The Hillsdale Collegian 9.5.19 by The Hillsdale Collegian

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

Vol. 143 Issue 2 - September 5, 2019

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Arnn completes editing of Churchill biographies

The biographical collection is the largest of any historical person

By | Abby Liebing Associate Editor After decades of work, the 23rd and final volume of the “Churchill Documents” is being published this fall by Hillsdale College’s Churchill Project. Sir Winston Churchill’s son Randolph began writing the biography of his father 57 years ago, in 1962. He completed the first two volumes of the biography. When Randolph passed away, he bequeathed the biography to Sir Martin Gilbert, who was an Oxford historian and one of Randolph’s researchers. Gilbert then spent the rest of his life working on the biography, from 1968 to 2012. Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn studied under and worked with Gilbert, and since 2012, Arnn has been editing the volumes. This definitive and official biography of Winston Churchill is the largest biography, of any single historical person, according to the Churchill Book Specialist. It is made up of eight narrative volumes, which Randolph Churchill and Gilbert wrote, as well as 23 volumes of documents. In total, it is 42,300 pages and 15.1 million words. Volume

22 of the series, “Leader of the Opposition, August 1945 to October 1951,” was released in July 2019 and the 23rd volume, “Never Flinch, Never Weary, November 1951 to February 1965,” will be released this fall. The Churchill Project, launched by Hillsdale College, has been a large part of the work on and publication of the Churchill biography and documents. “Since its inception, the purpose of the Churchill Project has been to promote a right understanding of Churchill’s words Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn poses with the completed volumes of Winston Churchill’s biographies. and deeds. The official biography Marketing Churchill Project, said in an Churchill Project is still dedbiography and of the articles has been one way icated to guarding the legacy on the website are the two – the most important way – in email. And though this is the final of a great man and exploring primary ways we intend to which we have pursued this volume of the “Churchill Doc- his history and career. carry the Project forward. But end,” Colin Brown, associate uments” to be published, the “Promotion of the official the future of the Churchill director of research for the

Project is bright and there is always more that can be done,” Brown said. The Churchill Project also has several student fellows who have worked on the project and research. Senior Tess Skehan, who became a fellow in August 2017, has done some editing, reading, biographical footnoting, and transcribing for the Project. And, as she has gotten to work closely with Churchill’s documents and personal writings, she has enjoyed seeing different sides of who he was as a person. Skehan noticed that often when looking back on historical figures people focus on them in their specific role or career or even try to tear them down. But, she got to see Churchill in many different lights besides just as a politician. He was funny. He was a father, a reporter, as well as a politician. “He became so much more personal. You get to see so many aspects of him,” Skehan said. Senior Zach Palmer, also a Churchill fellow since 2017, has had various roles help-

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College launches online course on biblical narrative By | Sofia Krusmark Assisant Editor

From left: Matthew Spalding, associate vice president at the Allan P. Kirby Jr. Center; Carrie Severino, a legal scholar; and journalist Mollie Hemingway discuss Hemingway and Severino’s new book on the fall 2018 Kavanaugh hearings. Kate Grace | Courtesy

Journalism fellow releases new book on 2018 Kavanaugh confirmation hearings By | Carmel Kookogey Culture Editor When the government shut down in January 2019, Matthew Spalding had an idea. A few Hillsdale students could not starting their internships in the federal government in Washington, D.C. Spalding, Allan P.

Kirby Jr. Center Associate Vice President and Dean of Education Programs offered his students to help Hillsdale Senior Journalism Fellow Mollie Hemingway on her most recent book, “Justice on Trial.” “I literally had a body of Hillsdale students here, ready to work,” Spalding said.

A senior editor at The Federalist and former Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Fellow of Journalism, Hemingway has long been a friend of the college, Spalding said. The Federalist also records its podcast at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Statesmanship, so Hem-

ingway was a familiar face even before the book project began. Co-authored by legal scholar Carrie Severino, “Justice on Trial” tells the story of Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s fall 2018 confimation to the Supreme Court. Together with Severino, who used to clerk

After launching 24 online courses, Hillsdale has released the first biblical literature course in its history. It’s the Genesis story. The five-lecture online class was launched at the end of July — and it’s unlike anything Hillsdale has offered before, said Justin Jackson, professor and chair of the English Department and the class’ teacher. More than 10,000 people have enrolled in the class since its release. “We are known as a place where one studies the Constitution,” Jackson said. “So to have an English professor talking about the literary qualities of Scripture, and to do it seriously and academically is to say, ‘This is what we do on this campus, and we are liberal-minded enough that we can actually have students

who can take the class and appreciate it and grow from it.’” The college mission has four components: freedom, character, learning and faith. According to Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn, the course does exactly that. “To call yourself a wholly thoughtful person, you’d have to do some thinking about God, and that’s what we think here at Hillsdale College,” Arnn said in the course introduction video. Kyle Murnen, director of online learning, said Hillsdale is a Christian college so theological courses have become essential to the online course library. “One of the central purposes of the college is to teach the precepts of the Christian faith,” Murnen said. “A close study of the first book of the Bible serves this purpose well.”

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Dawn Theater turns 100 opened in 1919 as a By | Rowan Macwan Collegian Freelancer vaudeville and silent movie house. Since then it has functioned as a theatre, an Downtown Hillsdale’s event venue, and a nighthistoric Dawn Theatre club. Long-time residents celebrated its centennial of Hillsdale remember the on Sept. 4. The city held a Dawn as the place of their ceremony outside of City first movies, first dates, Hall, across the street from senior proms, and friend’s the Dawn, to celebrate the weddings. start of construction. See Dawn A6 The Dawn Theatre

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New Marketing Director Ric Tombelli brings change for department By | Christian Peck-Dimmit Collegian Freelancer Imagine posting content for millions of judging eyes to see. That is just a small part of what Ric Tombelli does every day. Tombelli is the new director of digital marketing at Hillsdale, and despite having Follow @HDaleCollegian

worked here only a few short months, he and his team have been hard at work making sure the college’s brand stays strong and consistent. The school hired Tombelli in July, and six years of owning his own company proved itself valuable experience as he took over the many complicated facets involved in running Hillsdale’s Mar-

keting Department. One of those main facets is managing all of the social media channels that represent the college, a part of his job that he has emphasized. It carries a lot more weight than it does for the average college student, especially with the recent issues of free speech faced by many major social media platforms. “In theory,” Tombelli

said, “things that we speak about here at the college that are considered the bedrock of what we teach could be viewed by some of those platforms as speech that they no longer wish to promote.” This would be a step in the wrong direction for the college as a whole, he said, as social media plays a large role in connecting with Hillsdale’s international

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audiences. Though marketing may seem to be a relatively straightforward job, there is a great deal of time and effort put in to making sure that the school’s brand is promoted in a consistent, positive manner. “There’s the Hillsdale. edu site,” Tombelli said, “but there’s also the Halter Shooting Center, there’s the

online courses page, and Hillsdale in D.C. So my job is to make sure that those properties reflect the brand of the school.” Bryan Springer, another of the school’s new additions to the marketing department, helps to ensure

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News

A2 September 5, 2019

Security plans to introduce new campus emergency, safety app

features is a panic button fortable walking home alone, By | Elizabeth Bachmann that connects directly to 911. he or she can request a ride Assistant Editor When a student downloads from security officers. the app, they have the option The student input comHillsdale College Security to add information such as ponent of the app enables is rolling out a new app that their name, address, photo, students to help other stuenables students and faculty vehicle information, and dents by submitting security to help keep themselves and medical records. If a student concerns or suspicious activtheir peers safe. sets their preferences to allow ities to the security departRave Guardian, an app it, when 911 gets an alert ment, who can then push this designed by Rave Mobile Seinformation out to the entire curity, currently serves half of from the student, all of that student’s information will pop campus. all college students in Amerup to help the 911 operator Students can also protect ica. Hillsdale’s IT department handle the situation. each other through Rave with will release a version personThe app also offers a GPS the “guardian” feature, which alized to Hillsdale’s campus allows a student to send a and security team in the next friend a notification that two weeks. he is on his way home. The The app will augment student inputs his expectthe security department’s ed time of arrival, where old app, Alertus, which only he is coming from, and allows the college to “push” his final destination. His information out to stuselected guardian can then dents. With Rave Guardian, accept the request. Once students themselves can feed the request is accepted, if information, warnings, and the student does not select safety concerns to campus the trip as completed security through the app for within the allotted time, campus-wide release. They his guardian will get a will also be able to make notification. requests for immediate assisFrom there, a guardian tance from campus security, will have access to the local law enforcement, or student’s location on a each other. map and can alert secuSophomore Gladys Oster, rity if the situation seems an RA in Benzing, has suspicious. already been given a runBoth Kellam and Rethrough of the new app so bekah Dell, associate dean that she can encourage her of women, said they are residents to download it. hopeful the app will be“I like it because it gives come a staple for students. an opportunity not only Kellam said he gathered for campus security to say Hillsdale’s security department is plan‘watch out,’ but for us to be ning to use Rave Guardian to stream- a group of student interns to review promotional able to communicate back line safety and emergency processes. material for the app. with them,” Oster said. “I Nolan Ryan | Collegian “We showed them think that is a good factor tracking beacon that can be options and 100% said they because they want to know initiated by the user. If initiwould be interested in downwhat the students are seeing ated, a 911 operator can track loading it,” Kellam said. as well.” Dell said the app is anothJoe Kellam, associate direc- the location of the phone as er opportunity to connect tor of security and emergency it moves. The security team and strengthen the Hillsdale management, played a pivotal also worked this summer to upload to the app digital community. role in making this jump in “It is a benefit for any the college’s safety procedures. floor plans of every building on campus so that the GPS student to download and take “Our number-one job is tracking beacon can identify advantage of Rave, and be in to provide a safe and non-infrom what building and floor the know,” Dell said. “In some vasive environment,” Kellam a distress call originates. ways, you are your brother’s said. “We looked at options This year, the security team keeper, because it allows you where we could put call boxes to be a force for the safety out, but that didn’t seem suffi- also opened a student-staffed dispatch center to work in and care of your peers. You cient. And then, about a year conjunction with Rave Guard- are helping campus just as ago, we started a search for ian. A student can request much as yourself. You can be security options on a phone immediate help from the 24/7 well-informed and a force for because that would always be dispatch center anywhere on supporting your peers in all with them.” or around campus. Even if a things.” One of the app’s key student simply feels uncom-

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SAB enacts new poster policy

By | Lily McHale Collegian Freelancer

The Student Activities Board has implemented a new system for hanging posters and advertisements in the Grewcock Student Union. Clubs and organizations must now drop their posters off at the union front desk and staff will review and hang posters within 24 hours of their dropoff. All posters should include the event name, organization holding said event, date, time, and location. The policy states that “advertising posted without the approval of the Front Desk will be removed” and graphics must be “informative, appropriate, timely, and easy to read.”

The change comes after the unregulated poster boards became cluttered with advertisements and announcements in previous years. According to Alexandra Whitford, director of student activities, the issue of the advertisements was raised in a meeting about improving the overall experience of the Grewcock Student Union. “The boards are becoming less useful as they are covered with layers of advertisements, and often included multiple copies of the same graphics,” Whitford said. Whitford said the aim of the new policy is to help decrease the clutter from unofficial clubs and organizations as well as to increase the overall effectiveness of

the advertisements. “We want to focus the advertising boards on official clubs and organizations, dorms, and campus departments,” Whitford said. Union employees have mixed opinions about the policy. Junior Jessie Collins does not view the change as groundbreaking. “It’s just to ensure the credibility of the groups advertising in the union,” Collins said. Senior Chloe Sparks is optimistic. “I think it’s a good way to organize advertisements for clubs and it helps the boards be more effective,” she said. “I have had to take a few [posters] down, but I’m sure people will learn quickly.”

Radio Free Hillsdale program nominated for national award By | Virginia Aabram Collegian Reporter “Patmos, WI,” a radio drama written and produced by Shadrach Strehle ‘19, has been nominated for Best Special Broadcast through the Collegiate Broadcasting Inc. It was also chosen as one of four finalists nationally. The piece was the only broadcast submitted by Hillsdale to receive CBI finalist status this year. Strehle was program director of WRFH for two years and currently works as a reporter for the online publication Great Lakes News. Strehle produced his nominated piece as the final project for his advanced radio class. Thanks to its high production quality, the broadcast eventually aired on WRFH and thus qualified for submission to CBI. The production is a pilot for a supernatural thriller audio drama set in the fictional town of Patmos, WI. It was inspired by Strehle’s love of H.P. Lovecraft and the television show Twin Peaks.

“It was a labor of love and I had a great time doing it,” Strehle said. “Audio production is something that I am very passionate about and getting to be awarded on a national stage is a dream come true.” While the class only required the project be three to five minutes long, Strehle’s final product was over 10 minutes and utilizes an original script. According to Strehle, the entire production process took place over only three days. Scott Bertram, the general manager of WRFH, submitted Strehle’s work for the CBI awards. “It was a very intensive production process with sound effects and voice actors,” Bertram said. “Taking the time to put all of that together to the high quality that it was is very impressive. I thought it had an excellent shot to be nominated as a finalist.” Thus far, WRFH has not received a first place award from CBI, though last year it took home a fourth and

third place recognition. The winner will be announced at the 2019 National Student Electronic Media Convention in St. Louis at the end of October. “We just submit the best stuff that we have to offer,” Bertram said. “I certainly think that Shad produced quality content that deserved finalist recognition, and hopefully first place.” John Miller, director of the Dow Journalism program, said he believes that the nomination reflects well on the radio station. “This is a great national recognition of Strehle’s abilities,” Miller said. “They have dozens of categories with these awards, and it’s nice that our little station, which is still kind of new, got recognized in that area.” Both Miller and Bertram emphasized Strehle’s contributions to the radio station as well as his talent for audio media. “Shad did a lot of work to leave the station in a better place than he found it,” Bertram said.

2018 graduate serves D.C. students, hopes to pursue Ph.D. By | Julia Mullins City News Editor Hillsdale College in Washington, D.C. is growing, and Cassidy Syftestad ’18 has been essential to its commitment to improving opportunities for students in the nation’s capital. Growing up on the other side of the country, Syftestad became the only one out of seven grandchildren in her family to leave her native state of California to attend college. After graduating from Hillsdale College less than two years ago as an American Studies major, Syftestad immediately began serving the college as the undergraduate program coordinator at the Kirby Center in Washington, D.C. Since assuming this role, Syftestad works closely with identifying and mentoring students who become George Washington Fellows or those involved with the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program. “I love going to work because WHIP and the George Washington Fellowship programs are designed to equip the young people, to push them towards their goals, and enable them through opportunities, contacts, and professional development,” Syftestad said. “And my job is to make that happen. If I do my job well, then it makes a difference in the lives of people who I learned to really care about. And I feel very proud of them.” One of those young people is current Hillsdale College senior Jenny Lessnau who participated in WHIP in the spring semester of 2019. During her time in Washington, Lessnau interned at the Museum of the Bible as a collections intern, creating

an organizational system for about 2,000 Torah scrolls. As an art history major, Lessnau said she never expected to participate in WHIP and credits Syftestad for her enriching experience. “Cassidy is the type of person who always has your best interests truly at heart, and she is so candid,” Lessnau said. “Cassidy will tell you how it is, give it to you straight, but she’ll always be there to back you up.” Syftestad encourages all Hillsdale students in Washington to pursue their own goals and use their skills to make a difference in society. “I wish students knew that Washington, D.C. provides opportunities for students who are interested in any professional field,” Syftestad. “We have internships for finance, museum studies, art history, accounting, international studies, and national security. It’s not just for students who are interested in politics. You don’t need to plan a life in D.C. to spend one semester here, soaking up all that you can.” On her own WHIP semester during the fall of her junior year, Syftestad interned in educational programming at the Charles Koch Institute. Syftestad said she never expected to return to Washington after this semester, but her passion for education reform and policy continued pulling her back. “I moved back to D.C. for the summer before senior year, which wasn’t my plan originally,” Syftestad said. “But there’s one job I really wanted, which was education policy research at the Heritage Foundation. I got it, so I came.” During that same summer, Syftestad and her moth-

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er completed research for and were co-authors of “The Corrupt Classroom,” a book by Lance Izumi, the Senior Director of Education Studies at the Pacific Research Institute. The work explores the degradation of public

as researchers and public policy fellows, Cassidy was certainly one of my best,” Izumi said. “She’s going to do extremely well in her life’s career, which I think she’s pointing toward going into education research and pol-

Syftstad graduated in 2018 from Hillsdale | Cassidy Syftestad

schools for non-academic reasons. Although Izumi admitted he was skeptical to meet Syftestad because of her age, his worries disappeared after observing her mature and poised attitude. “Of all the people I’ve had

icy analysis. She’s somebody who’s going to make a real big difference in this nation down the future.” After her freshman year of college, Syftestad was an assistant at a law firm in Sacramento and was put

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in contact with Izumi. The following summer she came back to her home state to research and find examples of fiscal mismanagement, oversexualized curriculum in elementary schools, and anti-American curriculum from schools across the country. “It made me feel deeply disturbed at some points,” she said. “But I believe in the opportunity for change, and even change in the local level affects thousands of children. I deemed my task worthy of effort because even if you convince one parent to exercise school choice, that child’s life will change, and that was our purpose.” Syftestad’s interest in encouraging school choice comes largely from her parents’ concern for their three children to receive the best possible education available. At home, both of Syftestad’s parents taught her to think critically and question information she was taught at school. Syftestad’s mother homeschooled her two brothers when it was appropriate and moved all three children to a new public school district by finding a policy loophole. “We got what we needed and what we wanted because my mom knew what exists in the way of opportunity,” Syftestad said. “My mom’s career has shown me the different avenues you can take in education. She sacrificed a lot in order to pour into the education of myself and my brothers, and she taught me how to write.” Through her parents’ dedication, Syftestad was prepared to succeed at Hillsdale both socially and academically. Syftestad said she did not apply to any

publicly-funded colleges and chose Hillsdale because of its philosophy of education. “I didn’t think I could be more grateful to this school,” Syftestad said. “It’s an institution run by humans, so it’s imperfect, but it pursues the good, and perfection for higher ends, and it does a pretty good job.” Syftestad said she most enjoyed taking theology, politics, and economic classes. As her faith and spiritual well-being became more central to who she was, one of Syftestad’s favorite classes at Hillsdale includes Theology of the Holy Spirit. Outside of this, Syftestad took four classes with professor of politics Kevin Portteus, who she said mastered the art of teaching. Portteus recalls Cassidy always strived to be the most prepared person in the room and often met this goal. “When Cassidy arrived in my first class, she was a good student, but not a great student,” Portteus said in an email. “She made herself into a great student through sheer effort and maximizing her potential. She devoted herself to figuring out how to be better, and then she did it.” In the upcoming year, Syftestad said she will be applying for a four year Ph.D. program in education policy. The program will equip her to conduct studies that support school choice, translate studies into policy implications, model legislation, make recommendations for families, encourage parents to exercise school choice, deregulate the classroom, and encourage more wholesome policies.

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News Student Fed appoints new committee members at first meeting

Aug. 2018, 2018 A3

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By |Virginia Aabram Collegian Reporter The Hillsdale College Student Federation held their first meeting of the semester on Thursday, August 30. The meeting focused on filling both empty committee seats and a chairmanship position, left empty in the wake of several members taking on new leadership positions. New representative junior Parker Thayer was appointed

to an open seat on the philanthropy committee, while junior Katie Ryerson was voted onto the Rules Committee. Senior Matthew Montgomery received a new position on the club oversight committee, while the Federation voted current oversight committee member, sophomore Brandt Siegfried, as chairman. The Oversight Committee will screen club applications before they are presented to

the Federation , Siegfried said. “There are a lot of clubs on the docket right now that we’re considering, and so this is of course a big task,” he said. “I am looking forward to working with my fellow representatives to make sure we can continue to have awesome student activities at Hillsdale.” President James Millius said that a large portion of future Student Federation meetings will be devoted to

reworking the distribution of funds for student publications. “A big focus for the Federation this semester is going to be improving the publications committee in that we are going to find ways to work better with the college’s publication board,” Millius said. “We are going to look at potentially giving the publications board more autonomy from Student Federation to make it less

In brief:

Pi Phi bonfire to give proceeds to literacy

By |Alex Mulet Collegian Freelancer Pi Beta Phi is combining advocacy and excitement at their upcoming Phi Fest, a philanthropy event to support literacy. The event is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tess Skehan, Pi Beta Phi president, said the purpose of the event is twofold. “We received a large donation to our house and we were able to build a memori-

al fire pit and patio,” Skehan said. “We wanted to have a chance to invite the campus over to check out our new fire pit and hang out with us, but also to promote literacy.” Hillsdale’s Michigan Alpha chapter is incorporating Pi Beta Phi’s international literacy initiative with their “Lemonade for Literacy” stand at the fest. Skehan encourages students to sip some lemonade and support Pi Beta Phi’s partner organization, Read > Lead >

Achieve. “This semester specifically, we are concentrating more on the advocacy role of our chapter,” Kristin Freeman, Pi Phi philanthropy chair, said. That focus on community involvement is exactly what Pi Beta Phi hopes to integrate into Phi Fest as their first public event, according to Skehan. The sorority’s literacy efforts reach toward national and local goals, furthering the latter with projects like

First Book, a national nonprofit that promotes education and literacy. According to Skehan, Pi Beta Phi and First Book have donated more than 3.5 million books together. “There are a lot of programs outside of Pi Phi that are related to literacy, Buddy Reading and things like that,” Skehan said. “Kristin really promotes that to our girls.”

Chi Omega to host Chili Cook Off on Sept. 27 By |Alex Mulet Collegian Freelancer Chi Omega is welcoming the autumn season with their Chili Cook Off scheduled for Sept. 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets cost $5 and include admission and the chance to judge chili varieties. Proceeds go toward Chi Omega’s continued alliance

with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It is the first of the two main philanthropic events they plan each semester. “It is our national philanthropy of choice and that’s been a longstanding affiliation,” said Crystal Schupbach, Chi Omega philanthropy chair. To participate in the

Heminway and Severino launched “Justice on Trial” at the Kirby Center on July 11. Kate Grace | Courtesy

Hemingway

from A1 for Justice Clarence Thomas, Hemingway interviewed more than 100 key players in Kavanaugh’s confirmation process, including the president, other Supreme Court justices, and senators. Hillsdale students were able to assist Hemingway and Severino, and some were even credited in the book’s acknowledgements. When part of the government reopened, Spalding said, most of the Hillsdale students in town returned to their internships. The Department of Justice was still not operational, however, so senior Alexis Nester was still without work. Nester continued to work on the project with Kirby Center Research Assistant Krystina Skurk, a 2018 alumna of the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship, and Solomon Chen, Spalding’s research intern at the time. Skurk said she volunteered to help for the project because she felt it was important to correct the narrative surrounding the Kavanaugh confirmation. “Honestly, it felt so amazing to be a part of this project,” Skurk told The Collegian in an email. “Every day on my walk home I would see this anti-Kavanaugh poster pasted to a lamp post. I couldn’t believe it was still there so many months after the confirmation battle, but it made me realize how monumental this fight was and how important it was to record what happened.” Skurk, Nester, and Chen, along with senior Jackson Frerichs and junior Hannah Thullen, started work on the project when the shutdown started. A few continued working on the project all the way up to when Hemingway and Severino delivered the manuscript to the publishers, Spalding said. On July 11, the Kirby Center hosted Hemingway and Severino for the launch event of “Justice on Trial,” which quickly became a best-seller

on Amazon. “Most political books aren’t very good,” Spalding told the audience at the book launch. “They’re mostly written by politicians getting ready for campaigns. This is not one of those books.” Hemingway thanked Hillsdale students and the Kirby Center for the work they did on the book, which was published only nine months after the Kavanaugh hearings ended. The book, she said, was very thorough despite the short time period in which it was written. “It took a lot of time. It took a lot of reading of historical records and what not. And we could not have done it without the Kirby Center here. We had research assistants and journalism assistants that were provided to us that were of great value, and we are so appreciative of them,” Hemingway told attendees at the event. Hemingway also thanked Nester for doing some reporting for the book, and Chen and Skurk for their research assistance. “We are so grateful for having those resources provided to us; we are very appreciative of that support,” Hemingway said. “This could not have been done without that level of support, and we appreciate it.” Spalding said that being able to assist with “Justice on Trial” was a great opportunity for Hillsdale students who come to Washington, D.C., for the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program. “You know, these things pop up, and being able to have smart students who can do that kind of thing is a great opportunity,” Spalding said. “In particular, Mollie is a wonderful journalist, and Carrie Severino is a great legal thinker. It was a wonderful team and this was a real opportunity for Hillsdale students to assist them in their work, and they shined in helping them get the book done.”

event, contestants can email Schupbach to either sign up for a chili entry or be a taste-tester. Sign-ups will also be in the Union the week of Sept. 27. Schupbach noted that Chi Omega is paying special attention to which fundraisers have been the biggest hits among students. Students may see some returning and

new events on the calendar, all with the same attention to active service and philanthropy. The autumn festivities at the Chili Cook-off are an opportunity to share that mindset--complete with chili.

dependent on the Federation’s vote for funding.” Braden VanDyke, chairman of the Publications Committee, echoed Millius’ sentiment. “Essentially, the Student Federation has had a long history of having a little bit of a difficult time managing publications, and specifically what we do with the way we manage their budgets each year,” VanDyke said. “We

Churchill from A1

ing with the project and research. He enjoyed being so close to primary documents and being surprised by what he may run across in the vast quantities of Churchill’s writings. “Churchill wrote nearly 10 million words over the course of his lifetime. While that may not seem like an impressive number, it truly is,” Palmer said. “Whether in a myriad of letters, his many books, or his personal notes to other members of the English government, Churchill had a word for just about everything.” In order to celebrate the momentous occasion of the publication of the 23rd volume, Hillsdale hosted a large celebration in June in London. Among the guests were Lady Esther Gilbert — Sir Martin Gilbert’s widow — and members of the Churchill family, as well as members of the House of Lords, and many dignitaries that contributed to the work. Randolph Leonard Spencer-Churchill, Winston Churchill’s great-grandson, was in attendance and gave remarks celebrating the

might also decide to see if there is a possibility of taking the publications’ budget completely outside of Student Federation’s purview.” The Student Federation meets every other Thursday at 7 p.m. Meetings will be held in the Formal Lounge beginning on Sept. 26, and until then will be in Dow F. All Federation meetings are open to the entire student body.

life and work of his great grandfather, and those who worked to create his biography and preserve his legacy. “All of you here tonight from Hillsdale have played your part in helping us preserve liberty,” Churchill said. “It is truly uplifting that through your dedication and support for completing the Churchill biography, it will stand as one of the great works of history, recording the truth faithfully and without judgement.” Churchill thanked Arnn and all those at Hillsdale for finishing the job and acknowledged that without many people, like Gilbert and Arnn and everyone at the Churchill Project, the undertaking that his grandfather, Randolph Churchill, took up decades ago, may have never been completed. “All of them, from Randolph on, have played a role in preserving the history of those extraordinary years in these thirty-one magnificent volumes,” Churchill said. “Their work will be used forever by those who seek the truth.”

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Course from A1

“My first inclination isn’t to push a single theological narrative on the text,” he said. Everyone has their own theological beliefs in the back of their minds, Jackson

you,” Jackson said. “People may not agree with me, but now what they have to do is wrestle with those images and see what they have to do with their theological hypothesis.”

Herndon, a senior and former student of Jackson’s, said It all started last February. the biblical literature portion Jackson was in the middle of the course surprised her. of teaching Genesis in his “Taking Biblical NarraGreat Books course — his tive with Dr. Jackson is like eighteenth time — when picking up something you Murnen contacted think you know, him about teaching only to realize a biblical narrative that you’ve never course. really looked at it At first, they toyed before,” Herndon with the story of said. David. Not only that, “There are all added sophomore sorts of hiccups and Victoria Nunez, problems from apbut Jackson inproaching the David tegrated her two story from a literary passions. perspective, so I said, “He taught me ‘Hey, why don’t we to cross a love do Genesis simply of literary works because there are with my love of these nice narrative the Bible, to see units that everybody how they interact knows?’” with each other, The lecture series and how they is a compilation of the came into converclassic Genesis narrasation with one tives, including the fall another,” Nunez of man, the sacrifice of said. Isaac, and the Joseph It’s a course for story. The course curthe imagination, riculum was years in Jackson said, but the making, Jackson Jackson taught the Book of Genesis in his Great Books course for 18 years. He was leave it to him to said. show you himself. featured in Hillsdale’s most recent online course. Scott Galvin | Courtesy It’s a curriculum “The point of from all sorts of tradicollege isn’t always tions and teachers. Whether said, but he encourages each He’s invited students to give students what they alborrowing a reading from student to bring them to to dig deeper into biblical ways know, but to give them a medieval rabbi or incorclass. narrative for more than 18 something different, he said. porating teachings from “Use your imagination years now, and it’s a journey “Something new.” a scholar he knew in grad from your own hypothethat students have found — school, Jackson uses all sorts sis and wrestle with these surprisingly — spiritually of textual interpretations. details I’m pointing out to fulfilling, he said. Mikaela

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September 5, 2019 A4

The Weekly: Prioritize mental health (517) 607-2415

The passing of womanhood

Taking on the responsibilities of our mothers By | Reagan Cool My grandmother, the champion of frugality, never failed to scold me for walking into her house with a latte, “when there is perfectly good coffee right here in this pot!” Also the champion of labels, with every container in the fridge labeled with the date it was opened in her handwriting, my grandmother could make one box of wine last at least eight months. You can probably imagine the fear with which I entered my grandparents’ house with a brand new bottle of Italian liqueur in hand. I confidently set the liqueur down on the counter, poured myself a glass, and offered Grandma Glo a taste. I nervously chattered about its Catholic origins and the funny monk-shaped bottle while I waited for her reaction. To my amazement, the lecture I anticipated never came. Instead, my grandma pointed at the top shelf of the China cabinet and asked me to pour her a glass. Commencing that night, the Italian liqueur became our special dessert ritual. My grandma’s health diminished as the summer progressed, and she passed away last week. It was a good death: slow, holy, and surrounded by family. In my grandma’s final days, I watched my mom joyfully comfort, feed, and bathe her mother. In each humble act of compassion, I caught a glimpse of the tenderness with which she once served me. Sitting on the edge of my grandma’s bed and gently stroking her hair, my mom softly remarked to me what an honor it was to participate in the well-roundedness of the circle of life. A slow, natural death extended to my mother the opportunity to take care of the woman who took care of her for so long. The evening after my grandmother passed away, my mom turned to me and burst into tears. I took her for a drive until the tears passed — a trick I learned from her

when she would load up the car to lull a crying baby to sleep. Tears poured down our cheeks. We could not have stopped no matter how far we drove. In a turning point of our relationship, I was the one driving, the one trusted to take the right route, and get us there safely. My mom shared, between choked sobs, some of the most meaningful experiences with her mother — stories I had never heard, and I’m confident that no else had, either. She revealed to me the character of a woman made of grit and the beauty of a heart wildly open to life. She reminded me of the accomplishments of the fierce woman who so delighted in a small glass of Italian liqueur. For the first time, it was my duty to hold together the pieces of my mother’s broken heart, just as she has done for me from the childhood sadness of a broken toy to the grief of a broken relationship or lost loved one. In this circular right of passage, I saw the strength of womanhood passed down through the generations before my eyes. When my grandma became too weak to eat or talk, I decided she deserved one more taste of her favorite drink. I poured a glass, explained its summertime significance to all the relatives there, and gave my grandma a small taste. The crowded room burst into laughter when she nodded in response. We passed the glass around, each sharing in the joy of something so simple. Let us toast to her with Italian liqueur, with homekeeping, and stain-fighting, and the fearless defense of the family. It will be many years before her savor is forgotten. Cheers. Reagan Cool is a senior studying theology and a columnist on faith and religion.

The opinion of The Collegian editorial staff

Gun violence takes the national spotlight following each shooting. Supporters of the Second Amendment push back against gun control activists who blame the tragic deaths on lackluster gun regulation. But behind each gun, there is a human being pulling the trigger. Rates of anxiety and depression have grown exponentially in the last 20 years, particularly among the younger millennials and Gen-Zers. Feelings of desperation, distress, isolation, and hopelessness seems more

typical than happiness, contentement, and fellowship. This generation, driven by Instagram likes rather than real-life appreciation, and Facebook comments in place of in-person compliments, has replaced human interaction and care with superficial community. When people live their lives staring at a phone, computer, or tablet screen, relying on any human interaction to be through a device, they are likely to miss signs of emotional instability in those around them. According to

over 41 million health record data from Blue Cross Blue Shield, major depression is more common today than ever. After each shooting, people analyze the shooter’s behavior prior to the tragedy and point out signs that friends, family, and peers missed. If we don’t log off our social media long enough to notice when those around us our struggling, mass shootings will continue to rise. Mental illness is thriving in our technology-crazed world, and it’s going to take genuine

human care to help prevent it from spreading and help prevent mass shootings from taking over headlines. Students ought to put their mental health first and try to help when they see friends struggling. There are two counselors at the Health and Wellness Office as well as a Lindsay Peirce, the new director of recreational sports and student-athlete wellness, available to ensure student-athletes make time for both their physical and mental health.

Office Hours

Freedom makes our country and college unique By | Charles Steele From 1999 through the end of 2001, I taught in a graduate program in Kyiv, Ukraine, at National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. In the first few weeks after I arrived, a famous Ukrainian academic was tragically killed in a car accident and the entire campus closed for a few hours for a memorial service. All our Ukrainian faculty and staff were attending, so I joined them. The service was held in the university chapel, a small building in the middle of campus near our offices. During Soviet times, which had ended a mere eight years earlier, the chapel had been desecrated and used as a storage facility for old junk. It

was dark, dingy, and beat-up. As I stood for the memorial service, I looked at the people crowded into the chapel. Only eight years before, what they were now doing would have been illegal. The mourning and the devotion were real, and I found it gripping. It struck me how the shabby facilities did not matter at all. What mattered was what lay in the minds, hearts, and actions of each person in the room. Returning to Hillsdale College each year after spending the summer in Montana, I’m always struck by the excellence and beauty of our facilities and our campus. Hillsdale’s buildings are impressive, and the grounds are lovely. Our soon-to-be-completed Christ Chapel could contain that of Kyiv-Mohyla

with room left over. All of this is good, but I don’t think it matters that much. There are colleges with equal or better facilities than ours, but I don’t think I’d feel the same way if I were returning to one of them. What’s important and different about Hillsdale is what I tend to find in the minds, hearts, and actions of the students, the staff, and the faculty. I think Hillsdale is different from most schools because we have the freedom to choose the paths we think best, and we hold the concomitant responsibility to choose wisely. There’s a sense here of being more mindful of mission and purpose. It’s not the same as the other schools to which I’ve been in the U.S. It’s easy for me to forget

this and to take for granted the remarkable opportunities I’ve been given at Hillsdale and in this country. Perhaps it’s so for you, too. But periodically, I find it useful to remind myself of what I have here, to be grateful, and to think about how to make the most of it. Charles Steele is a professor of economics at Hillsdale College. The editors invite faculty members to contribute to Office Hours, a weekly column dedicated to promoting relationships between staff and students through the giving of advice and stories. Send submissions to the Opinions Editor at anester@hillsdale. edu.

Luck’s retirement provides insight on professional athletes’ mental health By | Liam Bredberg Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck recently sent shockwaves through the sports world with the announcement of his early retirement after only six seasons in the league. Luck took advantage of his platform bringing attention to an often unspoken issue among NFL players: mental health. “I feel tired,” Luck said during his retirement speech. “Not just tired in the physical sense.” He held back tears during his final press conference with the Colts, in which he cited his extreme and repeated physical injuries as his main reason for leaving the game of football as well as the desire to focus on raising his family. Football experts regarded Luck, a Stanford graduate and the first overall selection in the 2012 NFL Draft, as one of the greatest quarterbacks to play in recent history — a future Hall-of-Famer. His arm strength, split-second decision- making, leadership on the field, unparalleled sportsmanship, and deep devotion to the game made him one of the league’s favorite

personalities. In a 2018 article published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy, an exNFL player speaking anonymously said, “The reason it’s so lonely is we put those walls up… and nobody can know that I’m feeling concerned about my performance, that I’m insecure about this or that because football, in a sense, is ultimate meritocracy and such a manly thing that you just you always feel like you gotta be on, you know?” The NFL recently made an attempt to address potential mental health issues that players face. The Players Association of the NFL drafted an initiative that would require every team in the league to have a mental health professional on staff. Players will be required to spend 8-12 hours at the team mental health facility, according to a May 2019 press release. The initiative would also establish a mental health and wellness committee that would develop educational materials for players. While these projects are a great step towards improving the mental health of professional athletes, there is an even greater underlying problem that no press release

or publicized initiative can solve. Luck sat out for the entirety of the 2017 season, nine games in 2015, and multiple games in the rest of his six year career with the Colts. His career list of injuries includes tearing cartilage near two of his ribs, lacerating a kidney, tearing a muscle in his abdomen, tearing his right labrum, chronic calf strains with lingering pain, and multiple concussions. For someone who relies on the wellbeing of his body to continue doing what he loves and what he is paid to do, a string of misfortunes as long as Luck’s would take a hefty toll on their mental health. While most of Luck’s fans and the NFL as a whole can respect the decision of a young star to step away from the game, he has faced explosive and unwarranted backlash from many. Negative reactions ranged from angry social media posts to audible booing from those who formerly called themselves fans. NFL fans must realize that players are people too. Being handed millions of dollars during or directly after college, as well as being placed on one of the largest

public stages, and faced with the pressure that comes with being some of the most physically-gifted humans in the world, NFL players have a lot on their plate. It can create an immense amount of mental strain in young people that puts them at an increased risk of depression, on top of the risk of permanent brain and body damage. Anyone who professes to be a fan of the NFL and its players should embrace early retirements and celebrate the stars for the great years they gave us. Andrew Luck was drafted shortly after the Colts lost legendary Peyton Manning. He carried the team to the playoffs three years in a row immediately after being drafted, passed for more than 23,000 yards, 171 touchdowns, and was awarded the Comeback Player of the Year Award in 2018. Someone who contributed so much to a franchise and the league as a whole should never be booed out of a stadium for making the decision to repair and preserve his mental and physical health. Liam Bredberg is a junior studying political economy and an assistant sports editor.

Anti-Trump journalists put personal passions above facts By | Ryan Young The coordinated attacks on President Trump by the mainstream media have led to the corruption of ethical journalism. In the past four years, the liberal media has done everything in its power to delegitimize and downplay President Trump’s historic first term. The “fake news” era is a cultural byproduct of a disinterest in separating facts from feelings. From the manufactured Russian collusion story that dominated national headlines across the country, to the misquoting of President Trump’s comments about undocumented immigrants, the politically-correct media knowingly misinforms the American people, silences

free speech, and prohibits open discourse. An excellent example is the coverage of President Trump’s tweet about Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md. Trump said the district “is a disgusting, rat and rodent-infested mess,” and called the city “filthy.” After Trump’s tweet, liberal leaders and news pundits labeled President Trump as a racist. Many news channels chose to engage in journalistic dishonesty by paraphrasing and creating headlines that intentionally distorted the truth by omitting “rat and rodent” from Trump’s statement. For days, the liberal media spewed their own political narratives in an attempt to create an emotional stirring and further alienate our president. If those journalists had

actually followed their job description and dug deeper into the facts regarding the city of Baltimore, they could have reported that USA Today ranked Baltimore as the “Most Dangerous Big City” in 2018, and that the city has consistently been ranked one of the top ten most rat-infested cities by Orkin’s yearly report. If these reporters were interested in being bipartisan and objective, they could have reported that when visiting Baltimore in 2015, Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-Vt., compared the district to a third-world country. “Anyone who took the walk that we took around this neighborhood would not think that you are in a wealthy nation,” Sanders said. “You would think that

you were in a third world country.” Sanders wasn’t labeled a racist for comparing the city to a third world country. He wasn’t demonized by the press for weeks after pointing out the facts. The liberal media’s double standard is appalling. Since President Trump’s election, 92% of all stories covering his administration have been negative, according to Media Research Center. Despite negative media coverage of President Trump’s first term, nearly four million jobs have been created and more Americans are employed than ever before. American unemployment is at a 49-year low and the lowest ever in the history of our country for African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans

and Asian-Americans, according to the White House. We, as American people dealing with a dishonest media, have a challenging job before us. We must decipher the truth from the lies, and remove our feelings from the facts. The Society for Professional Journalists said, “Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.” A journalist’s ethical responsibility is to report the facts regardless of the consequences. They are to cover both the accomplishments and downfalls of an administration while refraining from altering the story to fit their own preconceived beliefs or ideas.

Journalism was once admired and esteemed because of its dedication to reporting the truth, and informing the public of both local and national affairs that impact our daily lives. Today, journalism has become a breeding ground for false information and moral outrage. President Trump continues to call attention to the fake news media that daily sacrifice journalistic integrity in order to satisfy their own agendas. It’s time for journalists to do their job and report the facts rooted in truth.

Ryan Young is a freshman studying rhetoric and public address.

Opinions

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September 5, 2019

It’s past time: Baseball’s lessons for politics Freshmen: Take a lesson What an evening at the ballpark can teach about America’s polarized politics

By | Stefan Kleinhenz It was a night dedicated to America’s pastime in downtown San Diego. The only worry that crossed people’s minds was if they’d grab their beers in time to catch the next pitch. But this ballpark experience taught me something that goes well beyond the diamond. If you ask any fan, baseball is more than a game. We rally behind our teams and they lift us up in something that becomes greater than life. There are ups and downs, but the teams always play and the fans always cheer. We’re our biggest fans and our biggest critics, but we always love our team, and no matter what, we respect the game. There is another game, however, that has become America’s hobby. This game doesn’t make us better, it doesn’t bring us together, and it certainly doesn’t enhance our collective experience. This new game consuming the heart of our nation is a game many of us don’t even know we’re playing: it’s the game of tweets, 24/7 news, and never-ending elections. It’s the game of the left, the right, and everything in between. This game has no end, it has no goal, and it most assuredly has no winners. But that Friday night, I had to decide which game I wanted to participate in. Right there behind home plate, I sat next to two men who I can only describe as a manifestation of my old soul, and one quick glance at them was enough to put me at peace. Their charming white hair didn’t age them but revealed how much they’ve learned, and their highlights of gray showed how much more they have before them.

Their smiles weren’t painted on for the jumbo screen, but their radiant expressions were the result of the air of baseball. Their arms were folded over their chests as they slightly slouched in their seats. Their posture said there

Little did I know I was just a seat away from the editor of one of the most prominent left-wing publications in the nation, and little did he know I was an intern for one of the most right-wing television networks in the country. When we accidentally

A first base view at Petco Park in San Diego. | Courtesy of Stefan Kleinhenz

was nowhere else they’d rather be, and their chatter made them kids again. For those sacred nine innings, I joined them on that journey back to our youth — a nostalgia for our own, uniquely individual past, but one where we are united behind the same team. For the short time being, all that mattered was the San Diego Padres. We talked about the players that amaze us, the prospects that give us hope, and the love that keeps us cheering.

stumbled across our twisted paths, we found that not even politics could come between us and baseball. When I told the man who I worked for, he chuckled and said, “I know them, I’ve written a few hit pieces on you”, and we laughed. We laughed at how our associations have guns pointed at one another, but for some odd reason — a reason only baseball can explain — that only made it easier for us to let our guard down. We shared many more laughs, and not the awkward

ones of desperation nor the forced ones of courtesy, but the kind that make you feel at home with a complete stranger; the kind that leaves your heart with the tingling feeling of peace; the kind of laugh that comes more naturally than breathing, but you rarely experience it. We paused our conversation at the occasional knock of a bat, or cheer of the crowd, but went back to where we left off like old friends. The pundits would say our differences hinder our ability to interact, our leaders would say we are obstacles to one another’s success, and our parties would say we are enemies — but baseball said otherwise. The man in Section I, Row 10, Seat 1 showed me not only what it means to be a baseball fan, but also what it means to be an American. In the spirit of the Padres, he showed me who I want to be. The ongoing game that we all tune in to in Washington, D.C. is nothing more than that: a game. It’s a game of division and lies, a game of disappointment and filibuster. But baseball is more than a game. It sparks joy, creates hope, and unites communities, and the only bias of baseball fans is that we carry a little too much love in our hearts. Baseball is America’s pastime, not politics — and it’s about time we go back to the game that makes us a little better. We must decide who we want to be, and that starts with what games we choose to play.

Stefan Kleinhenz is a junior studying rhetoric and public address and is The Collegian’s D.C. Correspondent.

Extradition bill killed, Chinese military oppression continues US, global democracies should back future resistance movements in Hong Kong

By | Matt Fisher Fourteen years ago, my family flew to China to adopt my younger brother. It was a surreal experience, to say the least, even for an 8-year old: The cold absence of liberty and basic freedoms in Beijing was as chilling as a January night in Hillsdale. But one city we visited in China stood out from the rest: Hong Kong. After spending a week on the mainland, where military guards greeted my family with suspicious glances and whispers, and people went about their day with dark clouds hanging over them, I immediately sensed the difference between Hong Kong, a city forged in freedom, and Beijing, a gloomy metropolis cobbled together by an oppressive regime. One source of pride for the people of Hong Kong is the Lion Rock Spirit. Originating from a 1970s television drama, the motto expresses the solidarity and perseverance of Hongkongers. Despite the destruction brought upon the city during World War II and the looming communist giant to their north, the people of Hong Kong endured and transformed their city into a beacon of opportunity and economic growth for all of Asia. In so doing, the Lion Rock Spirit has become a source of cultural identity and pride for the citizens of Hong Kong. On Wednesday morning, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Carrie Lam announced her decision to withdraw the proposed extradition agreement with the People’s Republic of China — a welcomed victory for democracy, and a slap in the face to Chinese President Xi Jingping. For the last 13 weeks, the world watched the Lion Rock Spirit on display in Hong Kong. Pro-democracy protests raged throughout the city against a controversial extradition bill which would have required any person in Hong Kong indicted for a crime in China to be immediately detained and sent back to the mainland to face charges. But assuming this marks the end of Chinese meddling

in Hong Kong would be the height of foolishness. The origins of the extradition debacle in Hong Kong go back several centuries to the Opium Wars between the United Kingdom and China. Both powers eventually reached an agreement on a “one country, two systems policy” that ceded Hong Kong to the Chinese in 1997 while allowing the growing island to remain a free market economy with universal suffrage and human rights. But growing turmoil over the extradition proposal led Chinese authorities to use water cannons against protestors and increase China’s military movements in the region. President Donald Trump’s primary gripe with China is trade, and he is not wrong to highlight this concern. For decades, the Chinese have operated with impunity in regards to stealing intellectual property and dishonest business practices. However, as Trump and Xi squabble back and forth over trade, China has adopted an aggressive new foreign policy. This poses two significant issues for the Trump Administration and entire free world. First, China is already in a standoff with Japan over the South China Sea, where it has gone about the business of creating “artificial islands.” The Chinese military intensified pressure on Taiwan and South Korea in recent years. And now, it is beyond evident that Beijing is determined to slowly drag Hong Kong away from the west and completely into its fold. Second, Hong Kong presents a human rights dilemma for the Trump administration. Some argue the United States bears no moral responsibility or right to interfere in the internal politics of China.

Indeed, it would be one thing if the Hong Kong public supported a closer relationship with Beijing and full integration into the Chinese way of life. However, the opposite is true. A recent survey of Hongkongers conducted by the University of Hong Kong revealed support for China is at its lowest point since the Handover in 1997. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed in Hong Kong identified as Hongkongers, compared to a measly 11% identifying as Chinese. Furthermore, 71% of Hong Kong residents answered “no” when asked whether or not they were proud to be Chinese citizens. The citizens of Hong Kong overwhelmingly disapprove of the proposed extradition deal and Beijing’s efforts to exert authority and control over the island. The developments in Hong Kong are building to a potential watershed moment for the United States. If the United States sits on the sidelines while China gradually swallows up Hong Kong, it will only embolden Beijing in its mission to exert dominance over East Asia and the Pacific. Furthermore, U.S. inaction in the face of potential human rights abuses in Hong Kong would weaken the resolve of our allies such as Japan and South Korea while simultaneously signaling indifference concerning human rights to Beijing and the rest of Asia. The course of action for the United States is clear. The Trump administration must resurrect the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization with Japan, South Korea, and Australia to present a united front against Chinese aggression. At the time of its dissolution in 1977, Southeast Asia Treaty Organization faced

“Just as West Berlin represented the struggle of the free world against the Soviet Union in the 20th century, Hong Kong now stands as a symbol of resistance.”

little to no major geopolitical threat from China. This is no longer the case. Democracies across the globe must confront China’s aggressive activity in the South China Sea and increasingly antagonistic tone with a united front. The United States, and neighbors such as Japan, Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea, should declare any further attempts by China to infringement on Hong Kong’s internal affairs will not be tolerated. A broad military alliance with the United States, Australia, the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea would give that ultimatum credibility and hold Beijing in check. President Trump should aggressively pursue closer trade ties with countries such as South Africa, which possess significant stores of untapped rare earth metals to replace the supply purchased from China. If the U.S. can begin importing its rare earth metals from other sources, it would force Xi to dial back his ambitious foreign policy agenda, turn his attention towards home, and rewrite China’s economic playbook for the next several decades. Many fall into the habit of compartmentalizing international disputes as nothing more than squabbling over lines on a map. Yet when you visit these places, it becomes evident that there is a clear line dividing China and Hong Kong — obvious enough for even an eight year old to comprehend. Just as West Berlin represented the struggle of the free world against the Soviet Union in the 20th century, Hong Kong now stands as a symbol of resistance. The Lion Rock Spirit in Hong Kong is the same spirit the free world must adopt as a new people struggles to preserve their liberty in the face of evil. It is now a matter of whether or not the United States will meet this challenge in Eastern Asia with the same spirit and determination as the protestors in Hong Kong. Matt Fisher is a senior studying politics and a reporter for The Collegian.

from Ronald Reagan By | Isabella Redjai Dear Freshmen:

Here you are. You’ve made it to Hillsdale, and are embarking on one of the most rewarding and most difficult journeys of your life so far. I hope that you find Hillsdale to be everything you’ve wished for and more, and to start off on the right foot, I want to indulge the Ronald-Reagan-fanatics as well as those of you who are weary of the name after hallowing the halls of Hillsdale for several years. He is an example that can continue to inspire us no matter what season of life we are entering into. After recently watching the CNN documentary series “The ‘80s: The Decade That Made Us,” I could not help but juxtapose the legacy of Reagan’s presidency during the 1980s that commentators raved and analyzed with the recent release of a 1971 phone call tape recording with President Nixon. With these distinct reflections, I found Reagan to simultaneously serve as an example of the American spirit and the crisis of humanity. Reagan believed in the strength and greatness of the American people, and the American people believed in his message. He believed America was bruised, not broken, and America could return to the greatness it once boasted when its people learn to trust their fellow man. In his First Inaugural Address on Jan. 20, 1981, Reagan said, “It does require, however, our best effort, and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together, with God’s help, we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us. And, after all, why shouldn’t we believe that? We are Americans.” The tasks laid before us at Hillsdale College are not for the faint-hearted. Rather, they provide us with a mission. We must, as Reagan did, believe in our fellow man and peer, and believe in the strength of our capabilities and spirit when moving through this four-year journey of academic aggression while growing in maturity. We make mistakes while embarking on new adventures, and some of our missteps will and do affect the lives of those around us. Reagan understood in the midst of difficult circumstances the difference between resolution and holding others accountable for their unjust actions, and the times for owning up to his own mistakes. When addressing Americans concerning the Iran-Contra Affair, President Reagan said, “...I want to talk about some of the lessons we have learned. I was stubborn in my pursuit of a policy that went astray. Yet the buck does not stop with Admiral Pointdexter as he stated in his testimony. It stops with me. I am the one who is ultimately accountable to the American people.” Failure is inevitable but the grace with which we recognize our missteps and take accountability will change the trajectory for our future failings, as well as current upheaval. But in the midst of his

triumphs and failures, Reagan found the importance of never taking himself or his critics too seriously. During his 1984 reelection campaign, many Americans were concerned with Reagan’s frailty and age. With class and good humor, during a presidential debate, Reagan was asked if he had the physical capability to work sleepless nights, to which Reagan wittily responded, “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit for political purposes my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” In recent months, the release of 1971 tapes which record Reagan remarking racial slurs to President Nixon have caused concern and controversy. But is it proper to smear an entire lifetime of goodness, faith, and class over a tasteless choice of words? This is not to be cavalier and dismissive. President Reagan would have held himself responsible for these words, as he did with so many actions during his presidency. We all make tasteless comments and lack of discretion with our words. We all fall short. We all have the capability to smear any moment of glory with a past mistake. But these mistakes, although defining a moment and lapse of judgment, does not necessarily define who we are or are becoming. You have failed. And, you will fail, again. There is no excuse for bad behavior and disrespectful language. But there is no excuse to allow failure to hold you back from your full potential - the potential that Reagan believed the American people were capable of maximizing. Reagan was a model of faith in the American spirit and human will. Reagan focused on the positive, even when the circumstances around him were discouraging. Reagan took responsibility and accountability for his shortcomings. And, Reagan understood that life was too short to let criticism keep you from fulfilling your God-given potential. The same can be said for this chapter of life that is college. It is brief. It happens to be the same length as a presidential term. And, it is an inevitable period of victories and failures. Reignite the spirit of the Reagan Revolution in your hearts: Trust in your fellow peer and the spirit of the American youth. Recognize the triumphs among the trials. Take responsibility for your mistakes, because you will make them. And don’t take yourself so seriously. Whether you’ve just arrived to campus or are entering your final year, remember Reagan’s example. Remember his parting words to the American people, as he said, “They called it the Reagan Revolution. Well, I’ll accept that, but for me it always seemed more like the great rediscovery, a rediscovery of our values and our common sense...Once you begin a great movement, there’s no telling when it’ll end.” Isabella Redjai is a junior George Washington Fellow studying political economy and the assistant opinions editor.

The Ronald Reagan statue on Hillsdale College’s Liberty Walk | Courtesy of external affairs

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Hillsdale fugitive arrested by Michigan State Police By | Julia Mullins City News Editor Two weeks after Hillsdale City Police spotted a fugitive attempting to break into a house, Michigan State Police finally arrested the man on Aug. 27 in Jefferson Township. First Lt. Kevin Rod has been with Michigan State Police for 21 years and said the state used its aviation and K-9 units to track Hillsdale resident, 22-year-old Dylan Lee Jones, through a bean field. “Aviation was able to pick him up using some of their internal imaging and helped provide direction for the K-9 unit and responding units to take him into custody,” Rod said. Jones was on parole for three offenses: operating and maintaining a methamphetamine lab, larceny of a firearm, and breaking into and damaging a vehicle. Prior to his arrest in Jefferson Township, between the cities of Hillsdale and Pittsford, Jones broke his parole and gained absconder status on Aug. 1. Shortly after, on Aug. 13, Jones came to the City of Hillsdale in search of money, according to Hillsdale City Police Officer Todd Holtz. Holtz responded to an initial call around 12 p.m. when Jones was spotted in Hillsdale.

Holtz said Jones asked his younger brother to steal money from their mother and meet at Family Video for an exchange. Jones’ brother called 911 and reported Jones’ plan, so Holtz went to Family Video and waited for Jones’ car. While Holtz was waiting, Jones attempted to break into his mother’s house, so Holtz left Family Video and went to the house. “When I arrived at the house, Dylan was trying to force entry into the door,” Holtz said. “And knowing that his little brother was alone in the house, I yelled at Dylan to stop what he was doing. We ended up chasing him for two and a half weeks subsequent to that.” The chase began in a heavily wooded area within the city limits of Hillsdale. Hillsdale Police Chief Scott Hephner said his department, along with the Hillsdale County Sheriff Department and MSP, trapped Jones in a quarter-mile square. Although MSP provided the city with a K-9 unit, the two hours of heavy rain prior to the search created conditions that were not ideal for the dog to pick up a scent. Around 7 p.m., residents on South Wolcott Street observed Jones climbing down from a tree. The Hillsdale City Police and MSP K-9 unit made their way to the area, but Jones fled to a swamp,

and the dog was unable to track him any farther. After two unsuccessful searches in one day, Hephner said he and the other agencies felt frustrated. “Desperation kicks in and it becomes a mission,” he said. Hephner also said that MSP was relentless in pursuing Jones, adding that Hillsdale City Police has a great working relationship with MSP and the other local agencies. “If we need any resources, like the K-9 unit or explosive department, they’re there,” Hephner said. Since his arrest on Aug. 27, Jones is being detained at the Hillsdale County Jail pending a court appearance. He will appear in Hillsdale County’s District Court for his arraignment, followed by a criminal hearing for charges committed in the county. Jones’ girlfriend, Cheyenne Leigh Huntington, was also arrested for allegedly harboring a fugitive, making false police reports, and obstructing justice. After weeks of tracking, Rod said he was most impressed with the persistence of all officers involved in the search and arrest of Jones. “This was a perfect example of all law enforcement agencies working together,” Rod said. “It took all of us with our resources combined to bring this to a successful completion.”

Dyaln Lee Jones will appear in Hillsdale County’s Distrct Court. Collegian | Julia Mullins

Other topics discussed in the Sept. 3 city council meeting William Morrisey proBy | Emily De Long Collegian Freelancer Wallick Communities proposed their plan for rent-controlled apartments for senior citizens on Logan Street, and several residents complained of having not been notified of the potential development. The council voted 5-4 to approve the PILOT for the development, and Councilman

Dawn from A1

During the celebration, Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford spoke followed by Michigan State Sen. Mike Shirkey and Rep. Eric Leutheuser (R-58). Paula Holtz, a member of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Community Assistant Team, presented Stockford with a check of $1.4 million from MEDC. Mary Wolfram, former consultant for the city and Economic Advisor for Tax Increment Finance Authority was heavily involved in the Dawn project. “It’s been a long-time coming,” she said. “It took two and a half years to work through the [MEDC’s] system. The first proposal was a million dollars too high. There were architectural problems. There were so many opportunities for it to fall apart, but everyone hung in there.” The Dawn was bought by TIFA in 2016 in conjunction with the Keefer property for restorations and renovations. Stockford said he hopes the project “will be a catalyst for

posed creating a system for notifying residents about such developments in the future. Police Chief Scott Hephner proposed a “No Parking” Zone for Hillsdale Street on the block between Galloway/Barber Drive and College Street. The council voted unanimously to approve this request.

investment downtown”. TIFA chair Chris Sumnar said he hopes the project “will bring more economic development and prevent urban decay of the district.” Stockford said he remembers 20 or 30 years ago when downtown was vibrant. “You could come down here on a Friday or Saturday night and see a few dozen people walking around. Any given night, you could see young families and kids around here. There’s not much of that anymore, so, hopefully, this will change that,” Stockford said. Leuthauser’s first memory of the Dawn was watching a movie there when he was a small child. He went to watch a double-feature on Halloween: a Don Knotts comedy, and “Black Zoo,” which filled the theatre with crying children. The Dawn will be used as an event space for the Keefer Hotel, and it will be available for community events and for rentals.

Silos Fun Park on North Carleton Road. Collegian | Julia Mullins

Cottage Inn Pizza expanding Purchases Silo Fun Park on North Carleton Road By | Calli Townsend Assistant Editor

Hillsdale’s Cottage Inn Pizza, owned by Brad and Donna Olmstead, has outgrown its current location. This summer, the couple decided it was time to expand. “We’re renting here, so there’s no place to add on another building,” Donna Olmstead said. “The Lord said to us that we needed to look at the silos. I thought, ‘Oh boy, I don’t know if we can do all of this.’” Once the two visited Silos Fun Park on North Carleton Road, they caught a glimpse of what they could make of the property Donna Olmstead said. “We really have this vision for the family, and what we could really use in Hillsdale is something family-oriented,” she said. “We’re going to build a new building for a restaurant that’s separate with tables we can move for parties, and we’ll have another part for an informal dining room if you don’t want to be around the party.” This extra space will allow Cottage Inn to host gatherings more comfortably. Cottage Inn employee Tyler Shiling said this is what he’s most excited about. “It’ll help with our limited

spacing and we’ll get a new kitchen which will be nice,” he said. In addition to more space and a new kitchen, Cottage Inn will be able to upgrade the arcade-style games in its current location. The new building will be connected to the already existing building that was once an arcade. “We’ll have a full-time arcade that runs the same hours as the pizzeria,” Donna Olmstead said. “But first I had to make sure that I could find an arcade company that could come in because it’s two floors.” As for the bumper cars, go-karts, mini golf, and driving range that were at Silos Fun Park, Donna Olmstead said they’re all in great shape. The Cottage Inn will keep them available for even more months out of the year than before, as Donna Olmstead said she plans on keeping the park open after Labor Day –– weather permitting. Cottage Inn will remain open at its current location on West Carleton Road during the construction of Silos Fun Park. Donna Olmstead said that in addition to the reopening of Silos Fun Park, she’s excited about the opportunities for fundraising and community events.

“We can do more fundraising now. We usually give a portion of the sales for all day, whether it be 10 or 15 percent, but now it’ll be a greater opportunity,” she said. “And we can host team-building events.” Senior vice president of Hillsdale College’s Chi Omega, Caylee McComb, said she thinks the Silos Fun Park could be a great opportunity for Hillsdale’s many groups to get involved with. “Chi O is always looking for fun places to host our social events, especially places that are close to campus,” she said. “It could be a really fun space to utilize. The location also seems to be right up SAB’s ally, so I won’t be surprised if we have campus events there in the future.” The Olmsteads are already looking for new ways to improve their upcoming project. “This brings a lot of options for Hillsdale and the surrounding areas,” Donna Olmstead said. “Now you can stay in town. And we’re constantly looking for new things to put there. Maybe by spring 2020 we won’t have a new attraction, but hopefully the following year we’ll keep it fresh so you don’t just come once a year, but maybe once a week to see what’s new.”

City Council votes against tax plan for proposed apartments By | Emily De Long Collegian Freelancer The Hillsdale City Council voted Tuesday to deny a special tax advantage to the proposed rent-controlled Wells Apartments. The 7-2 vote opposed a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for Spire Development’s plan. In a previous public meeting, Tom Grywalski, the co-founder and principal of Spire Development and Spire Consulting, said the PILOT is one part of the developer’s application process to receive project approval from Michigan State Housing Development Authority. The PILOT is a way of calculating real estate taxes by tying the property taxes Spire pays to the amount of revenue the property brings in. Without the city council’s approval of the PILOT, Spire Development is not eligible to apply for project approval from MSHDA. During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s council meeting, nearly 20 residents vocally expressed their disapproval of the proposal. Many argued that the apartment building would attract those who merely need a place to stay and would erode the values of “tradition and family” in Hillsdale. Resident Louise Worms was the first to criticize the project. “I am very, very

concerned about the Wells Apartment buildings,” she said. “I am totally and completely opposed. I don’t think we need another apartment building.” Kelly Franklin, a resident and assistant professor of English at Hillsdale College, attended the meeting and discussed concerns he had with the project. “It doesn’t seem fair to let an apartment complex that has substantial government subsidies enter into competition with the local apartment market,” Franklin said. “I think that’s kind of an unfair advantage.”

be rent-controlled housing for middle-income families. He also said the development would attract new residents and increase business. “If we turn it down, how many more developers are coming to Hillsdale? The fact is, we have less population today than we had in 1990. This town is not growing, its shrinking,” Jansen said. “We have people who want to build business, who want to build industry. What do we have to offer them?” Councilman Tony Vear and Councilwoman Cynthia Pratt were the only two who voted to approve the PILOT. They

Franklin and his wife are currently renovating their century-old home on Norwood Avenue, which is near Spire’s proposed building site. “We are painstakingly scraping and painting it,” he said. “That’s the kind of ownership I’d like to see more of in our neighborhoods and not focus on apartment complexes.” Only one resident who spoke in support of the project during public comment. Resident Ted Jansen clarified that the Wells Apartments would not be subsidized housing, rather the complex would

are the newest members of the Hillsdale City Council, both of which were elected during August’s special election. Before voting on the Wells Apartment Ordinance, Vear offered several reasons why the project should be approved. He said the current state of the houses on North West Street is undesirable, despite residents’ disapproval of the project. Vear said he did not think anyone had come up with a sufficient solution to rival the Wells Apartments. Vear added that out of the four houses on West Street

“I am happy that the council was wanting to listen to its constituents,” Naumann said.

which would be torn down for the new building, two have been abandoned for 45 years, and one was involved in a meth fire. Vear also pointed out that revenue brought in by the development could be put toward infrastructure improvements such as roads. Councilman Matt Bellpointed out that people were able to find affordable housing for years before MSHDA existed. He also noted that the residents of Hillsdale have said they would rather keep the abandoned houses on North West Street than have Wells Apartments built in their place. Following the vote, Stephen Naumann, a resident of North West Street and assistant professor of German at Hillsdale College, said he was pleased with the vote. “I am happy that the council was wanting to listen to its constituents, and they heard a pretty resounding, unified opposition to the apartment complex on West Street from a lot of different angles, from people in different parts of town, a lot of walks of life,” Naumann said. “That was pretty neat to be a part of filibustering, which isn’t often the case. It gives you faith in the officials to have a good sense of mind or to listen, and I think a lot of them did in the last few weeks.”

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Ramshackle Brewing: ‘a community meeting place’ By | Abby Liebing Associate Editor

With a dry-erase bartop, tables that used to be windows, and paintings from local artists on the walls, the new Ramshackle Brewing Company in Jonesville that opened July 17, has a colorful atmosphere that pairs well with its craft beer. Though new to owning a brewery, co-owners Jessy Bigelow, Zack Bigelow, and Joe Kesselring have been homebrewing together for years. Zack Bigelow and Kesselring’s first beer was “10-10-10,” brewed Oct. 10, 2010. After that, Zack Bigelow and Kesselring brewed together every Sunday. And every year when the weather got warm they would brew lots of beer and have big summer beer parties. Their friends and family enjoyed the beer, and the two got their first inclination to turn it into a bigger operation when a neighbor asked

if he could buy a case of the homebrew. “No you can’t because that is bootlegging,” Zack Bigelow said. But in 2014, they finally decided to approach the Michigan Brewers Professional Alliance for assistance and to see if it would be feasible to start a brewery of their own. “We knew how to make the beer, we didn’t know everything else. And we wanted to succeed at it,” Zack Bigelow said. The Brewers Professional Alliance, which only takes on five clients at a time, took Zack Bigelow and Kesselring on as clients. The two then began the process of getting funding and investment in order to open the brewery. The Michigan Investing Locally Exemption Act which was approved in 2014, allowed Zack Bigelow and Kesselring to raise money through equity-based crowdfunding. Along with the crowdfunding,

Road construction projects: ‘completion to happen this fall’

By | Elizabeth Bachmann Assistant Editor

Sometimes it seems that Hillsdale’s roads are forever haunted by the ghosts of unavoidable ditches, detour signs, and the whining of heavy machinery. According to Jake Hammel, director of public services for the city, residents and students can expect even more road construction in the upcoming months. But after this fall, he promises a long break for the city — at least where roads are concerned. Hamel said there are currently two projects in progress, and one more will begin in September. “I will assure completion to happen this fall,” Hammel said. “In some way, shape, or form, I will make it happen.” Hammel listed contractor scheduling issues, unfavorable weather, lack of manpower, and paperwork delays as some of the reasons that the construction is behind schedule and will continue into the fall. All of the road work that is currently in progress around campus on College and Hillsdale streets is part of the Street Preservation Project of 2019. “They’re not thinking about the students,” Hillsdale College junior Michaela Frohnen said of the news. “Construction seems to be going on all the time around here. We are living in a construction site basically, and it isn’t very nice.” The Street Preservation Project, which began Aug. 27, is a two-step process of laying new stones and then sealing them to the existing road. It is much cheaper than complete reconstruction, costing $30,000 per mile instead of $2.5 million, and should last up to six years. The project began the day before classes at the college started, halting traffic on major campus roads until Aug. 30. “I thought it was kind of silly,” Hillsdale College senior Alyssa Viola said of the timing. “I appreciate that

they are addressing it, because the roads definitely needed to be updated, but it almost felt comical that they went for it at that time.” Hammel defended the construction dates, explaining that Hillsdale, an industrialized island in a sea of coffield for miles around, doesn’t exactly entice contractors to leave big cities where they have lots of opportunity to work. “I am sure everyone is mad because they think we should have done it before school,” Hammel said. “But there is a contractor who has millions of dollars worth of equipment, and unfortunately you have to conform with their schedule. I did everything within my power humanly possible to do this before school, but ultimately these are just business decisions.” Last Friday did not mark the end of construction on campus roads. Crews will return this month to seal Hillsdale and College streets. Then, Sept. 15, crews are scheduled to begin another project to refurbish Galloway Drive, beginning at its junction with Hillsdale Street and continuing to the city limits. The astute observer, however, will have noticed the ditch on Hillsdale Street between the college and Carleton Road that seemed to grow slowly over the course of the past few months. Though it is on Hillsdale Street, Hammel said that it is not actually part of the Hillsdale Street reconstruction project and therefore is not slated for completion until the end of the semester. Instead, it is part of the Infrastructure Capacity Enhancement project, which began May of 2018, and which calls for a complete reconstruction of Garden, Vine, and Ripon streets, including new pipes, curves, sewer mains, and water mains. This project, which will repair the ditch and mark the end of Hillsdale road work for the next few years, will be completed this fall and cost the city a total of $2.5 million.

they sold 47% of the company to 19 local investors which made it possible for them to open the brewery and make it a comfortable place for the community to relax. “We wanted this to be a community meeting place,” Zack Bigelow said. Even in their keg distribution to bars and restaurants, they only distribute within about a 30 minute radius because they want to keep everything community-based. “Another goal of ours is to make sure that one of the three of us is here at least a couple days a week at minimum so that we can get to know our customers,” Jessy Bigelow said. Since the community has invested in them, the owners have found ways to give back to the community. With “Pints for a Purpose,” customers get to suggest a charity every month in the community for partial proceeds to go towards. Most recently,

customers suggested Ramshackle donate to Hillsdale County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates –– a network that trains and supports citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom and community. “We want to be the community brewery. We got to stand by what we do. And if we can help somebody else, awesome,” Zack Bigelow said. The brewery also has what they call “Beer it Forward,” where customers can prepay for another person’s beer. The prepaid beer can be for someone specific or for a random customer. The Bigelows and Kesselring are trying to create a comfortable atmosphere where customers are not daunted by craft beer. “There is nothing worse when you go into a brewery and they make it so intimidating,” Zack Bigelow said. The Ramshackle Brewing

Péwé said. While the surrounding parcels are already tax-exempt, Péwé said the city decided to place part of one parcel where the new dormitory was built on the tax roll. Hillsdale College’s finance department has already asked to have the property removed from the tax rolls because it’s being used “for college purposes.” Péwé added that the college has a good working relationship with the city, which is responsible for deciding if a property should receive tax exemption. Another factor contributing to the college’s increased tax roll may be the cost of property assessments. Péwé said the college pays for all of its own property assessments because it does not accept the city’s taxpayer dollars. “People don’t always realize

was popular in the Ohio River Valley before it was forgotten during the Prohibition. “We kind of specialize in reading a lot of history and seeing what they were drinking back then, because it wasn’t water, and we would start building a recipe based on location,” Zack Bigelow said. And if customers are unsure what style of beer they want to try, there is the “beer wheel” for them spin and leave their decision to chance. So far, the Ramshackle Brewing Company has had almost a full house every night as the word gets out to locals and beer tourists. The Bigelow’s and Kesselring are happy to see the enthusiasm. “We just want people to like craft beer,” Jessy Bigelow.

The Keefer Hotel in downtown Hillsdale. Collegian | Julia Mullins

Hillsdale certified as ‘Redevelopment Ready Community’ by state of Michigan By | Joshua Newhook Collegian Freelancer After four years of improvements, the state of Michigan recognized the City of Hillsdale for its efforts to make the community a better place to live and work. Last month, Hillsdale received a certification as being a Redevelopment Ready Community by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Since it began working with MEDC, Hillsdale’s commitment to economic improvement has come to fruition as it joins 33 other communities in the state to receive this honor. The formal presentation of the award took place on Aug. 23 at Rough Draft. Hillsdale City Zoning Administrator Alan Beeker said he felt “relief ” during the event. “It was just thrilling to know that all of the time and all of the resources that had

been dedicated to it had come to meet the goal.” When the city first began working with MEDC in 2015, its baseline report revealed that Hillsdale only met 30% of the state’s standards for a community to be considered “ready for redevelopment.” From website updates to planning commission reviews, the initial steps took careful planning. One of the more significant early improvements included updating the zoning ordinances, which had not been fully reviewed since the mid-’70s. “MEDC’s assistance gave the city the expertise and the manpower to look at it and determined what needed to be addressed,” Beeker noted. “That pointed me in the direction I needed to move to make the amendments to get it approved by a council.” Since then, Hillsdale has continued making progress through the financial assis-

tance of MEDC. The majority of renovations on the Dawn Theater is being funded by MEDC through a $1.415 million grant. The Keefer Hotel, the 19th-century historic landmark which hopes to open its doors by the end of next year, has also been aided by MEDC. This streamlining of development has greatly increased the attractiveness of the city to outside businesses and families. “We are investing in the future by preserving the past,” Mayor Adam Stockford said. “That’s why we’re a part of this program.” Director of Redevelopment Ready Communities at MEDC Michelle Parkkonen said Hillsdale’s diligent work over the past four and a half years helped it meet MEDC’s “Redevelopment Ready Community’s Best Practice Criteria.” “Hillsdale basically selected themselves,” Parkkonen said.

Despite improvements made by the redevelopment initiatives, the city has more work in its future. “The certification continues to give us sources through MEDC to help with the development of vacant and blighted property within the city,” Beeker said. The restoration of the 23 and 25 N. Broad St., the dilapidated corner block next to St. Anthony Catholic Church downtown, will be the city’s first project that MEDC will aid after the certification. As for the future of the community, Beeker’s outlook is certainly positive. “I see a lot more activity downtown and more evening activity,” Beeker said. “I see a revived city as a whole, but focusing on the historic downtown, which is what the RRC program is all about — bringing the people back into these cities.”

that we do pay taxes for assessments,” Péwé said. In addition to the taxable parcel and property assessments, Hillsdale City Assessor Kimberly Thomas said the state is presenting tax information more accurately this year. “In the past, I believe what they did is they based the top taxpayers on just taxable value,” Thomas said. “Where now, we are running it out of the tax program to tell us which ones are actually paying the most taxes. Because some properties qualify for a partial exemption based on the type of property it is, they don’t always match 100 percent.” Although property values for the city increased in the past few years, Hillsdale City Manager David Mackie said the taxable values are still recovering from the 2008 financial crisis.

“Our taxable values dropped substantially in the city,” Mackie said. “And when the assessor does their annual evaluation, we are limited by how much properties can increase.” Mackie said taxable values can drop at any rate, but the values can only increase either by the rate of inflation or by a maximum of 5% — whichever is less. This year, Thomas said taxable values increased by 2.1% across the state. As a result of this limitation, Mackie said he doesn’t expect the taxable values to reach their 2008 levels until 2029. “We’ve got another 10 years before our general fund recovers based on that legislation, which slows down the rate that taxes can be increased,” Mackie said.

By | Meg Patrick Collegian Freelancer The starting date for construction on the century-old Keefer Hotel has been pushed back indefinitely. Alan Beeker, zoning administrator for the City of Hillsdale, said C.L. Real Estate was hoping to start construction soon, but developmental problems slowed the construction down. “Some of the funding pieces are taking longer than anybody anticipated,” Beeker said. Nathan Watson, general manager for C.L. Real Estate LLC, said the developer is in the process of finalizing the design. “We are about 60 percent through construction documents, so we have 40 percent more to go,” Watson said. “And we are working on our

construction costs.” Watson added that C.L. Real Estate is hoping to start construction in early 2020, and the construction process should take 12 to 15 months. Renovations of the Keefer Hotel aim to enrich the community and encourage visitors to experience the beauty of Hillsdale through one of the city’s historic buildings. Brant Cohen, ’18, an associate for C.L. Real Estate LLC, said he is confident that the renovated hotel will provide an “opportunity for the city.” “The impact will be dramatic and transformative in bolstering Hillsdale’s community,” Cohen said. “We believe that the Dawn and the Keefer projects will be catalysts for additional investment in our downtown,” Tax Increment Finance Authority Chair Chris Sumnar said.

Hillsdale College is city’s largest taxpayer By | Julia Mullins City News Editor Despite not accepting any federal funding, Hillsdale College will be the city’s largest taxpayer this fiscal year for the first time ever. The current tax roll shows the college paying $101,250.40 in taxes to the city. Hillsdale College Chief Administrative Officer Richard Péwé said the increase was a result of the parcels used for the construction of the new women’s dormitory on Union Street. Prior to construction, the college removed a house which was on part of one parcel and built the dorm on a portion of that parcel and part of another. “I think what the city did, is they used that little parcel the house was sitting on, and made everything taxable,”

Company wants people of the community to be able to relax and enjoy a beer at their venue. “Nine times out of ten if someone is uncomfortable they aren’t going to come back, no matter how good your beer is,” Kesselring said. The brewspot is pet-friendly and allows customers to bring their own food and board games. Or if there is a wait at a restaurant nearby, customers can grab a beer at the Ramshackle Brewery while they wait. “And you won’t see a TV in here ever because conversation is what you need to have,” Zack Bigelow added. Along with a comfortable, community-centered atmosphere, the Bigelows and Kesselring’s beers set them apart. For inspiration and recipes, these brewers look to the history books. For example, the No. 1 seller is the “Pushmower,” a Kentucky common-style ale that

Keefer construction delayed

SPORTS

A8 September 5, 2019

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Follow @HDaleSports for live updates and news SUPER BOWL 54 PREDICTIONS The National Football League's 100th season begins tonight as the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers. Check out who Hillsdale College students think will match up in Super Bowl LIV on February 2, 2020: JUNIOR LIAM BREDBERG

Rams def. Chiefs SENIOR NATHAN GRIME

Packers def. Chiefs JUNIOR REGAN MEYER

Patriots def. Seahawks JUNIOR JULIA MULLINS

Browns def. Bears JUNIOR ALLISON SCHUSTER

"What sport is this?" JUNIOR STEFAN KLEINHENZ

Chiefs def. Rams JUNIOR CARMEL KOOKOGEY

Steelers def. Eagles SENIOR ALEX NESTER

"Tim Tebow doesn't play does he?" Lindsay Peirce played tennis while she attended Hillsdale, and after receiving a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, she's returned to Hillsdale as Director of Recreational Sports and Student-Athlete Wellness. victoria marshall | collegian

Peirce hired as Director of Student-Athlete Wellness

2016 graduate to also direct recreational sports By | Victoria Marshall assistant editor Hillsdale alumna Lindsay Peirce ’16 has returned to the college to take on the newly created role of Director of Recreational Sports and Student-Athlete Wellness. As a student, Peirce played tennis from 20122015. She holds the record for most singles won in a career with 42, cementing her status as one of the most successful athletes in recent history for Chargers’ tennis. After graduating from Hillsdale, Peirce completed a three-year master’s program at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, earning her Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology in July. Hillsdale administration initially wanted to hire Peirce to replace Brad Kocher as Director of Recreational Sports, but the role evolved as soon as staff considered her credentials and saw an increased need for mental health services on campus. “When she was first looked at as a candidate, several departments saw it as an opportunity for her to be in the athletic department and

fulfill some of the needs that are there with Brad Kocher leaving and what not,” said Director of Health and Wellness Brock Lutz. “But it was also an opportunity to expand the scope of that position beyond recreational sports and to have a person who could focus on athlete wellness and mental health wellness.” As Director of Recreational Sports, Peirce will supervise and direct the college’s recreational sports and intramural leagues. She will also oversee the campus’s club sports. In her role as Director of Student-Athlete Wellness, Peirce will offer counseling services in the Health and Wellness Center, as well as be a resource for student athletes in the athletic department. She plans to begin mental health initiatives with student athletes, as well as provide mental health information to coaches and staff. As a former Charger, Peirce said she would have benefited from her role if it had existed when she was an athlete. “I sought out services from the health center while I was here,” Peirce said. “But having someone like me

sitting in this office or one of these offices — I definitely would’ve utilized that as just another extra positive support and place to go. And while it’s obviously super important to grow the relationships between the athletes and coaches, it’s sometimes also important and necessary to have somebody outside of the team to go to about teammate struggles and issues with coaches. So, just having somebody kind of one-step removed from that can be really helpful.” Peirce’s office is located in the sports complex where she will be available to students who seek her services. “There’s no limit as to how this position can benefit our students,” Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations and Event Management Brad Monastiere said in an email. “The issue of mental health and wellness looms large in greater society as well as within our small campus, and the responsible thing for our department to do is to have qualified, caring people in place to let our students know there’s a place they can go to seek that crucial support they need.” According to Lutz, Peirce will easily relate to student

athletes given her history of playing for the tennis team. “Nikki Walbright, the head women’s tennis coach, was able to look at her and say this girl was a team captain, she’s a leader — people respect her. You want that in a person too because I think to work with athletes they’ve got to be able to respect you and know that you’ve been in their world some,” Lutz said. “So to me, I think that’s what stuck out. And you meet her, and she’s someone who’s personable and connects with people which the importance of that can’t be underestimated.” Peirce plans to build and maintain relationships with students and athletes in her first year as Director of Recreational Sports and Student-Athlete Wellness. “I think my background of being a student athlete here will give a lot to creating those connections with the students and student athletes,” Peirce said. “Just supporting and reminding them that we are here to help, and encouraging and reminding them that it is ok and a strength to ask for help and to seek out support.”

Rule changes coming to men's basketball in 2020-2021 season By | Calli Townsend assistant editor The NCAA is changing the way collegiate basketball is played. These changes will take place in this year’s 2019-20 season for Division I, but Divisions II and III are holding off until the 2020-21 season. The Hillsdale College Chargers, however, have already begun to prepare. One of the two major changes to come is the extension of the 3-point line from 20 feet, 9 inches to 22 feet, 1 3/4 inches. Head men’s basketball coach John Tharp said he thinks this will be a good change to the game. “It won’t affect the top 3-point shooters,” he said. “It’ll actually help us because more spacing will create

more opportunities to drive that we can take advantage of.” The extension of the 3-point line will also create a more universal game across the globe, as the NBA and Eurpoean leagues use this same mark. “On some of our trips overseas, it didn’t affect our guys as much as it helped them,” Tharp said. This new line won’t be much of a surprise the the Chargers. This summer Tharp worked with the athletic department to start preparations. “We talked about the court changes and put the lines on the middle court and practice court so we’ll be ready to practice on them this spring when our season’s over,” Tharp said. “We didn’t

put them on the game court quite yet.” Sophomore Peter Kalthoff said the spacing created by the new rule should benefit the Chargers’ offense. “The new 3-point line quite possibly could allow for greater spacing on the floor which might help our offense flow, however, every other team will have that similar opportunity,” he said. Another major change to the game is the way the shot clock is run. Previously, once the offense has shot the ball, missed, and grabbed the rebound off the rim, the clock reset to 30 seconds. Now, teams will have 30 seconds on their first offensive play, but once they shoot and miss, it will only reset to 20 seconds. This is something else

that won’t be unfamiliar to the Chargers, as Tharp said he’s prepared them for situations like this in the past. “When the ball comes off the rim, it’s important to attack the defense, whether it’s going right back up with it or kicking it out to the 3-point line,” Tharp said. It’ll take some getting used to, so we’ll start practicing that right away.” The Chargers still have one more season to play and prepare for these upcoming changes. Kalthoff said he’s looking forward to new opportunities. “We might have to overcome a slight change first,” he said, “but we do say strength rejoices in the challenge here so we’ll see what happens and plan to make the best out of it.”

JUNIOR CAL ABBO

Lions user lurk Patriots SOPHOMORE WILL SMITH

Lions def. Patriots JUNIOR BENJAMIN JAGODA

Cardinals def. Texans SENIOR NOLAN RYAN

"Who's playing the Super Bowl?" JUNIOR GABRIEL KRAMER

Saints def. Colts SENIOR ETHAN VISSER

Lions def. Patriots JUNIOR JEREMIAH O'BRIEN

Lions def. Patriots JUNIOR ELIZABETH BACHMANN

"It hasn't started yet?" SOPHOMORE HARVEY PETERS

Lions def. Broncos JUNIOR LOGAN PENTECOST

Colts def. Rams JUNIOR DANIELLE LEE

Chargers def. Rams JUNIOR EMMA CUMMINS

Cowboys def. Dolphins SENIOR BRIAN FREIMUTH

"Raiders in seven." JUNIOR RYAN GOFF

Patriots def. Rams JUNIOR EMMA NOVERR

Broncos def. Bears SENIOR JACK DUFFY

"I can't imagine caring about that." JUNIOR REBECCA JOYCE

Redskins def. Titans JUNIOR ISABELLA REDJAI

Raiders def. 49ers SENIOR TIMOTHY RUNSTADLER

Lions def. Patriots JUNIOR HENRY EISING

Lions def. Patriots JUNIOR BENJAMIN WEIDE

Lions def. Patriots SCOTT LOWERY

"The Hillsdale College Chargers."

Sports

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 5, 2019 A9

The men's and women's cross country teams pose for a photo during their cross country camp this summer at Rockwell Lake Lodge. r.p. white | courtesy

Chargers to begin year at Calvin College By | Calli Townsend assistant editor The Hillsdale College Chargers are ready to put their summer miles into action this Saturday as they compete in their season-opener race. Calvin College is hosting the Knight Invitational, a new meet on the schedule, as Hillsdale typically begins its season at the Spartan Invitational at Michigan State University. The Chargers will also be starting their season a week later than last year. “I think it’ll be good. I like that we’re starting later because it gives us a little more time to train in the summer,” junior Christina Sawyer said. “All but one of our meets this year are at new courses.” The Chargers only graduated one senior, Ally Eads, last year and are bringing

in three freshmen: Meg Scheske, Natalie Martinson, Gynee Riley. Scheske was a three-time Michigan DII All-State runner during her high school career. Junior Maryssa Depies and senior Arena Lewis are returning to the squad as First-Team All-Conference runners, and Sawyer is coming back as a Second-Team All-Conference award winner. Not to mention juniors Lauren Peterson and Megan Poole, who are expected to continue to improve upon their outstanding breakout seasons from last year. Sophomore Sophia Maeda said she’s feeling confident about this season. After battling a series of injuries and illnesses last year, she had a great summer of training and is looking forward to being fast and healthy. “Cross camp was wonderful. We’re gonna have a good

team this year,” she said. “We have a lot of depth. Maryssa’s going to be a beast, Arena’s coming off a couple injuries but she’ll be great. It’s gonna be a good year.” Head coach Andrew Towne said he’s excited to get the season underway. “We had a really good camp. We have some really good returning experience and really talented newcomers,” he said. In the 2019 Preseason G-MAC Coaches poll, Hillsdale is expected to repeat as runner-up to Walsh University in the conference. The Chargers placed second to Walsh at the conference meet in 2018, but then beat the Cavaliers at the regional meet en route to qualifying for the NCAA DII Championship as a team for the sixth consecutive year.

By | Calli Townsend assistant editor The key to the Hillsdale College Chargers’ 2019 cross country season will be the depth of their roster of runners. Hillsdale is bringing in four new freshmen this season, along with the return of senior standout Joey Humes, and his junior teammates Mark Miller and Jack Shelley. Senior Alex Oquist will also be expected to play a bigger role after enjoying a solid 2019 outdoor track season. “I think at the front we’re really good and the key, like in any cross season, will be how runners three through seven fit in,” head coach Andrew Towne said. “We’ve got some really experienced older guys who are passionate about being their best and some younger guys who

can mix in, but I think three through seven are all really capable of helping us.” This Saturday the Chargers have a chance to showcase their talent and depth as they compete at the Knight Invitational hosted by Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. The men’s race begins at 10:45 a.m. Humes said he’s looking forward to this Saturday’s race, as it’s on a new course. In the past the Chargers usually began their season at Michigan State University’s Spartan Invitational, which is a tough race on a golf course with limited shade and plenty of hills. “I looked at the results from there last year and it looks like it’ll be a faster course,” Humes said. “We’ve put in some good work this summer and it’ll be a good opportunity to showcase what we’ve been doing. I’m

really happy that it’s not Michigan State either.” Miller echoed Humes, saying he’s hoping to see their hard work pay off. “I’m excited to see how I will do. I’ve had a good block of training so far so I hope it goes well,” he said. “I think everyone else has too, from what I’ve seen, so I hope they do well too.” The Chargers were picked to place fourth at the conference meet in the 2019 Preseason G-MAC Coaches poll. Hillsdale finished fourth last year, with Malone University taking first. This year Walsh University is picked to win, with Malone in second and Cedarville University in third. But none of that matters to Miller. “They’re wrong,” Miller said. “One, two, and three, we’re coming for you.”

charger chatter: Alec Foos AF: Definitely time management as far as the academic side of it, because once football season rolls around our time is so limited. You only get maybe an hour or two a night before you have to go to bed and make sure you are rested up for that next day. As far as the academic part of it, just manage your time and get help. Don’t be afraid to get help. That was the big thing I struggled with. I always thought that I could do it, but coming here showed me that I need to ask the teacher for help and go to office hours.

Sophomore wide receiver Alec Foos hillsdale college athletic department

Q: How'd you come to love football? AF: I’ve been playing football my whole life. I’m the youngest of four brothers so anytime we were out in the backyard we were always playing football. It’s something I’ve grown up with and it carried on. I had the opportunity to play in college so I couldn’t turn that down. Q: Who’s been the most impactful role model in your life? AF: My oldest brother. He’s a little older than me and was my offensive coordinator in high school, so we got really close doing that and he helped shape me not only into a football player but also who I was off the field. I remember growing up and watching him play football and that was a big thing because I wanted to be like my older brother. He’s hardworking. In whatever he does, he’s going to do it to the best of his ability. Q: What advice do you have for freshmen from your unique perspective as an upperclassman football player who deals with a busy schedule?

Q: Have you made any adjustments to your diet or routine over the summer to improve in your role as a wide receiver? AF: Definitely. The biggest thing for me has been my diet. I’m trying to eat clean and make sure I’m eating my vegetables and getting good proteins. That’s probably the biggest change, going from ‘Okay, I’m going to play college football’ to ‘I want to make a big impact.’ You have to do little things like that. Q: What's your go-to meal? AF: Chicken and rice. Just some classic chicken and rice and some spinach. Q: What’s a unique workout or activity that you do to both physically and mentally prepare for a game? AF: Pregame, I like to be myself. Whether I'm sitting in the locker or if I’m out on the field pacing around. I turn on some music and hang out in my own world for a little bit. I try to build myself up. Once the headphones come off and the helmet goes on I'm ready to play. Q: What music are you listening to?

AF: I listen to a little bit of everything. I listen to some rock, some rap, maybe a little bit of pop, just a little bit of everything. Q: How does the locker room conversations and huddles on the field differ from your previous experiences as a high school football player? AF: It’s different because when you get to college, everyone that is playing truly loves the game whereas in high school you field the team and those guys play but some of those guys may love baseball more than they love football, whereas when you walk into the locker here or out on the field you know that all the rest of the guys on your team they love football. That’s their passion and they’ve dedicated their lives to football and that’s why they’re here. Q: Does faith play a role in your interactions with teammates and coaches? AF: Absolutely. I think faith is a big part of our team and I think that’s so cool. We have Bible study on Thursday nights and coach does a Bible study in his office on Friday mornings. Thursdays and game weeks, Dr. Jennings comes in and does a pregame chapel and all that kind of stuff, so it definitely plays a big role with our team. Q: What’s your dream career and how is football helping to make it a reality? AF: My family runs funeral homes so I plan on going home and working on that with two of my brothers who do it and my dad does it as well. It is a tough line of work and you have to be ready for anything especially on that job. It’s the same principles with football: working hard, being timely, caring for one another just like the whole team aspect. As weird as it sounds, it correlates with working at a funeral home.

Q: What have you learned through football that has helped you to succeed outside the game? AF: In football, it’s the game where you’re going to get knocked down and you’re going to get put on your back, but you can't stay there. You have to get up. You have to go on to the next play. It’s the same thing with life. There are times in your life where things aren't going well and you're getting your butt kicked but you have to move on and work through it. Q: What is the funniest memory you have from last season with the team? AF: I’d have to say when we played at the University of Indianapolis last year. We had a tight end who was a senior, his name was John Brennan. Konnor (K.J.) Maloney and I were out on the field and they had just thrown a flag and it was on John. The refs were talking and we were standing close enough where we could hear them and they said, “We’re going to call an OPI on 35,” which is offensive pass interference. So K.J. and I are looking at each other and say “You know that sucks” and JB thought they called him for a poke in the eye and so he is freaking out on the field and talking to K.J. and I and he was like, “Aw they are calling me for a poke in the eye. I didn't even think that was an official penalty,” and we were like, “No John they’re calling you for an OPI,” and we were all laughing.

---compiled by Ryan Young

Charger A10 September 5, 2019

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Football

Hillsdale faces early test against non-conference Michigan Tech By | S. Nathaniel Grime sports editor

Lindsay Mertz sets the ball for Veronica O'Connor during a game last season. liam bredberg | collegian

Volleyball

Chargers travel to Florida for season-opening tournament By | Liam Bredberg assistant editor

| lakeland, fl Hillsdale (0-0) vs. #5 Concordia-St. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

After going undefeated in the G-MAC for a second year in a row, the Hillsdsale College Chargers hope to three-peat and build upon their success, this time aiming for a longer run in the NCAA Division II Tournament. Joining the team this season are incoming freshmen Madeline Zenas, Audrey Riley, Emily Susitko, Megan Kolp, and and Linnea Larson. This class will join a team on the heels of greatness, striving toward its third consecutive conference championship and a longer run in the playoffs.. Battling to make a statement and become role players after a transition from high school to college athletics, freshman athletes face daily challenges both on and off the court. With rigorous course loads and other requirements attached to being a Hillsdale College student, the young players

7:00 P.M. Hillsdale (0-0) at Florida Southern (0-0) FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

| lakeland, fl

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

| lakeland, fl

1:15 P.M.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7

| lakeland, fl

5:15 P.M.

Hillsdale (0-0) vs. #17 Central Missouri (0-0) Hillsdale (0-0) vs. Indiana (pa.) (0-0) will have a busy schedule in the early days of their athletic and academic careers. “I hope to perform successfully both on and off the court this semester,” said Zenas. “I understand that school work is a big priority so I want to focus on managing my time well when I’m not playing volleyball.” Larson said she sought wisdom from her older teammates on how she could succeed in her first semester classes at Hillsdale. “My teammates have given me tips for every class I'm in,” Larson said. “They told

2019 G-MAC PRESEASON COACHES POLL TEAM (1ST PLACE VOTES)

1. HILLSDALE (10) 2. FINDLAY (3) 3. TIFFIN 4. WALSH 5. LAKE ERIE 6. CEDARVILLE 7. MALONE 8. KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 9. TREVECCA NAZARENE 10. URSULINE 11. OHIO VALLEY 12. OHIO DOMINICAN 13. ALDERSON BROADDUS

11:00 A.M. Paul (0-0)

POINTS

142 135 116 107 98 94 83 65 47 39 37 33 18

2018 RECORD

25-7, 19-0 G-MAC 24-7, 16-3 G-MAC 21-11, 15-4 G-MAC 19-14, 14-5 G-MAC 23-10, 13-6 G-MAC 13-18, 11-8 G-MAC 16-6, 12-7 G-MAC 14-16, 8-11 G-MAC 7-21, 5-14 G-MAC 12-17, 8-11 G-MAC 9-19, 4-15 G-MAC 6-25, 1-18 G-MAC 7-22, 2-17 G-MAC

me what to expect and how to be best prepared to boost my confidence going into freshman year.l.” The jump between high school and college comes with athletic challenges players didn’t previously face. The freshman class answered these challenges with strategies to help them succeed on the court. “Everyone in college wants to be here and wants to win and that’s refreshing coming from a school that did not take it as seriously,” Riley said. “We hold each other accountable and want the best for each other and the team.” “I want to make sure that each day I’m working to get better and when I leave the locker room I know I’ve bettered myself as a player,” Zenas said. “My teammates give me a lot of pointers for both school and volleyball which are always super helpful in the long run.” Head Coach Chris Gravel holds that one of the most important aspects of the longtime success of his team is mental state. “The team read David

Goggins’s book ‘Can’t Hurt Me’ during our spring season which strengthened the mental training regimen that we have developed for the team over the past 24 seasons,” Gravel said. “The trifecta of mental training, team bonding and relationships, and physical training forms the foundation on which we hope to accomplish our goals.” The Chargers were ranked first in the G-MAC preseason coach’s poll for the 2019 season as favorites to win the conference championship, receiving 142 votes from coaches within the conference. The Chargers also look to extend a 34-game conference win streak,a G-MAC record. The University of Findlay was a close second in the poll receiving 135 points. Gravel said he hopes to improve upon the previous season’s success through focusing not only on conference success, but also strong finishes in tournaments. “At this point in the season, we’re still focused on consistent day to day improvement and forming the habits that will end up benefiting us later in the season,” he said. The Chargers travel to Florida this weekend to take part in the Terrace Hotel Classic tournament. They play two games on Friday, the first against No. 5 Concordia University St. Paul. They’ll wrap up the tournament on Saturday with two more games, the first against No. 17 University of Central Missouri.

2019 G-MAC PRESEASON CROSS COUNTRY COACHES POLLS MEN

WOMEN TEAM (1ST PLACE VOTES)

POINTS

1. WALSH (12) 144 2. HILLSDALE (1) 130 3. CEDARVILLE 123 4. MALONE 113 5. FINDLAY 97 6. URSULINE 79 7. ALDERSON BROADDUS 62 8. OHIO VALLEY 60 9. OHIO DOMINICAN 57 10. TREVECCA NAZARENE 48 11. TIFFIN 39 12. KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 36 13. LAKE ERIE 26

TEAM (1ST PLACE VOTES)

POINTS

1. WALSH (10) 117 2. MALONE (4) 112 3. CEDARVILLE (1) 99 4. HILLSDALE 96 5. FINDLAY 81 6. TIFFIN 62 7. TREVECCA NAZARENE 56 8. KENTUCKY WESLEYAN 46 9. OHIO VALLEY 41 10. OHIO DOMINICAN 37 11. ALDERSON BROADDUS 29 12. LAKE ERIE 16

INSIDE: CROSS COUNTRY SEASON PREVIEWS

with the level that the guys competed at,” Otterbein said. “At some point, you just pick a guy. It was simply level of play [Keller] was performing at.” Last season, the Huskies allowed the second-most passing yards per game in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, so the matchup may be favorable to Keller in getting off to a good start. Michigan Tech also allowed nearly 200 yards on the ground per game in 2018, which plays into the hands of senior running back David Graham. After rushing for more than 1,000 yards in his sophomore season, Graham just missed the century mark again in 2018, when he rushed for 939 yards and 16 touchdowns. Graham enters 2019 just 10 yards shy of 2,000 for his collegiate career, and is ninth all-time in program history in total rushing yards. His 35 career rushing touchdowns are tied for eighth-most in program history. “I do have those personal goals. I’d like to reach top five, top three,” Graham said. “But I can’t let that get in the way of our team goals. I’m just focused on winning games. Personal goals are second.” Conference play begins in week three this year for Hillsdale, but two non-conference games to begin the season are critical for the Chargers’ regional ranking. Hillsdale plays on the road against the University of Indianapolis next week, a team that also beat the Chargers last year. “It all just happens as it unfolds, and I think that’s one thing our kids have been very good at [in the past], and I would not anticipate anything different from this group,” Otterbein said. “Staying in the moment — playing in the moment, not becoming flustered or distracted — is a key to success this year.”

The Hillsdale College Chargers will kick off their 127th season of football on Saturday at 1 p.m. when they host the Michigan Tech University Huskies. Entering their third season in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the Chargers are defending champions after going 8-0 against conference opponents in 2018. The Huskies were one of three non-conference teams to defeat Hillsdale last year, however, when they squeaked out a double-overtime, 31-30 win in week two of the 2018 season. That game was played in the Upper Peninsula at Michigan Tech, however. This year, the matchup occurs at Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium in Hillsdale, where the Chargers went 5-0 last season. Although the No. 19 Chargers are favored to repeat in 2019 as G-MAC champions according to a preseason coaches poll, Team 127 will feature a new look in what was a conference-best passing attack a year ago. Redshirt freshman Luke Keller won the starting quarterback position in training camp, and his top target in the passing game will be junior wide receiver K.J. Maloney, who was second on the team in 2018 in receptions and receiving yards to Trey Brock, who shattered every program receiving record in his final year at Hillsdale. Keller replaces Chance Stewart at quarterback, who holds program records for passing yards and touchdowns after a brilliant fouryear career. Despite not taking a single snap in his true freshman season, Keller is confident that when his college football career begins on Saturday, he’ll be ready to go. Head coach Keith Otterbein, who, along with his coaching staff, settled on Keller to lead the offense, agrees. “I was really pleased

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 Hillsdale, MI | 1:00 p.m.

vs. 19 Hillsdale

Michigan Tech 4-6 (in 2018)

10-3 (in 2018)

POINTS PER GAME (2018)

20.4

32.1

POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME (2018)

26.6

19.6

PASSING YARDS PER GAME (2018)

197.9

293.2

PASSING YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME (2018)

221.6

227.2

RUSHING YARDS PER GAME (2018)

130.7

120.8

RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED PER GAME (2018)

191.0

147.8

TURNOVER MARGIN (2018)

-5

+13

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 5, 2019

Junior Caroline Hennekes created the cover for the 20192020 academic planner. Collegian | Carmel Kookogey

Art major designs planner cover Caroline Hennekes paints students’ words in watercolor and ink By | Carmel Kookogey Culture Editor When Junior Caroline Hennekes started doing messy watercolors on Sunday afternoons with a friend in Florida, she had no idea she’d be designing the cover of Hillsdale College’s academic planners three years later. Though she only seriously started doing art after coming to Hillsdale, last spring Hennekes hand-painted the ink and watercolor cover of the 2019-20 Hillsdale academic planner, which is annually produced by the college for students. When taking on the project in mid-March, Hennekes said she was both honored and intimidated, but up to the challenge — even though it meant having one more thing due at the end of April, the busiest point in her year. The front of the planner cover, a watercolor painting of Central Hall, was probably the element Hennekes poured over for the longest since March, when the marketing department reached out to her with the project request, she said. “The creative process can often be a long one,” Hennekes said. “But the first thing I thought was, ‘Well, I don’t want to do the stereotypical Central Hall picture on the front of the planner cover.’” Plans changed. While

friends were recommending painting the eagle statue at the entrance to campus, or an overhead map of campus, Hennekes said at the end of the day, she came back to Central Hall because it was the most recognizable and “approachable.” Hennekes added that she considered designing a digital mosaic of Central Hall (“I was obsessed with mosaics during the Spring semester because I was in Art History”), but said she felt her skills weren’t quite up to the challenge. “I was a little too young in my Adobe Suite to be able to execute that at the level I wanted to,” Hennekes said, laughing. “So I fell back on what I knew I could do well, and that was ink and watercolor.” Junior Heidi Yacoubian, also an art major, described walking into the New Dorm kitchen one of the nights Hennekes was painting the watercolor draft that would eventually become the planner cover. “I think she looked a little stressed,” Yacoubian remembered. “She was super excited about doing it, and super enthusiastic, because she’s so passionate about art and this school, and this was a way to express her love of both. I think she just felt a little bit of pressure to make it really good because it’s something she really cares about. But she

Hennekes shows an earlier sketch of the planner cover. Collegian | Carmel Kookogey

did an amazing job.” Bryan Springer, creative director of marketing, said Hennekes “excelled at visual storytelling” when he had her as a student in his graphic design class. “Her style is really graphic and illustrated. So when I saw her work on the cover, I thought, ‘Oh, perfect,’” Springer said. Springer described Hennekes’ composition as “clear and engaging,” and the image of Central Hall, as the visual

the planner, because students often get caught up in the rigor of academic achievement, and “forget to be human.” She chose words to highlight — by painting over them in soft yellow or Charger blue — to remind students what is really special about Hillsdale, in their own words. Springer said the use of others’ words was a great idea on Hennekes’ part, to seek to understand what resonates with her audience. “It’s important to under-

“The first thing I thought was, ‘Well, I don’t want to do the stereotypical Central Hall picture on the front of the planner cover,’” Hennekes said. icon of Hillsdale College, a natural choice. “I’m always thrilled as an art faculty member that students are using their skills from all of the different classes — drawing, painting, graphic design,” he said. “I think that’s one of our strengths as a department, since often times, graphic design in most programs is its own discipline, apart from art or fine art.” To create the back cover of the planner, a collage of words in various styles of hand-written typeset, Hennekes took to Instagram. “The back was the part that I got really excited about. Back in March, nobody knew what it was for, but I did an Instagram poll,” Hennekes said. “It wasn’t wildly successful, but it was really cool to do, and it basically said, ‘If you had one word to describe Hillsdale, what would it be?’ “It was really cool to approach the student body that way, because we all know what Hillsdale is, but all have a very individual experience here. Especially depending on what community you’re in, what your major is, and just your personality, you see things differently.” Hennekes said the back cover is crucial to the vision of

stand your audience to provide engaging visuals. I like the concept of highlighting certain words, but in terms of composition, it also provides contrast and color. There is quite a bit of visual texture, but it’s balanced,” Springer said. Though friends have asked Hennekes if the colors themselves have some meaning, too, she shakes her head. “The colors I chose were just for composition and balance, but I did intentionally paint certain ones I wanted to highlight,” she said. One of those words is “prayer.” “There’s so often the mindset of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, and doing things in your own strength,” she said. “This is about really realizing that we can do nothing, and we need the Lord, and we need prayer. That’s something I highlighted just because I think that discipline can be lost, and it’s crucial to our well-being.” Hennekes also highlighted the words “genuine” and “passionate.” “I’ve never met a more passionate group of 1,500 people,” she said, smiling.

‘Lover’ presents grown-up Taylor Swift By | Regan Meyer News Editor When the last few bars of “Daylight,” the last track of Taylor Swift’s new album, play, a voiceover by Swift begins. “I want to be defined by the things I love, not the things I hate,” Swift says. If defining herself through love was her goal with “Lover,” Swift accomplished it. “Lover” is without a doubt Swift’s most diverse album with each of the 18 tracks highlighting Swift’s lyrical genius in a different way. Described by Swift as a “love letter to love,” the tracks cover everything from her mother’s battle with breast cancer to her relation-

ship with current boyfriend Joe Alwyn. With seven studio albums now in her repertoire, Taylor Swift’s music catalogue contains some of the most talked about music of the 21st century. Each Swift album has its own theme and central idea, its own era. “Fearless” solidified Swift as the teen queen of country music. “Red” signaled Swift’s shift from the sweet and naive country artist to an international force of pop. Her sixth album, “Reputation,” shattered her public image as America’s Sweetheart. Now, with “Lover,” Swift takes the pieces of each of her eras and transforms them into a cohesive and diverse documenta-

tion of her growth. Though Swift has produced hit after hit in both genres throughout her career, “Lover” takes the best aspects of each of her eras and builds upon them, instead of picking one narrative and trying to fit inside it, like her past six albums. “Lover” squashes any speculation that Swift would continue on the darker trajectory of her previous album. The first track of “Lover,” “I Forgot That You Existed,” closes the door on the “Reputation” era for good. Instead of dwelling on the pain and mistakes of her past, like “Reputation” tracks “I Did Something Bad” or “Look What You Made Me

Do,” “I Forgot That You Existed” dismisses all of Swift’s past “haters.” “I forgot that you existed. It isn’t love. It isn’t hate. It’s just indifference,” she sings. Though Swift is still focused on telling off her “haters,” the track’s lyrics are a far cry from the vindictive and vitriolic attitude of “Reputation.” Swift approaches her past with wisdom and wit that show just how much she’s grown, both musically and personally. Every “Lover” track also rebuilds on tropes of Swift’s earlier music. Swift’s first few albums consisted mostly of high-school-level love songs, like “Teardrops on My Guitar”

The Weekly Culture Corner:

On ‘Green is the New Black’ By | Sofia Krusmark Assistant Editor

It’s the radio show you’ve all been waiting for, and it’s all about wellness. Health can be forgotten here on campus, with the overload of homework, events to attend, or the late-night junk food we indulge to eat our worries away. “Green Is the New Black,” a wellness and sustainability

radio show by Bon Appetit Marketing Coordinator William Persson and Assistant Marketing Coordinator Junior Danielle Lee, is here to bring it back. The show will cover topics from fashion to food to interviews with local health and wellness professionals. It’s new, it’s fresh and it’s an invitation to try something new — something green.

Danielle Lee (left) and William Persson (right) start new radio show on wellness. Courtesy | Danielle Lee

Still Rock ‘n’ Roll:

Springsteen, original hillbilly elegy By | Carmel Kookogey Culture Editor It’s no secret our generation is obsessed with our parents’ generation, but it’s more than mom’s old Levi jeans selling for $150 on Ebay. You can get a Beatles T-shirt at Target just as easily today as you may have gotten one at Two Guys 50 years ago. Thanks to Stranger Things, 13-year-olds everywhere know the lyrics to the Police’s “Every Breath You Take.” Decades later, we’re still being influenced by our parents’ music: rock ‘n’ roll. The phase of comic-book character movies is fading. Meanwhile, our box office bestsellers are bringing back the great rock ‘n’ roll legends, like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” about Queen, or the 2019 movie “Blinded by the Light,” about a Pakistani boy finding identity in the great American classics of Bruce Springsteen. Perhaps they never left. While rap dominates the Top 100 every week, rock ‘n’ roll, is still just as formative as when it was brand new — even if few popular musicians produce it anymore. It continues to influence the clothes we wear, the films and TV shows we produce, the aesthetic of our Instagram feeds. As the trailer to “Blinded by the Light” would suggest, if there’s one thing that unifies American culture

across the board, it’s the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll. In that spirit — and in the interest of understanding what that American culture is — we’re road-tripping back into those formative decades. Where better to start than with The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen? As the opening track to his iconic 1984 album of the same name, “Born in the U.S.A.” hit American culture right in the middle of the Reagan years. If the song is any representation of its time, American spirit was strong — and confusing. Springsteen wrestles with the Vietnam War almost 10 years later; it’s cultural influence on the ’80s is unmissable. Particularly, he seems struck by the void left in American culture as a result of the war’s massive casualties. “I had a brother at Khe Sanh fighting off the Viet Cong/They’re still there, he’s all gone/He had a woman he loved in Saigon/I got a picture of him in her arms now,” Springsteen sings. By contrast, the upbeat tune and guitar-banging speak to Springsteen’s optimism and make this song an Independence Day classic. Whatever hurt he feels he takes in stride; after all, he was born in the U.S.A. Collectively, the album idealizes the decade and leaves a strong See Rock B2

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New documentary emphasizes meaning in suffering By | Nolan Ryan Editor in Chief How would you live if you knew you were dying? The 2019 documentary “The Long Goodbye: The Kara Tippetts Story” sets out to make us consider our own answer to this question. It moves us to consider how we should live in light of pain and death, and even puts forward a vision of beauty in the midst of suffering. Kara Tippetts — a pastor’s wife and mother from Colorado — was known in the evangelical Christian community for her blog, “Mundane Faithfulness.” But shortly after starting what she called her “mommy blog,” Tippetts was diagnosed with cancer in July 2012. She died of breast cancer in March 2015. The documentary follows Tippetts in the last years of her life, telling her story of suffering through footage and interviews with her family and their friends. The film opens with a clip in which Tippetts ponders her illness. “What if instead of being angry at life, what if you learned something of love today?” she asks. “Why is it that we withhold love?” And with that, the audience is brought into the everyday life of Tippetts, her husband, and their four children as they navigate a world in which their wife and mother is slowly dying. Director Jay Lyons moves us to empathize, as best we can, with Tippetts and those closest to her.

In one particularly tear-inducing scene, Tippetts’ husband, Jason, sitting on the bed with his wife, says she “always loved whoever was in front of her.” To this, Tippetts says quietly to her husband, “You’re talking about me in the past tense.” Interspersed with scenes like this that show Tippetts’ suffering — such as her long, blonde hair being shaved away — we get glimpses of how the family and friends cope with this “long goodbye” to Tippetts. Watching this documentary with my mother was poignant for me. Her family has a history of cancer, and her mother died of it after a 16-year battle. In many ways, my mother said, she identified with Tippetts’ children, as she grew up with the reality of her mom’s illness. Because of this, Tibbett’s story wasn’t just about some American family to me; it wasn’t just “those people.” This easily could be my own family, and in some ways, it had been my mother’s. The film constantly emphasizes the importance of today, of the present moment. In our culture of distracting technology and ever-full schedules, it is a necessary reminder of the

importance of living in the present. Tippetts shows how her pain clarifies this truth — knowing she’s dying allows her to appreciate ordinary moments with her family of six all the more. “I know that I love today, and I have today to go love another,” she said. Tippetts and her husband even go so far as to call her cancer a “gift that exposed to us what’s important, what’s valuable.” This counterintuitive view on suffering ultimately comes from the couple’s faith in God. “The world says I should be angry, that I should be shaking my fist at God,” Tippetts said, adding that suffering is not a mistake. “[God is] present in pain.” But living a Christian life

A new Netflix documentary tells the true story of Kara Tippetts, a mother whose struggle with cancer strengthened her faith. | Wikimedia Commons

Tippetts reflects on her cancer as just one facet of her relationship with her heavenly Father, and she finds herself forced to wrestle with reality. “I feel like I’m a little girl at a party whose dad’s asking her to leave early, and I’m throwing a

“If we’re supposed to love more today than we did yesterday, we have to get uncomfortable.” in the midst of suffering isn’t so easy. In an interview, Tippetts recounts one night she was struggling, right after she received a new cancer diagnosis. She remembers weeping while reading Phillippians 1. “Lord, I don’t know if I believe you when you say to die is gain,” she said. “Do you believe to live is Christ?”

fit,” she said. “I’m not afraid of dying. I just don’t want to go.” In an ironically beautiful way, it’s this struggle of doubt in the midst of her suffering which leads Tippetts into a deeper relationship with God. Not everything is easy, she says, and that’s OK. “It shows me that I’m needy,” Tippetts said. “I’m so needy for Jesus to walk with me through these last days, these last moments.” Tippetts rejects the American notion that “we have to

win and be better,” that we somehow have to beat pain to be successful. We’re all dying, she says, but the difference is she’s told that every day. Pain, especially on a small scale, has a role in our friendships, in our romances, in our bonds with family. Tippetts reminds the viewer that love of any kind requires sacrifice. “If we’re supposed to love more today than we did yesterday, we have to get uncomfortable.” Taylor Swift’s latest album “Lover” was released on August 23, 2019. | Wikimedia Commons

New musician to play Americana, blues at Rough Draft on Friday night By | Sofia Krusmark Assistant Editor Rough Draft is featuring new music this weekend— but this time it’s not students. “Two Face Wilson,” a singer-songwriter, will perform at Rough Draft for an evening of indie folk-rock mixed with riff-driven blues rock ‘n’ roll. Adam Droscha, a native

from Charlotte, Michigan, launched his solo project in 2014, and has been traveling around the Midwest since. “The styles I draw from are pretty broad, but you know, I’m a Midwesterner and some of the songs of the Midwest make it in there,” said Droscha. It’s a one-man show, and Droscha writes every song.

“Come for a lyrical experience,” he said. “A lot of music these days have a Band-Aid effect, and people want to avoid feelings, but I like to push people into them. They’re going to get a lot of original tunes.” It’s a night for good coffee or a nice glass of wine, and good music. You won’t want to miss it.

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from her debut, self-titled album, or “Hey Stephen” off her second album, “Fearless.” With songs like “Lover” and “Paper Rings,” Swift explores her experiences with real love and relationships as usual, but now exhibits her growth in dealing with heartbreak. Swift’s breakup songs in her first five albums were often angry and focused on themes of revenge, such as “Picture to Burn” or “Mean.” In contrast, “Death by a Thousand Cuts” details the grief that comes at the end of

a relationship, and how Swift has learned to heal from that heartbreak. The classic cleverness of Swift’s lyrics remain — in “Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince,” Swift explains her view of American politics through a metaphor about American high schools. “American glory, faded before me. Now I’m feeling hopeless. Ripped up my prom dress,” she sings. Though Swift’s lyrics are true to her style, it’s evident

that her worldview has changed, and she has grown up. On the album’s title track “Lover,” Swift sings in the bridge, “Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand with every guitar string scar on my hand?” Swift’s years in the music industry have been filled with scars from past loves and past wrongs. But with “Lover,” Swift takes those scars and creates a masterpiece of growth and hope.

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Coon, Knecht showcase photography, art from Upper Peninsula travels By | Alexis Daniels Web Content Editor The photography and paintings of Hillsdale College professors Doug Coon and Sam Knecht will be displayed this week in “Looking U.P.” – an exhibit that shows the beauty of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. “I love the U.P. for how remote and foreign it is,” Knecht said in an email. “It eludes mainstream America and provides so much in the way of wilderness beauty mixed with odd remnants of human civilization. Our subjects in the art exhibit will demonstrate that.” The exhibit is the result of a decade of Knecht and Coon’s exploration of the peninsula, where Knecht said their travels were not only about seeing the well-known landmarks but also “straying from the beaten path and being open to

a chance discovery.” “There are some wellknown landmarks in the U.P. that Doug and I have dealt with in our work, but in those cases we try to give them a fresh ‘take,’” Knecht said. “On the other hand, we like coming upon random, unexpected scenes where momentary impulse jumps in.” Knecht said although he has done paintings and portraits since high school, he was also the art department’s photography teacher for 24 years before Coon. “Photography continues as a mainstay for my painting career,” Knecht said. “I use the camera as a ‘sketching’ or recording tool and often judge compositional ideas with camera shots.” Coon, who will present the photography in the exhibit, said the Upper Peninsula is a “great location” for the type of work he enjoys.

“I enjoy wandering aimlessly when I’m traveling,” Coon said in an email. “The lack of people and quality of roads and trails allows for that type of travel.” Coon added that he hopes his art will pull the viewer into his experience. “I hope that I’m able to convey not only what the region looks like but my feelings of what I was witnessing,” Coon said. “I believe that good art allows for both of those to be experienced by the viewer.” Knecht and Coon will host an artist’s reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7. The artwork will be on display until Oct. 9. “I hope they like the work and have enjoyed vicariously of getting a glimpse of what intrigued us enough to want to capture what we discovered there,” Knecht said.

at a baseball game. And in “Glory Days,” Springsteen sings about baseball, drinks, and the good old days — working on an assembly line. The rear-window view may be a warped one, but Springsteen has on rose-colored sunglasses. “No Surrender” bursts into the middle of the album as Springsteen bursts out of class, singing about getting away from “those fools.” “We learned more from a three-minute record, baby/ Than we ever learned in school,” he sings, a reflection not simply of ’80s optimism, but also of teen invincibility: rock ‘n’ roll was your education. What more did you need? “Bobby Jean,” about a girl who likes the same music, the same bands, the same clothes, as Springsteen, alludes to the cultural unity of the day — or maybe just to really good blue jeans. But it’s “My Hometown,” the last track of the album, that can be traced as the precursor to many modern country pop songs. It’s a portrait of modern American history, synthesized through one story: a picture-perfect hometown, torn by “troubled times.”

Bruce Springsteen released his most popular album, “Born in the U.S.A.” in 1984. | Wikimedia Commons

What starts off as “my hometown” becomes “your hometown.” “Now Main Street’s whitewashed windows and vacant stores/Seems like there ain’t nobody wants to come down here no more/They’re closing down the textile mill across the railroad tracks/Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain’t coming back/ To your hometown.”

Springsteen speaks to Middle America, before “Middle America” became a political term that economists and New York Times reporters studied. It’s the original “Hillbilly Elegy,” and J.D. Vance hadn’t even picked up a pen yet. It’s called rock ‘n’ roll.

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Features

September 5, 2019

Like father like daughter: how softball brings one family closer on and off the field From left to right: Kyle, Kylie, and Lorrie Gross at Kylie Gross’s high school senior day. Kyle Gross | Courtesy

By | Julia Mullins City news editor Kyle Gross — Hillsdale College’s head softball coach — never thought his daughter would follow in his footsteps. While he joked about coaching with his firstborn during her teenage years, Kyle Gross didn’t imagine he would have the opportunity to coach alongside Kylie Gross. “I talked about it, but it was always: ‘Absolutely no, dad. When I’m done playing, I’m done. I’m done with the sport as soon as I’m done.’ And it was that way all the way up through college,” Kyle Gross said. This season, Kyle Gross and Kylie Gross will be on the softball field together once more. Unlike before, however, he won’t be giving her signs in the box or waving her on to score the winning run. The

Marketing from A1 that Hillsdale’s values are accurately represented, both online and in print. “One of the fundamental keys to marketing is consistency,” Springer said. “Consistency is important to build brand equity that people are used to seeing in a certain way.” After teaching for more than ten years in Hillsdale’s art department, Springer now works as the marketing department’s creative director. “We’re looking at developing an identity that’s distinctive, yet still ‘Hillsdale,’” Springer said, “so that we can provide engaging communications to a variety

two will sit side by side in the dugout as head coach and assistant coach, using their storehouse of softball knowledge to instruct the back-toback GMAC champions. “I’m excited to be on the other side of things and talk shop with him and Danielle about different strategies of the game,” Kylie Gross said. Her attitude about coaching changed after playing for 3 1/2 years at Division I Toledo University. To her dad’s surprise, she received and accepted an offer from Black Hills State University in South Dakota to coach as a graduate assistant. After hearing his daughter was enjoying her first season coaching, Kyle Gross said it was remarkable watching his daughter’s interest in the game continue to grow. Kylie Gross fell in love with the game of softball when she “We have Facebook and YouTube campaigns that we’ll put up, make them into YouTube ads and Facebook ads, and that kind of thing,” said Chandler Ryd, a video production assistant in the marketing department. “The college is very committed to doing video and doing it on a really big scale; [they are] high quality productions.” These videos serve a wide variety of purposes from promoting the college to filming the college’s large selection of online courses. Ryd is on-scene throughout the filming process, assisting with anything needed to complete production. “The goal is to teach peo-

“Hillsdale is a lot like the Silicon Valley of colleges because we do things nobody else does.” of different audiences.” One of those audiences is the admissions department, which Springer said is one of their main avenues for bringing in new students to the college. The marketing department’s work doesn’t stop once those students are enrolling in college, though. As the freshmen class learned during orientation, the marketing department makes videos and pamphlets to help the students as they get ready for the school year ahead.

ple about what the school is and what our mission is,” he said. Tombelli has so far enjoyed his time leading the marketing for a school as special as Hillsdale, he said. Tombelli said he is excited for his position with the department to showcase a college as uniquely driven as Hillsdale to the rest of the world. “Hillsdale is a lot like the Silicon Valley of colleges because we do things nobody else does,” he said.

began playing at age 7. Her dad has coached her since the first time she set foot on a field. Her favorite memories with him include pitching alongside her childhood home. “I started pitching when I was about 10 or 11,” Kylie Gross said. “On the side of the house, it was flat enough and long enough that I could go out and practice pitching with him sitting on a bucket at the other end. I bet it’s still there – unless the new owners put grass over it – but there’s a huge dirt patch from where I would pitch three times a week.” The countless hours spent pitching together, Kyle Gross said, helped strengthen their relationship. “I was probably there for her every minute of her pitching and practice,” Kyle Gross said.

He was always present, and Kyle Gross said that he was typically harder on his own daughter compared to the other players when he coached. “It didn’t hurt our relationship,” Kyle Gross said. “She was able to respond to that positively.” While Kylie Gross said the car rides home from games and practices could get a little interesting, she never felt treated unfairly. Throughout her softball career, Kylie Gross said she always felt she could ask her dad for advice about softball or life in general because the two were so close. “From an early age, I always knew how to decipher when I was his player,” Kylie Gross said. “That really helped our relationship as I got older.” Kylie Gross’ mother, Lorrie Gross, said she always enjoyed watching her daughter and

husband out on the softball field because they both have so much passion for the game. Reflecting on all of the memories she has throughout Kylie Gross’ playing career, Lorrie Gross said she always thought Kylie Gross would be a great coach. As her family embarks on a new adventure in softball, Lorrie Gross is excited to see the two finally coaching together. “They both know the game, and they both study the game,” Lorrie Gross said. “They also care so much about the mental state of the girls. I think that’s going to be a good thing.” Lorrie Gross added that she’s happy to have her family together again. With her son, Kodey Gross, just a short drive away at Toledo University, and Kylie Gross back from South Dakota, she said the family feels very close. “It’s a good time in our lives for them to start coaching together,” Lorrie Gross said. After crediting softball for shaping her into the person she is today, Kylie Gross said she gained her passion and enthusiasm for the game by watching her dad coach over the years. “No matter what he’s been through – he’s been at a couple different colleges – and has been able to bounce back from that and never give up,” Kylie Gross said. “I’m really proud of him for never giving up and getting to where he’s at today. And he absolutely loves it here, so he’s found a good spot to call home.” After winning a conference championship in his first year as head coach, Kyle Gross said he looks forward to bringing his daughter’s knowledge of the game to the Chargers this season. During her freshman year at Toledo, Kylie Gross played every position on the field. Although she primarily played outfield and catcher, Kyle Gross said his daughter’s versatility provides the Hillsdale softball team with an excellent resource. “Any player from any po-

sition could come to her with questions,” Kyle Gross said. “She can give great advice to just about anybody on the team, not just catchers, or not just pitchers. It doesn’t really matter the position.” She can answer the technical questions for the positions she played, and because she was a high-level player, she can also answer the more mentally challenging questions. Since she graduated from Toledo less than two years ago, Kylie Gross said she’s still “fresh” with the game and hopes she can bring all of her own energy and passion from playing to the team. Along with a fresh mindset, part of Kylie Gross’ advice to players is to play like they’re still little kids out on the field. “It’s a game,” Kylie Gross said. “Obviously, it’s very important, and we have work to do. But we can make it a good time.” Although they’ve never worked together, Kylie Gross said she thinks her personality will complement her dad’s coaching style. “He’s very intense and very focused,” Kylie Gross said. “Which is awesome, I love that. But on the flipside of that, I’m going to be able to loosen the girls up a little bit.” Kyle Gross said the two will work hard to not be seen as father and daughter on the field, but he knows that she’ll be able to tell him when he’s going “over the top.” He also said he hopes to teach Kylie Gross more about the professionalism of the sport. With the chance to finally do something he only ever joked about, Kyle Gross said he is very thankful to Hillsdale College and the athletic department for the opportunity to coach with his oldest child. “The idea of coaching with your own daughter, who you have coached all the way through, that’s pretty exciting,” Kyle Gross said.

Historic Hysteria:

Glamour, academics focus of Hillsdale’s past By | Callie Shinkle Columnist “Debbie Trimble will represent Hillsdale College in the Glamour Top Ten College Girls Contest.” That’s not something you read everyday in the scholarly boondocks of Hillsdale. Surprisingly, in December 1968, The Collegian ran quite the beauty contest. The Collegian published, “Next month Hillsdale College will be participating in Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten College Girls Contest.” The contest had two points of criteria, as printed on Dec. 12, 1968. “The Collegian is looking for a girl who: Reflects individual thinking in her approach to fashion and its role in the life she leads; is well groomed and has a good figure.” In addition, the competition sought someone who “is an outstanding achiever in some campus or community activity. For example: arts, social work, science, sports, politics or business.” The broad nature of that second criteria does not lead me to believe that they were looking to say, “Candidate, your science experiment was extremely groundbreaking.” Like any good beauty pageant conducted remotely, Glamour offered a coveted prize to the winner. The Collegian printed, “If Hillsdale’s representative should be chosen she will receive: national recognition for herself and the college in the August issue of Glamour, and in newspapers throughout the country; a personal gift from the editors of Glamour; and an all expense paid trip to a foreign country where the winners will be guests at an outstanding Festival or International Exhibition.” I too love traveling abroad to an unknown destination

with a promise of being a guest at an unnamed convention. Safety: it’s a lifestyle. On Feb. 20, 1969, they announced the lucky Hillsdale winner. “Debbie Trimble, a sophomore from Malvern, Pa., will represent Hillsdale College in Glamour Magazine’s annual Top Ten College Girls contest,” The Collegian reported. Trimble was one of four semi-finalists from 15 applicants sent to The Collegian. There is something comforting about knowing that only 15 people applied for this contest. Even in its party days, the girls of Hillsdale had enough sense not to apply to win the world’s most ambiguous trip. Go us. Yet, this was not the college’s first experience with a fashion-forward competition such as this. On March 10, 1961, the newspaper announced Terry Grieger as the college’s representative to Glamour Magazine’s 10 Best Dressed College Girls in America contest. The Collegian printed, “The winner was chosen by a committee headed by Mrs. Marian Stebbins, coordinator of college relations. The other members of the committee included: Mr. Richard Hickory, alumni director; Mrs. Edrie Dixon, Miller’s Fashion Shop, Coach Frank Waters, and Miss Marian Willoughby, assistant professor of home and family living.” It is interesting that the football coach and namesake of our current football field also doubled as a fashion judge. The article continues to describe Grieger as the fashion editor of The Collegian. In a competition for the best dressed girl, that seems like cheating to me. Grieger also wrote a recurring column entitled “Fashion Wise” in which she recom-

Debbie Trimble represented Hillsdale College in Glamour Magazine’s Top Ten College Girls Contest in 1969. Collegian

mended Gold Dust eyeliner by Charles of the Ritz on Oct. 14, 1960. She did deserve the title of Hillsdale’s best dressed after all. Out of the nine girls who were nominated for the coveted title, Grieger was the lucky winner. To earn her prize, Grieger along with the other nominees modeled three chosen outfits before the judges, as reported on March 3, 1961. That could not have been a comfortable scene for the football coach. Unfortunately, Grieger wasn’t chosen as one of the Ten Best Dressed College

Girls in America, and she missed a very enticing prize. According to the Collegian on Feb. 24, 1961, “If Hillsdale’s best dressed girl is chosen one of Glamour’s Ten Best Dressed College Girls in America she will be photographed for the annual August College Issue and will spend two weeks in New York in June as a guest of the magazine.” Well, if the winner had to go on a surprisingly low information trip, at least this time she wasn’t traveling internationally to an arbitrary destination.

B4 September 5, 2019

The view from Suzanne DeTar’s home in Kamabia, Sierra Leone. Suzanne DeTar | Courtesy

Hillsdale graduates build community and teach through Peace Corps in Africa, Asia By | Elizabeth Bachmann Assistant Editor From Namibia, a small country in Southern Africa, to Sichuan Province in Southwestern China, to Sierra Leone in West Africa, Hillsdale’s 2019 graduates journeyed far and wide to promote peace, build cultural bridges, and teach. Erin Flaherty, Nathanael Cheng, and Suzanne DeTar all embarked on two-year service tours with the U.S. Peace Corps, during which they will complete a three month training program and language immersion course. At the end of training, all three Hillsdale grads will be left completely alone to use what language skills they have developed to build community, teach language, and develop friendships. Though she has only just arrived in Namibia, Flaherty has become familiar with simple phrases in each of the countries’ 15 languages. The

national language is English, but Flaherty studies a tribal language called Oshindonga. Motivated more by a desire to explore culture and language than teach English, Flaherty dreamed of joining the Peace Corps since high school. But, she agreed to get a college degree before globe trekking. “I realized how much I love learning cultures, and how much I wanted to join the Peace Corps, and then I got an invitation to Namibia. Everyone’s first reaction was ‘where is Namibia,”’ Flaherty said with a laugh. “But the more I looked into it, the more it seemed really cool.” Interspersing her crash courses in Oshindonga, Flaherty’s training sessions also included lessons in teaching. “I had never thought about being a teacher before, but I am going to learn to do it,” Flaherty said with uncontainable optimism. DeTar, stationed in Kama-

bia, Sierra Leone as a Biology and Chemistry teacher, is also studying tribal language, but, unlike Flaherty, she has to learn three: Krio, Limba, and Mandingo. “Tribal languages are quite hard to learn because they are not written, they’re only verbal,” DeTar said. “There is no set of grammatical rules that we can simply follow, so figuring out how to formulate intelligent sentences is a bigger challenge than I anticipated.” For Cheng, who is based in Sichuan Province, language is less of an issue. Having studied Mandarin, he only had to brush up his skills and accent upon arriving in China. “I was interested in learning more about Chinese culture, including Mandarin. Also, China is a pretty important country, and the opportunity to teach students and serve in that capacity is very attractive to me,” Cheng said. “I thought it would be a good opportunity to give back

in some way.” Once they reach their placements, Cheng, Flaherty, and DeTar won’t get monthly paychecks, but the Peace Corps provides a stipend that allows them to live in a manner comparable to the people they are serving. Flaherty, who just finished training, doesn’t yet know what her living conditions will be like, but Cheng will not be unfamiliar or uncomfortable in his. He teaches English at Chongqing Normal University, which provides accommodations. “It is a pretty nice apartment,” Cheng said. “In other Peace Corps countries, the conditions are a lot less developed. I have an apartment, kitchen, bathroom, and air conditioning.” His biggest challenge is not the standard of living but cultivating respect from his students. Since he only just graduated in the spring, he is about the same age as the students he is teaching. However,

he said his liberal arts education at Hillsdale prepared him by developing his critical thinking and creativity. “I have taken a lot of classes in the German department, particularly with Dr. Nauman. I really like the way he taught German and language. I will apply a lot of those techniques,” Cheng said. DeTar lives in one of those “other Peace Corps countries” Cheng said. Her small, two bedroom home has no running water, so DeTar carries buckets of water to an outdoor latrine-washroom to shower. Traditionally,Kambians cook with coal pots over an outside fire, so DeTar watches the African sunrise and sunset each morning and evening from her veranda while sizzling up her breakfast and dinner. Being one of the few white women in Kambia, DeTar also attracts certain unwanted attention. She said that she has received at least one marriage proposal a day since she arrived, but hopes that

as she becomes a fixture of the village, the attention will subside. Within her role as a science teacher, DeTar said that she hopes to bring some of the Western teaching methodology into the classroom. “My main goal is to teach critical thinking skills to the students,” DeTar said. “The education system here does not enforce critical thinking and therefore the students just practice brute memorization to pass their exams. I hope to guide them to a more scientific approach to real life scenarios. That is, ask questions, think of a possible hypothesis, try out their hypothesis and adjust as needed.” But beyond each challenge and language barrier, all three volunteers share a similar desire to spend the next two years exchanging culture and friendship with their communities.

‘To take my gifts and help other people’:

Hillsdale graduate redefines entrepreneurship By | Cal Abbo Assistant Editor Ryan Murphy ’19 was just 7 years old when she started her first business, and she hasn’t looked back since. Since graduation, Murphy has been hard at work on her newest business, Scholarship Navigator, where she offers consultations to help college students locate and apply for scholarships. This business is her latest in a long line that began with oranges. “I just taught myself to make orange marmalade,” Murphy said. “Surprisingly, it turned out good, and I started selling it to family members and friends.” While at Hillsdale, she studied politics and even went on the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program, or WHIP. But Murphy said she has always been interested in entrepreneurship, and that’s what brought her back to Scholarship Navigator. Murphy’s story, however, begins long before Scholarship Navigator was even conceived. In high school, mostly during her sophomore year, Murphy thought of putting the public speaking skills she learned through participating in debate to good use. She gained an interest in public speaking and wanted to promote her conservative political values as well. “I thought, ‘why not become a public speaker in my community?’” she said. “I could be a resource, someone knowledgeable on certain topics.” So, Murphy started Ryan Kelly Speaks. Murphy toured her community to speak on many different topics, often political. She spoke to rotary clubs, conservative campaigns, and often shared stages with

community leaders. This experience led her to conceive of business as she does today. Murphy offered a different view of entrepreneurship than the classic businessman trying to earn as much money as possible. “If I wanted to make money straight out of college, I would not be an entrepreneur right now,” she laughed. “With the age of the internet, entrepreneurship is changing. There are so many opportunities now for people to share their talents to improve other peoples’ lives.” To Murphy, entrepreneurship means something much deeper than money-making. It was a chance to serve her community with her knowledge and skills — be it marmalade, public speaking, clothing accessories, or finding scholarships. With that in mind, she thought about how she could best serve her community. Before and during college, Murphy worked hard to secure enough scholarship money to cover her entire undergraduate education, so she knew how to maneuver around the scholarship world. It was only a matter of time before she put the idea together: she could serve people by helping them find lucrative scholarships and avoid thousands of dollars of debt. “For those on the outside looking in, it can seem like, ‘well, they must be doing it for the money.’ But often the opposite is true,” Murphy said. “They’re doing it first and foremost because they love it and they want to share what they love and what talents they’ve been given to improve the lives of other people in a tangible way.” But it’s not all fun and games for Murphy either. To live out her dreams of com-

munity service, there’s a lot of work involved. Earlier this year, while still in school, Murphy taught herself how to build a website on top of being a full time student with a part-time job. “You’re CEO, you’re social media coordinator, you’re the sales representative. You’re everything all in one,” Murphy said. “That’s been the biggest challenge for me. How do I do all these things efficiently and stay organized and stay motivated? Sometimes it can feel incredibly overwhelming.” Sometimes, Murphy explained, you won’t see immediate success with your business. Entrepreneurialism requires hours of work that often don’t have tangible rewards in a short amount of time. “But I just remind myself, ‘Okay. What’s the end goal?’ It’s to take my gifts and help other people,” Murphy said. Everyone is the entrepreneur of their own life, Murphy said. It makes sense to take your experience, skills, and passion and leverage them in a way that you can help others, she added. Murphy encouraged anyone who has an idea to better their community to take a shot. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results, she said, and think of it as a “way to let creativity flow.” In the end, Murphy believes she and others will be successful entrepreneurs if they keep sight of their goals of service and community support. “Some people may see entrepreneurialism as a self-centered activity, but it’s everything but that,” Murphy said. “Everything is others-focused and that’s what I love about it.”

Ryan Murphy created a graphic to show the need for college scholarship. Ryan Murphy | Courtesy

Ryan Murphy (left) coaches a student preparing for a college interview in a marketing video. Ryan Murphy | Courtesy