The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

It’s a Wolverine Winner!

Spreading the Gospel through medicine

Exorcist series resurrected with newest addition

SPORTS

COMMUNITY

ENTERTAINMENT

Fall Sports take it to the top of PAC

The

@Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The GCC Newspaper Friday, November 3, 2023

Biology student sets sights on the mission field

Spoiler Alert: There’s an exorcism

Collegian The Award-Winning Grove City College Student Newspaper

Vol. 108, No. 7

WE’VE DONE IT! Undefeated

football team makes history Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

In the last week of the football season in 2016, senior wide receiver Brett Pinson got ready for practice. The Grove City Wolverines were 0-9. In his career, Pinson had gone 0-30 with the Wolverines.

Pinson was asked, “Why are you going to practice?”

He replied, “To compete for a PAC Championship.”

Head Coach Andrew DiDonato ’10 and his football team have competed each season for a PAC Championship, and this year, they’ve won it; with a well-established vision “to glorify God in the pursuit of earning a degree, build lasting relationships and compete for PAC championships,” and a legacy of building this program “brick by brick.”

The same program that would finish 0-10 eight years ago has achieved a historic feat; for the first time ever, the Wolverines are 9-0 and are headed to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

The team feels the energy that’s been building up for all of these years, and the campus does too. The communi-

ty on this campus has always been a unique force, and it has been reignited by the team’s remarkable season.

“One of our phrases as a program is, ‘Each of us needs all of us’. That phrase is clearly lived out in our home game atmosphere. A home game at Grove City College is second to none when it comes to small college football. The support of the campus and Grove City community has helped us be a very tough team to beat at home,” said DiDonato.

From Robert E. Thorn Field all the way to upper campus, the team has felt the support of their peers and professors. Senior captain Dom Magliocco expressed how this support has helped the team live out their vision.

“When you have a community behind you it really helps you strive to not only do your best on the field, but also in the classroom. Also, they help us to build relationships between the team and the community through the support that they show week in and week out,” said Magliocco.

Bleachers packed with stuUNDEFEATED 2

Urban Trail celebrates one year at GCC Olivia Sweeney Contributing Writer

You walk into the library, and are immediately greeted with the sweet, warm smell of coffee, the sound of espresso, and the calling of names displaying the variety of orders bought by your fellow classmates. This is the experience that Urban Trail has brought to the Grove City College (GCC) community, according to senior Katherine Kovac.

GCC’s Urban Trail has reached its one-year anniversary as the main source of caffeine on campus. However, Urban Trail was not always a stationary organization. According to the Urban

Trail website, owners Tana and Justin Mitchell started their business in 2020, utilizing a trailer to pursue all of their coffee-filled dreams in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pa. Fast forward two years, and the Mitchells found themselves in a new location; this time, in a more permanent aspect. As noted by the GCC website, in August 2022, the couple explained their goal for Urban Trail and its place at GCC. “Urban Trail Coffee Co. aspires to bring a new coffee experience to the Grove City Community by providURBAN 3

PHOTO CREDIT

Above: Sophomore wide receivers Wyatt Barzak and Gavin Mauger celebrate a touchdown. Below Right: Head Coach Andrew DiDonato ‘10. Below Left: Wolverines celebrate their PAC Championship.

Students translate Holocaust documents Violet Whitmore News Editor

Pictures may speak louder than words, but the tongue can paint what the eye can’t see. When pictures can’t do justice to the horrific suffering endured by many during the Holocaust, historical documents are an essential resource for understanding.

While working to preserve and translate historical accounts written on the arrest of Jewish citizens living in Nazi-occupied Amiens, France is no small task, GCC students have risen to the occasion to do just that.

Four Grove City College students, under the instruction of Dr. Kelsey B. Madsen, Chair of the Department of Modern Languages, have teamed up with historian and retired archivist Dr. David Rosenburg and his daughter, Lydia Rosenburg, to exhibit the translations in English.

Senior editor Cara Scott, freshman Marcus Henry, sophomore Katelyn Livorse and junior Virginia Williams worked together and individually to translate memoirs, letters and government records with the assistance of Dr. Madsen.

“All of these arrests oc-

curred on the night of Jan. 4, 1944, in Amiens, France. By this time, many non-French Jews residing in France had already been arrested, and it came as a shock to the community that French citizens of Jewish heritage, many of whom did not even associate themselves with their Jewish background, were suddenly removed from their homes and transported to concentration camps,” Scott said.

“I think the main thing that really fascinated me as I worked through it, more than any kind of historical takeaway about the war, was just the stunning first-hand

Editorial

Page 2

The award-winning Grove City College student newspaper, Nov. 3, 2023

From the Tower

Unwavering Identity

Becoming a champion. It is something that I dreamed of my entire life, and I was finally able to accomplish this feat last weekend as the Grove City College Football Team clinched its first President’s Athletic Conference Championship since 1998 and our first ever NCAA playoff berth.

I played three sports in high school and was an 11-time letter winner. I was fortunate enough to capture two individual accolades, but I never won a team championship.

I had two school records in football, but we fell just short multiple times when it came to capturing a team championship.

Finally, after eight years of competitive interscholastic competition, I was able to take part in a team winning a championship ─ on senior day no less. Let me tell you, it was a glorious day filled with all kinds of emotions: tears of joy, hugs and laughter. Last Saturday will easily go down as one of the best days of my entire life.

Being able to celebrate with so many loved ones, teammates, friends and coaches is what made it so sweet. I have started a total of zero games for the Grove City Wolverines at quarterback. I have been fortunate enough to see time as the backup on a few occasions and have thrown three touchdowns in my career. But for the first two years of my career, I played zero snaps – and my parents were in the stands for every single one of them. To be able to celebrate and hug them, to see my dreams finally come to fruition is a moment I will never forget.

To be able to cherish that moment with my teammates and coaches after we had fallen just short for three straight years was an incredible feeling. Yet, I had a profound realization when I woke up Sunday morning.

Thank God my identity isn’t in football. When I woke up Sunday, I wasn’t confronted with an emptiness. Rather, I was filled with gratitude. You see, becoming a champion was a goal of mine for my entire life, and this was my last attempt at making it happen as an athlete. I gave this sport everything I had.

But becoming a PAC champion wasn’t satisfying an unfulfilled need of mine. I always wondered what the day after winning a championship was like. You put so much time, energy and effort into the game, what’s the day after it’s over like? For me, I woke up thanking God for Christ.

Winning a PAC doesn’t make me something I wasn’t. It doesn’t define who I am. Yes, I will unapologetically wear my PAC championship hat way too much – and it’ll become annoying to some. It’s not a crime to celebrate a feat like this, and I’m not going to apologize.

But I was going to be the same person on Sunday, Oct. 29, whether I won a PAC title or not on Saturday, Oct. 28.

My identity is in Christ, and I am called to live in a way to glorify God. It’s not in a white hat. It’s not in a game that I only get to play for another month or so. My identity is in the God of the universe, and that is never going to change.

Ayden Gutierrez

Managing Editor

Collegian Staff Editor-in-Chief Emma Rossi

Managing Editor Ayden Gutierrez

Business Manager Maercy Campion

Copy Editors

Section Editors News Violet Whitmore

Mia Gallagher Melody Shilito Kathryna Hoyman Hannah Williams

Community

Staff Writers

Entertainment Vincent Clay

David Smith Dom Puglisi Garret Gess Mia Gallagher Abigail Joyner Hunter Oswald Brae Sadler

Sports

Staff Photographers

Emily Fox

Perspectives Grace Scheller

Photo Chief

Maggie Miller Joel Sledd Megan Eisentrout

Copy Chief

Staff Adviser

Joel Sledd Grace David

Hannah Welker

Nick Hildebrand

The Collegian is the student newspaper of Grove City College, located in Grove City, Pa. Opinions appearing on these pages, unless expressly stated otherwise, represent the views of individual writers. They are not the collective views of The Collegian, its staff or Grove City College.

the Green

Eyeshade Award This week’s Green Eyeshade Award goes to Community Editor Emily Fox for being all hands on deck this week and helping to design multiple sections.

The Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors that demonstrate consistency and excellence in their work.

FOX

GUIDEPOSTS

Placing my trust in God Emily Fox

Community Editor To trust is easier said than done. It is a beautiful thing to be able to let go of the pressure of covering up your imperfections and insecurities to put your confidence in another. However, it also requires an individual to let their guard down, which opens up the possibility of getting hurt or disappointed by the person you put your trust in. This is especially difficult when you’ve shared your most personal feelings with that person.

Unfortunately, because we are all fallen people, disappointment is inevitable. Even the best confidant isn’t always going to do everything right. We are all flawed, and we need to know upfront that no trusted friend is perfect.

That’s not to say that we should never trust anyone; we just need to be aware that we will be let down and be prepared to show the same grace we hope to receive from others when we make mistakes.

Man’s broken sense of trust just makes it all the more apparent that we need to place our trust in God before man.

But sometimes that can be hard too. When we place our confidence in God, we are not only trusting Him with

UNDEFEATED continued from 1

dents, parents, professors and people from the community are a testament to what this team means to this school. Some drive hours each week to serve as the Wolverine faithful, and the stands of Thorn often overflow onto the grassy hills beside the stadium.

“Without the support from the community we would not be where we are today as PAC Champs (or) without the atmosphere that they help provide on gameday. It is very rare to see an empty seat on our sidelines during home games,” Magliocco said.

This season is special, and this team is special, but each player would be the first to

our feelings, but also with the entire trajectory of our lives.

God’s control over my life and the necessity to trust Him was brought to the forefront of my mind last week when my family was in a car accident.

I was sitting in Hicks Cafeteria laughing with my friends when I happened to check my phone. I read a text from my mom, “Julia is fine.

Your dad is fine.” beneath a picture of my dad’s totaled SUV. The truck behind him wasn’t paying attention, and when he slowed down, it crashed into my dad’s vehicle completely demolishing the back end of the SUV. My sister commented that if she had been sitting in the back seat, the outcome may not have been so favorable.

I am so blessed to have my family still with me. They walked away with scratches and sore muscles. I walked away with new reflections on God’s provision. It hit me that while I was completely unaware of my family’s needs or circumstances, God had His hands on them, protecting and providing them with what they needed. I had been thinking about God’s provision often for a few months, and this situation brought my thoughts full circle.

There are countless times God has defended and provided for me in ways that at the time I didn’t understand or know what I needed. God is working for our good every

day, even in challenges and circumstances that are much smaller than a car accident.

Sometimes, it’s a relationship that ended and you don’t understand what happened.

Sometimes, It’s a closed door when you’re applying for an internship or a job. It can even be a missed opportunity or a plan that fell though. You may never even find out why these things happen even as you’re desperately searching for a reason.

It might not make sense, but know that you can have peace knowing that there is a reason and author of your story knows what it is. He knows what’s best for you and what you need even when you don’t. So you can put your complete trust in Him and His plans for you.

He is working for your good.

It’s scary. And it can be extremely painful when things don’t work out. Just remember that God isn’t going to leave you in your pain. He is with you in that struggle, and He will use it to shape your heart and lead you to the plans He’s had for you all along. God’s plan is the only plan that is going to satisfy you. Find your strength to face difficult circumstances in Him knowing that His plan is what’s best for you.

God will never disappoint or break your trust. He is the perfect confidant, leader and companion. You don’t have to be afraid to put your trust in Him.

acknowledge the work of those who came before them.

As their predecessors built this program brick by brick, the team sees themselves as the product of the hundreds of players, dozens of games, and thousands of drives that led up to this moment.

“It has just been an honor to go out there and be able to be a part of this program.

Without these guys before us believing in the vision we would be sitting nowhere close to where we are today,” said Magliocco.

“Every single person on this team is dedicated to the vision and this team has completely bought into our vision…(T)he thing that holds this team together is love. This is one of the closest teams that I have been

on, and I couldn’t be happier to be a part of this family,” he added.

The team has clinched their spot on the playoff bracket and another PAC trophy sits on the field house shelf, but the Wolverines are far from finished. They look to keep building.

“Saturday’s win was able to happen because of all the bricks that were laid over the years to get to the point to win a championship. We’re excited to continue to lay bricks moving forward,” said DiDonato.

The Wolverines play their regular season’s final game next Saturday, Nov. 11 in the Mercer County Cup, where they will take on the Thiel Tomcats in Greenville, Pa.

News The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 3

A new DJ in town Melody Shillito Contributing Writer

Only 24 percent of all disc jockeys (DJs) are women according to career search site Zippia.com, putting Mary Rose Tamburrino in the minority.

Tamburrino is a Grove City College sophomore double majoring in music business and marketing, but she is most proud to be a DJ. “I wanted to do this because I noticed there were never any female DJs and it is a great way to make money while trying to write my own music,” said Tamburrino.

She got her start when she was 18 years old at the Viaduct Barr and Grill in her hometown Tiffin, Ohio.

She was familiar with one of the DJs there, asked him if she could try and her career was off the ground.

Thereafter, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, Tamburrino could be found playing music for the crowd. She is proud to say she was the youngest and first woman DJ at the Viaduct.

“I wanted to be a pioneer for other women in the industry,” said Tamburrino. “Male DJs have specific things they play, and I don’t feel like they are as versatile. Women try to be people pleasers, which is why I think they make a

better DJ.” Tamburrino thinks of DJing as a performance, not just playing music that she would like to hear.

The sophomore disc jockey tries to cater to the crowd, playing more hip-hop and pop for younger audiences.

When receiving requests, she uses them to get an idea of what the crowd wants and plays songs similar to them.

She has developed different setlists depending on the venue and age range of the crowd.

“A good disc jockey is somebody who can get people dancing and not just sitting and listening,” added Tamburrino.

“Interacting with the crowd is something people like and can help get you a good reputation. This can bring more customers and a loyal following, which makes it easier to book jobs.”

Tamburrino considers her career as a DJ to be a steppingstone towards bigger dreams; her ultimate goal is to be a famous singer and recording artist.

DJing is not the only experience Tamburrino has in the music industry as she has been writing songs on piano since she was 15.

“Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus are my biggest musical inspirations. I would say my music is somewhat like theirs,” added Tamburrino.

She is currently working at the Guthrie Theatre as a social media intern and DJ. “Mary Rose is a young, ambitious person and a great addition to our operations since she can get the Guthrie in touch with the student community,” said Pat Artise, owner of the Guthrie Theater. “I am looking forward to Mary Rose starting and developing a resident DJ program here. She will have a positive impact on the business.”

Tamburrino is passionate about her job and plans to become more involved on campus.

“I want to DJ more events and dances because I think it’s a good way to give students something fun to do on the weekend, while also keeping them safe,” said Tamburrino.

Artise is hopeful about Tamburrino’s future.

He added, “She is experienced as a DJ as well as excited and enthusiastic about putting on events. With her being the first Grove City College student DJ, we have many ideas for events and cannot wait to share.”

Tamburrino is planning on holding her first event here in Grove City in the coming month. A theme and date for the event are currently in the works.

News?

Checkpoint Violet Whitmore News Editor

Like many other conservative students who are tired of hearing the same tired talking points and black-andwhite politics, the revival of Grove City College’s studentled publication, Checkpoint News, has been met with much anticipation.

The publication and its commentators are ready to dispel the myth of dogmatic conservatism with their dedication to bringing passionate, civil and realistic stories that represent people ─ not just ideas ─ to the GCC community and beyond.

Checkpoint News was created in 2017 through The Institute for Faith and Freedom (IFF), an organization dedicated to the preservation of truth and liberty. Recently, two student fellows from the Institute, seniors Isaac Willour and Corey Kendig, have revamped the publication.

Kendig, a political science and history major, serves as the head editor of Checkpoint News.

“While we never fully went away, Checkpoint was definitely on the decline. Last year, we began the slow process of rebuilding the site, but it really took off this year.

Meaning no disrespect to the previous editors, but it really needed people with experience in journalism to get it back to full capacity. Isaac and I have five years of journalism experience between the two of us. It’s exciting to see our work bearing fruit,” Kendig said.

Editor-in-chief Isaac Willour, a political science major and psychology minor, is an award-winning journalist committed to covering a diverse range of subjects through the publication.

“Checkpoint News is a space for conservatives who want to write about current events without feeling shoehorned into the same five issues every other conservative talk about,” Willour said.

URBAN

continued from 1

LYDIA ROSENBERG

Guests stop and read the multitude of transcripts at the Holocaust-translation exhibit.

STUDENTS

continued from 1

accounts that unfolded before me as I read and translated. It was such a dark time, and seeing how people were impacted, how an entire city was damaged by this terrible event, was really eyeopening,” Henry said.

Among the despair and disheartening injustices, however, Henry found occasional cases of selfless humanity among the documents.

“Some accounts were very uplifting. One of my favorites is the tale of how a woman was saved by the selfless act of one of the men, who remains anonymous, who quickly shoved her out of the way when no one was looking so that she would roll under a train car and come out the other side undetected,” Henry said.

Using their knowledge of French and other helpful

translation tools, the students worked hard to translate the accounts as seamlessly as possible.

“As with any language, French does not translate word-for-word into English. French grammatical constructions are typically very different than English constructions, so not only did I have to translate the meaning, I also to make the language flow naturally. We were also aiming to preserve the voice of the writer, which added another layer of complexity. I loved the challenge,” Scott said.

Livorse was most moved by the impact of the reality of the translations themselves.

“Translating is always a learning curve and it helped me brush up on my vocabulary and grammar. The biggest takeaway was the fact that what we were translating actually happened and we were telling these people’s

stories for the first time,” Livorse said.

“I learned that often in history, names and events are unfortunately lost and forgotten, and as a result many treat them as though they even happen. Yet, this is reality. Often, we must go through hardships that we will never receive recognition for, or mistreatment we will never receive an apology for,” Williams said.

“However, we can take comfort in knowing that one day we all will receive proper justice from God. Jeremiah 17:10 states, ‘But I, The Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.’”

The exhibit is scheduled to be unveiled at Grove City College in April.

For more on Rosenburg and his work, visit jewsofthesomme.com.

ing a welcoming and convenient place for guests to slow down, take a break from the demands of life, savor a special moment, and re-fuel their day,” they said.

A year later, some may say they have done just that.

“It’s easy to get a drink and it made the area around it a popular study space,” says sophomore Ben Smith.

Before Urban Trail was established on campus, students would have to travel off campus for good coffee, as stated by says junior and Urban Trail barista, Elise Lowne. Now, students have the convenience of on-campus coffee and a comfortable place to sit and enjoy it.

“I usually decide to get coffee on a whim, so it’s easier to just get the coffee here than walk somewhere off campus,” says Smith.

Another highlight of Urban Trail’s presence at GCC is the opportunity for students to work on campus when they aren’t attending classes.

“People’s coffee order says a lot about them,” says another Urban Trail barista, Johanna Steiner. “It’s fun to make small talk, it’s a fun experience,” Steiner adds.

“It’s almost soothing, it’s

“Our publishing queue has pieces on topics from education philosophy to racial justice, and we’re ready to bring in writers who can talk about everything in between.”

The editors are looking for passion and understanding as well as articles reporting on cultural issues relevant to the climate of social politics today.

“We want smart conservatives who can make good arguments. If you’re passionate about criminal justice, prolife issues and the intersection between faith and politics, the sky’s the limit. Our editors have all been published at national outlets and understand how the editing process works at a professional level. If you love making serious arguments and want to work on a team with industry experience, Checkpoint is the place for you,” Willour said.

Like any news publication, students submit article ideas to the head editors who greenlight the idea or shape it to better fit the Checkpoint News requirements.

“We publish all sorts of articles, whether it be societal musings, research, news, opinions or commentary on a subject. We try to give writers a platform to make their voices heard to a wider audience than just GCC students.

Once an article is submitted, our team will edit, send back the article for approval and then run it within a week or two of its submission,” Kendig said.

“Checkpoint is a place for taking timeless principles and applying to stuff that’s going on in our world right now. If you’re tired of feeling like political discourse is a binary choice between sanity and relevance, I invite you to challenge that assumption by writing for us. Checkpoint has reached thousands of readers and is a great way to get your ideas in front of an engaged online audience,” Willour said.

Visit checkpointnews.org for more information. calm and it doesn’t feel like work,” comments junior and barista Rebecca Sems.

Along with these new opportunities and encounters, the owners have continued to implement new aspects within the coffee shop over the last year.

According to Tana Mitchell, last year was primarily used to “get their feet wet and learn the layout of the space and to get to know the student body.”

“This is the year we sort of get to build and grow and do some new things,” says Mitchell.

She notes that they have put out new merchandise, and introduced mobile ordering to better accommodate the students.

As for the future, Mitchell says that they are looking to introduce weekly deals, and become “more approachable, more affordable.”

The ambitious owner also notes that they are working with the GCC Events Team in order to increase their presence on campus, whether it be offering coffee in meetings, or smaller events as they have done in the past.

Mitchell looks forward to growing her business and relationships within the GCC community.

Community The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 4

Upcoming Events...

What’s fresh at the Grove?

Pizza Bowling Night 8 - 10:30 p.m.

Nov. 3 PLC Bowling Alley

Okiepalooza 8 p.m.

Nov. 3

3rd Floor Hopeman library side

Night on the Pound 8:30 - 10:30 p.m.

Nov. 3 3rd Floor Lincoln Zerbe side

SGA Open House 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 7 Sticht Lecture Hall

GCC alumna Emily Lorini ’03 is a professional opera singer in the ensemble of Landestheater Coburg in Bavaria, Germany.

Networking for Introverts

MICHAEL LION

From GCC to Germany

5 - 6 p.m.

Nov. 7

Alumna shines on operatic stage

SHAL 210

Fall Musical: The Sound of Music

Romilly Young

7 p.m.

Contributing Writer

Nov. 8-10

How did a shy Grove City student majoring in Communications go on to become an opera singer halfway around the globe?

Emily Lorini ’03 is a mezzo-soprano opera singer and is involved in the ensemble of Landestheater Coburg in Bavaria, Germany.

The theater showcases ballet, opera, actor ensembles and a full-time orchestra.

This season, Lorini says she looks forward to performing as Hansel in “Hansel and Gretel,” among other characters.

Lorini is, according to her website, “hailed for her ‘enchantingly smooth mezzo’ and ‘captivating stage presence,’” but she describes herself as a shy kid “drawn to theater, dance and musicals as a way to grow confidence, connect with others and express emotion with greater ease.”

It was during her time at

and 5 p.m.

Nov. 11 PFAC Auditorium

Christian Nationalism and American Greatness 7 p.m.

Nov. 9 Rathburn Hall

Pan Sophic Die Tournament 5 - 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 Ket Rec.

International Dessert Festival 3 - 6 p.m.

Nov. 29 STU Great Room

the college that Lorini grew to love classical music and opera. Lorini described moments at Grove City that shaped her passion for her art by saying, “I can remember sitting in the music library listening to an old recording of “La Bohème” with tears in my eyes. The beauty and emotion of the singers and the orchestra deeply moved

me. I also remember taking a trip with the opera workshop to the Pittsburgh Opera to see “Turandot.” Hearing the unamplified voices soaring above the orchestra, feeling the vibrations of the music and seeing the colorful sets and costumes, I was amazed at the experience and knew I wanted to learn to use my voice in such a way to make people feel and connect with their humanity.”

Although she was a Communications major at the college, Lorini participated in the performances with the theatre program, touring choir and opera workshop, which she credits to have helped her form relationships and provided her with an environment that allowed her to grow as an artist. “Through these activities and my classes, I cultivated creativity, kindness, discipline and focus, all of which I use in my career today,” Lorini said.

After her time at Grove City, Lorini earned her master’s in music, specifically vocal performance, from

Miami University of Ohio.

She continued vocal training after graduation, with programs including the Santa Fe Opera, the Glimmerglass Festival, Opera Santa Barbara, Dayton Opera and the Natchez Festival of Music, before embarking on her professional career.

Not until 2012 did she and her husband, also an opera singer, move to Germany, where they have been working ever since.

“What started as a hobby and an outlet grew into a passion and a calling on my life. Opera is a very unique art form because it tells stories through music using unamplified human voices and visual aspects like costumes, lighting and sets. It is a great honor for me every time I step onto a stage or concert hall to sing, and hopefully to transport the audience and help them to feel, connect and reflect on their own lives, emotions and experiences. I am very grateful for the calling God placed on my life to be able to give that gift to people.”

Am I too close to my boyfriend?

My boyfriend and I are a classic Grove City couple— we met the first few weeks and started dating shortly after. We have our distinct clubs and interests, but we spend the significant majority of our time together. Our friend circles mostly overlap so even if we’re not one-onone, we’re still around each other much of the time. I love being around him and don’t want to put distance unnecessarily, but I’m scared that I’ll become codependent or that my whole personality will revolve around him.

Am I just overthinking this?

Should we work on being more independent?

Dear Dr. Love Dear Conscientious Grover,

You’re wrestling with an issue many couples on campus should be thinking about but are not self-aware enough to even question.

So, kudos to you; you’re off to a good start! While it is obvious couples differ significantly in their time spent with one another, that does not mean there is a clear or universal measure to follow.

In a healthy relationship, your boyfriend will want to spend time with you, and your close friends will as well. You must decide for yourself what you think is the right amount of time to spend with the people in your life. Your level of com-

mitment to your boyfriend matters a great deal. Are you expecting to marry him? Is he just the most convenient person to be around? These are some of the most formative years of your life, and you must decide whether you want to grow as an individual or grow together. So, determine your personal goals and evaluate whether you can meet them at the level of time you spend with your boyfriend. While almost all evaluations on this issue are subjective, there are some obvious, annoying things you might be guilty of while dating on this campus. Your friends will not appreciate it

if your boyfriend is in your room every time open hours take place. No one will like you holding hands on the way to Hicks. Do not under any circumstances cuddle in MAP South Lobby. I’m sure you would never do any of those things because you’re already self-aware and conscientious, but just in case, those are my guidelines.

Auspiciously, Dr. Love Love M.D.

The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 5

Spreading the good news in medicine Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

Grovers travel all over the world to serve in missions, but junior Brynn Miller sees a different need extending beyond a typical mission trip.

Miller hopes to take her Biology degree abroad and serve as a medical missionary.

“If everything were to go as I like, I would like to serve in a small clinic in a rural area among unreached or underreached people,” Miller explained.

“It is my hope that I would be able to help meet the medical needs of the community where I am planted and by doing so, gain respect enough among those whom I serve to be able to help spread the good news as well.”

While Miller has known of her desire for mission work since her senior year of high school, the medical side of her goals came only after she began studying at Grove City.

She was inMILLER spired when hearing from members of her church who had recently served in Zambia.

“Although I was not on that trip myself, I was convicted of the needs outside of my own limited experience.

This, in combination with a love of travel and learning about new cultures, pushed me in the direction of international missions,” Miller said.

While she had mission

Only at Grove City ...

work in her heart, she wasn’t sure whether she would use her biology degree to pursue medicine or take her degree in the direction of conservation or agriculture.

“It was not until my sophomore year that I decided to choose the option that seemed harder for me, supposing that if it was harder for me, It was probably harder for others as well, leaving a greater need in that area.”

Miller knows her lofty goal comes with challenges, the biggest of which for her is time.

“I very much want to go immediately and be able to serve internationally and begin to see the fruits of my efforts, but since I added the medical goal to the missionary one, I know that I will

have to stay stateside and mostly out of the missions field for at least four years after my undergraduate and probably more as I serve in my residency. This is a huge struggle, and it makes plotting the timeline of my becoming a missionary very confusing.”

Despite the obstacles she may encounter along the way, Miller knows Grove City is the right place for her to take them on.

In addition to the academic programs setting her up for success, the college’s Christian community has encouraged her greatly.

“The close relationships that form so naturally between students and professors are also incredible for things like references and

basic help navigating life after college,” she shared.

“On the missional side of my goal, the fact that I go to a school that has recourses for students who want to join God’s missionary work around the world is honestly the only reason I have held onto the hope of being a missionary.”

Miller accredits her parents with planting ideas in her that led her to pursue work in missionary medicine.

“Specifically, my father, who was in the Navy for many years, always encouraged me to find a way to explore the world like he was able to, and both of my parents, but especially my mother, instilled in me the value of making sacrifices on other’s be halves.”

Seven questions with…

Dr. Peter Hill

Professor of Electrical Engineering

What made you decide that you wanted to become a professor at GCC?

I really didn’t decide to come to GCC. I’m pretty sure God made that decision and then let me know about it when I was ready. From the time that I started on the journey from industry as a Principal Scientist to rising to the level of Assistant Professor at GCC was about 7 years and a very long story. Very happy and feel blessed to be here.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Lots of places ranging from Isle Royale in Michigan to a visit to New Zealand. But right now, I’d be happy to visit Pillnitz, Germany again which is just across the River Elbe from Dresden. Wonderfully quaint BnB’s to stay at and the local bakeries and restaurants are excellent.

GCC CHAPEL INQUISITION INSTAGRAM

In honor of Reformation Day, an anonymous Grover posted 95 Reeses to the doors of Harbison Chapel paralleling the 95 theses Martin Luther posted to Castle Church in Wittenberg in 1517 voicing his disagreements with the Catholic church. The play on words amused passing grovers Oct. 31.

What is your favorite Fall activity?

Camping in a tent and sitting by the campfire in the late evening with good friends.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving dish?

My mom’s stuffing for the win. Next would be the gravy for the stuffing and the turkey.

What is your favorite movie genre?

Sci-Fi Action movies. Star Wars or Star Trek are preferred.

If you could choose any job for one day, what would you pick?

What are you most looking forward to this semester?

Assuming that it cannot be teaching, I would love to be an operator of a CAT 336F Crawler Excavator - 300 hp and a 2.6 cubic yard bucket sounds like a fun day.

Learning the hundreds of details and nuances of being a professor at GCC. Many thanks to my colleagues and my students for the great support I’ve received.

New club looks to feed the wolverine Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

Looking for a fun forum for fitness fellowship? Interested in diving into the world of strength and conditioning philosophy? Passionate about growing as a leader on the athletic stage? Then look no further than the Feed the Wolverine Club, one of the College’s newest student-led organizations.

Feed the Wolverine is an initiative seeking to foster intentional conversations about training and athletics within the GCC community and beyond. It provides an engaging atmosphere of camaraderie for its members and allows them to discuss hot topics in the sports world constructively.

“The goal for our members is to encourage critical thinking; members will be challenged to learn how to articulate their own training philosophy and be able to explain their “why.” This, in turn, will help them take action and make beneficial decisions as future coaches and leaders,” club president Nick Petucci said.

Petucci, who is a member of the Track and Field team and a student coach for the football team, and two fellow athletes envisioned what Feed the Wolverine could be.

Together, they founded the club this past October and have been holding informal meetings ever since.

“Currently, Feed the Wolverines informally meets Mondays, Wednesdays and

Fridays in Hicks Cafeteria from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. At a typical breakfast meeting, we will generally have anywhere from 5-10 members present.

Overall, there were dozens of attendees total at our first month of meetings. We plan to have official meetings with larger crowds in the spring, so stay tuned,” Petucci said.

The current operation of the club not only provides members with the chance to bond over food and fellowship but also offers a medium for guided discussion as well.

With a wide variety of topics and insights up for debate, each meeting allows members to truly take ownership of the ideas and concepts shared and know their voice is heard.

“A typical meeting consists

of a discussion, and sometimes heated debate, on current trends and hot button issues in exercise science, sports performance, strength and conditioning, coaching and more.”

As a growing community of fellowship and good-natured debate, the club encourages students from all majors and athletic backgrounds to get involved. Whether you’re a competitive varsity athlete, eager IM participant or general sports fanatic, this club provides a forum for all to come together and celebrate the athletic philosophies and traditions valued most.

“My favorite memory of the club is the breakfast debates and sit-down conversations, which highlight the benefit of enjoying fellowship over a

meal and the willingness to engage with diverse opinions to broaden your perspective,” Petucci said.

“My advice for students looking to join the club is to feel free to join! If your goal is to learn more about topics in speed and strength, this club is for you. If you want to express your opinions, be prepared to be challenged.”

With an eager community of members and more activities and opportunities to come, this is only the beginning of Feed the Wolverine’s success. To learn more and keep up to date with club activities and events, be sure to follow Feed the Wolverine on Instagram @FeedTheWolverines_GCC and start your journey with this awesome group today.

Through the Lens

Through the lens, Feb. 22, 2019

Page 6

The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

A season undefeated Highlighting a historical season by the Wolverines

The Grove City College Football team has had a powerful 2023 season. Every game, both home and away, has been electric.

“Brick by brick” has moved this team through the season, each player putting his all into the game in front of him. Last week’s win against Bethany put the team at a 9-0 record, the longest winning streak in team history.

Additionally, for the first time ever, Grove City College Football became PAC champions. Here are some highlights from this incredible season of champions.

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Maggie Miller

The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 7

Maggie Miller

Megan Eisentraut

Joel Sledd

Perspectives The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 8

Halloween costumes are for children, not for you Dressing up is far from grown up

Brae F. Sadler Staff Writer

Last week, the Halloween spirit took over Grove City College.

Like hundreds of other students, I attended several Halloween events. At the Monster Mash, I danced with pirates, disco girls, a Thomas Shelby and guys in tight-fitting tank tops. Then, during the Halloween Dance sponsored by the Swing Dance Club, I ran into a Mad Hatter and a Boss Baby. Yet, I continuously found myself asking, “Why were adults wearing costumes?” After all, costumes are for children, not us.

I asked people why they were wearing costumes.

The most common answer I heard was, “It’s fun.”

Indeed, many of the people I met were having a blast.

However, for us Christians, fun is not a sufficient reason to do something. Saint Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:23, “All things are lawful, but not all things build up.”

The word of God tells us we should prioritize things that improve our character and faith. When we are faced with taking an unproductive action and a productive one, we must choose the latter.

The question is: does wearing costumes help “build” us up? Unfortunately, the answer is no. From the beginning, Halloween costumes have been for children. The tradition started in Ireland

SPIRIT HALLOWEEN

and Scotland, where children would dress up in disguises and go door-to-door asking for gifts. During the 19th century, large numbers of Irish and Scottish immigrants came to the United States, where they continued the practice. Eventually, it developed into trick-or-treating.

This was important for children because it allowed them to be culturally educated and interact with others. Additionally, trick-or-treating is fun for kids and an important part of growing up. But

the adults had something much more important to do: worship God. In the year 800 A.D., Pope Gregory IV established All Hallows Day as a sacred feast for the entire Church. It was a day meant to celebrate the lives of the saints and to remember the hope for resurrection after death.

All Hallows Day is on Nov. 1, the day before it became known as All Hallows Eve or Halloween. Halloween was a day of preparation for the feast the next day. Adults

were expected to fast and spend time in prayer. The role of adults was to engage in acts of devotion to God, something much more important than wearing costumes. All Hallows Day is a universal Christian holiday celebrated by Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and some Reformed churches. Halloween and All Hallows Day should be a time of worship for all Christians.

Each new year of life brings more demands and responsibilities. We need to ma-

ture, and part of this means putting away costumes. As St. Paul said, “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.”

Yes, wearing Halloween costumes is fun, but they are childish. Instead, our attention on Halloween should be focused on God and the great Christians who came before us. Next Halloween, worship God but do not wear a costume.

Should we be using graphic images in our abortion debate?

Abigail Kengor Contributing Writer

In pro-life apologetics, graphic images can be useful, but with consideration of two significant risks: irreverence and desensitization.

They should be used selectively and responsibly, with a proper reverence to the humanity of the mangled corpse whom the photograph portrays and, sparingly, at the risk of desensitization to the horror of abortion.

The first time I saw an abortion victim’s picture, as a very little girl, unwittingly glancing at a semi-truck on my walk to the March for Life, it sickened and scared me, branding in my memory the sorrowful brutality of abortion’s reality. That singular instance had a powerful effect, perhaps too powerful for a child. But as those images popped up more on pro-life media as I grew, I began to expect and tolerate

them, knowing the facts but stomaching them better.

Graphic images produce a shock effect, which can be very valuable as an emotional tool to open the reasoning brain that might be closed to pro-life arguments. But constantly stimulating this shock erases it, reducing the sickening reality of abortion into a visual platitude.

These brutal images are traumatizing, which is why we use them. As such, they should not be used lightly, especially in uncontrolled settings such as billboards and banners that any age could see. Regarding the protection of children’s innocence, particularly, great prudence and discretion are required. We must deal with wickedness in this world, but we should not seek it out (See Psalm 101:3 for details).

These pictures emphasize the atrocities that abortion victims suffer, so let’s consider those victims.

What inspires the Christian cause for life? Its inherent sanctity. When we defend the unborn’s life, we

uphold their reverence. If we must sacrifice the reverence of a body to prove its sanctity, there is something amiss. Now, it is very arguable whether the tactics in question desecrate or devalue the human person, and I am confident that pro-life organizations carry no such intent. However, their actions can still inadvertently cheapen the topic and turn barbarisms into banalities.

Consider a rather morbid analogy: a boy is killed in a school shooting, resulting in an awareness campaign with photographs of his bleeding body. Would that be considered indecent? For morbidity, yes. But not only for that. It would cheapen his death. The sanctity of his fragile body and the chill of death would lose some of its impact when plastered everywhere and seen daily by the common public. While not as shocking, a memorial picture from his life would be far more appropriate to communicate injustice. It would be touching without scarring and give a more balanced

emotional response by evoking the sweetness of life and the pain of loss, not the more extreme dread and terror of seeing a bloodied body.

This phenomenon of desensitization is a basic entropy seen in many areas of life and media and is ultimately unreliable, only feeding the demand for further shock to prove a point. St. Augustine calls this “loss of human feeling” a “miserable plight.”

We must question how respectful it is to the life and death of these babies to reduce them to a poster child, albeit for a very noble cause, without their consent.

Finally, dealing with the individual and not the masses can be appropriate, selectively, and with proper warning to the viewer, if the ethical questions of photographing the babies can be resolved. The shock factor possesses great persuasive value. But the graphic image campaign runs an ironic and dangerous risk of, in trying to communicate the sanctity of the unborn, disregarding it.

Interested in writing for the Collegian?

Working as a copy editor?

Flexing your photography skills?

Join our team!

For more info about being a Collegian photographer, email Editor-in-Chief Emma Rossi via email at rossiel21@gcc.edu

Connect with us!

Stay updated with our social media @Collegian_GCC @gcc.collegian The Collegian: The Grove City College Newspaper

The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 9

Tony Soprano broke the mold for main characters Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

Tony Soprano walked so Walter White could run.

These two are arguably the greatest TV characters in history, and one would not exist without the other.

On Jan. 10, 1999, “The Sopranos” pilot premieres; Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini, has a panic attack at a family barbeque, which leads his wife, Carmela, to make him go to therapy. What follows is an eight-year saga that follows the lives of Soprano, his family and his extended Mafia family.

Tony Soprano lies, cheats, steals and murders many, many times, as do his closest associates. Characters like Paulie Gaultieri, Christopher Moltisanti and Silvio Dante commit horrific crimes that make you look away from your TV screen, and yet, you find yourself rooting for them.

Show creator David Chase’s complex and realistic character writing endeared viewers to Tony Soprano, despite the fact that he was a villain.

The love for this character has lasted from the show’s first scene, Tony feeding the

ducks in his swimming pool, to now, sixteen years since the screen cut to black at the end of the infamous final scene.

Before “The Sopranos,” you’d be hard-pressed to find a show that frames itself around such an anti-hero.

What Chase did, whether intentionally or unintentionally, gave television permission to make your main character terrible.

Bryan Cranston, who played “Breaking Bad” protagonist Walter White, acknowledges the connection.

In an interview on The Dan Patrick Show in 2019, the actor gives a nod to Chase’s character creation.

“I think what David Chase was able to do in creating a character like Tony Soprano created the space for someone like Walter White to exist,” Cranston said.

Likewise, “Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan equally accredits Soprano.

After Gandolfini passed away in 2013, Gilligan spoke about his portrayal of Soprano and its influence on his writing.

“Without Tony Soprano, there would be no Walter White,” Gilligan explained.

It wasn’t just Tony Soprano’s villainizing of the typi-

cal TV lead that affected the character of Walter White.

In the same 2013 interview, Gilligan shared that after meeting Gandolfini, he was amazed at the stark difference between the actor and the character he played.

Gandolfini, who was a famously kind, warm and amicable person, even making appearances on children’s shows like Sesame Street, was nothing like the cold, cruel and ruthless mob boss he played for eight years.

This contradiction inspired Gilligan to write Walter White as a dichotomous character at war with himself. Chase’s character, Tony Soprano, faces the same internal conflict.

When taking his daughter Meadow to tour colleges, Tony sees a quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne on the wall in the admissions office.

“No man can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude without finally getting bewildered as to which one is true,” it reads.

This scene perfectly encapsulates the conundrum that both Soprano and White’s characters create. As the viewer, you see the internal motivations of both of these men. You understand, on a human level, why they feel

Mike Johnson: America’s speaker?

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

After twenty-two tumultuous days of persistent political drama and chaos amongst Republicans, the fight for the House Speakership is finally over.

On Oct. 25, 2023, House Republicans unanimously elected Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana, an unlikely individual who, until now, has had no significant national recognition. The election of Mike Johnson as House Speaker came as a surprise to the American public as Republicans had previously nominated three bigname Republicans, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), Chairman of the Freedom Caucus Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN).

Now, many Americans have been asking, “Who even is Representative Mike Johnson?” Considering Johnson’s unknown status on the national stage, many from across the aisle have begun to target Johnson and paint him as a far-right extremist.

Following Johnson’s election as House Speaker, President Biden’s reelection campaign immediately called him “Trump’s lackey” in a fundraising email sent to voters. House Democrat Adam Schiff (D-CA), currently running for California’s open Senate seat, posted on

X, “Let me make it simple: Johnson is a hard-right, proTrump, leading election denier in the House. Sadly, this is what passes for Speaker material in the Republican conference.”

Despite Democratic efforts to paint Speaker Johnson as a far-right extremist who seeks to undermine America’s republic, this portrayal of Johnson could not be any further from the truth. When I first heard of Representative Johnson becoming the Republican nominee for House Speaker, I decided to do a bit of research on my own to figure out who this new Speaker was and what he stood for. Surprisingly enough, I found a rather impressive record.

Prior to his tenure in the House of Representatives, Johnson worked as a senior legal counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom and was the founder of Freedom Guard, a non-profit legal ministry to assist Christian clients in lawsuits. In 2015, Johnson ran and was elected as a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, where he gained local and some national attention for his work, including his support for a Convention of States and his Marriage and Conscience Act, which sought to prevent state discrimination against those with different views on marriage. In his own words, Johnson stated that much of his life’s work has focused on, “defending religious freedom, the sanc-

tity of human life and biblical values, including the defense of traditional marriage and other ideals like these when they’ve been under assault.”

Now, when considering Johnson’s newfound position as House Speaker, I sense Americans may find themselves quite happily surprised. In his speech, Johnson pointed out that out of all the nations in the world, America is truly a land of opportunity. He stated, “It’s the beauty of America that allows a firefighter’s kid like me to come here and serve in this sacred chamber where great men and women have served before all of us and strive together to build and then preserve what Lincoln did refer to as the last best hope of man on earth.”

Americans stand at a pivotal point in our nation’s history where the future of the United States is unclear and quite presently dark. From the foreign crisis that we face as a nation to the current disarray of the American economy, Johnson managed to convey a very unifying and conservative message that emphasizes holding those in office accountable for their actions and reminding themselves that they are to serve on behalf of Americans, not for their interests. While Johnson is still enjoying his honeymoon phase in his position, he has a chance not only to advance conservative ideals but help restore America’s foundational principles as the new Speaker.

MEDIUM

the need to do the things they do.

When watching, it reaches the point where you are no longer surprised by the horrific choices they make. Their evil almost seems good.

This leaves the viewer, “bewildered as to which one is

true.”

These shows tell excellent stories with complex characters that feel all too real.

What they also do is pose the poignant and resounding dilemma of humanity’s great capacity for evil and a deeply fierce desire for justice.

It’s not even Thanksgiving yet Kenny Schley

Contributing Writer Christmas is a sacred time of year, one of the most important aspects of the advent season is the sense of longing present in both the Israelites waiting for Christ as well as modern day believers who eagerly await his 2nd coming. Unfortunately, our current postmodern culture has completely forsaken the virtue of patience, as exhibited by the increasingly early start of the “Christmas Season”. If we do not wait until the appropriate time to celebrate Jesus’ birth, we cannot fully grasp the joy that he brought to the world. The deep, sometimes frustrating yearning for Christmas is what makes Jesus’ birth so joyful!

Does that mean we must wait for Christmas day to celebrate? By no means! Jesus’ arrival and 2nd coming have both been foretold, so I find it appropriate to celebrate Jesus birth shortly before his birthday. When is a good time?

I would say after Thanksgiving, not only is Thanksgiving close to Christmas in the calendar year, but it is a meaningful reflection of everything God has already given us. Christmas

is often focused around the presents we get in modern America. The excitement comes from all the stuff that we are eager to get.

So I think that being intentional about waiting until after Thanksgiving to celebrate Christmas is healthy.

This is because if we truly set aside Thanksgiving as a day for reflecting on all the blessings God has given us, this will lead to a sense of contentment and gratitude.

Being content as advent starts sets us up for an amazing Christmas celebration because it is no longer about what material gifts we will receive; it is about the gift of Christ that we have already received.

We look back at the miracle that Christmas is, already with a sense of gratitude. Also, when counting our blessings on Thanksgiving, we should be thankful to particular people as well as thankful to God. So not only are we content with what we’ve been given by God and by others, but we feel closer to those who we spend Thanksgiving with, who are likely the same people we’ll spend Christmas with. And when we think of all the things those people have done for us, we feel inspired to bless them. So Christmas becomes the season of giving, just like it should be.

Entertainment The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 10

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ David Smith Staff Writer

There may not be a more legendary filmmaker alive than Martin Scorsese. His latest film, “Killers of the Flower Moon,” is simultaneously a triumph and a failure.

Critics across the board are praising the movie for its stark depiction of greed and turmoil on a Native American reservation in the early 1900s. On the aggregate film review website Rotten Tomatoes, the critics consensus states: “Enormous in runtime, theme, and achievement, Killers of the Flower Moon is a sobering appraisal of America’s relationship with Indigenous peoples and yet another artistic zenith for Martin Scorsese and his collaborators.”

Audiences are also praising the film for its strong acting performances and gripping story despite the lengthy runtime. “Flower Moon” has breadth and scope, which renders it not only a contender for the Academy Awards but also as one of Scorsese’s best and bleakest films.

“Killers” is set predominately in 1920s Osage territory in Oklahoma, where we observe members of the tribe gathering for a meeting. It is a somber ceremony, burying a pipe to represent mourning for their descendants’ assimilation into White American society. Suddenly, there is a burst of sound with the earth cracking, spewing crude oil to the sky. Within no time, the Natives are gallivanting in their fancy attire and expensive automobiles.

When a bunch of Osage people – also referred to as the original rights owners – are mysteriously murdered,

Dominic Puglisi Staff Writer

CINEMAN

the government gets involved under the guise of the newly established Federal Bureau of Investigation.

After returning home from serving as a cook in WWI in 1919, Ernest Burkart (Leonardo DiCaprio) works for his uncle, William King Hale (Robert De Niro) as a cab driver. Hale tells Ernest to call him the King– and that’s exactly what he is. Meanwhile, living with his uncle on a large reservation ranch, Ernest commits armed robbery of Osage people while wearing a mask.

Burkart’s greed, lack of intelligence, and other detrimental qualities only perpetuate a self-imposed prison.

Anything good that comes into his life is decimated by his short-sightedness and indulgences. Even his marriage to Osage woman Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone) is dampened by his desire to

stratify his position amongst his peers.

Even Ernest’s altruistic moments, such as providing his diabetic wife with insulin, are defeated by his uncle’s nefarious influence over him.

Even though its run time is approximately three and a half hours, the script is tight.

Scorsese co-wrote it with legendary screenwriter Eric Roth who is known for writing “Forrest Gump” and the most recent “A Star is Born.”

Everything that occurs in the movie is necessary. The slow and churning commencement may have dragged on a bit too long, but it was essential to understand the tumultuous relationship between the Osage and Whites.

The standout performances in “Killers” are ultimately what sets the film apart from its counterparts. Gladstone and DiCaprio give Oscarworthy performances that

are so compelling that it is difficult not to be indignant, appalled, or sympathetic.

Another noteworthy performance is Jason Isbell as Bill Smith, Mollie Kyle’s brother-in-law who is suspicious of Burkart.

The musical score was composed by the Band’s guitarist, Robbie Robertson who passed away just before the film’s release. The sonic landscape that the score creates sets a haunting and bluesy backdrop, which only augments the film’s menacing nature.

Even though “Killers” is a historical film, not everyone knows about the atrocities brought onto the Osage people in the name of greed and control.

I think that is what makes the film so powerful: How can a nation simply forget and attempt to cover up such atrocities?

Spoiler alert: There’s an exorcism Vince Clay

Entertainment Editor Believe it or not, another October is in the books, a halloweekend has happened, and all to show for it is another movie in The Exorcist franchise. That’s right, you better believe it- “The Exorcist: Believer”, directed by David Gordon Green, is the sixth installment in the globally popular horror franchise.

The movie hit theaters this weekend with the promise of reinvigorating the series and offering new scares.

The premise is simple enough- photographer Victor Fielding, played by Leslie Odom Jr., loses his pregnant wife in an earthquake in Haiti. He is confronted with the choice to choose his wife or the child. The movie then skips thirteen years ahead in which he and his daughter Angela, played by Lidya Jewett, are living a happy middle-class life in America.

As Angela enters middle school and her curiosity about her family heritage and mother’s death grows, Angela and her friend Katherine decide to perform a séance in the woods by their neighborhood to attempt to contact Angela’s mother. What could go wrong?

To be straight up, the best approach to the movie is going to see it with a group of friends over a dark fall or winter evening. Spoiler alert: there’s an exorcism! There

Vampire Weekend’s eclectic irony

BBC

are times when entertainment is best when it is enjoyed at face value. This is one of those times. Despite the artistic depth and classic quality of the original “The Exorcist (1973)”, bad sequels and franchises abound in Hollywood while also existing alongside their masterpiece originals. To get frustrated with a bad cash-grab is a futile case.

Sure, the movie has been critiqued for deviating from the original plotline. However, these critiques are unfounded, as many classic horror brands have made major plot adjustments in sequels that sometimes do not sit right for those that take such movies seriously (see “The

Blair Witch Project” sequel from 2016 “Blair Witch”).

Additional critiques have been lobbied at the movie for its political agenda- however, if viewers are to take this film seriously in any capacity, this may be the most redeemable aspect of the movie. Angela and Victor- after their mother’s death- are decidedly aetheist, their neighbors follow an ambiguous strain of Caribbean traditionalism, and Katherine and her family are Baptist. Even the Catholics get involved (of course).

This diversity is treated in a comparatively tame way that is neither uber-woke nor Christian-bashing.

Despite these defenses, even at face-value the film

suffers from blandness. The jumpscares are formulaic and easily spotted, the plotline is convoluted enough to simulate depth, and the demonic children vomit and bend frighteningly. It’s all a little too predictable. Like many cheap horror movies in this camp, the greatest emotional gut-punch of the movie is seeing wholesome and happy family systems, like that of the Fieldings, get torn apart by death and possession.

When it comes to prospects for the next movies in the franchise, I am most certainly not a believer. It is unlikely that director David Gordon Green will exorcise another watch out of me.

“Modern Vampires of the City” by Vampire Weekend is the band’s dark and eclectic magnum opus. This band had previously been known for dense lyrical tirades mocking Ivy League conventions paired with instrumentals combining styles from around the world. This style emphasizes these features while addressing more serious matters such as spurned loves and life’s seeming hopelessness.

The album begins with the thumping and reverbladen “Obvious Bicycle,” a not-so-uplifting opening track about having no more hope for the future.

The self-defeating chorus of, “Oh, you oughta spare your face the razor, because no one’s gonna spare their time for you,” is somehow made softer and less harsh through the soothing warm voice of lead singer Ezra Koenig.

The track that best sums up the album, must be “Step.” The key theme of “Step” is its scrapbookesque sense of eccentricity. The chorus “Every time I see you in the world you always step to my girl,” is interpolated from the hip-hop track “Step to My Girl” by Souls of Mischief.

Paired with this unique chorus comes the lead piano melody so regal it feels like playing polo at Buckingham Palace. The lyrics past the chorus are no less varied either, as Koenig sings dense versus filled with Marriam-Websterlevel diction, all aimed at mocking the upper class.

The perfect example of this is the line, “While home in New York was champagne and disco, tapes from L.A. slash San Francisco. But, actually, Oakland and not Alameda.” The irony here is that the supposedly tasteful and educated young people are bragging about their underground music taste while not truly knowing anything about it, even where it’s really from. This is shown by these tapes not being from Alameda, a very affluent part of San Francisco, but rather Oakland, typically considered the dirtiest subsection of the Bay Area.

This album is not all pointed irony and genre mashups as seen in the heartbreaking “Hannah Hunt.” This somber track describes a recently broken relationship described

by Koenig as having opened his eyes to see the world in a brand-new way.

Although this vision is gone and he is left alone, it is not over yet. Just like this song, “Modern Vampires of the City” represents both the light and dark of life and everything in between in a wonderful collage of spectacular diction and genre-blurring instrumentation.

Sports The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Page 11

Primed for the playoffs Emma Rossi Editor-in-Chief

Wolverine football has made history. The No. 21 Wolverines are headed to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time ever.

After bulldozing the Bethany Bisons in Saturday’s 5614 win, the Wolverines are 9-0 and claim a share of the conference title.

The first half was tame for an offense that typically amasses over 400 yards, but the Wolverines came out of the half on fire.

Just past the 11-minute mark of the third quarter, running back duo junior Nico Flati and fifth-year Clayton Parrish took turns taking it down the field and Parrish brought it home to kick off a 28-point scoring streak.

The Bisons took the field for 32 seconds, but a fumble recovery by sophomore linebacker Ben Bladel sent junior quarterback Logan Pfeuffer and the Wolverine offense right back onto the field.

Two plays, 11 yards and 35 seconds later, the Wolverines were up 35-7 thanks to Flati.

Bethany quarterback Miles Goffe took one snap on offense, and set up for a short pass, but the ball met the hands of sophomore cornerback Boden Davidson, who took the ball straight to the endzone.

A deflated Bison offense took the field again, but after Bladel sacked Goffe for a loss of six yards, they sent their punter out to close the drive.

But the Bisons hadn’t seen the last of Bladel.

The punt went straight into the arms of the reigning PAC Defensive Player of the Week, who returned it for Grove City’s second defensive touchdown of the game to make the score 49-7.

To start the fourth quarter,

GRACE DAVID

Wolverines defense holds Bethany to 14 points in the last home game of the regular season. senior quarterback Ayden Gutierrez took the field with some of his fellow seniors.

Senior running back Joe DeLuca took the ball down the field and on the final play of the drive, Gutierrez threw his season’s second touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Gavin Mauger.

PAC Commissioner Joe Onderko awarded the Wolverines their share of the conference title under a scoreboard that read 56-14 when all was said and done.

The offense finished with 440 yards, with Pfeuffer and Flati leading the team with

131 yards and 109 yards, respectively.

Flati spoke on what it means to be a part of this team this year.

“It means everything because of where this program was at till now being able to say we’re PAC champions.

It’s really exciting being a part of something bigger than yourself.”

He also spoke to the team’s dominant run game, which has amassed almost 2000 yards this season and 58 percent of the team’s touchdowns.

“The run game is so effec-

tive (because of) our push up front with the O-line and being able to be patient to see the holes open up. We keep working the cut until the other team can’t handle the run,” Flati said.

In the Oct. 21 game against the Saint Vincent Bearcats, Flati contributed 144 yards and one touchdown to the Wolverines 49-0 shutout.

Five different Wolverines scored the game’s seven touchdowns, including senior cornerback Gabe Dunlap, who returned a punt for a 40-yard touchdown.

This was the first punt re-

turn for the Wolverines in 12 years.

The defense had themselves a day, with seven Wolverines earning sacks.

Dunlap and sophomore linebacker Jack Jollie led the team with seven tackles apiece.

Dunlap and graduate student linebacker Ryan Fleming each had an interception.

The Wolverines play their final game of the regular season on Nov. 11 against Thiel in the annual Mercer County Cup. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. in Greenville, Pa.

the floor this season,” said Lamie.

Lamie enters his 26th year as head coach for the Wolverines. Assisted by associate head coach Sean Severson, Lamie and Severson hope to bring a new generation of talent and a winning culture to the courts of the Grove City College Arena.

Lamie put in the work during the offseason to better improve the team.“The biggest change is the mindset. We have much more accountability so far this preseason,” he said. “There is an understanding of where we failed last year and the things in our control that we have to rectify.”

The players have gotten more involved in the cause

and better understand Wolverines culture.

Junior guard and team captain Chase Yarberough commented, “We emphasized improving our field goal percentage, making more post moves in shots.

Our offense and defense are the same, but we’re just more intentional in how we run it.

We made a lot of mistakes last season and this season, we’re going to fix those mistakes and run it a lot cleaner.”

Although the team is mostly made of younger players, they had no problem at finding leadership within the team.

Coach Lamie and the team had found the athletes to lead them throughout the year.

“Chase Yarberough is our

captain and (junior forward) Russ Gump is our chaplain,” says coach Lamie. “Right now, that is our Leadership Group. We’ve seen significant improvements in Yarberough, (sophomore guard) Mike Christenson, (sophomore guard) Kyle Randle, and (junior guard) Ben Cano.”

The season consists of 25 games in the regular season with 20 conference games.

Like most other sports, the PAC is an extremely competitive and challenging conference where upsets constantly take place and nobody is safe.

The PAC preseason poll was released last week. Currently sitting at the top is Washington & Jefferson.

Grove City was ranked in

eighth place.

Coach Lamie states, “The schedule is challenging. The PAC is competitive from top to bottom. I think that is evidenced by how many teams have won the conference over the last 10 seasons.”

The PAC conference has always been competitive for men’s basketball.

In the last 10 years, six different schools have won the conference, with GCC’s most recent title being the 20192020 season.

The Wolverines will play their first conference opponent, Allegheny, on Nov. 18.

The regular season will begin at 6 p.m. on Nov. 8 in the Grove City College Arena against non-conference Penn State Dubois.

into the NCAA competition.

Until then, they have one more race to compete in; then they will race in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Championships held in Lock Haven Pa. on Nov. 11.

“We’re going to focus on doing all the little things,” Coach Rybka said. “I think the mindset of running free last week really worked, just continuing the mindset we took into the conference.”

Both the men and women will race in the Grove City Twilight 5K held today on Robert E. Thorn Field.

SOCCER

Men’s basketball gets back to it Joel Sledd Sports Editor

As basketball season approaches, Head Coach Steve Lamie ‘85 and his team prepare, looking to defend their home court.

Graduating only two seniors from last year’s roster, the Wolverines plan for the return of most of their starters from the 2022-2023 season. The team remains relatively young with no seniors and six new freshman joining the team.

“We have 6 freshmen on the roster; it’s a smart group and they have been picking up our unique offensive and defensive schemes quickly.

We will be relying on some of them to contribute on

CROSS COUNTRY continued from 12

“We don’t have a senior class, so we were kind of navigating that in the beginning.

There were also a lot of injuries and sickness, especially at the beginning of the season,” Bennett said.

Despite this, almost all the women were ready to compete at the end of the year.

“We had a lot of illness on the women’s side, so this was the first race almost everybody ran,” Coach Rybka said.

The Wolverines are hoping to bring this same energy

continued from 12

The Class of ‘23 graduating seniors are senior defender Molly Ehrhart, senior midfielder Megan Mathes, D’Amato, senior midfielder Anna Jenkins, senior defender Aly Mapes, senior defender Holly Grose, senior defender Rachel Sullivan and senior midfielder Emily White.

The Wolverines will face No. 6 Franciscan in the PAC title match tomorrow at 4 p.m. on Don Lyle Field.

WOLVERINE WEEKLY HONORS

Lydia Bennett Women’s Cross Country First Team All-PAC

Ben Bladel Catherine Petrovich Football Women’s Tennis Defensive Player Tournament’s Most of the Week Outstanding Player

Sports The Collegian, Nov. 3, 2023

Joel Sledd

Page 12

Tennis takes it all

Sports Editor

The Wolverines women’s tennis team has officially earned the title of the best team in the PAC, as the college stomped Allegheny to win the 2023 PAC champions. After defeating the Allegheny Gators 5-2 for the title of conference championship, Wolverine’s tennis won their first championship title since 2018. The title match was played on Oct. 21 at Westwood Racquet Club in Erie, Pa. The Wolverines entered the post-season with a 12-3 record and only one conference lost. That one loss came against the Gators early in October when the Wolverines lost 7-2. The Wolverines earned the second seed for the playoff bracket with Allegheny on top.

In the first round of the tournament, the Wolverines found themselves facing No. 3 Franciscan. In early October, the college beat Franciscan in a nail-biting finish, winning 5-4. The Wolverines would once again defeat Franciscan in the semi-finals 5-2 to move on to the championship.

After knocking Franciscan out of the playoffs, Allegheny was the only obstacle in the way of a Grove City’s championship title.

The match was held in a neutral location with the top two teams of the PAC ready to duel it out. Three doubles matches and four singles matches were to be played.

In the first doubles, junior partners Janel McCray and Emily Ivory defeated their opponent 8-5 for the first win of the day. Third doubles duo freshman Peyton Joines and sophomore Courtney DeCar-

Freshman Peyton Joines in her singles action victory against Washington & Jefferson in early October. lo handed the Wolverines the second win of the day.

The college won two out of the three doubles, but there were still four singles matches to go. Third singles Joines won the first singles match for the Wolverines, winning 7-5 in her first set and 6-2 in her second set.

At first singles, freshman Catherine Petrovich took the fourth win of the day 7-5 and 6-2 in her two sets.

In the last match of the year for PAC women’s tennis, McCray won on the third set of her matchup 6-0, which sealed the win for the Wolverines and the title of Conference champion.

Revenge was served, and the Wolverines took their spot on the podium as the best team in the PAC. “It felt

good to be able to go back and show them what were made of and show that the score the first time was not reflective of how hard we worked,” senior Kelsey Coleman said.

Multiple Grove City athletes earned highly esteemed awards for their performances in the postseason tournament. Petrovich was given the title of Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player, as she remained undefeated in singles matches against No. 3 Franciscan and No. 1 Allegheny. Petrovich, Joines and McCray have all earned a spot on the All-tournament Team.

By winning the conference, the Wolverines also secured a spot for the NCAA D3 championship tournament.

The national championship

for women’s tennis will be held in the spring, and team selections will be announced on April 29, 2024.

“For now, we’re going to take some time enjoying this one,” head coach Nathaniel Horner said. “In May we will play in the NCAA D3 national tournament, but obviously we’ve got some time between then. Our team will continue to lift and hit in the offseason unofficially of course, but next we’re going to take some time celebrating.”

The Wolverines finish with the best program record since 2018, which was the last time they won the conference championship.

The women seemed to cruise into the postseason with very few obstacles. “The biggest challenge we faced

GRACE DAVID

was ourselves. We did a great job midway through the season of just letting the doubts go,” Horner said. “I’m most proud of the way our girls played for one another. They didn’t just want to win it for themselves, they wanted it for each other.”

Seniors Lexi Chappel and Coleman continued to be a source of leadership this season. Horner commented on the only two seniors on the team, stating, “I’m just so happy for our seniors Lexi Chappel and Kelsey Coleman. I couldn’t ask for a better senior class to get to coach.”

After the women celebrate a well-deserved and hardfought victory, training will begin for the D3 championship in the spring.

Back to the PAC Garrett Gess

Contributing Writer The Grove City Wolverines are heading back to the PAC Championship for the 10th time since 2012.

Grove City women’s soccer finished the regular season undefeated in conference play and secured the No. 1 seed in PAC play on a seven-game win streak.

Against Waynesburg at home in the semifinals, junior midfielder Emma Herrmann scored the first goal less than two minutes into the game on an assist by junior forward Britta Lagerquist, starting hot to take the incredibly early lead.

After going scoreless for the rest of the half, Waynesburg tied it up early in the second half 1-1. Still tied well into the second half, Herrmann’s heroics earned Grove City another goal to take back the lead after almost 25 minutes of no scoring. A goal by freshman midfielder Tori Stevenson in the final minutes all but iced the game for the Wolverines 3-1 victory. Junior goalkeeper Courtney Lisman had seven saves throughout the game.

“Our team’s theme for this year is ‘Fully Committed,’ which I believe has been embraced wholeheartedly this season. I have seen my teammates’ commitment to the game, the process, each

other, and most importantly Christ,” said D’Amato.

“I would love to add a PAC champion t-shirt and hat to my collection, but as a senior who personally experienced the unpredictable nature of tournament play, I am focused more on the present, the mental prep, and my teammates around me vs the future goal.”

The Wolverines are eager to face Franciscan again.

Grove City tied with Franciscan 3-3 during their match on Sept. 23, in a game in which the Wolverines had a 3-0 halftime lead.

The tie was Grove City’s lone blemish on a near-perfect 9-0-1 conference record.

Still, all it takes is one more win for the Wolverines to finish as the PAC Champions and earn a bid to the NCAA tournament.

Their last win in the NCAA tournament was in 2018 when the Wolverines defeated nationally ranked UChicago 2-1 in the first round.

Grove City won seven PAC Championships in the past 30 years all with head coach Melissa Lamie.

Grove City made the PAC championship in nine straight seasons from 2012 through 2020.

The regular season leader in goals was Herrman with 17 goals, followed by Lagerquist with 5.

SOCCER 11

The women celebrate after winning the 2023 PAC championship.

GCC ATHLETICS

Women’s cross country reaches new heights Joel Sledd Sports Editor

In another victorious outing, the Wolverine’s women’s cross-country team took first in the PAC Championship race held at Thiel College.

The women’s cross-country team brought home their first PAC championship title since 2015.

All seven Grove City athletes placed in the top 25, finishing with a final score of 61. Leading the Wolverines and earning fourth place for individual performances was junior Lydia Bennett with a time of 22:50.87 on the sixkilometer course. Bennett also earned the title of First Team All-PAC. Finishing second for the

Wolverines and ninth overall was sophomore Audrey Karwowski with a time of 23:31.39. Following close behind was junior Ella Lyle finishing 13th overall with a time of 23:42.46. Both Karwowski and Lyle received Second Team All-PAC for their performances.

Juniors Julia Bauer and Virginia Williams also earned All-PAC honorable mentions, with Bauer finishing 16th overall and Williams earning 19th overall.

On the same day, the men finished fourth in the championship with 99 team points.

Two men finished in the top 10 for individual times on the eight-kilometer course.

Sophomore Caleb Hawke led the college with a final time

of 26:32.38, finishing eighth overall. Sophomore Micheal Singley finished just under two seconds behind Hawke to take ninth.

Head coach Laura Rybka received the honor of PAC Coach of the Year for the Wolverine’s performance in the 2023 season. Coach Rybka received nothing but praise from her athletes.

“She works so hard. She barely sleeps some nights,” sophomore Audrey Karwowski said.

Entering her second year as the cross-country coach for the college, Coach Rybka and the team faced many uncertainties at the beginning of the year.

CROSS COUNTRY 11