Hillsdale is Michigan’s second-most competitive school
By Megan Li Assistant Editor
Hillsdale College’s acceptance rate is now the second-lowest in Michigan, following only the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, according to a recent report from the Detroit News.
Hillsdale admitted 20.74% of applicants to the current freshman class, The Collegian reported last semester. This rate remains the same for spring semester transfer students, according to Zachary Miller, senior director of admissions.
The acceptance rate of the
University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 2023 was 18%, and it is currently the fifth-most competitive four-year public university in the nation, according to federal data reporting in the Detroit News. In past years, University of Michigan’s Office of Budgeting and Planning reported acceptance rates of 26% in 2020, 20% in 2021, and 17.6% in 2022; however, their admittance rate for transfer students was 23% in 2023.
“We have a pretty good pulse on the competitiveness of the other schools in Michigan,” Miller told The Collegian last week. “We’re not currently pur-
suing growth in enrollment — we’re admitting about the same amount of students that we tend to admit.”
Hillsdale’s admission rate dropped sharply between 2020 and 2021, when applications surged.
“We went from 36% as an admit rate in 2020 to 23% in 2021, and since then, we’ve been in the low 20s every year, between 20% and 23%,” Miller said. “All the students on campus now would be a part of classes that were in that low 20% admit rate.”
Miller credits Hillsdale’s increase in popularity to the
school’s in-person stances on COVID in 2020 and its growing national reputation today.
“The reason that we attract students is to provide a sound, excellent traditional liberal arts education within the mission of the college, and I don’t think there’s a lot of schools that do it and stand by the principles that we do today,” Miller said.
“Certainly I think we’re among the best in terms of the way we educate students.”
Visiting Assistant Professor of English Cameron Moore was a former lecturer in technical communications for University of Michigan’s College of Engineering.
“Clearly the students at both places are really excellent,” Moore said in an email. “U-M is a massive research university and Hillsdale is a small liberal arts college. That makes a huge difference in culture simply in terms of scale.”
Moore said he taught project-based engineering courses at University of Michigan, which involved instructing students how to write reports and give presentations. He now teaches Great Books courses at Hillsdale.
“Perhaps this is comparing apples to oranges,” Moore said.
“The similarity, I suppose, is that both cases require working with students to solve the problem at hand, whether that’s how best to communicate design choices or why Dante chooses Virgil as a guide,” Moore said.
Freshman Fara Newell said Hillsdale’s reputation for excellence attracted her, and it was her top choice out of all the schools she applied to.
“I really appreciate the fact that Hillsdale doesn’t take state funding, and so they have independence and freedom because of that,” Newell said. “Hillsdale values are also what I was looking for in a college.”
Senior Abby Davis said she applied to several schools before selecting Hillsdale, after attending Scholar’s Weekend.
“The students that I met here were very impressive. I wanted to be like them,” Davis said.
“Something about living here for a weekend made it really real, and the fact that I could picture it made me really excited about it.”
By Tayte Christensen Assistant Editor
Sixteen new students are joining the college this semester. They are among the 20% of spring transfer applicants who were accepted, according to Senior Director of Admissions Zachary Miller.
The size of this year’s mid-year transfer class, which includes eight men and eight women from nine states and Scotland, is consistent with the size of most spring transfer classes, ranging between 15 and 25 students in the past few years, Miller said.
“Many of them have experiences at other colleges and are looking for something different,” he said. “Hillsdale’s principled stance and mission are unique among most colleges and universities today. I think as students who share those principles look at Hillsdale, they see a school at which they can be challenged, grow, and receive an excellent classical liberal arts education.”
Miller said the size of each year’s spring transfer class is dictated by the size of the current student body, the number of December graduates, and room availability in residence halls.
Union facade construction begins Council to vote on mayoral election
By Thomas McKenna City News Editor
The city council will likely vote next week to hold a special election for mayor in August, and Acting Mayor Joshua Paladino told The Collegian he will run.
The move would be another consequence of former mayor Adam Stockford’s resignation in December. When the council selected Ward 4 Councilman Paladino ’18 to replace Stockford ’15, City Attorney Tom Thompson said he thought the city charter allowed Paladino to serve as acting mayor until 2026. But Thompson changed his interpretation of the charter, recommending at a Jan. 6 city council meeting that the city hold a special mayoral election sooner.
“If you could only fill a vacancy once every two years, that would make it really difficult when you hit mid-term vacancies under the city’s charter,” Thompson said at the recent meeting.
Thompson said state election laws list dates for a “regular state election” — the term
used in the city’s charter provision for filling open seats — in May, August, and November of each year. Thompson said the city can hold a special election on any of these dates. The council kicked the issue to its Jan. 21 meeting, and members told The Collegian they plan to set a special election for August. If more than two candidates run, the city will need to hold another election in November with only the top two vote-getters. No matter what happens in a special election, the city would hold a regular mayoral election in 2026.
Paladino and Ward 4 Councilman Robert Socha said the council will likely set an August special election with broad support.
“It is clear that special elections are designed to fill mid-term vacancies and the council should move ahead to make this happen,” Socha said. “I think it will pass with a supermajority if not 8-0. Unfortunately, we waited too long to act for the May election and must wait for August.”
By Catherine Maxwell News Editor
Crews began work on the façade of the Grewcock Student Union during Christmas break as construction on the classical education building moved ahead of schedule, according to Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé.
“Substantial completion is looking more like commencement 2026,” Péwé said of the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education building.
The previous substantial completion date was June 15, 2026. Substantial completion marks when a building is almost finished and can be used, although final details and finishing touches remain.
“It’s great that the grad building is ahead of schedule,” junior Anna Teply said. “Hopefully the student union construction will similarly go smoothly.”
Crews had previously built a mock-up window for the classical education building that included all the structural elements of the project.
“I am looking forward to seeing the results of the renovation, and hopefully the student union will look more in harmony with the chapel,” Teply said.
In December, crews built a safety wall around the Grewcock plaza and a divider wall in the formal lounge, The Collegian reported.
Péwé said now that the divider walls are finished, there will be no more construction
inside the student union or the formal lounge.
Students can still reserve the divided formal lounge as normal, said Director of Student Programs Rachel Marinko.
“The only thing that might affect what goes on there is
the new size — it’s quite a bit smaller than the formal lounge had been,” Marinko said. “But whoever would like to still use it is welcome to in its new size.”
Michigan’s oldest college newspaper
Hillsdale College numbers from Hillsdale College Admissions. University of Michigan in Ann Arbor numbers from University of Michigan’s Office of Budget and Planning and the Detroit News.
Courtesy | Collegian Staff
Demolition began on the Grewcock Student Union facade over Christmas break.
Catherine Maxwell | Collegian
Students to witness ‘new era,’ attend inauguration
By Isaac Green Managing Editor
When Donald Trump swears in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, 35 Hillsdale students plan to attend.
The group, organized by the Hillsdale College Republicans, will travel by bus to Virginia on Sunday and then head to Washington, D.C. the following morning. They will depart on Monday evening and arrive back in Hillsdale early Tuesday morning.
“Hillsdale students, most of whom voted in Michigan, played a crucial role in our victory in this state,” Hillsdale College Republicans President Josiah Jones said. “Our club couldn’t think of any better way to celebrate than to provide Hillsdale with an opportunity to celebrate their victory.”
Following Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election, Hillsdale College Republicans sent out an email advertising the event and posted flyers around campus. Students filled up the spots for the trip on a first-come-first-served basis before winter break for a $90 fee.
In addition to attending the swearing-in ceremony on the
Second from A1
Miller said Hillsdale’s yield rate, the percentage of students who commit to Hillsdale after getting accepted, also increased with the number of applications.
“Five years before that 2021 class, we were anywhere from the low 40s to the mid-40% range,” Miller said. “Then starting in 2021 we went up to 56% and then peaked at 62%, so we’ve been between the mid50s and below 60% in terms of our yield rates.”
Miller said Hillsdale intends to keep its enrollment of between 380 to 400 students per year, resulting in the lowered admissions rate.
“The college and its current size — we know it works well, and we know we can deliver an excellent education where students have a great educational experience,” Miller said. “Our goal is to do that, and the size of the campus that we have now allows us to do that.”
Moore said Hillsdale’s size allows him to engage further in the community.
“Hillsdale is small enough that I run into current and former students all the time simply by walking around campus, going to lunch, or sitting on a bench,” Moore said. “It’s much easier here to cultivate and continue relationships beyond the end of the semester.”
Miller said the admissions team pays attention to each student’s academic profile, high school community involvement, and who they are as a person.
“We want students who understand that Hillsdale is going to hold them to a higher standard, we want to see how they respond to that,” Miller said. “Are they willing to commit themselves to honor, honesty, duty and respect, like we ask all of our students to?”
But with Hillsdale’s growing competition, Miller said admissions also has to reject many excellent students who would have been good fits at Hillsdale.
“It’s the hardest thing we do,” Miller said. “Folks see selective schools and think, ‘oh, man, that’s really neat that they’re only admitting one out
west side of the Capitol, the group will watch the inaugural parade to the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. Jones said, to the best of his knowledge, Hillsdale College Republicans has not done inauguration trips in the past.
“Traditionally, our club does a trip to CPAC every year, but given that our victory in this election was truly so crucial for the future of our country and that Hillsdale students played a significant role in that victory, having our students in D.C. on Inauguration Day is definitely a necessity,” Jones said.
Freshman Carter Ross said he decided to go on the trip because it struck him as a once-ina-lifetime opportunity
“This election is absolutely pivotal for our country and her future,” Ross said. “Given that I have been provided a golden opportunity at such a little expense, attending the inauguration is, simply put, a no-brainer.”
This is no ordinary political change, according to Ross, but rather a major step toward making this nation great again.
“America knocks at the gate of a new era,” Ross said. “I choose to be there when it is opened.”
of every five students that apply,’ and it speaks to the work that Hillsdale does on a national scale. But it’s also hard, because it’s just difficult to say no to kids that you like, so that’s a burden that we have as well.”
Newell said Hillsdale had the lowest admission rate of the schools she applied to.
“I wasn’t betting on it, but I was really, really hoping to get in, and then getting in is a greater reward and a greater honor and more impressive than if it had a higher admission rate,” Newell said.
Hillsdale’s admissions team, made up of ten counselors who travel across the country, prioritizes giving personalized attention to every single applicant, especially in the interview process, according to Miller.
“It allows both the applicant to give life to their application, to share more about their passions, their interests, to explain parts of their application that they think are important,” Miller said.
Newell said she was especially nervous going into the interview, but it did not turn out how she expected.
“I ended up really enjoying my interview,” Newell said. “I didn’t feel like I was being interrogated, I felt like I was having a very constructive and wonderful conversation with the person interviewing me, and I’ve heard the same from a lot of other students.”
Davis said she saw the interview process as an important contributor to the student culture of Hillsdale.
“Consistently, people try hard and care about developing their character and working hard,” Davis said. “I think that one of the ways they’re able to suss that out, put together a student body that has that type of drive is through the interview.”
Miller said it is difficult to say, right now, whether the acceptance rate will change in the future.
“The applications have stayed fairly steady over the last five years so we’re in this new era, with the number of applications,” Miller said. “Will that increase? There’s a good chance it will in the future, but time will tell.”
Students visit Holy Land with Passages
By Olivia Pero Outreach Director
Seven Hillsdale students
speSeven Hillsdale students spent nine days of their winter break in Israel with Passages, visiting Capernaum, Jerusalem, and Nazareth.
They traveled with students from Patrick Henry College and some students from Kansas City University and Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. The group was on the ground in Israel from Dec. 29 to Jan. 6.
“I can now envision the Sea of Galilee or the Garden of Gethsemane closest to its true form as I read scripture or pray or sing praises to God,” said freshman Haven Socha.
Senior Noah Schmidt served as a Passages fellow. In this role, he helped lead the group of students during the nine days they were in Israel. This included mentoring students, helping them experience the culture, leading conversations, aiding with trip logistics, and fostering community in the group both before it left for Israel and while there.
“I visited Israel two years ago with Passages and loved
the trip so much that I wanted to return in the role of a trip fellow to see Israel again, soak up more of the experience, and meet new people,” Schmidt said.
Michael Murray, head of gift and estate planning, was a chaperone on the trip.
Murray said the itinerary was different from previous Passages trips because of the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023 and the violence in its aftermath.
“We did not visit the Golan Heights or Bethlehem this time, but we had the opportunity to do a day of volunteering and visit other places I did not see last time, like the Valley of Elah where David killed Goliath,” Schmidt said.
While the group heard a cautionary warning at around 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 3, Murray said the group was never in danger.
Passages posted a statement on its website stating a ballistic missile from Yemen entered Israeli airspace, reportedly leaving debris 30 minutes away from Jerusalem where the Passages members were staying. While Israel successfully intercepted it, those on the trip heard sirens
in Jerusalem and sheltered per protocol.
“Passages consults with multiple security sources daily to make sure what we do is safe, and I never felt in danger while we were in Israel,” Schmidt said.
Schmidt said seeing the aftermath of Oct. 7, 2023, firsthand made the events of that day take on an entirely new weight. Kfar Aza is a kibbutz — essentially a small village — on the Israel side of the Gaza border. It was attacked on Oct. 7.
“I cannot look at Oct. 7 as I did before the trip after visiting Kfar Aza, seeing the damage, and hearing people from the kibbutz talk about the horrors they experienced and the friends they have who are still held hostage in Gaza,” Schmidt said.
Socha said she saw the reality and devastation that came upon the Israeli people on Oct. 7 after visiting sites like the Nova musical festival, the Kfar Aza kibbutz, and the Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center.
“All generations, and specifically my generation, will never forget Oct. 7 just as we will never forget the souls on
9/11,” Socha said. Socha said she sought to be a peacemaker during the trip by listening to the Israelis’ perspective and standing by them in this time of trouble.
“The Israeli people were calm and at peace, despite being surrounded by danger on all sides,” Socha said. “When they wake up every morning, they know they can make a difference for their country. They are unified as one big family and have a purpose to take care of each other.”
Socha said during their Shabbat dinner during the Sabbath, she met a Jewish mother of three children who told her Israelis live each day to the fullest because they never know which day will be the last.
“That reminded me of how thankful I am for the precious life God has given me,” Socha said.
Schmidt said his favorite part of the trip was the opportunity to experience Israel in a leadership role rather than just as a participant.
Murray said the trip was an incredible learning experience.
“I highly recommend it for all students, faculty and staff,” he said. “I learned so much from the students, Passages staff, tour guides, and all the people we met on our journey.”
Schmidt said he encourages students to ask those who went on the trip about their experiences and to seriously consider going on the trip in the future.
“Visiting Israel is sometimes considered to be the fifth gospel, and after going to Israel with Passages twice, I affirm that the trip is that valuable,” Schmidt said.
Find old and new treasures at library book swap
By Michaela Estruth Senior Editor
“101 Things To Do With Ramen Noodles,” is just one of dozens of books students can trade for at the third annual book swap next week.
Michael Alex Mossey Library will host the swap in the Heritage Room Monday, Jan. 20, from 7-9 p.m. Anyone who attends can swap books one for one and enjoy light refreshments, according to Public Services Librarian Brenna Wade.
“This is a good way to swap out books that you no longer
Transfers from A1
Five of the 16 new students are freshmen who took a gap semester and are not transferring from another university — a higher number than in previous years, according to Associate Director of Admissions Ben Strickland ’16.
“They will bring knowledge and experience of life outside of Hillsdale College to the student body, which I think is always good,” Strickland said. “You never know how good you have it until you experience somewhere else.”
Strickland said the class comes from a variety of educational backgrounds, including Catholic schools and state universities.
Freshman Andrew Irvine, a transfer student from Scotland, took a gap semester in the fall after graduating high school last summer. Irvine, who will play on the golf team, said he decided to come to Hillsdale because of the strong academics, small student-to-professor ratio, and the golf program.
“In Scotland, university
want and add some new titles to your personal collection,” Wade said. “It’s also fun to chat with other readers and discuss books in general.”
Wade, who organizes the event, said she is hoping interest will grow with each year. She said she collects books throughout the year to contribute to the book swap.
“People tend to bring fiction books, and most of the books I add are nonfiction, so we tend to have a good mix,” Wade said.
Library Director Maurine McCourry said she supports the effort, and this will be her
sport is not something that is given a lot of funding and support, whereas in the U.S., athletes are given the chance to thrive and improve in a very competitive environment,” Irvine said. “I was drawn to the fact that Hillsdale offered both excellent academics and a great golf program.”
Irvine said his visit to Hillsdale in October assured him that he had chosen the right college.
“I found the lectures that I attended on my visit very interesting. I could really tell how much the professors enjoyed teaching their subjects,” Irvine said. “This is something that I have not experienced in high school, so seeing this in my visit has made me very excited to learn at Hillsdale.”
Strickland said the timeline for spring transfer students is accelerated compared to those entering in the fall, as most spring transfers apply in November, decide by December, and start classes in January. But the application evaluation process is no different, according to Miller.
first time attending the book swap.
“We hope that students will attend just for fun and fellowship, but also maybe to expand their reading world a bit,” McCourry said.
Wade said any books are welcome, but they should be brought during the event itself and should not come from the library’s free books shelf or the donation table in Delp Hall.
After the book swap concludes, Wade said she organizes the remaining books.
“I sort through all the
“We are looking for great fit students who desire what Hillsdale offers, will contribute to our campus community, and can excel as students,” Miller said. “Those who enter in the spring tend to be transfers, or other non-traditional students, but they add immense value to the campus.”
While several of this semester’s transfer students are athletes like Irvine, Strickland said the reasons to transfer vary.
“The general themes are Hillsdale’s love of learning, liberal arts curriculum, focus on personal development, culture of respect and integrity, high academic and intellectual culture, excellent music programs, and emphasis on spiritual growth and encouragement,” Strickland said.
Irvine said he is excited to get started not only with the golf team, but with the academics that drew him to Hillsdale.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity to have small class sizes with professors who are extremely knowledgeable and truly love what they teach,” Irvine said.
books left over at the end of the book swap, keeping some for next year and donating the rest to Better World Books or the library’s free bookshelf,” Wade said.
Union from A1
There is still no start date for the Mossey Library construction, according to Péwé. He said the groin vault mockup near Delp Hall will be finished in a few weeks.
“A groin vault is the arched structure of the ‘undercroft,’ the part people would pass under when walking under the reading room of the north library addition,” Executive Assistant and Operations Manager Elizabeth Gray told The Collegian in December. Péwé also said the Nimrod Building at the John Anthony Halter Shooting Sports Education Center will be completed in May 2025. The 64,000-square-foot building will house 42 indoor shooting lanes and 28 outdoor lanes, as well as indoor archery lanes, according to Range Manager Matthew Little. It will also feature a pro shop and additional office and classroom space.
“It will be open to the public and members along with college staff,” Little said.
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Hillsdale students visited Masada during the Passages trip.
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Put life over health
By Caroline Kurt Opinions Editor
“Not dying” is the worst way to live.
Bryan Johnson has a single goal: Don’t die. The 47-yearold biotech millionaire has spent the past four years of his life as the human subject of Project Blueprint, a lifelong longevity experiment. Every aspect of Johnson’s life is meticulously recorded and analyzed by a team of more than 30 doctors. Johnson takes 54 pills a day. He eats his final meal of the day at noon for optimal digestion. His diagnostics and treatments cost $2 million a year.
Johnson even used his 17-year-old son for a plasma exchange in 2023, an experiment he later admitted was not successful.
Though Johnson’s commitment to advancing longevity science — especially by publishing all of his findings online for the general public — is admirable, he unwittingly exemplifies a kind of spiritual poverty and illness into which we ourselves can also easily fall.
Johnson’s website “Don’t Die” proudly proclaims, “We are at war with death and its causes.” His project stands at the pinnacle of the 21st century’s health and wellness obsession — the same industry that brings us fad diets, IVF, and the gene-editing tool CRISPR.
Yet to be at war with death is, paradoxically, also to be at war with life. Johnson’s lifestyle allows no privacy, no spontaneity, and little time to spend on his children and other relationships. In a Jan. 7 interview with Bari Weiss on The Free Press’s “Honestly” podcast, Weiss asked Johnson about this.
“I think a lot of people will hear about what you do and think to themselves, ‘He’s spending all of his time trying to not die and missing the things that make life—life!’ What do you say to that?” Weiss said.
Johnson partially dodged the question, discounting the possibility that humanity knew what made life worth living.
“The idea that we somehow have mastered existence and that we know what the
purpose of existence is, is so silly of a notion,” Johnson said.
Your god is what most occupies you, and it is clear Johnson has chosen health. Yet health makes a fickle god, liable to turn on one at any moment. No lifestyle can completely prevent the risk of cancer, or Alzheimer’s, or a thousand other natural causes — to say nothing of car accidents or natural disasters.
Johnson is only an extreme version of many health-obsessed influencers. The utter caution their lifestyles revolve around isn’t healthy at all, and often blinds them to the wealth and beauty that spring from risk. Their lives are poorer and less human for it.
This isn’t to say we should forget caution and never give our health a second thought. Absolutely, take care of your body — but do it for the right reasons. Abandon the fear and the paralyzing caution of anything even vaguely threatening to your lifespan. Do it to be able to play sports with your kids in the backyard one day; to have the energy to serve your profession, family, and community well; and to be around to see your grandchildren grow up.
Yet hold health lightly, living so as to die well, and so as to be happy even when your health does fail.
One of my favorite short stories is Leo Tolstoy’s “The Death of Ivan Ilyich.” It’s a masterpiece. As the title suggests, the story follows Ivan’s final days, as he comes to realize what makes dying so frightful is knowing he had not lived well. Finally, Ivan acknowledges his failures and discovers it is not too late to do right.
“He sought his old habitual fear of death and could not find it. Where was it? What death? There was no more fear because there was no more death,” Tolstoy writes.
Proximity to death opens Ivan to the fullness of life. We, fortunately, don’t need to wait until the very end to accept death. A life well lived, even if short, is enough.
Caroline Kurt is a junior studying English.
donation to the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20.
Zuckerberg had previously come under fire for the way Facebook may have tampered with results during the last few election cycles, whether through facilitating the spread of misinformation or suppressing conservative viewpoints.
A cynic might say Zuckerberg is just another billionaire trying to ally with power. This, however, could also be a change that reflects the ideal spirit of 2025. It’s a reminder that the way things are is not always the way things should be. This year we should all demonstrate this same spirit of flexibility and intellectual humility.
This can be toward the media, political happenings and alliances, and even unlikely friendships and teams. Some things are just true, and some beliefs can be held fast. But it is okay to update your beliefs with new information and experiences, even in the middle of the school year.
‘Whiplash’ is a warning, not a model
Moira Gleason D.C. Correspondent
Vivek Ramaswamy needs to rewatch “Whiplash.”
The co-leader of the new Department of Government Efficiency started an internet uproar on X Dec. 26 when he took shots at American cultural laziness. Tech companies often hire foreign-born or first generation engineers because our culture has long promoted mediocrity over excellence, he said. His proposed solution calls for a new generation of tiger moms and childhood high achievers.
“More movies like ‘Whiplash,’ fewer reruns of ‘Friends,’” Ramaswamy said on X. “More math tutoring, fewer sleepovers. More weekend science competitions, fewer Saturday morning cartoons. More books, less TV. More creating, less ‘chillin.’ More extracurriculars, less ‘hanging out at the mall.’”
I’m no “Friends” fan but when I read this, I wondered if I remembered the 2014 movie “Whiplash” correctly. I recalled the story of a distraught jazz percussion student who will stop at nothing, including self-harm, to please his emotionally abusive music instructor.
But I wanted to give Ra -
maswamy’s vision for America the benefit of the doubt.
I rewatched “Whiplash” over Christmas break so you don’t have to.
The verdict: “Whiplash” is a masterpiece of film and storytelling. But parents who want their children to imitate the main character Andrew Neiman should consult a therapist.
Ramaswamy is right. Too often, Americans settle for and even celebrate mediocrity. That’s a problem. But human excellence ought to imply more than high-level performance in one area, regardless of whether that is great art or success in the STEM field.
“Whiplash” shows what happens when someone pursues excellence in one activity to the exclusion of everything else.
A talented but socially awkward jazz drumming student, Miles Teller’s character spends most of his time in a practice room, going to the movies with his dad, and dreaming of being “one of the greats” like Buddy Rich. He’s an ambitious kid, and it’s hard not to like him.
I found myself rooting for Andrew as he practices through the night, earns a spot in the premier studio band, and works up the nerve to ask out the cute
girl at the movie theater.
Enter Fletcher. Clad in black and shouting various derivatives of the f-word, J.K. Simmons’ character escalates from intimidating to abusive when he hurls a chair at Andrew’s head for playing poorly, screams at him inches from his face, and slaps him repeatedly while he counts time in rehearsal, demanding,“rushing or dragging?”
Later, Fletcher explains his teaching method: Students must be pushed beyond what is expected of them rather than praised for their efforts. “There are no two words in the English language more harmful than ‘good job,’” Fletcher says.
By the end, Andrew gets his Buddy Rich moment. But his all-consuming pursuit of excellence hurts him and everyone in his life. As he claws his way to the top, the rest of his life spirals out of control. He isolates himself, lashing out at his fellow students and breaking up with his girlfriend because her mere presence in his life might stop him from achieving his goals.
My take-away from “Whiplash”: Be careful how you define excellence.
Ramaswamy may be right that giving every kid a participation trophy for youth soccer fails
to teach them that excellence requires hard work, but true human excellence also requires that kids develop a capacity for relationship and learn to navigate their inevitable limitations and failures. This is where good parenting comes in.
In fact, the unsung hero in “Whiplash” is Andrew’s father, Jim Neiman. He’s no tiger mom. He wants Andrew to succeed but shows the same support at moments when Andrew is on top or a public failure. It’s not the abuse of Fletcher but the love of his father that makes Andrew who he is and allows him to achieve excellence in the climactic scene.
Celebrating mediocrity is harmful, but so is any mindset that says children only have value when they perform at a high level. Good parents will teach their kids to work hard, but also to pick themselves up when they fail and to recognize their own worth and that of others apart from achievement.
Sorry, Ramaswamy. Sometimes kids do need to hear the words “good job.”
Moira Gleason is a junior studying English.
No DEI? I’m lovin’ it
By Michaela Estruth Senior Editor
Speaking of New Year’s resolutions, McDonald’s, the world’s largest restaurant chain, announced company resolutions regarding its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies. In a worldwide company email, the corporation announced some modifications, which marked some clear changes but in other areas — not much at all.
The company promised to stop hiring based on percentage diversity goals and to pause “external surveys.” This implies it will no longer participate in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual DEI report, the Corporate Equality Index.
According to its website, the HRC is “the national benchmarking tool on corporate policies, practices, and benefits pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees.”
The HRC often drives DEI practices in companies based on this “benchmark.”
McDonald’s third promise was to retire its commitment to the supply chain DEI pledge and instead focus more on business performance. The company is returning to what should have always been its focus: quality.
The final alteration McDonald’s announced, however, is superfluous and reveals the company’s continuing commitments to DEI standards. McDonald’s changed the name of its diversity team to the “Global Inclusion Team.”
“This name change is more fitting for McDonald’s in light of our inclusion value and better aligns with this team’s work,” the email read.
But why does a fast-food restaurant even need a “Global Inclusion Team”? Yes, the staff needs to be courteous and respectful to each other and to customers, but an outside inclusion team is unnecessary, especially given the existence of Human Resources in every major company.
This name change indicates the larger issue of the McDonald’s statement — it’s hesitant and hidden. Even its retreat from the HRC was only vaguely implied.
ident and Fellows of Harvard College, we also assessed the shifting legal landscape to anticipate how this ruling may impact corporations such as McDonald’s,” the email read.
The email itself contained roughly 75% of self-praise for the company’s inclusion before addressing the main point: the modifications. In journalism, that’s called burying the lede. Delaying the main changes to the final quarter of a statement is cowardly.
After clearly promoting its stance on inclusion, McDonald’s explained it had comprehensively analyzed its inclusion practices over the past year, including consideration from shareholders and political and legal relevance.
“Following the Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. Pres-
The Supreme Court case in June 2023 abolished affirmative action for college admissions. This decision culturally impacted not only education diversity practices but corporate and business practices. Last year saw several businesses backtrack their DEI policies because of this political and cultural shift.
“And finally, we benchmarked our approach to other companies who are also re-evaluating their own programs,” the email read.
McDonald’s sensed the DEI backtrack in 2024, realizing the policies that once earned them high scores from the HRC now earns them high critique from customers. Again, McDonald’s hid specific details but its reference to these other companies implies the reality of a retreat from DEI policies.
According to AP News, Lowe’s and Ford Motor Co. stopped participating in the HRC’s annual survey in 2024.
Other companies that altered or abandoned their DEI policies in 2024 include Tractor Supply Co., John Deere, and Walmart. And, like McDonald’s, both Amazon and Meta announced
DEI changes to begin the year. Companies are finally recognizing consumers fuel their growth and success. If the consumer is unhappy, something should change. Most McDonald’s customers just want to enjoy their burgers — without political propaganda.
The hesitancy and vague language that McDonald’s recently presented, however, needs clarifying.
McDonald’s and many other companies are attempting to please both sides: consumers and the stakeholders who fund the company, often pushing leftist stances such as transgender policies. This explains the McDonald’s hesitancy. That very hesitancy, however, reveals a weakness: political appeasement. Companies should not shoot in political wars.
McDonald’s hesitancy gives opportunity for left-leaning activists and organizations such as HRC to backlash. Hopefully, McDonald’s won’t cave to this pressure.The DEI changes McDonald’s announced is a start. But sometimes a car still dies after a jump.
Consumers can strengthen McDonald’s and other companies by supporting their DEI changes. Share your appreciation and support of such changes. Public affirmation will encourage McDonald’s to defend its new policies. Let McDonald’s know you’re “lovin’ it.”
history.
Michaela Estruth is a senior studying
City News
Backlash on : Residents reject road repairs
By Christina Lewis and Alessia Sandala Assistant Editors
Barry Street homeowners have gathered enough signatures to opt out of the city’s road repair program that would charge each resident $5,000.
Unless a supermajority of seven out of eight councilmembers vote to override their opposition, Barry Street residents will become the second group of homeowners in Hillsdale to reject a “special assessment district,” which designates dilapidated roads for repairs. The city council will hold a public hearing on March 3 where they will vote on whether or not to move forward with the Barry Street SAD.
The city began using SADs to fund road repairs in 2021. Homeowners in a SAD are required to pay up to $5,000 to fund road construction in the district unless they collect enough signatures from other residents in the SAD to opt out. If homeowners are unable to pay this amount, the city imposes a $5,000 lien on their home for a 10-year-period with a 6% simple interest loan.
About 75% of the city‘s roads are in “failing condition,” City Engineer Kristin Bauer told the city council in October. Hillsdale City Manager David Mackie said SADs allow the city to un-
dertake necessary road construction.
“Special assessment districts provide significant value by enabling the city to complete critical infrastructure repair projects that would otherwise be delayed due to limited funding,” Mackie said.
“It’s important to note that city staff actively pursue every available grant and use state funding whenever possible to maintain and repair our public infrastructure. However, special assessment districts are typically recommended for projects requiring complete road reconstruction.”
While some city officials argue the SAD proposal will benefit residents and justify the costs, homeowners and renters on Barry Street have their doubts.
One homeowner, Timothy Polelle ‘19, a Ph.D. student at the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship, started a petition against the Barry Street SAD and collected 19 signatures from his neighbors. For the city council to consider the petition, more than half — roughly 15 out of the 29 — of the homeowners on Barry Street had to sign the petition. Only one person declined to sign when Polelle asked, he said.
“Some councilmen and city staff have acknowledged that
SADs like this do stink, but say they must continue indefinitely because other citizens have had to pay it in the past,” Polelle said. “In other words, since the city government has harmed some people unjustly in the past, fairness requires it to continue to harm others until everyone has been hurt.”
Polelle said he began the petition after Ward 4 Councilman Robert Socha suggested it to him and explained how it worked legally.
“Everyone on my street has a pretty low income, so I knew this was going to be very painful for everyone if no one did anything,” Polelle said.
Przemyslaw Grzesiak, a landlord on Barry St. said that if the city passes the SAD proposal, then he will need to increase his tenant’s rent.
“The SAD proposal is saddening,” Grzesiak said. “City council wastes money on superfluous projects such as the Municipal Airport which don‘t benefit the average Hillsdale resident.”
Socha said he does not believe the council will override Barry Street residents’ request to opt out of the SAD. But he also said SADs are currently the city’s best option for dealing with the cost of road repairs.
“Unfortunately, the city‘s
Johnny T’s workers become owners
By Sydney Green Collegian Reporter
Two longtime employees of Johnny T’s Bistro bought the restaurant at the end of September and say they hope to expand catering services but don’t plan to make major changes.
Dusty and Desiree Andrews worked for the restaurant for years and said they fell in love with its community oriented atmosphere.
“We plan to keep the menu relatively the same,” Desiree Andrews said. “We would just like to see our business expand more, especially in our catering services and in how we give back to the community with our service.”
Former owner Rick Tropiano said he and his wife wanted to retire and move on from the restaurant.
“It is not always common to sell a restaurant while it is still profitable,” Tropiano said. “My wife and I didn’t want to be in a position where we had to sell the restaurant out of desperation, and we believe Dusty and Desiree’s desire to own the restaurant was God’s working.” Tropiano came to Hillsdale in 1993 and took over the
restaurant in 2009. Johnny T’s Bistro offers a casual dining atmosphere and features different cuisines, mainly Italian, Mediterranean, and American food.
“We offer a pretty broad palate,” Tropiano said. “Being involved for as long as I was, it was a hobby and passion of mine to research and develop different ideas regarding the cuisine.”
Tropiano said the decision to sell to Dusty and Desiree was natural because he had already taught them how to run the business.
“Dusty started working for the restaurant at an early age doing dishes and Desiree joined later, and they both fell in love with the business,” Tropiano said. “I enjoyed teaching them both over the years about the business and trust that they are both capable of keeping it successful.”
Tropiano also said the Andrews are able to appeal to a broader age demographic in a way that he could not.
“They have such a good advantage being as young as they are,” Tropiano said. “They can work technology better than I can, cater to the younger age demographic,
infrastructure is in a desperate state and it‘s requiring some austerity to make some headway,” Socha said. “Even with these special assessments, we‘re still behind the eight ball. Hopefully we will continue to think and another solution will present itself. But in the meantime, the SADs are the only way that I see us getting some serious infrastructure projects completed.”
This is not the first time Hillsdale homeowners have voiced their concern over SADs. In 2021, Elm Court resi-
“Everyone
he is glad Barry Street residents were able to come together to collect enough signatures to oppose the SAD.
“The method, by which consent to SADs is ‘affirmed,’ is duplicitous in my opinion — assuming that, in the absence of any formal written objection, any given citizen in a given district is in favor of the assessment,” Bruns said. “I‘m not sure where this method came from, but it is precisely the opposite of what it ought to be; the burden of affirmation should fall on
on my street has a pretty low income, so I knew this was going to be very painful for everyone if no one did anything.”
dents stopped the creation of a SAD for a proposed project in their area.
“As a result, the road portion of that project did not proceed, and the city shifted focus to other areas that did not oppose special assessments,” Mackie said.
Ward 1 Councilman Jacob Bruns, who had to pay the $5,000 fee for a SAD when he first moved to Hillsdale, said
those who desire extraordinary action. The current method, by contrast, is designed to slip the assessments by unsuspecting residents.”
Homeowners Brandon and Autumn Traxler, who have lived on Barry Street with their family for five years, also signed Polelle’s petition.
“You‘ve seen Hillsdale, it doesn‘t really have the funds, and a lot of residents aren’t even
middle class, a lot of them,” Autumn Traxler said. “So it’s hard, none of us have private jets here, so that makes no sense for us to utilize that.”
Brandon Traxler suggested the town allow a dispensary to open.
“They [the dispensaries] are giving out money to the cities that do have the dispensary note,” he said.
As a renter on Barry Street and voting member of the city, Jonathan Pollock said it would be better for the city to just tear up the road and leave it as gravel if residents cannot afford to maintain them, especially since Barry Street is not a thoroughfare.
“It‘s terrible to have to drive on rattly roads, but I would rather drive on a pothole road and not have a tax, an extra tax, levied to fix something that already should have been accounted for,” Pollock said.
According to Pollock, the city should establish a rainy day fund to maintain the infrastructure it built.
“There is a mismanagement going on at a higher level and their answer is to saddle the residents who already pay taxes with an out of the blue $5,000, an expense that if you can’t pay, they put a lien against your house.” Pollock said. “It’s criminal.”
‘Road diet’ could slim down Broad Street
and offer new services and items.”
The idea of selling started a year and a half ago, according to Tropiano. Since then, he and his wife have been hands-off to prepare for a smoother transition for the new owners. Desiree said she is grateful to Tropiano for equipping her with the skills necessary to run the business.
“I worked for a while under Rick’s supervision, and he taught me everything,” Desiree said. “Dusty and I had management experience but not business experience, and Rick helped a lot with that to make it an easier transition.”
House Director of Galloway Residence JoAnn Arendt said Johnny T’s is her favorite restaurant and that it will continue to do well under new ownership. Arendt’s daughter married the Tropianos’ son, and Arendt has since been a regular customer of the restaurant.
“It is a good place to go for friendships, good food, and reasonable prices,” Arendt said. “I wish the Tropianos great times in their retirement and I look forward to continuing to go there for great service.”
Election from A1
Paladino — who spent a decade at Hillsdale College earning bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees — said his “current intention” is to run in August. But he also said he would like to find another candidate who would advance his policy ideas.
“No one else really wants to do it, so probably, right now, about a 95% chance I end up running,” Paladino said in an interview. “Basically, I want to preserve my agenda for the roads, police, airport, Dial-a-Ride, parks, water, all the different things.”
plished anything. Special elections have low turnout.”
Paladino took a similar view.
he would vote to hold a special election anyway.
“No one else really wants to do it, so probably, right now, about a 95% chance I end up running.”
Stockford told The Collegian he thinks a special election is a “silly idea.”
“Special elections are burdensome to city staff,” Stockford said. “On top of that, if someone from council runs and wins, you’re back to eight members and haven’t accom-
“We spend a lot of money, you don’t really have the will of the people reflected in any meaningful way, and then you most likely create an additional vacancy anyway,” Paladino said. “That doesn’t really solve the problem.”
If a councilman wins the mayoral seat in the special election, then the council will need to call another special election to fill that councilman’s seat representing his ward. That election could be held less than a year before the regular city elections in November of 2026, Paladino said.
But the acting mayor said
“If I were just on council, I would vote no, because I don’t like special elections. They’re low turnout, they’re undemocratic, they’re unrepublican,” Paladino said. “In the mayor pro tem seat, I don’t want to give the appearance that I’m avoiding an election. I’m happy to stand for an election, and I’m trying to find a different candidate to run, if possible.”
Stockford called Paladino a “smart guy and a friend.”
“I’m happy to support him in whatever endeavors he chooses in life,” Stockford said. “That’s what men do with their friends.”
Dusty and Desiree Andrews, two longtime employees, became owners this fall. Courtesy | Rick Tropiano
The city’s planning commission will hold a meeting Jan. 16 from 6-8 p.m. at the Hillsdale Community Library to give information and take feedback on proposed changes to Broad Street. Updates include a “road diet,” as the city calls it, that would remove one lane from each side of Broad Street to make room for bike lanes and a middle turning lane for both directions. The changes would also end access to Hillsdale Street from Broad Street. (Courtesy | City of Hillsdale).
Sports Opinion
Ohio State loses no matter what
By Alex Deimel Senior Reporter
Even an Ohio State victory in the upcoming college football National Championship will not redeem the team’s loss to its century-long rival the Michigan Wolverines.
Ohio State and Michigan’s extended history of bad blood dates back to President William Mckinley’s term in 1896. The rivalry has become so noteworthy that it dons the nickname “The Game.”
Michigan squeezed by Ohio State 13-10 for the fourth straight year this past November after being projected to lose by more than 20 points to a roster that cost an estimated $20 million in NIL deals. It was the biggest upset in “The Game” since 1950 when Michigan defeated the #8 ranked Ohio State 9-3.
The upset capped off a downswing year for the Wolverines, who lost almost their entire coaching staff and
most of their offensive starters after an undefeated season in which Jim Harbaugh brought home the first Michigan national championship since 1997. Two months before beating Washington in the national championship, Michigan defeated their rival 30-24, securing their third straight victory over their most hated rival. Then came 2024. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day compiled arguably the best roster college football has seen since the 2019 LSU Tigers, bringing in quarterback Will Howard from Kansas State and running back Quinshon Judkins from Ole Miss. All Ryan Day had to do to cement his legacy as a Buckeye head coach was finally beat that team up north.
No other game would matter to anyone in the Buckeye organization, and this was their year to do it. And he utterly failed again. He lost to a team that still
had not settled on a quarterback by the end of the season. He lost to a first year head coach that was 6-5 going into Columbus. There was no possible excuse this time. This was supposed to be the biggest win of his career, and he blew it.
This year's graduating class is the first Ohio State class to go their entire collegiate career without beating Michigan since 1991. It was also a team that brought in two five-star athletes and three four-stars through the transfer portal, and had the number five recruiting class last year according to 247sports. $20 million in NIL deals and another $4 million in coaching hires.
And he still lost.
The Ohio State playoff run has been incredible. They battled an elite Texas team in the Cotton Bowl to send themselves to the National Championship where they’re favored against Notre Dame. They also avenged a regular
season loss to #1 Oregon in the Rose Bowl. It’s entirely what this team was supposed to be this year. But the stain of another home loss to their rivals that have emasculated them for the past three years will not be wiped clean by a National Championship. Every time any Ohio State player looks at that ring it will bring back haunting memories of losing to a team whose best quarterback barely reached the 1,000 yard mark. Four years ago, Day vowed that Ohio State “would hang 100” on Michigan that year. The man has not reached 100 points in four combined games against the Wolverines. That statistic alone is enough cause for Michigan fans to completely flip the script this year and root for their rival in hopes that they keep the most fraudulent coach in all of college athletics around, just to beat him for a fifth straight year.
Games
Swimming Chargers drop first meet after Florida training
By Ty Ruddy Assistant Editor
In its first meet back from Christmas break the swimming team dropped a dual meet to Saginaw Valley State University in the Jack McAvoy Natatorium Jan. 11.
The Chargers had just returned from a training block in Florida and many swimmers were fatigued or battling sickness, according to junior Jamie Parsons.
“Although the team did not perform as well as we usually do, we did perform as expected and in certain cases even better given we just came back from a hard week of training,” Parsons said.
Despite the loss, the Chargers put together a few promising performances. Senior Megan Clifford continued her season-long dominance in the pool winning the 100 yard butterfly in 58.59 seconds. She also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle.
The Chargers’ 200-yard freestyle relay of Clifford, senior Lucia Rutchi, sophomore Inez McNichols, and freshman Ella Shafer was the runner-up with a time of 1:41.69.
“This week was about racing through fatigue,” she said. “I thought we looked strong even if the speed wasn’t all the way there.” Shafer contributed in multiple solo events, scoring two second place finishes for the Chargers. A 54.76 finish was good for runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle and 1:58.57 earned her another runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle.
Senior Elise Mason was a runner-up in the 400-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle. Additionally, Mason and Rutchi raced with junior Joanna Burnham and freshman Ella Malone in the 400 medley relay, placing second. Head swim coach Kurt Kirner praised the team’s performance after the week in Florida. He said the team now looks to focus its training on the conference championship.
“We will depend upon Elise Mason, Joanna Burnham and Matilyn Wlhelmsen as the season closes out as they all are top competitors as we move into the conference championships,” Kirner said. “We really are on target for a great finish to the season.”
Photo of the Week
Senior Megan Clifford and sophomore Isabel Ondracek smile for the camera during their meet against SVSU. Courtesy | Emma Purdy
Hillsdale swimmer competes in a backstroke event. Courtesy | Emma Purdy
Charger Sports
Defense
By Nathan Furness Collegian Freelancer
The Hillsdale men’s basketball team maintained its dominance throughout the holiday season, compiling an impressive 6-1 record and remaining unbeaten in conference play with a 6-0 mark over the break.
The Chargers cruised past two Great Midwest Athletic Conference opponents in the past week, both at home. On Jan. 9, they beat Tiffin University, 84-60. Senior guard Charles Woodhams led the scoring with 17 points, while senior forward Eric Radisevic chipped in 13 points and seven rebounds.
“We’re playing solid right now,” sophomore Logan Beaston said. “We’ve been doing a good job defensively as of late, but there’s always room for improvement.”
Hillsdale’s defensive efficiency has been a cornerstone of its success, as it has consis-
tions to make it hard for them to score.”
The Christmas season also gave the team a chance to rest while growing closer as a unit.
“Break gave us a great opportunity to focus on ourselves and grow as a team,” redshirt junior guard Cole McWhinnie said. “We’ve been playing some good basketball,
tently held opponents below their season-scoring averages, allowing the Chargers to win games even when they struggle offensively.
Sophomore forward CJ Yerian also emphasized the defense. “I thought we had great preparation with the scouts,” said Yerian. “We took away their tendencies and their ac-
Two days later, Hillsdale showcased its defensive prowess, holding Cedarville University to just 49 points in a 77-49 victory. Sophomore sharpshooter Mikey McCollum led the team with 21 points off the bench, hitting two three-pointers in the win. The game marked the second time this season the Chargers have held their opponent to fewer than 50 points.
Chargers
By Cassandra DeVries Collegian Reporter
Hillsdale’s women’s basketball team is 6-1 in conference games and are 5-9 overall this season. The women defeated Northwood 86-83 on January 14, Cedarville 71-62 on January 11, and Tiffin University 92-53 on January 9.
“So far in conference, we have only lost one game and we are sitting near the top of the GMAC. I think this is exactly where we all believe we should be, as we think we are definitely one of the best in the GMAC,” senior Caitlin Splain said. Head coach Brianna Brennan said she most appreciates the growth that the team has shown.
“Early in the season, either we would have a really strong first half, or we'd have a phenomenal second half. Maybe
our defense would look really good, but we'd struggle to score. Otherwise, the offense would look really good, but we would not show up defensively,” Brennan said.
Brennan said she attributes the team’s growth to the players learning how to play well together during some of the more challenging non-conference games at the start of the season.
“It's really paying off after playing some tough teams in our non-conference games at the beginning,” Brennan said.
“We definitely want to use that momentum to keep us going and keep making sure that we can be the best version of ourselves once we get to March.”
The team has four freshmen: Sarah Aleknavicius, Ellie Bruce, and twins Emilia and Magdalena Sularski.
“The freshman class has been great,” Brennan said. “They really showed up on campus ready to compete, which was exciting. They've all been battling for minutes, and all in all, they're just very competitive and ready to do whatever the team needs for us to be successful.”
Brennan called Emilia Sularski a “lights out shooter” and said Magdalena Sularski is their backup point guard.
Bruce plays backup post, and Brennan predicted she will become “one of the most effi-
and it’s a great group of guys to be around—a fun team to be a part of.”
Looking ahead, the Chargers face a challenging stretch of games, including a home rematch against Walsh University and a highly anticipated matchup against the conference-leading Findlay Oilers.
“I’m looking forward to the conference slate we have coming up,” McWhinnie said.
“The game against Findlay is exciting since we’re both undefeated in the GMAC right now.”
Students have taken notice of the team’s success and are eager to support them at Dawn Tibbits Potter Arena, according to junior Marc Ayers.
“We’ve been waiting all Christmas break and can’t wait to get some good walkdowns in and watch from the student section,” Ayers said. “We’re super pumped with the success they’re having and look forward to the rest of the season.”
Players agree and want to see students in the crowd. “I think what we are most excited for is having the students back on campus to come to cheer us on,” Yerian said.
With a 14-2 overall record and an 8-0 start in GMAC play, Hillsdale sits in second place in the conference standings.
By Nathan Furness Collegian Freelancer
The Detroit Lions will face off against the Washington Commanders in the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs on Jan. 18. Coming off a last-second victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild-Card Round, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and his 6th-seeded Commanders will look to pull off another upset against the juggernaut team in the NFC. The game will be the first step for the Lions in their Super Bowl run fans have waited a lifetime to enjoy.
After their 31-9 defeat of the Vikings on Jan. 5, the Lions secured their second consecutive NFC North championship and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
who broke many records of his own. His nine games with at least a 75% completion percentage surpasses Tom Brady for the most in a single season in NFL history. His average completion percentage of 72.4% is the fourth highest in NFL history. And this season marks the third season that Goff has recorded 4,500 passing yards and 30 passing touchdowns, becoming the fifth quarterback to accomplish this feat.
cient post players in the conference.”
Aleknavicius has already started a majority of the games and has been playing well, according to Brennan.
“I think everyone is playing so well, and each player brings something different to our team, which is why it is important to point out everyone on the team,” Splain said. “We all are talented basketball players, and there is a reason we are winning big games, and it’s not due to just one or two of us.”
“Since being at Hillsdale, this team and program has grown drastically. I think the commitment from our players outside of just practice time has increased significantly,” senior Lauren McDonald said.
The team had its best conference play finish since 20082009 last year and made it to the conference tournament for the second year.
“Shout-out to the whole team because not only are we winning big games by playing so well together, but we are also having so much fun doing it,” Splain said. “We are all very confident that we can keep this up and finish at the top of the conference going into the postseason.”
Brennan said the team has lost in the first game of the conference tournament the past several years.
“So of course, our goal is to win more than one game of the tournament,” Brennan said. “We're excited and ready to be playing our best basketball by the time we get to March and see what we can do.”
The Chargers will next play Walsh University on January 16 in Ohio.
Despite their showdown against the Vikings coming on one of the biggest stages in NFL regular season history, the Lions’ dominant season continued with a blowout win, which highlighted an elite defense alongside their record-breaking offense. As the top team in the NFC, the Lions are positioned perfectly to make a run at the Super Bowl.
The 2024-25 Detroit Lions broke numerous regular-season records. In fact there are so many that naming all of them would be impossible. Before attempting to, it is important to acknowledge that in 2021 the NFL added a 17th game to the regular season schedule (previously teams played 16 games). This additional game slightly skews the numbers in favor of great teams that played after this added game. Many of these records, however, would still be broken before the added game, and record books do not adjust for schedule changes. Records must go on despite the NFL’s best attempts to screw everything up.
The Lions' 15-2 record is a franchise record and marks only the ninth time in NFL history that a team has tallied 15 wins. Their 564 points are also a franchise record—4th most in NFL history. Their ten games with 30+ points, back-to-back division titles, 6962 total yards, and a perfect 8-0 record on the road are all franchise records as well.
Much of the offense’s extreme success can be attributed to quarterback Jared Goff,
Not only did the Lions’ pass game excel, their run game also broke records. Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery combined for over 3,000 scrimmage yards and 30 touchdowns, both franchise records. Gibbs’s 20 total touchdowns led the NFL this year and destroyed the previous franchise record of 17 held by Barry Sanders.
Even the Lions special teams got in on the fun with all-pro punter Jack Fox recording an NFL single-season record with a net punting average of 46.2.
All of these records demonstrate a dominant force on offense and special teams. Although the defense has struggled at times, their impressive performance in week 18 against the Vikings can give fans confidence that the current Super Bowl favorites will be extremely difficult to beat on any given night. The Detroit Lions are the only franchise in the NFC to have not played in the Super Bowl. They came close last year, losing by only three points to the San Francisco 49ers in the Conference Championship game. The 2025 playoffs are the best chance the Lions have ever had to play in and win a Super Bowl. Because of their firstround bye, they need only to win one home game before hosting the NFC championship for the first time in franchise history. Lions fans have been waiting a lifetime for this season. Lions players will attempt to cap it in a way that will be remembered for lifetimes to come.
Hillsdale men's basketball players huddle after
Hillsdale women's basketball players celebrate a three during their game against Tiffin. Courtesy | Reva Ludwig
Senior Lauren McDonald takes a shot. Courtesy | Reva Ludwig
Hillsdale men's basketball coach Keven Bradley during the game against Tiffin. Courtesy | Reva Ludwig
Men's Basketball
F EA T U R E S Faith continues to fuel auto shop a er four decades in business
By Sarah Katherine Sisk SENIOR REPORTER
When Robert Shewman’s father started Glory to God Auto Repair in 1981, customers could pay whatever they felt “the Lord would have you pay.” Four decades later, while xed prices have replaced the honor system, faith remains at the core of this family business.
The shop’s journey from a modest towing service to a full-service auto repair shop mirrors the growth of Hillsdale itself. Where the Walgreens now stands, the Shewmans once operated a small, two-bay gas station. A er selling that property, they launched their towing business with a unique payment model that re ected their Christian values.
Recalling his father’s pricing guidelines during the company’s early days, Shewman said customers were asked to pay what they could or felt the Lord wanted them to pay.
“Some people who need a tow truck don’t have a lot of money,” Harold Shewman, Robert’s father, told the Syracuse New Times in 1983. “ at’s why we’re here.”
e family brie y relocated to Fort Collins, Colorado, seeking refuge from Michigan’s harsh winters, but returned to Hillsdale a er three years to be closer to family.
By the mid-1980s, insurance companies began demanding standardized rates, which Shewman said forced a shi in their business model.
Facing mounting costs for wrecker maintenance and expensive workers’ compensation insurance for tow truck drivers, the Shewmans sold their wrecker and transformed the business into a full-service auto repair shop, plus tire services. In 2006, Robert Shewman took the reins from his father at the current Lewis Street location.
The automotive world Shewman navigates today is di erent from the one his father knew. According to Shewman, families o en have two or three vehicles instead of one, and increased or even same-day delivery for tires and other parts has replaced lengthy wait times.
Still, the biggest change lies in the technology of each car itself, where computers now
control everything from oil changes to brakes.
Each new technological evolution requires investment in equipment and training, but Shewman still sees an upside to the increased computer reliance.
“It’s challenging from anancial aspect because you always have to buy new equipment,” he said. “But with cars being under warranty, we have kind of a three-year grace period for those bugs to work out before they reach us. It keeps your mind sharp. Our guys don’t lose interest.”
As Glory to God moves through its h decade of business, none of Shewman’s children have expressed interest in taking over the family business.
“The trades are hurting,” Shewman said. “Nobody wants to go into trade work. Auto mechanics especially are very hard to nd since many automotive repairs now have to be programmed.”
Despite the challenges of a continually changing business landscape, and multiple competitors in the area, Glory to God maintains a loyal customer base.
“Hillsdale is blessed with several places where you can take your car, and I would trust with my car,” Shewman said. “But, you have the whole county and a lot of people working from out of town here. You have to travel through Hillsdale to get anywhere. So there’s a lot of cars to be serviced.”
One of the many cars that need servicing belongs to Karl-Rainer Hermann, Shewman’s “favorite customer from Germany,” who has been a Glory to God patron for almost a quarter century.
“You’ve been a customer since July 2000,” Shewman said, checking his computer records during Hermann’s recent visit.
“Yes, when your mother was alive,” Hermann replied. “I can remember your mother. I tell everybody the story. We got that old rotten Ford Taurus in 1994. I would drive past here when you were on the corner. We never knew what was going on. I thought, ‘Glory to God, what are they doing? Is that a church?’ Eventually, we found out that it was a car repair shop.”
While working for a chemical company industrializing
Bye-bye bacteria: Research squashes superbugs
By Alexandra Comus COLLEGIAN REPORTER
More than a million people die each year from a bacterial strain that resists most forms of treatment. But Andrew Russell and his team of Hillsdale students may soon publish trailblazing research on how a compound in ginger can help to kill it.
“The impact of this research touches everything from medical implants, to oral hygiene, to the brewing industry,” said Russell, an associate professor of biology.
The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacteria often found on human skin or inside nostrils. Most of the time, it is harmless. But if the bacteria enters the bloodstream through a cut or opening, it can cause skin infections, food poisoning, bone and joint infections, or even blood poisoning.
S. aureus can become even more dangerous when it transforms into a superbug, a type of bacteria that has developed resistance to most forms of antibiotics, making it very difficult to treat.
Joseph Doherty ’24 said this superbug can cause life-threatening complications.
“It is a very dangerous yet relatively common pathogen in humans due to several antibiotic resistances,” Doherty said.
Russell and his students spent the summer investigating this drug-resistant bacteria strain and how to prevent it from spreading and forming colonies. They focused on studying how a chemical called zingerone works in tandem with antibiotics to affect bacteria formation.
“Zingerone is a naturally-occurring chemical found in ginger and has been shown to inhibit biofilm growth in several other species,” Doherty said.
Russel said his team discovered that zingerone halts the spread of bacteria by cutting off communications between cells.
“Years ago, my lab showed that a chemical compound called zingerone is able to prevent these bacterial communities (called biofilms) from forming, without killing the bacteria directly,” Russell said. “Our recent experiments were aimed at determining how zingerone does this. In other words, what is its molecular mechanism? Our results suggest that zin-
gerone works by blocking chemical communication between bacterial cells.”
Doherty said two compounds, zingerone and an antibiotic called vancomycin, worked best together to treat S. aureus infections.
“In our study, we found that established bacterial biofilms were not impacted by vancomycin or zingerone alone, but when used in combination, the biofilm survival was statistically and significantly reduced,” Doherty said.
Senior Logan VanEnkevort said their research had never been done before.
“The results were what we hypothesized, however it’s still surprising that this worked simply because this is relatively novel research that does not have a whole lot of precursors,” VanEnkevort said.
Senior Morgan Piwonka said she is still experimenting.
“I’m currently trying to see if I can get some more data using a confocal microscope. With this microscope I can take multiple images of the bio lm and then stack them together producing a 3D image of the bio lm,” Piwonka said.
Doherty said the hypotheses they made corresponded well to the results.
“These results were what we were hoping for so they were very exciting, because they aligned with our hypothesis,” Doherty said.
Doherty, who is currently attending Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, TN, said the research he conducted at Hillsdale will be useful for his future career.
“I would love to continue this research while I am here,” Doherty said. “I am working on a publication that will hopefully occur within the next year.”
VanEnkevort also said his research may find its way into some scientific literature. Some of the students are publishing their work, which will help their careers.
“I believe Dr. Russell is working on combining my work with Hillsdale graduate Sam Zemis’s work on biofilms to try to publish,” VanEnkevort said. “If all goes well, hopefully this work will end up in a science magazine.”
South Africa, Hermann met his late wife Elizabeth, who had once driven her Volkswagen Beetle solo through 22 hours of jungle to escape the apartheid regime. e couple journeyed through East Africa and Germany before settling in Hillsdale in 1992, drawn by their daughter’s marriage to a man from nearby Osseo. eir old Ford Taurus eventually led them to Glory to God, where Hermann has remained a customer ever since.
While the “pay-what-youcan” model may be a memory, the Christian values that inspired it still guide the business, earning the trust of longtime customers like Hermann.
During the winter months, Hillsdale students from across the country rely on auto repair shops to keep their cars driving safely in Michigan conditions. Many students, like junior Cassandra DeVries, become part of that loyal customer base during their four years at Hillsdale.
DeVries, familiar with Michigan winters since she is from Kalamazoo, said she frequently refers friends with car issues to Glory to God.
“I loved the mom-and-pop
feel, and it was cheaper than what I’ve paid at other dealerships,” DeVries said. “I also really liked the faith component and respect that they are so openly Christian.”
Senior Maggie Potwardowski was equally impressed with her experience.
“I could tell they were genuinely interested in taking care of me and my car,” Potwardowski said. “And the price was extremely reasonable for their time and labor. e sta was so friendly and e cient. I would de nitely go back for future maintenance.”
Shewman says that similar values make the employees of Glory to God especially close.
“We talk while we work. Even though they say you’re not supposed to talk about politics, religion, or money because, you know, you can lose friends and family that way,” Shewman said. “We’re all conservative and we’re all in the same generation. We all have similar viewpoints because we’ve seen the same things in life. We’re not related, but we’re close, like family.”
with Allison Postell
By Aurelia Mayer COLLEGIAN REPORTER
In this Quick Hits, Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy Allison Postell talks about commercial refrigerator painting, her love of Aristotle, and study tips. Allison is married to Joseph Postell (right) Associate Professor of Politics.
What is the most unusual job you’ve ever worked?
Painting the inside of commercial refrigerators.
What’s your favorite part of being a mother?
Knowing a person so intimately that you are attuned to their most ne-grained ways of being delightful.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Be generous. Giving turns something stagnant into something flowing and dynamic, creating more richness in the process than any alternative way of living.
What rst sparked your interest in Aristotle and philosophy?
Philosophy asked questions I cared about, and Aristotle described the world in a way that rang true.
What are your best study tips?
Train your mind to focus on one problem at a time and set up a distraction-free climate while you work.
What gets you red up?
Aristotelian hylomorphism.
When you were little, what was your dream job?
Two outcomes were acceptable: oceanographer or check-out clerk in my hometown’s Piggly Wiggly. ( ose scanners that beep when you click on the bar code were mesmerizing.)
What is your favorite tv show?
“ e Wire” if I’m being serious — but “Gilmore Girls” if I’m being honest.
What is your favorite way to spend the weekend?
Doing anything with my husband and kids.
What’s the best date you’ve ever been on with your husband?
Our rst date at i Fratelli Pizza in Dallas. Time melted away as I met the most interesting, fun, kind, virtuous, and serious person I’ve ever come across.
Photos from the past four decades capture the history of Glory to God auto shop. SARAH KATHERINE SISK | COLLEGIAN
Allison and Joseph Postell are married. COURTESY | ALLISON POSTELL
Hillsdale biology students are growing bacteria in Petri dishes. COURTESY | JOSEPH DOHERTY
Robert Shewman’s father and mother, Harold (left) and Cheryl (right), started the auto body shop. SARAH KATHERINE SISK | COLLEGIAN
John Condon of Hillsdale talked about his experience at the auto shop.
SARAH KATHERINE SISK | COLLEGIAN
C U L T
Mix22, Schizmatics record originals over break
By Alessia Sandala Assistant Editor
Two student bands dove into the world of releasing music over winter break with their first original songs.
Mix22 released its song, “Heartbeats,” Dec. 27 and the Schizmatics will release four songs on Jan. 17. Both songs will be available to stream on all platforms.
Mix22, made up of senior Luca Vitale, Michael Thelen ‘22, and juniors Erik Teder and John Frenz. Vitale and Thelen started the band after their performance at CHP two years ago with the band James Bullet and the Dirty Blondes.
Vitale of Mix22 said producing its alternative rock song “Heartbeats” was an incredible experience, especially when the band sent their recording to the U.K. to be mastered.
“My favorite part was probably when we got the master track back because it already sounded really good,” Vitale said. “We mixed it ourselves.
We didn’t realize how far the ceiling could go above what we could do ourselves. I remember getting it back and listening to it and being like, ‘Oh my goodness, this is so epic.’”
Senior Gavin Listro, Schizmatics’ lead singer and guitarist, said releasing their first song, “Strangers in Seattle,”
was the natural next step for the band which has been together since their freshman year.
“It took a long time, though,” Listro said. “These songs that we’re putting out were written almost a year ago at this point, and it’s just been a really long process.”
Senior and Schizmatics sax-
ophonist Owen Gerth said the band had always hoped to create and release music but never thought it would actually happen.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” Gerth said. “This is one of those bucket-list things that me and Gavin have been talking about ever since our freshman year. It feels very rewarding to actually have followed through on something that always kind of seemed like a pipe dream.”
The Schizmatics’ song became more than a “pipe dream” when Listro and senior Isaac Green began writing the lyrics for their indie pop song, “Strangers in Seattle.”
“I came up with a guitar riff on the acoustic guitar that I would just play around the house,” Listro said. “I would just play that all the time and said we needed to write something to this — almost to the point of it becoming a joke — but it was I think fall break last year, Isaac and I were just sitting there when we said, ‘We’re gonna write this song’ and then Isaac
helped me get through some of the words.”
While both bands love creating music, they acknowledged the challenges that come along with getting a song ready for the world to hear.
“Frankly it’s just a lot of work to make and record your own music,” Gerth said. “Logistically, it was very challenging to get our entire band to record all of their parts owing to our busy schedules, but it was also very technically challenging to try and put together a track that sounded even remotely professional.”
For Mix22, Vitale said they had to accept imperfection, otherwise the song never would have been finished.
“Being too perfectionist was the first thing, and the biggest thing for sure,” Vitale said. “Whether that’s with things not being quite where they should be, or maybe the mix is not exactly what we thought, or the time of release isn’t exactly how we wanted it to be, but at the end of the day, what we decided
was we have nothing out there right now so we just had to embrace the spontaneity of it.”
The Schizmatics worked on their song for about a year and used a makeshift recording studio, according to Listro.
“I turned my closet in my house into a little recording studio, so I have a desk with my
monitors and my computer,” Listro said. “Then when we recorded drums, we emptied out Owens’ entire room and put mattresses up against the walls and put blankets over things so we killed all the echo in the room. It took a whole day and we did all four songs that we’re releasing.”
Mix22 had been working on “Heartbeats” since May 2024 but has also been producing other songs written by the guitarist and vocalist, Thelen, according to Vitale. Thelen quit his job to work on music full time.
“We actually haven’t been working exclusively on this song since May,” Vitale said. “We’re actually looking at another release, hopefully next month. We’ve probably got 20 or so songs that are in various stages of completion at the moment, but basically this song was one of Michael’s oldest ideas.” Listro said Hillsdale is at the heart of all of the songs they are releasing.
“The whole thing just feels very Hillsdale to me,” Listro said. “I really love that. I think regardless of what happens with our music, I’ll always be able to look back on it, and it will very much remind me of this time, and Hillsdale in general. I’m really excited for that when I’m 45 and showing my kids what I did in college.”
Bob Dylan biopic explores rise to musical stardom
By Anna Broussard Assistant Editor
As folk musician Woody Guthrie laid on his deathbed, Bob Dylan handed his gifted harmonica back to him to signify his departure from the folk genre, as depicted by Timothée Chalamet and Scoot McNairy in the new biopic movie about Dylan “A Complete Unknown.”
The movie, released on Christmas Day, shows Dylan’s fantastic rise to fame while maintaining the mystery of his life before and after he changed music forever.
While the movie does not hold to the factual timeline of Dylan’s life during the sixties, it portrays the intensity of Dylan’s fame and how his stardom never changed the persona he wanted and his refusal to be boxed in by the folk genre.
The movie is based on the 2015 book “Dylan Goes Electric! Newport, Seeger, Dylan, and the Night That Split the Sixties” by Elijah Wald. Directed by James
Mangold, who is also credited, along with Jay Cocks, as the screenwriter, the film features Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, Edward Norton as Pete Seeger, Body Holbrook as Johnny Cash, and Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo.
Dylan’s entrance into stardom begins with his arrival in New York City where he seeks out his folk music hero Guthrie on his deathbed and meets Seeger. The movie begins with Dylan’s story from 1961 into 1965, when he departed from his folk music persona.
“A Complete Unknown,” captures Dylan’s popularity as a folk and bluegrass singer, showcasing his relationship with Johnny Cash and Joan Baez. The focus throughout the 121-minute film is on Dylan’s transition into fame and how it caused a personal change from folk music into rock music. From the songs such as “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright,” “Blowin’in the Wind,” “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” and “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” Dylan had re-invigorated bluegrass music in the eyes of Seeger.
The movie culminates with Dylan’s final appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 when he introduces his infamous hit “Like A Rolling Stone,” playing an electric guitar and ushering in a new era of rock music.
While the movie is a biopic, viewers don’t come closer to knowing anything about the personal life of Dylan than what is already public, which causes the film to fall short in thorough character development. Although Chalamet portrays Dylan, the notably private man, with an uncanny resemblance, imitating Dylan’s unique vocals and carefree attitude, the roots of Dylan’s story are missing within the film.
Norton, who plays Dylan’s influential mentor, Pete Seeger, embodies the pressures that arose from both the political
and social changes throughout the sixties. With scenes regarding the Vietnam War and civil rights activism, Seeger’s role is to emphasize the need for folk music to remain alive for the fans in the midst of the struggles during that time.
Barbaro, both a lover and musician that played alongside Dylan, aids the film through scenes that show Dylan’s song writing capability and compulsion. Holbrook hands off the baton to Chalamet throughout the film as he encourages Dylan’s music to roam free rather than be controlled by the persona forced upon him.
The most significant character that supports Chalamet is his relationship with Fanning, the fictional character is based upon a version of Dylan’s girlfriend, who is pictured on his 1963 album, “The Freewheelin’
Bob Dylan.” The girl “Sylvie Russo” shows the audience the inspiration in Dylan’s lyrical genius. Fanning does an excellent job as a bystander to Dylan’s success as he begins to develop his own persona.
The 40 songs played over the course of the movie and the excellently filmed production shows viewers Dylan’s music, the greatest part of Dylan’s story. After watching “A Complete Unknown,” on Christmas Day, I think a rewatch is necessary in order to understand Dylan’s transition from “Blowin’in The Wind” to “Like A Rolling Stone.” The first song introduced in the movie, “A Song For Woody,” shows how much Dylan idolized Guthrie as the folk musician, but in the end Dylan becomes a budding rockstar, and a great one at that.
Professors’ Picks: Patricia Aeschliman, assistant professor of classics
“Losing My Religion” (1991) by R.E.M.
Don’t read too much into this one, and don’t ask me about other R.E.M. songs because I won’t know a thing! But I do find this song fun and perhaps also deep — I interpret it as expressing surprise with one’s own actions (“that’s me in the corner… losing my religion”) and second-guessing oneself (“I think I thought I saw you try” and “oh no I’ve said too much. I haven’t said enough”).
This novel takes me to a time and place I never heard about in any history class: Mexico in the 1930s during a rigorous persecution of the Catholic Church. The last priest that the government must hunt down is a “whiskey priest,” who remains somehow determined to bring the Eucharist to the hungry faithful despite his lack of any natural heroism. Greene’s masterly vignettes of varied people, reacting differently to the priest or to their own choices in the face of the persecution, make for a truly compelling read.
and
This is Emma Thompson’s tour de force; she has perfectly adapted Jane Austen’s novel for the screen. Every word, every shot, every actor’s expression, each and every noise is integral to the character development or plot; nothing is wasted in the film’s fairly brief running time. It is a comedy with understated humor, as well as a moving drama with sympathetic and believably flawed characters. I can (and do) watch it again and again!
to right: Schizmatics members Owen Gerth, Gavin Listro, and Matt
“The Power and the Glory” (1940) by Graham Greene
“Sense
Sensibility” (1995)
Compiled by Eleanor Whitaker Assistant Editor
Aeschliman, in college in 2011, eats pizza in Rome. COURTESY | Patricia Aeschliman
“Strangers in Seattle”