NEWS
Gavin resigns from Delta presidency
Blake Metiva | Editor-in-Cheif
UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - President Michael Gavin has announced his upcoming departure from Delta College. In a statement sent to staff members on Friday, Sept. 26 the departure would occur at the end of the fall semester and become effective in Jan. of 2026.
While Gavin did not release the exact details of his new opportunity, he did allude to the new opportunity: “Beginning January 2026, I have been asked to play a significant role in developing a national coalition to defend higher education in this fraught moment, while positioning it to better align with the democratic ideals of the country in the long-term.” he wrote. Gavin continued in the statement: “I was not looking for a different place to work. In fact, it pains me to leave. However, the request to serve our sector in this way is also a great honor, and it is the only reason that I would leave Delta College.”
Prior to his time at Delta, Gavin was the Vice President of Learning at Anne Arundel College in Maryland. When he arrived at Delta in 2021, he took over the presidency from Jean Goodnow. His tenure was the shortest of any Delta president at just four years.
In his statement Gavin noted the successes of the college: “Within my four years, we have seen a 26 percent increase in enrollment, and sustained graduation rates of 10 percent,” he stated. Gavin also pointed out the narrowing of equity gaps for African American and Hispanic students by 20 percent.
In a separate statement by the Chairperson of the Delta College Board of Trustees, Stacey Gannon echoed the sentiments of Gavin’s success: “Delta College has made great strides in achieving our strategic plan goals under Dr. Gavin’s leadership and we thank him for his service to the college and our communities,” she stated. ““He is an exceptional example of what a college president should be, and we are proud of the path he has chosen, continuing to lead the charge in protecting the values and commitments of higher education for all.”
The Board of Trustees held a special meeting on Oct. 7 to discuss the nationwide search for a new president of the college. For more information, check out our website.
10 Major Party Candidates Filed for the 35th District Special Election
What you need to know about the 35th district special election
Andrew Hornbacher | Staff Reporter
A special election will be held to replace the vacant seat in the 35th district of the Michigan State Senate. This comes after Kristen McDonald Rivet, the Democrat who previously held the seat, resigned in January to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Governor Gretchen Whitmer, under increased pressure, called for a special election to be held in 2026.
The primary election is slated for Feb. 3, 2026, while the general election is scheduled for May 5, 2026. Candidates for the two major parties had until Sept. 30 to file under their party. Independents and third-party candidates are still able to file.
The 35th district covers most of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties. It had been a Republican stronghold until McDonald-Rivet won the seat in 2022. Even with her departure, Democrats hold a 19-18 majority in the Michigan Senate. Republicans are hoping to win the district to create a 19-19 tie.
As of Oct. 6, six Democrats and four Republicans have filed. Brandell Adams, Martin Blank, Chedrick Greene, William Morrone,
Pamela Pugh and Serenity Hope Salak have filed as Democrats. Jason Tunney, Chadwick Twillman, Christian Velasquez and Andrew Carlos Wendt are running as Republicans.
Adams is the chair of the Saginaw Democratic Party; his priorities include providing free lunch for K-12 students, affordable housing and lowering the price of college.
Blank is a trauma surgeon based in Saginaw. He previously ran for the 35th district as a Republican in 2022, but has changed parties in opposition to the Trump administration.
Greene is a Marine Corps veteran and captain of the City of Saginaw Fire Department. He advocates for lower costs, improved education and better jobs.
Morrone is the chief medical examiner for Bay City and a specialist in addiction medicine. More information on him is not currently available.
Pugh serves as the current president of the Michigan State Board of Educa-
tion. She is running to emphasize public health, education, infrastructure and increase economic opportunities.
Salak is a former substitute teacher based in Saginaw. More on her campaign is not currently available.
Tunney is a Saginaw-based lawyer running to eliminate excessive taxes, promote transparency and parents’ voices in education and defend small businesses.
Twillman is an independent running as a Republican. His campaign priorities include infrastructure, education and the justice system. He was present and supported Trump at the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Velasquez, a former Dow engineer, ran for the seat in 2022 but lost in the primary. His priorities are passing a realistic state budget, rolling back income and property taxes and fixing Michigan roads.
Wendt filed for election on Sept. 25. More information on him is not currently available.
Headshot of Michael Gavin, Image sourced from Delta College
LOCAL
Halloween events around every corner
Jacob Teets | Staff Reporter
Trick-or-treat around the castle
Trick-or-treat around the castle is a family affair where parents can bring their kids in costume and listen to Halloween stories and then go trick-or-treating around the Castle Museum. The event takes place on Oct. 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 500 Federal Ave in Saginaw. Admission is free and if you have any questions, you can contact Kristi Furtaw by email at kfurtaw@castlemuseum.org or by phone at 989-752-2861.
Jack-O-Dash
The Jack-O-Dash is being hosted by Saginaw County Parks and the Saginaw YMCA at the Price Nature Center at 6685 Sheridan Road in Saginaw from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Activities begin at 6 p.m. and run until 7 p.m., awards will be given out at 7 p.m. and then a candlelit run/walk will start at 7:15 p.m.
The first 50 participants to register will receive a free pumpkin. There will also be prizes handed out for the best costumes. There will also be healthy activities, treats, campfires and mascots.
The event is free admission with pre-registration requested and you can pre-register by calling the parks office at 989-790-5280.
Halloween Monster Mix and Mash
The Halloween Monster Mix and Mash takes place at the Mid-Michigan Children’s Museum for only $3 per person and is located at 315 Genesee Ave. on Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The event will include activities like spooky games, crafts and all-day gallery play as well as handing out goodie bags and wearing family-friendly costumes. On top of all that there will also be a costume parade.
Plethora of haunted houses
The Factory of the Dead hosts haunted houses all month long every weekend. Times vary from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Oct. 18, 24, 25 and 31. Blackout night will be on Nov. 7 and 8 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and family night will be on Nov. 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Everything will take place at 906 Lapeer Ave. in Saginaw.
Some of the fun nights include blackout nights, where you have to navigate through the haunted house with a group in the dark with only one glowstick. On Oct. 19 and 26 it’s $10 school spirit night and you must show your school ID at the box office. There’s also a 60-minute private escape room you can reserve as well as a 60-minute UV GellyBall game. You can learn more at http://906lapeer.com/.
The Edson Incident haunted house is an attraction in Bay City that takes place at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum every weekend in October. Every Friday the haunted house runs from 8 p.m. to midnight and every Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $25 for both nights. Sunday Oct. 26 from noon to 4 p.m. is a low score event and costs $10. That same evening from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. is a full scare event and costs $15. For more information check out edsonincident.com.
Image from kjpargeter on Freepik
CAMPUS LIFE
Financial Fun
Free college application month and Delta College scholarships
Emma Blakley | Associate Editor
Thinking about transferring after getting your degree at Delta? October is the best time to start applying - it’s free college application month within Michigan!
Many schools waive their application fee during Oct., which can be helpful to those who are struggling financially. The average fee can be between $45-50, and sometimes can be even higher.
Have a few more semesters at Delta? Delta College scholarship applications open Dec. 3, and study abroad scholarships are open from Sept. 15 - Oct. 30. In 2024, Delta awarded $1,107,500 in scholarships.
For more information on Delta College scholarships, visit delta.edu/scholarships
President’s Speaker Series: Shalini Kantayya
The Emmy-nominated filmmaker visits Delta
Nic Longstreet | Staff Reporter
Two-time Emmy nominated filmmaker Shalini Kantayya will be coming to Delta as a part of the Presidents Speakers Series. Kantayya will be at Delta on Oct. 14 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Lecture Theater (G160).
Kantayya is known for two of her most recent films: “TikTok Boom” and “Coded Bias.” TikTok Boom focuses on the impact of the video sharing app and how young people have been forced to adapt to being digital natives. “Coded Bias” focuses on the bias in facial recognition tecnology, especially when reading dark-skinned faces, and the legislation that followed.
Kantayya speaks on how to share a story that “moves the heart,” utilizing Gen Z casting and is relevant to the world as we know it right now.
Through her company, 7th Empire Media, Kantayya aims to create a culture of human rights and sustainability through imaginative media that makes a real impact. In this entertaining and interactive presentation, she incorporates clips from her films to share how to tell a story that moves the heart, reaches new audiences and inspires change.
Michigan College Month
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Social Social Social
Network
Headshot of Shalini Kantayya, Image sourced from Acton Universtiy
Polaroids from Japan
Itsukushima Shrine
The foating torii gate stands in the waters surrounding Miyajima Island, as seen from Itsukushima Shrine, May 18, 2025. (DC Photo/Onnie Stone)
The floating torii gate! What a beautiful, magical sight this was! If you have never heard of the floating torii gate, it gets its name from its aquatic placement just off the shores of Miyajima Island. The gate is a serene sight to behold as it appears to be floating in the water. Looking at it, you can imagine how the structure might be a gateway between our world and the world of the divine.
Back in May this year, myself and 20 other Delta students were shipped off across the Pacific for a 10-day trip in Japan. The trip was led by Professor Jeff Dykhuizen, whose passion for the country and its customs inspired all of us to immerse ourselves in Japan’s rich history. Professor Jacob Vanhouten joined Dykhuizen, making sure this gaggle of American college students stayed in one piece throughout the trip.
We started in Osaka, then
We explored the Itsukushima Shrine on the island, buying omamori charms (for good luck and protection), reading our fortunes, and watching an annual Shinto ritual.
Kusunoki-Masahige
A striking statue of the famous samurai Kusunoki Masahige stands across from Japan’s Imperial Palace, Tokyo, Japan, May 23, 2025. (DC Photo/Onnie Stone)
Kyoto, relaxed for a day at an onsen (a Japanese hot spring/ public bath) in Hakone, then ended with a few days of shopping around Tokyo. At each stop, we had a guided tour from our EF Travel guide, Michiyo-san. Taking in the history and culture of Japan with such great people was an experience I’ll treasure forever.
Thousands of origami cranes are strung together and placed in this box at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to represent a wish for peace, May 18, 2025. (DC Photo/Onnie Stone)
In preparation for our trip, our class made a thousand paper cranes strung together with thread. In Japan, paper cranes commonly represent peace, and they are a significant symbol of Japan’s recovery from the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who survived the atomic bomb, famously folded one thousand paper cranes, expressing her desire for world peace. She succumbed to the lasting effects of the bombing after 10 years, dying when she was only 12-years-old. Now, she's memorialized at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park next to thousands of paper cranes people bring to the park.
Our class’ bundle of cranes joined the countless others at the park, showing our commitment to world peace from our corner of the world, all the way back in Michigan.
Visiting Hiroshima was an eye-opening experience for me. In America, we are shown very little of the raw impact of our military’s actions.
Walking through Hiroshima and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, I saw the skeletons of buildings that disappeared in an instant, charred clothing of children on their way to school, and the shadows of burned bodies forever imprinted on walls of stone. I read the diary entries of college students, once bright-eyed and full of dreams for their future, slowly losing their ability to hope for a future without endless pain and ostracization.
I left Hiroshima weary of our military’s atomic weaponry. No one should be subject to the generational trauma inflicted on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Group-Karaoke
A group of students pose with a receipt from a fun night of singing, drinking and laughing for hours at karaoke, Tokyo, Japan, May 23, 2025. (Photo courtesy of stranger in Japan)
Kamakura-Daibutsu
The Kamakura Daibustu is the second tallest statue of Budhha in Japan, located in the Kotoku-in Buddhist temple, May 22, 2025. (DC Photo/Onnie Stone)
The highlight of my time in Tokyo wasn’t the shopping–it was the night we spent singing our hearts out at karaoke. Karaoke in Japan is a different breed of fun. Picture a small room full of friends, food and drink at the touch of a button and a large screen at the front of the room. How could you not have the time of your life? By the end of the night, we racked up an impressive tab (thanks again sugar shonen!) and all felt a bit closer to one another.
Returning from Japan was hard, but I’m taking steps to go back as soon as I can. This time, I will be confident in my ability to travel thousands of miles across the ocean and connect with people who lead completely different lives from my own. Thank you Professor Dykhuizen for making this possible for Delta College students.
from
Experience a 10-day immersion-learning experience in Japan. Explore Vibrant cities and landmarks, including shrines, temples, markets, and gardens in Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Nara. Discover Tokyo's vibrant urban culture including shrines, temples, popular shopping districts, and the Tokyo stock exchange. Explore further Kyoto's cultural heritage as well as day trips to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Miyajima Island. Engage with industry experts and get a closer look at how businesses operate in Receive credit for MGT 265: International Business 3 credit hour option (additional costs apply)- Not required for travel
• Cost: Estimated at $6,000 Includes: airfare, hotel, ground transportation, exhibit & tour fees, some gratuities, and some meals. Does not include cost for the MGT 265 tuition and fees Into
Fundraising and scholarship opportunities available to help offset costs of travel
When: Mid-May 2026
Optional 3-credit course, integrated into the Delta curriculum as International Business (MGT 265)
Final multi-media project and presentation required for credit towards MGT 265 Study Abroad Scholarships available!
Sept. 15 - Oct. 15, 2025
Apply at delta.edu/scholarships elta College
We are currently collecting names of students who might be interested. For more information contact: Ethan Short ethanshort@delta.edu or Nicole Ryan nicoleryan@delta.edu
Visitors
around the world walk under the thousands of torii gates at the Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan, May 20, 2025. (DC Photo/Onnie Stone)
Fushimi-Inari-Taisha-Shrine
Student Spotlight: Going Global
Blake Metiva | Editor-in-Cheif
A select few can say they’ve represented their nation on the biggest stage, but for one Delta student he has those bragging rights.
Manuel Mendham is a 21 year old who is specializing in health fitness. He first found softball when he was a child at a tournament in his hometown of Vassar. “I probably started at eight or 10. Every year they had a tournament in Vassar and I played with whatever
team.” Mendham’s first shot would come after one of those small town tournaments.
“I mean it’s weird, what are these team USA coaches doing here? In this tiny town? I figured I’d take my shot,” he noted “the worst they can do is cut me.”
Mendham would make the team, and he’s been a staple ever since. He’d debut at the 2019 under-17 World
Baseball Softball Confederation Americas qualifier. He was one for five with a run batted in and two runs scored.
His best moments in the red, white and blue? Hitting a home run against Japan that sparked the US to a 9-1 victory . “That was by far the best feeling in my life. It’s by far the highlight of my athletic career,” he said. “They were pretty much the number one ranked team there, so to get the team sparked off the home-run, it was awesome.”
In September of 2024 Mendham received a text from the team USA coaches. He’d gotten the call up to represent the US at the : “In September of last year they took a group of guys out to California. They had a good idea of who was going,” he stated. “I had a really bad tournament because I broke my hand in July. To get that text from my coaches was a huge reassurance.”
While Mendham and the US didn’t have the tournament they hoped, representing the nation is one of the biggest achievements you can have.
What does Mendham have to say for those looking to get into the sport? “Reach out to me and we’ll get you on the team. It’s so much fun. It’s fast paced and competitive."
Women's Volleyball Aims to Gain Ground in Conference Play
Delta College volleyball plays against Alpena in pink
out game
UNIVERSITY CENTER, MI - The Delta Lady Pioneers volleyball team looks to get their season back on the right track after starting conference play 1-4. They had the opportunity to do just that in a thrilling game against Alpena on Wednesday, Oct. 1 on their home court in the Pioneer Gym.
Students were loud from the first serve and did a wonderful job showing support for the Pink Out! Both teams played tough and points were hard to come by. Freshman Makenzie Nearman played hard, had numerous kills and led the team in points scored as the Pioneers came away with the 3-1 win.
They look to carry this momentum forward when they face Parkland College in the Parkland College Mid-Season Invite Tournament on Saturday, October 4, 2025.
Mendham warming up with a teammate, photo courtsey Manuel Mendham
Team USA, photo courtsey Manuel Mendham
Andrew Hornbacher | Staff Reporter
Makenzie Nearman goes in for a kill, University Center, Mich., Oct. 1, 2025; DC Photo/Emma Blakley
Charlotte Fournier prepares to serve the ball, University Center, Mich., Oct. 1, 2025; DC Photo/Emma Blakley
The roller coaster that was the 2025 Detroit Tigers regular season
The Detroit Tigers were fighting with themselves in the back half of the season to edge out teams for a wildcard spot
Jacob Teets | Staff Reporter
The first half of the Detroit Tigers 2025 season was just as magical as they had left it when they went on their improbable run from Aug. 11 2024 to an eventual divisional round appearance where they lost to the Cleveland Guardians in five games.
The Tigers started 2025 with a record of 53-32 going into the month of July. The entire team was clicking, and they dominated opposing teams along the way. The Tigers couldn’t lose more than two games in a row and were already on the verge of winning the AL Central Title.
Then July hit; it was a different story completely. The Tigers went 1-12 from July 9 to July 26, proving the Tigers aren’t as invincible as they were looking prior. They had to make some changes to gain momentum again and that’s where the trade deadline came into play.
The Tigers went out and traded for six pitchers in hopes to bolster their bullpen and rotation with the absence of starting pitcher Reese Olson, who suffered a right shoulder strain on July 28 and missed the remainder of the season. The Tigers would acquire starting pitcher Charlie Morton, starting pitcher Chris Paddack and relief pitchers Codi Heuer, Rafael Montero, Paul Sewald and Kyle Finnegan.
In nine starts with the Tigers Morton had a 7.09 ERA with a 1.60 WHIP before being released by the Tigers on Sept. 21. Heuer was on the team for five days and pitched in two games before being sent down to Triple A Toledo on Aug. 13 and then being released Sept. 18. Montero has been solid in the bullpen since the trade to the Tigers, ending the regular season with a 2.86 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 22 innings pitched.
Kyle Finnegan has been the Tigers' best pick-up from the trade deadline by far. After playing for the Washington Nationals for six seasons he was traded to Detroit, pitching 18 innings and posting a 1.50 ERA with 23 strikeouts. Finnegan has been a bright spot in a bullpen that has had its share of bad performances this season.
Outfielder Riley Greene had another good season, proving his worth to the Tigers with career highs in home runs with 36 and 111 RBIs. The one issue Greene had this season was striking out. He led the MLB with 201 strikeouts, which would be good if he were a pitcher, but he’s not. It’s nothing new for Greene, who has
had 100 plus strikeouts in each of his first four MLB seasons. It’s something the Tigers would surely like to see improved going into his fifth season.
Unfortunately, after all the success the Tigers had they almost lost it just as fast. Going into the month of September the Tigers were 80-58. Baseball fans know that having that good of a record in September means that the Tigers should win the division and play in the postseason.
This time it was not a certainty as the Tigers would go 7-17 in September while the Cleveland Guardians, who were 15.5 games back in the division on July 6, went on an improbable run like the Tigers last year. Meanwhile, Cleveland went 20-7 in September and beat the Tigers five times out of six, stealing the division from right under their nose.
The Tigers skid cost them the division, losing out to the Guardians by one game. Cleveland finished the season 88-74 while the Tigers finished the season 87-75, barely making the final wildcard spot.
The Tigers regular season may not have ended the way any fans thought it would, but the Tigers still made the postseason. If they can make a deep run in the playoffs and bring in some free agents to help fill out the roster, the Tigers could see themselves back in the postseason next year. Keep up with the Delta Collegiate website to see what happens with the Detroit Tigers and their 2025 postseason journey.
Red-hot soccer team looks to keep winning big
Jacob Teets | Staff Reporter
It’s no secret that the soccer team at Delta College is the best team in the region, going undefeated last year and winning a national title. The Pioneers season has started off just as well as the team hoped it would, sporting an 8-0-1 record to start the season.
In their two most recent games the Pioneers won 11-0 against St. Clair County Community College Skippers
on Sept. 28 and the following game won 12-0 against Alpena Community College Lumberjacks on Oct. 4 totaling a combined 23 goals to their opponents’ zero.
In the first game against the Skippers the team scored eight goals in the first half and three goals in the second half and scored all 12 goals in the first half of the second game against the Lumberjacks.
Keeper Mia Warner played the first half against the Skippers and recorded two saves and 30 minutes against the Lumberjacks recording one save, showing what the defense’s ability to get the ball back quickly.
Warner’s lack of saves shows how impactful the defense has been and their ability to get the ball back to the other side of the field. In the last two games there have only been three shots on goal against Warner. If the defense can keep opponents from shooting the ball at the net, they will be able to dominate the competition going forward.
On offense the quartet of freshman forward Anna Weston, sophomore forward/defender Isabella
Workman, freshman forward Alahna Beckett and sophomore midfielder Brooke Swartz have combined for 35 of the teams 60 goals this season. Keeping up that kind of production on offense will keep the Pioneers winning games by big margins like they already have this year.
The team’s next game will be played this Saturday, Oct. 11 on the road against the 2-6 Marian University Ancilla soccer team.
Rylee Jatczak runs the ball past opposing player, Universtiy Center, Mich., Sept 10, 2025; DC Photo/Hal Reed
Ella Wallaker shows down with an opposing player, Universtiy Center, Mich., Sept 10, 2025; DC Photo/Hal Reed
ENTERTAINMENT
Nine Lives and One Wild Ride: A Review of “Caught Stealing”
Alex Nichols | Student Submission
Darren Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing” is a chaotic, high-energy plunge into New York’s seedy underworld, dripping with style, dark humor, and unexpected heart. Adapted from Charlie Huston’s cult crime novel, the film embraces pulp storytelling with a bold, over-the-top flair that may not work for everyone, but when it hits, it really hits. With strong performances, kinetic visuals, and a cat that somehow ties it all together, “Caught Stealing” earns its 4 stars with madcap confidence.
At the film’s center is Hank Thompson (Austin Butler), a former baseball phenom turned bartender, haunted by past injuries and his present regrets. His quiet life unravels after he agrees to watch a neighbor’s cat, an act that plunges him into a maelstrom of Russian mobsters, crooked cops, and psychotic criminals all convinced Hank is hiding something he doesn’t even know he has.
Butler is exceptional here, balancing Hank’s weary vulnerability with flashes of gritty resolve. He’s not an action hero; he survives by instinct, desperation and sheer dumb luck. As the stakes rise, so does Hank’s transformation from passive loner to an unlikely antihero. Butler gives the character emotional weight, grounding even the film’s most outlandish moments.
Equally compelling is Zoë Kravitz, who plays Annie, a sharp-tongued, street-smart nurse with her own messy history. She enters the story midway and quickly becomes one of its most memorable presences. Kravitz brings a calm intensity that contrasts beautifully with the film’s chaos. She shares great chemistry with Butler, her scenes are both emotionally centered and add a much-needed moral compass. Annie isn’t just a love interest; she’s a survivor, a protector, and in many ways, the heart of the film.
Visually, “Caught Stealing” is a gritty fever dream of late-90s Manhattan. The cinematography is fast, frenetic and often claustrophobic, perfectly reflecting Hank’s spiraling
world. Neon-lit alleys, blood-soaked bathrooms and cramped apartments become a nightmarish playground. Aronofsky doesn’t shy away from surreal touches.
The tonal shifts from gruesome violence to offbeat humor can feel jarring, but they also keep the film unpredictable. And yes, the cat named Tonic steals several scenes, somehow serving as both a plot device and a source of twisted levity. The final act pulls off a clever escape and a quiet emotional beat that lingers longer than expected. There’s something oddly hopeful beneath the blood and broken bones.
Caught Stealing is messy, loud, and frequently unhinged—but it’s also stylish, engaging, and packed with strong performances. With Butler anchoring the madness and Kravitz delivering one of her most nuanced roles to date, this is a wild ride well worth taking.
Image sourced from Roten Tomatoes
Taylor Swift fans you can’t gaslight me this time
Nic Longstreet | Staff Reporter
Well, it’s October 3rd. For many, it’s another day, one that will fade into obscurity and distant memory. For some, it’s happy Friday, maybe a birthday or something. But for the most basic, annoying white girl in your life, it’s that day mentioned in Mean Girls, and their goddess, queen, and patron saint’s day of celebration: Taylor Swift released an album, “The Life Of A Showgirl”
I want to just take a moment to apologize to all my musically inclined friends. I’m sorry I ever tried to tell you that Taylor Swift is a good songwriter…Clearly, as of this album, that era of her life passed her by. “Folklore,” had me in awe, it was the first album of Swift’s that made me really consider her as a generational artist. But since then it’s become questionable.
The whole album sonically sounds like one song. Like all 12 songs could be one long song. That says a lot for the cohesiveness of the album, but the listenability? No. It’s boring. And lyrically? Go to X and type Taylor Swift in the search, sift through the mindless adoring swifties and you’ll find the truth.
“Did you girl-boss too close to the sun?” is a real Taylor Swift lyric in 2025. It's antics like that in the album that come off as corny and seem like she is reaching for relatability. It’s
okay to be an out of touch billionaire, but you have to accept that you’re out of touch.
She has contributed heavily to CO2 emissions and is a billionaire with not a single worry in the world, other than maybe which house you’ll be staying in for the weekend. Meanwhile us regular folk are talking about the price of eggs…still. And the tariffs.
So the real question is how long is she going to play the whole “girl who was never accepted” role? She has one of the highest tallies of Grammy’s, remade her own albums and literally her fans ate it up. Have we forgotten “The Eras Tour” already? A 3 hour show. It was her fans who willingly, and their friends who out of the kindness granted to them by the universe, sat through all of it.
Don’t take my critique as a misunderstanding. The music industry elite is mostly men who actively use misogynistic tactics to devalue women and make themselves richer. But Taylor Swift is worth 1.3 billion (with a B) dollars. I don’t know any other musician moving like she is just from the music. She’s been in the industry for so long and released so many albums that I’m not surprised she has that much money, but it’s just as corny as DJ Khaled calling his 2013 album “Suffering From Success.” Like are we serious.
So when we get songs that sound like she cut up words and threw it together (“Wood”) it’s very disappointing. Tell Lana Del Rey to either 1. finish that album sooner or 2. get in a writing room with Ms. Swift, because this is atrocious.
And the title track with Sabrina Carpenter is oddly reminiscent of Swift’s attempt to seem “current” when she added Ice Spice to Karma (No, I did not forget). It works better, only because they actually have some things in common (ish) (you know, really insubstantial pop music with some meaning…I guess) but it still seems like she was trying too hard.
I won’t even address the Charli XCX jab, it’s not worth it. How are you as one of the most successful female artists of right now, if not ever, going to take a shot at a younger artist who is just now receiving their flowers? Make it make sense.
All I can say is try again.
1 out of 5 stars. Horrible.
Image sourced from Clash magazine
Image sourced from Variety magazine
Image sourced from NPR
OPINION
The enemy within resides in the White House
Andrew Hornbacher | Staff Reporter
QUANTICO, VA — President Donald Trump stood before America’s top generals and admirals Tuesday and declared that the nation’s true enemy is not a foreign adversary but “the enemy within”, progressivism.
This was no routine address. Senior military leaders from around the globe were abruptly summoned to Marine Corps Base Quantico for what was billed as a speech — but felt more like a lecture. What they heard was not about strategy or defense, but about politics.
Trump portrayed inclusion, diversity and acceptance as threats to American and Christian values. Just as George W. Bush cast Saddam Hussein as a singular evil, Trump is painting progress itself as an existential danger within the United States.
He went so far as to propose using American cities as training grounds for the military. To even float the idea of occupying U.S. cities is autocratic, a thinly veiled threat against Democratic-led communities that resist his agenda. The president who touts small government now suggests turning the military inward, using soldiers as a cudgel against dissent.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth doubled down with “warrior ethos” rhetoric, urging officers to reject “woke culture” and embrace what he called “male-level” standards. He framed them as gender-neutral, but the intent was clear: a push to sideline women and hyper masculinize the armed forces. In his eight months at the Pentagon, Hegseth has sent troops into American cities and launched questionable operations abroad.
Behind all the culture-war bluster lies a chilling ultimatum: conform to Trump’s politics or risk retaliation. But the military is sworn to the Constitution, not to any politician. To drag it into partisan warfare is to erode its very foundation, transforming an institution meant to defend into one that enforces ideology and crushes “dissent”. Hegseth even called for loosening rules on hazing and toxic leadership, a move that would only shield abusers from accountability. That is not raising standards. It is lowering them, at the expense of service members’ safety.
Trump and Hegseth cling to 20th-century notions of strength — brute force, domination, the image of men lifting heavy weights to prove their worth, but true strength is growth. It is progress. A nation that cannot move forward is doomed to collapse. To move backward is to invite failure, as history shows.
Bush’s crusade against Hussein left Iraq in ruins. Lyndon B. Johnson’s war against communism ended in disaster in Vietnam. Trump has made progress with his enemy. If he succeeds in bending the military to his will, the disaster will be ours.
The Delta Collegiate is accepting student poetry and short story submissions! Submit your work for consideration to be featured in our next print in the at deltacollegiate@gmail.com.
Image sourced from Rochak Shukla on Freepik
Image sourced from Wirestock on Freepik
The Erosion of Free Speech Speech has lost its meaning
Americans have a speech impediment. No, it’s more accurate to say that American speech has been impeded. With political divide comes a split in the meanings of words. Democrats and Republicans police language in different ways, but they’ve both contributed to the degradation of our speech’s meaning. When everyone tries to keep each other from speaking, speech loses all its power, depth and purpose.
From Jimmy Kimmel to Van Jones, the words they say, however offensive they may or may not be, don’t carry any weight. With everybody trying to decide for each other what should and shouldn’t be said, we believe that speech, particularly free speech, has been eroded into meaninglessness.
The line between what is protected speech and what is hate speech has never been more blurred. “Dog whistles,” coded messages, and symbols meant to stir hatred, have invaded the realm of speech.
What may seem like a normal, if not controversial, statement may be a camouflaged directive of hate because of dog whistles. It begs the question of what our country must protect and what it must fight against regarding speech and language.
We believe that our country should fight against speech and speakers that spread messages of hate, violence, incitement and intolerance. The protection of this language is one of the reasons why speech has been eroded to this point. The line, we believe, is between speech that incites hate—the speech mentioned above—and words that offend people or hurt their feelings. Anyone can be offended by anything making it an ineffectual method of speech protection.
Our time is one of a growth in progressivism and tolerance. Yet, we are far from where we should be. Unlocking the power of speech to fight hate and drive progress will get us there. Progress will
defeat hate when the power of the English language is restored to its proper form.
When speech is turned into a weapon against hate we will all be freer. Instead of fighting specific words we should fight hate speech in general. We do not need to lobotomize our language, but we must get to the root of hate speech and pull it out like a weed. The longer both sides point the finger at each other, the longer we go without making progress, the longer hate is protected.
We believe that speech has been eroded to the point that words have lost their meaning and hate speech has toed the line between protected and unprotected language. This is not a battle of words; it’s a war between decency and intolerance. Americans will lose this battle unless they take back the English language and use it to fight hate and intolerance.
Illustration by Makayla Murphy
Halloween Word Search
trick or treating haunted house halloween spell
scarecrow tombstone pumpkin cat
cauldron ghost creepy
curse
Crystal McMorris Advisor crystalmcmorris@delta.edu
Makayla Murphy Page Designer makaylamurphy@delta.edu
Nic Longstreet Multimedia Journalist nicolaslongstreet@delta.edu
Madison Hardenburgh Multimedia Journalist madisonhardenburgh@delta.edu
Hey, I’m Nic Longstreet. Sometimes, I have good ideas, sometimes I have bad ideas, usually a mix of both. I specialize in entertainment news, specifically music, but I’m a big fan of other mediums and topics. Also, I like doing video work, so occasionally you might see me being followed by a camera.
COLLEGIATE STAFF
Blake Metiva Editor in Chief deltacollegiate@gmail.com
Hal Reed Multimedia Journalist halreed@delta.edu
Jacob Teets
Multimedia Journalist jacobteets@delta.edu
MEET THE STAFF
Hi I'm Ashton Barrett. If you ever see a guy walking around campus with a camera and tripod around his neck recording videos that's me. I specialize in video production and run the Delta Collegiate YouTube channel. I have two cats and enjoy sports movies and Minecraft.
MISSION STATEMENT
Emma Blakley Associate Editor emmablakley@delta.edu
Ashton Barrett Videographer ashtonbarrett@delta.edu
Andrew Hornbacher Multimedia Journalist andrewhornbacher@delta.edu
Hey! My name is Hal Reed. This is my second year (and hopefully my last) at Delta College. I am enrolled in the media broadcasting program. This is my second semester at The Collegiate as a multimedia journalist taking on various jobs. I am a lover of music and an avid vinyl collector.
The Delta Collegiate is an award-winning, student-run, multi-media news organization which strives to educate, entertain and engage the Delta College community and beyond.
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