Collegian 10.31.2024

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

Construction

on

student

union faç ade to begin in November

By Catherine Maxwell Assistant Editor

Construction on the façade of the student union will begin in November as work on the new classical education building remains on schedule to finish in May 2026, according to Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé.

Bernice Grewcock donated the money for the Grewcock Student Union renovations, Péwé said. Renovations will begin as soon as micropiles, which are used to improve soil conditions for foundations, can be laid.

Péwé said the construction will be divided into two phases and should be finished in April 2026.

The plans involve building a stone portico and a copper roof with arcades topped with parapets running from Christ Chapel and Mossey Library. The designs also in -

clude decorative columns and replacements for the transom windows, doors, four large pendant lights, and surface stone. The tower of the student union will be rebuilt with brick and stone cornice and will also feature a copper roof.

“The victory bell that was originally in Central Hall, which currently sits outside Central Hall, will be installed in the tower,” Péwé said.

When Péwé spoke about the plans in March of this year, he said the project will unify the design of the campus.

“We wanted to rethink the Grewcock façade so that it was more to scale with and complimentary to the chapel,” he said.

Junior Makayla Hanna said she is interested to see how the new project will impact the remaining quad space and the chapel’s entrance. “It’ll be nice to have the

No more October surprises: Professors predict possible presidential election outcomes

By Jackson Casey Collegian Reporter

While most voters have made up their minds and the possibility of an October surprise is quickly vanishing, Hillsdale College professors said the presidential election is a tossup, depending on election integrity and narrow margins in the swing states.

“The most likely swing states to flip to Trump seem to be, in descending order, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Pennsylvania,” Associate Professor of Politics Joseph Postell said. “If Trump wins Michigan and Wisconsin, my sense is that he also wins most of the above states. The campaigns are spending a lot of time in Michigan and Pennsylvania, which indicates the importance of those states to the outcome.”

Of the swing states, the margin of the election likely depends on Pennsylvania, Postell said.

“All roads seem to lead to Pennsylvania this year — it seems like neither candidate can win without Pennsylvania,” he said. “I could see the results diverging across the battleground Rust Belt states, where Michigan and Wisconsin go for Harris and Pennsylvania goes for Trump. It seems possible, but less likely, that the same divergence occurs with Arizona, Georgia, and North Carolina.”

Lecturer in Journalism and General Manager of WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM Scot Bertram also said he thinks the race will be closest in the Rust Belt.

“It would not surprise me if Michigan and Wisconsin are two of the absolute closest states, and maybe they get split,” Bertram said. “You know, one goes one way, one goes the other way. But I don’t think it will be a one state race this time.”

Among the swing states, Bertram said Nevada might be the least likely to flip.

“Nevada is the ‘Great White Whale.’ It always teases and never delivers,” Bertram said.

“There are a lot of different dynamics happening in Nevada, with population centers and union support, and so I think Nevada will be too far out of reach again for Trump and the Republicans.”

Bertram said he thinks the election will be incredibly close.

“I don’t think it’ll be a blowout. I don’t think it will be a 300-electoral vote victory,” Bertram said. “But it could be close — 290, 291, I think, are realistic numbers.”

According to Associate Professor of Politics Mark Kremer, the path to victory for Trump is simple.

“As long as the Democrats don’t cheat, I think Trump will win the election,” Kremer said.

Chris Netley, lecturer in sports studies, said the energy seems to be on former president Donald Trump’s side, noting the size of and enthusiasm for his recent rally in Manhattan.

“There are not many performing artists that can sell out Madison Square Garden. And so it almost feels like now, it’s almost become cool to be conservative, which is weird,” Netley said. “Democrats used to be the rebel party against the status quo, but now because the Left wants to censor everything and take away everything, they’ve almost turned their party on its head.”

Although under a week remains until the election, Postell said he believes the margins of the result — whatever it might be — are likely set in stone.

“I don’t foresee any more ‘October surprises,’ especially planned ones, because so much early voting has already taken place in critical states,” Postell said. “Any major shake-ups might occur too late to change the outcome in close states. This is a new feature of presidential elections, so October surprises will now have to be ‘early October surprises.’”

student union match the other buildings aesthetically,” Hanna said. “But it feels like a lot of construction happening at the same time and in the same area.”

Gerl Pish, a carpenter for Weigand Construction, said the Diana Davis Spencer Classical Education Building is proceeding smoothly.

“Interior walls are going up and door frames are getting set,” Pish said. “We’re going to start setting windows soon.”

Part of the construction process involves a mock-up window near the fence and across from the entrance to Mossey Library.

“It was built for practice before moving to the actual building,” Péwé said. “After it was completed, the architect inspected it to determine if it was to their exact specifications.”

Péwé said the model included every layer of the

walls, such as the structural steel, window, insulation, waterproofing, brick and stone. After completing the mockup, the architect found it close to the original specifications.

“Generally the mason will need to make adjustments before they start putting brick and stone on the building,”

Péwé said. “Brick just arrived so that mason work will start as soon as possible.”

Péwé said crews will build similar models for other construction projects.

Hanna said she finds the window humorous but believes it has an important purpose.

“While it seems random and out of place given how far away the building is, it’s a good way to show visitors what the end result will look like,” Hanna said. “It’s a more tangible illustration than the images on the fence.”

Campus voters favor Trump for president

Protestants nail it again with a 2-0

shut out

By Elizabeth Putlock Collegian Reporter

The Protestants triumphed over the Catholics 2-0 in Campus Rec’s annual “El Clasico” soccer game Oct. 27, preserving their title as champions for a second year.

“It’s just incredible to see the most amount of people you’ll ever see at a soccer game,” said sophomore Nathan Furness, who led the Protestant team.

“It’s especially amazing considering it’s been 180 minutes of game play throughout two years with zero goals from the Catholics.”

A sea of students, though divided by clothing color and doctrinal beliefs, united at Hayden Park’s turf field Oct. 27 to cheer on their fellow Christians.

“I love the fact that we can do this, and it’s all in good fun,” Protestant freshman Maya Miller said. “Everyone’s just having a good time, and they’re trash talking each other, but it’s your best friend just across the Reformation aisle.”

The game carried high stakes, according to head coach of the Protestant team sophomore Peter Gilchrist.

“As much as we like to argue and everything, this is where the theological debates really hit the road,” Gilchrist said. “Whenever you’re having that discussion with that one fundie in your class, or those discussions with your roommate late at night about theology, this is really where you get to see, truly, what the

underlying metal of the people who believe each one is.”

Both teams successfully defended their goals for the first half of the game. Catholics gained morale with an appearance of the “pope” at halftime. A shouting crowd of Catholics in their maroon sweatshirts split to make an aisle way for the “pope” junior Aidan Christian in a pope costume.

According to junior Patrick Hamilton, the procession included a lap around the field.

“The pope had to make his grand entrance, so we did a quick lap in a golf cart around the field,” Hamilton said. “We did a big entrance onto the field. He made a declaration.”

See El Clasico A3

Radio, journalism students earn top college broadcasting awards

By Isaac Green Managing Editor

Six Hillsdale students finished in first place in two categories at the annual national College Broadcasters Inc. Awards last weekend in Seattle.

Seniors Alex Deimel and Erin Osborne, junior Ty Ruddy, Logan Washburn ’24, and former student Jane Kitchen won first in Best Documentary for their video production “The Prison Games,” which

the group filmed and assembled under the direction of Buddy Moorehouse, adjunct instructor of documentary journalism. Senior Lauren Smyth also took first in Best Newscast or Sportscast for her show “Lauren Smyth News.”

“It’s pretty incredible to receive an award like this, and it means a lot simply because the award recognizes the effort Mr. Moorehouse puts into the class and his students,” Deimel said. “It’s a lot of behind-the-scenes planning and

you want to get as much content filmed as possible so you have multiple options to work with.”

The CBI awards recognize the best in students television/ video and radio/audio production, according to Scot Bertram, general manager at WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. Professionals and student media advisers judge the submissions that come in from across the country.

See CBI A2

Guest speaker sheds light on ‘we win, they lose’ strategy

By Tayte Christensen Assistant Editor

Ronald Reagan achieved the impossible when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, William Inboden said in a speech Oct. 28.

“What a decade earlier had seemed ridiculously implausible, almost even a lunatic fantasy of bringing the Soviet Union to a peaceful collapse, to a negotiated surrender, Reagan had brought aright,” said Inboden, who credited Reagan’s success to strategic thinking, bold leadership, and a positive relationship with Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Inboden is the author of “The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, The Cold War, and the World on the Brink,” as well as director of the Alexander Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education and professor of history at the University of Florida.

The Hillsdale College Center for Military History and Strategy hosted Inboden’s speech, titled “Ronald Reagan: Cold Warrior and Peacemaker.” From the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and continuing through the poor reputations of Presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard Nixon in the 1960s and 1970s, the American presidency was in a weak position when Reagan took office, according to Inboden. He said the insecurities surrounding the institution of the American presidency before Reagan took power influenced American morale.

“If the presidency is broken, there’s no hope of a president being able to restore the country, to strengthen power and dynamism and hope again,” Inboden said.

Junior Peyton Hutchinson plays for the Protestant team in El Clasico.

Courtesy | Carissa Nisly

Graphics show voluntary survey responses from 52 faculty and staff members (top) and 111 students (bottom). Courtesy | Collegian Staff

A run for your money: Women Commissioners plan fifth annual Charger Derby

By Jamie Parsons Collegian Reporter

Race horses will raise money for student scholarships at the Hillsdale College Women Commissioners’ fifth annual Charger Derby Nov. 9 in the Searle Center.

The Charger Derby fundraiser features 12 simulated horse races and includes a silent auction, cash bar, and appetizers. All proceeds go toward the Women Commissioners scholarship fund, currently totalling more than $4.7 million. Doors open at 7 p.m., with horse races starting at 7:45 p.m.

More than 40 students have received scholarships this school year, totalling $268,000, according to Women Commissioners.

“We make a positive impact on students, and that’s why we do it and why we are so eager to make the events a success,” board member and event co-chair Sue Zbozen-McAlpine ’86 said. At the Charger Derby, friends and employees of the college, alumni, and community members gather for a night out at the races, dressing up according to the theme. Many of the women come wearing widebrimmed hats, and some of the men come wearing suits.

“My favorite part is getting dressed up for a fun night out,” Jackie Sullivan, a member of Women Commissioners said. “Plus, being able to see people in the community is also really fun.”

The horse races are pre-recorded and displayed from a projector, with a live race caller following along.

“The CBI Awards provide an opportunity for our students to receive feedback and be evaluated by industry pros unaffiliated with our program.” Bertram said. “I can tell them, ‘great job’ as often as I want, but when someone from the outside says the same thing, it does carry more weight. It’s good for our journalists to see how their work compares with content produced by other schools.”

For the limited number of categories, there are often more than 1,000 entries representing some of the best programs in the country, according to Bertram

“It’s rewarding to see our students listed among the very best in the nation and especially gratifying when someone is judged to be the best,” Bertram said. “It helps tell us we’re on the right track with the kinds of things we prioritize here in the journalism program.”

In addition to the first place finishes, seniors Ally Hall, Bella Dix, and Gavin Listro won second place for Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program for their music show “I’ve Got Aux.” Junior Evan Mick also finished fourth in Best Sports Reporting for his program “The Life of a Kicker.”

“I was excited because we’re a music show and we usually enter into music show categories,” Listro said. “But this time, we entered into just the best entertainment program, so that’s all shows, and we still got second place in the nation, which is epic.”

When the caller announces the winner of the race, the attendee with a bid on the winning horse wins a prize.

“It’s very lively,” Sullivan said. “Everyone is at round tables, excited, wanting to cheer for their horse.”

During the entirety of the event, attendees can bid on prizes in the silent auction. Many of the items are donated by friends of the college or professors, Sullivan said.

“A lot of them donate,” Sullivan said. “Professors will do paintings, paint scarves, give a tour of the cemetery while going through historical facts.”

Tickets cost $30 per person or $40 when purchased at the door. For an extra $25, attendees can buy a horse, and for an extra $250 they can sponsor a race. Those who are unable to attend the event in person can still participate in the auction by registering for a bidder number on the Women Commissioners’ website.

“We are really thankful for all our sponsors whether they donate prizes, sponsor a race, or buy a horse,” Sullivan said.

As a previous scholarship recipient, Sullivan said the event helps expand the Women Commissioners’ scholarship fund and provide more scholarships for students like her.

“It enabled me to continue my education at Hillsdale and took a financial burden off of my parents,” Sullivan said.

Q&A: Reagan biographer shares advice, political concerns

By Tayte Christensen Assistant Editor

William Inboden is the director of the Alexander Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida and a Peterson Senior Fellow at the Kissinger Center for Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Inboden served as Senior Director for Strategic Planning on the National Security Council under President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007. He also served as a Member of the Policy Planning Staff with the Department of State. He is the author of several books, including his most recent release,“The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, The Cold War, and the World on the Brink.”

What inspired you to write your book about Ronald Reagan?

The radio program works with 40-45 students each term, according to Bertram, producing content that ranges from long-form shows to short features. Since 2019, WRFH has won Michigan College Audio Station of the Year three times and seen its students earn nearly 40 firstplace awards at state and national levels.

“We have a well-established process to help guide new contributors in the design and execution of new programming,” Bertram said. “The student leadership structure also helps ensure that students are holding each other to high standards year after year. Our spoken-word format gives students ample opportunity to improve, practice the art of rhetoric, and become better storytellers.”

With six-first place awards from CBI alone in the past few years, Bertram said the radio program has developed a culture that encourages quality production

“There is significant competition in every category, so we celebrate each of those victories,” Bertram said. “I stress that even being named a finalist is a huge accomplishment for our students. We have developed a culture inside the program that encourages high-quality content and helps cultivate new freshmen and upper-class contributors. I think when students hear what is being produced and see the recognition great radio receives, it leads to more creative and impressive content.”

I wanted to tell the story of Reagan to the next generation, to students of your generation who were born after his presidency and after he died. I also wanted to recover a national security success story for the current generation of policymakers and leaders — that there was a time in the not too distant past when the United States successfully waged a conflict against a nuclear armed communist superpower, and we prevailed, and we prevailed peacefully. The third was a personal journey of when I had been growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, including in the Reagan presidency. I was, at the time, more on the left and was not supportive of

According to Inboden, Reagan took on a new perspective with regard to the Cold War, which he said was made apparent in Reagan’s “A Time for Choosing” speech, delivered shortly before the presidential election in 1964.

“Reagan signaled his rejection of this strategic consensus held by all the Cold War presidents before and after him — that the standoff with Soviet communism was a permanent condition to be accepted and managed, rather than a conflict to be won,” he said.

According to Inboden, Reagan’s strategy consisted of two equally important elements: pressure and diplomacy.

Although he received pushback for not following in the footsteps of former presidents, Inboden said Reagan stood firm.

“This is where leadership and statesmanship involves courage as well,” he said. “The courage of your convictions, the courage to stick to your beliefs, even when expert opinion says that you are wrong.”

him. Over time, I really changed my assessment. I wanted to go back and take a fresh look and understand “what was going on during those years when I was in junior high and high school? How can I go back and study it now and understand what I may have missed?”

What made you shift from the left to the right?

I started college more on the left, and by the time I graduated, I was much more conservative. But I’ll tell you two formative experiences. I spent the summer of 1992, the summer between my sophomore and junior year of college, in Moscow. The Soviet Union had just collapsed, and I was one of the first waves of American college students able to go over there. I was a student at Moscow Linguistic University trying (unsuccessfully) to learn Russian. I had a Russian roommate, and a number of other Russian friends in the dorm, and they all told me, “we hated Soviet communism. We hated the Soviet government, and we loved Ronald Reagan, and you Americans had a great president.” So for me, it was jarring to hear this very different perspective from students, who we thought hated us. Then the next year, I went to Washington, D.C., to do an internship in the Senate for a Republican senator from Indiana, Dan Coats, who later was the director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, but just a wonderful man with great staff and really thoughtful conservatives. I decided, “wow, I want to believe

Inboden said Reagan’s slogan, “We win, they lose,” was both a simple statement and a profound strategic concept.

“The possibility that the Soviet Union could be brought to its actual demise, to a defeat, to some sort of extinction — no American president had or spoken or even thought that way before,” he said. “That’s the new strategy that Reagan brings into office.”

Inboden said Reagan was concerned with winning the Cold War without violence, as he knew the resources the Soviet Union possessed when it came to nuclear weapons.

“The strategic challenge that he, in some ways, sets for himself is to win this competition, to win this conflict, but to win it peacefully, without it turning into a hot war,” he said. “To do that, he devised a very sophisticated strategy.”

Inboden said when the Soviet Union was struggling to keep a leader in place, Reagan used pressure to coerce the Soviet Union into choosing a reformist leader, resulting in Gorbachev.

“Gorbachev comes to power

what you guys believe. I want to be more like you.” I was very grateful for that.

Has any recent president left a legacy like Reagan’s?

No. That’s not to say we haven’t had some consequential ones. I was honored to serve for five years in the George W. Bush administration, on the State Department National Security Council. He was, I think, a great man who did a lot of good things, certainly keeping the country safe from another terrorist attack, but also made a share of mistakes. Reagan was a great visionary leader. I don’t know that another one like him would come along, and nor should we necessarily expect it. But I hope if one does, we as a country will recognize that and support him.

What advice do you have for students going into politics?

The first is: study history. I don’t mean that in a trite way, but we are so much products of what the world around us looks like when we’re in our high school and college years and that matters. You’ve got to pay attention. But if we only allow that to form us, we’re going to miss some really inspiring and sometimes sobering insights from the past. We need to understand all of the ups and downs of our country and our great successes, and some of the feelings that we’ve overcome, too. And again, I say this as someone who worked in politics for about 10 years — we get so consumed with the dayto-day, with a 24-hour news

and he wants to preserve communism. He wants to reform it, but still preserve it,” Inboden said. “He and Reagan don’t share a lot of the same goals, but he also realizes that he is inheriting a failed system.”

Inboden said much of Reagan’s ultimate success — the fall of the Soviet Union — is due in part to his diplomatic and personal relationship with Gorbachev. Inboden said Reagan, concerned for Gorbachev, spent time attempting to persuade Gorbachev to become a Christian.

“Gorbachev realizes that this is coming from a place of genuine sincerity on Reagan’s part and real regard for him,” he said. “But Reagan was illumining Gorbachev’s eyes so he could see the lies that the Soviet system was built upon.”

Senior Erin Osborne said she appreciated Inboden’s insight on the national dilemmas Reagan faced when he took office.

“I was struck by Inboden’s wealth of knowledge and emphasis on the variety of crises Reagan inherited,” Osborne said. “We don’t always think

cycle, with the next election cycle. The other is identifying some older role models and mentors — a 30 year old, or 40 year old, or even an 80 year old who has some of the experiences that you value and cherish, and spend intentional time with them. They’ll be eager to pass along a lot of what they’ve learned, and they’ll tell anyone who’s spending time in politics — I’m no exception — will have their share of mistakes and lessons learned. So it’s not just, “here’s all the great things I did. Be like me.” Rather, it’s “let me tell you the things I got wrong.” I certainly benefited from that when I would start off in politics, too.

What is the biggest problem facing American politics today?

I worry that we as a country have lost our sense of purpose. We’ve lost, I think, a real belief in confidence in our own principles and ideals. I’m not one who laments political divisions for their own sake. People on the left who I disagree with — we have those differences for a reason — and yet I do worry that we’ve lost this larger sense of how we can rally the country around a better vision, how we can have more hope from the future. It often feels like we’re too entrenched in these oppositional cycles. We’re only focusing on what the other side is getting wrong, rather than asking what we can get right. I think that loss of common purpose is the biggest problem and it’s up to your generation to solve it.

about those and it makes Reagan’s resolve for a negotiated Soviet surrender all the more impactful.”

Professor of Political Economy Gary Wolfram said he thinks it is especially important to consider the issues Reagan encountered as president and how he managed them.

“Oftentimes those of the younger generation are not aware of the severity of these problems, or we may have forgotten how difficult times were four decades ago,” Wolfram said. “I explain in my class how important it is to win the battle of ideas, as Ludwig von Mises emphasizes, and Dr. Inboden showed how Reagan, as the ‘Great Communicator’ was extremely effective in winning this battle.”

Inboden said Reagan’s successes were ultimately a result of sticking to his strategy.

“It was not an accident. He did not get lucky. It was not an inevitability of the tectonic forces of history,” Inboden said. “It was a result of leadership and vision by a great American statesman.”

CBI from A1

Reagan from A1

The Center for Military History and Strategy hosted Reagan biographer William Inboden for a lecture Oct. 28.

Courtesy | Hope Canlas

The boys are back: Phi Sigma Epsilon donates pavilion for student use on campus

By Micah Hart Senior Reporter

The Phi Sigma Epsilon Pavilion is open for student use and available to reserve for events or small gatherings.

“It has all-season potential,” Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said. “Students can study, recreate, hold meetings, have fellowship, share meals, classes, concerts, receptions, BBQs, and fire pit gatherings.”

Reservations for both indoor and outdoor amenities can be made through the college’s internal events booking page, according to Associate Director of Student and Young Alumni Relations Braden VanDyke.

“Groups may make use of the wood burning fire pit and grill areas outdoors,” VanDyke said.

Both large and small groups of students can reserve the areas for events, Péwé said, as the college continues with plans to install security cameras and card readers.

Whether it be through sports, honorary meetings, or the new faculty picnic, Péwé said the space will serve as a meeting place for all.

With its many features, the pavilion is capable of accommodating more than 70 people for a meal or up to 150 people for a theater-style presentation.

Péwé said there is a sound system in the pavilion where theater style presentations can happen.

“The inside space is plenty big for a seminar class or a leadership gathering of 20 or more,” he said.

The project began when Phi Sig Epsilon fraternity alumni approached the college with the piece of property. The fraternity brothers wanted a pavilion to be built on the land, and so the college and the fraternity partnered to create a space that fosters friendship for all students, Péwé said.

“They had the idea of a pavilion and property that could unite all the students and the Greek houses,” Péwé said.

Ross Anderson ’79, a member of the Phi Sig fraternity encouraged students to use the new gathering space.

“Show up, talk to people, invest yourself,” Anderson

“Multiple groups could use it at once or one group at a time. Or individuals can just hang out and study in the various spaces,” Péwé said.

said.“You won’t be disappointed. It’ll probably change your life, and probably in a very positive way.”

Phi Sig alumni Phillip “Trip” Banks ’76 said his fraternity remained in contact with the college after the chapter disbanded in 1990.

The fraternity still owned the piece of land until recently, but ownership transferred over to the college because of the generosity of the Phi

Sig fraternity in a unanimous vote. Even after the land changed possession, Hillsdale’s leadership kept the brothers involved in the process of creating this new space.

“They could’ve just said ‘see you,’ but Rich just kept us in the loop,” Banks said. “It’s very flattering and of course, it’s very Hillsdale: first class all the way.”

Anderson and Banks both

Meyet completes world cycling championship

By James Joski Collegian Freelancer

Chants of “USA, USA” filled the streets of Belgium Oct. 5 as Chairwoman and Associate Professor of Chemistry Courtney Meyet completed the UCI Gravel World Championship.

Meyet took 37th place out of 43 in her age bracket in the 82mile cycling race.

It wasn’t the outcome she was hoping for, but Meyet knew this race wouldn’t be anything like what she had experienced before.

“I was the oldest female there, and that in of itself was cool,” Meyet said. “It is the world championship, the very best in the world are there, so I have to put that in perspective.”

In addition to highly experienced competitors from around the world, Meyet said she had to contend with dangerous conditions largely absent in American gravel racing.

“We have big railroads, and our starts are usually neutral,”

El Clasico from A1

Christian proceeded to wrestle Assistant Professor of History Jason Gerkhe on the field after his declaration. Christian lost. Hamilton thanked security staff members and coach Bill Lundberg for allowing the papal procession to happen and for providing the facilities.

Tides turned quickly in the second half as the Protestants broke the tie, scoring two goals just minutes apart from each other. Senior Nathan Ummel brought in the first goal for the Protestants at the 43rd minute. Sophomore Jianna Coppola followed shortly after, scoring at the 48th minute.

“I want the Protestants to score one more time, so that they make three goals, the holy number,” sophomore Wendy Swem said as she cheered on

Meyet’s personal coach Joe Dailey said. “Our gravel roads are pretty wide, too. So that’s a huge difference in the states versus Europe, because in Europe, the roads are much narrower. There are farm roads out in rural areas that we would call a golf cart path.”

Dailey is a lifelong bicycle racer with much experience in the sport, and he said there is one aspect of gravel racing that made this competition especially dangerous: the start.

“Everybody goes out like a bat out of hell,” Dailey said. “The reason is, would you rather race 100 people or five? If I can ride 95 people off my wheel and keep five around, that’s who I really have to concentrate on. So the starts tend to be extremely tense.”

Meyet said the course was muddy and narrow, with approximately 2,000 cyclists crammed into starting corrals.

“The start was very technical and dangerous,” Meyet said, noting the outcome of such a

her team.

Slighting cheers and trash talk rang through both the Catholic maroon crowd and the crowd of multicolor-clad Protestants. A strong “We love Mary” chant from the Catholic side received a loud response of “We love Jesus” from Protestant fans.

“I think this game is very telling,” junior Nathan Stanish said. “I haven’t seen this many dirty tactics from the Catholics since the Council of Trent. I’m just saying these Catholics are probably getting an extra 10 years in purgatory after this game.”

Catholic supporters felt the blow after the Protestants’ two goals, but kept their eyes on salvation, according to Hamilton.

“Obviously it’s hard to see that the Catholics are down 2-0,

start was something she had never experienced before.

“There were several crashes, really big, bad crashes,” Meyet said. “You would just actually see the bikes pile up in front of you. It was the weirdest thing.”

For these reasons, Meyet said she chose to remain in the back of the start corral, not wanting to risk severe injury miles abroad — a decision that Dailey said was very wise.

As soon as she started racing, however, Meyet came to a stop.

Meyet said a contender from Great Britain had crashed and subsequently been pinned to the ground in a pile up, still clipped into his bike and left behind by the other bikers. No one thought to stop and help him until Meyet came by.

“I was the first in the group to come upon him, and I stopped and I used my bike to block the path because his head was in the middle of the road,’” she said. “I’m like, ‘I’m not gonna stand on a podium today, so I am going to help.’”

Meyet said she doesn’t know if he finished the race and said a lot of people had turned back by the first 10 miles.

As the race progressed, the situation improved and soon Meyet found herself in the midst of some unexpected fans.

The area of Belgium she was passing through had a large U.S. presence defending them in WWII, something the locals haven’t forgotten.

“If there’s a USA cyclist, they chant ‘USA,’ and if you acknowledge them, they go nuts,” Meyet said, “If you look, make eye contact, wave

it’s difficult,” Hamilton said. “But we got faith, you know, faith and works. It’s not just faith alone. These guys think that moving the soccer ball is only by faith, and as you can see, it’s not. So in the long run, it’ll be good, you know, and we’ll see them in Purgatory, and that’s when we’ll have the real matchup.”

Hamilton said both men and women on the Protestant team play for the club soccer teams. He wanted an even playing field.

“Just play us on the basketball court,” Catholic sophomore Joseph Brecount said. “We’ve been asking you time and time again. I think you’re ducking us to this point, so come out and face your punishment.”

Amongst multiple denominations, Protestants united to bring their team victory.

to them, raise your fist in agreement, they will run with you.”

Meanwhile, Meyet’s husband, Brian Newberry, waited at the finish line. With no way of reaching her, he thought the worst when she failed to come in at the estimated time.

“I don’t have a way to check her progress,” Newberry said. “So I’m just waiting and waiting, and at six o’clock, I started to get worried.”

Meyet had been cut off earlier to make way for the pro group as they made a second loop. As a result, she fell too far behind to get motorcade support, leaving her further bogged down by traffic.

Meyet finished with a time of 5:55:49, according to the UCI website.

Newberry said he has been Meyet’s number one supporter in her cycling journey since day one, jokingly taking credit for getting her into it.

“I would rather take the hit than have her take the hit,” Newberry said. “When you are supporting someone who is competing at any level, their wellbeing becomes a primary concern.”

With this race over, Meyet said she isn’t sure what she will do next.

For now, Newberry and Meyet said they plan on taking it easy and participating in scenic and exciting bike rides as they recover from the experience of a lifetime.

“It’s hard to be the dog that caught the car, because what do you do next?” Dailey said.

“I love how the Protestants were all unified together, unified around one thing,” freshman Grace Novak, a Protestant supporter, said.

Junior Lucy Treene said the Protestant win has bigger theological implications.

“We’ve proven through our win that you just need the basics,” Treene said. “You don’t need no costumes, no sweatshirts. You don’t need no tailgate, no flag. You come as you are before the Lord.”

Junior Jude Barton, head coach for the Catholic team, said he looks forward to next year despite the loss.

“We fought hard,” Barton said. “The boys and girls fought well. We had some great chances, especially in the second half, but we’ll be coming back stronger next year.”

said the process of making a donation on the part of the fraternity included getting input from students on what they would like to see on campus.

Banks and Anderson said they have a lot of hope for the property. Anderson said he wants this piece of property to be as special as it was for him while he attended the college.

“That wonderful piece of property brought all of us fra-

Election from A1

Discussing the Senate races, Postell said differing results for political parties across races is more common than one might think.

“Many voters like Trump individually but do not translate support for Trump into support for other Republicans. The same thing occurred with Obama — he was very popular individually, but the Democratic Party as a whole suffered heavy losses even while he was in the White House,” Postell said. “This suggests something I’ve believed for years, which is that our political parties are much weaker than people commonly think they are.”

Postell said he thinks Democrats could win the Senate.

“I think the Senate races in Michigan and Pennsylvania look very good for the Democrats. Ohio looks close but I would still bet on Sherrod Brown winning that seat,” Postell said. “Those results would be revealing: voters still split their tickets, and Trump’s coattails are rather weak. Democratic Senate candidates are running well ahead of Harris in many states — Arizona is especially revealing.”

Bertram said he believes split-ticket voting might apply to Michigan’s Senate race, one that he expects former Republican congressman Mike Rogers to lose to Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin.

“I think that Trump will run ahead of Rogers by a point or two, and I think that

ternity brothers together in a really positive way that really enhanced our education at Hillsdale,” Anderson said. “I just want to see it continue to do it for others on that campus the way it did it for us, whether it’s fraternity, sorority related or not. To me, it’s a magical piece of property, and I’m really pleased that it’s got a really important and useful feature now.”

Michigan is a state that probably stays blue for the presidential race by the slimmest of margins,” Bertram said. “If that’s the case, I don’t think Rogers is going to run ahead of Trump. If Trump is not going to win Michigan, I don’t think that Rogers is going to win the Senate race.”

Assistant Professor of History Miles Smith said he believes Rogers has a fighting chance, and he is cautiously optimistic about the Republican Senate candidates in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

“Mike Rogers has mounted a stronger than expected performance in the Michigan Senate election. Whether that puts him over the top, I’m not sure,” Smith said. “If Trump wins in Pennsylvania, I expect McCormick to win. Moreno seems likely to win in Ohio.”

Laboratory director Doug Dobrozsi opted not to make any predictions, citing the instability of our modern political environment.

“No prediction. It’s a fool’s game,” Dobrozsi said. “The most perennially reliable statistical prediction methods failed in 2020. Recent history shows anything can happen. I do predict there are surprises yet to come.” He said the results of this election will say much about the kind of country we are.

“I spend more time thinking about the truth in the saying that we get the leaders we deserve,” Dobrozsi said.

Associate Professor of Chemistry Courtney Meyet poses with her medal and the flag after the UCI Gravel World Championship Courtesy | Courtney Meyet

Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé Ross Anderson ’79, Doug McPherson ’76, College President Larry Arnn, and Phillip ‘Trip’ Banks ’76 pose after the ribbon cutting ceremony at the Phi Sigma Epsilon Pavilion. Courtesy | Austin Thomason

Protestant coaches senior Dravyn Spies and sophomore Peter Gilchrist watch the action at El Clasico on Sunday. Courtesy | Carissa Nisly

Opinions

The Collegian Weekly

The opinion of the Collegian editorial staff

There will still be warm cookies next wednesday

Editor-in-Chief | Jillian Parks

Managing Editor | Isaac Green

Senior Editor | Michaela Estruth

Outreach Director | Olivia Pero

Design Editor | Ally Hall

News Editor | Moira Gleason

Opinions Editor | Caroline Kurt

City News Editor | Thomas McKenna

Sports Editor | Jacob Beckwith

Culture Editor | Colman Rowan

Features Editor | Kamden Mulder

Social Media Assistant | Sam Otting

Circulation Manager | Lauren Bixler

Assistant Editors | Megan Li | Tayte Christensen | Catherine Maxwell | Alessia Sandala | Zachary Chen | Eleanor Whitaker | Anna Broussard | Ellie Fromm | Ty Ruddy

Ad Manager | Nathan Stanish

Puzzle Editor | Matthew Tolbert

Illustrator | Maggie O’Connor

Faculty Advisers | John J. Miller | Maria Servold

The editors welcome Letters to the Editor but reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, and style. Letters should be 450 words or less and include your name and number. Send submissions to the Opinions Editor at ckurt@hillsdale.edu before Saturday at 3 p.m.

Dear Collegian,

As a Christian, I’ll be voting for Donald................Duck

You know whom I really hate? These so-called “conservative Christians” who vote for Donald Trump. That’s why I will be casting my vote for Donald Duck this election… because I am a good person.

Of course, I don’t really mean that I “hate” hate them — I don’t think I could “hate” hate anyone — but I just can’t understand their unsophisticated thought processes. Why would anyone ever vote for a former president who did a great job during his four years in office but who is also morally flawed? These people have got zero nuance. I pity them.

I suppose I can see why one might not want an incompetent former vice-president whose only priorities would seem to be killing babies and mutilating children to assume the highest office in the land. But at the expense of voting for a moral atrocity like Donald Trump? For me… never. You see, I’m a good person, so I would absolutely never vote for a fallen human being, especially not for president. The problem with Christians who vote for Trump is that they just don’t understand nuance: after all, choosing the lesser of two evils is still choosing an evil, and I would never choose an evil. After all, I’m a good person.

We good people don’t win by voting for evils, especially if they’ve done terrible horrible things like tweet mean tweets or serve fries at McDonald’s as a political stunt.

I just can’t fathom a politician who would disrespect you common people by claiming to have worked at McDonald’s as a publicity gag, and I’m pretty sure Trump is the only candidate in this race who’s done so.

Worse, imagine voting for a politician with a long history of divisive rhetoric. Can you even imagine a politician using hate-filled

Less than a week from today, the world will change. As the last ballots are counted late into the night and throughout the next morning, all will hold their breath for a result that will shake the foundations of what we know and hold dear. This is “the most important election of our lifetime.” The “most important in our nation’s history.” The “most important ever.” At least, that’s what everyone keeps telling us. Every news channel, commercial, and billboard. But we suspect you’ll wake up to just another Wednesday in Hillsdale.

As students, it’s easy to feel removed from national politics, but we have a civic responsibility as Americans to engage in this election. The founders designed our system of government with the belief that each generation would act as custodians of democracy, with citizens actively shaping the path of their nation.

Watching the results on Tuesday night — discussing, debating, and perhaps disagreeing — is not only engaging with politics but participating in the legacy left by the Founders. There will be watch

parties and excited group chats. There will be Radio Free Hillsdale coverage and instant reactions. There will be empty library tables and neglected homework.

These things are all good (yes, even the neglected homework every once in a while) and remind us that our participation — whether through a vote, a conversation, or an opinion — upholds the ideals the founders envisioned. At the same time, the founders designed a governmental system that couldn’t be drastically altered by the whims and wish-

es of a single person. It actually seems to be the very thing they were trying to avoid.

So, for the students of Hillsdale, the morning of Nov. 6 will probably seem remarkably… mundane.

Another Wednesday spent wishing it was Friday. Another midterm nowhere near the middle of the term that hasn’t been studied for. Another coughing classmate sitting way too close to you. And we have a sneaking suspicion the most important thing about your day will still be Warm Cookie Wednesday.

Don’t be crude, keep it Catholic

By Tayte Christensen Assistant Editor

“There’s a group called ‘White Dudes For Harris,’” former President Donald Trump said. “I’m not worried about them at all, because their wives and their wives’ lovers are all voting for me, every one of those people are voting for me.”

American politics is non-existent.

This year’s dinner took place in the glamorous New York Hilton Midtown hotel, with comedian Jim Gaffigan as master of ceremonies, and raised $8.9 million for impoverished women and children in New York.

the true fact-checker, would be present that evening.

generalizations about opponents? Once again, Trump is probably the sole candidate in this race to have done anything like that. And I’m supposed to vote for that?

So, what are we nuanced Christians to do this election cycle? Simple — just vote for Donald Duck. Sure, he may be two-dimensional and non-human, but at least he’s not Trump.

Casting your vote for a fictional character isn’t wimping out: it’s simply not being complicit in the evil of voting for Donald Trump.

Think about the early Church. Those martyrs would never have done anything sinful and dumb like voting for a candidate the Roman press kept calling “literally Nero.” Especially not when they could have just let some power-hungry incompetent who wanted to kill babies all over the place win. Nosirreebob. They would have done something smart and holy and nuanced, like writing in Donaldus Duckus on their ballots.

That way, the empress would still get elected over “literally Nero,” but at least those martyrs wouldn’t have sinned, because they were nuanced and good people. Like me.

So I urge you. Don’t vote for Donald Trump. Vote for Donald Duck. We might end up getting Kamala elected simply by not doing anything, but at least it will be worth it because we won’t have sinned by voting for a sinful candidate.

Gross — imagine sin, am I right? I mean, Trump’s sin, specifically. Couldn’t be mine, because I am a good and nuanced person.

Donald Duck 2024!

Daniel French is a senior studying his own navel. His mom says he’s a good person.

This piece was edited by Zack Chen.

Per tradition, Trump spoke in front of more than 1,300 attendees at the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in New York City Oct. 17, delivering jokes primarily aimed at Vice President Kamala Harris and the current administration’s shortcomings.

The foundation has invited presidential nominees to the white-tie dinner since 1960. While an amusing custom, it shows the Al Smith Foundation’s priorities: tradition over true beliefs. At the very least, the foundation should seek speakers who align with its professed Catholic values. Ultimately, it should quit inviting presidential candidates to the gala, period.

Started in 1946, the dinner honors the memory of Alfred E. Smith, a Roman Catholic who served as New York governor between 1918 and 1926.

Just because the foundation serves to honor the legacy of a great Roman Catholic politician doesn’t mean it is obliged to invite America’s irreverent presidential candidates to speak. It was a clever idea to invite candidates in the ’60s, but these days, “lighthearted” roasting in

For an event that seeks to honor the legacy of America’s first Roman Catholic to run for the U.S. presidency, it is foolish to tarnish the group’s reputation and allow presidential candidates a platform in which to spew toxic words at one another and — in Harris’ case — at Catholics.

Trump attended this year’s event while Harris opted to spend her evening campaigning in Wisconsin. She is the only invited presidential candidate to skip the dinner, with the exception of Democrat Walter Mondale in 1984. In place of her presence, Harris submitted a video which included an appearance from Mary Katherine Gallagher, a Saturday Night Live character played by Molly Shannon who died of unpopularity in the 1990s.

In the video, Harris attempts to give a serious address to attendees before Gallagher interrupts for “comedic relief,” poking fun at Catholics and Trump alike. The video reminded viewers — specifically Trump — to remember the eighth commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor,” particularly “against thy neighbor’s election results,” and that Jesus,

After surviving two assassination attempts this summer, Trump has posted more religious content on his Instagram account, offering a prayer to St. Michael on Michaelmas and wishing the Virgin Mary a happy birthday on the Feast of the Nativity. But his lifestyle in the past has proven to be anything but religious.

Trump’s remarks at the event proved to be humorous and gave him several viral moments, but they were unsupportive of the foundation’s vision of promoting Al Smith’s Catholic beliefs and care for the least of these.

In his remarks, Trump spoke of a White House occupant who “can barely talk, barely put together two coherent sentences, who seems to have the mental faculties of a child. This is a person that has nothing going, no intelligence whatsoever. But enough about Kamala Harris.”

As a Catholic foundation, the event should seek to affirm the dignity of every human being as made in the image and likeness of God, or, as Ronald Reagan said in his 1984 Al Smith dinner address, “to love our fellow man.”

On the other hand, Harris has proven time and again that she has no regard for religious Americans, Catholic or not.

At the campaign event she skipped the foundation dinner for, Harris complained about Trump’s Supreme Court appointees who led to the over-

turn of Roe v. Wade. Immediately following that portion of her speech, two prolife attendees shouted “Jesus is Lord,” to which Harris replied, “Oh, you guys are at the wrong rally.” Waving goodbye to the two college juniors as security escorted them out of the venue, Harris allowed the crowd to cheer and applaud before adding, “No, I think you meant to go to the smaller one down the street.” Harris didn’t have to acknowledge their presence. Instead, she chose to insult the students and make them the butt of her joke.

Rather than attending the foundation dinner and insulting Christians there, Harris chose to insult them on the campaign trail. And the foundation wants to invite a person like that to its dinner?

Trump and Harris serving as headline names surely helped the foundation hit its fundraising goal — raising $3.1 million more than its 2023 dinner — but in giving the two candidates a platform to make crude jokes, it failed to promote the true ideals of the organization. If the foundation wishes to remain bipartisan, Catholic, and worthy of Americans’ trust as American politics becomes increasingly partisan, this year’s candidates should be as absent from its banquet as Harris has been from the border.

Tayte Christensen is a junior studying history.

‘Carpe diem’ explains Simpson

By Lewis Thune Collegian Freelancer

Despite the darkness in Simpson Asylum this week, there were two words visibly scrawled above a number of door frames. Those two words are “carpe diem,” or “seize the day,” a Latin exhortation originating from Horace, but one which the modern listener remembers mainly as Robin Williams’ refrain in the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society.”

For those who participated in homecoming or toured Simpson Asylum, the words of a Roman poet probably never came to mind when considering Simpson. In these two events alone, we Simpson residents displayed a level of seriousness — in spite of the crazy costumes — that often eluded us in the classroom during those very same weeks. Those who say “that’s just Simpson” are correct, but they don’t understand why. The answer in two words is “carpe diem.”

Those words perfectly express Simpson Residence’s central idea, the one we cherish

above all others, written and spoken about for a decade, taught to every resident: the idea of the “boyman.” It’s an idea that “Dead Poets Society” encapsulates: the good, the true, and the beautiful don’t merely demand the manly reverence of our reason, but the boyish awe and wonder of our imaginations.

The danger of a place like Welton Academy or Hillsdale is that in creating wise, strong, and disciplined young men, we can lose the beautiful boyish wonder which animates minds and bodies. “Carpe diem” ceases to be the resounding counsel of generations past; instead, it’s reduced to the sentiments of an ill-fated English teacher.

To borrow from “Hook,” another Robin Williams movie, Peter Pan didn’t lose who he was by letting the man, husband, and father in him live, but by letting the boy in him die. Simpson, like the Dead Poets’ Society and the Lost Boys, exists to keep the boyish wonder alive in its residents even as they become men. We dress up in silly costumes for wacky traditions to foster

real brotherhood in wonderful, ridiculous ways — engaging in all the pastimes of the Dead Poets Society. Like Charlie Dalton, we make brash decisions and get in trouble. Like Todd Anderson, we give our absolute best shot at things we’re terrible at doing. Like Knox Overstreet, we take moonshots for girls far, far out of our league. Like Richard Cameron, we get in spats, most of the time with one another. But at the end of it all, we shed tears when the boymen we’ve loved and looked up to, our John Keatings, walk out the door for the last time.

That’s why homecoming week means so much to us. It’s the truest embodiment of “carpe diem” for Simpson boymen. It’s our way of remembering boymen long past and carrying on their legacy, our time to paint an average banner and drop it front and center, our time to stand before everyone and dance our hearts out in outlandish costumes. It’s our time to cheer ourselves hoarse when an upperclassman eats an Oreo

off his forehead, and again when a freshman correctly recognizes Blackbeard’s flag. Most of all, it’s our time to approach manly tasks with boyish eagerness: we replace sleep with volunteering, we fire up chainsaws and pile brush, we mow lawns as the sun sets and clean trails as it rises, and we mobilize to deep clean entire churches.

Homecoming is how our Dead Poets know the day won’t escape, how our Pans know Neverland won’t die, how we upperclassmen know boyish wonder won’t graduate with us, and how our underclassmen know that they’ve earned our mantle. That’s why we spend hours on banners that won’t place. That’s why we cry when we win. That’s why, this year, we rallied behind a boyman we called “Captain my Captain.” It’s ultimately why we hoisted the trophy. To Simpson, homecoming is the faces of the past whispering their legacy to us: “Carpe diem — seize the day, boys!”

Lewis Thune is a junior studying politics.

Boycott TMZ: Invading Liam’s privacy isn’t journalism

By Sarah Katherine Sisk Senior Reporter

When TMZ published images of Liam Payne’s dead body Oct. 16, it denied his family the courtesy of being notified by the authorities of his death and violated their privacy — a line even the most invasive of fans wouldn’t cross. Readers should pressure TMZ to change by avoiding it.

As a proud One Direction fangirl of 14 years, my stomach dropped when a news alert popped up on my phone reading, “Liam Payne, One Direction singer, dead at 31.”

My reaction was a non-event compared to those who actually knew Payne. His sister, Nicola, said she felt pure disbelief when she found out about his death the same way I did — through a notification on her phone.

“When I saw the news pop up on my phone that you had left us, I went cold,” she wrote on Instagram Oct. 21. “I have spent days hoping that it was a mistake and somebody has got it wrong.”

TMZ cropped the photos to include a few of Payne’s most recognizable tattoos as proof of the deceased’s identity but faced such public backlash that

the outlet took the photos down.

“You’re gross,” singer Alessia Cara wrote on X, tagging TMZ.

When Geoff Payne, Liam’s father, arrived at the Buenos Aires hotel where he died to retrieve his son’s belongings and make arrangements for his body, fans could be seen throwing up their arms, backpacks, and purses in an effort to shield Geoff from the paparazzi’s view, a sharp contrast from TMZ’s tawdry photos of Payne’s body.

Fans of One Direction would be most likely to consume a story about Payne’s death. It seems, though, that they are most sensitive to his family’s need for privacy.

This is not the first time TMZ has fumbled covering death. The outlet reported the 2020 death of Kobe Bryant before authorities could notify his family, in addition to publishing macabre details about Avicii’s 2018 suicide.

The 31-year-old Payne was in Argentina to attend bandmate Niall Horan’s show. Payne’s girlfriend, who attended the concert with him, returned to the United States four days before Payne fell three stories to his death from his hotel balcony Oct. 16.

Recent CCTV footage shows

Payne fainting or collapsing just before falling over the railing, Argentinian media outlets

One Direction’s rise in the early 2010s marked a transformative moment

reported. The footage has not been released to the public but has been entered into official case files, according to the New York Post.

Payne had shared openly about his struggles with substance abuse, sobriety, and mental health during a 2021 podcast interview with Steven Bartlett.

fandom, as fans engaged both online and in-person with a fervor often compared to that of Beatlemania.

This surge occurred in a pre-algorithmic era, where organic engagement still reigned supreme, creating a movement that was impossible to overlook, even if you didn’t like their music.

Will the real surprise please stand up?

By Lewis Thune Collegian Freelancer

As October comes to a close, the American media apparatus begins its biennial harvest. The “October surprise” is an event wherein political actors and campaigns unleash last-ditch negative PR about their opponents, while the media collects and reports it. The goal is to make a party’s opponent look personally bad, because a voter’s final decision almost certainly comes down to gut feeling, not policy considerations, if he or she is still undecided in October.

The hope is that the voter sees the opponent on Election Day and goes “Ew.” Eliminating oppositional votes in the final days is just as valuable as earning support in the early months.

Clever as the strategy is, the odds a story sticks are small. The “surprise” part of “October surprise” is when a story actually makes some difference in the election.

Influential surprises were the story of 2016. That October, Trump’s “Access Hollywood” footage was released, and WikiLeaks published decades’ worth of Clinton documents and correspondence. Trump’s vulgarity shocked undecided voters, strengthening Clinton’s attack on his

temperament. Clinton’s history revealed her just as much of an ingenuine Washington politician as Trump accused her of being.

But 2020 was the exact opposite phenomenon. The New York Post released a bombshell report on Joe Biden’s son Hunter and his “laptop from hell” in October. The story was immediately smothered. Politico called it “Russian disinformation,” citing a letter signed by over 50 intelligence officials. Social media companies suppressed the story’s spread — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg later claimed this was prompted by an FBI warning. Only in June of this year did outlets finally acknowledge the laptop as authentic.

This year will be different from both its predecessors. Unlike 2016, everything is out in the open, and so, unlike 2020, there’s nothing left to hide. This race, short of a fatality, is surprise-proof.

Consider the candidates: Donald Trump is seeking a non-consecutive second term, hoping that the third time is the second charm. Kamala Harris received zero primary votes in both 2020 and 2024, but was nominated the second time around in the aftermath of this year’s first debate. Trump has been both president and in the me-

dia’s spotlight before, Harris has been periodically jumping into the public eye for four years only to be thrust front-and-center on short notice.

There are no attacks left to throw at Trump. As if to underscore this point, The Atlantic broke a story on Oct. 22 in which retired General John Kelly replayed the hits. Similar to the September 2020 Atlantic report in which anonymous sources claimed that Trump called fallen soldiers “suckers and losers,” Kelly claims that an anonymous source told him that Trump disrespected fallen soldier Vanessa Guillén. In this instance, the man to whom the alleged remarks were made, Trump White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, denies the claims, alongside another present official. Guillén’s sister announced she was voting for Trump, calling the Atlantic piece “hurtful & disrespectful.”

Team Trump’s negative PR against Harris, however, fares no better. Team Kamala continually tucks liabilities such as second gentleman Doug Emhoff out of sight, effectively nullifying attacks against him. Damage to the Harris campaign has been almost entirely self-inflicted. Off-script interviews and re-

marks on the campaign trail send her team into clean-up mode far more often than Trump’s accusations of lies, radicalism, or even the recent allegations of plagiarism.

All of this means that there will be no sympathy for the undecided voters of October. Shock isn’t an acceptable plea as it was in 2016, when liberals like Matt Drudge and Julian Assange understood those who stayed at home instead of voting Clinton and her DC status quo, and conservatives like Ben Sasse and JD Vance understood the Christians who didn’t go to the polls for Trump and his vulgarity. Likewise, ignorance isn’t acceptable like it was in 2020, when conservatives felt compassion toward voters who didn’t know about Hunter Biden’s exploits. This election, for better or worse, will tread the oft-visited ground of “us or them,” and the lines are already drawn. Whether, as many have speculated, this a Reaganesque moment of consensus or, as others argue, a Lincolnian moment of national divide — that is the real surprise, and it’s going to stand up very soon.

Lewis Thune is a junior studying politics.

Elections aren’t eternal

By Moira Gleason News Editor

Our happiness should not hinge on who wins the White House next week.

I remember walking downstairs on Nov. 6, 2012, to find half my family in tears. President Barack Obama had been re-elected, and it seemed the end of my 8-year-old world.

My family may be overly obsessed with politics, but I don’t think we are the only ones. We should care about the election and vote for the candidate whom we believe will best fulfill the role of the president. But we would also do well to remember, no matter who wins, our final hope and our everyday, earthly happiness do not rely on politicians. Thank God.

Rather, we should approach this election with the conviction that whomever the voters elect, we will be OK. We will still graduate college and we will keep leading the kinds of lives we want our government to encourage and protect — living virtuous lives, pursuing meaningful work, and building strong families.

“In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb,” wrote C.S. Lewis in 1948. “If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts — not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs.”

Unlike the atomic bomb, the 2024 election is not a civilization-ending threat. There will be plenty of work left to do on the other side of Tuesday. No matter the result, it will create problems and challenges, and it is still within our power to keep living and living well.

Nothing is more likely to destroy a species or a nation than a determination to survive at all costs,” Lewis says.

And nothing is more likely to destroy a culture than a constant determination to win in the political arena at all costs. When you care about politics — and you should — it’s also easy to lose sight of its purpose of allowing us to live the good life.

“Those who care for something else more than civilization are the only people

After Payne’s sudden death, millions of fans are left to grieve someone they came to know well over the last 14 years, though most have never met him.

Fan accounts, many stagnant since the band’s indefinite hiatus in 2016, began posting again as online fan communities came together to mourn the singer and revisit fond memories.

In the week following Payne’s death, all five One Direction albums have resurfaced on the U.K. charts, with three singles in the Top 40.

Within minutes of Payne’s death, I received texts from childhood friends and fellow fans, some of whom I hadn’t spoken to in years, reminiscing hours spent crowded in front of a computer screen watching the band’s X-Factor auditions, video diaries, skits, and music videos, or quizzing each other on the band members’ birthdays and shoe sizes.

Our collective grief speaks to a loss far bigger than one singer or even a whole band. We’re grieving the period of life that paralleled One Direction’s ascent to fame — adolescence, innocence, and everything that the band represented for us.

Payne massively impacted

many people and it’s natural for them to be curious about the circumstances of his death.

We should reflect on our curiosity, though. Sometimes a desire to click stems from genuine care, wanting to understand a situation better. Other times it might be rooted in a desire to indulge in the taboo without having to suffer the real-life costs associated with it.

Truth should be the primary aim of journalism, even at pop culture outlets like TMZ. Good journalists find an optimal point at which they maximize truth-telling while minimizing unnecessary harm. Publishing the photos did nothing to further the truth and did everything to maximize harm and grief.

You can tell a lot about a society by the way it treats its dead, and for TMZ, the dead are only as valuable as the clicks they garner.

Ever considered mind control? Try Media Theory

By Jillian Parks Editor-in-Chief

The air loom is a mind-control device capable of manipulating and influencing the thoughts of an individual from afar. James Tilly Matthews wrote of a network of these devices operated by gangs across London in his journal during the late 18th century. The victims targeted by the loom, including Matthews himself, could experience everything from pain described as “stomach-skinning” to fits of laughter at the hands of the air loom crew.

James Tilly Matthews is also considered to be the first fully described case of what we now call schizophrenia.

I learned about this in Media Theory and Criticism — taught by the Chairman of Rhetoric and Media Ethan Stoneman — a course everyone ought to prioritize before they graduate.

Given Matthews’ condition, it seems the fantastic description of British gangs and mind control loses all use beyond imaginative intrigue. Luckily, imagination is a valuable educational tool: one that Stoneman’s media classes work to expand and mature.

media distorts the messages it delivers, and how people can live in a largely mediated world. We question the use of terms such as “the cloud” to describe technology with concrete but confusing hardware. We explore the effect that the unconscious involvement and creation that accompanies humans using machines to do their work affects art. These are just a handful of examples that embody an outlook and orientation that the class equips its students to develop and apply. The class examines the things that existed before most students were born, challenges the assumptions that have been accepted as part of the status quo, and gives conscious thought to things that have become unconscious. With this mindset has come a stronger sense of intellectual humility. I better understand that concepts I had never considered before have transformed our very language and perception of reality.

by whom civilization is at all likely to be preserved,” Lewis says. “Those who want Heaven most have served Earth best. Those who love Man less than God do most for Man.”

People who love something else more than politics will do most for politics. Ordinary citizens who love their lives and families more than politics will best preserve the culture, character, and life of our nation. Elections matter. The economy, foreign relations, abortion, immigration and numerous other public policy issues hang in the balance. But our eternal souls do not. The stakes next week are high, but they are not life shattering.

The air loom lecture isn’t the only one of its kind. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, the class examines technology and a facet of life that it has transformed. From the rapid pace of life influenced by cameras to the way literacy changed man in community to the decentralization of the human person in the modern age, Stoneman highlights how media affects more than merely conversations the culture chooses to spotlight.

Often, when I talk about my “media” classes, people immediately picture an iPhone, a computer, and potentially a newspaper or magazine. I had the same, narrow definition of media before I became a Rhetoric and Media major. As it turns out, media is a lot wider than Apple and the modern press. Media, as defined by media theorist Karen Barad, is anything that disseminates information that has been chosen from the vast expanse of what is. As a class, we examine how

Learning truths about the universal human experience has allowed me to appreciate what makes humans the same, but I do that naturally as a 22-year-old woman. Unlike the themes I tend to latch onto in a history, English, or philosophy class — the cyclical patterns and the core vices and virtues that unite us — this class forced me to consider how and why I wouldn’t be able to communicate with a 22-year-old woman from 100, 200, 300 years ago and beyond.

Stoneman, often indirectly, asks the class to reconsider what parts of the human experience had been mediated, perhaps since before we were alive, and what parts really were innate, unable to be changed or touched by the far-reaching arm of the technopoly. At the most, taking this class could unlock an unknown passion for all things media. At the least, students will think more deeply, more humbly, and more frequently about the things they may have never considered before.

in music

Sarah Katherine Sisk is a senior studying economics.

Illustrated by Maggie O’Connor, a sophomore studying art.

Jillian Parks is a senior studying Rhetoric and Media.

Moira Gleason is a junior studying English.

City News

St. Joe’s Café opens with pizza, pastries, cocktails

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

A new pizzeria and café opened in downtown Hillsdale Oct. 24.

Located at 92 N. Broad St., St. Joe’s Café serves Neapolitan-style pizza, salad, pastries, cocktails, and Ad Astra coffee.

“People can come together and work, but people can also come together to feast,” said Hannah Mincio, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Joshua. “We’re trying to do both, and central to any feast or celebration, or any community, is food.”

Offering eight kinds of pizza, a seasonal salad, three dessert options, and a limited drink menu, the Mincios said they intend to keep the menu simple.

Hannah and Joshua said they use local, organic ingredients, with most food either made in-house or sourced locally.

“The food that we’re making and serving has as many whole foods as possible,” Hannah said. “Every item is sourced intentionally, because with pizza, there aren’t that many

ingredients, so each ingredient matters a lot.”

The Mincios said they want the restaurant to bring together people from the college and the town.

“A lot of college folks don’t make their way into the town, and town folks don’t make their way into the college, so this is a space where those two worlds can meet,” Joshua said. “We wanted to create a beautiful space where people just gather.”

The Mincios said they designed the café to have a European feel, keeping its original-but-refinished floors, checkered marble tile, and parlor chairs.

“The largest inspiration for the design decision was having the space reflect our food. It’s simple, and everything is real,” Hannah said.

Joshua developed his love for working with dough while baking bread as a teenager in Oklahoma, selling about 60 loaves a week. He then learned to make Neapolitan pizzas in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Louisville, Kentucky, before coming to Hillsdale to start St. Joe’s with Patrick Whalen,

owner of Ad Astra Coffee.

“We found this building before my family found a house,” he said.

The Mincios said their Catholic faith inspires their work, including the name “St. Joe’s,” after both the local St. Joseph River and Joseph, the foster father of Christ.

“Christ is the bread of life, and St. Joseph was the guardian of Christ on earth, so he’s the protector of bread. And there’s a lot of bread around here,” Joshua said.

The couple sought to emulate Benedictine monasticism’s emphasis on hospitality in their business, according to Hannah.

“The spirit of hospitality, the spirit of work, and the spirit of prayer are all being packaged up into one, and it’s just impossible to pull apart these things for us,” she said. “Our work is our prayer, our prayer is our work. And we see this whole space as just an opportunity for hospitality.”

Junior Amelia Hilberg said she enjoyed her experience at St. Joe’s on its opening night.

“I think the restaurant’s very beautiful and very elegant,”

Family farmer, former school board member aims for Lansing

By Moira Gleason and Thomas McKenna News Editor & City News Editor

When Jennifer Wortz refused to wear a mask at a local health board meeting in the fall of 2021, police escorted her out within minutes.

About 18 months into the pandemic, the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency still required her son to wear a mask at school, and the mother of four “had just had it.” Wortz had staged a protest before. After her sixthgrade band teacher cursed at the class, she stood up and led her classmates out of the room.

“I have a high sense of justice,” Wortz said. “I don’t have a problem with good rules. But when rules are stupid, and expectations are put upon you that are not accurate or line up with truth, I buck that.”

The next band class, the teacher was gone, she said.

At the next tri-county health board meeting, Wortz brought about 20 maskless allies with her to speak against the rules during the time for public comment. But the board canceled the meeting because the attendees were not masked.

“That was the launch, if you will, into why I’m running for office,” Wortz said.

She’s the Republican candidate for the 35th State House of Representatives district, the strongly GOP district that includes Hillsdale County. Wortz is set to replace Rep. Andrew Fink, who is running for the state Supreme Court, but first she must defeat Democrat Don Hicks.

A Michigan State University agricultural communications major-turned-homeschooling mom of four, Wortz owns Central Grace Farms with her husband, Nathan.

She said she never intended to run for public office but felt called to step up. Wortz first got involved in politics when — frustrated with the

public education system — she ran for school board in Quincy in 2016 and won.

“I think no matter where God calls you, if you don’t have him at the forefront of your life, it doesn’t matter what you’re doing, it’s going to be hard for you and it’s going to be hard to change anything in any environment that you’re in,” she said.

With her father, Gary Leininger, serving as county treasurer in Hillsdale County and her mother serving on the school board, Wortz said her family modeled for her the importance of local politics and investing in the community. Her brother, Brent Leininger, is a Hillsdale County Commissioner.

“My dad and I probably have similar personalities in that right is right and wrong is wrong, and whether or not people agree with you, you’re going to pursue truth and stand up for truth,” Wortz said. “And that was the example I was given.”

Wortz said her father ran for treasurer because he experienced the effects of poor economic policy as a farmer trying to raise cattle and provide for his family. Wortz’s favorite meal as a child was “shit on a shingle” — chipped ham gravy on toast.

“It’s the cheapest meal you can ever eat,” Wortz said. “I never realized that it was terribly unhealthy. But it was cheap.”

During the pandemic, Wortz became even more frustrated by state and local masking requirements and other measures. Her family was not allowed to see her grandmother before she died.

“I watched my grandmother die alone here in

Hilberg said. “And everyone’s been very friendly and welcoming. Our server was lovely, and the pizza was amazing.”

Senior Nick Barrows said he liked the restaurant’s Neapolitan pizza as well as its European decor and ambience.

Hannah said she and her husband feel the restaurant was “built by love,” as they received help from students and members of the community to build their brick oven and assemble furniture. She said the staff also

fosters an environment of serving one another.

Junior David Meyers is a cook at St. Joe’s and a student who helped build the brick oven in the restaurant.

“Dinner time at the pizzeria is super busy, a little stressful, but a ton of fun,” he said. “After the shift ends, we all make a bunch of pizzas and just sit down and eat.”

Hillsdale County,” Wortz said. “We saw her on Thanksgiving Day. They brought her to a glass door. They cracked the door so we could say hi. And she died that Monday, alone.”

When Fink announced last fall he was running for state Supreme Court, Wortz almost stayed out of the race. She began looking for someone to replace Fink, but after attending the Michigan March for Life and later meeting Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford — her primary competitor for the Republican nomination — Wortz decided to run for the seat herself.

“There’s an attack on women, children, and the unborn,” Wortz said. “There’s some things that need to be said that a man in this day and age probably cannot say and not be annihilated.”

Wortz won the primary with 52% of the vote and even defeated Stockford — who came in second — in every ward in the City of Hillsdale except Ward 2, where she lost by only four votes. She said she knocked on 2,500 doors personally, and her team knocked on 10,000 doors during the campaign.

Wortz said her “big priority” is to repeal a new law that centralized solar panel project approval. After Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed the new law in November, a state government board can now override local government opposition to new solar panels.

“Returning that to local control is very important,” Wortz said.

But unless Republicans can flip at least one seat in the Michigan House of Representatives, Democrats will keep control of the governor’s mansion and both chambers of the state legislature — the “terrible trifecta,” Wortz calls it.

“If that doesn’t happen, people have asked ‘What are you going to do?’” Wortz said. “I’ve said, ‘Bang my head against a wall for two years in frustration.’”

By Joshua Mistry Collegian Reporter

Don Hicks decries a growing national debt, laments the spread of overbearing federal regulation, and calls himself “a firm believer in the free market.”

But the former public school teacher is running to represent the 35th State House of Representatives district as a Democrat.

“When I look at things nationally, I tend to take more of a social progressive view, and that is more aligned with the Democrats,” Hicks said.

Hicks is unlikely to win in the district, which current Michigan Rep. Andrew Fink, a Republican, won with 72% of the vote in 2022. Hicks’ opponent, Jennifer Wortz, won the Republican nomination with 52% of the vote after Fink announced his run for state Supreme Court.

Hicks said he understands he will likely lose Tuesday, but he is running anyway.

“When this opportunity came across my plate earlier this year, I had really enjoyed retirement, and I will continue to do so once the campaign is over, but I saw this as an opportunity for public service in a different way,” Hicks said. “I think there’s a sizable portion of red folks that will be voting for me.”

In the past two elections, the Democratic contender garnered 27% and 28% of the vote in Fink’s district.

“I think I’m going to do better than that,” Hicks said.

Hicks graduated from Michigan State University with a quadruple major in anthropology, psychology, philosophy, and history.

Teaching is his family business, he said, as both his parents were teachers in Amherst, Ohio, where he grew up.

“I had to bring home a paycheck, and the family business seemed to be teaching,” Hicks said.

He said he fell in love with teaching as a public school teacher in Bronson, Michi -

Senior Eleanor Vaughn, a hostess at St. Joe’s Café, said she enjoys the relationships and conversations between the staff members.

“I’ve never worked in a restaurant with that kind of service, just because everyone has gotten to know each other a little bit and is also a wonderful person,” Vaughn said. The restaurant is currently open for dinner Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 p.m., and the Mincios plan to announce lunch hours soon.

Former teacher calling for spending cuts, deregulation runs as Democrat

gan, where he worked for 34 years.

“I gave it a try and found that I really enjoyed it,” Hicks said. “I enjoyed being a public servant and impacting kids.”

While in Bronson he taught classes on government, history, psychology, and anthropology, but said he especially loved teaching economics.

His economic policy has put him at odds with state-level Democrats, who he said have given no funding and little volunteer support to his campaign.

“I think the free market imposes regulation by the invisible hand, as Adam Smith would say,” Hicks said.

Hicks also sees federal regulation and political control as a subversion of the federalism our country was founded

“If he had run as a Republican, he very well might have won.”

on.

“It shouldn’t be one size fits all,” Hicks said. “It should be more grassroots up where you have municipalities deciding what’s best for their geographic area.”

Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford said he thinks Hicks is a good candidate who appeals to a lot of voters.

“If he had run as a Repub-

lican, he very well might have won,” Stockford said. Stockford considers Hicks closer to the right than people might think.

“The guy is a lot more conservative than a lot of our ‘Republican’ officials in Hillsdale County,” Stockford said.

Fiscally he is, but as a self-proclaimed social progressive, Hicks said Democrat’s social stances keep him within their party.

“I consider myself a social progressive,” Hicks said. “It’s more of a matter of principle in terms of what government should and shouldn’t be doing and I guess I take more of a libertarian view on that.” If elected, Hicks wants to propose legislation that would align representatives’ interests with their constituents.

“One proposal is that a legislator’s pay either in the state House, Senate, or as governor, should be commensurate with the people that they represent,” Hicks said. “I think it’s rude and honestly kind of disrespectful to the taxpayer to say, ‘You’re making $55,000 and paying my wage, and I want to make at least 20 grand more than you.’” Hicks believes policies like this, as well as efforts to deregulate farming and education, can help bring bipartisanship back to Michigan.

“I see good legislation that dies on the vine, because it’s a zero sum game,” Hicks said. “If the Republicans have sponsored it, the Democrats are gonna vote against it, because there’s no common ground anymore and vice versa.” Despite this, Hicks said he holds out hope that local politics can return to solving issues rather than national agendas.

“I think there’s still room for bipartisanship, and I think you must put the interests of the people over the interests of the party,” Hicks said.

Joshua Mincio, Hannah Mincio, and their son Prosper Mincio in St. Joe’s Café.

Adriana Azarian | Collegian

Jennifer Wortz Courtesy | Jennifer Wortz

Don Hicks Courtesy | Don Hicks

Ava-Marie Papillon illustrated the new City News header, which includes local landmarks.

City council candidates make closing pitches

Ward 1, 3 candidates discuss road repairs, homelessness, and city-college relations

By Alessia Sandala and Catherine Maxwell

The City News Team

With Election Day less than a week away, City of Hillsdale residents are about to select four new city council members. The Collegian asked the candidates from the two most competitive races about road repair, homelessness, the Keefer project, the city’s relationship with the college, and their own top issues.

Jacob Bruns and Councilman

Tony Vear are running for Ward 1. Matt Kniffin and Bob Flynn are running for Ward 3.

What should be the city council’s top priorities?

Tony Vear (Ward 1): Roads, because in the past the council has always placed public safety, which includes police and fire, as a top priority. This current council has placed a higher priority on the roads. What that means is that we’re getting more funding to address the poor shape of many roads in Hillsdale. So, while maintaining a strong public safety, we need to address our street situation.

a better place to live, work, and raise a family, and that means focusing on crime, infrastructure, and roads (in that order).

Do you think special assessment districts are the best approach to fixing the city’s roads? If not, how would you change the city council’s strategy?

Special assessment districts require each property owner in a SAD to pay up to $5,000 to fund road repairs in the district.

Vear:

At our current stage, that’s the only way we can actually address some of the problems. I envision the college’s $2 million endowment in the Hillsdale County Community Foundation getting larger so going forward there could be less emphasis on SADs. But the bottom line is our current funding, even with SADs, makes it very difficult to address the problem because the roads have been neglected for so many years.

Jake Bruns (Ward 1): Dealing with crime and drug use; maintaining city infrastructure; protecting the city from state and federal overreach.

Bob Flynn (Ward 3): I feel the city’s top priorities should be the safety and security of its residents; continuing to improve infrastructure; working to bring more retail to the city, especially downtown; and restoring residents’ pride in their city.

Matt Kniffin (Ward 3): I want to help make Hillsdale

Bruns: Special assessments are the most efficient means of repairing the roads, but government is not a business; its standard is justice, not efficiency. There is room in the city’s budget to make up for special assessments.

Flynn: I am not a fan of Special Assessment Districts. However, it is currently the only course of action the city has to help pay for needed street repair. Councils of the past have kicked this problem down the road enough to where we are now stuck with major repairs, but failed to budget for those future street re-

pairs. We need to increase our tax base (residential, commercial, and industrial) so that street repair is more affordable.

Kniffin: Absolutely not. At a recent council meeting we were told that at the current pace our roads will always be in critically poor shape. We must come up with another strategy. I suggest we start investing in our ability to fix our own roads. I believe the only road work we currently do is pothole filling. The city will receive $2 million from the college over the next three years, and the city council can direct this money to improving the roads.

How should the city council approach homelessness in Hillsdale?

Vear: I believe that’s more of a role for charities and the churches. I look at that more as a state issue as opposed to the city itself taking on the homelessness situation.

Bruns:

The city council’s primary duty with respect to the homeless is to drive out the drug dens from the city.

Flynn: Homelessness isn’t just a City of Hillsdale problem. So, we need to work with the county commissioners, state and federal representatives on solutions to help the homeless. Our first priority should be to come up with a definition of “homelessness,”

then work from there –– maybe invite the private sector to open shelters or transition homes and seek out grants and other sources of funding as well. There have been homeless in Hillsdale for decades ––this is not a new problem. Finding a solution will take patience and time.

Kniffin:

First, “homeless” is a misnomer. To make an impact we have to recognize that there are different people in the “homeless” community. I would support the recommendations made by the city’s Homeless Task Force. A shelter with work and sobriety requirements could be helpful if run properly. We should crack down on drugs and have zero tolerance for vagrancy.

Should the City of Hillsdale make any changes to its relationship with Hillsdale College?

Vear:

We can address a lot of issues with the new endowment. Taking over the street for the hotel enables the college to do their mission and house the majority of those people coming in for the different functions on the Hillsdale campus. I think that is the main driving force for the college doing that. The college is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and when it buys properties the first thing it does is tear them down. So, from the city’s standpoint, we’re losing tax revenue. But I think

College Baptist breaks ground on expansion

By Sophia Bryant Collegian Freelancer

College Baptist Church broke ground on its 3,000-square-foot addition Oct. 13.

The expansion, called the 4:12 Center after Ephesians 4:12, will include a large multi-purpose gathering space for education and fellowship.

“The church was built in 1867 as a preaching hall,” College Baptist Pastor Rev. Ben Cuthbert said. “It was not built for the Christian education, fellowship, and ministry needs of the 21st century.”

Currently, the church gathers in a sanctuary, but there is not much space for classrooms, bathrooms, or congregating after the service, according to Capital Campaign Director and elder Bill Gray.

“The idea for the 4:12 Center was started to equip the saints for the work of ministry, and for the building up of the body of Christ, from Ephesians 4:12,” Gray said in an email.

The church plans to use the extra space to better train its congregation in evangelism and provide more space for fellowship among church members, according to Cuthbert.

“We hope to use the building for Christian education and training events for future pastors,” Cuthbert said. “It’s not about us or a building. It’s about expanding a physical footing to better equip our congregation to share the Gospel.”

Students and members of

College Baptist said they look forward to the new addition for the fellowship and ministry opportunities it will provide.

“The 4:12 Center will give us space to congregate after the service,” junior Jake Hamilton said. “It will help foster a multigenerational community between the college students and older members of the church.”

Currently, members congregate outside, in the lobby, or in the sanctuary after the service.

“The church was built for a smaller congregation,” sophomore Emelia Klaunduch said. “The building addition is a much needed answer to prayer as a way to invest in and continue ministry.”

According to Cuthbert, there were multiple designs for an expansion in the early 2000s and 2010s that were not pursued because the designs were not satisfactory and the funding was not yet in place. Beginning in 2021, the church began working with InForm Architecture and launched a successful capital campaign that continued the design development process.

In 2023, construction bids

for a 5,000-square-foot addition came in significantly over budget. So, the congregation voted in early 2024 to work through a redesign process that resulted in the 3,000-squarefoot addition that is now being built. Cuthbert said the project budget is approximately $2.1 million, but the church is facing a shortfall of just over $300,000 for the project as the building process begins and are praying that God will provide the funds.

Freshman Evie Gray said she has attended College Baptist since she was five years old.

“There have been plans for this building addition for decades,” she said. “Watching God open doors and bring the right people at the right time has been amazing. There’s a lot of excitement that it’s actually happening.”

The addition is expected to be complete by the fall of 2025.

“We are so thankful that this project is moving forward, and are especially grateful to all of the people from our congregation and connected to our congregation for their prayers and support,” Gray said.

going forward, the endowment is going to enable the perception from the people that live in Hillsdale that the college is contributing to the infrastructure and essential services.

Bruns: Hillsdale College has been here for a long time, so the city and college are bound together. Still, it would be good for the college to contribute more.

Flynn: I think the question should be the other way around: Should the college make any changes to its relationship with the city? Again, this isn’t a new issue — it’s been going on for decades. Both entities need to work together for the betterment of all. I think the college could be more cooperative in working with the city, as the city has been with the college, approving several projects over the past few years.

Kniffin:

They started bringing drywall in because the front supporting beams had to be reinforced, which was an unforeseen thing for the project. The only reason I would not is if all the work had ceased to happen. That undertaking has been plagued with many shortcomings. I think it is important that it continues, just from the historical standpoint of the Keefer House.

As I have been knocking on doors, I hear a lot of people talk about how the college should help the city more. The recent investment made by Hillsdale College in exchange for Galloway Drive will be helpful. The city council should make sure it spends money wisely and operates as efficiently as possible before it expects anyone to give money beyond what is legally required.

Would you vote to extend the deadline for the Keefer Hotel construction past Dec. 31? Why?

Vear: Chances are I would support it to get extended as long as they are progressing. There seems to be a good attempt to get it done.

By Lauren Bixler Circulation Manager

A new app available to Hillsdale residents offers notifications about weather and traffic advisories, city meetings and events, and payment reminders.

The My Hillsdale app is available for download on Android and iOS devices.

City of Hillsdale Marketing and Development Coordinator Sam Fry said the app allows the city and Board of Public Utilities to deliver information to the public in a more direct and efficient way.

“In particular, the BPU saw value in the ability to share real-time alerts with utility customers regarding power outages or utility service interruptions,” Fry said.

In February, the BPU applied for funding to implement a mass notification

Bruns: No. I understand why some would wish to keep the project going so as to finish what has been started. With that said, my opinion is that the city needs to cut its losses on this and stop undertaking these overly ambitious projects altogether. City government should instead worry about encouraging families to grow with lower taxes and an emphasis on public safety and good laws. It cannot guarantee specific economic outcomes.

Flynn: Yes, I would vote to extend the Keefer deadline past Dec. 31. Even though it’s way past the deadline, it’s too late to stop the project. The best hope is that it’s finished soon and can open and start to be successful.

Kniffin:

CL Real Estate has invested millions and it’s good that the city isn’t on the hook for having to tear that building down. Based on what I heard about construction, that may have been necessary without CL’s investment. As long as they are actively working on the building and preventing its collapse, the council should let them finish what they started.

system through the American Public Power Association.

The BPU received the grant award from the APPA, which provided complete funding for the development and implementation of the app, Fry said.

“Rather than build an app from the ground up, BPU partnered with GoGov, which specializes in providing mobile software to local governments of all sizes,” Fry said. “GoGov was able to work with us to design and set up the app within about a month of our project kick-off.” Fry said he encourages all city residents and BPU customers to download the app to stay engaged with what’s happening in the community.

City of Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford agreed.

“If you’re a resident, I would highly recommend it,” Stockford said.

Pastor Ben Cuthbert (middle) and the building committee break ground.

Courtesy | Rachel Cuthbert

City launches My Hillsdale app

Matt Kniffin (Ward 3)

Courtesy | Matt Kniffin

A painting of the planned addition to College Baptist Church. Courtesy | Inform Architecture

Bob Flynn (Ward 3)

Courtesy | Bob Flynn

Jacob Bruns (Ward 3)

Courtesy | Jacob Bruns

Tony Vear (Ward 1)

Courtesy | City Council

Sports Feature

Barnhart sent to fall league

By Luke Miller Collegian Reporter

Former Hillsdale stu-

dent-athlete Zane Barnhart was selected to compete in the 2024 Arizona Fall League

Sports Opinion

finish the final year of his degree after his baseball career is over.

His former coaches and teammates at Hillsdale attribute his professional opportunities to his hard work gers, and are enjoying seeing

“As a coach, it’s such an amazing feeling seeing one of your players realize their al baseball,” head coach Tom Vessella said. “The blueprint to be successful starts with the amount of work you put into your craft, and Zane worked his tail off in

cess is proof for ger athletes that they too can reach their goals as athletes through Hillsdale, according to former teammate and current senior pitcher

Though Barnhart was drafted to play professional baseball after his junior year of college, he said he plans on returning to Hillsdale to

am getting to face some of the best competition that I could right now, the best high-A, Double-A, and Triple-A hitters, and even some guys who have made it to the big leagues.” Barnhart said he has been successful against the competition thus far, appearing in five games for 3.1 innings, and recording four strikeouts

Games

Alphabet

Difficulty:

Each row and column contains 2 each of A, B, and C. The numbers around the border indicate the number of "pairs" of consecutive identical letters that appear in the row or column.

Hint: For a row or column with two pairs, the letter in the second position is always part of a pair.

Noughts & Crosses

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). Difficulty:

cess that Zane has had both as a Charger and reer encourages other players to strive toward the level that he has achieved taking the same path through Hillsdale that he did,” Scott said. “As a teammate, Zane pushed me to be the best ath lete and person I could be.”

Loveable losers are genuine contenders to win Super Bowl

By Luke Waters Collegian Reporter

Without a doubt, The Detroit Lions are genuine Super Bowl contenders this year. Some people doubt this statement or think that last year was their best shot, but that’s a misunderstanding of where this team is headed.

Last season, the Lions made it to the National Football Conference Champion ship, which would be consid ered a crowning achievement for most of the league. That win wasn’t just a fluke and the Lions aren’t just holding their ground; they’re getting stron ger.

Yes, the loss of Aidan Hutchinson, easily one of the best pass rushers in the league, stings. But this isn’t the same past Lions team that falls apart when one piece is gone. They have a defense that’s more than only Hutchinson, and Ben Johnson’s coaching of the offense has taken this team to a level not seen in a long time. Johnson's 5-1 record does not lie. Leading the NFC North by this much is no small feat, especially in a division with teams like the Minnesota Vikings. The Lions are playing like they have a point to prove. However, the doubters will point to their past failures,

both the lack of significant investments and the seemingly conservative approach by previous ownership. The old management played it safe, kept the wallet closed, and let the franchise coast on mediocrity. That era is over. When Sheila Ford Hamp came in, she spent money where it mattered. As of 2023, 56% of their budget went toward the offense, paying for the third most expensive quarterback

to feel proud about. They wouldn’t be favored unless people see something real. The NFC North is arguably the toughest division in the conference, yet they’ve clawed their way to the top, and they’re not letting go. This team is too determined to fall off. It is not just about talent, it is about mentality. They are not backing down and certainly don’t crumble under pressure.

And it’s showing. The trade for quarterback Jared Goff was genius in retrospect. He’s not Matthew Stafford, but he’s steady and maintains nearly identical statistics. Goff’s stability is the key for the team to finally find its identity. They recently dominated the Titans 52-14, and they’re favored to win in every game left on the schedule. This is a moment for every Lions fan

To dismiss the Lions now is shortsighted. Goff is playing like a leader, the offensive line is a brick wall, and the defense is tough—even without Hutchinson. The team and the city have been aching for a winning team, and now that they’ve tasted what it’s like to be a contender, they’re not going back to the old ways. This year, the Lions are better and hungrier, playing to win.

Volleyball

Chargers dispatch Northwood

By Ellie Fromm Assistant Editor

Hillsdale volleyball defeated the Northwood University Timberwolves 3-1 on Oct. 26 in Midland, Michigan.

The Chargers lost the first set to the Timberwolves 1525 and then came back to win the next three sets 25-23, 25-22, and 25-13.

“We were a little rusty off the bus,” head coach Chris Gravel said. “When you leave the bus, you’re supposed to bring your game with you. I think some of us left it on the bus, but after game one, we went back, got it, and brought it all seriously.”

The Chargers’ conference record is now 7-1 and they sit in first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference North standings.

Gravel’s overall record against the Timberwolves since he became head coach of the Chargers in 1996 is 2116, and since 2014 the Chargers have won 12 straight games against them, according to Chargers’ Director of Athletic Communications James Gensterblum.

“Northwood played really well in the first set and we just didn’t play our game. As soon as we settled down, we were fine,” Gravel said.

Senior hitter Lauren Passaglia was named G-MAC Volleyball Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row. Against the Timberwolves, she had 12 kills and a hitting percentage of 0.320, improving to 336 career Charger kills with a career hitting percentage of 0.232. Passaglia currently holds

eighth place in the G-MAC for her hitting percentage, according to a G-MAC press release.

Freshman Ellie Fles had eight kills and two blocks against the Timberwolves. She said she thinks the Chargers did well at exploiting the Timberwolves’ weaknesses in the last three sets.

“We got a lot of positive touches, which really helped our defense,” Fles said. “Then we were able to capitalize off those touches to be able to put the ball down.”

All three games for the volleyball team this week are at home. They play the Ursuline College Arrows Oct. 31 at 7 p.m. for Halloween Costume Party night. Then, they are set to play the Ashland University Eagles Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. for Community Night and Raise The Roof Night. On Saturday, Nov. 2, they play the Lake Erie College Storm at 5 p.m. for Senior Day and Blue Out.

“Anytime we can get three wins in the same week, it’s a big week,” Gravel said. “It’s good practice for postseason, because for postseason, to win anything you’ve got to win three times.”

Besides the Chargers, the Eagles are the only team in the G-MAC to have only one loss on their conference record. They are first in the G-MAC South standings. The Chargers have overcome the Ashland volleyball team five of the last six times they have faced off, according to Gensterblum.

According to Gravel, the game against Ashland will likely determine who will host the G-MAC tournament.

Sophomore Greta Wise, who had 12 kills and one block over the weekend, said the Chargers approach every game with the same mindset regardless of their opponent.

“The Ashland game is very important to the team for the sake of hosting G-MACs, but we do approach every game the same,” Wise said. “So we’re still working hard, still pushing to be our best every day, and approaching it just like any match, because they’re all important matches.”

From

Dancing is an artistic sport

By Kathryn Vieceli Collegian Reporter

Dancing is considered an artistic sport, so does that mean that it is a sport or art form? Art is motion less, like painting, or con sists of walking, like that of theatrical plays or musicals. However, dancing requires extensive movement like cardio, but with the addi tion of telling a pleasant sto ry. Dancing is a sport that is artistic.

As a dancer of 12 years, hearing that dancing is not a sport is one of the most in furiating comments. These people claim they do not see how dancing or cheerlead ing could be a sport because it is only movement-based. However, dancing requires intense movement, devel ops memory and interper sonal skills, and proves to be good for mental and physical health.

sical realm of ballet provides many opportunities to dance. Incredible directors such as Ben Stevenson, who choreographed the traditional version of the “Nut-

attest to the hard work, dedication, and level of physical activity required for that spectacular performance.

Yes, dancing requires a different type of athletic training than other generic contact sports. More movement means more energy, which burns more calories. Dancing engages the entire body and the entire mind while toning the body through repetition and developing the mind through memorization.

Dancing is a powerful way to develop skills and personal growth. The clas-

environment of growth. Like other sports, it requires blood, sweat, tears, cardio, coordination, and mental exertion. Whether it is memorizing thousands of vocabulary words for dance, learning and performing hundreds of dances, or developing interpersonal skills for coordinating routines, dancing is a complex task both mentally and physically. Even those who performed in the highly anticipated “mock rock” can

Men's Basketball

Dancing has been proven to be the most effective exercise for good mental health. A University of Sydney study found that dance can improve cognition, social interactions, and psychological well-being.

Not only are there mental benefits, but there are physical ones. Dancing reduces the risk of heart disease and moderately intense dance improves heart health, according to a GoodRx article written by a health journalist and reviewed by a doctor.

Dancing is the most expressive form of movement. After all, every sport requires performance, and dancing requires a stage for that performance. Despite the uneducated and inexperienced critique of dancers, dancing is an intense physical and mental sport. Give it a try before asserting other claims.

SAAC hosts Trunk-or-Treat

By Elaine Kutas Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale students donned Halloween costumes and passed out candy to dressedup children for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee’s fourth annual trunk-ortreat Oct. 27. Students and teams decorated their cars, wore costumes, and set up a mini basketball hoop, T-ball, puttputt, and Nerf gun games for the kids to play with the athletes.

Carly Callahan, a senior on the women’s basketball team, said she thinks it is important for student-athletes

to connect with the community.

“The idea behind trunkor-treat is to get our student-athletes to engage with the community,” Callahan said. “The more community engagement we have, the more attendance we’re going to get at games, plus it’s just fun to involve kids in our athletic programs.”

The SAAC creates opportunities in the community for student-athletes to become more connected with a supportive community, according to Hilsdale’s SAAC webpage. The group also recognizes athletes’ academ-

ic successes. It hosts many events throughout the year, including trunk-or-treat and The Charlies Award Ceremony, and raises funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Alysha Katterheinrich, a junior on the cheer team, said this year is the cheer team’s first time participating in trunk-or-treat.

“This is our first year getting involved in the community, which is really great,” Katterheinrich said. “I love seeing the kids coming out and some of the girls like to hold our pom poms which makes it so fun to interact with them.”

Some teams are beginning to be involved in the community, but others give their time weekly to the broader Hillsdale community, according to sophomore tennis player Ané Dannhauser. The women’s tennis team specifically prioritizes community engagement on a weekly basis.

“We’ve been reading at the preschool doing book buddies every week,” Dannhauser said. “We’re also hopefully going to do a community tennis tournament to get professors and community members involved with our team.”

Chargers fall to Divison I Central Michigan in opening scrimmage

By Kirsten Lopez Collegian Freelancer

The Chargers played in an exhibition match against Central Michigan University last Sunday, Oct. 27 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, falling to the NCAA Division I Central Michigan Chippewas 90-63.

The Chargers were voted second in the 2024-25 Great Midwest Atheltic Conference Men’s Basketball Preseason Coaches Poll, behind Kentucky Wesleyan College.

Senior forward Joe Reuter and junior guard Ashton

Janowski both led the Chargers in points, scoring 12 apiece. Senior forward Charles Woodhams led the team in rebounds, bringing in 10 and scoring eight points, just two points short of a double-double.

Coming into his second season as head coach of the Charger men’s basketball team, Coach Keven Bradley is excited for the upcoming season and grateful for the opportunity to play Central Michigan in a preseason exhibition game.

“It’s a great tuneup for our

kids and our program to get them ready for our season,” Bradley said. “It really allows us to play against some fantastic athletes and fantastic coaches that we’re very grateful for.”

The biggest takeaway for Bradley from Sunday was that the team is still a work in progress and there were a lot of things they still need to clean up.

“There were some positives, and I’m happy we played well in some spurts, we just didn’t maintain that over a long 40-minute game,” Brad-

ley said. “But we had some moments that we played well and did some good things.”

The Chargers graduated only one player last year, guard Sam Vasiu ‘24. This means the team is returning the majority of its core players, and will rely on their veterans and experience. The only new addition to this experienced group is freshman guard Tommy Morgan from Brunswick, Ohio.

Morgan’s decision to commit to Hillsdale was originally influenced by his connection to Hillsdale men’s basketball alumnus Kyle Goessler ‘23.

Morgan is excited about the season and the opportunity to play collegiate basketball.

“My goal is just to learn as much as possible,” Morgan said. “It’s been a learning process to get used to the speed and strength of the college level and trying to be the best I can possibly be.”

The team is also looking to capitalize on the strength of their experience.

“It’s a huge opportunity. In the past having older teams helped develop the younger guys,” senior guard Cole McWhinnie said. “The longer

you’re here the more experience leads to a better quality of play to make a big run.” Janowski also emphasized how everyone’s development and training over the summer break was integral to the start of the season.

“We’ve come back more vocal and comfortable in our own skin, with a sense of what is expected and how to push each other’s buttons,” Janowski said.

The Chargers open their season at home against Saginaw Valley State University on Nov. 8.

Charger chatter

Megan Clifford, SwiMMing

What’s the weirdest way someone has tried to impress you?

Singing me “Treasure” by Bruno Mars in a school talent show.

Would you rather be an average person in the present or a queen of a large country 2500 years ago?

An average person in the present because I like Netflix, Tik Tok and modern technology too much.

Compiled by Megan Li

Which vegetables give you anxiety?

Mushrooms, broccoli and cauliflower. I can’t stand to even look at them.

What is something you learned embarrassingly late in life?

The difference between right and left. I still have trouble remembering which is which!

Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

PHOTOS COURTESY | ELAINE KUTAS

Charger Sports

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Cross Country wins first conference title in 24 years

By Elaine Kutas Collegian Reporter

The men’s cross country team won its first-ever title in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference on Oct. 26 as the team hosted the championship meet at Hayden Park.

The women’s team placed third, with freshmen Evyn Humphrey and Allison Kuzma finishing first and second in the six kilometer race, respectively. Humphrey earned G-MAC Runner of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors for her performance this season, while Kuzma received runner-up honors.

Halfway through the men’s race, the Chargers were trailing the favored winner University of Findlay by 22 points. During the final four

kilometers of the meet, the top five Hillsdale men overcame the deficit to win the meet by 10 points.

Senior Richie Johnston led the Charger men in the eight-kilometer race and finished in fourth place overall with a personal best time of 24:57, breaking the 25-minute mark for the first time.

Junior Gabe Phillips finished seventh overall, and senior Ross Kuhn came in just behind Phillips in eighth place, with both Phillips and Kuhn also marking personal best times. All three finishers received first-team All-G-MAC honors for their performances.

Hillsdale men’s fourth and fifth finishers, who overcame 21 opposing racers combined during the second half of the

meet, propelled their team to first place. Sophomore Caleb Youngstedt finished in 14th place and junior Nathaniel Osborne in 16th place, both recording more than 30 seconds of improvement on their personal best times. Youngstedt and Osborne were awarded second-team All-G-MAC honors for their accomplishments during the race. According to Kuhn, the team was in high spirits leading up to the race.

“Before the race, I was very calm and dancing to the music, just having fun,” Kuhn said. “During the race, I just thought about getting into the top 10 and getting through the first six kilometers as easily as possible and then pushing hard to the finish.”

Despite predictions by the

U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association that placed Hillsdale third behind The University of Findlay and Walsh University, Kuhn said the team anticipated the win.

“This was a great win for the team, but one that we honestly expected,” Kuhn said. “Even if the rankings did not agree, we knew we were the best team coming into this race.”

This win marks not only the first conference win in 24 years, but the first win since entering the G-MAC. Coach R.P. White was recognized by the G-MAC and awarded the Coach of the Year for his dedication to Charger cross country. This is the first time a Hillsdale cross country coach has received this title since

coach Bill Lundberg was recognized in 2000 with his conference champion team.

The women’s team placed third overall, as predicted, behind Walsh University and Cedarville University.

Following freshmen Humphrey and Kuzma in first and second, sophomore Savannah Fraley finished in 17th and earned second-team All-GMAC honors for the second straight season. Sophomore Eleanor Clark placed 32nd overall, and senior Kayla Loescher took 42nd.

Both Humphrey and Kuzma said they were nervous before their first collegiate conference, but they felt strong during the race.

“I knew there was going to be a lot of competition from Cedarville and that the race

was going to be hard,” Humphrey said. “During the race, I felt controlled for the first four kilometers, and by the time I had taken the lead position, I felt tired but pushed through to the finish.”

Kuzma said she appreciated the fans who spurred her on in her final push.

“Toward the end of the race, I started to feel tired, but all the support on the course from the track team and families helped push me to give everything I had and secure second place,” Kuzma said.

The men’s and women’s teams will compete next at the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Nov. 9 at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois for a chance to qualify for the national meet.

Football Kentucky Wesleyan embarrassed at their homecom ing

By Alex Deimel Senior Reporter

You could hear a pin drop by the end of Kentucky Wesleyan College's homecoming game as the Charger football team destroyed them 41-7 and earned its third win of the season and back-to-back wins for the first time this year.

The Chargers set the tone for the game in the very first play as sophomore wide receiver Shea Ruddy took the opening kickoff all the way back for what would have been his third kick return touchdown if not for a holding call. Nevertheless, sophomore quarterback Colin McKernan handed the ball off to senior wide receiver Logan VanEnkevort who took the ball 75 yards for six points on the second play from scrimmage.

“I was super blessed to be

able to play this week. I was injured for a while so it was great to come back healthy,” VanEnkevort said. “The team execution made it very easy for me to put up some yardage, the offensive line was blocking their tails off and receivers were doing their job on the exterior and downfield.”

VanEnkevort had a career high 175 rushing yards, as well as two touchdowns and an average of 14.6 yards per carry, bringing his total to 423 rushing yards this season. In addition to VanEnkevort, redshirt freshman running back Zach Tetler contributed 32 rushing yards and two touchdowns, his fourth straight game with a touchdown this year. The Charger offense finished with a combined total of 292 rushing yards.

With such an emphasis on the ground game, sophomore

quarterback Colin McKernan recorded only 12 passing attempts, but he completed five of them and also scored a rushing touchdown in the second quarter.

“We definitely earned this win as a team,” McKernan said. “Personally I have a lot of things to work on but as a team we played well as a cohesive unit.”

Redshirt freshman tight end Andrew Konieczny led the Chargers in receiving with two catches for 51 yards, including a 38-yard reception in the third quarter. Also catching passes were redshirt sophomore David Dorn and freshman Tutt Carrico, as well as senior tight end Ty Williams.

The defensive dominance was just as high as the offensive on Saturday for Hillsdale. Senior defensive back Matt Soderdahl had his third interception in the last two

games, and this time he ran the ball back 35 yards for his first career pick six.

“Getting these turnovers has been great,” Soderdahl said. “That’s my first pick six since I was like 14 so it was awesome to see after all of the work we put in during the off-season.”

Sophomore defensive back Cos Davis also had an interception for the Chargers, his first in a Charger uniform. The Charger defense combined for three sacks and five tackles-for-loss. Sophomore defensive end Drake Bad-

ger earned his team-leading fifth sack of the year, while senior defensive back Vince Francescone led the Chargers with six total tackles.

“We totally cut out the simple mistakes we’ve been making the past few weeks,” Soderdahl said. “We came out hot and we finished hot.”

The Chargers improved to 3-5 with the win, and now have three games remaining in the 2024 conference season, with two of those games on home turf. Hillsdale will host the Thomas More Saints for Military Appreciation

Day this Saturday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m., followed by the annual Senior Day game against Great Midwest Athletic Conference rival the Tiffin University Dragons on Nov. 9, at 1 p.m.

“The biggest key will be playing on the momentum we’ve generated these last two games,” VanEnkevort said. “It finally feels like we got a win that we can be proud of, and although we have a lot to work on, this was a game we can look back on and say that we beat them up and down the field.”

C U L T U R E

Opera Workshop performs ‘Highlights in Harmony’

By Olivia Pero Outreach Director

Vocal students performed scenes from operettas, operas, and musicals in the eighth annual Opera Workshop Oct. 25 and 26.

“Each night, we sang to a full house and were rewarded with a standing ovation,” said Emily Douglass, co-director of the opera workshop and voice coordinator, opera director, and artist-teacher of music. “This warm response is deeply meaningful to each of us as artists.”

This year’s theme, “Highlights in Harmony,” included melodies in the grand opera

tradition, said Kristi Matson, instructor of voice and co-director of the opera workshop.

“It featured works from composers such as Offenbach, Humperdinck, and Bizet, as well as some lighter fare from Gilbert and Sullivan’s operettas and Broadway favorites from Rodgers and Hammerstein,” Matson said.

Matson said it was a lively audience of students, faculty, and community members both evenings.

“I found the audience for both shows to be very receptive. It was obvious they were highly amused and engaged during each scene,” Matson said. “It was magical to watch

the students come alive under the spell of the audience’s praise.”

Douglass said each show was filled with expressive singing and compelling acting.

“We are immensely proud of the dedication all of our singers and pianists exhibited during the rehearsals and performances,” Douglass said. “They explored a diverse range of repertoire, from musical theater to operetta and opera, performing in Italian, French, and German.”

Mastering each of these genres requires dedication, including learning vocal and acting techniques — and of -

Hacks for Saga meals

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

When everything from the cereal to the salad bar is fair game, students get creative in the dining hall. Having many meals’ worth of experience, they shared tricks to making Metz’s food in the Knorr Family Dining Room to their taste.

Saga’s soft-serve ice cream machines are many students’ favorite, but some put a twist on it.

“I’ve found mixing hot chocolate powder with chocolate ice cream makes a much richer flavor than just regular chocolate ice cream,” junior Luke Becker said. “Also, two pumps of hazelnut creamer from the coffee station go well with the ice cream.”

Junior Meredith Vanderweide said she enjoys putting ice cream in coffee to create something like a coffee milkshake.

“It’s really good,” she said. “It really helps you survive the day.”

Saga’s toaster, microwave, waffle irons, and panini press also lend themselves to various culinary creations.

ten navigating foreign languages, Douglass said.

“Each scene was chosen specifically to suit the voice type and talents of each singer, a skill Kristi Matson and I approach thoughtfully to ensure that every performer feels supported and successful in their work,” Douglass said.

Freshman Aidan Bauer performed Lucy Simon’s “Lily’s Eyes” from the musical “The Secret Garden.” Bauer said he felt that his performance was well prepared and well received.

“What the audience got out of the performance is God’s line of work,” Bauer said. “He is the reason art has any meaning.”

Bauer said he thought the workshop was successful and everyone who attended it enjoyed the performances.

“Among those were friends, relatives, and staff, who had many kind and praising things to say,” Bauer said.

Paul Lindauer ’24, a first year in Hillsdale’s Graduate School of Classical Education, performed in three performances at the workshop. Lindauer even filled in for Bauer who was sick for the final show on Saturday, Bauer said. “I got to have incredi

ble variety, performing as a pompous windbag charac

ter from Gilbert and Sulli

van, and then a few minutes later, as Captain

from ‘The Sound of Music,’” Lindauer said. Lindauer also said he enjoyed seeing the newer performers improve with the opportunity to be main characters for their scenes.

“Opera workshop is a great opportunity for students to get performance experience without committing to an entire show,” Lindauer said. “Professors Douglass and Matson very thoughtfully assigned scenes and roles for student growth as well as entertainment.”

Greek Spotlight: Chi Omega raises $1,600 in first Wish Week

“It was born out of freshman desperation,” Oldenburg said. “I wanted something tasty and calorie dense but also somewhat healthy.”

Junior Annika Monson created a dessert version of a taco using ingredients from the waffle and ice cream bar.

“So your tortilla shell is going to be a classic waffle, and from there you want to add any sweet topping — I personally want to put fruit from the waffle bar on mine, so you could do that,” Monson said. “You’re probably going to put some ice cream on there, maybe some sprinkles, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream.”

Senior Gwen Thompson explained the key to creating a Saga salad is assessing the available salad toppings before filling one’s plate.

“If the black beans and corn are there, then it’s a good day for a Texas salad,” Thompson said. If the blue cheese is there, it’s a good day for a balsamic salad. But if the chickpeas, tomatoes, and pepperoni are there, then it’s a great day for a Greek salad.”

Senior Clare Oldenburg said she uses the panini press to create the “pizza sandwich,” which is made up of two slices of pizza with salad bar ingredients inside, such as spinach, green peppers, tomatoes, and cheese.

VanDerWeide said she enjoys using toppings from the salad bar to make her own dishes.

“If they have plain rice, I would go to the salad bar and get carrot or cucumbers and then I put soy sauce on it, and it’s like my own little Asian medley,” VanDerWeide said.

“Another thing I really enjoy is making my own bruschetta: I toast an English muffin, and then I add tomatoes, cucumbers, maybe some balsamic vinegar and olive oil. It’s really good, healthy, Mediterranean, and it brings me a lot of joy.”

Between the salad bar and the often long burger line, the soup bar is another convenient option for lunch and dinner.

“Don’t skip the soup station. Sometimes they’ll have really great options and you’ll get to skip the long lines, especially when you’re craving warm food in winter,” senior Caitlin Filep said.

Filep said the best tip for navigating the dining hall is engaging with the employees.

“I’ve loved getting to know them over the course of four years,” she said. “It’s always going to make their day when you make an effort to remember them and call them by name.”

By Cassandra Devries Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale College’s Chi Omega sorority hosted their annual fundraiser for the Make-AWish Charity, known as “Chi O Coffeehouse” on Saturday, Oct. 25 from 7:30 to 11p.m.

“For it being a night crazy full of campus activities, we had an awesome turnout,” senior Dorothy Roland said. “I think that’s a real testament to the number of acts we got from all across campus. Everyone was so very supportive of their friends and then stayed for everyone else.”

Throughout the evening, 12 student music or comedy acts performed while their peers listened, chatted, ate donuts, and sipped coffee at the Chi Omega house.

“I was surprised by how cool the setting was,” Junior Elijah Pangrazio said. “The lighting and atmosphere were very homey.”

Pangrazio said he and his friends had not heard of the event before and were not sure what to expect.

“I think ultimately we went because Danny Doyle was playing,” Pangrazio said. “And then we were like, ‘Oh, this is a cool event.’”

For the first time, this year’s Coffeehouse was the final event after a week of philanthropic events to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which junior Sophia Widmer ran as the sorority’s philanthropy chair.

“I think that having Coffeehouse at the end of the week was a great way to build momentum for the event,” Widmer said. “Having new events

throughout the week was a great way to shift the focus from just being about the one annual event we put on, to the philanthropy itself and focusing on why we raise money — ultimately it’s about supporting Make-A-Wish and providing the means to impact actual children that are struggling.”

Throughout the week, Chi Omega raised $1,608 towards Make-A-Wish, according to Widmer.

“Sophia put in so much work and really pulled it off,” junior Kat Townley said. “[Coffeehouse] is my favorite event of the year, and she killed it.” Roland said one of her favorite performances was freshman Ryan Conley, who sang Zach Bryan, Noah Kahan, and then an original song.

“The piece he wrote himself was awesome,” Roland said. “It was a soulful country artist sound, and he was phenomenal.”

Junior Elena Hedrick also sang at Chi O Coffeehouse.

“I had never performed live before or really performed at all,” Hedrick said. “It was a really welcoming environment to do it, and so I was really excited. It was on my college bucket list.” Pangrazio said he would love to go back again next year.

“I’m really a big fan of that sort of event — something very mellow and nice to do after a long week of school,” Pangrazio said. “We just sat down, listened to some live music, drank some coffee, and enjoyed the evening.”

-

von Trapp

Ezra Blackwell and Jillian Parks perform. Cassandra Devries | Collegian

Students perform at Opera Workshop.

Courtesy | Kyle Johns

U L T U R E

Alumni band Lost Mary boasts 63,000 listeners

By Colman Rowan Culture Editor

After graduating from Hillsdale in 2017, Lost Mary band members Luke Martin and David Johnson rejected the nineto-five teaching jobs they were offered and began walking the tracks with packed bags, hoping to hop a train.

After walking for four days and seeing no trains, they discovered a crucial problem: Trains had not run on these tracks in Michigan since the 1950s.

They decided to switch to hitchhiking, getting picked up several times using a sign that read “rabies-free since July,” Martin said.

After making it to Cincinnati, the pair eventually returned to Hillsdale in fall of 2021 and started a painting company which they currently operate with a friend. In addition to

painting, Johnson and Martin decided to put serious effort into revamping Lost Mary, the band they had started as students.

Lost Mary has been rising in the charts recently, now boasting more than 63,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, following the release of its Oct. 2024 extended play “Arcadia.”

As students, the two were in a band composed of members of

Phi Mu Alpha, the men’s music fraternity now called Theta Epsilon. The band, called Deaf Davey and the Wine Boxes, was in part named after Johnson, who at that time was nearly deaf in both ears.

The two came up with the name Lost Mary in 2017 before recording their 2018 album of the same name.

“We wanted something more memorable in a way,” Martin said. “So we thought of the different connotations: there’s the Catholic idea with it, you know, Mother Mary, but then also there’s the other idea of Mary Jane, and there are others.”

Johnson interrupted: “We wanted a name that if someone heard it, they would be like, ‘What the hell does that mean?’”

On the path to their current and growing musical success, the two made many detours.

After their hitchhiking trek and before returning to Hillsdale, they decided to go to Mexico, but ran out of money in Colorado. For some time the two lived out of Johnson’s car in a parking lot up a mountain near Buffalo Bill’s grave in Golden, Colorado.

“My car was having issues,” Johnson said. “So some mornings, to get to work, we had to just turn the car off and coast all the way down the hill for like eight miles.”

Martin added, “there were some mornings we would wake up and the car was just covered in snow. And that’s when we realized, we can’t do this.”

Eventually they found themselves teaching at a classical school in Florida but there was a problem: Johnson’s hearing was operating at about 30% of its original capacity due to a rare disease called cholesteatoma. This medical issue drew

them back to Michigan to see a specialist in Detroit — Johnson’s first visit to a doctor in six years.

In the spring of 2024, Johnson had surgery to repair his hearing almost entirely in one of his ears. During past recording sessions and music creation he would have to figure out different ways to hear the music he played.

“To play guitar,” Johnson said, “what I would do to make sure I was playing the right stuff was close my teeth, and then

producer. Martin said the band plans to release a single from it before the year’s end.

One of the band’s more popular songs on Spotify is named “Donnybrook,” after an off-campus house they lived in which is now owned by the college.

The two members said Donnybrook formed them because the house had a history.

“There was a bunch of weird, almost demonic stuff going on in the house,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t that we were doing de-

stick my chin on the guitar to feel the vibrations.”

Before the surgery, when they recorded “Arcadia” in spring of 2023 with a Montreal-based folk producer, Johnson’s hearing had declined to just 20% of its original capacity, he said.

“The producer, Tyler, had the volume cranked up to the highest setting on the headphones just so I could hear it,” Johnson said.

After recording “Arcadia,” Lost Mary recorded an album this summer with the same

monic things. It was just like that. And we heard from previous generations of the Donnybrook — the people who lived there before — that they had experienced pretty similar things.”

Martin said he remembered some of the weird goings on of Donnybrook.

“During the time we were there, there was demonic stuff for sure,” Martin said. “Seven out of the eight guys all had sleep paralysis. There was a poltergeist once. One evening, we smelled sulfur in the house, just

this strong scent of sulfur, in the middle of winter.”

The song named after the house references some of these happenings, in part as an inside joke that former residents can understand, while also remaining cryptic enough for unknowing listeners to ponder.

“Some of the lyrics are even in reference to old Donnybrook stories we heard from people who lived there before us,” Martin said. “So in some way we’re trying to make light of it, but also its just an acknowledgment of like, ‘Oh, here’s some weird, crazy stuff that happened.’”

Lost Mary’s popularity comes from their recorded music, not live performances, but it wants to nail down its live sound soon, Martin said.

The band played at homecoming this year and a few other places around Hillsdale, but hopes to perform more once the next album comes out. They have a hard time adjusting to the live scene, Martin said.

“I think at the end of the day we strive to be religious people. We’re both Catholic, but it can be very tough because if you’re pursuing something like music you have to have an ego to move past the stage fright,” Martin said. “We aren’t those people, we don’t like to do that.”

Joel Calvert ’16 co-owns a studio called Hot Salad Records, where Lost Mary members do side work such as lessons in and where senior Greg Whalen recorded his EP “America Deployed.” Calvert called himself an “enabler” of the band, prompting the recording of their first album in 2017 with his equipment.

“We wound up living together in the summer after I graduated, and I said, ‘Let’s just record something and see how it goes.’

And we did.” Calvert said he was impressed with their ability when he first heard them play.

“I think that Luke has a really good ear for things that are beautiful — they each bring a different strength to the band,” Calvert said. “DJ (Johnson) has

an ear for the more percussive elements, and knows how to build on a song — how to fill it out and help it take shape with instrumentation. Lost Mary wouldn’t really work without both of them.”

Vincent Canete owns a cleaning business in town and has known Martin and Johnson for 10 years, often helping them with performances.

“I think a lot of the time there’s a sort of wall when it comes to musicians — they’ll only go so far and then maybe drop,” he said. “Whereas they have consistently taken the next step into bettering their music. They’re willing to make investments in their own business or into their own band, and have actually seen growth in it. You can see those numbers on Spotify — you just have to look at their monthly listeners and the number of views to see that growth.”

Babylon Bee movie undercuts media narrative

By Catherine Maxwell Assistant Editor

“Certain dates echo throughout history,” Vice President Kamala Harris said in a speech on Jan. 6, 2022. “Dates that occupy not only a place on our calendars, but a place in our collective memory. Dec. 7, 1941. Sept. 11, 2001. And Jan. 6, 2021.” Harris’ speech reflects the liberal trend to equate the events of Jan. 6 — when conservative protesters, some violent and some peaceful, forced their way into the U.S. Capitol, leading to one being shot and killed — with acts of war and terrorism.

But after almost four years of extensive coverage from media and Democrats, most people don’t realize that Alexandria Occasio-Cortez died “over seven times” that day, or

Professors’

that thousands of Trump supporters covered the Capitol walls like terrifying, rightwing Spider-men while a colossus Buffalo Guy cackled in the sky above them.

These are just some of the fictional details The Babylon Bee exposes in its new mockumentary “January 6: The Most Deadliest Day.”

The satirical movie — the Bee’s first feature-length film — is the best way to treat the outlandish claims about mass riots and attacks on democracy. The mockumentary acknowledges the seriousness of what happened — the film is dedicated to Ashli Babbitt, a Trump supporter who was the only person who died at the Capitol — but refuses to pretend Jan. 6 is as problematic as 9/11 or Pearl Harbor.

The movie stars Bee Edi-

tor-in-Chief Kyle Mann as fictional journalist Garth Strudelfudd. Strudelfudd attempts to confirm the premise that Jan. 6 was as bad as the terrorist attacks of 9/11 or the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.

During his journey, Strudelfudd meets with conservative figures Michael Knowles and Dennis Prager and comes faceto-face with violent insurrectionists like Buffalo Guy and Podium Guy.

The Babylon Bee’s satirical brilliance undercuts the media narrative surrounding Jan. 6 with nonstop humor that frames serious arguments.

One Jan. 6 protestor was held in prison for two years without trial and convicted of six felonies; the protester who moved the lectern spent 300 days in solitary confinement and 41

months in prison; and a grandmother who was present at the Capitol was fined $103,000.

Meanwhile, media and Democrats celebrated Black Lives Matter protesters who rioted, looted, and took 13 lives during the summer of 2020.

“Prominent Democrat politicians encouraged [the Black Lives Matter protests],” Knowles says. “The current vice president of the United States actually raised money to bail these people out of jail.”

Amongst the satire, the film highlights true stories from people at the Capitol. Siaka Massaquoi, a conservative actor, filmed himself entering the Capitol building — the video shows him standing in the entrance for 71 seconds and leaving at the police’s request.

Months after Jan. 6, the FBI

raided Massaquoi’s home. In November 2023, police arrested him and charged him with “disorderly and disruptive conduct” and “parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.”

As Strudelfudd finds mounting evidence that the media’s narrative has misrepresented what actually happened at the Capitol, he refuses to change his mind, preferring to zap his interviewees into the Phantom Zone — an extra-dimensional prison from DC Comics. His character represents Democrats’ commitment to persecuting their political enemies.

But the movie includes normal Americans in the conversation. Contrary to liberal belief, most people interviewed did not remember exactly where they were on Jan. 6. Interviews

with Republican women reveal people who care about their country, not violent extremists. It’s also the Bee’s next move in its fight for free speech.

As Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon explained in a September speech at Hillsdale College, the Bee’s refusal to remove content mocking transgenderism helped convince Elon Musk to buy Twitter (now X). The Bee also announced a lawsuit against California’s recent anti-deepfake law.

The movie is available to premium subscribers on The Babylon Bee’s website. Even if it’s just to watch the movie, consider supporting the Bee’s campaign for free speech. Or just to find out if Dennis Prager really controls a Jewish space laser.

Picks: Christina Lambert, assistant professor of English

“Paul Revere” by Noah Kahan and Gregory Alan Isakov (2022)

“Paul Revere” by Noah Kahan with Gregory Alan Isakov. Don’t sleep on this collaboration between everybody’s favorite grumpy New England folk pop star and that lovely farmer singer Isakov. And if you haven’t listened to Isakov’s album with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra, do that too while you’re at it.

“The Resistance to Poetry” by James Longenbach (2004) “You’ve Got Mail” (1998) and others

This slim text is a worthwhile read for longtime poetry fans and (soon to be) lovers of poetry. With the language of a poet and a critic, Longenbach writes that the wonder we experience when reading a poem comes from the writer rendering the familiar strange again. The result? “We are no longer free to be bored because we can no longer be knowing; we are humbled.” The work is replete with beautiful close readings and explanations of poetic form that will remain with you like a favorite line of poetry.

You see those fall leaves outside? That means it’s time to rewatch “You’ve Got Mail,” “The Village,” and “October Sky.”

Compiled by Colman Rowan Culture Editor

Lost Mary members on a street corner in Mishawaka, Indiana. COURTESY | Evan gage

Martin and Johnson on a corner in Montreal, Canada. The photo is the “Arcadia” album cover and was taken by the producer the morning before they headed into to the studio to record the EP.

COURTESY | Tyler Neil Johnson

Christina Lambert (second from left) sits on campus as a student with friends (2013). COURTESY | Christina Lambert

Lost Mary members in a rug and antique shop. COURTESY | Evan gage

F E A T U R E S

Collegian reviews campus haunted houses

Waiting two hours for Simpson Asylum and other spooky adventures

By Jillian Parks EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

e Collegian sent a representative to all three haunted houses on Hillsdale’s campus. Unfortunately that representative was me — a woman whose ght or ight response is freeze, and who genuinely has trouble distinguishing between fact and ction. It’s best not to read this as an expert testimonial, but rather, a set of personal experiences from the very last person who should have undertaken this task.

Simpson Asylum

The Asylum’s organizers sent 10 of us through together, and I strategically picked my spot in the dead middle, so as to avoid being touched by the Simpson men. is was an incredibly unsuccessful strategy. One word of advice to the men of Simpson: there was really no reason for me to be touched as many times as I was in the 15 or so minutes it took to traverse the halls of the dormitory. A tad more psychological terror and fewer ominous, little hands

would have made the experience more enjoyable.

They kept the showers running the entire time — the Simpson utilities bill is going to be crazy this month — so the bathrooms were all lled with thick air. ey used squirt guns lled with water (I hope) to catch everybody off guard here and there. ere was even a dead body who smiled up at us when we mused about who it could be. ese details were not particularly scary, but provided an additional layer to an already intense sensory experience.

Head Simpson Resident Assistant Junior Nathan Rastovac said many of the men put in eight hours of prep work the day of, two hours of accepting haunted house goers, and three hours of total run time. en, they did about an hour and a half of take down, garbage, and clean up.

Simpson Asylum wins in terms of participation and enthusiasm. From the tour guides who encountered every jump scare like they had never seen it before, to the guy who didn’t blink a single time

as his head protruded through a curtain, to the freaks who somehow grabbed my upper thigh, the haunted house worked because no one acted like they were too cool or too busy to give it their all for a good cause — raising money for the Salvation Army’s Holiday Giving program.

“It’s the culture,” Rastovac said. “Every year, the upperclassmen, in particular, whether they’re RAs or just like the seniors or juniors or sophomores that are there, they are all leaders. And one of the things we say is like, ‘Look, you are all a leader of your own life. You’re going to be leaders of families one day. So like, take some ownership. And let’s have some fun while we do it.’”

e Haunted Labs

The physics department hosted a haunted lab in the depths of Strosacker. The Society of Physics Students cultivated an equally fun and tense vibe, but I felt safe the whole time. ere were formulas and equations that I am assuming were only really

scary to physics students, but there were a few jump scares that were startling to a broader audience.

At some point, a man in a mask jumped out, and my ght or ight kicked in. I backed up and started to wander in a direction other than where I was supposed to be going. I ran into a bowl or a container of water (I hope) that spilled down my leg and onto the oor. My friend Bella Dix, following close behind me, slipped and fell on all fours onto the ground. I charged ahead, unaware, and the physics students continued to scare and surround my helpless friend. She eventually escaped, and we emerged in freedom as I yelled “Why am I wet? Seriously, guys, what liquid is this??” and she yelled “I fell, I fell, I literally fell!” “I was humiliated,” Dix said. “Despite my fall and my useless screaming for the group that left, the actors did not break character, and one continued to reach their hands toward me, moaning ‘Help me,’ even though I was the one that needed help. I woke up the next morning

with bruises. But at the end of the day, it was hilarious, and I eventually reunited with my friends.”

As a whole, this was a quick haunted tour that was the friendliest out of all of them to easily frightened people. I screamed a lot, probably the most out of any of their participants, but I never felt overwhelmed.

is one was my favorite because it was kind of scary, but mostly just bizarre. And I was not touched a single time.

Delta Sigma Phi

Again, I positioned myself in the middle of the line going through the house, so as to absorb any jumpscares secondhand. is house was scarier than physics, and less overstimulating than Simpson. It was very clearly football boys in masks, and they weren’t necessarily trying to obscure that.

“I think the basement is what sets our house apart, because the DSP basement is scary enough as is without putting anybody down there to scare you,” DSP President Matt Andoni said.

“Once you have people down there to scare you, it’s even more scary. I think that’s what everybody nds to be the scariest part.”

This is a true sentiment. e basement and the spiral staircase going down to it were the scariest part, with what appeared to be a religious ceremony of some sort and a guy who chased us down there with a chainsaw. When they sent us running the other direction at the end, we were all so scared it seemed that we maybe ran too far in the other direction. e DSPs, in their monster/football voices, redirected us with a chorus of “ is way! is way!”

“I think it kind of doubles as being something that’s scary too, because I know people come to haunted houses to get scared,” Andoni said. “But I think our main goal is to entertain. Scaring kind of just comes as an additional bonus.”

Student businesses fl ourish on campus

By Isabella Doer SENIOR REPORTER

When the spring semester ends and students must nd a home for their amassed clutter, it isn’t the students who stress about nding a storage unit –it’s their moms. at’s what Junior Nathan Rastovac realized the spring of his freshman year, and it provided the inspiration for his student storage business, StorageForStudents.

“ at’s when it clicked that I want to provide a stress free, service business that stores students’ belongings over the summer,” Rastovac said. “ e creation of StorageForStudents is to alleviate the stress for the students and their parents, speci cally mothers, and provide a great trustworthy service.”

Rastovac said he finds it ful lling to alleviate a pain students and families experience every year.

“Providing this service is so rewarding because I am able to help families focus on more meaningful moments like welcoming their kid home for a summer and to alleviate the struggle for students who are taking nals and dealing with academic pressure,” Rastovac said.

Rastovac is one of many students who are balancing school with side hustles, ranging from homemade soaps to custom patchwork sweatshirts. e entrepreneurs nd time between study sessions and extracurriculars — squeezing in production, storing inventory under dorm beds, and responding to customer orders.

Junior Allie Springer started her business, Allie’s Apiary, in the spring of 2023, inspired by her family’s backyard beekeeping operation.

Springer said each summer, she and her father extracted honey using a centrifuge-like device to spin the honey from the comb.

“What got me interested in Allie’s Apiary products was the need to make use of the wax,” Springer said. “I started with just lip balm and my hair wax stick, and it has now turned into soap and candle production as well.”

According to Springer, the process is hands-on, blending her interest in science with the practicalities of creating products.

“My Hillsdale science coursework has been helpful in my lip balm-making ‘lab,’” Springer said. She said it gave her insight into why certain ingredients interact the way they do, helping her re ne her recipes.

As she continues to experiment, Springer said that some products have come together more easily than she expected.

“ e most surprising aspect is how simple most beeswax recipes are,” Springer said “ e most di cult project so far has been soap, so much more trial and error will need to be done to get the results I want.”

Springer has thought about the future of her business, as well.

“As long as my family keeps up the beekeeping, I plan to continue with my beeswax work,” Springer said “ e next step, if I expand, would be to o er products online.”

While Springer’s business is tied to the rhythm of summer harvesting, other student entrepreneurs nd themselves sewing and cra ing alongside their academic workload.

Sophomore Eva Bessette launched her business, PatchesxPlaces, after repurposing a plain sweatshirt she couldn’t bring herself to throw away.

“I had a blank sweatshirt that I never wore but didn’t want to get rid of,” Bessette said. “To save the piece, I decided to do something creative with it.”

A er posting her rst creation online, she was surprised by the reaction.

“A ood of inquiries lled my messages of people saying I should sell them or asking to buy them,” Bessette said. Encouraged by this response, she began making custom patchwork sweatshirts, each designed to represent a favorite place or memory suggested by the customer. Each sweatshirt is customized, with symbols, words, and shapes cut out and sewn onto the sweatshirt to re ect whatever vision the customer has. Some sweatshirts have patches shaped as a cross to represent the customer’s faith, or a symbol to pay tribute to a sorority on campus.

As an art major, Bessette said her creativity ows naturally into her work, but managing her time is not always easy.

“Currently I am working to balance school and my business,” Bessette said. “With an intense schedule, I haven’t had a huge amount of time to spend creating my sweatshirts, but I brought all my supplies and sewing machine up with the hopes of producing more soon.”

Despite the challenges, she said she dreams of expanding her business.

“The dream is to own a clothing business. e business would have both a patchwork sweatshirt component and a clothing resale component,” Bessette said.

Senior Carlie Steele started Citrus and Honey Co., a company rooted in sustainability, o ering products that range from macrame plant hangers to earrings and tote bags.

“My goal is to be as sustainable as possible,” Steele said, describing how she uses thried and repurposed materials for her products.

“All of the bottles I use for the macrames, the charms for the jewelry, and the fabric for the embroidery and sewing projects are all secondhand, which allows me to make products that are unique and one of a kind,” Steele said. “I’m able to give something vintage a new life, making it wearable or usable for someone with more modern preferences.”

Steele said Citrus and Honey Co. is also about encouraging others to experiment with their style.

“I wanted people, Hillsdale students in particular, to feel comfortable stepping out of their stylistic comfort zones, debuting a pair of statement earrings or a loud tote bag, and start to challenge themselves in expanding their aesthetic tastes,” Steele said.

Steele credits her studies in marketing for helping her better understand how to run her business.

“As a marketing major and psychology minor, I’ve learned so much about consumer behavior and communicating with customers to better understand their wants, needs, and preferences,” Steele said.

For her, the most rewarding aspect has been the support from fellow students.

“I love seeing students up the hill proudly wearing a pair of earrings that I made, or

seeing funky macrame plant hangers in peoples’ dorms,” Steele said.

Steele said the culture at Hillsdale has made it easier to start her business because it is both kind and collaborative. In general, however, starting a new business can be nerve-wracking.

“There’s always a fear of putting out your own artwork and creations to the judgment of others, especially when your business is more eclectic and acquired in style,” Steele said. “The support I’ve received from the student body and other small businesses has been so surprising and heartwarming.” ough her business is currently limited to pop-up shops and word-of-mouth sales, Steele is excited to expand after graduation, hoping to bring her creations to cra fairs in her home state of Oregon.

Sophomore Bernadette Novacek is working to launch Bib and Tucker, a children’s clothing brand inspired by the styles of her own childhood. Her love for sewing came from her great-grandmother, who taught her the cra when she was 10. Now, Novacek hopes to ll a gap in the market.

“Most businesses in the market are based in Europe, and their products are priced too high for parents to feel that they can dress their children tastefully on a day-to-day basis,” Novacek said, adding that she sees Bib and Tucker as a way to o er parents a more accessible option.

“I hope to offer mothers the opportunity to dress their children in timeless pieces outside of just holidays and family photos,” Novacek said.

According to Novacek, the name Bib and Tucker comes from an old idiom meaning “dressed in your best bib and tucker,” which is synonymous with “dressed to the nines.”

In order to balance school and her business, Novacek makes use of every spare moment to work on her brand.

“I usually get strokes of inspiration while I’m working my campus job or as I’m walking to and from classes,” Novacek said. “Between classes, jobs, and assignments, it’s a constant sprint to get a bit ahead so that I can work on my business. I’ve learned to take any moment I have to work — even if it’s just

ve minutes while I wait for my friend to meet me at AJ’s.”

Novacek’s goal is to launch her rst collection by Easter of the upcoming year, but her vision for Bib and Tucker extends beyond style.

“One of my biggest dreams is to one day partner with a charity that ministers to children who have been the victims of sexualization,” Novacek said. “My passion for beauty is de nitely the driving force behind this business, but my desire to share the loveliness of classy, high-quality clothing with mothers is also fueled by my hope to combat the clothing industry’s com-

plicit sexualization of children by encouraging age-appropriate styles.” Despite the hectic pace, Novacek said she nds her work deeply rewarding.

“I really do believe that the way you dress impacts your confidence and demeanor, and I’m so grateful for the example my mom set regarding the importance of loveliness,” she said. “Working on my business, although it can be overwhelming as a student, is incredibly rewarding because it really has taught me to appreciate the process instead of being obsessed with perfect results right away.”

Carlie Steele sells macrame decor. COURTESY | CARLIE STEELE

The Springer family has the bees that Allie uses for her business. COURTESY | ALLIE SPRINGER

Citrus and Honey Co. also sells earrings. COURTESY | CARLIE STEELE

Eva Bessette designs a unique sweatshirt for each customer.

COURTESY | EVA BESSETTE

Parliamentary procedure: Student speaks in San Marino to defend dual citizenship program

By Anna Broussard ASSISTANT EDITOR

When Junior Tess Censoni’s great-grandmother ed from San Marino, a microstate within Italy, to the United States a er World War II, she could have never imagined her great-granddaughter would one day return to advocate for her own Sammarinese citizenship.

As a dual citizen, Censoni has visited San Marino twice through a government program meant to connect Sammarinese-American citizens to their heritage.

“When you’re 18, you can apply for your citizenship, so that is what I did,” Censoni said. “Because of COVID, there was a backlog of citizens, so it took a long time for my citizenship to come through.”

Censoni said she was nally able to travel to San Marino for the rst time this summer.

“ e trip that I went on this summer is called the ‘Soggiorni Culturali,’ meaning ‘culture says’” Censoni said. “It’s basically the cultural journey or the cultural stay, it’s a big part of their foreign a airs program to keep citizens coming back.”

e trip this summer, funded by the Sammarinese government, included 30 dual citizens from Argentina, Belgium,

France, Italy, and America.

At the end of the summer program, Censoni was selected as the American representative to travel back to San Marino in the fall. e purpose was for Censoni to advocate for the Sanmarinese government to continue funding the program, she said.

“I prepared a speech about my trip in the summer,” she said. “I explained how it had deepened my connection with the country, the relationships I built on it with both my family there, and with the other dual citizens from around the world.”

For dual citizens there are “communitas,” or communities that foster opportunities for members to build their Sammarinese heritage around the world. According to Censoni, there are two “communitas” in the U.S. in Detroit and New York City.

“My communitas in Detroit kept me connected with the culture growing up,” Censoni said.

The president of the San Marino Detroit Communitas, Marie Giulianelli, said San Marino is the smallest and oldest republic in the world and the communities around the world are meant to engage San Marinesei of their heritage.

“ ese communities were

founded in 1979 with the mission to maintain culture, traditions, and rights of dual citizenship,” Giulianelli said. “Our mission is to always maintain ties with the motherland of the Republic of San Marino, as well as maintaining tradition, culture, harmony and unity in each country of residency.”

According to Giulianelli, at the end of the Soggiorni program, four outstanding participants are selected to return to San Marino in October to represent their respective communities. Censoni was selected to represent the Detroit communitas to attend the conference called the “ e Consulta.”

“The Consulta is a threeday international meeting of the presidents and delegates of each Sammarinese Community abroad with the San Marino Department of Foreign A airs,” Giulianelli said. “On the third day each of the four selected participants spoke — in Italian — in the presence of the entire assembly, regarding their experience during the Cultural Stay program, and its signi cance as it relates to their Sammarinese heritage as a citizen abroad.”

Giulianelli said that Censoni represented the community well and communicated the signi cance of the program to those at the conference.

“It is with great importance to each of us San Marino citizens living abroad that we maintain our culture and traditions in our individual communities,” Giulianelli said. “We strive to maintain our sense of Sammarinesita’ (patriotism) passing on these cultural ties to the motherland for generations to come.Viva San Marino.”

Censoni said her paternal great-grandmother, Agostina Censoni, and grandpa, Marino Censoni, told stories of their family’s heritage throughout her childhood.

“Growing up, I heard about the country a lot,” Censoni said. “My grandpa would pick me up on Mondays a er school, we would go get ice cream, and he would just tell me stories about our family.”

e stories, told to Censoni in dialect, a kind of spoken Italian based on region, inspired many school projects to honor her great-grandmother.

“During World War II, my great-grandma would cook dinner for the English soldiers there every night,” Censoni said. “When a soldier died and no longer would come there, she would just move the soldier’s stu away and not say anything about it.”

Upon fleeing from San Marino, Censoni said her great-grandmother never for-

got how much World War II changed things.

“After the Germans left San Marino, they poisoned so much of the land there that the only reason my family survived was because those English soldiers le some of their rations behind,” Censoni said.

e program has been contested by the Sammarinese government due to the undefined rights associated with dual citizenship and according to Censoni, some members of Parliament are looking to address this issue.

“ ey need to prove that the program is necessary, because with our voting rights, the citizens abroad can dramatically impact the elections,” Censoni said. “ ere’s a lot of debate about the voting rights since there are a lot of citizens who don’t reside within the country’s borders.”

According to Censoni, nothing was o cially decided in Parliament, but she was fascinated by the government procedures.

“ ere were many di erent groups with so many di erent opinions, so it would be hard to see how there are clear avenues of actual change,” Censoni said.

Censoni said the program also provided her with a special opportunity to have relation-

QUICK HITS with Zack Mill

By Elizabeth Crawford SENIOR REPORTER

In this Quick Hits, Senior Director of Admissions Zack Miller talks football snacks, Bob Knight, and raking leaves.

What is your go-to Rough Dra order?

I am a co ee addict, and I have been drinking straight black co ee since my grandpa gave me a sip when I was 3 years old. I prefer a black drip co ee, or maybe a latte, if I’m working late.

What is your favorite thing to do during the fall?

I have three kids, and I love spending time with them — especially in the fall. I love being outside in the cooler, crisp air, and raking leaf piles with them, or going on walks around our neighborhood. I also love college football Saturdays.

What is the best thing about your job?

I get to work with incredible people, advancing the mission of an incredible institution, and I get to meet extraordinary high school students who want to attend Hillsdale. ere’s no better day than orientation Sunday when our team gets to see the fruits of our labor in welcoming new students to Hillsdale and knowing that it will impact them for the rest of their lives.

Who is the coolest person you have met in your lifetime?

I grew up in Indiana, and as a Hoosier, I loved Indiana University basketball. When I was younger I got to meet the coach there, Bob Knight. He made fun of my green sweater. It was a pretty neat exchange.

What is the best advice for

people who apply to Hillsdale?

Make sure that in your application, either through writing or the interview or elsewhere, you show us why you want to be a student at Hillsdale College. I think often students get lost in selling their accomplishments, but they forget that we are looking for students who are both able and willing. Show us that you understand the college and how you will become a good member of our community.

Instagram or TikTok?

Instagram, mostly because I am not on TikTok.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

is is hard. One of the verses I lean on, and especially did in college, is Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do

ships with her family members living in San Marino.

“I am really blessed to have family there. I’ve gotten to spend enough time with my cousins to have personal relationships with them,” Censoni said. “So having family there, and having communities across the world that you just show up and they welcome you is really cool.”

Junior Addison Randel said Censoni’s dedication and pride in her family heritage has always been very important to her even before being allowed into the Soggiorni program.

“I can see how she lights up whenever she talks about her heritage,” Randel said. “I’ve watched Tess put in an incredible amount of work to prepare herself for her speech. She took a grueling crash course in Italian so that she could represent her family well in front of Parliament.”

While Censoni’s family heritage was transplanted into the U.S., the memory and sacri ces of Agostina Censoni have created a rich legacy.

“Growing up my great-grandmother was the most welcoming person, she would come and cook for us,” Censoni said. “She was so lovely, my mom and I reference her o en, saying ‘that was a grandma Gusta thing to do.’”

not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” It’s good to be reminded that we should not trust ultimately in ourselves and our abilities and knowledge, but rather we should humble ourselves and submit everything to him.

Which NFL team is your favorite?

Indianapolis Colts — being from Indiana and growing up in the Peyton Manning era, it was a lot of fun to watch those teams battle Tom Brady and the Patriots.

What are your favorite football game snacks?

All of the appetizer-type foods — bu alo chicken dip, chips and guacamole, pigs in a blanket, etc.

Zack Miller and his wife, Heather, smile for a photo with their two children Maggie (right) and Conner (left). COURTESY | ZACK MILLER

The sun shines on the San Marino flag. COURTESY | TESS CENSONI

Censoni speaks at The Consulta. COURTESY | MARIE GIULIANELLI

Censoni makes pasta with her grandmother in San Marino. COURTESY | DAVID SPROTT

Tess Censoni (center) has dual citizenship in San Marino and the United States. COURTESY | MARIE GIULIANELLI