‘Swan Lake’ provides enchantment
Collegian The
Page 8 April 23, 2010
The Grove City College Student Newspaper
Student director earns national recognition Kevin Gaul
Collegian Contributing Writer “It’s not a competition, it’s a festival.” Senior LeeAnn Yeckley was quick to clarify this when explaining her experience at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.Yeckley received the rare opportunity to display her skills in stage management at the national level in Washington, D.C. last week. Despite there being no prize to win,Yeckley saw the festival as an invaluable opportunity for personal growth and enrichment. “It was more of a celebration of theater,” she said, “and one giant networking opportunity.” According to its website, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival is “a national theater program involving 18,000 students from colleges and universities nationwide.” The Festival seeks to improve the quality of theatrical productions across the nation by recognizing the finest and most diverse work, whether in acting or technical areas, at university and college theater programs. KCACTF hosts regional festivals in each of the organiza-
Jars of Clay sings out
tion’s eight regions and chooses the best work at each of these to advance to the national festival in Washington, D.C. Yeckley was the winner of the stage management competition for the College’s region, which includes academic institutions from Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia, New Jersey, southwestern New York, northern Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The national festival lasted from April 12 through April 17. On each day,Yeckley and the other eight stage management finalists were given the opportunity to interact with a myriad of professional stage managers and tour several large-scale theaters in the D.C. area. Yeckley and the other stage managers also had the chance to receive professional feedback on their stage management techniques.They each collaborated with a lighting and sound designer to create a mock-up performance of Macbeth Act II Scene 3.Yeckley announced specific cues which were executed by designers. Professional stage managers who YECKLEY 4 were observing
Kevin Hanse
Lead singer Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay performs in Sunday’s concert on Crawford stage.
The magic number is ... Anna Wood
Collegian Writer
Photos by Kevin Hanse
“I broke a world record.” There are few people that can legitimately make an assertion such as this. On Sunday at 3 p.m. however, 512 people added this statement to their conversationstarting repertoire. For those of you out of the country, abducted by aliens or too busy to detach yourselves from the books, Sunday afternoon saw Grove City College make its claim to fame in a unique way. The intramural room brimmed with enthusiastic students – patting their heads and rubbing their stomachs. “I’ve been preparing RECORD 2 for this for weeks!”
The Collegian Vol. 71 No. 15
News....................................2 Life.......................................5 Entertainment......................7 Perspectives.........................9 Sports.................................11
Life Creeking: Dramatic photographs and stories chronicle a favorite Grove City College past-time. See page 5.
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Take a bite out of the Gala Alexandra Omicioli Collegian Writer
The increased number of fashion shows down the halls of Mary Anderson Pew North dormitory and the excited whispers of women around campus can only mean one thing - the 12th biennial President’s Gala is right around the corner. Tomorrow night at 8 p.m., hundreds of men and women from Grove City College will dust off their best formal attire to attend the highly anticipated event. The purpose of this year’s Gala is to provide a memorable night for all, regardless of their coordination levels on the dance floor. “There are a lot of other things to do than just stand awkwardly by yourself,” Rebec-
Perspectives
Down the rabbit hole: Tim Burton’s Do relief efforts hurt the people “Alice in Wonderland” renews the that they should help? Senior Jake adult capacity for fascination. Sims offers a case study of Haiti. See page 7. See page 9.
ca Grafton, the sophomore class Senator of Social Affairs, said. While dancing remains the focus, good food and room to socialize were also given precedence while planning the event. Aside from the typical hip-hop music played at all on-campus dances, a live jazz band and live piano music will also be featured. The main dance floor will be set up on the inner quad with a D.J., junior Kevin Gallagher, providing music for the night. In South Dining Hall, the student jazz combo known as “Trading Fours” will be performing a variety of swing and jazz music for those who prefer a different style of dancing. Throughout the night, students will also be showcasing various piano pieces in South lobby. Classical GALA 3 music, flowers
Sports The men’s golf team succeeds in match play. See page 11.
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News
April 23, 2010
Exceptional? Grovers find new ways to rub it in
Photo and inset: Kevin Hanse
Above: 512 Grove City College students and Grove City residents gathered Sunday to set a Guinness World Record for the most people ever to pat their heads and rub their stomachs at the same time. The previous record was 330 people. Inset: Jars of Clay lead singer Dan Haseltine attempts the feat during the band’s concert in Crawford Auditorium.
Counseling Center hosts De-Stress Fair
RECORD from page 1
junior Kelsey Jones said. Seniors Kirsten Rodgers and Liz Juncker planned the event with their halls: “We decided it would be awesome and a good bonding experience to work together as a hall to achieve something huge. Thus the record.” As Juncker explained, no official from the Guiness Book of World Records was present. “There was a list of things we had to make sure we did in order for it to be legit,” she said. One such thing was having everyone in a cordoned-off area. Others included having a policeman present, plus two counters and one referee for every 50 people. In addition, each person had to sign his or her name to a list, and two newspapers and a video crew had to document the event. The feel of the communal bond was strong throughout the entire production. From playing a huge game of “Duck, duck, goose” to riding on one another’s shoulders, everyone came to have a good time. Senior Jordan Benis had similar thoughts. “There’s something really cool about a community of people coming together for one goal.” Rodgers and Juncker felt fulfilled through the experience and hoped that everyone who came out to participate did as well. “It was just awesome to see how when a group of people come together, they get closer to each other and awesome things happen,” Rodgers said.
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Sara Quillen Collegian Writer With finals right around the corner, stress levels are increasing as students complete projects and papers and think about final exam schedules. The Counseling Center helped alleviate those anxieties by hosting a De-Stress Fair for students and faculty on Thursday. The fair was open from 2 until 5 p.m. inside and outside the Breen Student Union. It provided an opportunity for students to kick-back, relax and enjoy a few hours of calm before the final few weeks of school. The fair had lots of activities, from pampering to jousting, all intended to remind students of a more youthful and carefree time. Inside the Breen Student Union, students were able to get manicures and to participate in crafts like knitting and crocheting. There was a “make-yourown-stress-ball” station, which some found useful for the uncertain days
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ahead. In addition to these activities, coloring, Play Dough and Lego were also available. Outward-minded students made thoughtful, decorative notes for friends. Juniors Emily Kuezek and Jen Lavoine both planned to attend the fair. “It sounds like a great idea, especially at this time of year,” Kuezek said. “I’ll definitely be stopping by the knitting station.” Lavoine was excited about the prospect of getting a manicure. “If someone is going to paint my nails, I’m there,” she said. “It will be a great chance to relax for a half an hour or so.” Outside in the courtyard and parking lot area, students visited the petting zoo, which featured various animals. Live music played. Those seeking fun enjoyed the face painting station. For those who enjoyed more physical games, an inflatable jousting pit allowed students to challenge their friends to an epic duel. At the gardening station, students enjoyed
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planting their own flowers. Senior Jade Price expressed her enthusiasm for the event, especially the gardening. She said, “I’m excited to plant - I think it’s therapeutic.” This was the first De-Stress Fair to be held at Grove City College. It was run by the Counseling Center staff as well as faculty members and staff from the Office of Student Life and Learning.
Spring Concert The Grove City College Orchestra will present its spring concert tonight at 8 p.m. The program will feature the three winning soloists from this year’s Concerto Competition: senior Monica Dudek, junior Katie Lear and freshman Daniel Eby. The concert is held in Ketler Auditorium in the Pew Fine Arts Center.
Anna Brinkman Arielle Bateman Joe Charlton, Kevin Schellhase George Jaggers, Amanda Martin Emily Perper, Emily Kramer Luke Juday, Dayne Batten David Janssen, Faith Piper Corrie Schwab Sierra Shipton, Andrew Hart, Erin McHugh Kevin Hanse Sammi Vermilya Jae Minor Brandy Tillow Rebecca Miller Kimberly Miller
News
April 23, 2010
Gala The
... new and improved
Gala
from page 1 and curtains draped over walls will transform the lobby into the ultimate gathering spot. Much thought went into planning the Gala, primarily due to the time and effort put in by the members of the Student Government Association and especially the social affairs committee. The music, decorations and intended mood of the dance were all major considerations in the event’s planning, but one cannot forget about another critically important aspect of the Gala. Possibly one of the greatest lures of any successful campus event is the food. The bulk of complaints surrounding the Gala two years ago centered on the food – or lack thereof. “A lot of people were really disappointed in the food last [time],” junior Denise Spencer, SGA’s executive vice president of social affairs, said. “It was basically chips, salsa and fruit trays. This year will be classier.” Bon Appétit will again
be providing the food for the event, but this year the members of SGA made sure to taste-test everything that will be served. A variety of both hot and cold hors d’oeuvres will be served including beef tenderloin on toasted bread, mini quiches and shrimp cocktail. Not only will the food be tastier this year, but it will be spread out over four or five different locations, drastically reducing the amount of time spent waiting in line. The members of SGA are anticipating approximately 2,100 people in attendance Saturday night, including students, faculty and staff. Since the Gala’s inception 24 years ago, it has become one of the most wellattended events on campus each year. With many positive changes being made to the dance, including its location, food and music, it is sure to draw the attention of a large percentage of the student body. “People should come because the Gala can be any night you want it to be,” Folmar said. “A night spent socializing with friends, enjoying good food, music and dancing.”
3 Outside the Bubble...
Poland picks up pieces after tragic crash Matthew Costlow
Collegian Contributing Writer Authorities in Russia and Poland continue to investigate how and why the Russian-built plane carrying Polish president Lech Kaczynski crashed in the woods just before its attempted landing at Smolensk Airport in Russia on April 10. The plane, which was also carrying Kaczynksi’s wife and other top leaders, was initially thought to have malfunctioned due to heavy fog and pilot error, yet some explanations raise more questions than answers. One Polish member of parliament, Artur Gorski, criticized the Russian version of events, going so far as to make the accusation that Russia “engineered” the crash. Kaczynski and his staff were traveling to Russia to attend a ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Katyn Forest Massacre – where over 22,000 Polish prisoner of war officers were individually executed by their Soviet captors in 1940. The war crime was covered up for nearly 50 years, until the early 1990s when Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev finally admitted the Soviets, not the Nazis as they had maintained, had killed the Poles. Because the Polish people remember this atrocity years later, the Polish president’s visit to Russia represented a continued thaw in Russo-Polish relations, and a gesture of goodwill on the part of the Russians.The recent plane crash at Smolensk Airport, only a few miles from Katyn, threatens to stoke the fires of distrust between the former enemies. The 20th century was a time of unprecedented hardship for
the people of Poland. The 1900s was an era that saw Poland invaded first by tsarist Russia, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia simultaneously, later occupied by Nazi Germany and finally handed over to Soviet Russia at the end of World War II. The brutal Soviet satellite dictatorship lasted from 1944 until 1990 when Soviet control disintegrated with its empire. Poland’s unwavering commitment to its Catholic faith was the cement that united its people during that last brutal century, and now Polish citizens are turning once again to their religion for answers about the current tragedy. Reports indicate that the control tower at Smolensk turned away the Polish plane three times before the pilot, Captain Arkadiusz Protasiuk, ignored the airport’s orders and attempted the fourth and fatal landing. Other sources reveal that Kaczynski had fired an entire flight crew earlier in his presidency for not landing at the airport he wanted to, leading to speculation that the pilot was under immense pressure to make the difficult landing. In the past, Soviet and Russian airport control towers have been infamous for redirecting or denying flights of delegations they want to frustrate, giving them a sign that they are unwelcome in Russia. Poland’s leadership was decimated when the plane went down in what was the largest accident involving government officials in decades. Kaczynski, 60, was known as an ardent anticommunist and strong reformer. His wife, Maria, was an economist and translator whose uncle was killed in the Katyn Forest Massacre. Poland’s army chief of staff, deputy defense minister,
several generals and the leader of the Central Bank were also killed in the crash. Ninety-seven people in all were killed instantly as the plane clipped the top of some trees on its course to the runway. The future of U.S.-Polish relations is questionable in the face of Poland’s upcoming elections. The recent nuclear arms treaty proposed by Obama combined with his cancellation of President Bush’s proposed missile defense system in Poland last September has strained diplomatic ties between the two countries. While Poland grieves its monumental loss, it continues as a prosperous democracy in Eastern Europe, which only 20 years ago was reeling from the effects of communism. Kaczynski leaves a proud legacy in Poland where his efforts were invaluable in restoring liberty to an oppressed people.
Alumni return home after Paris delay The Grove City College alumni trip to France was stranded in Paris for four days when European flights were grounded due to atmospheric ash from last week’s volcanic eruptions in Iceland. Flights from Paris remain grounded, but on Tuesday Air France scheduled emergency flights to the U.S. in advance of a second approaching ash cloud. College alumni were among the passengers. On Tuesday the group, which included Dr. Mark Reuber and VP Jeff Prokovich, returned stateside.
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News
Liberal-arts alumnae discuss job search
YECKLEY from page 1
the student stage managers. Yeckley said the feedback was both encouraging and educational. “When I did something wrong and they corrected it, it was like – ‘Brilliant, why wouldn’t I do that?,’” she said. What made the experience beneficial for Yeckley was her own motivation to learn and grow. She explained, “Every time someone would present an opportunity, I would say, ‘Yes I would like to do that.’” Because of this determination,Yeckley experienced things that the other stage managers passed up. On one such occasion, she accepted the invitation of Will Crutteden, stage manager at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre in Washington, D.C., to watch him run a show. On a day when the other stage managers were sightseeing,Yeckley looked for more learning opportunities. As a result, she received an invitation to assist in stage managing the Irene Ryan Acting Competition, another part of the KCACTF national festival. “I can see the sights anytime,” she said, explaining her rationale for helping out. “I cannot come and work in this place with this person anytime.” Her hard work paid off. She said one of the biggest takeaways of the festival was affirmation from others that stagemanaging was what she should be
April 23, 2010
THECAREERCORNER George Jaggers
Career Correspondent
Kevin Hanse
Senior LeeAnn Yeckley. doing for a living. “[Professional] stage managers would give me a card and say, ‘Keep in touch,’” she said. Yeckley is well on her way to making this passion into her career. She has received a paid fellowship to participate in the University of Iowa’s Stage Management graduate program after she graduates in May. It was Yeckley’s positive attitude that made the KCACTF national festival so helpful to her, and this same positive attitude promises a bright future for her in stage management. “I like taking someone who is completely stressed out and making the world work for them,” she said.
Amid the endless papers, exams and last-minute activities, it’s sometimes hard to remember that the end of the year is quickly approaching. For many, summer means an internship or a summer job, and a select few will simply have the chance to visit friends and family and enjoy a muchneeded reprieve from school work. For the class of 2010, however, this summer means much more. Many seniors are anxiously awaiting phone calls or letters telling them that they have received positions at various businesses or organizations. Their time as full-time employees is just beginning. But what about those who have yet to find jobs? What about those majors without jobs? Many engineers and science students have practically had jobs since sophomore year, but what about the English majors, the communication studies majors, the philosophy majors, the political science majors? The list goes on and on.The Facebook statuses of the senior liberal arts majors on campus are beginning to sound similar:“I need to get my life together!” and “What will my future look like?” and “I have to find a job!” Three Grove City alumnae – all English
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majors – agree that the anxiety creeping into the souls of current liberal arts seniors may improve with a change of perspective. Lindsay Karr ’07, who earned her degree in English and Christian thought, is now a graduate student at Chatham University, working for a masters degree in professional writing. Kar also spent two years working in the translational neuroscience program at the Pittsburgh Medical Center as a senior administrative assistant. In addition to her administrative responsibilities, Karr “proofread and prepared scientific manuscripts for submission to scholarly journals … proofread grants and assisted with their layout, wrote for the program’s website and planned events.” Karr said that the college made her an “analytical thinker and writer.” She believes that these skills are important in all fields. Leslie Brettschneider ’09 agreed. “There is something to be said for anyone who can read well, write well and speak well,” she said.“They are fundamental skills for any job in any field. Having the ability to communicate your brilliant and innovative ideas is tantamount to actually having the ... ideas in the first place.” Holly Fircak ’99 is a former English and communication studies major who now works as a senior pursuit consultant at Deloitte, an accounting firm in Pittsburgh. She urged liberal arts students to be especially patient when entering the job market. “I think you have to go in with patience and realize that it is going to take time, and you will need to be flexible,” she said.“Consider any and all options that companies have to offer. Even if the open position isn’t your dream job, it can help you get in the door.” Brettschneider advised students not to be afraid to “explore atypical job markets. Every industry needs intelligent, passionate, hardworking people who can communicate well and get a job done.” She added,“It’s easy to underestimate our abilities because we were ‘just’ English majors or ‘just’ history majors. It is good to remember that majors in the liberal arts give us a depth of skills and knowledge that more specified majors don’t always provide. The skills are easily transferable to a broad range of careers.” These skills can come in handy when a job description changes. Karr said,“An employer could hire you for a position that is not yet clearly defined or modify a position after seeing your gifts and interests in that professional context.” Bretteschneider said that her occupation as a “serial volunteer” has helped her develop transferable skills that prepared her for office life. “I try to plug in as many places as I can because it stretches me, teaches me how to interact with others,” she said.“Grove City gave me the chance to have my hands in as many pots as possible, and that was an opportunity I was glad to run with.” Fircak also commented on how her involvement in Orchesis helped her become a team player, an invaluable skill in the work place. So, before students surrender and start filling out McDonald’s applications, they should remember that their education isn’t just what they learned in class.Their education is what they’ve learned every day at college, through class, extracurricular activities, on-campus jobs and even dorm life.The job market may be tough, but the education students have nurtured over the past four years is priceless.
Life
April 23, 2010
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Behind the Help Desk: TLC workers pursue a noble calling Doug Leasure Collegian Writer
Unless you’ve had major computer issues, chances are that your only interactions with the students of the Technological Learning Center Help Desk are brief glances as you walk past to use the printers. It’s a thankless and sometimes boring job, requiring workers to spend long hours diagnosing problems, tracking down viruses and spyware, and retrieving lost data. Still, these student workers find ways to have fun as they serve the campus, sometimes sharing a laugh over interactions with students who have bizarre technological misunderstandings. Junior Randall Schwager had a hard time thinking of specific interactions, not because there weren’t any, but because there were too many. One student claimed she had swatted a gnat so hard that it was forced into the screen. (It was actually a dead pixel.) Another student’s laptop had fallen out of an open car door and landed on the highway. And, of course, there are a multitude of things other than paper that are jammed in printers. Then there’s the new stapler, “Howard.” “People are scared of it,” junior Adam Schultz said. Howard is an automatic stapler, and it is understandable that
Health care reform – what now? Adam Sprecher
Collegian Contributing Writer On March 21, the House of Representatives passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, H.R. 3590. Later that week, President Obama signed the bill into law, enacting sweeping changes to the nation’s health care structure. Democrats hailed the bill as a monumental success for the
students might not feel immediately comfortable using him. Then again, there are printed instructions right next to him. “It’s the most entertaining thing,” Schultz said. “People have trouble with it.” Some students actually shriek as the stapler unexpectedly staples their pages. Even with the TLC Hand Turkey, Scrambles, one of Schultz’ creations, it isn’t all fun and games behind the Help Desk. “We do try to fix your prob-
lems,” Schultz said. “We try our best to get it done in a reasonable amount of time.” Sometimes this is difficult due to the sheer volume of computers that must be fixed. The Help Desk employees take on the daily burden of figuring out all manner of mysterious problems. And contrary to popular belief, wiping computers is not a silver bullet. “Very rarely now do we have to wipe the computers,” junior Ashley Cetnar said. “That used
to be the way ... problems were solved, but that’s long gone.” “Wiping is a last resort option,” Schultz added. The students who work the TLC Help Desk also have the comfort of knowing that a team of Hewlett Packard Certified professionals are behind them to help them with any major hardware issues. Long work hours allow the Help Desk workers to encounter a variety of students, though many just want to use the printers. Even when students do stop at the desk, it’s often with questions about the TLC floor printers. “I’d say 80 percent of the people that come ask about the printers,” Cetnar said. The printers also give the student workers physical activity to break up the monotonous sitting. Schwager has changing paper in the TLC printers down to an art. “It’s kind of fun once you get really efficient at it,” Schwager said. “It really is fun,” Cetnar added. “Probably the highlight of your day.” The other issue that the student workers see is that many students forget or fail to properly back up their data. “People go out with the mindset that nothing will happen to them,” Schultz said, “and then their computer takes a dump on itself.”
American people. Since then, American politics have been deeply divided over the nature of the coming changes. When House Democrats succeeded in passing the health care bill, they did so without a single Republican vote. Now, two weeks after its passage, Rasmussen Reports polling data shows that 54 percent of Americans favor the bill’s repeal.Yet it remains unclear what the actual effects of the bill will be. On April 7, over 100 students gathered in Sticht Lecture Hall to address concerns about the bill. Leading the discussions were Dr. Michael Coulter, professor of political science and humanities, and Dr. David Rice
’96, a former Air Force doctor now running his own practice. Coulter explained to students that health care has historically been largely unavailable and that it was only through rapid scientific advances of the 20th century that extended coverage could be offered to the public. Due to the tax structure of the early 1900s, it was advantageous for companies to offer health care to employees, and that system has continued to this day. The panelists’ discussion of health care reform focused on several groups and the effects of the health care bill on those groups. Due to his Air Force background, Rice has been a part of both a “single-payer” system and private insurance-
It’s our job to graciously deal with people who have absolutely no idea what a computer is. Randall Schwager
Amanda Martin
Junior Sion Kim and sophomore Robert Arblaster man the desk. “A lot of people are afraid the like.“bureaucratic paperworkbecause they don’t know how type things,” Cetnar said. to back up their data, and “Make sure nothing’s on fire,” they’re afraid to ask people,” Schultz added. Cetnar said. The students of the TLC The student workers emphaHelp Desk live up to their sized how important it is to name: they’re behind the desk back up computer data. to help, or even just to chat. “If you just come down and “We’re not geeky people here,” ask how to back up your data, junior Sion Kim said. we’ll show you how,” Cetnar said. “It’s our job to graciously deal The students of the TLC Help with people who have absoDesk also perform other tasks: lutely no idea what a computer cleaning up, pushing in chairs and is,” Schwager said. based health care. He spoke about how this new bill will affect private doctors like himself. Students in the audience were concerned about their futures in the medical arena Even experts disagree on exact outcomes of the bill. “Because of this uncertainty, there is great uneasiness,” Rice said. The bill is expressly designed to extend coverage to the millions of uninsured Americans. “The problems that arise in our health care system today are based in a root fear of death,” he said. “More money is wasted in intensive care because the expectation of the patient and family are well beyond what can actually be provided. We spend more money on keeping people alive who have no chance of meaningful recovery
than we probably should.” Yet, despite the uneasiness, the panel conveyed a message that not all is lost. They explained that many in the medical profession are driven by a desire to help people, money often being secondary. While the health care bill does not begin to address the cost problems of health care, like tort reform, the panel believes that doctors will continue to pursue careers in medicine. So, what now? Consumers byand-large should expect to see their insurance premiums go up, while doctors will see their rates curtailed by government mandate.Yet the panel was hopeful that the situation is not as drastic as originally feared. Many of the changes do not take affect for years, leaving room for changing administrations.
In chapel this week SUNDAY Vespers, Choral Concert TUESDAY Sign Language Club THURSDAY Professor of the Year Award
Life
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April 23, 2010
Julie Schalles
Hannah Kertland
Junior Brittany Hayward embraces her fiancé, junior Kevin Hoffman on Sept. 14.
Matthew Schiavone ’09, who lives near Grove City, suspected something fishy as he walked with his fiancée, senior Liesl VanHaute, and his dog, Charlie, through the courtyard of the Hall of Arts and Letters. He had good reason to be suspicious. Two of his good friends were playing Frisbee, waiting for the right moment to signal to the large crowd waiting on the other side of the Breen Student Union. Matthew tried stalling but could not escape his imminent creeking. Another friend, unaware of the creeking plans, walked over to admire Charlie and provided the perfect distraction for the waiting crowd to rush out and capture Schiavone.
Fred Jenny
Creeking: College couples make a splash
On April 9, alumnus Clinton Scarborough ’09 stopped to talk to engineering professor Dr. Timothy Mohr outside the Breen Student Union, where he was meeting his fiancée, junior Theresa Clarahan. Mohr kept a straight face and soon a crowd of men dashed out the doors on the other side of the building. They tackled Clinton and carried him down to the creek. Getting him into the water wasn’t so easy: one of his friends was knocked over in the process and also got soaked.
Theresa Clarahan Collegian Writer
On the evening of April 12, nearly 75 people joined in the chant, “Wolf Creek!” as senior Calvin Wijnhamer was carried down for his dunking. He had been in an Alpha Epsilon Chi business meeting when the closing prayer ended with someone saying, “And let no one get hurt!” Wijnhamer quickly found out what they meant when a mass of men piled on top of him and hauled him down to the creek, accompanied by his fiancée, senior Katie Tomashewski, and the waiting crowd. Hayley Ortiz Rebekah Newborn
In the Technological Learning Center on April 15, senior Patrick Young carried boxes down the hallway past the radio station. What seemed like an ordinary chore had been carefully arranged with his boss by his fiancée, senior Danielle Bell. A wall of students followed him down the hall, and another group of men tackled Young as he passed their hiding spot in the nook by the bathrooms. The men emerged triumphantly from the TLC carrying Young and were joined by the women waiting outside. Minutes later,Young splashed into the creek.
Fred Jenny
Theresa Clarahan and Clinton Scarborough.
Entertainment
April 23, 2010
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‘Alice in Wonderland’ assures artistic adventures
Thomas Alberti
Collegian Contributing Writer The romping film “Alice in Wonderland” does more than jostle childhood memories; it rejuvenates the moviegoer’s capacity to be fascinated. Burton’s vision of Wonderland is true to its name. His portrayal of the world induces a sense of genuine wonder, the kind that makes you want to climb trees and turn over rocks. The harmony of setting, plot, characters, dialogue, acting and sound makes for an easily accessible yet enduring enchantment. In bold Burtonian style, “Alice” depicts the classic coming-of-age tale, beginning with a precocious child and ending with a woman ahead of her time. Mia Wasikowska plays a slightly morose yet charmingly absent-minded Alice. At age 19, she’s off to her engagement party (unbeknownst to her), where she’s put on the spot by a hopeful, hapless pursuer. Postponing the fateful decision, she darts after a nearby rabbit down a hole. Down, down, down, she falls, lands, falls again, shrinks, stretches and shrinks again in order to enter the surreal, impossible Wonderland. At the outset, a band of lively critters accost her and question her identity. Suspicious, they escort her to a deeply condescending caterpillar who deems her “not hardly Alice.” A point of departure, this scene defines the rest of the film by calling Alice to a quest of self-discovery. To become fully Alice, she must fulfill a prophecy by slaying the Jabberwocky. This formidable task requires a band of faithful, if insane, supporters, not the least
www.filmofilia.com
Mia Wasikowska plays a grown-up Alice in Tim Burton’s newest film. of whom is a vengeful, deranged Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp). His relationship with Alice provides a kind of framework for the film in which he prods forward a reserved adolescent, while she tempers a volatile schizoid. One advances the plot, the other keeps it from derailing. The film zanily meanders to its conclusion, where Alice must confront the Jabberwocky and ultimately return to the real world without forgetting the lessons of Wonderland. Though a riotous adventure of the most entertaining kind, “Alice” offers more than a good time. Novelty merely
provokes reaction, but the truly wonderful engages. Talking animals, insane folk and prophesying calendars will tickle the senses, but look - carefully - and “Wonderland” will grant something “far more muchier.” A thoroughgoing artistic integrity both undergirds and overarches the film’s eccentric razzle-dazzle. Deft, aesthetic order invites viewers to discover and understand Wonderland. Luminous, pastel hues and iconic, stylized figures regulate a land of evaporating cats and futterwacking mad-hatters. Outrageous costumes and airy songs surge, sink and
swirl in a way that complements Alice’s fantastic journey. Thus, the film is not just footage of Alice’s activities; it is a composition of cinematic forms that relates to Alice’s growth. The film’s aesthetic wholeness subsumes the simplistic yet timeless bildungsroman plot. This is not to say that the film relies on spectacle in lieu of an unsubstantial story. It is to say that the plot is secondary, which doesn’t necessarily result in weak cinema. By integrating visual structure with narrative structure, the whole film steps in a direction not toward sensationalism, but toward beauty. Watching Alice gradually take ownership of her life – standing her ground against the Bandersnatch, leaping across a moat of decaying, disembodied heads – is not watching images that would replicate nature as experienced by the senses. On the contrary, it is watching only the relevant features of such experiences, which can – and often can only – be communicated abstractly. To distill those features and render them in color, shape and sound is the work of the artist. With“Alice in Wonderland,” Burton succeeds in portraying Alice’s rite of passage abstractly through a cinematic structure. Thus, “Alice” follows in the footsteps of post-impressionism’s departure from naturalism. And, while film has a long way to go before it traces the history of the visual arts, directors like Burton are moving forward. This particular step toward the abstract by no means sets the standard, but it is beautiful, and fun, nonetheless.
Dr. Dog’s new album has no cause for ‘Shame’
Tyler Crumrine
Collegian Contributing Writer Two years after its last album, Dr. Dog is back for another round of gritty, five-piece psychedelic rock in its latest release, “Shame, Shame.” Dr. Dog has been around for a while, slowly working its way up from the Philadelphia rock scene to mainstream indie circles. Recently signed to indie giant ANTI- Records, this is its first album on the new label. In such a time when it seems like every other new band is a cheap Animal Collective knock-off, Dr. Dog hearkens back a time before auto-tune and programmed loops. The band is a perfect example of lo-fi production done right. Rather than a lazy or poorly produced sound, it manages to capture the feel of classic Beatles-era recording. The guitars sound like they’re actually coming out of amps, not being fed into a computer. Full of thick rhythms and lightly-distorted riffs, “Shame, Shame” has just about everything one could want out of a classic pop-rock album. Frequently compared to bands like The Beatles and The Beach Boys, Dr. Dog’s most unique quality is its vocals. Lead vocals are shared between bassist Toby Leaman and lead-guitarist Scott McMicken, but the entire band assists with harmonies. Whether they are repeated lyrics or a chorus of “ooos” and “ahhhs,” the harmonies are beautiful and also add a certain element of richness to each song. Leaman and McMicken may not have the perfect pitch of other band front men, they more than make up for their lack in tonal quality with the confidence and
www.cbdfestival.com
The members of Dr. Dog have released their new album “Shame, Shame.” unabashed honesty of their voices. The only problem with “Shame, Shame” is that after five full-length albums, this Dog has yet to learn any new tricks. True, it can sit, shake and roll over as well as ever, but there’s very little to distinguish this from any previous work. The band claims to have been trying to sound less produced and more like a live show on this album, but from a band defined by their minimalistic production, that isn’t saying much. Most of the tracks are standard Dr. Dog fare, with the exception of the fourth-to-last track, “Someday,” which had a bluesier, laid-back feel to it. The only significant distinction between “Shame, Shame” and their last album, “Fate,” is that the band turned up the levels for each instrument, which does give it a less distant feel. The only other unique quality to the album is the au-
tobiographical nature of the songs. Many of the tracks speak directly to the band members’ lives, expressing past domestic problems or simply the struggles of touring. Again, Dr. Dog has always brought an emotional intensity to their songs, so without reading the band’s notes or interviews, there is no way to distinguish between the introspective songs and the more general. “Shame, Shame” is a great effort from an excellent band, but to hear one Dr. Dog album is to hear them all. For new listeners of the band, this is a great starting place, if only for the higher quality recording ANTI- set up for them. It has a bit of a better flow than “Fate,” but otherwise, don’t expect anything new and different. That being said, I’d still give the album an “A” for the harmonies alone and recommend it to anyone who’s a fan of the poppier side of classic rock.
8
Entertainment
April 23, 2010
Things
to
Do
This week, the Guthrie will show “Clash of the Titans” daily at 9:15 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 4:15 p.m. “Alice in Wonderland” will also play daily at 7 p.m. with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tonight is AEX Live 2010 from 6 to 11:55 p.m. on Lincoln Lawn. Refreshments and live music will be provided.
Dancers perform in “Swan Lake.”
www.pbt.com
The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s ‘Swan Lake’ enchants students Elizabeth Prismon
Collegian Contributing Writer
generous fog and a few sparkling star lights. Likewise, costumes were appropriately simple. The ball of Act 1 featured country gentry robed in suits and dresses of unvarying cream, Siegfried barely distinguished from the rest by a powder-blue jacket. The swans of Acts 2 and 4 floated and bobbed round the blue-lit stage in pearlhued bodices and tutus. This simplicity ensured that the viewer’s attention remained on the dancing. And what dancing there was to see: each dance showcased the athleticism, control and grace of individual dancers, as well as the beauty of corporate form and the ability of the medium of dance to articulate meaning and emotion. “It is the marathon of ballets,” ballerina Jordan Richardson, who has danced with the PBT for the last two years, said. “It is challenging and beautiful at the same time.” Courtly ensembles, such as the first Act’s “Waltz,” “Pais de Trois,” “Sujet” and “Dance with Goblets” and the third act’s “Czerdas,” “Neopolitan” and “Mazurka” displayed restrained elegance, while the spectacularly synchronized movement of the swans delighted the eye with repeated motif and amplified gesture. Most outstanding was the solo work of Erin Halloran, whose portrayal of both Odette and Odile was all the more graceful for being uncannily swanlike. In an entertainment scene too often plagued by multi-million-dollar blockbusters, full of explosions and phantasmagoria but pitifully plotless, “Swan Lake” and ballets like it are truly refreshing. Those seeking something more on Friday nights than a bag of soggy popcorn can visit the PBT on the Internet at www.pbt.org for listings of future performances and inexpensive student-rate tickets.
For the same price as a cinema ticket and half a bag of stale imitation-butter popcorn, any theatre-going Grover can find him or herself in possession of a modestly-priced ticket to one of several of Pittsburgh’s dazzling concerts, operas, ballets or shows. The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s performance of Tchaikovsky-Petipa’s “Swan Lake” last Friday night at the opulent Benedum Center was just one such example of a positive entertainment alternative. “Swan Lake” recounts the tale of Prince Siegfried, who is young, handsome and, of course, crossed in love. Like most fairytale princes, Siegfried is intended for one of many choice princesses, none of whom he fancies. Instead, fate crosses his path with the ethereal Odette, a princess-turnedswan by the malignant Sorcerer Von Rothbart. To prevent a union between the enchanted lovers,Von Rothbart hoodwinks Siegfried into pledging fidelity to his disguised daughter Odile. Consigned forever to swanshape by Siegfried’s disloyalty, Odette proposes the only option to unite the lovers: death. This act of true love obliterates Von Rothbart’s power, and the lovers reunite in the afterlife. In every way, artistic director Terrence S. Orr’s treatment of the perennial favorite varied little from traditional interpretations. In lieu of fancy pyrotechnics, flashy costumes and cinematic settings, “Swan Lake” featured sparse stage sets and beautifully simple costumes. Acts 1 and 3 took place in a static, anonymous court setting, depicted on stage by the presence of an ornate table www.todaysseniornetwork.com and two chairs. Acts 2 and 4 were set by the Erin Halloran and Robert Moore portray Odile and Seigfried. lake, achieved by a single rock outcropping,
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The Grove City College Orchestra will perform tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. in Ketler Auditorium in the Pew Fine Arts Center. The Tau Alpha Pi One Acts festival kicks off Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the Little Theater in the Pew Fine Arts Center.
WSAJ PICK OF THE WEEK Nate Miller
Collegian Writer Two Door Cinema Club has garnered enough hype for its first release, “Tourist History.” It was placed on BBC’s “Sounds of 2010 Poll” and has been mentioned by the likes of Kanye West. The three-piece band from Northern Ireland is now creating a name for itself in the college radio scene. “Tourist History” debuted in early 2010 in Europe through French electronic label Kitsuné. The trendy label is known for its popular electronic bands, such as Bloc Party and Hot Chip. In the United States, “Tourist History” was released through Glassnote Records on March 1. In the vein of other indie electro-pop albums released this year, Two Door Cinema Club’s “Tourist History” plays fast and fun. The drums and bass speed things along, and lead singer Alex Trimble’s vocals keep up the pace. Upon first listen, the songs on “Tourist History” are moving so fast that they don’t appear to have much depth. Depth becomes less of a problem as the album progresses, however. The album’s first single, “Something Good Can Work,” begins with electronic drum beats and a guitar hook that are the perfect background for Trimble’s falsetto. This song bears much in common with similar bands Pheonix and Vampire Weekend. These bands have paved the way for Two Door Cinema Club to break into the electro-pop scene. Fans of Phoenix, Vampire Weekend and Bloc Party will find “Tourist History” recognizable. The album’s leading track, “Cigarettes in the Theatre,” is a catchy song, indistinguishable from today’s current trends. Two Door Cinema Club has released something of hummable value, but its lasting effect beyond the very radio-friendly singles is uncertain. Tune in to 91.1 FM or visit wsaj.com to hear songs from Two Door Cinema Club and other great new indie rock.
Perspectives
April 23, 2010
9
Haiti: where helping hurts Jacob Sims
Collegian Contributing Writer The bus crosses abruptly out of the relative prosperity of the Dominican Republic into a true wasteland. The ground is immediately devoid of all life. Buildings are no more than a few sticks holding up weathered tarps. A young boy looks into the window of the bus with deep, hollow eyes. He motions for food, but his sunken figure and swollen belly already communicate his dire need. I came to Haiti for this purpose, to help put an end to such suffering. Now I am here and I can do nothing. I hold his gaze for a moment then turn my face away, never to look back. It is almost unbearable to see such intense suffering with the knowledge that little can be done to stop it. How can such intense poverty exist less than 200 miles from the luxurious southern tip of Florida? Astronomical numbers of aid shipments are flowing in. The World Food Bank alone provides enough each week to feed the majority of the coun-
try.Yet, after decades of intense aid efforts, the situation hasn’t improved; in fact it may be getting worse. Sure, the earthquake set things back, but there must be something wrong with this country, with these people. This whole mess isn’t America’s fault. Or is it? According to the Department of the Treasury, the United States contributes over $150 million in direct monetary aid to Haiti annually. The U.S. also provides over $60 million in humanitarian aid each year. These figures don’t include the billions in aid brought from other countries or from non-government organizations working in the country. It is not a question of whether or not Haiti needs help. The country consistently ranks as the poorest in the western hemisphere and among the most impoverished in the world. Despite all the aid coming in, Haiti remains one of just four countries with over 50 percent of the population considered “malnourished.” So perhaps the real questions are, “Where is the money going? Why isn’t it making a
difference?” To answer the first question, look to Haiti’s government. It is corrupt, perhaps beyond repair. All international aid must pass directly through the government.Very little of that money ever trickles down to the Haitian people who need it most. Perhaps less country-to-country giving might be in order until the government is able to successfully reform itself. Money given directly to the government, however, accounts for less than half of Haiti’s total aid. The rest of the money comes from charitable organizations and international relief groups such as the World Food Bank. These groups primarily focus on providing immediate relief directly to the people. Though this sounds like a good approach, few groups ever take the next step. With so much aid coming in and no direction on how to move forward, most Haitians become permanently dependent on aid for their survival. The situation essentially amounts to an entire country on welfare. Haiti ranked dead last in the most recent Global Trade
Progressive mandate Brittany Foor
Collegian Contributing Writer During the 2008 presidential campaign, John McCain claimed that the election was a contest between his own neo-Reaganism and Barack Obama’s supposed socialism. The result was that McCain lost ground not only in traditional blue states, but also in traditional red states. The Vision and Values confer-
ence pulled this situation apart during a session with Dr. Paul Kengor, executive director of the Center for Vision and Values. After citing numerous Gallup Polls, Kengor concluded that America “is not a liberal-progressive country. It is a conservative country, as shown in poll after poll, basically unchanged for decades now.” Vision and Values Fellow Matt Costlow agreed, saying, “I was encour-
aged to learn more about the 2008 election and how it was not a referendum on conservatism, or a vote for progressivism, but rather anger at the past administration and its policies.” In short, while our government is currently progressive, its electorate is not. Explanations of Nov. 4, 2008 that were proposed at last week’s conference Progressives 10 included
Report from the World Economic Forum. This statistic primarily indicates that Haiti’s only significant contribution to world economics is as a recipient of aid. This total dependence on foreign assistance plays a large role in keeping societies like Haiti from advancing. Due to Haiti’s history and current situation, distrust toward Americans is prolific. “Haitians are very cognizant of their dire need for aid and where it comes from,” Michael Hudson, a Haitian pastor working towards economic development in the country, said. “From the average Haitian’s perspective, America gives aid for the purpose of keeping us enslaved and holding power over our nation.” Though Americans would deny such motives, it is undeniable that misguided aid can in fact bring more harm than relief. “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach him to fish and feed him for a lifetime.” This old saying rings true in the difficult situation in Haiti. In reality, around 98 percent of aid entering Haiti – and other
developing countries -- is of the “give a fish” kind. On the other hand, teaching the poor how to help themselves is proving to be a successful strategy. Brian Oldrieve, president of Foundations for Farming, developed a methodology for training farmers in innovative and environmentally sustainable practices. Foundations for Farming has a strong presence in Africa and just recently began operations in Haiti. By following the program, the average farmer is able to achieve a 600 percent gain in yield after just one year. With such an increase, the farmer is not only able to feed his family, but also to earn a profit. By helping locals create capital, Foundations for Farming shows how responsible giving and service can make a serious impact. American citizens make a direct impact on the kind of work that is done in countries like Haiti through their donations. If this generation wishes to see growth in such impoverished nations, it must support, work for and start organizations that take a well thought-out and holistic approach to aid.
GREEN EYESHADE AWARD This week’s award goes to senior Thomas Alberti for his lyrical and insightful review of “Alice in Wonderland.” The Collegian Green Eyeshade Award honors student contributors who have demonstrated consistency and excellence in their work. Each week, the Collegian editors select a reporter, photgrapher or business personnel member who has made a valuable contribution to the paper. Winners receive a $5 voucher to the GeDunk. Thomas Alberti Instituted in 2006, the award is sponsored by the College’s Communications Office. It makes a valuable addition to a portfolio or resume.
Write for the Collegian Interested in writing for The Collegian? The Collegian provides excellent opportunities for students who are interested in journalism careers, enjoy writing or just want to explore campus events and issues. All sections welcome new writers. E-mail the Collegian at collegian@gcc.edu.
Corrections In the April 16th issue, sophomore Andrew Yellis’ trip to Atlanta should have been listed as April 13-14. Also, the article should end with “I’m just trying not to worry about how they found my address.”
Send us your thoughts! Letters to the Editor should be sent to collegian@gcc.edu. They must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday and must not exceed 300 words. The Collegian reserves the right to edit or hold any letter. Anonymous letters will not be printed.
Perspectives
10
April 23, 2010
The crippling language of rights Politics of disengagement and entitlement Luke Juday
Perspectives Editor Irate Tea Partiers and leftwing welfare statists have a remarkably similar set of demands in what is somewhat euphemistically labeled the “health care debate.” Though they vary in particulars, the message of both parties is clear: Give me my rights. The language of rights is a way of speaking and thinking about public life that has gripped – and occasionally crippled – the American psyche for centuries. Before you burn me in effigy, I am not advocating the abolishment of the constitution and immediate mass killings. My point is not that rights are bad; I think the concept of rights has been a remarkably helpful one in the modern era. But one can have too much of a good thing. The limitations of rights-based conceptions of government are becoming increasingly apparent in our own
age. I would like to share three of those limitations for your reflection. First, the language of rights is crippling to civil discourse. In 1991, legal theorist Mary Ann Glendon wrote, “Our rights talk, in its absoluteness, promotes unrealistic expectations, heightens social conflict, and inhibits dialogue that might lead toward consensus, accommodation, or at least the discovery of common ground.” The assertion of a right is the assertion of a moral entitlement that is meant to end all debate. Citizens assert rights, according to Glendon, instead of giving reasons. Second, rights lack a clear standard or source and often conflict. Claims that health care is a basic right may have some grounding in the right to life, but quickly fail for lack of any standard. Does everyone have the right to the most expensive treatment available? If so, everyone cannot have it because
we communally cannot afford it. Similarly, taxes may violate the right to private property, but taxes are necessary for a government to function in the first place. The most ardent Tea-Partier, when pressed for his opinion, will eventually say that some taxes are not a violation of rights, but too many are. The problem is clear. Different degrees of these rights conflict with one another and the answer is not solvable with a simple appeal to an absolute political entitlement. Philosophers have attempted to found rights on divine revelation, but the Bible guarantees no rights. The ancient Israelite is not told that he has a right to his property, but that he is not to steal his neighbor’s (and that he ought to leave some of his harvest for the poor and widows). Meanwhile, attempts to ground rights in a hypothetical state of nature ignore the fact that in the state of nature, individuals had to make sacri-
THE GROVER SHUFFLE Caitlin Jenkins
fices before they could receive rewards. The third and largest problem with the language of rights, however, is that it moves citizens toward public dependence or public disengagement. The excessive wrangling that happens at the borders of our neatly drawn spheres of autonomy helps to illustrate the degree to which individuals are isolated from one another. The 20th-century philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre noted a striking contrast between how ancients and moderns approached politics. He argued that ancients did not see themselves as individuals in possession of autonomy and public privileges to which they were entitled, but as members of a community who had obligations to and an identity rooted in that community. Rights, on the other hand, are inherently communitydefying and for this reason they can be remarkably un-Chris-
Progressives from page 9
the media’s fueling of misinformation, Obama’s resemblance to an inkblot and Bush’s tarnishing of the word “conservative.” Furthermore, Kengor described the electorate as “schizophrenic” and “irrational.” Personally, I believe the event is strongly tied to our nation’s terrible sense of history and its obliviousness to current events. Dr. David J. Ayers, chair of the sociology department at the College, observed that while national media hyped the turnout of the 2008 presidential election, only 57 percent of eligible voters went to the polls. He also cited horrifying statistics including the fact that only 41.2 percent of the 2008 electorate responded correctly to the question, “Who controls Congress?” The rest thought that, if elected, Obama would be tempered by a Republican Congress. Or consider Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, which takes to the streets of Los Angeles every week to quiz innocent passersby with simple questions: On what bay is San Francisco located? Who was president of the U.S. during WWII? The audience roars as Leno’s hapless victims consistently fumble for answers: Lincoln … or Carter? Progressives are generally elitist. They are a group that believes the public ought to go along with the expert’s opinion. In this sense, our nation’s stupidity serves as a resounding mandate for a progressive surge. Ignorance beckons an elite culture, largely indifferent to public opinion, to lead us – please, because only one third of American voters can name the three branches of government. In some respects, progressivism is as
tian. They either push us to hostility towards our neighbors or dependence on the public purse. Before communal privileges could exist, communal responsibilities had to exist and, though few Americans believe it, responsibilities must continue to exist and take precedence over privileges. What do we need in our political rhetoric instead? Stronger conceptions of virtue and community can help to bring back a facet of political understanding that is missing today. Man was not made to be alone as God once said so infallibly. The commands of the Bible are to love others as ourselves and to turn the other cheek, not to assert our rights and draw the largest sphere of autonomy around ourselves as possible. The language of rights has been a helpful way to deal with politics in America for the last several centuries, but its limitations are becoming increasingly visible.
old as Plato’s philosopher kings, but there are certainly new dangers that come with an increase in bureaucracy. As Joseph Pearce explains in his paper “Chesterton and the Meaning of Progress,” a lost sense of history coincides with a loss of individuality. The particular human soul is emphasized less, and the citizenry is spoken of in broader strokes. In a nation with a large public sector, the public servants often do not personally know the public they are helping. When something goes wrong, the local church ladies do not come with a casserole. Rather, the local social worker comes with paperwork. From there, the social worker sifts the recipients into a category of indifferent charity … and probably assigns them a number. While progressivism is nothing new, our nation’s general ignorance leads to a modern progressivism that is uniquely characterized by bureaucracy – consider healthcare reform. Unfortunately bureaucracy is inherently tied to a loss of identity and individuality, which is an issue that modern writers frequently bemoan. A quote from Wendell Berry offers the best critique of and solution to bureaucratic uniformity that I know. It is also a firm reminder that whether someone is progressive, conservative or stupid, he or she cannot afford to view the other side as a mist or a mysterious “they.” Berry writes: “In order to survive, a plurality of true communities would require not egalitarianism and tolerance, but knowledge and understanding of the necessity of local differences, and respect. Respect, I think, always implies imagination— the ability to see one another, across our inevitable differences, as living souls.”
Sports
April 23, 2010
11
Inch by inch, life’s a cinch
Women’s tennis team creeps past Allegheny Abbey Keifman Collegian Writer
Sophomore Stacy Moon gave Grove City College an edge over Allegheny College last Tuesday, winning her third singles match and the first doubles match as well. She noted that it was not an easy win, but it reminded the team members of what they were playing for. She said, “It was a real way to test the character of our team and forced us to keep in mind that we are playing tennis for a purpose and not our own glory. Good sportsmanship was key in order to maintain composure when some of the points and
matches became tight.” After four matches went to three sets, the Wolverines managed a victory over Allegheny, 5-4. Moon, junior Kimberly Peterson, senior Lisa Baldwin and sophomore Christina Bedi all won their singles matches to help Grove City clinch the win. Sophomore Megan Bennett and Moon also won their first doubles match to give their team the fifth and matchsealing win. The victory puts Grove City at 3-2 for the spring and 14-4 overall for the season. The team remains undefeated in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference at
6-0. The Wolverines will travel to Walsh College on Tuesday to try to keep a winning record for the spring. Moon, a biology major with a minor in exercise science, paired up with Bennett for the first doubles match. She said she felt great being able to help out her team. “It is always a good feeling when the team pulls out a tight match like we did,” Moon said. “My doubles partner and I played one of our best doubles matches of our career, so it was encouraging to see that our hard work is paying off.” Being a science major is difficult, and Moon recognizes that
her teammates are what help her survive. She said, “I love the team. I can confidently say that I would not be able to get through my long weeks of biology lab reports and constant reading without them. My best friends are on the team, and I know that my friendships with them will last outside of the college atmosphere.” Moon hopes to continue her success to keep pushing her team to be the best they can be. “For the end of the season I believe that my goals reflect the goals of the team,” she said. “We wish to win our first round at the national tournament.”
Men’s golf achieves success in subpar play Abbey Keifman Collegian Writer
Golf is the only sport where subpar is a good thing. The Grove City College men’s golf team is very good at scoring below the average - on the golf course that is. After winning the Thiel Invitational by a mere three points, the Wolverines are headed into the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament and another tournament before one of their own. Out of seven teams at Thiel, Grove City took first place with a four-man score of 331. Dave Miller Westminster College fell just Sophomore Will Moyer took first short with 334, and Point Park University took third with 335. at the Thiel Invitational with a score of 76. Sophomore Will Moyer had sophomore accounting major, the best score in the tournais ready to step up his game. ment at 76. The outstanding With a home tournament victory came after the Wolvercoming up, he wants to do well ines took seventh place at the for himself, for his fans, and for St.Vincent Invitational just a his team. few days earlier. He said, “My personal goal is Only one week from the end of the season, Ian Finney, a to continue to be in the top five
guys and work on my game, to better the team.” As for the team, they started their PAC Tournament games on Monday. They are looking forward to hosting a home tournament and hope to win in front of their own fans. First, they will be traveling to Notre Dame for an Invitational Tournament. Sometimes, though it is fun to compete, a team becomes more than a group of people who play the same sport. Finney has noticed that the team has become much closer with each other and with the women’s team as well. His favorite thing about the golf team is “the team itself.” He noted, “We have been a lot more involved this year, working a lot harder and spending a lot of time together. The team members are great and a ton of fun to be with.” Even though golf is largely an individual sport, the team that plays together, stays together.
Coach Harris to leave head coaching position The head women’s basketball coach, Sarah Harris, has submitted her resignation, effective at the end of the academic year. Harris recently completed her fourth season as Grove City College’s head coach and guided the Wolverines to a 12-14 overall record, including an 8-6 mark in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. The Wolverines improved in each of her four seasons as coach. After a 5-20 mark in 2006-07, Grove City improved
to 11-14 the next year. In her third season, the Wolverines again won 11 games and posted a 7-7 conference record. Harris earned PAC Coach of the Year and D3Hoops.com Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year honors for her efforts in the 2008-09 season. In 2009-10, Grove City finished third in the PAC regularseason standings. Four Grove City players earned All-PAC honors during her tenure. Two players eclipsed
the 1,000-point mark in that span – Rachel McCoy in 2007 and current junior Christine Slater in January 2010. A 2003 graduate of Wheaton College, Harris came to Grove City after spending two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Harris’ talents and skills will be missed at Grove City as she has had a major impact on the Grove City women’s bastketball team and the campus.
Last year, the women dropped the first round 5-4 to Agnes Scott College. What is Moon’s favorite thing about playing tennis for Grove City? “The laughs,” she said. “There are many times that I leave a match or practice with sore abs not from exercising. The guys’ team definitely provides some comic relief even though it is sometimes at our expense, but I guess we deserve it since we have won four more consecutive PAC Championships then they have.” The men’s team has some catching up to do.
WOLVERINES Updates from last week Baseball (record 12-11) Mon. April 12
Grove City 19 Westminster 4
Tues. April 13
Allegheny 8 Grove City 7
Sat. April 17
Grove City 5 Geneva 1
Men’s Tennis (record 8-4) Mon. April 12
Geneva 17 Grove City 6
Mercyhurst 5 Grove City 4
Women’s Tennis (record 15-4) Wed. April 13
Grove City 5 Allegheny 4
Softball (record 8-17) Mon. April 12
Grove City 3 W&J1
Grove City 6 W&J2
Wed. April 14
Westminster 4 Grove City 0
Grove City 2 Westminster 0
Sat. April 17
Bethany 9 Grove City 1
Women’s Water Polo (record 13-10) Sat. April 17
Bethany 8 Grove City 0 Mercyhurst 13 Grove City 4
Men’s Golf Thurs. April 15 St.Vincent Invitational
Grove City 8 Gannon 5 7th/14
Sat, April 17
Thiel Invitational
1st/7
Mon. April 12
Women’s Golf Westminster Eckles Tournament
2nd/5
Fri. April 16
St.Vincent Invitational
4th/6
12
Sports
April 23, 2010
Hockey team dominates competition Men earn runner-up honors in division
Luke Juday
Collegian Perspectives Editor When Grove City College men’s hockey team trounced fifth-seeded Penn State Beaver College 4-1 in quarterfinals play, it was no surprise. The Wolverines expected the win to be the climax of another successful season in the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Roller Hockey Association. Instead, they pulled out a 5-3 semifinal upset of Slippery Rock University, a top seed in the WPCRHA Tier 2. The game began slowly. Both sides played aggressive defense. Knowing that Slippery Rock’s consistent speed would catch up with them later, Grove City played short shifts, keeping players as rested as possible. Then something happened halfway through the game: Grove City’s defense was holding a lead and the Wolverines realized they might actually win. “On the individual level, everybody played their hardest, but more importantly we all played well as a team,” sophomore Luke Stoltzfus said. Down 4-3 in the final minutes, Slippery Rock pulled its goalie in a last-ditch attempt to score. Instead, Stoltzfus took the puck on a breakaway and tossed it lightly into the net, sealing the win for Grove City. The semifinal win set up a best-ofthree championship series against Robert Morris University. RMU won a tightly-contested first game 3-2. Faced with a make-or-break second game, Grove City kept the score even until the final minutes, when
Mike McLauglin
The men’s inline hockey team sports smiles after a making it to the championship series. The men finished the season on high note after beating Slippery Rock University in the semifinals. Next season eight players will return to the team, including three out of four starters. RMU’s skaters managed a quick succession of goals to end the season. Grove City players were happy with the season. “We played great down the stretch and throughout the playoffs,” sophomore Rocky Cersosimo said. “Even though we lost in the championship series, I am so proud of the team for sticking together and making a run at the cup,.” Cersosimo is the team’s second-highest scorer. Freshman Andrew Williams added, “It was great playing with this group of guys who re-
ally love the sport. I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Grove City in-line hockey.” The future does look bright for the team. Most of Grove City’s current players are sophomores and freshmen. But senior team captain Kyle Helfrich, who led the team in goals and assists, is among those graduating. Students interested in competing on the team next year should contact Helfrich or Cersosimo with questions.
Women’s golf earns bragging rights at invitationals Abigail Keifman Collegian Writer
Two tournaments this week, hosted by St.Vincent College and Westminster College, lead to fourth and second places respectively for the Grove City College women’s golf team. The Grove City women posted a four-woman score of 415 at St.Vincent and 384 at Westminster. At Westminster, junior Lindsay Crawford took eighth place, senior Renee Ward took seventh and junior Jessica Johansen took sixth overall. Four days later at St. Vincent, sophomore Arielle Goyzueta took fourth overall with a score of 87 and Crawford scored 95, tying for seventh overall. The Wolverines started their games in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Tournament on Monday. Due to a lack of players in the fall, the women David Miller have been disqualified and canSophomore Arielle Goyzueta earned fourth overall with a not actually compete for the score of 87. Goyzueta helped her team earn a second place title. Goyzueta noted that the finish in the Westminster Tournament and fourth place in team isn’t giving up despite this the Saint Vincent Invitational. The women will host their own obstacle. tournament Saturday at 12 p.m. She said, “We still have goals.
We hope to win the spring event and take five of the top ten spots.” Goyzueta is in her second year playing golf for Grove City, and she loves her teammates. “The girls are awesome and fun to be around,” she said. “Something new this year is that the women’s and men’s teams have gotten closer. The golf trip to Arizona and the over-night Capital Tournament helped to bring the two teams together.” Grove City will be hosting a women’s invitational this Saturday, and Goyzueta is hoping to keep her scores low. “I just hope to play like I know I can,” she said. “I had a rough start this spring season, but I feel good about the way I’ve been playing lately. I’m trying to take one round at a time, one shot at a time.” One shot at a time is how team hopes to improve. With every shot, they are one point closer to clinching first place at a tournament and making their goals. With two more seasons ahead of her, Goyzueta said, “For next season, I’m excited to play more golf with my teammates!”
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Wolverines! Baseball Fri. 3 p.m. Thomas More (H) Sat.12 p.m. Thomas More (A) Wed. 4 p.m. Thiel (A) Softball Fri. 3:30 p.m. PS Behrend (A) Thurs. 3:30 p.m.Waynesburgh (A) Men’s Tennis Thurs.-Sat. PAC Championships (N) Men’s Golf Mon. 12 p.m. McBrideBehringer-Allen Invitational (H) Women’s Golf Sat. 12 p.m. GC Invitational (H) Water Polo Fri.-Sat. PAC Championships (N)