The Collegian - February 3, 2023

Volleyball gets varsity nod

Official season starts 2024-25

SPORTS

Politics protects Tate from proper amount of hate

Not everything is political PERSPECTIVES

Hometown kid makes it big Alum talks baseball job COMMUNITY

Collegian The

The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper

Music series displays innovative musicians

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

The Showcase Series, presented by the college’s Music Department and Alumni Relations, promises to bring innovative musicians to campus this semester with the concert headliners being IonSound Project, Kittel & Co. and Barbara Nissman.

Tickets for the three shows are $20 for the public, with discounts for college employees and free admission for Grove City College students.

The series features guest artists on campus and at other venues to enrich the college community through exposure to and enjoyment

of varied disciplines in the cultural and artistic world.

“The Showcase Series at Grove City College provides outstanding professional musicians and artists to perform for our students, alumni, friends and the regional community. The performers are top-rate musicians and will provide a wonderful variety of styles for our audiences,” said Dr. Jeffrey Tedford ’00, department chair and professor of music.

Chamber music ensemble

IonSound Project begins the spring series tonight at 7 p.m. in the Arnold Recital Hall of the Pew Fine Arts Center (PFAC).

The Pittsburgh-based

group – comprised by clarinetist Kathleen Costello, cellist Elisa Kohanski and pianist Jack Kurutz – seeks to engage the city with chamber music and educate the world through “programming innovative concerts with compelling themes, commissioning new music and performing contemporary music alongside established masterpieces,” according to their mission statement.

Following tonight’s inaugural concert, Kittel & Co. performs Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in PFAC’s Ketler Auditorium.

Led by Grammy-nominated violinist Jeremy Kittel, the quintet band inhabits

A personal account from the 2023 March for Life

the space between classical and acoustic roots, Celtic and bluegrass aesthetics and folk and jazz sensibilities. The supporting members of Kittel & Co. – mandolinist Josh Pinkham, guitarist Quinn

Still marching post-Roe

Audrey Glickert

Contributing Writer

2022’s overturning of Roe v. Wade sent the abortion argument into the hands of the states. This decision did not stop pro-lifers from flooding Washington D.C.’s March for Life on Jan. 21.

Jeanne Monahan, president of the march said, “I can’t even see the end of you from up on this stage” when describing the crowd of people in attendance.

The march’s theme was “Next Steps: Marching Forward into a Post-Roe World.” The biggest change was the rerouting of the march path to include passing the Senate.

According to the March for Life website, this was added to mark the victory over the Dobbs case.

During the pre-march rally, Monahan invited a wide variety of speakers to speak on the importance of life inside the womb. Speakers ranged from politicians and activists to college students and abortion survivors.

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy and his wife shared about adoption and the ways their family has been blessed with eight adopted children and three biological children. They highlighted the beauty of adoption, both for the adopters and the adoptees. They detailed the ways their lives have been enriched by their kids.

Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in the popular Christian show “The Chosen,” was the featured speaker at this year’s march. Roumie spoke on the importance of having values in the world of social media and Hollywood.

He stated social media and society today neutralize the value of life and autonomy as they pretend to fight for it. His final charge called

believers to pray incessantly as the spiritual and physical fight to end abortion is nowhere near over.

As I joined the masses in slowly walking the new route, I held a sign that said, “Love them both.” I reflected on what that meant. Another sign claimed, “Pro-life is pro-women.”

Loving them both means that while we advocate for the babies in the womb, we also advocate for educating

women on alternative options as well as providing them with help and care.

Pregnancy resource centers are crucial to saving the lives of unborn children and mothers alike. Prayer is crucial to saving the lives of the unborn.

As many of the speakers reminded the crowds, our Savior was born from an unplanned pregnancy. We fight because his life has given us life.

The march will continue occurring to maintain a prolife presence in D.C.; pro-lifers now devote themselves to advocating within individual states.

The next steps into a postRoe world will take protests back to state capitals.

Marches for Life are scheduled to occur in many capital cities across the country, and pro-life advocates have been challenged to attend as they did in D.C.

Bachand, bassist Ethan Jodziewicz and hammerdulcimer musician Simon Chrisman – all play stringed instruments to coalesce into

Profs on break

Ayden Gutierrez News Editor

Four professors at the college are currently taking a sabbatical this semester.

Drs. Kimberly Miller of the Communications Department, Michael Falcetta of the Chemistry Department, Caleb Fuller ’13 of the Economics Department and Caleb Verbois of the Political Science Department will all be away from the college during the spring.

MILLER

For Miller, a few things went into her decision to take a sabbatical –something she hasn’t done in her 20 years at the college.

“As department chair and a full professor with a 4/3 courseload each year as well as typically teaching online classes during winter breaks and summer too, I wanted time to work on academic projects, a book for my social media writing class, specifically,” Miller said.

“I also had a desire to focus on reworking some of my courses, but in the normal academic year with the responsibilities and time commitments, for teaching and acting as department chair, I haven’t had the time.”

Miller added a sabbatical is a good time for her to clear her mind and commitments and work on these related projects.

“Already I’ve managed to read numerous academPROFS 3

IONSOUND PROJECT

Cellist Elisa Kohanski, pianist Jack Kurutz and clarinetist Kathleen Costello (from left to right) perform tonight at 7 p.m. in PFAC.

AUDREY GLICKERT

Friend Hanna Harding, sophomore Lauren Glickert and senior Audrey Glickert (from left to right) pose outside the U.S. Capitol at the Washington, D.C., March on Saturday, Jan. 21.

FALCETTA FULLER VERBOIS

MUSIC SERIES 2

From the Tower

The travesty of modern art

During the Renaissance, art was created for the purposes of tapping into the transcendent and reflecting the truth as can be seen in such sculptures as Michelangelo’s ethereally beautiful “Pietà,” in which the Virgin Mary holds a dead Jesus in her arms. Art evolved as centuries passed, moving through the Baroque, Neoclassicism and Romanticism movements, among several others.

Today we have modern art which began with artistic merit, but sadly we are far past the days of van Gogh’s PostImpressionistic paintings and Picasso’s abstract works.

Now we have hideous sculptures such as Boston’s “The Embrace,” a disembodied memorial dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., and New York City’s “NOW” and “Witness,” two nearly identical tributes to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s pro-abortion stance. All three so-called works of art were unveiled to the public in January.

To those of you who are unfamiliar, just google each and prepare to be disappointed in humanity.

Firstly, “The Embrace” depicts MLK’s and his wife’s arms hugging each other, but depending on where you stand the sight looks unsavory to say the least. Interpret that as you will.

The bronze sculpture, somehow costing $10 million, sparked mixed reactions ranging from public mockery to a scathing review by Seneca Scott, first cousin to Coretta Scott King. In his online essay, the relative said the 22-foot statue of four arms was “rather insulting” to his family’s name and continued airing his grievances to news outlets.

Not only is “The Embrace” confusing, but it also means nothing without the context of the rest of the body. Arms without heads or chests don’t say anything significant and certainly don’t commemorate the late civil rights leader in an honorable fashion.

Outdoing the offensive piece is a hard act to follow, but “NOW” and “Witness” succeed in just that. Bearing little resemblance to the Supreme Court justice, the accompanying sculptures reimagine RBG as a Medusa-like demon with spiraling horns on the head and tentacles in place of arms and legs. Both works were created to remember the late justice’s fight for abortion while holding office.

The twin statues, which look more like golden idols than conventional memorials, have been met with criticism for its satanic symbolism and plain ugliness.

In fact, “NOW” and “Witness” fittingly illustrate the praise of the repulsive over the attractive, a postmodernist development that continues degrading American culture. Modern art has become so perverted that we’re deprived of the very things for why art exists in the first place – the true and the beautiful – and our culture suffers as a result.

Without the standards of truth and beauty, art means nothing nor is it beautiful. Without meaningful and beautiful art, the culture moves away from moral and spiritual improvement toward debasement and debauchery.

When art becomes an ugly lie, that is when life gives way to death, ultimately replacing the transcendent with the perverted.

David

Zimmermann

Editor-in-Chief

Poison in your face cream?

Hannah Welker Copy Chief

For years, one of my favorite things to do after a long semester of hard work has been to lather my whole face with a mud mask, get into a warm bubble bath full of soap, do an hour of intense skin care and go to sleep smelling like a walking sprig of lavender.

This winter break, I discovered my usual go-to cosmetic products are full of poison.

Cosmetics are littered with ingredients linked to hormone dysregulation, chemical burns, skin irritation and, in some cases, cancer. I looked over the labels of my favorite products and saw that over half of my stock contained these chemicals. I was covered head-to-toe in hazardous substances.

Collegian Staff

Editor-in-Chief David Zimmermann

Managing Editor Caleb West

Section Editors

News Ayden Gutierrez

Community

Violet Whitmore

Perspectives

Grace Scheller

Entertainment Nick Grasso

Sports

Emma Rossi

Photo Chief Grace David

Copy Chief

Hannah Welker

Business Manager

David Ake

Copy Editors

Emily Fox

Jaina Hershey

Claire Josey

Eve Lee

Maiah Serazin

Staff Writers

Vincent Clay

Mia Gallagher

Hunter Oswald

Joel Sledd

David Smith

Peter Van Eerden

Isaac Willour

Featured Photographers

Mia Campagna

Tava Derr

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.

One of the most popular chemicals on cosmetic ingredient lists is phenoxyethanol – a preservative whose concentration cannot exceed one percent in any formula. Phenoxyethanol prevents growth of bacteria and fungus, but studies show it also functions as an irritant, an allergen and an endocrine disruptor.

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, endocrine disruptors “are linked with developmental, reproductive, brain, immune and other problems.”

The most popular endo-

MUSIC SERIES continued from 1

a singular voice in each recording and show they do.

“My favorite thing is when people emotionally connect to a show or when people come and say they had a bad day or were in a rough mood before and we uplifted that,” Kittel said. “Or maybe people were having a great day before, and hopefully our show will make it even better.”

Kittel said, on behalf of the band, he is looking forward to stopping at the college while on tour.

crine disruptor, Bisphenol A or better known as BPA, was banned by the Food and Drug Administration due to its effect on the reproductive system, neurological functions, the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system and many others. This chemical was found in almost all baby bottles before it was banned in 2012.

BPA and phenoxyethanol are in the same category, but one is banned and the other is still on shelves – makes sense, right?

Next on the list is petrolatum, a widely used material in antibacterial ointments, lip balms and moisturizers. According to Davidsuzuki. org, petrolatum, “can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Studies suggest that exposure to PAHs – including skin contact over extended period of time – is associated with cancer.”

Not only does it cause cancer, but it also affects the lymph nodes, the liver and can trigger allergic reactions. The FDA agrees with the obvious statement that you shouldn’t ingest petrolatum, but they believe it’s safe to cote your lips with this carcinogen. Yet another very logical conclusion.

When petrolatum is properly refined, there’s no health threat, but, according to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics website, “petrolatum is often not fully refined in the U.S., which means it can be contaminated with PAHs.”

Additionally, the body

rium. Nissman, one of the best pianists in the world, is known for her interpretations of renowned 20th-century composers including Sergei Prokofiev, Béla Bartók and Alberto Ginastera, among her recordings from those of the 19th century. Initially discovered by conductor Eugene Ormandy, she “continues the grand bravura tradition of romantic pianism,” according to her website.

the Green eyeshade award Editorial Page 2 The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Feb. 3, 2023

This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to News Editor Ayden Gutierrez for his reliable reporting skills, social media know-how and can-do spirit.

The Green Eyeshade Award

Next Tuesday’s performance on campus is Kittel & Co.’s third gig this year after they kick off their winter tour tomorrow in Washington, D.C. Upcoming dates and venues can be found on Kittel’s website.

Esteemed Steinway artist Barbara Nissman plays Wednesday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Ketler Audito-

“I feel blessed to enjoy what I do and to be able to share what I do with others. For me, it is all about sharing the joy of music and bringing the composers I love to life,” Nissman said.

She is particularly excited to perform at the college in March.

“Coming to Grove City College will be a new experience for me, and I am really looking forward to making new friends.”

Tedford found the Show-

MARTHA STEWART

never fully excretes petrolatum once ingested. If you’ve accidentally swallowed some petrolatum-based ChapStick, you’ll likely die with that petrolatum-based ChapStick.

Lastly, we have more endocrine disruptors: parabens.

According to EWG.org, parabens “act like the hormone estrogen in the body and disrupt the normal function of the hormone systems affecting male and female reproductive system functioning.”

Parabens also negatively affect pregnancies. Fairhavenhealth.com states, “Pregnant mothers with the highest paraben levels had a greater chance of having preterm birth and babies conceived to these mothers had decreased gestational age at birth, lower birth weight and decreased body length.”

All these toxins can be found in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, body washes, face masks, bubble baths and face cream. Look over your favorite product labels and, unless you’ve intentionally bought clean products, I can guarantee you will find some kind of harmful chemical on the list.

Brands like Native, Honest and Dr. Bronner’s offer clean products that work just as well as their toxic counterparts. If you’re unsure of a brand’s cleanliness, the app Yuka is a useful tool while shopping. Simply scan the barcode, and the app rates the product based on its ingredients. Shop smart and best of luck to you in your potential product purge!

case Series to be an especially exciting opportunity this semester, as it exposes the student body and local community to unique types of music at little cost.

“It is sometimes difficult to get to Pittsburgh for events for our students, and the cost is sometimes prohibitive. By bringing top talent to Grove City College, we provide performance and educational opportunities for our students and community,” he said.

All three performances have “a variety of musical styles and instruments” to offer audiences which, Tedford said, “benefits our diverse student body and Music Department students.”

“I see this as a personal responsibility to provide access to the arts for those in our area who may not otherwise have the opportunity to experience something of this caliber.”

Winter weather causes damage, rooms repaired

Ayden Gutierrez News Editor

Western Pennsylvania was hit with a one-of-a-kind winter storm during the weekend of Christmas. Like many areas within the state, Grove City College suffered the consequences of these recordlow temperatures.

The freezing temperatures caused water line damage in MAP North that led to flooding throughout the building. Vice President of Operations Susan Grimm commented on the damage.

“The cause of the flood was a break in two places of a building sprinkler line in the attic of MAP North,” Grimm said. “The breaks would have been due to freezing in the extreme weather that we encountered over break.”

The water damage was repaired during the weeks after Christmas, according to Grimm.

“The break occurred on Dec. 27, and the rooms were ready for occupancy by Jan. 20,” said Grimm. “Many of them were ready before that date.”

There is still some remaining damage that is being fixed. Grimm noted that the only work remaining is to repair cosmetic damage to the ceilings.

“We made the decision to wait until the summer to perform this work as to not impact the student rooms more than they had already been,” said Grimm.

Freshman Alana Stites was

Finance column

one of the students to experience the damage firsthand.

According to Stites, the ceiling of her dorm room fell in and seemed as if there were around four feet of water in the room.

“The damage was pretty significant. You could see insulation stuck in the window screens the first time we came up after the catastrophe,” said Stites. “The biggest thing that shocked me was that the water pushed out the bottom half of the wall into the room next door.”

Stites noted that nearly three-quarters of her belongings had been ruined due to the flooding.

“There were things that were smashed or weren’t meant to get wet that obviously had no chance of surviving,” Stites said.

“Some of the stuff we saved, but ultimately it wasn’t salvageable. Basically, all of my belongings were thoroughly soaked and covered in fiberglass, so whatever we could dry out and clean off survived.”

Stites said that she and her roommate had to get new bedding, new kitchen appliances and books, among other items.

Although the rooms had been repaired in time, the students were given the option to relocate to another room.

“I don’t really know that we had to relocate, but we chose to move to the empty triple that is just down the hall though since it’s more

conveniently located,” said Stites.

“I really am so thankful to be a student here, especially after all of this. The college’s dealings with us, our belongings and our entire situation have been more graceful and kind than I could have imagined.”

Freshman Alexandra Soule described the damage that her room and belongings suffered during the flooding.

“My room had the wall cave in from the built-up water pressure and they had to replace the wall between our rooms and I believe the ceiling in the room beside mine,” Soule said.

“I had to replace most

The basics of cryptocurrencies

Peter Van Eerden Staff Writer

Cryptocurrencies have developed in recent years, and in some ways, the era of digital currency can be viewed as the modern-day Wild West. Numerous experts believe that there will be a steady shift in adopting crypto, at the very least, as a means of investment.

In this series, I want to dive into the pros and cons of digital currency, but first, we must have a basic understanding of a few key terms and concepts to further comprehend this new movement.

To begin with, let us define blockchain. To put it simply, the blockchain is a very complex and decentralized ledger of information. Each block of information is linked to one another to create a very protected string of information that is incredibly difficult to change or hack. Think of it this way, the blockchain is like DNA, each block of DNA connects to create long strands of information.

Now imagine that this DNA was uniform across all human beings (i.e., computers on the blockchain). A hacker would have to change every single human being’s DNA or in this case, every computer on the blockchain to change the blockchain. All that to say the blockchain is a decentralized ledger that is well-secured.

Another key term to know is cryptocurrency. This is a digital currency that exists electronically and is not controlled by central authorities. Some of the most famous examples of cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin, to name a few. Interestingly enough, there are approximately 20,000 different types of cryptocurrencies.

One appeal of cryptocurrency is its ability to provide an alternative means of exchanging money. So, instead of having to go through a centralized bank or currency, you can simply use an independent cryptocurrency. That is where the blockchain comes into play.

The blockchain is a means of securing your transactions. Think of it like a bodyguard at a bank. The bodyguard is designed to detect threats and protect the client’s money.

Now that we have a basic understanding of cryptocurrencies, we can analyze some of the pros and cons. The most obvious benefit is that the currency is completely decentralized. This means that you do not have to trust companies or governments because the blockchain is your third party (remember the bodyguard).

Another advantage is you can transfer funds directly to other parties without having to go through banks or credit card companies. Not having to go through

third parties makes transferring funds faster and, sometimes, cheaper.

Of course, there are disadvantages to the use of cryptocurrency. For starters, crypto is very volatile and unpredictable. So, you must have a high-risk tolerance. For instance, in November 2021, Bitcoin surged to over $65,000. Only a year and a half later, it plummeted to about $20,000. This historical data is about Bitcoin, which is the most popular and reliable cryptocurrency. That is no small percentage of volatility.

Another disadvantage is the fact that crypto exchanges and wallets have been susceptible to being hacked. Although the blockchain itself is secure, the third parties that hold your Bitcoin or Ethereum can fail to secure your money.

Although I do not personally suggest cryptocurrencies as a means of investment, they possess numerous benefits that make them an interesting concept. Whether or not you are team crypto or not is beside the point.

Cryptocurrency is a very real thing, and many experts believe it will play an influential role in our economy soon. It is advantageous to understand the basics and for you to do your research as crypto could impact your financial future.

things from my room. Some of the bigger items were the mini fridge, our TV, coffee maker and espresso machine, microwave, sets of drawers/ shelves, a rug and a bunch of smaller items. There were several decorations and pictures that had water damage too. I still have some clothes that are missing as well.”

Soule also noted her contentment with the college’s response to their lost belongings.

“I’m honestly pretty happy with how the college handled everything,” said Soule.

“They went in and salvaged everything possible and saved anything that wasn’t completely ruined for us to

ic books, which have been helpful and encouraging for teaching in general and teaching writing specifically,” Miller said. “I’m hopeful to use this information in my courses and teaching practice in the future.”

Falcetta is taking advantage of the sabbatical period to move his research work forward. The project he will be working on is in collaboration with Dr. Mark Fair ’85, professor of mechanical engineering and physics.

“Our research focuses on computational modeling of electrons interacting with molecules,” said Falcetta. “Such interactions are important in biological and atmospheric chemistry as well as several technologies – certain laser systems and the search for green gaseous insulators.”

Falcetta added that their research has been productive, but they have reached a point that “requires a concentrated effort in developing new computer software.”

Students have been invested in this process for the last two years, but Falcetta noted it seemed best for him to dedicate a concentrated, extended period.

He hoped to bring the program to a place where students can make tangible contributions that lead to discrete outcomes such as publications, presentations and posters at regional or national scientific meetings.

“I hope to bring back to the college a new set of computer programs that will allow student researchers to either directly apply to new research contexts or to extend the program in small chunks that open up new applications,”

go through ourselves and decide what to keep. They are completely refunding us for everything we had to replace which was one of the first things that were mentioned when I got the phone call about my room.”

According to Soule, she and her roommate were also given the option to move to a different room, which they have done.

Stites acknowledged the significance of the events but stated that she is in good spirits.

“Overall, it has definitely been a wild experience,” she said. “God has taken care of all of us though, and I am completely content.”

Falcetta said. Fuller said he decided to apply for a sabbatical because he has several research projects in his queue.

“As much as I love teaching, I’ve found that longer projects benefit tremendously from uninterrupted periods of concentration and writing,” he said.

Fuller hopes to make significant progress on a book manuscript tentatively titled, “Mere Economics: Principles and Practices from and for the Ordinary Business of Life.”

“I’m co-authoring this project with Professor Art Carden, the Margaret Gage Bush Distinguished Professor of Economics at Samford University,” said Fuller. “Our aim is to communicate the consensus principles of economics, the ideas that have been common to the inherited wisdom of economists for, in many cases, hundreds of years. We seek to articulate these principles to a Christian audience and in so doing to highlight the glory of God as manifested by the social order.”

Fuller noted he and Professor Carden Art developed the idea for this book separately and both settled on the same title, “Mere Economics,” before they began talking about their shared vision.

“I’m tremendously grateful to Grove City College, Provost Frank and my department for providing me with the opportunity.”

Verbois is spending his sabbatical by revising earlier work on the development of the U.S. Executive, particularly during the founding era. According to Dr. Michael Coulter ‘91, Verbois will be preparing it for publication, either as a series of articles or a book manuscript.

ALANA STITES

The water damage in MAP North completely turned this room upside down over break.

Upcoming Events... What’s fresh at the Grove?

Friday, Feb. 3

Friday, Feb. 3 Hicks Cafe

2 - 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 4 Arnold Recital Hall David Hoganson Hopeman Lecture

7 - 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 6 SHAL 108

Kittel & Co. Concert

7:30 - 9 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Ketler Auditorium Camp Fair

1 - 4 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Breen Student Union

Covenant Christian Academy Info Session

4 - 5 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9 SHAL 110

Klimchak’s field of dreams Alum announces for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Mia Gallagher

Staff Writer

Dream jobs are a core piece of many people’s childhoods. For Grove City College alum

Joe Klimchak ’91, he has fulfilled his childhood dream by working with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“I found my dream job the first time I went to a Major League Baseball (MLB) game at the age of seven. I heard former Pirates public address announcer Art McKennan’s voice through the Three Rivers Stadium loudspeakers and knew that day that I wanted to become an announcer in an MLB ballpark,” Klimchak said.

Entering his 19th season as the Pirates in-game host, Klimchak’s job not only involves engaging audiences with his emcee skills but also allows him to connect with fans who share his passion for the sport. His journey to this unique, exciting position is one of hard work, persever-

ance, patience and practice.

“I had to overcome a speech impediment first so lots of practice speaking, mostly on my own just making random announcements around the house and reading magazine articles out loud. I eventually volunteered as an announcer in my hometown of Aliquippa, Pa., contributing my skills to Little League baseball games, swim meets, track meets and lecturing at church,” Klimchak said.

At the college, Klimchak majored in communications and cites the valuable presentation skills he learned from professors and former chaplain Richard Morledge ’54. Additionally, his work as a radio personality on the campus radio station, called WSAJ at the time, and a public address announcer for home sporting events gave him the experience necessary to achieve his dream.

“Two years after college, I won an audition to become the Pirates’ back-up public address announcer. I was

named the team’s in-game host in 2005 and am entering my 19th season in 2023,” Klimchak said.

As an in-game host, some of Klimchak’s responsibilities during the regular season include hosting pre-game ceremonies, presenting features in between innings on the Jumbotron and interviewing organization representatives and fans.

“I do my live in-game segments all around the ballpark, so by the end of the game I’ve usually walked around five miles,” he said.

In the offseason, Klimchak lends his talents to the Pirates in emceeing season ticket holder parties and holding Q&As with current players and Pirates alumni.

On Saturday, Feb. 18, Klimchak will be in Bradenton, Fla. introducing the Pirates Block Party, an event that kicks off the 2023 spring training season.

“One of the most rewarding parts of the job is the chance to help make the ma-

jor league ballpark experience for fans of all ages an enjoyable one. Hosting charity events for special needs children and at-risk youth are other opportunities that I find the most fulfilling now,” Klimchak said.

Klimchak’s message to the Grove City College community is encouraging and supportive of the goals all Grover-achievers have.

“Get a little better every day by doing the reps, and most of all, be yourself. I’ve built a growth mindset presentation that I take to high schools and colleges in the offseason. My main message is that we experience extraordinary things by embracing the ordinary. I was never in the popular crowd and didn’t have any connections or natural talent,” he said.

“But simply by being committed to the task of getting a little better every day, the extraordinary part–landing my dream job–took care of itself.”

Maintaining a healthy work and life balance

My girlfriend is acting super clingy and I’m already feeling overwhelmed with homework and sports. What should I do? Anxiously, Overwhelmed Grover

Dear Overwhelmed Grover, That’s a really difficult situation to be in. As much as you appreciate your girl-

friend, your life is more than just a relationship with her, so it is good that you are recognizing the need for rest and balance in your life. It’s also good to recognize she wants to spend a lot of time with you, and you want to care for her by giving her your time.

I think the solution for this situation starts with communication. First, consider if there is a reason she has become clingy. Has a situation at home or with friends changed and left you as one of the only people in her support network? If that is the case, you can help her find more people she can turn to in this difficult time since you cannot bear that whole

burden yourself. Hopefully, that would help her receive the support she needs, and you can focus more on your work.

However, there might not be a cause for this, and she might simply desire more time together. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your academics and extra-curriculars, you might not feel you have a lot of time to spend with her. You can multi-task by doing homework together, providing you a healthy way to spend time together while prioritizing your responsibilities. If spending time together leads to not getting your work done, you should share with her your need more time to

focus and work alone. Share this gracefully and carefully, addressing your needs – to avoid causing hurt. Hopefully, she will desire to care for you this way and provide you more space. It would also be good to talk to your mutual friends to see if they observe her as actually being clingy or if you, in your busyness, are not making time for her. They would be a good outside source to look to who could provide valuable insight into your relationship. If she does not want to give you space that you need, they could also help you by explaining your side to her. Spending time with your girlfriend is important, and

it should be enjoyable for you. However, you are more than just a boyfriend; you are a student and an athlete. Try to discern why she is acting this way and talk with her about it. This won’t be a painless situation, but hopefully you two can grow through this and learn to better support each other through this.

Auspiciously, Dr. Love Love M.D.

JOE KLIMCHAK

Klimchak ‘91 announces to the crowd while posing with a young Pirates fan. He has held the job of in-game host for 19 seasons.

Helping seniors recover senses

Violet Whitmore Community Editor

As populations rise and lifespans become longer, dementia cases increase. When memories go and conversation is difficult, a sense of normalcy can be a challenge.

Junior Luke Gilligan, CEO of Resense, and his business team created a way to ease the effects of dementia: the Resense Box.

“The idea for Resense came out of a class that is offered at the college called Lean LaunchPad. One of the members on our team had a grandfather with dementia, and we wanted to create a product that would serve him,” Gilligan said.

Additional members of Resense include: sophomore Marketing Lead Noah Iversen, sophomore Sales Coordinator Oliver Schwarz, junior Sales Coordinator Logan Mays and junior Marketing Coordinator Megan Eisentraut.

“The goal of Resense is to bring comfort and joy to those living with dementia and their care partners,” Gilligan said.

“Providing care can be very stressful and we want to help decrease their stress while providing them with an opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones and make new memories.”

Each box is designed with multiple tactile items, like aromatherapy, music and logic puzzles to help individuals with dementia “resense” the world in a calming way.

“Our goal for Resense is to exercise and ‘rewire’ the senses. Our Connect + Comfort Kits are designed utilizing a nuanced approach to therapy which targets the five senses, and each product exercises the senses and increases brain health. Hence the name, ‘Resense’.”

Working with over 80 professionals over the course of its development, the fivemember team has curated a box aimed to work on multiple parts of the brain.

“The care box is designed to improve brain health, exercise the senses and elicit long-term memories. When you exercise your muscles, you gain strength – same thing for the brain,” Gilligan said.

“When you exercise your senses, you help build and improve your brain health.”

So far, business has been

booming.

“We officially launched last summer and now we have been working with local and statewide companies to implement our boxes in their care programs. It is amazing to see our boxes impact individuals in so many ways,” Gilligan said.

“I remember one time I was traveling home from the airport, and as I was sitting at my gate there was an elderly couple, and the wife was very agitated and nervous to board the plane. I had one of our boxes on me and decided to go help the couple out. I gave it to her and showed her the products inside, especially the ones that could decrease agitation, and let her enjoy them.

“You could see a sense of calm come over her and she boarded the plane,” he said.

The team also does activity sessions in care centers and communities for dementia patients.

“We went to one in Pittsburgh, and I got the special opportunity to have a oneon-one with one of their residents. The nurse let me know that she is very hard to

engage with and that I might not get a very good response from her and the box. When we sat down and I opened the box, she immediately started to interact with the products.” Gilligan hopes to bring a sense of peace to those using the box.

“We want it to bring comfort and joy and not remind them about their diagnosis,” he said. “That is why there is no mention of dementia or anything regarding memory at all in the box or products.”

Leah Day Guest Instructor of Visual Arts and Design

What is your favorite part about your job?

To be teaching at Grove City is a full-circle moment for me. My four years here really shaped me—I love getting to talk to students about design since I first discovered my interest in it when I was here. I also work as a designer for Each + Every in Kent, Ohio, and it’s great to be able to work on a variety of digital, print and branding projects there. Why did you choose design?

I find creating things to be really rewarding, and I wanted a job that allowed me to do that every day.

What are some of your favorite movies?

I love “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Arrival” and “Phantom Thread.”

Favorite restaurant?

Anywhere with Thai food.

What are you looking forward to today?

A cup of tea after a cold walk!

What are your favorite music genres/musicians?

Gilligan said new additions to the box and more products are coming soon.

“The Resense Register is the first-ever newspaper designed for individuals living with dementia. It is designed to replicate opening a newspaper every day and has the same puzzles, articles and more. We also have lotions coming soon, too.”

To learn more about Resense box, visit their website at www.resensebox.com, follow their Instagram at @resensebox or contact Gilligan.

Ganza’s coming home to Hicks

Eve Lee Copy Editor

After the Tri-Rho Extravaganza dance was cancelled and relocated in the last three years, the annual event has returned to its traditional location of Hicks Cafe.

Unlike this year, the last Ganza was held Friday, April 8, 2022, in the IM Room. According to senior Alex Smith, head of Ganza, COVID-19 concerns were the main reason for the late date. Smith said Ganza has been historically held on the first Friday of February which is the case this year, but the date falls during the first week of pledge because this semester started a week later than normal.

Senior Caleb Schmidt, publicity head, said, “With the Ganza being so early, we

have fewer events to compete with that often happen later in the semester which gives the opportunity for more people to attend.”

This year’s dance slogan is: “It’s coming home” – referring to Ganza’s return to its traditional location. Schmidt said, “The Ganza has not been able to take place in Hicks or at all since 2020, and we are blessed to finally have it return ‘home’ once again.”

Smith happily anticipated this change saying, “The atmosphere of the IM Room is harder to make look nice. I think we did a good job last year, but I think we can do a lot more and make it seem a lot more classy. We can make a much better atmosphere in Hicks. Because it was such a huge space, there was less hype with the dancing. There was too much space.”

However, Smith noted that capacity will be more of an issue this year. The Hicks maximum is 600 people while the Physical Learning Center can hold 1,000.

General admission is free, but for those who’d like to skip the line outside the venue, fast-pass tickets can be purchased for $3 each. Smith said the proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to charity.

Despite the changes, Schmidt and Smith are very excited for Ganza.

Schmidt said he is “excited to see those traditions resumed and hopefully carried out after the last few years dealing with other difficult circumstances.” Smith added, “It’s a great atmosphere. It’s great to dress up and a great way to spend your second week back at school.” According to both, this

is one of the most attended events on campus, and they are thrilled to be able to host such a special event for the student body.

Smith said there is no specific theme for the dance. However, he described the event as a “classy dance.” Cocktail attire is strictly enforced, and the decoration committee works hard to create a tasteful atmosphere.

“Our goal is to provide a classy experience with good food and good fun,” Schmidt said. “It is quite a special free event and is more than just a dance, hence the name Extravaganza.”

Students can get their tickets in the Breen Student Union today from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The dance will be held tonight from 8 p.m. to midnight in Hicks.

Recently I’ve been stuck on “Long Lost,” Lord Huron’s most recent album. What is a book that changed your life/worldview?

There have been a few:

“A Severe Mercy” by Sheldon Vanauken (I’d recommend the copy with the green cover from the GCC library), “The Shepherd’s Life” by James Rebanks and “Gilead” by Marilynne Robinson.

Help Wanted!

The Collegian is looking for talented students who want to build their resumes and hone their craft as Writers Copy Editors

Photographers

Have a passion for any of these roles? Interested in contributing to a campus publication? Email gcc. collegian@gmail.com to learn more.

RESENSE

An example of a Resense memory box. It is filled with items that stimulate all five senses.

RESENSE

The five Resense team members pose for a group photo.

Snowfall arrives with students

As students return from break, so does the intense winter weather

As the new semester rolls around, spring weather still seems quite far away as frigid air and snow blankets campus.

The extreme coldness doesn’t stop the Grove City College community from enjoying time together, however. Warmth is brought back to campus with the stories and smiles shared with each other.

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Mia Campagna

Mia Campagna

Tava Derr

Mia Campagna

Tava Derr

In U.S. we distrust

The all-American dilemma that is our lack of integrity

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

We have all said or heard the two-word phrase “trust me.” While it might seem inconsequential to utter the almost cliché saying, these words carry a momentous preconception.

Trust has always been the key element to the configuration of any society and the foundation upon which civilizations arise. To trust someone or to be trusted by others is a promise of reciprocity that binds us and develops longterm relationships with those around us. For Americans, the virtue of trust has been preached across all aspects

Letter to the Editor

of private and public life, becoming a quintessential part of the American experience.

While trust has been espoused by many, the reality is rather starkly terrifying when considering the current state of American politics. For the past two decades, trust in our nation’s government has been at an all-time low.

In a poll conducted by Pew Research Center on May 1, 2022, only 20 percent of the public trust the United States government. According to Pew Research Center, the last time a significant majority of Americans trusted the U.S. government was in 1964, with 77 percent. When looking at the current levels of trust for each branch, the findings are as disturbing as the Pew poll.

We are hungry. Many events occur over the year and tend to overlap with mealtimes. Many attend dances, sports and other extracurriculars between 4:30 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. These people are not able to eat.

Well, they could venture down to Sheetz or buy something at the SAC, but for some on campus, they save every penny they can for school, family or even essential items to help them with their future endeavors. Is there any solution? What if the school could create a slip that students could ask for in advance that would allow them to get food at SAC after meal hours, counting it as a meal from their meal plan?

While there could be a concern about abusing this power, it could be acquired from a specific authority. For example, if the women’s basketball team has a home game that causes them not to get a meal for dinner, the coaching staff should be responsible for inquiring about the slip. For members of the Swing Dance Club, the President and VP can ask about the slip for specific members. Just something to think about.

Blaise Kilmartin

Letters to the Editor

Space will be provided for Letters to the Editor. However their inclusion is at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief and Managing Editor. Letters will be printed as submitted unless the editors choose to delete words or portions that are in poor taste, libelous or unnecessary to convey essential meaning. The editors may condense longer letters.

Letters must include verifiable contact information, such as an email address. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. The author’s name will appear with the letter. Statement of fact and opinion in letters to the editor, editorials and commentaries are the responsibility of the author(s) alone and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of staff, the college, its faculty or staff or the student body. Letters must be received by

5 p.m. on the Monday prior to the publication. All letters to the editor will be considered for publication from students, faculty, staff and alumni. To be accepted for publication, a letter must meet one of the following criteria: it relates to an article published in or issue discussed in paper; it contains information of interest to all, or a segment of our readership (alumni, parents, donors, students, faculty and staff); it relates to college news or policy. We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, correct grammar and punctuation, and length. We will not publish unsigned letters. We will not republish a letter that has appeared in another publication in part or in whole. Letters will be printed in the next edition of the paper in which space is available.

According to polling conducted by Gallup from Sept. 1-16, 2022, 43 percent of Americans trust the president, 47 percent trust the Supreme Court and 38 percent trust Congress. While some might contend that the lack of confidence is an effect of the high levels of partisanship, the truth is the opposite.

In recent polling by Pew Research Center, they found, “Today, 29% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say they trust the government just about always or most of the time, compared with 9% of Republicans and Republicanleaners.”

Like many of you, I often like to blame politicians for lying and cheating, which is a very reasonable position

when looking at today’s current political culture. Today’s political environment is very much incentivized to cheat as it offers to further one’s clout in society and pecuniary gains. Take, for example, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi and George Santos. The fallout of the Joe Biden classified document scandal, the exposure of Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s insider trading at Google and New York Rep. George Santos regarding his personal background have only reaffirmed Americans’ distrust of our nation’s distrustful politics. The revelations of deception amongst both sides have only added more fuel to the fire, quickening the erosion of the stability of America and emboldening civil disorder. It is important to remember that

corruption is not a Democrat or Republican problem. It is truly an all-American dilemma.

As the perception of American politics seems bleak, we should not be so quick to accept defeat. As former President Ronald Reagan said, “Trust but verify.” As Americans, it is imperative for us to help restore trust in our political sphere by forming a culture that values reciprocity over deception and promotes the axiom that trust is not given out willfully but earned on account of character and action.

With courage and faith in our endeavor, we have a real opportunity to bring real hope to many and allow for change that will only spur stability and prosperity for all Americans.

Quoting the Bible won’t help your pro-life argument

Emily Klusendorf

Contributing Writer

Upon the announcement of Roe v. Wade’s overturn last June, every media platform imaginable was a paint palette of radical and controversial opinions. That’s not to say that every individual behind such monologues knew what they were talking about. Nor were they willing to have a reasonable discussion beyond their point of view.

However, out of all those to take part in the gladiator fight, I was most disappointed — not by radical pro-choicers — but by the approach many of my own pro-life friends assumed.

Instead of using reason to debunk pro-choice fallacious one-liners like, “If this were about babies, healthcare would be universal,” Psalm 139 became their mouth’s marquee.

To clarify, I do not believe that the Bible is an insufficient source to aid the pro-life advocate in his or her conviction to protect the unborn. While I find that the Christian worldview gives the best explanation of human value, it, in itself, is not an argument. Setting aside the genre and

context of the passage, Psalm 139 does not give us practical tools to convince our prochoice neighbor that killing babies is wrong. If you want to appeal to the pro-choice advocate, you cannot quote a text to which they ascribe no relevancy. Protecting unborn children is not a strict “Christian” belief, and the pro-life movement is not an evangelical endeavor. Arguments cannot be religious; people are.

To defend our case, we ask our pro-choice friends a question instead. This question is the foundation for every point you make to protect human lives: “What is the unborn?” Before considering whether or not we can exterminate something, we must first ask what that thing is. For that answer, we turn to the pro-choice advocate’s best ally: science.

According to the science of embryology, from the point of conception, you were once a distinct, living and whole human being. You were not a part of another human being as a clump of cells. True, you were smaller. You were less independent. You were less cognitively developed. But seven inches down the fallopian tube did not suddenly convert you from human, we can kill, to non-human, we can’t.

If the unborn are not hu-

man, then yes, we have every right to exterminate them in the name of privacy and bodily choice. But if the unborn are, feelings and preferences like, “The unborn aren’t wanted,” go out the window. Why? Because if you are a human being, you are valuable.

And you are not valuable because you function a certain way to a particular society of people, nor are you valuable for the kinds of things you offer to that society. Suppose human value rests on your performances, functions, abilities, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. In that case, every single one of us, including the unborn, is a slave to our “betters.” The blind man is less valuable than the man who sees. And the disabled woman is less valuable than the woman who walks. And the unborn are less valuable than those who are born.

I don’t need to recite a Bible verse to convince you that the unborn are human or that pro-choice ideology is faulty. And you don’t need to either. I’m not pro-life because of my religious beliefs. I’m pro-life because I value life more than my own choices and convenience.

If you’re fighting for human equality and value, you can’t be picky about who gets it and who doesn’t.

Toxic polarization in the age of Andrew Tate

Mallory Jones

Contributing Writer

Chances are there is a certain political party you identify with. Perhaps you always vote for members of this party, or put sports stickers on your computer so others know that you’re “one of the good ones.”

This is not inherently wrong — it is good to know your values and to use your voice well. There are many causes that are worth taking a stand on, and you should not be ashamed to acknowledge the people who fight for these issues.

However, a problem arises when we allow these allegiances to dominate every event that occurs.

While there are many topics I could talk about in reference to that point, I want to focus on Andrew Tate, and, more specifically, his recent arrest.

Tate was arrested on Dec. 29 on charges of human trafficking and rape. He was found in Romania, where he ironically moved because “rape laws are more lenient there.”

If you are familiar with Tate’s philosophies at all, you’ll know that this line of thinking is consistent with

all the other heinous things he says.

Seems like a slam dunk: a misogynist, rapist and human trafficker is off the streets.

We should all be glad and call it a day. However, instead of rejoicing and expressing sympathy for Tate’s victims, there was an explosion of debate after his arrest. Why? Greta Thunberg … presumably.

Following a targeted tweet from Thunberg, Tate published a response video in which the pizza box from a Romanian company could be seen, supposedly alerting local police to his presence in the country. Memes were made, Wikipedia boxing scores altered and everyone had a good laugh that Tate was brought down by a pizza box.

But the focus totally changed from what it should have been.

Instead of “Humans Who Know Human Trafficking is Evil v. Tate,” the case became “People Who Hate Greta Thunberg v. People Who Defend Her.” It wasn’t even about Tate or his victims anymore.

It quite literally does not matter one bit what you think of Greta Thunberg — you are not betraying your conservative ideals to say it’s a good thing that Tate was arrested.

In fact, it’s pretty absurd to think this is political at all.

The situation of political party allegiance has gotten so dire that some conservatives felt like they couldn’t be glad about Tate’s arrest because then they would be “siding with Greta.”

How have we come to a place where the arrest of a serial rapist could be anything but celebrated? We

have allowed ourselves to think so strongly in terms of us-versus-them, Democratsversus-Republicans, that we can’t even hear about the arrest of a rapist without needing to create and then pick sides. There shouldn’t be sides here at all.

As I said before, it’s not wrong to have allegiance to a political party.

I usually vote in one di-

SNOPES

rection because I generally trust that party more. But not everything is political. And some things really are as straightforward as a man who serially abuses women finally getting what was coming to him.

We need to be reasonable enough to know the difference. We need to pray for Tate’s many victims. We need to do better.

Yes, Christian nationalism is appealing

Isaac Willour Staff Writer

For those of you not ensconced in the world of Protestant Twitter, there’s been a recent surge of interest in the philosophy and politics of Christian nationalism. It’s fueled countless blog posts and podcasts; if you’re on the political right, you’ve probably heard the term paired with a heavy degree of skepticism. What is Christian nationalism? And how should we respond to those who buy into it?

Scholar Paul Miller offers a workable definition of Christian nationalism: “the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity, and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way.”

For many Christian nationalist thinkers, the ideal nation-state is formed by explicit governmental deference to Christian doctrine and values in the public square. Such preferences vary wildly in theoretical application, from the exclusion of non-Christian voices from society to the complete overhauling of the First Amendment in favor of explicitly Christian speech policies.

In case it’s not incredibly obvious, I’m not a Christian nationalist. Attaching the explicit furtherance of Christianity to American political structures is a completely unattainable notion, to say nothing of governmental encroachment on the Church’s missionary commission and the political division and abuse Christian nationalism would create.

Looking at modernity, however, it’s easy to understand why people become Christian nationalists — the idea of a Christian-preferential society is enticing, particularly in contrast to postChristian modernity. Given modern-day America’s op-

position to traditional Christianity and religious liberty more broadly, the promises of pluralism are quickly ringing empty for many Christians. It is becoming increasingly clear that, when coming from anti-Christian culture warriors, embracing pluralism is code for “comply with my ideology or the hammer’s coming out.”

Many are similarly tired of being told Christianity must be palatable and nice when Christianity itself has always been fundamentally unpalatable to secular ears — while nobly intentioned, such language of niceness often seems to condemn the faithful.

People are similarly tired of evangelical pundits “punching right and coddling left,” constantly criticizing Christian conservatives but seeming to spare the rod for Christian liberals. Christian nationalism does more than condemn — it offers alluring promises of acceptance for Christians tired of oftensanctimonious criticism from their own side.

Lastly, some people calling for Christian nationalism simply do so out of a desire for cultural power. It’s an understandable mental pathway — Christians who truly see modernity as a Colosseum can easily shift from a martyr mindset to a desire to be the empire.

From these characterizations, you might think I sym-

pathize with Christians who ascribe to Christian nationalism. I do. I understand the desire to seize cultural power in a bid to stop the excesses of anti-Christian political actors and create a new power structure promising a respite from such abuses. It’s all understandable; the problem is, it’s also utopian. Power corrupts, and it corrupts Christians in power, too. Nothing in the philosophy of Christian nationalism offers any more effective power check than the systems we currently have. In the end, it’s a philosophy of collectivism and government control — even in the most pious of hands, the tyrannical endgame is the same.

Christian nationalism, by all appearances, is evangelism with governmental help.

Cultural/governmental power, however, is not the set goal of evangelism: we don’t evangelize to gain cultural power but to win souls to the Word above all earthly powers. If cultural power comes now, it’s a byproduct at best and a dangerous distraction at worst. Furthermore, both right and left have earned their punches; nobody’s earned the right to be coddled. True discipleship involves both hard truth and loving support. Yet those swayed by the empty promises of Christian nationalism deserve more than punches and derision; they’re our brothers and sisters in

Christ, and we must understand them if we’re hoping to persuade them toward a better way.

Decades of cultural power have left American Christianity soft and unsuited for the robust evangelism necessary in the modern day. In this world of conflict, the Church must stand its ground and disciple America, crippled by decadence, polarization and crises of faith, as if there was no tomorrow. Subsequently, it is time for Christians to live out our faith as if Caesar was trying to crush us — because he is.

Whether in the subterfuge of right-wing leaders who use and discard the support of religious people or the ravages of left-wing leaders intent on redefining and minimizing religious liberty, Caesar is everywhere.

The missing key to reviving Christianity is not alignment with America’s political framework. The missing key is our willingness to live our faith boldly in this postChristian nation. It’s not enough to react strongly to post-liberal modernity. The call is coming from inside the house — we are the revival.

Perspectives Policy

The purpose of the Perspectives section is to give a space for student voices. Here, student writers have the space to critique, question and analyze the world around them.

Perspectives articles represent the views of the individual writer. They do not represent the views of The Collegian, The Collegian staff or Grove City College.

While pieces in Perspectives are subjective by nature, The Collegian has standards for publication.

Articles submitted for publication are expected to provide arguments of substance that rely on fact and are void of foundationally emotional and biased arguments.

This is not a space to parrot party lines. Perspectives articles are expected to take original stances, and, where applicable, consider the in-

teraction of faith within their topic.

This is a space where all voices can be heard. It is our goal as The Collegian staff that Perspectives reflect the diversity of thought represented on the college’s campus.

Additionally, The Collegian will not accept a Perspectives article if the topic has not been reported on by the newspaper. This means that the publication of a submitted or proposed article may be delayed so The Collegian can provide a factual, unbiased context for the paper’s readership.

If you would like to submit an article for publication or want further clarification of The Collegian’s expectations contact Editor-in-Chief David Zimmermann, Managing Editor Caleb West or Perspectives Editor Grace Scheller.

PENN CAPITAL STAR

‘Way of Water’ watered down

David Smith Staff Writer

“Avatar: The Way of Water” was director James Cameron’s long-awaited sequel to the 2009 epic science-fiction film, “Avatar.” Since its Dec. 16 release, “The Way of Water” has brought in over two billion dollars at the global box office, making it the fourth highest-grossing film of all time at the time of this writing.

Still, is “The Way of Water” worth the hype?

Set 16 years after the Na’vi saved Pandora from the RDA, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) lives as a chief, raising his family with wife Neytiri (Zoe Saldana). Everything seems ideal until the RDA return attempting to

gain control of Pandora.

After the attack, Jake and his family are forced into exile upon being recognized by the RDA. What ensues throughout the film is a catand-dog chase between the RDA and Jake’s family.

Thirteen years elapsed between the first and second “Avatar” movies, including eight premiere delays for “The Way of Water.” Cameron was adamant about maintaining his vision for the film without unnecessary edits.

Even if one was to cut a sizable portion out of Cameron’s film, “The Way of Water” would run well over three hours long. This, however, is not a negative aspect of the film. Other than some of the midway scenes where Jake and his family are in ex-

ile, the film flows exceptionally well.

Though the sequel is a fine film, it does not feel as exhilarating or as captivating as its predecessor. “The Way of Water” is visually stunning, but a few scenes feel overwhelmingly unrealistic.

Much of “The Way of Water” feels predictable, but that is understandable considering “Avatar” is essentially “Dances with Wolves” in outer space. My expectations were relatively low going into the movie, and I think that was ultimately for the better.

It is a fine blockbuster flick, just like any superhero movie. Sure, there are morals and lessons to be learned, but that is not the be-all-end-all of the film. Narratively and

Tunes from the Tower ‘SOS’

Vincent Clay

Staff Writer

In December, the innovative R&B superstar, SZA, released “SOS,” the follow-up to 2017’s iconoclastic “Ctrl.”

It is easy to get lost in the hype—given the strength of her previous project. How does the new one stand on its own? “Ctrl” was a flawless, song-bysong dissection of what control can look like within relationships, race and mental health.

visually, “The Way of Water” is an exceptional and serviceable movie.

I did not see it in 3D as I had with the first one, but I can imagine that would have been a more engaging experience. It is said that it functions as a state-of-the-art 3D spectacle.

Regardless, its narrative on family is a fine plot point that is worth the price of admission and makes the film utterly endearing at times. Even though it is a long film with a redundant plot, it is a wholly entertaining and spectacular film to see in theaters.

“The Way of Water” is a film that works well for a wide audience and does not pretend that it is anything more than that.

Not the last of ‘The Last of Us’

Dominic Puglisi

Contributing

Writer

If you have ever wondered how to best describe the thriller genre, I recommend you give the series premiere of “The Last of Us” a watch.

Based on the 2013 video game of the same name, the premiere of “The Last of Us” is a piece of art that manifests feelings of both dread and excitement but not quite fear.

The central plot takes hold early as a pair of scientists intensely discuss humanity’s biggest threats. One claims that a virus will end humanity, while the other has a different, more outlandish theory. They suggest that the cordyceps, a type of fungus, will evolve into a soul-sucking creature that turns humans into bloodthirsty zombies.

We then cut to the suburban neighborhood of Joel Miller (Pedro Pascal) and his daughter, Sarah (Nico Parker). Everything seems to be at peace as the viewer enjoys the deep and loving relationship between the pair, but an obvious sense of uneasiness lingers.

The jump from infected, bloodthirsty humans is abrupt and startling, so much so that it is almost challenging to adapt to the change of tone so quickly.

Joel heads to work and Sarah to school during what seems like a perfectly average

day, but the show does well to allow that lingering sense of dread throughout. The audience is forced to crawl through painstaking normalcy, waiting for things to inevitably take a turn. What contributes more to the metaphorical cloud of dread hanging over the audience are repeated instances of high tension right before the climax does not hit. Time and again, crescendos and sudden sounds imply disaster is about to strike, but then nothing happens. This all serves to create a wonderful sense of anticipation. Thriller shows are built in moments like these. Things eventually take a

turn for the worst when Sarah is greeted by a pair of living corpses intent on ripping her limb from limb. It happens when Sarah attempts to return her neighbor’s runaway dog, but instead comes face to face with the undead. The tension comes to a point here, allowing for a brilliant release of built-up stress within the viewer.

The episode continues with one action scene after another as Joel and Sarah try to escape the now oncoming hoard of zombies. Special effects take center stage when a plane comes perilously close to crash landing on top of our two protagonists. This all takes place as the community begins to be

HBO MAX

overrun by the undead, with the classic zombie attack scene providing some nostalgia for traditional viewers.

This half of the episode is punch after punch beating audiences down with shock and surprise, emotions made more visceral by the buildup to this moment. Without spoiling the end, something so dramatic happens that it causes the present chaos to appear unimportant.

We knew all the chaos would come to a climax, but by genius foreshadowing and torturous waiting, the first episode of “The Last of Us” becomes the most thrilling piece of media released in some time.

The album’s highly topical and refreshing songs were stitched together seamlessly with voice notes from loved ones and rants about exes. It was an album to be lived through as well as listened to.

Now, five years later, SZA has kissed 2022 goodbye with “SOS.”

The answer to that question is, well, a lot. The album boasts 23 tracks, all varying in quality.

Gone are the watertight ruminations of “Ctrl.” Now a wide range of styles and vibrant emotions take center stage. Regarding the sounds, “SOS” is at its best when it explores new territory. The oldschool rap of the title track “Smoking on my Ex Pack” and the Bjork-sampling “Forgiveless” are vivid and natural steps forward for SZA’s unfiltered attitude.

Early 2000’s-style tracks like “F2F”, “Nobody Gets Me” and “Open Arms” are jaw-dropping displays of SZA’s versatility and massive growth as a singer.

The album severely falters though when it distracts from these moments with bland and modern sounding R&B-pop songs (i.e., “Love Language”, “Conceited”, “Far”).

Lyrically, the album’s sprawling and cluttered thoughts are an ocean that is easy to get lost in as depicted on the cover. Maybe that confusion was the whole point, but the track list lacks the memorable and quoteworthy impact of a track like “Doves in the Wind.”

However, there are still gems to be found. In “Open Arms,” SZA admits to “Runnin’ away from where I’m from / Never can stay with no one / Lovin’ you almost feels like something.”

The contrasting forces of confusion and resolution are the driving themes of the record. On “Blind” she sings, “It’s so embarrassing / All of the things I need / Living inside of me… I can’t see, I’m blind.”

As we all leave 2022 behind for better or for worse, rest assured that SZA is feeling it right here with us. It is all here. You just have to know where to look.

20TH CENTURY STUDIOS

National sports column

Buckle up, it’s the Super Bowl

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

After an unfortunate, injury-packed performance by the San Francisco 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles will be heading to Super Bowl LVII. Due to their injuries, the 49ers were forced to sub in their fourth-string quarterback – a tragic ending to an otherwise exceptional season.

While Eagles fans pulled the 49ers jersey off the Rocky statue, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Cincinnati Bengals duked it out at GEHA Stadium.

In an extremely close and stressful ending, the Chiefs pulled ahead in the last minute of play. Unlike Brett Maher, Harrison Butker successfully scored several points and launched a lategame field goal into the uprights and sent the Chiefs to the Super Bowl.

MEN continued from 12

A highlight of the season so far is the young players and their ability to adapt under Head Coach Steve Lamie’s scheme so quickly.

“They’re owning how we play,” Lamie said. “They’ve had to see basketball from a different perspective, but they’re motivated to play it.”

Fifteen of the men on the 19-man roster are either freshmen or sophomores, so the adaptability of the younger players is crucial to their success.

A shining example of this is sophomore guard Jonah Bock. Bock is on his way to reaching the 500-point milestone, with 472 points in his career.

In Wednesday’s game against Bethany, Bock secured a spot in the top 10 alltime career three-point field goals made, sinking 108 from beyond the arc so far. He’s now two away from ninth place all-time.

Bock leads the team in points scored with 258. Second is sophomore guard Chase Yarberough with 174 points.

An improving defensive unit impressed Coach Lamie. “Defensively, we’re making fewer and fewer mistakes,” he said.

After a sluggish five-game

WOMEN

continued from 12

verines joined Goetz in the double-digit category. Kallock finished with 13 points, sophomore guard Jaden Davinsizer followed with 11 and sophomore guard Clara Hannon tallied 10.

Sophomore center Kylie Ingram and Baller led the team in rebounding with eight apiece.

The Wolverines earned their tenth conference win over the Franciscan Barons

SWIMMING

continued from 12

the meet 174-118. Wallace led the women’s team in wins, securing the top spot in the 200 IM and both butterflies. Wallace was joined in the win column by Janicki, who added to the Wolverines’ success by dominating in both breaststroke events. The Wolverines swept the freestyle sprints

Eagles vs. Chiefs is a matchup with two highpowered offenses, with each team led by a skilled quarterback. While Mahomes and Hurts will duel, this will be a battle between the best offense in the league and the best passing defense in the league.

In the regular season, the Eagles’ defense allowed the fewest passing yards per game while the Chiefs’ offense had the most passing yards per game.

The Eagles’ defense has consistently shown they were superior in shutting down their opponent’s passing game. Their defense ranks second in total yards per game, and first in passing yards and they had the most sacks in the regular season.

The Chiefs statistically have the best offense in the league. Their offense has the most yards per game

and scored more points per game than any other team in the regular season.

The Eagles must rely on their defense, and the Chiefs need to diversify their offensive scheme. Andy Reid can’t rely on the passing game alone to win it all. He will need a flexible offense that can run the ball as well, something of which I believe Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is entirely capable.

The Eagles need to utilize their defensive front to pressure Mahomes into making rushed throws. The Eagles need to win up front on both sides of the ball if they want to be successful.

I predict this game will be extremely close with great coaching on both sidelines. Based on the coaching of each team, I believe the Chiefs will scrape by the Eagles’ defense for a one or two-point victory.

Sports at a Glance

News

At the Men’s Track and Field YSU Mid-Major Meet from Jan. 27-28, junior Nick Gustafson broke his own school record in the shot put with a best effort of 51 feet, 3 1/2 inches.

For Women’s Track and Field, senior Emma Vezzosi set Grove City’s program record in the indoor pentathlon with 2,873 points at the YSU Mid-Major Meet. Sophomore Danika Sudar broke her own school record in the weight throw with a best toss of 38 feet, 2 3/4 inches.

Results

Men’s Swimming & Diving (6-2, 4-0 PAC):

W, Westminster (174-118)

L, Ohio Northern (133-151)

Women’s Swimming & Diving (8-1, 5-0 PAC):

W, Westminster (177-111)

W, Ohio Northern (173-95)

Women’s Basketball

(12-8, 12-3 PAC):

W, Franciscan (82-71)

W, Westminster (71-51)

W, Bethany (66-45)

Men’s Basketball (9-11, 7-8 PAC):

W, Franciscan (67-61)

W, Westminster (64-55)

W, Bethany (80-56)

Upcoming

Women’s Swimming & Diving:

Feb. 4, 1:00 p.m. vs. Pre-PAC Championships TuneUp

Men’s Swimming & Diving:

Feb. 4, 1:00 p.m. vs. Pre-PAC Championships TuneUp

Women’s Basketball:

Feb. 4, 12:00 p.m. @ Chatham

series, the Wolverines have seemed to find their footing. Although they are eighth in the PAC rankings, the team continues to improve.

There are five games left in the season and two home

in their first game of the semester last Wednesday, Jan. 25 on the road in Stuebenville, Ohio.

Davinsizer had her first career start in the 82-71 victory. She took to the court with intent, sinking a season-high four three-pointers and finishing the game with a career-high 18 points.

Thirteen Wolverines contributed to the offense’s efforts. Kallock finished the game with 16 points, and Reese added 10 to Grove City’s side of the scoreboard.

thanks to performances from seniors Reese Trauger and Sarah Gann and sophomore Sarah Kuchma.

On the diving board, Kerr earned victories in both of her events.

The men earned their fourth conference victory with five swimmers earning multiple wins for the Wolverine effort. Senior Logan Myers led this effort with

games remaining. The next game will take place tomorrow, Feb. 4 at 2:00 p.m. at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pa.

As the team heads into the latter half of their season, Fuss said of the team’s focus, “We need to continue our growth mindset and taking one game at a time. And right now, all PAC teams are at their best. So, every game is requiring us to be mentally ready. I am very happy with our ability to be in moments and not let the game get too big. We need to stay steady.”

The Wolverines will travel south to Chatham this Saturday, where they will face the 12-6 Cougars at 12 p.m.

three victories in the 1000, 500 and 200 butterfly. Griffin, Sterrett, senior Mac Hancock and freshman Caleb Einolf earned two wins each.

Men’s and women’s swimming and diving are heading into championship territory. They participate in Pre-PAC Championship Tune-Up tomorrow, Feb. 4 in James E. Longnecker Pool at 1 p.m.

Feb. 8, 6:00 p.m. @ Waynesburg

Men’s Basketball:

Feb. 4, 2:00 p.m. @ Chatham

Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m. vs. Waynesburg University

Men and Women’s Track and Field:

Feb. 4 @ Jim Wuske Invitational

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

Sarah Janicki Women’s Swimming Rookie of the Week

Rachael Wallace Women’s Swimming Swimmer of the Week

GRACE DAVID

Sophomore guard Jonah Bock leaps above defenders to secure a shot against Westminster in Saturday’s win.

Men’s volleyball going varsity

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

The college’s Athletic Department is adding men’s volleyball as the college’s 24th varsity sport. The team is expected to play its first full season in 2024-2025, beginning with fall practices.

The anticipated addition was announced on Dec. 14th following the Presidents’ Athletic Conference’s (PAC) decision to incorporate varsity men’s volleyball into conference competition.

The NCAA requires six teams to participate in order to qualify as a conference. Of the 13 schools in the PAC, three supported men’s volleyball as a varsity sport.

Athletic Director Todd Gibson ’02 explained that after Chatham University and Bethany College announced

Men shake the slump

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

The college’s men’s basketball team started the season with nine wins and 11 losses. After stuffing a five-game losing streak, the Wolverines came back with three wins in a row.

Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) rivals Franciscan, Bethany and Westminster all fell to Grove City this season. The Wolverines defeated Bethany on Wednesday for the second time this season.

With a final score of 80-56, Grove City improved its record to 9-11. The Wolverines kept a steady lead throughout the game, with little hope for Bethany’s offense to regain the lead.

This major victory over Bethany was secured by the Wolverines’ defense, whose fast-paced play stunted the Bison’s three-point shooting and outrebounded Bethany 51-22. Sophomore guard Chase Yarberough led the team in rebounds with eight total. The Wolverines lead the PAC with 869 total rebounds showing a consistent record with last season when they lead the nation in number of rebounds.

Last Saturday, Grove City beat Westminster with a final score of 64-55. With a close score of 27-24 at the half, the offense rallied in the second half. The defensive unit helped secure the victory with 52 total rebounds.

Their first win after a fivegame losing streak came on Jan. 25 against Franciscan. A 67-61 victory on the road gave life to the struggling team. Grove City surpassed Franciscan in almost every statistical category, including an impressive .400 3-point field goal percentage.

their plans to add their own teams, the conference was only one away from meeting qualifications.

“When the PAC was within one team of being able to become an official NCAA volleyball conference, we knew the time was now. We felt comfortable formally announcing and becoming the difference-making sixth team,” said Gibson.

Now men’s volleyball competes as a club sport. Dr.

John Coyne ’04 served as the team’s adviser for 19 years after taking the court himself while a student at Grove City.

The team’s club career has been an overwhelmingly impressive one.

“We’ve had a lot of success over this time on a national level, where we play as a D2 club team and compete with schools who have up to

15,000 students enrolled. We have several top 10 finishes at the national championship over the past 19 years and have won numerous regional tournaments,” Coyne said.

Coyne attributes the team’s success to the players, acknowledging “they have consistently taken ownership of all aspects related to having a successful program.”

The team is led by senior Captain Kurt Sekera. Sekera is joined in leadership by juniors President Matthew McCaslin and Vice President Will Kocur. “There was an overall sense of joy when I heard about the promotion. It was super exciting for me to see that we would be competing at a varsity level and getting some more respect that comes with being a varsity

sport,” said McCaslin. McCaslin believes the team plays at a varsity level now. With a talented roster and league victories at several levels in the recent past, he believes the future of the team is bright.

“I think the transition to varsity will be relatively smooth especially with an influx of new talent. We are ready to compete in varsity games in the future and fight for championships.”

Gibson spoke similarly of his hopes for the program.

“The men’s club team has a long history of stellar play and strong culture led by many. We hope to build on this culture, and the alumni that have participated on the team to make sure that we get off to a great start,” he said.

The 2024-2025 season is

Four straight for women’s hoops

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Women’s basketball has improved their season’s record to 12-8 overall. Their Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) performance has placed them third overall with a 12-3 record.

The Wolverines won three in a row this past week against three conference competitors.

In their most recent game against Bethany on Wednesday, Feb. 1, the Wolverines defeated the Bisons 66-45 in front of a home crowd.

Senior guard Megan Kal-

lock led the team with 22 points, giving her 353 points on the season thus far and 812 career points during her time as a Wolverine.

Kallock was followed on the scoreboard by junior forward Kat Goetz, who finished the game with 12 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Junior forward Katie Baller finished with 10 rebounds of her own.

The Wolverines out-rebounded Bethany 67-31, with 35 of their rebounds coming off the defensive glass.

Prior to their game against Bethany, Head Coach Chelle Fuss said of the defense,

quickly approaching, and the Athletic Department is following an ambitious yet exciting timeline to be ready for PAC play. A national search for a head coach is already underway, with hopes of an official hire scheduled for this spring.

Over the following semester and 2023-2024 academic year, the program will “recruit, recruit, recruit” with the goal of fielding a firstyear roster of 16-18 players, which will take the court in January 2025 for the first official PAC season.

In addition to building this roster, the team will play the 2023-2024 season as a club program under the new coach.

Swimming and diving make a splash in the PAC

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams closed out the dual-meet portion of their 2022-2023 season this past weekend, where the women swept their two meets and the men earned a President’s Athletic Conference (PAC) victory.

Saturday afternoon’s season finale saw the women earn their regular season’s last win with a 173-95 triumph over Ohio Northern. The men fell short of securing the non-conference win, dropping a 151-133 decision against Ohio Northern.

The women’s dominant performance solidified the team’s 8-1 record, making the 2022-2023 campaign their best winning season since 2009-2010. The team’s historic win was earned thanks to victories in 15 events.

Two-win performances from seniors Rachel Ledford and Rachel Wallace and freshman Sarah Janicki paced the Wolverines’ success in individual events. Sophomore Kamryn Kerr swept her events in diving.

“We have been working hard on our defense and we have been improving each game. We have a bit more growth to be where we want to be, but we are all pleased where we are going.”

The Wolverines bested conference rivals Westminster last Saturday in the Grove City Arena. A dominant fourth quarter helped the home team close out their eleventh conference victory with a final score of 71-51.

Junior forward Kat Goetz led the team with 15 points. Three other Wol-

The men’s team earned 10 wins in Saturday’s effort. Freshman Will Sterrett secured the top spot three times for the Wolverines in individual events. Senior Elias Griffin swept the breaststroke for the Wolverines, taking the 100 in 59.72 and 200 in 2:12.93.

The competition began Thursday on the road in New Wilmington, Pa., where both teams battled in PAC matchup with the Westminster Titans. The women secured their first win of the weekend, defeating the Titans 177-111. The men also earned a win on the road, closing out

GRACE DAVID

Senior guard Megan Kallock jumps for a layup in Saturday’s game against Westminster.