Collegian 9.21.2023

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

By Thomas McKenna

Assist A nt Editor

Kappa Kappa Gamma still leads the overall homecoming standings after Simpson won Wednesday night’s trivia competition on a tiebreaker question.

Simpson is now tied with Kno Way Man — an alliance between Koon, Galloway, and Waterman residences — for second, followed by New Dorm in fourth, and Niedfeldt Residence in fifth.

In the trivia competition, Kno Way Man took second place, followed by the Off-Campus Coalition, New Dorm, and Chi Omega.

Junior Jaden Camero and

By Carly Moran AssistAnt Editor

The college’s endowment is currently valued at $972 million, representing an increase of nearly $100 million from last year’s value, according to Vice President for Finance Patrick Flannery.

While donations were slightly down, Flannery said this reflects a national trend for nonprofits this past fiscal year. Without federal assistance, the college remains reliant upon gifts, tuition, and investment income.

“We’re fiscally strong,” Flannery said. “We look at our revenue in three different streams: gift, student, and investment revenue. Other colleges have a fourth revenue stream, which would be federal or state income. We obviously don’t have that fourth stream, so we kind of have to deal with that

sophomore Jonathan Williams, the leaders of the Simpson trivia team, said sophomore Grady Stevenson was the key performer on the team.

“All credit to God,” Williams said in an interview after the victory. “All credit to Grady Stevenson.”

The tiebreaker question asked teams “How many individuals could be held in the Ancient Olympia stadium?” Williams said Stevenson’s “instant gut reaction” was 45,000 — the correct answer.

“But then he started leaning towards possibly 49,000,” Williams said. “We said, ‘No, Grady, stick to your gut, that’s what’s gotten us to this tiebreaker.’ And

one leg of the stool that’s not existent. Usually if even one of those three streams are having issues, we still do fine.”

Associate Vice President of Internal Affairs Nancy Johnson said the decrease in giving may be due to the postCOVID economy. According to Giving Tuesday’s March 2023 quarterly report, national nonprofits experienced a 3.8% year-over-year decline in donors. Giving Tuesday is a philanthropic advocacy group that provides annual statistics through its Data Commons research group.

“Charitable giving is optional,” Johnson said. “When our country is in a depressed economy, people are more selective with their philanthropic dollars. Overall, our gift revenue in cash, binding pledges, and irrevocable trusts was second-highest in the college’s history.”

sure enough, he had it right. We lost our minds.”

Stevenson said he’s looking forward to the rest of the week’s activities.

“It was a great feeling to work as a team to win the trivia competition,” Stevenson said. “I can’t wait to see our guys in the rest of homecoming.”

Kappa Kappa Gamma took first place in the banner and video competitions to start homecoming week and held the lead heading into the trivia competition.

Seniors Bessie Benham and Claire Henzel said they spent about 40 hours on Kappa’s black-and-white banner depicting the Parthenon and other an-

Johnson said despite the national downturn in charitable giving, the college has seen success with outreach events attendance.

“From a fundraising perspective, it helps to know that this trend was industry-wide across nonprofits, and it helps us to remain vigilant in reaching out to friends of the college, to keep them connected,” Johnson said.

According to the office of institutional advancement, the college experienced record attendance at outreach events.

“Our attendance last year at college receptions featuring Dr. Larry Arnn and lecture programs across the country were at an all-time high,” Johnson said. “I understand that the college recorded over 71,000 campus visits overall, for any reason, which is terrific.”

cient Greek images with letters along the bottom reading “Return with your shield or on it.”

“We decided we want to represent women who wanted to call men higher and be the ones who are crowning the victors,” Henzel said. “That was our vision for it.”

Henzel said they chose a black-and-white color scheme to dramatize the banner’s imagery.

At banner drop Monday morning — when teams roll their banners out for display in the student union at midnight — Benham and Henzel said they saw the floor above the dining hall bending under the weight of chanting students.

“It was going up and down while they were jumping,” Benham said.

Junior Sarah McKeown led Kappa’s video production, a “Real Housewives” parody featuring women in ancient Greece.

“It wasn’t one person creating the entire project,” McKeown said. “It was very collaborative and really highlighted people’s strong suits.”

Kappa President and senior Evelyn Kilty said winning was not the sorority’s only focus during homecoming.

“It’s something where you’re going to remember these sorts of experiences from Hillsdale years down the line,” Kilty said.

Campus reacts to Wall Street Journal rankings

By Lauren Scott City nEws Editor

The Wall Street Journal did not include Hillsdale College in its new Best Colleges rankings, following a years-long practice of ignoring the school because it does not accept federal funding.

“It doesn’t matter one bit because nobody is going to choose or not choose Hillsdale College based on what the Wall Street Journal rankings say,” said Buddy Moorehouse, adjunct instructor of documentary filmmaking. “The school’s reputation transcends that.”

The newspaper collects the bulk of its data from Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and other federal reporting systems as a methodology for scoring institutions, said Joshua Trojniak, Hillsdale’s director of institutional research.

One of the requirements to be part of the ranking is to be Title IV eligible, such as an accredited university that accepts federal financial aid, according to Trojniak.

“Depending on the WSJ’s definition of ‘eligible’ in ‘Title IV eligible,’ it is very likely that Hillsdale is not considered as satisfying this criteria,” Trojniak said.

Moorehouse helped his spring 2023 documentary filmmaking class produce a feature-length documentary telling the story of how Hillsdale College became free from federal aid in the 1980s.

According to Trojniak, another requirement for schools

Fink announces run for Michigan Supreme Court

By Elyse Apel digitAl Editor

Hillsdale College alum -

nus and state Rep. Andrew Fink announced Sept. 18 that he will run for Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court in 2024.

to be included in the newspaper’s ranking is that the government data for the factors used to compile its ranking is collected and publicly reported.

Trojniak said because the college does not accept government funds, there are significant measures for which there is no data for the school.

“There are several measures related to graduate income and social mobility that are derived from data on Pell Grant recipients,” he said. “Since there are no Pell Grant recipients at Hillsdale, there is no data for them to use.”

Trojniak said even though the newspaper provides a basic overview of its methodology for scoring institutions, the exact formula is unknown.

“For this reason, it is difficult to ascertain precisely why a particular score is given, or why one school is included but another is not,” he said.

Junior Abby Idstein said she thinks it would help Hillsdale to be part of the rankings, but the school is still very successful without it.

“What makes a college great is its ability to teach the future generation of America,” she said. “That’s what Hillsdale is doing.”

Five alumni work as writers and editors at The Wall Street Journal: Nicole Ault ’19, Jillian Melchior ’09, Mark Naida ’18, Kate Odell ’13, and Liz Essley Whyte ’11.The Collegian’s editor-in-chief last year, Maggie Hroncich, was a Bartley Fellow at the newspaper’s editorial page this summer.

Fink ’06 is currently serving his second term as a Republican state representative for the 35th District, but said he sees running for the court as a way he can better serve the state of Michigan.

“I see this as a continuation of the service that I’ve been engaged in,” Fink said. “Much of my adult life has been oriented around serving my community, whether it is as a Marine officer, an attorney, or as a state representative. In each, I took an oath to support our Constitution and support our constitutional system, and I see this as a very logical progression.”

Fink is the first candidate to announce he is running for the state supreme court.

Mickey Craig, professor of politics, said he was excited to hear that Fink is running.

“Andrew Fink was an outstanding student at Hillsdale College. He is a brilliant young man of high integrity,” Craig said. “He understands the problems facing our county, our state, and our country. He understands the proper role of a judge in a constitutional republic. He will be a great judge on the supreme court when he wins.”

During his time as a representative, Fink has focused on issues like abortion and education. Fink said he thinks he is a good candidate because of his understanding of the court’s jurisdiction.

Homecoming teams gathered in the Student Union Sunday night for banner drop.

Professor publishes book on golden tablets

By Ty Ruddy Collegian r eporter

Assistant Professor of Classics Mark McClay will discuss his scholarship on golden tablets from ancient Greece in the Heritage Room today at 4 p.m.

The talk, “Voices of Stone and Gold,” is part of Mossey Library’s lecture series supporting the ongoing research of Hillsdale College faculty. It will draw from McClay’s book, “The Bacchic Gold Tablets and Poetic Tradition: Memory and Performance,” published in May.

“As a graduate student, I took a seminar on ancient Greek music and the professor, who later became my doctoral adviser, suggested that I should write a paper on this collection of gold tablets,” McClay said.

McClay said the ancient Greek tablets he studies come from funerals of Greek mystery reli gions. Many of them are written in verse, and much of what they say is never explained anywhere else. Some tablets even contradict others, he said, so it is difficult to arrange the beliefs from these ancient relics into any particular religion.

“The differences in these texts were a source of interest for me,” McClay said. “The tendency is to ask, ‘What do the texts say originally?’ so I was interested in discovering how the differences were elaborated.”

Differences may have come orally, given that the leaflets were part of a perfor-

Canadian author delivers Constitution Day speech

mance tradition, according to McClay. It may be that differences arose in different cities due to different rites.

“I’m interested in how different initiators might have put their own distinctive spin on these stories,” McClay said.

McClay worked on his doctoral thesis for years before finishing in 2018. He received a contract in 2020 to publish through the Cambridge University Press.

“It was just a matter of revision with a fresh set of eyes,” McClay said.

John Paul Russo, the chair of the classics department at the University of Miami, read and reviewed the manuscript for McClay’s work before it was sent to be published. McClay taught at the University of Miami before joining the Hillsdale faculty.

“This does not seem like a first book at all, but the achievement of a mature scholar,” Russo said.

McClay said the book is addressed to the small group of scholars who make their living reading and studying the tablets, but it also has something to say to those who study Greek poetry in general. Even anthropologists and researchers of religion have something to gain, according to McClay.

“That’s the beauty of classics,” junior and classics major Rachel Moeller said. “So many things collide: religion, politics, poetry, art, music. We have so much to gain from studying the roots of our culture.”

By Evalyn Homoelle Senior r eporter

America is facing increasing levels of violence, crime, homelessness, and drug abuse, and the answer to solving such problems lies in a proper interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, said publisher, author, and Canadian-born British peer Lord Conrad Black.

Black was the keynote speaker for Hillsdale College’s 13th annual Constitution Day Celebration at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons Corner, Virginia, last week.

“The United States has a level of violent urban crime approximately 10 times greater than that of Canada, although it has a criminal conviction rate that is 150% of Canada’s,” Black said. “The Constitution did not create these problems, but violation of the Constitution permits them.”

Although other countries have looked at America as a prosperous, vibrant country for decades, that image is no longer a reality, Black said.

“Anecdotal comment from Canadian visitors returning from the United States present

many of your great cities as shooting galleries infested with pitiful homeless drug addicts, where pillaging is almost a legalized form of wealth redistribution,” Black said. “You have totalitarian rates of success in criminal convictions, though robbery and assault are often now no longer crimes.”

To solve these issues, Black offered the perspective of someone looking at the United States’ problems from the outside.

“My principal suggestion is to enforce your Bill of Rights,” Black said.

Black attributed America’s present-day problems not to any Constitutional failings, but to incorrect interpretations of the Constitution.

“You have a greater and better constitutional system than the more strenuous of your domestic critics admit,” Black said. “If you can elevate adequate numbers of jurists to reestablish and defend the Constitution, it will continue to serve you well for a very long time.”

In addition to the alumni, faculty members, and friends of the college who traveled to the celebration, six senior George

Security office films new training video

By Jackson Casey Collegian Freelan C er

Hillsdale College’s security and emergency management department is producing an informational video about response protocols for active shooter scenarios.

Joe Kellam, director of security and emergency management, said the video will serve as a training resource for faculty and staff at Hillsdale College. He also said one of the main reasons the college decided to produce this video was to ensure faculty have consistent guidance for responding to threats, should the need ever arise.

“There wasn’t a consistent message getting out to all faculty and staff about how to respond to an active violent situation,” Kellam said. “We worked with the administration to come up with a yearly required training that all faculty and staff will watch, and that will give them the tools they need should something ever occur on campus.” Kellam said violent threat situations often unfold unpredictably, so training must establish a general preparedness among the faculty.

“I can’t necessarily tell them, ‘Turn left, turn right,’ in a situation, as everything is situationally dependent,” Kellam said. “Everything is fluid as it’s happening. I just give them the tools they need to make the right decision at the given moment.”

Because of the sensitive and crucial nature of the topic, security aims to make the video high

quality and informative.

“We wanted to make this video consistent with what Hillsdale produces, that being a quality video that’s educational in construction and reaches the audience we want it to,” Kellam said. “Part of it will be me in a studio room speaking about some of the procedures, and part of it will be the Associate Director of Security John Wilmer walking through different locations and discussing what to do.”

Kellam also said that in addition to the interview-style and walkthrough portions, the video will include demonstrative elements in order to give faculty and staff a better understanding of what a crisis situation would actually look like.

“Another part of it will be showing ourselves along with local law enforcement responding to the situation,” Kellam said. “We wanted to put that in there so staff and faculty know what to expect. So when they look out their window, they understand that when somebody’s in body armor with rifles coming down the hallway, that’s our team, in conjunction with other law enforcement.”

Wilmer emphasized that creating a culture of preparedness for violent situations depends on a commitment to security by everyone, not just law enforcement officers.

“Between 2000 and 2018, in 31 of the 37 active shooter incidents at schools, at least one person knew of the shooter’s intent,” Wilmer said. “They basically knew that these were

going to happen. That’s what we call ‘leakage of violent intent.’ If someone were spoken to about it, that person didn’t report it. In 22 of those events, two or more people knew.”

Wilmer added that those statistics show how transparency and cooperation between security and law enforcement is key for preventing tragedies.

“It reinforces the ‘If you see something, say something’ slogan,” he said. “If you think about those numbers, 31 out of 37 school shootings could’ve been stopped if someone was just willing to talk about it.”

Wilmer also made it clear that at a school like Hillsdale, vigilance on part of campus security is especially important.

“We’re a very small college with a very large footprint. We have influence nationwide, even more so than that. That level of influence draws things back, and that’s why we have to have a very robust, thorough, and

complete security team here.”

Assistant Director of the Dow Journalism Program Maria Servold ’10, holds concerns about faculty preparedness that this video aims to address.

“I have full faith in the security team’s ability to stop an active shooter should they encounter one,” Servold said. “My concern is that faculty and staff, who most likely would be the first to encounter such a person, are not prepared. Many faculty members have told me they don’t know what to do if a shooter enters a classroom building and begins shooting before security can get there.”

Servold said she is glad the college is making the video.

“The production of this video is a welcome and necessary step to ensuring that those of us working with students daily know how to keep them safe,” Servold said. “I’m grateful the security team is taking the time to make it.”

Washington Fellows traveled to Virginia to work at the event.

Senior Joseph Sturdy, one of the fellows working the event, said he appreciated Black’s keynote address and unique insights into the state of American politics.

“The keynote address by Conrad Black reminded Americans that even in our haggard state of politics, it can get worse,” Sturdy said. “Using Canada as an example, Lord Black gave real and concrete ways that we can improve the constitutional order of the country.”

Sturdy said he particularly enjoyed the panel discussion chaired by his former professor David Azerrad, assistant professor and research fellow at the Van Andel Graduate School of Government.

“The ‘Regime Change: Toward a Postliberal Future’ panel highlighted the difficulties facing modern conservatism,” Sturdy said. “Though the speakers have clearly opposed views as to how and why liberalism failed, what they share is a consensus that the modern regime is not healthy. These events serve as an excellent fo-

Endowment from A1

The college uses the endowment toward a variety of expenses, all of which relate directly to running the college. This year, student scholarships accounted for 48% of endowment usage, programs 33%, faculty chairs 16%, and the remaining 3% was unrestricted. Expenses for construction projects and marketing come from a separate fund.

Many smaller donations come from alumni, said Braden Vandyke, associate director of alumni relations. More than 12.5% of the student population becomes members of the 1844 Society per year.

“As far as students are concerned, they continue to consistently and graciously give back to what they love most at Hillsdale – be it a dorm or Greek house, club or organization, athletic team or academic department,” Vandyke said.

Contact Center Manager Mary Margaret Spiteri said there are many ways prospective donors can give to the college.

“The contact center helps the donation process, because we are for people who don’t want to go online to make a donation, or might not have a gift officer and want to know how to give to the college,” Spiteri said. “When you call into the contact center, a student agent or staff member will answer the phone, and they will be able to take the donation over the phone through our gift giving platform.”

rum for debating the future of conservatism.”

Senior Meredith Kottom said she enjoyed working the Constitution Day Celebration as a George Washington Fellow and grew closer with the other fellows during the trip.

“Attending the program lectures, discussing policy and constitutional questions with the other George Washington fellows, and getting to know the college’s supporters and alumni was a wonderful opportunity,” Kottom said.

In his closing comments, Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government, said the Constitution rests upon principles like the rule of law, due process, equality under the law, and prudence. Such principles, he argued, are gleaned from an understanding of the fundamental things through education.

“To save our Constitution, to save our country, is a matter of education and teaching,” Spalding said. “It’s about pursuing truth and defending liberty. It’s the life and work of Hillsdale College.”

Calling in, connecting with a gift officer, or donating directly online are some of the key ways friends of the college can extend a donation.

“The contact center takes donations, helping the mission of the college live on,” Spiteri said. “We have a legacy, and it helps us be able to defend that legacy. I know the students really enjoy talking to donors, taking donations, and thanking them because they make their education possible.”

Johnson said the college is already adapting to the future of fundraising, especially after this past year.

“We have implemented multiple new software programs and processes to handle donations more efficiently, although that is still a work in progress,” Johnson said. “Over the past couple of years we have hired additional people to handle the increase in activity across our department. We are always looking for opportunities with new technology.”

Flannery mentioned the importance of following the college’s mission when it comes to fundraising.

“The college is always going to adhere to what its mission is, so no matter what we’ll stick with that mission and find donors who identify with it, understand it, want to support it,” Flannery said. “I don’t see the college changing ever from that, because that’s our purpose, is to keep that mission. If there comes a time where people don’t want to support it, we’ll do our best to survive.”

Six senior George Washington Fellows pose for a photo in D.C. Elizab E th t routman | Coll E gian

The training video focuses on active shooter scenarios.

Mark McClay is a professor of classics. Court E sy | h ills

hiv

Hillsdale Jewish Community celebrates Rosh Hashanah

By Olivia Pero SportS Editor

The Hillsdale Jewish community kicked off the Jewish New Year with a service for Rosh Hashanah.

The service with shofar was held Sept. 15 in Kendall 235. The community conducted the liturgy in both Hebrew and English.

Assistant Professor of Classics Joshua Fincher is the faculty adviser for the Jewish Mishpacha of Hillsdale College. Fincher said he became involved with the group right after he started teaching at the college five years ago.

“At the time there were no other Jewish faculty, so it was a natural place for me to become involved,” Fincher said. “Given my background, I was able to provide religious and ritual advice that the students wanted, as well as representation among the faculty.”

Fincher said the group meets multiple times per year and holds events for all major Jewish holidays.

The number of students who regularly participate in the group varies each year, Fincher said.

“There are anywhere from three to five at a given event, though we hope more will come if they wish,” Fincher

said. “Several Jewish students often participate regularly, but there are also non-Jews as well who are interested. We tend to be small since there are a limited number of Jewish students.”

Faculty members who attend the group’s events include Associate Professor of English Patricia Bart, Assistant Professor of French Anna Navrotskaya, Associate Professor of Economics Charles Steele, and Assistant Professor of Religion Don Westblade.

Fincher said Judaism is about community.

“It’s important to create a community both to minister to students’ religious and cultural needs and to publicly express our identity and support each other,” Fincher said. “Often, people are surprised that Jews are here in this corner of rural Michigan, but having our group gives us a sense of community and belonging.”

The Saturday service took place on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, junior Myah Gebhard said. The holiday celebrates God’s creation and kingship, looks forward to the next year, and initiates a time of penitence before Yom Kippur.

“We met in a classroom and went through the litur-

gy for the second day, which includes a lot of songs and chants, prayers, scripture, silent readings, and blowing of the shofar,” Gebhard said. “Afterwards, everyone drinks some of the blessed wine — grape juice, in our case — and eats some of the traditional celebratory food — sweets, apples with honey, etc.”

Gebhard said she is a Christian but still thought it was a beautiful service.

“The prayers and chants are very poetic and meaningful,” Gebhard said. “I’m interested in the way Jewish practices affected Christianity, so I wasn’t surprised to find that a lot of the service felt similar to an Eastern Christian liturgy.”

Fincher said events for the Jewish Mishpacha of Hillsdale College are open to anyone who is interested in attending.

“I’d say that if anyone is interested or curious, they should feel free to come to an event sometime or join our mailing list,” Fincher said.

Gebhard, along with juniors Abigail Davis and Tucker Martin, are Christians but said they are interested in learning more about Judaism.

“I grew up in evangelical Christianity, not Judaism, so I wasn’t sure what I was walking into, but I resonated with much of the service,” Martin

said. “The liturgy was soaked in Hebrew scripture and, as I learned from Dr. Fincher later that night, very ancient. I really valued the small peek into the sort of liturgy Jesus would have grown up saying.”

Gebhard said her great uncle worked closely with a Jewish community, so her family would join him for a Passover seder meal every year, starting from when she was about six years old.

“That service really captured me,” Gebhard said. “My mom would let me help prepare the food and light the candles, and I remember one year trying to learn some of the prayers in Hebrew because I found the sound of the language beautiful. We also celebrated Shabbat at least once and learned how to make challah.”

Davis said she appreciates Fincher openly sharing about his religious practices with students on campus.

“I have had several classes with Dr. Fincher, including a few classes where we read Joshua, Exodus, and Isaiah in Hebrew,” Davis said. “He does a good job of pointing out what interpretation the rabbis who wrote or compiled the Old Testament used. I was curious to see how this connected with his faith.”

AJ’s Cafe shuts down for breakfast after electrical fire

By Moira Gleason

Editor

Smoke filled the AJ’s kitchen on Sept. 14 when a small electrical fire broke out around 7 a.m. from an overheated outlet.

“The entire outlet was on fire, like shooting fireballs and stuff,” said Madisyn Vanderpool, the AJ’s kitchen manager who discovered the fire.

“Everything was burnt all the way to the floor.”

The fire started shortly after Vanderpool plugged in the kitchen’s chest cooler, which had been thawing overnight, according to Metz Retail Manager Paul Bowman.

“I noticed the kitchen was really hazy and everything,” Vanderpool said. “It smelled like burnt wiring.”

Bowman said he helped Vanderpool move the cooler to find out where the smoke was coming from.

“When we moved it, the whole outlet itself was charred black,” Bowman said. “I grabbed something and pulled the plug out so that way it wasn’t making it worse. The plug was charred off, melting.”

Bowman said the flames quickly died down, but he immediately called security and maintenance. Maintenance staff shut off the break-

er for the outlet, he said, also shutting off the switch for the ice cream cooler outlet in the process.

The kitchen was closed for breakfast while maintenance staff replaced the outlet and the AJ’s team brought a different chest cooler from storage.

“It’s too bad that it got in the way of a normal day at AJ’s,” senior and AJ’s employee Truman Kjos said.

Vanderpool said that the kitchen had been experiencing some smaller electrical issues in the past few weeks, but this was the only time they have resulted in flames.

“They think it was just the outlet itself rather than the

wiring,” Bowman said. “If it was the wiring, they’d have to get in the floor and replace all of that, which wouldn’t be too difficult. Wiring is easy enough. But we haven’t had any issues since, so they believe it was just the outlet.”

The kitchen reopened around 10 a.m., according to Bowman, after maintenance turned the circuit breaker back on and the kitchen staff could use the flat tops and the new chest cooler.

“They fixed it within an hour or so,” Bowman said. “We just had the kitchen running with a different outlet. Everything was safe, and they handled it very well.”

College honors life of trustee, alumnus

By Maddy Welsh S E nior Editor

Hillsdale College alumnus and longtime board of trustees

member Stephen S. Higley died on June 22 at age 79 and was honored in a service at Christ Chapel on Sept. 20.

“People who knew Steve should know that he was a fine man, dutiful, cheerful, effective, always about doing good things,” College President Larry Arnn said. “Any who knew him knew this. Any who know his family or his contributions to the college and its governance know this.”

Born July 3, 1943, in Detroit, Higley moved to Hillsdale County with his family when he was young. He remained for many years and graduated from Hillsdale College in 1966. He served on the board of trustees for 38 years, was the president of the alumni association from 1981 to 1982, and was the recipient of the Charger Award and the Alumni Recognition Award. He is survived by his wife Roberta Higley ’66, their three children, and six grandchildren.

“Steve Higley was an amazing man, a product of Hillsdale, Michigan,” board member and emeritus chairman Bill Brodbeck ’66 said. “He was born, raised, educated from K-12 here before attending Hillsdale College and he went on to have an incredible career in the steel industry, working for many noted firms in positions of high power before going out on his own.”

Brodbeck was Higley’s classmate, lifelong friend, and fellow trustee.

“He was a solid-thinking, careful thinker,” Brodbeck said.

“Steve put careful thought into everything he said before he said it, and his arguments and whatever he said were all closely thought of.”

Fellow board member Mark Hamlin learned about Hillsdale and eventually joined the board because of his personal and professional friendship with Higley.

“Steve was simply one of the wisest, most fair, most gracious, and all around best guys I’ve known, business or otherwise,” Hamlin said. “For all of us who called Steve a friend, that friendship was rare indeed, because of the kind of guy Steve was.”

He said Higley was a professional mentor to him.

“He was known in our extremely competitive industry for his gift, which was his way with people,” Hamlin said. “It did not matter how big or small your company or position — Steve treated everyone with the same respect, warmth, and consideration. Steve cared about the common man. To him, everyone was important.”

Hamlin said he thinks Higley’s upbringing in the Hillsdale community and his education at the college shaped him into who he was.

“I think Steve liked and identified more with the little guy than with the big shot he became,” he said.

Hamlin said his love for his family was one of his greatest attributes. It was apparent everywhere, even in board meetings. “Most

started with business, but if a legal question came up, he very proudly told the board that he was going to check with Roberta, as she was a practicing lawyer,” Hamlin said.

He was also passionate about Hillsdale College, Hamlin said.

“When it came to Hillsdale, the word that defines Steve was zealot,” he said. “You couldn’t change his mind and he wouldn’t change the subject.”

Arnn said the same.

“He thought that the life here was worthy for its own sake,” Arnn said. “Steve felt the benefits of the college. He had the intellect to understand what they were. He had the character to be grateful for them. And he had the generosity to give back to the college.”

His service to Hillsdale is his greatest legacy, Arnn said.

“Colleges don’t have the

continuity they used to have. Sad, dangerous, but that’s true,” he said. “Our college has not suffered that fate. It’s a proud thing. It’s the central blessing. It’s been kept alive because it’s been dutifully kept alive.”

Arnn said the people keeping it alive — the millions of supporters and the 2,600 students, faculty, and staff — do so out of love.

“If you take any one of them away, the college would be less. If you take Steve Higley and his 57 years away, it would be infinitely less,” he said. “What they’re giving back, I think it’s a testament to what a human being actually is. I think what we do is never lost. In the fullest time, it is recovered in heaven, but it lives here until that day comes and it will not go away. Hillsdale College will be eternally grateful to Steve Higley.”

By Tayte Christensen CollEgiAn rEportEr

Left-wing money is destroying evangelical Christian institutions, said Megan Basham, culture reporter for the Daily Wire, in a speech this week.

“It’s the most tried and true journalistic advice: Follow the money,” Basham said. “About 10 years ago, foundations funded by secular billionaires began to take a serious interest in overcoming the problem of evangelical resistance.”

The Dow Journalism Program sponsored Basham’s speech, titled “Bad Shepherds: How Evangelical Leaders are Smuggling Leftism into the Church.” The talk revealed many ways in which leftist groups have put large amounts of money towards corrupting the Christian church. Her book on the subject is scheduled for publication in 2024.

The reason Christian institutions are targeted this way, Basham said, is ultimately because of the influence they have at the polls.

“Evangelicals are simply America’s most powerful voting block,” Basham said. “So they don’t always win at the ballot box. But in most regions of the country, they represent the most significant hurdle to leftist power grabs.”

In response to this, many left-wing groups monetarily began to support Christian organizations with intentions of promoting their own agenda. They do this, Basham said, by manipulating pastors and leaders into thinking their beliefs are incongruent with the rest of society and that they should change what they believe.

Basham used the term “astroturf” to describe the inauthenticity of this movement, mentioning big-name pastors, authors, and publications, such as Christianity Today.

“It’s a form of manipulation that uses influential personalities, who do things like get interviews and publish essays claiming to represent a group in order to convince you that everyone else agrees that this is a reasonable, respectable opinion,” Basham said. “If you don’t want to be left alone, or thought unintelligent or heartless, even then you better adopt that opinion.”

Ben Cuthbert, pastor of College Baptist Church, attended the speech and said it was informative.

“What was eye-opening for me, was the fact that there is funding coming from left-wing political movements that have infiltrated evangelical organizations that I wouldn’t have known before I came here,” he said.

Basham focused on immigration and LGBT rights as two ideas left-wing organizations like George Soros’s Open Society Foundation, a leftwing group that, according to their website funds “indepen-

dent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights,” have used to divide Christians.

“Open Society was planning to spread a lot of money around to Christian organizations to spread its messages,” Basham said.

Audience members said they were startled by the fact that secular groups would so deceptively infiltrate evangelical groups.

“It’s not a conspiracy to say that non-Christian causes are using money to infiltrate resources,” freshman Sophia Mandt said. “I think that it has been a conspiracy because we don’t have evidence, so it was interesting to listen to a speech in which actual evidence was provided.”

Freshman Lauren Bixler said it was alarming to learn how many areas of society have been invaded by leftist groups.

“All the evidence was there and it was just a solid reminder that in every facet of life is being taken over by the left,” she said. “We can’t escape it, and we forget how much it’s really taken over our society and that there’s an open attack on every aspect of life. And if we don’t recognize it, then every protected institution is going to be destroyed.”

Assistant Professor of History Miles Smith also attended the speech and said he was alarmed by the corruption present in many evangelical organizations. Smith said he grew up around these groups and has had intuitions about the problems Basham spoke on.

“Megan was like ‘Yeah, that intuition you have, it’s actually happening, and here’s all the receipts for why it’s actually happening,’” Smith said.

Despite Basham having detailed a long list of negative events and unethical actions, she ended the speech on a positive note, quoting Presbyterian scholar Gresham Machen and encouraging Christian audience members that despite all the evil happening in the world, there is still work to be done through hope in Christ.

Cuthbert said he appreciated Basham’s optimistic outlook and encouragement to the audience.

“What was encouraging was where she landed with the supremacy of God’s word being at the heart of churches and Christian journalism,” he said. Basham told the audience that now is the time for action.

“I will say now is our moment,” Basham said. “Whether we do it with the tools of journalism, exposing the deeds of darkness, or whether we do that from our pulpits, or speaking to our friends, and acknowledging what is happening is our moment to pray that the Lord will strengthen our hands and embolden our hearts for the task.”

Megan Basham speaks at the event on Tuesday night. Courtesy | sC ot Bertram

Stephen S. Higley graduated from Hillsdale in 1966. Courtesy | Hillsdale College

Opinions

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Online : www.hillsdalecollegian.com

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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 mgaudet@hillsdale.edu before Saturday at 3 p.m.

Devil’s Advocate with Claire Gaudet

Put down your pitchforks & Grow up

Everyone needs to take a deep breath about homecoming week. Threatening and mobbing Student Activities Board members won’t change your ranking, cyberbullying teams won’t make you enjoy their content more, and losing your mind about meme accounts won’t make them stop posting.

As far as homecoming’s elephant — or banner — in the room: It happened. It wasn’t great, but the fallout has been worse. Whether or not the

Euthanasia isn’t compassionate

By Caroline Kurt Collegian Repo Rte R

We have forgotten how to die well.

The euthanasia debate demands our attention.

Twelve US states are considering legalizing euthanasia in 2023, and another 10 states currently permit it.

Euthanasia’s ever-growing place in the public sphere makes it an issue of concern for all of us. We need a consistent, compassionate response that is founded in our shared humanity.

The perceived need for euthanasia is rooted in mistaken ideas about love, dependence, and compassion.

“When Patients Choose to End Their Lives,” a 2021 New York Times article, says that rather than physical pain, most requests for euthanasia are motivated by “a loss of autonomy, a loss of dignity, a loss of quality of life and an ability to engage in what makes people’s lives meaningful.”

Euthanasia proponents define meaningful lives too narrowly. My mother died in hospice last year. Even when she was too ill to engage with those around her, her life was profoundly powerful and good. Love, not bodily freedom, gave value to her existence. We are grateful for every minute we had with her, and would be suffering unimaginably more deeply if she had chosen to cut short her life. A good death, like hers, is an enduring gift and witness to hope for the deceased’s family and community.

Certainly, for suffering people, loss of autonomy and dignity are real concerns. Sickness and death necessitate a surrender of control that is unnatural in our modern age. We worship control, mistaking it for freedom. When age or infirmity strips us of bodily autonomy, we would rather die than live dependent on others. Yet, suffering does not have to rob us of self-worth. We can live dependence with dignity and grace. The COVID-19 pandemic illuminated the cur-

rent crisis in end-of-life care, particularly in nursing homes and dementia-care facilities. People are often right to fear that their declining years will be spent somewhere cold and sterile, where their life will be an inconvenience to others. We must make nursing homes and hospitals a last resort.

A pro-life geriatrician quoted in The New York Times article testified to the need for better palliative and hospice care.

“There’s currently no strong push for decency in long-term care,” Dr. Joanne Lynne said. “Euthanasia’s not a real choice if a person’s alternative is living in misery or impoverishing the family.”

Euthanasia loses appeal when people have the dignity of living their final years at home, with high-quality care and the loving support of their communities.

In an age of radical individualism, driven by a consumerist throwaway culture, euthanasia parades as compassion.

Dr. Charles Camosy, professor of medical humanities at the Creighton University School of Medicine and professor of moral theology at Saint Joseph’s Seminary, has written extensively about end-of-life issues.

One aspect of a ‘throwaway’ culture is the desire to look the other way when it comes to evils like euthanasia, best exemplified by the changing terminology. Euthanasia proponents often now refer to it as Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAiD, which deliberately conjures a softer image.

“If you can change the language, you don’t have to face the reality,” Camosy said. We must refuse, then, to accept this false terminology. We must be brave enough to look the evil in the eye.

“Aiming at the death of someone--saying that it is better that you do not exist--is false compassion,” Camosy said in an email. “Non-violence, accompaniment, pain-management, and communal hospitality need to be at the heart of

initial joke was made in poor taste is debatable, but New Dorm’s defenders and critics have been taking it too far. For those of you making misogynist memes online, you’ve gotten a lot of attention. Congratulations, but it seems time to quit taking the bat to this particular dead horse. If you were against the banner, it was moved out of the union, so let’s move on, too.

Speaking of dead horses, I’m not going to bother explaining how SAB doesn’t pick the

winners. Everyone knows it’s a faculty panel, and it’s not a good argument in defense of SAB. The better point is that even if SAB did gather around every night to choose the victor of these subjective little contests, they still wouldn’t deserve to be treated like dirt.

Can we take a step back and realize how crazy it is for legal adults to be this upset over school events? Saying Helen Keller judged the video contest and making New Dorm girls cry just seems strange

during an event that’s supposed to be fun. In theory, we should be lifting our school up and having a good time. Let’s give that a try.

If you want to keep whining, go ahead. But, this is the most embarrassed I’ve ever felt about being a Hillsdale student — and I participate in Greek Week, so that’s saying something.

Claire Gaudet is a senior studying rhetoric and journalism.

authentic compassion.”

The solutions to eliminating the ‘need’ for euthanasia burden us with care for one another. They should. Human beings have lived in community for all of recorded time. We do not outgrow dependence when we outgrow diapers. Reliance on each other is a lifelong blessing.

Forgetting this reality leads us to fear death more than we should.

“I think the key issue for having a good death is accepting it like a friend and doing it ‘in community’” said Camosy in an email. “This is what love means: in some sense we burden each other, yes, but grace and love transform that.”

We can put this compassion into action, blazing a trail of hope for those who are suffering. Before forcing through comprehensively pro-life policies, we need to transform our way of life.

We act against the despair that drives euthanasia by engaging with our loved ones and community. In cultivating interdependence and exercising authentic empathy, we combat loneliness and fear.

As voters, we must look for every way possible to achieve a pro-life society.

This April, Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., introduced the Better Care Better Jobs Act and the HCBS Access Act.

“The caregiving crisis in this country corners many Americans into upending their careers and living on poverty wages or performing unpaid caregiving for family members because they have no other options,” Casey said.

If passed, the acts will provide family-sustaining wages for caregivers, helping them to provide quality care for elderly and disabled individuals.

Political measures like these improve quality of life for vulnerable people, a step towards creating a society where life at every stage is cherished and supported.

Caroline Kurt is a sophmore studying English.

Crossing the street isn’t our biggest safety concern

By Catherine Maxwell Collegian RepoRteR

Hillsdale students face their mortality every time they cross the street. Between running to class and remembering all the day’s activities, it’s easy to take a reckless step into the road.

Because it cares about student safety, the Hillsdale College security office sent an email asking students to be aware before crossing the street. I appreciate security’s attempt to keep me from becoming roadkill, but its warning about the dangers of crossing roads makes its silence about the recent removal of a registered sex offender from campus even stranger. Security should send updates about all potential threats, not just ones that annoy the community.

Students already understand the dangers of running from a dorm to class. Sometimes a tight schedule might necessitate more reckless actions, and sometimes a genuinely distracted student might wander into the street without looking.

Most confusion comes from vehicles instead of students. Few cars observe the 25 mph speed limit, some stop to let students jaywalk, and others speed past whether the student is in a crosswalk or not. Instead of berating students for trying to be on time to class, irritated drivers should expect students to be crossing the street at any time, and should drive accordingly

— at the very least, drive the speed limit.

But when students do cross the street to go up the hill, they expect safety.

The quad is supposed to be a refuge where only class-related anxiety is allowed and no one can threaten one’s dream of graduation. But a couple weeks ago, it wasn’t.

The good news is that the security office and the City of Hillsdale Police Department removed and banned registered sex offender Carey Charles Yacks from campus as soon as students alerted them to his presence. The problem is that they didn’t alert students about the security breach afterward.

Director of Security and Emergency Management Joe Kellam said security did not email students because they did not learn about the man’s sex offender status until afterward, and they did not think there was a high likelihood of his return to campus. Security did alert administration and pass out photos to front desk workers so the school would know if Yacks returned.

The college, understandably, would not want to broadcast the presence of a criminal on campus. But, given that The Collegian published an article detailing the circumstances of Yacks’ arrest, a simple update informing everyone that the situation was under control would have been appreciated.

The goal is not to make Hillsdale seem unsafe, but to

remind students of reality. It’s easy to get lost in the Hillsdale bubble and forget that anyone can walk onto campus whenever they feel like it –– even people who have no idea about the Honor Code.

A simple email could have read something like the following.

“Hillsdale College security recently removed and banned a registered sex offender from campus. The situation is now under control. Please be aware of your surroundings and travel with friends when possible, especially at night.”

Security sent a very similar email last year when two students were tackled while jogging on Mauck Road. Security and the police responded, the man was taken into custody, and students were reminded to walk in pairs.

All security has to say is what happened, how they handled it, and how to stay safe. Simple reminders when a problem occurs can address student concerns and remind people that on-campus safety is not absolute.

Incidents happen. The college exists in an imperfect world. But pretending that crossing the street is Hillsdale’s greatest safety concern will not solve anything. If security tells students about small problems, they should also address serious ones.

Catherine Maxwell is a sophomore studying history. and journalism.

Carey Charles Yacks’ mugshot. COurtesy | H O mefaC ts. CO m

A Professor’s Opinion

Compiled by Sophia Mandt

“What are students’ most annoying essay habits?”

Charles Steele, Economics Dwight Lindley, English

“They say that something is based ‘off of’ when they mean it’s based ‘on.’ I want people to understand that if you’re on a dance floor and somebody says get ‘off my foot’ it does not mean the same thing as ‘get on my foot.’ ‘Off of’ and ‘on’ are two different things.”

Tom Burke, Philosophy and Religion

“Misspelling conceive.”

Christopher Heckel, Biology

Lee Cole, Philosophy Joseph Garnjobst, Classics

“The high school five paragraph essay can get annoying in college because it doesn’t really work for a lot of real mature subject matters which require multiple different shapes and structures.”

“I can’t say if these are habits or just part of the student writing learning curve, but I do get annoyed by improper citation style, lack of brevity, and unnecessary modifiers.”

“A willful disregarding of my meticulously prepared paper prompt.”

“I suppose if they have a compare and contrast, the conclusion is always ‘thus we can see that while thing A and thing B are very similar, they’re also quite different.’ Which is perhaps the most inane, insufferable conclusion that one could come to.”

Choose ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ author for commencement

By Alexandra Hall d esign e ditor

John Green may be the healthiest man in America known for illness.

Whether it’s his most famous book, “The Fault

In Our Stars,” whose plot revolves around teenagers with terminal cancer, or his nonprofit work aiding healthcare systems in third-world countries, Green is the epitome of transforming study into action. He should be the 2024 commencement speaker because he exemplifies the real application of goodness, service, and equality that Hillsdale College aims to instill in its students.

In 2005, Green released his debut novel “Looking For Alaska” which won the Michael L. Printz Award from the American Library Association. A few novels later, Green went from indie starlet to mainstream author with

“The Fault In Our Stars” in 2014. Soon after reaching global acclaim, the book went on to become a feature film. During the time of the novel’s success, Green also worked closely alongside his brother through their nonprofit organization, Foundation to Decrease World Suck. Through weekly videos and annual live streams, the Green brothers work with their devoted audience to raise money and distribute it to organizations in need.

Most notably, the Greens work with another nonprofit organization, Partners In Health to build, staff, and maintain a teaching hospital in Sierra Leone. This year’s fundraiser, formally called Project For Awesome, raised over $3 million. Through his health advocacy present in both his written and charity work, Green transforms the overused sentiment of “making the world a better

place” into actionable career steps. Green also helps direct and star in Crash Course, a video series that educates viewers through bite-sized video lessons, watched by 15 million subscribers. It produces everything from overviews of American history to botany, and the goal is to make well-rounded education accessible to anyone with internet access. The classes are taught by John and Hank as well as other professionals in the subjects’ fields, and they often work to create engaging and fun content complete with props and animations. Much like Hillsdale’s own online lecture series and classical school initiative, Green uses his platform to encourage audiences to take responsibility for their own education.

In 2019, Green began his podcast “The Anthropocene Reviewed” which allowed him to explore

different writing styles and topics. In 2021, the podcast became a nonfiction essay collection called “The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet.” In both the episodes and essays, Green playfully rates aspects of modern life on a five-star scale. He derives meaning from seemingly random topics like the story of the Piggly Wiggly supermarket chain, the male camaraderie of sporting events, and the history of cholera.

The crux of his mission with “The Anthropocene Reviewed” is the rejection of despair. With each episode and essay, Green works to illustrate meaning in the minute, in the destructive, and in the pain that haunts everyday life.

In his piece on “Auld Lang Syne,” Green writes, “We live in hope — that life will get better, and more importantly that it will go on, that love will survive even though we will not. And

between now and then, we are here because we’re here because we’re here…”

Despite being a Christian, Green’s faith only periodically comes up in his work. But with essays like “Auld Lang Syne,” he makes basic Christian values like hope, love for others, and faith in a higher good accessible to a generation that notoriously lacks a common faith and tradition. Readers, often confused young people, never have to pigeonhole themselves into certain modes of belief when interacting with Green’s work. He knows our language because his life’s work is based on it. Although Hillsdale students are generally more confident in their belief systems, someone like Green can offer a perspective that is rooted in faith but wellversed in secular culture. In an age of constant bombardment of information, polarizing politics,

and the normalized poor treatment of others, Green ultimately offers gentle but firm assertions of hope. And hope is the very thing all students need when entering the oyster of post-graduate life.

John Green is the perfect example of a contemporary writer and thinker who strives to use the tools of modern culture to kindle communities, reject feelings of despair, and make an actual difference in the world. The liberal arts exist to serve one another as well as ourselves, and Green’s work and personhood would be an excellent lesson in action as the class of 2024 moves out of its ivory tower.

Alexandra Hall is a junior studying rhetoric, biology, and journalism.

Keep ‘conserve’ in conservative

By Micah Hart Polital Corres P ondent

I don’t sip from a paper straw in my electric vehicle, but I’m still a conservative who cares about the environment. The difference between a liberal and me is in our approach. We have different solutions for protecting the environment and different beliefs on the extent of human-based climate change. Sadly, some others in the conservative party, including some of those on the 2024 Republican primary ballot, can’t seem to recognize the importance of protecting the world. During the first Republican Presidential Debate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

seemingly avoided the question of climate change and focused on the media. While his point had merit, he failed to discuss the importance of climate change and the environment. DeSantis was right to point out that Biden was on the beach when problems like the Maui wildfires arose. Yes, Biden did visit to check in, but continually spends his weekends vacationing on the beaches in Deleware. The media does have a double standard on Republicans and Democrats. Republicans get rebuked while Democrats get applause.

Businessman and 2024 presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy called the climate change agenda “a hoax.”

Whether you believe in climate change or not, all people

should be able to agree that we need clean air and clean oceans, and we need to reduce waste in order to create an environment that allows future generations to flourish. These three examples aren’t about partisanship. They are about protecting the environment and being good stewards of the world.

Conservatives often promote faith in God, and the Judeo-Christian values that built this nation.

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground,’” Genesis 1:26 reads.

God gave man dominion,

which comes with responsibility.

While not all conservatives are Christian, the values of Christianity still remain prevalent in the party and are expressed by several party leaders. If we want to continue promoting faith, we need to get on the right side of this issue and start advocating for protecting the Earth.

Whether one’s devotion to the cause is big or small, caring for the environment isn’t too much to ask for. It can be as simple as using less plastic.

I’m not suggesting you must believe in climate change, but what you should believe in is ensuring we leave this Earth better than it was. Do we want to be the generation that makes the Earth a dumpsterfire, or do we want to be the

generation that is known for using our resources well and providing for a greater future?

According to a 2018 article by the World Bank, 2.01 billion tons of trash are produced annually. Of that amount, at least 33% is not regulated in a way that is safe for the environment.

By 2050, that number is expected to be 3.40 billion tons.

North America isn’t the worst offender. That award goes to the East Asia and Pacific Region, according to the World Bank. Still, the United States can still play a part in holding other countries accountable and working to do its part. The people can all do simple things like picking up trash, not wasting as much, and conserving water. These are easy tasks all can,

and must, do.

When you are done with something, throw it away. When you have a cup, don’t get another one for your next drink. When you are brushing your teeth, turn the water off while you brush.

At the end of the day, whether you are a Republican or Democrat doesn’t matter. What does matter is standing your ground and doing what you know is best. As Dr. Seuss writes in “The Lorax,” “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

Micah Hart is a junior studying politics and journalism.

Homecoming: more than a football game

By Erin Osbourne Collegian r e P orter

I cannot stand football.

I have never understood the game. People get injured, and there are many things I’d rather do with my time than watch it. Freshman year of college, I thought I would ignore homecoming since it all led up to a football game. Meanwhile, I had midterms

the week after.

But I found homecoming is about so much more than a football game. The final score is important, and everyone wants to know who won or lost the game, but homecoming is an incredible experience.

This is the first time my dorm, Dow House, has partnered with a big group. It’s called Kno-Way-Man and in -

cludes Galloway, Koon, and Waterman residences. It has been so much fun.

My roommate is dancing in Mock Rock and is learning choreography and stunts. My housemates have spent hours making posters. My resident assistants have been analyzing the opening hours of the local humane society. Homecoming brings students together.

I plan to participate in the

trivia competition and am so excited to volunteer. Students get to participate in activities they have time for, big or small, and know they are making a valuable contribution to the final product. Those with midterms Friday and those who somehow managed to not have any homework can work toward a common goal based on what they have time for.

Even people that don’t have any time to prepare for something for homecoming can watch and be there for their team. Hundreds of students attended the banner drop on Sunday night, will watch the smaller competitions, and will pack into the gymnasium Saturday to watch their friends dance in Mock Rock.

So do what you can. Nobody will hold it against you

if you can’t do everything. If you can, more power to you – and I hope you find time to sleep. If you can only go to one event, do it. But you don’t even need to participate to enjoy homecoming. And no, you don’t have to know how to play football.

Erin Osborne is a junior studying English and journalism.

City News

Glei’s Orchards and Greenhouses closes after 105 years

By Carly Moran

Assistant Editor

Owen Glei and his children are selling Glei’s Orchards and Greenhouses after the century-old family business permanently closed last spring.

and 19 acres of facilities.

“It’s such a nice facility, it’s been a staple in the community for so many generations,” associate broker Charlie Koenn said. “I think there is an opportunity for somebody to work with because there’s so many different markets

Glei, an immigrant from Germany, and her son Carl purchased 40 acres along Milnes Road. What began as only 50 apple trees rapidly expanded to 100 acres of orchards after Carl married Ruth Haskins in 1929. The couple’s sons David and Owen continued the business. According to their family history video, posted on Youtube by a Glei family member, Owen’s children have since been responsible for managing the company.

The Glei family announced through Facebook on March 30 that the farm would not open again in spring 2023. The company Facebook page says all harvests have been distributed to stores across southern Michigan.

Ridge north of Grand Rapids. We’re down here in Hillsdale and Coldwater. If they were up north, it never would have even gone to market; it would have been absorbed by a neighbor almost instantaneously.”

Koenn said he’s experienced similar issues when marketing the property.

“There are really not a lot of apple orchards in southern Michigan,” Koenn said. “From that standpoint, it’s kind of rare to have a big greenhouse and growing production operation. The buildings were all new in 2011. That’s quite an opportunity for somebody to take advantage of everything that is there.”

rate yourself from your competition.”

During the operation of Glei’s farm, the family grew more than 30 varieties of apples, 200 perennial flowers, 300 annual flowers, several Christmas trees, and various vegetables. After a fire in

Senior Anna Julia Bassols said she made many memories at the orchard.

“It’s always sad to see a local business close,” Bassols said, “but Glei’s is especially disappointing because I used to love stopping by there with my mom when we went back

The 280-acre property, at 3500 Milnes Road, is listed for $3.5 million through Swisher Commercial, an Ann Arbor-based real estate group. According to the listing, the location includes 135 acres of vacant land, 79 acres of orchards, 43 acres of woods,

that you can cater to. You’re not very far from Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Toledo, or Jackson, so there’s just a lot of different markets that have concerns for that.”

The family business began in 1918 when mother Alma

Carolyn and Steve Wallen, owners of Crimson Greenhouses in Coldwater, Michigan, are one of the new apple distributors. Their store was originally the location of Glei’s extension store, which operated from 2014 to 2022. They purchased the Coldwater store out of receivership, an early form of bankruptcy.

“They don’t want to close down,” Steve Wallen said. “They are looking for a qualified purchaser to come in and keep the apple trees going. The problem is, it’s such a large financial undertaking. We’re not up on the Fruit

During the 2019 pandemic, the Glei family registered the orchard store as a corporation, rather than an LLC. Due to legal issues, the family lost access to the business’s finances. The Coldwater extension store was the first to close, with the Hillsdale location following this year.

“We don’t have any prior experience with produce and baked goods,” Steve Wallen said. “For us it was a learning experience, but it’s been fun. Retail is very difficult. The margins are very, very, very small. You just have to separate yourself from the big box stores, and you have to sepa-

Brush and leaf collection to begin in October

By Colman Rowan Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale residents can expect the city’s annual leaf and brush collection program to start Oct. 16.

Residents must keep a number of dates and guidelines in mind for the city to most effectively collect the debris.

The Hillsdale Department of Public Services crews will do one sweep through town for brush collection on Oct. 16, according to a City of Hillsdale Facebook post. Residents must have their brush set out before 7 a.m.

The leaf collection will begin Oct. 30.

The most important thing for residents to do is getting their cars off the street on collection days, said Jason Blake, director of the Hillsdale DPS.

“It’s hard for us to collect leaves and sticks when the

cars are there,” Blake said. “That’s the biggest hindrance we have.” If cars block the machine’s path, then the leaves may not be collected.

come back until the second round.”

This year‘s leaf and brush collection will also feature some changes.

“The big change we have this year is that we‘re not picking up any materials in alleyways,” Blake said. “The reason being is that alleyways are pretty deterring for our machine.”

The city’s leaf collecting machine is relatively new, Blake explained. The machine, which resembles a combine, bears rotating knives that shred the leaves to pieces, helping reduce the space harvested leaves take up.

tractor who harvests them and reclaims them and topsoil, so he doesn’t want trash in them either.”

The first date of pickup is Oct. 16, which is when the city will do its one-time brush collection this fall. The city will collect bundles of sticks placed parallel to the curb which are under 8 inches in diameter and 8 feet in length.

Ward 1 can expect leaf pick up on Oct. 30 and Nov. 16. For Ward 2, Nov. 13 and Dec. 7. Ward 3 will be Nov. 17 and 30, and Ward 4 is Nov. 2 and 21.

2007, the damaged buildings were replaced with a new packing and storage space, workshop, and store.

According to Glei’s Orchards and Greenhouses Facebook page, Carl Glei was known for giving “regular” customers a discount.

and forth between Hillsdale and my hometown.”

Prospective buyers can contact Koenn through email at ckoenn@swishercommercial.com, or by phone at 734926-0230.

Brewing Co. gets new equipment

By Lauren Scott City News Editor

The Hillsdale Brewing Company replaced its plastic fermenters with three stainless steel barrel fermenters and one stainless steel barrel brite tank earlier this month.

“I have been wanting this equipment since day one,” co-owner Roy Finch said. “But the cost of rehabilitating our building left me with no choice but to use plastic fermenters, which is what a lot of small breweries do, but it has its challenges.”

Senior Joey Spoelstra said he thinks the new equipment is a great addition.

“Anywhere with great beer is a great place,” he said.

Senior Caleb Fournet said he loves Hillsdale Brewing Company because of its beer.

“I am excited to see the new equipment in the ferment room,” he said. “I already love the atmosphere of the brewing company but I think the viewing room will only make it better.”

“Unfortunately, with the time restraints we have,” Blake said, “if there‘s cars parked in front of it, they‘re probably going to go around and not

Because the leaves will be collected and immediately shredded, Blake said the city asks residents not to bag leaves, but to instead accumulate piles in their yards at the edge of the curb.

“We‘re not trash collection,” Blake said. “We actually send our leaves out to a con-

With proof of residency, there is also a city drop-off site at 149 Waterworks Ave until Nov. 17. The site is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., closed from 12 to 1 p.m.

For more information, one can visit the City of Hillsdale’s Facebook post with dates and other essential information.

The new equipment is located in the fermenting room, which opened for public viewing in the beer garden Sept. 4. The fermenting room is where all the beer, wine, and ciders ferment, said Roy Finch, co-owner of the brewing company.

Stainless steel looks nice, is easier to use, and reduces the risk of problems such as product infection, Finch said.

Finch said he is waiting on an electrician to add some track lighting over the tanks to showcase them better at night.

“This is special to me because when you go to a lot of breweries you usually get to see the equipment, it‘s kind of a brewery thing,” Finch said. “Although I don‘t have a lot of giant tanks like some places have, it‘s nice to say, ‘Hey, here is where the magic happens.’”

Alma and Carl Glei stand for a picture around 1930.

Courtesy | Facebook

Carl Glei makes cider in the 1950s. Courtesy | Facebook

Carl Glei was known to give regular customers discounts. Courtesy | Facebook

Leaf collection starts soon. Kamden Mulder | Collegian

Annual fair service to return on Sunday

By Jamie Parsons Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale Area Ministerial Association will host its annual non-denominational service on Sunday, kikking off the Hillsdale County Fair.

HAMA will hold the event at the fairgrounds in the Nichols Bandshell this year on the fair’s opening day, Sept. 24, from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Brandon Dengler, pastor at Banker’s Baptist Church, will lead the service.

The service is intended to bring the community together through song, prayer, and scripture.

“Our mission is to glorify the triune God, and, in unity, advance the kingdom of Jesus Christ in the Hillsdale community,” Dengler said.

Dengler said HAMA values unity and encourages all Christians to come to the service. Dengler also said that during the service people of different denominations link arms to praise Jesus Christ.

“It’s a unique opportunity to see cross-denominational churches coming together to serve God and the community,” Dengler said.

Hillsdale District Judge Stiverson suffers minor injuries from rollover car accident

HAMA rotates pastors for the fair service every year. Dengler, who has been a part of HAMA for two years, volunteered to be the pastor this year, a duty that includes choosing the music and preaching a sermon.

“Unity is not really seen there as it is in Hillsdale,“ Dengler, who previously lived northeast of Hillsdale, said.

Dengler said that organizations at the fair have told him that the service is special.

“If you bring a bulletin from that Sunday service or Mass to the fair between 12 to 2 p.m, you can get into the fair for free,” HAMA President and pastor at Somerset Congregational Church Lucas Miller ’01 said. Miller said this tradition helps bring in more people to the service. People who come to the fair solely for the service do not have to pay money to attend.

“The fair service has been going on forever,” Lori Hull, a board member of the Hillsdale County Fair, said Dengler said HAMA is eager to make its mission known to the community and enlarge its service crowds in many ways.

“It’s an appropriate kickoff to the week of fair activities,” Miller said. “I am glad they continue this tradition.”

The fair will run from Sunday, Sept. 24 through Saturday, Sept. 30.

By Emily Schutte Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale County District

Judge Megan Stiverson sustained minor injuries in a Sept. 11 car accident.

After another vehicle hit Stiverson’s Chevrolet Suburban, her car rolled over. Hillsdale Deputy Chief of Fire Mark Hawkins said Stiverson was heading eastbound around the corner of West Carleton Road near the intersection with Lewis Street and was struck from the side.

While Hephner is not sure of the exact injuries that Stiverson sustained, he said he did not think they were serious.

Litchfield Police Chief Daniel Roberts said he was on an errand to the courthouse when he heard about the acci-

the city limits,” Hawkins said.

The speed limit on West Carleton Road near Lewis Street is 40 mph.

First responders began to assess the situation after arriving on scene, according to Hephner.

“We had medical personnel

“Once we have enough medical people on scene dealing with the injured parties then we start investigating the crash,” Hawkins said.

Hephner said it was clear what happened during the accident.

“There was really nothing anomalous about this,” Hephner said. “A car came up Lewis Street to the stop sign, didn’t see the vehicle on W. Carleton Road, and pulled out and hit the side of it.”

Because of the extent of the accident, Hawkins said, the road was closed for 30 to 40 minutes as a safety precaution.

“When it’s on the main drives, we really try to at least clear one lane but being the extent of that accident, we shut them all down just to protect our guys and the EMS personnel that were out there,” Hawkins said. “I think she was extracted from the vehicle within probably eight to 10 minutes of being on scene. To clean up you have to get a tow truck there to upright the vehicle back, and some things just take a little bit of time.”

The accident was a result of the drivers not seeing each other. City of Hillsdale Police Chief Scott Hephner explained that the combination of the angle, the corrective steering in the vehicle, and the slight incline of the road all made a rollover at that speed possible. Stiverson and the other driver were both transported to the Hillsdale Hospital as a precautionary measure.

dent on WCSR radio.

“I knew one state trooper was there, so I wanted to secure her, since she was in the other lane, until Hillsdale city officials could get there.”

Hawkins said that all of the usual emergency departments were on the scene.

“It’s rare for our department to have rollovers because the speeds are relatively low in

on scene from our fire department and Reading Emergency Unit, which was the ambulance service taking care of her, talking to her through the vehicle,” Hephner said.

Hawkins said the other driver complained of wrist pain but was walking around. He also said that Stiverson expressed pain and was not walking around.

Hawkins said his department cared for Stiverson like they would any other citizen.

“Our motto is we treat every call like it’s our own family,” Hawkins said. “We give the best care that we can to everything.”

Stiverson was elected in November 2020 and took office Jan. 1, 2021. Stiverson previously served as the chief assistant prosecutor for Hillsdale County.

“I see the role of the court as being the last protector of the rights of the citizens or the last chance of a citizen to make sure that they’ve received the due process that the Constitution promises,” Fink said.

Fink plans to combine both his practical experience and his judicial principles to protect both the court and the people, he said.

In both 2020 and 2022, Fink won in his district by more than 70% of the vote in the general election.

Jacob Hooper ’22 was Fink’s campaign manager in 2020 and helped with his 2022 campaign. Hooper, who is now attending law school at George Mason University in Virginia, said he is happy to hear Fink is running for the state supreme court.

“During the 2020 primary, our campaign focused on Andrew’s skills as an attorney to ensure he represented the district well. He has done exactly that for the last three years. It’s the natural next step for him to seek a statewide seat at the supreme court,” Hooper said. “Andrew is one of the most principled guys I know.

He follows through with his word. He will be an excellent, originalist voice on the bench

that our state desperately needs.”

There will be two state supreme court seats up for grabs in November 2024.

One is held by Kyra Harris Bolden, who Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer appointed in November 2022. The other is held by David Viviano ‘94, who was first appointed in 2013 by then-Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. In 2018, Hillsdale alumnus ‘94 Viviano was elected.

Fink said he is looking forward to this new season of campaigning for the court.

“I’m very excited to get around the state to meet peo-

ple and hear what’s on their minds,” Fink said.

Fink said that as voters consider who they will vote for in November 2024, he hopes they will remember the important role the court plays.

“I think sometimes people underestimate the importance of these judicial elections and how impactful their vote can be,” he said. “Ensuring that citizens’ rights are protected in the courts is really important and when I think about a successful future for Michigan, that is a big part of that.”

Fink received a politics de-

gree in 2006 from Hillsdale College. After graduating, he worked on the campaign of the now-U.S. House Rep. Tim Walberg. Later, he served in the Marines as a military lawyer in the Judge Advocate General Program. After moving to Hillsdale in 2017, Fink was elected a state representative in 2020.

State Rep. Andrew Fink is the first to announce his candidacy to the Michigan Supreme Court. Courtesy | Facebook

Fink from A1

“A car came up on Lewis Street to the stop sign, didn’t see the vehicle on West Carleton Road, and pulled out and hit the side of it.”

“I think sometimes people underestimate the importance of these judicial elections and how impactful their vote can be.”

“It’s an appropriate kickoff to the week of fair activities.”

Megan Stiverson was elected as district judge in November 2020. Courtesy | Facebook

Chargers take third at Warrior Challenge

ple,” Thompson said. “But in the remaining three-quarters of a mile, we aimed to catch up to the girls that passed us on the hill.”

Wamsley ran the 6k in 21:56 minutes, with her closest competition finishing more than ten seconds after her.

“The goal was to stay with the front runners for most of the race and then pull ahead toward the end,” Wamsley said.

Hillsdale finished third with 89 points, just behind Cornerstone University, which placed second with 72 points. Wayne State University placed first with 29 points.

By Cassandra DeVries Collegian Reporter

With her second personal win of the season, junior Liz Wamsley led the Hillsdale women’s cross country team to finish third overall Sept. 15

Opinion

at the 2023 Warrior Classic.

The Wayne State University Warriors hosted the 6k race at Willow Metropark in New Boston, Michigan.

“The course was a pretty fast course,” junior Vera Thompson said. “Except for a

pretty dang steep hill in the middle.”

Thompson said the race consisted of three loops.

“Our coach told us to be controlled, especially in the first two laps where we weren't trying to pass peo-

The Chargers beat Calvin University, who finished with 94 points, Davenport University with 95 points, Madonna University with 164 points, Rochester University with 197 points, and Siena Heights University who came in last with 201 points.

“Most of the teams aren’t in our conference, but it was a good chance for us to practice developing racing instincts,” Wamsley said.

The Warrior Challenge was many of the freshmens’ first 6k, since high schools typically run 5k races.

“Our team is half freshmen this year,” freshman Savannah Fraley said. “It was a little bit of a shock, but it was fun. We all handled it really well.”

Fraley said she enjoyed being on a freshman-heavy team.

“You’re collectively learning as a group,” Fraley said. “It's fun that way, so you can take turns asking the questions and figuring out what to do.”

Fraley also said she loves the team dynamic and how the upperclassmen mentor all of the freshmen.

“They are really good role models with academics, athletics, and everything,” Fraley said. “They’re very balanced.”

Thompson said she agreed that the freshmen get along well with the upperclassmen.

“All the freshmen have lots of energy, and they're very motivated to come to practice,” Thompson said.

“There’s just a good dynamic. We’re very intermixed right now. There’s no weird boundary.”

The Chargers will compete next in the Lansing Invitational Sept. 22, after which they will not compete for two weeks while they prepare for the Lewis Crossover and G-MAC Championships in October.

“This meet offered a good opportunity to get into a competition mindset since there were more teams there and a wider range of abilities to compete against,” Wamsley said.

As the freshmen gain more collegiate experience, the team looks forward to competing at higher levels.

“I'm actually excited to see what we can do. I can see some of the girls have the potential to discover something in them that they didn't quite discover in this first race yet,” Thompson said. “They've been working really hard, so I feel like by the time we get to more competitive races, some really cool things could happen.”

2023 World Series prediction: LA's time to shine

By Seth Capelli Collegian Freelancer

After a slow start to the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have run away in the National League West and have all but clinched it.

Their 93-57 record is second in baseball only to the Atlanta Braves, and the Dodgers have been even hotter in the second half than Atlanta. The Dodgers are 4219 since the All-Star Break, a run that sportsbooks and fans alike were anticipating.

Los Angeles has been a top three record in the National League for eight straight years and has won the West Division in nine of the last ten seasons.

A massive payroll has allowed the Dodgers to sign and trade for some of the biggest stars in the league, like outfielder Mookie Betts and

Feature

first baseman Freddie Freeman, who are currently second and third in MVP odds, respectively.

They also have some of the best coaching in the league, and many veteran players have had a resurgence in their career with the Dodgers. Pitcher Lance Lynn was a trade deadline acquisition for the Dodgers this year, and after a 6.47 ERA with the Toronto Blue Jays in the first half, he has a 4.67 ERA in six starts for the Dodgers this year.

The Dodgers will finish second in the National League and will face the Milwaukee Brewers in the divisional round. The Dodgers dominated the Brewers in the regular season 5-1, holding them to just nine runs in six games played. After winning that series 3-1, I have them playing the Braves in the

National League Championship Series. The Braves may have a couple of high scoring

runs, but I trust the Dodgers’ bullpen to help them win low-scoring games and they

win the series in seven games.

The American League is wide open this year, and the Toronto Blue Jays are poised to make a deep playoff run.

Their offense has struggled to meet expectations, but they have enough talent. First baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has hit 128 home runs in the last three seasons, and he won the home run derby this year. Shortstop Bo Bichette led the AL in hits in 2021 and 2022. Third baseman Matt Chapman is a three-time gold glover at third base and has finished top ten in MVP voting twice.

They also have talented veterans with multiple years of World Series experience: outfielder George Springer, first baseman Brandon Belt, and second baseman Whit Merrifield. On the pitching side, Toronto’s starting pitching has been the definition

of consistent. The team’s top four starters all have an ERA under four and have not yet missed a start.

Toronto still has some work to do in the regular season, but they will pass the cooling Seattle Mariners to earn the six seed. They will play the champion of the weak AL Central, likely the Minnesota Twins, and the Mariners will sweep them 2-0 Next up will be the Houston Astros, and it will take the Jays five games to knock off the defending champs. In the American League Championship Series, Texas Rangers will beat the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles to face the Blue Jays. Toronto will get some excellent starts from their rotation to win the series in six games.

Sophomore starts sideline radio reporters program

By Gray Turner Collegian Freelancer

Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7

FM will launch its new student-led sideline football reporting program this fall.

Founded and led by sophomore Hana Connelly, who is also the sports director of the radio station, the program aims to provide students and athletes with live sideline reporting for football, basketball, and baseball games for the first time in Hillsdale College’s history.

Sophomore football player Evan Mick is working with Connelly to assist with the new program.

“We don’t know exactly how everything is going to look piece by piece, but during the game with Findlay we will have sideline reporting,” Mick said. “Maybe it's during halftime, you go down to the field to ask the coaches a couple of questions or a player, just to get a live take of what is going down on the field because it is a very dif-

ferent view.”

Being on the sideline while on air is what reporters do during professional games like the NFL, Mick said.

“That kind of thing is what we are trying to go for,” Mick said. “It will be more professional and something that we are implementing into our live radio broadcast to kind of upgrade them in a way.”

Connelly said the new broadcasting program will give the athletic department more media presence and make it more sophisticated.

“Hillsdale has never had sideline reporting before,” Connelly said. “I think this school is really great for a lot of things but not so much in that aspect. I wanted to be able to give students an availability to do that.”

Connelly aspires to be a sideline reporter in the future, and she founded the program to help herself and fellow students achieve this goal.

Connelly also said Radio Free Hillsdale will continue

to broadcast the “Charger Rundown” show which will work in tandem with the sideline reporters in order to recap games and broadcast athlete interviews.

“I love fun interviews,” Mick said. “Like really short two minute interviews, getting athletes involved and talking about more fun stuff instead of the specific game. That’s my favorite part.”

Mick said he hopes to be able to conduct live interviews weekly.

“We just want to get more athletes involved in general,” Mick said. “We had a lot of broadcasting success last year with the basketball games and with the football games, getting them all done, but this year we want more people involved in it, we want more interviews and we want more of that kind of stuff. That’s my goal.”

Connelly said the Hillsdale radio station has worked closely with her and Mick to make the new sideline reporting program possible,

providing the students with the equipment, contacts and resources they need.

Scot Bertram, general manager of Radio Free Hillsdale, has been an invaluable asset to the new program, Connelly said.

“It’s an addition to our broadcast that hopefully will bring listeners and additional perspectives and new perspectives to what's going on,” Bertram said. “I think it's helpful for the students in that they are getting a lesson in interviewing, talking to people who are involved in the game, and asking questions about what they’ve just seen. Those are good things to learn, and I think it hopefully also helps coaches and players to be able to talk to a member of our radio team and get the experience of talking about the games, their experiences, and what they’ve just been through.”

Bertram said the new program aims not only to provide sideline reporting of sports events but to simultaneous-

ly provide students with a unique opportunity that will prepare them for their life and careers after college.

“Giving students the opportunity to have this experience is good for them,” Bertram said. “Especially if they are interested in moving on and doing something like this in the future.”

Bertram said the intricate nature of reporting from the sidelines teaches students many skills.

Bertram said that they are working closely with the athletic department to ensure that the new sideline reporting program will be beneficial not only for broadcasting students, but also for student athletes.

“People need to know when to expect when someone will be asking for an interview down to where you can stand on the sidelines, where you can walk, where you can be throughout the game,” Bertram said. “So there's some coordination that goes on here, and having

that experience and working with the athletic department like that is also a good experience and good practice for students.”

Bertram said the radio station is always looking for new students, especially students interested in sports broadcasting, commentary and sideline reporting.

“The radio is an amazing outlet,” Connelly said. “Even if you’re not interested in sports, to get your voice out on the air and start a podcast or do a segment, and so the big thing is being able to create that outlet.”

Bertram said if there are students who are interested in just working in the sports side of things they are welcome too.

“Anyone who wants to expand availability in sports is welcome and needed,” Bertram said.

Chris Taylor after a homerun for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Courtesy | Twitter

Anna Roberts runs ahead in the Diemer Classic. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Men's Tennis

Chargers compete in first tournament of season

By Emelia Klanduch

Collegian Freelancer

Sophomore Aidan Pack led the Hillsdale men’s tennis team after winning the final B draw match Sept. 17.

“I got up to a bit slower of a start, didn’t do as well,” Pack said. “But the second day I feel like I turned it back on, got really comfortable, got confident. My last match is probably the best match I’ve played here so far.”

Pack won his quarterfinals match 6-3, 6-4 over University of Findlay’s Andrew Codita. He beat Lawrence Tech’s

Takuya King 6-4, 6-3 in his semifinals match. In the final match of the B draw, he took the first set against Findlay’s Wilfredo Lara and won the match when Lara retired in the second set.

“Aidan by far to me was the biggest highlight of the weekend,” head coach Keith Turner said.

After losing his quarterfinals match in the A draw against Walsh University’s Niklas Nordahl Jensen, senior Sean Barstow came back with a doubles win with senior Tyler Conrad. The pair beat King and Antoine Huarez

Women's Tennis

of Lawrence Technological University 6-4. They defeated Findlay’s Luigi Bove and Dallas Ramsay next in an 8-6 tiebreaker to reach the finals of the doubles A draw. They played strong in the finals but lost in a 7-3 tiebreaker to Lara and Ethan Shoemith.

Conrad won his quarterfinals match in the A draw 6-3, 7-6 (7-5), over Walsh University’s Philip Peter Carstenson before a close loss in his semifinals match in a 10-6 tiebreaker to Ramsay.

Despite freshmen Henry Hammond and Ellis Klanduch being injured this

weekend, Pack still feels confident in the team’s performance this weekend and their prospects for the spring season.

“We didn’t have our full lineup with a couple players injured, but even despite that I feel like we put up a really solid performance,” Pack said. “With our full team, I feel like we’re going to be very competitive, and be very deep this year.”

Hammond said he feels like he put in a good effort this week despite an injury, and now he knows more of what to expect from college

matches. “Overall, we’re getting back,” freshman Kenko Vician-Flechler said. “We

weren’t as healthy as we could be, and we’re just getting better prepared for next week.”

The Chargers will play their next tournament in two weeks at the ITA Regional Championships in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“That’s the biggest event of the fall,” Turner said. “We just need to get a couple of the freshmen healthy and we should be doing pretty good.”

Hillsdale competes in ITA Midwest Regionals

By Isabella Helms Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale women’s tennis team competed in the ITA Division II Women’s Midwest Regional, a three-day tournament hosted by the University of Indianapolis Sept. 16 -18.

Sophomore Megan Hackman and senior Melanie Zampardo started doubles play in the top level of competition — or the A flight — by clinching a 6-2 victory against Purdue University Northwest.

Senior Helana Formentin and sophomore Isabella Spinazze, competing in the B flight, faced Ferris State Uni-

versity but finished with a 6-2 loss.

Freshman Ane Dannhauser and junior Elizabeth McGivern also played in the doubles B flight, but lost 6-3 to Ferris State.

Junior Courtney Rittel and senior Julia Wagner secured a 7-4 tiebreaking victory against a second-seeded team from Rockhurst University in the consolation bracket of the B draw, but were ultimately defeated 6-4 by the eighth-seeded team from Saginaw Valley State University in the quarterfinals.

In her debut appearance in the top bracket at the ITA Midwest Regional, Dannhauser pulled a clear win in

a singles match against Rockhurst on Saturday with set scores of 6-2 and 6-1. Nevertheless, she met her match on Sunday in round 32 against a competitor from Drury University, losing 3-6, 4-6.

Dannhauser said the overall experience was positive for her, and she was proud of her growth.

“My first ITA experience was a bit nerve wracking,” Dannhauser said, “but as soon as the nerves faded, I managed to just play some good tennis and enjoy it.”

Zampardo also competed in the A flight but fell in straight sets of 4-6, 4-6 to a tough opponent from Ferris

State.

In the B flight for singles play, McGivern defeated Sag-

McGivern proceeded to take on a player from Purdue University Northwest and finish the match with a 6-3, 6-2 loss for the Chargers.

the season.

“We’re just going to work hard and improve as we go,” Dannhauser said.

inaw Valley State with the match ending in a tie breaking score of 3-7,7-6, (7-2).

Other notable matches included Formentin’s narrow 6-7, 5-7, 0-6 defeat by Saginaw Valley State and Hackman’s tiebreaker loss to an opponent from G-MAC rival Walsh University. Wagner won 4-6, 6-3, 10-6 against Quincy University, and endured a closely contested match ending in a 5-7, 6-3, 6-10 loss to Southwest Baptist University. According to Dannhauser, the Chargers have lots of potential to do well in the rest of

The Chargers will return to its home courts Oct. 7 -8 when Hillsdale holds its annual Chargers Fall Invitational, marking the conclusion of their 2023 fall season.

“It was a very successful weekend,” Dannhauser said. “We had some very good wins and some tight losses. The team overall is really starting to get into match play so we will definitely be ready for the next tournament.”

Charger chatter

Isabella spInazze, tennIs

Who is your favorite celebrity tennis player?

Serena Williams. She always represented the USA so well, and the way she came back to playing after giving birth was so inspiring.

Nike or Adidas?

Nike. Nike’s tennis clothes — and clothes in general — are cuter and more comfortable than Adidas, which is not a huge supplier of tennis clothes.

What’s your favorite class you've taken at Hillsdale?

Philosophy of Education with Dr. Ellis. This class was one of my first classes in my classical education minor, and I loved it.

Compiled by Elizabeth Crawford

Which one is better: the U.S. Open or the Wimbledon?

I must go with the U.S. Open. Having all the professional players in the USA is super exciting, and the crowd is so loyal to Americans that the atmosphere is unmatched.

Do you have any good luck rituals before you play a match?

As a team, we always pray before a match. It serves as a reminder to us that we play to glorify God through our sport.

Courtesy | Hillsdale College atHletiC department

AJ's or Penny's?

This is a tough one. I think I have to pick Penny’s. The overall vibe of it is so cute, and they have so many good coffee options.

“It was a very successful weekend. We had some very good wins and some tight losses.”

“With our full team, I feel like we're going to be very competitive, and be very deep this year.”

Charger

Football

Chargers lose to G-MAC rival Ashland

failed to put several points on the board before the half, the defense kept Ashland in check.

“I think the defense played well all night,” junior defensive lineman Riley Tolsma said. “ I think we bounced back from the performance from last week, but there's definitely still room to improve.”

During the third quarter, the Chargers struggled to score , with the Eagles capitalizing on back-to-back fumbles and a turnover-heavy game for the Chargers.

The Eagles distanced themselves from the Chargers, who picked up one more touchdown late in the fourth quarter by senior tailback Michael Herzog, who ran for a five-yard touchdown. The game ended 38-14, bringing Hillsdale to 0-3 this season.

beat ourselves, but unfortunately on Saturday, we did beat ourselves, and our mistakes and our turnovers cost us.”

The Chargers will return for their first home game of the season Sept. 23 when they face off against the University of Findlay during homecoming weekend. Tolsma said it will be nice to return to Muddy Waters Stadium.

“I think we're just really excited to play in front of the home crowd after playing on the road for three weeks,” Tolsma said.

Herzog said the team’s goals are to reduce turnovers, protect the quarterback, and make sure the team plays a 60-minute game.

By Micah Hart Political Correspondent

The Charger football team suffered its third straight loss of the season Sept. 16 to the Ashland Eagles, 38-14, on Ashland’s home turf in Ohio.

The Chargers started out their game against the Eagles with a seven-point pickup after junior kicker Julian Lee successfully completed an

Softball

onside kick during the opening kickoff.

The opening drive touchdown started on a 51-yard catch by freshman wide receiver Sam Lee, who caught a deep ball to get Hillsdale in the red zone, and then a five yard touchdown play.

Hillsdale Head Coach Keith Otterbein said he wanted the team to start fast, and the onside kick did just that.

“We knew we wanted to capture momentum early. The key to that whole thing, though, is scoring on offense,” Otterbein said. “Once you take that chance, you've got to capture the momentum and be able to score, and so we were able to do that and had a pretty nice first drive and kind of set a good tone there for a good chunk of the game.”

Ashland would score a touchdown at the end of the first quarter, making the score 7-7.

The Chargers did not score any more points before the half, giving up an interception with 56 seconds left in the first half which resulted in an Eagles touchdown, giving them a 14-7 lead going into the second half.

While Hillsdale’s offense

Otterbein said the team did well in the first 20 minutes but made some mistakes later in the first half, such as a missed block of a punt and the late interception. Otterbein added that the fumble on the kickoff return in the second half, among other moments, also contributed to some lost opportunities.

“The field position just kind of disintegrated on us and disappeared because we shot ourselves in the foot,” Otterbein said. “We are very typically a team that doesn't

“Last week, our defense played an outstanding game. There were drives where Ashland got the ball inside the 25, but our defense was able to put a stop to them, only letting up three points on two drives from a field goal,” Herzog said. “Once we're able to put together a good collective effort from the team, then we will be able to capture a win. What better fashion than to do that on homecoming?”

Hillsdale opens season against DI competition

By Ellie Fromm Collegian Freelancer

The Charger softball team dropped two games as the fall season opened Sept. 16 against Valparaiso University and Bowling Green University.

The Chargers lost both games, with the final scores being 4-1 to Valparaiso University and 5-2 to Bowling Green University, both NCAA Division I schools.

The Chargers were originally scheduled to open Sept. 9 at Madonna University in Livonia, Michigan. Madonna,

Men's XC

however, canceled the game the night before. They plan to play Madonna Sept. 30.

The Chargers were missing many players, and they were especially short-staffed in available pitchers.

“We had one pitcher that was out, another pitcher that was only available for one game, and another pitcher that was sick. So given all that, sophomore Mackenzi Maxson ended up throwing the most innings over the two games,” head coach Kyle Gross said. “Against two Division I programs she did very well.”

Gross said the first game against Valparaiso was shaky, but the day ended stronger against Bowling Green.

“That game against Valparaiso unfortunately seemed a little flat for being our first game out. We just didn’t overcome some of the mistakes in that game,” Gross said. “In the last six innings of the Bowling Green game we shut them out and played great defense.”

Senior catcher McKenna Eichholz said first-game nerves contributed to the team’s play against Valparaiso University on top of hitting struggles and playing togeth-

er for the first time.

“I also think it was the first game jitters that everyone had. Even though it says the fall season doesn’t count, people still get in their heads about it,” Eichholz said.

Eichholz also noted the difference between playing in the G-MAC and playing NCAA DI schools. She said there are differences in pitchings and DI schools play at a slightly faster pace.

“We really emphasized this past weekend that some of our hits that were taken from us would have been hits in the G-MAC,” Eichholz said.

Gross tends to move players in the game more often in the fall season. This gives the opportunity for freshmen to find where they fit and players to gain more experience without games going on the record.

“He has his starters in, we normally will start the game and then he will switch us out midway through the game to try to get our freshman and some of our underclassmen reps,” Eichholz said.

Saturday was freshman middle infielder Sydney Davis’ first competitive college softball experience. Starting

her career against DI schools was exciting for her, and she got to observe the faster pace of the game. Davis believes Charger softball can meet the challenge of DI play.

“I was ready for the challenge,” Davis said. “Everyone on our team is at the level that we can compete with Division I schools.”

Overall, Gross said he is satisfied with the results of the weekend and they gave the team a starting point and a vision for practices.

“Our goal throughout the whole day was to learn from the experience,” Gross said.

Chargers take second at Wayne State

By Alex Deimel Assistant Editor

The Charger men’s cross country team took second place in Wayne State University’s Warrior Challenge at the Willow Metropark Sept. 15 in the Chargers first 8k of the year.

The Wayne State Warriors finished ahead of the Chargers with 21 points, while Hillsdale finished with 56.

The Davenport University Panthers came in third place with 76 points.

Athletes from Wayne State finished in the top three positions, with the first place finisher crossing the line at 24:59 minutes. Hillsdale senior Alex Mitchell finished fourth out of a total of 104 runners with a time of 25:23 minutes.

“I gave it a strong effort but wasn't able to place as

high as I would have hoped,” Mitchell said. “Two out of the three guys that beat me are All-Americans, so that makes it a little bit more bearable. I think I executed as well as I could have hoped to, but just didn't quite have the ability on the day to perform as well as I would have liked.”

Following Mitchell for the Chargers was junior Richie Johnston who finished in eighth place at the 25:54 minute mark with a pace of 5:12 minutes per mile. Rounding out the top 10 was junior Donny McArdle who took tenth place right at the 26 minute mark.

“It felt really great to place in the top 10, especially considering we were racing with a few cross-country All-Americans from Wayne State,” Johnston said. “Running well individually and as a team gives me a lot of con-

fidence, given it is still early in the season, so I am very excited to see what we can do this weekend in Lansing.”

The next Charger to cross the finish line was junior Ross Kuhn, whose finish of 26:12 minutes was good enough for fourteenth place overall.

“The race went decently.

I was hoping for a quicker time but running my second fastest time this early in the season is a good sign,” Kuhn said. “We have been doing some pretty tough training so the wheels coming off around 6k is not something to be worried about.”

Freshman Caleb Youngstedt competed in his first collegiate 8k and took 20th overall with a time of 26:25 minutes. Youngstedt was followed by junior Micah Vanderkooi and senior Sean Hoeft, who finished 31st and 38th, respectively.

The first Charger sophomores to cross the finish line were Emil Schlueter and Seth Jankowski. Schlueter finished behind Hoeft in 45th place at

the 27:19 minute mark, while Jankowski took 53rd overall at 27:44 minutes. The Chargers will head to Lansing to compete in the

Lansing Community College Invitational Sept. 22, followed by Lewis University’s Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois, Oct. 7.

Alex Mitchell and Richie Johnston have been the first two Chargers to finish both races this season. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

The Chargers dropped their third straight game to the Ashland Eagles. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

C U L T U R E

A day at the DIA: Trip to the museum brings art to life for students and faculty

By Christina Lewis collegian freelancer

It is crucial students engage and interact with artwork they are researching, according to Assistant Professor of Art Christina Lamb Chakalova.

Chakalova organized a trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts for students and faculty on Sept. 16. The DIA has an extensive art collection featuring art from Ancient Mesopotamia to Andy Warhol.

“The impetus was my seminar on American art. There are 12 to 14 students who are writing a research paper,” Chakalova said. “I’ve assigned them a work of art at the museum in the collection of American art. We’re going there to do some

first hand research with those objects and then my students will transform that into a larger paper for the semester and a class presentation.”

People should see artwork in person, according to Chakalova.

“It has always been fun for me to see that students don’t just go to the DIA and appreciate the art, but they really intimately interact with it,” she said.

Chakalova argued that classroom is not the best place to experience the art about which her students are learning.

“When you’re taking artworks out of their original context, you’ve also blown them up on a PowerPoint slide or perhaps reduced their size,” Chakalova

said. “You don’t get a sense for material quality. You don’t get a sense for scale. You don’t have a sense for the original setting where that artwork was meant to be viewed. All of that is stripped away from you.”

Chakalova also explained the downfalls of viewing artwork online.

“It’s not the same thing to look at a picture of Hawaii as it is to go on vacation in Hawaii,” she said. “You get a sense of it, and that’s what we’re doing. We’re getting a sense of it in the classroom, but now we have to go see it for ourselves.”

People should take advantage of the DIA’s extensive collection, Chakalova said.

“If we have these original objects nearby, it’s imperative

that we go see them,” Chakalova said.

Junior Madelyn Bunch, who had a class with Chakalova in a previous semester, said she appreciated the opportunity to visit the DIA with more time to spend in the exhibits.

“They have Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and other big names,” Bunch said. “It’s neat that it’s only a few hours away from Hillsdale. Even one of my English professors was on the trip, and it was cool to have a different perspective and to get to spend more time looking at the exhibits.” Bunch said Hillsdale students should learn to appreciate art if they do not already.

“In the same way we encourage so much literature to be

read at Hillsdale, we should also encourage examining art,” Bunch said. “Having a visual and artistic expression of goodness, truth and beauty, and seeing how art changes and stays the same over time is very interesting.”

Senior Hope Schlosser said people should have an open mind when looking at artwork. “Everyone should go to art museums,” Schlosser said. “A lot of people on this campus tend to be very critical of modern art because they don’t know the background to it. People are too often very closed off to different mediums and different periods and styles in art.”

Sophomore Abigail Palubinskas described the process

of artistic interpretation.

“Once the painter does his thing and creates this masterpiece and puts it out there to show people it’s not completely his anymore, because when you look at it, you get your own experience with it. And that’s something that I would wish for everyone,” she said. Echoing the words of her professor and her peers, Palubinskas encouraged people to visit art museums.

“Even if you don’t look at art often, or that’s not your thing, even if you’re an athlete or scientist,” Palubinskas said. “I think being affected by beauty and paintings is an incredible experience. It’s your experience.”

C.S. Lewis ballet illuminates four facets of love

By Isabella Helms collegian reporter

In a delicate interplay of movement and meaning, Ballet

5:8 illuminated the timeless truths of love and faith in Markel Auditorium on Sept.

17. Courtesy of the Hillsdale College Professional Artist Series, Chicago’s Ballet 5:8 delivered a performance that was not only visually captivating but also deeply introspective.

The Hillsdale College Professional Artist Series brings a dance company to campus each year to expose students and the community to professional artistry. Known for its excellence in the performing arts, Ballet 5:8 was chosen for its special proclivity for drawing inspiration from life, faith, and relevant 21st century stories, according to a press release.

Assistant Professor of Dance Holly Hobbs said Ballet 5:8’s repertoire reveals its commitment to these ideals.

“Dance is a highly expressive performing art,” Hobbs said. “Ballet combines athleticism with artistry, making it an excellent vehicle for communicating a variety of emotions that reflect on human relationships.”

Drawing from Makoto Fujimura’s “Four Holy Gospels” paintings, the dancers performed “Gospel Impressions,” first. Nuanced choreography and geometry brought the gospel stories to life, shedding light on them in a uniquely

artistic and emotional manner. Then came “Golden Sessions,” a ballet choreographed by Artistic Director Julianna Rubio Slager and inspired by C.S. Lewis’ “The Four Loves.” In the “Golden Sessions,” Ballet 5:8 explored the depth of human emotion by translating the four distinct Greek words for love into one cohesive dance narrative, according to program pamphlets.

Every element, from the choreography to the costumes, lighting, and music choices successfully conveyed, to me, the meaning behind both ballet sessions. Delineated by these distinct artistic choices, each segment presented the four gospels and the four loves in a way that bridged the gap between one’s intellectual comprehension and emotional connection to the texts, all while visualizing universally invisible truths.

In “Golden Sessions,” for example, shades of pink and red lights bathed the stage as the dancers conveyed the essence of each form of love. The soft pink hue of the dancers’ tutus in the first act of “Golden Sessions” captured the affectionate love between parents and children, “storge,” while their vivid fuchsia leotards in the second act depicted both the depth and warmth of close friendship, “philia.”

As the lights dimmed, the passionate nature of romantic love, “eros,” was conveyed through costumes of rich burgundy. In the grand finale, dancers wore ombre tutus displaying a glorious amalgamation of all the previous colors. Representative of divine love, “agape,” their ombre tutus

ballets, so to see repertoires where it’s just dance portraying a specific thing instead of an actual narrative was really cool.”

Sophomore Samuel Jarzab, on the other hand, said he was particularly moved by the ballet’s subtle yet profound portrayal of each form of love,

performing in two ballets which require slightly different creative approaches.

“When training for ‘Gospel Impressions,’ I felt some of that abstraction, in a good way, in terms of how I portray various elements of the Gospel,” Opsal said. “Whereas in ‘Golden Sessions,’ I feel things more tangibly and in a little more of a direct way, specifically in terms of being able to see the physical and emotional aspects of love and passion.”

Solo artist Sarah Clarke, agreeing with Linser and Opsal, talked about her favorite moment in the whole ballet.

ment.

“Dance supports the liberal arts tradition by creating connections across disciplines, and Ballet 5:8’s performance of Golden Sessions is an exemplary example of this as it draws inspiration from C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves,” she said. “Because of this experience, dancers in our program will be encouraged to explore how dance connects to the larger world, and hopefully, audience members from the community were moved by the performance.”

Hobbs even said it is her hope that such performances inspire the community to further engage with and support dance in and around Hillsdale College.

suggested that God’s unconditional love encompasses the other three loves while simultaneously transcending them. The play concluded with the dancers from the first three acts, “storge,” “philia,” and “eros,” bowing in reverence to agape love in acknowledgement of its supremacy. Audience members said they were enchanted.

“I loved the colors and the costumes,” junior Lauren Smyth said. “It was very bright, easy to follow, and very beautiful. I danced for a long time and we did mostly story

noting how every element of the production tied in together well.

Several Ballet 5:8 dancers emphasized how “Golden Sessions” provided a more relational storytelling platform in contrast with the grand narrative of “Gospel Impressions.”

“Whereas Gospel Impressions is less emotional and more focused on Scripture, Golden Sessions is really special because it ties the two together,” said Valerie Linser, a solo artist with Ballet 5:8.

Solo artist Samuel Opsal explained the challenges of

“In ‘Gospel Impressions,’ I was one of the four ‘The Word’ dancers, and there is one part in particular which I really enjoy. It’s very brief, but there is this moment where we all do a little circle around ourselves and fold into each other. That moment is supposed to be representative of a scroll, and there is something so tangible in that moment because it is both so simple and so powerful at the same time,” Clarke said.

Hobbs said performances like this are important for the cultural and artistic growth of the college’s dance depart-

“The goal of the Professional Artist Series is to present high caliber performing arts for the community,” Hobbs said. “Each time we present a dance company we offer a master class for Tower Dancers, granting them an authentic experience with professionals in the field.”

After watching such mastery of form and content, it was hard for me to leave the performance without a better understanding of the intricacies of love, and a deeper appreciation for the power of dance to communicate Gospel truths. Together, “Gospel Impressions” and “Golden Sessions” had the unitive effect of connecting the audience to the broader world through the universal language of dance and literature.

Courtesy Abigail Palubinskas

Courtesy Abigail Palubinskas

Courtesy Abigail Palubinskas

Courtesy Madelyn Bunch

Courtesy | Madelyn Bunch

Ballerinas dance to the “Agape” segment of “Golden Sessions.” Courtesy | Holly Hobbs

“Head of Christ Crowned with Thorns ” by Guido Reni

“Allegory of Hope” by Alessandro Turchi “Penelope” by Franklin Simmons

“The Nightmare ” by Henry Fuseli “Girl and Laurel” by Winslow Homer

C U L T U R E

Model students: Garden Party doubles as a runway

Courtesy| StudentActivitiesBoard

By Caroline Kurt collegian reporter

Scarlet silk, tropical ties, and Hollywood flair characterized the best looks of Garden Party 2023.

Students celebrated some of the last summer weather with dancing and live music in the Slayton Arboretum on Sept. 16.

This year’s Garden Party theme was “La La Land,” a 2016 musical film starring Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. The movie follows an actress and an aspiring jazz pianist as they fall in love, singing and dancing their way through starry Los Angeles.

True to the Old Hollywood glamor of the movie, students chose vivid colors and classic silhouettes while adding their own twists.

Senior John Tasseff sported a suave Old Hollywood look, with slickedback hair, round vintage

shades, and a cane, transforming his classic suit and tie into the uniform of a rich producer.

“I’d like to sign you on for $30 million. We shoot tomorrow,” Tasseff said, in regard to the attitude that inspired him. “I’ve never been to Hollywood. I never want to go to Hollywood. But this is a kind of pastiche.”

Freshman Zoe Barnes adopted the bright colors of Emma Stone’s wardrobe with her fulllength scarlet number. The v-neck and feminine details recalled some of Stone’s most iconic costumes.

“I got this dress for a wedding. I love floral and puff sleeves, like Anne of Green Gables,” Barnes said.

Like many other Hillsdale students, Barnes found her statement piece while thrifting.

Sophomore Augie McCormack paired a mus-

tard-yellow vest and blue bow tie with a sharp plaid suit for a Gosling-esque look. He said he found the vest at Goodwill.

“It was $5,” McCormack said.

Junior Grace Bryant went for a standout look. Pink leather, bold ruffles, and deep pockets gave her classic dress an unexpected allure.

“I’ve never had an event to wear this to, so this was the one,” Bryant said. Garden Party was the first time sophomore John Frenz wore his bold SoCal-esque flamingo tie.

“I was afraid that if I brought it to church one day that I would get struck by a bolt of lightning,” Frenz said. “You know, ‘you should not mock the Lord your God.’”

Sophomore Malina Ladzinski shone in a silky lilac halter-neck dress with a special past.

“This was my mother’s

‘Starship Troopers’ book talk explores space, politics

By Zack Chen collegian Freelancer

she was my age,” Ladz inski said. “Being able to wear this dress, it makes me feel like my mother is with me. I just happen to be the same size, which is so cool.”

Junior Lucia Wilson celebrated her first Garden Party as a transfer student in style. She paired a bold red satin dress with a leather jacket and loose curls.

“Why not make a statement?” Wilson said. “I like to find one thing that’s kind of out there.”

Sophomore Mark Masaka assembled an unusual outfit for the evening. He topped his banana shirt, tie, blazer, and shorts with his trademark yellow banana bucket hat.

“I can’t go anywhere without a bucket hat,” Masaka said. “I wore the banana one by popular demand. Words of wisdom? Dress well. And send me bucket hats.”

Fans of politics, philosophy, and alien bugs will enjoy the library’s upcoming book discussion on Robert A. Heinlein’s “Starship Troopers,” a classic novel from the 20th century’s Golden Age of Science Fiction.

The discussion will take place at noon in Mossey Library’s Heritage Room on Wednesday, Sept. 27. A pizza lunch will be provided.

“The library hosts a book discussion every semester,” said Brenna Wade, public services librarian at Mossey Library. “This was actually supposed to have happened in February, but the date we had set was also the date of the crazy snow-ice storm.”

Though students need not have read the 1959 book to come to the discussion, Wade strongly encourages them to do so.

“You’d get a lot more out of it if you did,” she said.

The plot of “Starship Troopers” intersperses vivid battle episodes with intriguing political philosophy while depicting the training and experiences of a young recruit in the Mechanized Infantry, the supersoldiers of the future.

John J. Miller, director of the Dow Journalism Program, said “Starship Troop-

Professors’ Picks: Ian Church, associate professor of philosophy

ers” is a thought-provoking blend of plot and philosophy.

“The novel at a fundamental level is a novel of ideas,” Miller said. “It’s about questions of citizenship, and who should vote, and what is your commitment as a citizen to your regime.”

According to Miller, who has written about Heinlein for National Review, “Starship Troopers” is an excellent science fiction story which raises important political questions. Though the world of Heinlein’s novel is rooted in a clearly futuristic society, the issue of political duties and war are nevertheless universal inquiries.

“What makes Heinlein so interesting is that he’s got this novel which is a classic science fiction novel - you know, the aliens are attacking, we must defeat them – but he’s also asking questions about our roles as citizens, and our duties and obligations, and so forth,” Miller said.

“Starship Troopers” ties these themes together into a narrative, combining an intensely personal military memoir with a creative vision of the future and thoughtful political commentary. “You have a book that’s at once fun to read and food for thought,” Miller said.

From the minds of Hillsdale’s professors: the song, book, and movie everyone ought to know

“Boy with a Coin” Iron and Wine - 2007

“It’s pretty much impossible for me to come up with a favorite song. ‘High Hopes’ by Pink Floyd (that guitar solo!!), ‘New Dawn Fades’ by Joy Division, ‘Hallelujah’ by Leonard Cohen, and ‘Galapagos’ by the Smashing Pumpkins are all some of my all-time favorite songs—often for deeply personal reasons. There are songs for every occasion; favorite love songs, favorite songs for sadness, favorite songs for ‘pushing plates’ at the gym, etc. All that said, I’d like to highlight ‘Boy with a Coin’ by Iron and Wine. I see the song as wrestling with the silence of God amidst personal suffering and the capriciousness and inscrutability of life. Fun stuff!”

“The Secret of our Success”

Joseph Henrich - 2016

“I’m afraid it’s nearly impossible for me to come up with a favorite book. The non-philosophy book I’m most ‘geeking out’ over right now is Joseph Henrich’s, ‘The Secret of our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter.’ According to Henrich, a biologist at Harvard University, humans are fundamentally creatures of culture, designed to learn from and further the riches of our forebears. It gives a scientific account of human nature that I think raises some extremely important philosophical questions, and I think it sheds light on the importance of a liberal arts education.”

“A Serious Man” - 2009

“‘When I was much younger ‘Donnie Darko’ (2001) was one of my favorite movies, and I thought its inscrutability hid deep truths. But I haven’t busted the will re-watched it as an adult. To be honest, I’m deeply worried that what I saw as deep profundity as a teenager might, upon further viewing, turn out to be nonsense mascaraing as profundity. ‘A Serious Man’ (2009) is another one of my favorite movies right now. In many ways the movie mirrors the book of Job, and it wrestles with how we understand the world around us and the troubles of life. Plus, the main character is a professor applying for tenure, so lots to relate to there!”

Compiled by Isaac Green

Church swung by Stonehenge this summer. Courtesy | Ian Church

Courtesy | Student Activities Board

Caroline Kurt | Collegian

CarolineKurt| Collegian

Courtesy | Amazon

Bringing Oxford to campus: students start C.S. Lewis Society

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

Last Tuesday, an off-campus home transformed into Oxford. Students shared hors-d’oeuvres and discussed theology and literature well into the night. Even a British accent filled the room.

The new Hillsdale C.S. Lewis Society hosted the soiree as part of its first event on Sept. 12. The evening began with a lecture, “C.S. Lewis on Power,” from Michael Ward, associate faculty of Theology and Religion at Oxford University. Students and professors, including Ward, then attended the soiree afterward at Egypt, an off-campus home near the Oak Grove Cemetery, for light fare and desserts.

“We want to do academic discussion combined with food, community, fellowship, and professors and students intermingling,” said senior Luke Hollister, the society’s president.

The society plans to feature two to three evening lectures per semester covering C.S. Lewis, the Inklings, and related thinkers and topics, followed by a gathering where students and professors can continue the discussion and enjoy food and refreshments.

C.S. Lewis is best known for “The Chronicles of Narnia,” “The Space Trilogy,” and various published lectures. A member of the Inklings, he held academic positions at both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, making him a favorite scholar among Hills-

dale students who study abroad with Ward.

The society’s mission statement says it was founded “to promote the Lewisian spirit of joyful curiosity among the ladies and gentlemen of Hillsdale by facilitating serious academic engagement, while aspiring to the hospitable atmosphere of an Oxonian dinner party.”

Hollister, senior Michael Hoggat, and juniors Justus Hume and Mark den Hollander started the society this semester. The students said they were inspired by the culture of hospitality and dinner parties they found while studying in Oxford. They modeled the society after the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society.

“All four of us in leadership had an experience in Oxford of the Oxford dinner party, and we also saw an academic engagement in Oxford that we didn’t really see in Hillsdale in the same way,” Hollister said.

The idea of a C.S. Lewis Society at Hillsdale began when Ph.D. student and alumnus

Joshua Waechter ’20 attended an Oxford C.S. Lewis Society meeting this past May.

Waechter was a member of the society while pursuing his masters degree at Oxford, and he said the group was his first time encountering a place like Hillsdale at the university.

Waechter said he wanted to introduce the experience of the Oxford society to Hillsdale and proposed it to Ward, who passed the suggestion along to Hoggatt and Hollister.

“Hillsdale is also a bit of an Anglophile campus,” Waechter said. “I saw it as a way of bringing that culture to Hillsdale.”

Ward, the senior advisor of the Oxford C.S. Lewis society, compared it to Hillsdale’s new society.

“The societies are quite similar — the lecture and Q&A followed by socialization,” Ward said. “That’s the Oxford tradition.”

Ward said the society will solidify the dialogue already happening at Hillsdale about Lewis and the Inklings, serving as a “gravitational pull” to continue that conversation in an informal setting.

“Lewis wrote fiction and about literary criticism and religion — all three of those things will serve as topics,” Hollister said. “We also want to talk about other people within the Inklings because Lewis and company is the goal we’re going for.”

The society also recruited the help of junior and former pastry chef Mark den Hollander, the group’s minister of

hospitality. Before transferring to Hillsdale last year, den Hollander studied pastry and confectionery at Le Cordon Bleu in London.

“We wanted to help bring the sense of culture and hospitality they have in the Oxford C.S. Lewis Society,” Hoggatt said. “Mark is an excellent pastry chef and also really skilled with hospitality.”

Hoggatt said the club will

also give students the opportunity to present their own ideas about Lewis and the Inklings.

“We want to create an environment for undergraduate and graduate students to practice doing research and presenting their own work publically,” Hoggatt said. “They can present a 10 to 15 minute paper as an opener for the main speaker.”

The society plans to host at

least one more event this semester.

“We want to show that passive acceptance of information is not as impactful as when you receive information from a lecture and discuss it with your friends, professors, and the speaker.” Hollister said. “There’s this academic community you probably won’t get past college.”

Home is where the heart is, Hillsdale County

Alumni reflect on work, friendship, and community in the area after college

By Isabella Helms Collegian Reporter

While many graduates venture beyond Hillsdale County after earning their degrees, some choose to make the town their new home.

Frank Lucchetti ’21 is one such student. After earning a degree in politics, he and his wife Grace ’21 bought their first home in Hillsdale County. But unlike many Hillsdale grads who settled in the area, Frank did not accept a position at the college. Still, the Lucchetti’s, as well as other alumni who don’t work for the school, have found an even closer community in town.

After considering law school, Frank decided to delve into law enforcement and currently works as a correctional officer for the Lenawee County sheriff.

“It’s an immensely educational job if you want to learn about human nature,” Frank said. “It’s also a good way to begin a career in criminal justice.”

His wife, Grace, grew up in a small town like Hillsdale and began working for Hillsdale in institutional advancement.

“We loved the small town life, which is how I grew up, and what Frank fell in love with in school at Hillsdale,” Grace said.

Positioned between both their families in Illinois and Virginia, the couple thought Hillsdale County was the most geographically-convenient place to start their new life together.

“The political situations in the respective areas that we are from aren’t good either —for us, that is,” Frank said.

“The state government of Illinois has very high state taxes and restrictive gun laws, and Virginia is sort of headed in the same way, I speculate.”

Despite being raised in a densely-populated area, Frank said he always envisioned a more rural lifestyle. Hillsdale, with its expansive landscapes and low property rates, seemed like the perfect place to begin his life as a graduate and newlywed, he said.

For some students, the decision to remain in Hillsdale is more intuitive. Isaac Waffle ’23, who grew up in Coldwater, said Hillsdale is a short drive from his family and his fiancée.

“My brothers and I are the eighth generation on the land that we grew up on, with most of our extended family and friends living nearby,” Waffle said. “ I have deep roots in southern Michigan and a heart for all the small towns in the area that were a part of my upbringing. Going forward, my hope is to contribute to the health of the towns and counties around home and Hillsdale.”

Waffle said living near the college has already helped that mission.

“Having the college is an obvious help to the town and county of Hillsdale, but to really breathe life into the community, we will need people with a vision for the good of those beyond just the college,” Waffle said. “Fortunately, I have a few friends who already share that vision.”

Waffle, who was a member of the cross country team and involved with the Anglican Student Fellowship, said he has maintained strong ties

to the college though he now works in insurance.

“Despite not being at the college daily, I still am maintaining relationships with students, faculty, and alumni from the college,” Waffle said. “I’ve stopped by a few events and gotten meals with friends.”

For the Lucchettis, the thriving community of friends they had developed in college also motivated them to stay in town.

“We have a lot of friends here: people who work for the college, people in the graduate program, and a few

professors and their families,” Frank said.

Having attended Hillsdale during the pandemic, Frank said he remembers a time when the importance of friendship was emphasized

A life of faith also played a role in their decision.

“There’s a vibrant Catholic community here,” Grace said, pointing out its rarity in the rural Midwest.

Still, Grace said the couple’s friendships extend beyond the college and friends they had already made through church.

While Grace initially worked for the college post-graduation, after the birth of her first child, she dedicated herself as a full time homemaker, fully immersing herself in the life and rhythm of Hillsdale.

“We melded into non-college life with ease,” Grace said. “We are passionate about participating in our communities, which is clear from Frank’s job. We have great relationships with our neighbors and, when life settles down a bit, want to take in more active roles in our community. We adore Hillsdale and the surrounding counties and are proud to live here.”

Now that the couple have lived in Hillsdale for over a year, Grace said they have become less attached to college and more involved in the town.

a foot tall, but as soon as we moved in, the next door neighbor immediately came over and mowed the grass,” Frank said. “Everyone was wanting to be helpful in whatever way they could.” Frank, content with his job in Hillsdale County, said he is thankful for the career opportunities Michigan provides.

“You don’t have to work for the college if you don’t want to do that. There are other career paths that you can explore,” Frank said. “We are not far from Jackson, Adrian, or Coldwater, and there are several bigger towns within a very commutable distance. It’s very doable to live in this area and commute elsewhere if you’re willing to drive a little bit.”

With his college days behind him, Waffle said there is a stark contrast between student life and the professional world.

“It has been nice to settle into a regular rhythm, and especially to leave work obligations at work, rather than have assignments and studying always looming in the background,” he said.

both inside and outside the classroom.

“We learned the importance of friendship in the classroom and in the world where, if you go back to Aristotle’s ‘Nicomachean Ethics,’ you will find that the highest kind of human relationship is not one of utility or business but one of mutual love and good will towards others,” Frank said.

“I wouldn’t say I’m particularly connected to Hillsdale still, other than just happening to have friends who are alumni, faculty and staff, or current students.”

The Lucchettis said were immediately welcomed by their neighbors when they moved.

“When Grace and I bought our house last year, the owner had just moved out and the house had been empty for a few months during the summer. The grass was about

More importantly, he said work has made him identify less as a graduate and more as a community member.

“Our relationships and identities are centered around our family, faith, community, and work,” Waffle said. “Most of us don’t see ourselves primarily as alumni, but rather as spouses, parents, churchmen, neighbors, and workers.”

“Hillsdale is also a bit of an Anglophile campus. I saw it as a way of bringing that culture to campus .”

Ward attended the C.S. Lewis Society soiree hosted by Hollister (left) and Hoggatt (right) at their off-campus home. Courtesy | Michael Hoggatt

The Lucchettis moved to Hillsdale County after graduating from the college in 2021.

Courtesy | Grace Lucchetti

The odds are in our favor: a new banner ranking

By Michaela Estruth Assistant Editor

Walking into the Grewcock Student Union any day around 11:55 p.m., you won’t see much, but maybe a few students on couches reading or talking quietly.

But enter the union at 11:55 p.m. on the Sunday of homecoming week, and you’ll be greeted with blasting music, jumping feet, and screaming students.

Welcome to the Banner Drop – one of the best nights of the semester. Every homecoming team has spent the past week designing, painting, and decorating a themed banner while incorporating the group’s own identity and personality.

The next day, judges score the banners and report the top five.

As a participant of homecoming week, I have engaged in multiple conversations about the quality of each banner – hearing arguments for and against which ones should have won. Now, I have decided to enter the civil discussion as

any good Greek philosopher would do.

I stand by Kappa Kappa Gamma’s win. Despite current tensions around the sorority’s success in the video competition, no one is shocked Kappa placed first in the banner competition – in fact, if it hadn’t, people would be.

The Greek message is clear as well as Kappa’s identity: hard work, attention to detail, commitment to beauty, and appreciation for display went into this banner. Poised Greek figures may be compared to the poised Kappa women on campus, who carry themselves with dignity, respect, and dedication to their tasks.

“After days of discussion to plan the design, Kappas spent more than 40 hours painting the banner,” junior Hannah Arends said. “Homecoming has shown how Kappas love serving each other through giving of their time.”

But now, I stray from the judges’ results, keeping in mind the two criteria that launched Kappa to first place – theme and group incorporation.

By my judgment, the new dorm, Sohn Residence, should’ve earned second place. The theme of the Greek Olympics is evident, unique, and beautiful. In the bottom corner, Zeus with the face of College President Larry Arnn, and Nike, the goddess of victory, with the face of Penny Arnn stand in majesty.

The eye then naturally ascends the painted staircase to the top of Mt. Olympus, where Central Hall resides – a fitting image of the Hillsdale spirit. In addition, an eagle and a column with flames add an exceptional Greek flare. Finally, in the bottom left a driver whips his horse, evidently competing in the chariot race, while directly opposite in the right top corner, a runner races across the sky. Perhaps by coincidence, this also appeals to the famous Greek legend of Icarus, failing to heed his father’s advice and flying too close to the sun, causing his wax wings to melt and plunging him to his death.

The complaint that Sohn’s banner is not Olympic enough is simply misinformed. The en-

QUICK HITS with Patricia Craig

By Emily Schutte Collegian Reporter

In this Quick Hits, Assistant Professor of Classics Patricia Craig talks children’s literature, Renaissance polyphony, and “Wicked.”

What’s your favorite children’s book?

I really love the book “Corduroy” which is about a little bear who comes to life and loses a button on his corduroy trousers. It’s a very sweet story. The magical aspect of the toys coming alive at night always fascinated me. I used to pray that my porcelain dolls would come to life at night. And then the care that the little girl in the story shows for her bear is so sweet.

If you could eat only one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Definitely Indian food, specifically yellow curry. I really would like it if Hillsdale had an Indian restaurant. That would make me very glad.

If you could be the lead singer for anything, what would it be and why?

If I were a singer, I would be in Broadway musicals — a dream to pursue in my next life. I suppose I would really like to be Elphaba in “Wicked.”

Are there any trends that you think should never come back?

One thing is women wearing tights without anything else. In the ’80s, there were those matching sweatsuits. Now we’ve made it worse with matching tights suits!

Is there a fashion that you think should come back? Puffed sleeves.

What do you do for fun? I go running. I really like to play volleyball. I like to play Spikeball with my siblings and I like to sing. I speak Latin for fun, too.

What are some songs that you have completely memorized? A lot of songs. Unfortunately, the first thing that comes

to mind is Britney Spears — probably her entire first album because it was the first CD I ever owned! Also several polyphony pieces from the Renaissance.

Do you have a favorite genre of music?

My favorite genre of music, especially to listen to in the car, is country music, both older and newer country music. And then Renaissance polyphony would be my other favorite genre.

What’s your biggest pet peeve? With students? Definitely walking out in the middle of class and then walking back in several minutes later without explanation.

What is the coolest place you’ve ever visited?

The first thing that comes to mind is the Cathedral of Orvieto in Italy. I remember going there when I was between my junior and senior year of college with a couple of professors at my undergrad institution,

tire purpose of the competition was to entertain and praise the gods, who almost always got involved. This approach is unique among the banners – no other banner depicts the gods or Mt. Olympus, revealing Sohn’s appreciation for higher things than manly competition and glory.

“We pulled most of our inspiration from existing graphic design layouts and styles I found online,” said Grace McNeil, an RA in Sohn. “I loved the idea of a bright, limited color palette in making the banner pop, but keeping it cohesive and not too busy. And the simplified characters made it easy for other people to jump in and help.”

In addition, Sohn had the unique challenge of presenting itself as a new dorm – one that lacked a stereotype or campus identity. Yet the women rose to the challenge, displaying themselves as humble, talented, accomplished women who give their all to any task and bring energy and enthusiasm to school events. They may not have won the banner competi-

tion, but in my mind, they are winning the spirit competition.

Finally, as the Head RA of Olds Residence, it would be remiss not to argue for my own dorm’s contribution. The banner depicted Metta Olds, the founder and supporter of our dorm, in the kitchen. Metta is not simply doing the dishes, however, she is modeling the discus toss.

Sophomore Olds Resident Assistant Cecilia Jansen created the original sketch for the banner.

“When I first heard the theme was Greek Olympics, I knew we had to incorporate Metta in it somehow,” Jansen said. “I Googled ‘ancient Greek Olympics’ to see what people first thought about. The discus throw came up, so I decided to connect that with Olds. I added the plate and the iconic Olds kitchen.”

The iconic Olds kitchen is relatable – from freshmen to seniors, the women of Hillsdale College love and appreciate that Olds’ kitchen. But the dorm spirit doesn’t stop there. While Metta is discus-tossing

the dishes, underneath her, Olds is written in Greek letters surrounded by roses – a gesture to Olds’ brother dorm, Niedfeldt Residence.

Several years ago, Simpson Residence, in a sarcastic gesture, brought dishes to Olds for the women to clean. Upset by this rather unkind offer, the then-head RA of Olds contacted the head RA of Niedfeldt, whom she was dating. The men of Niedfeldt quickly gathered and journeyed to Olds, bringing roses with them – one for each woman in Olds. And they didn’t stop there – in fact, they cleaned the entire Olds kitchen. Legend became tradition – so now every year, the men of Niedfeldt bring roses to the freshmen women of Olds.

So Olds’ banner beautifully displays the Olds identity, the Hillsdale community, and the Greek Olympics theme, and deserved a standing among the winners.

My argument is made. I now leave the acropolis to lead my team in battle. The games have begun. May the odds be ever in your favor.

University of Dallas, and we were able to sit in front of the façade of this beautiful medieval cathedral for about an hour, just looking at and interpreting the mosaics.

How many siblings do you have?

I have five siblings, and I am the second oldest.

What was your favorite pet growing up?

My dog, Sally Joyful Heart. She was very joyful, and she had a heart shape in the fur on her

forehead. We loved that dog, but she kept on trying to run away and become a hunting dog. That became a little difficult for my parents, so they gave her to my uncle who had hunting dogs. Alas.

What is your favorite family tradition?

I think probably what we do on Christmas Eve with my family. We like to sit around a fire and have hot cocoa or tea and sing Christmas carols as night falls.

What terrifies you most about teaching?

I can be a little scared of my students, I admit! I guess I worry that they won’t pay attention or they won’t care or they will wish I were a better professor. I guess that would be the most terrifying thing.

What do you like most about teaching?

I most of all like to see students come to understand something in a new way.

Craig posing in front of Notre Dame Cathedral. Courtesy | Patricia Craig

Estruth’s ranking of homecoming banners places Kappa Kappa Gamma first, Sohn Residence second, and Olds Residence third.

Michaela Estruth | Collegian