The Collegian – April 28, 2023

Men’s LAX makes history

Two players hit career milestones

SPORTS

Coachella is back like it never left A much needed return to form ENTERTAINMENT

Tucker ousted at Fox News

What’s next for the controversial host? PERSPECTIVES

Collegian The

Lux Mea back on campus

Third annual film festival lights up silver screen

Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

The third annual Lux Mea Film Festival kicks off tomorrow evening, April 29 at 7 p.m. in Crawford Auditorium. The event promises to provide a unique cinematic experience and an enjoyable evening for the campus community in attendance.

The film festival premiere will run for two hours, during which several awards will be given to the best student films. Afterwards, attendees will get the opportunity to enjoy the reception in Carnegie Alumni Center where they can meet and mingle with the event’s student filmmakers.

“This is the first year that the reception is open to all film festival attendees, and we can’t wait to show off the work of our awesome Reception Team,” said senior Jacob Shirk, who serves as the Video Team lead.

The festival organizers, Communication Arts Professor Gregory Bandy and his Special Events and Promotions class, have been hard at work all semester to bring this event to life.

Each of the six student teams–Communications/

Marketing/Social Media, Design, Photography, Videography, Program Venue and Reception–oversee their share of behind-the-scenes

details that make this night a success.

“The most rewarding part of this process is watching where we have come from.

Mayo earns Prof of the Year Grove City College

Dr. Joshua A. Mayo ’10 will be honored as Grove City College’s 2023 ODK Professor of the Year at next week’s Recognition Convocation.

Mayo is department chair and associate professor of English. He also teaches in the Writing Program and the Humanities Core and serves as the faculty adviser for The Quad literary magazine.

He is highly regarded by his students for maintaining academic excellence, engaging them intellectually and consistently demonstrating Christian character.

We spent a lot of time reflecting on what we wanted the film festival to look like, but

Music Dept. to perform AI-generated music

Ayden Gutierrez

News Editor

Ludwig van Beethoven, arguably one of the greatest musical composers of all time, will have his 10th Symphony performed tonight by Grove City College’s Orchestra. Only they didn’t perform Beethoven: They performed his famously incomplete 10th Symphony finished by artificial intelligence (AI).

“Symphony (After Beethoven)” was created by composer and scientist David Cope’s Experiments in Musical Intelligence (EMI) system two decades ago but was never performed live.

Dr. Jeffrey Tedford ’00, chair of the Department of Music and director of Orchestras, programmed this believing it is incredibly important to be aware of AI’s influence on multiple areas of life.

“The backstory is that the composer entered Beethoven’s sketches that he left when he died of what would have been his 10th symphony,” said Tedford. “The AI was then programmed to write something in the style of Beethoven using those sketches and other programming of Beethoven’s previous nine symphonies.”

Tedford believes, musical-

ly speaking, elements of the work are academically well written.

“There are other areas of the symphony, for instance, the development section, that are lacking from an academic standpoint. The development section of a musical work is supposed to be the development of previously presented musical ideas,” said Tedford.

“I believe the AI lacks the ability to develop ideas that are cohesive and make sense without becoming simple repetition. The work is worthy of study and performance as a way to have discussion and conversation on the im-

pact of AI on the music industry.”

In terms of style, Tedford believes elements could be interpreted as Beethoven’s style; however, other elements in the AI-generated work definitely lack personality, one quality which was evident in all of Beethoven’s work.

“We will unfortunately never know how Beethoven would have written the 10th Symphony. We only have a handful of sketches of what Beethoven started,” said Tedford.

Mark Wasilko ’17, a music technology instructor for the AI MUSIC 3

Nursing school sends off first BC3 grads

Ayden Gutierrez News Editor

The college’s nursing program will see its first class of graduates receive their associate degrees from Butler County Community College (BC3) in May. The students, all juniors at Grove City College, received clinical and technical training through BC3’s two-year Nursing, R.N. program under an innovative partnership between the schools. During their time in the program, students study nursing and the liberal arts and sciences at Grove City College in their first and final years, with the BC3 training in years two and three.

Upon graduation from BC3, Emma Clark, Finnley Coglon, Sadie Kriebel, Sara Layton, Elizabeth Mackey, Abigail Montgomery and Emily Smyth can receive their associate degree from BC3, they can take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses and work as they complete a bachelor’s degree at Grove City College.

The Charles Jr. and Betty Johnson School of Nursing, partners with Butler County Community College to grant students access to the best of both schools—an excellent, Christ-centered liberal

“He is a rare individual who can be spoken of with such enthusiasm, both in his own department and equally by those outside of his department. Dr. Mayo’s reputation for kindness and excellence goes before him, making him an exemplary professor and man,” one senior said.

“Dr. Mayo is an outstanding scholar and an extraordinarily caring person. He embodies the best of what distinguishes a Grove City College professor,” said President Paul J. McNulty ’80.

“Josh is a generous-spirited and encouraging colleague,” Dr. Eric Potter, professor of English, said of Mayo. “As a teacher, he is passionate in pursuing wisdom and adept at providing deep insights in a personable and engaging way. As department chair, he has fostered a spirit of hospitality that is welcoming to students and colleagues alike.”

“I am deeply grateful for this award. It blesses my soul. I love to teach here,” Mayo said. “Grove City College is a place where biblical imagination and serious inquiry are still possible. I am regularly amazed by the profound Christian wisdom of my colleagues and the earnest faith of my students. In many respects, it is the ideal institution of higher education.”

Mayo said he hopes he conveys a larger truth to his students through his work as a teacher, advisor and mentor.

“I want my students to know that friendship with God is the summum bonum – the highest good – of living,” he said. “In John 17:3, our Lord prays to the Father, ‘This is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.’ Communion with God really is possible: in our work, our play, our studies, our worship.”

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in English

GRACE DAVID

Juniors Olivia Nicholas and Nick Guidas get all glammed up for tomorrow night’s red-carpet premiere. See page 5 for more about the festival and student filmmakers.

BUTLER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

LUX MEA

3

From the Tower Culture vs. politics

For one who remained quite disinterested in politics during high school, I’ve somehow found a passion for it in an unconventional way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still adverse to politics and could never become a politician. Yet I find myself going into the profession of political journalism after college, at least for the time being, partly due to my fascination with culture.

Now what do I mean by this? For me, culture was the gateway into the political arena – and that is likely the case for others as culture precedes, and often drives, politics.

The main reason I started staying up to date with the latest political news in the first place was because of the cultural issues near and dear to my heart, which further fueled my passion for journalism.

Contemporary culture can be thought of as a “litmus test” for what’s going to soon follow in politics. This is why conservative journalist Andrew Breitbart once said “politics is downstream from culture”; in other words, one must change culture before changing politics. It is for this reason that culture is more important than politics in the long run.

Before I get the political science majors riled up, let me explain. When was the last time you blurted out who FDR’s first vice president was? What about the actress who played Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz”? (Ok, maybe the latter wasn’t easy if you’re unfamiliar with the golden age of Hollywood. But you get my point.)

Though both were products of the late 1930s, I bet most would guess Judy Garland more easily than John Nance Garner. Culture is more widely known by the masses, compared to politics, because it is easier to remember cultural icons than obscure public figures.

This isn’t meant to degrade government officials because policy is how change is implemented and how the law is upheld, but it’s culture that ultimately influences society and persuades individuals.

And I think the right must better understand this cultural language if it wants to make strides in winning against the left anytime soon. It’s not enough anymore to play the political game and hope for the best outcome at the next election cycle; the right must engage more effectively with culture, not ignore it, to forge real change in America.

Without turning this into a rant on what conservatives should do better to win back the culture, it’s imperative we recognize the invisible role that culture plays in the nation’s politics and how art is a key instrument in shaping American culture.

Art, whether it falls into popular culture or high culture, has a way of shaping people’s hearts and minds, for better or worse.

Because of this, we should be paying closer attention to cultural issues and trends along with the political side of things to obtain a holistic understanding of how to move toward a better future. All this to say, the cultural issues underlying current politics are often more important than we let on.

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

Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney collab not a big deal

Grace Scheller Perspectives Editor

Bud Light finds itself under fire for a recent partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. So much so that the latest data reports sales dropped a dramatic 17 percent in dollars since April 15 due to the overwhelming and, quite frankly, the completely unnecessary uproar caused by Bud Light’s ultraconservative ex-fans.

Anheuser-Busch frantically dished out a quick (sort of) apology, stating, “We never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.” Shortly afterward, executives reportedly responsible for the Bud Light and Mulvaney partnership, Heinershceid and Daniel Blake, have both taken a leave of absence.

Copy Chief Hannah Welker

Business Manager David Ake

Copy Editors

Emily Fox

Jaina Hershey

Claire Josey

Eve Lee

Jessica Pratt

Staff Writers

Vince Clay

Mia Gallagher

Hunter Oswald

Joel Sledd

David Smith

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Contributing

Photographers

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 Managing Editor Caleb West for his impeccable design expertise and exuberant attitude in the newsroom.

The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that

in their

and

Regarding the partnership, marketing executive Alissa Heinerschied stated, “We had this hangover, I mean Bud Light had been kind of a brand of fratty, kind of out-of-touch humor, and it was really important that we had another approach.” This approach is apparently exactly what their audience appreciates considering the plummeting numbers and general hate toward Mulvaney.

As sales drop, protests form and certain washed-up musicians such as Kid Rock take to Instagram to post themselves shooting down cases of beer with a semiautomatic rifle, AnheuserBusch has certainly backed down from its initial marketing plan.

Now I’ll admit, a bit of a fuss from the Bud Light audience is expected. The Mulvaney partnership, which resulted in about 30 seconds of very ignorable content is a lot to take for the far right. And sure, the LGBTQ+ community isn’t typically the target market when it comes to cheap beers. But the whopping decline in numbers and the tail-tucked-betweentheir-legs behavior from the company is a little too extreme.

My question is: Does Bud Light’s fanbase know that the LGBTQ+ community also drinks beer? And if this is the first they are hearing this groundbreaking news, what makes it so groundbreaking? Is this temper-tantrum-worthy?

Drinking a beer once in partnership with a transgender woman will not condemn you to a similar fate. If anything, the reaction to Mulvaney’s partnership serves as a stark reminder of the sensitivity of masculinity.

The idea that masculinity is in complete opposition to anything remotely feminine is a dangerous one, and canceling a brewing company is the tip of the iceberg. This idea is not a new one, and certainly not one we can control. We are well aware of the toxicity behind the belief, and I do not expect it will disappear any time soon.

What I do find shocking, however, is that while these members of the Bud Light audience participate in an outdated view of masculinity, they have decided to take to cancel culture against a company that does not. In 2019, when Chick-fil-A announced its continuation with religious organizations, the reactions of the far left were the brunt of the cancel culture joke to many conservatives.

The difference in scenarios is little to none. If we are preaching about the dangers of cancel culture (which we should), it seems only fair the enforcing party also upholds the same ideals. Reigning in the slippery slope that is cancel culture is an important duty the right has taken on. Following the left down this path does nothing but divide.

The Bud Light and Mulvaney partnership is harmless. To those who think otherwise, please crack open a cold one and relax.

We’re hiring!

As the 2022-23 academic year comes to a close, The Collegian is looking for students to join its award-winning staff this coming fall. We are hiring for the below editorial positions over the next several weeks:

Business Manager

Social Media Manager Writers

Copy Editors

Photographers

Designers

To help us make The Collegian the best student-run newspaper it can be, consider applying. If any of these positions interest you, email gcc.collegian@ gmail.com for more information. Previous work experience and resumes are welcome but not required.

BARRON’S

Men and women of the year finalists announced

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

Ten seniors were nominated this spring for the college’s annual Senior Man and Woman of the Year awards. The two winners will be revealed at the Recognition Convocation in Harbison Chapel on Wednesday, May 3.

The final 10 nominees were selected after a campus-wide vote from a list of 15 men and 15 women. A joint committee comprised of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) members and Mortar Board seniors submit their votes and choose the winners alongside Provost Vice President of Academic Affairs Peter Frank ’95 and President Paul J. McNulty ’80.

Dr. Eric Potter, professor of English and the ODK faculty secretary, said the “selection process is always difficult” due to the finalists’ robust applications.

“When I read their applications, I am always amazed at how much they accomplish. Just reading about all the things they do is exhausting. I don’t know how they manage, yet they manage very well,” he said.

Alex Andersen, a dual major in accounting and business analysis from Pleasant Hill, Mo., was nominated for his leadership involvement in several campus organizations, including Apologetics Club, the Accounting Society, Mortar Board, the Crimson Collegiate Investors, RoundTable, the Recognition Convocation, Student Government Association (SGA) and the MENtor Project.

“I think someone else deserves the honor of Senior Man of the Year more than me, so I’m perfectly content

AI MUSIC

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college, believes this is the sort of piece that has kept the imaginations of conservatory kids for quite some time. According to him, there are novels written about it.

“One day Cope mentioned it offhand to me, I asked him if I could have a copy of the score and kept it in the back of my mind to get it performed one day,” Wasilko said.

“I thought, why not now? Surely there is an interested audience. And why not Grove City College? Beyond the school having many students and faculty interested in the meeting of the arts and STEM, a Christian school is uniquely positioned to approach questions of how AI will affect the future of humanity from a made-in-the-

NURSING

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arts and sciences education at Grove City College and accredited, high-quality clinical and professional training at BC3.”

Dr. Janey Roach, Grove City College’s nursing director, said students were thrilled with the BC3’s nursing faculty.

“You have to be a mature student to be able to take an educational program that’s offered in two different places under two different learning management systems. So, these students truly value the support that they receive

with just remaining a finalist. I’m just pumped to celebrate my collegiate journey with all the other awardees and nominees at the Recognition Convocation,” said Andersen, who was a Trustee scholar for the past four years.

Megan Markel, a political science major from Indiana, Pa., served in SGA as a senator and class president, each for two years. She was also involved in the Alpha Beta Tau sorority, InnerCommunity Outreach (ICO), the Institute for Faith and Freedom, Deeply Rooted, the Student-Faculty Review Committee, the college’s Law Journal, International Jus-

image-of-God worldview.”

Beethoven is the perfect composer to “bring back to life through cybernetic alchemy,” Wasilko said. “If he were alive today, I’d bet he’d use AI. He was a serial innovator who added newly created brass instruments to the orchestra and stretched and pushed the forms and tonality of his day.”

“‘Symphony (After Beethoven)’ is so vital because it’s a piece of AI music that can show that there’s something of ourselves in all of the ones and zeroes, something of David Cope that lives in EMI,” Wasilko said.

The college’s Department of Music will perform its final performances of the year, featuring the Beethoven piece, tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Pew Fine Arts Center’s Ketler Auditorium.

from Dr. Patty Annear and from the faculty. That’s what they talk about the most,” Roach said.

President Paul J. McNulty ’80 is pleased with the department’s partnership.

“We knew going in that BC3’s nursing program was top-flight, and the past three years have clearly proven that to be true,” McNulty said. “I am thrilled for our students, deeply appreciative of BC3’s excellence and cooperation and especially thankful for Jayne Rathburn’s generous financial support of this initiative in honor of her parents.”

tice Mission and Orientation Board.

“There are so many welldeserving seniors of this award, so it meant a lot that I was nominated. I love Grove City so much and count it a huge honor,” Markel said.

Clark Mummau, a biblical & religious studies and Christian ministries dual major from Mount Joy, Pa., was primarily involved in Residence Life, ODK, the Delta Rho Sigma housing group, the MENtor Project and ICO, and participated in Touring Choir, Chamber Singers and Symphonic Orchestra.

“Being nominated for this honor is humbling because

LUX MEA

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I couldn’t actually imagine it. Now that we are putting the final touches together, it’s amazing to see our dreams come to life,” said sophomore Karis Fischer, a member of the Reception Team for the event.

This year’s festival boasts an exciting line-up of 16 student-made short films, each between one and eight minutes in length. The films span a variety of genres, from comedic shorts to narrative thrillers, to documentaries–

MAYO

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from Grove City College, Mayo earned an M.A. from the University of Mississippi and his Doctor of Philosophy in English from the University of Dallas. He joined his alma mater’s faculty in 2015. He teaches the first half of the British literature survey and has offered a variety of specialized courses on a wide range

I know of all the ways I have failed while at college, so to be recognized for this reminds me that it is ultimately God who deserves the glory for my whole life,” Mummau said.

Janessa Dawson, a biology/health major from Zanesville, Ohio, was recognized for her involvement in Orientation Board, Deeply Rooted, women’s softball, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the Wolverine Broadcast Network.

“It’s so cool to be recognized with an awesome group of classmates that have accomplished amazing things, and I’m going to be

each carrying the unique vision and style of their filmmakers.

“Lux Mea is one of the best events the school has to offer. All the teams involved in putting on the event have put in an incredible amount of effort, and it shows. As for the filmmakers, I know myself and many others have spent countless hours putting together the best set of films we’ve ever had at Lux Mea,” Shirk said.

“Students should come to the film festival to experience a night of movies, laughter, food and community. Each

of literary topics including mystery fiction and adventure stories.

A Shakespeare scholar, Mayo recently published the book “Good in Everything: Meditations on Shakespeare.” In addition, he has published articles on a variety of authors from John Donne to Emily Dickinson to George McDonald in such publications as First Things and Touchstone. He also frequently writes for The Circe

overjoyed for whoever ends up winning,” said Dawson, who also served as a Trustee scholar.

The other six Senior Man and Woman of the Year finalists include Josiah Findley, a computer science major from Philadelphia, Pa.; Joshua Kapusinski, an English major from San Diego, Calif.; Colson Parker, a social work major from Durango, Colo.; Meredith Basham, a human resource management major from Olathe, Kan.; Estelle Graham, a dual major in English and French from Grove City, Pa.; and Lydia Joyner, a biology/health major from Raleigh, N.C.

person involved has a story they want to share, and this is the night where we can hear and see them,” Fischer said.

With all the exciting films being featured and talented filmmakers being showcased, the Lux Mea Film Festival is one event you do not want to miss.

Tickets can be purchased from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the SAC today or right before the Saturday event. Tickets, which cover admission to the festival and after-party, cost $5.

Institute, an organization that fosters classical education.

The recipient of the annual award is selected by the college’s chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honorary that has recognized collegiate scholarship, leadership and citizenship for more than a century. The college chapter has been honoring faculty with the Professor of the Year award since 2000.

GRACE DAVID

Pictured from left to right: seniors Josiah Findley, Joshua Kapusinski, Colson Parkerm Alex Andersen, Clark Mummau (top row), Meredith Basham, Lydia Joyner, Estelle Graham, Janessa Dawson and Megan Markel (bottom row).

7 - 9 p.m.

Saturday, April 29 Crawford Auditorium

Fridays, friends, food trucks

Warm weather brings new menus to campus

With the onset of spring at Grove City College comes spike ball on the grass, picnics on the Quad and best of all, food trucks.

This warm-weather tradition started several years ago and is being continued by this year’s new Assistant Dean of Student Life & Learning Eric Fehr.

“I had the opportunity to pick up this program and host it for campus. Our first Friday, this past week, was the earliest that most food trucks we contacted began running for the season,” Fehr said.

Breaking up the monotony of cafeteria meals, food trucks are an accessible alternative for students who don’t want to leave campus and are short on time.

“The main reason this program started was to provide something new and fresh on campus. Because of ongoing classes, meetings and projects, it may be difficult for some students and faculty to get outside when the weather is nice. Bringing food trucks to campus for lunch enables some to choose to take lunch outside while having food they may not always get to enjoy,” Fehr said.

Junior Noah Yuen is fond of the food trucks and enjoys the sights and smells while he is on campus. “They make campus smell good, and I like to see the different kinds of food they bring,” he said.

Other trucks visiting campus include Chick-fil-A and Independent Taco, a national fast-food chain and another small local business, respectively. The trucks aim to appeal to many student in-

terests and tastes, and while choosing the businesses student polls are taken into consideration.

“Food trucks are exciting and give students, faculty and staff something they may not get to enjoy often,” Fehr said.

“The students I talked to who took advantage of the Third Eye Pies truck were very happy that we brought them to campus, enjoyed eating out on the STEM or STU patios and for those that don’t have cars, it was something they wouldn’t be able to get on their own; overall sentiment from those who visited the truck was gratitude.”

For those who may not regularly eat out or diverge from their usual go-to, the trucks bring excitement and convenience at a reasonable price–and, of course, a yum-

my meal.

“Obviously not everyone participates, but those that do may get to do so with friends or colleagues that they don’t always get to eat lunch with. Participants got to see others from around campus who enjoy the same type of food,” Fehr said.

“It creates a stir as some who were unaware of the truck on campus walk around to see many students they know eating pizza out of the same branded pizza boxes. I think anything that pulls people together is an opportunity to build community, but not everyone engages in the same opportunities. And that’s okay.”

Fehr emphasized student feedback about the food trucks is much appreciated, and any ideas for future invitations will be gladly received by Student Life & Learning.

Getting over someone you didn’t date?

I have a HUGE crush on this girl who I had a group project with, but I’m pretty sure she doesn’t like me back. Advice for getting over her?

– Lonely Grover

Dear Lonely Grover, It’s so hard to have a crush on someone who doesn’t like you back. It’s even worse if you’re already friends, because then it feels like everything you’ve built with them is suddenly torn apart, and you have nowhere to turn. Getting over her will be hard.

I have a few questions. Is she in your major, or another group where you will be seeing each other frequently? If she is, then it will be harder to get over this since you’ll likely be thinking about her a lot. On the other hand, if you only met her this semester and might not really see her again, then you are in a better situation since being physically separated can be a good way to leave those feel-

ings behind. Have you asked her out, or are you just supposing that she doesn’t like you? Depending on how well you know each other, it might be worth grabbing a meal together and just talking more one on one to help both of you work through these feelings. For you, that might be coming to terms with her interest in another guy, or it might be her seeing that you have feelings for her and her need for more time to think.

It is painful to have those conversations, especially if you think it might not end the way you want. But it is better to have clarity for both your sakes. It could be very awkward for her to continue wondering if you like

her or not, so give her the clarity of your position. Even a no from her is still the caring thing to do for her as a sister in Christ.

But maybe you are sure she doesn’t like you, and you really want to move on. That’s okay, too. And, good news!

Summer is right around the corner, and you just scheduled for classes. You are now at the perfect point to avoid her. As much as you can, don’t share classes with her, and look forward to not being able to see her and think of her.

In the same way, stop snapping her or texting her. Communication will only make it harder for you to stop these feelings. In place of that, start texting your

friends more and spending time with them. Even just their company should help you to feel more connected and distract you.

It’s hard to get over a crush, but it is possible –even without replacing your interest in her with interest in someone else. Clarify the situation, stop the unhelpful communication, rely on your friends for support and be glad that summer is coming. You can do it!

INDEPENDENT TACO

A smiling Independent Taco worker serves a loaded taco to a customer. The Independent Taco food truck will be on campus from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. today.

Fantastic films and where to find them

Mia Gallagher

Staff Writer

This Saturday, compelling stories and visual artistry will take center stage as 16 short films premiere at the third annual Lux Mea Film Festival.

The films vary in length, genre and style and tell their own unique tales and are a testament to the creativity and excellence of student filmmakers of the campus community.

These filmmakers–both amateur and experienced–have dedicated themselves to the tedious behind-thescenes tasks that make these productions come to life. The countless hours spent filming, casting, editing and decision-making will finally pay off, providing viewers with entertaining and compelling stories.

For sophomore Catherine Maher, Lux Mea is her first experience with filmmaking. Maher is a member of the Video Production class who combined her passions for dance and newly learned videography skills to create “Bittersweet,” a super short film telling a complex story through movement rather than words.

“My film is about a relationship shown through dance. It is meant to show the impact certain people have on our lives as we dance on the stage of life together, even if it is for a brief period of time,” Maher said. “I hope audiences can relate in some way to the film and that the bittersweet feeling will resonate with them.”

For sophomore Ellen Ot-

Hilary Walczak

2023 Lux Mea Short Films

These student-made films will premiere in the following order at tomorrow evening’s third annual Lux Mea Film Festival.

U.S. Adaptive Open Competitor:

Annie Hayes

Annie Grace Smith

Pizzamurai

Elliot Eyre

Following the Calling

Maddy Goble, William Hearn and Ryan Young

Boxed-In

Caleb Vinoverski and Aaron Phillips

The Persistence of Alarm

Christina Nakhla

The Call

Maya Lindberg and Emma Fisher

No Hugs for You

Liliana Zylstra

You Have Something of Mine

Sarah Sawyers and Jacob Shirk

terman, this experience is the culmination of a lifelong passion. Otterman, who began her filmmaking journey at age nine, is premiering her film “The Rose,” another super short that takes an often cliche theme and gives it new, original life.

“The story is based on personal observations I’ve made about myself and human beings in general over the last year. It acts as an invitation to ‘stop and smell the roses.’ I was hoping to illustrate the drastic way our perception of life can change when we take a moment to appreciate the small things. Additionally, I wanted to communicate what a big difference a small gesture of kindness can make to someone who is in a dark place,” Otterman said.

This festival not only showcases an impressive array of

Director of College Archives and Galleries

Why did you choose the career path you did?

I loved history and wanted to be Indiana Jones, but since that was unlikely I figured archivist was the next best thing. I love preserving the past and sharing it with the public.

What is your favorite movie?

“Harry Potter” and “Star Wars.” Hard to pick just one.

The Rose

Ellen Otterman, Catherine Maher and Annie Levin

Bittersweet

Catherine Maher

When We Were Us

Malachi Abbott and Megan Eisentraut

On a Roll

Annie Levin Leech

Elliot Eyre, Luke Owen and Caleb Warrick Mirage

Violet Whitmore, Helena Ritenour and Natili Reading

Transformed

William Hearn

The Problem of Other Minds

super shorts, but also longer, in-depth narratives as well.

Junior Elliot Eyre, whose artistic ability has given rise to three original films premiering Saturday night, and his creations show the diversity of thought and style that will be showcased at the event.

His eight-minute sci-fi/existential thriller “The Problem of Other Minds” will have viewers questioning reality while his five-and-ahalf-minute drama “Leech” will illustrate the moral struggles each of us grapple with. And just for fun, his action comedy “Pizzamurai” will leave audiences laughing and hungry for more.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Noodlehead Thai restaurant in Pittsburgh.

What kind of music do you like listening to?

Dave Matthews Band, ‘90s alternative, all things ‘70s.

Any interesting hobbies?

I sew and love doing Legos with my two sons.

What are you looking forward to today?

Violet Whitmore Community Editor

Omicron Delta Kappa’s (ODK) Papers of the Year Competition couldn’t get any easier; all you have to do is submit a paper you’ve already written from a class you’ve already taken.

ODK’s annual contest picks the best academic papers written by students from four different categories. There is one winner and one runnerup from each of the four categories, totaling to eight award-winning papers.

Senior Emily Husov-

ich, vice president of ODK, worked alongside Dr. Eric Potter, professor of English, to help organize the event.

“ODK hosts this competition with the goal of awarding a winner and honorable mention in each category: business, humanities, social sciences and natural/ applied sciences. We recruit professors to form subcommittees for each category, and they act as the judges of the contest,” Husovich said.

This year, the business award was given to junior Emily Tuttle, the social sciences award to freshman Jacob Reese, the humanities

“For ‘The Problem of Other Minds,’ I really enjoyed having a full production team to work with, really getting to explore the world I cre-

ated and expand our technical abilities beyond what we were able to in past years. With ‘Leech,’ we really wanted to focus on character and story, and I think that was achieved extremely well, as well as having some really strong colors to match the arc of the character,” Eyre said.

“With ‘Pizzamurai,’ it was just a good time. I mean, come on. Martial arts over pizza? Can’t go wrong with that.”

Elliot Eyre, Luke Owen and Caleb Warrick Join

Not today, but this weekend my son has his karate tournament and will be reciting the code of ethics in front of the entire crowd.

What do you like most about working at the college?

Mentoring, teaching and working with our wonderful students.

To see the collaborative creations of Maher, Otterman, Eyre and the other talented filmmakers live, purchase your tickets today in the SAC or tomorrow evening before the event.

With such an exciting, unique line-up of films premiering, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

ODK awards students’ academic papers

award to senior Meredith Johnson and the natural/ applied sciences award to junior Daniel Mathes.

The honorable mention award for business was given to senior Ambria Good, the social science award to freshman Andrew Gondy, the humanities award to sophomore Grace Sykes and the natural/applied sciences to senior Elanor Lambert.

Eligibility for the contest includes any full-time undergraduate students currently enrolled at the college. Regardless of major, students may submit an essay to any of the categories.

“The aim of the contest is to honor the achievement of these students with more than simply a grade from a professor. Additionally, the award ceremony presents an opportunity for both students and professors to learn more about topics that we may never encounter in our own classes,” Husovich said.

Winners received an honorarium of $75, and Honorable Mention winners received $25. They were publicly recognized Wednesday, April 26.

“I think it’s worthwhile to distinguish between the contest and the presenta-

tion ceremony,” said Potter. “The contest has a two-fold purpose: to recognize and reward excellent academic achievement and by doing so to encourage that kind of achievement.”

Students can see the fruits of their labors and are given the opportunity to see how they compare to other academic works.

“Dr. Potter has done a fantastic job running this contest over the past few years,” Husovich said, “and it was wonderful to have his guidance along the way.”

GRACE DAVID

Juniors Caleb Vinoverski (left) and Malachi Abbott (right) celebrate after winning awards for their respective films at last year’s Lux Mea Film Festival in Crawford Auditorium.

Rounding third and heading home

Wolverine baseball reflects on a winning season

This year, the Wolverines have played a beautiful game of baseball, sitting at a current overall record of 26-8. The team puts forth an intense, cohesive effort every inning. But beyond the raw skill and practiced strategy, who is the Grove City baseball team?

Their success, which has been nothing but encouraging this semester according to senior catcher C.J. Saylor, stems from the players’ desire to work together and build off each other’s abilities.

To Saylor, being a part of the team is “just a bunch of guys being dudes! We love each other, truly care about each other, and it’s been awesome to see guys that do not play much still be in the games and going crazy for the guys that do play.” At the plate and in the dugout, every player is behind the same goal of winning.

Junior pitcher Christian Hoffmann shares these thoughts, saying, “The baseball team at Grove City has some of the best culture of any team I have ever been on. Every single person stays up and locked in no matter if we are winning or losing which has really helped us to get to where we are right now with a great record.”

That great record is an inspiration for everyone, but even in times of loss the team becomes a stronger, well-oiled machine. As a senior, Saylor has experienced the team grow in all aspects, on and off the field.

He said, “I have seen and love our team’s willingness to be together in fellowship and in relationships with the Lord. This year we started a Bible study once a week and it was a great time to learn about each other more and more outside of baseball.” It’s important to know how to encourage your teammates— this strong fellowship is evident in how they play and when they return to the dugout.

The Grove City College baseball team is a great representation of what it means to be “Wolverines Together.” Catch their next game tomorrow, April 29 at 1 p.m. on Behringer Field.

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Word on the street... Tucker Carlson got fired. Thoughts?

Haley Vaughn ‘25

I’m glad he left, but to be honest I don’t really know that much about him or Fox.

Johnny Adkins ‘26

I, for one, am glad that Tucker Carlson left Fox. He was a disrespectful interviewer and an annoying commentator. Good riddance!

Lee Twombly ‘26

I knew some about Tucker Carlson before he got fired from Fox. I’ve heard some of the thoughts he had, and I agreed with some. However, I truly don’t know enough about him.

Isaac Willour ‘24

The loss of any major figurehead, particularly one so closely tied to Fox’s most controversial elements, represents a turning point. Tucker’s replacement will be a test of how far Fox is willing to go to keep viewers.

Alex Bennett ‘26

I really, genuinely know nothing about Tucker Carlson. I grew up in the middle of the woods, so I know nothing about him.

Carlson is canned

The face of Fox will not be missed

Vince Clay Staff Writer

Last week, Tucker Carlson appeared on air for the last time as the host of his political commentary show “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Fox News. Nothing seemed different or out of place. Carlson discussed various hot-button current events before interviewing a pizza delivery man who heroically tripped a car thief that was attempting a getaway on the street—a deeply inspiring story. However, this past Monday, Fox News formally announced it was parting ways with the infamous political commentator. Some would say it was only a matter of time. Others are surprised and outraged.

These reactions are valid.

Despite ongoing controversy, Carlson and his weekly show have become a fixture in the current political landscape in America. Since 2016, Carlson has amassed

millions of viewers—up to twice as many viewers compared to competing shows on CNN. Carlson’s numerous interviews with political and cultural figureheads grabbed headlines. From Black Lives Matter to sexy M&M’s, there seemed to be no event that Carlson could not cover. Because of this prominent position, Carlson became the face of Fox News and the voice of the American political right. These facts beg the question—why would Fox News oust its most critical show host? The company itself lost $500 million in public value due to the change. No matter how you cut it, Carlson brought in high ratings and a whole lot of money, attracting fans and haters alike to view his show.

With that said, there were a multitude of reasons for his firing.

The announcement arrived amidst a sea of lawsuits that have been filed against Carlson and Fox News. The most recent was a $787 million dollar settlement that Fox News paid Dominion

Voting Systems for spreading disinformation about the 2020 election. Other associates and employees of Carlson have filed workplace complaints, citing the atmosphere on set as deeply misogynistic and belittling mentally. Additionally, Carlson sent a recently revealed string of messages describing his dislike for former President Donald Trump. “I hate him passionately,” read one message.

Objectively, it is a fact that Carlson’s show was a controversy machine. It seemed to Carlson, any press was good press. “Tucker Carlson Tonight’s” rabble-rousing commentary on polarizing social issues such as the Black Lives Matter movement, immigration and the war in the Middle East led to significant companies pulling ads from the program to be more culturally conscious.

Another factor may have been Carlson’s evident knack for voicing his opinions charitably, respectfully and with class. Examples include describing Iraqis as “semiliter-

CNBC

ate primitive monkeys,” the January 6th attack on Capitol Hill as “mostly peaceful chaos,” his claim that “[Democrats] made up the concept of sexual harassment” or that women are “extremely primitive.” Carlson’s journalistic dignity and critical thinking skills will be sorely missed.

Though the conservative presence in mainstream media may take a temporary blow, the future is not so bleak. Fox News has temporarily replaced “Tucker Carlson Tonight” with “Fox News Tonight,” which will be hosted by a rotating cast of other Fox News hosts. Considering its track record of successful replacements, the company will probably bounce back— Carlson was himself a replacement for Bill O’Reilly’s canceled program, “The O’Reilly Factor.”

The rise of AI

Mark Armour

Contributing Writer

Artificial intelligence has caught the public imagination by storm, but more and more imagination is becoming reality.

In the wake of the Nashville shooting, two Pittsburgh Catholic schools were the target of “computer-generated swatting calls,” falsely reporting bomb and shooter incidents to 911. Tools like these are more and more accessible to anyone and everyone, with mind-blowing AI models like ChatGPT being released almost weekly, making stunts like these a trivial task for anyone with a computer.

I’ve been closely following the development of programs like these for upwards of five years, and the speed of development over those five years is nothing compared to recent models like Midjourney and DALLE-2.

For these reasons, over 2,600 researchers and CEOs (Elon Musk included) recently signed a petition to temporarily halt AI development.

Even amid concerns like chatbot plagiarism, deepfakes, matrix-style computer “singularities” and abrupt job automation, I believe AI and machine-learning algorithms present a huge benefit to humanity today and in the future. The widespread adoption of these programs into all aspects of our life will be taken for granted as a positive change a decade from now.

First, it’s important to understand what these programs are. Many of the fears surrounding recent AI are because nobody, not even the programmers, know exactly how they work. AI algorithms like ChatGPT are developed using neural networks, have “evolved” using machine learning and produce an algorithm. All this

seems pretty fear-inducing, but what does it mean?

In essence, the code is an equation randomly changed until it is “trained” to reach a goal convincingly. While we don’t know every line of code involved, the programmers know exactly what makes up these programs and can confidently predict what will come out.

Second, it’s important to realize how these programs are already used and why they’re important for the future. Many important and life-changing problems are being solved by machine learning. For instance, the popular anti-pornography tool Covenant Eyes uses machine-learned AI to quickly, safely, confidently and automatically block porn for their users.

Snapchat filters, Google searches and self-driving cars have all used machinelearning algorithms for years. More recently, chatbots have shown huge potential to quickly and easily create working computer programs using conversational in-

The critical truth about debt

Benjamin Seevers Contributing Writer

Conservatives are inclined toward paying off the nation’s debt, but this approach is devoid of ethics. The American public has long forgotten debt repudiation, but it should be resurrected as a strategy for escaping the titanic $31 trillion of debt the federal government has accumulated.

Debt default is a complete rejection of the debt, paying $0 for every $1 owed on U.S. treasuries. It would be a simple solution but would draw a lot of ire.

be debate about raising the debt ceiling because nobody would lend to the United States.

Welfare programs, the military, entitlements, the bureaucracy: The government would have to rein it all in. The fiscal constraint would be a necessity, not a burden.

What of the consequences abroad? Countries that invest heavily in U.S. treasuries, such as China, would be financially wrecked.

structions. At its core, many people misunderstand the real purpose of ChatGPT is it allows everyone to control a computer using natural conversation, a process your flip-phone-wielding grandparents can comfortably understand.

While new technology can be frustratingly unknown, it’s essential to look at it optimistically as a new tool to be learned rather than a threat to nature. As the informational YouTuber Tom Scott recently reflected on, the rapid development and rhetoric surrounding AI almost exactly mirrors the development of the Internet, a process Tom is very familiar with.

These developments can be disruptive, like Napster was to our grandparents, but in the end it will be a tool that will help millions of people. I’ll admit, petitions to pause, re-evaluate and take caution are important and worth celebrating: But so are the people who innovate with these new tools to further worldly peace and flourishing.

Countries and individual investors would be hung out to dry, but the reality of the matter is this: They know the interest payments come from the involuntary payments of taxpayers.

This critical truth helps us understand why government debt should be repudiated. Those who end up paying the debt were not a party to the original agreement to issue the debt. Bureaucrats issue debt that they personally never have to pay back. It is all on the back of the taxpayer.

The investors who bought the bonds did so unjustly. They have no legitimate claim to the taxpayer’s money. If the burden should fall on anyone, it should fall on those who issued the bonds in the first place, not the people. However, a more fitting end would be to axe the debt entirely.

A second-order concern is what the effects of such an action would be. The creditworthiness of the United States would be annihilated, but that should be no cause for fear. No more boundless government expansion. There would be harder limits on expanding the federal budget; no longer will there

This action is not without historical precedent. In his 1992 article “Repudiating the National Debt,” Murray Rothbard briefly overviewed the history of debt repudiation in the United States. The first slew of defaults came after the Panic of 1837, which led to the failure of numerous state-funded infrastructure projects. Throughout the 1840s, nine of the 28 states either partially or fully repudiated their debt.

The second wave of repudiations came after the Civil War when the southern states were riddled with Confederacy debt. Eight southern states repudiated their debt to escape it.

“As in every debt repudiation, the result was to lift a great burden from the backs of the taxpayers in the defaulting and repudiating states,” Rothbard wrote. This is true, but government actors are unwilling to do such a thing today. Their cronies enjoy their creditworthiness.

However, this should not discourage us. Government debt is unjust, and we should oppose it. Local governments can default on their debt. A small group of dedicated fiscal conservatives can take control of a local government and pass a debt default ordinance. It has been done in the past and can be done again.

Will debt default become an issue in 2024 as the national debt continues to climb? This is yet to be seen.

Is ‘Jesus Revolution’ a Gen-Z movie?

Isaac Willour Staff Writer

My initial impression of the recent film “Jesus Revolution” was a simple one, albeit a bit self-centered from a Gen-Z movie reviewer: This isn’t a Gen-Z movie.

“If you’re old enough to remember the 1960s and ‘70s, you’ll find Lionsgate’s upbeat new film ‘Jesus Revolution’ to be a walk down memory lane,” writes Kathy Schiffer for National Catholic Register—and the overwhelming amount of decidedly non-Gen-Z moviegoers in my theater clearly concurred.

Yet by the film’s end, it was clear my initial impression was completely wrong: This is a movie Gen-Z should see, and perhaps now more than ever. In the wake of revival controversies inspired by Asbury University, this is the follow-up my generation needs. It answers the question that Asbury raised: Was the fate of religious movements built on emotion?

The Jesus movement depicted in the film is formed by tension between an old-fash-

ioned Calvary Chapel church in Costa Mesa, Calif., and the broken, wild-eyed but sincere hippies Calvary Chapel feels unable to reach. Actor Jonathan Roumie shines as the dynamic but tortured hippie Lonnie Frisbee, in stark contrast to decidedly traditional pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer).

Through an unlikely meeting during which Frisbee explains his passion for sharing the gospel (dubbed the “good news”) with his fellow hippies, Smith overcomes his skepticism of Frisbee’s unorthodox ways and opens Calvary to the hippie community. At the same time, the film follows the steps of young outcast and wannabe hippie Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney), who gets pulled into the new Calvary Chapel movement by his love interest (Anna Grace Barlow) and eventually rises to become one of the most successful preachers in the Jesus movement.

Although the first third of the movie can feel exposition-heavy, the plot balances itself as the Jesus movement spreads throughout California. The film pulls few punches about the substance abuse of the hippies

converted by Calvary Chapel, or the problems faced by the main characters, including Laurie’s abandonment issues and Frisbee’s erratic temperament and power trips (although his noted struggles with homosexuality make little if any appearance in the story).

Through Smith’s leadership and Frisbee’s charisma, Calvary Chapel expands exponentially, outgrowing its building and spurring a cultural movement that captivated American Christians and seekers on a national level. The Calvary Chapel

movement currently fuels more than 1,800 ministries worldwide.

The rest of Frisbee’s drug enthusiast hippie cadre, however, doesn’t so much follow him into Smith’s conservative church looking for better theology (the movie as a whole is remarkably low on preachiness), but for a loving group of Christians willing to incorporate them into a community. “There is a generation right now searching for God… sheep without a shepherd,” Frisbee tells Smith early in the film. “And the door of your church is shut.”

The Calvary Chapel that follows grows by the enthusiasm of the hippie movement—some might even call it a revival. Yet what happened to that passion when it came time to build a stable institution that would survive passing fads? It couldn’t stay nebulous and free form, not if the movement was to last.

Emotion and dynamism create communities, yet building the structures capable of carrying that community forward so it would be open to the next generation takes something more.

EWEEK

‘Air’ is a slam dunk Damon, Affleck dazzle in new Nike narrative

Nick Grasso Entertainment Editor

Many questioned if Nike’s ascension to the top of the basketball world was a story worthy of a feature-length film and an out-of-this-world cast.

It’s safe to say that director Ben Affleck put those questions to rest in the form of “Air,” a memorable movie that tells the tale of Sonny Vaccaro and his quest to sign Michael Jordan to a shoe deal that would change the world.

Matt Damon (Vaccaro), Affleck (Phil Knight), Jason Bateman (Rob Strasser) and Viola Davis, who plays Jordan’s mother, headline a cast that drew attention from critics and audiences alike.

Struggling to lead Nike’s basketball division at the now-legendary Oregon headquarters in 1984, Vaccaro spends most of the first third of the movie pitching his wild idea to Nike CEO Phil Knight and the board.

His unconventional plan was to spend Nike’s entire allotted basketball budget, which at the time wasn’t much, on one college basketball phenom from UNC. His

Vince Clay Staff Writer

name was Michael Jordan.

Jordan was awfully close to signing with rival sneaker manufacturer Adidas, who today falls in line with other B-list basketball shoe developers like Puma and New Balance.It was incredibly hard work, dedication and a drive to shake up the field that led Vaccaro to deliver one of the most inspiring monologues I’ve seen to a young MJ, who days later decided to give his superstardom to Nike.

Vaccaro now resides in the annals of sneaker history and has cemented his place as a game changer for the most profitable and successful sports equipment company in the world.Now, on to the film. Damon wore a fat suit to fully embody the aesthetic of a somewhat-grimy sneaker salesman, but it’s not the outfits that make his performance memorable.

His love for the story is evident in the deliverance of his lines and in the way he puts his friendship with Affleck on pause to scream at Affleck’s character for a lack of insight. There’s something about Damon’s ability to rope you in as a viewer – it’s almost frightening.Truly, I felt myself getting frustrated

at Knight and Strasser for their hesitancy to give Vaccaro a shot, especially considering he was willing to stake his job on the results.

Another neat element of the film was Affleck’s directorial decision to keep Michael Jordan’s face off camera in every scene. We either see Jordan’s shoes, the back of his jacket or the back of his head, but we never see the actor’s face.

“He was too big to imitate,” said Affleck when asked

Coachella craze

Ladies and gentlemen, Coachella is back.

The iconic music festival has taken place once again in the arid Californian desert of the Coachella Valley from April 13-23, after retiring for two years due to COVID-19. Those two years were not insignificant—in fact, it was a period of needed downtime that the festival had not seen before.

Coachella began in 1999 as a festival that was originally nicknamed “the anti-Woodstock” due to the festival’s choice to book musicians based on their artistry, regardless of radio play or popularity. The festival grew steadily in numbers and expanded its sets in the coming years, curating a diverse blend of classic rock, EDM, hip-hop and indie acts each year for viewers to see.

Ironically, the once-notorious “anti-Woodstock” became a cultural whirlwind of its own. From the years 20172019, festival attendance skyrocketed and therefore created an experience bigger than simply a music festival.

Take 2018, where Beyonce delivered a jaw-dropping musical showstopper, a celebration of black culture fit with a full marching band and surprise guests. With this performance, she established herself in the hall of fame next to other historic performances like Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged, Queen’s Live Aid 1985 or Jimi Hendrix’s Woodstock 1969.

Or take 2019, where the pastel-clad, thrifted-jeans indie kids with a vinyl collection consisting of “Flower Boy” and Mac DeMarco congregated together to see Tame Impala under the stars. Suddenly, it wasn’t as much about the music as it was

about the outfits, the clout and the Instagram pictures.

Then, in 2020, this culture machine came screeching to a halt. In this two-year waiting period, music fans of all kinds asked the question: Is Coachella’s moment over? Despite these rumors, Coachella’s lineup for this year was promising. The festival’s new embrace of diversity is a stance that surprisingly worked in its favor.

The global music scene has never been this unified before; headliners Bad Bunny, BLACKPINK and Frank Ocean were supported by a surprisingly in-touch array of diverse and underground acts like Jai Paul, Yaeji, MUNA, Alex G and Porter Robinson.Gorillaz had a raucous set featuring many of their guest features, and Rosalia’s performance was noteworthy for its high energy. Labrinth brought out Billie Eilish for a performance of “Never Felt So Alone” and Zendaya for their collaboration on “All for Us.”BLACKPINK wowed crowds with electric choreography and solo sets showcasing each member’s talent.

However, the hype was really about Frank Ocean, whose name was on everyone’s lips leading up to the

festival. The first weekend was to be a significant moment, considering Ocean had not performed on stage since 2017.

After arriving an hour late and declining to livestream the show, Ocean mostly lipsynced a remixed set of his older classics while standing in front of a screen. This major letdown was allegedly the result of an ankle injury Ocean sustained during rehearsal and his last-minute decision to shut down his ambitious stage show, which originally involved an ice rink.

Due to this catastrophe of event planning, Ocean withdrew from weekend two and was replaced by the laughably old Blink-182.

All things considered, Coachella 2023 stands as a reminder that big-ticket music festivals are often as much a spectacle as they are a display of the arts.

If one thing is clear, it is that this year’s Coachella returned to music, taking a step back from fashion and photos.

This new emphasis on music from all areas of the world is a big step in the right direction for America’s most hyped festival.

about his decision to exclude MJ’s face from the final cut. It was a noticeable element of the film that added to the legend of Michael Jordan and further emphasized Affleck’s talent behind the camera.

Bateman’s role is subtle and superb; his quirky charm and working-man attitude allows for easy relatability throughout.

Davis is a powerhouse actress who masterfully paints a picture of what life might be like when your son is the

most famous NBA prospect on the planet.

“Air” isn’t groundbreaking in any way. It tells a true story concisely and doesn’t add artistic license or sparkling lights. It’s raw and honest and, quite honestly, refreshingly simple.

For hoops fans and sneaker aficionados alike, “Air” is undoubtedly worth watching; and for the Damon/Affleck fan, it’s another contribution to two storied careers on the big screen.

Peculiarity of ‘Peter Pan & Wendy’

David Smith Staff Writer

David Lowery, director of Disney+’s “Peter Pan & Wendy,” is no stranger to bringing children’s stories to life in tactful and unique ways.

Lowery’s films “Pete’s Dragon” and “The Green Knight” prove that he has what it takes to create a quality adaptation of a fantasy work.

Initially, I wasn’t sure if Lowery could pull off a Peter Pan movie, but after seeing “The Green Knight” I decided Lowery could faithfully adapt just about any fantasy film.

The Peter Pan story has been adapted several times, some good and some bad. I had a feeling that Lowery’s vision for Peter Pan would be unlike the previous ones, and I was correct.

Development for the film began in 2016, with Lowery announced as the director. At that point in time, I didn’t know Lowery too well and “Pete’s Dragon” hadn’t been released yet.

It was difficult to imagine what the style and tone of this new Peter Pan movie would be. Filming was to begin in early 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic halted production.

Alexander Molony and Ever Anderson star as Peter Pan and Wendy Darling, respectively, both of whom are joined by a barely recognizable Jude Law as Captain Hook. The film opens with young Wendy preparing to leave for boarding school.

On the night before leaving, Wendy and her brothers are visited by Peter Pan and

Tinker Bell.

They are taught how to fly, and Peter whisks them away to Neverland. In the distant land, Wendy and her brothers meet Peter’s band of Lost Boys.

Not long after, they battle Captain Hook and his pirates. This battle ultimately provides Wendy with confidence and helps her learn who she really is.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the movie. It succeeds at digging into the backstories of both Peter and Hook. Additionally, Anderson and Law give standout performances even though they’re highly unique parts to play.

The scope of the film is almost like a crossover between “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” and “The Pirates of the Caribbean.” Still, the story is warm and sweet, and Molony and Anderson’s acting conveys how special the bond of friendship is.

The cinematography is stark and sharp, and the tone is a little over the top but not in a bad way. However, not everyone will enjoy this film.

Some diehard Disney fans may feel off-put or upset by some of the major differences exhibited. My only complaint is that the movie doesn’t feel as adventurous as it could’ve been.

In some instances, it feels confined. However, I don’t mind the way Lowery tackles the story and presents it.

I think a fresh vision, similar to what Steven Spielberg did for “Hook,” was an excellent way to portray this classic tale in a more than acceptable fashion.

CULTURE MIX

YAHOO

Golf ends spring season at PACs

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

In the last matches of the season, Grove City men and women’s golf competed in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) spring championship from April 21-22.

In the conference championship, which includes results from the fall championship combined with the spring for a 72-hole total, the men placed fourth out of nine teams. Two Grove City athletes earned all-PAC honors for their overall finishes.

Sophomore Adam Steinmetz earned second-team All-PAC with a four-round total of 309. Steinmetz placed ninth overall for individual scores. Sophomore Max Vaughn earned an honorable mention all-PAC for his performance. Vaughn finished 15th overall for individual performances with a score of 318 over his four rounds.

In the PAC spring championship, Grove City once

National sports column

again placed fourth overall with a team score of 632. Vaughn led the Wolverines, placing eighth with a combined score of 152.

Women’s golf also finished their season in the PAC spring championship on the same days. The Wolverines placed sixth out of eight teams with a cumulative score of 1,659.

Freshman Hailey Muñoz led Grove City with a total score of 195, shooting 100 on Friday and 95 on Saturday. Muñoz’s performance earned her 21st overall for individual scores. Freshman Julianna Jacobs followed close behind, shooting 207 for both days combined.

The men’s championship came down to the wire to earn the top place. Washington & Jefferson College took first place with a total score of 1,211. Falling to second place was Allegheny College with a score of 1,212 just one stroke behind. Once again, Westminster took third place scoring 1,213. The one-shot

differences between these three teams kept the championship competitive.

“I was pretty happy with how we played. We didn’t lose any ground even though there were a few teams giving us a run for our money on Friday and Saturday,” said Head Coach Bradley Isles. Terrible weather conditions on Saturday caused problems for the men and women, but a quick adjustment of strategy helped the women overcome the course conditions.

“The ladies really showed a lot over the weekend. They played really well and adjusted to the course conditions,” said Isles.

Unfortunately, the women’s home invitational match, supposed to be played on April 1, was canceled. Despite this adversity, the women still performed well in the spring.

“They showed a lot of growth from the beginning of the year to now,” said Isles. “This spring especially, they

Young stars take center ice

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Playoff beards, on-ice war crimes and questionable referees.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, the National Hockey League (NHL) playoffs. If you don’t watch hockey, let this be the year you start.

In 2019, the NHL promised its viewers, “No soap operas, just hockey,” and wow, have they misdelivered in the best way possible. The NHL playoffs are high stakes, high energy and high emotion, making for some of the best competition that professional sports have to offer.

Think of it like March Madness. In March, anything can happen in college basketball. From upsets to comebacks to Cinderella stories, there is no obvious path to the championship. The same can be said for the NHL playoffs.

The landscape of the playoffs is different this year. For the first time in 16 years, the Pittsburgh Penguins failed to make the playoffs. For some perspective, the last time there was a Stanley Cup Playoffs without the Pens, New Jersey Devils’ star Jack Hughes was starting kindergarten.

The Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators both broke their eight-year playoff streak as well. With dynasty dinosaurs like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin missing from the narrative, younger stars have taken center stage.

The Edmonton Oilers secured the second seed in the Western Conference this season, and all eyes are on star center Connor McDavid. McDavid is easily the best player in the world right now. This season, he had 64 goals and 89 assists. He plays on a line next to another one of the best players in the world, left winger

Leon Draisaitl.

These two have been vying for the Stanley Cup and falling short for their whole careers, and with the Oilers having their best record since 1987, it’s safe to say this year could be when they finally make it happen (knock on wood).

In the same conference, another star center Jack Eichel is playing in the first playoffs of his career for the Vegas Golden Knights. Eichel’s career has felt like a Greek tragedy thus far. He was Buffalo’s pick in the 2015 draft, where he was selected second behind McDavid.

He spent the first six seasons of his career in Buffalo, but after a medical dispute and years of pent-up frustration, he was traded to the Knights. In recent years, injury seems to plague Eichel, but he is finally healthy and back on the ice. The tenacious forward has four points in four games so far and shows no signs of slowing down.

Down south, Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz has been

absolutely cooking in the first four games of the Stars’ series against the Minnesota Wild. Hintz is criminally underrated, but after reaching eight points in four games, I doubt this will still be the case. Hintz’s fellow Fin, defenseman Miro Heiskanen, joined Hintz in postseason theatrics with a four-assist performance in Game 2. The future is bright in Dallas, regardless of their playoff outcome.

On the East Coast, the Devils and the New York Rangers are duking it out after earning the second and third seed, respectively. Hughes is finally coming into his own and has contributed three goals to their efforts to sink the titanic Rangers.

So much more could be said about this year’s bracket. There’s not a single team in the playoffs that isn’t dynamic and promising, which is why you really must tune in yourself.

Games stream on ESPN and TBS. Go watch it; it’s worth it.

really grew in how they approach the course. We’re a very young team, so getting this experience was super

valuable. I feel really good about where both teams are.” Men and women’s golf will resume in the fall.

Baseball clinches top seed with wintry mix wins

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Wolverine baseball split a doubleheader with the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets on Wednesday afternoon.

Grove City took the first game in a landslide 12-7, seven-inning win, but fell short in the second. The 5-3 loss broke the Wolverines’ 10game win streak.

In game one, senior pitcher Tate Ostrowski earned his season’s eighth win. Ostrowski allowed only three hits across the game’s 24 atbats.

The Wolverines had a hot start, scoring half their runs in the first inning. A triple from sophomore left fielder Nico Rodriguez to close the inning sent three of his teammates across home plate.

A run in the second and a stolen base led to another run in the fourth improving Grove City’s lead to 8-0. Three runs to close out the game in the seventh finalized the 12-2 deal.

Trouble at bat for the Wolverines stifled their offense and held them to a rare lowscoring game in the second half of the doubleheader. Grove City fell short of continuing their streak and capped it at 10 wins.

The Wolverines played through Monday afternoon’s snowy conditions to sweep the Thiel Tomcats in a doubleheader.

Grove City ran away with the first game, beating the Tomcats 8-1. Junior first baseman Markus Williams led the Wolverine offense with four RBIs from four atbats.

Williams opened the scoring in the first inning when he singled and sent teammates senior catcher C.J. Saylor, sophomore third baseman Mally Kilbane and freshman centerfielder Nick Sampson across home plate.

The Wolverines improved their lead to 6-0 after a grounder from sophomore shortstop Luke Vittone in the

second and a double from Williams brought three more runs on Grove City’s side of the scoreboard.

Thiel’s lone run came in the fifth inning, but a final two RBIs from Kilbane in the sixth and eighth sealed the deal and the Wolverines took game one. As soon as the last out was tallied, the Grove City dugout hustled to cover the field and teams waited out the wintry mix.

Sophomore pitcher David Leslie earned his season’s fifth win. Senior pitcher Robby Randolph served as relief and closed the game by pitching two perfect innings. After rolling the tarp and raking the dirt, the Wolverines and Tomcats took the field for the twinight game. Grove City took the second game with a final decision of 13-10. The game ended after seven and a half innings due to low visibility on the field.

Thiel led 6-1 at the top of the fifth when the Wolverines began their comeback. A triple from Kilbane woke up the offense and Grove City racked up six runs in the fifth, taking a one-run lead.

Thiel added another two runs to their score and took back the lead, but four more runs off Grove City’s bat put the game out of the Tomcats’ reach. Two final runs in the seventh made the final decision 13-10.

Kilbane and Salor led the Wolverine offense in the second game. Kilbane had two RBIs and was perfect at-bat, going five for five. Saylor had three RBIs.

Kilbane pitched the first inning of the game, followed on the mound by sophomore pitcher Isaiah Zuchowski’s four-inning performance. Senior relief pitcher Noah Cyphert earned his first career win after pitching three innings.

The Wolverines play a doubleheader against conference foes Franciscan at home tomorrow. The first game starts at 1 p.m.

LOS ANGELES TIMES

ANNIE GRACE SMITH

Junior Todd Hangliter readies his swing during PAC play.

Water polo takes two at CWPAs

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Last weekend, Wolverine water polo traveled to Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minn., for the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) championship tournament.

The Wolverines went 2-2 in the tournament, ultimately earning seventh place after defeating the Carthage College Firebirds 13-11.

In their final match of the season on Sunday, the Wolverines faced a 3-0 deficit in the third quarter, but after the Wolverines staged a comeback, freshman utility Kiley Sill was able to give the Wolverines the lead just before the close of the second half.

Senior utility Reese Trauger paced the Wolverine offense with four goals. Across this tournament’s four games, Trauger managed to add 14 goals to her season’s team-leading 59 goals.

Saturday saw the Wolverines win one and lose one.

They opened the day with their first win of the tournament, a match-up against rivals Penn State Behrend.

The Wolverines pulled out an 18-14 victory with five

players tallying multi-goal games. Grove City’s offense came out on fire, holding a 6-0 lead after the first quarter.

Trauger racked up six goals to lead scoring and had eight steals at the other end of the pool on defense. She was joined in the effort by senior driver Tia Kannel who added four to Grove City’s side of the scoreboard.

Sophomore driver Kamryn Kerr and sophomore Riley McCullough had a hat-trick each. Sill also added two to

the board for the Wolverines.

Freshman goalie Lea Steen had nine saves.

In Saturday’s second game, the Wolverines fell 14-3 to the Wittenberg Tigers. Steen had eight saves, and Trauger again led the offense with two goals. Grove City’s third goal was contributed by Kerr, who also had two steals and two assists.

Despite having a tough start to the tournament after dropping a 21-4 decision to Austin College, the Wolverines made a comeback and

Softball team secures postseason

Emma Rossi

Sports Editor

Grove City softball is headed to the postseason. After splitting a doubleheader against the Washington & Jefferson Presidents on Wednesday afternoon, the Wolverines secured a spot in next week’s Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) championship tournament.

After a slow start to the game, Grove City’s offense kicked into gear in the fourth, when a sacrifice fly from sophomore first baseman Brooke Brodie sent sophomore second baseman Maci Linhart home to open scoring for the Wolverines.

Runs following in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh gave the Wolverines the 5-1 victory.

Grove City fell 5-2 in the second game of the doubleheader. Both of the Wolverines’ runs came in the sixth and seventh innings.

The Wolverines played through rain, snow and shine on Monday afternoon, and in true Western Pennsylvania fashion it all happened across four and a half innings.

Grove City squashed the La Roche Redhawks 17-6 in their season’s final non-conference game. Due to the inclement weather, the second game of the doubleheader was canceled.

Despite the snow, the Wolverines came out of the dugout hot. They scored five runs in the first, five runs in the second and closed out their offensive showcase with seven runs in the third.

Junior catcher Lauren Harris opened scoring for Grove City with a double that sent teammates Linhart and senior pitcher Janessa Dawson across home plate, putting the Wolverines up by two. A throwing error from

the Redhawks pushed three more Wolverines over home plate, improving the score to 5-0.

Six more runs were added to the Wolverines’ side of the scoreboard after a series of walks and errors moved Grove City around the bases.

If an 11-3 lead wasn’t comfortable enough, senior outfielder Clare Moran stepped up to the plate with bases loaded. Moran cracked a home run across the pitch, and four more Wolverines scored. This was Moran’s first career homerun.

A single from Dawson to close out the third secured two more RBIs for Grove City, and the three-inning sprint came to a close. The teams played one and a half more innings before the tundra took its toll and the game was called.

Junior pitcher Kaitlyn Constantino got her ninth win of the season from the circle. She faced only nine hits across 24 at-bats.

The Wolverines have one

final doubleheader before closing out their regular season.

Dawson spoke to the team’s mentality as they close out the season, “The team’s main focus is definitely to finish strong, play hard our last few regular season games and prepare for the PAC tournament. We want to use every opportunity we have to get better and get ready for the next part of our season.”

“I’m really proud of the fight this team has, and I feel like we have a ton of potential finishing off our regular season and looking to make a successful playoff run for the PAC championship,” said Dawson.

The Wolverines currently rank fifth in the PAC, with a conference record of 10-6.

Their final regular season competition is tomorrow against the Saint Vincent Bearcats in a doubleheader at home, starting at 1 p.m. The team will be recognizing their seniors during Saturday’s games.

both recognized with AllCWPA honors.

Trauger’s 48-goal regular season earned her first-team All-CWPA for the second straight year. She has been recognized by the CWPA three times in her career.

While for the first three years of her career, she was typically seen starting in goal, Kannel moved out to the field this season and dominated.

Her debut as a driver saw her score 25 goals and rack up 23 assists in the regular season. This standout performance earned her secondteam All-CWPA.

earned two hard-fought wins over the weekend.

As said by Head Coach Jocelyn Bernhardt ’15, what has stood out to her this season is the team’s “emotional strength during games. We have had several games where we lost the lead and got too far behind to come back, but the team did not give up. They chose to finish better and fight until the very end.”

This effort has been rewarded as last Thursday, Trauger and Kannel were

While the team will lose both Kannel and Trauger, as well as senior driver Emory Shepson after this season, Bernhardt is proud to see what has come from her roster.

“Last season, we had a few ladies who didn’t get much game time. This year, those same players have become starters and played the majority of the game,” Bernhardt said.

“This was the result of all the hard work they put in to better understanding the game and bettering themselves as players.”

MLAX gears up for PAC playoffs

Rachel Ledford

Contributing Writer

Grove City men’s lacrosse may have dropped a game to the No. 8 DIII team Washington & Lee last Friday, but they found major success in their Presidents’ Athletic Conference games last Saturday and this Wednesday.

Graduate student midfielder Brett Gladstone scored his 200th career goal during the game against Allegheny on Saturday, becoming the first Grove City player in franchise history to do so. Another Wolverine added to the record books this week when sophomore attack Matt Blythe tallied his 100th career goal during Wednesday’s game against Bethany.

Despite the Wolverines’ struggle to make the higher rankings in Division III competition this season, they still have a high likelihood of getting the PAC’s bid for the national tournament. The Wolverines are undefeated in the conference this season.

Before Friday’s game against Washington & Lee, the team took time to recognize the eight seniors on the roster and their contributions to the team during their time on and off the field. Despite suffering a tough loss on Friday, Grove City held their own.

The Wolverines matched Washington & Lee’s efforts in the fourth quarter with both teams scoring five goals.

Sophomore attack Zachary Hougan and freshman attack Kobi Bui both scored three goals while Gladstone added two goals and two assists.

Junior midfielder Luke Jayne and freshman attack

Rigdon Greene also scored during Friday’s game. Bui scored the first goal of the game, and Grove City led the stat sheet in saves and had fewer turnovers.

Gladstone scored his 200th goal during the third quarter of Saturday’s game, one of three that he put in the net that day leaving him with 202 goals going into Wednesday. Blythe led the team with five goals during the game, with seven different Grove City players scoring to solidify the 15-6 win over conference rival Allegheny.

Freshman faceoff specialist Sean Mahoney led the team with five ground balls. Saturday’s win cemented Grove City’s home-field advantage going into the conference tournament the first week of May.

Blythe’s 100th career goal came early in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game. Blythe went on to score three more goals in the game, giving him a day’s total of four and career total of 103 goals. Blythe is the fourth person in program history to achieve this major accomplishment. Less than two years into his collegiate career Blythe had already become just the seventh player in program history to reach 100 career points.

Hougan scored three times as well as a handful of scores from others to cap off the win. Grove City defeated Bethany handily 19-5. Playoffs begin next Wednesday when Grove City will host the yet-to-be-determined No. 4 seed in the PAC in a bid for the championship game and ultimately a path to the national tournament.

ANNIE GRACE SMITH

Sophomore defender Kamryn Kerr moves the ball down the pool and looks to pass.

GRACE DAVID

Senior pitcher Janessa Dawson (right) and junior infielder Erin Mulholland (left) take the pitch in Monday’s doubleheader.