12.8.16 Hillsdale Collegian by The Hillsdale Collegian

‘Frozen’ Salvation Army bell-ringers Three Disney princesses rang the Salvation Army bell to raise money at Jonesville’s Wal-Mart on Wednesday. A8

Orchestra selected to perform in D.C. Hillsdale’s college orchestra was selected to perform at George Mason Univeristy at the national CODA conference. A7

Larry Arnn goes to Washington In this semester’s issue of The Collision, Betsy DeVos takes over as Hillsdale College president, after Arnn becomes secretary of education. A4 Grace DeSandro | Collegian Freepik.com

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

Vol. 140 Issue 13 - 8 December 2016

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Hillsdale’s own ‘Christmas Story’

Former student Bob Clark directed the holiday classic

In “A Christmas Story,” Darren McGavin (left) — who plays Old Man Parker, Ralphie’s father — stands with director Bob Clark (right), who makes a cameo as the Parkers’ neighbor. YouTube

By | Thomas Novelly Editor-in-Chief When children wake up on Christmas morning and race downstairs, they can expect to see three things: the cookies eaten, the presents nestled under the tree, and TBS playing “A Christmas Story” on repeat. With lines recited as frequently as “Silent Night” during the holidays, the 1983 movie has become a permanent piece of Christmas nostalgia, because of the creative genius of the film director, Bob Clark. Just like when the young protagonist Ralphie, portrayed by Pete Billingsley, looks on in wonder as he opens the package to his coveted “Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action 200shot Range Model Air Rifle,” Hillsdale students, too, can feel that same sense of pride and ownership when watching the annual reruns on Christmas morning. That’s because Bob Clark is one of our own, a former student at Hillsdale College. Before he was directing child actors to stick their tongues to frozen flagpoles, Clark was briefly a student at Hillsdale, attending from 1960-1963. While he would later attend the University of Miami, Hillsdale College can be credited for many key moments in his life but most notably his ability to command an audience. Clark got his start in drama as a student actor in Hillsdale’s Tower Players productions. Clark was a southern boy. He was born in New Orleans; spent some years in Birmingham, Alabama; and was raised in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In an interview with a Canadian film website in 2005, Clark said because his father died when he was very young and his mother was a barmaid, he grew up poor. He mustered up enough money to start his education at Catawba College where he began studying philosophy, but he soon left, when he earned a scholarship to play quarterback for Hillsdale’s football team. In a 1960 issue of The Collegian, Clark is recognized as one of the top prospects to play starting quarterback among several team veterans. “Newcomer Bob Clark, of Fort Lauderdale … will be a principled candidate for the quarterback spot,” the article said. Hillsdale’s archives don’t show much of Clark’s football career, but The Collegian highlighted a game in November 1961 when Clark scored a touchdown in a 24-7 win against Heidelberg College. “With 9:46 left, the blue and white struck again on a 14yard run around the right end by Bob Clark,” the article said. “Clay Roth kicked his 11th straight point after touchdown, and the Dales held their commanding 24-0 lead.” In a 2006 interview with Follow @HDaleCollegian

a cult-horror movie website, Clark said after he left Hillsdale and transferred to the University of Miami, he went on to play semi-professional football for the Fort Lauderdale Black Knights. But Clark was known for more than just his athletic prowess. Clark brought one of his hobbies from the sunshine state to Hillsdale’s snowy campus, and it garnered a lot of attention. According to a Collegian article published in February 1963, Clark and Doug Lockhart, a fellow classmate and Fort Lauderdale native, taught a one-credit Scuba Diving class to fellow students. Students could train with the two “professional scuba-divers from the Florida coast” for just $25. Clark noted that there were quite a few women in the class, many of them his top students. “Even though they are usually somewhat scared at first, they lose their fears and become increasingly sure of themselves,” Clark said at the time. Amid scoring touchdowns and teaching his fellow students in scuba class, Clark’s classmates also applauded another one of his talents: acting. A survey of Hillsdale’s archives shows that Clark acted in numerous Tower Players productions. He starred as the main consul in “Between Two Thieves” — a play showing the retrial of Jesus Christ — and was also cast in Hillsdale’s adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s “The Millionairess.” But his most notable role was as disgruntled husband Joe McDougal in “Holiday For Lovers,” a 1957 play that shortly after became a Hollywood movie. According to a review of the play published in The Collegian in May 1962, Clark was the best actor in the whole performance. “Especially commendable was the fine job of character acting by Bob Clark,” The Collegian said. “Clark remains in full command of his audience with cutting remarks and bitter gestures all of which are directed at his annoying wife.” Twenty years later, Clark had a series of successful horror and comedy films that he made in Canada under his belt, including “Porky’s,” an irreverent teen comedy that was once one of the top 25 grossing films of all time, according to Variety magazine. With some credit to his name, Clark approached MGM to ask for money to create “A Christmas Story” with author Jean Shepherd, whose stories depicting his boyhood in Indiana was the inspiration for the film. According to a 2013 book on the making of the film by Caseen Gaines, Clark was given $4.4 million to produce “A Christmas Story.” Clark was apparently so excited to make t h e f i l m See Clark A7

Professor of Biology Anthony Swinehart stands with Linda the edmontosaurus, a nearly complete dinosaur skeleton excavated with the help of Hillsdale College students in South Dakota, that was donated to the college’s Daniel M. Fisk Museum of Natural History in the Strosacker Science Center. Madeline Fry | Collegian

Dirt to display: Meet ‘Linda’ the dino By | Madeline Fry Social Media Editor Hillsdale College became one of four places in Michigan to display a full dinosaur skeleton Friday with the addition of an edmontosaurus to the Daniel M. Fisk Museum of Natural History in the Strosacker Science Center. The nearly complete remains, nicknamed “Linda” for the woman who found the fossil, is a donation from dinosaur-enthusiast Darla Roberts, who Professor of Biology Anthony Swinehart said wanted to help small museums with limited resources. Because dinosaur skeletons are large, epensive, and hard to acquire, only a few small natural history museums are able to display one, Swinehart said. Several dozen students and faculty gathered in the museum on Friday for the unveiling of the 26-feet-long dinosaur. As a speaker boomed the “Jurassic Park” theme song, Swinehart, the museum’s curator, dropped the curtain covering the skeleton. “The people present at the

unveiling, with the exception of about a dozen who excavated it and prepared it, were the first living organisms to see Linda in about 66 million years,” he said. The skeleton is mostly complete, with real bones from other skeletons as well as casts from real bones replacing what is missing. “The only appendage missing from the mount is one of the forelimbs,” Swinehart said. An amateur fossil hunter, Linda Bergman, discovered the dinosaur in South Dakota in 2013. As a part of an independent study with Swinehart, seniors Matt Hoenig and HeeSang Lee assisted Bergman and students from the University of North Georgia with the dinosaur’s excavation. “Specific bones that I worked on include some of the vertebrae, the pubis — one of the hip bones — and the ribs,” Hoenig said. “There’s no substitute for the hot sun, searing wind, and excitement of finding another bone. Digging up a dinosaur is meticulous, messy, and challenging, and this is what makes it so rewarding.”

Swinehart had contacted Associate Professor of Anthropology Steve Nicklas at the University of North Georgia about opportunities for Hillsdale students to study paleontology in the field. Over the past few years, students have helped excavate several types of dinosaurs, including a tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, edmontosaurus, and ankylosaurs. Linda is an edmontosaurus, a type of dinosaur with a signa-

ture duck bill. Her kind were herbivores and prey for the tyrannosaurus rex. They could travel on two legs or four. The museums at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University as well as the Cranbrook Institute of Science all display dinosaur skeletons. Being only one of a few schools with such an exhibit, Swinehart said he hopes it will attract more students to the muse-

See Dino A2

At the excavation site in South Dakota, seniors Hee-Sang Lee (left) and Matt Hoenig (right) hold pieces of Linda the edmontosaurus’ vertebrae. Anthony Swinehart | Courtesy

Raising funds and ringing bells College, hospital compete for second year in collecting money for Salvation Army

By | Breana Noble News Editor ’Tis the season for giving — and friendly competition. After Hillsdale College won its first bell-ringing competition with Hillsdale Hospital in 2015, the businesses are facing off again to raise money for the Salvation Army. The hospital kicked off this year’s contest Saturday at the Kroger on W. Carleton, and the college will do its part Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. “They are the two biggest employers in the county, and both exist to serve others,” Brock Lutz, the college’s director of health services and a member of the Hillsdale County Salvation Army’s advisory board said in an email. “Great success last year, people told me they loved doing it, so let’s do it again.” In total, the college raised $1,595.84 to the hospital’s $1,298.24. This amount doesn’t include the money raised by students ringing the bell for the Salvation Army by Mossey Library through the on-campus GOAL Program. The totals earned the col-

lege and hospital Bell Ringer Awards, being the second and third business to raise the most money in the county. The No. 1 spot went to WCSR Radio, which raised more than $10,000 in just six hours last year at the Market House on W. Carleton as it broadcasted live. “It’s the generosity of the our listeners,” said Bob Flynn, the afternoon host who will be ringing bells with Juli Morgan on Dec. 16 from noon to 6 p.m. “They bring buckets full of coins or very large checks and everything in between.” WCSR has corporate sponsors to match the funds, allowing the station to double whatever people put in the bucket. The Salvation Army returns all the donations to the community, supporting its efforts to provide a meal four days a week, fill its food pantry, provide fresh produce weekly, and fund activities for county children, Salvation Army Administrative Assistant Kathryn Stump said. That’s what Flynn said it is all about: “We just hope we can make it the merriest Christmas for everyone in the county.”

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Junior Taylor Hannel, sophomore Liz Laux, and junior Lyndsey Bice ring the bell for the Salvation Army GOAL Program outside of Mossey Library Tuesday. Breana Noble | Collegian Look for The Hillsdale Collegian

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News

Students at Founders Classical Academy at Mesquite in Texas line up in their school gym wearing their formal uniforms. Shannon Nason | Courtesy

College donors help with uniform costs at Barney charters By | Breana Noble News Editor This academic year marks the expansion of Hillsdale College’s Barney Charter School Initiative to 16 schools, spreading a classical curriculum to more and more communities. But in some poorer neighborhoods in Texas, some families have found it difficult to afford the uniforms required for students to attend the classical academies. Matthew Stone ’10, the headmaster at Founders Classical Academy at Dallas, brought the issue to the attention of Hillsdale College and President Larry Arnn on a visit to the college this summer, and Hillsdale earmarked money to help defray the cost of uniforms. “Not all the Barney Charter schools are similar,” Stone said. “We’re a bit different, because of the population we’re serving. That brings some unique challenges to us.” Founders Dallas and the Founders Classical Academy at Mesquite are both located in economically disadvantaged communities and have families that have challenges with affording the uniforms. At the Mesquite location, 83 percent of the 470 students qualify for free or reduced lunches. The same is true of about 90 percent of the approximately 300 students at Founders Dallas in the Pleasant Grove neighborhood. “The public schools here have really done an overall poor job at educating the kids,” Stone said. “Our kids come in two, three grades below in reading and math, and they lack a lot of things we take for granted. They come from impoverished homes, single-parent homes. We bring the

high-standard education that is taught at Hillsdale to kids where they have a lot going on.” As a result, Hillsdale College and the communities themselves are pitching in to help those struggling to afford the uniform costs. After Stone spoke with Arnn, two college donors heard of the issue and decided to help. As a result, the college gave $5,000 to each of the academies to help offset the cost of uniforms, said Shannon Nason, headmaster at Founders Mesquite. “We appreciate the support of Dr. Arnn and Hillsdale with these schools, recognizing that these schools are unique and much needed,” Nason said. Founders Mesquite, which opened in 2015 along with Founders Dallas, altered its uniform policy this year, when its dress code was found to be too lenient to enforce. Students now only wear polos with the school’s logo and khakis on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, students are required to wear “formal uniforms” that cost around $50. Purchasing a sweater that meets dress code requirements may add an additional $25 charge. At Founders Dallas, shirts with the school’s logo cost between $10 and $14. Navy blue slacks run about $20. Two uniforms will cost families around $60 or $70 per student. “Two pairs of pants, two pairs of shirts isn’t necessarily going to last all year,” Stone said. “Those clothes will start wearing down, and kids grow out of them. We ask parents to take on that, but it is another cost.” Nason said Founders Mesquite is still deciding how it will

use the money. The school’s PTO already collects clothing donations. It also allows families to trade in uniforms students have outgrown for a new used set without any extra charge. At its student-parent orientation, the school also sold uniform items for $3 each. Likewise, Founders Dallas has initiatives in place to help with the cost of uniforms. A clothing bank collects uniform donations. The school has also given families hesitant to enroll because of uniform costs a shirt for free. Phillip Kilgore, director of the Barney Charter School Initiative, said most of the schools require uniforms and most do have some families with financial challenges but not quite to the extent as at Founders Dallas and Mesquite. Some have clothing closets to fulfill that need, he said. Nason said uniforms provide a decorum for the school and encourage the educational process. “We stress, obviously, the importance of education, and we want students to understand that when they come to school, they ought to honor what they’re doing,” Nason said.

“They can do that by dressing nicely...When students get to wear what they want, that can be distracting to other students and the learning process.” He added that the free classical education the school provides is well worth the amount parents invest in purchasing uniforms. “It teaches the human being,” Nason said. “The idea is that a lot of people would write us off, saying this group can’t do classical education. That’s false, because this kind of education is proper to the kind of beings we are — human beings. It emphasizes the importance of knowledge and virtues, which is what every human is able to achieve regardless of economic status and the color of their skin.” That is what Stone said parents believe make the extra sacrifice for uniforms worth the cost. “When you really want something, you make it happen,” Stone said. “That applies for almost all our parents... They work really, really hard to make things work and do what we’ve asked them to do.”

Anna-Marie Carter, a music teacher at Founders Classical Academy at Mesquite in Texas, instructs her class. Shannon Nason | Courtesy

Career services offers chance to explore Detroit By | Chandler Lasch Collegian Reporter Affordable housing and increased investment in the city of Detroit have made it a hotspot for young professionals in recent years. And Hillsdale College’s career services office is offering the opportunity for students to see what it’s like to live and work in the Motor City Jan. 16-17, 2017. For the third “Living and Working” event of the academic year, students will have the opportunity to visit Detroit-based companies, network, and explore the city. Senior Mackenzie Dickhudt attended a similar visit to Detroit through career services last year. “It gave me more options, connections, and ideas, and an interest in Detroit that changed my preconceived notions,” Dickhudt said. Students will visit several business, including General Motors Company, Quicken Loans Inc., and Ford Field, where Hillsdale College alumni work. They’ll also have the chance to network with those alumni and more over dinner.

Dino from A1

um. It worked for junior Jon Coote, who attended the unveiling, he said. “I used to pass through there maybe once a week,” Coote said. “But now I’m going to pass through there a lot more frequently.” Bringing one of these skeletons back to Hillsdale not only fulfills a childhood dream of his, Swinehart said, but also benefits the college by inspiring students. “Isn’t that a nice Christmas gift?” he said, adding, “We didn’t have a tree big enough to fit it under.”

Hillsdale College’s dinosaur, Linda, is an edmontosaurus. Wikimedia Commons

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Business office eases campus club account access By | Sarah Chavey Features Editor Because many faculty advisers are busy or away from campus, club leaders may now request budget balance updates from Director of Student Activities Anthony Manno as well as from their advisers. At the request of Diane Philipp, vice president for student affairs and dean of women, Business Office Director Amy Massey ensured Manno is on the list of approved advisers for all on-campus organizations to ease and quicken communication between the business office and student club leaders. That means in addition to faculty advisers, Manno may now request a budget update for any on-campus club from the business offices. Student club members and leaders — even the president and treasurer — don’t have permission. Since clubs have “in-andout” accounts instead of general ledger accounts, business office employees are the only people that have access to their accounts, Massey said. Matt Vanisacker, president of the Interfraternity Council, said not being able to see the budget has slowed down and altered IFC’s activities. In years past, Vanisacker said the account balance information the council received, at times, were incorrect. In one instance, IFC made plans to partner with the Student Activities Board for an event and promised to contribute funds based on the amount of money in its account, Vanisacker said. He said he later learned the account held less than what the IFC’s adviser was told. As a result, the council couldn’t contribute its full share. “It’s frustrating because it’s hard to do my job well, when I don’t know how much money we have,” IFC Treasurer senior Kelly Cotes said.

Massey said she cannot provide that information to students because student leadership positions change so frequently. She only receives an updated list of advisers. “Having one point of contact for me, that would be the most ideal, but the advisers can involve whoever they would like to be involved,” Massey said. Massey suggested advisers carbon copy student leaders to email requests for the amount of money in club accounts so that students can see the information just as quickly as advisers. Vanisacker also said the process of receiving funds is challenging. There is no simple way to sponsor funds up front, he said. The business office generally reimburses students for club costs, after showing a receipt. The process makes it difficult for students to make large purchases like when IFC was planning a barbecue last year when they don’t have several hundred dollars to spare, Vanisacker said. IFC’s new adviser John Quint, assistant director of career services, often foots the bill until the reimbursements are ready. Massey said she doesn’t know of another way to reimburse students up front. “We have checks available once a week; we process requisitions as quickly as possible,” Massey said. “But that’s the other piece of going through the advisers: The advisers will know how a requisition should be filled out, what receipts need to be there, what signatures will be there.” But some said they would like student leaders to have more control of club accounts. “It’s kind of sad that the treasurer of the organization — who’s in charge of putting together a budget for the semester — doesn’t even have access to figure out what we need to spend things on,” Vanisacker said.

Saturday’s orchestra concert canceled By | Katie Scheu Assistant Editor

Hillsdale College students and career services office staff stand in Detroit’s Belt alley, during a “Living and Working” event in January. John Quint | Courtesy

“This is a chance to connect students with alumni and show them what it’s like in the real world,” Assistant Director of Career Services John Quint said. “They might not otherwise have an opportunity to do stuff like this in the way we help structure the visit.” There will also be an opportunity to experience something fun in Detroit such as a Red Wings hockey game or a trip to the North American International Auto Show. Although Detroit hit hard economic times during the collapse of the housing market,

the trip looks to expose students to the comeback occurring in the city. “Detroit is a really great city,” Student Affairs Mentor Ethan Greb said. “There are a lot of cool opportunities that people overlook, because it has a bad reputation. But having been to Detroit many times, I’d say it’s definitely a diamond in the rough.” Past Living and Working Trips have included Chicago, Grand Rapids, and Washington, D.C. In the future, Career Services hopes to expand to Cincinnati, Denver, and a west

coast city such as Portland or Seattle, Quint said. A trip to New York City is in the works for March 13-15 during spring break. Interested students can register for the Detroit trip on Handshake by Friday. The cost is expected to be no more than $100 per person. “Detroit is a place of incredible potential,” Quint said. “This is a chance to meet people involved in seeing that potential come to light, people with direct Hillsdale connections or who are partners of the school.”

Music department chairman James Holleman canceled Saturday’s orchestra concert on Monday to preserve the balance non-music majors hold between their musical commitments and academic priorities. Holleman said the orchestra expressed positivity and a sense of relief when he announced the cancellation. Considering many members of the orchestra participated in Handel’s “Messiah” for the performances this past Friday through Sunday, Holleman said the Christmas concert felt unnecessary and forced. “I point to our willingness to balance schedules for non-music majors as the success of the music department,” Holleman said. “After the weight of the

‘Messiah,’ I had to remind myself of that commitment.” Holleman didn’t cancel the concert any sooner, because he wanted to focus on the orchestra’s preparation for its hourlong performance in Washington, D.C., in February at the annual College Orchestra Director’s Association conference. To prepare for the canceled concert, the orchestra would have spent this week rehearsing new music to pair with the repertoire it has practiced throughout the semester for the February performance. Holleman discussed the cancellation with some of the student leaders in the orchestra, before announcing his decision Monday. “The orchestra was willing to put in the effort, but it was too much for this time of year,” Holleman said.

Gillette to keep cheering after 17 years in athletics By | Madeleine Jepsen Assistant Editor After 17 years of service to Hillsdale College’s athletic department, Aide to the Athletic Director Claudia Gillette is retiring Dec. 23 to spend more time with her children and grandchildren. Gillette primarily helps with the athletic department’s budgeting and expenses, and her successor will be responsible for finances and ensuring NCAA compliance. And although she leaves behind the work, it’s the relationships she’s built that will leave with her. she said. “My favorite aspect of the job is the people I work with,” Gillette said. “Every day, when you come in, it’s a happy place to be.” Gillette was first hired as a staff assistant and returned to her background in finances and accounting for the athletic department, after her three chil-

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dren moved out of the house. “I’m really proud to work for Hillsdale College,” Gillette said. “It’s so different from other colleges, and the kind of students that we have here are just pretty remarkable. It’s been fun for me to watch our coaches — they mentor the kids, they care about them so much. It’s just really special to watch.” As a part of her work, Gillette frequently interacts with coaches, both in passing while at the office and as a part of her work with the budget. “All the coaches come by her office all the time to chat with her,” said junior Summer Burkholder, one of the athletic department’s student workers. “There’s such a community between the secretaries and all the coaches.” Her coworkers said she will be missed. “She’s great to work with,” said Anita Gordon, aide to the athletic director. “We have a great group here, and I like to

say that we just pray for the right people that are supposed to be here.” Gillette said it’s the community at the college that she will always treasure. She saw it in special action two years ago, after the unexpected death of her husband in a car accident. “This college was unbelievable in the way they just surrounded my family, and every day, there was food, and they were there for us,” Gillette said. “I felt their prayers just lifting me up, as I went through that. They were incredible.” In addition to the community, Gillette said she has enjoyed watching the campus grow over the last decade and a half. In addition to the construction of Lane and Kendall halls, Gillette saw the construction of the Biermann Athletic Center and the renovations in the Roche Sports Complex firsthand. She said it is exciting to see how the campus improvements have brought more people and

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After 17 years of working for the athletic department, Claudia Gillette, aide to the athletic director, will retire Dec. 23. Madeleine Jepsen | Collegian

events to the college. In retirement, Gillette said she plans to spend more time with her three children and her two young grandchildren, but she said she will miss the friendships she has formed in her years working for the college. “I’m really looking forward to retiring, but I’m also going to miss the people that I work with so much,” she said. “I’ve become really close friends

with so many of them. It’s a very special place.” Nonetheless, Gillette said she plans to remain active in the Hillsdale College community, whether by attending sports games or cheering on the Chargers from afar. “We always say, ‘Once a Charger, always a Charger,’” Gillette said. “I’ll always be watching what’s going on with the teams and rooting them on, no matter where I’m at.”

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A3 8 Dec. 2016

Dear Administration, please pave one more sidewalk Newsroom: (517) 607-2897 Advertising: (517) 607-2684

The opinion of the Collegian editorial staff

Winter means a snow-covered campus, Student Activities Board’s annual ski trip, and A.J.’s Café hot chocolate. But the winter also means icy streets and sidewalks. And although college maintenance does work hard to clear snow and ice from sidewalks, there is one path that won’t be cleared. The dirt path that students use as a shortcut starting near Mary Randall Preschool to get to Howard Musical Hall, is the bane of campus existence. Unsafe and ugly, the path needs to be paved. The dirt walkway is particularly dangerous during Michi-

gan’s snowy winter months. Students do frequently fall while walking along the trail. Some have even injured bones. But students need to be able to get to class quickly and safely. And since the dirt trail is used by so many — those traveling to Howard, Sage Center for the Arts, Biermann Athletics Center, and Roche Sports Complex — the frequent footsteps break down any chance of grass growing there, making it an eyesore. On the beautiful property Hillsdale owns, it is a disgrace to allow this much-needed path to be an imperfection. The aesthetic beauty of cam-

pus is often a reason cited for not creating more paths on campus, but the recent installation of the 1844 Society walkway between Kendall and Central halls shows how a useful path can also look pleasant. Although there is a paved path that connects Howard to Hillsdale Street, the unofficial trail is a more direct way to get from the north side of campus to buildings on the southeast side. Plus, it brings walkers closer to the Grewcock Student Union, the hub of campus activity and community. A more direct pathway would encourage people to travel toward the music, arts,

and athletics buildings as well as save students valuable time. Administration has discussed paving the pathway before. Student Federation’s campus improvement committee also looked into the project in 2015, but it was too expensive for the organization. This year, the college put wood chips down, but it didn’t take long for the them to scatter and the path to become dirt again. A concrete or brick bath would last all year and also make for a safer campus community.

Illuminating a Christmas light controversy

BuzzFeed’s hit piece on Chip and Joanna Gaines goes too far

Ms. Lasch is a sophomore studying French and Journalism

Christmas lights, but what color are they? Flicker

Christmas is better in color By | Emily Blatter Collegian Reporter

makes homework more visible via a desk lamp. There is nothing uniquely festive or special about white light, especially in the modern age, when all light after 6 p.m. is white and artificial. Colored lights do alter the appearance of other decorations, but the colored light adds to the effect, rather than detracting from it. Colored lights cast a muted, rosy glow only found at Christmas, creating a cheerful, cozy, and festive ambiance. Similar to the warm light of a fireplace, the colored lights inspire a contented feeling of being home for the holidays that clear lights simply cannot achieve. White-light advocates also claim that white lights are more versatile, because they are easier to match with home decor. However, Christmas decorations almost never match the home regardless. Dark-green garlands and fire-engine-red Santas often clash with the wallpaper and curtains, but that stops no one from putting pine branches and jolly St. Nicks on every flat surface in the house. Colored Christmas lights are more appropriate because they capture the season in a unique and special way. Used only at Christmas time, the warm light they cast becomes associated with family, home-cooked food, the smell of pine, “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the crunch and crinkle of wrapping paper, and a deep appreciation for the blessings only Christmas can bring.

‘Tis the season for boughs of holly, Christmas trees, and lights all aglow. But each year, the heated argument returns: should those lights be clear, or colored? Colored lights are more appropriate for the Christmas season than white lights. Colored lights are used exclusively for holiday decorating, which keeps them set apart as a sign of Christmas. The colors also add a cheerful, festive element to other decorations, which white lights cannot do. Clear lights decorate dorm rooms, formal events, and country clubs all year round, which waters down their effect during the holiday season. Since passersby are accustomed to seeing white lights everywhere, their appearance on lampposts in late November is less effective than their colored counterparts. Conversely, the best proof that colored lights are uniquely appropriate for Christmas is that they are almost never used for anything else. They would look odd at a wedding, or draped across a dorm room wall with photographs clothespinned to the cord. But as soon as most of the turkey is out of grocerystore freezers, colored lights are festooned everywhere to signal that Christmas is coming. Defenders of clear lights emphasize their elegance and simplicity. They argue that white lights make other decorations, such as tree ornaments, more visible because colors are not distorted by clear light. Ms. Blatter is a senior studying While all this is true, that clear light is the same light that history and English.

By Joel Haines

only about 55% of Americans support same-sex marriage. “Is the suggestion here that 40 percent of Americans are unemployable because of their religious convictions on marriage?” he asks. “That the companies that employ them deserve to be boycotted until they yield to the other side of the debate — a side, we should note, that is only slightly larger than the one being shouted down?” Unfortunately, that is exactly the implication. Far too often, proponents of same-sex marriage and the left-wing media simply cannot handle the fact that other people, especially decent people like Chip and Joanna Gaines, disagree with them. The consequences for religious freedom are dangerous as liberals are is shutting Christians down wherever they can. “Really, what is the cost to society if two HGTV hosts are allowed to thrive without disavowing their pastor's comments on same-sex marriage?” asks Bloomberg’s Megan McArdle. “The far greater risk comes from trying to compel them to do so, whether through hard government power or soft private coercion.” The hypocrisy of the Left is obvious. According to New York Magazine, at least seven leading fashion designers have already refused to design for future First Lady Melania Trump because of their political ideologies. They have every right to do so, just as Chip and Joanna Gaines would have every right to refuse to fix up houses for a same-sex couple, should they so choose due to their own convictions. There is nothing hateful about a Christian couple who declines to build a home for another couple if they feel that the values of the latter contradict their own. There is something hateful about this tirade against the Gaines family because their unknown opinion on samesex marriage. This fictional quote from the Babylon Bee is not far from the actual position of those attacking the Gaines family. “‘We’re not saying people can’t be Christians,’ a Seattle woman said in a Facebook comment. ‘This is a free country, after all. But when Christians decide to actually have Christian beliefs about things—I’m sorry, that’s just too far.’”

On the mythical homework-less Hell Week

By | Chandler Lasch Collegian Reporter “Nation Shocked, Horrified As Christians Hold Christian Position,” reads the headline of a Babylon Bee article published Dec. 1. It may be satire, but it’s a pretty good summary of a Nov. 29 piece by Kate Aurthur that appeared on BuzzFeed. In the article, “Chip And Joanna Gaines’ Church Is Firmly Against Same-Sex Marriage,” Aurthur leads an absurd crusade against America’s favorite HGTV couple, Fixer Upper stars Chip and Joanna Gaines. She is shocked that the Gaineses would dare to attend Antioch Community Church, which is pastored by a man who has spoken out against same-sex marriage. Just to be clear, Aurthur is not saying that the Gaines family takes this position. In fact, she doesn’t actually know what they think. “The spokesperson for Antioch said she could not speak for Chip and Joanna Gaines on same-sex marriage,” Aurthur admits. In the days after publication, the Gaineses haven't taken a position, although HGTV issued a statement that it does not discriminate against LGBT people. When it comes to the Gaineses, there is no evidence of discrimination, bigotry, or even unkindness toward the LGBT community. There is no evidence that Fixer Upper has or would refuse to feature a same-sex couple, which they have every right to do. In fact, other HGTV shows have featured such couples, but it is unknown whether there are any gay residents of Waco, Texas who have applied for the show. There is not even evidence that the Gaines family believes homosexuality is sinful or that same-sex marriage is wrong, not that there is anything hateful about defining marriage the way is has been defined for nearly all of history. The only thing they're guilty of is being Christians. Brandon Ambrosino summarizes the intentions of BuzzFeed well in a Dec. 1 article published in The Washington Post. “They know that the Gaineses and HGTV are going to have to come out with a public statement on same-sex marriage,” Ambrosino says. “They also know that if the statement is not 100 percent supportive of same-sex marriage, the network will be pressured to drop them.” Ambrosino points out that

White lights shine brightest By | Morgan Channels Collegian Reporter

sets very early in the winter evenings. A dark and cold living room is set ablaze with the cheer of white Christmas lights. They are not harsh, but they are hopeful. Colored Christmas lights illuminate the same room with a dingy glow resembling the atmosphere of a cheap pub and grill. Though newer, colored LED lights shine brighter than traditional colored lights, they pain the eyes with their garish shades of blue, pink, purple, and bright green. White lights showcase the individual beauty of each ornament on the Christmas tree. Each unique ornament basks in the spotlight which casts no strange color upon it. Colored lights distort the image of some ornaments, upsetting the balance and beauty of the entire tree. White lights don’t clash with wallpaper. Imagine a red glow on that green wall in the living room. White lights add to the charm of the space they adorn; they don’t turn it into a freakish nightmare of color clash. For a moment, let us pause and think of the reason we celebrate Christmas. Isaiah 9:6 reads: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” This birth of a Prince, this celebration of Christ as man, is best represented by pure white light. The Light of the World is best honored by the brightness of the white lights which we use to commemorate this season.

I’m dreaming of a white Christmas. Specifically, I dream of a Christmas in which the lights shine white. Please do not believe I write of the white fluorescent lights that illuminate retail stoares or the white lights which cast an eerie blue hue. I am talking about the warm, glowing white lights which capture the essence of everything glorious about Christmas in their twinkling existence. The most classic Christmas decorations are those enveloped in the pristine, glowing warmth of white Christmas lights. We find pictures of rooms decorated for Christmas in Pottery Barn where giant spruce trees and Douglas firs are wrapped in the star-like shine of white Christmas lights; radiant strands of white lights woven between the banisters of mahogany stair cases. The brightest houses on the block are those which have been crisply outlined with blazing clarity, bringing light to the neighborhood. White Christmas lights are classy, traditional, bright, and simple. For minimalists like me, these pinpricks of stardust are perfect for the holidays. They don’t scream with a gaudy voice like colored Christmas lights, but like an elegant string of pearls, they grace the home. Colored lights, like the gumdrops on a gingerbread house, grow stale and tiresome as the season wears on. White lights stay joyful until the day in January comes when they are taken down. Ms. Channels is a sophomore I grew up in the rural Midwest. In Southern Michigan the sun studying English and French.

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Vol. 1 Issue 1 - 1 January 0001, Year of DeVos

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DeVos replaces Arnn as college president By | Tomistletoe Novelly Secretary-in-Chief

Snow covers one of Hillsdale’s many turkey statues. Holiday McGlee | Collision

DeVos authorizes first snow day in school history By | Chavey Chase Secretary of Features

Following former Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn’s recent departure from the school, Hillsdale announced the first snow day since 2000, the year Arnn became president. Hillsdale College President Betsy DeVos announced the snow day in an email to the faculty, staff, and student body early Wednesday morning. “Due to inclimate weather and at the advice of Director of Campus Security and Emergency Management Jersey Shorely, all classes are can-

celled today,” DeVos’s email said. “Classes will resume when all the snow has melted.” The Weather Channel reported 1.844 inches of snow and a high of 37 degrees. Shorley sent a follow-up email. “Well, the winter season has arrived,” Shorley’s email said. “This winter snowy, icy, and slippery weather is just that, slippery and hazardous. Please dress warmly, cover your head and wear gloves to prevent frostbite. Should there be a need, please, do not tough it out, especially late at night. Local streets and county roads are in the same conditions as you see from your

Secretary Arnn adds Hillsdale to Scorecard By | Breana Noell Secretary of News For his first action as U.S. secretary of education, former Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn said he was making the “biggest proactive move” of his tenure in office: adding Hillsdale to the College Scorecard. “It’s the biggest proactive move because I expect to reduce the actions taken by the department in the future,” Arnn exclusively told The Collision. “But this one is long overdue.” By the conclusion of Arnn’s speech, Hillsdale College and other non-Title IV schools, institutions of higher education that do not take federal funds and were previously excluded from the College Scorecard, could be found in the so-called “comprehensive” database of U.S. colleges and universities ran by the Education Department. “These institutions are worthy of at least being recognized by our government,” Arnn said. “I think it brings it one step to closer to being the best way I could describe anything, to being good.” So long as non-Title IV institutions have voluntarily submitted the department’s survey, their information will appear on the website. After the Education Department began accepting submissions

from these schools in fall 2015, Hillsdale began sending its data to the department. Since Hillsdale did not have information concerning federal student loans, their repayment, and student body racial statistics, it did not appear in the scorecard when introduced in September 2015, even though some institutions listed in the scorecard had blank spaces. The scorecard lists those sections as unavailable for Hillsdale now. Provost David Wailin’ said the college is a premier institution and that “it’s about time” it was included in the College Scorecard. “I tried to make a bet with Dr. Arnn, before he left, that he wouldn’t be able to do it on his first day, and although he didn’t take it, I would’ve happily lost,” Wailin’ said. “We hope this is only the first of many pieces of good news coming from the new administration.” College President Betsy DeVos agreed: “It’s a worthy and promising first move, one I would consider myself, if I were in his shoes.” Arnn said the action, however, is more than just about Hillsdale. “All institutions are not made equally,” Arnn said. “But it’s not the government’s job to determine that. This move only gives non-Title IV schools a fair place among the rest.”

window. Wreckers and local law enforcement is even have a difficult time navigating the roadways.” Students told Collision reporters they don’t know what to do with the extra time. Some spent hours outside without coats throwing snow in the air for pictures. One student spent 52 minutes clearing flakes of snow off his car so he could drive. DeVos has also confirmed she is contemplating changing the motto of the school. “The administration is considering other options, but I’m just not sure ‘Virtus Tentamine Gaudet’ really reflects the school’s mission. College

DeVos says Aristotle texts no longer required Students weep at By | Hannah Neimerry Secretary of Culture Incoming students will no longer be required to read Aristotle’s “Nicomachean Ethics” the summer before their freshmen year, administrators announced today. The decision, closely following Dr. Arnn’s retirement from his position as president after being confirmed as Secretary of Education, reflects the college’s attempt to remove all mentions of “The Good,” in an approach that stresses the “liberal” in Hillsdale’s liberal arts education. “Aristotle was a great way to prepare students for confrontations with Dr. Arnn in the cafeteria, but beyond that, I’m not really sure they got much out of it,” Provost David Wailin’ said. “Rational animals? Virtue? Happiness? Please. Go to the beach or something. That’ll awaken a childish sense of wonder and teach you goodness and beauty without ever having to worry about Dr. Arnn at all.” The fear of not being able to define “The Good” to Arnn over lunch in the cafeteria was one of the primary motivations for students to read the “Nicomachean Ethics,” which has been a classic since its first publication around 350 B.C. “I read the ‘Ethics’ after I

Chapel funds redirected to dorms

By | Mulanders Snowstorm Secretary of Opinions In a shocking turn of events, Hillsdale College President Betsy DeVos announced Monday that the college would be cancelling its $68 million chapel project, instead choosing to put the money toward new on-campus dormitories. DeVos said she was moved by a mid-semester op-ed in The Collegian written by junior Scott McMuffin, who had implored the school to reinvest chapel money into dorms, but was ignored by the previous administration. “I just imagined the poor boy’s plight,” DeVos said of McMuffin. “I’m sure that every morning he slipped on the new tile bathrooms in Simpson only to hit his head on the also-new hardwood floors, and then, the poor boy has to walk around campus only to see a newly-renovated McIntyre dorm and Mauck undergoing new renovations.” DeVos said the current pace of renovating one dorm Follow @HDaleCollision

is about having a good time, not just working hard,” DeVos said. Institutional Advancement reported “alarmingly rapid” decreases in donations. “The school is going in a new direction,” DeVos said. “We will simply need to find a new donor base to support us.” Secretary of Education Arnn declined to comment, but expressed disappointment at the reaction of the students, who applauded the snow day. “Finally, the school has taken a stance I can stand behind,” a senior from California said. “Sometimes, strength rejoices in the challenge.”

Despite no mention of his name among politicos or Washington insiders, President Larry Arnn was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as secretary of education in his administration. Arnn immediately suggested Michigan education advocate Betsy DeVos take over as president in his absence. “It has been my lifelong dream to serve in one of the numerous executive agencies and become part of the extensive federal bureaucracy,” Arnn told The Collision as he was running around Broadlawn quickly packing his bags. “Really, Hillsdale was just a stepping stone to my political career.” Student staffers in Arnn’s office said that within seconds of getting off the phone with Trump, Arnn sprinted across the quad to Mossey Library where he immediately checked out a copy of Frank Capra’s classic, “Mr. Smith goes to Washington.” “We’ve tried knocking on his door several times to de-

liver his daily memos,” one student employee said. “But he keeps telling us to leave those for Mrs. DeVos. He’s watched the film at least eight times now. He’s checked out.” Arnn said that he has memorized Socrates’ speech in Plato’s “Apology,” just in case his education staffers don’t take too kindly to his persistent interruptions of their Georgetown happy hours to ask, “What is the good?” “I’ve known Larry for fifteen years. Terrific guy,’’ Trump told The Collision. “It is even said that he likes beautiful education as much as I do, and many of our schools are on the ugly side. No doubt about it – Larry enjoys his philosophic life.” Many are suspicious that Arnn plans to dismantle the education department based on his previous lectures and the sledgehammer he packed in his luggage. Hillsdale students are wary of DeVos taking over the college, primarily due to her inconsistent stance on the liberal arts core curriculum. In a press conference in the union, DeVos clarified, “I am for the core curriculum — period.”

told Dr. Arnn that the meaning of ‘The Good’ was the sundae bar in Saga. Ice cream hasn’t really tasted the same since,” Schuyler Cohn said. “But now that they don’t have to worry about that, I don’t really see any reason why students should read it. I don’t really use ‘rational speech’ too much in my daily life anyway.” In an effort to remove words like “happiness,” “virtue,” and “The Good,” students are shifting their vocabulary toward language that is more accepting of those who may not identify as “rational animals,” Wailin’ said. When asked whether the loss of “happiness” and “The Good” will also affect his opening lecture to freshmen on “wonder” and “beauty” in education, Wailin’ answered that it will not. “It’s easier to relate with students now. Is Justin Bieber good? Probably not. Is he beautiful? Probably. And we can work with that,” Wailin’ said. Some believe that students will be happier — or at least less tied up with transcendent truths — when free of the Philosopher. “We’ll all miss things like ‘happiness’ and ‘virtue’ for a while, but getting rid of Aristotle is probably for the best,” Wailin’ said.

Albion Arnn statue By | St. Patnick Associate Secretary

The new statue of former president Larry P. Arnn, installed on the campus of Albion College last year, has been cluttered by organized weekly vigils, organized by Hillsdale students grieving the retirement of their deer leader. Senior Patty Whiner, who leads the group of distressed mourners, said the vigils include readings of Arnn’s past speeches, 10-15 minutes of sharing personal memories of Arnn, and 20-30 minutes of personal reflection, which usually entails all-out sobbing. Arnn, president of Hillsdale College from 2000-2017, recently left the college to become President Donald Trump’s secretary of education. “He was a great man, probably the greatest man who ever lived,” Whiner said. “Our vigils here barely live up to his greatness.” One student, freshman Traydor Teerz, said he thinks the quality of education at Hillsdale has already decreased so significantly following Arnn’s departure that he plans to transfer to Albion College. “What good is Hillsdale without Arnn?” Teerz said.

The statue of Arnn at Albion College. Megg Nogg | Collision

“No good, that’s what.” The statue, which is two feet taller than Hillsdale’s statues but seven taller than Albion’s many inexplicable pigeon statues, portrays Arnn with a smile on his face, Aristotle’s “Nichomachean Ethics” under his right arm, and a bottle of bourbon in his right hand. The plaque reads: “Larry P. Arnn: 2000-2017. Hillsdale’s Greatest President.” Chief Administrative Officer Gifts Pewe said the Kirby Center has expressed interest in acquiring an Arnn statue of their own, but the administration is still working out the logistics. “The Kirby Center wants Arnn sitting on a bench with a copy of Plato’s Republic,” Rewee said. “We’re still negotiating — we’d like to see consistency across the board with our Arnn memorials.”

College GPA skyrockets under DeVos By | Christmas Carder Secretary of the Web

Beginning next semester, Hillsdale College will no longer discourage teachers from awarding an ‘A’ grade to students. As a result, Provost David Wailin’ said he expects the average student GPA to increase from 3.34 to 3.9 during this spring semester. “I expect the average GPA to increase by 0.5, 0.6 at least,” Whalen said. “Now that former President Larry Arnn has left the college to serve as secA rendering of what the new dorms will look like. retary of education, there’s no Gifts Pewe | Collision per year will simply no lon- bigger version of Simpson, but reason every student can’t get a 4.0.” ger cut it. She announced that with girls.” After Arnn tendered his the entire $68 million savings Construction is set to begin resignation on Nov. 28, Hillsfrom the chapel cancellation on Dec. 18 and administrators would go toward building a are saying it’ll be finished be- dale College President Betsingle four-year co-ed dorm fore students return for Spring sy DeVos said teachers who gave out more than five ‘As’ a where the college had original- semester. ly planned to build the chapel. “$68 million is a lot of mon- semester could now be con“We’ve always wanted to ey. We’ll also have to hold off sidered eligible for tenure. put a co-ed dorm on campus,” on renovating Galloway for Furthermore, the memo enDean 1 and Dean 2 said in uni- another two decades, but that’s couraged professors to award son. “And it also gives us the the cost of doing business,” the papers a full letter grade more than they would have while chance to mix all the classes Deans said. Arnn was president. together. It’ll basically just be a “I expect students will have www.hillsdalecollision.com

a much easier time getting into grad school,” Wailin’ said. According to a student poll taken earlier this week, 15 percent of respondents are supportive of the more realistic grading standards, while 75 percent will miss the challenge. According to Chi Omega president senior Lacey Drawers, the relaxed grading system will help her house hold onto the bi-annual Scholarship Cup. “We’re hoping it won’t take a lot of effort,” Drawers said. “As our symphony says: ‘to have fun always and be academic when necessary.’” Junior finance major Chad McDude said the new grading standards are a huge relief. “I mean, Hillsdale is about the complete person,” he said. “Before these new grading standards were announced I was seriously questioning whether my Sigma Chi brothers and I were going to be able to avoid academic probation.” Senior biochem major Chelsea Quick, who is a pitcher on the softball team, said the

changes should make life easier for athletes, and she thought her team would easily be able to achieve a 4.7. Unlike McDude and Quick, freshman American Studies and Latin double major Knowitall Jane said she opposes the changes. “I chose to come to Hillsdale because I believe knowledge is worthwhile in and of itself,” Jane said. “Grades aren’t important.” The reaction to the changes among professors has generally been positive, according to Wailin’, with the notable exception of the professors teaching Western Heritage and Great Books 1. “They believe every freshman needs to experience getting a ‘C’ on their first paper,” Whalen said. When asked what he thought of the new changes, Classics professor Latin Lover shrugged. “So Dr. Arnn didn’t like 4.0s? Well, Plato didn’t like republics,” Lover said. “Things change.” Look for The Hillsdale Collision

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‘tis the season for

Charger Sports

A5 8 Dec. 2016

CHARGERS STAND OUT AT FIRST INDOOR MEET OF THE SEASON Mike Travlos | Courtesy

By | Jessica Hurley Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale College track and field squads opened up their season with some standout performances at the Saginaw Valley State University Holiday Open, including two broken records and 10 provisional marks. Head coach Andrew Towne said the teams met his high expectations. Towne explained that he doesn’t think about records prior to meets but isn’t necessarily surprised when his athletes break them. “The biggest thing I look for in the first meet is how we compete,” Towne said. “It’s not the meet we’re working for, but I want to see how they compete, and I thought we were a

very competitive group.” Senior Todd Frickey broke his own school record in the 60-meter dash this weekend, winning the event and meeting the provisional standard for the national meet. His time was a 6.81 — improving on his best performance last year of a 6.85. Frickey’s time earned him the No. 2 spot in the nation for NCAA Division II. “I’m trying to focus on what I can control,” Frickey said. “A lot of times people get caught up in the outcomes but I’m just trying to focus on the process and coming to practice every day and trying to get better at the little things.” For the past four years, Frickey has been a member of the Hillsdale College football team. This year, however, he will focus on track alone.

Frickey attributes his early success to being able to focus on training for a single sport and working specifically on the things that lower his times. Newcomers made a strong showing in the team’s opening meet. Freshman Ryan Thomsen put up a great performance in his collegiate debut in the heptathlon, breaking the record previously set by Justin Fawley in 2012 with 5,001 points. This mark meets provisional standards for the national meet and places Thomsen third in the nation. “It was definitely a good start for the season,” Thomsen said. “I still want to improve a lot more, because some of the marks weren’t where I want them to be, but I had a very good day, and everything came together for a very good

Senior Caleb Gatchell made a provisional mark on the 3,000 meter run. Gatchell and junior Anthony Wondaal currently hold the top two spots in the division. Anders Kiledal | Collegian

NEW THROWS COACH EXPECTS EARLY SUCCESS By | Evan Carter Web Editor

The track team’s new throws coach has only been on campus for a couple of months, but said he expects many of the athletes in his training group to earn All-American honors this indoor and outdoor track season. “I’d like to build a good base of being technical, but also being competitive,” Throws Coach Stargell Williams said. “I also want them to perform well at our big meets which are conference and nationals and be All-Americans.” Head Track Coach Andrew Towne said he interviewed a number of potential throws coaches this summer after former throws coach Janine Kuestner announced her departure from the team in early June. Towne liked Williams’ personality because he felt Williams is personable and would help the team recruit. Williams’ first day was in September. “So far, the athletes seem to be responding pretty well,” Towne said. “We’re excited that we got him.”

After competing as a shot put and discus thrower for two years at a community college in Kansas, Williams transferred to Florida State University where he competed for two more indoor and outdoor seasons. While on FSU’s track team, Williams placed second in shot put at the ACC conference meet his junior year and qualified for the NCAA Division-I East Regional Meet both his junior and senior seasons. Williams graduated from FSU in 2015 with a degree in sports management and for the next year served as an assistant track coach at FSU. Williams said he was attracted to Hillsdale’s coaching staff because they are laid back, but still committed to running a competitive program. “I come from an elite program and I figure this is a great place to start my career,” Williams said. “I saw from my interview that I really gelled with the coaching staff and was able to be myself. They’re all pretty laid back, but they’re about business and they want to be great.”

Stargell Williams joined the track and field coaching staff this fall. Stargell Williams | Courtesy

first meet.” The heptathlon is a twoday event that includes jumps, throws, sprints, and hurdles, and is capped off by a 1,000 meter race. Points are awarded based on performances in each event. Thomsen’s favorite events to compete in are the pole vault and 60-meter hurdles — they’re also his strongest. After competing in decathlons this summer, Thomsen had been hoping to score 5,000 at his first meet. In the upcoming weeks, he will be focusing on running mechanics to improve his weak areas and improving on his base in the jumps and hurdles with the goal of reaching the automatic qualifying mark for the national meet. Other provisional marks on the men’s side include Junior Anthony Wondaal and Senior Caleb Gatchell in the 3,000-meter, who sit in the top two spots in the division. Wondaal snagged his spot with a time of 8:20.57 with Gatchell close behind running an 8:21.72. Sophomore Tanner Schwannecke is currently ranked third nationally for his performance in the 800 this weekend. He ran a 1:53.26 — his personal best. Senior Ty Etchemendy also occupies the No. 3 spot in the triple jump after jumping 14.72 meters this weekend. The women’s squad contributed four provisional marks in both track and field events. Towne said seniors Allison Duber and Alexandra Whitford both had their best opening meets of their careers. Duber won the 400 meter with her second-best time of 56.9 and met the provisional standard for the event. She is now ranked third nationally. “It was my goal to run a 56, but when I actually ran it, it surprised me a lot,” Duber said. “It just shows how well Coach Towne’s training works — to run that time so early in the season.” Duber sees this success as a product of her senior-year mentality. She said knowing that her career is coming to

Senior Allison Duber had her best opening performance of her career, winning the 400 meter with a 56.9 second time. Anders Kiledal | Collegian

a close only makes her work harder to inspire her teammates and leave behind a legacy that she feels good about. With a season goal to qualify for the national meet in an individual event, Duber said she’s confident in her ability and feels the strongest — mentally and physically — that she’s ever felt. Whitford also found early success in the pole vault thanks to a new mindset this year. She is ranked second nationally with her vault of 3.79 meters — her second-best mark as well. Junior Hannah Watts won the 800 meter with her per-

sonal record of 2:14.70 and is ranked fourth in the division. In the weight throw, junior Rachael Tolsma also reached the provisional standard with a throw of 16.81 meters. She placed second at the meet, but is ranked 14th in the nation. For the first meet Towne wanted a good balance of competition that was serious but not overwhelming. This Friday, however, a few athletes will travel to Indiana University to face off against Division-I schools on a banked track in preparation for the annual trip to Boston which features a similar set-up.

Men’s basketball drops pair of opening GLIAC games By | Nathanael Meadowcroft head coach John Tharp said. But in the second half, the Senior Writer Cardinals shot 67 percent After a tough stretch of from the floor. Saginaw Valley road games, the Hillsdale Col- forward C.J. Turnage scored lege men’s basketball team is 12 points in the second half finally coming home. alone on 6-of-9 shooting and Playing their first games gave Hillsdale’s defense fits. against GLIAC competition “Turnage had a good game. this season, the Chargers fell He’s just a monster, so he was short against the No. 2 Sag- tough to stop,” Lowry said. inaw Valley Cardinals 74-70 Tharp said the Chargers on Dec. 1 and struggled in were unable to double team a 76-55 loss to the Wayne Turnage because he plays well State Warriors on Saturday. off the bounce and he’d get The Chargers have lost four the ball in the middle of the of their past five games — all floor. As a result, the Chargers on the road — to drop to 4-4 weren’t able to close the gaps overall and 0-2 in GLIAC play. and control his penetration. Tonight, the Chargers will Despite their defensive try to snap their three-game struggles in the second half, losing streak and pick up their the Chargers trailed by just first GLIAC win of the year one with under two minutes against the Grand Valley Lak- remaining. But Cardinals ers. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 guard Garrett Hall converted p.m. at Dawn Tibbetts Potter an and-one with 1:47 remainArena. ing and guard Mike Wells “It’s going to be nice to made a layup with 56 seconds be back home and hopefully remaining to put the Cardithat’ll help us get things go- nals up by 6. The Chargers ing,” sophomore point guard were forced to foul down the Nate Neveau said. “We’re go- stretch, and Hall made 5-of-6 ing to need to come out and free throws to seal the win. play as hard as we can.” “They made some winning Facing Saginaw Valley, the plays and we didn’t,” Tharp Chargers showed they can said. “To beat the number two hold their own against the team in the country on their best teams in the country. Fac- home floor, you’ve got to have ing Wayne State, the Chargers some things that go your way learned they have to approach but we didn’t.” every game as if they’re facing The Chargers shot 51 perthe best team in the country to cent from the field and 41 be successful. percent from beyond the arc, “The GLIAC night in and but the Cardinals shot 55 pernight out is competitive, and cent. Saginaw Valley made 14 there’s no game you can go of their 20 free throw attempts into without having the same while Hillsdale shot just 4 and edge you attack every game made 3. with,” Neveau said. “Every In a 4-point game, those night is going to be a battle trips to the free-throw line can and we have to come ready to be the difference. play every night.” “That was huge. We were a Hillsdale had that intensity little finesse and we didn’t get against the Cardinals, shoot- downhill,” Tharp said. ing 56 percent in the first half Despite the loss, Tharp to take a 36-31 halftime lead. said he was pleased with how Junior guard Stedman Lowry Hillsdale competed against made all three of his 3-point the No. 2 team in the nation. attempts in the opening peri- The Chargers know they can od. play against anyone. “We played really hard, and “We were right there,” in the first half in particular Lowry said. “We know from we executed really, really well,” that that we can play with

anybody, so there’s some good things we can take out of it.” But against Wayne State on Saturday, the Chargers didn’t look like a team that nearly knocked off the No. 2 team in the nation on the road. The Chargers shot just 37 percent from the field and committed 17 turnovers while allowing the Warriors to shoot 55 percent. “It was a frustrating game for all of us,” Tharp sad. ‘We were all really disappointed in how we played and to be honest I think it was the first time this year where we walked out of there as a staff and we were upset with our overall effort.” Wayne State’s physicality overwhelmed Hillsdale’s motion offense. Just two players hit double figures in scoring and just one player shot above 50 percent from the floor. “Our timing was off of how we run offense. We didn’t screen and cut at a high level,” Tharp said. “They were

incredibly physical in our cutters and our screeners and we couldn’t get by them off the dribble.” After almost upsetting Saginaw Valley, Saturday’s lopsided loss served as a wakeup call for the Chargers and a reminder that any team in the GLIAC can beat any other team on any night. “It just opened our eyes,” Lowry said. “You lose a game like that and you think, ‘Alright, we’ve got to get back to work. It’s time to go.’ So hopefully we all respond.” The Chargers will need to play with that intensity tonight against Grand Valley as they seek their first conference win. “We never really like Grand Valley,” Lowry said. “They’ll be physical, so it’s never an easy game against Grand Valley, but hopefully we can get fired up and I think we can beat them.”

Junior guard Stedman Lowry looks to pass the ball during Hillsdale’s matchup against University of Indianapolis. Brendan Miller | Collegian

A6 8 Dec. 2016

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Women’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball THURSDAY, DEC.

Hillsdale

1 Saginaw Valley

70 74

Upcoming

thursday, dec.

8 grand valley 8:00 pm saturday, dec. 10 vS. FerriS State 3:00 pm vS.

StatS Stedman Lowry Nate Neveau Nick Archer Rhett Smith

SATURDAY, Hillsdale

DEC.

3 Wayne State

New School Records

16 ptS, 3 reb, 2 Stl 11 ptS, 5 reb, 5 aSt 7 ptS, 1 reb, 1 Stl 5 ptS, 5 reb, 1 blk

Upcoming

Todd Frickey - 60 M - 6.81 sec. Ryan Thomsen - Heptathlon - 5,001 pts.

Upcoming

Friday, dec. 3 SVSU Holiday Classic at University Center, MI

Allie Dittmer Allie Dewire Maddy Reed Morgan Blair

SATURDAY, DEC.

thursday, dec.

8 grand valley 6:00 pm saturday, dec. 10 vS. FerriS State 1:00 pm vS.

Hillsdale

3 Wayne State

73 74

StatS

Ryan Badowski Nate Neveau Nick Archer Nick Czarnowski

Track and Field

Hillsdale

1 Saginaw Valley

55 76 48 73

StatS 16 ptS, 6 reb, 1 aSt 13 ptS, 5 aSt, 3 reb 11 ptS, 3 reb, 2 aSt 9 ptS, 2 aSt, 1 reb

THURSDAY, DEC.

14 ptS, 6 reb, 2 aSt 10 ptS, 3 reb, 3 aSt 8 ptS, 4 reb, 1 Stl 4 ptS, 3 reb, 3 Stl

Makenna Ott Allie Dewire Morgan Blair Maddy Reed

19 ptS, 6 reb, 2 aSt 17 ptS, 8 reb, 4 aSt 10 ptS, 5 reb, 3 aSt 9 ptS, 10 reb, 4 aSt

Swimming

Upcoming

Friday, Jan. 13 vs. Malone, Urbana, Ashland at Canton, Oh.

CHARGER SOFTBALL ADDS NEW ASSISTANT COACH By | Madeleine Jepsen Assistant Editor

There will be another new face in the Hillsdale College softball team’s dugout this spring. Riley Johnson joined Hillsdale’s softball coaching staff as an assistant coach this November. Though this is her first position coaching college softball, she brings her longtime love of the game and playing experience with her. “I’ve always wanted to get involved with college athletics and either pursue a coaching career or go into athletic administration, so when I saw the job was open for an assistant coach, I immediately applied,” Johnson said. She first began playing softball as a young child — because her father was a coach — and has stuck with the sport ever since. “As long as I can remember, I think I’ve had a ball in my hand,” she said. Johnson graduated from Syracuse University with a master’s degree in sport venue and event management, and pursued her bachelor’s degree at Syracuse as well, while

playing for its softball team. During her four-year career, she played outfield and second base. She batted .404 during her high-school career, earning her the title of New York AA Player of the Year. Johnson’s softball career, however, was hindered by four shoulder surgeries, three of which plagued her collegiate career. “That allowed me to kind of develop the coach’s eye and be a player-coach more while at Syracuse, since, unfortunately, I couldn’t be on the field as much as I wanted,” she said. “That was definitely something that allowed me to prepare for being a coach later on in life.” Now, Johnson will put her skills to work at Hillsdale, after coaching high-school softball over the summer. Head coach Joe Abraham said Johnson’s work ethic and compatibility with the school’s overall mission stood out from a pool of 40 applicants. “She came across as very intelligent, very well-written,” Abraham said. “It was clear she understood our school and was a good fit here, and she brings a lot of softball knowledge to the table. Her demean-

or with the players is a really good fit, and our players have taken really well to her.” Additionally, Abraham said her knowledge of the game will be a good complement to the current coaching staff, which consists of Abraham and assistant coach Jim Zoltowski. “She brings quite a bit of knowledge about hitting and some defensive fundamentals, also,” Abraham said. “Just in general, the mechanics of the game she’s very good with. My strength is more the mental side of the game, so it’s good she brings something opposite to the table.” Sophomore second baseman Amanda Marra said Johnson has helped manage off-season conditioning, while introducing new hitting and fielding drills. She also helps manage the softball study table and attends the team’s Bible study. “She fits in really well,” Marra said. “She’s pretty young, so she’s really relatable to us. We’re all really excited that she’s joining us, and we’re excited for the season.”

EQUESTRIAN TEAM MIXES FUN WITH COMPETITION By | Ramona Tausz Senior Writer Not many Hillsdale students are willing to wake up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday. Not many — except for those on the Hillsdale College Equestrian Team. For roughly five weekends every semester, these students drag themselves out of bed to spend Saturday and Sunday competing in horse showings. “I’ve always really loved riding because it’s a very different kind of sport — you have to communicate with an animal,” said sophomore Mercy Tyne, a member of the club who’s been riding for 10 years. “And I love jumping — it’s a lot of fun.” The equestrian team, which was started in 2011, is a club sport affiliated with the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). Though any student on campus can sign up for a 1-credit once-aweek riding class at Premier Equestrian Center in Hudson, Michigan, students in the club can choose to compete in out-of-town showings — in either hunt seat events (English riding) or stock seat events (Western-style riding). Although the weekends at horse shows mean early mornings and long days, it also means lots of laughs and bonding time for the team. “We have such a fun time together and so many laughs,” senior Gianna Marchese, the team’s president, said. “The equestrian team is really like a family to me. I know I can always count on the barn to be a perfect release of any stress that college may cause.” Marchese and Tyne both do hunt seat, or English, riding. In hunt seat events, riders are judged on riding skills such as walking, trotting, cantering, and — in the most advanced levels — jumping.

“Since last year, we’ve had a lot of people point up into the walk-trot-canter level,” Tyne said. “So as a team we’re more advanced.” She added that the team thinks a lot more people are realizing it exists. “This year I have been working really hard on making team spirit stronger,” Marchese said. “We are short a lot of officers this year, so I have to make sure I pick up the slack as well as help all the new officers enter into their roles.” Both Marchese and Tyne say that riding has taught them much more than merely how to trot and canter. “Riding has definitely taught me a lot about perseverance,” Marchese said. “I had a really bad fall the summer before my sophomore year and had to relearn ev-

erything that I had learned. It was a really tough experience, but being able to be working with such amazing creatures and communicate together was worth it.” Tyne added that getting away from campus for a few hours and heading out to the barn can be a great way to relieve stress. “When you’re at school, and you’re in the same place all the time, it can be a very high-stress environment,” she said. “Being able to go outside and go to the barn and meet new people you wouldn’t normally meet can be very relaxing.” “Getting away and just having a completely different switch in brain waves is so relaxing,” she said. “It’s really great, because you’re just completely in a different place than when you’re at school.”

President of the equestrian team senior Gianna Marchese competes in her first horse show of the season. Gianna Marchese | Courtesy

The women’s softball team welcomed Riley Johnson to its coaching staff this month. Johnson played outfield and second base at Syracuse University. Riley Johnson | Courtesy

Women’s basketball loses two on the road By | S. M. Chavey Features Editor After a tough loss against Saginaw Valley and a buzzer-beater loss to Wayne State University, the Hillsdale women’s basketball team will finally play two home games this weekend. The losses drop the Chargers to 0-2 record in conference play and 5-3 overall. “It’s going to be a tough week for us, even though we’re at home,” head coach Todd Mitmesser said. “There aren’t very many easy games in the GLIAC.” With an All-American post player and several other impressive players, Saginaw Valley took off offensively in the the first quarter, increasing its first quarter 11-point lead to 17 points by the half. The Chargers burst into the third quarter with momentum and a 9-0 run. At one point, they chiseled the Cardinals’ lead down to just five points, but ultimately Saginaw Valley won 73-48. “Last year, when we would get down by 10 or 12 points, we would let that gap get bigger. No one would take control and help us get back in it,” sophomore guard Allie Dewire said. “This year, every time we’ve been down by a lot we’ve managed to chip away at it. Even against Saginaw, we chipped that lead down to five. We let it go again, but that’s just a testament that we’re not throwing the towel in.” With three Hillsdale guards battling injuries, freshman Bree Porter saw plenty of playing time: 18 minutes. “First, it was really nerve-wracking stepping up and having to play a lot more minutes than I originally expected, but it helped me be a lot more confident knowing that I can play at this level. I wasn’t as nervous when I messed up, I wasn’t afraid I would have to go sit back down on the bench,” Porter said. She played a solid defensive game, grabbing two rebounds

and two steals. For the first and only time so far this season, the Chargers were outrebounded. Hillsdale shot 0-13 beyond the arch, while Saginaw Valley only shot 3-11 on 3-pointers. Junior Allie Dittmer led the Chargers with 14 points. Hillsdale’s matchup against Wayne State was much tighter — the lead changed 11 times, four times in the final quarter alone. With 12 seconds left in the game, Wayne State’s Ajai Meeks shot two free throws to take a one-point lead. Five seconds later, Dewire made two free throws to earn back the lead. “I got fouled, and I had to make these two free throws to tie them and then lead. I was like ‘Okay, you can do this.’ I made the first one, then the second one, and I was so hype,” Dewire said. In the last second, the Warriors’ Shannon Wilson made a final layup to win the game for Wayne State, but Mitmesser said he was still pretty happy with the performance. “We had some nice things going on, we attacked the way that we are capable of defen-

sively,” Mitmesser said. “We let a couple of shooters get open, and also we did not defend them in transition as well as we should have, so they had some easy buckets on us. They really did a good job mentally preparing for the Wayne State game.” Dewire scored 17 points, just one short of her career high, and eight rebounds. Sophomore forward Makenna Ott led the team in scoring with 19 points, and junior guard Maddy Reed got 10 rebounds. This weekend, the Chargers will face off at home with Grand Valley and Ferris State — two difficult teams, according to Dewire. In last year’s game against Grand Valley, the Chargers lost in another buzzer beater. “Last year, we showed them that we can play with them, so this year I hope we can execute the whole game,” Dewire said. “We definitely have the talent, it’s just about executing: playing our game and not letting them control the floor and dictate how the game’s going to be played.”

Sophomore guard Allie Dewire scored 17 points against Wayne State on Saturday, just one short of her career high. Carly Gouge | Courtesy

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Grace DeSandro | Collegian

College orchestra will take on the capital with performance in D.C.

Clark from A1

to their normal performance cycle, which included local concerts and a performance of Handel’s “Messiah” at the end of the semester. Holleman said he wanted to select repertoire that would both highlight the orchestra’s strengths and introduce other college music directors to unique, yet approachable music. “I wanted to put our best foot forward to focus on our strengths as an orchestra,” Holleman said. “But I also wanted to be somewhat educational in my approach, knowing that our primary audience is college orchestra directors from around the country.” The planned repertoire is

rapture as his hand glides up the lamp’s prosthetic fishnet leg—that reaction was totally real,” an article in Vanity Fair said. “The other members of the cast not in the scene were no less impressed.” Among such quirks in the film include a cameo of Clark moments after Ralphie’s dad sets up the lamp in the window. As Ralphie’s dad runs outside to see how it looks, a pesky neighbor walks up and asks “Hey Mark, what’s that?” “Not now Swede, can’t you see I’m busy?” Ralphie’s dad responds. The neighbor is Clark, dressed in a blue jacket, gray scarf, and orange cap. When Clark’s production wrapped up and it was ready to hit theaters, many were skeptical of its success. “My guess is either nobody will go to see it,” the famous movie critic Roger Ebert said. “Or millions of people will go to see it.” It earned a little more than

$2 million its opening weekend. Not a blockbuster. The rights were sold off to Time Warner in 1986. People began watching it on VHS and telling their friends, and it became somewhat of a cult Christmas classic. In 1997, after a lot of popularity outside of theaters, Time Warner started its annual tradition of playing it on repeat throughout Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In 2004, it moved to TBS. Several years later in 2007, AOL named “A Christmas Story” the No. 1 Christmas movie of all time. Tragically that same year, on April 4, a drunk driver killed Clark and his 22-year-old son in a headon crash in Palisades, Los Angeles. He was 67. Although Clark is now gone, his legacy lives on for 24 hours from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, and the film that is now forever associated with the holidays is now forever associated with Hillsdale.

it’s one of my favorites and I thought the orchestra sounded great on it two years ago,” Lukich said. “It’s a very beautiful piece. It’s melancholic, it’s joyful. It has a whole spectrum of musical spectrum of emotions and colors of sound. You do get this sense of it being inspired by Celtic music without getting hit over the top of the head with it. It’s not like a jig, but you can get the lilting feel of the music.” Returning to music from past performances will allow the orchestra to polish their musicianship on pieces that many students have already enjoyed performing, Holleman said. “I thought it would be in-

“Many of the groups who submitted recordings include large institutions ... It is uncommon to accept an orchestra from a school the size of Hillsdale, as only two orchestras perform each year.” a mix of pieces from performances over the last two years, including Giuseppe Verdi’s “Overture to Sicilian Vespers,” Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “Serenade to Music,” Leonard Bernstein’s “Overture to Candide,” and Benjamin Britten’s “Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes,” and the fourth movement of Max Bruch’s “Scottish Fantasy.” As a featured soloist, Lukich also influenced the music selection, encouraging Holleman to perform the “Scottish Fantasy,” a piece the orchestra performed two years ago. “I pushed this piece because

chestra students return early from winter break for two full days of rehearsal. Freshman harpist Colleen Trainor began rehearsing with the orchestra the week after the “Messiah” performance. The music isn’t easy, she said, and Lukich’s “Scottish Fantasy” selection is a special challenge. “The Bruch is a bit of a monster,” Trainor said. “But I think I can handle it.” Of the four pieces that feature harp, Trainor is new to all but the Vaughan Williams “Serenade to Music,” which the orchestra performed in their October concert. Despite this limited time to prepare for their first national performance, Holleman said he trusts his orchestra’s talent and experience. “We’ve already started at a higher level, but we haven’t had a lot of time because of our rehearsal schedule,” Holleman said. “I’m confident that with the amount of time we have before next semester, we will be well prepared.” This leadership stems from a string and brass section filled with upperclassmen: “One of the primary strengths of the orchestra are our five senior first violinists. They were one of the strongest freshman violin classes we’ve had over the years. They’ve shown real leadership, and first violin really carries the repertoire. We also have many senior principal players in the woodwinds and in the brass,” Holleman said. But he has just as much confidence in the younger musicians; he said he planned a program that was heavier on harp knowing that Trainor is a “very accomplished” harpist. “This is challenging repertoire compared to what I

Bob Clark (far right) acts in the 1963 Tower Players production ‘Holiday for Lovers.’ Collegian Archives

expected in playing with an orchestra, but I’m excited,” Trainor said. “It has really pushed me to see so many people devoted to music.” Lukich agreed that the support and expertise of his fellow musicians will bring the program together. “It’s been really neat to see us grow in the last four years,” Lukich said. “I’ve seen people really raising the bar in the last year or two in being prepared for rehearsals. That way, Professor Holleman doesn’t have to be worried about fixing problems. He can focus on the musical ideas.” Holleman said he is planning a concert in late January to give the orchestra a chance to rehearse in front of a live audience before they take the stage in Washington, D.C. “We’ve claimed for years that with a school our size, we have a very unique, quality orchestra,” Holleman said. “Now we get to perform on a national stage, and have some of that verified.” But for Lukich, the audience is less important than the music itself: “I’ve never done something like playing with an orchestra in a place like Washington, D.C., before, so in the sense of it being a new place and a different, high-caliber kind of crowd, that’s a new experience for me. But at some point in being a violinist I found out that the way to deal with nerves is turning it into excitement. Before every performance I think that what really matters is telling the story of the music. That’s what gets me through. And when I approach a performance that way, it doesn’t matter who the audience is.”

An unidentified athlete believed to be Bob Clark. Archives

CULTURE CORNER Associate Professor of Education Daniel Coupland: In May of 2001, my son, Quinn, was born. That Christmas, we purchased a book titled “Good News of Great Joy.” The text comes directly from Luke 2, and the illustrations are by Michael Dudash. This book resides under the Christmas tree throughout the holiday season, and its torn and tattered pages show the love that our family has for this little book. Since Christmas 2001, we have read this book as a family on Christmas Eve.

Assistant Professor of Chemistry Courtney Meyet: My favorite Christmas movie is “The Christmas Story.” No movie better captures the anxious childhood feelings as we remember yearning for that special item. My “Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle” was a pony. Amazon

that he even gave up his own director’s salary for the production and contributed $150,000 of his own. Clark wanted every aspect of “A Christmas Story” to be perfect right down to the last detail, according to a recent Vanity Fair article. After searching through dozens of cities, Clark found the house for the movie in Columbus, Ohio. Although there was no shortage of snow when they were shooting, Clark had additional truckloads of snow on standby to be shipped in from nearby ski resorts. In warmer weather, he drizzled potato flakes and vinyl shavings in front of the camera. Clark said he wanted authenticity. In the dream sequence where a young Ralphie is seen defending his family and shooting dozens of rounds at Black Bart’s evil minions, he spits out a thick stream of tobacco. That was real. Clark had the prop assistant give him a bag of Red Man. “We shut down for an hour or so,” Billingsley said in an interview with Vanity Fair. “I just had to lie down on the couch. This was long before they knew what to do with kid actors.” Clark didn’t stop there. When Ralphie’s dad (Darren McGavin) receives the crate labeled “fragile” (said with an elongated Italian accent) holding a lamp in the shape of a leg, his surprise is authentic. It was the first time the actors saw the ridiculous prop. “Clark didn’t let any of the boys see the lamp until the Bob Clark, the director of the holiday classic ‘A Christmas camera was rolling and it was Story,’ was a student at Hillsdale College from 1960 to 1963. lifted from the “So Ralphie’s IMDB

teresting to see what we can do with music that we have already performed, have digested, have come back to, and have tried to fine-tune at a higher level because of its familiarity, and to take advantage of the rehearsal time that we do have,” Holleman said. Since the orchestra has focused primarily on their local performances and Handel’s “Messiah” this semester, this familiarity with the music will be important when they return to the pieces next semester. With only two weeks of class before performances, Holleman plans to have or-

Amazon

Culture Editor Of all the possible reasons to overhaul an orchestral program for the semester, being selected to perform at a national conference is one of the best. The college orchestra was selected to perform at the College Orchestra Directors Association’s annual conference at George Mason University this Feb. 2 through 4, one of only two orchestras featured from more than 300 member schools. The selection, made from a blind audition of concert recordings from the last two years, marks the first time the Hillsdale College orchestra will perform on a national stage. “I’m thrilled,” Orchestra Director James Holleman said. “For me, this is the perfect group of students that I would like to take to something like this. This orchestra has really reached a peak this year with balance between the strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion. I feel that we’re at one of our strongest points in the past 20-year growth of this program.” The 78-member orchestra will travel to Washington, D.C., for a Friday performance of their own work, as well as attending master class sessions and a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra in the Kennedy Center. “You couldn’t ask for a better way to go out, as a senior getting to play in D.C. with my friends,” senior violinist Stevan Lukich said. “That’s what I’m really looking forward to, is getting to experience this with the friends I’ve played with in the last four years. This is a really cool thing for the orchestra to be

able to do.” Hosted by CODA, an organization founded in 2002 to connect college orchestra directors throughout the world, the conference has been a way for college-age musicians and their directors to perform together and learn from each other. With member orchestras from the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia, CODA is the world’s largest association for collegiate orchestra directors, said CODA president Kevin Bartram. Their annual conference often features orchestras much larger than Hillsdale’s, Bartram said: “Many of the groups who submitted recordings include large institutions and some from Europe. It is uncommon to accept an orchestra from a school the size of Hillsdale, as only two orchestras perform each year.” Though their performance will be the highest priority, Holleman said, the conference will also allow Hillsdale students to meet and rehearse with members of the University of Tulsa Symphony Orchestra (the other orchestra selected to perform) in master class sessions for conducting students from George Mason, the hosting university. Hillsdale was not originally selected to perform in the conference, but when financial issues forced another music program to give up their spot at the conference late in August, Hillsdale was next on the list. And though the orchestra had already begun rehearsing an entirely different program for the fall semester, Holleman knew it was time to start again from the top, preparing a new 60 minutes of music for a national stage, in addition

Amazon

By | Hannah Niemeier

Professor of Economics and Business Ivan Pongracic: “The Ventures’ Christmas Album” (’65) is without a doubt the most fun Christmas album ever. The legendary instrumental rock band The Ventures imprint their distinctive upbeat, guitar-driven surf sound on a dozen Christmas classics, while adding bits and pieces of the hits of the day. Sleds up! Compiled by Katie Scheu

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‘Doing the most good,’ Disney-style By | S. M. Chavey Fea re di r “You guys look so cold!” A woman said to Disney princesses Cinderella, Elsa, and Anna as they stood outside of Wal-Mart, ringing the bell for Salvation Army. “It’s not a problem, the cold never bothered me anyway,” Elsa said. Later, when no longer in character, senior Rebekah Molloy admitted that even as Elsa, she was a little cold. The three princesses stood outside in complete costume for an hour, helping raise money for Salvation Army’s annual red-kettle fundraiser. “It’s such a blessing to be able to really make these kids’ dreams come true. It’s not just about fancy dresses, but also kindness and wanting to be a good influence,” freshman Hannah Molloy, Cinderella, said. Both Molloys said they were amazed by the generosity of Wal-Mart patrons. The three princesses are a part of the Liberty Princess Company, an organization run by senior Gianna Marchese that provides Disney princess characters, typically student volunteers, for events.

They’ve done Wal-Mart’s Trunk or Treat, parties, a foster care ball, meets and greets, and even a Salvation Army Princess Day, but this is the first time Disney princesses have rung the bell for Salvation Army. “As Disney princesses, we bring so much happiness, magic, and joy to children, and it goes so well with the joy of giving at Christmastime,” Rebekah Molloy said.

make them the perfect fit to ring the bell for Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Last year, Hillsdale’s Salvation Army made more than $156,000, just under their goal of $166,000, according to Hillsdale Salvation Army Administrative Assistant Kathy Stump. With the same goal this year, Salvation Army had raised almost $54,000 by Dec. 5, about $5,000 behind where

“All the girls know the Disney stories forward and backward as a requirement for being their character. We strive for 100 percent character integrity....This is little kids’ dreams.” The company has 18 student volunteers and 14 different princess outfits. “All the girls know the Disney stories forward and backward as a requirement for being their character,” Marchese said. “We strive for 100 percent character integrity all the time. As soon as they leave our base location, they are in character. It’s not just like a lawn-mowing system that’s unchanging and doesn’t matter. This is little kids’ dreams.” Marchese said it’s not just kids who love the princesses, though. Even adults love seeing the princesses — which

they were at the same time last year. With the money last year, the Hillsdale Salvation Army alone helped 24,383 people and provided 73,553 services — more than 200 services per day including free community meals, clothing distribution, referrals, and more. Nationally, Salvation Army provided more than 92 million services last year and helped more than 25 million people — one person nearly every second. Almost all of these services are provided through the Christmastime bell-ringing

fundraiser. Hillsdale’s Salvation Army has had singers, dancers, Batman, and Supergirl help raise money, and now they’ve had princesses too. Marchese said the Liberty Princesses are the perfect complement to Salvation Army’s Slogan: “Doing the most good.” “In addition to making every experience as magical as possible, we try to teach kids that you don’t need to live in a castle or have fancy dresses or go to fancy balls — true beauty comes from within, and it’s by acts of kindness and love that that beauty radiates outwards and that’s what makes you a true princess,” Marchese said. By raising money for Salvation Army, they exemplified that inward beauty while making children’s dreams come true at the same time. “The best part is seeing little kid’s faces light up when you walk into a room, closely seconded by convincing someone on the fence of believing and having them interact with you as if you are that real person,” Marchese said. “The magic is just tangible. There’s something real when princesses walk into the room.”

Senior Gianna Marchese models as Disney princess Elsa from “Frozen.” On Wednesday, three students dressed up as Disney princesses to ring the bell for Salvation Army at Jonesville’s Wal-Mart. Gianna Marchese | Courtesy

Collegian Christmas movie crushes: Stories that make us laugh and cry during the holidays

The Hillsdale Collegian staff came together to bring you the best Christmas films to enjoy over break.

Collegian staff’s top five Christmas movies. imdb

This Christmas will be the 60th anniversary of Frank Capra’s classic “It’s A Wonderful Life.” It’s a black and white film, riddled with antiquated language, sets, and dialogue. To an excited child on Christmas Eve, it seems like an old and slow bedtime story. So why is it so popular? Simply because of it’s message. The story of businessman George Bailey’s inconvenient struggles and his epiphany that one person can truly make a difference in this world that would not only makes it more than just a permanent piece of Christmas nostalgia, but a timeless story of compassion, love, and charity.

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” first released in 1964, tells the best Christmas underdog story. As viewers cheer for Rudolph to save the holiday and overcome his outsider status, they are filled with enough Christmas cheer to carry them through the season. The movie brings a classic Christmas tune to life through an animated misfit who takes the viewer on a journey to find his place in the world and save Christmas, too. The movie is packed with song and dance — and, after all, there’s nothing cuter than an Island of Misfit Toys.

Every child has a favorite toy, but not every child has a story like Ralphie. The story of a young boy and his dire want for Santa to bring him a Red Ryder BB gun on Christmas may only be second to Frank Capra’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” for the most nostalgic holiday film. Audiences laugh at the antics ranging from a “double-dog dare” to daydreams of battling robbers and outlaws as Ralphie tries to make his Christmas wishes a reality. Those who haven’t had the joy of seeing the movie have already heard the famous line quoted, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.”

“How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” based on the children’s storybook by Dr. Seuss, was adapted into an animated TV short in 1966 and later into a Oscar-winning film in 2000. The Grinch, an embittered hermit, disguises himself as Santa Claus and sneaks into Whoville to steal all of the town’s Christmas decorations and gifts. A young villager, Cindy Lou Who, catches the Grinch in his thievery and attempts to befriend him. Ultimately, her kindness leads the Grinch to abandon his scheme and and join in the town’s Christmas celebration.

“Elf,” the 2003 blockbuster, features Will Ferrell as Buddy, Santa’s 6-foot elf, who goes on a journey to reunite with his father, a Scroogeesque character who cares more about his job than his son. As Ferrell waits for his father to accept him, he becomes more acclimated with the modernity of New York City, partially aided by Jovie, played by Zooey Deschanel, who works as an elf in a mall’s Christmas display. The movie is a wonderful story of redemption and love framed by Buddy’s commitment to returning Christmas joy to the dark, corporate NYC, and, ultimately, his father.

Ugly Christmas Sweaters By | Madeline Fry Kenzi Dickhudt

Jared Gohl

Cheyenne Trimels

Where did

What inspires your

Where did

you get your

holiday style?

you get

ugly Christ-

Mostly impulsive

your ugly

mas sweat-

decisions on far

Christmas

er?

too little sleep.

sweater? I made it in

I got my ugly

Madeline Fry | Collegian

Who inspires your holiday style? My holiday style is definitely inspired by my mom. Her closet is my one-stop shop for all my clothing needs.

Christmas

Anything else

high school.

sweater from

you’d like to add?

My sister has

my mom!

My Christmas-

a matching

inspired fashion

one.

How would you describe it? It’s the 12 days of Christmas on a checker board!

Madeline Fry | Collegian

How would you describe your sweater? It’s a cross between Mr. Rogers, my grandmother, and Buddy the Elf. In other words, atrocious.

choices are unique to me because this is the only time of the year where I might put on pants, rather than shorts, for the sake of outfit continuity.

Madeline Fry | Collegian

How would you describe your sweater? It’s spreading Christmas cheer, but it also says “It’s about to get lit like the Star of Bethlehem.”

Anything else you’d like to add? If you need ugly Christmas sweater ideas that are original, hit up Pinterest.