The Collegian - May 5, 2023

Sporchesis springs onto stage Student dancers dance the night away COMMUNITY

Collegian The

Annual awards given

Man, Woman and Prof of the Year recognized

Ayden Gutierrez News Editor

The college’s Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) chapter presented the 2023 Senior Man and Woman of the Year awards to Clark Mummau and Janessa Dawson on Wednesday night in Harbison Chapel.

Clark Mummau, a biblical and 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.

“I’m truly honored to win this award,” said Mummau. “So many people have poured into me these past four years, and I’ve been so blessed to also be able to pour into others through classes and extracurriculars.”

Mummau believes God has been faithful to him throughout his time at the college, and he praises him for the way he has sustained him and led him through the challenges and blessings of these years.

“I thank my parents for their constant prayer for me, and so many professors, especially Dr. Moeller and Dr.

Mueller, for their constant challenging me,” 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.

“I feel so honored to win and I’m so thankful for everyone that supported me,” said Dawson. “My biggest

Three profs retiring

Ayden Gutierrez

News Editor

The end of the spring semester always sees one chapter close for graduating seniors, with another new book shortly following. The same can be said for three Grove City College professors: Drs. Timothy Mohr, Kenneth Carson and Warren Throckmorton are all heading toward retirement.

Mohr worked in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. This year, he taught courses in analog and digital circuits, microcontrollers and engineering design, among others. He is currently finishing his 30th year at the college.

thanks goes to God and he should get all the glory!”

Dawson stated there were several people she wanted to thank.

“I’d like to thank my par-

Campus community anticipates Family Weekend

Mia

Gallagher

Staff Writer

This weekend, the Grove City College community will welcome its loved ones to campus for the 2023 Family Weekend. The event will bring touching reunions, showcase students’ talent and provide exciting activities for all, promising to leave families with a snapshot of the college’s beauty and charm.

“Family Weekend is a time to celebrate the cumulative academic, service, musical, athletic and social achievements of students throughout the academic school year

and a time to honor the family members who support and encourage our students along the way,” said Carnegie Alumni Center’s Manager of Programs and Events Tricia Corey.

The Family Weekend tradition dates back to 1905 and was originally known as the May Day Celebration in honor of the May Queen. Over the years, the event has evolved into a celebration of all Grove has to offer, showcasing the intersection of faith, learning and creativity through fellowship and fun.

“This is a time for the families of current students to come to campus and spend

some time watching them perform in various concerts, athletic games, meet their sorority sisters or fraternity brothers, enjoy meals together and close out the weekend by watching All College Sing. We want families to see what it is like to be a student on campus and all the highlights of the year,” Corey said.

This year’s celebration boasts a jam-packed schedule of events, displaying the various academic, athletic and artistic disciplines that current students take part in. The weekend kicked off Thursday evening with the spring Orchesis performance of “Dance Like Nobody’s

Watching,” which has two more shows tonight at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the Physical Learning Center.

Additionally, the Alpha Psi Omega Spring One Acts will take to the Little Theater’s stage tonight at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

This evening looks to showcase creative thought and artistic skills with senior engineering and computer science presentations in STEM Hall, a student art exhibition in Pew Fine Arts Center, the Grove City College Singers spring perfor-

“I am retiring to move to Montana to help care for parents who are in their 90s and spend more time with the families of four daughters who live there,” said Mohr.

Mohr greatly enjoyed almost all his students through the years and claims the few he did not enjoy did him much good.

“I have many dear friends among the faculty, administration and staff, and through them I have received great riches such as new thoughts I could never have come up with myself, laughter from unexpected sources and friendly bonds arising from shared troubles,” said Mohr. “At some point during my time at Grove City College, I learned that it is possible to simply enjoy learning, and to find ways to help others learn.”

In his own field of engineering, Mohr said it took him many years to come to RETIREMENT 5

Wolverine Venture Battle highlights entreprenurial spirit

Ayden Gutierrez News Editor

Grove City College’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovation held the Wolverine Venture Battle in Sticht Lecture Hall in the Staley Hall of Arts and Letters last Friday. According to the college’s entrepreneurship website, the Venture Battle “simulates the real world by allowing teams to compete for prize money without the confines of a cumbersome administratively heavy business plan competition.”

The contest begins with

venture presentations to a panel of investors and judges who later choose the amount of money they want to give each group. The Wolverine Venture Battle is open to teams who have created social and/or commercial ventures.

“This year’s event was both exciting and suspenseful as it’s the first time I wasn’t able to predict which team would win the most money and the Wolverine Venture Battle Grand Champion Title,” said Yvonne English ‘97, executive director and entrepreneur in residence for The Center for Entrepreneurship

+ Innovation (E+I). “In fact, the competition was so fierce in the previous round that we expanded our final round from seven teams to nine.”

All nine teams walked away with a financial award to help them with the respective costs of their businesses. Songbird walked away with the most prize money, winning a combined total of $6,550 from the panel of judges and the fan-favorite award. Songbird, whose mission is to create a safe and positive channel for children with special needs on the internet,

GRACE DAVID

Janessa Dawson and Clark Mummau, who both took home the 2023 Senior Woman and Man of the Year titles on Wednesday evening, pose with President Paul J. McNulty ‘80 in Harbison Chapel.

GRACE DAVID

Senior Addison Byers, freshman Zach Warrick, sophomores Aliyah Shelatz and Jenna Knepper and freshman Rachel Petschke (from left to right) entered Songbird into the Wolverine Venture Battle.

MOHR

CARSON

THROCKMORTON

FAMILY WEEKEND 5

Finding a place in tradition

As I conclude my first year as a Collegian editor, I find myself reflecting on the unusual and truly special opportunity that being a part of this newspaper provides.

The Collegian is a tapestry in which this school’s identity is illustrated. It has been placed on newsstands around campus and read by students for 132 years. Thousands of articles have been written and hundreds of names have been published alongside those articles, serving as the threads which make up the tapestry’s bigger picture.

It is a privilege to be one of those threads, to be a small part of the history of something so much older and greater than me. The tradition of this newspaper is often overlooked or underappreciated, but it serves as a constant–10 issues, every semester, reliably present.

The Collegian survived the Great Depression and a global pandemic. It has witnessed all nine of the college’s presidents and informed the campus through 34 presidential elections. The Wolverines have won more than 200 championships, and The Collegian has covered each and every victory.

Being able to cover our Athletics Department for two years and serve as sports editor this past year has been awesome. The coaches and athletes at this school are the real deal. I spent a lot of time staring at livestreams and sitting on bleachers in all weather (mostly snow). I’ll still be

there next year, just without pulling out my laptop to write at halftime or between innings.

As I take on the job of editor-in-chief, I am far from alone in the role. I am surrounded by an extraordinary staff. I am limited by the space in this small, gray box, so I can’t even begin to enumerate the joys of working with them. When the staff comes together to design each week’s issue on Wednesday nights, I am not only privileged to work with a group of smart, dedicated individuals, but I am guaranteed to laugh the hardest I will laugh all week. Each of them is a unique force that makes our staff’s dynamic priceless.

Then there’s the fact that I’m following in the footsteps of the world’s best boss. Seriously, we should buy him a mug. Outgoing Collegian Editor-in-Chief

David Zimmermann has been a role model and good friend to me since my first night working in the Tower almost exactly a year ago. While filling his shoes is mostly impossible, I hope to lead the paper with the same portion of wisdom and grace as he has. I’m so grateful I have him as an example to look up to.

To be in this position is special. I know it will have an enormous impact on me, and I hope to in turn have an impact on the newspaper itself and the incredible people around me. I look forward to playing my part in telling the stories of the people at this school and putting a beautiful 12 pages of print on the stands every week.

Emma Rossi

2023-24 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

Eve Lee

Jessica Pratt

Staff Writers

Vince Clay

Mia Gallagher

Hunter Oswald

Joel Sledd

David Smith

Isaac Willour

Contributing

Photographers

Gracie Turnbaugh

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.

This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Editor-inChief David Zimmermann for his lengthy tenure as the boss-man. The staff will miss his dedication and positive spirit.

consistency and excellence in their work.

HANNAH WELKER

Summer’s best memory

Hannah Welker

Copy Chief

It has been a little more than a year since I moved out of my childhood home in the South Hills of Pittsburgh, Pa. And although the new home awaiting my return at the end of June is an impressive display of my mother’s choices in cabinetry and hardwood flooring and my father’s preference for a wood-burning fireplace over a gas one, I can’t help but feel nostalgic for the “days of my youth.”

I know, I just turned 21 a few weeks ago, I can’t legally rent a car yet and I only just switched from a debit card to a credit card last month. Some “real adults” might say I am simply entering a different phase of my youth. Although I might be rounding the corner of adulthood on my own two feet, I am still tempted to reminisce on when life was a bit more consistent.

One aspect of my life that has remained consistent despite my age has been my summers. For the past 11 years of my life, I have spent at least two weeks of my summer in the middle of the Pennsylvanian woods learning and growing in more ways than one. And, 11 days from now, I will be spending yet another summer doing more of the same.

I’ve worked as a counselor at Summer’s Best Two Weeks for the past two years, with

this year being my third. The lessons I have learned have truly changed my life forever.

I have learned the value of courage in discomfort after being asked to share my testimony in front of hundreds of campers and co-workers. I’ve definitely learned patience when being tasked with refereeing a group of 20 eight-year-olds in a very slow game of whiffle ball. But perhaps most importantly, I have learned the value of perseverance through significant trials.

As I prepare for another summer at SB2W, I remember the first summer I spent there in 2011. I was a little nine-year-old girl, scared for my life (literally; overnight trips in the woods were no joke), questioning whether I was still loved by my parents after they so coldly turned their backs on me while I naïvely swam in the shallow end of the pool. I was most definitely homesick, and just like I do now, I missed my home in the South Hills of Pittsburgh.

But, looking back on my college years and anticipating graduating in one year’s time, I’m reminded of those lessons of courage, patience and perseverance. Grove City College, and college in general, has a weird way of furthering those lessons with each passing year.

Perseverance has been a consistent experience despite the frequent inconsistencies of life itself. It’s learned through tough academics and losing a friend. It can

demonstrate Editorial Page 2 The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, May 5, 2023

even be learned through joining a newspaper staff to do a job you’ve never done before with a group of strangers in the small, upper room of an old building that lacks proper climate control (yes, this is a personal experience).

It takes courage to embark on a new social, academic or relational endeavor, and it takes patience to see the fruits of those labors come to fruition.

As a camper, I was frequently told to persevere through the homesickness and daunting wilderness trips. As a result, I returned to camp year after year, each summer easier than the last. By the time I was 12, I couldn’t wait to unpack my bins, make my paper-thin mattress feel like home and play a ridiculous number of sports for the glory of God.

Eleven years since my first arrival at Summer’s Best, I am excited for another chance to help campers do the same thing I did all those years ago: to overcome an uncomfortable situation and learn to love the outcome.

Whatever this summer holds for you: graduation and your first real-world job, another summer lifeguarding at your local pool or a thirteenth-seed internship doing something you’re not sure you love, remember the importance of perseverance through the inconsistencies and challenges of this next season. You will surely see the fruits of your labor in due time.

Rockwell to undergo major renovations

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

One of the oldest buildings in Grove City College will be getting a long-awaited refurbishment beginning this summer.

The major renovation and construction project will update Rockwell Hall of Science and link it to STEM Hall, President Paul J. McNulty ’80 said.

“We’re initiating a full renovation of Rockwell Hall starting this summer, which will transform this flagship building into a 21st-century science facility,” McNulty told the Wolverine Broadcast Network. “We’re committed to preserving as much of the historic look as possible. In the end, it will be the same building on the outside with safe, optimal and technologically improved classroom and lab space on the inside.”

With a price tag of over $40 million, updating the 91-year-old building will be the most expensive project in Grove City College’s history, according to McNulty. The work will include electrical and mechanical system updates along with new laboratory, classroom, study and office spaces.

CONVOCATION

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ents, teammates, friends, coaches, mentors, professors and anyone else that has ever encouraged me and pushed me to be better,” said Dawson.

Dr. Joshua A. Mayo ’10 was honored as Grove City College’s 2023 ODK Professor of the Year at Wednesday’s Recognition Convocation.

Mayo is the department

“Rockwell’s iconic presence has been a campus landmark since 1930. Given the high prices of construction materials, it will cost the college more to renovate this building than we’ve ever

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.

“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

Senior awards

These department honors were awarded to seniors at Wednesday’s Recognition Convocation.

Senior Biology Award Reese Trauger

Senior Molecular Biology Award Claire Josey Bechtell Award Daniel Edwards

Roger Clark Dawes Award Gina I. Kim

Outstanding Computer Science Senior

R. Todd Pinsenschaum II

Philip N. Carpenter Senior Mathematics Award

Jacob Heasley, Ethan Wilson

Franklin C. Ketler Mathematics Prize

Courtney Middaugh

The J.P. Hassler Prize Sebastian Anastasi

Department of Management & Marketing

Outstanding Senior Award

Matthew M. Williams

PICPA Excellence in Accounting Award

Luke Peffer

Institute of Management Accountants

Luke DiPofi

Future Leaders in Finance Award Owen North

Ross A. Foster Scholarship Karis Halley

Lambda Epsilon Delta Award Allayna Deaven

Sydney McCormick Memorial Award

Katie Leon, Tessa Carlin

Music Education Award Lindsay May

Robert H. Sisler Memorial Award

Grace Messer

Elinor Caruthers French Prize Estelle Graham

Phi Alpha Theta History Prize

Christopher Dunsworth

BSW Senior of the Year Abbey Durig

Psi Chi Senior Award Cara Clark

SACP Award John Watson

Outstanding Exercise Science Senior Award

Samuel Belitz

Excellence in Exercise Science

Christopher James Otwell

Outstanding Exercise Science Service Award

Micah Sterrett

Kappa Delta Pi Award Courtney Middaugh

spent on a new building,” said McNulty.

The project is being designed by Pittsburgh architects SmithGroup and construction will be overseen by Landau Building Company,

of my colleagues and the earnest faith of my students. In many respects, it is the ideal institution of higher education.”

Several other awards were distributed to students throughout the night. Thirty new members were inducted to the Alpha Theta Mu chapter of Mortar Board. Mortar Board is the national senior honorary on campus.

Junior men and women with high scholastic achieve-

the same contractor that completed the Henry Buhl Library renovation. The work is expected to start this summer and continue through the next academic year.

“The group that the school

ment who have contributed outstanding leadership and service to the college are tapped each year for membership.

Forty new members were inducted into the Beta Mu Circle of ODK, which recognizes seniors and juniors for their outstanding leadership to the college in the areas of scholarship, athletics, social service, religious activities, campus government, journalism, speech, mass media

is working with is great listening to the needs of the faculty,” Dr. Darren Wood, assistant professor of biology, said.

Rockwell Hall will be connected to the STEM Hall in the renovations.

“One especially exciting feature will be the connecting corridor between Rockwell and STEM. Workspace containing student research and projects will be visible to those walking between the two buildings. We’re calling it ‘science in action.’ Overall, the renovated building will be a better fit with what students are actually learning in our STEM program,” McNulty said.

The Rockwell renovation is part of a planned long-term capital campaign aimed to improve and enhance campus facilities, community and student financial support.

Dedicated in 1931 – on the same day as Harbison Chapel – Rockwell is the third oldest building still on campus. The two oldest buildings currently on campus are the Cunningham House and the Carnegie Alumni Center on lower campus.

and the creative and performing arts.

Scroll and Key, which is the highest scholastic honorary on campus, saw 21 new members inducted during the evening. Senior men and women with high scholastic achievement who have contributed outstanding leadership and service to the college are annually tapped for membership in Scroll and Key.

GRACE DAVID

The Rockwell Hall of Science will soon receive interior design changes, starting this summer.

Senior staff signs off

Leaving the paper behind

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

After spending four years at Grove City College, I am ready to leave.

I’m grateful for the countless friends I’ve made and lessons I’ve learned at Grove, but my senioritis really wants me out of here.

I want nothing more than to move on with my own life instead of cranking out last-minute term papers at 1 a.m., but that means I’ll be without my friends and professors I’ve grown close to over the months and years.

Though I feel just as conflicted toward Grove as one who develops Stockholm syndrome toward their captor, one thing I’ll miss without a doubt is my time on The Collegian staff.

It’s crazy to think I spent all four years here working for The Collegian: freshman year as a staff writer, sophomore year as news editor and junior/senior years as editor-in-chief. Looking back, I’ve only grown in my writing, interviewing and leadership skills and made many fond memories in our newsroom that we call the Tower.

Leading the newspaper alongside Caleb over the past two years was challenging, but the experience was well worth the late nights and metaphorical blood, sweat and tears. It is a time I’ll never forget, but now I pass the journalistic torch to next year’s editors, whom I know will do great things after I’m gone.

Emma, enjoy your time as the new head honcho. Take care of the paper, enjoy it while it lasts and, most of all, have fun with the new staff. You may feel you have big shoes to fill, but a word of advice: Make The Collegian your own. You’ll soon discover what that means for you. If you need any

Passing the proverbial baton

help, I’ll be one phone call away. Ayden, it’s been an honor working with you these past two years, and I know you’ll be amazing as the new managing editor. Work closely with Emma, enjoy your last semester and never lose that sense of humor (your facial expressions are priceless).

Violet, you continue to amaze me with how far you’ve come since August. Although you never wrote an article before then, you jumped into the job head-on and The Collegian is so blessed to have you. Never lose that grit and always expand your horizons. Grace Scheller, keep writing your hot takes despite what you or anyone might think. I loved working with you, and I hope you have fun with Perspectives again (please ask Bernie for more comics next year).

Grace David, keep taking the best photos ever. You have a real talent for photojournalism, and I can’t wait to see where that takes you in the future. Also, keep those “your mom” jokes coming. Hannah, enjoy your second year as copy chief. I know you have a lot on your plate every issue but consider writing more often as the paper matures and grows with you.

Nick Hildebrand, thank you for having my back through thick and thin and showing me patience when I first started. I have learned much from my time with you; I only wish I could repay you someday. Until then, I will miss our movie discussions on Wednesday nights.

All that to say, I’ll deeply miss my time spent at The Collegian and in the Tower surrounded by numerous friends I wouldn’t have gotten to know any other way. Though it’s sad I’ll be leaving the staff, I could not be more excited for them as they make the next leadership transition.

Now that my time will soon be over, I wish you guys the best. It’s your turn now. Make it count.

Caleb West Managing Editor

It’s a weird thing for me to be on this side and look back at the work I’ve done for this paper over the past four years.

It’s a fairly weird thing in general for me to have done anything for the paper, and to be honest, I really wasn’t expecting it either.

When I walked through the Org Fair my freshman year, wide-eyed, trying to take it all in and do everything, I saw the newspaper recruiting photographers, and walked up to see what the deal was. And when they told me they needed designers and editors too, I said, “Sure, I can try that.”

Now, I said that a lot of times that day, and I did in fact try many things, but none of them has lasted as long as my time here with The Collegian.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I came up for my first design night on a Wednesday. I walked in, after climbing so, so, many stairs, and found what can only be described as a newsroom. There’s nothing else quite like it, with so many conversations, everyone talking loudly, playing music; it’s a hubbub like no other.

I found Grace (Tarr ’20) Barron, and she sat me down in front of a newspaper page, started walking me through how to use the vastness of InDesign, and I started to work. It was entirely anticlimactic.

That is, until Friday, when I picked up that paper, fresh off the newsstand, and saw my work in print. There’s a rush there, one that’s still there every week four years later, knowing that this thing I helped make is being read by so many.

So, I designed, and slowly learned, working with Grace and our won-

derful advisor Nick, how to format articles, place pictures and layout a page to be pleasing to the eye and readable. And I took some pictures and started copy editing, too. Soon enough, after we got sent home for COVID-19, the incoming Editor-inChief Paige Schamberg (Fay ’21) and Managing Editor Anna DiStefano ’21 came to me and asked me to step up as the design chief.

Now I had no earthly idea what that meant, or really how to do it, I barely knew how to use InDesign, barely knew anything, but again, I said “Sure, I can try that,” and the next year I was on the editorial board as a chief.

There was more growth, more learning and I got more comfortable, and just as soon as that happened, the year was over. And this time Paige and Anna were asking me about a job that I felt I had no sense having, had no idea how to do and thought certainly should go to someone else. But I’m bad at saying no, and so when they asked me to be managing editor, I said again “Sure, I can try that.”

Two years later, I get to be the one asking the questions. I get to push people to step up and carry the legacy along. After 75 Wednesdays spent in the Tower, and 75 issues of the Collegian that I’ve designed in some way, whether it’s tweaking one picture or laying out two or three sections, I’m passing the baton.

I want to thank David for working with me these past two years, dealing with my nonsense and all the editors I’ve had the privilege to work with but couldn’t name.

To Emma and Ayden, our incoming editors, I know I’ve grown a ton doing this work these four years, and now it’s your turn. Give this thing a try, find new people and push them into trying, too. The cycle continues. Good luck!

Reflecting on my collegiate career

Nick Grasso

Entertainment Editor

With mere days left until the conclusion of my collegiate studies, now seems like a good time to reflect on my time here at Grove City College and my time as a member of The Collegian staff.

Grove City College is a unique community in an unremarkable town. There’s not much to do off-campus, and the thrill of my college weekends as a 22-yearold extended to intramural basketball and time spent on a hall with my fraternity brothers.

Still, there’s something charmingly quaint and appealing about this small-town college where the lack of stereotypical undergraduate “fun” is made up for by quality people and a Christ-like community.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time as a student at the Grove, and I know now that it was the Lord’s providence that led me to learn and grow here for four years. One of the central elements of that growth was my time spent with The Collegian.

As an English major, I felt a sort of obligation to contribute to a student newspaper, at first as an attempt to puff up my resume, but eventually because I learned the value of being part of a student-led organization that prioritized truth-telling through quality journalism.

As a contributing writer during my freshman and sophomore years, I penned articles primarily for the news section. It was an incredible opportunity to develop journalistic skills like conducting interviews and meeting deadlines.

I was given the chance to take on the staff writer title as a junior, and with it came the responsibility of

writing an article for each and every edition of the paper. It was during that time that I began to get to know The Collegian staff members.

The character and professionalism exhibited by this group only reaffirmed my belief in what the newspaper was doing on campus, and in the way they were doing it.

Toward the end of my junior year, I was asked to take over as the entertainment editor for the following year and was thrilled to accept the position. My time as an editor is really what solidified The Collegian as one of the best parts about college.

Working for hours on Wednesday nights took some getting used to, but they soon became a familiar part of my routine and something I looked forward to. Time spent in the Tower with my colleagues was simply fun. Though I wasn’t always quick to contribute to the joke-telling and storyspinning, I found a place as a quiet

observer of a crew that knew how to have fun while working.

More than that, being a part of a team that at the end of the week could hold a tangible product that we had created was fulfilling. The moving parts, creative minds and willingness to help allowed for a productive environment where progress was made week in and week out.

I want to thank all the members of the staff, our adviser Nick Hildebrand and Editor-in-Chief David Zimmermann for providing a welcoming and enjoyable place to grow as a writer and editor.

I’m proud to say that The Collegian was a significant aspect of my college career, and as I move on to the next stage of life, I look forward to remembering my time spent as a contributor to one of Grove City College’s best student organizations.

A time of growth and perseverance

David Ake Business Manager

With graduation quickly approaching, I have been reflecting on my four years at Grove City College as a time of growth, perseverance and building community.

However, the transition from high school to college was challenging at times as I received a greater workload in college that forced me to adjust to some teaching styles I was not used to.

This allowed me to gain knowledge and wisdom in my academic studies of both business and religion. I learned practical business skills and further developed a managerial mindset.

My religious perspective expanded as I received valuable insights from professors and fellow students with different denominational backgrounds. The Humanities Core helped me gain a greater motivation for living out my faith in a secular society by promoting and preserving my values.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought a swift end to my campus life during the spring semester of my freshman year. The great community I had just been gifted with was quickly taken away and I knew I needed to change my perspective to get through the lockdown.

Although we were separated, we still seemed together somehow. We were apart together and going through lockdown together. I stayed connected to my friends electronically to fulfill the need for community as best I could. Although electronic learning was not my favorite,

FAMILY WEEKEND

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mance in Arnold Recital Hall and the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble concert in Ketler Auditorium.

This leads to a Saturday full of community fellowship and exciting events. The festivities will include a legacy breakfast in Carnegie Alumni Center, a varsity baseball doubleheader against Chatham at R. Jack Behringer Field, a performance by the Jazz Ensemble in Crawford Auditorium and various sorority and fraternity family luncheons. This fun-filled day will conclude with the weekend’s most highly anticipated event All-Campus

ENTREPRENEUR

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so they can learn and grow their love for music, was created by sophomores Jenna Knepper and Aliyah Shelatz, freshmen Zachary Warrick and Rachel Petschke and senior Addison Byers.

“We hope to create a gamified app that teaches children with special needs how to create a song from start to finish,” Knepper said.

Knepper came up with the idea for Songbird after getting involved with a special needs ministry on campus, Young Life Capernaum, and seeing students spend excessive, unmonitored time on technology.

“I also noticed a deep love and connection to music for many children with special needs, so we wanted to combine this idea of technology and music for the population of children with special needs,” said Knepper.

The team hopes their busi-

I fortunately adjusted early on.

The strong community aspect at Grove City College became apparent to me once I started band camp in midAugust 2019. I fit right in with my trombone section, and I knew it would greatly influence my social life for the better and it fulfilled that promise for all four years.

The relationships I have with my fellow trombone players have been some of the most meaningful. I also found substantial commu-

Sing, which will take place at 7 p.m. in the Physical Learning Center.

“We hope that families can spend some time just enjoying being together and watching their students shine during their performances. It is a more relaxed time than move-in or move-out days, graduation, so we hope that everyone can just enjoy the activities of their students’ home away from home.”

“We also understand that some families cannot return to campus for this event due to the fact that they live further away, so we also encourage them to come to campus during Homecoming in the fall if they are able to. For those who are unable to at-

ness decreases the worry parents of children with special needs have over what their child is looking at online. They hope their business “shows others how technology can be used in a fruitful way that has a redemptive impact among children with special needs.”

BRIDGE, a social media and networking platform built for musicians, finished with the second-highest total in revenue, taking home $4,600 between the panel of judges and a share of the fan favorite vote. BRIDGE was created by juniors Elliot Eyre, Caleb Warrick and Maura Donatelli.

“Currently every social media is visual based both in content and algorithms, so musicians are at a disadvantage when it comes to building an audience on social media,” said Eyre. “We have solved this by creating a platform built around audio rather than visuals that

nity in my housing group, Zeta Xi Omega (Zenoids), my ICO team and the Revelation Ringers College Handbell Choir.

I had the blessing of taking the Trombone Choir to play at my family’s church in central Pennsylvania while giving them a fun weekend with my family on our farm, twice. These trips were unique opportunities that involved several things I love: family, friends, my favorite place, my favorite instrument and worshiping God.

tend in person, many events are also livestreamed, and all those links can be found at www.gcc.edu/familyweekend,” Corey said.

With a wide variety of exciting events taking place, Family Weekend 2023 promises to provide each member of this community with something to enjoy. To find the full schedule of events taking place, head on over to www. gcc.edu/familyweekend and prepare to enjoy time with family, friends and this incredible community we all share.

caters exactly to the needs of musicians.”

Eyre came up with the idea last semester while he was trying to find a new way of marketing his music. He believes that social media is extremely difficult and timeconsuming for musicians to navigate.

“I designed and coded the app myself using Figma, Xcode, HTML, CSS and JavaScript, as well as creating my own business plan, executive investor packets and financial projections for the business,” said Eyre. “Caleb and Maura were brought in late in the process and are more team members that will be utilized more extensively in the future.”

Eyre and company want to be the go-to outlet for musicians and producers and create a new way for them “to express themselves without the roadblocks that come from modern media outlets.”

At Grove City, I learned more about what it means to be a Christian friend. This involved attempting to speak grace and truth to others, being slow to anger and quick to forgive and holding each other accountable as we walked the narrow way.

I learned how to be open and intentional, help others well, be humble enough to ask for help and develop a servant mindset.

Some advice to current and future Grovers is to always leave time in your schedule

RETIREMENT

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the realization that creativity is the thing he enjoys most.

“On an infinitely higher level, I think that is what God is doing with each of us and all of us,” said Mohr. “Considering the staggering amounts of patient labor, he has been willing to invest in us and his idea of what we will finally become must be glorious.”

Mohr also made sure to state that he is going to miss the dining halls.

Carson has been a professor since 1985, having held faculty positions at Cal Poly, Pomona; Arizona State University; University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; and Geneva College before ending his career at Grove City.

“My situation is a bit unusual,” said Carson. “I was a full-time professor of management at Grove City College from 2015 to 2022. I served as chair of the Department of Management and Marketing from 2017 to 2022. This past year, I have been in a half-time faculty position as the college searched for my replacement. I teach, or have taught, courses in management, human resources and statistics.”

Carson noted he is at a fairly typical age for retirement, and he and his wife are looking forward to the flexibility to engage in various volunteer roles and to do some traveling. Their five children and three grandchildren are currently residing in four different states, so they have “lots of reasons to travel.”

“Grove City College was a great place for me to end my academic career,” said Car-

to help others. Treat everyone you encounter like they matter. You can’t make connections with your mouth shut. Take advantage of the type of community only college can provide.

Make opportunities for fun times with your friends. Seek God in the physical and mental areas of your life in addition to the spiritual and allow your Christian spirituality to bleed into every area of your life.

son. “I have greatly appreciated the seriousness with which the college strives to live up to its Christian identity and mission. I have thoroughly enjoyed my faculty and staff colleagues and have enjoyed working with hundreds of Grove City College students. It has been a privilege to be here, and I am grateful to the college administration for giving me the opportunity to serve here.”

Throckmorton, who has been at the college since 1994, taught several courses in the Psychology Department, including but not limited to Principles of Counseling, History and Systems of Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Preparation of the Mental Health Professions, Personality Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology.

“I had a private practice in counseling before I came here and taught at Shawnee State University part-time for 10 years,” said Throckmorton. “I came to Grove City College to start the Counseling Center in 1994 and then moved into the faculty full-time in 2005.”

Throckmorton claimed there were several reasons that led to his retirement.

“Two chief factors are my desire to pursue activities I like while I am young enough to enjoy them and my disappointment with the Board’s response to the critical race theory issue,” said Throckmorton.

He added that he will miss his students and colleagues and that “Grove City has been and can be a special place in the higher-ed world. I pray the college resists outside efforts to pull it off course.”

CENTER FOR BIBLE COUNSELING AND DISCIPLESHIP

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Green thumbs plant mums Campus garden springs to life

Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

Brenda (Millican ’80) McNulty, wife of President Paul J. McNulty ’80, and the student community garden serve as a picturesque example of the call to stewardship and exploration of natural creation. The careful planning and zealous nurturing of these garden caretakers create some of the most beautiful and richly diverse corners of creation.

The garden behind the president’s house not only provides the campus with a diverse array of vegetables and flowers but gives them a window into what ordered cultivation has to offer.

McNulty began her gardening journey long before returning to campus with President McNulty. She began by experimenting with a variety of flowers and vegetables.

“Gardening expands my

view of God’s creation. You can start with a seed the size of a pin and it eventually grows into a huge plant. It’s amazing to me. Everything is so unique and different. Even if it’s not beautiful, it’s interesting and a joy to grow,” McNulty said. She learned how different climates, soils and conditions impact plant growth and garden planning. Over the years, she accumulated knowledge through trial and error strengthening, her passion for gardening and a desire to share the gift with others.

“By the time you’re my age, you admire people who have put a lot of time into one thing, and they get good at it. I felt like I was spread among a lot of interests. So, I decided to pour my energies into learning more about gardening and practicing it,” she said.

Upon her return to the college, McNulty was determined to create the garden

this community deserved.

After discussing benefits and plans with administrators, she finally got the go-ahead to begin planting in 2020. Despite the unforeseen complications that arose during COVID-19, the garden endured and has become a beloved landmark within this community.

“Gardening can give us hope. Even when the rest of the world shuts down, nature keeps going. It is encouraging to see the beauty and order of nature even in the most trying chapters of life,” she said.

To sustain the project, McNulty has assembled a team of roughly 10 to 15 students who help plan, plant and cultivate it. Students help the president’s wife experiment with new vegetables and find more efficient ways to grow more challenging crops.

The full process begins with seedlings in the McNulty’s basement and ends with a bountiful harvest in the fall.

It is as much an experimental science as it is a calming pastime.

“I love it when people who have never gardened before realize it’s not that big of a deal. I always hear people claim that they ‘don’t have a green thumb.’ If you have the motivation to grow something, are willing to follow the directions and can stay consistent with it, you will find success,” McNulty said.

The hard work, dedication and determination of McNulty to her craft stands as a testament to both the knowledge and faith explored by all at Grove City College.

The campus garden truly brings this community together in a unique way. It is open for all students to enjoy, whether for the flowers and veggies it produces or for the photo spot it creates. Stop by in the fall to experience the beauty and bounty firsthand.

Are we soulmates or just similar?

I met a guy the other night while shopping in Pittsburgh, and we had a lot in common. At the end of our conversation, he gave me his number and said we should get together sometime when we’re back home. However, I’m not sure how to tell if he was flirting with me or just excited about our similarities. Am I reading into things too much? – Overthinking Grover

Dear Overthinking Grover,

You’re in a tricky situation. There’s a lot that seems to have gone on that makes even me interpret the interaction in a few different ways.

Because he gave you his number, he definitely could have been flirting with you. Sharing personal details of communication tends to be a strong way for someone to indicate they are willing to build a deeper relationship with someone else.

However, since he only gave you his number, he is effectively putting the ball in your court, allowing you to engage further if you want. He is not requiring any-

thing of you, and even if you both go back to your home county, you might never run across each other again. If he was really flirting, he may have asked for your number as well so that he could reach out to you.

Truthfully, some guys are just quite outgoing, and for a guy to run into another who shares a lot of his interests might get him talking about those similarities. Depending on the nature of your similarities, he might be interested in doing some of those together with other groups of friends.

Are you interested in this guy at all? Since you’ve only had one interaction with

him, I really mean at all. Is there anything in you that thinks, “Yeah, I wouldn’t mind meeting with him once more to see what happens?”

If there is, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to reach back out to him.

The earlier you respond will communicate to him your level of interest. If you text him soon, he might think you are interested, but if you wait until the summer, then that communicates a desire to keep him at a distance.

I find it unlikely that he would already be dating a woman if he got this excited about meeting you and gave you his number.

I’d encourage you to think back through your conversation to see if you can pick up any more details about him that might help you decide what you want to do. But you can take great comfort in his concern for you. He is letting you determine the next steps of whatever happens, so you don’t need to feel pressured to act in a certain way. Hope this all helps!

Dr. Love Love M.D.

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Brenda (Millican ‘80) McNulty and her student helpers work in the campus garden. Every year, McNulty starts the seeds in her basement and plants them as seedlings in the spring.

Seven questions with…

Dr. Gillis Harp

Orchesis dances like nobody’s watching

Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

This weekend, Orchesis looks to move the community once again with their spring show “Dance Like Nobody’s Watching.”

This year’s performance revolves around familiar idioms, sayings and expressions in the English language that are expressed through dance. The dance company, after delivering an amazing run of “Clue” in the fall, looks to build upon their success with this unique, creative show.

The theme of the show serves as one example of the many idioms that will be illustrated through these exciting, emotional numbers. Each choreographer had the opportunity to experiment with and express the many complexities conveyed by these wacky sayings.

From somewhat cliché expressions like “butterflies in your stomach” to more obscure ones like “it takes two to tango” to a classic “ring by spring,” these inventive numbers promise to give all audience members something to look forward to.

Sophomore Arami Hillebrand spoke of her Orchesis experience: “Orchesis

has been such an amazing way for me to carry my love for dance into college. The community of dancers have turned into some of my greatest friends and dancing with them throughout the week and putting on a show is so much fun.”

Regarding the theme, she said, “I have found that the dancers are able to express emotions from their own personal stories into the idioms to dance as if nobody is watching. There are so many creative and beautiful storytelling pieces this semester that you really don’t want to miss out on. I’m so excited for everyone to see!”

The performance itself consists of 20 choreographed pieces, showcasing the diversity of dance disciplines–contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, jazz and ballet–that the company has to offer. Each of the 68 dancers who will be seen leaping and spinning across the stage has dedicated countless hours to make this show a success.

“We promote an inclusive environment in Orchesis. We do this by providing multiple styles and levels of dances. Orchesis is unique because of the wide variety of people we get to work with,” said junior

Olivia Foster, who serves as the junior head of spring Orchesis.

Foster has been planning for the spring performance prior to winter break. Since then, Foster and senior Gianna Mamone, the performance’s senior head, and their team of 24 choreographers worked together to audition dancers, choose songs, organize rehearsals and perfect each ensemble.

“Gianna and I chose the theme because it gives lots of opportunities for choreographers to be creative. We have

Professor of History

Why did you choose the career path you did?

I came from an academic family. As a kid, I was always fascinated by history. In high school, some friends nicknamed me “the historian.” That could explain my lack of dates.

Favorite movie?

I’ve been obsessed with old film noir in recent years. I recommend three in particular: “Laura” (1944), “Out of the Past” (1947) and “Sunset Boulevard” (1950). Best concert film (by far): “The Last Waltz” (1978).

What is your favorite restaurant?

Love the Original Oyster Bar in Pittsburgh, especially for the atmosphere.

What kind of music do you like to listen to?

I guess people now call it Americana or Roots music. Everything from Mahalia Jackson to Muddy Waters, to Hank Williams, to Bob Dylan.

Interesting hobbies?

loved watching all our hard work come together to bring joy to the Grove City College community. We hope that audiences walk away feeling that joy and thinking more deeply about life,” Foster said.

Spring Orchesis began yesterday evening and offers two more performances, tonight at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. in the Physical Learning Center. Stop by the SAC to pick up tickets and prepare to be amazed by this showcase of masterful movement and skill.

Vintage sports car racing. Contrary to a student rumor, I was never actually on the Canadian Olympic speed skating team.

What are you looking forward to today?

Reading one of the seminar papers from our History Capstone senior seminar.

What do you like most about working at the college?

My wonderful colleagues. Also, teaching the Trustee section of HUMA 200 recently has been a real treat.

College alum Bateman breaks barriers

Violet Whitmore Community Editor

Alumna Arielle Bateman

’10 is living proof that a major does not define a person, and that uncertainty can bring benefits.

With an English degree, volunteer experience and newspaper writing under her belt, Bateman’s time in college prepared her to work in many areas.

While an undergrad at Grove City College, Bateman worked for The Collegian, spending all four years as a staff member. She began as a reporter and later served as

Managing Editor and finally as Editor-in-Chief. “Those experiences taught me the importance of good writing, the value of a snappy lede and the necessity of meeting deadlines.”

Bateman’s degree prepared her for fundraising, museum work and her current position, head of channel integration at International Justice Mission (IJM).

IJM is the largest antitrafficking organization in the world and is dedicated to protecting people from modern slavery, trafficking and other forms of violence.

“Right after college is your time to start earning and to build up practical work experience, where you’ll develop skills and start identifying your strengths. It’s also a

wonderful time to volunteer. All those work and volunteer experiences shaped me profoundly and prepared me for the next season,” she said.

Bateman’s love of writing and experience with journalism while at the college proved essential for her future career and were also fueled by passion.

Although interested at first in a career in journalism or editing, Bateman ended up using her major in a different way. “Storytelling is the essence of direct response fundraising, and that’s where my English degree has been so helpful,” said Bateman. Her impactful work connects her to people across the world and truly makes a difference in others’ lives. Bateman said, “Using a wide

variety of channels, my team introduces people to the problem of trafficking and invites them to experience the joy of being part of the solution.”

“I love working with so many gifted, passionate colleagues at IJM. And I thank God for the incredible privilege of telling the stories of people who have survived violence, and now are leading the fight to end trafficking in their own communities.”

To those who are not sure what their future will hold, Bateman advises them to have faith in God, his timing, yourself and his ultimate plan for you. Trust your past experiences and seek out new ones. You don’t have to have everything figured out.

“My career and my life

have gone places that I never thought possible, not because of my merits but because of the grace of God,” she reflected.

“There is not enough space here to tell you how good and kind our Father is, especially toward overachievers who think we need to do it all ourselves. Hold everything loosely.”

Bateman has learned that ultimately, we are not in charge of our own fate.

“The sooner we stop trying to write the story of how our lives and our careers are supposed to go, the sooner we can step into the story he’s writing—and his story is far bigger, richer, fuller than anything we could have imagined on our own.”

GRACE DAVID

Orchesis dancers practice the tango for their spring show. Over 70 students are featured in the production and perform in 17 numbers.

BATEMAN

GRACE DAVID

The routines are all based on idioms and familiar sayings.

Bringing Lux Mea to life

Communication Arts students produce third annual film festival

The Lux Mea Film Festival encapsulates the gifts and talents that shine through the students in the Communication & Visual Arts Department at Grove City College. It is the perfect event to wrap up the year and showcase a taste of the hard work produced by filmmakers, actors and the students in Professor Gregory Bandy’s Special Events and Promotions class.

The class spent the entire semester preparing for the evening, from designing posters to creating promotional videos and crafting public relations pieces. Under Prof B’s guidance, each student was an integral part in this inspiring celebration of art.

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Gracie Turnbaugh

Gracie Turnbaugh

Gracie Turnbaugh

Gracie Turnbaugh

U.S. doesn’t need Biden President continues purely reactional campaign

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

If one thing is guaranteed with the upcoming 2024 presidential election, it is the generic announcements made by those seeking the office of the presidency.

On April 25, I witnessed one of the worst, most uninspiring presidential announcement videos in my life. The video began with melancholic music as dramatic images appeared, showing Trump supporters violently clashing with Capitol police, a terrified woman protesting the Dobbs decision outside the Supreme Court and an image of a fading White House amid chaos. As the music waned, an old man suddenly appeared and made a one-word statement:

“Freedom.”

This was the 10-second opening to President Joe Biden’s three-minute announcement declaring his reelection run for the 2024 presidency.

The message that President Biden promoted throughout his announcement focused on two key themes: freedom and anti-extremism. Biden stated, “This has been the work of my first term – to fight for democracy, protect our rights and make sure that everyone in this country is treated equally.”

Biden managed to tie the idea of freedom to his crusade against what he views as a rise of “MAGA extremism” from the right and Republican Party. Biden reuses much of the rhetoric from his 2020 campaign in his 2024 announcement as he stated, “When I ran for president four years ago, I said we are in a battle for the soul of

America. And we still are. The question we are facing is whether in the years ahead we have more freedom or less freedom.”

Biden’s plea for a second term concludes in his video with the simple message: “Let’s finish the job.”

Biden’s announcement comes as a surprise as there had been speculation whether he would run again due to concerns for the 80-year-old president’s health. While he is seen as the clear frontrunner for the Democratic Party, calls for an alternative candidate prompted prominent progressives such as Marianne Williamson, former 2020 presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, and Robert Kennedy Jr., son of Bobby Kennedy and nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, to run for commander-in-chief in the hopes of securing the Democratic nomination.

According to a recent poll conducted by Emerson College from April 24-25, President Biden is ahead of all the other candidates by 49 points, with Biden receiving 70 percent of support among Democratic voters compared to Kennedy’s 21 percent and eight percent for Williamson.

While Biden campaigns as the frontrunner with the notion of “finishing the job,” I have to wonder what his job was in the first place. Since the 2020 election, Biden and his Democratic counterparts have had no clear vision as to what the top priorities are for this administration.

Biden’s issue is that he has never really had to run on substance until recently, following the 2022 midterms. The Biden-Harris ticket was never about substance or the interests of the American people but rather was a purely reactionary ticket against an unpopular president,

whom they wish to challenge again.

Additionally, Biden and his staff fail to realize they themselves have become more extreme than their Trumpian counterparts. Whether it has been promoting gender ideology or enabling critical race theory to expand within his administration, Biden has embraced many of the traits he accused Trump of advancing, such as racism and misogyny.

It seems clear that Biden’s sniffer currently works better than his capacity to rationalize his failure that his own extremism lingers in irrationalism. Despite the efforts to paint himself as an antiextremist, such attitudes will cost him the 2024 election, which may be the best retirement gift that could be offered.

Stay hopeful, not optimistic

Isaac Willour Staff Writer

Real talk: I don’t generally write about optimistic things, in case it’s not obvious.

As I write this, I’m preparing an interview with a Ukrainian woman whose child escaped from Russian captivity. This is one story among hundreds in an unfolding tale of widespread child-stealing that international organizations are on the verge of considering genocide. So yep, not optimistic.

Yet there’s still a lot to be hopeful about, and given that this is the last issue of the semester, I want to talk about how I reconcile those two.

What is optimism? It’s more than seeing the glass half full. While optimists are usually perceived as be-

ing focused on the positive side of a situation, they’re also likely to overestimate the likelihood of a positive outcome while downplaying the chances of a situation ending badly. It can certainly be helpful, particularly in responding to setbacks or temporary hardships. Yet the more people I meet, the fewer optimists I find.

Why? Because, at its root, optimism is the idea that things will always turn out well, no matter the opposition and despite the unpredictability of life. And if life is about one thing, it’s that things do not always go well; bad things happen to good people (before the Calvinists respond, just take a breath and listen).

The Ukrainians I know didn’t deserve to have their villages destroyed by the ravages of war, and they are not optimistic in the way I’ve described. Yet they’re

unbelievably hopeful; in the face of death, life continues in a truly baffling fashion. This isn’t optimism. It’s the most courageous kind of hope possible.

The second reason to be hopeful is the human capacity for good, as strange as that may sound. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt argues that one of modern society’s most pernicious ideas is that life is a battle between bad people and good people. It’s a key indicator of being the worst kind of political ideologue—as Soviet political prisoner Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn famously noted, the line between good and evil goes through every human being, including you and me. We all have a tremendous capacity for doing evil, and I’m the last person to pretend that I’ve never failed to restrain that. Yet the lesson I learned from years of

self-reflection and, perhaps more persuasively, heard from some of the toughest people I’ve ever met is that we have the choice to choose the good.

I’m thinking of mental warriors like Sunny Cheung, a Hong Kong expatriate who wakes up every morning battling horrific survivor’s guilt over his fellow democracy protestors left at the CCP’s mercy in Hong Kong and still fights for freedom as an advocate for justice. Or Viktor Cherniivaskyi, who bears the memory of horrific torture in a Russian basement almost a decade ago and still gets up day after day to serve the Ukrainian army and fight for a brighter future for his wife and young son. The human capacity for evil is strong, and the power of totalitarians who wake up every day and choose evil is not to be trifled with or met with mere flowery optimism.

Yet the will to resist evil and pursue the calling of life and liberty is also strong, and meeting people who embody that will has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my professional life. More than that, it gives me hope. It’s no secret that the world is dark and life is scary, but to ignore the remaining light is the easiest way I know how to darken the soul. Things will not always turn out well for the free, the faithful or the innocent. Yet this shouldn’t lead us to walk away from the fight. In fact, it should galvanize us for every battle, losing or otherwise, with joy in our hearts, strength in our fight and a light in our eyes that’s bigger than naïve optimism. That optimism is fleeting – hope is forever.

Crow’s collection is only a reminder

Benjamin Jones

Contributing Writer

An article by independent journalism site ProPublica reported in April that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted luxury trips from millionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow for decades, despite federal law requiring the disclosure of most gifts to judges in order to keep judges unbiased toward defendants.

The spotlight on Crow has also raised scrutiny on the real estate mogul’s massive collection of artifacts and memorabilia from past dictators and despots, most notably Adolf Hitler.

There’s an ethical paradox to be evaluated from both scenarios related to Harlan Crow. The 73-year-old is the chairman and former CEO of Crow Holdings, a Texasbased real estate firm established to maintain the capital of his father, Trammell Crow, who pioneered skyscrapers across the U.S. and was, at one time, considered the largest private landlord in the country.

Crow also has major rightwing political leanings and has kept a long-term relationship with friend Clarence Thomas, the second African American in history to hold the title of Supreme Court justice. The quarter-of-acentury friendship has included multiple family trips, a real estate deal and tons of gifts, none of which Thomas

felt the need to disclose since Crow hasn’t been a defendant in a Supreme Court case. However, Democrats have been bent on getting Thomas off the court to shift the balance away from the conservative-leaning court majority. I suspect the criticism of Thomas and Crow’s relationship, as well as the public outing of Crow’s private collection, is merely a smokescreen by left-leaning ProPublica (considered “the left’s biggest muckraker you’ve never heard of”) to discredit Justice Thomas in the mission to get him taken off the court.

The issue of Crow’s collection can still be explained, although the United States should be a place where private property/possession may be kept private. When

asked if he was a Nazi supporter because of his collection, Crow answered abruptly, “My mom was on a ship that was sunk by Germans during World War II. If you try to kill my mom, I don’t like you.”

His collection doesn’t glorify the failed dictators but merely shows the downfall of men who threatened freedom and were overcome by power, a lesson every millionaire should take to heart. The “Garden of Evil,” which includes statues of dictators like Vladimir Lenin, stays preserved and in solace. Lenin’s statue still has white stains on the stone coat from the white paint thrown by protestors.

The debate about controversial monuments also applies to the debate of Con-

The real source of poverty plaguing Sudan

Scott Cross

Contributing Writer

Mere days before it received renewed attention because of an ongoing civil war, Sudan and many other African countries were promoted by news organizations as citadels of suffering.

Viewers were subjected to heart-wrenching images of gaunt, skeletal bodies of starving children crying out in hunger. Families were left with emaciated cows and selling sticks as options for producing any livelihood. After observing these agonizing spectacles, the only logical question anyone could have is: Why does this poverty exist?

Fortunately, the impeccably informative news sites quickly relieved us of this uncertainty. Climate change is the answer, they declared. Not global warming, but the new existential threat of human-caused climate change had resulted in an increase in water levels, leading to accentuated poverty in Sudan and the greater African region. This justified a sizable increase in government spending in the area.

It doesn’t take much to discover that this reasoning is filled with both logical and factual errors.

Famines and poverty have been the norm in society since time immemorial. This was before any accusations of climate change were leveled at humanity (the West in particular). Indeed, the West, until quite recently,

was one of the primary victims of extreme famines.

Before the 1700s, people in England and the West lived fearing they would be struck with a poor growing season, forcing them to go hungry through the next year.

This fact shows us that Sudan’s experience is a completely regular aspect of human existence. Prosperity is the exception to history rather than the rule. Poverty is not lessened by demonizing certain portions of the world with accusations of climate change. It is also necessary to point out the distinct possibility that “climate change” is not the main cause of the Sudanese people’s poverty.

According to virtually every available metric, climaterelated deaths have been substantially decreasing at a sharp rate since at least the 1930s. In 2022, we saw the

fewest climate deaths ever recorded. With the effects of the supposed primary catalyst of poverty in Sudan being drastically reduced, it seems logical that Sudan’s people would also see reduced evidence of poverty in their country. But Sudan is as poor as ever. This should lead us to believe that Sudan, and much of the rest of Africa, is drowning in poverty for a different reason.

This separate reason is Sudan’s form of government. Sudan possesses one of the most oppressive and authoritarian governments in the entire world. According to The Heritage Foundation, of the 176 countries the organization grades in terms of economic freedom, Sudan ranks 173rd.

Only Venezuela, Cuba and North Korea have more repressive economies. Private

property rights are abysmally negligible, and bureaucratic corruption runs rampant. The result is people are either unwilling or unable to go through the process of producing a good when they know their right to possess it will not be respected.

Additionally, when government organizations like USAID spend exorbitant amounts of resources on Sudan, dispatching an additional $288 million, the incentives for citizens to increase their productivity or attempt to instill reforms in their government are significantly reduced.

This isn’t to say we shouldn’t help Sudan, but we should consider who “we” really are and whether the U.S. is unintentionally propping up these dictatorial regimes by showering them with welfare.

federate war monuments scattered across the Southern United States. Are these glorifications? Are they still glorifications even after their supporters are gone? Consider the Egyptian pyramids: Pharaoh’s grave chambers took the lives of hundreds of slaves to build. Do they still serve the same purpose of glorifying Pharaoh or stand now more as a reminder of the bygone Egyptian civilization?

The monuments of past enemies and “bad guys” can remind us of the past, for we need to see both sides of history to truly understand it. In the end, the importance of sustained artifacts isn’t the side they are from but the significance, and all history should be considered significant.

Letter to the Editor

My wife and I attended the Lux Mea Film Festival last Saturday. While we were both impressed by the creativity, acting and production abilities our students demonstrated, we were disappointed by the content of several of the films.

“Lux Mea,” the Latin phrase and name of the festival (and ostensibly its purpose), is also prominently featured in the college’s seal. The phrase is written over an image of an open book symbolizing the Bible. The meaning of the phrase and the centrality of the image in the seal is that God’s Word is to be “my light.” Not only are we to be guided by God’s light, but we are called to reflect that light through our lives and work.

That said, the language used and themes presented in several of the films did not (in our opinion) reflect such light. Instead, they were quite dark. While this would be unsurprising at a secular film festival, they struck us as inappropriate for a Lux Mea event at a college that seeks to reflect God’s light.

So much of today’s popular media is already dark. I wish the talents of our students would be used to shine a light into that darkness rather than contribute to it. I do not wish to sound prudish or mean-spirited; I am simply sharing my heartfelt belief that undergirds the reason I teach here: to encourage students to think deeply about, and to live out, the true meaning of “Lux Mea.”

Dr. Scott K. Powell Professor of Marketing

BLOOMBERG

Tunes from the Tower ‘Jackman’ Vince

Clay

Staff Writer

There was once a time when Jack Harlow ruled the world. From sports game paparazzi photos to charming talk show appearances to two number-one hits and a performance with Fergie, he was truly at the top of the entertainment world.

Harlow was the new sex symbol for a generation of suburban kids whose pop music had been replaced by rap. He wooed the crowd and repped his hometown of Louisville, Ky. But it’s tough to decipher if his new album “Jackman” supports that image.As it often does, public opinion dramatically changed, thus turning a critical eye on Mr. Harlow. The Guardian wrote in 2020 that Harlow had just enough charisma to pull off “using language that is usually cringe-worthy coming from suburban white people.”

His albums went from earnest representations of his hometown and respect for hip-hop culture into thirst-trapping and egotistical bluffing on his charttopping record “Come Home the Kids Miss You.”

So after a relatively quiet year away from the showbiz shenanigans, Harlow is back with “Jackman,” a brief 24-minute tape that is a serious change of tone. The Jack that once dropped bars like, “Dua Lipa / I’m tryna do more with her than do a feature” is now critical, rapping “Frat boys sayin’ ‘No cap, put racks on it’ / The dialect got a lil’ splash of some black on it.”

The change feels shallow, like it was made simply to satiate the audience’s disapproval. After all, was Jack not that very same frat boy from before, utilizing black slang? Even the new album’s sound is generic; who is going to argue against some Kanyeesque soul rap?

Digging deeper though Jack actually drops some unique insights into his position. On “Denver,” Harlow lays his soul bare. “Just got off the stage on the TODAY Show and basically felt soulless… it was fun when we were known less.” In “Blame on Me,” Harlow dissects his rocky relationship with his brother, in the process weaving an American story more convincing than Lana Del Rey’s.

In the uncomfortable but convicting “Gang Gang Gang,” Harlow addresses unconditional love and what that could mean when close friends or family mess up big time. Even though “Jackman” doesn’t provide a lot of answers, it is a chill rap-listen with some decent bars from rap’s one-time Adonis.

Mulaney’s comedy comeback Post-rehab comedy special hits Netflix

David Smith Staff Writer

The Comeback Kid is back but in a different way. It has been a while since John Mulaney’s last stand-up special, five years to be exact. According to Mulaney, a lot has happened in that period of time. His past five years makes up the premise of his new Netflix special “Baby J.”

Gone is the spry, young John Mulaney who would joke about his sobriety. He is effectively replaced in this special by an older, more weathered man who has once again put himself through the wringer of addiction and substance abuse.

One of the first topics Mulaney delves into is his starstudded intervention. “They were all comedians, yet no one said a funny thing the

entire night,” said Mulaney of his friends. The fact that they are all comedians refusing to tell jokes was maddening to Mulaney who was, at the time, crashing after a cocaine high.

Although “Baby J” takes some time to pick up steam, it eventually allows Mulaney to sway smoothly from joke to joke, but there are still questions that remain about the special.

Mulaney’s reputation has now changed, and he is fully aware of it. But does he succeed at debunking his polished persona? That can certainly be disputed. The current version of Mulaney’s new stand-up is laugh out loud funny, but he could have elaborated on some stories or dug a little deeper on some topics.

One of the funniest bits

is about how Mulaney got a quack doctor to write him prescriptions for Adderall, Xanax and Percocet. This is what he deems “a providence special.”

Mulaney quips that if you want to find a doctor to write prescriptions for strong narcotics, you have to search for the doctor who has the worst ratings online. It is nice to see someone make a comeback, even in Mulaney’s strange and gritty context. Early in the show, Mulaney makes it clear that he knows his reputation has changed. What makes the special stand out is how Mulaney portrays the duality of man.

For years, we saw Mulaney as a nice guy who wanted to do good things. Now through his blatant honesty, we see Mulaney as he really is: a human being who has done

wrong and seeks redemption through his newfound sobriety.In fact, he attempts to connect to the audience, singing in a vaudevillian style: “We all quarantined! We all went to rehab, and we all got divorced.”

Sure, he doesn’t really address his divorce, but maybe that is simply out of respect. Everything else, for the most part, is the ugly truth about addiction. Sometimes when mentioning topics such as addiction, it is necessary to include humor to process the weight of it all. I hope the special was a cathartic experience in lieu of Mulaney’s recovery. Even if it hasn’t exactly been a form of healing for him, “Baby J” was a brutally honest depiction of how the perils of substance abuse don’t discriminate based on celebrity status.

The genius behind ‘Jury Duty’

Nick Grasso Entertainment Editor

If you follow mainstream television, have an Amazon Prime account or don’t live under a rock, chances are you’ve heard of the immensely popular reality TV/ hidden camera show “Jury Duty.”

Creators Lee Eisenburg and Gene Stupnitsky think up the wildly creative idea of holding a court case in which everyone including the plaintiff, defendant, judge, bailiff and courthouse employees are actors. Every single member of the jury is also an actor, except for Ronald Gladden, who is under the impression that the entire operation is real life.

The show paints an absurdly realistic picture of what the United States legal system is like, complete with an untimely 17-day sequestering, a legal case with witnesses and cross-examinations and a diverse group of jurors who appeared to not want to be there.Gladden has no idea the whole thing is an act. Through all the chaos and relationship building that takes place between a group of strangers kept in isolation for two weeks, Gladden thinks it’s all real.

Noteworthy “Jury Duty” performers include faux jurors Richard Marsden, Kirk Fox and Ross Kimball, all of whom have acted extensively. Since the show is meant to depict real life, it’s assumed

that Gladden wouldn’t recognize any of the lot except for Marsden, who as the celebrity juror, is a focal point of the show.

“Jury Duty” captures much of what the American legal system looks like, but more than that it chronicles the day-to-day goings of an average good guy. Gladden is selected as the foreman, aka the juror responsible for leading the other members of the jury, keeping in mind important pieces of evidence and delivering the verdict at the conclusion of the case.

Gladden excels at all his duties and repeatedly displays quality character and upstanding decision-making.

When Marsden pulls a paparazzi stunt to try getting out of serving jury duty, it leads to the judge sequestering the group of jurors to focus on the case. This forces all 12 jurors to remain in isolation for two weeks, stuck

in the courthouse and hotel, with limited time for restaurant trips.Gladden never lets it slide that Marsden’s shenanigans are what landed the group in isolation, instead choosing to keep Marsden’s secret and protect his image.

Later, Gladden plays wingman to the shy and quirky Noah Price (Mekki Leeper) whose made-up girlfriend leaves him in infidelity-induced sadness. With Gladden’s help, Price is able to make the most of his time as a juror with his new female friend Jeannie Abruzzo (Edy Modica).

Perhaps most notable is Gladden’s decision to befriend Todd Gregory (David Brown), an exceptionally odd individual with an affinity for mannequins. Gladden doesn’t shut him out or tease him behind his back but rather extends the hand of friendship in an inspiring display of kindness. Glad-

TIME

den’s remarkable good-guy persona is made all the better considering it’s not an act, as he thinks the whole situation is real.

The show concludes with Gladden sitting at the witness stand where the whole show is explained to him. He sits dumbfounded, mouth agape, with confusion written all over his face as the last two weeks of his life are revealed to have been on a TV show.

Even in his moment of confusion, Gladden shakes it off with a smile and a laugh. His kindness and time on the show earned him $100,000 in prize money. Not bad for 17 days of work.

“Jury Duty” has taken American audiences by storm, and rumblings of a second season have made the rounds on social media.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, I highly recommend you do so on Amazon Prime.

Tunes from the Tower ‘Feels Good!’

Vince Clay Staff Writer

Jessie Ware has just released her fifth full-length album “That! Feels Good!” The album is incredible, which does not come as a surprise. Ware has been in the game for a while, as her early singles date back to 2011–but experience does not always equal success.

‘Evil Dead Rise’ terrifies

Nick

Grasso

Entertainment Editor

Director Lee Cronin’s new horror flick “Evil Dead Rise” was nearly impossible to watch without leaving the room every 15 minutes to gather myself. As a fan of film, I recognize the place of horror films on the landscape of cinema, but as a once-ortwice-a-year type of guy when it comes to these movies it’s reasonable to note that when they hit, they hit hard.

Estranged sisters Ellie (Alyssa Sutherland) and Beth (Lily Sullivan) are reunited when Beth finds herself pregnant, alone and in need of help. Yet the pair, along with Ellie’s three children, are soon thrown into a chaotic night of terror when a supernatural force latches onto the group one by one.

An untimely earthquake shakes the foundation of El-

lie’s rickety apartment building early on in the film, allowing for Danny, Ellie’s eldest child, to curiously stray into an underground ritual site below the residence where he finds and steals a book of incredibly graphic and disturbing images, and brings it upstairs to show his little sister.

The book brings with it a nasty entity that first attaches itself to Ellie, who subsequently delivers a horrifying speech about wanting to cut her children open.

Predictable chaos ensues, as the demon (or whatever it’s supposed to be), begins to infest each member of the family until only Beth and Ellie’s youngest child, Kassie (Nell Fisher) are left to fend off their possessed loved ones.

There’s not a whole lot to unpack here; it’s a standard horror installment with some diabolical dismemberment and predictable jump scares.

Watching this movie

wasn’t enjoyable and here’s why: Horror movies are at their best when the monster isn’t shown. Subtle movements in the background, effectively timed musical crescendos and built-up tension are what draw in audiences who crave that jolt of adrenaline.

But what “Evil Dead Rise” lacks in all those things, it makes up for with utterly grotesque depictions of contorted humans and notable special effects work.

In one of the penultimate scenes, the possessed Ellie and her two possessed children become conjoined and proceed to crawl at Beth and Kassie as a twisted triplehuman creature. It was horrifying, but for a split second I found myself pondering the technical skill it must have taken to create that image.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the film was the character development of

the three children. It seemed as if the director addressed them for five minutes before shooting a scene, telling them to act related but forgetting to mention they should pretend to love each other.

There was no familiarity or intimate connection between siblings who were all working together to escape their murderous mother for most of the film.

“Evil Dead Rise” is more of a slasher movie than a horror film in the sense that gore and blood make up most of the “pop” in the piece.

A generic horror flick that’s not for the faint of heart, “Evil Dead Rise” brought some interesting special effects to the table but was forgettable in every other way.

If you don’t like blood and guts, I’d steer clear of this one, and to the horror film fanatic I would say that there are far better options out there.

Boo! ‘Ghosted’ is goodhearted fun

Nick Grasso Entertainment Editor

Chris Evans and Ana de Aramas star in Apple TV’s new romantic action flick “Ghosted,” directed by Dexter Fletcher, also featuring Adrien Brody and Mike Moh.

This high-paced adventure story delivers vibes like past Netflix films “Red Notice” and “6 Underground” and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Cole Turner (Evans) is a mild-mannered farmer whose destiny changes when he meets Sadie Rhodes (de Armas) at a local farmers’ market. The two converse while Sadie looks for a house plant to purchase, but things go south when Cole’s needy attitude gives rise to an argument on relationship dynamics.

When a side character later mentions the obvious chemistry and sexual tension between Porter and Rhodes to Cole, he chases Sadie down and convinces her to go on a date.

Unfortunately, a great first date is ruined by two things: Cole’s pesky habit of repeatedly sending desperately flirtatious texts that scream “needy” to Sadie, and of course Sadie’s job as a CIA operative where she lives by the motto “mission before man.”

Cole tracks down Sadie in London and is subsequently roped into a violent international mission where the two

battle Leveque (Brody), an arms dealer bent on securing a highly dangerous bioweapon known as the Aztec.

Generic action scenes, mid-fight quips and a predictable plot make up the rest of the film.

Thankfully, “Ghosted” doesn’t pretend to be anything more than a Saturday morning action flick with low stakes and lots of explosions. For this reason, it was easy to look past the film’s obvious cinematic flaws to focus on the fun.

For what it’s worth, Evans and Armas, both of whom have previously worked together on “Knives Out,” have a charming onscreen chemistry. Evans’ portrayal of a needy boyfriend turned CIA operative is wildly unrealistic and very entertaining.

De Armas, whose character is a cold-hearted killer,

predictably falls for Evans’ nice guy routine by the end of the two-hour flick.

Midway through the film, Cole transitions from a fearful farmer mistakenly along for a ride on the violenceexpress into a remarkably good fighter capable of dismantling practiced enemy operatives with weapons and fighting experience. His random knack for knocking out bad guys is explained away only by his dad’s constant reminder that “Cole wrestled in high school.”

The “rogue CIA agent” story has become a pesky staple of streaming service films. Look no further than “Red Notice,” “Gray Man” and now “Ghosted,” which all seem to recycle the same plot with minute differences that somehow justify the film being greenlit at all. What really allows these

films to continue making money is the profitability of the stars. Chris Evans and Ana de Armas are household names, so it doesn’t matter that “Ghosted” is just a reincarnation of every action movie ever made because when the former Captain America appears on screen, you better believe people are going to tune in.

It’s okay though because what “Ghosted” lacks in quality filmmaking, it makes up with an acknowledgment of its stupidity.

Dexter Fletcher is a good director, delivering such great films as “Eddie the Eagle,” “Rocketman” and “Bohemian Rhapsody,” so he must have known what “Ghosted” would become.

You can watch “Ghosted” on Apple TV today; just remember to enjoy it for what it is.

She was a great success in the UK, but by the time her 2017 album “Glasshouse” came around, the train was starting to slow She had written the album during her first pregnancy, and the album’s ballad-heavy track list did not fare well on the festival circuits she was slated to play. Her concerts were low-energy and dwindled in attendance.

Ware seemed to accept her fate and settled down for a few years. She raised a family, started a cooking podcast with her mother and rediscovered disco and house music. This rediscovery in 2020 led her to record what she thought was her final album, the upbeat “What’s Your Pleasure?” Instead of ending her career, the album completely resurrected it.

If “What’s Your Pleasure?” drifted mysteriously and seductively across the dance floor, “That! Feels Good!” is all-out Broadway–a wineglass smashing, a dancing-onthe-table fireworks display of showmanship. Disco and smooth soul anthems like lead single “Free Yourself” or “Beautiful People” tap into her previous album’s blend of rhythmic congas, four-on-the-floor drums and jazzy keys.

Where this album really distinguishes itself though is in the showstoppers, namely “Pearls,” “Begin Again” and “Shake the Bottle.”

Ware utilizes backup singers to decorate her melodies with call-andresponse while she belts overtop them like a diva. Each song contains flourishes of trumpets and bells and sweeping crescendos. Instead of shallowly rehashing old sounds, Ware breathes new life into classic pop tropes. In “Freak Me Now,” Ware recalls the 1978 hit “Le Freak” by disco band Chic.“Baby keep heating me up / Oh no don’t you go cool me down / Don’t you go cool me down / Freak me now!”, she shouts over a shuffling house beat.

In “Pearls,” Ware channels her inner Prince and seems to speak-sing in a telephone operator voice: “Excuse me / I don’t know about you / But I think it’s time to / shake it ‘til the pearls fall!’” With this album, Ware has most certainly delivered the pop album of the summer.

Doomsday is upon us Frisbee fights for spot at nationals

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Have you ever seen a big group of people wearing red and black camo jerseys with “Doomsday” written on the front and names like “Iceman” and “Legs” written on the back?

What you’re seeing is Grove City College’s Ultimate Frisbee team. Their team name is Doomsday, and those are their real names on the back.

Just kidding about the second part, but other than their bizarre jerseys, Ultimate Frisbee tends to fly under the radar.

The team has more than 40 members and is co-ed, with about half of those members also playing for the men’s team at the USA Ultimate (USAU) level.

“The club team is more intense than IM frisbee teams, but with about three practices a week, everyone has the opportunity to improve at the techniques and strategies of the game.

The team overall is co-ed, and everyone will have the opportunity to compete in tournaments both in the fall and spring seasons,” sophomore captain Ruby Ramgren said.

Ramgren started playing for the team in her freshman year after hearing from an upperclassman about the team. Since then, she shared that she’s made some of her closest friends on the team.

“My favorite part of being on the team is definitely the

community. As I said earlier, most of my closest friends are on the team, and I love playing with them. As a captain this year, I’ve enjoyed learning how to encourage this community, how to play frisbee better and how to help others learn the sport,” Ramgren said.

Sophomore Kenny Schley joined the team his freshman year after happening upon the team playing frisbee on the Quad.

Prior to playing at Grove City, Schley has played frisbee for years, both for fun and in inter-school competitions.

“I wish more people knew about Grove City College

Frisbee. Since we offer USAU and co-ed, anyone can have a good time. USAU is much more competitive, but if you just want to do frisbee as a hobby to have fun, co-ed is a great option,” Schley said.

Schley also spoke highly of the team’s culture, explaining how the captains have made it competitive and intense but fun.

“The culture is great. As fun as the sport is, playing with the group of guys I’m playing with makes it so much more enjoyable. I’ve grown close to so many of the guys and the bond between us is so much deeper than in other sports I’ve played, and that’s not because of the sport – it’s be-

MLAX headed to the ship

Rachel Ledford

Contributing Writer Grove City men’s lacrosse went into the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) playoffs as the number one seed and did not disappoint in the semifinal competition.

The Wolverines defeated number-four-seed Allegheny College on Wednesday with a final score of 23-10.

Sophomore attacks Zachary Hougan and Matt Blythe led Grove City’s goal-scoring with four goals each. They’re joined on the stat sheet by freshman midfielder Kobi Bui, who scored his career’s ninth hattrick.

Eleven of Grove City’s players scored during the game. The second quarter of the game was especially exciting as Grove City scored nine goals in that quarter alone, almost matching Allegheny’s entire score for the game.

Grove City outshot Allegheny 56-27 and shots on goal outnumbered Allegheny 3217. Senior midfielder David Kraus led the team with five ground balls. Grove City’s success on Wednesday night takes them into Saturday’s game with high spirits and home-field advantage.

Tomorrow, the Wolver-

ines play the Saint Vincent Bearcats in the PAC Championship game. This is a rematch of last year’s championship when the Wolverines defeated the Bearcats 17-4.

Grove City has their sights set on another bid to the DIII national tournament, and

with an undefeated conference record and playoff domination on their side, their chances of receiving a bid are high.

The Wolverines look to win their fourth straight championship tomorrow at 7 p.m. on Robert E. Thorn Field.

cause of the culture,” Schley said.

Junior Conner Truitt, also one of the team’s captains, has been playing frisbee since seventh grade. He shares the same sentiments as Ramgren and Schley about the team’s culture.

“The community that I have found in the team is rich. We have a Bible study once a week led by our chaplain which brings the team closer together as we discuss things about life that are far more important than playing frisbee.”

“The team grows close from the competition we take part in together, and through interacting outside of prac-

tice, over time it becomes a community that enjoys living life together,” Truitt said.

The team concluded their spring season’s tournaments last weekend, but now sets their sights on the future of the team.

“The team during the last three seasons has made it past conferences to regionals and are working toward earning our first bid to nationals,” Truitt said.

The team also hopes to recruit more women to play, so they can field a USAU women’s team.

“The sky’s the limit for Doomsday right now, and the whole team knows it,” Schley said.

TRACK continued from 16

also set a new school record in the women’s shotput.

Several men and women have qualified for the AllAtlantic Region Championships on May 17 and 18.

For her efforts in improving and leading the team, Head Coach Jessica Smith won the PAC Coach of the Year for track and field. This year, the men and women

have set multiple school and conference records. The team has certainly improved since last season, and this freshmen class has contributed greatly to this effort.

Other than the All-Atlantic Region Championship which will be held on May 17 and 18, there is one more meet scheduled before the end of the year. The men and women will travel to Berea, Ohio, to compete in the Baldwin Wallace Invitational.

Mally Kilbane Baseball Hitter of the Week

Maci Linhart Softball Hitter of the Week

David Leslie Baseball Pitcher of the Week

HEIDI TRUITT

Junior Conner Truitt leaps into the air to snag the frisbee during this past weekend’s tournament competition.

GRACE DAVID

Freshman midfielder Kobi Bui celebrates after scoring.

National sports column

NFL draft has another QB-heavy first round

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

With the first pick in the 2023 NFL draft, the Carolina Panthers selected Bryce Young. There’s no surprise here, as Carolina pretty much confirmed their pick prior to the draft.

Baseball team just can’t be beat

Emma Rossi

Sports Editor

A boggy Behringer sent the Wolverines down the road to play their regular season’s penultimate conference doubleheader against the Franciscan Barons at Slippery Rock University on Saturday afternoon.

The Wolverines blew out the Barons in both games, giving them an improved conference record of 15-3 and an overall record of 288. Twenty-eight is a familiar number for Wolverine baseball, and Saturday’s sweep tied the win record they’ve held for the last two years.

Grove City took the first game with a 13-7 victory across eight innings of offense.

Sophomore pitcher David Leslie earned his season’s sixth win after facing 27 batters and allowing only four hits.

The Wolverines racked up 18 hits with freshman centerfielder and sophomore third baseman Mally Kilbane leading the team with four hits. Kilbane leads the team with 57 hits.

Sampson went four for four at bat, had three runs and two RBIs. Freshman right fielder Josh Minnich had himself quite the game, going three for five at bat and racking up five RBIs.

Two singles in the first from Sampson and Minnich opened scoring, followed by a double from senior catcher C.J. Saylor that sent Minnich over the plate and put the Wolverines up 3-0.

Sophomore shortstop Luke Vittone tripled to open second which sent his keystone partner junior second baseman Lucca Baccari around third base and straight home. Sampson followed suit, tripling to right center and second Vittone home himself.

Minnich’s second RBI gave the Wolverines another tally on their side of the scoreboard and a grounder from Saylor improved the score to 7-0.

The Barons scored twice in the fourth and the Wolverines answered in the eighth, adding another three to the lopsided score after a triple from Kilbane and Minnich’s third RBI sent three runners home.

Franciscan tried to rally again in the eighth by scoring five runs, but their comeback fell short. The Wolverines sealed the deal by scoring three more runs thanks to a triple from Minnich that sent Kilbane and Sampson home. Minnich then scored himself on a passed ball, making the final score 13-7.

The scoring frenzy didn’t stop after the day’s first nine innings. The Wolverines came out of the dugout hot and steamrolled Franciscan in an 11-0 runaway.

Sophomore pitcher Isaiah Zuchowski made his season’s first win count by pitching a shutout. Zuchowski allowed only five hits across 21 atbats and threw only one ball in his six innings.

Picking up where he left off, Minnich opened scoring for Grove City in the first. His single sent Vittone home, and a throwing error by the Baron’s third baseman gave Kilbane the opportunity to cross home plate and give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead after one.

While they went scoreless in the second, Grove City cranked out six runs in the third inning. A single from Saylor sent Kilbane and Sampson home for the first two runs. Two singles and a fielder’s choice led three more Wolverines across home plate and concluded the six-run spree. Two more runs in the fourth and a final run in the fifth gave the Wolverines a final score of 11-0 and their 28th win.

Senior outfielder Anthony Tambellini spoke to the team’s approach for the remainder of the season, “The main focus of the team currently is making sure we stick to our process. We have found so much success with our detailed practices and it shows in our games. If we cannot get ahead of ourselves and stay to our plan, then we should hopefully continue to see success.”

Grove City still leads the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) with their 15-3 conference record. They play one last regular season doubleheader tomorrow against Chatham at home.

The first pitch is thrown at 1 p.m.Chatham at home. First pitch is thrown at 1 p.m.

One of the biggest mysteries of this draft was which quarterbacks would be drafted after Young. This mystery was solved when the Houston Texans selected Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud was the center of a controversy when he scored an 18 percent on the S2 cognitive test, a test designed to evaluate the cognitive and football-related skills of upcoming players. Stroud’s result did not drive off the Texans, as they drafted him anyway.

In the first trade of the draft, the Texans decided to trade up to the third overall pick. The Arizona Cardinals, who traded the third overall pick to the Texans, received the Texans’ first and second-round picks of the 2023 draft as well as first and third-round picks in 2024. The Texans would draft linebacker Will Anderson Jr.

The Indianapolis Colts held the fourth pick. There was a lot of debate on which quarterback the Colts would draft, but the Colts would take Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson.

The consensus was that Kentucky quarterback Will Levis would be drafted early in the first round. Some professional analysts even claimed Levis would be drafted before Stroud or Richardson, but no team would take him in the first round.

For the fifth pick, the Seattle Seahawks chose defensive back Devon Witherspoon. In another move made by the Arizona Cardinals, they did a first-round swap with the Detroit Lions. The Lions got the 12th overall pick, while the Cardinals drafted offensive tackle Paris Johnson.

The Lions confused their

WLAX continued from 16

Polczynski got the first goal of the second half within one minute. She scored another in the second half bringing her to a total of five goals. She wsa one behind the team leader Nazigian who scored four goals in the second half. The three other points of the half came from sophomore defender Meah Groves, who scored two, and Dunda.

Grove City’s game leader Nazigian said, “I’d personally love to see W&J again. I think we could do some damage if we were to face them in the semifinals,” and it looks like her wish will be granted on Thursday as the Wolverines face off against the Presidents in the PAC semifinals.

Groves said prior to the

fanbase when they picked Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Many people, including myself, thought this was a reach as there was a good chance Gibbs would have been available later in the draft.

There weren’t a lot of notable picks or trades until the Philadelphia Eagles swapped their ninth pick with the Chicago Bears, who also got the Eagles’ 2024 fourth-round pick. The Eagles drafted defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

The Pittsburgh Steelers originally held the 17th pick, but a first-round swap with the New England Patriots moved them up to the 14th pick.

The Steelers filled the gap in their line when they picked Georgia offensive tackle Broderick Jones with their newly acquired pick. Jones was ranked as the third-best offensive lineman prospect by Pro Football Focus. The other two prospects who ranked ahead of Jones, Peter Skoronski and Johnson, were already taken.

quarterfinals: “Playoffs will be a little bit more challenging. To beat W&J, we’ll have to play some of the best games we’ve played all season. I know our team is capable; we just have to put it all together.”

Last Saturday, the Wolverines played their last regular season game. This finale pit Washington & Jefferson against Grove for the first time since the PAC 2022 Championship game in May 2022.

The 2022 Championship game ended in a 13-5 loss for the Wolverines, putting them in second place in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.

The stakes were high going into Saturday’s game, but W&J managed a 20-9 win.

Grove held their own against the conference leader for the first half. Sophomore attack Meah Groves started

After a few more unremarkable picks, we visit the 21st draft slot. This was originally held by the Miami Dolphins, but it was forfeited by the NFL due to tampering.

After the Los Angeles Chargers selected wide receiver Quentin Johnston, the Baltimore Ravens would select wide receiver Zay Flowers with the 22nd pick to assist Lamar Jackson, who just received a new $260 million contract for five years.

For the 30th overall pick, the Eagles selected Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith, adding yet another Georgia defensive player to their roster. The draft ended with the Kansas City Chiefs selecting Kansas State defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

In hindsight, the draft always seems to be based on luck. Sometimes the drafted rookies will work well beyond their projected career path, and others will fail miserably. Only time will separate the proficient players from the busts.

the scoring for Grove City to tie W&J 1-1 within the first two minutes of the game. One minute and 19 seconds before halftime, Polczynski scored an unassisted goal and 12 seconds later, Nazigian scored her fifth goal, bringing the score to 11-7 with W&J ahead.

Unfortunately, Washington & Jefferson dominated the second half. Grove City only managed two goals in the second half, each scored by Nazigian, while Washington & Jefferson added nine to the board.

Looking back on the regular season, Jackowski said, “It took us a little too long to adapt and get into the swing of things this season, but it has greatly prepared us for future years to come.”

GRACE DAVID

Freshman centerfielder Nick Sampson readies for a swing.

Track is back on top Men win gold, women win bronze

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

For the 16th time in program history, the Grove City men’s track and field team has been crowned champions of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) in their outdoor season.

The women’s team took third place with a cumulative score of 117.6 points, preceded only by Westminster and Allegheny College.

This event saw several Wolverines earn esteemed rewards and take first place in their events.

The men took the championship with a total score

of 167. The Wolverines completely dominated their opponents, outscoring the second-place team, Geneva, by 57 points. At least one Wolverine placed in the top three for every field event.

Junior Nick Gustafson took first in the men’s shotput followed by sophomore Ryan Lenhart. Lenhart also placed first in the men’s discus throw, followed by senior James Parenti, who placed second.

Freshmen Noah Byun and Michael Chambers placed second and third, respectively, in the men’s pole vault.

In a similar fashion, sophomore Nick Petucci and

junior Gabe Dunlap also placed second and third in the men’s triple jump. Junior J.D. Black earned second in the men’s javelin throw, with an attempt measuring 54.1 meters.

Two Wolverines received individual conference awards. Dunlap got the Field Most Valuable Performer for his accomplishments on both days. Dunlap scored in five field events and participated in the men’s 400-meter relay team.

Freshman Alex Mitchell received the men’s PAC Newcomer of the Year award after winning the men’s 400-meter dash and earning

WLAX tears through tournament

Brynn Miller

Contributing Writer

Women’s lacrosse is moving on to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) tournament after taking down the Chatham Cougars in the quarterfinals with a final score of 17-11.

The previous Grove CityChatham game ended in a 14-10 loss for the Wolverines. The team’s goal for this game “was to make adjustments based off of who we are as a team now and how we played Chatham last game,” according to Head Coach Cassley Jackowski. Seeded fifth in the PAC, the Wolverines faced off against fourth-seed Chatham in the rematch.

The critical game started off slow, but sophomore midfielder Mara Polczynski got the ball rolling with the first goal about six minutes into the game. Chatham scored twice, soon bringing the score to 2-1. Sophomore attack Abby Roetering tied the game back up, and Polczynski scored two more to solidify the lead at 4-2 to end the quarter.

The second quarter saw a close battle. Chatham scored twice to tie the game 4-4. Junior attack Madeline Dunda scored off a free position soon after, putting Grove back in the lead. Dunda put one more point on the board

Sophomore midfielder Mara

and senior midfielder Madison Nazigian contributed her first two goals of the game, but Chatham fought back with four more goals of their own to end the half tied 8-8. Grove City dominated the

scoreboard in the second half. Chatham only managed to score three more goals. The Wolverines scored three times that.

third in the men’s 200-meter dash. Mitchell’s time of 48.5 seconds in the 400-meter dash also set a new PAC and school record.

The women’s team was equally awarded.

Earning the women’s PAC Newcomer of the Year award was freshman Audrey Karwowski. Karwowski won first place in the 800-meter run with a time of two minutes and 16.52 seconds. This performance also set a new school record for the women’s 800-meter run.

Two athletes almost set school records in their respective events. Sophomore Ella Lyle won the 3000-me-

ter steeple chase with a finishing time of 11 minutes and 27.07 seconds, running the second-fastest time in program history.

Sophomore Grace Smith almost set a new school record in the women’s 1400-meter run. With a time of four minutes and 43.10 seconds, Smith was .04 seconds away from breaking her previous record which still remains the fastest time in that event.

Sophomore Danika Sudar earned sixth place in the women’s shotput with a throw measuring 11.32 meters. Sudar’s performance

Men’s tennis falls short

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

In a sad ending to an otherwise successful season, men’s tennis fell to the Allegheny Gators in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship.

The season finale ended with a score of 5-1. The third doubles team won the point for Grove City. This duo consisted of senior Adam Scharnagl and sophomore Benjamin Jones, who earned an 8-3 victory over their opponents.

Before playing Allegheny, the Wolverines competed at home against Saint Vincent last Thursday in their first post-season match, sweeping their opponent 5-0.

This major victory was supported by several individual players and a doubles team duo going undefeated in their sets. Singles Jones and freshman Isaac DeMan along with double partners Jones and Scharnagl went completely undefeated against Saint Vincent.

The men’s tennis team finished the season with a 13-6 overall record with a 7-1 PAC conference record.

This season was filled with many highs for the players. Grove City was ranked very high in PAC rankings throughout the season. The

men tore through the PAC on a five-game win streak from March 22-April 11.

This season marked the third straight year that the Wolverines have made an appearance in the PAC Championship game.

Last year, the Wolverines held an even better record, standing at 16-3 with another perfect record against PAC opponents. They would again win the PAC Championship and appear in the NCAA DIII Championship.

Over the past three seasons, the men’s team has had a cumulative record of 38-12. This has been a major improvement, and Horner has been the mastermind of it all.

With Scharnagl and Talko moving on from the team after graduation, the Wolverines will lose a pair of key starters for next year. However, the younger class has contributed to many victories this year. The men’s tennis team has a relatively safe future with a skilled roster consisting of athletes from many different classes.

Although the official season will begin next spring, men’s tennis will resume in the fall, closing with another Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Championship match in late September.

The men’s team poses with head coach Lauren Rybka after winning first place in the championship game.

GRACE DAVID

Polcynski takes the ball up the field.