Fall 2023 Issue 1

Gettysburgian The

Page 16

A Look into the Bullets Marching Band

Volume CXXVIII, Issue No. 1. October 2023.

The Centennial Conference's only marching band gives us a behind-the-scenes look at their unique challenges and triumphs.

T he Gettysburgian 1

Editor's Note

- On Unique Experiences By Laken Franchetti, Editor-in-Chief

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y time at The Gettysburgian began in August of 2021, just a few weeks before I was due to arrive on campus for my first year. I began in the Class of 2025 and then managed to set myself on a path to graduate a year early. Now I am graduating with the Class of 2024, and I only have two semesters left at Gettysburg.

During that summer of 2021, I had reached out to the Editor-in-Chief and expressed interest in writing for the school newspaper. I had never done anything like it before, but I was set on making this my “thing.” To me, it seemed like everyone had that club or sport that defined a large aspect of who they were, and I wanted something that could be that for me. After writing my first piece and seeing it published on the website, I knew that The Gettysburgian was just that.

In my second semester at Gettysburg, I gained a seat on the editorial board as Assistant News Editor. During my semester abroad, I will admit that I missed the weekly meetings in Plank 103, yet when I returned this past spring, I jumped right back in as News Editor. Now, in my culminating year at Gettysburg, I am so thankful to be taking on the role of Editor-in-Chief.

Each one of us has had a unique experience here at Gettysburg. I have had an unconventional path towards an accelerated graduation date, yet I was still able to have the experiences that I craved. The Gettysburgian did become my thing, and I am eternally grateful that it did.

This magazine discusses some of the experiences that students can find themselves taking part in on campus, like the new Guided Pathways program for first-years and Bright’s Interfaith Community Chapel Program. We also highlight Director of International Student Services Brad Lancaster and ask seniors to share what their own unique experience at Gettysburg has meant to them. We look at developing conversations surrounding AI and the future of race-conscious admissions at Gettysburg.

As you read through this issue, reflect on your time at Gettysburg and the experiences that made it a unique (and possibly unconventional) path to now. If you find yourself not knowing what your “thing” may be, I implore you to find it. Somewhere, hidden between the battlefields and Penn Hall, you are bound to find what could define your time here at Gettysburg.

Editor-in-Chief, The Gettysburgian

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(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Laken Franchetti ’24

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Opinions

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Table of Contents Feature

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Feature

The Age of AI

Brad Lancaster

Compiled by Vincent DiFonzo, Opinions Editor

By Laurel Bennett, Features Editor

By Eric Lippe, Magazine Editor

14 RSL New

16 The Bullets

17 Pathways

Program

Marching Band Program

By Laken Franchetti, Editor-in-Chief

By Kenzie Smith, Arts

By Sophie Lange, and Entertainment Editor Asst. News Editor

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Senior Perspectives

News

Sports

The Volleyball Trip Abroad

By David Goldman, Sports Editor

A&E

News

Opinion

The Future of Race-Conscious Admissions

By The Gettysburgian Editorial Staff T he Gettysburgian

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he Office of Student Activities and Greek Life (OSAGL) is working to unveil new spaces for students to socialize and convene for the 20232024 school year. The new spaces include new activities in the Attic and plans to reformat Plank Basement, which is home to several clubs and organizations.

These spaces are the result of hard work and careful planning by OSAGL, College Life and other departments on campus.

Director of OSAGL Jon Allen explained that the process of renovating and exploring these new spaces began in the spring semester of 2022 with the first Student Senate Open. This acted as the first “Hand Over the Keys” event in The Attic, where clubs and organizations could run events serving alcohol. This could previously only be done in fraternities or college houses.

Attic Coordinator Geoffrey Meadville ’25 expanded upon the use of The Attic.

Meadville emphasized that The Attic is still open to Greek Life as well for events, and he explained how these spaces can hold events that are social activities rather than academic.

“It normalizes organizations doing an event that is more party and less

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OSAGL and College Life saw these events as being successful, so they began to create more spaces. During the summer of 2022, they shifted their attention to the College Union Building (CUB). Upon requests from commuters, they created the Commuter Lounge in the CUB Lobby. Additionally, OSAGL has added games, such as pool and a play station, for students to use with their friends.

As the fall semester of 2022 commenced, OSAGL and College Life observed how the spaces were being used. With an increase in students using the CUB Lobby as well as The Attic, Vice President for College Life Anne Ehrlich decided to create a Social Venues Taskforce in the Spring of 2023. Taking the recommendations from that Taskforce, OSAGL has continued to revamp places on campus, including The Attic and Plank Basement.

Member of the Social Venues Taskforce and President of the Student Body Andrew Lemon ’24 talked about the importance of the Taskforce.

“The Social Venues Taskforce is very important to the college, as social spaces are one of the most critical components in ensuring satisfactory campus life for our students,” said

Lemon. “Our college has many great social spaces, but these areas can always be improved. Utilizing the efforts of the Taskforce, our committee was able to work to ensure that we can better build the spaces that our students use so often.”

Fellow Taskforce member and President of the Newman Association Natalie Vancura ’25 added that these new spaces recommended by the task force give “students more options for how they want to spend their free time and gets them out of their residence halls and into public spaces to have fun and build friendships…

Ideally, the new spaces would revamp the current social scene and promote fun, new ways to engage with the Gettysburg community.”

Co-President of Listeners & Performers Ratul Pradhan ’25 served on the Taskforce as well and provided some history of Plank Basement to explain why the changes were being made.

“The college has a lot of spaces around campus that were changed from social spaces to Academic spaces during a time when there was a higher need for accommodating the increase in students, a prime example being the Plank Basement,” said Pradhan. “Now, with the decrease in student population, these spaces are heavily underutilized…. These spaces, when utilized properly, give students and their organizations a certain sense of independence and a space they can call their own.”

Ehrlich served on the Taskforce as an administrator and commented on how these new spaces will act in relation to Greek Life.

(Photos Will Oehler /The Gettysburgian; Graphic Provided)

“Since The Attic is our only social space on campus, currently, that is available for events like this, we’re looking to create an environment where it emulates some aspects of a fraternity open, so the space feels similar, but has obvious differences,” Meadville said.

educational or activity based. Organizations on campus do not have to be just fully educational, there is more to them, and that can include having a fun event in The Attic,” Meadville said. “We want organizations to branch out, which will help them attract more students.”

News “It’s a very fun place to pass time with friends after a late night study and you want to take a break and meet new people. It’s a perfect place for you to be,” said Marcelo Estrada ’27.

Pictured: Plank Basement with Changes in Orange Allen echoed similar sentiments.

“When I arrived just over two years ago, I heard loud and clear from students and staff that there were not many social alternatives for students who were not interested in the Greek Life scene,” Ehrlich said. “Let me be perfectly clear—I support Greek Life on campus. But I also acknowledge that not every student sees themselves in that space, so we want to provide alternatives so everyone on campus can find their people and feel that they belong. Our student body is diverse, and so if we truly strive to be an inclusive community, our social offerings need to be diverse.”

vated Pictured: the newly reno CUB Lobby and Attic

“We are trying to create more social spaces so that students can then define what kind of social experience they want. If they want to party or if they want to just hang out,” Allen said.

Overall, the Task Force made 42 recommendations for improvement.

These broadly fell into four categories: education and communication, resources, policies and space. While some of these are complex and will take time to fully implement, some changes are already able to be seen.

One example is the use of The Attic more frequently, especially as it has become available for students every day from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Ashton Doll ’25 added, “I think The Attic’s a great space to just hang out and have a good time. I really like the Skee Ball.”

Clubs and organizations will now have more space in Plank Basement. Co-President of Listeners and Performers Jack Joiner ’25 spoke about what this means.

“We [Listeners and Performers] are trying to establish a legacy of music and a space where students, student bands, student performers can have a safe, inclusive space with something less formal than the Conservatory. We want to have that for years to come here. And having that space [in Plank Basement] will help foster that,” said Joiner.

E-Sports Club President Owen Labruna ’24 had similar feelings.

“Our new room in Plank basement gives us a permanent spot to grow the E-sports program. The room allows us to set up a layout that allows our teams to communicate better with each other as well as run our weekly fighting game tournaments more efficiently,” Labruna said. “A permanent space also allows us to consider infrastructure and hardware investments we could not before in our temporary space that will really accelerate our growth as an organization.”

As these new social spaces continue to grow and develop, clubs, organizations and individual students are able to reap the benefits and explore how new social spaces will continue to emerge. ∎

T he Gettysburgian

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New

- Pathways Program begins for the class of 2027 (learn more about the program on Page 17)

- Art House opens as a new theme house - Gettysburg updated its Poster Policy, restricting locations and adding requirements for posting - Book Tok Section in the Library - Gluten Free Crust at Pi - Roots has New Bowls - Refurbished Library Patio

(learn more about new spaces on campus on Page 4)

- Campus Safety has begun charging students for room unlocks after the third request - Film Club opens for anyone interested in film discussion - Omega Phi Alpha, a National Service Sorority, is establishing a chapter on campus.

- Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA) is rebranding to Students for Sexual Justice - Stagecraft and Technichal Arts Guild for Education (STAGE) Club opens for students interested in technical theatre.

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Compiled by Editorial Board Staff

Hannah Crowley ’24 In the nearly four years I have been at Gettysburg College, what has amazed me about our community is our ability to connect beyond the classroom. Gettysburg College isn’t where you are or what you’re studying, it’s who you’re with, who you’re able to be yourself around, and who you’re able to grow with. I have had the privilege to meet my best friends while at Gettysburg, people who I have witnessed mature into intelligent, kind, and generous adults, and who have supported me in my own progress. While we may be from different places and study different topics, the college has brought us together in our most formative years and taught us the skills we need to succeed not only in the professional world, but the global community as well.

I am indebted to Gettysburg for helping me evolve socially and academically, and for bringing these people into my life.

Fiona Cheyney ’24 Although we all have our own complaints about Gettysburg College, I’ll admit that I am already feeling nostalgic and sentimental about my college experience as I begin my senior year. It was easy to feel removed from the community, especially when we were completing our assignments from our couches in ZoomUni. However, as I have shifted into who I am today, I feel the inclusivity of the Gettysburg community more than ever before. Through the years, I’ve met and bonded with incredible people. I have life-long friends in my academic departments and enjoyed amazing opportunities through organizations like Her Campus and the Gettysburg Social Science Review.

I am a leader in the activities that matter most to me. I am grateful to have this perspective so that I can be a helpful upperclassman to those who want social advice, homework help, or even just a supportive listener.

Compiled by Vincent DiFonzo, Opinions Editor and Content Manager

(Photos Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian)

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O p p o r t u n it ie s

The New's

Senior Perspectives

Opinions Gettysburg gave me the opportunity to go to places and try things I never knew existed and my time here has been absolutely unforgettable in all the best ways.

-Noelle Muni ’24

Drew Lemon ’24

Noelle Muni ’24

Kathryn Hopsicker ’24

During my time at Gettysburg, I have found that the most important aspect of our college is the empowering relationships that are offered through the members of our community. When I began my first year at Gettysburg back in 2020, our class was beginning the start of our college experience during a very turbulent time.

Nonetheless, I was struck to see the dedication and support from staff members and faculty that did their best to provide a true Gettysburg experience. As the years have progressed during my time at the college, these relationships have not only transcended into lasting connections and mentorships, but they evolved into friendships.

These friendships with our college faculty and staff have proven to be invaluable in so many ways, both personally, academically, and professionally. I am truly grateful for the individuals that make this campus extraordinary, and I am proud to be a part of the Gettysburg Family.

When I was first applying to Gettysburg, I was looking at small liberal arts schools with decent biology programs.

Between sending in my application and setting foot on campus for the first time, I had already changed my mind. One visit to the English department panel at Get Acquainted Day had already convinced me that they had everything I wanted. While on that zoom in my childhood bedroom, my stuffed animals and I took down notes on a few things, a couple of courses that sounded interesting, the writing concentration, and a study abroad program in Lancaster, England. Since that meeting, I’ve certainly continued to shuffle things around a little bit. Studying abroad in Lancaster turned into studying abroad in Bath (stunning, gorgeous, and highly recommended). I picked up a minor, dropped a minor, then picked up a different minor. I’ve taken so many courses I never expected to be interested in and found myself falling in love with them. Despite, *gestures broadly to the pandemic,* Gettysburg gave me the opportunity to go to places and try things I never knew existed and my time here has been absolutely unforgettable in all the best ways.

I entered Gettysburg in the Fall of 2020 and my first year was spent in Zoom World. By sophomore year I felt like a freshman again. I attended my first classes in person, took my first on-paper college exams and started to find myself.

My first deep-rooted connections on campus started with a job in the library. The students and librarians that I worked with became my best friends and I finally felt comfortable enough to thrive. I threw myself into the “Gettysburg experience” and my Health Science major. The opportunities and knowledge provided by our HS department were integral in my growth as a student and individual.

Gettysburg is the place that I was meant to be for these past (almost) 4 years, and I am so grateful for the people that have made this experience Gettysburg Great. With my newfound knowledge, selflove, and new understanding of the world I have no doubt that my Gettysburg education will help me to go into the world with passion and confidence in anything I do.

T he Gettysburgian

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Feature

Leadership for Change: Sam Anderson’s Work at Gettysburg College

By William Oehler, Director of Photography

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ssistant Director for Leadership Development for the Garthwait Leadership Center (GLC) and the Eisenhower Institute (EI) Sam Anderson knew that he wanted to work in higher education since his undergraduate program at Goucher College. He did not expect an unplanned flight to Baltimore to take him to a small liberal arts college in rural Pennsylvania.

Anderson attended Goucher College to study Political Science. As student government president, Anderson developed an interest in higher education. His passion for activism, democracy and student organizing led him to the University of Michigan, where he got his masters in higher education.

“I didn’t expect to go into student affairs when I entered my master's program, or even when I started my job hunt,” shared Anderson.

When Executive Director of the Eisenhower Institute Tracie Potts approached Anderson on a flight from Baltimore to Detroit, he soon found himself adding his name to the applicant pool for Gettysburg College’s Assistant Director for Leadership Development.

Anderson said, “....at the end of the flight, Potts came back three rows, handed me her business card and

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Anderson’s position partners with the GLC and EI and signifies their collaboration in leadership for change. Anderson works on a project-by-project basis with EI, most notably the Eisenhower Leadership Conference and the Eisenhower Scholars Program.

The Scholars Program is an important scholarship available at the College and looks for those civically engaged locally, nationally and internationally. Anderson worked with this year's Scholars during their pre-orientation process in collaboration with other campus organizations.

While Anderson works with EI, he also has his office within the GLC, a campus organization working to develop students’ leadership skills through experiential education.

Two highlights of Anderson’s work at the GLC are the Leadership Certificate and the Carnegie Classification. The former is a year-long program centered around leadership theory and practice. Students spend a semester learning the theory behind leadership and reflecting that onto their own leadership journey.

The second semester works to partner with College organizations for positive change on campus.

“The why is really important in that work,” described Anderson. “We want emerging leaders on campus to be able to identify… their own mission statement for themselves as to why they’re interested in making change.”

While the Leadership Certificate focuses on internal and local change, the Carnegie Classification centers around the College as a whole. The Classification applies a title to an institution through its practice of education.

Anderson is leading a voluntary selfstudy team from July to December of this year. The team will gather information on the College to present their findings for a classification released next summer. The recognition of the Carnegie Classification would allow Gettysburg College to advertise a comprehensive title to its donors, applicants and potential grant candidates.

Anderson’s office is in the back of room 118. Outside, there may be GLC student staff members planning their next leadership experience, but his office is always open to students to say hello or talk about his work on campus. ∎

(Photos Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian)

At the airport, Anderson had overheard conversations between college faculty who attended a higher education conference in Baltimore.

Later, he struck up a conversation with the man next to him, an Orientation Administrator at Kenyon College in Ohio.

said, ‘We’re hiring an assistant director, you should apply.’”

Sports

The Unsung Heroes: Interview With Amanda Singer of Gettysburg’s Athletic Training Staff

By Owen Kutlu, Staff Writer

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any die-hard fans love to see the final game results, stuffed box scores and celebrations. But who really makes it possible for these teams to put together a winning product on the field or court?

A major aspect of it comes from the work done by the athletic training staff.

At Gettysburg College, home to 22 varsity athletic teams, the role of the training staff can not go unmentioned. Assistant Athletic Trainer Amanda Singer explained that athletic trainers are “responsible for the prevention of injuries, care of injuries and the rehab process.”

Athletic trainers at Gettysburg have to cover all home practices and games. Singer described her position as “essentially [being] the first responders when an athlete goes down on the field or court.” While it is never good to see an athlete get hurt while playing, the training staff is always ready to step in and provide the best care possible.

With hundreds of collegiate athletes on campus, the training staff is always busy. Per Singer, some of the daily tasks range from “managing doctors appointments to managing return to play progressions, practice modifications and the treatment plan along the way for athletes.” The staff makes every student-athlete a priority and makes sure to be extremely welcoming for anything someone may need.

A main reason why Singer chose to get into this profession is the potential to help so many people.

She stated that she chose to become a trainer because she “enjoys working in athletics and also enjoys the medicine side of things, so it

combined two of [her] interests into one.” Singer was very appreciative of how her position allows her to “get to work with great people and great athletes.”

Singer earned her bachelor of science in kinesiology from University of Maryland-College Park in 2019 and is a member of the National Athletic Trainer’s Association. This is Singer’s first year as an athletic trainer at Gettysburg, but it is her third year in the occupation.

When asked what she was most proud of about her job, Singer explained that she is most proud of “seeing [athletes] make a big stride in their rehab or return to play.”

She went on to say that “there have

been a few instances with athletes where that has happened and that is a really good feeling for you, them and everyone.”

Singer mentioned that even seeing someone make an accomplishment off the field is a great feeling, which highlights the relationship that Gettysburg’s training staff builds with all of their student-athletes.

“It is really good to see all the hard work that they put in pay off,” Singer said.

Another important task the athletic training staff takes care of is determining when an athlete is ready to compete again. Singer remarked that it varies based on the injury. However, common factors include “the athletes confidence level, how they are feeling about getting back into play mentally and then [athletic training] may run them through a series of functional tests to make sure they are safe and ready to go back out on the field.” The training staff make sure that they are constantly on the same line of communication with the injured athletes and work with them until they are comfortable to return to play.

Not only is Gettysburg College’s athletic training staff a crucial part in the lives of many student-athletes, but they are yet another great, supportive resource on campus that fosters the tightknit college community as a whole. ∎

T he Gettysburgian

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Feature

The Age of Generative AI at Gettysburg College

By Laurel Bennett, Features Editor

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s generative AI continues to grow more prominent worldwide, Gettysburg College faculty members have evaluated how to approach platforms such as ChatGPT. Associate Professor of Health Sciences Josef Brandauer and Lecturer in English Melissa Forbes have been instrumental in considering how AI can be both embraced and resisted in the classroom.

Brandauer serves as Director of the Johnson Center for Creative Teaching and Learning (JCCTL). This center provides faculty members with a multitude of resources to encourage student engagement and participation.

The JCCTL also provides grants and workshops for faculty members, with many of the workshops now centering around AI. “We have a mission to help people become more effective teachers,” Brandauer said. “There are tons of colleagues on campus that have really deep levels of knowledge and skills for supporting students, thinking about digital learning, and bringing mental health strategies in a classroom.”

Another central goal of the website is to help professors determine what their stance towards AI should be. This reveals open, conditional, restricted and closed approaches to AI that can be outlined in syllabi.

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Forbes emphasized the importance of professors outlining their generativeAI policies in their syllabi, and she held a workshop on creating syllabi in the age of AI. “I did [a workshop] on the syllabus as an equity tool and how faculty members can present the information on their policies to help make sure that all of our students are having a good and successful start of the semester,” Forbes said.

Other colleges have turned to Gettysburg and the JCCTL website to see how AI can be utilized. Instead of entirely resisting the utilization of AI, many professors across the nation are looking for ways in which it can be positively used.

“It has been really fun to see that we get thousands and thousands of hits from other institutions, colleges and universities because of their linking to our website,” Brandauer explained.

Forbes echoed Brandauer’s sentiments, saying, “It was really surprising when the website started blowing up outside of Gettysburg.”

At Gettysburg College, the utilization of AI differs between departments and individual professors. Brandauer credits Gettysburg’s liberal arts education for allowing such an interdisciplinary approach to how genAI should be regarded.

Although the semester is underway and professors have already outlined their expectations with regard to AI, Forbes hopes to continue conducting sessions for Gettysburg College

faculty members. These sessions center around AI with a recognition of the fact that many employers want to hire employees who have worked with ChatGPT in the past.

“In April, which was months ago, careerbuilder.com talked to about 1,100 employers who were hiring.

91% of them said that they wanted people who had experience using ChatGPT,” Forbes said.

As colleges continue to praise originality in student’s work, the way AI gets navigated will likely continue to evolve. Brandauer, Forbes and other members of the JCCTL are committed to equipping faculty members at Gettysburg with the resources needed to navigate these changing platforms. ∎

(Photo Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian; Provided)

Currently, a central component of the JCCTL is the formation of the “Teaching and Learning in the Age of genAI” website. This website provides extensive background information about AI, and it details what resources such ChatGPT are and how they function. The website has garnered national attention and was recently featured in The New York Times in an article titled “How Schools can Survive (and Maybe Even Thrive) with AI This Fall.”

Additionally, the website includes a section titled “Do my homework, genAI” which shows Forbes and Brandauer using genAI tools to complete sample homework assignments from Gettysburg College professors.

Opinions

AI as a Peer

By Alfredo Roman Jordan, Staff Columnist ideas through mind mapping.

These tools can help in visualizing the connections between different concepts, making it easier to understand and remember complex topics. AI is a helpful companion in the learning journey that’s available instantly and 24/7. How is using ChatGPT any different from using a service provided by the college, such as the Writing Center?

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n an era defined by technological advancements, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has woven itself into the fabric of our daily existence, revolutionizing every aspect of society. Yet, its integration into education has been met with a mix of apprehension and skepticism. It is no secret that over the summer, a predominant concern among professors was figuring out how to incorporate generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Claude, into their syllabi. The prevailing sentiment among faculty seems to be that generative AI poses the most significant threat to the integrity of the classroom in 2023 by providing an easy avenue for students to cheat.

I often use AI as my peer, being useful for things like peer reviews and mind mapping. The ability of AI to analyze large texts quickly and accurately makes it an invaluable tool for reviewing written work. It can provide immediate feedback on grammar, syntax, and style, and even suggest ways to improve clarity and coherence. This helps in refining the content before sharing it with human peers for further feedback.

Additionally, AI-powered tools can assist in organizing thoughts and

potential of AI might find themselves lagging behind in the race to assimilate and manage vast amounts of information. It's undeniable that we live in an age of informational overload. Every day, students and professionals alike are bombarded with new data, studies, and materials to absorb. AI tools, with their swift data analysis, offer a lifeline.

For instance, AI can condense

"The tools are here, ready extensive articles or research concise summaries, ensuring to be used; embracing them into that users grasp the crux without ensures we stay in stride being drowned in the superfluous with the accelerating pace details. This isn't just a boon for students racing against assignment of our modern world." deadlines, but also for professionals tight schedules and -Alfredo Roman Jordan '26 juggling competing priorities. Not Similarly to how I often lean on AI for tasks like peer reviews, I've found that it's become a go-to buddy for my creative endeavors too. We're all human, right? We have those days where our minds feel like they're trudging through mud. When you're facing the daunting prospect of sketching out an essay for the fifth time in the same week, it feels like you are attempting to scale the steepest of mountains without any gear. At moments like these, the allure of a helping hand, even a digital one, becomes impossible to resist. Using AI doesn't mean that I am any less committed or creative; it is simply another tool in my arsenal to help navigate the waves of academic fatigue and to ensure that every project gets my best effort. If consulting with a friend would not be looked down upon, why should consulting ChatGPT? In the ever-evolving academic and professional landscape, those who aren't tapping into the

leveraging AI's ability to streamline information processing is akin to choosing the long way around in a marathon. The tools are here, ready to be used; embracing them ensures we stay in stride with the accelerating pace of our modern world.

Additionally, generative AI is a tool that is already changing the world, with banks estimating that by 2030 it will add $15 trillion in value to the global economy. In our workplaces we will need to use AI for speed and efficiency, it can analyze Excel files and large documents, and not using it would be like not using a calculator in math.

To conclude, AI is not the enemy of academia. Instead, it is a tool that we will need to adapt to for both present and future use. The faculty and administration should encourage students to use AI as our companion and peer, and push Gettysburg College into a new era of technological advancement. ∎ T he Gettysburgian

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Meet Brad: Head of the ISS and Honorary "Gettysburg Dad"

By Eric Lippe, Magazine Editor

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hen Brad Lancaster began working for Gettysburg College ten years ago, there were 48 international students. Today, there are 248.

Lancaster, though he tends to go

by Brad, began working for the college in 2013 as the inaugural Director of International Student Services (ISS). According to Lancaster, his intention was to make the ISS a “home away from home for international students.” The motivation to offer these services to students from around the world did not come by accident. Lancaster recounted his time as an English teacher in Taiwan.

“I didn't know anything. I didn't know how to set up a bank account. I didn't know how to set up a phone. I didn't know how to call the United States. I didn't know how to speak Chinese.

I didn't know, you know, culturally, why people were doing certain things,” Lancaster said.

Luckily, Lancaster was helped by a woman named Cynthia, who worked as a secretary for the school he taught at. “[She] helped me through all that stuff, and I always think back and was like ‘God, I would have been in big trouble without Cynthia,’” Lancaster said.

From that moment on, Lancaster knew the importance of having a supportive and welcoming

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foundation for international students, and he wanted to become that: “I want to be Cynthia for students coming to our country and make sure they're welcome and that things are taken care of, because I remembered what it was like to not yet not know how to do all those things.”

At the core of Lancaster’s philosophy for the ISS is building a community for international students.

Lancaster feels that the “family atmosphere” that Gettysburg College provides, where “everybody is friendly, and nice and approachable, and remembers your name, and thinks about you—cares about you,” is vital to the success and growth of the international student community.

“It serves international students really well to feel like, ‘I have a home here. I have people that care about me here. I'm not alone,’” said Lancaster.

A truly strong community cannot be limited to the nine to five schedule that most Gettysburg departments follow, which is why Lancaster takes it upon himself to give to international students whenever he can.

“I don't know any other International Student Advisor around the country who freely gives out their cell phone number—you know, very few—

and is answering WeChat and WhatsApp messages, day and night,” said Lancaster. “I guess that goes back to me not thinking this is a job necessarily. If a student really needs my help at nine o'clock and I have a little bit of free time, I'm going to help them out.”

Features This attitude has clearly had an impact on the international student community, a fact that is reflected by the students.

The care that Lancaster offers has resulted in a community that is less like a department and more like a family.

“Brad is more than just an advisor; he is a mentor and a friend to many of us. His approachability and genuine interest in our well-being makes international students feel valued and heard,” said Meriem Hamioui ’25. Hamioui is the house leader of International House and an international student herself.

“I've been called the International Students’ Gettysburg dad,” Lancaster said.

“I'm proud of that.”

With hundreds of students from 52 nations, the diversity of needs and cultures is broad, even

Even though the ISS faces many of the same hurdles as other departments, the work of a truly dedicated department makes the difference.

“I often think like, if my daughters went to school in China, I would want someone like me there helping them, keeping them challenged,

doing really great things, and you know, seems to be flourishing– maybe I'll apply… So the next year, we had a few more people, and then they're all doing well, and they're posting and it becomes sort of a self-fulfilling kind of admission cycle.”

When asked how both domestic and international students could forge intercultural relationships, Lancaster said that the answer for everyone is to stay curious.

“Be more curious about somebody who's different from you, and in this case with international students, somebody from a different culture,

“It serves international students really well to feel like, ‘I have a home here. I have people that care about me here. I'm not alone’” - Brad Lancaster for someone as experienced as Lancaster. Even still, Hamioui feels that Lancaster navigates it well.

“One of Brad's remarkable contributions is his dedication to building a sense of community among international students,” said Hamioui.

“He organizes events and gatherings that celebrate our diverse backgrounds, fostering connections among students from various parts of the world.

This sense of belonging has a profound impact on our overall well-being, helping us integrate into American college life while preserving our unique cultural identities.”

(Photo Eric Lippe /The Gettysburgian)

supporting them, mentoring them. And that would make me feel really good as a parent,” Lancaster said.

Lancaster believes that the dramatic increase in the international student population is a direct result of prioritizing a strong community.

“The college has put the resources into getting the word out that it's a great place to go, yes, but I also think we are experiencing kind of a grassroots word of mouth phenomenon right now,” said Lancaster. “[When] they're successful, [when] they do well, they talk about it on Instagram, people from their high school see that and hear about it and think, ‘Wow, he's having a great time there. He's

somebody that doesn't look like you, that doesn't speak the same native language you do. The more curious you are about that person, the more questions you ask, the more deeply you'll get to know them, the better chance you'll have of making a genuine intercultural friendship,” said Lancaster.

He emphasized that this isn’t just for the well-being of international students or for the education of domestic students—intercultural relationships benefit everyone.

By forming more intercultural relationships, “Everybody—not just international students—would have a much more fulfilling experience at Gettysburg College.

To be curious–that's always been my advice,” said Lancaster. ∎ T he Gettysburgian

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The Center for Religious & Spiritual Life Welcomes New Program for the Fall Semester

By Laken Franchetti, Editor-in-Chief

D

irector of Religious and Spiritual Life and College Chaplain Michael Bright is introducing a new program to Gettysburg College that he hopes will bring the community closer together and will allow students to honor and celebrate their diverse religious traditions.

The Interfaith Community Chapel Program is sponsored

by The Center for Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL), and the program will have monthly events that students can attend.

The college has had a chapel program before in the nineties, yet it was Lutheran-centered.

Bright wanted to begin a new chapel program that showcased various religions and beliefs.

“I believe that if we were able to create a different sort of environment where it wasn’t just the Lutheran story, but it was every religious and spiritual story that comes to our campus through the lives of our students. We can build and create a space for that to be honored and celebrated,” said Bright.

“Our goal is to help students foster religious and spiritual solidarity, meaning that we affirm and encourage each other through our own individual religious journeys,” said Bright.

The kick-off event for the program, “Welcome Back!

Chapel,” took place on

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“Students for international identities will bring liturgical music traditions with them when they come to school,” Bright said. “We know that, in a lot of ways, music is something that keeps a lot of people together. It’s an anchor for a lot of us. It allows us to give sound for things that sometimes there’s no words for.”

The November event for The Interfaith Community Chapel Program will be a Gospel Music Concert on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 6:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. A Gospel Music Retreat and

Workshop will be built around this event. The idea for this concert and retreat came to fruition after Bright discovered that there used to be a gospel music club at the college.

“I met a number of alumni who told me that there used to be a gospel music club that functioned here,” Bright said. “Now, there really isn’t a place for expressions of Black religion here in Gettysburg. That does not seem to be a huge part of our formation as an institution. I was given a vision for something like this, where we would be able to bring students from different places to help them experiment and explore with gospel music on their own terms and in ways that are most meaningful to them.”

Students from the other Central Pennsylvania colleges, Messiah College, Lancaster Seminary, Lancaster Bible College and United Lutheran Seminary, as

(Photo Will Oehler/The Gettysburgian)

Through this open, accepting environment, Bright hopes to foster a greater solidarity among students.

Saturday, Sept. 2. The next event is an “International Student Chapel” and is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7 at Christ Chapel.

Bright and other members of the RSL team will offer reflections on what it means to travel and to journey for education. This event will also allow the different liturgical music traditions of international students to be studied and showcased.

News well as congregation members and alumni, have been invited to participate in these gospel music events. The invitation to neighboring and peer institutions for them to participate was made in order to bring gospel music to other campuses and to galvanize the gospel music community.

“Our real goal to do something like this is to make gospel music accessible to people who do not come from the Black church or do not come from churches where gospel music was a regular part of that,” said Bright. “It’s a way for us to build those bridges of religious and spiritual understanding and solidarity that we have all come to this tradition in different ways: some of us inherited it, some of us adopted it, some of us are neighbors and friends of the tradition.”

Chapel Program is representative of what Bright has come to love about his position as the College Chaplain: making connections with the student body.

“Just making connections with students and seeing the kind of hope that is ignited in students when they come to see me… I think in those moments, where I see them, where I see you all, grow into the people you dreamed about being and that you’ve seen those opportunities come to fruition in front of you… I think over the past year, working here and watching that happen has maybe been one of my favorite things,” said Bright.

Bright reflected on the message of the Interfaith Community Chapel Program and how he hopes RSL can continue to help students both through this program and beyond.

Program. Daniel Alexander Payne is one example of such.

Payne was the first African American man to graduate from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, and he is one of the founders of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

“He suffered so badly working with the Lutherans here where there was no way for his spirituality to be acknowledged in the spiritual framework and worldview they believed in, so he and other Black preachers helped found another institution: Wilberforce University in Ohio,” Bright shared.

“Gettysburg has this huge fixture in the history of the Black church in America because of Alexander Payne.”

The Interfaith Community Chapel Program has been created

“We know that, in a lot of ways, music is something that keeps a lot of people together. It’s an anchor for a lot of us. It allows us to give sound for things that sometimes there’s no words for.” -Bright The Gospel Music Retreat and Workshop, as well as the Gospel Music Concert, is meant to be an intersectional, intergenerational and ecumenical experience due to the various identities that will be a part of the choir. To sign up to participate, students can apply at a link that will be available on RSL flyers on campus, the Student Digest and the RSL Instagram page (@ rsl_gettysburg).

The final event in the fall semester for the Interfaith Community Chapel Program will be a Candlelight Service in December.

The Interfaith Community

“When everything around you says that it is impossible, and that it is illegal, that you are inhuman, you have this to lean on to say, ‘I am a person. I have dignity and purpose in my life that has nothing to do with being subservient or second class to anybody.’”

Bright hopes that this program will continue in coming years and can see the gospel music event forming into something larger, such as a Pennsylvania Consortium Gospel Choir or an Adams County Community Gospel Choir.

On reflecting on his time at Gettysburg College, Bright spoke on how history inspires him to pursue and create programs such as the Interfaith Community Chapel

to recognize these various religions that can be found within Gettysburg and to honor the history behind them.

“The real goal with us creating this new chapel program was to try and build a sacred space where students are able to honor and celebrate the very diverse and nuanced religious traditions that they come from,” Bright said. “Even though, in some ways, religion and religious people are becoming their own minority, it is still something we preserve as a part of our human consciousness.

We preserve that as a part of our human identity."∎

T he Gettysburgian

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A&E

A Look into the Bullets Marching Band

By Kenzie Smith, Arts and Entertainment Editor

A

ttending Gettysburg College presents students with many unique opportunities, and one of these opportunities is the Bullets Marching Band. Gettysburg College is the only school within the Centennial Conference to have a marching band, which provides an extra element of entertainment to home football games and gives students the opportunity to continue their marching band career from high school or engage in a new activity.

Being the only marching band in the Centennial Conference can have both advantages and disadvantages for the band members. Color guard member Mariasa Conners ’26 expressed her thoughts on such.

“I miss being able to talk with other band members during third-quarter breaks,” Conners said. “However, I feel that the unique aspect of being the only marching band in our conference helps us focus on doing our best, rather than trying to top another group's performance.”

Marching Band Director Steven Marx commented on how the band can be an advantage for the football team.

On top of “stand-tunes,” the marching band also performs a halftime show, which takes a lot of work and effort to prepare for.

“During band camp, which meets the week before first-year orientation,

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“I think since we as a group also think the tunes are fun, we play them with more energy and excitement that hopefully translates to the crowd,” Lane said.

The Bullets Marching Band also performs at other events, such as the Gettysburg Halloween Parade, which is an exciting aspect for the members. Mellophone player Alex Michua-Brooks ’25 shared their excitement for being able to participate in the event.

I challenged the ensemble to see how much information they could absorb, and they met and exceeded expectations,” Marx said. “This group is further ahead of schedule than any group I’ve worked with in my time at Gettysburg.”

“I'm really looking forward to this year's Halloween parade! It's lots of fun, and I miss marching in the parade block,” Michua-Brooks said.

“The Halloween parade is also fun because we get to engage with the community!”

The marching band’s show for this year is “2000’s on Shuffle,” and it includes arrangements of Britney Spears’s “Toxic,” The Black Eyed Peas’ “Pump It,” Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” Adele’s “Hello” and Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face.” Each year’s show is specifically curated by the members of the marching band.

One of the bigger events the band is looking forward to is the Collegiate Marching Band Festival, which occurred Oct. 1 in Allentown.

“Show ideas are submitted each year by the marching band members, and student leadership votes,” Marx explained. “The entire process is led by the group, and this year’s show is especially exciting!”

Of this selection, color guard section leader Noelle Muni ’24 shared that her favorite song to perform is “Crazy in Love.”

“I really enjoy spinning rifle in ‘Crazy in Love.’ Getting to do something a little different during the show in regard to choreo-style or equipment is always fun,” Muni said.

Tenor sax player Aynsley Lane ’26 commented on the band's enjoyment

“This event brings together student performers from universities and colleges across the northeast to perform in exhibition for a crowd of thousands of fans,” Marx explained.

The marching band is equipped as a team to overcome problems and challenges when they arise, and they have developed a motto for the team.

“We have a phrase in the group that ‘Band Equals Change,’” Marx said. “While everything in this activity is highly coordinated, few things go exactly as planned. When an issue arises in any aspect of the organization, the entire group is affected. As they work together to overcome challenges, it becomes clear that every member of the ensemble is motivated, creative, and collaborative.” ∎

(Photo Courtesy Wilyi Feliz)

“We recognize that the band creates distractions for the opposing teams, and we try to make Shirk field a tough place to play football, especially when the opposition is in a no-huddle situation in front of the band. It will be rare to find us not playing during these moments of a game,” Marx said.

of the show’s entire discography.

News

Gettysburg College Implements New Guided Pathways Program

By Sophie Lange, Assistant News Editor

T

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

his year, Gettysburg College unveiled Guided Pathways, a program that adds co-curricular involvement to students’ academic and career experiences.

Through the Pathways programs, students will gain, develop and utilize skills through the intentional selection of experiences that align with their interests. Additionally, students are provided with a framework that allows them to consider how each experience helped them gain knowledge, build upon previous experiences and draw connections between their experiences and academic careers. The end goal of Pathways is to equip students with ways to express how their time at Gettysburg has made them convincing candidates for future positions in the professional world, experiences to the Pathways include as well as how it has prepared them for a activities such as on-site job shadowing variety of activities. or attendance at the January term Associate Dean of Co-Curricular industry meetup.

Education Jim Duffy explained the Duffy explained that the introductory purpose of the Pathways Program. experiences are similar to “searching “The thing I often tell folks is, if you for a major. [Students] are taking a look at our [clubs and organizations], it number of different classes, [and] can be quite overwhelming,” Duffy said. students may do three to five of these.”

“Really, what [Pathways] provides is a way to… make intentional decisions as to what In their second and third years, students within the program will works best for them.” complete exploratory experiences in The program contains five different the Career Development Pathway.

Pathways for students to choose: Career Exploratory experiences include Development; Creativity, Entrepreneurship activities such as meeting with a Career & Innovation; Global Citizenship Engagement Counselor, participating in & Intercultural Fluency; Justice & an externship or research project and Community Change; and Leadership, developing job-specific and transferable Teamwork & Collaboration. All students in skills. By the end of sophomore year, the Pathways program must complete the students must choose one Pathway, in Career Development Pathway and select addition to Career Development, that one other to take part in. they will complete in their remaining time at Gettysburg. During this time, Each student in the program has three students may also choose to add an advisors: an academic advisor, a career alumni mentor to their Personal advisor and a co-curricular advisor. In Advising Team. their first year, students will explore a variety of Pathways to gain a better Finally, in their third and fourth years, understanding of which one best suits students will complete a consequential their needs and interests. Introductory experience in their chosen Pathway

and the Career Development Pathway. Similar to a capstone for a major, examples of consequential experiences include completing an Eisenhower Institute Washington Summer Fellowship, serving as a PLA or developing transferable and jobspecific skills through employment in a leadership or management role. Duffy elaborated on the meaning of these consequential experiences.

“They all have an impact on [the] community… If a student did study abroad, that’s an exploratory experience, but if a student did study abroad and did an internship that brought water to a remote, rural area, then that would be consequential,” said Duffy.

Students in the Class of ’27 and beyond must opt into the program in order to participate. Of the current first-year class, 76% of students opted into the program. However, the Student Life Committee (SLC) plans to reassess the program in the future to decide if it should be a requirement. The earliest that this program may be required for all students is Fall 2025 with the incoming class of ’29. ∎ T he Gettysburgian

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Feature

Postcard from Abroad: Planning New Experiences

By Katie Lauriello, Contributing Writer

L

ANCASTER, ENGLAND—On a warm Sunday evening, I walked across the Millennium Bridge to Shakespeare’s Globe for an evening showing of “Macbeth.” As I began taking pictures from my seat, a woman from behind me kindly offered to take a picture for me.

We introduced ourselves to each other. The woman, a professional photographer, was accompanied by a professor from South Africa who had just finished teaching his students about “Macbeth.” I introduced myself as a student studying abroad with an English major. Inevitably, we both started analyzing the first few Acts during the intermission, and he did not seem too impressed. I laughed a bit and agreed with him that the play was a bit down-to-earth for “Macbeth,” but that I was having a great time. It was an interesting experience, to say the least. Nevertheless, I was simply overjoyed I had the opportunity to watch Macbeth in The Globe.

That night, as I walked back on the Millennium Bridge once again, I could see St. Paul's Cathedral bathed in light and the city of London at night for the first time. I avoided going out alone at night for the most part as a safety precaution, and I still avoid that as much as I can. As I looked toward London nighttime cityscape, however, I felt exhilarated.

Opportunities like these are the reason I decided to study abroad in the UK. I've been to so many museums in London that it would be hard to keep track if I didn't have a set schedule. Still, the experiences that matter to me the most happen as I venture out into London alone, whether that be watching “Macbeth” at The Globe Theater or finding a vintage copy of “The Silmarillion” in the early opening hours of Portobello Road Market.

Not everything goes to plan, of course. I was initially prepared for it to be raining almost every day here in the UK. However, it was only on Monday that we finally got rain. The two weeks that came before were part of a long heat wave, and most British buildings are not built to withstand it comfortably. The heat was not something anyone in our class was expecting, but we made the most of it. I expect that I'll miss those sunny days a bit more when I arrive for the rest of my semester at Lancaster.

Living in a city on its own is also a very different experience. I've taken the Tube so many times these past two weeks, and it is still a challenge sometimes to find which line I need to take to arrive at a certain station. Public transportation is a gift that I have yet to fully master, especially coming from rural Pennsylvania. Still, persistence and practice are the keys to success when adjusting to anything new.

Even though I've only been here for two weeks, studying abroad has already been filled to the brim with new opportunities and experiences that have changed how I approach things. I look forward to what the rest of the semester will bring. ∎

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(Photo Katie Lauriello/ The Gettysburgian)

Living in London these past two weeks has taught me the value in planning out my day to make these experiences happen.

Whether that be something as simple as browsing the local restaurants or exploring every single bookstore in Oxford, I've learned to plan new opportunities for myself beyond a set schedule.

Sports

Gettysburg Volleyball Spends Week Overseas

By David Goldman, Sports Editor

(Photo Courtesy Chelsea O’Lear)

G

ettysburg volleyball stepped up their summer training trip by going overseas to Athens, Greece on a week long excursion.

The Bullets took in all the ancient sights and beautiful views of Greece and had the opportunity to compete against some international talent. Here is how the squad spent their once in a lifetime training trip.

Late on August 8, the Bullets arrived in Athens, and they hit the ground running the next day. After spending the morning hiking the Acropolis and exploring the beautiful town of Plaka, the Bullets suited up later in day for their first match against a team from Papagou, a small town east of Athens. They successfully won the match and had to adjust to the different playing environment.

“Having the chance to play against a team from a different country was a huge learning experience,” said Izzy Lugar ’24. “There are different rules, we could not understand what they were saying on the other side of the net and we had to adjust to the speed of the game.”

On August 10, the Bullets departed for an excursion to the island of Paros. The team spent the next few days exploring beaches, cities and all that the island had to offer. Seniors on the trip managed to carve out bonding time just for themselves and went on a boat trip to different parts of the island.

The Bullets headed back to Athens on August 13 and prepared for their second game against Papagou, this time a bit more comfortable with their new environment. They split sets this time, but after the

game, got to mix in with the other team to play triples.

“The casual play after was a super cool experience because we actually got to talk and play alongside these athletes from a whole different country, not just against them,” said Chelsea O’Leary ’24.

On their last full day in Greece, the team headed to the center of the city to visit the national parliament building and watch the switching of the guards. After this, the Bullets took a stroll through the national gardens before touring the Panathenaic stadium, which was home to the first modern Olympics in 1896 and is made completely out of marble.

Dinner that night was at one of Athens’ many rooftop restaurants, which offered stunning views of the Parthenon building on top of the Acropolis. The squad departed early the next morning to return back home.

This trip was not only a vacation for the Bullets but bonded them in a way that can be reflected onto the court.

“Being able to spend time in unfamiliar surroundings fosters a strong sense of unity, as we learned to rely on each other not just on the court, but also in navigating new environments and sharing memorable moments,” said Lugar.

O’Leary shared her appreciation for this opportunity and thinks that more teams at Gettysburg should be able to participate in life-changing trips like this one.

“I hope that our team continues to give our athletes this experience, and I also hope that other teams, from Gettysburg College and even elsewhere, see the immeasurable value that trips like this gift student-athletes with,” said O’Leary.

It is certainly hard to pick just one part of the trip that ranked amongst the rest, but Brooke Lauletta ’24 mentioned how much she enjoyed exploring the cities in Paros.

“I especially loved navigating the streets of Naousa, which were so beautiful and unique, and offered so many fun things to do,” said Lauletta.

Gettysburg volleyball certainly had themselves an unforgettable week this past summer. The team came back closer and with a greater appreciation for other cultures.∎

T he Gettysburgian

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Editorial: The Future of RaceConscious Admissions

By The Gettysburgian Editorial Board

T

he United States is a diverse country built by people from every corner of the world. American identity has been developed from immigrants who brought their cultures, traditions and values to their new home. Despite the country’s reliance on immigration and diversity, the government has repeatedly mistreated members of minority communities. Through its history, American society has profited from the exploitation of people of color. African, Asian, Hispanic and Indigenous Americans have faced repeated discrimination in government policy. Perhaps the most visible example of this is the history of slavery and segregation in America. The centuries’ long enslavement of African Americans and subsequent century of segregation represents how the government has repeatedly worked against the well-being of minorities in ways that continually disadvantage them.

minorities if we do not actively work to counter the wrongdoings of the past and present. These effects cannot disappear on their own.

The effects of institutionalized racism extend deeply into higher education. The 2020 Census tells us that 41.9% of White Americans over the age of 25 hold a bachelor's degree. That number is just 28.1% for African Americans, 20.9% for non-White Hispanic Americans and just 15.4% for Indigenous Americans. Affirmative Action was created to mitigate this discrepancy.

Institutionalized racism will continue to impact American minorities if we Institutionalized Racism describes do not actively the way that hundreds of years of discriminatory policy has ingrained work to counter itself into American society and continues to affect minorities today. the wrongdoings Institutionalized racism causes many Black communities to be unof the past and derfunded and underrepresented in present. government. They are overpoliced and impoverished compared to white-majority communities. This was not random, nor was it an accident. It is the direct result of our nation’s history of discriminatory policy at every level of government.

Today, racial segregation is illegal, but the impact of past injustices persist. Institutionalized racism will continue to impact American

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Affirmative Action is the term that describes the collection of programs, laws, executive orders and precedents designed to correct centuries of discrimination for those affected on the basis of race, creed, color and national origin. For the past five decades, colleges and universities across the country, under

the legal framework of Affirmative Action, were able to consider race in their admissions processes in order to provide opportunity to people from disadvantaged groups.

The number of students in higher education from disadvantaged racial groups increased as Affirmative Action policy was implemented by thousands of colleges and universities nationwide. While racial minorities are still underrepresented on campuses nationwide, Affirmative Action allowed universities to move towards diversifying their student bodies.

Affirmative Action was struck down by the Supreme Court on June 29, 2023. Affirmative Action was not a permanent solution to undo the centuries of racism that has embedded itself into American society and law—but it was a start.

Its overturn does not have to mean the end of diversity on campuses.

It's up to us, the student body, to promote diversity at Gettysburg College in a post-Affirmative Action America by working to make campus a more safe and accepting place for everyone.

This college has a storied history of opposing racial oppression. The college was founded by outspoken abolitionists Thaddeus Stevens and Samuel Simon Schmucker long before the majority of Americans recognized the evils of slavery. The battle that changed the course of the war to end slavery was fought right here on our campus. We, as members of the Gettysburg College community, are obligated to continue making Gettysburg College a place for progress. It is vital that

Opinions the student body and administration works to further diversify our campus. The end of Affirmative Action cannot be used as an excuse to allow the progress this college has made towards diversity to disappear.

Not only did Affirmative Action work to correct past discrimination against gender and racial minorities, it also had the effect of creating more diverse student bodies in universities. Diversity of background, thought, ideology, ethnicity and gender should be strived for in any institution of higher education.

Students are here to be introduced to new ideas and to learn new things that could not be learned at home. Learning from people

tion would live up to their promise of promoting diversity on campus.

The single largest barrier to higher education is the cost. College tuition has skyrocketed over the decades. Gettysburg College raises tuition every year. For the 20232024 academic year, the total price of tuition, room and board and a meal plan is $79,760. Without scholarships, the cost of a bachelor’s degree at Gettysburg College is $319,040. If the administration wants to diversify its student body, it should consider how steep that price is to the vast majority of people. It is also possible for Gettysburg to offer scholarships specifically for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

accurately reflects the demographics of this country while also lessening the financial burden on students of all backgrounds.

President Bob Iuliano is a vocal proponent of Affirmative Action. At his previous position at Harvard University, Iuliano was heavily involved in defending the university's Affirmative Action programs from lawsuits. The day that Affirmative Action was overturned, Iuliano sent an email to the entire Gettysburg community. In this email, he expressed his deep disappointment in the Supreme Court’s decision, but remained hopeful for the future of diversity on this campus.

Gettysburg College is a better place to learn when its students are from a diverse set of backgrounds. with very different backgrounds, experiences and views challenges one’s preconceived notions and strengthens their understanding of the world around them. Gettysburg College is a better place to learn when its students are from a diverse set of backgrounds.

The student body can promote diversity through making our campus culture more accepting of people from all backgrounds. Students are most responsible for the nature of campus culture, so it is up to us to create an environment in which all feel welcomed. However, the student body cannot change the fact that Gettysburg College is a predominately white institution.

Policy change at the administrative level is essential to achieving diversity. Through taking income into account during the admissions process and expanding scholarship programs for students of disadvantaged racial groups, the administra-

This is a common practice at many other universities as it helps ensure a well-rounded student body and was not outlawed by the overturn of Affirmative Action.

Universities can still consider income in the admissions process.

U.S. Census Bureau data tells us that household income for White Americans is $77,999, it is just $48,297 for African Americans, $57,981 for Hispanic Americans, and $53,148 for Indigenous Americans. Those from low-income backgrounds are significantly less likely to go to college simply because it is less accessible to them. Considering income in the admissions process would benefit low-income Americans of all racial backgrounds, making college more accessible for all Americans who struggle financially. Making Gettysburg College more accessible by taking income into account in admissions will lead to a student body that more

“As Gettysburgians, we often reflect on Lincoln’s charge of us to advance the ‘unfinished work’ of our time. The Supreme Court’s ruling is yet another example of how this work remains unfinished,” Iuliano stated.

It is clear that President Iuliano and the administration recognize the importance of diversity at Gettysburg College. However, only the administration has the power to create policy that allows for people of disadvantaged racial groups to more easily access a Gettysburg education. By considering income in admissions, working to curb tuition increases and expanding upon scholarship programs for students of color, Gettysburg will continue to uphold its promise to cultivate a diverse community. The power of institutions led to the inequalities we see today, so it is up to the power of institutions to make amends.∎

T he Gettysburgian

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A&E

A Summer of Film: “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer”

By Leah Nath, Contributing Writer Film has become one of the largest and most obvious markers of popular culture in modern society, defining certain years by anticipated releases. This year, the summer of 2023 was overtaken by the releases of Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” and Universal Pictures’ “Oppenheimer.”

“Barbie,” a Greta Gerwig film about one of the most famous toys of all time, exceeded many expectations by combining the lightheartedness of girlhood with overt social commentary about the struggles of femininity in a capitalist society.

Emerson Rodriguez ’26 spoke on the powerful messaging of the film.

Alfredo Roman ’26 spoke about the quality of “Oppenheimer.”

“Oppenheimer’s level of production was incredible… Nolan clearly took many creative risks, like the length of the movie and the black and white sections, that paid out,” Roman said.

Despite being marketed for such different audiences, the two movies share complementary messages about the limitations of hierarchical positioning in society. Together, they make quite a statement about the dominant ideologies of their respective times, shedding light on growing polarization and brewing tensions.

Sharing the same release weekend, a social media trend, “Barbenheimer,” arose where people planned to dress up to see “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” back to back. Movie theaters are still in a precarious place after the rise of streaming during the coronavirus pandemic, but according to Box Office Mojo, Barbenheimer weekend became the best box office weekend of 2023 and the best domestic box office weekend since the beginning of the pandemic.

“[It] touched on topics of womanhood and the immense amount of privilege that men have and how the patriarchy looks down on women and anything that symbolizes femininity,” Rodriguez said.

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With an original budget of $100 million to create, “Oppenheimer” was one of the cheaper films Nolan

As far as the success of the films on Gettysburg College’s campus, students were surveyed as to their preferences and opinions on these two films. The survey revealed that more students had seen “Barbie” than “Oppenheimer,” and students who participated in the Barbenheimer trend dressed up for “Barbie” more so than “Oppenheimer.” Interestingly, students had personally preferred “Oppenheimer” and had answered that they thought “Oppenheimer” had been objectively better made.

Students’ favorite scenes show the contrast between these two films.

Ryan Gosling’s campy “I’m Just Ken” song was a hit among students, as was the testing of the atomic bomb in “Oppenheimer.” Despite their differences, these two movies captured the interests of millions, creating a social media phenomenon that took everyone by storm and will stand as a testament to the opinions of popular culture in 2023. ∎

(Photos provided)

In comparison to Barbie’s playfulness, Christopher Nolan’s R-rated “Oppenheimer” reimagined the World War II Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb. The movie included thematic warnings about the consequences of losing sight of morals and managing the responsibility for one’s actions.

“Barbie” cost upwards of $145 million to make, which is about $95 million more than the average Hollywood film costs. In its opening weekend, “Barbie” pulled in a whopping $162 million, earning Gerwig the record for the biggest opening weekend in history for a female filmmaker.

“Barbie” hit it big and has made $1.34 billion worldwide. The film has surpassed Warner Bros.’ “The Dark Knight Rises” as the highest grossingglobal release for the studio, and the movie has completely blown critics out of the water with its enormous success.

has made, but by no means any less successful. In its opening weekend, the movie made $80.5 million and has thus far earned $854 million worldwide in box office counts. It has become Universal’s highest grossing R-rated movie and marks another triumphant addition to Nolan’s work.

The Crossword Made by Ella Prieto Across 1 – Customer service phrase 10 – Neither 13 – Escape or avoid 14 – What one may call their grandmother 15 – Come together 16 – Kylo of Star Wars 17 – Contraction 19 – Found on the road 21 – Expression of satisfaction 22 – Spread or branch out 23 – Moment of fear 25 – “Camp Rock 2: The Final ____” 26 – State that encapsulates most of Yellowstone (abbr.)

27 – State that Josh Shapiro governs (abbr.)

28 – German Spelling of Lily 29 – Most recent D1 College Football Champions (abbr.)

30 – Popular email in the early 2000s 32 – Require 34 – Natural logarithm (abbr.)

35 - College football conference with the Vols, Bulldogs, and Razorbacks (abbr.)

36 – Day of the week voting occurs (abbr.)

37 - Warning given on gory media (abbr.)

38 – Used in machines to run 39 – Football scores 41 – Star Wars creatures residing on Endor 43 – She (Spanish) 45 – College living assistants for First Years 46 – Expressing a relationship 48 – October birthstone 50 – Considerable distance 51 - Air ___ 53 – All 54 – Extremely small amount 55 – Selena Gomez’s ____ Beauty 56 – BTS leader 57 – A GPS often provides one 60 – Text sendoff

62 – Harvest synonym 63 - U.S. executive department that deals with occupational safety (abbr.)

64 – Deal with 68 – Contested area of the U.K. (abbr.)

69 – “___ It Was” Harry Styles song 70 – Popular oil made in Greece and Italy 71 – College founded by Samuel Simon Schmucker (abbr.)

72 – To love and respect someone 73 – 2022 film “Turning ____” 74 – “The Seven ____ of Bluebeard”

Down 1 – American R&B singer 2 – Done to find the mean of a data set 3 – Where Colón is located 4 – NY__ 5 – Drink container with a monstrous name 6 – Sole 7 – Laughing syllable 8 – To charm or captivate 9 – Color of Wisteria 10 – Former Irish member of One Direction

11 – One of Shakespeare's tragedies 12 –Middle/High school competition for readers 18 – “Only_______” (up to you) 20 – Popular teen clothing store (abbr.)

24 – Assistance 25 – Done for a legitimate reason 31 – Lion star sign 33 – Female sheep 38 - ____ Cod 40 – Polite/respectful address to a man 42 – Youtuber Cody 44 – Town in Northern Italy 47 – Evergreen coniferous tree 49 – To order 52 – University in Waco, Texas 53 – Common backdrop for "Grey's Anatomy" (abbr.)

58 - “Frog and_____" book series 59 – Too 61 – Venezuelan Viner Pons 65 – To clear 66 – Club relating to media involving sound and visual (abbr.)

67 – State of worried agitation

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T he Gettysburgian Editorial Staff:

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Laken Franchetti, Editor-in-Chief Ella Prieto, Managing Editor & News Editor

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Kenzie Smith, A&E Editor David Goldman, Sports Editor

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Cover Photo by Will Oehler/ The Gettysburgian

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Staff Photo by Sofia Gutierrez/ The Gettysburgian