The Collegian - February 10, 2023

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AI chatbot causes stir in academia

Nick Grasso Entertainment Editor

Grove City College, along with other academic institutions, has recently witnessed the emergence of ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot created and released by OpenAI in November 2022.

Its primary function on campus has been to “assist” students with academic assignments and written essays.

Built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-3 family of large language models, ChatGPT can answer countless questions for people searching for useful answers.

Orchestra Concert has a new spin

Competition winners, student conductors take the stage

Ayden Gutierrez

News Editor

The college is set to host their Winter Orchestra Concert at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center on campus. The music performance is free and open to the public.

According to Dr. Jeffrey Tedford ’00, chair of the Music Department and director of Orchestras, the winter concert always features the winners of the annual Concerto/Aria Competition and two student conductors, alongside the orchestra. The three winners of this

MATTHEW SCHOONOVER

Dr. Jeffrey Bilbro, associate professor of English, commented on the surge of ChatGPT use on campus. “There are many potential uses for this kind of technology, and while composing student essays may get the most attention around college campuses, it’s not the sole reason for the AI’s creation.”

“My biggest concern with ChatGPT and similar tools is that they contribute to a cognitive ecosystem that tempts us to take shortcuts,” he said.

The cheating culture around ChatGPT has become a principal concern for teachers and professors.

Senior Kurt Sekera, a future educator, shared his concerns. “I’m really worried about how my future high school students are going to use this software.”

and junior Madeline Helm.

ORCHESTRA 3

Inflation drives tuition increase

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

The college’s Board of Trustees recently approved the 2023-24 academic year’s tuition, room and board rates, President Paul McNulty ’80 wrote in a letter to the campus community on Feb.

1. Tuition will increase by $900, and $720 will be added to the room and board charges for both semesters, according to the letter. An-

Mia Gallagher

Staff Writer

Grove City College alumnus Dr. David Hoganson ‘98 returned to campus Monday to share his personal and professional story at the Albert A. Hopeman Jr. Memorial Lecture in Faith and Technology. The lecture, named in honor of the former Board of Trustees president, high-

nual tuition is now $20,890 and annual room and board sits at $11,770, adding up to a total academic year cost of $32,660 for students residing on upper campus.

The overall cost to attend Grove City College for upper-campus students has increased by 5.2 percent.

“Extraordinary inflationary pressures continue to impact most of the major costs incurred by the college, especially in the area of food services,” McNulty wrote.

Colonial Hall’s room pricing increased by $470, adding to an annual total of $11,000. For those living in the apartments, the total cost to attend the college next year is $31,890.

“As the father of four college graduates, I have some personal understanding of the financial challenges higher education presents to students and families,” the president wrote. “I trust you share my firm belief that a Grove City College education

is a wise investment.”

The 2022-23 academic year saw a 3.5 percent increase from the previous year, rising to $31,040 from 2021-22’s $29,990.

For comparison, Slippery Rock University’s undergraduate cost ranges anywhere between $21,200 to $29,300, the final cost dependent on whether the student lives in Pennsylvania or out-of-state. Hillsdale

“It’s really going to make grading things more difficult, and I’ll definitely have to be on the lookout for cheating and things like that,” Sekera said.

Bilbro echoed a similar sentiment, explaining that “most of the buzz I hear from my colleagues here and elsewhere involves how they might need to change assignments to forestall cheating.”

“There’s already software that does a pretty good job of identifying AI writing, and so far, these tools remain pretty rough. I’m also encouraged by some ideas to use essays generated by ChatGPT to help students recognize poor writing and better articulate and practice good writing,” Bilbro said.

lights the leadership, accomplishments and services of alumni in the disciplines of science, engineering and math. Hoganson’s speech was titled, “Direction and Providence: Following God in Engineering and Medicine,” and illustrated the intersection of medicine and

engineering in his practice but also the Lord’s role in his life as well.

HOGANSON

Hoganson’s desire to help others and find lasting solutions stems from his own life experiences. Having been born with a complex congenital heart disease himself, he has made it his mission to serve and minister to children facing similar, lifethreatening conditions.

Once a student at the col-

lege, Hoganson majored in electrical engineering while also completing the necessary prerequisites for medical school. After graduation, he spent two years working full-time for Kensey Nash, a biomedical-engineering company that specializes in cardiovascular medical devices.

His experiences and ac-

HOGANSON 3

ChatGPT’s popularity, however, has not been constrained to campus. Google quickly joined the AI race recently, according to Forbes, who reported on Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s public statement. Pichai said, “Google’s AI service will be initially available to a limited group of testers before a wider release in coming weeks.”

CHATGPT 3

Senior violonist Josef Mueller will be performing as one of the three Concerto/Aria Competition winners and serving as a studen t conductor at tonight’s Winter Orchestra Concert. Mueller can be seen playing the violin at an orchestra performance in December 2021.

MADELINE HELM ‘24 SOPRANO SOLOIST

LINDSEY MAY ‘23 STUDENT CONDUCTOR

DABRIA DICENSO ‘23 FLUTE SOLOIST JOSEF MUELLER ‘23 VIOLONIST, STUDENT CONDUCTOR

Featured performers

Is ‘Hogwarts Legacy’ transphobic?

Today, the long-awaited video game set in the Wizarding World, “Hogwarts Legacy,” has finally arrived for the enjoyment of gamers and Harry Potter fans alike. However, there remains one supposed shortcoming that sensible people could care less about – the game is apparently transphobic.

Trans activists continue to lose their minds over the fact that the game is attached to J.K. Rowling, though only in name; she was never directly involved with its creation. For context, the franchise’s creator and author incurred the wrath of the LGBTQ+ community in 2020 when she said the most offensive thing one could imagine in modern society – that men are men and women are women. Shortly afterward, she was lambasted for simply speaking the truth.

Now, due to the game’s release, calling Rowling a transphobe and thereby extending that criticism to her fantasy world, has become trendy again on the cesspool that is Twitter. But I have one thing to say to those who choose to boycott the game for virtue-signaling purposes – no one cares about your superficial morality.

The online hate surrounding “Hogwarts Legacy” got so intense that people started begging others to not buy it, but it seems that strategy didn’t work too well considering the game garnered positive reviews this week and is already a best-seller on various gaming platforms … and that’s just in pre-orders.

Some have gotten so riled up that former Limited Run Games community manager Kara Lynne, who’s also a conservative, was fired in January for tweeting her excitement for the Harry Potter-themed video game.

Whether one buys the game or not is up to the individual person, but telling (or intimidating) others to not do something is a guaranteed way of persuading them to do the very thing one wanted to prevent.

The game looks amazing, to say the least, and will surely be a pop cultural hit this year. It is for the simple reason people love it that the cancellation mob can’t stand it because they ultimately want everyone else to be as miserable as they are in their false worldviews.

I was particularly drawn to writing this editorial because, for one, I am a big Harry Potter fan and I also remain fascinated by the intersection of culture, politics and entertainment. And this story is no different.

It shows that just because Rowling doesn’t wholly subscribe to the prevailing politics of the culture she’s become such a hated figure, even though she’s considered a feminist progressive herself. Rowling simply refused to live in a real-life fantasy where sex and gender are mutable and instead wanted to captivate readers and audiences with her imaginative world-building and fantastical storytelling.

Though the ideology doesn’t matter to most, transgenderism has overtaken modern culture to the point our entertainment cannot remain immune to leftist criticism such as this. But honestly, who cares if “Hogwarts Legacy” is transphobic – it still looks fun.

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

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

Maiah Serazin

Staff Writers Vincent Clay Mia Gallagher Hunter Oswald Joel Sledd David Smith Isaac Willour

Staff Photographers

William Hearn

Annie Grace Smith

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.

the Green eyeshade award

This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Sports Editor Emma Rossi for writing 80 percent of her section and an editorial without breaking a sweat. Great work, Emma!

The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that

consistency and

in their

MEDIUM

A culture of competitive misery

Why Grovers should stop overachieving

Emma Rossi

Sports Editor

Are Grove City College students willing participants in a culture of competitive misery?

When I first heard the term “Groverachiever” I found it clever, but now that I’ve been here for almost two years, the term has lost its pithiness to me. Instead, it represents the potentially unhealthy mindset present on this campus.

There is nothing wrong with being a member of seven different clubs that meet seven nights a week and taking a full 17 credits on top of that.

I remember being a freshman and going to the Org Fair. For the Groverachiever, it’s like a carnival – one table after another offering you a spot in their club. At first, it’s a way to pursue niche interests and make new friends.

What excited freshmen might not recognize is the commitments you make in the PLC on a Friday afternoon in August will still be the commitments you have

in December when you’re trying to make it through your first finals week.

When you take a step back and reflect on what it is you’re involved in, do you really love it all, or have you chosen to fill your schedule to achieve the coveted membership in the far too popular cult of “being busy”?

I often think perhaps we all need to be reminded that being busier than the person next to you doesn’t make you superior or smarter, it just makes you … busier.

This brings me back to where I began: a culture of competitive misery. The more clubs you’re in and the more credits you’re taking gives you more opportunities to complain. Do we really want to base our every exhalation on our carefully cultivated full plate of options about which to whine?

How often do you find yourself in what feels like a competition with your peers to see who is more miserable? Who has the most homework? Who has the worst lab partner? Who has the most flyers to make and meetings to lead?

When you complain to your friends, are you look-

ing for sympathy and advice or a shiny gold trophy that’s engraved with the words, “I have it the worst!”? In that case, what do you really win? Congratulations! Your life stinks.

When you take a step back and look at the clubs and organizations you’ve chosen to join, if you hate it, quit it! There’s something to be said about perseverance and sticking with it when the going gets tough, but college itself is meant to be challenging and there is no true reason to make yourself miserable when you could be channeling that energy elsewhere.

Seven clubs and 17 credits might look good on a resume or sound impressive to that one nosy aunt at the family Christmas gathering, but it doesn’t look as good in your planner on a Sunday night when you’re already dreading the week.

Daughter of Chick-fil-A founder to speak on campus

Grove City College

Inspirational business leader and author Trudy Cathy White will deliver the college’s J. Paul Sticht ’39 Memorial Lecture in Business and Ethics at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 in Ketler Auditorium of the Pew Fine Arts Center.

White, the youngest child of Chick-fil-A founder Truett Cathy and his wife Jeannette, started out in the family business – for which she remains an ambassador – and then founded an international ministry with her husband. In all her efforts, White is led by her commitment to be used by God to invest in relationships, influence culture and inspire godly character in the next generation.

White is Truett and Jeannette Cathy’s only daughter. At just 19 years old, she opened Birmingham, Alabama’s second Chick-fil-A restaurant, making her one of the youngest operators in Chick-fil-A’s history.

Dr. Michelle McFeaters ’88 ’02, dean of the School of Business and professor of accounting, said White can provide a great example and sound guidance for students. She noted White and her family’s desire to serve others within a Christian and gospel-focused framing and an understanding that their work is a part of God’s bigger work in the world.

“This has meant that they have put their faith and understanding of the gospel

HOGANSON

continued from 1

complishments in this position eventually led him to Temple University’s School of Medicine, bringing him one step closer to his lifelong dream of becoming a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon.

Following medical school, Hoganson pursued a residency in general surgery and adult cardiothoracic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. He later completed fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, eventually joining the staff in 2016.

Throughout his lecture, Hoganson drew upon the unique pathways and formative experiences that have shaped his approach to medicine. His engineering background has allowed him to utilize cutting-edge technologies and develop new techniques to complete even the most daunting surgeries. With his highly skilled en-

into practice in a variety of ways, both in the for-profit and non-profit realms. Students will learn about what it takes to live out Christian ethics in the framework of the calling to be salt and light in the world,” McFeaters said.

White and her husband, John, served in international missions for 20 years with the International Mission Board. Upon completing their work with the IMB, they co-founded Lifeshape

and Impact 360 Institute, to cultivate followers of Jesus by serving our global neighbors. Always up for a new challenge, Trudy also accepted an offer to serve as the director of WinShape Camps for Girls, a summer camp founded by her parents in 1984, a role she held for 13 years. The lecture is free and open to the public. The first 450 students to attend will receive a free Chick-fil-A giveaway.

ORCHESTRA continued from 1

Mueller and senior Lindsey May will serve as student conductors, leading the musicians.

“Every concert is different music as part of the educational process,” said Tedford.

“In general, I choose repertoire that is educationally valid for student growth and development, that students can perform if they choose to continue playing in a community or professional orchestra after graduation, or that they could use if they become music teachers and conductors in the future.”

Tedford noted he tries to choose an interesting and valuable repertoire that flows together and engages the audience. He added the winter concert every year is unique as the winners of the Concerto/Aria competition are selected by an independent panel of judges each fall.

“These selections could be piano, vocal or any orchestral instrument as the soloist with the orchestra accompanying. The student conductors work with me to choose their works, craft their conducting and rehearsal technique and work toward the performance in rehearsal.”

Junior Emily Tuttle, current president of the college’s Symphonic Orchestra, commented on her role in the event.

“I will be playing in the viola section,” Tuttle said. “As president, every concert is an opportunity for me to support our conductor, Dr. Tedford, and the students participating. This is especially important in this concert because we are showing off our student talent with soloists and student conductors.”

Tuttle has been a part of the orchestra since her freshman year. She stated this concert is super unique.

“Each year at this time, we have a concert dedicated to showing off the talents of students, via soloists and also

CHATGPT continued from 1

time, and they have potential uses in a lot of different environments.”

student conductors,” Tuttle said. “This is the first time since I have been here that there have been three, not two, student soloists. This is also the first time since I have been here that we have had a vocal soloist. Preparing for this concert has been a blast!”

Senior Josef Mueller, who won the college’s 29th Annual Concerto Competition in October, will be performing the piece he picked for the competition with the orchestra.

“The piece is ‘Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso’ by Camille Saint Saens, a popular showpiece for violin and orchestra,” said Mueller. “I’m also a winner of the Grove City College conducting competition, so I will be conducting the final piece of the concert as well. The piece I’m conducting is the overture to ‘Die Fledermaus’ by Johann Strauss, a piece often heard at New Year’s concerts and is even featured in a ‘Tom and Jerry’ episode.”

This is Mueller’s fourth year as a member of the orchestra and his second as concertmaster of both the Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras. He noted the main difference between this concert and other concerts in a typical season is this concert has much more involvement from student leaders.

“Every piece we are playing showcases a student individual, either as a conductor or as a soloist. While the repertoire we are performing has made up one of our best concert programs to date, I believe that this concert is also a great opportunity to show our audience not just what we play but why we play,” Mueller said.

“We make music out of sheer love of doing so. We play to glorify God and to thank him for the gifts and talents he has blessed us with, and we do that by using these gifts to the best of our ability.”

gineering team, Hoganson has been able to create 3Dcomputerized models of his patients’ hearts, allowing him to plan surgeries with precision, perform virtual patient-specific hepatic simulations and run extensive tests before even stepping foot in the operating room.

Additionally, his application of laser technology used by the aerospace industry eliminates the guesswork that has traditionally surrounded creating patches for holes in the heart and aorta.

While Hoganson talked extensively about the successes and setbacks that eventually led him to his current position, he continued to circle back to the providence of God that has made his journey worthwhile and fulfilling. He emphasized the importance of placing faith in God’s timing and trusting that he has put each of us here for a reason.

To further illustrate God’s impact on his journey, Ho-

ganson described his medical mission work at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya. Here, Hoganson works alongside other professionals to train African surgeons, allowing them to share the gospel and medical expertise in a truly life-saving way.

In closing his lecture, Hoganson highlighted each of the mentors in his life that helped him along the way, encouraging the students present to likewise embrace their mentors for guidance and care.

“To some degree, I would encourage you to live your life from the end looking backwards and to try to end with no regrets. Since I was 13, I really viewed myself as a pediatric cardiac surgeon, and I made every decision with that in mind,” Hoganson said.

“I would encourage you to bet on yourself, seek to understand God’s plan for your life and as you discover it, seek it with all of your heart.”

“Google and Microsoft have expressed interest in using agents like ChatGPT in their search engines to expand on internet search results. Other possible uses could include diagnosing health issues, offering legal advice or simply companionship for lonely people. Some

TUITION continued from 1

College, a Michigan-based liberal arts institution with a similar vision as Grove City’s, offers a total cost of $43,402 during the current academic year, according to its website.

In an emailed statement to The Collegian, McNulty addressed the issue of rising inflation as it pertains to next year’s increased cost.

“Tuition increases for at least the past two years have been lower than annual inflation. We have fallen behind in relation to the costs of food, energy, transportation and other larger expenditures,” he said.

McNulty noted the college’s employee pay as another reason costs rose higher than usual.

“Employee retention is a high priority in maintaining academic excellence,” he said. “Here again, salaries

of those are really bad ideas with how ChatGPT currently stands,” Dellinger said. While the productive capabilities of AI bots certainly exist, Dellinger echoed Bilbro’s comments when it comes to student dishonesty.

“It’s important to us as faculty that our grading is a genuine assessment of student knowledge and ability; to the extent that this technology makes that task harder, it poses a real challenge.”

need to keep up with inflation or it will be increasingly difficult to fill key positions.”

However, there are promising factors ahead that may slow the increase per year in the future, McNulty said.

“If we have another 600 plus freshman class, and we have encouraging indicators that this will be the case, then next year’s revenue combined with reduced inflation may allow for lower price increases.”

Within the letter addressed to students, parents, faculty, administrators and staff, McNulty announced Grove City College is expecting “to award approximately $10 million of financial aid” next year, reaffirmed its commitment to financial independence from the federal government and thanked everyone for their dedication to the college’s conservative, Christian mission.

CONTRIBUTED

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Dr. David Hoganson ‘98 speaks about his personal life, surgery career and faith in Sticht Lecture Hall.

Upcoming

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Wednesday, Feb. 15

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Thursday, Feb. 16 SHAL 110

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Have a passion for any of these roles? Interested in contributing to a campus publication?

Email gcc.collegian@ gmail.com to learn more.

Serve in the summer Camp and Ministry Fair recruits students

Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

Over 30 camps and organizations were on campus Wednesday to share their plans for the upcoming summer and recruit for a variety of positions such as counselors, worship leaders or behind-the-scenes management roles.

The Career Services Office (CSO) has been working with camps since December, coordinating and advertising the 2023 Camp and Ministry Fair and encouraging students to consider this fun summer job, citing it to gain excellent work experience while growing in Christ.

“It’s a chance to build meaningful relationships with fellow college students and make an impact on the program’s target population which could vary from chil-

dren, teens, individuals with disabilities, adults with autism or other neurodivergent populations,” CSO Director Renee Coyne said. Not only does working at a camp allow you to mentor and serve others, but it also provides opportunities for team building and communication skills – two essential traits for success later in life. The demands of servant leadership and challenges that may arise provide invaluable experiences for growth and self-discovery.

“Although camp and ministry experiences are often a great deal of fun, it’s still work, and a number of overnight camps may only be able to offer limited days off each week because of your role overseeing and caring for children. This requires energy, stamina and a willingness to trust God and your team so that you can offer a wonder-

ful experience to each camper. Positions often require, or help you build, strong communication and teamwork skills while dealing with conflict, differing personalities and working toward finding your own voice in leading others,” Coyne said.

While the character and resume development of these jobs aids in the career journey, the true reward of working at a camp is the resilience and spiritual growth.

“Summer camps often repeat for several weeks in the summer, but just because it’s your week eight as a counseling staff doesn’t allow you to give any less energy, compassion, excitement and commitment to this new group of campers,” Coyne said. “It is their first, and likely only, week of camp for the summer, and it’s a beautiful opportunity to share the gospel and the goodness of God.”

Whether this is your first year considering a camp or you’re a seasoned veteran, everyone has something to gain in learning more about this amazing opportunity.

“If you’ve worked or attended a camp in the past, don’t be afraid to talk with other camp/ministry programs. There can be benefits in learning about additional programs and trying other opportunities to see different structures and approaches to ministry and discipleship,” Coyne said.

If you couldn’t make it to the fair or want to find out more about these ministries, all attending organizations and their contact information can be found on Handshake. The CSO has also invited several camps and programs to set up tables in the Breen Student Union to engage with students throughout the spring semester.

Forget missionary dating: You can’t fix them!

So, what do you think about missionary dating? Is it worth it? Tentatively, Cautious Grover

Dear Cautious Grover, I would advise you to remain cautious about mis-

sionary dating. No matter how cute the guy or girl is or how well you get along with them, it is a dangerous business to build connections with someone if you can’t see that relationship actually leading to marriage.

Paul warns us not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers to show the dangers of dating someone from a different faith. When the two are not pulling together, one will drag the other in a way that leads the whole team off course. For dating, this would mean one of you would likely lead the other away from convictions, but no matter what, the relationship as a whole would suffer.

We also see this demonstrated in Scripture with Solomon. Although he was full of wisdom, he amassed wives from all sorts of foreign kingdoms, and stretched his heart to their gods. He became unequally yoked, and it pulled him away from fully seeking God. So, for you, I would encourage you not to begin a dating relationship with someone who doesn’t share your faith, doesn’t have similar beliefs or who isn’t at a similar maturity level. In some way, all of these could turn easily from a real relationship into patterns of unhealthy dependency or a lack of unity.

Our job as Christians is to go and make disciples of all nations; this certainly includes someone you are considering dating or the person you are dating if that is the case. Share with them the hope you have in Christ and the hesitation you therefore have to start or continue a relationship with someone who doesn’t share that hope. In no case, though, should you propose to, accept a proposal from or marry a nonChristian.

It can be discouraging to see a lack of hope or a way forward in these situations, especially if you really do care about this person romantically. However,

shouldn’t our care for their eternal condition be infinitely greater than any romantic interest? Boldly and winsomely share the gospel with them so that they might believe it and have eternal life in Christ. Sharing this hope and mission will give you two more in common than anything else could.

Boldly,

SENECA HILLS BIBLE CAMP

Janae Powell ‘21 poses with campers during the Summer 2020 camp season at Seneca Hills Bible Camp in Polk, Pa. Seneca Hills was one of over 30 camps and ministry organizations who came to the Breen Student Union Wednesday to recruit students for summer work.

Bauer hosts pottery showcase

Violet Whitmore Community Editor

Like a phoenix, ceramics teacher Chris Bauer’s work rises from the ashes.

“Painting with Ash and Flame,” Bauer’s art exhibit, debuted at the college in the Pew Fine Arts Center Gallery last Thursday, Feb. 2, featuring pieces he created, fired and glazed himself in a kiln he built from scratch.

“The show revolves around the idea of decorating my pottery with the ashes and flames from wood. This is a traditional way of firing with an element of chance. I began designing and building my kiln about two and a half years ago and have fired it only four times. What you see in the show is my exploration of glazes, clay bodies and firing strategies,” Bauer

said.

What’s so special about Bauer’s technique is the amount of time and effort it takes. The Japanese-inspired climbing kiln must be carefully watched, and the pieces must be fired twice — once to solidify the clay, and again to adhere the colored glaze.

“I feel so incredibly blessed,” he said. “I genuinely enjoy the process, from gathering firewood to loading and unloading the kiln.”

The unknown is what piques Bauer’s interest — taking a chance on a new kiln and firing with salt, ash and flame can have unexpected results. “The salt vaporizes and collects on the pots to form its own glaze; the salt also fluxes any remaining wood ash,” he said.

“As the flames pass through the kiln, the careful-

ly placed pots deflect the current like boulders in a raging river. The flames carry and deposit ashes on the pottery, melting at peak temperature. As I gain more experience firing the kiln, I will be better able to predict the end result. The pottery will become the bare canvas I paint with ash and flame.”

While attending Westminster College 25 years ago, Bauer was first introduced to wheel throwing and firing in a traditional kiln and hasn’t quit since.

“Professor Kathy Koop had developed a wonderful and robust ceramics program, exposing me to the many possibilities of clay. While I

had worked with clay periodically throughout my life, those first few moments in the studio grabbed me. We had so many opportunities to explore, experiment and learn,” he said. His debut gallery on campus meant a lot to not only Bauer but students, colleagues and friends. “The show was an opportunity to thank everyone who has helped and supported me throughout this wonderful adventure,” Bauer said. Open from 4-8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 1-5 p.m. on Saturdays, the gallery will be open to the public until April 1. All pieces are for sale.

Addiction support group starts up

Violet Whitmore Community Editor

If you or someone you know struggles with substance abuse and doesn’t know where to turn, the college’s new Addiction Support Group can help.

Started by a professor and students recovering from addiction, the group is here to support the campus community. Through group meetings, a 12-step program and other resources, their goal is to stop substance abuse among students, helping them return to normalcy.

“Our goals for the group were simple,” said an anonymous leader from the group.

“Provide help in any way possible to a struggling addict, offer education and guidance to the campus community about addiction recovery and establish regular weekly meetings so that fellow addicts can gather to share their experience, strength and hope for recovery.”

Though the campus is dry, students might still be at risk.

“Substance abuse among college students has increased dramatically over the past decade, and it would be naïve to think that students at Grove City College are immune from this trend. Our campus community experienced a tragedy earlier in 2022 linked to substance abuse,” the anonymous source said.

“The stigma surrounding substance addiction among college students, particularly those that attend a faithbased institution, is lessening to the point that a group such as ours was heavily supported rather than ‘shot-down’ when we approached administration with the idea.”

Using a 12-step program and a group-based configuration like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, their hope is for students to maintain sobriety while remaining anonymous to those outside the group.

“The topics can vary quite a bit, but our one-hour-long meetings tend to largely deal with discussing issues that are causing our addiction,

addressing problems that may lead to a relapse, sharing our stories of success in sobriety and/or offering hope and guidance to those struggling with their addiction.”

A key difference between a regular AA meeting and the college’s Addiction Support Group, however, is the latter’s Christ-centered outlook.

“God is at the center of all our gatherings, and we gain our strength, peace and hope through him. This is best demonstrated by our tradition of opening the meeting with the Serenity Prayer and closing it with the Lord’s Prayer. Our advice toward someone struggling is driven by our own trust that he can lead us out of the darkness of addiction and achieve peace in sobriety through the light of his love.”

Though currently focusing on alcohol and drug use, there may be more recovery options for other addictions in the future.

“In the coming years, we envision branching out to potentially establish other

Seven questions with…

Chris Bauer

support groups that deal with a wide variety of nonsubstance addiction such as pornography, gambling, shopping, etc.”

The group stresses the importance of anonymity and recovery, wanting to ensure this group is a safe place for everyone.

“Potential members of the group will be asked to meet in-person with an existing member prior to attending any meetings. This is not because we’re an exclusive club – rather, we want to ensure that new attendees are fully aware of our mission, understand our goals and appreciate our desire for anonymity for everyone involved.”

“If any member of the campus community reading this would like to know more information about our group, feel free to email addiction@gcc.edu for more information,” he/she said.

“Those who contact us via this address have our assurance that any information shared will remain strictly confidential. Your anonymity is very important to us.”

Ceramics Instructor

What inspires you?

I find inspiration all around me – it could be an early morning sunrise, a cloudy moonlit night or the way branches of a tree catch the snow. But I also find inspiration from people who exhibit exceptional talent in any area. How did you decide on her career?

I was blessed with many great teachers who shared their love and passion for education.

What are some of your favorite movies?

“Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” is one of my childhood favorites. The opening sequence is so captivating. Also, movies like “Back to the Future,” “Star Wars” and “The Princess Bride” are so much fun to watch with my children.

What are you most looking forward to today?

One of the best parts of an art show is taking the time to chat with everyone. The exhibit becomes a social gathering and an opportunity to thank everyone for their support.

What’s your favorite genre of music or musicians.

I genuinely enjoy all genres of music, but classical composers like Bach, Tchaikovsky and Bizet are timeless.

What’s your favorite part of your job?

Working with students, colleagues, parents and community members is my favorite part of the job. Do you have any interesting hobbies?

In addition to working with clay, I play baseball with my son and volleyball with my daughter.

GRACE DAVID

Ceramics instructor Chris Bauer has debuted his exhibit “Painting with Ash and Flame” in the PFAC art gallery. The gallery is open for viewing from 4-8 p.m. weekdays, and 1-5 p.m. Saturday. All pieces are for sale.

Adventure on the mount

A student photographer captures his frigid trip up Mount St. Helens

While many of us were resting in our warm and comfortable homes this winter break, one Grove City College freshman decided to answer the call of adventure to Washington State.

Photographer William Hearn took his friends and camera on a chilly hike up Mount St. Helens, where the elevation was high and the snow abundant.

“The snow was like eight feet deep, so even with snowshoes on, we still sank in a good bit,” Hearn said. “So that made it a bit harder climb.”

To Hearn and his friends, the challenge was worth it. He said, “Overall it was really fun, and the views were great!”

You can find more of Hearn’s photography on his Instagram, @thewilliamhearn.

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Images by WIlliam Hearn,

Staff Photographer

Heartbreaking brutality

We’re not fighting against the police, we’re fighting for justice

Isaac Willour Staff Writer

It’s difficult to figure out the most heartbreaking part of police brutality. It’s like identifying the worst part of a funeral—at a certain level: it’s all horrifying. Yet, in the wake of yet another incident of police brutality, it’s time to take a serious look at what America is doing wrong.

We still don’t know why exactly police killed 29-yearold Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7. From the tape (which I can’t recommend to everyone in good faith), it’s impossible to discern a motive from the beating within 100 yards of Nichols’ front door. The brutality, however, remains: Nichols was beaten to a pulp by five trained police officers in a clear violation of both police protocol and

human rights. During what had started as a routine traffic stop, officers shouted contradictory orders and beat Nichols with batons, fists and kicks as he begged for mercy. Nichols died three days later from his injuries.

You don’t have to see these videos through the lens of systemic racism or white privilege to know the next victim of police brutality could be a friend, a coworker or a relative. It’s not some distant fear to wonder if one day it could be my own child’s battered body being held up by a cop on a Memphis street corner so another cop can more effectively punt his head into the asphalt.

I’m sure such fears once seemed distant to Rodney Wells, Nichols’s father. Now they’ve come true in horrific fashion, adding Nichols to the list of American families who’ve lost a loved one at the hands of those tasked with protecting law and order.

There is no good news when an innocent American is killed at the hands of the police. Police brutality is more than a glitch in the system—it’s an attack on the American commitment to justice. It’s hard to defend America as the greatest country on earth for those trying to better their lives when it’s the American police system that trains officers so poorly as to allow the gangland-style beat-down of a hardworking father of a four-year-old.

How can that four-yearold, or anyone who has ever known a victim of police brutality, grow up believing America is actually great or worth believing in? While it is possible, there are no words to describe what a difficult and painful journey that would be.

Each member of the Memphis SCORPION unit that stopped Nichols wore a bulletproof vest with POLICE in white lettering across the

front, a symbol of America’s commitment to the rule of law. It was those vests that Nichols likely saw during the beating, raining down blows on him as he repeatedly screamed for his mother. In less than three days, he would be dead, another statistic in one of America’s most pernicious evils that very few seem to have any serious answers for.

In the wake of Nichols’ death, as the media cycle moves on to other things, there are lessons to be learned. American police departments need more funding—without it, we cannot hope for well-trained police. Without well-trained police, this will continue to happen. Americans of all races need to be better trained in how to act during a traffic stop. They are unnerving situations in which both officers and civilians are often on edge, exponentially increasing the likelihood of vi-

olent escalation. And abusive police officers must be held accountable for their actions and stripped of the ability to victimize Americans while in uniform.

We must remember we’re not fighting against the American police system. We are fighting for officers who need more effective training, for officers and civilians who are ill-equipped to handle highly volatile police interactions and for the victims of police brutality who deserve more than poorly conceived, often politically motivated policies that do nothing to actually ensure justice.

The sad part? I don’t think that would have saved Tyre Nichols’ life. And I don’t know if it will save the inevitable next victim of police brutality. All I know is we’re stuck asking the same questions over and over as battered bodies continue to hit the streets.the streets.

Is society still dressing for success?

Katelyn Livorse

Contributing

Writer

Almost everyone who went to a public or private school can remember an instance in which their school instituted some sort of dress code.

Oftentimes, students are irritated with regulations and their ridiculous nature. In 2016, The Atlantic published an article that compiled some of the most absurd school dress code policies. These policies included everything from duct-taping ripped jeans to banning babushkas.

There has been a lot of debate over what is and is not proper dress for the classroom, the office and even

those who work in the media. It is widely assumed that dress codes are vital to the professionalism and success of the people they were designed for. However, with an increased casualization of the dress code and arguments, it is significantly less important to challenge this assumption. These two differing opinions beg the question: Do clothes cause professionalism?

Today, people have become more relaxed in terms of dress codes. From students wearing sweatpants every day to news anchors wearing hoodies while reporting on live television. Such decreased emphasis on professional dress has brought forth the question: Is the casualization of dress codes everywhere affecting people’s sense of profession-

alism?

A Psychology Today article, by Dr. Lawrence R. Samuel, argues the relaxation of strict dress codes is great for society. He claims that casualization of dress is a positive influence on “hindering norms” and “restrictive behavior.” He even goes so far as to relate the relaxation of dress codes as something in line with the Founding Fathers’ ideals of liberty and self-determination.

On the other hand, the Society for Human Resource Management argues that the dress code is essential to professionalism within the workplace. They claim everyone adhering to a dress code promotes the proper atmosphere, shapes the company’s image to clients and future employees and

even helps protect employee rights.

No matter what side one supports or if one has no opinion at all, both sides have valid arguments.

Yet, while the avant-garde approach is becoming increasingly embraced, it is not necessarily the best option.

An article published by Scientific American addresses the question regarding clothing and professionalism. The answer, most of the time, is yes. The report compiled studies that show clothing affects not only the way people conduct themselves, their successes and how much people respect them but also hormone levels, which contribute to the performance of the individual. Those who dress professionally have been studied and proven to

be better respected and competent individuals in their line of work. This can surely pertain to students.

If society continues down the path of casualized dress, based on the evidence above, it may see a decline in professionalism, success and even respect. While there are those who would argue the benefits and claim freedom of expression, one must ask if the question is about expression or about being a productive member of society.

In the end, people must answer this question for themselves. When making dress codes or deciding whether to adhere to them, they must consider what motivation lies behind those decisions and their effects.

BLOOMBERG

Suspension of the spokescandies

Vincent Clay Staff Writer

Of all the utterly ridiculous problems to have become grounds for partisan warfare in recent times, the media’s spotlight turning to seven rotund, fictional and nearly human multicolored candies ─ the M&M’s spokescandies mascots may be the most absurd.

M&M’s, the classic American candies that “melt in your mouth, not your hand,” have had a rough go at it the past few years. In January 2022, Mars Wrigley made slight changes to the shoe choices of its brown, green and orange M&M’s characters. All in all, the changes were not overtly “woke.” It was a visual adjustment that amounted to simply a few pixels. Oh, but a few pixels they turned out to be.

In an oft-quoted rant, Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson referred to the candies as “deeply unappealing and totally androgynous.”

“When you’re totally turned off, we’ve achieved equity. They’ve won,” Carlson declared, bemoaning the green M&M’s switch from sensual boots to flats. With this, the internet went into a frenzy, drawing the public’s attention to a series of characters that, apart from physical packaging, barely see the light of day outside the occasional advertisement on TV.

Additionally, Mars Wrigley launched a new purple female spokescandy last month in a more directly progressive

move toward body type inclusivity. Of course, this press cycle incited more rage from candy-lusting Carlson and other right-wing commentators declaring M&M’s to be the newest victim of woke censorship.

But here’s the kicker ─ in lieu of the Super Bowl, for which Mars Wrigley is a huge marketing opportunity, the company has now decided to put an end to the iconic mascots for the time being. The change was announced via a post on the official M&M’s Instagram page just a few weeks ago.

Who, then, will replace the iconic spokescandies? The answer is Maya Rudolph, the star comedian featured on Saturday Night Live and credited with a string of popular comedy movies. Considering the controversies surrounding the brand as of late, Rudolph being chosen as a mascot is objectively safe rather than smart. Though considered funny by the

public, what makes Rudolph stand out is that she doesn’t really stand out.

“Of all the people you guys could have chosen for your spokesperson, why did you pick Maya Rudolph when Eminem is literally right there?” agonized an M&M’s fan on Instagram.

The complaints are valid. According to Time Magazine, the characters have been a part of the brand since 1954, and over their many decades with the company, they have undergone many stylistic changes. Chucking this piece of iconography out the window over internet controversy is unflattering for the brand.

This fiasco is not an isolated event. The spokescandies are the latest in a series of woke brand neutralizations and censorships over the past few years, including the

What has been your favorite class so far?

Hannah Watterson ‘25

World Drama was my favorite class because of the drama within the class. We’d get into arguments every couple of classes. For example, one kid said they didn’t like Jane Austen in a room full of girls.

Washington Redskins and Aunt Jemima syrup.

Most, if not all, of the changes, are controversial, with varying degrees of validity.

At both a political and aesthetic level, these changes are frustrating and, most of the time, don’t accomplish their goal of inclusivity. The changes indicate a culture reaching for diversity but veering into sameness.

At the end of the day, it is a lose-lose scenario for all parties involved. Censoring a brand or complaining about a candy’s shoes is a weak circus that only serves to distract us from real social issues to be corrected. In the meantime, we can only hope that Maya Rudolph will be sexy enough for Tucker Carlson.

Education, not indoctrination

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

When you hear the word “history,” what comes to mind?

Some might say history is simply knowing about the past, and others might say history is a boring subject you had in high school to graduate. Many of us today constantly hear teachers and professors say, “It’s important to learn and understand the past,” but far too often, history is seen as dull.

Despite the general stereotypes surrounding history, the discipline is more than just examining dusty relics and listening to long lectures. As historian David McCullough once said, “History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” History is the lens through which we seek consultation with our ancestral roots so that we can be able to understand who we are as individuals.

For us, history is a way to learn from those who came before us and apply lessons we take from them to our present situations.

While history holds a special place in how we understand ourselves, there are some who wish to manipulate history for their own ambitions. The recent clash between the College Board and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis illustrates this.

For some context, the College Board offered a new Advance Placement course on African American studies, which is being piloted for the 2022-23 academic year in 60 schools across the United States. According to the AP African American Studies official course framework, the new course “is an interdisciplinary course that examines the diversity of African American experiences through direct encounters with authentic and varied sources.”

In the past few weeks, DeSantis and other Florida officials discovered that el-

ements of the course had required students to study topics such as black queer theory, intersectionality and activism and many other issues that violated Florida’s law. State officials found out that much of the material was based on the works of many open Marxists such as Angela Davis, Gloria Watkins and Robin D. G. Kelley.

As critics attempt to paint the issue as a racist attempt to disregard the concerns of Black Americans, the truth is exactly the opposite. Everyone who has opposed the new course has stated that the core issue has nothing to do with race and everything to do with ensuring that those teaching African American history do so truthfully.

Manny Diaz Jr., Florida’s Commissioner of Education, said, “We proudly require the teaching of African American history. We do not accept woke indoctrination masquerading as education.” Bill Proctor, Democratic Commissioner of Leon County and former educator

of African American Studies, criticized the College Board for promoting ideology over actual history, saying, “Well, frankly, I’m against the College Board’s curriculum. I think it’s trash. It’s not African American history. It is ideology.”

When some supplant the truthful telling of history with their agendas, they undermine our ability to function as a civil society by removing truth with distrust, breeding discord and chaos rather than unity and civility.

Despite attempts to replace truth with dogma, we should not fret over this challenge. It is indicative of us to ensure all of history is truthfully told regardless of our beliefs. History is a balance between dignity and depravity, there are undoubtedly bad moments that we must reflect on, but we must remember the good which has allowed us to overcome those difficult times.

With truth and self-control, we restore history’s virtue and build a better future for generations to come.

Michael Izak ‘23 Seminar in Life Management. It gave me real-life skills and made me feel more prepared for going into post-college life.

Katherine Bennett ‘24

My favorite class has probably been Linear Circuits with Dr. Mohr, because I started actually feeling like an electrical engineer after that.

Rachel Wallace ‘23

Ethics and Robotics. I felt like it was very applicable to daily life, and I liked the way they brought ethics and Christianity into the STEM world which I think is hard. They don’t usually do this well.

John Dunham ‘23

History of Russia. It had a unity of knowledge of history. We studied lots of things, not just history, like art, literature and other cultural things. Class discussions were amazing. Shameless plug for Dr. Mitchell.

John Hake ‘26

Public speaking.

There were lots of things we were passionate about, and we got to choose what we spoke about. We had a good community in the class, too.

Julia Schaming ‘24

My favorite class was Ethics, Faith and the Conscious Mind. It opened my eyes to how my major can and will play an influential role in the future of our culture. It tied computer science to Christianity, history and ethics in a way that made me feel what I am studying is incredibly important.

Tunes from the Tower ‘Stick Season’

Vincent Clay Staff Writer

Noah Kahan released his third studio album, “Stick Season,” back in 2022 much to the delight of fans.

‘The Pale Blue Eye’ satisfies Bale stars in mystery thriller

David Smith Staff Writer

“The Pale Blue Eye,” directed by Scott Cooper, brings author Louis Bayard’s 2003 mystery novel to life.

Cooper, whose past works include “Crazy Heart” and “Black Mass,” gives a unique spin to a genre that is sometimes stale. In “The Pale Blue Eye,” retired detective and alcoholic, Augustus Landor (Christian Bale), is asked to investigate the death of a cadet at West Point Academy in 1830.

The cadet’s death is thought to have been a murder, given that his heart was removed from his body.

While struggling to discover clues about the case, Landor enlists a young Edgar Allen Poe (Harry Melling) to help with the investigation, because he expressed interest and is known as a talent-

ed poet amongst his peers.

Gothic themes and the setting itself make this piece a ghostly supernatural thriller that the viewer simply can’t take their eyes off of.

In fact, the gothic horror elements of the film make it feel as though it could have been one of Poe’s stories. However, don’t expect a Poe documentary. He is simply used as the pawn driving the rest of the plot.

It seems awfully uncanny how well everything falls into place during the film until the third act.

The denouement is not exactly the best aspect, but it explains a small hole that is splendidly covered up in the first act.

Cinematographer Masanobu Takayanagi, known for his camera work in “Silver Linings Playbook” and “Spotlight,” captures the landscape and candlelit in-

terior shots with ease and elegance.

All the scenes around West Point Academy were shot in New Wilmington, Pa., at Westminster College. Other scenes were filmed at the historic Compass Inn in Laughlintown.

I believe those locations added to the 1800s aura that was perfectly used to depict the story.

Although “The Pale Blue Eye” is not quite as sensational as Cooper’s “Hostiles,” which is also set in the 1800s, it is a fine film that ultimately is one of the better mysteries in recent years.

Melling’s Poe is chilling. He is strange and oddly fascinated by literature and limericks. In the end, he is the perfect character to help Landor solve the crime.

Dr. Daniel Maruis (Toby Jones) is the academy’s seemingly incompetent doc-

tor who seems to know more than he lets on. Poe eventually falls in love with Mauris’ daughter, which adds another mysterious element to the film.

Although “The Pale Blue Eye” is not one of Cooper’s greatest films, it is certainly worth a watch and is wildly entertaining.

Murder mysteries are sometimes problematic and intricate, and that fact can be an interesting aspect of a film or a total detriment.

It works well for Cooper’s film, even though some things don’t necessarily make sense.

Every exceptional mystery takes its audience down a rabbit hole. In the case of “The Pale Blue Eye,” it is worth falling down that hole.

“The Pale Blue Eye” is currently streaming on Netflix. Check it out at your own discretion.

‘Ginny and Georgia’ and morality

Stacia

Kaminicki

Contributing Writer

To the delight of fans, Netflix released the second season of its original show “Ginny and Georgia” on Jan. 5.

The last season’s cliffhanger ending featured Ginny taking off on her father’s motorcycle in search of answers regarding her mother’s arrest.

The show focuses on Ginny’s issues at school, confusion about her mother and mental health struggles as she becomes a more relatable protagonist.

Gen Z has long been called the generation most likely to struggle with mental health, so a show like “Ginny and Georgia” succeeds in reminding young viewers that it’s OK not to be OK.

Ginny attends therapy weekly, normalizing this decision and establishing a positive connotation around seeking help. Ginny also faces personal challenges and setbacks while on her healing journey, showing that it is normal to struggle even when receiving help.

While watching Ginny struggle with her mental health, we are given more of a glimpse into her best friend

Abby’s own struggle. The audience is subtly alerted to Abby’s battle with her unspoken body image.

Carried over from the first season, Abby’s mental turmoil becomes a more central element of the show. Her character conveys a very powerful message to viewers by shining a light on silent struggles.

“Ginny and Georgia” becomes convincing and practical when it zones in on these issues. Abby’s character reflects the sentiment that those who seem to be fine on the outside often experience some serious struggle

on the inside. The show demonstrates that being alone increases the chance that a victim may fall into an even darker headspace.

Throughout season two, I developed a significant interest in the girls’ mental health and settled in the hope that season three might provide some relief.

On the other hand, Georgia is having trouble understanding her relationship with her daughter. She’s always seen their bond as more of a friendship than a mother-daughter relationship.

The problem with this dynamic is that boundaries are

barely set; there is confusion about what to share and what not to share. It seems that Georgia wants a friendship with her daughter, but Ginny recognizes that this dynamic isn’t healthy and pulls away. The interesting tension is seen between the two as the show progresses.

Season two of “Ginny and Georgia” keeps viewers on the edge of their seats mainly because of a murder in the community. The audience witnesses the killing and is faced with the question of whether it’s OK to take one life even if it ends the suffering of another.

The album quickly roars to life with “Northern Attitude,” an anthem we didn’t know we needed. In the song, Kahan blames his faults in a relationship on growing up in the north in little light. The song is anthemic, wintery and irresistibly catchy. Most of “Stick Season” follows suit — sure, Kahan may have a northern attitude, but he sure does have the ability to write a catchy song.

Like any folk singer, Kahan ruminates on love lost and found. Overall, the album is grounded in a sense of emotion and physical geography and how those two ideas meet.

Across the album he tells an emotive story of lost love with a family caught in between, told through the lens of the winding interstates of the north. His once-quaint hometown even has a Target now (see “New Perspective”).

The production is simple and sturdy but oftentimes lacks color. This exposes the project’s main flaw – Kahan doesn’t have many qualities that make him stick out from other songwriters in the field today. Not to mention his biographical songwriting takes itself too seriously and can veer into redneck parody.

However, this problem is mostly avoided when Kahan decides to write catchy melodies that help carry his songs. The album’s impactful first half is an intriguing tour of Kahan’s ghosts. “All My Love” is a stadium-filling ode to moving on that boasts the best hook on the whole project.

Though his lyrics are often imperfect, Kahan drops gems here and there. “And I am terrified of weather,” he sings on the title track, “because I see you when it rains.”

The album’s second half significantly loses its edge, but Kahan still has emotional gut punches and one-liners to offer. “Nothing defines a man like a love that makes him soft,” he pines on “Strawberry Wine.” Elsewhere on the track “Halloween,” he slips “Your hands are all over my scent” into the song. He may have had just a little too much to drink.

Despite its rough patches and gray fog, Noah Kahan’s “Stick Season” is an amiable offering from the newest northerner of 2022.

NETFLIX

NETFLIX

Track and field rakes in records

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

In the last two indoor meets, 17 pre-existing school records at the college were broken before the track and field teams’ outdoor season began.

Head Coach Jessica Smith acknowledged the hard work the men and women have put into the indoor season.

“Our indoor team is fairly new so I kind of expect a lot of records to get broken as we get better, but it was really great to see that many records broken in such a short span,” she said.

The Wolverines traveled to compete in the Jim Wuske Invitational last Saturday where they continued to break records.

Freshman Audrey Karwowski and sophomore Grace Smith placed ninth and tenth place, respectively, in the 3000-meter race, creating two new records for the college.

Junior Nick Gustafson earned first and broke his own school record set in the previous meet with a throw measuring 51 feet and eight inches in the shot put. Gustafson’s performance earned him Field Athlete of the Week in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC).

Seniors Tyler Eagan and Hunter Jones and freshmen Greg Wilson and Alex Mitchell beat the college’s 800-meter relay record with a new time of one minute and 35.75 seconds.

On Friday, Jan. 27, the Wolverines competed against

many teams from all NCAA divisions at the Youngstown State mid-major. The men and women broke 10 preexisting records in this meet alone.

Freshman Alex Mitchell finished tenth place overall with a school record of one minute and 5.18 seconds in the 500-meter dash.

Senior Emma Vezzosi set the college’s record in the pentathlon with 2,873 points. Her performance placed her seventh overall.

Sophomore Danika Sudar broke her own school record

in weight throw. Sudar threw a toss of 11.65 meters.

Gustafson placed eighth overall and first with DIII competitors in the shot put with a throw of 51 feet and 3.5 inches.

This upcoming freshman class has shown their athletic ability throughout the indoor track season.

“We have a really large freshmen class and they’re very talented as well. I think they’re going to do great things,” the coach said.

Entering the season with 43 new freshmen, this is one of the largest freshmen classes for track and field. “It’s a really big class and it’s one of our better recruiting classes,” said Vezzosi. “I’m excited to see what they do in the PAC meets.”

After coming so close to

Superbowl LVII: Who ya got?

Freshman Keegan Berzonski’s got the Eagles...

“I think that due to a superior defense and their WR’s matchup very well against the Chiefs Secondary.”

Sophomore Meg Daughtery’s got the Chiefs...

“I think the Chiefs are going to win because Travis Kelce has been on a hot streak that has basically led his team to the Super Bowl.”

Junior Joel Sledd’s got the Chiefs...

“I think the Chiefs will win by three points or less because the Chiefs run game will develop and Isiah Pacheco will go off.”

victory towards the end of last season, the upperclassmen are coming back with revenge on their minds.

Senior James Parenti described the general attitude his fellow seniors have toward the upcoming PAC meet. “A lot of the upperclassmen were really close to winning last year; they have a chip on their shoulder,” he said.

The Wolverines are preparing for the PAC conference championship in late February. Vezzosi described the sentiment of the men and women: “There’s a lot of pressure going into the next couple of meets because we want to be at our best when PAC meets come.”

The next meet will take place at Baldwin Wallace College today at 4:00 p.m.

PAC holds mental health summit

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

During the last days of the semester break, 27 athletes across the 11 athletic departments of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) came together for a two-day Mental Health Summit, hosted by the Fred Rogers Institute.

The summit was born from the observation of Dr. Dana Winters, executive director of the Fred Rogers Institute and professor at Saint Vincent College.

“I attended a summit around the mental health crisis for young people, and I got a little frustrated because it was a day-long summit with a lot of people with fancy degrees talking about what everybody needed to do, and there was not a single young person there to tell us what they needed.”

Winters approached the president of Saint Vincent and lead of the PAC, Father Paul Taylor, and PAC Commissioner, Joe Onderko, with the idea of hosting a mental health summit for

WOMEN

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The sophomore guard ranks fourth in the PAC in this column.

Kallock earned the conference’s weekly honor of Player of the week after averaging

PAC athletes.

“There’s a stigma attached to talking about mental health, and that stigma seems to be stronger with student-athletes because of the stereotype that studentathletes must be stronger, tougher and can’t show vulnerability,” Winters said.

The summit began with a two-hour discussion panel led by the student-athletes present.

“They weren’t afraid to share their stories, share their experiences and they wanted to be heard. They used the space well, and they kept talking about how they want to be treated as full people, not just student-athletes,” Winters said.

Wolverine baseball’s starting catcher senior C.J. Saylor was one of the athletes present representing Grove City College.

“I really had no expectations going into this and it was an amazing informational event for me,” Saylor said of his experience. “Collegiate student athletes have learned how to deal with different se-

24.5 points per game last week over the course of the team’s winstreak.

At the time of their game against Chatham, Kallock’s 380 points this season rank her second overall in the PAC. She averages 18.1 points per game, putting her fourth

verities of mental health and being able to be in such safe and encouraging open environment was an amazing event to be a part of.”

“There are many things that go on behind the scenes that most people do not realize and being able to remind everyone there of that was so rewarding.”

Women’s tennis sophomore Janel McCray joined Saylor in representing the Wolverines. She spoke of the impact the summit had on her perception of mental health in athletics.

“I had always regarded mental health as important, but I had never really thought about that in athletics. To me, athletics has always been about pushing myself to be the best I could be physically, on the court, in the gym and emotionally, sometimes tactically, but at the mental health summit they emphasized the need for mental health to be a part of that package,” said McCray.

Head softball coach Kristen Cramer ’08 was also in attendance, representing the

overall in the conference.

Fuss said of her team’s attitude, “We fight. We try not to get caught up in the game but be focused on the small moments. The phrase, ‘Being where are feet are,’ is very important to us and we work to narrow our focus during

coaches of the college’s Athletic Department.

Cramer spoke to the evolution of mental health in athletics, “Mental health has always been present, but when I was a student-athlete, it might only be mentioned by a sports psychologist and mostly in the context of improving athletic performance. Now it feels like people across the board are recognizing its importance for student-athletes on and off the field. It’s a step in the right direction.”

Winters hopes for this summit to be the first of many, with each occasion raising further awareness of the importance of mental health and moving the conversation forward.

“I hope the summit changes form and evolves to meet the needs of our student-athletes. We learned a lot during our first conversation our first two days, but we want this to just be the beginning of the conversation. We want those conversations to continue and it’s one way to reduce that stigma.”

games. When we do it right, it is special.”

The Wolverines are back at home tomorrow where they will face the 10-7 Allegheny Gators at 1 p.m.fourth in the PAC in this column.

Sophomore Emma Rossi’s got the Eagles...

“I think the Eagles will win because their offense is more versatile and their defense is one of the toughest in the league. The Eagles’ well-established rungame gives them options besides a strictly passing game.”

Junior Emily Kmiec’s got the Chiefs...

“I think the Chiefs are going to win. The Chiefs have a much-improved offensive line that will be able to handle the Eagles’ defensive line and allow Patrick Mahomes to run the offense. Also, Travis Kelce is better than Jason Kelce.”

Junior Ayden Gutierrez’s got the Eagles...

“Philly will win the game up front. Two #1 seeds, both have a 16-3 record on the yea, both have high powered offenses and underrated defenses. Philly had four guys in the regular with 10+ sacks. I think people are overlooking how good their pass rush is. Watch for Philly to have four to five sacks on the day.”

BOCK

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with 15 points.

Freshman Mike Christenson made the most of his 16 minutes, scoring 11 points and pushing him past the 100-point mark of his career.

As is typical from Lamie’s roster, the Wolverines drastically outrebounded their opponents 42-27. Yarberough led the team in rebounding, racking up eight to add to his team-leading 135 rebounds this season.

Lamie said of his team’s efforts as they approach the regular season’s end, “We talk about getting one percent better every day. We have two weeks to go in the regular season. Our guys wrote on a three by five card one thing they can improve on personally to help us play our best basketball of the season these next few weeks.”

Wednesday’s win gave the Wolverines a spot in the playoffs.

The Wolverines are back at home tomorrow to play the Allegheny Gators at 3 p.m.

ANNIE GRACE SMITH

Sophomore Grace Smith and freshman Audrey Karwowski compete at the Jim Wuske Invitational.

NICK GUSTAFSON EMMA VEZZOSI

Prepping for PACs

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving team is gearing up for the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships. The team is well-trained and well-prepared and has its sights set on Feb. 15-18, when the college will host the grand finale of what has been an incredible season for both the men and women.

After closing out their regular season last Saturday, the team was slated to participate in Pre-PACs, a final opportunity for fine-tuning and evaluation from coaches and swimmers alike.

“I have to determine who the scorers will be by the

Monday before the championship begins, so this is my last chance to make comparisons before I make my decisions,” said Head Coach Dave Fritz prior to Saturday’s events.

Fritz uses the unique format of Pre-PACs to determine who will be on the scoring roster of 18 will be during championship action.

Senior Rachael Wallace explained, “The Pre-PAC meet gives us one more opportunity to race before PACs and gives Coach one last chance to play around with the PACs roster. This meet is great for swimming off-events or refining race strategies for PACs events.”

For some, like seniors closing out their final season,

Pre-PACs is a chance to cross an event off their “bucket list.”

“I also know some seniors who had never swum the 200 fly before, so they requested to swim that just so they can finish their swim career having swam every event,” said senior Rachel Ledford.

For others, Pre-PACs is a chance to continue showcasing what they have done excellently throughout the season. Sophomore Kamryn Kerr broke the school’s record the one-meter dive during Pre-PACs. Kerr has qualified for NCAA regional competition and will potentially be joined by others from the program based on championship performance.

The 17-event tune-up gives the team a chance to gauge their speed and readiness to best prepare for their goal of winning yet another PAC Title.

“During intersession, we start setting goal times and this is the weekend where we start to see just how close to those goal times we really are getting. Being so beat down during the season makes it hard to judge just exactly how fast we can expect to go during PACs—pre-PAC gives us a little glimpse at the end of the tunnel,” senior Mac Hancock said.

The energy surrounding the team is high. After completing a productive intersession, the team has tapered their training in preparation for the championship.

Regarding the team’s intercession work, Wallace

Women’s hoops keeps rolling with sixth straight

Emma Rossi

Sports Editor

Women’s basketball left the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets feeling stung after crushing them 88-44 in Wednesday night’s competition on the road.

The Wolverines’ dominant offensive performance was led by sophomore guard Mara Polcynski, whose impressive seven-assist game facilitated the team’s scoring.

Senior guard Megan Kallock led the Wolverines in scoring with 14 points.

The Wolverines outrebounded the Yellow Jackets 56-36. Sophomore guard Ashley Durig led the effort off the glass, racking up eight rebounds.

Wednesday night’s win gives the Wolverines their season’s fourteenth win and sixth straight in their longstanding win streak.

The Wolverines secured their fifth straight win Saturday afternoon when they took a trip to Pittsburgh to defeat the Chatham Cougars 91-83 in a shootout.

The teams’ second matchup of the season saw the conference’s highest field goal percentage of the season, with both teams combining for 57 percent. The Wolverines came off

Wthe tip-off hot, gaining a 16-point lead over the Cougars in the first quarter. The Wolverines never fell behind on the scoreboard during their 40 minutes of play. Shots kept falling for Grove City, with four Wolverines scoring double digits. Kallock led the team with a standout 27-point performance.

Head Coach Chelle Fuss said of the team’s shooting, “We are working on our game every practice. We just need to keep doing what we are doing and not worry about what the outcome is. Put time in practice in shooting. There isn’t a magic pill for it – time in the gym is the only solution and we need to stay steady with that.”

Junior forward Katie Baller earned her first double-double as a Wolverine. She fired in a career-high 18 points and racked up 10 rebounds.

Kallock and Baller were joined in the scoring column by fellow starters junior Kat Goetz and Polczynski, who had 13 points apiece.

Goetz’s bolstered her 13 points with 11 rebounds, giving her a second straight double-double. Polczynski tallied four assists, adding to her season total of 78.

WOMEN 11

said, “We’ve grown stronger and faster together, and now with the hardest part of the season behind us, we are looking forward to improved times and exciting races at PACs.”

Now the team shifts their approach to training to ensure they are ready for next week.

“At this point in the season it’s important to pay extra attention to little details, such as starts, turns and relay exchanges. We don’t want to make any major changes, we want the swimmers to race, not think about what they’re doing while they’re racing, so we keep things simple,” said Fritz.

Hancock is one of 12 seniors across both rosters.

He spoke to the excitement around a return to regularly formatted PACs after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the teams to compete separately.

“Swimming was hit hard during COVID because we had to split up guys and girls PACs to avoid 200+ athletes on deck at any given time,” Hancock said. “This entire season, our focus has been on building excitement for PACs. Having three classes who will experience PACs in a normal setting this year has been a lot of fun and something we’ve never had before on this team.”

Men’s and women’s swimming and diving will compete in the PAC Championship from Feb. 15-18 in the James E. Longnecker Pool.

Bock gets the big 5-0-0

Emma Rossi

Sports Editor

Men’s basketball defeated the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets 60-53 in a back-andforth battle at home Wednesday night.

In the game’s first half, sophomore guard Jonah Bock scored his 500th career point from the free throw line. Bock came into the game with 489 points and made quick work to reach the milestone.

Bock finished the game with 15 points, as did his backcourt counterpart sophomore guard Chase Yarberough.

Head Coach Steve Lamie ’85 said prior to the Wolverines’ meeting with Waynesburg, “They don’t go deep to their bench. Their starters are very good. However, we play about 13 players a game. Our plan is to wear them down by going deep to the bench so that we can hold them to 40 percent field goal percentage and beat them on the boards.”

Sixteen men took the court for Grove City, with eight contributing to the scoreboard. The Wolverines’ defense held the Yellow Jackets to a 31.9 percent field goal percentage.

Despite their best shoot-

ing efforts and three Wolverines scoring in double digits, the team fell to the Chatham Cougars on Saturday afternoon.

A harrowing final nine minutes saw six lead changes and a 10-point run from the Cougars which led to their 75-70 victory over the Wolverines. This win severed Grove City’s three-game-win streak and snapped the series of back-to-back losses Chatham faced.

Bock fired in 17 points for the Wolverine effort, followed on the scoreboard by Yarberough, who finished

GRACE DAVID

Women’s swimming and diving finished the season with a perfect 5-0 record in the PAC.

GRACE DAVID

Men’s swimming and diving competes in Pre-PAC action in preparation for the championship.

GRACE DAVID

Sophomore guard Jonah Bock scores his 500th career point during the Wolverines’ 60-53 win over the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets. .