The Collegian - February 24, 2023

Grovers travel to Asbury for revival

Ayden Gutierrez News Editor

Asbury University gained national attention for their 12-day revival and attracted people from all over the country to Wilmore, Ky., to experience the prayer and worship marathon firsthand.

The revival started after students refused to leave a typical Wednesday afternoon chapel service on Feb. 8. The revival has since ended, as the university’s public service shifted to another loca-

tion on Tuesday while high school and college-aged students have still been able to attend in-person at Asbury through yesterday evening.

At one point, university officials reported that students and staff from 22 schools had visited, alongside groups from Hawaii to Massachusetts.

After an estimated 50,000 Christian worshipers, celebrity pastors and onlookers flocked to Asbury University over the course of the revival’s duration, Asbury’s administration decided to go with the switch in hopes that

Chick-fil-A

the campus’ order could be restored.

A number of those in attendance happened to be Grovers, as students and faculty wanted to be part of the experience.

Juniors Lexi Kilmartin and Kris Sekera went over the weekend attempting to get there before the revival ended.

Kilmartin had heard great things about Asbury’s famed 1970 revival and wanted to experience it while the opportunity presented itself.

“I knew and heard all of the testimonies about people

Student photographer, newspaper staff win three awards

Econ majors present research

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

Undergraduate students from Grove City College and three other higher-ed institutions will talk about a variety of economic topics at the Austrian Student Scholar’s Conference (ASSC) this weekend.

WILL HEARN

won first place in the

CRT report recommendations have been implemented, college officials say

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

Ayden Gutierrez

News Editor

In the 10 months since the college’s Board of Trustees accepted a report finding “specific instances of misalignment” on campus related to Critical Race Theory (CRT), college administrators said they have acted on

all the report’s remedial recommendations.

The report by the Special Committee, appointed to look into concerns raised in November 2021 by a petition signed by 476 parents, alumni, students, donors and others, ultimately concluded that the college was neither “going woke”’ nor promoting CRT.

In consultation with Presi-

dent Paul J. McNulty ’80, the committee identified several actions to correct the issues addressed in the report.

The committee noted that McNulty had “already taken numerous steps to ensure closer alignment with the college’s vision, mission and values,” before its report was completed and told the board he would execute additional actions.

They included: replacing EDUC 290 Cultural Diversity and Advocacy with an appropriate elective; more closely supervising resident assistant training; reconstituting and renaming the Office of Multicultural Education and Initiatives; increasing oversight on chapel programming and taking “appropri-

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The annual conference, coordinated by the college’s Department of Economics, features students presenting their own research papers to peers and leading Austrian School scholars. This year, students from Grove City College, George Mason University, Cornerstone University and Brazil’s Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais will present papers for review by a panel of judges.

The on-campus event, which will be held in the Staley Hall of Arts and Letters, begins tonight and ends tomorrow evening.

Grouped into one of six 90-minute sessions, each of the 18 students will present an overview of their respective topics for 20 minutes, with the remaining time given toward an audience Q&A. The top three papers will be selected for Andrew S. Korim awards and cash prizes of $1,500, $1,000 and $500, in

Train derailment had no effect on Mercer County

Ayden Gutierrez News Editor

A train derailment caused thousands of residents in East Palestine, Ohio, to evacuate earlier this month. According to county officials, it is too far away to cause harm in Mercer County.

Frank A. Jannetti, Jr., director of the Mercer County Department of Public Safety, said it is not likely for the environmental effects of the di-

saster to have any impact in Grove City.

“According to the EPA/ DEP and all the toxicologists that are involved, there is absolutely no effect for any person or property in Mercer County,” said Jannetti. “It would depend on the chemical and other environmental factors. Obviously, there are circumstances where anything is possible, but the bottom line is that there is very little chance for us to

have any effect from that far away.”

East Palestine is 39 miles from Grove City.

According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the train, which was a product of the Norfolk Southern Railway Company, contained three locomotives, 141 loaded cars and nine empty cars. The train derailed on tracks running east and west

Read all about the 2023 Student Keystone Media Awards that The Collegian received for last year’s content and coverage on pg. 3. Freshman Will Hearn

Feature Photo category with the above image.

DON WOLF

Students and the public gathered in the Hughes Auditorium on Asbury University’s campus.

GRACE DAVID

From the Tower

What does ‘woke’ mean?

If there was ever a more hackneyed term to characterize the politically charged climate in the past five years, it would be “woke.”

Though the word has been around longer than that, it didn’t quite hit the cultural zeitgeist until almost three years ago when the summer 2020 racial protests swept across the nation after George Floyd’s death. Ever since then, the term has increasingly popped up in American culture, especially in online discourse surrounding modern entertainment. This discussion particularly interests me because depending on your political beliefs, you may view wokeness very differently. If you fall on the left end of the political spectrum, you interpret the term as pertaining to championing racial and social justice for the betterment of minority groups; and if you’re a conservative, you automatically assume wokeness refers to the progressive agendas that run contrary to American ideals.

Though my personal values and beliefs fall into the latter camp, I’ve fallen into the trap of the anti-woke crusade, and to an extent, it’s justified. Wokeness has overtaken much of our culture, including politics, entertainment, business and news media, that it’s becoming harder to escape from the virtue-signaling insanity. There are great conservative voices out there that speak on this relatively recent trend, and their arguments against wokeness, for the most part, are valid.

However, I think there’s one missing ingredient that keeps conservative-minded people from objectively engaging in this contentious topic: nuance. It’s easier to cast in broad strokes and label every opinion we don’t like as woke, but it’s more beneficial to use common sense and critical thinking rather than misapply the term to something that is simply untrue.

I saw an example of this recently on Twitter. Last week, conservative activist Jack Posobiec tweeted about the supposed wokeness of Taylor Sheridan’s new Paramount+ show, “Tulsa King.” For the record, I haven’t seen it yet due to homework and The Collegian taking up most of my TV time; but conservative users really seemed upset about his take, not because they realized he was right but because he mischaracterized the scene from the context of the rest of the show. And you know what the difference was between Posobiec and the users who called him out? The latter watched it.

This example illustrates it’s easier to jump on the bandwagon and cry “get woke, go broke” or some other catchphrase, but if you don’t know what you’re talking about or if the argument you’re making is false then you’re not being helpful. You’re only adding to the noise, yelling just as loudly as the social justice activists you oppose.

“Woke” has become such a catch-all term that it’s confusing to understand what it truly means, and that’s primarily because it doesn’t mean anything anymore with its current overusage. If you take away one lesson from this editorial, it’s that nuance, not overgeneralization, should define our discourse when conveying our individual perspectives.

David Zimmermann Editor-in-Chief

Collegian Staff

Editor-in-Chief

David Zimmermann

Managing Editor

Caleb West

Section Editors

News

Ayden Gutierrez

Community

Violet Whitmore

Perspectives

Grace Scheller

Entertainment Nick Grasso

Sports

Emma Rossi

Photo Chief Grace David

Copy Chief Hannah Welker

Will MSU shooting change anything?

Violet Whitmore

Community Editor

On Feb. 13, a boy I grew up with and went to church and school with lost his life in the shooting at Michigan State University.

Words cannot express how devastated my community was, a mass of out-ofstate students returning home to attend the funeral service at my church seeking respite and paying their respects.

The gunman, 43-year-old Anthony Dwayne McRae, was carrying a backpack with a cryptic note listing future targets, two 9mm handguns (not registered, but legally purchased), nine fully loaded magazines, more loose rounds and two bus tickets. He died from a self-inflicted gun wound shortly after being caught by the police.

McRae pleaded guilty to a firearm charge in 2019, but the felony never went to trial, only resulting in a misdemeanor. Police said the investigation revealed McRae had a history of men-

order of place.

tal health issues, but there is currently no discernible motive.

He opened fire on a classroom in Berkey Hall, fatally wounding three students and injuring five more—firing at least 15 times, according to CNN.

According to gunviolencearchive.org, there have been 82 mass shootings in the United States in 2023 alone. Seven of those shootings have been school shootings.

I don’t believe this is a simple fix. I don’t believe that guns should be completely prohibited. I understand there is a mental health and poverty crisis consistently growing, and I believe people have the right to protect themselves.

I likewise understand hunting is a hobby that necessitates owning a firearm – however, America needs to make obtaining a firearm more difficult.

According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, “We don’t even have universal background checks here in Michigan.”

If McRae’s background were screened, if he were to

pating in his second ASSC this weekend.

Business Manager

David Ake

Copy Editors

Emily Fox

Jaina Hershey

Claire Josey

Eve Lee

Jessica Pratt

Maiah Serazin

Staff Writers

Vince Clay

Mia Gallagher

Hunter Oswald

Joel Sledd

David Smith

Isaac Willour

Contributing

Photographers

Lydia Gilanshah

Will Hearn

Jacob Vannoy

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.

Senior Caleb Van Grouw will be presenting at ASSC for the second time this year. He will be discussing the economic benefits of fraternity hazing, as this topic particularly intrigued him.

“In theory, fraternities that compete with each other for students should have eliminated the practice long ago to get an edge,” he said. “The fact they haven’t led me to believe it was somehow helping these groups produce suitable environments for their members.”

Van Grouw expressed gratefulness for the professional experience he’s gained in writing and presenting economic research during his undergraduate career.

“I want to go into finance after college, and this kind of presentation is a staple in the business world. Being able to communicate your original work effectively is a skill with application to almost every occupation,” he said.

Senior Sam Branthoover will present his findings on Bedouin private law and how cultural practices of the nomadic Arab tribes can directly address market issues. He said he was inspired by this topic after finding “an account of Bedouins licking red-hot, fire-heated spoons to prove their innocence.”

Branthoover said he is looking forward to partici-

“The Austrian Conference is an awesome opportunity that students rarely have in undergraduate studies,” he said. “It allows us to present research and receive feedback, which is valuable experience for anybody pursuing academic or research-oriented careers.”

Junior Alex Sodini will talk about his research paper on the monetary theory of French economist Jean-Baptiste Say. This is his first year presenting at ASSC.

“I am honestly looking forward to all the other talks and presentations being given, as I love getting to learn more about economics,” he said. “There are all sorts of topics and papers that are being presented, and so it is a great time to get to learn more about different areas of the field and perhaps even improve my writing and get some feedback.”

Sodini said his own research on Say began in History of Economic Thought, taught by economics professor Dr. Shawn Ritenour, and then subsequently wrote the paper for the department’s Money and Banking course.

“Although this is my first year, I really just wanted to have the experience of presenting work that I am passionate about, as well as to improve my own writing and learn from some excellent peers and professors,” Sodini

wait longer to get approved for the weapon or was maybe charged with a felony, could it have been prevented?

It is highly concerning that most Christians want to save unborn life and march for the defenseless while turning a blind eye to those already born. Victims of gun violence’s lives are snatched away in larger, more violent ways, irreparably harming their close family and friends. By reducing the number of firearms in circulation, the number of illegally obtained guns would also reduce; there are currently more guns than people in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. They also state that roughly half of Americans favor stricter gun laws, and 60 percent own a gun for personal protection, despite roughly 40 percent not knowing proper gun safety and etiquette.

I’m not saying I have all the answers or that gun laws are foolproof. Horrific acts of violence happen regardless of what the government regulates. I just beg Americans to reconsider regulations and that they are willing to sacrifice for lives.

said.

All 18 student presenters include: junior Jacob Feiser, sophomore Zachary Wood, Sodini, senior Sebastian Anastasi, junior Estan Sutter, sophomore Samuel Peterson, junior Brayden Panazzi, senior Benjamin Seevers, Van Grouw, Janna Lu of George Mason University, Manuel Garcia Gojon of George Mason University, Jacob Mullen ’22, Luan Valério of Brazil’s Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Kurtis Hingl of George Mason University, Branthoover, Hasset Woldu of Cornerstone University, Tegan Truitt of George Mason University and Semayawit Kebede of Cornerstone University.

After months of hard work, these students are excited to meet this year’s keynote speakers – Grove City College alumnus and renowned economist Dr. Peter Boettke ’83, and Bryan College’s associate professor of economics Dr. Jonathan Newman.

Newman will begin the conference Friday evening by delivering the Hans Sennholz Memorial Lecture, and Boettke will end it with his Ludwig von Mises Memorial Lecture Saturday evening after awarding the three prizes.

The conference is free and open to the public. For schedule details and more information, visit austrianstudentconference.com.

College newspaper staffers win Keystone Media Awards

Grove City College

The Collegian, Grove City College’s student-run newspaper, captured three 2023 Student Keystone Media Awards from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association.

Photographer Will Hearn, a freshman from Nampa, Idaho, captured first place for his feature photo “Bird in Front of Sun,” which ran in the Sept. 16, 2022, edition of the paper. It was part of a photospread showcasing the work and talents of student photographers.

The paper’s coverage of last year’s critical race theory saga took second place in the Ongoing News Coverage category. Four staffers shared the award: Editor-in-Chief David Zimmermann, a senior from Greenville, S.C.; News Editor Ayden Gutierrez, a

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ate actions” related to college personnel and missional alignment.

The report noted that one area of concern—the president’s Advisory Committee on Diversity which hadn’t met since April 2021—was defunct. The recommendation to replace the word “traditional” with “conservative” in the college’s revised mission statement, was completed with a few keystrokes.

The remaining recommendations have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented, college officials said.

EDUC 290 Cultural Diversity and Advocacy, a twocredit course co-taught by entrepreneurship professor Cedric Lewis and education professor Gina Blackburn ’94 in 2021 and 2022, faced controversy for its textbook materials, which included Ibram X. Kendi’s “How to Be an Antiracist,” without initially introducing readings containing opposing perspectives, according to the report.

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Peter Frank ‘95 said the review and approval process used for regular courses is now being used for “special studies” offerings like EDUC 290. Special studies courses are “try outs,” meaning a trial period is used to determine whether a special interest subject can become a regularly offered course that students will

getting healed and feeling the presence of God. I wanted to experience it for myself,” she said.

The two arrived at Asbury at 3:30 a.m. The crowds that were seen on the news were not the same as the crowd at that time, according to Kilmartin.

“There were about 20 people outside of the chapel whenever we tried to get in, but the doors were closed so we went around the back and asked to be let in multiple times. They finally let us in the chapel even though the service was closed to the public.”

Kilmartin described the service as very small and extremely intimate. As soon as they walked into the chapel, Kilmartin noticed an over-

junior from Morrisdale, Pa.;

Entertainment Editor Nick Grasso, a senior from Rochester, N.Y.; and Staff Writer Isaac Willour, a junior from Aliquippa, Pa.

Willour also won a secondplace award for his columns, which appear nearly every week in The Collegian.

“During my tenure, I have seen some amazing articles and photos produced by my colleagues and peers. Will Hearn, Isaac Willour and all those who were involved in last year’s award-winning news reporting deserve recognition for their talent and hard work. I couldn’t be prouder of this amazing staff and couldn’t ask for a better way to go out with a bang in my last semester here,” said Zimmermann, who has led the paper since 2021.

“It’s great to have the work of these talented and hard-

continue taking years down the line.

Faculty now must demonstrate how their proposed course is consistent with the college’s vision, mission and values before approval, Frank said.

He also said a new elective, which will discuss “issues of religion and secularism in the modern world,” is currently being developed under the Biblical and Religious Studies and History Departments to replace EDUC 290, as per the report’s recommendation.

The report found two instances of the RA training program promoting CRTrelated concepts. In August 2021, former Director of Multicultural Education and Initiatives Justin Jose gave a one-hour presentation, which included a TED Talk video on “whiteness,” to RAs about how best to support minority students on campus.

During the spring 2021 semester, Resident Director of Colonial Hall Apartments Liz Jose ’10 initiated weekly discussions about racial issues and gave related handouts to the building’s RAs.

Vice President of Student Life and Learning Larry Hardesty said he reviewed and approved all current RA training material and affirmed it “in no way promotes CRT.”

The Office of Multicultural Education and Initiatives is being replaced by the

whelming sense of peace. She could feel the presence of God.

“I set my stuff down and walked up towards the front and just started crying. I cried for 45 minutes,” said Kilmartin. “It was so amazing, and I was just crying because I was overwhelmed with thankfulness and love from God. One man prayed for me and did not even speak English; he had flown in from another country just to experience this.”

“When people experience the presence of God, they realize that literally nothing else matters,” Kilmartin said.

Multimedia & Project Team Lead of Media Services Don Wolf said he was moved and drawn to attend the revival due to having personal connections at the university.

“I had a niece that graduated two years ago,” said Wolf.

Collegian staffers were delighted Wednesday to find out the paper collected three Student Keystone Media Awards. From left to right: News Editor Ayden Gutierrez, Community Editor Violet Whitmore, Perspectives Editor Grace Scheller, Editor-in-Chief David Zimmermann, Photo Chief Grace David, Sports Editor Emma Rossi, Copy Chief Hannah Welker, Entertainment Editor Nick Grasso and Managing Editor Caleb West.

working student journalists recognized by the state’s leading news media organization,” Collegian Adviser Nick Hildebrand said. “The newspaper’s staff does incredible work, week in and

Imago Dei Center to assist international and ethnic minority students on campus. The new center has been “charged with a revised mission,” Hardesty said.

The Imago Dei Center is tasked with strengthening “support and programming for Grove City College students, especially for those from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds,” while pursuing the board’s “strategic directives and policy commitment,” according to the college’s website. Hardesty confirmed SL&L is searching for a new director to lead the center.

The college’s chapel programming, specifically during fall 2020, had been criticized for its racial reconciliation-themed chapel services, with the major source of contention being Jemar Tisby’s controversial evening presentation in Harbison Chapel on Oct. 20. Tisby derived the message’s talking points from his 2019 book “The Color of Compromise.”

Petitioners expressed worry about the message’s content after Tisby talked about the American church’s complicity in racism and inaction on other “social justice” values. The choice of venue for his message was another point of concern, as having a speaker in the chapel, instead of a lecture hall, “appears to place the college’s stamp of approval on the speaker’s message,” the report read.

Chaplain and Senior Di-

“I had also just interviewed Zach Meerkrebs on the campus just last spring about his mission at the university. He works for Envision through the Alliance Church and was speaking at the chapel service that started the fire.”

According to Wolf, the revival was how others have expressed it, saying the event was filled with “peace, calm, love and respect.”

“I was not surprised with the crowd size because this is a spontaneous movement of God and he has no limits,” Wolf said.

Wolf has been to music festivals and large worship events, but he claims this was different. He noticed an abundance of humility and love. Very diverse age groups and nationalities came from many other states to be in attendance. He said elderly people with walkers, and ba-

week out, to bring the news to the Grove City College community. These awards validate that effort for everyone on the staff.”

The Student Keystone Media Awards contest recog-

rector of Christian Formation Dr. Donald Opitz said he meets with McNulty “every other week” to “discuss the chapel schedule” and proposed speakers. He said he and the president “have been more attentive to the appropriate venue” for various chapel services. The only Faith for Life Lecture Series event held in Harbison Chapel this semester is an evening concert, played by Matt Merker, on March 22.

Additionally, the report said McNulty “will take appropriate actions” regarding personnel “to the extent they demonstrate misalignment.”

This process involves ensuring employees are fully aligned with the college’s mission, according to Frank, who noted that “appropriate actions” does not exclusively mean employment termination.

“Misalignment with the college’s mission is addressed directly on a case-by-case basis,” Frank said. “Faculty are required to affirm missional alignment annually, and follow-up is exercised if any questions arise,” he noted.

McNulty said the college “is blessed with an outstanding Board of Trustees to which I am accountable. I highly value the board’s wisdom and direction in our ongoing and shared commitment of safeguarding the college’s historic conservative Christian mission.”

bies in arms were waiting all day to get in. The service was broadcast outside on large screens, but it was not a circus-like atmosphere.

Wolf was there to get Broll interview footage for a possible future documentary piece. He dismissed his plans and said that he “needed to engage with what was happening” at the revival. He noted that there were “no screens with words... you knew the songs, or you hummed along.”

“I was again taken back at the peace and power of something going on,” said Wolf. “I began to cry and it’s kind of hard to really explain much more with words because it’s not about me. But there was healing and emotional openness everywhere.”

“You did not want to leave,” he said. Wolf appreciated the gra-

nizes student journalism that provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers. The Collegian competes in Division II against other schools with less than 10,000 students.

through the village of East Palestine, near the Pennsylvania state border. The train was 9,300 feet long.

In the same article, it was reported that, of the 50 cars that had derailed, 20 were filled with hazardous material defined as cargo that could pose any kind of danger, “including flammables, combustibles or environmental risks.”

Local residents of the town complained of water and air quality concerns. Dr. Joseph Augspurger, chair and professor of chemistry at the college, commented it would be almost entirely impossible for Grove City water to be affected by the train derailment in East Palestine.

“Grove City draws its entire water supply from wells,” said Augspurger. “The vinyl chloride that didn’t burn when they ignited it intended to prevent the tankers from exploding would’ve gone into their watershed, which flows south and west away from Grove City. The black smoke and soot that went into the air would’ve been mostly combustion products, not vinyl chloride.”

According to Augspurger, what little remaining vinyl chloride made it into the air and, to get into Grove City’s water supply, would have had to fall on the surface around Grove City and then soak through 100 or more feet of soil and gravel to get into the aquifer that feeds the wells.

ciousness and love from the staff and administration working at the university, who had been doing this for 11 days at the time.

“We were there for the last two days and there was something I sensed that was bigger than their ability to continue to have such love and composure as the hosting authorities in the midst of what was happening on their campus.”

Wolf enjoyed the studentled worship groups singing in several areas of the university lawn during his time there. He described it as if “the students were blessing their guests on campus that were waiting in lines all day. Fifty to 100 people would be gathered around, singing praise songs all while the main worship was going on inside Hughes Auditorium.”

NICK HILDEBRAND

TRAIN continued from 1

ASBURY continued from 1

HEARN

WILLOUR

Upcoming Events... What’s fresh at the Grove?

Possums’ Hot Cocoa Night

7 - 9 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 24 Ket Rec

Crisis and Hydra: The Ratchet Effect in Government Control over Money and Banking

7 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 24

Sticht Lecture Hall, SHAL Capitalism, Socialism and Our Future

7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 25 Sticht Lecture Hall, SHAL France & WWII Film Series: ‘Lucie Aubrac’

7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 25

Crawford Auditorium

SGA Coffee House

6 - 8 p.m.

Wednesday, March 1

Breen Student Union

Help Wanted!

The Collegian is looking for talented students who want to build their resumes and hone their craft as Writers

Copy Editors

Photographers

Have a passion for any of these roles?

Interested in contributing to a campus publication?

Email gcc.collegian@ gmail.com to learn more.

New and exciting activities IM sports coming to a court near you

Mia Gallagher Staff Writer

The IM sports program at Grove City College has an extensive history of bringing fun, community-building sports to campus. This semester’s newest additions, pickleball and walleyball, continue to build upon this tradition and provide a unique athletic experience.

Pickleball combines the rules of tennis with the fastpaced action of ping pong and is on the rise at the college and nationwide.

“I honestly think anyone can play this sport. You don’t need to have a lot of athletic ability to pick up pickleball.

As an IM commissioner, it’s been great to see the turnout from students. People seem to have a lot of fun, and we have had a lot of people playing,” junior Emily Kmiec said.

This semester, two co-

ed leagues and two men’s leagues have been organized to accommodate the roughly 148 people who signed up. Teams are composed of two members, not only allowing students to exercise communication and teamwork skills but providing them with a fun activity to share with their friends.

“I would recommend this to anyone who wants to get into an IM sport. Pickleball is a lower intensity than some of the other sports we offer, and all you need is one other person to play with. I truly believe anyone can play and have fun. Grove City supplies the nets and paddles, so you just have to show up and play,” Kmiec said.

Walleyball is a sport that takes a unique approach to the traditional rules of volleyball. Walleyball is played on a racquetball court with a net dividing the space, permitting players to use the

wall in their plays. Players can hit the ball off their own wall or spike it off their opponent’s wall to make a successful play.

“As with any team sport, communication is key in walleyball. Communicating who is getting the ball and where the ball will be going next will maximize your points and minimize your frustration. Since it is similar to volleyball, hand-eye coordination also comes in handy,” sophomore commissioner Anna Dueker said.

As the newest IM sport to the college’s collection, there is currently only one league – a men’s triple league –underway. However, as the sport grows in popularity with the community, Dueker is optimistic that a women’s and co-ed league will be formed in the future.

“Each of the teams I have interacted with just seem happy to be trying something

new that gets them moving. I would especially recommend walleyball to those who already have a volleyball background. Walleyball provides an opportunity to use volleyball skills in a new way. Those who don’t have a background in volleyball, this is a great introduction because the court is smaller, and using the walls works to your advantage,” Dueker said. Both pickleball and walleyball have certainly paved the way for other unique, exciting IM options to take the stage in the future. Dueker and the student recreation team hope to keep adding these opportunities and encourage students to share their ideas for future IM sports. While the current session of IM sports is already underway, you can go to IMLeague.com on March 4 to register for dodgeball, indoor soccer or racquetball.

Accidental confession obsession

I was talking to my friend about somebody I like in SAC, and then she walked by and overheard. ARRGHHH. Frightened Grover

Dear Frightened Grover, Oh my. That is quite a predicament. This might not be the best consolation, but are you sure she heard you, and would she have reason to suspect it is because you like her? If I had more details about everything going on with this relationship, I think I could offer some better insight – but I will try to give you some hope.

First, if she is the woman God has for you to marry, then take heart! No matter how badly you botch things, God remains sovereign and

will draw you together. Secondly, if she is not the woman God has for you to marry, then no matter how well things went, you two still wouldn’t end up together. And third, if the Lord’s will is unclear in this situation, well, then you can enter the long and arduous phase of trying to discern his will. That doesn’t sound fun, but remember, it’s the phase all relationships end up going through. Most people don’t know right away that this is truly the person God has for them to marry, or

maybe after a while, they start having some doubts.

On a more practical note, if you like her, she was going to find out about it at some point, and while this is much less than ideal, it could help you see quickly how things could go. Try to see if the way you two have been interacting changes, and ask your friends to make sure you’re not overthinking. If she really did overhear and starts steering more clear of you than normal, take the hint and move on. If she starts showing some signs of inter-

est, though, it could be time to take another step forward. This is a really difficult situation to be in, and I am wishing the best for you. Maybe SAC isn’t the best place to discuss your burgeoning feelings for someone else in the future.

I hope this is at least some help,

GRACE DAVID

Team Tea and Toadstools, comprised of freshmen Isaac Good and Abigail Joyner, posed with their pickleball paddles before a match.

Chick chick hooray!

Violet Whitmore Community Editor

As everyone and their grandmothers know, Chickfil-A is coming to Grove City College’s GeDunk Café. The new restaurant will replace the GeDunk, serving all of Chick-fil-A’s regular menu items and accepting meal swipes from students who attend the college.

Students, alumni, parents and residents rushed to social media to express a myriad of opinions. Current students are mostly optimistic about the addition but are wary of the details.

Senior Andrew Hanson said, “Studying in SAC is going to be a lot harder. It’s going to be insanely crowded.”

Most current students on Instagram communicated positive feelings about the opening. Freshman Natili Reading said, “I’m ecstatic for Chick-fil-A. I’m going to be tearing up each and every morsel of my meal.”

Alumni and parents of students had a more varied opinion; some excitedly commented on Instagram and Facebook while others expressed concerns.

Jen Lavrich commented on Facebook, “I am apprehensive about it being open to the public on a private college campus. Safety is my number one concern as well

as the students will have to wait perhaps in a very long line to eat between classes. My son studies at the student union quite often and eats and I’m sure no tables will be available with the public taking them to eat… Don’t want to be a negative but there are valid concerns about this decision to be public. Far from healthy but the students will really enjoy it.”

Bryan Galus ’06 was excited to see a “positive development” but is worried about the viability of the functionality of the restaurant itself.

“I work in the QSR and construction industry myself and worry a bit about some of the minor adverse effects of this being open to the public – such as impacts to parking, hours of operation Monday through Saturday and safety

Seven questions with…

Dr. Joseph Loconte

Distinguised Visiting Professor of History

What is your favorite part about your job?

to students – but the campus is technically already open to the public. How/where will cars be parked, and will this impact commuter students?”

While there are many questions concerning the details and future sustainability of the restaurant, more information will be released as construction and planning begin this summer.

Lunch in a different language

Violet Whitmore Community Editor

The twice-monthly Language Tables event in Old MAP dining hall helps students hone their conversational skills in foreign languages – even if it’s all Greek to you.

This group meal setting allows students studying French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, as well as fluent or practicing students, to earn credits or practice skills with fluent professors and other students. Dr. Kelsey Madsen, chair of the Modern Languages Department and assistant professor of French, coordinates the tables.

“All students in language classes are required to attend five cultural events over the course of the semester. At least three must involve spo-

TENNIS

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ken use of the language that they are studying. The other two may also involve active speech, or students may watch news or a film in the language or attend an event sponsored by the Modern Languages Department in English,” she said.

Though students may be nervous about speaking in front of others, Madsen states it is a safe environment and mistakes are part of learning.

“At Grove City College, we want students to be able to use their language skills for communication with other people made in the image of God. The best way to get better at communicating is practice and a willingness to make mistakes in order to improve. While students also get practice in the classroom, it can be encouraging and refreshing to interact in a ca-

sual environment.”

“I think it can also be a good experience for the beginning and intermediate students to interact with advanced speakers and see where they could be in a couple of years with continued study. While individuals may be aware of their limitations in expression in another language, they also have a rewarding sense of achievement when they successfully understand and are understood,” Madsen said.

All experience levels are welcome to attend, and Language Tables are for people at all skill levels – from beginners to fluent speakers.

“If you are a beginner, it is fine to mostly sit, listen and absorb what is happening. Faculty, staff and students are all welcome,” she said. “If you had Spanish, French or Mandarin in high school or if

Collegian Crossword Answers (Feb. 17 issue)

you have been practicing one of those languages on Duolingo, come join us!”

Faculty outside of the Modern Languages Department are also involved, many originally from foreign countries.

“For instance, this semester Dr. Qiuyan Li of Mechanical Engineering is hosting the Mandarin Table. Dr. Erik Bardy of Mechanical Engineering and Dr. Remi Drai of Mathematics also sometimes join the French Table.”

Language tables are free and accessible to all. The meals take place in Old MAP dining hall, and after getting food students take the service elevator in the kitchen up to the room they have reserved. If you do not have a meal plan or can’t cover the cost of your meal, there is a sign-in sheet for the Modern Languages Department to cover the cost of your lunch.

I think the most gratifying moments are when I am in the midst of a discussion of a topic with my students in class and they make connections or offer an insight into the topic that never occurred to me before—they shed light on the topic because of their own unique experience and perspective.

Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Yes, one hobby is closely following the New York Mets each baseball season, as they raise the hopes of their fans to meteoric heights, only to see them shattered into a thousand pieces by the end of the season.

What are some of your favorite movies?

I would put “Casablanca” at the top of the heap, Humphrey Bogart’s greatest role, the anti-hero torn between his desire (his love for Ingrid Bergman) and his nagging sense of duty (resisting the Nazis).

Favorite restaurant?

I have just discovered the Victor Café in Philadelphia, an Italian restaurant, where all of the waiters and waitresses are classically trained as opera singers. Every 20 minutes, during dinner hours, one of them breaks into song. It is glorious. What are you looking forward to most today?

I am looking forward to a robust discussion with my students about the artistic genius of the Italian Renaissance and what we might learn from it as people of faith.

27 History professor with expertise in las guerras del pasado

ly integrated competition, Grove City just missed the mark.

“That hasn’t really set too well with our guys,” Horner said. “We’re excited about that challenge. Everything on paper says it will be us and them in the championship this year.”

29 People were this and then did the freshman talent show

Favorite music genres/ musicians?

Vivaldi never disappoints me. Meanwhile, I am liking very much the soundtrack to the TV se`ries “Yellowstone,” like William Prince’s song “All I Know.” Maybe I’m a Brooklynborn cowboy in disguise.

What is a book that changed your life/worldview?

30 SAC

Before the regular season picks up steam, the team will travel to Texas for spring break. Here, they will play against three teams: St. Thomas, Prairie View A&M and Texas Lutheran.

31 Salt for an exercise science major

32 3 instead of the 2 of this poet's initials

DOWN

The yearly trip to Texas is a fun and competitive time for the team. Talko described the yearly trip, saying, “This is going to be a fun trip for all the guys. We’ll get to know each other better and see where we’re at from a competitive standpoint.”

1 Appear ending

The men’s team will play at Wooster College in Wooster, Ohio, at 9 a.m. tomorrow, Feb. 25. The Wolverines’ first home game will be played after spring break.

2 Scientific term for plant and animal life of a specific area

Dr. Trueman, Dr. Graham,

While I was in London working on my dissertation on John Locke, I started reading J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” for the first time.

Like no other work of fiction I had ever read, it drew me into a moral universe where everyone’s choices mattered—where everyone, could choose to resist evil and fight for the good. And yet, only a mysterious grace could bring about a final victory. I never realized how deeply Christian Tolkien’s story truly is.

GRACE DAVID

Junior Ethan David and senior Jamin Smith had a great time at Trudy Cathy White’s talk on Feb. 13.

The announcement that a new restaurant will be coming to campus was made during the event.

Take a peek at the Greek

A new class of Greek Life takes on Greek Unity Week

Grove City College fraternities and sororities welcome another new class with enthusiasm this spring. These students took on odd activities and silly costumes to show their dedication to their new brothers and sisters.

The chaotic excitement took over campus for a few days, providing just a little bit of entertainment at the beginning of this semester.

Featured fraternities and sororities: Adelphikos, Beta Sigma, Omicron Xi, Sigma Alpha Sigma, Theta Alpha Pi, Zeta Zeta Zeta, Gamma Sigma Phi and Gamma Chi.

by Grace David, Photo Chief

Santos perpetuates dishonesty GOP ‘diversity hire’ sits on a throne of lies

Noah Godfrey

Contributing Writer

The Republican Party’s latest “diversity hire” doesn’t seem to be working out so well in New York’s third Congressional District. If you’ve looked at any mainstream news networks—or social media platforms, for that matter—you may have seen the name George Santos pop up. It may also have been George Devolder, Anthony Devolder, some combination of those or even Kitara Ravache. Rest assured, we’re talking about the same person. Santos was elected in 2022, edging out Democratic nominee Robert Zimmerman for the seat vacated by incumbent Thomas Suozzi, to whom Santos lost in the 2020 election. Still, he’s digging up plenty of bad press.

Most recently, Newsday reported on Feb. 21 that San-

Hunter Oswald Staff Writer

tos named a new treasurer. He responded to a Federal Election Commission warning regarding his campaign, informing him he could no longer spend or receive campaign funds without one. Santos was without a treasurer since Jan. 25 after the resignation of Nancy Marks. Why did she resign?

Nonpartisan watchdog Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint in January claiming Santos willfully misrepresented donations received and spent campaign funds on personal expenses.

During the election, Santos reported lending more than $700,000 in personal funds to his campaign. When challenged by the CLC, Santos submitted an amended filing no longer reporting the personal loan.

He also made more than three dozen payments of $199.99 using the campaign credit card—just under the $200 legal reporting threshold. Santos’ 2022 campaign racked up more than $365,000 in unexplained

spending.

The frenzy surrounding Santos isn’t all about finances, though. What keeps George Anthony Devolder Santos’ PR representatives up at night is the sheer volume of allegations surrounding who he is and what he has claimed to have done. Or, not done, in the case of his short stint as drag queen Kitara Ravache in Brazil.

Santos denied the claims, tweeting in January, “The most recent obsession from the media claiming that… I ‘performed’ as a drag Queen is categorically false.… I will not be distracted or fazed by this.” Sadly, Santos went on to be distracted and fazed by this, telling reporters a few days later, “I was young, and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life.”

Santos has claimed past employment by Goldman Sachs and Citigroup, but representatives for both companies stated no such record exists. He talked about graduating from Baruch College with an economics degree

and about his time at New York University, which representatives from both colleges refuted. He later told the New York Post he “didn’t graduate from any institution of higher learning.”

In a podcast interview recorded in May 2022, Santos stated his “grandparents survived the Holocaust,” and his campaign bio claimed they fled persecution during World War II. According to genealogy reports reviewed by CNN and the Forward, though, he has no Jewish heritage. Multiple family records show Santos’ maternal grandparents were born in Brazil.

In the 2022 election, Santos flipped his district and helped the Republicans retake control of the House. No one is elected to political office by mere happenstance; Santos being an openly gay conservative was likely seen as politically advantageous.

His campaign was also supported by the GOP, despite shortcomings. Democrats have alleged that Re-

publican leaders knew all this before the election, with Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman stating, “[House Speaker] McCarthy was complicit in concealing Mr. Santos’ lies in order to flip a seat in a win-at-all-costs effort to gain power.”

Santos seems a sorry example of political maneuvering taking priority over good human decency.

Sure, Republican voters could celebrate taking a sixseat majority in the House in November. But even now, George Anthony Devolder Santos is sitting in his office collecting a $174,000/ year stipend. He never went to college, hasn’t made his campaign spending public and lied about his family and work history, on top of several credible allegations of embezzling and fraud.

It’s clear the “diversity hire” should not be hired for the sake of mere diversity.

Promoting ideas, not egos

for President of the United States on Feb. 14.

While many of us are finally calming down from the turbulent 2022 midterm election season, some are already gearing up for another hotly contested and chaotic election cycle.

The 2024 Republican Party presidential primary has already garnered the attention of many Americans, especially after former President Donald Trump announced his candidacy on Nov. 15, 2022. While some believe that Trump is possibly the Republican nominee for 2024, that narrative seems to be slowly diminishing.

Recent polling by the Pew Research Center found that while 63 percent of Republicans want Trump to remain in politics as a significant political figure, only 39 percent want Trump to run in 2024. Republicans have since become more anxious after Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador and governor of South Carolina, posted a short three-minute video declaring her candidacy

While the prospects for who will be the Republican Party’s nominee for 2024 are still up in the air, the early stages of the primary process have already revealed one of the major problems the Republican Party needs to address: the lack of substantive solutions.

Last semester, I wrote a piece on the Republican’s weak midterm performance in 2022 stating that “good policy matters.” If anyone were to analyze successful campaigns, the one component that is constantly brought up is having substantive policy solutions.

For example, throughout Ronald Reagan’s political career, he gave specific statements about how he would address and solve major policy situations. Reagan gave specifics, like his explanation of how he would seek to reduce taxes by using the Laffer Curve model, which led to marginal taxes being cut from 70 percent to 28 percent.

The success that would come from Reagan’s presidency was partially due to his ability to lay out detailed plans and execute them. Sub-

stance allows voters to better understand what a candidate’s time in office may look like and give them more confidence in their abilities in that position.

When examining today’s campaigns of Haley and Trump, they barely have anything when it comes to offering any substance to voters. The websites for both Trump and Haley have almost no specifics, except for their background.

Now it may seem harsh, but when someone asks you what you stand for and how

you are going to solve a problem, they do not want to hear generic talking points.

When I first went to see the websites for both Haley and Trump’s campaigns, one of the first things I thought was: Are they running for the presidency or winning a beauty pageant contest?

The impressions both Trump and Haley give are that they are running to nurture their egos and, especially in the case of Trump, or boost book sales, which I wish the best for Haley. Americans do not want cookie-cutter can-

didates. They want someone who can do the job and deliver on their promises. Despite the lack of substance and self-serving imagery, Republicans still have time. The focus for Republicans and conservatives should be on finding and promoting a candidate that believes in ideas and solutions to today’s problems, not promoting their egos and making personal gains. In a time when Americans are trying to cling to hope, our focus should be on ideas, not personalities.

SYRACUSE

BUSINESS INSIDER

Ukraine: One year later

Isaac Willour Staff Writer

It is a year to the day since Russia invaded Ukraine. Three hundred sixty-five days ago, millions of innocents woke up on a day like any other to find their nation thrown into the fog of invasion.

Some immediately fled. Waking up worried spouses and sleepy children, they jumped into cars and embarked on what they knew might be a one-way trip away from the house, the kids’ schools and all the familiar trappings of home. Others put academics on the back burner as classes ended indefinitely—everything changed as the Russian invaders poured over Ukraine’s borders.

There would be no normal, at least not for a long time.

One year later, the scars of war lie across the land. In some areas, schools lie abandoned, with the sunlight hitting the floor through the holes left in the roof by Vladimir Putin’s rockets and textbooks still lying under-

neath the rubble. In other areas, houses stand battered by rockets, with their power cutting through the home exposing the inner framework to the open air.

Over the past months, I’ve been privileged to go behind the lines of the war in Ukraine (unfortunately, all remotely) to interview some of the bravest people I’ve ever met. Whether it be in a military conference room or a simple apartment living room, I’ve spoken directly to Ukrainians and heard their stories of love, loss and living through a war that’s captured international headlines.

To these people, what’s happened isn’t a headline. It’s life.

Eighteen-year-old Julia was in college when Russian soldiers invaded her country. She laughingly admitted that her first thought upon hearing about the invasion was how she could attend classes (see, it’s not just Grove City students who do this.)

Twenty-four-year-old Maria, a doctor completing her residency, called me from the battered village of Korotych, showing me pictures of destroyed buildings and

residential neighborhoods. Yet, Julia and Maria have an optimism I can only describe as convicting. Months after the invasion, both of them have taken leading roles in Ukraine’s humanitarian movement, delivering supplies to heavily shelled areas and helping hold worship services with villagers.

Thirty-five-year-old Viktor is one of the bravest men I’ve ever met. In 2014, Russian soldiers dragged him into a basement and tortured him with baseball bats and electric wires. He’s now a chaplain in the Ukrainian army. We talked shortly after he returned from Bakhmut, at the time, one of the most dangerous areas in the country. To him, this war isn’t a political undertaking but a battle for his people, including his wife and son. “The world is better for our families and children,” he told me. “What happens in Bakhmut is the price of that life.”

To me, however, the most poignant picture of the Ukrainian war is a picture sent to me by Steve Moore, leader of the Ukraine Freedom Project. The picture is of a children’s playground

Thoughts on the new Chickfil-A?

Quincy Chapman ‘25

I’m excited for it. I’m so glad we can use meal swipes. I hope they keep the employees that already work there, though.

Dietrich Sinkevitch ‘24

I think its overrated.

with a blast crater in it, left by a Russian shell. In this environment of death and destruction, the children turned the hole into an improvised slide, laughing and smiling. Life continues through the war and its horror. This simple hole in the ground, wrought by the weapons of war and the will of a tyrant, is now a place of joy and laughter. To the kids, it’s still a playground. And this scarred land is still their home.

Putin is a powerful man. His life demonstrates an insatiable commitment to dominance, pugilism and authoritarianism. He has caused severe destruction in Ukraine, destruction he will one day answer for.

Yet, a year after his master plan began, he failed to dent the will of the Ukrainian people. One year after the clouds of war gathered, the Ukrainian people defied the will of their enemies and risked everything for faith, family and freedom. If that sounds familiar to Americans, it should. It’s the mission of free people everywhere. And it’s what heroes do.

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’85 quick substitutions kept the Presidents on their toes and the Wolverines fresh. Grove City kept W&J’s side of the scoreboard low and held the lead until halfway through the game’s first half.

The Wolverine’s recognizable flex offense was sharp, and smart shooting helped Grove City make the most of each possession. On the other end of the court, the team’s unique switch manto-man defense was in full effect.

In the bottom end of the first half, shots started to fall for the Presidents. The first half concluded with an 11-point run for W&J which resulted in a 40-29 score at the half.

The Presidents found

their footing in the second half and capitalized on the Wolverines’ shooting woes.

Faced with an increasingly intense full-court press from the Presidents and shots that wouldn’t fall, the Wolverines fell victim to a 20-point run from the stifling W&J offense and couldn’t recover.

Men’s basketball concluded their 2022-23 campaign with an 87-63 final.

Sophomore guard Ben Cano led Grove City with 16 points and 10 rebounds, earning his first collegiate double-double. Second in shooting for the Wolverines was freshman guard Kyle Randle who finished with 10 points. Sophomore guard Chase Yarberough closed his season with a characteristically dominant 10 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three blocks.

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some really talented freshmen, including a goalie, which will be crucial in the success of the team. I think that we have the opportunity for a lot of growth this year, and I am excited to experience it with everyone.”

Team 24 continues to abide by the program’s motto of “Strength and Honor.” The Wolverines also look to uphold the three pillars of their mission statement: pursue God, pursue relationships and pursue excellence.

Bernhardt places a focus on these three pillars in and out of the pool as a part of the program’s long-standing tradition.

“If our ladies can understand who they are in Christ through the pursuit of God,

then they won’t be defined by the results of our games or even the final outcome of our season,” Bernhardt said.

“Secondly, if they are pursuing relationships with each other outside of the water, the team dynamic in the water will help them perform well. Thirdly is to pursue excellence in water polo, giving their best at each practice, with each movement.”

The Wolverines will play in their season’s first home tournament beginning this evening at 6 p.m., when they will face the Marylanders from Mount St. Mary’s. The tournament will continue tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 25 at 10:30 a.m. and again at 4:30 p.m.

It’s not that unbelievably good, and I just know it’ll take a half an hour at least. I mean if the line isn’t that long I’ll go. But hey, it beats the crappy food that’s already there. And it’ll be fun to see everyone fight for chicken.

Sterling Gleeson ‘24

It’ll be chaos for like, the first month. And yucky Slippery Rock students.

Catherine Runion ‘26

I am super excited about it. I’m also happy we can use our meal swipes. I can feel my delayed freshman 15 on its way, but it’ll be worth it.

Roben Pitcher ‘25

I think its gonna be nuts. It’ll just be a bunch of highschoolers hanging out with college students. Plus, Slip kids. Ugh, Slip kids.

Zane Kircher ‘25

I personally see it as a pretty great improvement. But I don’t usually go to Chick-fil-A. I’ve only been there once, but I think most fast-food places are better than the GeDunk.

Christopher Tziovannis ‘24

While I’m very excited about it, I do worry about everyone’s Chick-fil-A obsession causing some traffic. I also think there won’t be as much variety in the GeDunk. It’ll just be chicken now.

Matthew Kowalski ‘23

Where was this four years ago?

Christiana Shirk ‘26

I have very few thoughts about it because I don’t really like Chick-fil-A. I mean, I’ll eat it if I’m super hungry, but other than that its just there to me. Its overrated, I’ll say.

STEVEN MOORE

Tunes from the Tower ‘Hypnic Jerks’

Vince Clay Staff Writer

The spirit of the Beehive’s fascinating and hypnotic 2018 album is reminiscent of your body being jeered awake right before you fall asleep, also known as the “Hypnic Jerks.” Such a feeling acts as a fitting inspiration for the style of the band’s third studio album.

‘True Spirit’ is truly

special Netflix biopic pays homage to inspiring teen sailor

Nick Grasso

Entertainment Editor

Recently released on Netflix, “True Spirit” tells the true story of Jessica Watson, aka the youngest person to ever circumnavigate the world. Directed by Sarah Spillane, the sailor biopic stars Teagan Croft in the leading role.

Rotten Tomatoes bestowed a 79 percent rating on the project, indicating a largely positive reaction from critics, while the audience score came in a touch lower at 72 percent.

Full disclosure: I had never heard of Watson, nor did I know anything about a 16-year-old circumnavigating the world before I stumbled onto this Netflix film. I also wasn’t particularly excited because it was, well, a Netflix film.

I gave it a shot because it didn’t appear to be another generic action flick that Net-

flix loves to churn out. Instead, it was a possibly deep, maybe even, inspirational story about something that maybe, just maybe, mattered. And that it was.

A lover of sailing since early childhood, Watson developed the dream to circumnavigate the globe on a sailboat early on. At age 16, I was stressing over what color tie to wear to the prom. She was staring down 70-foot waves somewhere off the coast of India alone in a worn-down sailboat called the “Pink Lady.”

After battling tumultuous conditions and multiple near-death experiences, Watson ultimately fulfilled her promise and returned safely to Sydney, Australia, after rounding the planet through the sea.

“True Spirit” had every opportunity to drift off into predictable cliches about living your best life and chasing

your dreams, and to a degree it did. Yet it equally displayed the immense difficulties it often takes to get there. In this way, it stood out from other “blah” projects about amazing accomplishments.

The cinematography throughout was astounding, especially the wide shots that emphasized Watson’s tininess among the great ocean and the sky full of stars. Several shots depicted enormous waves barreling down on the young sailor, skillfully convincing the audience of the life-threatening nature of her adventure.

One scene shows Watson’s ship falling prey to a monster wave that flips the boat upside down and holds it 15 feet under the sea for what seems like an eternity. The eerie calm she feels while submerged beneath the surface reflects a sense of peace only the ocean can instill.

The most moving several

minutes came at the film’s close when Watson and her weathered vessel majestically make their way into the harbor. There, authorities are waiting to mark her down as an official circumnavigator.

Hundreds of people stand cheering for the 16-year-old in a beautiful display of human care and kindness. It was at this point that I realized that “True Spirit” was a good movie, as I felt that familiar lump rise in my throat.

Was the acting less than stellar at times? Yes. Did Cliff Curtis seem slightly wasted throughout the project? For sure. Did it stir my emotions and educate me on the wonders of sailing and the capabilities of a young dreamer? Without a doubt. I couldn’t ask for more than that.

Released Jan. 26, “True Spirit” is currently available on Netflix with a subscription.

‘Infinity Pool’ is infinitely satirical

David Smith Staff Writer

If you’re interested in experiencing a mind-bending science-fiction film overflowing in American satire with a dash of horror, director Brandon Cronenberg’s “Infinity Pool” may be for you. Released Jan. 27, the film scored an impressive 86 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

Cronenberg, the son of acclaimed filmmaker David Cronenberg, is arguably at his best with “Infinity Pool.” The film centers around novelist James Foster (Alexander Skarsgård) and his wife Em (Cleopatra Coleman), both of whom are vacationing at a seaside resort while a local festival is taking place.

They eventually become acquainted with another couple, Gabi (Mia Goth) and Alban Bauer (Jalil Jespert), who seem to know of and are fond of James’ elusive book. This bolsters James’ ego and drives a wedge between himself and Em, further fracturing their already damaged marriage.

On the fictional island of La Tolqa, guests are not permitted to leave the premises of the resort outside the barbed-wire gates. It is as if they are trapped in a compound.

La Tolqa, however, is the ideal tourist experience. The couples, upon escaping the confines of the resort, discover that capital crimes such as drug possession and murder are forgivable for the right price. The experimental and adventurous nature of Gabi and Alban eventually rubs off on James. The peculiar amalgama-

tion of the tropical paradise and the deteriorating industrial state of La Tolqa enhances the science-fiction element of the country’s getout-of-jail-free policy, which exists alongside a mystifying and ritualistic form of resurrection.

This, along with Gabi’s contentious sexual advances on James, establishes a weird conflict at the core of the story.

“Infinity Pool” blurs the lines between science-fiction and horror with the combination of cult-like vibes, a psychedelic drug called “ekki

gate,” sex and murder.

At its heart, “Infinity Pool” draws parallels between Americans who want to travel to some exotic country to live out their wildest dreams and the characters in the film who live it to the utmost extreme.

Cronenberg’s screenplay is consumed with dark humor and some laugh-out-loud moments. There is something oddly fascinating about the hedonistic and depraved nature of the tourist characters. The acting performance of Goth, who has been on a hot streak with sensational roles, is absolutely cutthroat toward Skarsgård’s character.

Regardless of her actions toward him, he keeps coming back for more, like a Pavlov dog. One issue with the movie is that the climax is inevitable, especially once the plot twist is revealed. Still, the drug-like, hallucinogenic experience while watching the convoluted story play out is all worth the while if you can stomach it.

Like a hypnic jerk, the album veers from dreamy, soft and otherworldly pop to harsh punk, noisy guitars and clanging drums without warning.

The album is a collage of emotion and mood, tugging the listener along between nightmares and dreamscapes. Distant voices, tape recordings and home videos whisper and echo, peeking out between the trees to guide the listener.

If there is one thing Spirit of the Beehive masters on this album, it is the mood and atmosphere. Consistently, the album’s chord and melody choices are discordant, woozy and eerie.

Frontman Zack Schwartz’s vocals are distinctly muffled to sound like they are coming from a broken radio.

The band even taps into that feeling of drifting off to sleep, as the lyrics are disjointed and obsessive, often taking a phrase and repeating it over and over (“Can I Receive the Contact?”, “It’s Gonna Find You”). “Moments before REM, I jerk up and sweat / Count my sheep, one, two, three, four, five and back to sleep / Clutching my dreams,” Schwartz sings on the title track.

Despite the album’s bizarre sleep obsession, there are moments of epic rock rhythms and gorgeous pop hooks to be had. The pretty and lazily picked guitar notes of “Nail I Couldn’t Bite” is one of my personal favorite album openers of all time.

“Fell Asleep With a Vision” is a brief yet catchy piece of the electronic pop set to driving guitars and bass, the closest the album comes to delivering a viral single. The ambient intro and bubbling synths of “Poly Swim” are beautiful, with the back-to-back punch of “(Without You) In My Pocket” and the title track showcasing the band’s ability to balance weirdness with straightforward rock essentials.

For fans of psychedelic or indie rock of all kinds, there is something for you here. Give it a try. This album is extremely underrated, and you might say that it’s extremely “slept on.”

NETFLIX

FANGORIA

Hoops hit first round exit

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Basketball season has come to an end for both the third seed women’s and eighth seed men’s teams after Monday and Tuesday night’s first round exits.

On Monday night, the third seed women’s team faced the sixth-seed Westminster Titans in the quarterfinals. The Titans upset the Wolverines 62-58.

Both offenses had a slow start. The first quarter ended in an 11-11 tie after a defensive showcase from both teams. Grove City had 12 steals in the game, three of which came in the first quarter.

The Westminster offense benefited from the Wolverines’ five second-quarter turnovers and gained their largest lead of the game with the scoreboard reading 2314.

This lead didn’t last long after Grove City kept Westminster at bay and made up the seven-point deficit. A momentum-shifting and-one play from senior Megan Kallock followed by an explosive block from sophomore forward Hayley Fenchel on the other end of the court reinvigorated the offense. The second quarter ended with the teams tied again at 2828. The back-and-forth battle continued straight out of halftime. The lead changed six times in the third quarter. The Titans started the half with several scoring runs in sequence, but the runaway efforts were stunted when the Wolverines quickly made up the lost points and the

Home Field Advantage

Women’s Water Polo Home Games

Feb. 24 @ 6 p.m. vs. Mount St. Mary’s (Md.)

Feb. 25 @ 10:30 a.m. vs. Wittenberg

Feb. 25 @ 4:30 p.m. vs. Salem (W. Va.)

Apr. 14 @ TBD vs. Mercyhurst

third quarter ended with the teams tied up again at 46-46.

The fourth quarter saw foul trouble for the Wolverines, and the Titans took advantage of their time at the line. A seven-point lead at the 2:27 mark of the fourth quarter proved too steep to make up, and the Wolverines concluded their 2022-23 campaign with a 62-58 loss.

Kallock led the Wolverines with 19 points. She finished her senior season with an incredible 458 points, giving her 917 career points as a Wolverine. Sophomore guard Mara Polcynski had four steals, and junior forward Katie Baller had 15 re-

bounds.

On Tuesday night, the eighth seed men’s team traveled to Washington, Pa., to face the first seed Washington & Jefferson Presidents.

Grove City faced W&J Saturday, Feb. 18 in their last regular season game and lost 87-63. The Wolverines came prepared for the rematch.

The typically lights-out President offense was having trouble flipping the switch and didn’t score until the 16:37 mark of the first half, at which point the Wolverines were up by six.

Head Coach Steve Lamie’s

Women’s water polo makes waves in year 24

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Women’s water polo is back in the pool for their 24th season.

The Wolverines finished last season with 10-9 record, going 6-2 in the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). Closing their 2022 season, the team fell to Macalester College in the first round of the CWPA Division III Championship.

The team welcomes back three seniors, four sophomores and two juniors to the 13-woman roster. Four freshmen join the squad this season as well.

Fourth-year head coach Jocelyn Bernhardt ’15 spoke highly of the team’s freshmen.

“Every freshman works ex-

tremely hard! Kiley Sill will be a huge strength for us on both ends of the pool. Lea Steen is a very skilled water polo player and will add so much to the team. She will be impactful for us in goal and in the field,” Bernhardt said.

Freshman Lea Steen looks forward to the opportunity.

“As a freshman, this team has been so incredibly inviting and encouraging,” she said. “Right now my mind is definitely focused on the first tournament of the season. This will be a big game to start to learn how the team plays during game day and how to accommodate to that.”

Seniors Tia Kannel, Reese Trauger and Emory Shepson will serve as veteran presences for the fairly young team.

After graduating four se-

niors last spring, the team will have a fresh look in the pool to start the season.

“We essentially have a brand-new starting line up since we graduated four seniors, so I have a lot more teaching this year as we incorporate the freshman,” Bernhardt said.

Trauger earned First Team All-CWPA in her junior season, as well as All-American Division III Honorable Mention. Trauger headed up the Wolverines’ offensive efforts in 2022 with 45 goals and 35 assists.

Trauger said of her expectations for the team, “This team has changed a lot from last year, and we graduated a lot of depth from our team. However, we brought in

Help Wanted!

Men’s Tennis Home Games

Mar. 18 @ 12 p.m. vs. Penn State

Altoona

Apr. 4 @ 4 p.m. vs. Saint Vincent

Apr. 5 @ 3 p.m. vs. Thiel

Apr. 11 @ 4 p.m. vs. Washington & Jefferson

Apr. 14 @ 3:30 p.m. vs. Salem (W. Va.)

Apr. 15 @ 1 p.m. vs. Penn State

Behrend

Apr. 21 @ 4 p.m. vs. Allegheny

Track and Field

Freshman Alex Mitchell earned Presidents’ Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week two weeks in a row, receiving the honor the week of Feb. 14 and Feb. 20. In the Mount Union Tune-Up on Feb. 18, Mitchell won the 400 meters with a time of 51.18. He also secured fifth place in the 200 meters with a time of 23.23 seconds.

In the Mount Union Tune-Up on Feb. 18, senior Emma Vezzosi broke a school record in the long jump, leaping 17 feet, 7 ¾ inches. Vezzosi also finished fifth in the 60 meters with a time of 7.97 seconds and the 200 meters in 27.20 seconds. Vezzosi’s placement was the best for Division III participants in both the 60 and the 200.

Sophomore Danika Sudar broke her own weight throwing record during the Mount Union Tune-Up on Feb. 18. Sudar’s throw of 12.31 set a new record for the college

LYDIA GILANSHAH

Junior forward Kat Goetz takes a shot in the paint during Monday’s quarterfinal game against Westminster.

VEZZOSI

SUDAR

POLO 9

BASKETBALL 9

The swimmers take it all Records broken and conference honors awarded at PACs

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have taken it all the way to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship and won it all yet again.

Saturday’s concluding day of competition closed with the men’s fifth and women’s fourth straight PAC title. The conference-capturing title is the women’s 20th in the program’s history.

After four days of action, the women’s team finished in first with 1,069 points. Their first-place spot on the podium was an impressive 401 points ahead of second-place Saint Vincent’s 668-point finish.

The women’s team is all too familiar with breaking the thousand-point threshold, as they’ve completed the feat for three straight years.

The men’s team finished with 980 points, beating out runner-up Westminster, whose 748 points were 232 shy of the Wolverines.

The weekend was full of exceptional competition and

amendments to the record books.

Freshman Caleb Einolf won the 100 Butterfly with a final time of 48.85 on Saturday. Einolf’s speedy swimming broke the pool record and earned him provisional qualification for NCAA Division III Championships.

Einolf was awarded PAC Swimmer of the Year following his record-breaking events.

During day three of championship swimming, the men’s team took down a 13year record after winning the 200-medley relay in one minute, 30.68 seconds.

Einolf, freshman Will Sterrett and seniors Elias Griffin and Mac Hancock set a new conference record, school record and pool record with their performance.

The 200 free relay conference championship and pool record were broken in day two’s competition. With a finishing time of one minute, 21.82 seconds, Sterrett, Einolf, Hancock and freshman Nathan Beukema secured provisional qualification for the NCAA Cham-

pionship.

Sterrett was named PAC Newcomer of the Year at the close of his rookie season.

A three-minute, 19.78 second finish in the 400 free relay from Sterrett, Einolf, Hancock and Griffin broke a previous conference record from 2009 and earned provisional qualification for the NCAA Championship.

PAC Head Coach of the

LAX falls to Fredonia

Emma Rossi Sports Editor

Women’s lacrosse faced the Fredonia Sun Devils in their first game of the season on Wednesday night on the familiar home turf of Robert E. Thorn Field. The Wolverines fell 11-9.

Head Coach Cassley Jackowksi said prior to the Wolverines’ match-up with the Sun Devils, “It’s early in the season so we aren’t going to put too much emphasis on allowing it to set the tone for our season. However, this game will be a good indicator of where we are and give us a glimpse of what we need to work on moving forward.”

Two Wolverines had hattricks in the team’s season opener. Freshman attack Jackie Rowell scored three goals across the first three periods. Senior midfielder Madison Nazigian also contributed three goals to the Wolverines’ side of the scoreboard.

Sophomore midfielder Amber Wartman opened the scoring for the Wolverines with five minutes remaining in the first period. The first of Rowell’s trio of goals followed to give the Wolverines a 2-0 lead.

Nazigian answered a Sun Devils goal to start the second period and improved the

Wolverines’ lead to 3-1.

The Sun Devils and Wolverines traded scoring back and forth until the fourth period when the Sun Devils increased their lead by three.

The Wolverines were able to make up the deficit thanks to two fourth-period goals from Nazigian to complete her hat

trick.

The Wolverines are back in action tomorrow when they will face Baldwin Wallace at 1 p.m. on Robert E. Thorn Field. They are home again on Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 5:30 p.m. when they will play Medaille University.

Year Dave Fritz ’94 spoke of the teams’ performances this past weekend.

“We knew a couple of the relays had a chance to be close, but we were confident going into those races. The biggest challenge was maintaining our intensity throughout the meet as the scores became more lopsided,” Fritz said.

“It helped that we had some lofty goals to chase –NCAA cut times, pool, school and conference records – almost all of which we were able to capture.”

The women’s team finished the first two days with a score of 734, giving them a lead of almost 300 over second place Saint Vincent. The Wolverines earned five wins Thursday and five wins Friday.

On Thursday, the Wolverines opened the tournament with a win in the 200 free relay. Seniors Rachael Wallace and Reese Trauger, sophomore Sarah Kuchma and junior Liz Hasse secured their first win with a time of one

minute, 37.08 seconds.

Wallace earned first in six events, three of them individual. She was awarded the PAC’s Swimmer of the Year award for her outstanding season.

Sophomore Kamryn Kerr secured the top spot on the podium in both one-meter and three-meter diving. Her 408.55 score in one-meter diving qualifies her for the Regional Championship.

Kerr’s dominant season earned her the PAC Diver of the Year. She is joined in recognition by head diving coach Fred Evanoff, who earned PAC Women’s Diving Coach of the Year.

“It’s always exceptionally satisfying; the athletes only get four years to compete, so every one of these championships is special,” Fritz said of closing the season by taking the PACs.

“I’m thrilled for the athletes, and especially the seniors who only experienced the end of the meet from the top of the podium every season of their career.”

Men’s tennis takes the court

Joel Sledd Staff Writer

Wolverine men’s tennis begins their regular season this week. After a long offseason, the Wolverines have returned to the courts to perfect their craft and execute another dominating season.

Head Coach Nathaniel Horner won Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) Coach of the Year award for the 2022 season, a great achievement for his first full year as Grove City College’s head coach. Senior Ryne Talko and junior Gavin Miller also earned 2022 All-PAC honors.

Several key areas were improved upon this offseason, specifically double teams, and service game.

“We’ve put more of an effort into making sure we get our doubles right, which sets us up for singles,” Talko said. Talko believes the improvements made on doubles will vastly improve their chance in the postseason. “Tennis relies more on doubles than singles.”

Horner asked his men one question this offseason: “Who’s going to step up?”

“We’ve given a mission statement for ourselves about what we want to represent on the court,” Talko said.

There are only two incoming freshmen this year, Isaac Deman and Benjamin Jones.

“They did a phenomenal job of coming into the culture and working hard,” Horner said of the two players. “Both will have a strong opportunity to get into the lineup this semester and get the playing time they are looking for.”

Along with the new players comes a new opponent in the PAC. On July 1, 2022, Allegheny College officially rejoined the PAC. The Wolverines will compete with Allegheny in late April.

“With Allegheny coming into the conference, it’s going to make things more difficult for us, but we’re excited about that challenge,” Horner said.

Allegheny was ranked first in the official PAC preseason power rankings. Grove City was ranked behind at second. The Wolverines had a chance to be ranked first in the preseason poll two years in a row. But with the new-

JACOB VANNOY

Head Coach Dave Fritz ‘94 poses with record-breakers freshman Caleb Einolf, senior Mac Hancock, senior Elias Griffin and freshman Will Sterrett.

GRACE DAVID

Women’s swimming and diving earned their program’s 14th title in 15 years.

LYDIA GILANSHAH

Junior attack Madeline Dunda hustles down the field in Wednesday night’s game against Fredonia.