The Collegian – December 4, 2015

Collegian

The A look at the MockingJay. Page 5

Friday, December 4, 2015

Vol. 102, No. 10

The Grove City College Student Newspaper

At the scene of the crime GCC students in France witness terrorist attacks

Molly Wicker News Editor

Students from Grove City College found themselves shocked, confused and saddened as they watched the week’s recent events unfold in Paris.

Nearly 20 students were in France at the time, although only some of them were in Paris at the time of the attacks. Professor Mike Bright,

Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was eating dinner with a group of students in the city when his host, a Grove City College alumnus living in France, received word that something was amiss.

“It was obviously a shock,” said Bright. “We were able to kind of localize it and say, OK, we’re not in panic mode yet. We took it seriously.”

After making sure that he and his students were reasonably safe from any immediate danger, he and his students paid their bill and took a metro back to their hotel where they spent the rest of their evening glued to the news, watching the events unfold in front of them, some just mere miles away.

Despite the fact that Bright and his students had been prepared for a week-long trip

in the City of Light, he and the students immediately left the city and made their way to the Grove City Study Center in Nantes, France, where they were greeted by staff who assured them of their safety.

Bright and his group were not the only ones with Grove City College connections in the Paris area. Several other students, including Alexis Marnejon, Kaleigh Trow-

bridge, Olivia Govan and Raquel Fereshetian were visiting the city when they received word of what was happening. The group had just returned to their apartment after eating dinner when they began to be bombarded with text messages, phone calls and emails from back home, questioning their safety. They immediately turned PARIS 2

Are we being hoodwinked?

Campus Safety says no, crime not on the rise

Joshua Delk Staff Writer

Nobody steals at Grove City College.

That is, most students believe nobody does.

After all, this is the same school where students reserve cafeteria tables with wallets full of cash, and dorm room doors are left unlocked.

In our highly trusting campus community, have we made ourselves vulnerable by becomine unsuspecting to crime?

Usually the most serious crime one hears of around campus is the occasional stolen bike or backpack, which usually ends up found or re-

turned. However, this year has seen a more serious theft on campus.

A flute valued at over $6,000 was stolen from the music department earlier this year and has yet to be found. Soon after, a single arrest occurred on campus for possession of a small amount of marijuana.

What some have called a “crime wave,” however, was debunked in an interview with Head of Campus Safety Seth Van Til. “Our statistics are tracking very closely with what is normative in our community: a miniCRIME 4

Student pitches take top spots Molly Wicker News Editor

PATTY FOLKERTS

Christmastime in the Grove All around Grove City College, Christmas decorations are popping up just in time for the holidays. Having only recently been put up, students and staff can enjoy these decorations for a few short weeks before the semester ends.

The Lens It’s the best time of the year.

Grove City is feeling the Christmas spirit with these decorations.

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Grove City College students recently took first and second place at the Perfect Pitch Competition at Westminster College.

The Perfect Pitch Competition, hosted

by Westminster College’s Department of Economics and Business, is open to any undergraduate college student in Pennsylvania or Ohio. Students must pitch a new and original business idea in three minutes or less without the use of any technology, props or prototypes.

“The field included students from five colleges and universities at the Perfect Pitch Competition.

We are incredibly proud of all of the students who pitched

and are excited to be an integral part of an event that brings students from regional colleges together to network and to participate in a friendly competition,” Yvonne English ’97, Executive Director of Grove City College’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and guest lecturer for the entrepreneurship department, said.

Grove City College senior Elisabeth O’Brien, an entrepreneurship major from Bogota, N.J., received a first place prize of $1,000 for “Future Investment,” a personal finance learning platform for teens. Senior Benjamin Marasco, a finance major from Washington, Pa., received the second place prize of $750 PITCH 4

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Perspectives

Sports

Classic Christmas coffee house: singing & hot chocolate. Check out some of the artists.

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Increase in terrorism leaves citizens wondering how active terrorist organizations are in the U.S. Page 6

Grove City College women’s basketball strives to live up to their team theme.

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The Collegian Dreams live where music matters

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#DreamsGoLive campaign encourages students through music

Bethany Wilson Staff Writer

Hans Christian Andersen, famed Danish author of today’s popular fairytales, once wrote: “Where words fail, music speaks.”

This succinct but compelling statement underscores the mindset of a group of students looking to bring the power of music to Grove City College’s campus.

Spurred by the firm belief that “good music matters” and a deep care for the cultural landscape of Grove City College, students have begun to get behind a new movement aiming to shake up the campus starting this spring.

This exciting student-led project is called #DreamsGoLive.

Headed by senior Grace Leuenberger, #DreamsGoLive is an initiative to bring excellent live music performances to the College and the surrounding community.

“The #DreamsGoLive campaign is something I started because I wanted to see this campus fully embrace the opportunity to experience the imagination, joy, excitement, and inspiration that music can provide,” Leuenberger said.

“Music has the power to unite our campus and community in a way that few other mediums can achieve and is a missing component of the cultural experience here.”

According to Leuenberger, the idea behind this project came to her this summer while working a full-time internship in downtown Pittsburgh. As she conquered

the intimidating world of professional employment, Luenberger relied on a rich playlist of music for encouragement to face the challenges ahead as she rode the city buses towards her destination. As the weeks went on, she came to understand the incredible inspiration that is possible through music, a force capable of generating joy, motivation and community among young people.

Leuenberger embarks on this initiative with the assistance of her collaborator, Grove City College sophomore Molly Wicker, and in partnership with Stonebridge Concerts, a campus organization that brings a variety of musical artists to campus with the aim of bringing glory to God and offering Christian ministry through music.

“Stonebridge is very excited to launch the #DreamsGoLive initiative, which will be an ongoing project to bring quality and intelligent music to campus through live concert experiences,” said junior Josh Delk, President of Stonebridge.

“Starting this year, Stonebridge will be putting together concerts featuring larger bands, including national

A firsthand account A student perspective on the Paris attacks

Olivia Govan

Contributing Writer On Friday, Nov. 13, ISIS militants brutally attacked Paris, France.

I was visiting Paris for the weekend with fellow Grove City College students Alexis Marnejon, Kaleigh Trowbridge and Raquel Fereshetian.

We were returning to our apartment from dinner around the time the attacks started.

As I opened my Facebook newsfeed to statuses about deaths at Le Stade, Alexis informed us that Paris was under attack.

Texts, messages and phone calls were incessant from that moment until 3:30 in the morning.

It truly was an indescribable feeling – not one of instant fear, but of paralyzing shock.

The four of us sat motionless on the couch for the next four hours, staring at the news and our phones.

Being in Paris during the attacks was a surreal feeling.

I struggled not to be consumed by the realization that dozens of people were dying two miles away from where I sat.

During this semester, my roommate Alexis Marnejon and I lived in a town that experienced the worst flood the south of France had seen in 50 years, and now we were experiencing a terrorist attack.

A conglomeration of mine and Alexis’s best attempts to translate the news and read-

ing articles demonstrated how prolonged and serious the situation was.

Unsure of whether or not we should try to get out of Paris immediately, we searched for any solution.

But in moments such as this past weekend, there are no solutions.

I should add that the staff and students at the Nantes Study Center were incredible in assuring our safety during the night, and we were very appreciative.

The next day, we ventured out of our apartment after the curfew had been relaxed.

We were tourists to grief for the remainder of our trip.

On Saturday, we passed a memorial service at the Arc de Triomphe: dozens stood together, only to be juxtaposed by the policemen on each street corner.

In hindsight, it feels selfish to pretend that I know what it felt like to be in Paris during the attacks.

Yes, I was in Paris only a couple of miles from Le Bataclan, but I was not standing in the streets or trapped inside like hundreds of others.

In the days following my return from Paris, I experienced gripping fear, a fear that I was still under the very real threat of more attacks.

The terror attacks in Paris have shattered my worldview; Europeans are experiencing threats of which the U.S. is only beginning to have a firsthand understanding.

acts on campus. I’m personally looking forward to seeing how our organization will grow as we continue to make Grove City’s #DreamsGoLive.”

In the first phase of this initiative, Stonebridge Concerts is launching a massive social media campaign across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to promote the #DreamsGoLive project and advertise the first concert which will be brought to campus in the spring of 2016. The campaign will be revamping the Stonebridge social media accounts, releasing new content, and employing Spotify to create playlists of music that inspire and energize the campus community.

With the support of the College administration and the generosity of our alumni network, the #DreamsGoLive initiative aims to bring good music back to Grove City College’s campus and inspire the dreams of the student body and local community through the engaging power of music.

“As we look towards the future, Stonebridge Concerts will carry on the spirit of #DreamsGoLive as they bring excellent musicians to this campus,and show how

music helps us understand values like faith, freedom and innovation. I’m excited to see alumni reconnect with campus because of the concerts we will be hosting, and I’m grateful for the connections we’re making because of the #DreamsGoLive Advisory Board, a group of ten individuals from our faculty, alumni, and community who are helping us do this right,” Leuenberger said.

The #DreamsGoLive team hopes to see this initiative impact the College community beyond just the Spring 2016 semester, or even beyond the four years that any current student spends at the College, but rather to see its influence on the cultural scene of the College many years into the future.

Stonebridge Concerts and the #DreamsGoLive team encourage the student body to keep its eyes peeled and to keep checking social media for more information on the #DreamsGoLive campaign, news about concerts coming soon to the Grove City area and ways that the student body can get on board with this movement. More information can be found on the newly-launched website, www.dreamsgolive.com.

December 4, 2015

PARIS on the news to find out what was happening. Marnejon described her disbelief when she realized she and her friends were only miles away from where the attacks were taking place.

“It was definitely a scary weekend. When I imagined studying abroad, I knew there were always things to be cautious about, especially when traveling, but I never imagined I’d be just miles from the attack,” said Marnejon.

Nevertheless, the attacks have neither changed students’ plans to remain in the country nor impacted their studies. In a campus-wide email, President McNulty asked the campus community to join him in “offering our prayers and support for the French nationals who attend class with our students.

Please continue to join us in prayer for the French people, for those impacted by this tragedy, and for God’s hand of protection in this situation.”

The attacks killed 129 people and wounded 350 according to Associated Press reports. The State Department issued a worldwide caution advising Americans to travel with a “high level of vigilance” in response to the attacks in Paris. This amplifies similar previous cautions sent by the State Department since 9/11.

Police raided 168 locations across the country and arrested nearly two dozen people as authorities worked closely to identify members of a division of ISIS who were said to be behind the attacks, the AP reported. French officials have named several suspected attackers, most with links to France or Belgium.

Internship Fair success Finding a more relaxed way to get a job

Ruth Finley

Contributing Writer Over 140 students attended the Career Services Office Internship Fair which was hosted in the Great Room of the Breen Student Union on Novr 4.

The event gave students a chance to learn about internship opportunities from over 40 fellow Grove City College students.

According to Courtney Vago, the Assistant Director of Career Services, the event showcased internship opportunities with 33 organizations.

Unlike the Career Fair, which took place earlier in the semester, the Internship Fair involved peer-to-peer interactions.

Vago said it allowed students to explore, network and pursue opportunities in a more relaxed setting than the Career Fair.

Maria Stewart, the representative for The City Mission, found her internship at the fair the previous year.

She recognized two of her classmates and spoke with them about the position.

Later on in the spring, she reconnected with them.

After she spoke with them, she applied and later followed in their footsteps by representing The City Mission at the Internship Fair this year.

“You can connect with people, like students you already know perhaps, or at least a

representative that’s kind of chill and on your level, not super professional and stiff.

You don’t feel like you’re being interviewed,” Stewart said.

Vago said the casual atmosphere and the location made the event more accessible to students.

“We like that location.

We’ve thought about moving it, but because it’s so central to the campus, we’re able to get even students that didn’t know about the event and then just were curious.” Vago said.

The fair is not only for upperclassmen looking for an internship in a specific field but also for less experienced students.

“If they’re still in that assess and exploratory phase where they’re not sure about majors or industries or careers, they can start to kind of ask questions of their peers and learn more about a specific industry or career.”

Vago said.

Although the Internship Fair was significantly smaller than the Career Fair, “We try to make it diverse,” Vago said.

The fair showcased fields such as art, communication, journalism, science, business, finance, IT, public history and engineering.

Positions from over ten different states were featured as well as several international opportunities According to Vago, the fair not only offered opportuni-

ties for the attending students, but it also gave the student representatives the chance to grow professionally, develop their communication skills and reflect on their experiences.

“Those representatives over the years have expressed that it was really meaningful to be able to communicate and present what they experience.” Vago said.

Career Services distributed a booklet containing personal statements from the representatives as well as their contact information.

Several of their experiences were also featured on the Facebook page of the event.

Vago explained that Career Services selected the representatives by distributing a survey last spring and using the results to invite students to represent their organizations.

“They gave me a mug and candy and food and hot chocolate. Career Services takes it seriously, and they take care of their representatives and are very appreciative,” Stewart said.

Career Services has held the Internship Fair for over ten years. According to Vago, it is one of their favorite events.

“We advertise it as more low-key. It’s peer to peer. It’s more of a way to grow, network, seek advice, and more of a casual environment.”

Vago said.

December 4, 2015

Through the Lens

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‘Tis the season

PATTY FOLKERTS

Patty Folkerts

Staff Poet & Managing Editor

All around campus and all through the dorms, not a student was studying not even engineers.

Soon they will be home with cocoa in their bellies, after taking their finals and wiping their tears.

Till then the only thing that students can do, is gaze at the star and face their teachers’ jeers.

December 4, 2015

Entertainment

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PITCH mal number of thefts and the very rare on-campus arrest of a student,.” said Van Til. Van Til went on to commentt “I would hate for anyone in the GCC community to think we are experiencing a crime wave.” Additionally, Van Til believes that the reports are accurate, and few thefts go unreported.

Although the crime rate remains low, instances such as these serve as important reminders that no community, Christian or otherwise, is without those who seek to take advantage of other people’s trust, resulting in the occasional petty theft.

While it is a blessing to go to a school where we can feel safe and do not need to constantly be wary of crime, we should make sure to not leave ourselves at risk.

In addition to simply watching for suspicious activity, Van Til and Campus Safety have put together several safety tips for students, which are available on the school website.

These tips include never running or walking alone at night or after dark, locking room doors when away, keeping valuables out of sight, staying away from land marked as private in the local area and calling campus safety in case of suspicious persons or of any emergency at 724-458-3000.

As a learning community we should each do our own part to keep our campus safe, and maybe start saving tables with trays instead of wallets.

CRIME

Festivities abound

SGA hosted its final coffee house of the semster - a Christmas coffee house - this past Wednesday. Christmas carols filled the air as many different artists such as Jordan Hörst, Kaitlin Bartlett, and Nyarko Akyaa Amankwah performed.

for his presentation entitled “Transform Furniture,” a company that would provide unique furniture for small-space living.

Grove City College students competed alongside others from Allegheny College, Penn State Shenango, Westminster College and Youngstown State University. In addition to O’Brien and Marasco, the College had ten other students enter the competition: seniors Karolina Lagerquist and Benjamin Che, juniors Andrew Claffey and Bryan Denny, sophomores Connor Grieb and Hannah Vaccaro, and freshmen Grace Hovis, Sam Kibler, Erin Sixt and Stephen Weaver.

Ansett awes with debut album Dan Johnson ’14

Former Managing Editor There is much to be said of an artist who takes his craft seriously, but finds joy in the creation. That’s evident in Ansett’s “The Nature of Us.” The album, released on Nov. 23, is the first full-length effort from the Grove City grad.

Ansett’s project kicked off nearly a year ago with a Kickstarter campaign to create his first full-length album.

“I would like your help in telling truth about the world in an engaging, impactful, and creative way,” the musician wrote to potential sponsors.

“Without your help, I can’t make it happen. With your help, I believe we can make something beautiful that will bless people for years to come.”

313 backers answered the call to exceed the $23,000 goal, and the product is well worth the funds -- not a song on this record is skippable.

“The Nature of Us” peaked at No. 9 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts on the second day, respectable in a week the entire music world was not following much beyond Adele’s latest release.

Ansett’s album opens with the toe-tapping, finger-snapping “Kingdom Come,” an anthem of sorts. It’s a smooth R&B with lyrical content that’s tight while the music counters with a loose feel, apparent from opening line of the first verse: “Come

and see the difference and significant distance between our current existence and who we crave to be.” The song opens up the album nicely, setting the table for the exploration into our emotions and inner workings.

Ansett then hops right in with one of the pre-released singles, “Already in Love,” followed by an understated piece, “Turn to Gold.” It starts simple and slow with just a guitar and voice, but the quick addition of percussion and backing synth leads to a soft majestic refrain that effectively portrays the awe apparent in the lyrics. The song doesn’t feel as long as the five minutes it spans, and the final chorus is the worthy culmination of a piece that can be best described as soaring.

Earlier this week it became the first song from the album to have a music video released, an acoustic rendition shot with a bare woods background.

“My Heart Is Set” is another prerelease that gets back into the groove Ansett introduced to his music in this album, and the chorus provides an irresistible pop-funk blend. The theme of nature continues with a description of devotion that continues from season to season.

Ansett delves a bit into darker emotions at the beginning of “Covered Up,” but, as ever, Ansett stays relentlessly optimistic. He acknowledges the negative, but never stays there. The song gives a kind of introspection that immediately pulls away

from self-pitying. At the core is a right understanding of the grace that covers and can draw away from self.

The most pop/rock song on the album, “In the Eye,” follows. It is here that Ansett shows the finesse that holds together a concept album.

While the song does not specifically draw out comparisons to nature, it does move through seasons of life.

“Tragedy Is Not the End” moves forward without arriving, in one of the most honest moments of the album: “They say it’s gonna be okay, but it doesn’t take away the pain.”

It is another moment in the album where depression is acknowledged as real and powerful, yet without downplaying that in reality, there is a solution presented.

Ansett gives a wonderful depiction of the hope central to the record: “I don’t think it’s an accident that tears are shaped like seeds/So I’ll bury all my fears and trust they’re turning into trees.”

“Give Our Hearts Some Weight” and “New York” are technically rereleases, but the subject matter of the first certainly warrants inclusion in this collection.

Notable to this version is the added harp and cathedral sound effects. I’ll give the latter a pass, as the Margaret Dowers poem that Ansett sets to music encapsulates the link of a city’s welfare to its people. It’s solid mastering work on an enjoyable piece.

Wedged between these two numbers is “The Cycle,” which delves into the insufficiency of self-reliance with more of Ansett’s smooth R&B, blended with spoken word.

Ansett is not afraid to give some convicting words: “Even though I know it’s wrong, I need this now to get me by/It’s my comfort, it’s my right; so what’s the harm of one more time?”

The last two songs close out the album nicely as Ansett’s folk roots come through, and in “Kings & Queens” he reiterates the chasm between humanity’s condition and its intended place: “Scouring the ground for crumbs/When before you there is a feast/We’ll sing of who you will become/You were made to be kings and queens.” Ansett lifts our gaze to the future where we are who we strive to be.

Ansett seems to be able to do in this album what so few can -- write both for those who soak up lyrical content and complexity as well as for those who approach music looking primarily for sound and feel. Appealing to both audiences is no small feat.

It is unsurprising to those familiar with Ansett’s previous work that he does best on the hopeful end, looking forward to how things should be.

At the core, Ansett’s music explores, and simultaneously connects with, the nature of us.

The Collegian

December 4, 2015

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Pick of the Week

Breakers Sam Farley WSAJ Contributor There is comfort that can be found in discomfort, just as joy can be found in sorrow. A simple fact of life easily overlooked when one’s eyes are only cast on the immediate moment. This idea resonates very much through music as well; feelings of abandonment and indignation can lead to great pieces of art that will rattle one to the bone.

This is the case with Breakers, Gem Club’s 2011 sophomore album released under the Hardly Art label. It is a dour album, admittedly, boasting only through its simple, orchestral qualities.

Donning only piano, cello, and various samplings, Gem Club creates a dense wave of tactfully written vocals and intentional instrumentals. Breakers, like most of Gem Club’s music, is fairly downtempo and written in free verse, typically straying from the use of a repeating chorus unless to aid in the idea that is trying to be conveyed.

Breakers boasts some fairly forceful tracks in its line-up, some of which will tear a person apart and salt the wounds simply as a means of forcing the listener to feel something other than general apathy. For example, the track “252” is a duet between Chris and Ieva that delineates the struggles that one must face while trying to take care of a loved one that is ill-stricken with cancer.

Throughout the duration of the track, the pining for resolution becomes more and more pronounced as the vocals and instruments increase in volume and severity. This is exemplified through the following, harrowing lines: “maybe I was wrong / a simple little strategy / to get rid of all that’s wrong with me / maybe they’d grow in someone else / watch as they grow in someone else.”

This tone is continued in the track “I Heard the Party,” for the lyrics provide the strange juxtaposition of a funeral to a party. Likewise, this track feels like it would only be appropriate to be played as elegy because, harmonically and lyrically, it feels sorrowful yet joyful, perilous yet comfortable.

This bizarre combination of feelings can certainly cause some discomfort, but it is a feeling that one needs to experience because, well, that’s what music is meant to do; it is intended to inject some type of sensation into a person, just like any other art.

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‘Interstellar’ re-examined Another look at Nolan’s newest film

Grayson Quay

Foreign Correspondent When I first saw Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar” about a year ago, I left the theater unwilling to admit to myself that I felt underwhelmed.

The visuals were gorgeous, Hans Zimmer’s score brought tears to my eyes and Nolan’s futuristic Dust Bowl setting was expertly constructed, creating a world that felt familiar enough to shock the audience with its oblique hints of post-apocalypse, such as the New York Yankees playing on what looks like a minor league field.

I was pleased with all of this. It was the story that disappointed me.

Before the Endurance mission leaves earth, Brand (Anne Hathaway) explains to Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) that her father (Michael Caine) and his search for a gravitational equation that will allow those already living on Earth to be saved are of secondary importance to finding a new planet.

She shows Cooper a “population bomb” that can preserve the human race, even if everyone on Earth dies.

This one detail was the source of most of my problems with the film. I found myself uninterested in the subplot following Cooper’s daughter and the elder Dr. Brand as they search for the equation and frustrated with the refusal of the Endurance crew to forget about the people they had left behind on Earth and focus on saving humanity.

At one point, Brand delivers a speech to the rest of the Endurance crew in which she declares “Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space.” On my first viewing, this seemed an unforgivable lapse into sentimentality that tainted the ending, in which Cooper enters a tesseract in the middle of a black hole and is able to reach back across space and time to give his daughter the formula that will save the people of Earth.

After a second viewing this summer, I realized that my frustrations stemmed from an unconscious naturalist presupposition which should have no place in a Christian worldview. I had allowed myself to accept that it is the human race that matters, not individual people. What

brought me to my senses was remembering the episode in Exodus in which God does not carry out his threat to destroy the Israelites at the foot of Sinai and start over with Moses.

The survival of the covenant, or the human race, is important, but once we accept the idea of sacrificing individuals for the sake of the whole, we have wandered onto a slippery slope. In the film, it is the traitorous and hypocritical Dr. Mann (Matt Damon) who seems willing to sacrifice anyone’s life, other than his own, for the sake of mankind. He sees our propensity to care most for those closest to us as a flaw in evolution, but it is ultimately the familial bonds he dismisses that enable Cooper to reach out to Murph.

As for Brand’s speech about love, what could be more Christian than the belief that love is more than an emotion? At the cross, Christ’s love reached across time and space to offer salvation, just as Cooper’s love for his daughter did in the tesseract. Cooper himself becomes a Christ figure, remaining human while gaining a godlike perspective and serving as a bridge between

humanity and the mysterious fifth-dimension beings.

The film itself is filled with religious images and motifs that even secular storytellers seem unable to escape.

The shot of Brand reaching out to share the “first handshake” with the gravitational anomaly which led them to the wormhole clearly evokes God reaching out to Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The first set of missions are called Lazarus, while the second is called Endurance, named after an Antarctic expedition in which explorer Ernest Shackleton claims to have seen an extra person traveling with his imperiled party like the fourth figure in the fiery furnace in Daniel.

The film’s final line, “By the light of our new sun; in our new home,” leaves the audience with the hope of the Promised Land.

Many scientists and science fiction writers espouse a purely naturalistic worldview that portrays human beings as vessels for passing on genes and love as nothing more than a herd instinct.

Against this tradition stands “Interstellar,” in which every life is precious and love can save the world.

The Mockingjay’s final song

Rebecca Haddix Contributing Writer

The final Hunger Games movie, “Mockingjay: Part 2” came to theaters over Thanksgiving break with a good deal of hype behind it.

It features the last adventures of Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) as she travels to the war-torn Capitol to kill President Snow and end the war.

At first, I had concerns about the pacing of the film, as director Francis Lawrence attempted to adapt only half

of the young adult novel into a full-length feature film.

Unfortunately, this concern wasn’t unfounded. The plot is stretched to fit. Much of the movie is about the quest through the Capitolnot the point of the novel at all.

The soldiers’ struggle to avoid the pods feels very much like the first two movies’ Hunger Games.

However, despite the small amount of plot that the film contains, it is actually paced very well, spread out by action scenes and character de-

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velopment.

Katniss is more central to “Mockingjay: Part 2” than any of the other movies in the series, and Lawrence is certainly up to the task. Her acting portrays just how much the Games have effected Katniss, especially when she lashes out in anger a couple of times.

However, making Katniss so central to the film is a double-edged sword; many characters who were more important in the book, like Peeta, Gale and President Coin, have nearly fallen completely out of the film.

While Peeta and Gale were with Katniss almost the entire time, they did little more than provide her with emotional motivation at the most inconvenient, unnatural times.

For those who are a fan of the book, fear not: the film kept very close to the plot and spirit of the original novel, delving into themes like the horrors of war and the importance of family.

Most of the events followed the book very closely, and

thereadingroom.com

even some of the dialogue is taken directly from the book. The film is very dark and emotionally heavy; perhaps this comes from trying to express so much in such a short story. Each death feels impactful. Every happy moment, which are few and far between, is celebrated.

Perhaps one of the things that stands out the most about “Mockingjay” is the cinematography.

The film is visually stunning, capturing the gray, strict District 13 and the dangers and destruction of the Capitol.

The graphics team did a wonderful job with explosions, mutants and flooding a city block with oil.

Overall, “Mockingjay: Part 2” is a fairly strong ending to the series, despite its faults.

It’s definitely worth the watch. This film was released on November 20, and is currently playing at the Guthrie.

December 4, 2015

Perspectives

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An unholy alliance of necessity Colin Combs

A libertarian view on black markets

Perspectives Editor What does the law have in common with thieves?

It seems that no two things could be further apart.

Yet the modern libertarian wants nothing more than to accept people that work outside of the law into our ranks with open arms.

Why? Because these misguided folks have been convinced that black markets are bastions of laissez-faire.

While there is some truth to this, libertarians are quick to forget that this is a temporary alliance at best and not a genuine ally.

Before I continue, I would like to explain the reasoning of the people who make this mistake.

Libertarians believe that the foundation of political life rests in individual rights of life, liberty and property.

Since every individual may justly protect these rights, this right of self-defense may be delegated to “governments” which specialize in providing security.

The just powers of government are therefore derived

from the consent of the governed. Since the people cannot delegate powers they do not have, and since no one has the right to control the property of others, it follows that governments cannot justly regulate the economy.

I cannot delegate the power to control what my neighbor does because I do not have that right in the first place.

This is why there is libertarian support for a free market where people can use and trade their property with each other as they please.

The world today has countless rules and interventions into the market. Businesses are often burdened with many regulations and taxations.

According to libertarianism, this makes our modern governments patently unjust, and like St. Augustine stated in his “City of God,” a government without justice is nothing more than a bandit gang writ large.

If these regulations are to be avoided, it must be done out of the public eye. It must be done in a black market, the supposed new champion of freedom.

There is some legitimacy to this kind of thinking. In countries where markets have been practically regulated out of existence like North Korea, black markets can be vital for getting people the things they need.

As libertarians, however, we should remember that this is not a true free market.

Black markets are not just for the righteously indignant, but also for genuine criminals, and of the two it favors the latter. Robin Hood is the exception, not the rule.

Many libertarians make a big mistake in thinking that just because something calls itself a market, we should support it. But not all trade is equal, nor does it deserve the title of “free.”A free market does not deal in stolen goods. A free market does not deal in human trafficking. A free market does not deal in assassinations. But a black market deals in all of these things. The distinction between the two should be clear.

Furthermore, exiting the sight of the rule of law, even a corrupted law, does not come without consequence.

A free market is able to survive because it is defended by a just government that defends property rights and upholds contracts.

Without this, society becomes filled with fraud and violence, characteristics of black markets, not free markets. Black markets are able to survive specifically because its members are skilled at subverting scrutiny and accountability. The free market is not meant to exist under these conditions, and forcing it into an unnatural state can only be detrimental.

Just as it is a perversion of government to destroy property rights rather than defend them, it is a perversion of the black market for it to deal in legitimate goods rather than illicit goods.

Therefore, just as the libertarian supports the rule of law while rejecting its current distortions, we should at our core reject black markets and only reluctantly praise its accidental justice.

As fun as acting contrarian might be, the libertarian should not spend all his time trying to defend the un-defendable.

Terrorism thriving thanks Intervis changes might be a possibility to U.S. actions Maybe we’re the problem

Joshua Sikora Staff Writer

The United States has spent trillions of dollars and more than a decade combatting terrorism.

It claims that it fights to end terrorism and bring peace to the world; however, the United States is telling a little lie.

The truth behind the lie is that the U.S. is the world’s largest terrorist organization.

The U.S. has repeatedly funded, supported and conducted terrorism.

In 2003, the U.S. led an invasion of Iraq that overthrew Saddam Hussein. Without a strong central leader in Iraq, Al-Qaeda grew in strength and power.

Al-Qaeda was virtually non-existent in Iraq before 2003. Following the invasion, Iraq became a hotbed for radical Islamic terrorism.

Al-Qaeda became one of the most powerful groups in Iraq, due in part from actions taken by the United States.

Fast forward about a decade and Al-Qaeda has evolved into the dreaded group ISIS. The U.S. can be directly linked to the rise of Al-Qaeda and the development of ISIS. After the fall of Mubarak in Egypt, a member of the terrorist group called “Muslim Brotherhood,” Mohammad Morsi, was elected as president and filled his cabinet with fellow Muslim Brotherhood members.

The U.S. gave hundreds of millions of dollars to this terrorist government. When the people of Egypt rose up against Morsi, the U.S. backed the radical president and attempted to keep him in power.

In Libya, the United States helped push out Gaddafi. After the fall of Gaddafi, terrorists found a safe haven without the anti-terrorist leader and with the help of the U.S. Gaddafi warned that if the U.S. took him out, terrorists

would overrun his country.

Years after he fell, his warning has come to fruition, with numerous terrorist groups, including ISIS, taking over Libya.

Perhaps the most severe case where the U.S. funds terrorism is in the Syrian Civil War. The United States has heavily funded various rebel groups in Syria. The U.S. claims the rebel groups are “moderate.” However, there are no “moderate” groups in Syria; the groups are simply varying forms of radicalism.

All groups backed by the United States are known terrorists who support radical Islam. Some of them are even linked to Al-Qaeda.

The rebels in Syria are fighting against Bashar alAssad: a secular, anti-terrorist leader. If the U.S. claimed to oppose terrorism, would it not make sense to support Assad, not the rebels?

The use of sarin gas is a strong reason to accuse someone of using terrorist tactics or of being a true terrorist, and this has been a major argument against Assad and why the rebels are better for Syria than Assad.

However, both the UN and Associated Press have pointed out that it was the rebels themselves who were behind the sarin gas attacks, not Assad. These are the same rebels that the United States is currently backing.

These rebel groups are also known to slaughter Syrian Christians.

These groups are radical Islamists who see anything other than Islam as evil, so when they encounter Christians, formally protected by the Assad government, they tell them “convert or die.”

If the U.S. was opposed to terrorism, it would make sense for them to oppose the groups who slaughter Christians and back the man who protects them. The U.S. has reversed that logic.

The U.S. also indirectly TERRORISM 7

Discussion with Student Life allays student concerns

Thomas Kutz Staff Writer

Before the Thanksgiving break, I wrote an article in the Collegian about some of the aspects of the intervisitation system that are not advantageous to students.

Since that time, I have had the opportunity to sit down with Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Life and Learning Larry Hardesty.

Hardesty shared with me some of his thoughts and explanations for the current visitation system as part of his willingness to always discuss things with students and hear their thoughts and concerns.

He indicated to me that the Student Life and Learning team has been closely examining the new intervisitation sign-in procedure since its implementation on upper campus in August.

This sign-in policy mirrors that of the Colonial Hall Apartments; however, its implementation was initially criticized for its inconvenience in some upperclassmen dorms.

Hardesty shared that the new process was proposed under the previous Residence Life administration, and that he liked the concept but wished he could have had identified its pitfalls in advance.

“We’re looking at the process very closely,” Hardesty said, indicating also that changing policy is a “complex and often elongated process.”

While many students have expressed frustrations with the visitation policy, most notably myself in this publication, Hardesty offered hope that Student Life was aware of the concerns pointed out by students.

There are numerous factors that go into changing a policy such as visitation, and a broad overhaul is likely impractical in the short term.

It should be noted that the College has been increasingly more flexible with regard to visitation hours in recent

years.

Since 2012, the visitation policy has been adjusted three times, extending Sunday hours twice and adding Wednesday nights.

While Student Life has increased visitation hours by 25 percent in recent years, I have argued that more could still be done.

Hardesty conceded that no system is perfect and we discussed some ways that the College may adjust its procedures in the spring and the intervisitation policy as a whole.

Doing so is more complicated than it may seem, however, taking into account resident assistants and resident directors on duty, student worker times, allowing residence staff time to eat dinner and so on.

Hardesty pointed out that the 5 p.m. start time during week nights is possible in Colonial because RAs are able to make dinner in their rooms, whereas on upper campus, RAs cannot do so.

I asked about a 6 p.m. start time or an 11 p.m. end time (or both) on Wednesdays on upper campus, and Hardesty did not rule them out as a possibility down the road.

Any large expanse of hours is unrealistic this year, as they require a long process with steps that go all the way to the Board of Trustees.

Minimal changes, however, such as expanding visitation by an hour or so on various nights could be a positive takeaway for students sharing in the frustration of the current system.

I would suggest Sundays till 11 p.m. and Saturdays starting at 12 p.m. instead of 1 p.m., along with 6-11 p.m. on Wednesdays.

While I would be a proponent of a daily system, this seems like a more practical compromise.

Hardesty referenced a survey that was conducted in the spring of 2013 – which was before most current students arrived on campus – INTERVIS 7

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GREEN EYESHADE AWARD

This week’s award goes to Colin Combs for his consistent and efficient work as perspectives editor.

The Collegian Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors who have demonstrated consistency and excellence in their work.

Sports

December 4, 2015

Page 7

Primed and ready

Men’s volleyball team strives for success

David Weix

Contributing Writer The fall semester is coming to an end here at Grove City College, and that is no exception for the men’s club volleyball team as they prepare to host their final tournament of the fall season this Saturday.

The men are hoping to capitalize on the momentum from their recent success at a tournament at Edinboro University. Despite having lots of potential, the team struggled to find success for much of the fall season prior to Edinboro.

“The semester started off with high expectations,” said Ethan Gelpi, the team captain. “There was a lot of talent coming in. We have a lot of potential, but we also had

a lot of seniors graduate.”

Ultimately, it was the combination of new talent and graduating experience that created a bumpy road to success.

“We lost a lot of experience and struggled finding team chemistry throughout the semester,” Gelpi said.

Despite having the talent, the lack of team chemistry lead the men to losing two out of their three scrimmages, all against Slippery Rock University.

Although the fall season is just meant for practice, the way a team plays in practice can be a strong indicator of the future, and that is exactly what the team was concerned about – until Edinboro.

“We were worried about the season,” Gelpi said. “It took a while for the chemis-

try to come, until we went to the tournament in Edinboro.

Everything clicked at that tournament.”

Everything certainly did click at the tournament, where they beat Slippery Rock and made it to the first round of the gold bracket playoffs, losing by only a few points.

Gelpi attributes much of the team’s success to passing well and hitting consistently.

Although, “both have been a struggle this semester,” Gelpi is excited about what he saw at Edinboro.

Another strength that will serve the team well is flexibility. The ability for multiple players to play multiple positions is a big advantage to the team as they prepare for the spring season.

“Moving forward into next

Spotlight on Pittsburgh: Penguins inconsistent in early going

Tim Hanna

Staff Writer

The Pittsburgh Penguins made arguably the highestprofile trade of this offseason when they completed a sixplayer, multiple draft pick trade with the Toronto Maple Leafs for superstar Phil Kessel.

Kessel, who has scored at least 25 goals in four of the past five seasons, was expected to help offset the decreased production that Penguins have been experiencing since reaching a high point of over 3.3 goals a game in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Through a little more than a quarter of the season, Pittsburgh’s offense has been MIA as the team has only managed to average 2.2 goals a game, which puts them at 25th in the NHL. This leads to the question of why the drought is occurring in the first place, to which there are many answers.

Kessel has provided seven goals and eight assists in

the 23 games he has played, which is on par for his career.

However, Kessel was widely predicted to break the 40-goal mark this season while playing with two of the league’s best players, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Kessel needs to up his production if the Pens wish to make a deep playoff push.

Sidney Crosby also has 15 points in 23 games, far below what is expected from anyone who is considered to be quite possibly the best player in the NHL today.

The Penguins power play unit is another area of concern. The power play is clicking at an abysmal 16.5 percent, which is 23rd best in the NHL and three percentage points down from last year’s, which was already down three percent from the previous year.

The power play’s lack of ability to score has definitely hurt the Pens, as they average 3.7 power plays a game.

Despite the Pens sustaining so many scoring problems, they are still in a re-

markably good position.

Pittsburgh currently has a 13-8-2 record and 28 points, which is good enough for third in the Metropolitan division, only seven points behind the division-leading Washington Capitals.

There are also good signs starting to appear in the games themselves.

As Kessel continues to settle in and get acquainted with his new teammates, his production has slowly begun to increase.

Crosby has scored six points (two goals and four assists) in the last five games, which is perhaps a sign that he is starting to come into normal form.

The power play has scored on five out of its last 25 opportunities, as well as scoring at least once in each of the last five games.

All of these signs point to a hopefully awakening Penguins offense, which will once again challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Men’s Swimming and Diving Friday, Dec. 4 – Saturday, Dec. 5, all day, at

Women’s Basketball

Calvin College Winter Invitational

Saturday, Dec. 5, 1 p.m., vs. Waynesburg University

Women’s Swimming and Diving

Wednesday, Dec. 9, 5:30 p.m., vs.

Carnegie Mellon University

Friday, Dec. 4 – Saturday, Dec. 5, all day, at

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 p.m., at Thomas More

Calvin College Winter Invitational

College

Men’s Track and Field

Men’s basketball

Friday, Dec. 4, 3 p.m., at Youngstown State

Saturday, Dec. 5, 3 p.m., vs. Waynesburg University

Support Your Wolverines!

Dec 4-12

University Icebreaker Women’s Track and Field Friday, Dec. 4, 3 p.m., at Youngstown State University Icebreaker

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m., vs. Houghton College Saturday, Dec. 12, 4 p.m., at Thomas More College

www.atotxka.com

semester I think our biggest strength will be the flexibility we have as a team,” said Justin Scott, a starting middle hitter. “The ability to move guys around will definitely be helpful in case someone gets injured, and it will also be helpful having guys move around and push the guy ahead of them in practice.”

Now that the team has finally found it, there is no doubt that strong team chemistry will certainly play to the team’s advantage as well.

“It’s definitely a fun environment,” Scott said. “But also one where we know that our ultimate goal is to get to nationals and play well there, and we have to take practices and matches seriously to get to that point.”

Although it took some

time, the team has certainly come together with a winning mentality, which has helped propel them much closer to achieving the success that they have reached in years past.

“This year has been a rebuilding year after losing so many seniors,” Gelpi said.

“But we do have a lot of potential and things are starting to look up for us.”

Hopefully things will continue to look up at this Saturday’s tournament, which will take place at the intramural rooms in the Physical Learning Center.

Grove City will be one of 12 teams that will be in attendance.

Play will begin at 9 a.m. with playoffs likely kicking off at around 3 p.m.

TERRORISM

In addition to funding and support, the United States conducts terrorism.

In the late 1970’s, the Senate attempted to pass legislation against terrorism.

However, in every form the legislation took, the U.S. would have been in violation of the legislation.

Throughout the Bush and Obama administrations, the U.S. conducted numerous drone strikes throughout the Middle East.

These strikes have killed more than 2,000 innocent civilians in a number of Middle Eastern countries.

Across the world, and across numerous presidencies, U.S. actions have killed over a quarter million people in dozens of countries.

No other terrorist group has been able to achieve that kind of success.

If the United States government truly wishes to combat terrorism, it should commit drone strikes against its own institutions.

supports terrorism through its allies that it works with and gives money and weapons.

The three most important U.S. allies in the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey – are a few of the nations that are most supportive of terrorism in the entire world.

Saudi Arabia supports and funds a plethora of terrorist groups and activity across the Middle East. Qatar has supported the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

Turkey has been found to be directly supporting ISIS in Syria. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have also been accused of supporting ISIS. All three are openly supporting Al-Qaeda-linked groups in Syria.

The U.S. responds to this by maintaining alliances with the three and conducting the largest arms deal in world history with Saudi Arabia.

INTERVIS in which students indicated that they did not prefer daily intervisitation.

An additional week night may be the next addition; however, I would not bet on it in the immediate future.

So what can we expect in the semesters to come? I would expect an alteration in the sign-in system.

This was the first semester with the student workers at desks, so things will naturally be ironed out.

I would like to see a “grace period” that would give five minutes to students to get all the way down to the sign-in desks without being written up.

Given that the College would like to continue to provide opportunities for student employment, however, I would expect that the pesky desks will stay – at least for

the spring semester.

I would certainly like to see an expansion of the hours by an incremental amount.

If the sign-in desk is serving its purpose of keeping students responsible and accountable to the policy, I think it would be a gesture of good faith to loosen the reins on the students just a little bit.

This would go along with the “give-and-take” nature of the system – giving students a little bit more freedom on time, though taking away the old sign-in system.Might I say that such changes would be a “win-win” for both the College and its students?

Indeed, it is a step in the right direction.

The most promising sign, however, is that despite frustrations, discussion has proven good and productive in this situation as in so many others.

Sports

December 4, 2015

Page 8

GROVE CITY COLLEGE

Kathrine Erbelding takes on an opponent as she dribbles down the court.

Immeasurably more Wolverines prepare for PAC season

Bryan Denny

Contributing Writer The Grove City College women’s basketball team looks to their upcoming season with anticipation and excitement.

Coming off of a 14-14 record last season, the team is hoping to surpass the .500 mark under the leadership of Head Coach Chelle Fuss.

Already under way, Grove City is coming into their first Presidents’ Athletic Conference game with a 2-2 record.

The women opened their season with a win against the University of Pittsburgh’s Greensburg campus by a score of 78-59.

Later on in the week, the team traveled to Erie for the Penn State Behrend Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 20 -21.

Score Check Nov. 20 Men’s basketball: Grove City College 69, Kenyon College 67 In the first game of the Geneva College Classic, Grove City held off Kenyon College in the final seconds of a thrilling game. It was a back-and-forth affair through and through, though the Wolverines came through in the end.

Stephen Tam led the way for Grove City, scoring 17 points on six out of ten shots.

Women’s basketball: State University of New York at Fredonia 73, Grove City College 72 Grove City battled through a close game, taking an eight-point lead with just over four minutes to go in the second half. However, Fredonia State College battled back, taking the lead with several seconds to go. Kathryn Erbelding led the way for the Wolverines, scoring 22 points and adding on 12 rebounds.

Nov. 21 Men’s swimming and diving: Case Western Reserve University 220, Grove City College 74; Gannon University 191, Grove City College 97 Grove City dropped two decisions on Saturday as the Wolverines’ only win came from freshman Dane Hoselton on the 100-meter backstroke contest.

Tim Bergquist did claim two runner-up finishes, both of which were against Gannon University.

Women’s swimming and diving: Case Western Reserve University 171, Grove City College 126; Grove City College 136, Gannon University 136 Grove City dropped a decision, then tied NCAA Division II opponent Gannon University for the first tie in the program’s 28-year history. On the day, Megan Bilko, Amanda Hutzelmann

After losing to Fredonia State University in heart-breaking fashion, the Wolverines came back to beat Penn State Behrend 52-49 to round out the tournament at 2-1.

Two days later, Grove City dropped to 2-2 after suffering a defeat to Franciscan University 71-62.

The Wolverines are led by their four captains: senior forward Natalija Galens, senior forward Kathryn Erbelding, junior point guard Teresa Dallatore and junior shooting guard Jackie Stewart.

Coach Fuss also greatly praises sophomore guard Lexie Arkwright as “the whole package” because of her valued play all over the court.

Leading scorers for the team thus far are sophomore

and Megan Smith each were victorious twice.

Men’s basketball: Eastern University 74, Grove City College 57 Grove City kept things close for much of the game but dropped off in the latter part of the second half as Eastern University claimed the win. Joe Vermilya, Caleb Knudsen and Cory Huff scored nine points each, while Knudsen also had seven assists and six boards.

Women’s basketball: Grove City College 52, Pennsylvania State University Behrend College 49 Grove City improved its record to 2-1 with an all-around great performance against PSU Behrend College. Jackie Stewart had 12 points, while Kathryn Erbelding scored 11 and added 12 rebounds and three blocks. Grove City also forced 21 turnovers.

Nov. 23 Women’s basketball: Franciscan University of Steubenville 71, Grove City College 52 Grove City struggled early, then came back to make things close early in the fourth quarter. From there, though, the offense stalled, and Franciscan University went on a run of its own. Lexie Arkwright led her team with 23 points, si6 rebounds and six steals.

Nov. 24 Men’s basketball: Grove City College 76, Penn State Beaver 75 Grove City came out on top in thrilling game that came down to the final seconds. With a second remaining, Caleb Knudsen tied it and then gave his team the lead with a pair of free throws.

Overall, Knudsen scored 19 points and collected 12 rebounds, while freshman Brandon Wise added on 17.

guard Arkwright with 16.8 points per game and Erbelding right behind with a 16.0 point average each contest.

The team’s top rebounders are Erbelding, averaging 8.8 boards per game, followed by Galens (5.0) and Arkwright (4.8). Dallatore leads the team in assists (9), and Arkwright has already racked up 19 steals.

Every year, the team chooses a theme to hone in on their mission for the season.

The team’s theme serves as a motivator, a rallying point, a unifier and, most importantly, a reminder to them of whom they are playing for.

This year the women choose the theme of “Immeasurably More” from Ephesians 3:20: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably

more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.”

“This theme drives us to be immeasurably more,” Dallatore said.

“It is a reminder to the team that The Lord can do immeasurably more with us and through us so that we can glorify him through the game of basketball.”

Coach Fuss added that the mission of the team is to “use the platform of basketball to advance the kingdom of God.” Whether it be on the court, around campus or serving in places like the Erie City Mission, the team aspires to use all that they do to proclaim the name of Christ.

Fuss wants to “enjoy the journey with the girls for their four years” in the pro-

gram. She wants her team, especially the seniors, to “have a powerful experience” and make memories that will carry through after graduation.

In Fuss’ eye, the person is much more important than the player.

Focused around a common theme, inspired by their senior leaders and motivated to glorify the Lord, the Grove City College women’s basketball team is ready for another season of PAC Basketball.

The Lady Wolverines approach a tough road up ahead, starting conference play at Washington & Jefferson College on Wednesday.

The Grove City women will then host Waynesburg University on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. in the Grove City College Arena.

Player Spotlight: Megan Crutcher The fastest fish in a big pond

Emily Krofcheck Contributing Writer Megan Crutcher, a lifelong swimmer, has not only been owning the pool all season, but all her life.

Crutcher is a freshman history major from Lancaster, Pa. who competes for the Grove City College women’s swimming and diving team.

She began swimming competitively at the age of five, but has been in the water since she was a mere two years old. At this young age, she attended summer swimming lessons in Virginia. She has been swimming every year since.

Crutcher went on to join multiple swimming clubs.

At the age of ten, she began swimming at the St. Croix Swim Club in Minnesota. A few years later at the age of 13, she went back to Virginia to join the Poseidon Swimming Club. At Poseidon, they endeavored to push her to be the best she could be while also striving for personal progress through individual

merit.

Although homeschooled, Crutcher swam for her local high school, Lampeter-Strasburg. While there, she was voted most valuable player her junior year and team captain her senior year. She also qualified for the Pennsylvania District III Championship both her junior and senior years.

Among her other achievements, Crutcher qualified for the Eastern Zone Senior Championships through the Lancaster, Pa. Aquatic Club, a USA Swim Club.

All of these achievements and preparation led up to Crutcher’s distinguished first season on the swim team here at Grove City College.

Since the start of this year, she has placed among the top spots in her division. She is now ranked first in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference in the 100-yard breast stroke with a time of 1:09.69, second in PAC in the 200yard breast stroke with a time of 2:34.48 and third in PAC in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of

2:18.90.

“I really like racing in swim meets. I’m very competitive because you get to put into action what you’ve been practicing for so long in the pool,” Crutcher said.

Her aspiration for her future career in swimming here is to qualify for the NCAA division cut for nationals. She plans to do so by shaving off a few seconds from her already impressive time of 1:09.69 in the 100-yard breast stroke.

“I love the swim team, we are like family. Everyone is close and always there to support each other in and out of the pool. They motivate me to do my best,” Cutcher said.

Crutcher is looking forward to what the future holds for her and her team.

“I have always loved swimming. I couldn’t imagine my life without swimming, and I never want to give it up. I’ll definitely try to keep up with it after my years here. I might join [United States] Masters Swimming or even try coaching. No matter what, I definitely want to keep up with it.”