC tune-up on Saturday, Feb. 1 with strong individual performances in anticipation of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships. The meet commenced with men’s 3-meter diving, a successful event for Grove City. Junior Jonah Sutter finished first with a final score of 197.20, followed by sophomore Ryan Morris in second with 193.60 and sophomore Garrett Dickhudt in third. The Wolverines took first in 400-yard medley relay with a final time of 4:03.80 through the efforts of freshman Marc Dieter, freshman Andrew Biechner, junior Tony Kraus and sophomore Tyler Keyes. The women’s team finished second to Chatham in the same event with a final time of 4:47.44 by senior Abby Ross, sophomore Jenny Baglia, junior Heather Russell and freshman Rachel Shoemaker. Grove City earned the top spot in men and women’s 400-yard IM. Kraus finished at 4:32.86 and freshman Sarah Gann finished at 5:14.39. In 200-yard freestyle, junior James Hancock grabbed first with a time of 1:51.54, just out-touching fellow teammate, sophomore Noah Berkebile, who finished at 1:51.68. In the women’s 200 free, sophomore Amanda Jones finished first with a time of 2:06.80. Junior Devin Reynolds finished first with a time of 59.41 in 100-yard backstroke. In 100-yard breaststroke,
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Junior Alliefair Scalise is among many collegiate swimmers who are prepping for PACs and keeping their eyes on the gold. sophomore Joey Astrab took first place with a time of 1:04.00. In women’s 100 breaststroke, Jones finished first at 1:19.51, followed by senior Danielle Ledyard in fourth at 1:20.97. Grove City took first and second in 200-yard butterfly, with sophomore Ryan Klemmer finishing at 2:13.91 and Dieter finishing at 2:18.13. Senior Britt Byer grabbed second in women’s 200 butterfly with a time of 2:31.71. In 50-yard freestyle, sophomores Gavin Grove and Peter Millar finished first and second with times of 23.30 and 24.18, respectively. In women’s 50 free, sophomore Emily Vanderweele took second with a time of 26.64, followed by senior Leona Bently in third. Sophomore Reid Blackstone earned first in 500yard freestyle with a time of 5:16.44, followed by Keyes in second at 5:26.91. In women’s 500 free, the Wolverines took first, second and third
with senior Kimmi Wendelschaefer at 5:37.51, freshman Rachael Wallace at 5:39.23 and Shoemaker at 6:08.08, respectively. In men’s one-meter diving, Dickhudt finished first with a score of 164.35. Grove City took second, third and fourth in 100yard freestyle with Hancock, Grove and Kraus finishing in succession. Bently took second and Ross took seventh in 100 free for the women’s team. In 200-yard backstroke, Reynolds finished first with a time of 2:10.05, and junior Amanda Mazoch finished third with a time of 2:43.83. Dieter took first in 200yard breaststroke with a time of 2.29.19, and Byer took second for the women’s team with a time of 2:51.62. In the 100-yard butterfly, sophomore Jacob Green finished second to W&J at 56.64. In women’s 100 butterfly, Wallace grabbed first at 1:01.65, followed by
Vanderweele in second at 1:04.25 and Ross in fourth. In 1650-yard free, Keyes earned first for the men’s team with a time of 18:42.25, followed by Klemmer and Dieter in second and third. Russell earned first for the women’s team with a time of 20:56.23, with sophomore Katie Corrasco just behind in second at 21:35.87. In 200-yard IM, Blackstone took first at 2:06.41, with freshman Elias Griffin following at 2:06.51. Millar, senior Nathan Rose and Beichner finished third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Gann finished first for the women’s team at 2:25.85, followed by Shoemaker and Ross in fourth and fifth. As eventful as the Pre-PAC tune-up was, the Wolverines will begin resting for the approaching PAC Championships, which will begin Wednesday, Feb. 12 and end Saturday, Feb. 15 at the James E. Longnecker Competition Pool.
It’s nine-straight wins for the men’s team now after downing President’s Athletic Conference rival Chatham Wednesday 74-65. The Wolverines successfully fended off the second place Cougars, who were one win away from tying Grove City for the top slot in the standings. This crucial win was just what Grove City needed to add confidence Wells going into their final games of the season. Senior guard Nate Peters, junior guard Justice Rice and junior forward Joe Meola each contributed 14 points for Grove City. Senior forward James Wells and junior guard Erik Meiners added 13 and 10 respectively. Chatham, who was the biggest threat to Grove City’s reign over the conference, had won their first matchup back in early January. With this win Grove City evened up their regular season series with the Cougars 1-1. Wells who reached a monumental milestone last Saturday against Bethany becoming the 29th all-time 1,000-point scorer in Grove City College men’s basketball history. Wells has consistently contributed points for the Wolverines throughout his three-year career at Grove City. As expected, the Wolverines wailed on a dead last Bethany team in an 89-65 assault. In the first half, the Wolverines were a handful of points shy of doubling Bethany’s score 43-24. Grove City held its own throughout the contest outscoring Bethany in the second half as well. It was Wells’ game on the offensive end leading the Wolverines with 22 points. Wells grabbed six boards and tacked on two blocks to his stat line. Three other Wolverines added double digit points in the attack. Meiners dropped 17, while Meola chipped in 11 and Rice added 10. Meola led Grove City in the rebound category with eight, while Rice led in assists dishing out four. Following their victory over Chatham, the men have five games remaining in their regular season, four of those are conference matchups. The Wolverines each have played the four teams once this season all of them resulting in a Grove City victory. Grove City will face off against Geneva on Saturday.