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Collegian
Trump is GCC pick Trump triumphs in student poll
THIRD PARTY OR WRITE-IN KAMALA HARRIS ABSTAINING OR UNDECIDED DONALD TRUMP
The poll was emailed to the entirety of the student body and ran from Oct. 7 -11. Nearly 550 responses were recorded. The poll comprised of 48% female and 51% male students. 91% of respondents said they were registered voters.
Violet Whitmore News Editor
The results of a Collegian poll of Grove City College students show nearly 80 percent are supporting former President Donald Trump, the best result the three-time Republican nominee has seen among Grovers.
The Collegian polled students before about their presidential choices for the 2016 and 2020 election, and preformed a similar survey this past April. In 2016, 52 percent of students said they supported Trump. In 2020, that number rose to 67 percent, and last spring, before he swept the GOP primaries, support for Trump was at 46 percent among Grove City students.
The significant rise in favor for Trump at the College
that sets Grovers apart from most American college students, Dr. Michael Coulter ‘91, Chair of the Political Science Department at the College, notes. Poll results stand in stark contrast to a recent Inside Higher Education poll of more than 1,00 students that found Democrat Kamala Harris leading 57 to 19 percent.
“It’s quite interesting and a little surprising to see the student body as more supportive of Trump in 2024 than they were in 2020 by 13 percentage points. And this is on a campus where I rarely see MAGA hats or Trump shirts, and I would be surprised if many students regularly watched Fox News,” Coulter said.
Who will fill the shoes?
The search for president
Christa Bashinski Staff Writer
This school year marks President Paul J. McNulty’s ’80 last as president and the beginning of Grove City’s search for its tenth president.
Following eleven years of dedicated service, McNulty announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2024-2025 school year.
As president since 2014, McNulty leaves his successor facing a formidable legacy, considering that the College has increased enrollment, seen unprecedented financial strength and created numerous programs and opportunities under his leadership.
Prior to returning to his alma mater, he notably served as the Deputy Attorney General and as a senior attorney within the U.S Congress, playing an important part in the response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. During its search, Grove
City has partnered with CarterBaldwin, a credited firm, to find candidates that can continue to grow the College’s mission and vision. The firm specializes in “executive search, management consulting and candidate development services with more than 125 years of combined experience.”
CarterBaldwin is no stranger to Grove City, as it has helped establish previous presidents and provosts that work to maintain the College’s academic rigor and extensive Christian values.
With over a thousand successful searches, CarterBaldwin provides resources and expertise that will greatly aid the College in finding a match.
Along with the firm, a Presidential Search Committee has been established with Edward D. Breen ’78, Board of Trustees Chair, leading it through the extensive process. The Search Committee features eleven members
and is made up of trustees and alumni, along with two professors: Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Dr. Mike Bright and Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies Dr. Carl Trueman.
Recently, the Committee made the search official and sent out an email attaching the link to the position profile, providing the opportunity to recommend candidates, express interest or apply. The email encouraged students to suggest candidates that they believe to be a quality prospect. This profile remains open, and applications will be received and reviewed for the next month in accordance with Committee standards.
“For only the ninth time in Grove City College’s 149-year history, the school is conducting a search for a new president,” Breen pointed out. This emphasizes the PRESIDENT 3
Munson honored with award
Sarah Barker Contributing Writer
This year, the Kappa Delta Phi Honor Society (KDP) honors Grove City’s Dr. Jolene Munson for her leadership and dedication to helping teachers thrive at the College. For this work, she has been awarded the title of “2024 Regional Chapter Counselor of the Year.”
How enthusiastic are you about your preferred candidate? GRAPHIC BY JOHN REMANIAK
Though it is obvious Trump is getting Grover votes, how supportive of their preferred candidate is the typical Grover?
When asked in the poll how they felt about their preferred candidate, 31 percent of students responded that they felt somewhat enthusi-
Kappa Delta Phi is a national honor society that is dedicated to helping teachers and education students thrive in their field. For 2024, KDP has selected Dr. Munson as the counselor who best represents the values and vision of KDP. KDP focuses on developing community, creating a sense of belonging, encouraging leadership and celebrating achievements. Counselors must meet five areas of criteria to be considered for this award: Chapter Leadership, Career Mentoring, Mission and Values, Legacy and Impact, Career Mentoring and Involvement.
Munson plans events and projects in the community, helps students get involved in the community off campus and connects students to professionals in their field. The excellence that Munson brings to the College’s chapter, Tau Alpha, has been invaluable in serving and developing talented and engaged students. Munson served as a co-
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MUNSON
MUNSON
From the Tower
Same stuff
different year
This week I looked at Collegians from the last hundred years of elections. What I found were articles, poll results and opinions that sounded virtually identical to the ones on our front page this week.
One year stood out to me specifically: 1988. George Bush was running for his second term against Democrat Michael Dukakis. At the time The Collegian polled the student body, 49 percent of the campus was registered Republican.
Of those registered Republican, 90 percent were planning to vote for Bush and 10 percent weren’t happy about either candidate. It was in this story that I found a familiar favorite of voting Americans: “I will vote for ‘fill-in-theblank’ because they’re the lesser of two evils.”
One student shared that “George Bush is the best of the worst. I wish I could be president.” Another said, “I will vote for Bush because he is the better of the worst.”
Time after time during this current election cycle I’ve heard people say, “This is really the best we could come up with?” This isn’t a comfortable concept, but it is a common one. Thirty-six years ago, people felt the same way.
Students described Bush and Dukakis as “nondescript candidates who are avoiding all the issues,” and another said, “...the candidates are not concerned with their country, they are concerned with votes.”
The 1988 article reads, “Despite the dissatisfaction expressed for both candidates by most students, fully 82 percent of them intend to vote on Election Day. Although few have much hope for improvement, a greater number fear the economy will worsen under the wrong leadership. As one person comments, ‘Things will probably stay the same with Bush, but there is a chance that Dukakis will make things worse than they are...’”
The students were so discontented with their choices that it was truly an election of party over policy.
The article continued by saying, “Less than ten percent of students mentioned issues as a reason for choosing one candidate over another. The issues that were mentioned included abortion, care for the elderly, foreign policy, the national debt...”
As you live through these next few days before the election, remember: it’s not great, but it’s rarely been better!
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Collegian Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Emma Rossi
Managing Editor
Grace Scheller
Section Editors
News
Violet Whitmore
Community
Emily Fox
Perspectives
Grace Scheller
Entertainment
Nick Grasso
Sports Mia Gallagher
Photo Chief Luke Paglia
Copy Chief
Kathryna Hoyman
Business Manager
John Remaniak
Copy Editors
Anastasia Brown
Olivia Emerick
Kendall Lambrecht
Bonnie Pittman
Hannah Williams
Sophie Spilak
Elizabeth Jenkins
Staff Writers
Dom Puglisi
Abigail Kengor Brae Sadler
Matthew Purucker
Walter Smith V Cat Runion
Madison Lynch
Christa Bashinski
Staff Photographers
Tava Derr
Mara Brak
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.
Collegian ghosts Elections past
Nov. 4, 1988 - 85.6 percent of students are registered Republican and voting for incumbent president George Bush.
The Collegian reads, according to students, “Choosing candidates on November 8 is going to be like choosing between “a wimp and a wimpette,” “Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber” or like “Lassie and Tramp running for the position of Morris.”
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form is based around trans rights. In their eyes, her lack of endorsement for the Democratic Party was a stark departure from the principles she claims to hold.
Manager John Remaniak for his stellar work on the poll graphics and seeing design through into the late hours of the night. <3
So, for the second time in little over a month, Chappell Roan took to TikTok to defend herself against the accusations. “No, I’m not voting for Trump. I’m voting for f---ing Kamala. But I’m not settling for what’s been offered,” Roan said. She went on to explain that she cannot morally get behind either candidate. Though Roan stands with much of the left’s policies, some of their other policies are just as problematic for her as those on the right.
“Vote small. The only option we have right now is to vote. Make changes start locally,” Roan said.
“Actions speak louder than words, and actions speak
Nov. 7, 1956 - The first student poll was published in the Collegian. Article reads, “The results definitely show that Grove City’s student body is predominantly Republican.”
In the student poll, Eisenhower and Nixon received 430 votes where on the Democratic ticket Stevenson and Kefauver received 88.
Over 830 Grovers registered to vote. The country re-elected Eisenhower and Nixon for a second term.
The article summarizes the poll reads, “All students should be informed of the political happenings around them, and where is there a better opportunity than here on our campus to learn them?”
louder than an endorsement. I will always question those in power and those making decisions over other people. I will stand up for what’s right and what I believe in,” Roan stated.
Roan’s argument hinges on the fact that an endorsement is not as important as going out and actually voting. However, countless of her peers – popstars, movie stars and social media stars alike – have handed out their official endorsement. One commenter took issue with this idea that an endorsement is not an action, writing, “When you’re a public figure, it is, and it’s important.”
However, other commenters disagreed, going on tirades against public figures that think that they ought to have political sway. “You’re a popstar. You shouldn’t be telling us how to think,” one wrote.
It has become a precedent for celebrities to endorse
Nov. 4, 1988 - Students took their voting responsibilities very seriously. These are vintage “Word on the Street” submissions.
political candidates. Kamala Harris has been officially endorsed by the likes of Beyonce and Taylor Swift. Should this endorsement be as important to fans as it is? Should fans let their favorite artists, who have no experience in politics, influence who they vote for?
Roan seems to think not, but that hasn’t resonated with her audience. TikTok exploded, calling her annoying, immature and even saying that she needs to get some PR training. Whether or not she dealt with this controversy in a mature way, she has raised a good question. Maybe celebrities shouldn’t be as influential as we let them be.
And maybe – to reiterate a point from the last time this happened – we shouldn’t treat celebrities as flawless paragons of moral virtue. They do and say silly things, just like the rest of us. Let’s give them a little grace when they make mistakes.
Nov. 4, 1936 - Franklin D. Roosevelt begins his second term. Collegian headlines read “Roosevelt takes 45-46 States; GOParty glum.”
Scott Walker lectures on Reagan
Grove City College
Gov. Scott Walker, president of the Young America’s Foundation, will be the featured speaker at The Institute for Faith & Freedom at Grove City College’s 17th annual Ronald Reagan Lecture.
The former chief executive of Wisconsin will discuss “Ronald Reagan: The Man, the Movie, and the Movement” with Professor of Political Science Dr. Paul Kengor, the Institute’s senior director and chief academic fellow, and College President Paul J. McNulty ’80 at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the auditorium of Crawford Hall on campus.
The annual Ronald Reagan Lecture illumines the 40th president’s enduring contributions to America and the world. The goal of the Reagan Lecture is to promote the principles of faith and freedom that the iconic Republican president embodied and advanced during his political career.
This year’s lecture highlights the hit film “Reagan,”
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counselor the year before the pandemic hit the U.S., and she became the full-time counselor for Tau Alpha in 2020. Being a counselor means working with students, understanding their most important needs and mentoring and serving them in any way. Munson is always assisting her members with reference letters, making contacts with community members, and coordinating events on or off campus.
When the Tau Alpha has the regional convocation, Munson also accompanies the students. At the convocations, students develop professional skills and attend the regional award ceremonies. Last year, Munson took four students to the convocation in St. Louis, Miss. Munson expressed that the road trips are a lot of fun for her and the students. At the convocations, Tau Alpha has been awarded KDP’s Ace Award several times in 11 years. The Ace Award is a recognition that celebrates chapters which excel in representing the vision of KDP.
“Our chapter, Tau Alpha, has been an award-winning chapter for at least 11 years,” Munson said.
Senior Anna Dueker, the Vice President of Tau Alpha, praises Munson for her leadership and mentorship.
“Dr. Munson has often been a mentor when I had questions about how to lead. When I was faced with situations I was not sure how to navigate, it was comforting to receive practical advice and life experiences from Dr. Munson,” Dueker said. Dueker remembers the chapter’s struggles during the days of the pandemic. Community events were harder to organize with the regulations about distancing and safety, and many organizations on
which is based on a Kengor book, in the context of the real-life Reagan and the conservative movement he championed. Walker is both a product of that movement and a successful keeper of its legacy.
As governor of the Badger State from 2011 to 2019, he was “a model Reagan conservative,” Kengor said. Reforms he backed took power from the hands of big government special interests and put it into the hands of the people and local governments. The reforms saved taxpayers more than $16 billion dollars and drove critics to attempt to recall him in 2012. He won and became the first governor in American history to win a recall election.
As leader of the Young America’s Foundation, Walker plays a role in keeping Reagan’s memory alive for young conservatives through the organization’s custodianship of the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, Calif., where parts of the movie “Reagan” were filmed. Kengor said Walker was instrumental in facilitating the location shooting.
campus went through strenuous times. Despite the difficulties during and after the pandemic, Munson’s advice and work has helped revitalize Tau Alpha post-pandemic.
“I joined KDP the spring of my freshman year, and since then have served as both vice president and president of our chapter. It’s been a pleasure and honor to work alongside my fellow executives and our advisors, including Dr. Munson,” Dueker said.
Since the pandemic, Munson worked to reinstitute community events, including events like “Egg My Yard,” (an Easter egg hunt event where college students hide Easter eggs in the yards of their K-12 students), literacy awareness initiatives and conferences with professionals in the education field. Munson also coordinated an event that hosted the Deputy of Education of Pennsylvania on campus. Dueker spoke of an exciting upcoming event.
“(Munson) is currently guiding us through a new initiative to partner with the local YMCA to create a day of fun activities for the kids who attend the after-school program to support literacy,” Dueker said.
In her office, Munson’s shelf proudly displays the purple embossed plaque with her name and award. However, Munson humbly credits all the members of Tau Alpha for her 2024 Regional Chapter Counselor of the Year title.
“My award has nothing to do with me as a person, but rather the community of future educators who are in our chapter and believe in the importance of advocating for our students and families and creating opportunities for growth in the field of education,” Munson said
Bon Voyage Dr. Carter
Catharine Runion Staff Writer
One of Grove City College’s most beloved professors, Dr. Beverly Carter, is retiring in the spring. Spring of 2025 will usher in her 33rd year at the College, during which she has taught countless sections of Art History, Music History and Civilization and the Arts.
Carter received a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Furman University and a Master of Arts in Musicology from the Eastman School of Music, was a Fulbright Scholar in Musicology at the University of Vienna (Austria) and earned a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Ohio University.
Carter moved to Grove City with her family in 1992, and the area was a perfect place for them. Her daughter grew up and thrived in the Grove City public schools, her church community has been wonderful and she adores the beauty of the area. The College was a good fit for her as well.
“It allowed me to teach the classes I love in a Christian environment,” Carter said.
One of the most notable aspects of Carter’s career has been travel, which she has been able to share with students and colleagues through various travel courses.
“The courses I teach are tailor made for European travel. I often refer to Civ Arts trips as 3-D versions of my on-campus classes,” she said.
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astic, 29 percent rated themselves as very enthusiastic, 21 percent were not very enthusiastic and 13 percent were not at all enthused.
“I am struck to see that only 29 percent are ‘very enthusiastic’ about their choices in 2024,” Senior Director of the Institute for Faith and Freedom and professor of political science Paul Kengor said.
“I would interpret that as meaning that our overwhelmingly conservative-Republican student body that’s voting for Donald Trump aren’t all especially enthusiastic about him as the nominee,” Kengor added.
But that doesn’t mean students aren’t enthusiastic about conservative values. “Conservatives outnumber liberals by 72-3 percent, and Republicans outnumber liberals by 74-4 percent. Wow. This is a lonely place to be a liberal” Kengor said.
According to senior and
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school’s impressively low turnover rate, which speaks to the stability of leadership that has guided the College through generations.
“Professor Betsy Craig and I have led six trips, essentially making an arc from Munich and Salzburg to Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome), Provence and Paris,” Carter explained. Varying the trip each time allowed her to visit sites such as San Gimignano, Assisi, Cinque Terra, Switzerland, Colmar and Strasbourg.
“I participated in two Italy-Greece trips and have also led several France trips with Dr. (Erik) Bardy. We have another planned for next May,” Carter said.
Grove City College’s travel courses offer the perfect pair for Carter’s classes. “It’s a joy sharing my passion for the visual arts and music, but I think it’s also a strength that I’ve experienced first-hand pretty much everything I teach, often multiple times,” Carter expressed.
Carter doesn’t plan to be idle after she retires; unsurprisingly, travel will continue to be a big priority.
“I hope to extend the May 2025 Civ Arts France trip into England with my daughter and son-in-law. I also have a Croatia-Slovenia trip in the works for next fall,” she said.
Carter also hopes to be a more active volunteer through her church and various other organizations. She’s even contemplating volunteering with some political organizations.
“Though I’ve always voted, I’ve never been particularly interested in politics. But the current political moment has made me much more politically aware. My husband was an officer in the Air Force, and a slogan often used by the military is that ‘freedom
IFF fellow Katie Kenlein, a candidate’s policy, values or party alliance appear to matter the most to students, not personal alliance.
“It doesn’t surprise me that former President Trump won our campus poll by a landslide. While many students aren’t voting for him enthusiastically, a majority of students view Trump’s policy positions much more favorably than Harris’ positions,” Kenlein commented.
“I would say Grove City College students generally disagree with how Harris celebrates abortion, wants to cancel student debt and hasn’t done anything about the border crisis. Instead, we will vote for the candidate who will support American energy, strengthen our border and national security, give us a better economy and is more pro-life,” Kenlein continued.
When polled on the issues most important to them, roughly 15 percent of respondents rated economic policies as the weightiest among
isn’t free,’” Carter explained.
On the last night of her Fulbright year in Vienna, Carter recounted the Fulbright Commission hosting a farewell dinner, during which Dr. Anton Porhansl, the executive secretary of the U.S. Educational Commission, addressed the group.
“He shared with us the horrors of fascism he and his fellow Austrians had endured during WWII, concluding his powerful remarks with the words ‘Never Forget.’ And I haven’t.”
Carter doesn’t plan on forgetting anytime soon.
“I speak out against Christian Nationalism and wouldbe authoritarians whenever I can,” she added.
It is certain that Carter will pour herself into anything she does in the future, just as she has throughout her career, and it won’t be an easy goodbye.
“There are many things I will miss,” she said. “The students, my colleagues, the subjects I teach and just the daily rhythm of the academic calendar. I often tell my students that it’s a joy to spend my days ‘hanging out’ with the likes of Michelangelo, Mozart and Monet, and I’ll miss that. Grove City College is a special place, and I’ve very much enjoyed my time ‘mid the pines,’” Carter said.
Dr. Carter has been beloved by countless students for over three decades.
“Her students love her because she loves them. There are Grovers everywhere living fuller lives because of the things they learned from her. It has been a privilege and a delight to be her colleague,” music professor Dr. Paul Munson said.
various categories, with abortion and women’s reproductive rights and immigration policies/border control following closely.
Senior Liliana Zylstra, prolife advocate and member of the life advocates club on campus, does not fully agree with either candidate’s position on abortion rights.
“Neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris recognize the human rights of the unborn throughout each stage of development, leaving pro-life Americans without representation from either party,” Zylstra said.
“However, abortion is still relevant to this election. Trump will support some restrictions on abortion, while Harris is making her support for unrestricted abortion a central focus of her campaign. As a Collegian poll from last year showed, most Grove City College students are pro-life, so it’s unsurprising that a majority are choosing Trump over Harris,” Zylstra said..
The “goal in this presidential transition is to go from strength to strength,” Breen said. As Grove City searches for candidates, it looks for an individual who will continue its core tradition of Christian education and faith formation. The committee is optimistic as it anticipates a strong pool of prospective candidates for the upcoming school year. While the College faces the end of an era, it promises a fresh start that will continue its tradition of excellence. In his resignation email, McNulty thanked the Grove City for “all the kindness, prayers and encouragement provided over the past decade.”
CARTER
WALKER
Sweet new semester Greeks select their 2024 sweethearts for the year
Kristiana Shirk Contributing Writer
Junior Isaac Good was minding his business on a walk with his girlfriend one slow Wednesday night. He left STEM Hall and was strolling around the corner between Rockwell and MAP when a horde of men and women ambushed him. They scooped him up and trudged down to Wolf Creek for a joyous creeking.
However, this creeking wasn’t for an engagement or even for one girl. In fact, it was for 45 girls. As a new season of Greek life begins, fraternities, sororities and housing groups pick their sweethearts. A sweetheart is someone who a Greek Life group chooses to support their members and events.
According to Grace Sykes, president of Theta Alpha Phi (Thetas), women within the sorority can nominate men they know, whether that be their boyfriends, fiancés or close male friends. After
My ex keeps asking me if we can get back together. My parents and my friends don’t think it’s a good idea. Deep down I know it isn’t the right thing, but sometimes I still really miss him. How should I handle the situation?
Sincerely,
Indecisive Grover
Dear Indecisive Grover, You probably won’t want to hear this, but mom and dad are always right … especially when your friends agree with them. Remember back in middle school or high school when mom spotted that friend who wasn’t really your friend YEARS before you found that out for
nominations, they vote on the sweetheart for the year and announce him. In Good’s case, that meant a creeking.
The Phi Sigma Chi (Phi Sigs) sorority has a similar story to tell. Riley Smith, president of the Phi Sigs, said they have made a tradition of singing songs and creeking their sweetheart.
Most female sweethearts, however, aren’t as up close and personal with Wolf Creek as some of the men are. According to the Rho Rho Rho (Rhos) president, Connor Rodgers, the Rhos announce their sweetheart by giving her a crewneck and performing their “Mini Cigar Walk.”
The men of Omicron Xi (Okies) traditionally surprise their sweetheart in a similar but still rambunctious way.
“We unsuspectingly bombard her, sing her a melodious and off-key song and then present her with the letters of Omicron Xi,” Okie president senior Sam Hogue, said.
Sophomore Sydney Var-
“The sweetheart allows all of our brothers to come behind and support a relationship they value.”
-Samuel Hogue
ga says that finding out she was the Nu Lambda Phi (Nu Lambs) sweetheart was relaxed and simple. They straightforwardly emerged from STEM with the sweetheart crewneck for her.
Giving the sweetheart a crewneck or shirt with the sewn-on letters of the group’s Greek name is a common tradition in the sweethearting ceremony.
Sykes explained that, at least for the Thetas, it is important that their sweetheart supports their values, and the letters are a way of showing his participation and solidarity. “We want to make sure that the person wearing (the letters) is representing who
we are and what we stand for well,” Sykes said.
For everything else in the sweethearting experience, the sky is the limit. Well, the group’s constitution as approved by Student Life and Learning is the limit. According to Director of Student Care Mandie McCreadie ’03, how, where and when the sweethearts are announced is up to the group.
Some men get creeked, some women get serenaded, some just get a shirt and smiles, but after all that, what do they do? As McCreadie said, there’s not one way to be a sweetheart, but many of them share similar
‘It’s a bad idea, right?’
yourself? They know. They always know. Your parents and friends aren’t emotionally invested in this person like you are, but they are emotionally invested in you as a daughter and as a friend. Without the rose-tinted glasses on, both your parents AND
your friends can see your ex for who they truly are. All of these people obviously care about you and your wellbeing and realize that this particular ex, regardless of what he says now, isn’t good for you. Maybe I don’t have the whole story and you guys were great for each other during the time you were together, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are decidedly not together now. This shows me that one of you knew it wasn’t the right time/person/fit.
It’s possible to be a bit blinded by your feelings for this person. When you’ve spent so much time with one person and know them better than almost anyone else, you’re inclined to remember the good times with them and none of the bad.
They were the person who you told everything to and the one you shared your life with for a time. It’s hard to lose that. It’s completely understandable that you’d miss the person he was at the start of your relationship. However, I think it’s time for both of you to move on. Obviously, your ex knows that he lost someone amazing, but that’s his loss. God has a plan for you, and it doesn’t involve getting back together with someone no one close to you approves of (or even likes).
If your ex confronts you and demands an answer, tell him the truth. It wasn’t meant to be. The fact that you guys are no longer together doesn’t mean you automatically stop caring about each other. You can wish the best for each other,
responsibilities and care for their group in common ways.
For example, Sykes elaborated that as the Theta sweetheart, Good will attend formals and meet the new Thetas during Greek Unity Week. On the day-to-day, Good supports the group with advice, gifts, coffee or whatever he thinks of.
Hogue explained that the Okie sweetheart also supports his group in a variety of ways. “Some may say she only connects us to a sorority or provides cookies and brownies sporadically, but she loves us incredibly well. The sweetheart allows all of our brothers to come behind and support a relationship they value,” Hogue said.
Whether you are acquainted with them personally, noticed their beaming faces on the Homecoming floats or weren’t even aware that they graced the planet, now you know that the sweethearts are helping out, being sweet and wearing their honorary letters for the year.
but you don’t have to be dating to do that. Trust your gut! (And your friends and family for that matter).
If your gut instinct is that it wouldn’t be right for you guys to get back together, that’s a decision already made. If the people closest to you are backing that assumption up, it’s just more proof that it’s time to move on.
Auspiciously, Dr. Love Love M.D.
SAMUEL HOGUE
This year’s Omnicron Xi (Okie) sweetheart is Erin Swartfager. Swartfager is a member of the Gamma Sigma Phi sorority and Okie senior Toby Harpur’s girlfriend. The Okies have a tradition of serenading their sweetheart when presenting her with their letters. Erin will support the men of Omni cron Xi for the 2024-25 academic year.
Bring back hockey Grovers revive women’s club field hockey
Bonnie Pittman Copy Editor
Grove City’s club field hockey team is on track for revival this year because of a few dedicated and persistent athletes.
Many people may not know that the College has a club field hockey team, but there are a few students who are striving towards the goal of reviving the club after a decrease in membership due to the pandemic.
Sophomore Rebecca McFeely, co-president of the club, is one student who has high hopes for the future of the team. She is working alongside other officers senior Kaitlyn Davis and juniors Julia Scholten, Kaitlyn Wiard and Sarah Jacob to restore the team’s presence on and off campus.
McFeely said the main goal for this year is to “build the club’s presence” and make it known around campus that Grove City does have a team. She hopes to gain committed membership and play at least one game this semester.
As of right now the club has nine players including their executive team. However, a traditional field hockey team plays with 11 players, 10 on the field and one in the goal.
McFeely would love to gather enough players to field a team, but is still excited about their potential this season. If necessary, the team can play other schools seven v. seven. They specifically hope to play Duquesne’s club team sometime this semester.
According to McFeely, the club’s constitution was writ-
ten in 2007, and they played their first season in 2008. In the past, Grove City’s field hockey club boasted a fully fielded team and participated in multiple games per year.
McFeely and the rest of her exec team would love to get the club back to that level of involvement.
Currently, because of numbers, the team is hoping to practice once or twice a week and take an active role in the campus community.
“We have been at the Org Fair and hope to be at other events such as open houses for prospective students,” McFeely said.
The club’s allotted amount of play and practice time is dependent on how many students are involved, and while the club does have a faculty advisor, it is primarily student-run.
Although the club is optimistic for this year, they are facing a few more obstacles
before they can competitively be on the field again. Some players still need to obtain medical clearances, it is difficult to reserve a field that has the right lines for newer players to learn and it is “hard to find competitive athletes who aren’t already in a varsity sport,” McFeely said.
All this being said, the team is excited to see what this fall semester will bring. The club hopes to have regular practices, watch film and have their presence be known around campus. They are also hosting a “Hockey Homework Hustle,” where they will do homework and watch a field hockey film.
“We’re excited and trying to get the word out. Field hockey is a really cool opportunity for people to stay active while also balancing schoolwork and it’s a neat way to be a part of a team,” McFeely said.
Seven questions with…
Dr. Karen Luong Professor of Biology
Why did you choose to teach at Grove City?
I wanted to teach and do research at the undergraduate level since I found a lot of joy doing that during grad school. I knew many people who graduated from Grove City. When I saw an opening in biology, I immediately applied! I had such a wonderful experience visiting during my interview (I had the most fun guest lecturing in BIOL 102) and everyone was so welcoming.
What’s one fun thing you did over fall break?
I played a boardgame about mushrooms! Two of my favorite things (boardgames and mushrooms).
If you could live the life of a historical figure for one day, who would you pick?
I can’t pick a historical figure, but I would like to experience a day in the life of either my paternal or maternal grandma. Being a first-generation American, I would like to have a better understanding of what my family experienced. Both sides lived during two separate wars (WWII and Vietnam War). It’s a time that no one talks about but has been really impactful.
If you were a genre of music, which would you be?
Experimental jazz interspersed with TikTok meme songs (e.g., “Into to the Thick of It”).
If you could take your students on a travel course, what class would
it be, and where would you take them?
Somewhere in East Asia like China or Japan to study mushrooms or see how mushrooms are cultivated (mycology is much more advanced over there).
If you could pitch a “Saturday Night Live” skit, what would it be about?
A botanist is constantly asked by friends and family if a plant is edible (story of my life). Oftentimes, those that ask tend to ignore the botanist explaining interesting or important facts about the plant. However, one time someone asked about the edibility of a berry on a plant and the botanist, tired of being ignored, exasperatedly answered, “Yeah ... yes, that is edible.” The berry was indeed edible but also a laxative ... so that person had a rough day. What are you looking forward to this semester?
The last day of class in my plant pathology course. Not just because this signals the end of the semester but because we’re going to have a fungal feast (fungibased foods like bread and huitlacoche dip).
Three thrifts help students save
Madison Lynch Staff Writer
Although the Grove City Premium Outlets are always a fun shopping adventure with many fashionable options, in college we can’t always afford Banana Republic dress pants and LOFT sweaters.
Even the less expensive options like Old Navy aren’t very well suited to provide the most affordable options. Thankfully, there are three thrift shops within five minutes of campus. Though thrift shops can sometimes be less dependable for a good selection of quality clothes, there are occasional treasures at
a much more manageable price. They also provide a wider variety of things such as basic electronics, books and decor.
The nearest shop to campus is All Good Things Thrift, which is located on East Main Street near the bowling alley. The clothes section holds items in very good condition, including common items as well as Halloween costumes, hats, jewelry and shoes. There’s a display of beautiful and healthy plants for sale in in the front window, perfect for a shopper hoping to spruce up their dorm room. They also have a wide selection of seasonal decor, including real pumpkins and gourds. Off to the
side they have an area for antiques and knick-knack pieces. They carry various pieces of furniture, dishes, wall decor, books and games. All the items are in great condition, and the staff is very warm and welcoming.
The second closest thrift shop, Thrifty Threads, is at the edge of the downtown Grove City area behind the Broad Street Grille. There are a few good areas for specific searches. First, there is a larger selection of men’s formal wear, which is very helpful for college students hoping to find fancier clothes for cheaper. In addition, the games and books sections are bigger and contain some nostalgic treasures. They
also have some larger pieces of furniture and a small selection of electronics. Most importantly, this shop donates proceeds to the Grove City Community Food Pantry. This offers a great opportunity to contribute to the community by either volunteering, bringing food items or buying things from the thrift shop. Although it isn’t in close walking range, the Salvation Army has the largest selection of every category in good condition. All the clothing items are very well organized and clearly sorted by type, size and color. They have a selection of nicer pieces of jewelry for still very cheap. It’s particularly helpful to
find more obscure clothing pieces for themed events like a neon dance or a pink out volleyball game. In the back there is a huge book selection, nicer pieces of furniture and electronics. Salvation Army is also nationally involved in many charity operations that address human trafficking, disaster relief, poverty, veterans, rehabilitation and spiritual healing. Not only are you helping yourself by spending less money, but you’re also supporting nationwide causes. These three shops are valuable resources for Grove students hoping to practically budget their spending. For the next seasonal shopping spree, try one of these out.
WHAT’S FRESH AT THE GROVE
In Ketler Rec... Monster Mash
Oct. 25
8 - 11 p.m.
Come in costume to a Halloween themed dance hosted by the Theta Alpha Pi sorority and Beta Sigma fraternity in Ketler Rec. tonight. All raised funds will be donated to the Alpha Omega Pregnancy Center.
On the Soccer Field... Spikeball Tournament Oct. 25 8 p.m.
Find out which team of grovers have the ultimate spikeball skills at the spikeball tournament happening on Don Lyle Field tonight at eight.
In SHAL Courtyard... Pink Dance
Oct. 26
8 - 10 p.m.
Join the sisters of Tri Zeta and the brothers of Phi Tau Alpha for their annual Pink Dance. Come out for a night of dancing and fun in support of breast cancer awareness. All proceeds go to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
On Wolf Creek Trail... Wolf Creep
Oct. 26
8 - 11 p.m.
Come down to Wolf Creek for some spooky fun with the ABTs and Rhos. Brave the haunted trail, enjoy a bonfire, games, food and music on lower campus this Saturday night. All proceeds support Bags and Blessings.
REBECCA MCFEELY
Field hockey officers Rebecca McFeely, Kaitlyn Davis and Julia Scholten advertising their club team at a Grove City open house.
Homecoming hullabaloo
Take a look at the Grove City College Homecoming activities
Mara Brak
The weekend of Oct. 11 featured many events that made up the 2024 Grove City College Homecoming experience. Homecoming weekend is full of, but not limited to, class reunions, Greek life, sports and the parade.
Alumni from all different graduating classes came out to support their alma mater and the current student body that attends the College.
The Grove City community saw 40 different organizations participate in this year’s parade. They all showed their spirit and enthusiasm for The College.
At the football game on saturday afternoon, the Wolverines beat Carnegie Mellon 17-10. At halftime of the game, the homecoming king and queen, Sam Hogue and Molly Galbreath, were crowned.
By Luke Paglia, Photo Chief
The irony epidemic
Why Gen Z does it
Grace Scheller Managing Editor
Gen Z has an obsession with self-awareness. So much so, that these days, the idea of irony is synonymous with humor. You wouldn’t catch a Gen-Zer wearing one of those horrible tie-dye wolf shirts with the moon and the mountains in the background, unless of course, they knew it was horrible and wore it “ironically.” And hanging up a “live, laugh, love” sign would be completely “cringy” to Gen Z, unless deemed “ironic.” But why does Gen Z’s humor lie so deeply in the idea of selfawareness and satire? The answer involves the Schrodinger’s Cat thought experiment.
I read another article somewhere that compared Gen Z’s humor to Schrodinger’s Cat.
I
For those who aren’t familiar with this theory, a cat is placed in a sealed box with a device that may potentially kill it. According to Austrian physicist Edwin Schrodinger, the cat is “both dead and alive” at the same time. What he means to say is, there’s a 50 percent chance the cat could be dead and a 50 percent chance it could be alive.
The point? We have no idea which is the case unless we open the box.
STEM majors, I know that was the bare minimum of an explanation, but stay with me. This analogy can illustrate Gen Z’s sense of humor perfectly. With all the overlapping layers of irony involved in Gen Z’s humor, the joke no longer lies in the punchline, but in the nuances of the punchline. Is the statement meant as irony? Is there a tinge of sincerity?
You truly have no idea with Gen Z. You’ll never be able to open the box unless you’re
came,
Sir Benjamin Treadwell Contributing Writer
So far as I can tell, there are three mindsets when it comes to homework. The first is ignoring your homework, either until lastminute panic sets in for each assignment, or your grade scares you into “locking in.” But that option doesn’t seem very healthy to me physically or spiritually. The second is the “grindset,” in which you really do get down to business and in a mechanical, somewhat painful fashion, joylessly churning out something that’ll
one of them. Unless you’re caught up on the lingo. Unless you can follow the lineage of the joke and make it to the root of its humor. And it seems that Gen Z prefers it this way.
And why is that? Why is it that we so heavily prefer to leave everything, not just our humor, up for interpretation?
Have you ever been encouraged by a friend to do something “for the bit” or “for the plot?” Maybe you’ve encountered this in applying for an internship or seeing a new potential partner: both tasks that require a certain amount of vulnerability and willingness to put yourself out there. Daunting, yes, but paired with a layer of irony, being shielded with a causal “it was just a bit” after potential failure, well who could blame you for that?
And I think it might have to do with the age of technology we all grew up in. Gen Z is
“for the bit”
and has been so heavily criticized by social media that at some point, there forms an outer shell of irony to combat the scrutiny. You’re the only person who has the power to let yourself be embarrassed.
And if Gen Z never reveals the intentions behind their jokes, their actions, their behavior, then they control when they get to feel embarrassed.
Irony lies so deeply embedded in us that every part of our linguistic arsenal revolves around it. Simply put, Gen Z isn’t spitting out “rizz” and “cap” without recognition of its absurdity. The joke isn’t in the phrases but in the unspoken yet communal understanding behind them. It translates to, “We recognize the lunacy at hand, and we bet you don’t know that we can see it. The joke is on you.” It’s a red herring of a punchline. It’s quite a multifaceted humor.
An interesting way to fight
back against the magnifying glass of the Web. And maybe a little too effective.
Perhaps the idea of satirical humor has made, well, everything satirical. Have you ever shared your feelings with someone, (dare I say) cried and then, right in the middle of pouring out your heart, threw up a peace sign and stuck out your tongue? Maybe it’s too vulnerable, being perceived. Maybe Gen Z is so tired of being constantly ridiculed that they’ve revoked the privilege of anyone knowing them at all.
To my fellow Gen Zers, I’d like to say: I see right through you. I know what you’re doing, because we all do it. As daunting as it is, I think it might be worthwhile to allow yourself to be perceived, to show someone how you’re feeling, to put yourself out there, even if it’s not “just a bit.”
I saw, I conquered
get you through the exams and grade rubrics. The third mindset, which I only know because I’m the only one I’ve met who has it, is the “vince!” mindset.
“Vince? I thought your name was Benjamin?” Fair — but no. “Vince” is pronounced “Vinch-ay,” and it is the Latin imperative (singular) of the verb “to conquer.”
You may have heard a different form of the word in Caesar’s “Veni, vidi, vici,” or “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
What I mean taking a “vince!” mindset is that I’m not “grinding” out my homework — I’m conquering my assignments. I will utterly win against the challenges the professors set for me.
Here, I am going to do my homework so well that I can be proud of it. I don’t want to merely write a paper — I want to write a paper I put on the professor’s desk with confidence, a paper I can look back on with pride. A paper I can say I enjoyed writing! Something that allows me to say, “I know that, since I’m majoring in this, that I’m following God’s purpose for my life, and I know I’m making something good.”
That being said, I don’t always succeed. There are papers I think I could have done better on, especially with more time. There are readings I haven’t gotten done. But it’s never for a lack of trying. And this plan of at-
tack, this attitude to excel, is how I can please God in my schoolwork.
What are the core values of Grove City College? Wasn’t one of them “excellence?”
I’d like to think I just gave a pretty good definition of excellence. I want to do all my work excellently, because this is what a Christian student really should do.
Don’t forget about Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
I’ll admit that scares me. It sets the bar way higher than I’m comfortable with. But
praying for the strength to do whatever you’re doing for the glory of God and treating your schoolwork as a challenge to excel at will help you reach that bar. Sure, the bar is scary, but the definition of courage is not the lack of fear, it is choosing to do the fearful thing anyway.
So be courageous! Dare to excel at your work because this will glorify God. You don’t have to grind like a machine- enjoy your homework, or at least be able to enjoy saying “Veni, vidi, vici!” when you submit that project. Go conquer that paper!
PINTEREST
Space for the supernatural?
Madelyn Braho Contributing Writer
It’s finally Halloween!
Spooky season can be a very fun time for some of us Grovers, but for others, it is a time we aren’t entirely sure if we’re even supposed to participate in.
For quite a few of us growing up, Halloween was not a holiday that was okay to celebrate because of our parents’ concerns about satanic going-ons.
And while as teenagers we were tempted to roll our eyes at this hand wringing, it would be wise to consider what a legitimate Christian understanding of the supernatural should be.
But before we can try to form our own worldview, it would be best to get the history.
Christianity and witchcraft have not had as clear cut a relationship as we might expect.
For a very long time, the Church discouraged even believing that witchcraft exist ed, saying that God was the only source of supernatural power in the world and as suming that other spirits had such authority was incorrect.
Of course, opinion has swung the other way over time, with the witch trials of the 1600’s as clear examples of people’s willingness to go along with witchcraft as a vi able accusation.
And as recently as the 1980’s, the Satanic Panic led many people to cast away some ‘80s staples, such as heavy metal and Dungeons and Dragons, out of fear it would invite demonic forces into their lives.
Today, it seems that practicing “witchcraft” is back on the rise. 10 years ago, about 1.4 million Americans proclaimed they were Wiccan-
from God.
It’s easy to say that all of this is nonsense and to handwave it away as teenage girls being silly, but as Christians, we should have a worldview that has space for the supernatural.
not necessarily the same as witches, but there is strong overlap. Much of it is fairly New Age-y with crystals and auras and astrology, but the intentions are still the same: attempting to be involved in the spiritual world apart
It would be foolish to say there are no supernatural elements in the world when we believe in a God beyond time and space, who took on human form and performed miracles.
Yet, we also believe that there are rules and rational explanations for most things, otherwise science would be useless. Considering these
tempt to find a set of guide lines for approaching things that are occult or magical, separate from the fears of our parents, but still connected to our history. Some standards are fairly clear, such as not worshiping or trying to summon demons or old gods. That is not to say that every witchy person is worshiping demons -- they are just as likely worshiping thin air, but it is idolatry nonetheless. Beyond that is where the gray areas come in. Most things are on a spectrum from “waste of time” to “might be unwise.” Tarot cards and other forms of
to contact ghosts are more on the other.
Of course, the average Grover doesn’t need to be told to be cautious of occult things. But perhaps we do need to be reminded that we don’t need to be irrationally afraid of them. God is so many orders of magnitude greater than any other possible power, and we do not need to live in fear of the supernatural. We should acknowledge it exists, but we do not need to fear it- neither incredulity nor superstition would be a wise way to go.
Religious difference in relationships
Abigail Kengor Staff Writer
Denominations: the classic heartbreaker. The tragic tale, amusingly common but truly painful, is of the once-starryeyed Grover couple finally breaking under the tensions of disharmonious faith beliefs. It often starts off hopeful -- “We both love Jesus and we both love each other…we can focus on the similarities and stick to our individual faiths.” But eventually, especially the more passionately one loves their beliefs and, through love of the other, wants them to know and love the truth, such silence be comes unbearable. Wheth er a Presbyterian-Baptist, Catholic-nondenominational or Anglican-Agnostic match,
an interfaith relationship provides a lot of blockages — sometimes hurdles, sometimes walls — that require a lot of wisdom to navigate.
As hearts are won over, discerning the wisdom and risk of entering a mixed-faith relationship is hard. Two types of love, the love of God and love of man, which shouldn’t need to be in disharmony become so, and these two relationships are set to clash with one another if you don’t deal delicately with the tension. Our faith should be the center of our lives as Christians, so it can be isolating to marry someone whose very center of life conflicts with your own. While it can work out, there is also the
two individuals’ faiths stay strong, eventually there will be pain in whichever parent must sacrifice their beliefs and agree to raise children in what they believe to be a false faith. That is just one of many moral dilemmas such relationships might present. The desire for a unified and vibrant faith to be presented to your children is even more tricky.
Some differences can be overlooked; we are certainly supposed to love people despite their flaws. However, it can be tempting to dismiss even the greatest religious difference in the name of this unconditional love. Marrying someone of differing beliefs can even be seen as a hope-
the beauty of your faith.
The possibility of conversion can be a cautious hope, but it can also be a destructive presumption. To marry somebody with the expectation that their conversion is guaranteed is to love them conditionally. Hoping for their conversion is different, as long as it remains a desire for their greater good and for them to love the truth as you do. A desire for another’s good without obsessive control over it: that is love.
It’s important to attend to your motivations in accepting a faith difference. Is it out of carelessness or patience? If the former, you’re already risking your faith by not caring about your beliefs,
siderations. One, human love requires forgiving unconditionally the other’s flaws. Two, deciding how to take these flaws requires prudence. Sometimes, it would be unwise to marry somebody, however much you love them. Deciding against dating or marrying somebody does not necessarily deny them love. Preventing the pain and strain that an interfaith marriage could cause on the couple and their future children is a perfectly legitimate expression of love, even if it means denying romance (which is only one of C. S. Lewis’ four loves) via breakup. That’s easiest settled in the very beginning, so decide for yourself now which faith differences would put a relationship out of the question, keeping faith
Hair-raising horrors live at ‘Hill House’
Same setting, different characters, still scary
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
Over fall break I read Shirley Jackson’s 1959 gothic horror novel, “The Haunting of Hill House.”
The title may sound familiar for a different reason. In October of 2018, Netflix released a ten-episode miniseries of the same name, telling a story loosely based on Jackson’s novel.
I watched the miniseries two years ago and was utterly spooked. I picked up the book expecting to read a similar story and was surprised to find the setting the same, but the cast of characters entirely different.
Jackson’s novel follows four characters, Dr. John Montague, Luke Sanderson, Eleanor Vance and Theodora. Montague is a paranormal researcher, and after hearing of Hill House’s troubling history and infamous reputation, decides to spend a summer in the house to conduct a formal investigation.
He invites several people whose pasts are intertwined with the paranormal to help him with his research. Only Eleanor and Theodora accept the invitation. Luke Sanderson is the eventual heir of Hill House and is asked by his aunt, the current owner of the house, to join Montague and his fellow researchers during their summer at the house.
Eleanor had just lost her mother, whom she spent the majority of her adult life caring for, and leaves behind her
Cat Runion Contributing Writer
From page
to screen Netflix’s take on ‘The Haunting of Hill House’
Netflix’s “The Haunting of Hill House” is the story of the Crain family, based on the novel written by Shirley Jackson.
I watched the miniseries about two years ago, prior to reading the novel. I enjoyed all ten episodes enough that years later I picked up the book that inspired the show with high expectations.
What I found was a completely different story that packs the same punch due to the atmosphere created by the author- an atmosphere that transcends print-to-screen transitions.
While “based on” is a generous accreditation, the show isn’t an abomination of the book thanks to their storylines. The only character that remains consistent from book to screen is Hill House itself.
The miniseries tells the story of Olivia and Hugh Crain who move into Hill House in 1992 with their five children: Steven, Shirley, Theodora, Luke and Eleanor. The family is staying in the house with the intentions of renovating it and reselling it, but after
insufferable sister and brother-in-law to embark on what she sees as an adventure. Upon her arrival, the house immediately changes her experience from a spontaneous adventure to a doomed affair. Eleanor sees it as, “a house without kindness, never meant to be lived in, not a fit place for people or for love or for hope. Exorcism cannot alter the countenance of a house; Hill House would
several obstacles interfere with their work, the family is forced to stay longer than they had planned.
Hill House takes its toll on the family in several horrific ways, and the show shifts from telling the story of the family’s terrors when they lived in Hill House to their separate but intertwined lives in the future, where they all grapple with the effects of the trauma they incurred in the house.
Unless you’ve read the novel prior to watching the show, you’d miss the several references the show makes to its creative mother. For starters, the characters are all named in homage to Jackson’s cast. Mr. and Mrs. Dudley, the caretakers of the home, are featured in the show. The children, Theodora, Luke and Eleanor are all named after the original group from the novel.
In the future storyline, Eleanor marries a man named Arthur Vance, a reference to Eleanor’s surname in the novel and to Dr. Montague’s wife’s friend who has a brief stay in the story. Additionally, the show incorporates
stay as it was until it was destroyed.”
After the arrival of her fellow researchers, the mood shifts slightly as the group begins to explore the house and get to know one another. This brief reprieve from the all-consuming haunt of Hill House ends as soon as night falls, when the group hears something running up and down the halls on every floor of the house banging on the
the same themes of the novel, chief among them being the intersection of psychology, as in mental illness, and parapsychology, as in the supernatural.
The show also includes more subtle references to the novel, like the “cup of stars,” a simple prop used in the novel to demonstrate Eleanor’s resentment towards her mother. This prop takes on a similar role in the show, when Mrs. Dudley tells the young Eleanor that she shouldn’t be afraid to use a cup with stars on it.
The show has far more paranormal elements in it, with ghosts abounding and jump scares aplenty, but it is well-done and far from cheap. If asked which to recommend, I don’t think I could choose one over the other because they are both so different and both so good. However, I will recommend that whether in book form or screen form, you engage with the character of Hill House in some capacity this Halloween.
doors and walls, screaming, laughing and trying to get into the rooms.
The group is spooked but not horrified, as they expected some sort of supernatural occurrence. However, as the nights grow more and more terrifying, and messages addressed to Eleanor appear written on the walls, the house begins to eat away at the characters. Eleanor is the most affected, developing a
connection to the house that progresses throughout the story. Jackson creates an atmosphere so intoxicating and unnerving that you want to hide your eyes from the pages but your curiosity and investment in the story insist you continue reading. The ending is not all surprising but the build-up to the finale is gut-wrenching, mind-boggling and stomach-churning.
Midwest Princess goes political
It’s been a few weeks since the last time Chappell Roan divided the internet. If you weren’t there, the TL;DR was that Roan posted on TikTok, calling crazy fans out on their parasocial behavior and saying that she wasn’t going to accept stalking, harassment and bullying just because she was famous. Even though many thought that the Midwest Princess’
response was reasonable, it hasn’t prevented her from falling into another controversy. This time, it’s political.
In a recent interview, Roan refused to officially endorse any presidential candidate, arguing that there are issues
on both sides of the political spectrum. Putting her full support behind any candidate would be a breach of conscience for her.
As you can imagine, this sent the internet into a frenzy. Fans were absolutely
enraged that Roan didn’t endorse Kamala Harris, accusing her of being a ‘closet Trumper.’ Many thought that she was being disingenuous, since her whole platMIDWEST 2
Football falls to Presidents in heartbreaking loss
Matthew Purucker Staff Writer
Wolverine football fell to the Washington & Jefferson Presidents in a 27-19 decision last Saturday. Saturday’s game marks the first regular season loss since the 2022 season.
It is challenging to win a game when only scoring three points in one half. It is even more challenging when the opposing team has a highflying offense that can take advantage of missed chances, scoring in a flash.
Going into its sixth game of the season, Grove City was seeking to stay atop the PAC standings above rival PAC squad Washington and Jefferson. However, as the Wolverines learned, the Presidents were not daunted by Grove City’s No. 7 ranking.
After two punts, senior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer’s quarterback sneak on 4th down and goal from the oneyard line gave Grove City the early lead. On the next drive, W&J marched down the field to tie the game on a one-onone back shoulder throw to President’s receiver John Peduzzi.
“The W&J passing game is ranked towards the top in the country,” Grove City Head Coach Andrew DiDonato ’10 said. “Their QB (Jacob Pugh) made a lot of great throws and (wide receiever Jacob Macosko and Pugh) did a great job getting open and finishing each catch, so we must give them the credit they deserve. We must continue to grow in our ability to eliminate the big play while challenging throws underneath,” DiDonato ex-
“These opportunities are ones we’ve capitalized on in the past to win these big games. We will make adjustments we need to make, add necessary tools, and work to get back to capitalizing in those moments going forward,”
- Andrew DiDonato ‘10
pressed.
In the second quarter, senior running back Nico Flati charged up the middle for a six-yard touchdown, and sophomore kicker Daniel Sullivan’s 42-yard field goal had the Wolverines up 16-6. However, the turning point came in the final two minutes of the half when Macosko snagged two similar contested catches in the endzone, putting W&J up 20-16 at halftime.
“We have a clear vision for each phase (offense, defense and special teams) of our program. We lived in that vision for most of the first half to build that lead. (In) the final 2 minutes we missed some opportunities and W&J capitalized,” DiDonato said.
On Grove City’s first drive of the third quarter, the Wolverines made it down to the W&J six-yard line, but instead of going for it, they settled for another Sullivan field goal to cut the deficit to one. The next drive would see the Presidents methodically work their way down the field to the Grove City one-yard line. Then, W&J running back Kobe Derosa punched in a touchdown run to stretch the lead to 27-19, where it would remain.
In the fourth quarter,
Pfeuffer threw two incompletions on fourth downs to end Grove City’s last two possessions of the game. One was a 4th and 16 yards on the W&J 37 yard-line with 9:50 remaining on the clock and the other was a 4th and 8 yards from the W&J 19 yard-line with 1:24 remaining. Pfeuffer finished with just 138 passing yards compared to his season average of 244 yards per game.
“Yes, we missed some opportunities to win one-on-one matchups in the pass game and taking care of everyone in the box in the run game. These opportunities are ones we’ve capitalized on in the past to win these big games. We will make adjustments we need to make, add necessary tools, and work to get back to capitalizing in those moments going forward,” DiDonato said.
With the loss, Grove City and four other schools with one loss or fewer remain in contention for the PAC conference title, which will likely remain undecided until the final game of the season four weeks from now. In the meantime, the Wolverines will look to get back to their winning ways in the Mercer County Cup against Thiel at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Robert E. Thorn Field.
Golf ends fall season
Joel Sledd Staff Writer
Wolverines’ golf finished the fall portion of their season at the fall PAC golf tournament in Warren, Ohio on Oct. 15. The two-day tournament featured nine teams including the Wolverines.
The men and women both finished sixth in the podium after all the scores were tallied.
The women finished their first day of competition in fifth place with a score totaling to 384. They then shot 396 on day two for their final tally of 780. Leading for Wolverines’ women’s golf was sophomore Lauren Kardos, who tied for 14th in individual scores. Kardos ended the fall championship shooting 181, with 87 shots on day one and 94 shots on day two. Kardos also earned 13 pars and two birdies, leading Grove City in both categories. In 22nd overall, junior Hailey Muñoz shot 189 on both days with 10 pars and a birdie. Following behind was junior Julianna Jacobs at 27th shooting 204.
The women of Westminster College won the fall portion of the PAC Championship with a total team score of 677, just barely edging out Washington & Jefferson, who finished second with 683.
The men also finished sixth, compiling a final score of
Adam
639. Senior Adam Steinmetz headed the men’s efforts, tying 11th overall in individual performances with 154. Steinmetz shot 82 on day one and then tied for the best score of the second day with 72. Senior Aidan Allen finished 21st shooting 159 and Senior Max Vaughn took 27th with a final score of 162.
Freshman Luke Gronbeck and Steinmetz got three birdies and Steinmetz earned 22 pars.
Allegheny took first in the championship with a final team score of 589. Washington & Jefferson finished sec-
Football (5-1): L, W&J (19-27)
Men’s Soccer (9-3-2): W, Saint Vincent (2-0)
Women’s Soccer (9-3-2): W, Chatham (4-0)
Men’s Swimming: 2nd/4, Brockport State Early Season Invitational Women’s Cross Country: 2nd/4, Brockport STate Early Season Invitational
Women’s Volleyball (12-9): L, Thiel (1-3)
Women’s Tennis (10-3): L, Franciscan (3-4)
Upcoming
Men’s and Women’s Swim: Oct. 26, at Ashland University
Women’s Soccer: Oct. 26, 1 p.m. vs. W&J
Men’s Soccer: Oct. 26, 3 p.m. vs. W&J
Football: Oct. 26, 1 p.m. vs. Thiel
Women’s Volleyball: Oct. 5, 11:30 a.m. vs. W&J
Men’s and Women’s XC: Nov. 2, at PAC Championship
ond with 607 and Westminster College finished third.
With the fall portion complete, Wolverines Golf will have to wait for the spring to compete again. The final PAC Golf Champion is decided by four days of competition split between the fall and spring championship. With the fall portion complete, the men and women of Wolverines’ golf will head into the spring competition in sixth place in the PAC.
The spring championship will be held on April 25 and 26 at Mill Creek Metroparks and the Mill Creek Golf Course in Boardman, Ohio.
Hadleigh McNay Women’s Swimming Newcomer of the Week
Caleb Einolf Men’s Swimming Swimmer of the Week
Kiara White Women’s Soccer Newcomer of the Week
Ryan Turner Men’s Swimming Newcomer of the Week
LUKE PAGLIA
Senior running back Nico Flati takes the ball down the field.
GCC ATHLETICS
Senior
Steinmetz readies his shot on the course.
Sports
Collegian, Oct. 25, 2024
Senior Day Shutout Soccer checks off Chatham in key PAC win
Mia Gallagher Sports Editor
Wolverines’ Soccer secured a key PAC victory and resounding senior day salute on Saturday, Oct. 19 with a sweep of the Chatham Cougars. Both the men’s and women’s teams put together masterful all-around performances to shut out the visiting Cougars, with underclassmen players for each program stepping up to provide their venerated seniors with a memorable Wolverine Winner.
The women’s team kicked off the double-header at 1 p.m. and managed to jump out to an early 2-0 lead over the Cougars with two successive goals 30 minutes into the first half.
Sophomore midfielder Tori Stevenson kicked the offense into gear at 34:07 in the match, burying a ball sent by freshman midfielder Kiara White into the back of the net. Five minutes later, freshman forward Marina Hahn tallied a goal of her own, receiving a cross from junior forward Annie Vannoy to double Grove City’s lead.
The second half saw two more unanswered goals for the Wolverines to secure the shutout. Sophomore defender Emma Dailey, assisted by Hahn, stretched the team’s lead to 3-0 at 68:41 in the match, while White added an unassisted insurance goal at 75:00, rounding out the offense’s dominant performance.
Defensively, senior goalkeeper Courtney Lisman contributed four saves to the senior day shutout. Sophomore goalkeeper Maddie Mills relieved Lisman with 10 minutes left in the match to pick up two saves of her own.
Eight seniors were honored on the women’s side for their contributions to the program these last four years. These students are Emma Herrmann, Britta Lagerquist, Natalie Merrick, Erin Venus, Ella Wrabley, Lexi Zook, Grace Waggoner and Lisman. With three games left in the regular season, Grove City is currently tied for first in the conference with Westminster at 19 points.
“Their
leadership is vital to the success that this team has had. The past four years, they have contributed so much to the program both on and off
the field. They are guys who are incredibly skilled and talented, but also great guys off the field who are some of my best friends,”
- Camden Thomas
“The seniors this year have gone above and beyond for the team. They never take a play off, always work to make everyone around them better and do it all with a smile on their faces,” Hahn said.
The men’s team continued the College’s senior day campaign at 3:30 p.m. with a key early goal and dominant defensive showing.
Junior midfielder Camden Thomas notched the lone, game-winning goal of the match at the 20:02 mark, receiving the ball from fellow junior midfielder Matt Herrmann. The Wolverines also topped the Cougars in shots on goal (13-4) and corner kicks (8-1).
To complement the offense’s performance, junior
goalkeeper Teddy Almeter secured the shutout by tallying four saves. Almeter, who is on track to graduate early, was honored alongside the other men’s team seniors.
Joining Almeter in the senior day honors were six seniors: Jacen Davis, John-Luc Harbour, Connor Hudson, Luke Kimmich, Jordan Rebsamen and Will Rybka.
Thomas expressed great admiration for the current seniors on the team. “This year’s seniors have been so impactful on this team.
Their leadership is vital to the success that this team has had. The past four years, they have contributed so much to the program both on and off
the field. They are guys who are incredibly skilled and talented, but also great guys off the field who are some of my best friends. I can’t imagine what is going to be like next year playing without them,” Thomas said.
After battling the Bearcats of Saint Vincent on Tuesday and Wednesday, both teams will travel to Washington, Pa. to take on Washington & Jefferson tomorrow, Oct. 26. Action will begin at 1 p.m. with the women’s match and resume at 3 p.m. for the men.
Tennis loses in semis
Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief
The College’s women’s tennis team ended their season with a 3-4 loss to the Franciscan Barons in the PAC semifinals.
The Wolverines closed their season with a 10-3 record overall and a 7-1 record in the conference.
Grove City and Franciscan split the six singles, with freshman Iris Kiehl and seniors Alyssa Good and Janel McCray earning wins for the Wolverines.
Kiehl won her two rounds 6-4 and 6-1, and Good got the win with scores of 6-1 and 6-2. McCray rounded out the group with scores of 6-1 and 6-2.
Franciscan took two of the three doubles, securing their win. Good and junior Courtney DeCarlo defeated their opponents in the last match-up, winning 6-2.
Franciscan went on to play the top-seeded Allegheny Gators in the PAC Championship, where the Gators pulled through for a 4-3 victory to secure the title.
On Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 12, the Wolverines played non-conference Division II opponents PennWest California, where they fell 7-0.
The Wolverines earned the second seed in the conference and awaited the quarterfinal results which would determine whether they played Saint Vin-
cent or Franciscan.
The Wolverines’ 7-1 conference record joins the 47 straight years of winning conference records beginning in 1977 when the Wolverines were a part of another conference and continuing through 1985 when the College joined the PAC.
This impressive history is bolstered by a 23 season stretch between 1987 to 2010 in which the Wolverines never lost a conference game.
Women’s tennis has taken seven trips to the first round of the NCAA tournament and one trip to the second round.
The Wolverines will return to play in the spring.
JOHN HAKE
The team celebrates their win on Senior Day over the Chatham Cougars. Both teams shutout their opponents.
JOHN HAKE
Freshman midfielder Kiara White takes the ball down the field.
MARA BRAK
Senior Alyssa Good readies for the volley.