The Gettysburgian - April 25, 2022

APRIL 25, 2022 GET T YSBURGIAN.COM

Volume CX X VII, Issue No. 6

The

Gettysburgian PAG E 9

PAG E 12

Employee Compensation Changes Since the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Carter Hanson

Bite the Bullet & Change Our Mascot

By The Gettysburgian Editorial Board PAG E 17

PAG E 6

Employees of Color Leave Gettysburg

International Student-Athletes at Gettysburg

By Jack Herr

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and College Departures

By Phoebe Doscher & Nicole DeJacimo

THE GETTYSBURGIAN

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Editor’s Note

Nicole DeJacimo “Writing tomorrow’s history, today.”

The Gettysburgian motto has stuck with me since my very first introduction to the paper as a newly-committed student.

(Enough that I plan to decorate my graduation cap with it).

Whether I wrote playful features or stirring news articles, I recognized the importance of our motto and the importance of a student-run news organization.

There is an intimacy local news has that national news will never be able to afford, and with that intimacy comes love and appreciation for the people and the place we cover.

We at The Gettysburgian write tomorrow’s history with the hope that we can make a positive difference. Sometimes that includes writing a story that exposes some painful truths.

Other times it means highlighting something beautiful that had been previously hidden.

In this issue, we focus on the College’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts as a notable number of people of color and women have recently left the administration, faculty and staff.

Carter Hanson looks at how administrative compensation has changed in recent years. Luca España and Phoebe Doscher celebrate The Gettysburgian’s 125th anniversary with a feature diving into newspaper

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archives. Finally, The Gettysburgian Editorial Board reflects on the College’s mascot, “The Bullet,” in both a historical and contemporary context.

Our goal at The Gettysburgian is not just to tell uncomfortable truths or fun stories, but to inspire the College’s students and staff to better themselves and the institution. We also see our role as crucial to ensuring that no part of Gettysburg College is ever forgotten: the good, the bad or the complicated. I hope to never forget the lessons I have learned here throughout my life as (hopefully) a professional journalist.

I can’t thank The Gettysburgian enough for the role it has played in my own life at Gettysburg and its effort to make a meaningful impact on the future of this institution. We have always and will always aim to seek the truth and report it. I am incredibly proud of my co-editors and our staff who have worked diligently throughout this transitional school year to make that happen.

Staff of the Gettysburgian Editor-in-Chief Phoebe Doscher Managing Editor Nicole DeJacimo Magazine Editor Carter Hanson News Editor Alli Dayton Assistant News Editor Laken Franchetti Arts & Entertainment Editor Victoria Staub Features Editor Gracie Meisner Opinions Editor Emily Dalgleish Sports Editor Jack Herr

Nicole DeJacimo ’22 Managing Editor

Director of Photography Luca España Faculty Advisor Prof. Scott Boddery

Interested in joining our staff?

Scan here!

(F ro m le f t to r igh t)

B a ck ro w: Lu c a E sp a ñ a , Ja ck He r r, Emily D a lgle i sh , C a r te r Ha n so n Mi d d le : L a k e n F ra n ch e t t i , N i cole D eJa c im o , V i cto r i a S ta u b, G ra c i e Me i s n e r F ro nt : Ph o e be D osch e r, A lli D ay to n

Table of Contents YEARS OF THE 4| CAMPUS CHAT TER 10| 125 GET T YSBURGIAN 20| ON WALKING ALONE Features

Features

By Jules Blech, Hannah Repole, Sydney Dyer & Diana Biesecker

5| 6|

Opinions

THE COMMONS

By Brenna Hadley, Emily Dalgleish, Brandon Neely & Samantha Martin

News

EMPLOYEES OF COLOR LEAVE GET T YSBURG

By Nicole DeJacimo & Phoebe Doscher Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and College Departures

9|

News

EMPLOYEE COMPENSATION CHANGES SINCE THE PANDEMIC

By Carter Hanson

12|

By Luca España & Phoebe Doscher

By Katie Oglesby

Opinions

Features POSTCARD FROM ABROAD

BITE THE BULLET & CHANGE THE MASCOT

By The Gettysburgian Editorial Board The Historical Mascot Debate

14|

Arts & Entertainment

PHOTOJOURNALIST ERIC LEE ’15

By Julia Gokalp On Community, Connections & Identity

17|

Features POSTCARD FROM ABROAD

Sports

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT-ATHLETES AT GET T YSBURG

21| 22| 23|

THE ETHICS OF ABROAD

By Matt Semon

Features PERSPECTIVES

ADVICE FROM THE CLASS OF 2022

By Gracie Meisner

Features

CROSSWORD

By Carter Hanson

By Jack Herr

THE GETTYSBURGIAN

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F E AT U R E S

Campus Chatter Goings-on at Gettysburg New on Campus: The Women’s Network Jules Blech ’24

The Women’s Network (TWN) is committed to changing the way women network. In creating a supportive, non-competitive community, we lift women up, creating a more proactive way to communicate and network. Ultimately, our goal is to prepare women to achieve professional success while cultivating and celebrating their ambition.

The Women’s Network’s national connections are unparalleled, as it is the largest collegiate women’s networking organization in the country.

This organization can benefit all women at Gettysburg College.

Our goal is to expand the network and account for a diverse array of perspectives on campus as well as provide many varying opportunities to achieve ambitions. We plan to bring in speakers, start mentorship programs at Gettysburg, continue collaborating with other women’s groups on campus and on other campuses, have a networking trip available for dedicated members and so much more!

Have a story from campus?

Share it with us!

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Please follow our Instagram @thewomensnetwork_gettysburg and fill out our membership link in the bio. If anyone is interested in getting involved with leadership, we encourage applying for the executive board or campus ambassador team!

Hillel-Sponsored Passover Seder Hannah Repole ’25

Passover Seder is one of my favorite traditions that we have in the Jewish community. It’s when I get to see my family that I haven’t seen in a while come together to tell the story of Passover. When I came to Gettysburg College, I was really hoping that we could do a Passover Seder to share with everyone and I’m so glad that we did.

On April 21, we had a huge Passover Seder with 115 people attending. The Passover Seder was filled with laughs and plenty of Manischewitz wine. We had teachers and students volunteer to tell the story of Passover. We had amazing food, a great community and even a guest appearance from singer and comedian Jack Black, who led us in song. It was a wonderful way for the community to come together before we head into finals week. I’m so glad I got to share one of my favorite traditions with the community of Gettysburg College.

QProm Returns: An Inclusive and Accepting Prom Sydney Dyer ’25

On April 8th, the first annual QProm since before the COVID-19 pandemic was held in the Attic. Hosted by QHouse, the annual QProm is a tradition at Gettysburg that gives queer identities the ability to experience an inclusive and accepting prom

that they might not have experienced in high school.

This year’s theme was “Enchanted Forest.” It was planned and hosted mainly by QHouse, along with the help of the Organization for Student Activities and Greek Life (OSAGL), the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center (GSRC) and Out, Questioning and Straight (OQS). Hera’s Closet opened for any students looking for attire.

Taking six hours to set up, the Attic was transformed into a mystical wonderland, complete with a photo booth matching the theme.

Music was chosen by students, there was food provided and there was plenty of spirit for the theme with enchanting outfits! It was a wonderful return to an annual tradition celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community on our campus.

The Return of Earth Day to Spring Fest Diana Biesecker ’22

It means so much to me that we were able to bring back more of an Earth Day celebration to campus!

Spring Fest at Gettysburg College was started by Gettysburg Environmental Concerns Organization (GECO), and the original purpose was to celebrate Earth Day. If you look up the words “Spring Fest” in the digital archives, the first mention of it was in an article from 1992 where it was called “the first annual Earth Day Spring Fest.”

As our Earth Day Fest events went by that weekend, it became very clear that many students want there to be a return to this focus on the Earth during Spring Fest weekend, rather than it just be a “drinking holiday.” The weekend was very successful, especially with the performances by Raye Zaragoza and Listeners & Performers, and I hope we can keep the lost tradition of an Earth Day Spring Fest going!

OPINIONS

The Commons Opinions From Across Campus Fire Response Systems Brenna Hadley ’25

Gettysburg College needs to update its response to possible fires in our buildings. Recently, one of Paul Hall’s washing machines malfunctioned and started to smoke, which activated the building’s fire alarms. The way the school handled this situation was not only odd, but concerning. The first, and only, people who arrived to help with the situation was DPS. When DPS arrived, they saw there was visible smoke in the hallway, but they did not know if there was an active fire inside or not. Yet, several DPS officers entered the building with little to no protection from the smoke or potential fire, which is an obvious threat to their health and lives.

During this whole event, not a single person from the fire station ever showed up. An actual fire never started, but if one had, it could have been disastrous for Paul Hall and the school. Gettysburg College should use this as a learning opportunity and update its fire alarms to alert the local fire station when one goes off. This is a fairly standard practice in buildings of this type,

Have a short opinion?

Share it with us!

and Gettysburg College needs to get with the times in order to prevent future catastrophes!

Gettysburg is Back Emily Dalgleish ’22 // Opinions Editor

The start to this semester was rocky. Students were navigating the changes and losses to the College that occurred during COVID. Tension was high between students and the administration. Across campus, you could feel the frustration and exhaustion in the air.

However, the last few weeks have felt like Gettysburg did before the pandemic. Everyone is gathering outside, weekends are packed with events and students seem happy to be here. While the College can never be what it was before COVID, it once again feels like a place for community and action. The spirit of Gettysburg is here, and though I am leaving, I am happy to see that it will remain.

Ode to Adirondacks Brandon Neely ’23

The warm weather we have all been waiting for has finally appeared and, for just a moment, the Gettysburg I remember from that innocent, far-off time of 2019 returned. Seeing students throwing a football around next to the chapel or crowded around tables at CUB was a huge boost to my mid-semester mood. Of all Gettysburg’s warm-weather investments, none rank higher than the Adirondack chairs around campus (in Burg blue and orange, of course). It’s not a fancy piece of tech or endowed organization, but the ability for students to eat

lunch, hang out, play music and relax on Stine Lake between classes has made Gettysburg feel alive, exciting and welcoming in a way almost nothing else has since the pandemic began. Cheers to the Adirondack chairs!

Civic Literacy Skills Samantha Martin ’24

As someone who has always been interested in studying the journalistic process and who has spent a lot of time developing their own civic literacy skills, the rise of unfounded conspiracy theories, particularly those regarding the coronavirus pandemic and the security of the 2020 election, across social media platforms such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram has been troubling to me. I am particularly worried about how the spread of these theories will influence people my age; as reported by Karen Douglas, PhD., young people are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories than older people, and since young people are more likely to be on social media than older people, they are also more likely to see conspiracy theories promoted on these platforms.

I believe that it is important that institutes of learning, from elementary schools to post-secondary institutions such as Gettysburg College, ensure that their students have the tools they need to separate the facts from fiction. I feel that currently they are not doing nearly enough to properly address the potential dangers of false information.

As an institution of education, we have a responsibility to lead in the fight against false information and promote learning literacy skills and critical thinking.

THE GETTYSBURGIAN

5

NEWS

Employees of Color Leave Gettysburg

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and College Departures

BY NICOLE DEJACIMO // MANAGING EDITOR & PHOEBE DOSCHER // EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

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his past year, The Gettysburgian has identified eight full-time employees of color who have left Gettysburg College: 11% of all fulltime employees of color, and over 50% of all administrators of color.

Students and staff members report feeling the loss of these employees and the desire for a more diverse administration.

The Great Resignation has impacted turnover rates at Gettysburg, resulting in an 8% increase for all employees between 2020 and 2021.

In four of the past five years, however, the College reported a higher turnover rate for underrepresented minority (URM) employees than for white employees. In 2021, 21% of departures were URM employees compared to 16% of white employees. In 2017, URM employees accounted for nearly double the number of departures than white employees.

The Impact of Departures

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hen former Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) Jeanne Arnold left Gettysburg College for St. Francis College in June 2021, the College turned to Darrien Davenport, originally the Assistant Vice President of College Life, to fill the role in the interim until he left for the private sector later that year. After Davenport’s resignation, Dr. Carlos Tasso Aquino became interim CDO that August for

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the following eight months. The Gettysburg administration is currently conducting a national search through WittKieffer—a search firm where Davenport is now a consultant—for someone to permanently fill the position.

“When a person of color departs, the absence resonates even more due to the fact that we’re under-represented and we often tend to function as more high-profile community members, in part, due to that underrepresentation,” said English professor McKinley Melton.

The Office of Student Activities and Greek Life (OSAGL) has also lost two notable administrators of color: Associate Director Caitlin Lindsay and Assistant Director Zana Morris. Both were succeeded by white employees.

Executive Director of Communications & Marketing Jamie Yates recognized that several people of color have resigned from the College recently and pointed to the national trend of mass resignations following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Marcela Service Manzo Vessi, former Assistant Director of the Center for Career Engagement, and Charmaine Cruise, former Dean of Academic Advising and Student Support Services. Some faculty of color have also left Gettysburg, leaving gaps where students previously saw themselves represented in the classroom.

Britney Brunache ’22, a psychology and theatre arts double major and Black Student Union President, feels the effects of the lack of faculty of color and noted that she usually puts in a personal effort to write her final papers about race and psychology to provide a diverse perspective. At the same time, she wishes she could be learning from more professors of color.

“You can get away with not having a professor of color because not all of them are spread out within the different departments, which is a problem,” Brunache said. Although ( B e l o w) F o r m e r C h i e f D iv e r sit y O f f i ce r (C D O) Je a nn e A r n ol d le f t G e t t ysb u r g in Ju n e 2 0 21

“In the case of departures of people of color, we recognize the importance and impact of their presence on campus and what is lost when they leave the College,” said Yates.

Other people of color who have recently left include K a t i e O gle sb y & A lli D ay to n co nt r i b u te d to re p o r t ing fo r th i s a r t i cle .

she did not take any classes with a Black faculty member, she connected with faculty of color such as history professor Scott Hancock and professor Melton through their advising to students involved in BSU. The recent increase in faculty of color departures severs relationships that Brunache deems crucial to students of color at Gettysburg.

“I feel like it’s alarming that the faculty of color are leaving at the rate they are, especially because ... they have all created some sort of relationship with the students of color that in their absence has affected all of us.”

Administration Representation

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he United States Department of Education published a report in 2020 that found that institutions with a more diverse administration had fewer reports of bias incidents against students. Creating and implementing effective inclusivity policies at higher education institutions has also increased the graduation rate for low-income students and students of color.

“A diverse administration is as important as a diverse faculty or student body because the administration is often in the role of making decisions that impact the entire campus community and will shape the future of the College in significant ways,” said Melton.

When Arnold, who arrived at Gettysburg in August 2014, assumed the inaugural position of CDO, she initiated the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), a tool to assess actual and perceived intercultural competence levels that became required for new employee

hires and has been used in groups across campus, including by students.

The IDI has become one way to improve the ways that College employees and students interact and account for diverse perspectives in their work. “[What’s important is] not even exclusively seeing diversity in administration. I think it is having culturally competent workers accessible in administration,” Interim Director of the Office of Multicultural Engagement Monique Gore said.

Prior to her departure, Arnold also helped institutionalize the College’s climate study process and launched the Inclusion Partner Program to systematize the way the College approaches hiring from a diverse candidate pool. Arnold worked with co-chair Music Education Coordinator Brent Talbot to lead the Bias Awareness Resource Committee to assess bias incidents, the resources to support a diverse student body and inclusive campus programming. The results of the report helped inform the College’s commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles for the 2021–22 academic year.

“All four initiatives—the diversity infrastructure review, the curriculum, the strategic plan, and our new CDO—will profoundly and systematically impact Gettysburg College, and our student and employee experience, for many years to come,” said Yates.

Since Arnold’s departure, the College has committed to hiring a new CDO to promote Gettysburg’s DEI initiatives and sit on the President’s Council. The College also intends to implement an additional senior position in the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. Currently, there are no full-time employees of

PHOTOS PROVIDED TO THE GET T YSBURGIAN

color on the President’s Council.

Although high-ranking administrators do not interact one-on-one with students to the extent that professors do, the Provost’s Office and other administrative roles are responsible for other elements that dictate the student, faculty, staff and administrative experience at Gettysburg, including hiring and providing resources to particular departments, initiatives and programs.

“Everybody wants a piece of the pie, and it’s not an infinite pie,” professor Scott Hancock said of the work in administration to determine how to allocate resources and decide who to hire. “So [the administration] has to make those decisions, but that’s why you need a diverse group of people in administration to figure out how we prioritize and what counts as priority.”

On top of the benefits of diverse perspectives in the administration, the administration’s work to implement inclusive practices, such as a diverse curriculum and completion of the IDI, ultimately impacts the student experience.

For Brunache, having administrators and professors of color is beneficial for two primary reasons: “[first,] to see people who look like you in professional spaces to show that you can make it too, and [second,] have students be more comfortable talking to administrators about their worries and be able to relate to each other.”

Challenges with Retention

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hile Gettysburg’s number of domestic faculty of color has increased slightly over the past five THE GETTYSBURGIAN

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years, from 20.1% to 21.9% of the faculty, this trend does not account for increasing turnover rates among employees of color, nor anecdotal evidence of faculty dissatisfaction.

“We hear how we’re improving with faculty diversity, we see graphs,” said Hancock. “What we don’t see or hear are voices of the so-called diverse people that we aren’t doing better with, supposedly. We don’t hear stories about those who left. We don’t get charts and numbers and graphs about the number of Black women who have come and gone. We don’t hear about how content or satisfied or happy Black and brown diverse students have or have not been.”

Associate Provost for Faculty Development Jennifer Bloomquist is the only Black person in a senior academic administrative position and the only woman in a senior administrator position within the Provost’s Office. In 2018, she also became the first Black woman to reach full professor status. In a letter to Provost Chris Zappe, Bloomquist noted that she feels isolated as a woman of color in the Provost’s Office.

Although faculty, administrators and staff have left for a variety of reasons, employees of color’s dissatisfaction is apparent in their high turnover rates.

“We’re doing better at hiring more employees than we are at retaining employees,” said President Iuliano’s Chief of Staff and Strategic Advisor Kris Stuempfle.

Dr. Kafele Khalfani began partnering with Gettysburg to focus on DEI initiatives when upon Interim CDO Aquino’s departure. Khalfani assessed why employees are

leaving Gettysburg through exit interviews conducted by human resources, though participation was minimal. Employees have cited a variety of reasons for leaving, including career advancement, compensation or benefits, work-life balance, flexibility with remote work, a desire to leave the rural area or faculty collegiality. In addition, some have left for other higher education positions, including Jeanne Arnold, while many others have transferred to the corporate world.

“We want to understand why folks are leaving [and] make sure that … the culture and the climate are responsive and supportive to our faculty, our staff, and especially our students,” Khalfani said.

While the College declares itself to be an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to “providing a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment,” once employees are hired, their retention depends on a combination of factors, including the professional culture, the environment at the College and in the surrounding community, and their compensation.

“When people leave for a better job, I think it’s often more than just salary, so I think that we should be asking, ‘What makes that job better? … What isn’t making this enough of an inviting, attractive environment that [people of color] will want?’” Hancock said.

D u r ing th e re p o r t ing o f th i s a r t i cle , th e C ollege h e l d p u bli c info r m a t i o n a n d inte r v i e w se ssi o n s fo r fo u r C h i e f D iv e r sit y O f f i ce r c a n d i d a te s a n d info r m a t i o n m ay h a v e ch a nge d .

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(A b o v e) D a r r i e n D a v e n p o r t se r v e d a s C D O fo r le ss th a n a y e a r be fo re re sig ning in 2 0 21

Next Steps

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oving forward, the College seeks to both fill vacancies and understand why faculty have left. The College’s success with achieving DEI commitments depends on the execution of curricular and strategic plan promises, the hiring of a Chief Diversity Officer and the assessment of diversity infrastructure.

“There’s significant work to be done to ensure that our rhetoric is matched by our actions, which requires a sustained commitment to the values that are supposed to be at the heart of our mission as an institution. Action plans are important, but follow-through is even more so,” said Melton.

Students, faculty and administrators were hopeful that the College will make meaningful strides, but also emphasized that it will require a community effort.

CHART BY C ARTER HANSON

NEWS

Employee Compensation Changes Since the Pandemic

BY CARTER HANSON // MAGAZINE EDITOR

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ompensation for current officers, directors, trustees and key administration employees increased by $733,781 between 2016 and 2020, while Gettysburg College’s budget went from a profit of $4.5 million in 2016 to a deficit of $3.5 million in 2020. Since 2020, however, the College has taken concrete steps to ensure that faculty and staff compensation was prioritized throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Form 990 records, compensation (including bonus pay) for the top administrators for which individual compensation records were available for all years 2016–2020 increased by a total of $460,229 between 2016 and 2020.

Of these administration employees, President Riggs consistently received the highest pay, averaging a compensation of $504,511 between 2016 and 2019. In 2020, Riggs received $438,848 min Admin opTop Admin Compensation Top Admin Compensation Admin Compensation Compensation Compensation (2016–2020) (2016–2020) (2016–2020) (2016–2020) (2016–2020) in post-retirement compensation, while President Iuliano received a starting

compensation of $309,397.

“It is frequently the case that retiring presidents are given a lump sum payout in the year after they retire,” said economics professor Brendan Cushing-Daniels. “Basically, a year’s salary in the first year in retirement.”

Setting aside the compensation for Presidents Riggs and Iuliano in 2020, the compensation of all but one of the other top eight paid positions increased from 2016 to 2020, with all but two of the positions outpacing inflation.

Other salaries and wages (for faculty and staff) also increased at the same time, going from $52,026,267 in 2016 to $54,600,844 in 2020.

Taken together with the increase in administration compensation, the increase in other salaries and wages represents an overall increase in the share of the College budget devoted to employee compensation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, the pandemic changed the College’s strategy regarding compensation for administrators, faculty and staff.

Top Admin Compensation (2016–2020) $2,727,014 $2,727,014 $2,727,014 $2,727,014 $2,702,285 $2,702,285 $2,702,285 $2,702,285 $2,727,014 $2,678,524 $2,678,524 $2,678,524 $2,678,524 $2,678,524 $2,702,285 $2,549,815 $2,549,815 $2,549,815 $2,549,815 $2,549,815 $183,329 $183,329 $183,329 $183,329 $183,329

$188,241 $188,241 $188,241 $188,241 $188,241 $256,790 $256,790 $256,790 $256,790 $256,790

$290,556 $290,556 $290,556 $290,556 $290,556

Provost Provost Chris Provost Chris Zappe Provost Chris Zappe Provost Chris ZappeChris ZappeZappe

$2,549,815

$247,326 $247,326 $247,326 $247,326 $247,326 $243,531 $243,531 $243,531 $243,531 $243,531

$183,329 $285,436 $285,436 $285,436 $285,436 $285,436

$249,548 $249,548 $249,548 $249,548 $249,548

$335,041 $335,041 $335,041 $335,041 $335,041

$200,598 $200,598 $200,598 $200,598 $200,598

$218,653 $218,653 $218,653 $218,653 $218,653 $307,178 $307,178 $307,178 $307,178 $307,178

$316,484 $316,484 $316,484 $316,484 $316,484

$274,114 $274,114 $274,114 $274,114 $274,114

$279,504 $279,504 $279,504 $279,504 $279,504

$271,294 $271,294 $271,294 $271,294 $271,294

$188,241 $254,594 $254,594 $254,594 $254,594 $254,594 $246,704 $246,704 $246,704 $246,704 $246,704

$193,095 $307,745 $307,745 $307,745 $307,745 $307,745

$2,678,524

$297,763 $297,763 $297,763 $297,763 $297,763

$2,702,285 $461,420 $461,420 $461,420 $461,420 $461,420

$193,095 $218,653

2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

$307,178

$256,790 $283,104 $283,104 $283,104 $283,104 $283,104 $254,523 $254,523 $254,523 $254,523 $254,523

$3,010,044 $323,182 $323,182 $323,182 $323,182 $323,182 $314,379 $314,379 $314,379 $314,379 $314,379 $200,598 $268,319

$259,438

$2,727,014

$507,845 $507,845 $507,845 $507,845 $507,845

$519,615 $519,615 $519,615 $519,615 $519,615

$199,564 $215,217

2017 2017 2017 2017 2017

$335,041

$317,726 $285,436

2018 2018 2018 2018 2018

$316,484

$209,694 $529,162 $529,162 $529,162 $529,162 $529,162

$247,326

$243,531

$249,548

VP for VP College forVP College for Life/Dean VP College for Life/Dean VP College Life/Dean Julie for College Julie Ramsey Life/Dean Julie Ramsey Life/Dean Ramsey Julie Ramsey Julie Ramsey

VP for VP Finance forVP Finance for &VP Finance Admin/Treas for &VP Admin/Treas Finance for & Admin/Treas Finance Daniel & Admin/Treas Daniel &Konstalid Admin/Treas Daniel Konstalid Daniel Konstalid Daniel Konstalid Konstalid VP for VP Enrollment forVP Enrollment forVP Enrollment &for Edu VP Enrollment &for Srvs Edu Enrollment &Barbara Srvs Edu& Barbara Srvs Edu Fritze Barbara &Srvs Edu Fritze Barbara Srvs Fritze Barbara FritzeFritze

$317,726 $317,726 $317,726 $317,726 $317,726

President President Bob President Iuliano Bob President Iuliano Bob President Iuliano Bob Iuliano Bob Iuliano

2019 2019 2019 2019 2019

$285,297

$328,794

Executive Vice President Jane North

Finally, in a FebruaryProvost 16,Chris 2022 Zappe Chair of Eisenhower $3,010,044 message, President Iuliano an- Institute Susan Eisenhower VP for College Life/Dean Julie Ramsey $200,598 nounced that “the Board [of TrusVP for Information Technology Rodney Tosten tees] has now also approved a 2% VP for Finance & Admin/Treas Daniel Konstalid $209,694 VP for Enrollmentpool & Edu Srvs Barbara Fritze increase in the compensation $317,726 President Bob Iuliano available for annual merit increases President Janet Morgan Riggs for faculty [...] and administrators.”

President President Janet President Janet Morgan President Janet Morgan President Riggs Janet Morgan Riggs Janet Morgan Riggs Morgan Riggs Riggs

$285,297 $285,297 $285,297 $285,297 $285,297

$2,702,285

$218,653

$215,217 Chief Diversity Officer Jeanne Arnold

$341,654 $341,654 $341,654 $341,654 $341,654

Executive Vice President Jane North

$354,784 $354,784 $354,784 $354,784 $354,784 $345,443 $345,443 $345,443 $345,443 $345,443 $290,556

$278,577 $305,217 $305,217 $305,217 $305,217 $305,217

ChairChair of Eisenhower Chair of Eisenhower Chair of Eisenhower Institute Chair of Eisenhower Institute ofSusan Eisenhower Institute Susan Eisenhower Institute Susan Eisenhower Institute Susan Eisenhower Susan Eisenhower Eisenhower

VP for VP Information forVP Information forVP Information Technology forVP Information Technology for Information Technology Rodney Technology Rodney Tosten Technology Rodney Tosten Rodney Tosten Rodney TostenTosten

$209,694 $209,694 $209,694 $209,694 $209,694

$215,217 $215,217 $215,217 $215,217 $215,217

$241,168 $328,794 $328,794 $328,794 $328,794 $328,794

“[Pandemic] circumstances, and other structural changes in the higher education market, meant that we needed to adjust where we $2,727,014 were spending resources, and $199,564

$3,010,044 $3,010,044 $3,010,044 $3,010,044 $3,010,044

$278,577 $278,577 $278,577 $278,577 $278,577 $268,319 $268,319 $268,319 $268,319 $268,319

Since 2020, the College has gradually returned benefit compensation for faculty, staff and administrators to pre-pandemic levels, while also beginning to implement salary and wage raises. In a June 1, 2021 communication, President Iuliano announced a “one-time appreciation award” of $1,000–$2,000 for all benefits-eligible employees.

Then, in an October 18, 2021 message, Iuliano declared an increase in College contributions to the employee retirement plan from 5% to 7%, closer to—but not quite at— pre-pandemic contributions of 10%.

The College has also made efforts to retain Highmark BlueShield, the current employee health insurance carrier, and to continue to offer the same employee health plans as before the pandemic.Chief Diversity Officer Jeanne Arnold

Executive Executive Vice Executive President Vice Executive President Vice Executive Jane President ViceJane North President ViceNorth Jane President North Jane North Jane North

$199,564 $199,564 $199,564 $199,564 $199,564

$259,438 $259,438 $259,438 $259,438 $259,438

However, the College did not cut salaries for faculty, staff or administrators during the pandemic, instead freezing all salaries and cutting some employee benefits.

President Iuliano also took a 15% cut in pay and other top administrators took pay cuts in 2020.

ChiefChief Diversity Chief Diversity Officer Chief Diversity Officer Diversity Chief Jeanne Officer Jeanne Diversity Arnold Officer Jeanne Arnold Officer Jeanne Arnold Jeanne ArnoldArnold

$193,095 $193,095 $193,095 $193,095 $193,095

$241,168 $241,168 $241,168 $241,168 $241,168

that included slowing new hiring across the College,” said Executive Director of Communications and Marketing Jamie Yates.

$307,178

$316,484

Provost Chris Zappe

$327,791 $327,791 $327,791 $327,791 $327,791

Chair of Eisenhower Institute Susan Eisenhower

$274,114

$279,504 VP for College Life/Dean Julie Ramsey

$309,397 $309,397 $309,397 $309,397 $309,397

VP for Information Technology Rodney Tosten

$246,704

VP for Finance & Admin/Treas Daniel Konstalid $254,594

$438,848 $438,848 $438,848 $438,848 $438,848

VP for Enrollment & Edu Srvs Barbara Fritze

$283,104

President Bob Iuliano

$254,523

President Janet Morgan Riggs

$285,297

Iuliano also announced that “be$271,294 ginning March 11, the College will increase its starting minimum wage $307,745 for benefits-eligible employees to $15.00 per hour.” $341,654

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202020202020 2020 2020

$345,443

$354,784 $327,791

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F E AT U R E S

125 Years of

BY LUCA ESPAÑA // DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY & PHOEBE DOSCHER // EDITORIN-CHIEF

T

he Gettysburgian began in 1897 as a publication called The Weekly Gettysburgian. At the time of its inaugural issue, the team published local news in a tabloid print newspaper on a weekly basis. Since 2012, The Gettysburgian has been publishing around-the-clock online content on its website. The Gettysburgian continued to print weekly, tabloid-style newspapers until the summer of 2019, when the editorial team decided to transition the paper to a magazine print format that would be published monthly.

125 years in the making, hundreds of editors, writers and photographers later, The Gettysburgian is one of the oldest student-run organizations at Gettysburg College. The Gettysburgian’s print archives hold over a century’s worth of newspapers—and now magazines— that tell the story of the College from various angles:

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sports, opinions, news, features, arts & entertainment and more. To this day, The Gettysburgian’s web content is updated daily and promoted across social media platforms, in addition to the weekly release of a news podcast, The GettysPod, formerly known as On Target!

At The Gettysburgian’s quasquicentennial (125th) anniversary, the team reaffirms their commitment to achieving the publication’s motto: “documenting tomorrow’s history today.” In this anniversary spread, track the 125-year growth of The Gettysburgian through archive photos and headlines.

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O ne r e a d e r w rote to T h e G e t t ysb u r g i a n , “ it s ap p e a r a nc e m a rk s a n e p o c h i n t he h i s tor y of t he c ol le g e .”

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PHOTOS FROM THE GET T YSBURGIAN ARCHIVES

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OPINIONS

Bite the Bullet and Change Our Mascot The Historical Mascot Debate

BY THE GETTYSBURGIAN EDITORIAL BOARD

G

ettysburg College prides itself on its role in American history. The battle that was the turning point in America’s war for a “new birth of freedom” happened here on campus: Pennsylvania Hall was used as a hospital during the battle.

David Wills, a College alumnus, invited Lincoln to speak, and students walked to the Gettysburg National Cemetery to witness the Gettysburg Address. This connection to history is the heart of Gettysburg College.

So how do we as a College most frequently recognize our connec( L e f t) 199 4 Billi e B u ll e t m a scot d e sig n

( L e f t) 2004 Billy th e B u ll e t m a scot d e sig n

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tion to “​​those who here gave their lives that that nation might live”?

With our mascot, the “Bullet.” By identifying our school spirit with the weapon that took those lives.

As early as 1924, The Gettysburgian referred to the College’s sports teams as the “Bullets.” On April 30, 1924, a Gettysburgian headline read “Battlefield Bullets Get Revenge at Collegeville For Previous Defeat On Nixon Field.” That was published 60 years after the Battle of Gettysburg—long enough that students were not so personally connected to the battle or the war.

It was long after students continued to find bullets, bones and bloody books in and around Penn Hall for years after the battle. The “Bullet” mascot was a cartoonish representation of Gettysburg history, disconnected from the reality of the battle.

The first iteration of the Bullet Hole opened in October 1953 in Weidensall Hall. It had “jukebox dancing at all times when the fountain is open” and operated 8 am to 11 pm daily. Though the location has moved, the jukeboxes are long gone and the hours are shorter, the name has remained.

More recently in Gettysburg history, Billie Bullet (or Billy the Bullet) was a physical mascot costume. In 1994, a student senator proposed

buying a bullet costume to increase school spirit and called for students to submit designs; a single design was submitted (see left). Prior to this, an unknown student used to dress in silver and attend sporting events to represent the mascot. In 2004, students once again tried to instate a physical mascot, but the administration shot down their attempt as well, despite an updated design (see bottom left). In 2010, the unofficial Billy the Bullet costume (see over right) made an infamous appearance in a comedic video response to a Jon Stewart segment in which he lambasted Gettysburg College. Unfortunately, a physical bullet mascot either resembles nothing at all or resembles something that is inappropriate in an entirely different way.

There is also a decades-long tradition of questioning the Bullet as a mascot and arguing that it should be changed. There are articles from 1994, 1999, 2003, 2004 and 2006 either in support or against the “Bullet” mascot. In 1999, Student Senate began debate about the mascot, with history professor Ian Isherwood, then a student, writing in defense of the Bullet.

These more recent debates around the mascot bring us to today. Gun violence in America is rampant; bullets are not historical artifacts but persistent threats. Of course,

the bullet has historical relevance here in Gettysburg, but in many other towns around the country it has frightening significance.

Students returning to their hometowns in which a shooting has occurred may not be so eager to represent the “Bullets.” Current students have had mass shootings in their towns. Current students have family members who are survivors of gun violence. T-shirts that state “Nothing is Faster Than a Speeding Bullet” seem more like a threat than encouragement outside of campus.

It is objectively disgusting to eat at “The Bullet Hole.” It is an extension of a mascot that is unnecessarily gory, especially for food service.

Families visibly cringe or ask questions on tour when they notice the name of the dining service.

The name must go the way of the Weidensall jukeboxes.

While it does not seem entirely appropriate for students in 1924 to begin a lighthearted use of the weapon that has killed so many in Gettysburg, it was their decision to choose a mascot that represented them. It is now up to us to choose a mascot that represents us—we are not bound to the Bullets just because students of the past have stuck with it. We are a different generation than they were: we grew up after Columbine and Sandy Hook, practicing active shooter

(R igh t) 2 010 unof f icial Billy th e B u ll e t m a scot fe a t u re d in a sa t i r i c a l v i d e o b y S e ba st i a n D in a ta l e

drills. In the same way that it is unfair for us to apply our modern standards for an acceptable mascot to 1924 students, it is also unfair to continue to impose a mascot constructed in 1924 on 2022 Gettysburg.

While maintaining traditions is essential to Gettysburg, our most important tradition is pushing for change. Gettysburg College was Pennsylvania College until the name was changed in 1921 to Gettysburg College. The Bullet mascot was adopted around 1924, 92 years after the founding of the College. 98 years later, we are due for another change. Resistance to change is in opposition to the historical meaning of this place: we are here to be a force for change, to not follow tradition for the sake of following tradition.

So if not the Bullets, then what should we be? That should be up

to students. Emancipators, top hats, apples, eagles, monuments, squirrels, horses and buggies—just a few of many ideas we have heard students throw around. Some of them silly? Yes. Athletically threatening? Not quite. Could they be turned into a physical mascot that is fun? Yes. Do they bring to mind the mass violence that plagues our country? No. We deserve a mascot we are proud of, not a mascot that we have to explain with embarrassment. We should not be eating at “the Bullet Hole.” Does the Bullet represent doing great work? Does the Bullet represent a peaceful future? Is the Bullet what best represents us, the Gettysburg College community?

We, like many students over the past few decades, do not think so.

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A&E

Photojournalist Eric Lee ’15 On Community, Connections & Identity

BY JULIA GOKALP // STAFF WRITER

D

uring Peace and Justice Week in late March, Eric Lee ‘15 visited campus to share his experience as a protest photojournalist.

Although he had been interested in his field since childhood, his career was shaped by his time studying at Gettysburg College.

activities related to photography before declaring his IDS major.

He took independent study courses and internships and, beginning in spring 2012, he photographed for the Communications and Marketing Department.

Lee’s path to photojournalism was anything but linear: he began his academic career as a Health Sciences major intending to become a physical therapist. He was drawn to physical therapy largely due to having several family members working in healthcare and his experience working in physical therapy in high school, but he found through electives and activities at Gettysburg that his interests lay elsewhere.

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Reflecting on his dynamic four years, he emphasized the help and influence that his professors had on his career path. Brent Blair, his photography professor who pushed him to pursue the field and attend graduate school, stood out to Lee. When Blair urged Lee to apply to graduate school, Lee voiced his doubts but eventually relented.

“It just ended up being full circle,” said Lee. “Not only pursuing ... [photography] full time, but also going to the graduate school that he wanted me to go to.”

“I loved those classes— they were great,” said Lee of his time studying Health Sciences, “but ... it didn’t click for me.”

In his junior year, Lee became an Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) major with a focus on Cinema and Media Studies. Drastic as the shift was, Lee’s new major fit well into his schedule: he had already been in the process of obtaining an East Asian Studies minor and had taken electives and participated in outside

gallery assistant and photographer.

In his final two years at Gettysburg, he was recruited to be the social media coordinator and the main photographer and videographer at the Eisenhower Institute.

At the same time, Lee also worked at the Schmucker Art Gallery as a

After graduating from Gettysburg in 2015, Lee embarked on a GRAB trip to Scotland led by history professor Ian Isherwood, his first year writing professor. During his 60-mile adventure on the West Highland Way, Lee learned the history of the trail by day and camped beneath the stars at night.

Afterward, he worked for five months at an advertisement agency in public relations before he moved to Washington, D.C. in 2016 in search of more opportunities. There, he worked at a consulting firm for two and a half years before he felt he had reached an impasse.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ERIC LEE

“I felt stuck, like I wasn’t growing professionally, I wasn’t growing my skills ... and [I] decided that I needed a restart,” Lee said.

Lee eventually was able to obtain an internship at NPR in social media communications. He created content for their blog that showed the behind-the-scenes activities of reporters, such as the topics they covered, the events they held and the way they told stories. During this time, he developed an appreciation for the exploration opportunities in different fields and befriended a photo editing intern who brought him to photographer meetings.

He was amazed by the stories people from around the world told through their pictures. “You don’t even need words to understand ... what they’re conveying,” said Lee. Inspired by the work he saw, he continued to attend meetings and made connections with other photographers whose work he admired.

He was especially inspired by

Hannah Yoon, a Canadian-Korean photographer who documented the lives of children who grew up in Chinese restaurants in the United States—a situation neither uncommon for immigrant families nor dissimilar to that of his own.

After seeing Yoon’s work, Lee realized that “you can tell Asian stories ... and people want to see [them].”

Lee decided to pursue photography again, but this time as a ( B e l o w) G e o r ge Wa sh ing to n Univ e r sit y journalist. In h e a lth c a re w o rk e r s p re p a re fo r th e f i r st d ay o f C OV I D -19 te st ing in Wa sh ing to n , D .C . (Ap r il 6 , 2 0 2 0)

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March 2018, he received his first photojournalistic assignment when NPR asked him to report on the March for Our Lives. The day after the protest, NPR used one of Lee’s photos as the lead image on their website.

“I couldn’t shake that feeling of pride,” he said.

Lee’s supervisor approached him and suggested that, if he was interested in pursuing photojournalism as a career, he should attend graduate school.

Lee applied to the Corcoran School of the Arts and Design and wrote his personal essay on a project he began while attending Gettysburg. In his senior capstone, he had intended to create a documentary exploring Asian-American masculinity, but he tabled the project due to its scope and his limited time and experience.

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and his community—anything that inspires him. Lee’s work responds to current social and political issues, such as the anti-Asian attacks in the past couple of years, which, out of the fear he felt for his own family and community, he felt he had a responsibility to cover.

“It doesn’t feel like I should do it,” said Lee. “I have to do it.”

Lee expressed hope that his work will inspire other prospective photojournalists and makes a positive social difference.

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“I couldn’t do a project like that justice,” he said.

However, Lee knew that graduate school would provide a unique opportunity to realize the project.

Lee was accepted to Corcoran for graduate school and began his thesis project, titled “Where We’re Really From,” in which he documented the daily lives of a family in Washington, D.C. in a coming-ofage story of cross-cultural identity featuring two Asian-American boys. The project, which was eventually featured at a virtual exhibition in Corcoran, as well as on NPR, before he received his degree in new media photojournalism in 2020, was a starting point for Lee, who continues to explore Asian-American identity in his professional work.

Finishing graduate school during the COVID-19 pandemic presented Lee with both fresh challenges and opportunities. During the height of the pandemic, Lee returned to street photography.

“Because I knew it would be such a historic time, I knew I had to go

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out and photograph as much as I could,” he said.

Lee documented the sense of uncertainty and surreality in the everyday during the early days of COVID: trivial errands became risky and the once-busy streets of Washington, D.C. were left unusually vacant.

Shortly after the beginning of the pandemic, at the end of May, 2020, Washington, D.C. saw a drastic change as the George Floyd protests began.

Lee photographed the protests, believing it to be important to capture the story and be part of the dialogue. He eventually became known for his coverage of the protests.

Lee attempted to tell the more nuanced stories of the people behind the social and political issues he covered in his longform, community-focused photojournalism.

Among his many influences are current events, his personal life

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ERIC LEE

“If my photos and my stories can reach one person, ... all it takes is that one time seeing someone who looks like you on a news site or in a photo,” said Lee. “I’m a believer that this can really make change. ... I’ve seen so many Asian-American youth just ... be proud of being seen, one way or another, and it makes me want to keep going.” ( B e l o w) P o r t ra it o f A d e n Ho a n d A d e le Ho in B ro o k ly n , N Y (Ap r il 4 , 2 0 21)

SPORTS

International StudentAthletes at Gettysburg

BY JACK HERR // SPORTS EDITOR

L

ocated in rural south-central Pennsylvania, it can be difficult to find evidence of international influence in Gettysburg. However, two of Gettysburg College’s varsity teams (men’s basketball and men’s soccer) feature a handful of student-athletes from around the world.

Maro Ramadan ’24, a defenseman on the men’s soccer team, is from Oxford, United Kingdom, but went to high school at South Kent School in Connecticut. Ramadan reflected on the differences in mentality between international student-athletes like himself and student-athletes from the United States.

“My mindset is different to national students to an extent,” said Ramadan. “I see this opportunity of being able to attend college as a blessing and therefore all I need to do is do well academically to make my family proud and enjoy my athletic experience.”

P H O T O B Y L U C A E S PA Ñ A

Family is important to Ramadan, who said that “the biggest and most obvious challenge” of attending university in the U.S. is his distance from home.

“It would be much easier to cope with disappointments in soccer,” Ramadan said, “had I been able to share it with my family face-toface.”

However, Ramadan has goals of returning to Europe after graduating from Gettysburg, a degree which he said is very valuable overseas.

Even with these challenges, Ramadan emphasized that his experiences at Gettysburg have made him a more optimistic person than before and “helped with the transition to adulthood.” Ramadan started in 10 games for the Bullets this past season as a defensive back, part of a unit that held opponents to only 1.29 goals per game.

Teammate Aidan Muller ’25, from Cape Town, South Africa, had a similarly positive outlook on

his experience as an international student-athlete at Gettysburg.

Like Ramadan, Muller attended high school in the U.S., having left South Africa at 16 and enrolled in the Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut.

“Gettysburg offered me a good scholarship which was important to me,” said Muller. Head coach Mark Mettrick’s “values as a person, coaching values and experience” also made an impression on him.

Perhaps most importantly, Muller had a companion by his side through the entire recruitment process.

“One of my childhood friends received the same offer,” said Muller, “so going on the new journey together helped influence my decision.”

That friend, and now teammate, is Nur Adhikarie ’25, who has helped Muller stay in touch with his home and childhood while abroad.

Even so, Muller struggles with not being able to spend time with THE GETTYSBURGIAN

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( L e f t) Ma ro R amadan ’24, a d e fe n se m a n o n th e m e n’s so cce r te am , i s f ro m O x fo rd , U. K ., b u t w e nt to h igh sch o ol in C o nn e c t i c u t

family and friends from home.

Watching teammates and friends go home over the weekends or for the holidays inspires understandable feelings of “jealousy” in him.

Even as a first-year, however, Muller has already formed a new family and support structure within the men’s soccer team, composed of fellow student-athletes and coaches who he can rely on.

“Being an international student at Gettysburg has been good,” said Muller. “The school is very welcoming and supportive to international students, which has been really nice and made things a lot easier.”

Muller also expressed his sincere gratitude for the opportunities offered by attending Gettysburg,

experiences which have given him a “different perspective” on where he is in his life and which continue to fuel his future. Muller is also succeeding on the field: in 18 starts as a midfielder this season, he netted four goals and recorded four assists.

Akim Joseph ’25, a guard for the men’s basketball team, shares many of Muller and Ramadan’s thoughts, feelings and experiences. Hailing from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Joseph moved to Wichita, Kansas when he was in eighth grade and later went to Notre Dame Fairfield high school in Connecticut, where he now lives. In his senior year of high school, head coach B.J. Dunne reached out to him, and it only took a few days of discussion for Joseph to accept the offer and become a Gettysburg College Bullet. He feels “very lucky” to have received a commendable education alongside

( B e l o w) Nu r A d h i k a r i e ’ 25, a mi d f i e l d e r o n th e m e n’s so cce r te am , i s f ro m C a p e To w n , S o u th A f r i c a

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playing his favorite sport.

“I moved to the U.S. for a better life, education and a better experience in basketball and to make my mother and father proud,” said Joseph. “I decided to come here to Gettysburg College because it is such a great community.”

Despite common belief, Joseph insisted that there is plenty to do in the Gettysburg area, pointing out its proximity to the many major cities on the East Coast. When it comes to academics, Joseph is a dedicated student, employing four strategies to help him balance his two lives: keeping an updated calendar, making the most of his travel time (such as doing work on bus rides to away games), getting ahead on the weekends and enjoying his time playing basketball.

Overall, Joseph is grateful for his chance to learn and compete at Gettysburg, and he offered advice to fellow international and domestic student-athletes.

“Athletics has taught me to persevere when times get tough, and that success does not build character; failure builds character,” said Joseph.

Joseph made an immediate impact on the court in his first season, appearing in 24 games and scoring a total of 107 points.

P H O T O S B Y L U C A E S PA Ñ A

opportunity to do that being in one of the best Division III conferences in the nation.”

Unfortunately, Bisinella-Thompson has not appeared on the court yet due to a knee dislocation and ACL tear suffered prior to the season. Not having his family around to help him through the surgery and recovery process has been challenging.

“Being far from home and spending such a long time away from your family can be very difficult at times,” said Bisinella-Thompson, “and I think that homesickness is definitely something that every international student has felt.”

Despite these setbacks, Bisinella-Thompson reflected positively on his place at Gettysburg.

(A b o v e) A k im Jose ph ’ 25, a g u a rd o n th e m e n’s ba sk e tba ll te am , i s f ro m P o r t- a u-P r in ce , Ha it i . He m o v e d to W itch ita , K a n sa s in e igh th g ra d e a n d w e nt to h igh sch o ol in C o nn e ct i c u t .

Samuel Bisinella-Thompson ’25, a guard from Melbourne, Australia, has had a different experience studying in the U.S. He did not attend secondary school in the U.S.; instead, he was recruited directly from his home country. The organization that promoted him to American colleges typically brings players to the U.S. to showcase their skills in tournaments, but the COVID-19 pandemic made that impossible. Instead, he sent a highlight tape to several target schools.

Of the colleges that accepted him, Gettysburg stood out to Bisinella-Thompson.

“I wanted to be able to play at the highest level I possibly could,” said Bisinella-Thompson, “and I felt Gettysburg gave me the best

“I would say my experience as an international student athlete has impacted me a significant amount as I have matured a lot since I first got here in August,” said Bisinella-Thompson. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many new people and experience so many new things which has been amazing.”

For coaches Mark Mettrick and B.J. Dunne, international student-athletes diversify Gettysburg College’s campus, bringing their unique experiences and perspectives and “coming together to be something bigger,” as Coach Dunne said.

Coach Mettrick, head coach of the men’s soccer team, has an international background himself. He grew up in Manchester, U.K. and, like some of his players, traveled to the U.S. to compete in collegiate athletics.

Coach Mettrick commented on the recruitment process that Gettysburg and other Division III schools often employ to find international student-athletes, explaining that

drawing from primarily U.S. high schools means the transition for these players to college life is “not as drastic.”

Even though these players are well adapted to American life when coming to Gettysburg, they still bring their unique experiences to the team, something that Coach Mettrick said “broadens the horizons” of everyone involved. “[International student-athletes are] humble, respectful and appreciative of the community Gettysburg gives them,” said Mettrick.

Coach B.J. Dunne, in his fourth season as head coach of the men’s basketball team, echoed Mettrick.

For Dunne, hearing their individual stories, seeing their incredible appreciation for their education and observing their unparalleled determination and focus on both athletics and academics makes his job “rewarding.”

Coach Dunne highlighted the College’s “intentional” efforts to diversify the student body, which he said “makes us so great.” He feels that his team’s culture, both on and off the court, is greatly strengthened by the addition of players with international backgrounds. In return, he and his coaching staff are always there for support, understanding that these players’ distance from home and family can be a significant struggle.

International student-athletes do not represent a huge portion of Gettysburg’s student-athlete population, but their impact is felt across campus. The presence of different cultures, religions, upbringings and experiences broadens the horizons of everyone they interact with.

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F E AT U R E S

Postcard from Abroad

a city I would be leaving too soon.

On Walking Alone,

Celebrating Solitude & Falling in Love with a City Across the Pond

BY KATIE OGLESBY

I

f anyone knows anything about me, it’s that I’m anxious most of the time, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that being abroad has been a real test of my anxiety—travel anxiety, social anxiety, academic anxiety (you name it and I’ve probably had it here)—but being abroad has also been freeing.

One of the hardest things for me is spending time by myself, which is funny, because if you asked me to describe myself, I’d probably say something about how introverted I am. No one would really guess that I have a hard time keeping myself company, especially considering I grew up as an only child so I never had all that much company to begin with aside from my parents.

But here in Bath, England, in a city I’ve never been to before, and with so many things I want to do, I’ve had to learn how to celebrate solitude, how to spend time with myself and have fun, how to not care if you’re the only person eating alone in a cafe, how to navigate trains and tubes by myself, how to walk a museum without a sidekick.

Sometimes it can be lonely, but I’ve taught myself that if I want to do something, I can’t wait for other people to want to do it with me.

Some of my greatest experiences in England have been alone. A few weeks ago, for example, I went to one of my favorite cafes—Pulteney Bridge Coffee—overlooking the

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River Avon. I ordered tea and a muffin (because, really, I’m in England) and sat and read a book for class. Then, I strolled along the river, one of my favorite places to walk and take in the view of the city, and looped back around to a bookstore I love and haven’t visited enough lately.

When I was in Oxford for our residential program trip, I appreciated the opportunity to make more friends in my program, hang out with people I don’t live with in my house in Bath and spend time with people in my classes that I don’t normally see otherwise. But one of my favorite days was my last full day in Oxford when I spent two hours in the afternoon touring Magdalen College (C.S. Lewis’s college) and Merton College (J.R.R. Tolkien’s college) and walking along the meadows by Christ Church College. It was a gorgeous day after being very rainy and miserable the day before, so I pulled on the Oxford crewneck I had just purchased instead of my winter coat, took out my sunglasses and spent the afternoon by myself enjoying the sights of

One of my new mottos is simple, but important to me: it’s worth it.

It’s worth the extra few pounds leaving my wallet if I’m doing something I’ll later regret not doing. It’s worth the time I could be spending on homework because I’ll never be back here again. It’s worth doing alone because if I wait for someone else to do it with me, I might not get to do it at all.

Studying abroad has been a test of my anxiety, of my ability to spend time with myself, but it’s worth it, so worth it, to walk out of my flat every morning to a view of Pulteney Bridge and Bath Abbey and know I’m so, so lucky to be in England for a whole semester.

P H O T O P R O V I D E D B Y K AT I E O G L E S B Y

F E AT U R E S

Postcard from Abroad

If possible, give back in some way to the community that’s hosting you. A lot of us on my program are doing internships, and while we’re still gaining more than we’re giving, we’re at least giving something. One friend of mine, in the spirit of Ramadan, joined her host mom in volunteering at a local kitchen that cooks for underprivileged families.

The Ethics of Abroad

Priviledge, Poverty & Travel

BY MATT SEMON

W

hen I heard from others about their experiences studying abroad, I often hear about pub crawls in London or rushing to catch a train a few drinks in to avoid being stuck in France for the night. And I don’t mean to devalue these experiences; I have had similar moments getting lost on the Trams in Istanbul or accidentally going to a belly-dancing performance. But something that I have never heard in these stories is balancing extremely positive experiences with the stark reality of privilege.

My program is titled “Refugees, Health, and Humanitarian Action” and is based in Amman, Jordan.

We study forced displacement with a focus on humanitarian aid.

Because of the topic matter and the economic downturn in Jordan in recent years, we have often experienced having a great night out and then having homeless people beg for our spare change while we wait for an Uber. At other times, we have visited Syrian refugees, hearing about their personal experience of the devastation of their lives and their poverty in Jordan, and then were invited to the house of the head of an NGO to eat like royalty. On a different day, we toured a refugee camp like a national delegation and realized the horrible, poverty-porn lens that these officials are shown human suffering as a public relations investment opportunity.

I am extremely grateful for my experiences here, both fun nights

and visits to historical sights as well as dour lectures and intense experience-sharing. However, this is something that I don’t think is discussed enough, especially prior to choosing a study abroad program. I know that the intensity of my particular example probably doesn’t match everyone’s experiences, but those of us who have studied abroad must have had similar moments: stark presentations of privilege that make you question if this is the most appropriate use of wealth.

Thinking of why you’re going where you’re going, what you’ll be studying and why that specific combination or the language you’re learning will be beneficial is essential to fully understanding the dynamics of the situation and thinking critically about the experience you will have.

In situations like mine, maybe consider if having experiences that are possibly intrusive or tough for others truly are essential, and if the program’s benefit for your career will warrant those intrusions.

I’m not condemning study abroad experiences; I think they’re important, valuable and wonderful chances for growth—and wanting to see the world is natural. But I think in leaving out these common experiences, we glorify it without considering its issues. We truly become the obnoxious Americans.

We become the people who go to Jordan during Ramadan and are frustrated that they can’t find a place to eat during the day. We interact with the place and history, but not the people.

If given the choice again, I’d still do this program. Heck, I’m considering applying for a research opportunity to return to Amman, Jordan.

I just wanted to share my experience with the other side of study abroad, and I hope it becomes more widely discussed before, during and after the abroad experience.

P H O T O P R O V I D E D B Y M AT T S E M O N

THE GETTYSBURGIAN

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F E AT U R E S

Perspectives

Advice from the Class of 2022 COMPILED BY GRACIE MEISNER // FEATURES EDITOR My time at Gettysburg has definitely not been what I was expecting when I came in as a first-year student. When I arrived, I knew I wanted to go abroad once, but my advisor encouraged me to go twice, which I eventually worked up the courage to do. Now, as I finish my final semester at Gettysburg, I have spent almost an equal number of semesters away from school as I have spent at school. It makes the goodbye more bittersweet, but I am endlessly grateful for my time abroad and the profound impact it has had on my life. The most

meaningful experiences I’ve had at Gettysburg have been trying new things and creating relationships with new people. I used to be nervous to step outside of my comfort zone, but now I use that discomfort as a sign that I am doing something valuable for my personal growth.

My advice is to explore every opportunity that you have during your short time at Gettysburg and to create a meaningful and challenging experience for yourself because your four years are really what you make of them.

Teddy Davis Economics

sometimes you need to be the spark that creates them. For example, in my freshman year here at Gettysburg my friend group would always love to kick a soccer ball around campus. It didn’t matter where we were, we just needed a ball and each other. And other students we had never met before would slowly start to join in on our shenanigans as the weeks went on. This is the epitome of the Gettysburg College community.

I encourage undergraduates to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself. You can’t always wait for those opportunities;

Despite there only being some 2,000 students here at Gettysburg College, you meet new people in the classroom, at social gatherings,

in clubs, in Bullet and many other classic Gettysburg spots every day.

There will be plenty of times when you feel drained from work and social life, and that’s something you just have to accept as a student attending a competitive liberal arts college. I will leave you with this: don’t put too much pressure on yourself as a student or as a human being; be the best you that you can be; love yourself and your friends; go to that social event or club meeting that you are hesitant about attending; invite people over to hang out. Just have fun and don’t take anything too seriously!

Emma Groff International and Globalization Studies

Julia Sharapi Environmental Studies

Make sure to engage with the town! There are a lot of little gems off-campus that I have grown to appreciate during my time at Gettysburg. Food 101 and Thai Elephant Walk are great when you’re tired of Servo or Bullet. Studying off campus (whether at Waldo’s, Ragged

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Edge or the Adams County Library) minimizes distractions and helps you be productive. Some of my favorite memories are of sunset battlefield walks with my friends, trips to Mr. G’s for ice cream or thrifting at 229, Wild Root and the Wellspan shop.

While I do love campus, going into town has been integral to my experience at Gettysburg College.

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY AUTHORS

F E AT U R E S

The Crossword MADE BY CARTER HANSON

Edited By Leah Attai

Across

1. Ultimate assessment 10. Gov. dept. headed by Tom Vilsack since Feb. 2021 14. Cheat on a crossword 16. “The __ __ near!”

17. Characters whos stare brings love and good cheer 19. When doubled and paired with “O,” forms the chorus of “Old MacDonald” 20. Musical named for the early 20th century genre it depicts 21. Homophone of 52 down 22. Vessel in which 32 across is a nuisance 24. Egyptian Lord of the Underworld 27. Yellowstone state, abbreviated 28. “Sounds good!”

30. 6 point-winning throw in Football, abbreviated 31. Lucy of “Kill Bill” and “Charlie’s Angels” fame 32. Inert paddle 34. Ibsen, Norwegian playwright, who wrote “Peer Gynt” and “A Doll’s House” 36. Mi __ es su __ 40. Comedian Smirnoff 41. Forced ajar 44. _ _ Chang’s 45. Quench 47. Lost one’s balance 48. Roosevelt who was the first chair of the UN Commission on Human Rights 50. Gold-producing pseudoscience 51. “Swaziland” since 2018 53. Satisfy 37 Down 54. “__ boy!”

55. Mario character with a mushroom head 56. City to find a 26 down 59. Busy insect 60. Serpentine monster beheaded by Perseus 62. State with a 59 across on its flag 63. Markey (D-MA)

64. Zora Neale _____, author of the Harlem Renaissance 65. Japanese video game company that released “Sonic the Hedgehog”

Down

1.On _____; stylish 2. Ancient region which hosted the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the seven wonders of the world 3. Agree, non-verbally 4. Legendary Japanese filmmaker of “Seven Samurai” and “Rashomon” 5. Capital of Zambia 6. Recording between an LP and a single 7. Precision hobby knife 8. Mitchell who wrote “Hadestown” 9. British toast spread 10. Port for a flash drive, briefly 11. Nation of Greta Thunberg and Ingrid Bergman, briefly 12. Anne Ehrlich, for Gettysburg 13. Missiles in a quiver 15. Slothful, worthless person 18. Pig pen 23. To take something quickly and secretly, slangily 25. Hoppy, light-colored beer, briefly 26. Maternal casket?

29. Yak’s counterpart, online 31. Gave a pamphlet to 33. London’s airport, abbreviated 34. Publicity or promotion 35. The name of Donald Trump’s wife of 15 years, or the real name of his daughter 37. What’s possessed by someone who’s hungry, with “an” 38. Appear to be 39. Samberg of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” 41. Components of ellipses 42. Mother’s response: “Because ____!”

43. Cut onions 46. Wobble 49. East, of Spain 52. Suffix with “Argo-” and “Cosmo-” 54. Person with a Bullet grill named for their faves 57. Counterpart to “zig” 58. “Eureka!”

60. Greek letter after “lambda” 61. “Inconvenient Truth” article

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THE GETTYSBURGIAN

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This Month at the Majestic National Theatre Live:

Kim Weitkamp Humorist and songwriter April 30, 2 pm $15

May 2 at 12 pm & 7 pm The Book of Dust Student Tickets: $12

April 22-23, 8 pm: Opera Workshop w/ Symphony Orchestra presents The Gondoliers Student Tickets: FREE Coming to the cinemas: Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Northman, The Duke, Downton Abbey and more!

2 shows daily / Open every day / $9

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