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@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Friday, January 28, 2022
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Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper
Vol. 107, No. 11
Onward and upward Library renovations continue into 2022 Nick Grasso Staff Writer
GRACE DAVID
As the spring semester began, the library revealed a new staircase that connects to the basement.
Grove City College’s historic Henry Buhl Library is currently under construction for a state-of-the-art renovation. Since July 2021, substantial progress has been made. The former main study area, accessed by taking a quick right after entering through the main doors, is now littered with scaffolding, blueprints and “Do Not Enter” signs signaling continued construction. The basement of the building has made remarkable progress, with a modern touch for study spaces, bookshelves and a nifty staircase that provides easy access to the basement. “I don’t go to the library too often, but I am excited to see how the renovations make for a better study environment,” junior Owen North said. “I’m looking forward to seeing how it turns out.” The basement floor where most of the renovations can be seen is called the Refer-
ence Room, and the modern nd minimalistic touches nicely compliment the adjacent Writing Center. Sophomore Megan Eisentraut said, “Looking at the layout plan, they’ve taken a modern approach in a way that is very needed.” The nearly 70-year-old building will be fitted with a new café and an outdoor patio, enhancing the community aspect of the library and adding to the beauty of the campus. Sophomore Hannah Snelbaker agreed, “The renovations give a muchneeded face lift to Buhl and really work to give the library a modern, welcoming feel.” Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, an English professor at the college, has an office space in the Writing Center under Buhl Library. Regarding the renovations, he said, “The new open staircase looks really sharp and invites students in to study and browse. Once the café is up and running, LIBRARY 3
Faculty dispute New year, new chapel CRT claims Ayden Gutierrez News Editor
Isaac Willour Staff Writer
Facing accusations of critical race theory on campus, several members of Grove City College’s community argue the complaints lack context and clarity. The accusations fall short of the image that critics seek to paint of the Christian and historically conservative college. Grove City College came under fire after a November 2021 petition raised allegations about the spread of critical race theory on campus. The petitioners reference a 2020 chapel lecture from guest speaker Jemar Tisby on Christian racial reconciliation. They also cite an education elective using proCRT textbooks and assert that allegedly pro-CRT statements from some college employees are “threatening the academic and spiritual foundations” of the college. The petition garnered 480 signatures, with one parent explaining that progressive and anti-Christian agendas “have crept into an alarming number of historically Christian institutions… I’m signing to express my support of the Christian values GCC was founded on.” Among their demands, petitioners call for the college officially to reject criti-
cal race theory, respond to statements from college employees and restructure and rename its advisory council on diversity. In response, President Paul J. McNulty ’80 issued a statement that critical race theory “has no intellectual home at Grove City College.” Meanwhile, the claim that critical race theory has seeped into the college has been debated in commentary from a variety of sources. Several specific charges, including content of some chapel addresses on campus, have not yet been publicly confirmed or denied by the institution beyond McNulty’s assertion that the college’s chapel program has never promoted CRT, a statement heavily disputed by petition advocates. Other criticism of the college revolved around alleged statements on white privilege and racial identity from Grove City’s director of multicultural initiatives. According to McNulty, resident assistants were shown “a 15-minute video on the topic of ‘positive racial identity.’ The director’s intention was to help RAs talk to concerned students about racial issues. Not surprisingly, these thoughtful RAs had questions about the video.” Petitioners also raised CRT 3
Chapel, a longstanding college tradition, has experienced a schedule transition this semester. Rather than occurring every Tuesday and Thursday in 25-minute increments, chapels will now be held on Wednesdays and Fridays. Wednesday chapels will take place at 11 a.m. in Harbison Chapel and will last 50
minutes. According to Senior Director of Christian Formation Don Opitz, “Chapel programming is designed to provide encouraging opportunities for fellowship and worship and challenging teaching for reflection and growth.” This semester, students can complete their chapel requirements with three different options: Worship Wednesdays. Anchored in the Word: Exalting
Lord Jesus. These services will be held in Harbison Chapel with overflow in Crawford Auditorium. The theme this semester is “Jesus on the Move in the Gospel of Mark.” Formation Fridays. Life Together. Choose among the following: Prayer Gathering in Harbison Chapel, Senior Series in Ketler Auditorium PEW, Campus-wide Bible Study on Hebrews in Sticht CHAPEL 3
There’s snow place like Grove
MATTHEW SCHOONOVER
Students enjoy the winter wonderland by building a giant snowman on the quad. For more snowy goodness, check out the photospread in Through the Lens on pages 6 and 7.