The Collegian – October 30, 2015

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Collegian

The

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Vol. 102, No. 7

The Grove City College Student Newspaper

College makes amends Molly Wicker

Former president reaches out to fired professor

News Editor

In 1962, the College fired Larry Gara, a professor of history whose left-wing, pacifist politics led to an unceremonious end to his teaching career at Grove City. The story made headlines

in 1962 and again this week when the Associated Press published an article about the incident. As described in the Associated Press article, the College brought numerous charges of incompetence against Gara that led to his subsequent termination.

Gara’s firing from Grove City College sparked a brief national debate over institutional autonomy (a fact that is lauded at the College) and academic freedom. He was able to recover from the incident and all but forget it, especially as he settled into a new position at Wilmington

College in Ohio. Considering that the incident occurred nearly fifty three years ago, Gara was surprised, to say the least, when Dr. Richard Jewell ’67, former Grove City College President, appeared at his front door a few months ago to personally express his

regret toward the incident on behalf of the College. “I asked Dr. Jewell, as President Emeritus of the College and someone who was familiar with the situation, to meet with Dr. Gara personally,” explained PresiGARA 2

Bluegrass Musician to visit Grove City Bethany Wilson Contributing Writer

Ropin’ you in

MAGGIE KEATING

The theatre program opened its production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Oklahoma!’ on Wednesday. The show will be playing once more tonight at 7:30pm in PEW. For more photos check the photospread on page 6.

Grove City begins its own Manhattan Project Molly Wicker

during World War II. Led by the United States, with the support of the United Kingdom and Canada, the project ran from 1942 to 1946. Physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer was the director of the Los

Last week, Stonebridge Concerts announced an exciting new concert that will be coming Grove City College next month. Jake Armerding, a folk musician and instrumentalist, will be performing on Thursday, Nov. 1. Armerding is a dually talented singer and violinist who often performs as a multi-instrumentalist, mostly on acoustic string instruments such as the mandolin, guitar and fiddle. Since 1999, Armerding has released five full-length records, the most recent being “Her” in 2009. He describes his own style of music as “organic music.” Of his latest album of original songs, Armerding said, “It’s a bunch of us playing our instruments and singing, and getting taped while we’re doing it. There’s no pitch correction, no chemicals, no nothing.” Jake Armerding is also a member of “Barnstar!” a self-proclaimed “bluegrass [band] for people who hate bluegrass.” According to his website, he has shared the stage with other talented artists such as Bela Fleck, Nickel Creek, Josh Ritter, David Wilcox and Toad the Wet Sprocket. Stonebridge Concerts is a College organization focused on concert production and promotion. The group has brought a wide variety of performers to campus in recent years, including Jenny & Tyler, House of Heroes, The Vespers and Bethesda, as well as the Newsboys, who visited the College this past April. The concert will take place on in the Morledge Great Room it Rathburn Hall. A chapel credit will be offered.

the Manhattan Project and the implications and consequences of creating the world’s ultimate weapon. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the detonation of the first nuclear weapons developed by the Manhattan Project, the top-secret

wartime effort that brought military, scientific and technological expertise together in a race against time to build the first atomic bomb. The Manhattan Project was a research and development project that produced the first nuclear weapons

Life

The Lens

E!

Perspectives

Sports

Think you could write 50,000 words in a month? These novelists do. Page

Get a glimpse of the Color Run and Oklahoma! Pages 6 and 7

Star Wars takes Spain by storm. Our foreign correspondent takes a look. Page 8

Could gridlock be a good thing? This writer thinks so. Page 9

Women’s rugby team pulls ahead. Page 12

News Editor The Grove City College Departments of Physics, History, and Political Science are hosting a series of events in order to understand and reflect on the atomic bomb,

MANHATTAN 2


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The Collegian

Students dust off history in Italy

Molly Wicker News Editor

This summer, while some students did research in a laboratory and others scurried around Capitol Hill, five Grove City College students laced up their hiking boots and trekked to Sardina, Italy, where they participated in an archaeological conservation program. Dr. Mark Graham, Professor of History, helped select and prepare five students – Sara Cammenga, Geoffrey Hall, Lacey Lobdell, Vincent Michael, and Eloise Smith – for the experience and worked with them in both Sardinia and Belmonte, Italy. “The work of these students was exemplary. All of the affiliated conservation experts and professors associated with the program noted our students’ hard work, positive attitude, teachability, hardiness, consideration of others, and intellectual engagement,” Graham said. Headquartered in Sabina, Italy, The Archaeological Conservation Institute (ACI) is a division of the Centro di Conservazione Archaeologica, headed by one of Italy’s most accomplished conservation experts, Roberto Nardi. Nardi invited Grove City College to be a member of a three-college consortium along with Connecticut College and Randolph College. The project was the first of its type: an inaugural international service-learning opportunity for faculty and students alike. Participants spent the majority of their time in the small town of Cabras, centered on the west coast of Sardina, where they not only worked, but also spent time getting to know the townspeople and im-

mersing themselves in the local culture – one that has a rich and varied history going back to at least the second millennium B.C. In 1974, the head of an unknown, life-size statue was discovered by a farmer while in his fields on the outskirts of Cabras in a place called Monte Prama. Over the next few years, excavations were carried out, and the town began to gain notoriety among international archaeologists. Fragments of 28 statues of warriors in various poses were unearthed. In the fall of 2014, a new group of statue fragments was discovered. These statues predated the more famous Greek archaic statues by several centuries. In fact, they are the oldest large statues ever discovered in the western Mediterranean. The students began their visit by learning about the importance of preserving cultural heritage and also practical techniques they would need to use throughout the excavation. Beginning the second week of their trip, students embarked on the first stage of their work: to record the defining features of each of the stone fragments by drawing a map. Each mark, scratch, or surface imperfection had to be noted, numbered and mapped in order to find out what part of a statue the piece was from. By the third week, students had nearly finished the mapping process and had begun to clean. The nearly 3000 years’ worth of dirt made the process tedious. Water and soft-bristled brushes were used to loosen the dirt and then scalpels were used to scrape it away. “Because limestone is very soft, we had to be incredibly careful not to press too hard

and scrape the stone. Hours could be spent on only one fragment,” explained one student. Once each piece was mapped and cleaned, it was added to a special collection at the Cabras Museum. “The local community was thrilled with our work and presence, knowing that our volunteer work helped keep the statues, now veritable symbols of Sardinian identity, in their community and in their museum. The fragments we conserved will remain in the Cabras Museum in the years to come,” notes Graham. The project, “The Conservation of the Nuragic sculptures of Monte Prama,” was assigned the top award in the Conservation category. In addition, in June, the project won the overall “Public Choice Award,” the only one assigned out of the 28 winning projects by the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage and Europa Nostra Awards. “Aside from the educational and service-learning aspects of the ACI trip, I had the time of my life traveling and forging some of my best friendships. The program is a great way to meet fellow students who are interested in the classics not just from Grove City but from colleges across the country,” said Cammenga. The project as a whole was a remarkable learning experience for the students that participated. It gave them a chance to see what it is like to channel their own archaeological and historical interests and passion into a project that can not only be shortlisted on a resume someday but also provided help and encouragement to a local community.

Grove City reaches out Past and present students serve communities

Molly Wicker News Editor

Grove City College, in conjunction with the Office of Alumni and College Relations, will host the Second Annual Alumni Service Day on Saturday, Nov. 7. Alumni, students and friends in the Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Philadelphia areas are being asked to take a few hours and serve their communities together while representing Christ and the College. Launched in November 2014, Grove City College Serves is an annual day of service when Grove City Col-

lege alumni, friends and students give back to their local communities. The 2015 project sites include the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Hosanna Industries, Light of Life and World Vision in Pittsburgh, Impact! Thrift in Philadelphia, and the Hattie Larlham Center in Cleveland. Students and alumni can also choose to serve an organization that is not on the list. Each project will have a staff or alumni project leader. Contact information for the project leaders, who will make participants aware of any last minute details, will

be provided as the event gets closer. Participants are asked to wear Grove City College gear and post their pictures online using the hashtag “#gccserves.” To get involved and to register, visit www.alumni.gcc. edu/gccserves to view a list of local projects and choose one based on interest and availability. Because these charitable organizations count on registration to be accurate, those who register are asked to firmly commit to the day of service. The registration deadline is Saturday, Oct. 31 at midnight.

October 31, 2015

GARA dent McNulty in a telephone interview with The Collegian. Although no one who was directly involved in his firing is alive today, the August visit from Jewell provided some closure for Gara, who had managed to meld his social activism and teaching career successfully during his time at Wilmington College. Gara, whose memory of the events in 1962 remain crystal clear, was blown away that the school had finally offered to make amends. The apology from Jewell, who delivered it in person, was the work of Stephen Taaffe ‘89, an alumnus of the College and history professor at Stephen F. Austin University in Texas, who decided to delve into Gara’s firing with the hope of turning it into a publishable research project. “I heard rumors about Gara when I was a GCC student back in the eighties, but nothing specific. A few years ago I was looking for a new research project, and I remembered the Gara story and thought I would look into it,” said Taaffe in an email to The Collegian. “It sounded far more potentially salacious and conspiratorial than the military history I usually write about.” Taaffe got access to papers that once belonged to J. Howard Pew, the Sun Oil Company president who was the major benefactor of Grove City College and the head of its board of trustees when Gara was hired in 1957. Pew was offended by Gara’s liberal anti-war views and thought they were disruptive to his teaching and that he was sympathetic to the much-hated Soviet Union. Using his position at the College, Pew was able to successfully remove Gara from his professorial position. When Taaffe’s research was published in a book in the spring of 2015, the College decided that the situation deserved to be re-examined. President McNulty acknowledged that the steps taken by the College at the time of the incident were incorrect and out of line. Jewell, in addition to his personal visit, also followed up with a letter, noting that the college’s actions against Gara in 1962 were “inappropriate and unfair.” “After we read Taaffe’s report in the spring, we thought it was the right thing to do,” he said. “Although most of the articles that are coming out say that we ‘apologized,’

MANHATTAN Alamos National Laboratory that designed the actual bombs. The United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, during the final stage of the World War II. The two bombs, which killed at least 129,000 people, mark the first and only use of nuclear weapons for warfare in history. The conversation kicked off in September when retired physics professor Dr. Richard A. Leo presented a lecture entitled, “The Story behind the Manhattan Project: A First Person Dramatization.” Dr. Leo, who taught physics at the College for 37 years, discussed the development of the bomb by portraying Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, who led the cohort of Man-

Gara what we really did was express regret over our actions that were taken in the past.” McNulty also explained that the situation provided a unique opportunity to demonstrate that the College’s due process has since changed, which is an important step in lifting the American Association of University Professors sanction that has been on the College for nearly fifty years. “Removing the AAUP sanction has been one of my goals since I became the President at Grove City,” said McNulty. “We know that people think it was the right thing to do and are hopeful that it might help us address the AAUP matter in the future.” Gara’s incident at Grove City was not his first and certainly would not be his last, however. In fact, Gara made something of career of shaking up the system. The Texas native’s first encounter with the law came when he refused to register for the World War II draft. He spent three years in federal prison. There, he and others protested the racially segregated facility by refusing to work, according to the AP report. Upon his release from prison, he earned his master’s degree and began teaching at Bluffton College in Ohio. After only one year there, he was convicted of counseling a student not to register for the draft, a fact that he still denies. He was sent back to prison for seven months, where he gained national attention after his situation led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision against him in a First Amendment Case. hattan Project scientists, and Army General Leslie Groves, the project’s military commander. He also explored the reasons for dropping nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the effects of those detonations. Dr. Leo, the 200s Professor of the Year, is considered a legend by many on campus according to physics professor Dr. D. J. Wagner, who coordinated the event. The plans for his discussion this fall sparked a faculty discussion that led to the year-long, interdisciplinary series exploring the bomb’s impact, said Wagner. “Seventy Years Since the Manhattan Project: A Semester-Wide Reflection” will challenge students, faculty, and the community to dig deeper into one of the century’s best discoveries and worst nightmares.


Life Before the curtain goes up

October 31, 2015

Dana Gilchrest

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A behind-the-scenes look at ‘Oklahoma!’

Contributing Writer After a long day of classes, all anyone wants to do is relax. However, this is not a reality for Hannah Vaccaro; her day is just beginning. After her classes, sophomore Hannah Vaccaro prepares for her “Oklahoma!” rehearsal. She has three rehearsals a week and as the show approaches, they will be every evening. It can be hectic since rehearsals can run from 6:45 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Vaccaro said that “Oklahoma!” is an easy musical to enjoy. “It’s fun to watch because there are a lot of dance numbers,” she said. The time commitment, although considerable, does not matter because of the friendships that she has made. “You spend so much time together, you really become like a family,” Vaccaro said. “One of my best friends came from this program.” The participants in the drama program have been a source of encouragement and support for her at Grove City College. Vaccaro came to the Col-

lege as a freshman last fall and obtained a spot as part of the ensemble in “Guys and Dolls.” Vaccaro also participated in the Children’s Theater production of “Honk,” the musicalized version of the “ugly duckling” story. Vaccaro is not new to taking the stage. Before attending Grove City College, she joined a theater company in sixth grade. From then on she participated in every musical she could. In preparing to get into her character, she says it is best to think about where the character is coming from right before she walks into her scene. “Knowing the backstory of your character, even as part of the ensemble, is crucial to adding to the effect and atmosphere of the entire scene and makes the play more realistic,” Vaccaro said. Being in a college-level theater program has stretched Vaccaro and made her a better actress. “Betsy Craig has such a heart and loves the students. She really wants us to be the best actors and actresses we can be,” Vaccaro said. The Western-style musical opened Wednesday and will run until Saturday night at 7:30p.m.

MAGGIE KEATING

For more ‘Oklahoma!’ photos, see page 6.

Dancing to fight cancer Headlining as “the best dance of the year,” the Pink Dance rocked the house this past Saturday. Those who attended the dance enjoyed a buffet of delicious food to accompany the games, photo booth, music, and dancing. Not only did the dance provide students with a much needed rest but the proceeds of the dance all went to the American Cancer Society as well as to a local family affected by breast cancer. In hosting the Pink Dance, the Tri Zeta Sorority and Phi Tau Alpha Fraternity have given this campus a shining example of what it means to give back to the community.


October 31, 2015

The Collegian

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It’s going down Elevator Pitch is quality Nate Chanski

competition

Contributing Writer

Too late for the Late Show

DANIELLE DENNIS

Hosted by SGA, the Late Show celebrated the opening of the basketball season. Food and prizes flowed aplenty during the celebration of basketball. The event ran for close to two hours and packed in every variety of game possible. The festivities included a three-point contest, a knock-out game, an obstacle course, an impossible shot contest, as well as multiple scrimmages throughout the night. The night was undeniably a night of active devotion to basketball.

NaNoWriMo

November is the month for writers

Meghan Rhodes Contributing Writer

Writers worldwide, both young and old, spend October preparing for their favorite month of the year: November. November is National Novel Writing Month. This month challenges writers around the world to write 50,000 words by Nov. 30. It is an exciting time for participants as they prepare to write their novel. Each participant creates an account on the official National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) website and then can begin to craft a novel. Participants receive peptalks each week and can find others in their area to set up write-ins. Write-ins are led by a Municipal Liaison, and participants meet throughout the month to write for a few hours each week. This year, a group of Grove City NaNoWriMo partici-

pants will be meeting at Beans on Broad from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. every Saturday starting Nov. 7. Grace Barber, a resident of the Grove City area, was the Municipal Liaison last year and will lead the group again this November. She has completed the challenge the past two years, and this will be her third year participating. “My favorite part is watching people try something they’ve never done before. Everyone feels terrified, overwhelmed, and like they have the worst plot and characters ever. Knowing that there are a whole bunch of other people who feel the same but are writing anyway is very inspiring,” Barber said. When asked if she would encourage students to participate, Barber said yes. “I know college students are super busy with papers and tests and whatnot. The thing is most of them don’t have a lot of creative outlet,” said Barber.

“Yeah, you’ll write a lot of research papers in college, but taking those same ideas and exploring them in a story is a completely different experience. You have to live and explore the boundaries of the idea to really understand it. Immersing yourself in a novel of your own telling is a great way to do that.” Besides the thrill of writing a novel, participants receive discounts on different NaNoWriMo sponsor items like writing software, writing classes, writing guides and eBooks. Those who finish NaNoWriMo receive special discounts on the above and access to publishing services such as Swoon Reads and Reedsy. As Barber said, “College is a time to do crazy things. There are few things crazier than trying to write 50,000 words in a month. It’s the literary equivalent of skydiving.”

The Elevator Pitch Competition proved to be an exciting experience for competitive students on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The Elevator Pitch Competition is held for students who wish to take their best shot at verbally selling a “social” or “commercial” product to a panel of professor judges. The social entrepreneurship category pertains to those ideas that give the partial or complete proceeds to a third party, often for philanthropic purposes. Think of TOMS shoes benefiting communities in need from around the world with every sale. The alternative category, called commercial entrepreneurship, pertains to those ideas that produce revenue for the selling organization itself, like the sale of an iPhone directly producing revenue for Apple Inc. The students involved are to pick a product that relates to one of these categories, sign up and show up for their four-minute time slot in the competition and deliver the most compelling argument they can to pitch for their product. The consensus among the participating students was a resounding theme of excitement in their meticulous preparation. When asked about her preparation details, junior Rachel Watson said, “I basi-

cally just went in a room and practiced my pitch until it sounded polished and everything ran smoothly.” Watson decided to sell women’s Greek life lavaliers that can be found on Etsy, a website often used for selling handmade or “crafty” products. She confessed that her competitive spirit was not as high as some contenders, but the experience was priceless. Another student, freshman Evan Hangliter, spoke about his experience of securing a private room the night before the competition with his friend. There, the two freshmen spent about three hours practicing their respective pitches back and forth until they felt fully prepared. When asked about whether or not he felt nervous going into his pitch, Hangliter said, “I don’t like to use the word ‘nervous’, but rather ‘excited.’” Hangliter also expressed his reason for involvement was the quality experience. The competition, held on Wednesday, Oct. 21, was followed up by an email announcement of the top ten winners in both product categories. Those 20 finalists will proceed to the next round of the competition held this Saturday, Oct. 31, where they will deliver their pitches again to an official panel of judges and compete for the top three prize-winning places.

Fall Photo Contest Submit personal photography that encapsulates the fall! The best selection will be featured on the front page. Runners up will have their photos highlighted on the photospread. Use the hashtag #GCCFall to submit pictures on social media. Leaf by Peter Silk from the Noun Project

HELP WANTED Join the staff of THE COLLEGIAN: We are always looking for writers, photographers, designers, copy editors and anyone else who thinks they can help make our campus newspaper better. In addition to those traditional staff positions, The Collegian is taking applications for a webmaster and website editors. Interested? For more information about being a Collegian web master, photographer or artist, email collegian@gcc.edu.


October 31, 2015

Entertainment

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Pick of the Week

Majical Cloudz

Sam Farley

WSAJ Contributor

What are you laughin’ at?

aceshowbiz.com

Different approaches to comedy in ‘Hot Fuzz’ and ‘Tropic Thunder’

Grant Wishard

Staff Writer

Excellent comedy is elusive. It requires a level of work and creativity that can easily be avoided for cheap laughs. The difference between good and great comedy is easier to see if you watch “Hot Fuzz” (2007) and “Tropic Thunder” (2008) back to back. To be fair, “Tropic Thunder” is a funny and well-regarded comedy, b. But “Hot Fuzz” stands apart because it works hard to approach comedy creatively. “Hot Fuzz” is the story of Sergeant Angel, a top-notch London police officer, who is “promoted” and transferred to the quiet village of Sandford when he outperforms his superiors. They hope that Angel’s talents will be wasted in what is thought to be the safest village in England, but a bizarre series of accidents leads him and his hapless partner Danny Butterman (played by Nick Frost) to discover a sinister plot. Simeon Pegg played the lead Sergeant Angel, but also wrote and directed alongside Edgar Wright. “Tropic Thunder” follows the chaos created by a group of egotistical movie stars who think they are shooting a Vietnam War movie, completely unaware that they are fighting for their pampered lives. Ben Stiller is director, writ-

er, and plays the lead role of Tugg Speedman. Besides their promising plots, both movies share several things in common. Both are entirely the project of their respective directors. Both are action comedies, both – especially “Tropic Thunder” – benefit from big-name casts. And both are self-mocking satires of Hollywood. Ben Stiller parodies the egotism of actors and the clichés of big-budget summer blockbusters, while Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg satirize the buddy-cop action genre. These similarities give legitimacy to a comparison of the two films. At their core, “Hot Fuzz” and “Tropic Thunder” approach comedy from two different directions. “Tropic Thunder” was well received, earning 7.0/10 on IMDB and a 70-percent approval rating from the audience on Rotten Tomatoes. But the critics, and more importantly the audience, have been in favor of “Hot Fuzz,” which boasts a 7.9 IMDB score and 89-percent audience approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The appeal of “Tropic Thunder” rests on its overblown hodgepodge celebrity cast, its ridicule of Hollywood culture and its relentless antics. “Tropic Thunder” is remembered for several moments of genius, including two surprise cameos which

are too enjoyable to spoil in this review. “Tropic Thunder” is also entertaining as a movie within a movie. Fake trailers introduce the opening scene, a Vietnam battle sequence, which at first glance could be mistaken for the shoot-em-up genre Stiller is spoofing. But to enjoy both of these creative moments you must be engaged with all things Hollywood. To enjoy the cameos you must appreciate the fame of the celebrity cast. To laugh at the parody, you must recognize method acting, temperamental movie stars and cutthroat producers. And the spoof makes the most sense if you have seen the short list of well-regarded Vietnam War movies. In other words, “Tropic Thunder” is an inside joke, funniest to those in the know. Meanwhile, “Hot Fuzz” satirizes action movies but can be enjoyed without any knowledge of the genre. First, Wright and Penn prioritize the development of plot and characters over action movie references. In this way the inside jokes are bent to fit the story, not the other way around, making them unobtrusive. Second, most laughs in “Hot Fuzz” are visual and without a word of dialogue. Jokes are shown as often as they are told, meaning you can enjoy the movie without a knowledge of Hollywood and maybe even without the sound. In “Tropic Thunder”

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the jokes are delivered entirely through dialogue while the characters stand around and talk. There is nothing inherently wrong with humorous dialogue, but it wastes the potential of film as a visual medium. Third, “Hot Fuzz” lets the audience make the connection and get the joke on their own. Realizing the joke yourself is a more engaging, more hilarious and truer to how jokes are told in real conversation. For example, Sergeant Angel gets what he thinks is a prank call from “P.I. Staker.” In the next scene Angel is handling the legitimate complaint of someone named Mr. Staker. The entire joke takes six seconds and the audience is left to imagine the middle and aftermath of Angel’s mistake. Would you ever explain why your joke is funny to your friends? Hopefully not. Which is why Wright and Penn don’t do not have Angel shout “You mean there really is someone named ‘Piss Taker!?’” “Tropic Thunder” lacks this creative element of surprise and tries to replicate the effect with shock and awe dialogue. Meaning, dialogue that is crude (200+ obscenities) and gags willing to mock everything from blackface humor, to the torture of drug withdrawal, and the mentally retarded. Again, both movies have been well received and rewarded with box office success. But “Tropic Thunder” is good and “Hot Fuzz” is great because Penn and Wright have made the extra effort to approach comedy creatively. Anyone can enjoy their work because it is a well-told story which is humorous for its own sake. It is witty and smart, visual and quick. Excellent comedy is elusive, so be sure to catch “Hot Fuzz.”

Majical Cloudz’s first album was an immersion. It was something that slowly worked you into the lead singer’s world of despair. On the surface, everything was laid out so neatly and elegantly that one could start the album and simply lay there until he fell asleep. But by the focal track, “Childhood’s End,” the album takes a turn. With a jarring opening line of, “Someone died, gunshot / right outside, your father / He is dead,” it wakes you up. The album soon progresses into that of nearly a scream for help; he is not doing this for himself, but rather he is performing for an audience that he wants to connect to. The duo from Montreal have recently released their newest album, “Are You Alone?” The album is similar to the last album, “Impersonator.” Typically similar consecutive albums are not appreciated, but here, this new album is answering questions, only to replace them with more questions. It is an oddly addictive pleasure that always leaves more to be sought after. This album does not take the plunge that the first one chose. It picks up where things left off on “Impersonator.” Almost immediately, the lead singer, Devon Welsh, starts speaking of an insatiable love for someone. Initially, it is Welsh’s self-consciousness that is making him question himself. In his mind it shortly changes to a question of whether he should change or stay the same. He soon realizes that he has done all he can and he wants his lover to change. Halfway through the album, though, it comes down to “Silver Car Crash.” He realizes that no matter what happens, he will love this person. This realization is what drives the rest of the album. Hinting at his own anxiety and self-criticism, he realizes that his life is not complete without a companion, and he is willing to give anything for this person. Some songs are only four chords played on a synthesizer, accompanied by Welsh’s powerful vocals. He is stripped down. The two make an unconventional duo and allow Welsh to pierce the listener with his lyrics. It is an album that has to be experienced. It is similar to the first album in that it is bluntly emotional, but the album is consistent throughout and can truly be taken in without any twists or turns.


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Through the Lens

Oklahoma! The theatre program premiered its production of ‘Oklahoma!’ this Wednesday. It is a story of life and love in the West. With engaging coreography, vibrant costumes and sets, and songs that will be stuck in your head for days, this is a show that you won’t want to miss.

PHOTOS BY MAGGIE KEATING

October 31, 2015


October 31, 2015

Through the Lens

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Color the Grove Greek life run supports local mission

Rachel Watson Contributing Writer Ever wanted to run in a Color Run, but could not quite find a way to get off campus? Grove City College’s Pan-Hellenic Council has offered a solution to this problem. On Sunday, Oct. 11, Grove City College hosted its first “color run,” which they titled “Color the Grove.” The event was sponsored by the Pan-Hellenic Council and had representatives from each of the eight oncampus sororities. The event boasted 150 runners, 80 of which were sorority girls. “Overall we are so

pleased with how successful the event was for the first year. We hope that it can help to show freshman girls and really all of campus what Greek life is all about and the support you can get from being part of a group,” Pan-Hellenic President Rachael Zdaniewicz said. All the proceeds for the race went to the City Rescue Mission of New Castle, specifically to support the women’s ministry. Each sorority had paint made of cornstarch mixed with dye to throw at the runners as they passed by. “We are hoping in the future to actually be able to throw real paint,” Zdaniewicz shared.

So what did the students think of Color the Grove? “It was just so much fun to see everyone cheering for everyone as they ran by. I just walked and I felt so much love,” junior Emma Vetter said. “Throwing paint at people was definitely the highlight for me. I think that our campus can definitely have a negative connotation for Greek life, and I hope this event helped to show people the joy of being in a group,” junior Thea Simonet said. Color the Grove has definitely been deemed a success and all of campus can look forward to this colorful event brightening our campus next fall.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL ZDANIEWICZ


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The Collegian

October 31, 2015

The Empire strikes Spain

Grayson Quay

Foreign Correspondent “You have that power too” With those words, tacked on to the end of a quotation from “Return of the Jedi,” the trailer for “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” undid all the damage that George Lucas did with all that asinine business about midi-chlorians in the prequel trilogy. As one commentator pointed out in the 2010 documentary “The People vs. George Lucas,” the concept of midi-chlorians dealt a serious blow the theoretically achievable dream of becoming a Jedi for a generation of children. Force-sensitivity ceased to be a matter of faith, goodness and innate harmony with the universe and became instead a caprice of biology. But the dream never died, and Disney, which was able to successfully tap into nostalgia to create multi-generational audiences for “Toy Story 3” and “Monster’s University,” is about to do the same thing on a much larger scale. Last weekend, in Málaga, I witnessed a parade of the 501st Legion. The 501st, also known as “Vader’s Fist,” is a 10,000-strong organization of Star Wars superfans who create their own movie-accurate costumes, usually as Stormtroopers. Legion members appear in parades or at promotional events, but always as volunteers, asking that charitable donations be made in lieu of payment. The parade I witnessed was organized by members of the Legion’s Spanish Garrison to raise money for the Fundacion Luis Olivares, a malagueño charity that helps children with cancer.

While I have no way of knowing how much they raised, I can speak to the incredible turnout. The entire mile-long parade route was so packed that at the thinnest point I could find in the crowd, I still had to elbow two small children out of the way to get a selfie with a Stormtrooper. The multi-generational appeal of the franchise was on full display. Some parents held their infants up to Darth Vader as if he were the pope, while those with slightly older children excitedly pointed out characters from the original trilogy that the kids might not recognize from the recent “Clone Wars” and “Rebels” cartoons. At first, I was surprised to find Star Wars so popular in Spain, but after some thought I realized that inclusivity and universal appeal are the main sources of the series’ success. Lucas intentionally followed outline suggested by Joseph Campbell’s “Hero with a Thousand Faces,” which proposed that all world mythologies share elements of a common framework. In her book “Myth and Identity in the Epic of Imperial Spain,” literary critic Elizabeth Davis notes that, unlike most historical epics, Star Wars is entirely abstracted from history. Lucas, she points out, uses Nazi and Soviet imagery interchangeably in his portrayal of the Empire, depicting the Emperor as a “‘generic dictator’ who exists outside of real history.” That Lucas deleted a scene from Episode IV in which Biggs Darklighter mentions the Empire starting to “nationalize commerce in the central systems” only further proves Davis’ point.

It’s too specific and would have given us a political allegory rather than an archetypal villain. We don’t need to understand the finer points of Imperial economic policy to know that they’re the bad guys. They blew up a planet, for God’s sake. They are evil and always will be, no matter how times change. There is a deeper connection with Spain, though. America has never experienced dictatorship, and our civil war was over a century behind us by the time “Star Wars” was released, but in

Spain, their civil war had ended less than 40 years ago, and their dictator, Generalissimo Francisco Franco, had been dead only two. “Star Wars” came at a turning point in Spanish history. In the short-lived Spanish show, “La Chica de Ayer” (2009), the main character is a detective who is inexplicably transported back in time from present day to 1977. In the first episode, he breaks the fourth wall to inform the audience of the zeitgeist of that year: “They say that 1977 was a great year… that year the first democratic elections were held.

GRAYSON QUAY

On the streets was an air of optimism… That year, ‘Star Wars’ was released.” In 1977, Spain looked like the ending of “Return of the Jedi,” looking eagerly to the future after decades of dictatorship, while the United States, still reeling and cynical in the aftermath of Vietnam and Watergate, looked more like the ending of “The Empire Strikes Back,” forced to reevaluate its entire identity after a series of humiliating and costly setbacks. That “Star Wars” could be equally embraced in both countries is a testament to its magic.

Cold out of nowhere Bands battle for Nostalgic trip for 90s kids

Jake Sziraky

Contributing Writer

If the internet has taught us anything, it is that yes, you can “haz” cheeseburger and that there is no prouder and more condescending group than the dreaded “90’s kids.” This is a group of young adults that barely remembers the final decade of the previous millennia but recalls just enough to poke fun at the “less fortunate 2000-born.” Despite the smugness of a few internet trolls, the 90’s did have some wonderful things for our country’s youth culture. Just to name a few: Tamagotchi Pets, all of the cartoons on Nickelodeon, and Wonderballs. However, perhaps the best contribution that the decade produced was the infamous “Goosebumps” series by R.L. Stein. From the initial novels, the “give yourself goose-

bumps” series and the frightfully hokey television show, one can hardly think of the 90’s without at least giving this infamous book series a passing thought. For those of you who never braved the spooky world of R.L. Stein’s creation, the “Goosebumps” books are a bunch of mostly unconnected books each depicting a different creepy story. From talking ventriloquist dummies to haunted masks and magic mirrors that make you disappear, these wonderful stories have a little bit of everything. Stein did continue to write into the 2000’s, however, the series’ popularity began to wane until very few people, if any, talked about it or read it at all. That is, until 2015. There were some advertisements for the “Goosebumps” movie at the cinema and on television, however, it seemed

to appear out of nowhere just in time for the upcoming Halloween festivities. The movie tells the story of a young boy whose father recently died and must move to Delaware with his mother. Shortly after arriving, he meets the girl next door and her creepy father, who warns him to stay away from her and to leave them both alone. The movie highlights their budding friendship and his survival of those awkward high school years at a new school. There is also a hoard of undefeatable monsters tracking the teenagers down, who will stop at nothing till until he, she and her father are dead. Other than that, it’s a normal comingof-age story that will delight family members of all ages, regardless of whether or not you have read the books.

bragging rights

Matt Vavro

Contributing Writer Battle of the bands, an event hosted annually by the Kappa Alpha Phi fraternity and Gamma Sigma Phi sorority, was an exciting and enjoyable event with proceeds benefiting the American Cancer Society Ket Rec was completely transformed with a stage and relaxing lighting and decorations that created a cozy atmosphere. The area was inviting and felt similar to the coffee house events hosted by the Student Government Association. Several groups of musicians participated, playing a wide variety of instruments including acoustic and electric guitar, keyboard cajon, and violin. The quality of the music was excellent, as each band seemed to bring something different to the competition. Covers of songs from several wellknown artists were heard,

such as Mumford & Sons, Taylor Swift, and Walk the Moon. Awards were chosen by the audience, with a container for each band that tickets could be placed into for voting. Ketler rec Rec was filled for nearly the entire night, and those attending appeared to be engaged in and enjoying the performances. Refreshments were offered, as well as several raffle items and gift cards which were given away throughout the night. Overall, the brothers and sisters of Kappa Alpha Phi and Gamma Sigma Phi hosted an excellent event to raise money for the American Cancer Society. A combination of great musical talent from those who performed and dedication from those who helped plan, decorate, and present the refreshments and raffle items contributed to its success.

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Perspectives

October 31, 2015

Page 9

100 Campus Drive Grove City, Pa. 16127 collegian@gcc.edu gcc.collegian@gmail.com

Editor-in-Chief Liesl McClintock

Managing Editor Patty Folkerts

Section Editors

Three cheers for gridlock!

huffpost.com

Are Republicans and Democrats so different?

Jon Matt

Contributing Writer It has been said that the current federal government is the most divided and gridlocked in recent history. This is inherently assumed to be negative. Governments by their very nature are supposed to govern, and is there any better way to measure a government’s effectiveness than by how well it legislates? Much of the discussion surrounding the upcoming elections focuses on whether the two parties will be able to work together or whether one party will gain control of the White House and Congress and be able to assert its agenda. Many believe that if we could simply vote their party of choice into power, we could make America a better place. However, we need to question the assumption that a united government that effectively legislates is good for the country. For much of 2014, the 113th Congress was on track to be the least productive Congress in history. Congress certainly has not gotten any better over the past year. There are a limited amount of examples where an issue has sparked bipartisan support, such as the Department of Veteran Affairs scandal, and the result has been fairly benign. But this is the exception and certainly

not the rule. Is this really a bad thing, and does it make any difference who is in power? Ultimately, the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans is nothing more than surface deep. Many of the largest political donors contribute significantly to both parties, and candidates on both of sides of the aisle are often beholding to the same special interest groups. Because politicians have to please these donors to stay in office, people that come in with different ideologies end up on the same side of many issues. Under both the Democrats and the Republicans, we have seen the growth of the military industrial complex, and the U.S. has become increasingly entangled in foreign affairs. Both parties have contributed significantly to the ever-growing national debt. Despite their seeming differences, they both have supported the expansion of the state in many areas. When the Democrats and Republicans do end up coming together to pass a bill, the results are most often undesirable. In times of crisis especially, both parties have played off of the fears of the American people to significantly and irreversibly expand the size and scope of the federal government. In response to American’s fear of foreign threats, both parties largely supported long-term military involvements

in the Middle East and the expansion of government surveillance and the violation of privacy rights through policies like the Patriot Act. Similarly, due to public fears about the economy, both parties supported the corporatist bailout policies such as TARP. On many of the most significant policy failures of the 21st century, both parties were on the same side. Surprisingly, all of the political grandstanding and lack of cooperation, although obnoxious, has protected us from bad legislation. The American people should be grateful for politicians who are unwilling to cooperate because it has prevented many bad pieces of legislation from being passed. Our freedoms tend to be protected best when Congress is least able to act. So, as the next round of elections approaches and we are bombarded with ads and commercials, there is no need to root for any candidate or party in particular. As obnoxious as some candidates are (yes, I mean Donald Trump), it does not really matter who wins. As long as we can keep the president and both houses of Congress at odds with each other, we should have a better chance of preventing anything truly bad from being enacted.

In defense of tolerance

Ryan Brown

Contributing Writer Conservatives and Christians sometimes treat tolerance as a fancy word for surrender. They often argue that tolerance is a fake virtue created by those in society practicing evil and spouting lies for the purpose of stopping those with truth on their side from speaking up. According to these folks, we should instead be intolerant. We should attack evil and falsehood with all argumentative force, and in some extreme cases, with informal or even formal sanctions, including legislation. Wrong ideas are, after all, wrong, and evil is, after all, evil. This new sanctification of intolerance is not at all productive. It makes it nigh unto impossible to convince our opponents, and it results in the same closemindedness in ourselves that we wish our opponents would put aside. The best way to win arguments is not to have the best argument. Simply hammering someone else into the ground with logic makes them feel like you are their enemy. They re-entrench their position, knowing

you must be wrong without knowing why. The best way to win an argument is to understand where your opponent is coming from. If you demonstrate that you know their position better than they know it themselves, and explain it in a flattering way, you will gain their respect. You must show them that you understand why they think what they think, and then you will be seen as a friend and fellow seeker of truth. Once that is accomplished, you can point out reasons why you do not personally hold to that view and think it is mistaken. Others will then be much more receptive and willing to consider what you have to say, instead of simply reinforcing their view. P r o v e r b s 16:24 says that “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” Additionally, it is not Christian to treat others as enemies whose ideas must be torn down. We are called to see them as potential brothers and sisters. Everyone can be saved; nobody is simply an enemy who is to be

destroyed, taunted or ostracized. Instead we are to treat them with grace and mercy, doing our best to introduce them to God and truth. And, perhaps most importantly of all, if we are tolerant to other ideas, we might actually learn something. Tolerance is not just important because it gets other people to see your way, but it helps you see theirs, and if they happen to be correct, more power to them. At least one or two of your beliefs is probably wrong, right? How will you ever know which of your views is wrong and needs to be corrected if you are not tolerant of opposing viewpoints? This is not to say that every viewpoint should be given the same level of respect. Views that would be truly and deeply evil if implemented or are near to being accepted by a large number of people should be treated with much less tolerance then fringe views or whose falsehood is of little practical consequence. It also is not to say that different arenas of discourse do not require different tactics. You always have an audience: the person or group of people

you intend to convince. If your audience is undecided, it is alright to portray the wrongheaded idea as ridiculous and dangerous while still being fair. If your audience is aligned against you, it is essential that you show your understanding and respect. The same is true if your audience is on your side. Your goal, for an audience who agrees with you, is to equip them to go out and argue intelligently for their side. In order for the audience to do this effectively, they must truly understanding the other side, not simply a strawman of it. If all they ever hear is the strawman, they may indeed be more likely to be persuaded by the real argument when they go out only half-equipped. Even in the cases here where it is acceptable to seem not sympathetic for rhetorical purposes, you should still, internally, strive for tolerance. It ’s paramount that we do not become intellectually isolated dogmatists unable to interact and relate with the world. It ’s paramount we remain clever, but fundamentally loving.

News Molly Wicker Life Emily Bartlow Entertainment Jacob Sziráky Perspectives Colin Combs Sports Joe Setyon Photography Julia Williams

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Staff Writers Thomas Kutz Pearl Scalzo Rio Arias Joshua Fried Ethan Paszko Bradley Warmhold Kathleen McAlister Grant Wishard Michael Cole

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Advertising/Business Manager Reagan Georges

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Staff Adviser 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.

GREEN EYESHADE AWARD

This week’s award goes to junior Joe Setyon for his consistent and efficient work as sports editor. The Collegian Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors who have demonstrated consistency and excellence in their work.


October 31, 2015

The Collegian

My idea, your profit

Zechariah Voell Contributing Writer

Private property is a mechanism for both satisfying and limiting human desire. Moreover, protecting private property is a good universally supported by freemarket advocates. But an odd subset of private property protectors ardently oppose the protection of intellectual property. Private property, they argue, is limited to only physical possessions and excludes immaterial (or intellectual) items. However, specific philosophical and practical justifications for intellectual property rights (IPRs) show the inconsistency and destructivity of this ideological platform. If we ’re going to show the legitimacy of intellectual property, we should first understand the idea of “property” itself. The most precise definition of property comes from a 20th-century astrophysicist and philosopher, Andrew Galambos. He divides property into three categories: primordial (an individual’s life), primary (ideas, thoughts, actions), and secondary (all tangible and intangible derivatives of primary property). Translated into more relevant jargon, primary property is intellectual property and secondary property is normative private property. Thus, material property and intellectual property are only chronologically separate and deserve equal recognition from the pro-private property protection tradition. Material property is not an abstract entity, but has an intuitive relationship with mental creativity. To truly

defend private property is to defend intellectual property. Though comprehensive property ownership does not change when primary property transfers to the secondary form, ownership is not necessarily permanent. Appropriate protections for property only allow an exchange of ownership when the owner voluntarily accepts appropriate compensation for the value of his or her property. Anything else is theft. Economic freedom is the foremost pragmatic argument against IPRs heralded principally by anarcho capitalists. IPRs are caricatured as artificial safeguards that allow monopolization and insulate from competition. This environment, critics argue, ultimately discourages innovation and robs society of the benefits from universally owning, consuming, or improving all secondary property. Addressing in full the patent evils of anarcho capitalism (the economic equivalent of the Hobbesian state of nature) is beyond the scope of this article. But it is suffice to say that economic freedom is not an intrinsically valuable end. It is a means to prosperity. Anarcho capitalists crave freedom for freedom’s sake, assuming economic prosperity as a byproduct. That mindset is as backwards as it is wrong. In a completely free market, no one profits because there are no rules. Capitalism, on the other hand, encourages competition and rewards the first, biggest or best, making it essential to a thriving market. Any market will deteriorate without a competition-profit

The editor responds

Colin Combs

Perspectives Editor This week, I had the pleasure of publishing Mr. Zechariah Voell’s response to one of my previous articles regarding the legitimacy of intellectual property. His objections are completely off-base of course, and I am writing this to tell you, our no doubt avid readers who are no doubt highly invested in this debate, why. Further, as the editor I have the advantage of publishing my response immediately! If you haven’t read Voell’s article first, please do before continuing. To begin with, Voell’s article as a whole is somewhat jumbled and confused. It sets out trying to argue why intellectual property is valid, but then gets quickly distracted and starts to attack anarchocapitalism. Many things are asserted, but few defended. Voell looks for a definition of property by the mostly unknown libertarian thinker Andrew Galambos, who does not so much give a definition of property but simply lists “intellectual property” as part of your property. In spite of his obscure status, Voell heralds Galambos as having given “the most precise definition of property.”Problems of cherry-picking definitions aside, this is an especially odd choice for Voell to quote since Galambos advocated for a stateless society. For someone whose main argument seems to rest on the in-

validity of this type of property theory, this is a strange choice. Congratulations are due, however, for Voell picking a theorist who has a consistent view on intellectual property. Unlike other libertarian supporters of intellectual property like Ayn Rand, Galambos does indeed treat intellectual property entirely consistently. In fact, he was so consistent that he would forbid his ideas from being repeated without his permission, changed his name from Joseph Andrew Galambos Jr. to Andrew Galambos so as not to violate his father’s property rights and paid a nickel in royalties to the descendants of Thomas Paine every time he used the word “liberty”. Like other forms of property rights, Galambos believed intellectual property could never expire, since it was a natural right and not something gifted by the state, and he applied it to all ideas. Einstein owns all subsequent discoveries that use his theory of relativity. The inventor of the first video game will own all video games. The caveman who invented fire should be the unquestioned overlord of human society. We must wonder if Voell has actually thought these ideas through himself. Voell also spends a strange amount of time focusing on anarcho-capitalism. Not only is his understanding of this theory wear, it ’s also entirely irrelevant. There is nothing inherent-

structure. Anarcho capitalism is diametrically opposed to a thriving economy. Moreover, moderate government regulation is not incompatible with capitalism and profit. In fact, successful capitalism requires a parameterized environment in which to function. But anarchic-capitalists categorically brand all government regulation as intrusive and overbearing. That palpably flawed generalization operates on the presumption that because too much of X is bad, any of X is bad. The protection of intellectual property rights is not government intrusion, but government fulfillment: protecting the rights of those who unified to create a society. Communities do not inherently escalate human innovative or creative capabilities. Rather, a community allows the producers of X, Y or Z product to accumulate much more profit than possible on their own by substantially contributing unique value to their society Just as the chemical formula for water is unaffected by its mutable physical constitution (steam, water, or ice), ownership of property does not change regardless of the property’s nature. An owner of primary and secondary property is entitled to all derivatives of his or her primary property. IPRs are a governmental mechanism tasked with preserving ownership and correctly assigning profit. Without government there are no punishments or rules; without rules there is only chaos. Protecting all property is a requisite for any healthy economy. ly tying the idea of anarchocapitalism to the belief that intellectual property is illegitimate. There are anarcho-capitalists that believe intellectual property is legitimate, like Galambos, and there are non-anarcho-capitalists that believe it is illegitimate. His discussion here is completely irrelevant. Beyond this, the distinctions Voell makes are very confusing. He argues that all private property should be absolutely defended, but decries those who hold up economic freedom as a goal. Further, He argues against the idea that we should abandon all government regulation, but denies that intellectual property is a regulation in the first place. This is a very confused argument to begin with, but as a response to my previous article, it does not even begin to address any of the objections raised. the inherent differences between private property and intellectual property are not addressed, nor are the distinctions between copying and theft. The article does not address the fact that intellectual property law was directly born out of officially recognized government monopolies or its continued recognition as such to this day by economists. Until these problems are addressed, this argument is entirely unacceptable and unconvincing.

Page 10

Black lives or all lives?

Rio Arias Staff Writer

During the recently-aired democratic debate, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was asked “Do black lives matter or do all lives matter?” tWithout much hesitation, he said “black lives matter” pointed to the death of Sandra Bland, a woman found dead in her jail cell three days after what appeared to be an unfair arrest, he stated that “we need major, major reforms in a broken criminal justice system. But what exactly is the big problem with our criminal justice system causing so much outrage? Many point to the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year old African-American male who died due to mysterious injuries during his arrest. The death was ruled a homicide, but the riots and arrests that followed led to the entire city of Baltimore being put under a state of emergency and the Maryland Army National Guard being deployed. While it is just one example, others such as the Ferguson unrest or recent tensions over racial profiling have caused this issue to gain a spotlight in the media. Activists involved in Black Lives Matte, are pushing for awareness about the oppression of black persons by the law enforcement as well as the entire American justice system. They have expanded their reach to over 25 cities around the nation and organize marches and demonstrations to further their cause. Black Lives Matter has gained a lot of negative attention as well because their message seems to imply that only black lives matter or that they are more important than everyone else’s. Many media outlets have tried to pinpoint the issue by making politicians choose between black lives or all lives mattering in our justice system. A Fox News commentary discussed the issue saying that “… the Black Lives movement needs to get rid of this issue, draw a broader coalition together by simply saying, yes, all lives matter, but we’ve got to do something about the use of excessive force by police.” Others have stated that “Black lives only matter when it involves a white person or the police,” or better yet, “Black lives don’t matter when it’s black on black crime, which happens much more frequently than white

on black crime does.” But the truth is that black lives always matter, as do all lives, and it is outrageous that people are offended by a movement that is trying raise awareness and bring change to a repeating pattern of racism in our government. Of course “black on black” crime is more common than “white on black” crime – the poverty rate among AfricanAmericans is much higher than that of white Americans, and many high-risk neighborhoods are disproportionately represented by those same black Americans. If a correlation between poverty and crime is surprising, then maybe some of those people commenting on the issues should take a step back and learn about them first. The message Black Lives Matter is trying to broadcast is not a “reverse racism” case or one of unfair favoritism but rather is a simple message – Black Lives Matter too. Yes, the Baltimore riots were a regressive way of raising awareness as is any form of violence against our law enforcement because it is still a necessary system. But without a group like Black Lives Matter establishing itself in our nation, the average American would most likely still be unaware that racism within our government is a problem today. Where do we go from here? The Black Lives Matter campaign describes itself as “working vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension all people.. That means we need politicians aware of the issues and willing to instigate change. When black Americans, a group representing over onetenth of our nation, have access to better opportunities and protection under our government, the whole country benefits. Over and over again it has been proven that education is the key to escaping poverty - not just providing possibilities or leaving the door cracked open to change, but actual pathways to education and the American Dream. As Bernie Sanders said during the Democratic Debate, we need to ensure “that our people have education and jobs rather than jail cells.” A nation does not become great because some people can prosper but because all have the chance to prosper and take security in the government watching over them.

Letters to the Editor policy Letters to the Editor should be sent to collegian@gcc.edu. They must be received by midnight on Sunday and must not exceed 300 words. The Collegian reserves the right to edit or hold any letter. Anonymous letters will not be printed.


Sports

October 31, 2015

Holding their own

Page 11

Women’s soccer team close to clinching PAC berth

Thomas Kutz

Staff Writer

The Grove City College women’s soccer team (9-5-3, 4-1-2 PAC) continued their strong play in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference by capturing points in six of seven conference games this season. After falling to first-place Washington & Jefferson College, who is undefeated in PAC action, on Oct. 7, the women’s team rebounded to capture points in five straight games, including three wins and two draws. The team allowed just two goals over that stretch of five games. On Oct. 10, the women’s team defeated Bethany College at College Field with a 7-0 victory as six Wolverines scored in the game. Senior midfielder Kristin Thomas netted two goals, and senior Sammie Wild, junior Lindsey Reichert, sophomores Elena Guerra and Kat Kouzelos and freshman Elizabeth Donahoe also scored for the Wolverines. Grove City outshot Bethany 36-6 in the win. The women then battled to a score-

less draw after 120 minutes of action against then-undefeated rival Westminster College on Oct. 13. The women could not break through, despite outshooting Westminster 23-14. Senior goalkeeper Nicole Lapia made six saves in the shutout. Grove City took a 4-2 victory over St. Vincent College on Senior Day, Oct. 17. Junior Jordyn White, who earned PAC Defensive Player of the Week honors, scored once and had an assist in the win. Sophomore Lacy Harkrader and seniors Wild and Madi Zajicek each scored for the Wolverines in the victory. On Oct. 21, the women fought vigorously to a 0-0 draw after 120 minutes at College Field against nationally-ranked Thomas More College, who defeated the women in the PAC Championship game at Highmark Stadium last fall. Lapia recorded seven saves in another shutout for the Wolverine defense. The Wolverines may face the Saints again in the PAC tournament in November. The Wolverines defeated Thiel College 6-0 in PAC play on Oct. 23. Sophomore Katherine Kouzelos put

Staff Writer

The Grove City College men’s soccer team (9-51, 4-2 PAC) bounced back from a 2-1 rain makeup defeat against Geneva College by winning four straight Presidents’ Athletic Conference games before falling to defending PAC Champions Thomas More College at home on Oct. 21. The men defeated Washington & Jefferson College on the road 2-1 in double overtime. The win, thanks to a late goal by senior midfielder Jonathan Mathes in the second half and a gamewinning header by senior forward and reigning PAC Player of the Year Seth Loew, sparked momentum for the Wolverines for the first of four straight wins. The Wolverines rallied from behind in Washington, Pa., after trailing again early in the first half after another slow start. A 12-6 advantage in shots in the second half, however, gave Grove City the opportunities it needed for the win in the second overtime. Despite their first home loss of the season to Geneva, the men’s team bounced back to outscore opponents 12-0 in their next two home matches. The men defeated Bethany College 5-0 at College Field on Oct. 10. Junior Dale Reese had an outstanding game, scoring once and assisting on three goals. Freshman Jonathan Burton scored twice, and Loew and junior Stephen Betteridge each scored. The match was quickly put out of reach after the Wolverines gathered a 3-0 lead after just eight minutes of play. The Wolverines then travelled to rival Westminster College, where they captured a 2-1 victory in the second overtime. The Wolverines are now 2-0-1 in overtime this season. Loew scored the game-winning goal again in overtime for the second time in three games on an assist from Reese. Senior goalkeeper Ben Weaver continued his im-

pressive run with five saves in the win. The Wolverines earned a badly needed win to keep momentum going after dominating the game with a 23-14 shot margin and an 8-2 margin in overtime. The Wolverines returned home on Oct. 17, when they took a 7-0 victory over St. Vincent College on senior day. Loew recorded two goals and two assists in the match, and Reese added another goal and assist in the match as well. Loew leads the team with 12 goals and four assists this season, while Reese is second on the team in both categories with four goals and five assists through 14 games. Seniors Tim Shackleton and Jonathan Mathes added goals, as did freshmen Nate Curry and sophomore Joe DeAugustino. The goal for DeAugustino was his first of his career. Loew added his third game-winning goal in four games for the Wolverines, who led 3-0 at the halftime break. The Wolverines outshot St. Vincent 39-7 in the game, and the win was Weaver’s 27th in his career – one shy of the program alltime record. On Oct. 21, the men played Thomas More, who were then ranked sixth in the nation. The Wolverines, fell 3-0. They followed this up, though, with a 4-0 win against Thiel College. The Wolverines played very well throughout and did not allow a shot on goal. Meanwhile, Loew scored two goals, while the others were added by Mathes and Reese. Congratulations are also in order to junior midfielder Dale Reese, who earned PAC Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors. Loew also earned the most assists in program history on senior day, taking the honors from head coach Mike Dreves who previously was tied for the program record. The men are hoping to compete in the PAC Tournament which will be played Nov. 4-7.

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Junior defender Jordyn White has been one of Grove City’s most important players. She was recognized for her efforts by being named PAC Defensive Player of the Week last week. With her help, the Wolverines played to a scoreless tie with nationally-ranked Thomas More College.

PAC champs

Men’s soccer team flourishes in conference

Thomas Kutz

away two goals to lead the Wolverines in the victory. Harkrader, Guerra, White, and Thomas each scored in the match as well. The strong Grove City defense recorded its ninth shutout of the season in the win. The win also gives them a nice cushion in the top four of the PAC standings, giving them fairly good odds of making the conference tournament held Nov. 3-7. White joined Lapia as the two Wolverines who have earned PAC Player of the Week honors this season. Lapia’s .835 save percentage is also good for third best in the PAC, behind only Thomas More and Westminster keepers, neither of whom have lost a conference game this season. The Wolverines have now outscored opponents 38-15 in 17 games this season. The women will close out their regular season at home on Oct. 31 vs. Chatham University at 1 p.m. in PAC play. Grove City will also hope to clinch a spot in the PAC tournament in the coming games.

Women’s tennis team ties for first in tournament

Joe Setyon Sports Editor

This past weekend, the women’s tennis team turned in a fantastic performance, claiming a share of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship crown. Over two days of competition, the Wolverines earned 43 team points, a score which tied with Westminster College, who also earned a share of the championship. It was the 28th PAC in Grove City’s history, and second in as many years. Moreover, the Wolverines have come out on top in their conference 14 times since the turn of the millennium. There were many individual performances to highlight in the Wolverine victory. Maggie Manchester, a freshman in her first season of collegiate play, won the conference title at second singles. In her match against Westminster’s Sydney Sterner, Manchester triumphed 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, thus clinching the top spot in second singles. At sixth singles, sophomore Taylor Bradley also

came out on top, crushing Washington & Jefferson College competitor Abigail Palmer in the championship round. In doubles, the combination of Bradley and junior Julie Becker defeated Westminster 8-6 in the final round of third doubles. Moreover, senior Karolnia Lagerquist and Manchester placed third in first doubles, as did Leah Thomsen/Janine Jones at second doubles. Rounding out the field in the singles matches, Thomsen was a runner-up in fourth singles, and Lagerquist was third in first singles. These wins helped Grove City to accumulate its 43 team points, which tied with Westminster for the most out of the nine teams who were competing in the tournament. However, despite their share in the title, the Wolverines did not earn an automatic bid in the National Collegiate Athletic Association DIII Tournament. Instead, Westminster advanced, thanks to it squad’s tie-breaking 5-4 win over Grove City On Oct. 10, a reg-

ular season game. Grove City will go on to play three matches in the spring season, against Allegheny College, Slippery Rock University, and University of Mount Union. However, none of these teams are PAC opponents. Thus, the real challenge for the Wolverines will come next fall, during the 2016-17 season. Looking ahead to then, Grove City will have graduated seniors Karolina Lagerquist and Leah Thomsen. These will be tough losses to take, but Grove City should be up to the task. Many of the Wolverines should be capable of stepping into even more prominent roles. Maggie Manchester will only be a sophomore next season, and could be a candidate to replace Lagerquist at first singles. Julie Becker will be the only senior on next year’s club, and she will inherit an important leadership role. Moreover, the Wolverines will hope to add talented freshman to the team next year.

Volleyball team sails into postseason play

Connor Lowe Staff Writer

The Grove City College volleyball team recorded a colossal victory this Saturday. The Wolverines (14-15, 10-6 PAC) clinched a Presidents’ Athletic Conference tournament berth in the Senior Day sweep of local rival Thiel College. The Wolverines triumphed in three sets against their conference rival 25-16, 2520, 25-21 inside the Grove City College Arena. Freshman Laura Buchanan (North Huntingdon, Pa./ Norwin) led the charge with 13 kills while sophomore Jamie Robatisin (Wexford, Pa./ North Allegheny) also had a great day for the Wolverines with ten kills to go with 11

digs. The three seniors honored – Natalija Galens (Covert, Mich./Grace Christian), Amy Trageser (Marriottsville, Md./Chapelgate Christian) and Libbie Casey (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North) – all had a productive day in their final regular season home match. Galens recorded nine kills and team-bests of 22 digs and two service aces. Trageser posted a careerhigh eight kills and four blocks, including five kills in the first game to go with 33 assists and seven digs. Casey led the Wolverine defense with five blocks to go along with a service ace. Grove City has assured itself of the team’s first winning conference record since 2007. The top six teams in

the league will compete in the PAC tournament Nov. 3-7. The Wolverines are guaranteed to be either the No. 4 or No. 5 seed. On Wednesday, Oct. 21 Grove City toppled conference foe Chatham University in four sets 20-25, 25-9, 259, 25-5 led by senior setter Trageser who distributed 43 assists. Robatisin and Buchanan each also helped pace Grove City by posting 10 kills. Galens recorded nine kills while Casey and sophomore Ariella Carter (Avon, Ohio/ Hearts for Jesus Christ) both contributed seven kills. The Wolverines final two regular season games will be against conference foes Westminster College on Oct. 2h and Washington & Jefferson College on Oct. 3h.


Sports

Page 12

October 31, 2015

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

GritWomen’s and success rugby team goes hard

The Grove City women’s rugby team goes for the ball during a scrum in a game against Robert Morris University.

Anna Jorgenson Contributing Writer

What do you get when you mix blood, sweat, tears, deep bruises and cleat marks? The answer: women’s rugby. It is one of, if not the most physically intense sport on campus. It is literally kicking butt and taking names. Last spring season, the team finished 4-4 in their division. This fall season they are 3-0 in their division and have only given up seven points. Perhaps one of the most memorable moments was when they beat Robert Morris University 141-0. This means that nationals is within reach. When asked about the potential national slot for the team, Coach Evan Gruver said, “You have to work well as a team to do that. You have to be able to count on the girl next to you, and these girls do just that.” Grove City College women’s rugby went from an average season last spring to a winning one this fall. “I knew we would have the chance to make it to nationals; it’s always been in the back of my

mind. But since we’re undefeated, it’s actually possible. It’s like, ‘Wow, we can actually do this,’” senior team captain Arianna Johnson said. Johnson credits the team improvements to returns and commitment; they have more returning players who are more committed to the team. Junior Emma Lippencott explains, “Once you find your place on the team and find what you can contribute, that’s when you start playing your hardest.” Another factor is their conditioning. “We’ve really stepped up our conditioning this year. We told girls from the get-go that if they put in the time and dedication then we can get there. And they have,” Johnson said. Being one of the more conditioned teams in the division gives both a physical and a mental advantage. “Nobody likes doing sprints and then running a mile or two, but when it’s the last 5-10 minutes of a game, it’s all mental. Not worrying about how we’re going to push ourselves the last few minutes is a huge advantage,” Lippencott said.

Women’s rugby is built on more than sprints, however. The team was built on sportsmanship and respect for the other teams, the referees and their teammates. Tempers will flare, but the team really tries to reign that in. “I obviously want to win, but I would rather have the other team walk off the field and think ‘They’ve got that Christian-thing going for them’ than them thinking

Jones unable to lead Steelers to win

Staff Writer

Coming off of a home win against the Arizona Cardinals, the Steelers traveled to Kansas City for a Week 7 game against the Chiefs on Sunday. The black and gold were optimistic going into the competition. Quarterback Landry Jones had recorded a win in his first ever start in the Cardinals game due to injuries to both Michael Vick and Ben Roethlisberger. The Chiefs struck first in the contest, as kicker Cairo Santos hit a 30-yard field goal four minutes into the game. They continued this throughout the first half of the game, putting them up 9-3 going into the locker room at halftime. Alex Smith led the team down the field in the third quarter, which resulted in a quick touchdown run from Charcandrick West. However, the Steelers were not done for the night. Jones stepped up in the third quarter, driving the Steelers 77 yards down the field, culminating in a 19-yard touchdown pass to Martavis Bryant. This play got the black and gold to within six points going into the fourth quarter. The fourth started off slow for both teams until Steelers kicker Chris Boswell hit a 36yard field goal five minutes in, leaving the Steelers only three points behind with 10 minutes left to play in the game. Although Jones and the Steelers fought hard during the fourth quarter, the Chiefs put the game away ten minutes into the fourth

Playing for God first and their teammates second is a common theme. “You work hard for the other girls. We’re like a body; when one part doesn’t work then the whole body doesn’t work quite right,” Lippencott said. This dedication to glorifying God and not letting down their teammates is exactly why Gruver thinks the girls have been so successful.

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

The Grove City women’s club rugby team poses after their 141-0 win over Robert Morris University.

Quarterback blues Michael Cole

“Wow, they’re a good rugby team,’” Johnson said. Gruver echoed Johnson when he said, “They’re intense competitors, but in the end they’re playing to glorify God.” Sportsmanship is something that is taken seriously. “The sportsmanship is impressive. I have girls who will tackle a girl and then apologize and help her up the second the play is over,” Gruver said.

quarter with a six-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to Chris Conley. The big players for the Steelers on the night were Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Bell finished the game with 121 yards rushing and Brown finished with 124 yards receiving. Despite big games from both Bell and Brown, Landry Jones struggled, throwing two interceptions and fumbling during a crucial fourth quarter play. This mistake ultimately helped seal the win for the Chiefs. The Steelers are now 4-3 and looking toward a Week 8 home game against current division leader andz rival Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are one of four undefeated teams currently left in the NFL and will pose a tough challenge for the Steelers who will need a victory in order to keep their record over .500.

Steelers quarterback Landry Jones (3) had his hands full against the Chiefs defense in Week 7. Jones threw for 209 yards, but accounted for just one touchdown, and threw two picks.

Support Your Wolverines! October 30 to November 5 Volleyball Friday, Oct. 30, 7 p.m., at Washington and Jefferson College Preview: This is no ordinary game for the Wolverines. It will be the last regular season game of the year, and the team will look to close things out in style. The team is currently 14-15, and they will look to improve on what has been an already encouraging season. To make things even tenser, the game will be played against PAC rival Washington and Jefferson College. In the first game between the two teams, Grove City handled them well, winning three sets to one by scores of 20-25, 25-22, 25-19, and 25-9.

Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving Saturday, Nov. 7, vs. Carnegie Mellon University/University of Rochester After a long offseason, the Wolverines finally opened up their season by swimming at the Clarion University Fall Classic. Since then, they have attended two more matches, with encouraging results. This meet, however, is significant in that it is the homeopener. Come on out and support the men and women as they look to build on what were both strong seasons last year as well!


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