Collegian 9.5.2024

HillsdaleGo replacement app in beta testing

By Colman Rowan Culture Editor

After the HillsdaleGo mobile app shut down in the spring, ITS is nearly ready to release “Hillsdale Experience,” the new app to replace it

The app shut down after a miscommunication about the date of the service’s termination from the Virginia-based vendor Ellucian, Kevin Mauer, senior director of applications and software said. The ITS team has hurried with plans to launch the new app by the same vendor.

The new app will be under a Hillsdale-configured version of the broader service called Ellucian Experience.

“Ellucian Experience was available prior to them shutting down HillsdaleGo,” Mauer said. “We purposely delayed turning off HillsdaleGo because we knew the students liked it and it worked. We thought we had till 2025. But they turned it off in 2024 — there was a misunderstanding or miscommunication.”

The new app will have all the same capabilities as the old one, barring one student favorite feature, Mauer said. “I’m aware that there was a feature where you could click on a class and you could see the student roster at the basic level,” Mauer said. “That is not available by default in the Ellucian

Experience app. We are going to customize that solution down the road. So in the near future, you guys will have that back.”

Douglas McArthur, the college registrar, said that he has high hopes for the new app.

“It should streamline the process of registration,” McArthur said. “I know that Self Service can be kind of overwhelming, so I hope this can help students register and look at classes more efficiently.”

Junior Hannah Tully beta tested the new application.

“It’s a little bit easier to navigate,” Tully said. “It’s almost like Canvas — it has different blocks you can go to for different things. I like how you can

get to Self Service easier, and it has a spot to sign up for the shuttle easier, which I really like because I travel a lot.”

Tully has enjoyed her experience on the app, she said.

“I prefer it to the HillsdaleGo app,” Tully said. “This one seems faster.”

Mauer said they plan to have the new app up and running soon, but the unexpected change has caused the delay.

“We’re on a tight timeline, we’re just trying to get it available to the students as soon as we can,” Mauer said. “You know, my take on it is, ‘let’s just get something out there, and then we can adjust it later.’”

Student veteran releases new EP: ‘American Deployed’

By Eleanor Whitaker Assistant Editor

Two weeks after a bomb in Afghanistan killed a young Marine in 2021, his wife had a baby. Marine veteran and Hillsdale College junior Greg Whalen, who was in Kabul at the time of the deadly attack, tells this gut-wrenching story in one of his new songs, “Nineteen,” which was written as a letter from the slain Marine to his wife.

As soon as this song and two others were released to the public, Whalen started to get national attention. On Sept. 28 in Corning, NY, Whalen

will open a concert for Five for Fighting, a rock act known for hit songs such as “Superman” and “100 Years.” Three years ago, Five for Fighting released “Blood on My Hands,” a song about the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Whalen was in Kabul when an ISIS suicide bomber struck at a gate outside the Hamid Karzai International Airport, where Whalen and other Marines were assisting with the American military evacuation of Afghanistan. Thirteen U.S. service members, including 11 Marines, were killed, along with more than 160 Afghans.

Afterward, Whalen was told that one of the Marines,

whom he did not know, was 19 years old and his wife had a baby soon after he died. The tragedy of this Marine’s death amidst what he saw as America’s failure to keep its promise to the Afghan people impacted Whalen.

When Whalen returned to his hometown of Hillsdale, he wrote “Nineteen.”

“I know that it isn’t fair / now that I’ll never be there to see you and our daughter grow,” sings Whalen. “You said you were proud of me / but I was just being naive / never thought I’d die at 19.”

Whalen learned later that none of the Marines who died were actually 19. They were all

20 or older, but he continued to use the age 19 for his song because he wanted the song to represent the men who died in general, not a particular person.

“I wanted it to be general enough to represent all, and so the song ‘Nineteen’ is very loosely based on those details I originally heard, and is a tribute to those 13 killed,” Whalen said.

Whalen, who is now 25, released this song in addition to two others, “Broken Eyes” and “Kabul 2021,” at the end of August in his EP, “American Deployed.”

See Whalen B3

On-campus workers could see pay raises in Feb

By Thomas Mckenna City News Editor

Hillsdale College student employees may see their hourly pay jump by as much as two dollars this February under a new Michigan minimum wage hike. But state lawmakers are working to slow the increase as local businesses say they would be forced to raise prices or cut employee hours. The state minimum wage is set to increase from $10.33 to $12.48 in February after a Michigan Supreme Court ruling in August. The new law would also gradually increase the minimum wage for workers who receive tips to match the minimum for other workers, starting with

a jump of more than 50% from $3.93 to $5.90 next year. Businesses would also need to provide more paid sick leave benefits for parttime workers. About 750 Hillsdale student employees work in about 1,100 positions, according to the college’s human resources department. About 93% of those

positions pay less than the proposed $12.48 per hour and would see a pay raise in February. A few exceptions include graduate assistantships, according to Director of Human Resources Nicole Williams.

Campus remembers ‘the voice of Hillsdale College’

By Moira Gleason News Editor

The former voice of Hillsdale College fell silent last month.

Linda Bryant-Solomon of Osseo Township died Sunday, Aug. 11, at the age of 77.

Solomon was a wife, teacher, and — to many — the voice of Hillsdale College. After a career in teaching, including 28 years as a sixth grade teacher in Pittsford Area Schools, she worked as the switchboard operator at Hillsdale College, retiring in 2012.

College President Larry Arnn said Solomon was the college receptionist when he arrived in 2000.

“She was patient and pleasant and cheerful,” Arnn said. “She knew everything. She fielded all the calls, which made her the voice of the college. It was a very good voice. Now that work is done by dozens of people, which is necessary and good, but there is some loss involved in the change.”

Her coworkers and friends on campus remember her for the warmth and kindness with which she treated others.

“Linda played an important role greeting everyone on the phone and welcoming staff and guests to Central Hall,” said Diane Philipp, vice president of student affairs. “She was the first person everyone met when visiting admissions and was always helpful, happy, caring, and kind.”

Every day for more than 10 years, Solomon sat at the receptionist desk on the main floor of Central Hall, answering the phone and greeting everyone who came through the doors.

“When the phone was not ringing, she was seen crocheting beautiful kitchen cloths for co-workers,” Philipp said. “I still use the piece she gave me and think of her fondly each time it is used.”

Solomon remembered the birthdays of her co-workers, according to Application Processing Manager Kathy Fowler, and was ready with a homemade gift.

“She took interest in the employees and made it her mission to know all of us,” Fowler said. “Every year on our birthday she would crochet dish cloths for us. Even all these years later if you look at her picture you can hear her laugh. She was a very special person who will be missed by so many people.”

Solomon was intelligent, kind, and generous to everyone, said Carolyn Milligan, the executive assistant to the vice president of student affairs.

“She always had a smile and a kind word” Milligan said. Registrar Douglas McArthur works just down the stairs from Solomon’s former desk in Central Hall.

“She had the most beautiful, calming voice and way of speaking,” McArthur said. “You could sort of palpably feel loved by her. And I saw her treat everyone the same way.”

Solomon previously taught at Pittsford High School, the local high school McArthur attended.

“A good amount of the time we spent talking was just reminiscing about good old PHS and the people we had in common,” McArthur said. “It was sort of like catching up on news every week with her about those sorts of things. She was dearly loved there in the same way there that she was dearly loved here.”

According to Margaret Braman, individual visit coordinator for admissions, Solomon knew her sister-in-law from Pittsford.

“There are no words that can describe Linda and the impact that she had on not only the college students, but also the welcoming of visitors to campus,” Braman said. “There is no one that can replace her.” Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said Solomon always had a good story to share.

“Linda would routinely stop me and ask how my children were doing in school and what sports they were playing,” Petersen said.

Linda Solomon retired in 2012. Courtesy | Collegian Archives

Junior Greg Whalen served in Afghanistan in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Courtesy | Greg Whalen

New scholarship inaugurated in honor of anti-apartheid feminist

By Jillian Parks Editor-In-Chief

To honor his mother-inlaw’s legacy as a leading anti-apartheid feminist in South Africa, Joel Pollak endowed a scholarship in the name of Rhoda Kadalie at the end of last year and shared her story in a talk Sept. 3 in the Elizabeth Hoynak Archive Center.

“The Christian legacy of Rhoda Kadalie is the understanding that the principles of the Bible are deeply relevant to liberty,” Pollak said. “They are revolutionary when they need to be, and they help us find our way again when change threatens to overwhelm us. How fortunate you are here at Hillsdale College to have started from those foundations and to have preserved them.”

Pollak is the senior editor-at-large at Breitbart News and the author of several books, including “Rhoda: ‘Comrade Kadalie, You Are Out of Order!’: A Biography.” He is an Orthodox Jew who was born in South Africa and raised in Skokie, Illinois.

He said he and his wife Julia started the scholarship as a way to create a legacy for Kadalie that would reflect her values: a fierce commitment to the truth, intolerance of any form of bigotry, and a deep love of her Christian faith.

“She also became aware of the poor treatment of women within so-called liberation struggles,” Pollak said. “She began challenging not only racial inequality under apartheid, but also gender inequality within the anti-apartheid movement and the academy as well.”

Kadalie was appointed in 1994 to the Human Rights Commission by the newly elected South African President Nelson Mandela. She eventually resigned in protest of the ruling party’s attempts to ignore the commission’s work. Throughout her life, she continued working in the nonprofit sector and also became one of the country’s leading opinion columnists.

Kadalie was critical of the United States at times, especially during the George W. Bush administration, according to Pollak, but she supported Donald Trump and

“She would always tell me how much she loved and missed teaching the children in the community and how she would keep track of them.”

Associate Vice President for Curriculum David Whalen said Solomon would always greet him and chat for a moment or two.

“No matter how busy things were, she was always composed and pleasant,” Whalen said. “I never saw her flustered.”

Professor of English Stephen Smith said he never had to use the printed directories given to him by the college while Solomon was working as switchboard operator.

“I would just call Linda,” Smith said. “I preferred to do it that way.”

Four years after Solomon retired, the contact center opened in 2016.

The contact center opened because the college needed a better space to handle increasing phone traffic, according to

predicted he would win the 2016 election..

“She championed his candidacy, seeing in him a kindred spirit, a plain speaker who could sweep aside political complacency,” Pollak said.

Kadalie died of lung cancer in 2022. Pollak and his wife wanted to donate money to a university in her honor. Despite both being graduates of Harvard, they did not want to donate to their alma mater.

“We have both become increasingly disturbed by Harvard’s shift toward the radical left, which has caused severe damage to student life and academic discourse,” Pollak said. “The radical anti-Israel and frankly antisemitic protests that exploded at Harvard since Oct. 7 were a long time coming.”

Kadalie was an avid reader of Imprimis, according to Pollak, and the college’s history of admitting women and black students evoked Kadalie’s own values and work, making it the right fit.

Junior Catherine Maxwell is the first recipient of the Kadalie scholarship.

“As a Christian interested in opinion journalism, I’m honored to learn from and participate in her legacy through this scholarship,” Maxwell said. “Mr. Pollak gave me a copy of Rhoda’s biography, and I’m excited to learn more about her.”

Kadalie was invited to appear for her swearing-in as an American citizen on April 25, 2022, but she died nine days before the ceremony. Although never a U.S. citizen, she loved this country and believed in its potential, Pollak said.

“I think Pollak offers a unique perspective on why civil liberty matters and why education on the founding matters,” said Mary Ann Powers, executive assistant to College President Larry Arnn. “To have an outsider come in and offer a story about his mother-in-law’s life that bears witness to the importance of fighting for those truths and the way they play out and actually liberate people — I think that was eye-opening for a lot of Hillsdale students to hear about.”

Director of the Contact Center

Mary Margaret Spiteri.

“You have a group of people answering multiple lines, as opposed to just one person answering the switchboard,” Spiteri said.

The contact center now answers nine phone lines and handled almost 100,000 inbound calls in the last fiscal year, according to Spiteri. About one third of those inbound calls go to the operator line, Spiteri said, the line previously answered by Solomon.

Solomon knew everyone’s department, role, and extension, according to Spiteri — many off the top of her head.

Smith said his wife, Laura, still sometimes imitates the characteristic way Solomon would always answer the phone: “Good afternoon, Hillsdale College.”

“It’s like in Homer where they used to be able to lift boulders and now we can’t,” Smith said. “She could do the whole thing, now we have a call center. We have a whole staff. Before it was just Linda.”

How to: Advertise with The Collegian To advertise in The Collegian,

at nstanish@hillsdale.edu.

Students get their hands dirty at Hillsdale Homestead

By Tayte Christensen Assistant Editor

Some kids come to college thankful to escape the chores of a family farm. At the Hillsdale Homestead, students can embrace them.

After the closure of Glei’s Orchards and Greenhouses last year, the college bought part of the land and set aside four acres to create the Hillsdale Homestead, a small, student-focused farm that opened this summer.

Ryan Perkins, director of Campus Recreation and club sports, leads the farm project and said the main purpose of the farm is to give students an opportunity to gain hands-on skills that lead to self-sustainability.

“We want to provide an outdoor education that’s going to further build a student’s character outside of the classroom,” Perkins said.

The farm currently houses 50 chickens, as well as a number of pepper and tomato plants, according to Perkins.

Director of Student Programming Rachel Marinko ’22 said Hillsdale students will benefit from outdoor education.

“Being outside and working with my hands was something that I got through outdoor adventures and stuff like that in college,” she said.

Marinko said she is excited for students to have a new and unique opportunity to learn.

“I think that will be an awesome outlet for students to be outside of the classroom, using a different part of their brain and learning different skills,” Marinko said.

According to Perkins, chores on the Homestead will allow students to see some of the things they learn in classes come to life.

“We talk so much about the Founding Fathers and some of the lifestyles that they lived,”

he said. “I think a lot of times students read that they were, a lot of times, these frontiersmen, and students are interested in learning how to live that quiet, humble lifestyle and be able to raise their own food.”

Perkins said much of the growth at the Homestead is due in part to people in the community who already have that knowledge.

“When you start spreading the word, you realize all these people on campus have experience with farming, or they want to get involved in farming,” he said.

But the farm will rely heavily on the work of students, many of whom have little to no farm experience.

“I have no farm experience at all, except for maybe the pumpkin patch we went to as a kid,” junior Lulu Celecia said. “I’m a city kid born and raised, although not always necessarily proud of it.”

Celecia said the opportunity to learn farming skills was a reason she decided to get involved with the Homestead.

“Maybe that’s also part of the reason I wanted to join, because getting some dirt on my hands might be good for my health,” she said.

Students can sign up to work shifts on the farm in the morning or in the evening. Shifts take about 45 minutes, and according to Perkins, students are allowed to take three eggs and a pint-sized basket of produce for each shift worked.

“Each shift includes feeding the chickens, watering the plants, collecting eggs, and cleaning out the coop,” Perkins said.

Shifts are open to all students, with opportunities to be involved on a weekly basis or sporadically.

“The main way that students can get involved is through helping with these shifts,” Perkins said. “But we’re also open to having a farm vis-

it day for a dorm or a fraternity or sorority if a group wants to just come out and work for an hour on a weekend and introduce their students to the farm.”

This winter, students who volunteer at the Homestead will be given the option to raise a chick, according to Perkins.

“Anybody who joins and helps with chore shifts will be given the opportunity to raise a chick,” Perkins said. “Once the bird reaches maturity around 16 to 18 weeks, they will begin to lay eggs and the student that raised the chicken will be able to take those eggs.”

In the future, Perkins said there are plans to expand the farm, but student interest must be gauged first.

“Our long-term goal would be to have a wide variety of vegetables and different produce that we’re able to give

out, and to have a dairy cow, pigs, and maybe some sheep,” Perkins said.

As the farm grows, the chores would also increase. But Perkins sees this as a way for students to gain even more hands-on experiences.

“What we would love to be able to do is teach students the whole process of raising the food, doing any of the slaughtering, butchering, the harvesting all the way through to making the meals,” he said.

Ultimately, Perkins hopes the farm teaches students skills that come only from getting dirty.

“There’s just so many good things that come out of handson labor and getting your hands dirty, working the soil and taking care of animals,” he said.

College moves forward with construction projects

By Tayte Christensen Assistant Editor

The new classical education building is scheduled to finish in May 2026, according to Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé, but nearby construction projects may continue for years into the future.

Crews laid foundations for the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education, as well as steel framing for the building and rough outlines of plumbing and electricity, according to Péwé.

“So far, the Diana Davis Spencer building is progressing smoothly and as expected,” Péwé said in an email.

As work proceeds, college administrators are considering

renovations of other buildings on the quad, including Mossey Library and the Grewcock Student Union, according to College President Larry Arnn.

“The North Quad is a tight place, and these projects will take up much of it for as long as they last,” Arnn said in an email. “Overlapping them saves time and effort, and the quicker we can get it done, the better.”

Senior Brennan Slade said he is happy the college is taking on these projects but sympathizes with future classes that won’t experience a normal quad.

“I think the construction is a good and necessary investment from the college,” Slade said. “It’s unfortunate that some students won’t get to experience a

life without construction, but it must be done.”

According to Arnn, the college is currently waiting on more funding to begin the projects.

“We have part of the funds and are still seeking more,” he said. “We will announce the names of the donors at the appropriate time.”

According to Arnn, the college is facing three problems when it comes to future construction projects: time, space, and money.

“Construction projects always have plenty of problems,” he said. “We will anticipate as many as we can and cope with the rest as best we can.”

Arnn said the new buildings will bring functionality and

beauty to the college.

“We need more room in the library, more accommodation for students, faculty, staff, and visitors, and better shelter from the weather,” Arnn said. “This work will fix these things and will also provide an opportunity to give campus a harmony and complementarity of design it does not have at present.”

Slade said he is excited for the future generations that will get to reap the benefits of the current and future construction projects.

“I think the future plans are exciting,” he said. “There will be so many new and better places for students to have community.”

Solomon from A1

Senior Joy Hanes holds a chicken. Tayte Christensen | Collegian

Rendering shows proposed construction plans for the North Quad. Courtesy | Liz Gray

Koon restarts as a women’s dorm

By Megan Li Assistant Editor

Hillsdale College’s Ezra L. Koon Residence has changed from a men’s dorm to a women’s dorm for the 2024-2025 school year. Dean of Women Rebekah Dell said the residents of Koon are determined by Hillsdale’s housing capacities and student body breakdown.

“Sometimes we have more women versus men, or the demands shift,” Dell said. “If we’re short 20 beds on the women’s side, we grab Koon or the same on the guys’ side — we can give it back to them.”

The demand for off-campus housing for women was low this year, according to Dell, resulting in a need for increased women’s on-campus housing. The dorm houses 26 women in total.

“It’s truly just one of those things that varies each year based on the number of incoming freshmen, the number of students that accept or deny their off campus permission, and then the number of students that plan to return,” Dell said.

While the college typically had considered Koon to be a men’s residence hall, it was a women’s dorm as recently as two years ago.

“We had great staff there, and the community was wonderful,” Dell said. “So we weren’t really nervous to switch it back to a women’s residence hall because we had seen that be so successful.”

This year, junior Madison Gilbert and sophomore Lauren Bixler serve as Koon’s two resident assistants.

Gilbert said she was happy to have been placed in Koon. According to Gilbert, a majority of the dorm is a mix of former Olds residents and track and cross country athletes.

“I love big groups, but smaller

communities is where my heart’s at,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert said she thought being head RA of Koon was a great opportunity for her to grow in leadership.

“Being able to look out for girls is something that I really love for promoting dorm culture,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert said she is grateful to the deans for the RA pairing they chose.

“The deans are magical,” Gilbert said. “Lauren really compliments my rough edges. It was really a beautiful pairing.”

Gilbert said she saw the change as a way to promote a new culture, as there was no culture already withstanding.

“It’s something that we did really well in Benzing last year — to be able to have a community of tight knit girls and especially because this was a men’s dorm last year,” Gilbert said.

Bixler said she has been walking around the dorm, seeing what she could do to make it into a homey space, including changing out the bath mats and decorating the communal bathroom areas.

Sophomore Stephanie Surmacz said she loves living in Koon so far.

“It’s so cozy,” Surmacz said. “Especially now that it’s all decorated, and everyone’s coming in. It’s so easy to run into people and stop to chat.”

The RAs plan to host movie nights and cooking nights, with a menu of anything from dumplings to charcuterie.

“I just love connecting with people over food,” Bixler said. Dell said Koon is a great fit for women who want community on a smaller scale.

“The thing I really like to do is make sure that we have some variety and living experiences and housing environment for women,” Dell said.

College Republicans to host Gov. Kristi Noem

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem will visit Hillsdale Sept. 11 to speak on Minnesota’s and South Dakota’s respective policies at 3:30 p.m. in Plaster Auditorium.

Hillsdale College Republicans is hosting Noem’s talk “The Tale of Two States: South Dakota’s Success vs. Minnesota’s Socialism,” which will compare her policies with those of Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Joseph “Hinson” Peed, president of Hillsdale College Republicans.

“She has been in the same situation as Minnesota, but she’s reacted completely differently, and today you see a completely different state because of how they enacted policies,” Peed said. “Noem brings a new, fresh perspective. She started as a political outsider, and even to this day, doesn’t really function like most politicians do.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Noem refused to mandate facial coverings, issue stay-at-home orders, or close businesses, and instead left those decisions up to South Dakotans.

Hillsdale College Republicans Vice President Josiah Jones said Noem’s talk will also compare the respective policies of the Trump-Vance and Harris-Walz campaigns.

“So much in this election, we’re seeing the candidates attack each other simply on

Deans introduce limited storage policy for residence halls

By Faith Senne Collegian Freelancer

Students who live a minimum of eight hours from campus can store only a TV and mini fridge in school housing over the summer, according to a new storage policy that takes effect in May.

Previously, students were allowed to store two boxes, in addition to a TV and mini fridge.

Diane Philipp, vice president of student affairs, said this was a necessary change due to minimal space.

“The number of personal items stored by students over the summer has steadily increased over the years, and the amount of storage space is minimal and in some residence halls non-existent,” she said.

According to Philipp, the changes come in part due to an increased number of summer visitors.

“The college now has a full visitor’s schedule in the res-

idence halls throughout the summer, which keeps maintenance and housekeeping very busy,” she said. “It’s a challenge for them to sort, move and protect everything with this increase in traffic.”

Sophomore Mikayla Manna, a resident assistant in McIntyre Residence, said the dorm did not have enough storage space.

“There were people who, instead of bringing a medium tote, ended up bringing a really big tote,” she said. “There’s less space for other people to store stuff. It was just really full. It’s a tiny room. There’s not really enough space for everyone to store stuff.”

Junior resident assistant from Simpson Residence Kevin Pynes said the dorm had minimal issues with storage space.

“Sometimes people wouldn’t reclaim their storage, so then we would be stuck with a box of someone’s things and they didn’t want it,” he said. “But someone would always

claim those things at the end of the day.”

Pynes said the change is inconvenient for those who live far away.

“I live 10 hours away — I live in Nebraska. So it is a little more of a hassle when you have to bring all that stuff up, especially when you’re relying on carpools,” he said. “The more stuff you bring, the fewer people you have in the car, the more expensive it is to get up here because you’re splitting the gas fewer ways.”

Pynes said although there are storage alternatives for students, he thinks students will be frustrated by the policy.

“The college has recommended using storage units and pairing up with people,” Pynes said. “That is definitely a potential solution, but suggesting that to guys might end up being tricky. I am anticipating that there will be frustration with the policy come May.”

Manna said she thinks storage unit rates are manageable if students share with others.

“Storage units don’t end up being full,” she said. “I think that if people teamed up a bit more on that, then it would lower costs a little more.”

Senior James Golden said the new policy will be a challenge for students coming from far away.

“Fitting everything into a two-door vehicle and driving 17 hours with it is a lot to ask,” he said. “As a senior, I’ve never really had to deal with not having my stuff up here.”

Golden said students should scale down their wardrobes in order to transfer less from home to college.

“My take is that for male students in particular, you don’t need nearly as much clothing as you think you do,” he said. “Go with a micro-wardrobe. You can look nice without having to bring much clothing. It’s always kind of funny to me when I see guys bring six or seven full suits. You’re not going to wear a new suit every day of the week.”

Sajak Visual Media Center now in operation

By Alessia Sandala Assistant Editor

Hillsdale College now has the capacity to produce more and improved video content after the opening of its new Sajak Visual Media Center on May 10.

“The great gift of the Sajak Visual Media Center will help us reach more and more people in order to teach America ‘the best of what’s been thought and said,’” Vice President for Institutional Advancement Bill Gray said. “Our students may have the opportunity to work alongside our video team as well as other professionals to help create this content and have a front-row seat to this critical part of our educational outreach.”

The dedication of the new Sajak Visual Media Center on the corner of Union Street and Fayette Street took place during commencement weekend in May, in coordination with Pat Sajak’s role as the 2024 commencement speaker.

“The size of the building allows us to keep multiple sets up simultaneously, increasing our capacity for production,” Waters said. “Productions so far have included online courses, K-12 videos, the ‘Larry Arnn Show’ podcast, and the short film ‘Last Days of a Revolutionary’ for Independence Day.”

The design itself contributes to the functionality of the building, according to Waters.

“The Sajak Visual Media Center is a ‘sound stage.’ As the name suggests, one of the most important attributes of the building is its ability to block outside noise from getting in and keep the inside noise from bouncing around,” Waters said. “High ceilings, smooth floors, silent climate control, and an abundance of electrical outlets are also crucial.”

The college’s expansion of its visual media efforts includes adding a second phase to the building in the years to come.

character. We’re not actually voting on policy, and no one’s coming to focus on policy,” Jones said. “I think that’s really important to show the contrast between the destructive policy of the Harris-Walz ticket compared to the prosperous future of the TrumpVance ticket.”

Peed also said he hopes Noem’s talk will help students better understand the effects of Walz’s policies in Minnesota before the election.

“Tim Walz, until a few weeks ago, was generally unknown, which is unfortunate, because he really shouldn’t be unknown,” Peed said. “He should be known as somebody who destroyed his own state. I think it’s really important that we highlight who he is for the true destruction that he has caused.”

The Hillsdale College Republicans’ non-endorsement clause says the club does not affiliate with or endorse speakers.

“Speakers’ views are their own,” the clause reads. “Our chapter supports the right to free speech.”

Attendees will be able to ask Noem questions, and members of Hillsdale College Republicans can get their photos taken with her after the talk.

The event is open to all of campus and Peed said students can register on Handshake per request of the President’s Office.

Sajak is chairman of Hillsdale College’s Board of Trustees and the former host of “Wheel of Fortune.”

“I had the chance to serve as the master of ceremonies of the event itself and had the blessing of being able to thank Mr. Sajak and his family for the gift,” Gray said. “Their leadership, along with the support of many other donors, made the building possible for the college.”

The Sajak Visual Media Center offers technology necessary for production and eventually will open for student use.

“In time, we plan to build an addition to the center that will house offices for the college’s visual media team and others involved in the outreach,” Gray said.

Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé, highlighted the importance of the Sajak Visual Media Center for the college’s growth.

“It is a tool that will improve the efficient production of beautiful and sound content to help teach America,” Péwé said.

In addition to bringing education to America, Waters said the center will allow Hillsdale’s

digital platform to increase as it produces more content than it could previously.

“We are currently developing various other series and formats in hopes of reaching a wider audience with Hillsdale’s deep well of educational content,” Waters said. “The primary purpose of all the videos produced by the college is education. Whether it’s a 30-second commercial or a 30-minute online course, the audience should be learning something valuable.”

According to Gray, the dedication event encompassed Hillsdale College President Larry

Arnn’s vision for the future of the college’s marketing and media efforts.

“Dr. Arnn has asked us to build a mighty engine for teaching people at scale, and mass media is one of the most efficient ways to accomplish that,” Gray said. “It will never match the rigorous, exciting, and insightful teaching that students and professors get to do on campus — but it’s my hope that we can get closer and closer to that in the future.”

Students nominated for national broadcast awards

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

Ten current and former students are finalists for national awards from College Broadcasters Inc., the organization announced Aug. 27.

“We can tell people here how good they are, that their content is excellent, that they’re improving, but when someone externally listens to that same content and acknowledges it as being one of the best in the country, that means something a little extra to our students,” said Scot Bertram, general manager of WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM.

CBI named senior Lauren Smyth’s newscast “Lauren Smyth News” for Best Newscast or Sportscast; seniors Gavin Listro, Isabella Dix, and Alexandra Hall’s “I’ve Got Aux” for Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program; junior Evan Mick’s “The Life of a Kicker” for Best Sports Reporting; and

seniors Alex Deimel and Erin Osborne, junior Ty Ruddy, and alumni Logan Washburn and Jane Kitchen’s documentary “The Prison Games” for Best Documentary Long Form.

Media professionals and student media advisors judge hundreds of submissions, with the finalists being among the top four nationwide in their respective categories.

Students in the radio program and the documentary filmmaking class have received five first place CBI awards in past years, twice for “Best Sports Reporting,” “Best Newscast or Sportscast,” “Best Documentary,” and “Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program.”

“The categories that we are finalists in — those are things we try to excel at here,” Bertram said. “CBI is pretty competitive, and they have a limited number of categories so having even three finalists on the audio side is a really good result for us.”

Smyth previously received first place for Best Newscast or Sportscast Winner for the “Lauren Smyth Newscast” for the 2022 CBI Awards.

“News isn’t the most glamorous job — it’s so ephemeral, especially at a station where we play a lot of longer shows. It’s actually interesting that people enjoy listening to it,” Smyth said.

Listro hosted the radio feature “I’ve Got Aux,” a show about discussing music, with Hall and Dix from 2020 to the spring of this year.

“Usually we submit our episodes for music-specific programs, which makes a bit more sense,” Listro said. “But the fact that we beat out other talk shows — I know we’re just finalists, but there’s a lot of shows that get submitted, so I’m optimistic.”

Lecturer in Journalism Buddy Moorehouse taught the documentary filmmaking class that created “The Prison Games,” a 2023 documentary about the

Hillsdale football team’s games against Jackson Prison inmates in the 1960s and 1970s.

“You never know what you’re up against because these contests are done in a vacuum, and you’re competing against other colleges and universities,” Moorehouse said. “I look at it as a win already. Just being a finalist and being one of the top four documentaries in the country is an incredible accomplishment.” Deimel was the director of videography for Prison Games last fall semester.

“If we win the award, that’d be great, but being recognized is an honor itself,” Deimel said. “Mr. Moorehouse is a wonderful teacher and man, and much of the credit for this goes to him.”

CBI will announce the first place awards at the 2024 CBI National Student Media Convention in October.

Sajak and Arnn take part in the dedication of the media center in May. Courtesy | Mark Waters

Opinions

The Collegian Weekly

The opinion of the Collegian editorial staff

Rethinking Quad Construction

Welcome to Hillsdale College, Class of 2028! In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a giant hole at the center of your new home.

The construction on the quad is an eyesore. It’s frustrating to walk the fenced-off perimeter of an area that used to be beautiful and accessible. It’s unfortunate to lose a place to sit down with friends or with a book on a nice day. It’s unfair that many students will forfeit

Dear Collegian,

More Aristotle is needed

To the Editor —

My name is Joseph. I’m a freshman. Adjusting to life at Hillsdale this last week has been like getting used to living in a heavenly dream — a dream full of fascinating lectures, hours-long discussions about the Good with random Olds girls and as much SAGA soft serve as I can manage every morning for breakfast. In short, Hillsdale has been everything I could have hoped for and more.

Everything I could hope for with one exception, I suppose. Really, there’s just one minor thing that I’d like to bring to Hillsdale’s attention: the surprising paucity of people talking about Aristotle. Sure, we might discuss Aristotelian logic ad infinitum every day in Logic and Rhetoric. I suppose it’s also true that we’ve started our Introduction to Western Philosophy class by reading the greatest works of ancient philosophers, such as Aristotle’s “Physics,” “Metaphysics,” and “Poetics.” And I did appreciate it that our entire freshman orientation consisted of only lectures on the “Nicomachean Ethics” with occasional forays into the “Ars Rhetorica.”

But nearly every discussion, conversation, and latenight dorm argument I’ve taken part in during this last week has shown a startling propensity to bring in the works of lesser authors like St. Augustine, Pope Benedict XVI, Martin Luther, St. John Henry Newman, Homer, or even — and this is the most unkindest cut of all — Plato. Shockingly, St. Thomas Aquinas was mentioned in 18 of those conversations, while Aristotle was only mentioned in 12. I was astounded to see this. Coming from a small, Christian, liberal arts high school where I breathed Aristotle, slept Aristotle, and wrote my freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior theses on Aristotle, I had high expectations for Hillsdale. Imagine my disappointment, then, when I realized that students and professors here often talk about thinkers other than Aristotle. It’s disgraceful — we claim to be a school that teaches the liberal arts!

What’s even more worrisome to me is the fact that my peers are discussing questions of modern applications of philosophy without even considering what Aristotle might bring to the conversation. For instance, I’ve heard other freshmen discussing how to form and maintain solid friendships. Tragically, only three people managed to bring in and discuss the relevant passages from the “Nicomachean Ethics,” book 7. Another time, I witnessed another group talking about democracy and how it plays out in our modern world and was shocked to see that just one single interlocutor chose to cite the “Politics,” book 3, to prove his point. And those are just a few of the many examples of missing Aristotelianism I’ve seen in my time here. My fellow Hillsdaleans, we have all of the answers firmly in the pages of Aristotle, if only we could think to seek them there. Searching for insight into the founding of the United States of America? Check Aristotle. Looking for the meaning and teleology inherent in mankind? Aristotle again. Need a solution to the age-old question of Natural Family Planning? You guessed it — Aristotle’s your man!

So I urge you, my dear fellow scholars: Let’s get back to our roots by getting back to citing The Philosopher. Forget the “Four Quartets,” “The Four Loves,” and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — let’s memorize the Four Causes of Aristotle. After all, this is Hillsdale. We defend liberty and love the true, the good, the beautiful. We have the chance to ponder the best that’s been thought, written, and said. It’s not that hard. Let’s all talk more about Aristotle.

Joseph Oldsboy is a freshman. He hopes to graduate with a double-major in Philosophy and Olds as well as an ex in Mac.

This piece was edited by Zack Chen.

some of the aesthetic, accessibility, and comfort of Hillsdale College for a cause they may not even ever participate in personally.

There is, however, a way to see the “eyesore” as a blessing. Not only is it a humbling statement about the greater work and purpose of the college, but it reminds students that Hillsdale has existed for more than a century and will continue to exist long after we are

gone. Previous Hillsdale students sacrificed for the current campus landscape and future Hillsdale students will continue the tradition. College President Larry Arnn often says the college is a “partnership.”

This Hillsdale partnership stretches across generations. It makes more sense to think that we are partaking in construction, growth, and change rather than enduring it.

Hillsdale College is not

and has never been about a single set of four years, taking as much as one can from the campus before they go out into the world to take a little more. Hillsdale College ought to facilitate four years during which students learn how to give, and how to give up, for the sake of benefits that they may never see while here on Earth.

So go ahead and complain, but don’t forget to be grateful.

Make the Sabbath a priority

By Garrett Goolsby Collegian Freelancer

Garrett Goolsby is a senior studying psychology. He recently spoke at Hillsdale’s freshman convocation to incoming students, their parents, and Hillsdale faculty. His remarks are summarized below.

Take a weekly Sabbath during your time at Hillsdale. Reserve one day not to work as you do during the week. Allow your mind the freedom to roam places other than school. If you practice the Sabbath, your time at Hillsdale will be sweeter, less stressful, and more joyful.

“If you work with your mind, sabbath with your hands. If you work with your hands, sabbath with your mind,” said Abraham Joshua Heschel, a Polish-American rabbi and one of the foremost Jewish philosophers and theologians of the 20th century. Mental work must be balanced with resting the mind.

Hillsdale requires a tremendous amount of such work. We spend many hours a day completely stationary, doing little more with our bodies than writing things down or typing on a computer. These are wonderful and rewarding pursuits, but be careful. There is tremendous temptation in getting swept up and away from earth in the pursuit of seemingly higher things.

Take time every week to come back to earth. Ground yourself in the real world. Take time every week away from your studies to sabbath. Weekly rest cultivates humility. Remember that as we walk around campus, we’re among people who will change the world. Students here are beyond exceptional. Comparison is inevitable. Do not succumb to it. Instead, rest.

Take time every week to remember that your worth depends not on the length of your to-do list, but on the work of Christ who has died on the cross so that you

might live a new life. Your worth should be defined by that. Christ died for you, so rest. Your work will be there tomorrow.

Do you want to enjoy your time here? Rest. Let your anticipation build. Let your passion for your work build. Weekly rest cultivates joy. Resting allows you to approach each week’s work with renewed vigor and excitement at the tasks ahead. When I began implementing a weekly Sabbath and laid aside school for a whole day, I noticed I was far more excited to start work again come Monday morning.

I know some of you are reading this and mentally listing all your various obligations. Sabbath seems like an impossibility. There are more worthy things to spend your time doing than time to do them.

Do not get caught in the busy game. You want to know what busy looks like? Find a professor with six kids and ask him what his day looks like. Everyone is busy. I prom-

ise you it will all get done. What does this advice look like in action? Take a walk at Baw Beese Lake, play a board game, watch a movie, read a book for fun, talk to your friends about anything but Aristotle, call your mom, or take a nap. I beg you to consider the importance of this. A Hillsdale education is challenging. It requires many hours of dedicated application. Paul says in Colossians 3:23-24 that we are to work at whatever we do with all our hearts as for the Lord, not for men, for it is the Lord we serve. Remember also, as you work hard for the Lord and not for others, that the same Lord whom you work for is the God of whom David said in Psalm 127:2, “He gives to his beloved sleep.” Rest in the Lord’s love for each of you and draw strength from that rest for the wonderful challenge that lies ahead.

When only poetry will do

By Ally Hall Design Editor

The only thing more haunting than my masked 2020 high school graduation was the number of kids whose folding chairs were empty that May afternoon, lost to freak accidents and suicide. My graduation was more a celebration of survival than a rite of passage.

“Sometimes in life, only poetry will do,” my English teacher used to say after the deaths were announced over the morning intercom.

The tragic fates of my peers wore him down just as much as us, yet we still looked to him for an answer. In response to children dropping dead like Raid-sprayed flies, could we really only offer rhymes?

Despite my teenage cynicism, nothing soothed my pain more than the poems he offered at the start of class. Poetry, he said, was a guide — a muse able to articulate feelings fully felt and known but never described. It was as if poetry was just as confusing and troubling a force as the very tragedies we were facing.

Since then I’ve made it a habit to read a poem a day, a practice which has colored my life in a way no other ritual has.

My starting place was Mary Oliver’s famous anthology “Devotions,” a poignant collection of musings on the natural world, a divine creator, and tenderness for oneself and others. Oliver’s poetry is short, making the daily habit easy to pick up.

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?”

This line hung both in my head and on a small card posted near my bathroom mirror. Before I knew it, I began focusing on details of daily life I had never paid attention to before — morning light (when the Michigan clouds allow it), the intricate colors of the foliage on my walk to class, and the most profound of all: the elegance of the average goose.

Collections by Edna St. Vincent Millay and D. H. Lawrence guided me through much of my first semester winter blues, showing how one could identify with the cold and kindle warmth in spite of it. Contemporary collections by Richard Siken and Ocean Vuong helped me parse the unspoken grammar of modern love as I struggled through a breakup.

“Tell me it was for the hunger / & nothing less. For hunger is to give / the body what it knows / it cannot keep. That this amber light / whittled down by another war / is all that pins my hand to your chest,” Vuong writes.

College Chaplain Rev. Adam Rick opened every theology class with a psalm, and a collection by Czesław Miłosz completed my Continental Literature course with professor Cameron Moore. Nearly every stu-

dent prefaced their praise of the poems with some iteration of “I don’t like poetry, but I liked this”: a sure sign of collective realization that maybe poetry wasn’t some highfalutin torture device contrived by academics.

Maybe it had the force to affect people more deeply than novels, plays, and essays in its concision and ethereal nature.

For years, I’ve carried my English teacher’s words like a rock in my shoe — a reality I still don’t want to accept but one that rubs my heel raw.

Now when things fall apart, I first lunge for the poetry shelf. Every collection presents an

opportunity for an awakening to both minute details and massive themes in life. Poetry won’t save kids from dying, at least not the ones at my high school. There are tangible ways to help young people in distress, but there will always be a moment in which we lack the words to share with others when the darkest hours strike. And in those moments, let poetry be the guide.

Hall is a senior studying rhetoric and media.

Ally

In Poland, God comes home

By Moira Gleason News Editor

“We Polish people have an old saying,” she told me as she offered another slice of cheesecake: “Gość w dom, bóg w dom: visitor comes home, God comes home.”

Three different kinds of pierogies, beef, chicken, potatoes, salad, and two bottles of wine — the remnants of our dinner — still filled the table as our hostess, Marta, brought out dessert for her guests. Rosejam-filled pączki and apple tarts followed a Polish cheesecake and a pot of coffee with frothed milk.

But even more than the food, the interest these people took in getting to know 11 strange American students struck me.

My study abroad group and I had come to Warsaw for a long weekend to visit the city, learn its history and culture, and stay with four host families.

More than 20 people packed into the back living room of Marta’s apartment for a group dinner on the last night. A few sat at the small kitchen table with the food, while others pulled in chairs from other rooms, piled onto the couch, or spilled out onto the balcony.

For the first half hour of the meal, I sat on the couch and talked to the father of one of our host families, who told me his name was Stanisław, “but you can just say Stanley.”

He may have understood only a quarter of what I said to him in English, but he smiled and asked me what I was studying, what were my favorite hobbies, and how I liked being in Poland. When he didn’t understand me, he just responded in Polish, nodded, and laughed.

He told me he liked to travel, so I asked him what his favorite country to visit was.

He paused for a moment and then leaned back.

“People are more interesting than places,” he said. “I didn’t have to go to America tonight because America came here to me.”

He gestured to our group and laughed.

We all ate together, laughed together, talked and told stories, and sang along in Polish as Stanisław played “Barka” and other traditional folk songs on the accordion.

My request for the cheesecake recipe — I scrawled it on

a piece of copy paper in blue pen as Marta dictated from memory — gave way to an hour-long conversation about her experience growing up in communist Poland, raising her two children in Warsaw, and learning and teaching English as a second language. Even as she told stories about standing in line for rations as a girl, Marta kept hopping up to serve her guests more food. It seems the great irony of Poland — a country that has been trampled and partitioned and beaten down for centuries but always lifts itself up again — is the people simply never stop giving.

At the time I was reading the philosophical and dramatic work of the slavic Pope John Paul II.

“God does indeed give people to us,” John Paul II writes in his essay “A Meditation on Givenness.” “Every such person, in some way, is a gift for us, and we can say of each: ‘God has given you to me.’ This awareness becomes a source of enrichment for each of us. We would be in grave danger were we to be unable to recognize the richness in each human person.”

This idea animates all of the philosophical writings of John Paul II that I read over the summer: Man finds his being, his identity, in his gift of self to others.

“Who is man?” John Paul II writes. “Genesis affirms at the very beginning that man is in the image and likeness of God. This means that a special fullness of being resides in man. As the Council teaches us, man is the only creature on earth whom God willed for itself (Gaudium et Spes, 24). At the same time, he is the only creature that can fully find himself only through a sincere, disinterested gift of self.”

The relationship of giving and receiving applies certainly to marriage, but it rings true in other areas of human relationship as well.

I had read these words in class, understood them, even written about them. But I felt what he meant in a concrete way only when I sat in that living room surrounded by people I had just met who welcomed me like family.

Moira Gleason is a junior studying English.

Hillsdale doesn’t produce many statesmen. Let’s change that

By Victor Joecks Guest Writer

For a college so entwined in politics, Hillsdale doesn’t turn out many elected officials.

More than 20 years ago, I came to Hillsdale convinced that what I learned here would one day help me become an elected official, probably after becoming a lawyer.

God had different plans. I never went to law school but did work in state think tanks for a decade. For the last seven years, I’ve been an opinion columnist with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, usually writing about politics.

I am one of many Hillsdale graduates to end up connected with politics. In just the last decade, Hillsdale alumni have clerked for Supreme Court justices. They’ve worked in the Trump White House as speech writers and staffers. They’ve shaped the national dialogue writing for major publications like the Wall Street Journal, The Federalist, and National Review. Numerous Hillsdale alumni have worked on Capitol Hill or in various national or state think tanks.

It’s an impressive output for what remains a small college. But while Hillsdale helps many elected officials around the country, it doesn’t produce many.

The most famous alumni in the last few decades to hold elected office may be Chris Chocola ’84. He served as a congressman from Indiana in the 2000s before a stint as president of the Club for Growth. Among more recent alumni, the most prominent to serve as an elected official is likely Hans Zeiger ’07. He served several terms in the Washington State legislature. He now

runs the Jack Miller Center, which focuses on “teaching America’s founding principles and history.” Michigan Rep. Andrew Fink ’06, R-Hillsdale, is currently running for the Michigan Supreme Court. There is nothing wrong with working in a politics-adjacent job. I love being a columnist. But the lack of lawmakers who graduated from Hillsdale is apparent once you see it.

Unfortunately, many of Hillsdale’s most politically minded graduates don’t leave well-positioned to become the statesmen the college rightly celebrates.

I’ve worked around politicians for nearly 20 years. Most aren’t anywhere near as intelligent or well-versed in government as a Hillsdale sophomore. They win elections because of their success outside of politics, connections in their local communities, ability to raise money, and willingness to work hard.

I’ve no doubt Hillsdale students are comfortable with hard work. But if you want to prepare yourself to be an elected official in the future, the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program isn’t enough. First, prepare yourself to be successful outside of politics. This sounds counterintuitive. The best way to become great at construction is to work for a construction company, learning all you can and advancing your way up the ranks or starting your own construction company.

But running for office is different. Voters want to see candidates with proven leadership accomplishments outside of politics. Major in something that will help you become a successful entrepreneur, chemist, business executive, pilot,

teacher, or doctor. After 15–20 years of achievement, you’ll be well positioned to become a candidate. Law school is another option, but avoid practicing in liberal cities like New York and Washington, D.C. This isn’t a new thing. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were accomplished men outside of politics. They were lawyers, doctors, merchants, and even ministers. Use WHIP to get a taste of the political process if you want, but know it’s only temporary if you want to maximize your chances of returning as an elected official.

Second, avoid low-level political work. Slogging your way up the ladder to become a mid-level staffer isn’t compelling to voters. Campaign work is brutal. You’re more likely to burnout on politics than transition from that to a successful run for political office.

Third, don’t move to Washington, D.C. The appeal of the nation’s capital for politically focused graduates is obvious. That’s where laws and connections are made. There’s a robust network of Hillsdale alumni, too. But you aren’t getting elected from D.C. Nor are you likely to launch a successful non-political career from there.

Move somewhere you want to raise a family or where a great job opportunity is as long as it’s not overwhelmingly liberal. Get involved in your church and volunteer in your local community. Those connections will pay off when you decide to run for office.

Fourth, join the military. Amidst an era of voter cynicism, one thing voters still value is military service. Obviously, Hillsdale’s principled stance against federal dollars precludes a ROTC program here.

The National Guard or Reserves is a part-time option while at Hillsdale. Or you can become an officer after graduating. If you don’t want to go active duty, the National Guard and Reserves both offer officer slots too. The Marines are the most physically demanding

branch. The Air Force is the least. As someone who spent a decade-plus in the Army National Guard, I can safely tell you the smart ones join the Air Force. If you become a lawyer, look at the JAG program, which you can do parttime in the National Guard or Reserves.

The military won’t just help you with future voters. You’ll improve your leadership skills and be a small bulwark against the attempted leftist takeover of a vital organization.

Fifth, practice raising money. Most people don’t enjoy it, but it’s a political reality. Fundraising matters. Fortunately, Hillsdale is the most successful fundraising machine in the conservative world. Those fancy buildings you learn in didn’t just happen. Someone built relationships and asked for money.

Go to the Institutional Advancement office and beg to work or even volunteer there. Not only would you learn the logistics of fundraising, but you can see it as a way to help people accomplish something they couldn’t do on their own. That’s a winning attitude when it comes to raising money.

Sixth, be willing to start small. This is a piece of advice you’ll have to store away for a couple of decades, but it’s the most common mistake I see aspiring politicians make. Ideally, you have a successful career in the private sector when you decide to run for office. But don’t jump into a congressional or U.S. senate race. Have the humility to start with the state legislature, city council, or school board. If you prove yourself there, the powerbrokers in your area will recruit you to run for those higher offices in a few years. The next Republican president will undoubtedly select many Hillsdale graduates to work for him. That’s wonderful. The conservative movement needs people in many different roles. But if you want to be the Hillsdale graduate who becomes the statesman, consider this advice.

Victor Joecks ’06 is a columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Hillsdale College graduate. Email him at victor.joecks@gmail.com.

Elementary politics? That’s weird

By Michaela Estruth Senior Editor

When I heard the new Democratic political strategy was to call former President Donald Trump and his running mate Sen. JD Vance “weird,” my first thought was: “Well, that’s weird.” The attack first broke the news on July 24 when the account “Democrat Governors” made a post on X with a quote attributed to Gov. Tim Walz reading, “These guys are weird.”

Vice President Kamala Harris later threw out the term at her first fundraiser after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. A few weeks later, she selected Walz as her running mate.

Of all the adjectives to use, of all the possible arguments they could construct, they decided “weird” was the best option. It’s so childish.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, weird means “suggesting something supernatural; uncanny.” This definition developed from the Old English which defined weird as “what the future holds.” This is more commonly referenced as

“fate,” wrote John McWhorter in a recent New York Times piece. In colloquial speech, however, “weird” has now lost almost all futuristic or supernatural connotations. Synonyms of ‘weird” include strange, abnormal, or unusual. It’s funny to me that among adults — and so among all eligible voters — the word “weird” isn’t even insulting. I say I’m weird all the time. I talk in silly voices, I dance in the kitchen, I actually like school — yeah, I’m weird. But among kids, “weird” is an insult. It’s a social judgment.

“Weird” is a term third-grade bullies use, which is the first red flag. It’s immature, honestly.

Calling the GOP ticket

“weird” is the perfect example of an ad hominem attack. It’s one of the fallacies you learn about in your middle school logic class. While both sides employ ad hominem attacks, this name-calling is especially strange because it cites no evidence.

Instead of citing poor policy or previous failings, this ad hominem attack targets Trump and Vance, on — well, virtual-

ly nothing. Frankly, this only weakens the Democratic ticket because their lack of argument reveals they have none.

Vance made this very claim in an interview with CNN that aired Aug. 11.

“I think what it is, is two people, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, who aren’t comfortable in their own skin, because they’re uncomfortable with their policy positions for the American people,” Vance said. “And so they’re name-calling instead of actually telling the American people how they’re going to make their lives better.”

Harris and Walz can’t point to a strong economy, stable foreign policy, or a secure border to gain votes. Instead, they construct a strange and meaningless argument to try to win laughs.

This approach emphasizes personability over policy. Harris and Walz want to be the relatable ticket, the commoners. So they paint their opponents as weird.

This is where McWhorter’s argument is faulty.

“‘Weird’ pegs MAGA as a detour, a regrettable temptation that serious politics ought

to render obsolete. Calling it “weird” is deft, articulate, and possibly prophetic,” McWhorter wrote in his article.

Using a colloquial term without any definition or specificity is not articulate, however. It’s confusing and pointless.

The same people who were calling Trump “Hitler” in July have now toned it down to simply calling him “weird.” Seems inconsistent. I can think of several adjectives that precede “weird” on a list describing Hitler.

Calls for unity caused Democrats to de-escalate their claims after Trump nearly died on July 13. They chose “weird” as a civil ad hominem attack. But they still remain mute on reasons why Trump is weird, so the attack is another bullet that missed its mark.

In response to this new strategy, David Karpf, strategic communication professor at George Washington University, praised Harris and Walz’s approach.

“I don’t know who came up with the message, but I salute them,” David Karpf said. “It frustrates opponents, leading them to further amplify it through off-balance responses.”

But Trump and Vance’s responses have been anything but “off-balance.”

Trump threw the attack back and then mentioned specific policies as weird.

“Nobody’s ever called me weird. I’m a lot of things, but weird I’m not. I’m upfront,” Trump said to radio host Clay Travis in an interview posted Aug. 1. “Who wants to have open borders, where prisoners and mental institutions patients are taken out of hospitals and jails and they’re let into our country? That’s weird. Who would want that policy? Who wants to quadruple your taxes? That’s weird. The whole thing is weird.”

In a Fox News interview, Vance said the name-calling doesn’t bother him.

“They can call me whatever they want to. The middle school taunts don’t bother me,” Vance said. “What offends me is what Kamala Harris has done to this country over three and a half years. ” Vance knows how to discuss policy failure instead of name-calling. His response highlighted personal values that, on the “weird scale,” are hardly weird at all — like being

a good husband and father.

“I think that it’s a lot of projection, frankly, Maria, from people who want to give transgender hormones to 9-year-old kids and want biological males to play in women’s sports,” Vance said to host Maria Bartiromo. “Look, I’m a husband, I’m a father, I’m happily married, and I love my life, and I am doing this because I want to be a good public servant who fixes the problems of the Democrats.”

In his response, Vance highlighted policy issues with which he disagrees. This is proper politics. Name-calling only raises the volume of public discourse and stalls the argument. What’s even weirder is that the Democratic ticket has persisted in using the term. When I first heard of it, I thought “weird” usage would dwindle in a week’s time. Now, six weeks later, it’s still an attack. Using an elementary phrase is weak, but maybe that’s because no other strategy exists.

Michaela Estruth is a senior studying history.

The sun sets on U.S. Capitol.

Photo Credit | Kamden Mulder

City News

City Council greenlights college to acquire two streets

The Dow Hotel will expand onto parts of East Galloway Drive and Summit Street

By Alessia Sandala Assistant Editor

The Hillsdale City Council approved Hillsdale College’s plan to acquire sections of East Galloway Drive and Summit Street after a public hearing Tuesday night.

The expansion project will permanently close of a block of East Galloway Drive and 203 feet of Summit Street.

The college agreed to place $1.7 million in the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, as well as pay the city $300,000 in increments of $100,000 for essential city services upon approval of the plan. But several Hillsdale residents who spoke at the public hearing Tuesday night said the college is not giving enough to the City of Hillsdale.

“It’s been that way for many years — and that’s a complaint of most of the citizens of this town that I hear repeatedly. It is a massive conflict of interest, and with the college, everything’s a free ride,” said former Hillsdale fire chief and attendee Kevin Pauken.

Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford said the $2 million that the city will receive shows that the college is not simply taking the streets it needs for the hotel.

Stockford also said he believes the college’s hotel expansion will help the city fix several streets in poor condition.

“Summit Street is in horrendous shape and when this came up, I thought this could lead to some attention being brought to Summit Street be-

cause why would you want to be driving up to a five-star hotel on a street in bad condition,” Stockford said. Hillsdale resident Megan Angell said she was concerned that the college had yet to submit a site plan.

According to Hillsdale City Manager David Mackie, the college does not have to submit an official site plan until after it receives approval to carry out the closing of the respective portions of East Galloway Drive and Summit Street.

“Typically one does not do

a site plan until they know they can do what they are asking to do,” Mackie said. “If they are turned down they

the vacation process is done, which has to go to the local court as well.”

The decision to place $1.7

“Why would you want to be driving up to a five-star hotel on a street in bad condition?”

would have wasted a substantial amount of money to do that. So that would be something that would be done once

million of the total $2 million into an account with the Hillsdale County Community Foundation, a non -

AM radio bill awaits Congress’ vote

Community

By Olivia Pero Outreach Director

A bill in the U.S. Congress could keep AM radio alive in small communities like Hillsdale.

Auto manufacturers — especially makers of electric vehicles — like Ford, Tesla, and Volvo, have begun removing AM radio from their new models. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023 requires the Department of Transportation to issue a rule mandating auto manufacturers include AM radio access in all new vehicles.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act states that AM broadcast stations deliver emergency alerts, news, and entertainment, with more than 82 million Americans tuning in to AM radio each month.

According to the National Association of Broadcasters, electric vehicle manufacturers are particularly worried about mandates to include AM radio in EVs due to electromagnetic interference from EV parts, which distorts AM radio signals and is expensive to fix.

Scot Bertram, general manager of WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM, said at its core, eliminating AM radio in vehicles is a public safety issue.

profit organization that offers grants, support, and education to local groups, is meant to increase long-term economic benefit for the city.

“The idea with the community foundation was to set up a perpetual revenue stream

that could be added to in the future,” Mackie said. “So others could contribute money, whether it be another business or the college at a future time.”

Councilmember Tony Vear said he hopes the endowment started by the college will become a large portion of where the city’s funds are drawn from.

The interest that accumulates from the investment will be earmarked for essential city services, at least at first, according to Mackie.

“The idea behind that is that it would be set up to provide support for essential city services, which were deemed to be police, fire, and roads at this point,” he said.

Traffic, water drainage, and a white-oak tree along East Galloway Drive were among other citizen concerns.

The council voted 5-0 to allow the college to proceed with its plan to expand the Dow Hotel and Conference Center. Councilmembers Gary Wolfram and Joshua Paladino abstained from the vote.

According to Vear, the project will provide the city with economic opportunities.

“I think in the end, it’s going to be a good thing for the residents of Hillsdale,” Vear said.

City planners approve Aldi location proposal

By Catherine Maxwell Assistant Editor

The City of Hillsdale Planning Commission approved Aldi’s proposed location on the corner of Moore Road and West Carleton Road earlier this year.

It will cost as much as $3.8 billion to maintain AM radio in vehicles, with some of that cost transferring to consumers, reported the online magazine Radio World. Additionally, the auto industry said passage of the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act could force some automakers

while FM is preferred for music and entertainment.

AM can also cover more areas and better serve rural populations, while FM functions better in urban centers with more technology that might disrupt AM signals.

In some rural areas of the country, AM stations are the only available options for potentially life-saving information, Bertram said.

“Many of us in Hillsdale

“No other medium has the reach of AM radio, which covers at least 90% of the American population.”

to eliminate other safety features in their vehicles.

According to the Radio+ Television Business Report, automakers are spending millions of dollars on lobbyists in an effort to kill the legislation.

AM radio uses amplitude modulation to send carrier waves, while FM radio uses frequency modulation, according to Radio Active Media. As a result, AM radio waves can travel a farther distance, have worse audio quality, and are more vulnerable to electronic interference than FM. AM is generally preferred for newscasting,

“If we are serious about the Emergency Alert System operating as intended, the availability of AM radio in all vehicles is critical,” Bertram said. “No other medium has the reach of AM radio, which covers at least 90% of the American population.”

remember the ice storm of 2023. Mobile phones were little more than paperweights for days at a time,” Bertram said. “However, a battery-powered radio continued to provide free news and information via AM and FM stations.”

Jeff Hess, new vehicle manager at Stillwell Ford in Hillsdale, said he thinks it’s important to keep AM radios available in vehicles, adding that with today’s technology, he thinks EV manufacturers could figure out how to solve the problem of electromagnetic interference from EV parts on AM radio.

“They could figure it out if they really wanted to,” Hess said.

Hillsdale’s country music station, 99-5 The Dale, broadcasts on both 1340 AM and 99.5 FM. Juli Hays, station and sales manager at WCSR and 99-5 The Dale, said it’s vital to continue to include AM radio in vehicles.

“Our society is so dependent on technology, and that could make us vulnerable to being totally cut off from information in the event that cell or internet service goes down,” Hays said. “The U.S. has experienced bouts of this in recent years, causing major chaos.”

If we are operating under an emergency situation with no cell, internet services, or FM signals, then the AM radio in someone’s vehicle becomes a vital asset that relays invaluable updates, Hays said.

A July 31 letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and other House leaders urged them to bring the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to the House floor as soon as possible.

The legislation has bipartisan support from 256 House members and 62 senators, the American Principles Project, a right-leaning think tank, stated in the letter it sent to Johnson, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn.

Sam Fry, the City of Hillsdale marketing and development coordinator, said the Planning Commission approved the site plan in April.

The city can only share a limited amount of information at this time, Fry said, and Aldi has not officially confirmed an upcoming store.

“At this time, we do not have any information to share regarding a future store in Hillsdale, Michigan,” said Ryan Fritsch, Aldi vice president for its division that serves part of Michigan.

Hillsdale College senior Madelyn Bunch said she enjoys shopping at Aldi and has driven to the Coldwater location in the past.

“Having more local grocery stores with an Aldi in the

mix will be great for Hillsdale students who enjoy hosting and hospitality or who simply want more options for daily meals,” she said. According to its website, Aldi sells “great quality food at the lowest possible prices.” The stores feature a smaller selection of items at a low cost, with an emphasis on options for different dietary needs such as gluten-free or vegan diets. The Aldi nearest to Hillsdale is 17 miles away, in Coldwater, Michigan. If Aldi moves forward with the plan, it would join a growing number of grocery stores in and around Hillsdale. Hillsdale residents can shop at Kroger, Meijer, or Market House within city limits, or Walmart in nearby Jonesville.

The city is excited about the potential store, Fry said.

“City staff are committed to fostering economic growth and working with companies that are contemplating making an investment in our community,” he said.

A mockup, using Google Earth, of the college’s plans to acquire parts of East Galloway Drive and Summit Street. Measurements not to scale. City News Staff | Collegian

The City Planning Commission approved a site proposal from Aldi. Courtesy | Aldi

WWII gunner identified after 81 years

Edward Pyle was buried by his family in Augusta, Michigan

By Alessia Sandala Assistant Editor

When Scott Rissi received a phone call from the Army claiming to have the remains of a family member who died during World War II, he thought it was an elaborate scam.

But that phone call would return Rissi’s great-great uncle, Staff Sgt. Edward Pyle, to his family in Augusta, Michigan, 81 years after his aircraft was shot from the sky.

After the 79th anniversary of V-J Day on Sept. 2, Hillsdale College junior Jihye Kim, who plans to join the U.S. Marine Corps, said it is important to step back and remember the stories of World War II soldiers, especially those who are yet to be returned home.

“It’s awesome that they were able to identify Pyle and bring him home,” Kim said. “The Marines always try to never leave anyone behind, so us carrying that out even 80 years later is incredible.”

Peter Jennings, associate professor of leadership studies at Hillsdale College and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, said the return of a fallen soldier is a comfort to both the U.S. soldiers fighting abroad and their families.

“I’m very proud to know that Staff Sgt. Pyle is no longer missing in action, that we have kept our commitment to leave no one behind, and that he is now home where he belongs,” Jennings said.

On Dec. 1, 1943, Pyle boarded a B-24 Liberator as a tail gunner for the 436th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Group. The target was the Insein Railroad Yard in Rangoon, Burma, which is now Myanmar.

In an interview with The Collegian, Rissi said Pyle’s group circled around to return home after destroying the railroad yard. But it soon found itself under heavy fire from Japanese Zeros who came out of the sun, making them nearly invisible.

“They bombed what they believed was their target and as they were departing they

“Michigan has increased the minimum wage nearly every year since 2016, so we have processes in place to make the necessary adjustments,” Williams said. “The proposed increase for February 2025 is far more significant than increases we’ve seen in the past, but I believe the college is in a good position to weather the change.”

Senior Liam Regan, who works as a student career coach in Career Services, said his hourly wage would increase in February.

“It might help encourage student employment,” Regan said. “I know a decent number of students who work off campus because they know they’ll make more.”

Pat Flannery, vice president for finance and treasurer, said the college is prepared to take on the increase.

But the college is in a better position than other employers to handle new wage hikes, Williams said.

“The college will continue to closely monitor the status of the proposed changes and plan accordingly,” Williams said. “We are hopeful that some legislative intervention will take place between now and February to mitigate the impact on employers.”

Local businesses — especially restaurants and other firms with tipped workers — say the increases would add to prices already heightened by inflation, forcing them to

came back out towards the ocean where they took anti-aircraft fire to one of the wings of the aircraft,” Rissi said. “They began to descend rapidly into the clouds.”

As Pyle’s plane began to fall out of formation, the pilot of his aircraft signaled what remained of the group to continue without them.

“They drove down into the clouds, and three Japanese Zeros followed them. They were never seen or heard from again,” Rissi said. The crew was declared MIA.

Rissi said poor flight conditions prevented the group’s fighter escort from taking off, and the lack of air support left the group vulnerable to the onslaught it received from the Zeros.

According to a historical report written by the In-

do-Pacific Directorate of the Defence POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Japanese soldiers soon found the crash site and forced local civilians to bury the bodies of the crew and remove identifying information.

In 1947, two years after the end of World War II, the American Grave Registration Service discovered the remains of eight Americans near the location where a B-24 was suspected to have crashed. The crew’s remains could not be identified due to a lack of information and the fact that DNA testing was not yet possible, according to the DPAA’s report.

After years of identification attempts, Pyle and his crew were labeled “unidentifiable” in 1950.

Following a request from someone who believed their family member was buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii, known as the ‘Punchbowl,’ the DPAA exhumed the remains of several unknowns.

Pyle, who was buried amongst the unknowns exhumed from the ‘Punchbowl,’ was identified on March 14, 2024.

Rissi said he did not know Pyle or that he never returned from service in World War II.

“My sister got the first phone call, and she thought it

was a scam and then she told me about it,” Rissi said. “Then a few days later, I got a phone call. I started asking the guy questions. He said he was from the Army and had the remains of Edward Pyle. I didn’t know who Edward Pyle was. I was very skeptical of the whole thing.”

Rissi only discovered that he was Pyle’s relative when he found an old family tree and recalled someone from the Department of Veterans Affairs contacting his mother for DNA, as well as family history records.

Pyle was returned to his family and was buried amongst fellow servicemembers at the Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan, on July 24. His name is inscribed on the Wall of the Missing at the Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial.

For Jennings, Pyle’s story reflects America’s commitment to its service members.

“It is a high and noble tradition in our armed forces that we leave no one behind,” Jennings said. “Even years, decades after your service, your country will find you, identify you, and bring you home. This is a great assurance to those who serve — knowing that you will never be forgotten and your service will never be in vain.”

raise prices and reduce employee hours.

“We’re in limbo,” said Mitch Spangler, owner of the decades-old Spangler’s Family Restaurant in Jonesville.

“Thousands of business owners across the state are losing sleep.”

Minimum wage increases would expand Spangler’s payroll by 30%, he said. Wage hikes would add to the burdens of inflation that have already forced him to raise

menu prices multiple times in recent years. Ingredients cost more money, and finding new suppliers who charge lower prices costs time.

“It’s 10 times the work to decide who to buy from,” Spangler said.

The end of the tipped wage would make it more difficult to keep seasoned servers on staff, Spangler said. Tips allow them to make more with their years of experience and taking away that earning source could push them out of their longtime job.

Holly Armbruster, a server at Spangler’s, said patrons will tip less if they know her hourly wage has increased.

“It’s like when the owner waits tables, do you want to tip him?” Armbruster said.

“He’s profiting either way.”

St. Anthony’s to hold Mass for slain deputy

By Skye Graham Collegian Reporter

Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church will hold a Blue Mass at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 11, to honor slain Deputy Sheriff William “Bill” Butler Jr. and other first responders. Butler was shot on duty at a traffic stop on July 27. He was transported to the hospital, where he died. Butler had served in the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office for 12 years. His funeral was held at Hillsdale College’s Christ Chapel on July 3.

A “Blue Mass” is a Catholic Mass offered in honor of law enforcement officers, first responders, fallen soldiers, and other public safety officials. The tradition began in 1934, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.

Jamie Wisniewski, the

really it is a way to celebrate the hard work and sacrifices of all those who are called to public service as their vocation,” she said. “Those who work in public service deal with people in what can be the worst moments of their lives and that takes a toll on you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.”

Hillsdale College senior Erin Mannion, who attends St. Anthony’s, said it is im -

“Someone’s sacrifice for country and community can also be seen as a sacrifice for God.”

chief assistant prosecuting attorney for Hillsdale County, said she reached out to the staff at St. Anthony’s about holding a Blue Mass. She gave credit to the staff for organizing the service and helping spread the word.

“The staff at the church have been wonderful at organizing this,” Wisniewski said. “They’ve arranged a music selection and organized a luncheon with church volunteers. They’re the ones who should be recognized for their work in putting this together.”

Wisniewski said the Mass is a way to honor all public service members who risk their lives and safety for the communities they live in.

“The Mass will be celebrated in honor of Deputy Butler and his sacrifice, but

concerned about new benefit standards that would require up to 72 hours of annual paid sick leave for every worker without needing a doctor’s note.

“Employees can no-show for three days, then show up for work,” Spangler said. “You can’t fire them. You can’t discipline them. You have to pay them.”

An August survey by the Small Business Association of Michigan showed owners are worried about the February wage hikes while still battling inflation. Of the 500 businesses polled, more than 93% said their costs are higher than normal, and 78% said they have already raised wages by more than 5% in the past year.

Armbruster has been a server for more than 20 years.

“I won’t be one,” Armbruster said, if she makes less in tips. Spangler said he is also

In the state legislature, lawmakers are working to scale back the increases, with Republicans and some Democrats fearing that the wage hike could crush the hospitality industry.

portant for religious institutions to acknowledge the sacrifice of men and women in uniform through the Blue Mass.

“Saint Anthony’s is such an important part of the Hillsdale community,” Mannion said. “Deputy William Butler was also an important part of the community. I think it’s great to have religious acknowledgement of his life and his service.” Mannion said there is a connection between patriotism and religion.

“Patriotism is extremely encouraged by the Catholic Church,” Mannion said. “Someone’s sacrifice for the country and community can also be seen as a sacrifice for God.”

John McNamara, vice president of governmental affairs for the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, said his group and others are still talking with legislators and the governor’s office about what a deal may look like.

The MRLA proposes accelerating the non-tipped wage increases to reach $15 a year earlier while keeping the tipped wage at 38% of the non-tipped one, McNamara said. The state high court’s ruling would increase the minimum wage to $15 by 2030.

“My restaurant members are most concerned about the tip credit and minimum wage,” McNamara said. “My lodging members are most concerned about the paid sick leave standards.” But McNamara said a deal is unlikely to happen before Election Day in November. Lawmakers will not be in Lansing often due to few session days this fall and some lawmakers would rather vote on a potential deal after their constituents vote.

“Hundreds of thousands of employees and tens of thousands of business owners across the state are losing sleep and under stress,” McNamara said. “The only people who can fix it are the 110 members of the Michigan House, the 38 members of the Michigan Senate, and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.”

Wages from A1

Aubrey Bumpus, a server at Spangler’s Family Restaurant, pours a cup of coffee. Thomas McKenna | Hillsdale Collegian

Mitch Spangler owns Spangler’s Family Restaurant. Thomas McKenna | Hillsdale Collegian

The family of Staff Sgt. Edward Pyle held a funeral for him in Augusta, Michigan on July 24. Courtesy | Scott Rissi

Staff Sgt. Edward Pyle in 1935. Courtesy | Scott Rissi

Deputy Sheriff William Butler Jr. Courtesy | Sheriff’s Office

Cross Country

Chargers gear up to debut new course at Hayden

By Elaine Kutas Collegian Reporter

ley ’24 and Alex Mitchell ’24

Games

Noughts & Crosses

Difficulty:

The numbers around the border indicate the length of the longest runs of consecutive noughts or crosses in that row or column (a zero means that symbol does not appear in that row or column).

Minidoku

Difficulty:

Each of the first five rows and columns contain one each of 1–6 in their six squares. (In the sixth row and sixth column, a number from that range may appear multiple times or not at all.) The sixth row is an anagram of the sixth column, and the sum of the five values therein is given in the bottom-right triangle.

leading their respective teams to sixth and fourth place finishes in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference.

Mitchell placed second in the meet and Wamsley won the meet, becoming the first female Charger to win an individual cross country title since Hillsdale joined the G-MAC in 2017.

The Chargers will debut their new course at Hayden

Park this Friday against Findlay University after four years without hosting a home cross country meet. The college is also set to host the G-MAC championship meet this October.

“It's going to be really special for all our seniors,” Johnston said. “It'll be the first time for anyone on the team to race at Hayden, and I know that the seniors have really been looking forward to it, especially with having the conference championship at Hayden Park.”

Sophomore Savannah Fraley said she sees a promising year ahead.

“Last season, the girl's team really benefited from Liz and her leadership, but I think that this year, it is pretty clear that she has passed down that trait to everyone else,” Fraley said. “We have good chemistry.”

Johnston said he agrees with Fraley about last season and added that the younger men’s team will foster excitement for race day.

“A lot of people have a lot of energy, and I think that will really help,” said Johnston.

Coach R.P. White, the head coach for the Men and Wom-

Difficulty:

The product of the entries in each bolded region is noted in its top-left corner. However, digits in a dashed region are first added together, and that sum is multiplied by the remaining entries. Each row and column contains one each of 1–6.

en’s Cross Country teams, said he has a similar outlook for both teams.

“I think we should be in a good spot on both sides, with returning athletes and, on the women's side, some pretty big help coming from the newcomers,” White said.

Women's Volleyball

Athletics department adds former Charger to coaching staff

By Sydney Green Collegian Reporter

The women’s volleyball team welcomed Assistant Coach Maddie Kanclerz to the staff this August. Kanclerz, a Hillsdale County native, graduated from Hillsdale College in 2021 after playing for the volleyball team for five seasons.

Kanclerz played as an outside hitter under her maiden name, Clark, and helped take her team to the Elite Eight in the Midwest Regional Championships in 2021. After graduating in December 2021, Kanclerz worked as Hillsdale College’s Director of Student Activities until this summer.

Now, Kanclerz said she is looking forward to transitioning into a relational role that aligns closer with her interests.

“I had been looking for ways to push and enlighten my role in student activities,” Kanclerz said. “I loved the

relational part but didn’t exactly want to continue party planning.”

Associate Dean of Women Stephanie Gravel suggested Kanclerz look into coaching the sport she loved.

“I was talking with Dean Gravel about what I wanted to do with my life and she suggested looking into coaching volleyball because I already had the connections,” Kanclerz said. “I adored the sport and would have a lot of one-on-one time with the girls, so I thought why not.”

Kanclerz believes it has been a good transition into her new role.

“I am entering with my eyes wide open and am trying to absorb everything through the program,” Kanclerz said. “I have the familiarity from college of the program and its principles, but now I get to help learn how to build the girls.”

Senior Amanda Hilliker is grateful for the experience that Kanclerz brings.

“Being someone who played for the program so recently, Maddie comes in with that unique Charger volleyball experience,” Hilliker said. “I absolutely love her as a new addition to the coaching staff, and am so thankful to have her as one of my coaches for my last season.” Kanclerz hopes to build trust in her relationships with the girls so she can push them in the program.

“I want to be a support for the girls and whatever their needs are,” Kanclerz said. “Being a student and an athlete is not easy, but I want to learn how to push them to their potential.”

Junior Bethany Johnson said Kanclerz leads well and does push them as players.

“She is a leader who is unapologetically demanding and relentlessly positive,” Johnson said. “She is fabulous as a coach and as a person.”

This week's solutions will appear alongside next week's puzzles. If you have questions or feedback, please contact Matthew Tolbert at mtolbert@hillsdale.edu.

The Charger Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams enter the 2024 season with excitement, according to senior Richie Johnston.

The 2023 season featured strong senior performances on both the men’s and women’s sides, with Liz Wams

Alex Mitchell '24 competes in a meet last year.

Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Sophomore Anna Stirton competes in a meet last year. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Maddie Kanclerz high-fives teammate during a game. COURTESY | MADDIE KANCLERZ

Liz Wamsley '24 competes in a meet last year. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Club Sports

Soccer and rugby kick-off fall season over the weekend

By Cassandra DeVries Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale College’s club soccer and rugby teams began their season this past weekend. Men’s soccer won 4-0 against Ferris State University, women’s soccer lost 4-2 at home against Central Michigan University, and rugby lost 24-5 against John Carroll University.

Men’s soccer dominated Ferris State in a shutout victory, according to junior Dylan Hughes.

“Our first game was really encouraging,” Hughes said. “Despite never practicing as a team, we had some beautiful moments and a great outcome.”

Seven freshmen joined the men’s soccer team this year.

“The upperclassmen are extremely excited about the capabilities of the freshmen class, and Coach Graham has a lot of talent to work with in the games to come,” Hughes said.

Hillsdale Men’s Club Soccer will play its next game against Saginaw Valley State

University at home on Sept. 7 at 1 p.m.

Women’s soccer moved into a more competitive league this year, with the guidance of Coach Ken Koopmans.

“This league will allow us to have the consistent competition we need to improve,” junior Miriam Ritchey said. “We have a strong team.”

The new league has a shorter season but the Chargers will face off against tougher teams.

While remaining neck and neck the first half, women’s soccer lost its first game of the season against Central Michigan University 4-2.

“Today’s game was encouraging to show that we can compete in our new league,” Ritchey said. “Although we lost at the end, we were the first to score, and we led for much of the game.”

Ritchey and sophomore Katie Holford each scored one goal for the Chargers.

“After our first game, I'm super excited to take on the new league,” Holford said.

The women play their

next match on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. against Michigan State University away at Michigan State.

Last season, Hillsdale College Club Rugby also moved up a division to the Cohen Cup, the men’s small college national championship.

“It was our first year in our division last year and we crushed most of our games,”

junior Paden Hughes said.

“We won the championship too. This division will be harder, but I think we’ll improve a lot.”

Rugby lost 24-5 against John Carroll University in its first game.

“We were using a lot of rookies, but they exceeded expectations and we ended up performing a lot better

than we did mid-season last year against the same team,”

senior Brendan Henzel said.

“I think once we can nail the basics down we have a lot of potential and could end up beating John Carroll in the playoffs.”

Hillsdale College Club

Rugby’s upcoming game is home on Sept. 14th at 2 p.m.

The team will play Southern

Indiana University.

“I think having people in the stands is so impactful on the energy in the whole stadium,” women’s club soccer player and junior Maryellen Petersen said. “It’s so beautiful and exciting to have people cheering. It’s such a good feeling having fans show up to support us.”

Charger chatter

Connor MCCorMiCk, TraCk & Field

Trains or dinosaurs?

Dinosaurs, because that’s what 5-year-old me would want me to say. Don’t be fooled though, a good train is hard to beat.

What is one fact you know that nobody else knows?

The conception that human brains fully develop at age 25 is wrong. The funding for that study was cut when the participants were 25.

Compiled by Ty Ruddy

What is the best holiday?

Halloween is the most underrated holiday. Free candy, Trick or Treating with your friends, staying out late... an incredible day.

What is your longest road trip?

Over the summer, I drove from Columbus, Ohio to Omaha, Nebraska to pick up a couple packages (it was cheaper than shipping them).

Hillsdale club rugby huddles before its first game of the season at John Carroll University. COURTESY | PADEN HUGHES

Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Charger Sports

Fort Charlie to be introduced at Saturday home game

By Olivia Pero Outreach Director

The era of “Otter’s Army” T-shirts is over. The era of “Fort Charlie” has begun.

This weekend, the Hillsdale College Athletics marketing team will introduce “Fort Charlie,” the new name for the student section at all college sporting events.

“Charlie is the name of our mascot, and ‘fort’ gives it a theme of discipline and togetherness as a team,” said Tiffany Treppa, the athletics marketing and game day experience manager.

The athletics marketing team and sports interns worked together to develop Fort Charlie, Treppa said.

The interns, students who took the organization and administration of sports class with Associate Athletic Director Nikki Walbright last fall, focused on reimagining the new student section and creating guidelines and goals for it, Treppa said. The marketing team designed Fort Charlie T-shirts to distribute to the entire student body.

“The vision of Fort Charlie is to create a place where all students can come together and root for the Chargers in an environment that all students want to be a part of,” Treppa said.

She said the goal is to unite the student body as Chargers, promoting brand identity and healing the currently fragmented relationship between students and athletes on campus.

“We want to have the best student section in the G-MAC, and we believe we can accomplish that with an organized effort,” Director of Athletics John Tharp said.

Walbright said the interns spent nearly the entire semester forming the idea and working on the details of Fort Charlie to make it a great addition to campus.

“The project ended with a formal presentation to a panel of campus administrators,” Walbright said. “It was a fun project for them to work on and required a lot of research on past and current student populations to help steer

what they wanted Fort Charlie to look like.”

Walbright said she advised the interns to be as creative as possible while challenging them to fill in missing ideas or reminding them of the reality of how Fort Charlie needs to work.

“Ultimately, the group laid a fantastic foundation for our department to get Fort Charlie started,” Walbright said. “We are hopeful it can add excitement and spirit to our Charger home events as well as start new standing traditions for the student population.”

Senior Jadon Camero and junior Nathan Rastovac, both Simpson Dorm head resident assistants, said their dorm is excited to bring the energy to home games.

“Usually Simpson makes up 99% of the student section at games, so if we can add more people to that and grow the Charger identity, the student section will be unbelievable,” Camero said.

Rastovac said Simpson’s goal is about both camarade-

rie and strategy.

“Simpson is excited to bring the energy and our loud voices in cheering on the athletes and getting into the opposing team's heads so all they think of is the student section, not the game,” Rastovac said. “We hope the other dorms will join Simpson in making sports student sections great again.”

The Charger football team will be playing its home opener against the University of Indianapolis Greyhounds on Sept. 7 at 6 p.m. The game will include Hillsdale’s annual Victory Day event for community members with special needs, as well as a firework show after the game.

Fort Charlie is looking for student leaders from various parts of campus who will lead interactive cheers and activities at home games, Treppa said. Contact her at ttreppa@ hillsdale.edu.

Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

From left to right: Freshmen Ella Malone and Kathryn Vieceli, Junior Josie Teslaa, and Sophomore Marcelina Gorny pose during media day. COURTESY | HILLSDALE COLLEGE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT

A10 September 5, 2024

Charlie the Charger stands at Muddy Waters Stadium.

C U L T U R E

Jay Jameson & the Car Bombs mark 10-year tradition

By Megan Li Assistant Editor

The opening performance at Welcome Party featured Jay Jameson and the Car Bombs — a group of five members of the Men’s Music Fraternity carrying on a decade-long legacy.

The band consists of juniors Erik Teder on the keytar, an electric keyboard worn like an electric guitar, Luca Vitale on the electric bass, John Frenz on the drums, Jeremy Holford toting the electric guitar, and Noah Lobue at the microphone.

Every year since 2014, the Men’s Music Fraternity, formerly Phi Mu Alpha and working to become Theta Epsilon, has put together a band composed entirely of fraternity brothers old and new, Stephen Berntson president of the fraternity said.

“We want to enrich campus with music. We want to enrich each other musically,”

Berntson said. “We call it fostering brotherhood among fellow musicians — making these deep friendships that are founded on common experience and an uncommon passion for music. It manifests in really fun ways.”

Berntson said the fraternity band has a legacy of performing at Centralhallapalooza and Battle of the Bands, which occurred last year when he was the lead singer of Spike Jäger and the Spitfires, Jay Jameson’s predecessor. Although Berntson will not be returning this year as lead singer due to a variety of reasons, he maintained it was not due to lack of enjoyment.

“It’s my favorite thing to do, but I just felt like my time was better spent elsewhere,” Berntson said. “I had done everything I wanted to do with bands.”

According to Bernston, the band has retained the same name scheme since its beginning, which takes the brand name of a drink and adds on somebody’s name. Berntson said “Jameson” was named after the brand Jameson Whiskey, combined with the name “Jay” representing the frontman, and “Car Bombs,” representing the band members, is named after the drink that combines Guinness beer, Baileys Irish Cream liqueur, and Jameson whiskey.

“So it has to do with alcohol,” Berntson said. “That’s just the frat brand.”

Vitale said the band’s lead guitarist from two years ago, Michael Thelen ’23, who

played a leading role in shaping the music fraternity, met one of the members from the very first band in 2014, whose name was Dave. According to Vitale, Dave told Thelen the very first band was named “Deaf Davey and the Wineboxes,” for Dave was deaf in

“It comes, it goes,” Vitale said, referring to other bands on campus. “People graduate. It’s here for two to four years. But not for this band, that’s why the name changes every year, because there’s almost always new faces.”

Vitale said the forming of

his right ear, and the band really liked wine.

“It was super cool for Michael to meet someone that’s connected that far back,” Vitale said.

Vitale said he likes the retention of the name scheme, tying the band back to the same origin and connecting a legacy, no matter how the band members change.

the band really depended on the members’ passion and skill for music.

“There’s two things that you look for in a band, ‘Can they play, and can they hang?’” Vitale said. “And that’s true for any band anywhere.”

Vitale said he hopes to return to the band’s roots as campus’ rock ‘n’ roll band.

“Things that the crowd can

get their heads moving to,” Vitale said.

Frenz said he’s looking forward to playing music from groups like Maroon 5, whose pop songs tend toward rock at live performances.

“We’re really excited to pick up more stuff like that, but a lot of that fits with the sound really well,” Frenz said. “We have a lot of guys who have good chops and a lot of guys who are really excited by that type of stuff.”

Frenz said he had not thought of joining a band outside of campus, but he changed his mind when he saw Schizmatics, another student band, playing at Welcome Party. Frenz was a self-taught drummer for two and a half years before he came to Hillsdale, and Jay Jameson is his drummer’s debut on the campus music scene — a position he had been waiting for.

“More than just the technical aspects, like waiting in line and how being a drummer works, I’m just really excited to make music with my friends,” Frenz said.

Frenz said the group has great chemistry in their rehearsals together, helped by the small size of the band.

“We, in terms of equipment and our member size, are quite mobile,” Frenz said. “It does not mean our sound will be any less, any smaller. I think with the smaller group, we’re gonna have a lot more cohesion.”

Vitale said he is especially excited to play as many house gigs as possible this year for

anyone who invites them — something that is easier for Jay Jameson than bigger student bands like Runaround.

“It may be tough to fit Runaround into a living room, but we can kind of squeeze into the space,” Vitale said. “House gigs are electric, so small and so intimate. Can’t really hear much after it — that’s part of the experience, too. The energy is there in ways that places like Welcome Party and CHP are not. It’s just different, and I look forward to that.” Vitale said when he visited Hillsdale as a high school senior, all he wanted to do was join the band belonging to the music fraternity then known as Phi Mu Alpha.

“I’ve always had that ideal, but especially as time has gone on, it’s become more than just a band,” Vitale said. “It’s friends that I enjoy hanging out with, and it’s a cherry on top that I get to play music with them.”

Is Hillsdale hip enough to meet Gen Z Brat trend?

By Anna Broussard Assistant Editor

A lot of people have been called a “brat” in their lifetime, mostly as an insult, but more recently Generation Z has reclaimed that title with pride. A social media trend called “Brat” summer has become a phenomenon.

Inspired by British pop star Charli XCX’s newest album “Brat,” the buzzword quickly made cultural, and even political, headlines. Vice President and presidential candidate Kamala Harris even made “Brat” a major part of her campaign.

The album displays a notable Shrek-green cover with black pixelated letters and features 15 songs. The Brat movement uses the album as an origin for the larger trend of glamorizing Gen Z’s party culture.

“The meaning of the trend is living chaotically in every sense, mostly regarding party culture,” senior Emma Turner said. “It’s going out until sunrise. It’s being undone. It’s being effortless. It’s having a kind of attitude about it. It’s living in the moment, and being wild.”

The trend is intended to

shift Gen Z’s perception of success within adulthood to a more lighthearted lifestyle.

“It is messy, chaotic, party girl, and grunge style,” senior Ruth Kirsch said. “It’s hair extensions that you can see. You just don’t care. It’s the opposite of a clean ‘put-together’ girl.”

The appeal for Gen Zers is to move away from traditional responsibilities in adulthood and stay young and free as long as possible.

“Being Brat is cool. We all get too caught up in jobs and the future and becoming adults, and Brat is meant to romanticize life,” Kirsch said.

Turner said the trend, although a Gen Z movement, shares a similarity to trends in other generations.

“The music in that album is edgy and is like the ’90s and 2000s party culture,” Turner said.

However the summer trend is a phenomenon that is confusing not only to the culture of Hillsdale students, but to American culture as well.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that merely 20 percent of Americans would feel “complimented” being equated to “Brat.” Thirty-six percent claimed they would

be “offended,” and 24 percent said they would feel “confused.” The final 20 percent were unsure of the word’s meaning, but for Hillsdale student culture, it is different.

“I know that it all stemmed from the green album with the

trends than it does to have a ‘Brat summer,’” she said.

The influence of social media has been the driving force for the Brat trend, reaching and intriguing Hillsdale students alike, but not because the trend appeals to them.

word brat on it,” junior Lulu Celecia said. “I would not think it has anything to do with college students. I just don’t see ‘Brat’ being a mature thing.”

Junior Lily Piccassi said Brat is not a trend that people would even need to understand in order to endorse it.

“It says more about our generation’s relationship to

“I thought you were talking about ‘Brat’ as in bratwurst,” senior Ben Papez said, “But the fact that young people have made being irresponsible a trend is nothing particularly new.”

However, Turner said Hillsdale students do not fit the cultural stereotype. “Hillsdale can lack cultural awareness with our age group.

The education and the values promoted here are very different from culture’s,” Turner said. “Our values don’t align with staying out all night, not sleeping, and hurting our brains. People are focused on their futures. This trend just glamorizes wasting your time.”

While social media has made the trend about behavior, the meaning points to something more significant about Gen Z culture, according to Kirsch.

“Gen Z has a nostalgia for something that they never even lived through which we seem to feel about all generations before ours,” Kirsch said

With nostalgia for the popular 2000s party culture, Brat has been the perfect vessel for reconciling the COVID19 years for Gen Z, according to Celecia.

“People have gotten sick of the rigor of life. I think it started when COVID started, we took life for granted. So our generation takes negative words and things and makes them our own,” Celecia said. “It’s easier to control being sloppy than to have your life in order.”

While the trend can be viewed as a waste of time for

Gen Z, the recent political weaponization of the term is showcasing significant sway in the Gen Z voting block. With an endorsement of Harris for president from Charlie XCX, saying “Kamala is Brat,” on the social media platform X, Harris was able to integrate Brat as part of her campaign strategy.

But campaigning on social media trends does not sell some Hillsdale students.

“The political aspect shows how easily influenced our generation is,” Celecia said. “If we understand Brat to be about having apathy, then a presidential candidate promoting herself as that is not something we should applaud.” The Brat trend showcases how social media is for Gen Z’s formation of their generation’s culture, and not as a positive thing.

“The problem with trends now is that before social media it took people a second before going with the trend, it was a slow adjustment,” Celecia said. “But now you don’t even think about it, you see something you are immediately on board, whatever it may be. Brat is just another example of that.”

Band members pose for a photo. Back row left to right: John Frenz, Erik Teder, Jeremy Holford. Front row left to right: Noah Lobue, Luca Vitale. COURTESY | SAB

Teder tickles the ivories. COURTESY | SAB

Vitale plucks the bass. COURTESY | SAB

Luca Vitale plays bass

C U L T U R

RAs prepare the dorm for incoming students

Niedfeldt resident assistants share on what it takes to build dorm culture

By Lauren Bixler Circulation Manager

Before students come to campus in the fall, resident assistants spends hours in training and prepping campus housing to create homes, community, and legacy for every residence.

The Niedfeldt Residence RA team said the more technical aspects of move-in are often the most insignificant in comparison to their primary mission — driving culture.

This year, Niedfeldt has a total of 56 male residents, 16 of whom are freshmen. Senior Harrison Layman, Niedfeldt house director, oversees the dorm alongside his RA team of seven upperclassmen.

Gabe Dobrozsi, senior and Head RA of Niedfeldt, said without a united vision amongst the RA team, culture will dwindle.

“The way culture survives and thrives is through the buy-in of the RAs who make it their duty to perpetuate and grow that culture,” Dobrozsi said. “If they aren’t buying in themselves, then the whole thing crumbles.”

Layman bolstered this idea by sharing the expectation of RAs to work alongside their residents in a posture of service.

“We want to be leaders for our guys, but also right there with them,” Layman said. “We aim for servant leadership— we’re doing things with them, we’re teaching them, and we’re asking them to do hard things, but we’re doing the hard things with them on the front line.”

Layman said this attitude is especially important in dorm events and competitions, especially during homecoming season.

Dean of Men Aaron Petersen said leading begins with love of fellow man, and the cost of leadership is sacrifice.

“Leadership is not a 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. job, it is about investing in their men and building relationships and trust,” Petersen said. “We remind the RAs each year that when they give of themselves, it is often from their substance and not just their surplus.”

Luke Hill, a sophomore and Niedfeldt RA, said the posture of servant leadership in the dorm creates an environment where all have a mutual desire to serve and participate.

“We want to see each other succeed,” Hill said. “That especially comes out during mock rock to where we have very high participation, because we all feel invested in each other’s success.”

Because of this mutual

respect, Hill said class divisions are nonexistent in the dorm, which helps acclimate freshmen to the Niedfeldt culture..

Further, the example of leadership and humility RAs model for their residents is what encourages residents to follow in leadership. Many of the Niedfeldt team recalled the images of RAs who came before them as the inspiration for what they aspire to.

“What motivates us to perform well as RAs is the experiences we had with our RA team as freshmen and the model they set for us,” Dobrozsi said.

Brennan Salde, senior and Head RA of Niedfeldt, highlighted the culture of dorm life as complementary to the school’s mission.

“A lot of freshmen come in with an expectation about Hillsdale being academically

challenging,” Slade said. “And yes, our academics are good, but our life is good at Hillsdale, and our community is good at Hillsdale.”

Layman said he wants Niedfeldt to be something its residents can be proud of and call them to be better.

“We want to start you off well, but you have to finish it,” he said.

Theatre faculty welcomes Zinger

By Alessia Sandala Assistant editor

When the theatre department brought Christopher Zinger on board as its new technical director and scenic designer, it fulfilled Zinger’s dream of teaching at the collegiate level and a Christian school.

“All my life experiences have made me who I am and hence they are the experiences I need to have for this job,” Zinger said. “While not

a straight line from graduation to my dream job, each has allowed me to get something I needed to be in the theatre department, whether that was certain skills, experiences, or even confidence.”

Zinger received an Associate of Arts in theater arts from Jackson College and Bachelor of Arts in theater arts from Albion College.

He is currently working toward a Master of Fine Arts in theater arts with a focus on scenic design at the University of Idaho.

His goal at Hillsdale is to make a difference in the lives of each of his students as they work to create productions, Zinger said.

“I will get to watch how students come into theater, what they do here, and what the outcomes are after they leave to make sure I have done my best,” Zinger said.

“I am in the business of making a difference in people and will continue to do so.”

Junior Helen Rogers said she is excited to work with Zinger on future Tower Players productions.

“I am excited to see what kind of designs he cooks up and what his own unique style is,” Rogers said. “I can’t wait to learn what kinds of tips and tricks he has for the practical side of set building. I learned so much under Kim Britt, the previous scenic designer, and I can’t wait to continue that learning with Professor Zinger.”

Christopher Matsos, associate professor of theater and chairman of the department of theater and dance, said Zinger’s job is to construct the scenery for Tower Players productions and inspire his students.

“My hope is that Mr. Zinger will bring his infectious enthusiasm, as well as his skill as a technical director, to his work for Tower Players and Tower Dancers,” Matsos said.

Zinger will design and

build the set for the Tower Players’ production of Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” according to Matsos.

Zinger said he is excited to bring his enthusiasm for theater to Hillsdale and incorporate all of his skills into his work.

“As a kid, I was fascinated with the idea of a Renaissance man,” Zinger said. “Now, as an adult, not only do I feel that I am that but, I am also the jack of all trades. I like it that way.”

Zinger will also oversee student employees and volunteers who work in the scene shop.

“God tends to take you on a journey. Sometimes it seems like you’re one of the children of Israel in the desert wandering around for a long time but eventually he will get you where he wants you,” Zinger said. “He did give you dreams for a reason.”

Choir to sing evensong again

By Kathryn Vieceli Collegian reporter

The Chapel Choir will host its first Evensong service of the academic year in Christ Chapel on September 8th at 6 pm.

This Sunday’s Evensong will consist of a simpler version of the service with the congregation leading the hymns.

The Chapel Choir rehearses multiple times per week to prepare for the 45-minute Evensong service, led by Timothy McDonnell, associate professor of music and director of sacred music.

McDonnell has led the Chapel Choir and Choral Scholars Program since 2021. This year, there are 39 members in the Chapel Choir, 29 of whom are part of the Choral Scholars program.

“Evensong is an opportunity for people from the college and the community to pray, reflect, and worship God together,” McDonnell said in a press release.

Originating from Oxford and Cambridge, the service is rooted in the tradition of the daily office prayers and liturgy of the hours.

It combines elements primarily from Roman Catholicism and Anglicanism. Hillsdale College Chaplain Reverend Adam Rick serves as the officiating member of Evensong. His duties include assisting McDonnell, working with other students to execute the service, and helping with the call and response prayers, he said.

Rick said he finds the beauty of Evensong in its simplicity and the beautifully sung liturgy.

“It’s just a prayer service with scriptural lessons,” Rick said.

“So, it makes it very accessible to our ecumenical context here at Hillsdale College.”

The sacred music which is sung at Evensong is both meditative and worshipful, Rick said.

The service includes psalms, a lesson from the Old and New Testaments, intercessions with the Lord’s Prayer, and chant.

“It’s like an angelic chorus kind of thing,” Rick said, “like entering in with angels, who are forever singing God’s praises.”

Senior Madeleine Scheve, a choral scholar, said she finds Evensong a great way to end her Sunday.

“Each denomination can find something unique to them in the service,” Scheve said.

“Everyone goes to their own church, but it is nice to have something that unifies us, especially on campus.”

Junior choral scholar Maria Schmid said she appreciates the liturgy of the hours from which Evensong originates. Schmid said one of her favorite parts is Nunc Dimittis, meaning the Song of Simeon, which is a prayer for God’s protection and peace sung at every service.

“It’s like this preparation for bed,” Schmid said. “Closing the week with the Lord, beginning it again with him.”

Professors’ Picks: Brad Birzer, associate professor of history

Big Big Train is the single best band you’ve never heard of. They’re huge in the U.K. and Europe, but they have only a small following in North America. I first bought the album, “The Underfall Yard,” back in 2009 (the dark ages!), and the 22-minute title track has been my all-time favorite song ever since. The song, no matter how many times I listen to it, never fails to grab me at the deepest levels of the soul.

This is an easy one for me. It’s Tolkien’s “The Lord of The Rings,” and I’ve been reading it at least every other year since my late grade school days. What’s to say that’s not already been said? Tolkien is deeply western, deeply Catholic, and deeply romantic and mythological. “The Lord of the Rings” ranks up there with “The Odyssey,” “The Aeneid,” and “The Divine Comedy.” Someday, folks will study Tolkien the way we study Homer, Virgil, and Dante.

This is a bit trickier, as I would want to qualify what type of movie. I’m a huge fan, for example, of John Ford and Alfred Hitchcock, and I love Steve Martin comedies such as “Bowfinger.” I also love horror movies such as “The Thing” and “Alien.” My favorite modern director, though, is Christopher Nolan. I love everything he’s done, but nothing has moved me as much as his Dark Knight Trilogy. He makes Batman utterly real. And, I really, really want to believe in Batman!

The Niedfeldt RAs pose for a picture.

COURTESY | Lauren Bixler

Brad Birzer in his junior year of college (1988).

COURTESY | Brad Birzer

“The Underfall Yard” by Big Big Train (2009)

“The Lord of the Rings” Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien (1954-5) The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005-2012)

Compiled by Christian Papillion Collegian Reporter

Technical Director and Scenic Designer Christopher Zinger COURTESY | Christopher Zinger

f e a t u r e s Students travel to Israel amid ongoing war

By Malia Thibado COLLEGIAN REPORTER

Amid the Israel-Hamas War, six students traveled overseas with the tour guide company Passages to visit biblical sites and volunteer in the Jewish communities.

“They tried to be very intentional about the safety of going to Israel,” said Jeffery “Chief” Rogers, associate dean of men and former Navy chief. “They’re in constant contact with the people on the ground.” Originally scheduled as a winter break trip in 2023, Passages postponed its trip twice due to safety concerns after the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Passages is an organization that takes students from colleges across the country on biblically-focused tours of Israel.

Hillsdale students have participated in the Passages trip

to Israel since 2015, and it has only been fully canceled once due to COVID vaccination requirements in 2021.

During this trip, Passages canceled an excursion to the Sea of Galilee because Hezbollah, an Iran-backed military group, had recently fired rockets in that area.

“Because of the war, security is higher than it has been in a long time,” junior Turner Callaghan said, “I was going with Chief and a few other military and ex-military people, so I wasn’t anxious.”

The group met and spoke with many active Israeli Defense Force soldiers who were posted around the country, Callaghan said. They saw many soldiers, especially on Shabbat, the Jewish day of rest that is practiced from sundown every Friday to sundown that Saturday. Because it is traditionally a sabbath for Jews, terrorist attacks are more common.

Both the soldiers and citizens expressed gratitude for America’s continued support through the war, Rogers said.

“They really love Americans there, not only because they’re very much like us, but also to bring awareness,” senior Isaac Ogaz said. “Every time I’ve been over there I’ve been told that they’re grateful.”

Ogaz, a former member of the military, had previously worked with the IDF in a military capacity, but he said it was a very different experience to go to Israel as a faith pilgrimage with other Christians.

“Since I started Hillsdale, I’ve been trying to start to get closer to my faith, so I figured why not take advantage of that opportunity,” Ogaz said. “This time I went to Israel specifically to see the roots of Christianity.”

The group traveled to many biblically significant locations such as Ein Gedi, the “Old

City” of Jerusalem, Nazareth, and the Dead Sea. They also visited many important places in modern day Israel such as Tel Aviv and Jaffa.

For Ogaz, visiting Ein Gedi was the most meaningful portion of the Israel trip because of its historical connection to 1 Samuel 28, the story of David submitting to King Saul’s authority in obedience to God.

“Going to Ein Gedi and hearing what Chief said about what happened to David and Saul, that helped me to see the fact that David submits to the Lord’s anointed because Saul is the Lord’s anointed,” Ogaz said.

With Passages, students heard speeches from chaplains about the history of each site, and Rogers gave an additional speech to the Hillsdale contingent on each place’s spiritual significance.

Modern Israel preserves its rich history in the “Old City” of Jerusalem, Callaghan said.

Whalen from A1

Each song is inspired by Whalen’s two weeks in Afghanistan as he asks America to remember the withdrawal in Kabul, and the men who were told to make it happen.

“Through these songs I want to speak to America,” Whalen said. “First of all, I want this event, and more importantly, the people involved, to be remembered and thought about and prayed for. Second of all, I want people to take responsibility. If America is supposed to be a citizen-elected government, then America has to take responsibility for its actions and has to take responsibility for what it does with its kids overseas.”

Son of Hillsdale Professor of English David Whalen and brother of Associate Professor of English Benedict Whalen, Greg graduated from Hillsdale Academy and enrolled at Hillsdale College in 2017, but dropped out of the college after two weeks.

“I was not feeling school and I did not want to force it, so I withdrew,” Whalen said.

He enlisted into the Marine Corps and started boot camp in the spring of 2018.

When he received orders to join the North Carolina-based 1st Battalion, 8th Marines infantry unit in 2020, he knew he would be deployed overseas the next year.

Whalen began his journey across the Atlantic Ocean to Kuwait and elsewhere in 2021, and he made sure to bring his guitar with him.

“Even on the ship, I was able to take my guitar,” Whalen said. “I had a lot of fun playing for the guys on my ship. Live music is really, really powerful and I was able to see that in those circumstances.”

Whalen started playing guitar his sophomore year of

highschool, following the example of older siblings who also took up music. The Whalen family has 11 children. But it was not until after he enlisted in the Marine Corps that he started writing original songs.

“I had an itch to write songs,” Whalen said. “I never thought of doing anything with it, it was just kind of a hobby on the side, but music ended up being a huge thing on deployment.”

As his unit traveled, Whalen built relationships and trained. In the last month of his deployment, on Aug. 12, Whalen’s unit received orders to head to Afghanistan to help the American withdrawal. They were told the deadline for withdrawal was Aug. 31.

When Whalen and his infantry unit arrived in Kabul, it was utter chaos.

“There were just tons and tons of people who were trying to get out of the country,” Whalen said. “The Taliban were already in the city of Kabul, and it was a weird situation. We were told not to attack them, which in the past 20 years, we were told the Taliban were the enemy, and now, they were helping work crowd control on the outside.”

Their job was to get people who had the proper paperwork into the airport, but the large crowds outside the gates made it impossible to let only credentialed people in. In the chaos, said Whalen, Americans were left behind.

Whalen said he spoke with servicemen who had spent years forming tight connections with the Afghan people.

“You’re talking about guys, combat guys, and the bond of life and death has been made with these Afghans who worked with them, and they are just seeing that we are betraying them,” Whalen said.

Whalen is seen kneeling in a famous photo of a baby being lifted up over an airport wall

to American servicemen in Kabul.

“Sometimes, there were women and fathers trying to pass their kids up to us, because they were worried about them getting dropped and trampled and crushed in all the bodies,” Whalen said to The Collegian in 2021. “It was normal for a little bit. We eventually got the order to stop doing that because there were too many parentless children in the waiting area behind us.”

Whalen said his second song in the EP, “Broken Eyes,” was written in remembrance of the servicemen who made it home but wrestled with the aftermath.

“There is only one Marine I know of who has killed himself since we got back,” Whalen said. “He made it back, he made it out, but he struggled with things here. And then I know a lot of guys who, thanks be to God, they’re still living, but had a lot of difficulty dealing with things. ‘Broken Eyes’ is a tribute to everyone who did come back.”

His third song, “Kabul 2021,” steps back from personal stories and calls for America to take responsibility for its withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“Don’t worry America sleep tight at night / ‘cause you can keep sending your kids to go fight / and to get blown to hell / as they clean up your mess / so you can just look at your watch and forget,” says the chorus of the song.

The last line of the chorus references when President Joe Biden checked his watch multiple times during a dignified transfer of the 13 U.S. soldiers who died in the bomb.

Whalen said the song was inspired by his mom, who encouraged him to write an “angry political song” about his deployment.

“This song has some specific details that I experienced, and many others did as well,

“There was a lot of new stuff, but the Old City is also fairly intact, especially considering the Ottoman occupation,” Callaghan said.

Callaghan recounted visiting one of many shops that sold gifts inscribed with Jewish blessings. He said the shopkeeper who sold him a necklace was accustomed to Christian travelers, and the shopkeeper readily explained the meanings behind the inscriptions.

Tel Aviv contrasted sharply with the historical city of Jerusalem, Ogaz said.

“If you were to go to Tel Aviv, it is more like Miami Beach than the Old City,” he said. “It looked more like America than what you would expect of Israel.”

The Passages group also volunteered with children and mentally disabled adults in the Jewish community by helping repaint buildings and doing activities with them.

Both Callaghan and Ogaz said they experienced minimal culture shock in Israel.

“It was more of a weather shock instead of culture shock for me,” Callaghan said. “But they have taken a lot of Western, mainly British, traditions because of the time the British took to help them rebuild their government. They are westernized in their own way.”

During the trip, the Passages group learned religious traditions from Hasids, a sect of Orthodox Jews, such as praying with a phylactery — scrolls of Jewish religious texts that are worn on the body. Despite this, Rogers said Israel is primarily a secular nation and its Jewish heritage is more ethnic than religious.

saying ‘Hey, America, we need to look at what happened, take responsibility, remember it, and try to not do things in the same way,’” Whalen said.

Associate Professor of English Benedict Whalen, Greg’s older brother, said Greg has always had the ability to bear serious difficulties with courage and virtue.

“One of the things I have marveled at about my brother is his ability to maintain a stable good cheer while also processing his difficult experience through his music,” he said. “Greg is a disciplined person, and he’s orderly, and I think you can see that in his approach to life and his approach to his music.”

Whalen returned home after his deployment, ended his active duty, and wrote these three songs. Soon after, he re-enrolled at Hillsdale in the spring of 2022 to study English.

At the time, Whalen never planned on releasing his songs publicly. Then two Hillsdale graduates, who happen to be musicians and producers, heard him perform at Rough Draft.

Luke Martin and David Johnson ’17 are in a music duo called Lost Mary. The folk musicians have released an album and a few singles, but opened up their own music production studio, Howling Music Company, in downtown Hillsdale this past spring.

“This guy is insanely talented,” Johnson said. “We exchanged contacts and we invited Greg over to the studio to record a couple of songs. After getting to know him better, Whalen came up with this three-song EP idea last spring.”

Martin and Johnson brought in other Hillsdale College musicians, including Adjunct Instructor of Music Dan Palmer to play guitar and graduate student Max Sumner to play fiddle.

Jewish traditions and the modern Israeli conflict seemed to be a focus of the Passages trip, Ogaz said. Passages brought in multiple speakers of different backgrounds on this topic.

“I think it’s in keeping with Hillsdale’s motto to hear the truth,” Rogers said. “it’s good to hear it from the Palestinian side as well as the Israeli and Orthodox Jew viewpoint.”

According to Callaghan, some of the speakers included Israeli-Arab activists, religious scholars, journalists, and a former IDF soldier who had fought against Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack.

The group visited the memorial for the 1,139 people who were massacred on Oct. 7 and walked around the area. They also saw the aftermath of the assault on a kibbutz, a Jewish commune, where buildings were ridden with bullet holes and at least one street was completely demolished, according to Callaghan.

“Jesus said he was the Prince of Peace, and to see the destruction and death there in Israel where the Lord will come back, it was kind of depressing to see,” Rogers said.

Out of the three trips Rogers has taken to Israel, Rogers said this last one was the most impactful because he was able to show American support to Israel during its time of need.

“Israel is the epicenter of the Christian faith,” Rogers said. “Every time you go, you are able to see the Bible in 4K. I wanted to let Israel know that the Bible said to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

Martin said he admired Whalen’s musical writing ability.

“When you’re in the studio doing vocal takes or going through different instruments, you really start listening to the lyrics, and they are heavy lyrics. They are heavy, amazing, and beautiful lyrics that really make you think about the experiences Whalen has had as well as everyone else out there,” Martin said.

In the coming months, Whalen will start recording an album containing non-military songs.

In November, he will play “Broken Eyes” at a memorial in Alabama for the soldier who is the song’s subject. Whalen has also been contacted by an active-duty filmmaker based in North Carolina to set up a concert and potentially a music video.

Whalen is now considering pursuing a career in music after graduation.

“We’ll see where this music takes me,” Whalen said.

Greg Whalen during his deployment in Kabul, Afghanistan. Courtesy | Greg Whalen

Hillsdale students in Israel for the Passages trip. Courtesy | Turner Callaghan

The album’s cover art features a famous photo of Whalen and fellow service members.

Courtesy | Greg Whalen

f e a t u r e s

Students visit ‘Pearl of Africa,’ fight for change through faith and fellowship

By Michaela Estruth SENIOR EDITOR

Freshman Timothy Mulungi had never seen colorful eyes until he came to America for orientation at Hillsdale College.

“I thought it was a myth,” Mulungi said. “But it’s true! I’ve seen green eyes, blue eyes, even yellow, and all are different shades with so much variety. It’s beautiful! And it reflects God’s beauty.”

Mulungi, the eldest of four and a Uganda native, received a Hillsdale scholarship to study for four years at the college. He said he hopes to return to Uganda and implement what he will learn here. He plans to study biology so that he can become an agriculturalist, help teach other Ugandans, and reform life back home.

A month prior to Mulungi’s introduction to Hillsdale, Associate Dean of Men Jeffery “Chief” Rogers arranged a two-week mission trip to Uganda from July 20 to Aug 4. Director of Campus Recreation and Club Sports Ryan Perkins and sophomore Cole Sutherland traveled with Rogers to the African country.

“You want a better life for yourself and for your family,” Rogers said. “But you don’t want to drain the brain capacity of Uganda and bring all their smart kids here and keep them here,” Rogers said. “That would be wrong. We want to bring someone back, and hopefully with the principles and their faith in God, they’ll go back and make a difference in their country.”

The three men visited recent Hillsdale graduate Jacob Ngobi ’23. Ngobi’s mother, Joy Ngobi, is a practicing anesthesiologist and founder of the Hope Institute of Uganda.

Based in Wisconsin, the institute provides scholarships for Ugandans to receive an American education. The Hope Institute also travels on medical missions to Uganda and sells original Ugandan jewelry to help generate revenue for local craftsmen.

Hillsdale partnered with Joy and The Hope Institute to provide scholarships for Ugandan students. This summer, Joy hosted Rogers and a Hillsdale crew in Uganda. She toured them around the country, and Mulungi accompanied the group to become more familiar with a few Hillsdale faces.

Perkins said seeing the corruption, lifestyle, and sufferings of the Ugandan people made it difficult to know where to start helping.

“I think the hardest part was you’re exposed to these really hard situations and you want to help, but you’re not always able to,” Perkins said.

Rogers said 78 percent of Ugandans are under 35 years old and over half of the total Uganda population is under the age of 15. The population is very young, and the wealth is concentrated at the top. The president of Uganda has been in power for 40 years.

“He’s rich and the people are poor,” Rogers said. “It’s a situation where the country is suffering, and the few haves are suppressing the have-nots.”

Sutherland said when he was talking with kids, he learned their only aspirations were to join an opposition party — what they called, “terrorists.”

“The corruption, even on the individual level, is discouraging, especially for the long term impact there,” Sutherland said. “If there is going to be change, it has to come internally.”

QUICK HITS with Gary Wolfram

Perkins described the local villages, where everything is handmade and each family raises its own food.

“Nothing’s paved. Houses are built with clay bricks that they just cook in the sun,” Perkins said. “So a very, very simple lifestyle in the village. And that’s where they struggle to get kids to stay in school.”

The group visited several schools to read and play with the children.

“The most resounding thing that stuck out to me about the trip was how happy all the kids were,” Sutherland said. “They have nothing, but those kids were so much happier than any kids here.”

One teacher, who likely didn’t have a high school education, oversaw a classroom packed with more than 60 kids.

“Probably about ten percent had lunch,” Sutherland said.

Besides engaging with the kids, Rogers, Sutherland, and Perkins helped organize a library.

“One of the classrooms was filled floor to ceiling with books,” Sutherland said.

The group sorted the books based on which ones were beneficial and which should be discarded.

The books were all donated, but many donated books are rejects and not good for an educational library, Rogers said. But the Ugandans were fascinated with any donation.

“You have kids who have never touched a book and of course they want to see pictures, but we were like ‘not that one!’” Rogers said.

Rogers said he held a twoday leadership seminar in a village church to teach Ugandans to be self-sustaining, good neighbors, and strong leaders. Rogers preached from Luke 15 and said he focused on calling

By Sarah Katherine Sisk SENIOR REPORTER

In this Quick Hits, Professor of Political Economy Gary Wolfram talks music, hippies, and gives his opinion on artificial intelligence.

What is the fastest race you have ever run?

I ran a marathon in 2 hours, 25 minutes and missed the Olympic trials by 1 minute.

What is the best concert you have ever attended?

The Who at the Winterland Ballroom music venue in San Francisco in 1973.

Is Professor Pongracic a good guitar player?

Yes, very good.

What is one song, artist, or album that does not get enough appreciation?

the Ugandan men to action. He witnessed women, around the ages of 17 and 18, caring for their children who were the product of rape.

Rogers said the lack of accountability and male leadership has allowed the violation of women to continue.

“None of the men were brought to task for their actions,” Rogers said. “I called all the men together and said, ‘You’re either going to be the problem of Uganda or the solution of Uganda.’ I was just calling men to lead. Because if men lead, if men are responsible, and if men live godly lives, women are blessed by that. If men don’t, women are really hurt by it.”

In addition to the school visits and the library work, Sutherland said the group also visited a local hospital where he witnessed a surgery on a facial tumor. They also visited a leperward, where the sick come from across the continent to have shelter and live together. Sutherland said the disease was inactive, so he could talk and even touch the wounded Ugandans

“They were just so happy to see other people,” Sutherland said.

Rogers, Sutherland, and Perkins all joked about the classic Ugandan dish, matoke.

“If you’re really into uncooked, warm, mashed bananas, then it’s the place for you to go. They do it really good,” Perkins said with a sarcastic smile.

“If you’re not into uncooked, unripe, warm, mashed bananas, you may have a tough time there.”

Rogers shared that Winston Churchill called Uganda the “Pearl of Africa” in reference to Lake Victoria and the beauty of the landscape.

“But he was wrong. You are

“Layla and Other Love Songs,” by Derek and the Dominos.

What is a band or artist you have recently discovered?

Randall King.

Are you responsible for mustaches coming back in style?

I believe so.

What is your dream vacation?

Going to the Goderich Celtic Roots Festival in Goderich, Ontario, with my grandchildren.

What is one of your favorite college memories?

Running a cross-country meet for University of California, Santa Barbara at Berkeley in 1969 on the weekend of the Altamont Festival.

the pearl of Africa. It’s the people,” Rogers said to the villagers. “You’re just a dusty, dirty pearl that needs to be polished, and you can get a great education, and make a difference in your country.”

That is what Mulungi said he hopes to do. He said he has noticed how motivated Americans are, especially at Hillsdale. They are intentional with their time and have ambitions. He contrasted that with Ugandans, who, he said, have little passion or drive.

“I want to embrace the

challenge. I’m here to learn. Everything has a challenge, and strength rejoices in that challenge, right?” Mulungi said with a smile.

Mulungi shared that while things haven’t been easy, he takes comfort in Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

“My passion really is God,” Mulungi said. “It hasn’t been easy, but I’m grateful to God that I’m here, and I want to do his will for my life.”

Believe in yourself and trust in God. The Beatles or The Rolling Stones? Stones.

If you could take any class at Hillsdale, what would it be?

Mike Clark’s Behavioral Economics.

Are you a hippie?

Not a hippie, although Dr. Arnn calls me one.

What is your favorite movie?

“The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”

Who do you consider to be the most influential person in your life?

My dad.

What is one piece of life advice you would give to Hillsdale students?

The festival was a counterculture rock concert, which some would call “Woodstock West,” and was known for numerous deaths which occurred during the concert.

What is the most recent book you have read?

“Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike,” by Phil Knight.

If you had to have a motto, what would it be?

All roads lead to the same place, just some take longer than others.

What are your thoughts on artificial intelligence? Is it more friend or foe?

One interesting question is how it may be used to affect a political debate. I don’t know enough about it to know how big a foe it might be.

Cole Sutherland reads to Ugandan students. Courtesy | Jeffery Rogers

Gary Wolfram running the Wild Bill Lundberg race on Hillsdale’s campus in 2006. Courtesy | Gary Wolfram

Rogers stands with Ugandan school children. Courtesy | Jeffery Rogers

Rogers poses with a Ugandan child. Courtesy | Jeffery Rogers

A Ugandan woman performs daily chores in her village.

Courtesy | Jeffery Rogers