The Collegian – April 18, 2020

The

@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Saturday, April 18, 2020

Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper

Vol. 105, No. 17

College announces reimbursement plan Collegian Staff

GCC

Seniors celebrate on graduation last year. This year’s graduation will look a little different, and 2020 grads are saying goodbye to Grove City from afar.

Getting the last word Seniors reflect on four years cut short

David Zimmermann Staff Writer

Across the country, college students have experienced the effects of COVID-19 as they have moved back home to take online classes. While the recent circumstances may be disappointing for many, it is truly heartbreak-

Quarantine routine

ing for seniors.

Recognizing that this is their last semester as a Grover, four seniors reflect on their time at Grove City and the impact that the College has had on their lives while looking ahead to what the future holds for them.

Madison Graner, a political science and communica-

tion studies double major, said, “It’s been very hard.

The people and place of Grove City College have really made my college experience for me.”

Philosophy and communication studies double major Jared Cichelli said, “It is SENIORS 3

Grove City College will refund room and board fees to students sent home from campus due to the coronavirus pandemic, the college announced Friday.

College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 announced a refund and credit plan in an email to students.

Students will get refund or credit for 75 percent of the pro-rated room charges from March 23, the date all students were asked to leave campus after Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfe announced the closure of all non-essential state businesses, and 100 percent of the pro-rated dining plan charges.

Graduating seniors will receive a refund credited to their student accounts, while students who are returning for the 2020-21 academic year will receive a credit on their fall semester bills.

The College will reduce the credits and refunds based on the financial aid awards individual students receive for room and board charges.

Most students will see refunds and credits between $900 and $1,800.

Grove City College will not be seeking any federal financial support under the CARES Act, which many schools are using to provide these refunds.

When considering the college’s action, “the Board has agreed to maintain the College’s long-standing independence by not pursuing

or accepting federal funding from any federal source…The preservation of our freedom is far more important to the future of Grove City College’s distinctive mission and principles than this immediate benefit,” McNulty said.

Some students have notified the Advancement Office that they would like to donate back the refund to Grove City College.

“We fully appreciate that your economic circumstances may be very difficult at this McNulty time. There’s no doubt that many in our College family have lost jobs or income,” said McNulty. “We’re thankful that we have a campus culture that even permits us to ask with hopeful anticipation.”

Those who would loke to donate may contact the Advancement Office.

As schools across the nation look toward the fall, some institutions are already considering extending online classes.

“We are committed to doing everything within our power to resume face-to-face classes next fall. While we plan for a range of contingencies, we remain hopeful as we trust in God for what lies ahead,” McNulty said.

Empty tomb, empty church Anna DiStefano News Editor

Dr. Paul Munson 6 a.m. – I wake up and do my devotions 6:30 a.m.– I tutor my 12-year-old in German 7 a.m. – Our family does worship together 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – I prep for class. I grade papers throughout the day. Then I get on Teams and meetings with my class 6:00 p.m. – Dinner 7–8:30 p.m.– I play with kids, then we settle down for bedtime story 8:30–10 p.m.– I take this time to check in with my wife, adult children or parents; I use this time to do more class prep and grading 10 p.m. – get ready for bed

Easter looked different this year.

In the midst of social distancing, many churches streamed their Easter services online. Online streaming, whether on Facebook or through websites, has allowed congregations to connect from their living rooms.

“I am thankful to still be able to gather as a body of believers even when in our own homes,” junior Megan White said.

Just as quarantine has altered corporate worship, it has also changed how students worship throughout the week.

Disruptions in worship go beyond the church and have reached students’ daily routines. Many students had integrated their weekly worship around classes and with friends on campus, two factors that look very different post campus evacuation.

“I have found it difficult to develop healthy spiritual rhythms at home as opposed to the lifestyle I had established while on campus,” junior Jesse Belitz said. “Some days, I just hope to honor God by staying patient with my family!”

Junior Laura Locher has found a routine at home that allows her to worship throughout the week.

“I spend time in worship every morning, now, by listening to worship songs on YouTube,” Locher said.

VIDEOMAKER

With gatherings across the world restricted, churches turn to technology to broadcast services and students get creative with their Easter traditions.

“Quarantine has actually given me more time to focus on worshiping the Lord so that has been amazing.”

“Right now, my weekly worship involves a daily time of prayer with God, meditating on the Scriptures and practicing daily obedience to God,” White said.

Senior Alyce Miller stays connected with her extended family by doing devotionals together over FaceTime.

Even in this year of jubilee, the College has continued to provide chapel and vespers services on their regularly scheduled days. Students, faculty, alumni, families and the greater community can stream the regularly scheduled content from the chapel’s social media pages.

Members of the chapel staff, including Interim Dean of the Chapel Dean Weaver ’86, Women’s Ministry Coordinator Elizabeth Messer

and Chapel Programming Director Zachary Pitcher ’17, have contributed videos to this effort.

This alteration mimics the changes seen in students’ worship at their home churches.

“I’ve struggled with not having the usual form of worship/church service every week. My family has been streaming services every Sunday, but we’ve found that it’s tough to get the same feel at home that you get in the sanctuary,” Miller said.

She also noted that the lack of pews in her house means that church at home doesn’t have the same impact as being in the building, “but we are coping well and anxiously waiting to get back to church!”

Locher agreed that the new normal took some getting used to, but it has revealed to her the essence of what the

church is.

“Live streaming services is quite a unique experience for me, but such good has come from it. So, all in all, streaming church is not ideal nor the same as being live for worship but having church at home definitely makes me realize that we are the church, not a building.”

Belitz echoed this realization, noting that “Streaming church definitely isn’t the same feeling as worshipping in the presence of other believers, but the church isn’t about what we ‘feel.’ I am lucky to be with my family and still ‘go’ to church with them. I would definitely not choose this as a regular form of worship and church attendance, but God is going to accomplish His plans and remain good and faithful just as much as he would outside of this situation!”

Editorial The Collegian,

From the Editor’s desk

The case for ‘the bubble’ Grace Tarr

Editor-in-Chief Online education is nothing new.

What is new is the widespread use of online platforms to teach college students and K-12 graders.

Will this new opportunity for widespread online learning threaten brick and mortar colleges?

Perhaps. I was homeschooled, so I suppose I didn’t have a brick and mortar education growing up, and I didn’t miss it. But college is different. It is different because it is a place where we step out of our family unit and culture and walk into something new to us.

When I visited schools my junior year of high school, I had a meticulous excel sheet of some 20 categories to score each school such as “professors,” “dorms” and “programs.” Type A? Just a little. What wasn’t on the list? things like, “Wi-Fi connection,” or “online platform.” These things are our present reality, but they are not why we chose Grove.

We chose Grove City because when we walk through Hicks or Map, we hear our fellow students debating anarcho-capitalist versus libertarian versus conservative ideas, or because the campus is beautiful, or because professors linger in the halls talking with students after class.

Everything that we have left behind of the life we built on campus has contributed to our education. It is the culture of Grove City that has influenced us as

much as the 50 minutes we spend in class.

Will this new educational response challenge brick and mortar? Maybe. But not the type of education that invites students to dedicate four years of their lives to study and community.

There is a place for distance learning.

It’s convenient; it’s brought educational opportunities to many who otherwise couldn’t access an education. The University of Phoenix online branch calls itself “the university for working adults.”

The fact that education is more accessible now than it has ever been is wonderful.

There are, however, different models and purposes of education.

John Milton wrote a “Treatise on Education” in which he argued that the proper role of education is to realign a student’s loves.

In other words, it is not enough to simply read because it is assigned, we must learn to love reading, to love learning for its own sake.

This is how we worship God with our minds and how our minds direct our actions.

Without a culture that encompasses our learning, our mealtimes and our leisure, how can our love be redirected?

Our education has encompassed far more than the 15 or so credits we take each semester. It is the culture of a place as much as its curriculum that informs an education. Maybe more people will choose to do their degrees online in the wake of COVID-19, but the nature of education is unchanged. For those who want an intensive season to redirect their affections, brick and mortar is still their home.

Collegian Staff Editor-in-Chief

Copy Chief

Managing Editor

Business Manager

Section Editors News

Copy Editors

Grace Tarr Paige Fay

Anna DiStefano

Community Fiona Lacey

Perspectives Josh Tatum

Entertainment Nora Sweeney

Sports

Connor Schlosser

Photo Chief Wes Kinney

Page 2

April 18, 2020

Britney Lukasiewicz Davis Miller

Natalie Dell Claire Josey Michael Martin Lauren Ness Elizabeth Schinkel Caleb West Joanna Thorpe

Staff Writers

Katheryn Frazier David Smith Mackenzie Stine Mallory Trumbull Jules Wooldbridge 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...

Anna DiStefano for her humorous headlines, tireless writing, and good humor even in the midst of a global pandemic.

DISTEFANO

No nanny state

Protests question leadership Paige Fay

Managing Editor Michigan is in protest after its governor, Gretchen Whitmer, signed an executive order increasing the state’s stay-at-home restrictions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thousands of Michigan residents filled the streets of Lansing, the state capitol, in an attempt to convince Whitmer to alleviate some restrictions and allow workers to return to work safely.

This is not the first protest since the pandemic caused lockdowns all over the country. Certainly, it won’t be the last. People all over the country are aching to get back to work to pay their bills and feed their families.

The Michigan protest, called “Operation Gridlock” by its participants, is a product of the rising political tension surrounding the pandemic. With the whole country on pause, people are growing restless as the economy continues to struggle, leaving the big question unanswered: How much longer can this go on?

Whatever the answer is, it’s complex. While government officials and the CDC

express their desire to protect the public, the public maintains they can protect themselves.

The big question needs to be answered in tandem with another: Who should be protecting whom?

If one stops to think about it – and we have all the time in the world for that right now – it’s frightening the lengths to which the government has gone to ensure we stay put. In many ways, the Michigan protestors should be applauded for reminding both the government and the public, that the restrictions on our freedoms has not gone unnoticed.

Please don’t misunderstand. Social distancing is a highly effective way to limit the spread of the virus and should be strongly encouraged. Whitmer’s strict, inconsistent stay-at-home orders are, in fact, issued in a state with 28,000 COVID-19 cases.

But, should the government be allowed to get away with forcing its people into house arrest?

As one Michigan protestor stated in a BBC newscast: “Our community is struggling… we want to go back to work. We have bills to pay.”

The government and the CDC claim to be protecting the people, but don’t have

a holistic approach to their well-being. People need a healthy economy in the same way they need to be physically healthy to survive. Not everyone is able to work from home, but they have homes and homes mean bills to pay.

It can be argued that these restrictions make sense in the context of a pandemic.

But, if the government can take away people’s rights to travel and work now, who’s to say they can’t as easily do so in different circumstances?

The government has defined itself as a nanny state during this pandemic and put us in time out. Subsequently, they are taking away the public’s right to financially support themselves.

The current situation should be encouraging all of us to reconsider how we choose our officials. Such difficult times require intelligent, calculated leaders, not attractive people who can deliver good speeches.

This won’t be the last time this country sees a pandemic. Let us have the foresight to protect ourselves and elect leaders who will protect our rights in trying times.

Six ways to thrive at home Fiona Lacey

Community Editor I think my mom summed it up best when she said to me yesterday, “I think the novelty of this whole thing is wearing off. I just want life to be the way it was.” I couldn’t agree more.

We’ve hit the peak, at least in my household, of talking about, worrying about, and doing things related to COVID-19. I’m no longer scared for my life, but I’ve hit the next stage of this whole process. I feel so lonely. Things I used to do and the people I used to the do them with, are all gone. I can’t even look to the future, because, so far, there is no future right now. We’re stripped of our plans, excitement, and routines.

No wonder I feel lonely.

If you’re reading this, you probably feel lonely too, and I feel your pain. It may seem silly or incomparable to the amount of pain others are going through during this time, but it deserves to be acknowledged.

For all my fellow lonely and isolated people out there, you need to know that you can have a community, even in the midst of total isolation. This is possible if we can all wrap our heads around the possibility of “community” existing without the physical representation of it. It still happens, just in a different way. I know, nothing is ideal, but I’ll take what I can

get, at this point.

So here’s a few things you can do to make you feel a little less lonely, and little more of a person.

1. Chat with someone online. Chat with anyone, from anywhere.

Visit online message boards or chat sites.

Learning about something new and different gets you outside yourself and into a clearer perspective.

2. Read a really good book. I’m not talking about educational, academic or self-help books. I’m talking about really good books- the ones with the great stories of adventures or other worlds. The books that you can’t put down. I am not ashamed to admit that I am going through the Chronicles of Narnia. Escaping to another world is not bad. Sometimes we need to shove our nose in a book to alleviate the worries of reality.

3. Write short stories. You don’t even have to complete it; you just have to write. Create your own characters and ideas. Again, get outside of yourself and your surroundings. Keep a diary, or write down some of your thoughts. You’ll feel less lonely.

4. Turn on your webcam during class lectures. Just do it. You may look rough, or you may look great. Either way, nobody cares, and you’ll feel like a person again. Even just communicating more with your professors over email or chat makes me feel

like I’m in a community again. Your professors want to talk too, trust me.

5. Discover some new music online.

Switch up your playlist and accept the fact that your in a different headspace than before.

There’s a lot of great music that you’ve never heard before, and you’ll never hear it until you look for it.

6. Have something planned with at least one person every day. My mom, sisters, and I are on a great binge-watching marathon of the show, Friday Night Lights, every night.

It’s seriously the one thing that I can rely on throughout the day. It’s my light at the end of the tunnel for each bad day.

I would strongly recommend this. Have something to look forward to, and have someone to do it with.

This is all so strange and hard and long. We have to figure out ways to cope with the new reality, and yes, it is coping. I hope everyone is healthy and well. Even though the date is unknown, I look forward to the times when “community” will return to its original definition. “Community”: a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common.

News The Collegian,

April 18, 2020

Page 3

Study abroad cut short Students called home, fall study canceled Paige Fay

Managing Editor On Tuesday the College’s Office of Global Programs cancelled all study abroad for the 2020 fall semester.

According to Jennifer Gilliland from the Office of Global Programs, the decision was made based on the complicated logistics that go into planning the study abroad program.

“Shutting it down sooner rather than later gives the students the chance to make alternate plans,” Gilliland said.

She said the fall study abroad students had only paid the preliminary fees, so not much money was lost with the cancellation for the fall.

There were seven students signed up for study abroad in the coming semester, including junior Corinne Mummau.

She planned to study abroad in China and was looking forward to the immersive experience to help her grow in her Chinese language abilities.

“When I first heard about the cancellation of study abroad, I was very disappointed. I had gotten officially accepted to my study abroad program a few days prior,” Mummau said.

Junior Sophia Carlin also planned to study abroad, studying with the Lorenzo de’ Medici Institute in Florence, Italy. She was attracted to their acclaimed arts program and wanted to experience the culture her grandfather came from.

“I heard about the cancellation when they emailed us Tuesday,” Carlin said. “Initially, I was disappointed, but not as much as you might expect. On one hand, I was really excited to go, However, the idea always seemed a little bit out there.”

Carlin was also torn about whether or not to study abroad for fear of missing out on academic opportunities and friends at the College.

But now, the decision has been made for her and the other study abroad students.

They will be able to schedule for classes and plan for housing at the College for the fall semester.

Cancelling the program was difficult news, but students appear to be understanding of the decision.

“I do think that any precautions to help minimize the spread of this virus are commendable. I don’t think that anyone can really say what will be happening by

the end of the summer, but I think this was a decision that had to be made, and that erring on the safe side was a good choice,” Carlin said.

“I do selfishly wish they could have waited a little longer to make the decision in case virus counts leveled off more, but overall I respect the decision for the safety of the students,” Mummau said.

This decision follows the withdrawal of the 17 spring study abroad students that began in late February.

“Right before spring break, we had a meeting with the Provost because cases had started in Italy and we were worried because we had four students who were studying there,” Gilliland said.

Two days after the meeting, the CDC changed the warning in Italy to a level three, leading the office to encourage all the students in Italy to return home in early March.

Ultimately, all the programs were cancelled, including the Europe study abroad after President Trump banned all European travel.

Returning to the States was not easy for students, but by mid-March all students were safely home.

“It was honestly a little crazy preparing, but the actual leaving went very smoothly,” said junior Carli Gehman who was studying abroad in Spain.

Junior Linnea Fairfield was also studying abroad in Spain when the announcement came that European travel was being banned. Returning customs to the States looked unusual with screening for the virus, but Fairfield was able to return safely.

“It never felt so good to be back on American soil,” she said.

Next semester the office will be busy preparing for spring 2021 study abroad, Gilliland said, but the pandemic will likely affect the attitude of the office for the future. She says that increased flexibility will need to be required of future programs.

“This is a rough time, but we will get through it. The world will open up again,” Gilliland said. “Study abroad is still a great opportunity and we’re hoping to resume it as soon as we can.”

Stand-out senior athletes Connor Schlosser Sports Editor

We now take our classes online, but our Wolverines can’t take to the field. Spring sports were gearing up for debuting their new freshmen with high expectations.

Then, the season was finished before it even started, leaving senior athletes with a mixture of emotions.

“The shutting down of schools happened so quickly that my initial reaction was shock,” exclaimed senior catcher and outfielder Liz Scherer. “Having a worldwide pandemic cancel my final season was never on my radar.”

For others, shutting down the season was expected.

“I was not surprised when school shut down and our season was initially suspended then canceled… the writing was on the walls

for about a week as larger schools made decisions and the NCAA canceled all championships,” explained senior pitcher Austin Wacker.

The seniors seem at peace with the decision to cancel sports during this trying time, however. “… I understand that everything happens for a reason,” said senior first and second baseman Emily Cunningham. “… the love I’ve been receiving from all my teammates and coaches have really helped me come to terms with the ending of the season.”

The baseball and softball teams came back from their Florida trips in the first week of March with hopes to build success in the President’s Athletic Conference.

“The previous year we didn’t have any seniors, so really the (softball) team was the exact same, with just the addition of our freshmen,” remarked Cunningham.

SENIORS

continued from 1 challenging ending the school year away from campus. My college career has been meaningful, but the abrupt end took away the closure I was hoping for.”

While reality had not lived up to seniors’ expectations, some have been looking on the bright side.

“It is certainly not what I was expecting, but I have definitely ‘learned to be content whatever the circumstances… in any and every situation,’ as the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4,” management major Falco Muscante said. “Additionally, this is probably the last time that my entire family will be under one roof for an extended period of time, which is an unexpected blessing.”

According to a previous email sent to the student body by President J.

“Once we got back into the swing of things and became more comfortable next to each other on the field, I really felt like we could’ve made it to the PAC.” “Last season, we were one win away from making it to playoffs, and I was hoping to make it this year,” added Scherer.

The baseball team had similar aspirations. “We brought in a lot of young guys with talent to give us the depth we have been missing in years past and I really think we would have had a fantastic year and a good shot at winning the conference,” said Wacker.

Despite the unfortunate end to the season for spring sports around the country, our seniors plan on continuing to play the sport they love recreationally when the opportunity arises. The game these athletes have given their blood, sweat and tears

McNulty ‘80, the College has deemed it unsafe to continue with a traditional graduation in May. Although there is no alternative plan at the moment, the Office of Student Life and Learning will provide a survey, asking seniors for which rescheduling option they would prefer.

Based on the results, the Class of 2020 hopes that the College will offer an in-person commencement ceremony.

“I would prefer waiting until it is possible to host the whole class at the College for the ceremony,” Cichelli said. “I couldn’t imagine graduating without being able to see my friends, family and professors in person.”

Elementary and special education major Margaret LaGrand suggested that the ceremony could be held over Labor Day weekend in September. “It doesn’t really matter to me when. I just want everyone to be able to come back together to celebrate when it’s

for has, in exchange, given and taught them valuable experiences that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

“Softball is how I met lots of my life-long friends and helped me grow in confidence,” said Scherer.

“I learned how to fight through adversity, deal with conflict and opposing views and really be confident in the knowledge I have gathered,” shared Wacker.

“Softball has taught me so many things, perseverance, humility, teamwork, friendship, and love,” shared Cunningham. “It’s given me a huge network of friends that have been here for me, cheering me on both on and off the field.”

And while sports are taking a vacation for now, they will be back soon enough to create new friendships and teach new lessons to athletes and fans alike.

safe to do so,” she said.

Graner added, “We will have to see how the timeline for the national quarantine plays out, but I am hopeful and confident that the College will find a reasonable date to give us an in-person commencement and the chance to say goodbyes we haven’t been able to.”

Without the ability to be physically present on campus, many seniors miss the friends that they have come to make, the professors that they have come to know and the community that they have come to love.

While the past month has been difficult for everybody, it has been especially challenging for seniors looking to find a job after college.

Cichelli said, “I had several freelance video jobs, most of which are either postponed or canceled. COVID-19 essentially hit the pause button on my life and career.”

Along with the pandemic comes

Together apart: students connect Fiona Lacey

Community Editor Hearts shattered when campus received word that we’d be sent home. No more late nights at the Sac, basketball games, Sheetz runs or Beans on Broad dates.

Necessity breeds invention, however, and Grovers show their creativity and entrepreneurial sides once again as they’ve found cool ways to keep up with friends in the time of COVID-19.

Many enjoy sharing a drink with their friends over “Zoom parties,” simultaneously video chatting to catch up with each other and maybe enjoy some food while doing so. This, for some, creates a party-like atmosphere to make up for, at least some, of the late nights in their dorms.

Remote friendships can be kept even through makeshift coffee dates or lunch plans.

“If we had a weekly meal or lunch at school, we just keep up the routine over facetime during that scheduled time,” sophomore Bethanie Nissly said. “That’s been really nice.”

More texting, facetiming and even writing letters keeps these friendships alive and secure. New friendships are occurring as well.

“Sometimes even just texting people from my class about how the class was, makes this thing feel a little more normal,” sophomore Alejandra Flores said.

College ministries haven’t stopped either. Along with the many church services which are going online, college mentors and ministries are video chatting to pray and talk with students.

Bible studies are also continuing over video chat, with students tuning in to chat, read together and pray for each other.

Even campus clubs are keeping up with some of their regular activities over video chat.

Though it is second best, Grove City students, staff and residents are resilient in keeping their communities and friendships, even if it’s online.

a loss of jobs for many industries.

Fortunately, educational schools are still hiring upcoming graduates such as LaGrand for the upcoming school year.

“I recently accepted a job as a special education teacher in Fairfax County, Va.,” LaGrand said. “God only knows what will happen between now and then, but hopefully, I’ll be teaching next school year as planned.”

As for Graner and Muscante, both will attend the Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pa., this fall.

Although the abrupt end to their last semester is difficult, these four seniors are excited to take what they have learned at Grove City and apply it to their future career.