Collegian 09.10.2026 by The Hillsdale Collegian

First responders at Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium climb the same number of flights of stairs as were in the World Trade Center, in a 9/11 memorial event last year. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks. Courtesy | Kenneth Gaudet

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Vol. 150 Issue 3 – September 10, 2026

Charger football wins blowout at home opener Security adds firearm detection system

By Robert Matteson Sports Editor

The Chargers scored four rushing touchdowns and added three through the air to defeat McKendree University 55-24 at home Sept. 5 to open the 2026 season. Hillsdale ran for 314 yards. Sophomore running back Ben Ngishu led the backfield with 212 yards and two touchdowns. Ngishu was named Great Midwest Athletic Conference O$ensive Player of the Week, his first career weekly conference honor, and senior Shea Ruddy was named G-MAC Special Teams Player of the Week, his fourth career weekly honor. “We’re really entertaining,

By Megan Li Senior Editor The Hillsdale College Security Department added new artificial intelligence– powered software to the campus’s camera system to detect brandished firearms this semester.

Junior Eli Boyce makes a passing touchdown against McKendree. Courtesy | The Hillsdale Athletics Department

and I think it’s easy to claim that we’re the best show in town,” head coach Nate Shref-

fler said. Ngishu ran for a 78 yard touchdown in the second quarter and an 80 yard touch-

down in the third quarter.

See Football A8

Hillsdale hosts conference on American Revolution By Patrishia Arteaga Collegian Freelancer Hillsdale College’s Center for Military History and Strategy hosted its fifth annual conference, focusing on the American Revolution as an example of international diplomacy, American statesmanship, and the importance of education in military history. Historians and faculty from both Hillsdale and other universities on Sept. 3–5 discussed the economics and politics of the Revolutionary War for America’s 250th anniversary. “The center exists to educate and prepare students and citizens to support and

defend the United States and its constitutional order,” said Assistant Professor of History Jason Gehrke, an associate professor of history and the associate director of the center. “We do that through the teaching of military history and strategy.” On the long-term e$ects of the American Revolution, Gehrke said, “The American Revolution determined that America would be English-speaking, Christian, republican, and free.” During the conference, Professor of History Mark Kalthoff announced that Professor of History David Stewart was the recipient of the Thorson Chair of Military History.

Wilfred McClay delivers a lecture at the conference. Courtesy | Mason Dice

“I find military history both engaging and important, but tragically understudied today, both among academics and among Amer-

icans more generally,” Stewart said in an email.

See Military A2

era and uses human verification — by someone on the security team or an analyst at ZeroEyes — to identify a threat before any notification is sent to law enforcement, said Aaron Demoulpied-Racine, manager of protective intelligence and physical security at Hillsdale.

“Self-governance stops with our culture on this campus, and that doesn’t stop someone from coming onto the campus.” ZeroEyes Visual Firearm Detection now covers all cameras on the campus, according to an Aug. 24 campus-wide email from Director of Security and Emergency Management Joe Kellam. “We are always looking for new technology that helps us create a safer environment,” Kellam said. “All kinds of detection softwares are out there, from gunshot detection to di$erent pattern recognition, but we wanted to look at something that was one of our biggest concerns, and that’s a firearm on campus.” A team of Navy SEALs and technologists founded ZeroEyes in 2018, according to the company’s website. Its Visual Firearm Detection product uses AI that is only capable of detecting brandished firearms on cam-

Kellam said students can think about ZeroEyes as doing the work of security when security can’t be present. “Would you rather have the software looking and doing its work or several hundred more o%cers standing at every corner?” Kellam said. “If something pops up, then we can deflect from what we’re doing to go check that out. Otherwise we may miss it, and it costs minutes. And minutes in a critical incident means a lot of lives.” Wilmer said the security team is not here to police the students, but to protect them — sometimes from themselves.

See ZeroEyes A3

County judge dies at 62

History honorary sells trading cards to wipe out debt

By Gemma Flores City News Editor

By Elizabeth Caneday Assistant Editor

After a years-long battle with pancreatic cancer, 62-year-old Hillsdale County Circuit Court Judge Sara Lisznyai died Sept. 2. “It was and is a shock, not just to us here at St. Paul’s, but to everyone,” said Pastor Sean Willman, the senior pastor at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, where Lisznyai was an active member. “All of a sudden, you hear that someone who was young and vibrant, so full of life and so active, is all of a sudden gone.” Born in Livonia, Michigan, Lisznyai graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 1986 and then obtained a law degree at Wayne State University. She worked in private practice until beginning her career with the county in 2014. Lisznyai served as a Hillsdale County judge from 2014 to 2026, first as a District Court Judge, then for the Circuit Court beginning in 2020. She is survived by her husband and two adult children. Neal Brady, the deputy counsel at Hillsdale College, ran against Lisznyai for the district courtship in 2014. He described her as a tough yet fair judge with a heart for her community.

“The county has lost a very, very good jurist and somebody that was compassionate as well as tough, both at the right time,” Brady said. Lisznyai was running for reelection unopposed this year. Her replacement will be named by the governor, according to Chelsea Lambright, the circuit court administrator. Lisznyai was best known for her work in creating the Hillsdale Drug Treatment Court, one of the first specialty courts in the city, according to Hillsdale Probate Judge Michelle Bianchi. The drug court o$ers a supervised rehabilitation program for those facing charges related to substance abuse. “All together, we’ve brought millions of dollars into the community for substance use and alcohol use for people who are presenting before the court,” Bianchi said. “We’ve put families back together, we’ve helped heal them so that they can be their healthiest selves.” She also served on the boards for Hillsdale Hospice and the Hillsdale County Community Foundation.

See Lisznyai A7

A student group wiped out their debt, discovered this summer, by selling trading cards of history professors. The board of history honorary Phi Alpha Theta received an email this summer informing them of the club’s debt. “We didn’t have a treasurer in years past, so we just didn’t know where our finances were at,” said senior Rachel England, PAT’s events coordinator. “It

turns out, we were $106 in debt. You can’t ask for funds from the Student Federation if you’re in debt, but we were already planning this fundraiser. It was providential.” Professor of History David Stewart said he had previously created trading cards representing the 18 other history professors in the spring semester, so he suggested PAT sell them as a fundraiser. A Charles Yost trading card. Courtesy | David Stewart

A Jason Gehrke trading card.

See History B2

Courtesy | David Stewart

Hillsdale revamps college logo, brand designs By Elijah Guevara News Editor Hillsdale College will adopt a new logo design to make the college’s brand more easily recognizable and readable, according to Doug Banbury, vice president for admissions, business development, and marketing. The new logo and brand designs, including a new image of Central Hall’s clocktower and bolder font for the text, will appear on the college’s merchandise, online media, websites, books, and other properties. Banbury said the need for a redesign arose

digital media.” Banbury said the clock tower in the logo was not clear on small printed pieces or in much of the college’s digital artwork, such as social media advertisements and emails. “We also found a need for the font to be a bit bolder so people could quickly recognize ‘Hillsdale College’ while scrolling or watching a video,” Banbury said.

due to the original complex design of the clock tower. “The clock tower that you currently see is beautiful, but

very detailed,” Banbury said in an email. “We discovered a need for something a little simpler so it would translate well in

See Logo A2

A2 September 10, 2026

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Study ranks Hillsdale among most financially resilient schools Wall Street Journal writer to visit, speak on campus By Trinity Gentry Saunders’ rated schools on ment — which sits at more the resources needed for its Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale College is a financially “high capacity” school, placing in the 97th percentile in the nation for its endowment-to-student ratio, 95th percentile in admissions selectivity, and scoring high in other categories, according to a recent study from a Colorado State University professor. The study, titled “Mapping the Structural Divide,” published by Kyle Saunders, a professor of political science, reviewed the financial and institutional strength of 1,563 four-year colleges and universities. Saunders’ study ranks Hillsdale high in other categories, such as its graduation rate (93rd percentile) and consistent enrollment trends (80th percentile). It also rated Hillsdale at the 80th percentile for artificial intelligence exposure, which shows that Hillsdale’s graduates are taking on careers that have a low overlap with AI tasks and jobs, providing job security. Hillsdale’s Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé attributed the college’s high endowment-to-student ratio to its intentionally small student body and the generosity of the institution’s donors. “Maintaining a stable student body while steadily building the endowment naturally makes for a strong endowment-to-student ratio,” Péwé said in an email to The Collegian. “The college also invests its endowment with an eye toward long-term stability and protecting the institution during potential periods of future financial stress.”

Military from A1 Stewart said because this year is the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, theWar of Independence seemed a most natural choice. Topics of the lectures included the scale of foreign assistance for the colonists, the military decisions of figures like Washington and Cornwallis, and the economic crisis of resources present throughout the war. Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy, who teaches history at the University of Virginia and has published multiple books on the American Revolution, gave a lecture Friday night regarding America’s diplomatic relationships during the war. “I cannot think of many insurgencies that have won without foreign assistance,” he said in his speech. “Among the keys of the victory of the American insurrection was getting foreign support.” On Saturday morning, Matthew Spalding, professor in constitutional government and dean of Hillsdale’s Van Andel Graduate School of Government in Washington, D.C., called Gen. George Washington the “grand strategist” of the war. Spalding’s lecture on the general’s virtues drew a picture of the American leader-

Logo from A1 According to Banbury, it will take about a year to fully integrate the new designs into all of the college’s properties. The college will not replace or discard materials that have already been printed and are still usable, such as books and merchandise. Banbury also said the Hillsdale Athletics branding was updated in 2022 and will not change. Also, the new logo still de-

two factors: institutional resilience — their ability to absorb financial and enrollment shocks — and post-college market position — their success with preparing students for the job market. Hillsdale’s high ranking on the “enrollment trend” in Saunders’ study reflects the demand for the school’s education and the admissions o$ce’s methods for recruiting students, according to Péwé. “The admissions o$ce also takes a highly personalized approach to recruiting students who are a good fit for the college and its mission,” Péwé said. “Many applicants are interviewed, admissions counselors remain in regular contact with admitted students, and campus visits give prospective students and their families opportunities to meet students, faculty, and sta%.” Saunders’ data also indicates how well a school can perform during shock or unstable periods. Hillsdale’s Chief Sta% O$cer Kyle Murnen said the school has not experienced an enrollment shock, but an enrollment boom. “Applications have nearly doubled over the last 10 years because of our steady commitment to the original purposes of the college: providing a rigorous education that pursues knowledge of the highest things and cultivates good character,” Murnen said. Matthew Ra$n, the college’s associate vice president of investment management, said the school maintains the financial strength recognized in Saunders’ study through investing its endow-

than $1 billion, according to the website CollegeRaptor – and keeping a high endowment-to-student ratio. “First, the college invests its endowment funds in a prudent manner that allows downside protection during financial shocks. It is during these shocks when the endowment distributions are crucial to support college operations,” Raffin said in an email. “The college also maintains a strong endowment-to–student ratio so that there is strong funding behind the core of what we do, which is teaching students.” Péwé said Hillsdale’s financial strength comes not only from the college’s endowment, but also from its relatively low, disciplined spending and donor support. “A significant portion of the college’s operating expenses is supported by distributions from the endowment. That reduces the amount Hillsdale must raise each year simply to meet current operating expenses and provides more flexibility to support new initiatives, capital projects, and the continued growth of the endowment,” Péwé said. Hillsdale also generally does not undertake major projects before seeking substantial gifts and pledges, according to Péwé. “The current north quad development is an example: roughly 80% of the cost of the approved projects there is already backed by current gifts and committed future gifts. That kind of financial discipline allows the college to make major, long-term investments while protecting

core educational mission,” Péwé said. In Saunders’ study, however, the school scored low in revenue diversity, which should increase financial risk. Ra$n noted that the low score stems from the study categorizing endowment revenue as a single source. “You can structure the investments so they perform well in stressed scenarios. So what looks like a single revenue source is actually diversified behind the scenes,” Ra$n said. The only category in which Hillsdale does not rank in any percentile is earnings-to-debt ratio, since it does not receive any federal funds. Murnen said Hillsdale’s ability to ensure students succeed in a di$cult job market boils down to its demanding education. “Students will have to read di$cult texts, organize their thoughts, solve complex problems, and defend their arguments in writing and in person, and they know they will have to do that over and over again for four years,” he said.“It’s a di$cult, but joyous, undertaking for young people who are ambitious to be good.” Hillsdale is able to place students in jobs that AI doesn’t or can’t touch because it provides the best training for an unpredictable market, according to Murnen. “AI may change particular jobs, but it makes the ability to think clearly, exercise judgment, communicate well, and solve di$cult problems more valuable, not less,” Murnen said.

ship that led the colonists to victory. “George Washington was a wise, a good, and a great

flicts, Mitchell commented on America’s unique founding. “The American ancestry we want to try to connect you

French and Dutch. “It’s a more interesting story than most people know,” Rahe said prior to the conference. “We are a revolutionary power. We see ourselves as suddenly giving an example to the world.” Classicist and Military Historian Victor Davis Hanson, who holds the Wayne and Marcia Buske Distinguished Visiting Fellowship in History at Hillsdale College, led the conference’s last lecture on the legacy of the American Revolution. “This American experiment that started with a revolution was so unique and so strange in prior history,” Hanson said. “That any people would create this type of constitution and the spirit of free market economics which endured for so long is absolutely stunning, and it’s stunning today as well as it was during the American Revolution.” Gehrke said he believed the efforts of the center to promote the study of war is imperative to secure the country’s future. “I want my sons to grow up in a republic, and to have that fact be meaningful for the way in which they have friendship with their fellow citizens and relate to their government,” Gehrke said.

Matthew Spalding delivers his lecture Sept. 5. Courtesy | Mason Dice

man,” he said. Among the professors in the audience was Andrew Mitchell, a Hillsdale alumnus of the class of 2000 who now teaches at Grove City College. “When you tap into a political ethos that rests on spirit with a document, as opposed to just bloodline, it makes adoption easier,” Mitchell said. An expert in Latin American and early European con-

with are those who even 250 years ago seemed to have a vision of a community that was nearly infinitely expandable, provided that your heart was willing to work and be part of the community,” Mitchell said. Professor of History Paul Rahe, in a luncheon lecture, explored the war’s economic and geopolitical realities, highlighting the need for fiscal contributions from the

picts the clock tower showing the time as 6:44 — 18:44 in military time, representing 1844 as the founding year of the college. Banbury said navy blue will remain Hillsdale’s signature color. “We adjusted a couple of lighter colors to provide better contrast and meet accessibility guidelines for the website,” Banbury said. “New fonts will appear in designs across campus, as well as on our new website. We will also

continue to use Minion Pro as one of our institutional fonts.” Senior Cole Timmler said he likes the new logo design. “I would put it on a sweatshirt,” Timmler said. “It works a lot better with all of our other merchandise that we already have out. It also fits in a lot better with our online presence, and I think it allows the navy blue to pop out more.” Freshman Ian Johnston said although he likes that

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the logo keeps the same navy blue, he prefers the current logo over the redesigned one. “The current logo is more recognizable as Hillsdale College,” Johnston said. “You can see Central Hall in your head when you see that logo, and it’s like there’s a grandeur to it. I don’t really mind the new one, but it kind of lacks that same character that the original font has.”

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By Ethan Savka Assistant Editor

A Wall Street Journal editorial board member will deliver a speech next week titled “Israel’s War and the Forever War on Israel.” Elliot Kaufman will give the talk a week following the release of his new book. Kaufman has written for the Journal’s editorial page since 2018, covering Israel, Iran, and other topics. He cowrote “In the War Room: The Inside Story of Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis,” with Jerusalem Post writer Yonah Bob. The book, published Sept. 8, draws on access to Israeli and U.S. o$cials and intelligence sources to explore debates inside Israel’s war leadership. Sponsored by the Dow Journalism Program, Kaufman’s speech will be on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 4 p.m. in Spencer 218 and will be open to the public. Co-director of Jewish Civilization Program Michael Weingrad said he pre-ordered the book and recommends that students hear Kaufman discuss it. “As different as the two countries are, there is a lot

that Hillsdale students can learn from the study of Israel,” Weingrad said. “In addition to that, there are a lot of false and sometimes downright crazy notions about Israel circulating on the internet, and that kind of stupidity and malice used to be left-wing characteristics. It’s really starting to make inroads into the right now, so it’s a good thing for Hillsdale students to hear informed and thoughtful analysis of Israel, rather than the latest podcast clickbait.” Don Westblade, assistant professor of religion, said students can learn from speakers like Kaufman. “Right now America is facing an infection of anti-Semitism, and Hillsdale needs to kind of get out in front of that and lead by letting people know that what Israel is doing is good, and what the Jews are is a constructive contribution to humanity and not a pest upon it,” Westblade said. “So the more we can get ourselves informed about the value that the Jews have had, both not just theologically but culturally in our time, will hopefully abate some of the stu% that they’re hearing that suggests that support for Israel is wrong-headed.”

Two students present at sociology conferences By Olivia Glisson Collegian Freelancer Two Hillsdale students presented research projects at international sociology conferences this summer, one related to the “ring by spring” phenomenon at Hillsdale. Senior Sophia Mandt presented at the International Jacques Ellul Society in South Bend, Indiana in July, and junior Abbey Hrab presented at the annual meeting of the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in June. Mandt was the only undergraduate to present at the International Jacques Ellul Society conference and Hrab was one of three undergraduates who presented at the SSSI conference. The book “The Humiliation of the Word” by 20th-century French sociologist Jacques Ellul served as the theme of the conference Mandt attended. Mandt first encountered Ellul her sophomore year in a course taught by Professor of Philosophy and Culture Peter Blum. Mandt said she became fascinated by Ellul and the combination between sociology and theology in his work. Mandt’s paper was titled “The Agony of Idolatry: Word Humiliating Worship and Separation from God.” She argued that the presence of technology in society is mankind’s way of trying to live in a world where we are not present with God. “Ellul saw technology as a threat to human freedom,” Mandt said.“And I think Ellul is valuable to show that humans are more frail than we’d like to admit. We’re already removed from the presence of God, and that we must try to rediscover the mystery and beauty of existence and not give in to a technocratic world. A world dominated by not trying to think about deeper, beautiful, mysterious things.” Mandt said she first became interested in sociology while taking Sociology 101 with Assistant Professor of Sociology Christopher Robertson. “I was entranced by it immediately and the way it tried to understand and make sense of the world,” Mandt said. “It

was really studying how these governing, powerful institutional structures overpowered or a%ected the human person. It was concerning to me also to see how it seems sometimes these things that overpower the human person, often have positive e%ects, but also negative e%ects.” Hrab researched the “ring by spring” phenomenon with Hillsdale students, conducting 14 interviews and two focus groups on campus over the course of two semesters. “I came from a public school background, not a particularly religious background, so the idea of getting married young was not super familiar to me,” Hrab said. “ So hearing about ‘ring by spring’ on campus and all the jokes about it freshman year, I want to know: Does this actually happen? How do people decide that they’re going to get married young?” Hrab said she was nervous before the conference, but ultimately felt proud of her research and the work she had put into her project. “I was on a panel with one professor and two graduate students,” Hrab said. “ I was really surprised that my study was the one with the most actual data in it. I was like, ‘Wow, I am prepared.’” Robertson described Mandt and Hrab as “not just smart, but curious, and willing to put their curiosity on the line.” He said it is rare for undergraduates to present at these kinds of conferences. Blum said he hopes that Mandt and Hrab’s summers “light a fire” for the sociology department, adding that their conference presentations can be encouraging for both Mandt and Hrab’s careers, but also for the future of the sociology department. Blum said people attending the International Jacques Ellul Society conference were impressed by Mandt’s work and that it was well-received. According to Blum, it is rare for undergraduate students to make a contribution to the field of sociology before they receive their doctorate.

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September 10, 2026 A3

Alumna, former senior editor publishes Christian children’s book By Grace Brennan Culture Editor Hillsdale alumna Michaela Estruth ’25 has been spelling her name alongside Bible verses since she was little. This May she published a scripture-based children’s book. She published her first book, “A-Z God Has Covered Me: A Family Devotional,” while working as the culture reporter at Heartlander News. Estruth said she wrote the devotional primarily for younger children, although she hopes parents will also enjoy the book’s historical content. “Anyone from as young as 2 can learn the alphabet and the verse that goes with it, but then older kids around 5 or 6 can have their parents read to them the verse, the application, and what it means. And then, kids 8 to 10 years old can sit down with the book themselves,” said Estruth, who studied history and was a senior staff editor at The Collegian. The book walks through all 26 letters of the alphabet with a Bible verse for each letter, followed by historical, literary, and theological context, and lastly, a practical, day-to-day application. Her sister originally planned to illustrate the book, but due to limited time to finish the book by Mother’s Day, Estruth used artificial-in-

telligence to generate the illustrations. According to Estruth, the historical context explains the author, date, and time; the literary context explains where the verse falls in the book of the Bible; and the theological content explains how the verse applies to related verses; and the application asks, “How does this impact the Christian today?’ and “How can you live out this verse in your personal life?” The idea for the devotional was inspired by Estruth’s mother, Madonna Estruth, who created a Sunday school curriculum called “Letters,” in which kids memorize Bible verses according to the alphabet. “Bedtime routines for us were spelling out our names and reciting our verses, and I can still do that to this day,” Estruth said. As a freshman at Hillsdale, Estruth joined Hillsdale College’s Radio Free Hillsdale WRFH 101.7 FM, and proceeded to create her “A-Z God Has Covered Me” podcast. Estruth covered 13 verses each semester that year, transforming her mother’s Sunday school curriculum into something that both adults and children could enjoy. The podcast was later transcribed to create the book version of

Estruth and her book, “A-Z God Has Covered Me: A Family Devotional.” Courtesy | Michaela Estruth

“A-Z God Has Covered Me.” Scot Bertram, general manager of Radio Free Hillsdale, who blurbed the back of Estruth’s book, said Estruth’s podcast had a general audience when on air, but specifically spoke to the heart of children. “My kids were younger when it was originally on the

station, and they really enjoyed the shows,” Bertram said. “So I think the show was not initially targeted to children, but was naturally one for children to receive.” Madonna Estruth listened to all the episodes of her daughter’s podcast and encouraged her to make it into a book. Since then it has been

a dinner-table joke with the family that Michaela Estruth would make a book, her mother said. Michaela Estruth said she could never find much time in college to turn her podcast into a book. So she put it off until graduating and moving to Kansas City, Missouri, for her job at Heartlander News. It wasn’t until the winter of 2026 that she found time to write it. “It’s freezing cold, and I’m inside my apartment, and I think, ‘What do I do with my time past 5 p.m.?’” Estruth said. “I come home and have four to five hours with anything I could do, so I created homework for myself.” Estruth then began the process of reworking her podcast transcripts into book form every night a$er work. In February, she planned to complete the book by May as a Mother’s Day gi$. “I want to give it to my mom to honor her because it’s such a tribute to her life and the legacy that she created with her kids, and I hope other families will use it and read it to their kids,” Estruth said. “But I’m not trying to make a name for myself, and I’m not trying to make a lot of money off of this.” On Mother’s Day, Estruth surprised her mother with a

proofread copy of her devotional since the final copy had not yet been published. “A$er that there were a lot of tears, and then my mom read it over and over,” Estruth said. “I said, ‘Hey mom, you’ve always been my best editor, and I have been staring at these words for months and I’m really tired. Can you please help me edit it?’ So she and I separately sat down and went through it. She went through it with a different colored pen and made little comments to help — from tiny spelling errors to alignment issues. It was so helpful.” Madonna Estruth expressed appreciation for her daughter’s passion to do something not only for her, but for the Lord. “I started sobbing and said ‘you did it, you did it,” Madonna Estruth said. “I’m so proud of her. She did it because we teased her and because we asked for it, but she did it for the Lord.” For years Estruth has honored her mother by teaching others what Madonna Estruth taught her, and through that she has honored the Lord. “At the end of the day, the message of the book is that it’s about him and for his glory, because that was always the message my mom gave,” Estruth said.

Music department raises Hillsdale Federalist Society awards alumnus lesson, tutorial fees By Charlee Amason Collegian Reporter

By Blake Schaper Collegian Reporter The music department has raised fees for its tutoring sessions due to a shortage of practice rooms preventing choir students from rehearsing. Fees previously cost $120 for half-hour lessons and $200 for hour-long sessions per semester. Now, the department is charging $300 for half-hour lessons and $500 for hour-long lessons per semester. Despite the increase in price, the lessons are about a fourth of the price of other colleges, according to independent analysis by the music website First Instrument Guide. Those in choir, orchestra, or jazz band can have the new fees waived. Those in music fraternities or sororities get a semester of free lessons. “I don’t want to come across as we’re trying to cut off people and limit the accessibility of our department to everyone,” Melissa Knecht, the chair of the music department, said. “We’re trying to do the best we can to open it up. If anyone really wants to take lessons, they should come and see me.” Knecht said she has always tried to make music available to as many students as possible. However, she said the department has encountered a shortage of practice rooms in the Howard Music Building. “I would go downstairs, and I saw that a lot of my students were sitting on the floor. Like, why aren’t you practicing? What are you doing?’” Knecht said. “They said, ‘We don’t have any practice rooms.’ At that time, there were probably about 12 functioning practice rooms. So I looked up how many students were registered for private lessons, and I realized 345 students are registered for private lessons. So no wonder they can’t practice.” Knecht says that exemptions are offered to professional music students and those who show a passion for learning music. “I have students that come up to me and they say, ‘Can I have a lesson waiver?’ And I talk to them, and I see they’re really committed to music. I’ve never turned down anyone from a lesson waiver,

which means they don’t have to pay,” Knecht added. Knecht said that the fees were approved unanimously by the board of the music department, and they will reassess the change a$er a year. Knecht stated that they will likely eliminate the extra fees once a new practice space is found. Knecht said she is working with Chief Administrative O%cer Richard Péwé to find another place for students to practice. Meanwhile, Knecht and former Registrar Douglas McArthur decided to disincentivize students merely taking voice lessons to boost their GPA. “We have seven vocal teachers, and we have a lot of students that don’t sing in choir, and they take a 30-minute lesson for eight semesters here, and for 30 minutes a week they take a lesson. They wouldn’t think of practicing, and they get an A, and that adds up to eight credit hours.” Knecht says that the price increases also help accommodate the music teachers, most of whom hold a doctorate in music. While most students who have continued taking voice lessons have received exemptions due to being members of a choir, some students have continued and shouldered the fees. Sophomore Trinity Gentry was planning on doing both voice and piano lessons this year, but has decided not to take voice lessons due to the fees. “While I don’t like the expense, I understand why the college increased the pricing,” Gentry said. “The original pricing was fairly cheap for the quality of teaching students receive. Also, increasing the pricing makes it more likely that a student is going to take their practice seriously and actually work at it.” Sophomore Oscar Wilson has also continued doing music lessons in spite of the fees, and his parents have offered to cover the extra costs. “Obviously, I would rather pay less, but I love playing music so it’s worth it,” Wilson said.

Hillsdale’s Federalist Society commended Lt. Jacob Weaver ’18 with the Justice Brian Zahra Alumni Excellence Award on Sept. 3. “We chose Jacob Weaver because of his impressive legal career and his instrumental role in the early years of Hillsdale College Federalist Society,” Walsh said. “Also, he has an enthusiastic outlook on his legal career that we hoped would inspire our new members and current members to embrace their law journey.” Weaver graduated from Hillsdale College with his bachelor’s degree in history and attained his juris doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 2021. He currently serves in the Navy, working as a command judge and prosecutor for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Weaver wore multiple hats during his time in the Navy. For a while he served as an inhouse counsel for a naval base, and then transitioned to working as a prosecutor of military crimes. As a prosecutor, his work varied—from cases dealing with the$ of multi-million dollar warfare weapons to minor shopli$ing in the Navy Exchange gi$ shop. According to Weaver, being a lawyer was not always the plan. “I grew up thinking, ‘May-

ZeroEyes from A1 “I understand the idea of self-governance, but there’s not a wall that stops someone from coming onto this campus,” Wilmer said. “Self-governance stops with our culture on this campus, and that doesn’t stop someone from coming onto the campus.” Hillsdale’s Director of Security John Wilmer said ZeroEyes will enable the cameras to detect someone with a gun walking toward or around campus. “It’s not just reporting a suspicious person because it doesn’t see people, clothing, vehicles, faces, et cetera. It’s seeing a gun, a brandished firearm, which is giving us real-time information and how to respond quickly,” Wilmer said, referring to the AI component. Kellam said campuses and government buildings across

be I’d be a politician. Maybe a lawyer. Maybe even the military?’” Weaver said.“And then one day I saw ‘A Few Good Men,’ and I said, ‘Oh man, I can do both. I can be a lawyer in the military. That’s awesome.’ And that set my career trajectory.” Weaver said his Hillsdale education prepared him for his time in law school and beyond by teaching him analytical problem-solving, critical thinking, and articulate writing. He encouraged Hillsdale students by detailing the magnitude of Hillsdale’s core curriculum. “You are exactly where you need to be right now. If you take this opportunity at Hillsdale College seriously, you are going to be so well prepared for whatever you do, whether that’s in the law, politics, or business,” he said. Weaver emphasized his experience with Hillsdale’s history department and how it cultivated a deep adeptness in writing and argumentation that equipped him for his studies at law school, his duties as a clerk, and his work for the O%ce of Legal Counsel. He said the practical skills he developed in his history classes—such as being able to cra$ a logical argument and support it with evidence—reflects the daily tasks he must complete as a lawyer. The Federalist Society introduced this award last year

to honor graduates. It was first presented to Leo Schlueter ’22, who graduated from Notre Dame Law School in 2025. Michigan Supreme Court Justice Brian Zahra is the award’s namesake. Zahra helped establish Hillsdale’s Federalist Society as the second undergraduate chapter in 2016 a$er the first undergraduate chapter in Texas failed. Zahra had to persuade the Federalist Society’s chairman, Leonard Leo, to establish another undergraduate chapter, according to Zahra. Also present at the award ceremony was U.S. Assistant Attorney General Elliot Gaiser ’12. Gaiser graduated from Hillsdale with a B.A. in political economy. During his time at Hillsdale he was the opinions editor for The Collegian and competed on the debate team. He then attended University of Chicago Law and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. In addition, he served as Ohio’s solicitor general, before being tapped for assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice’s O%ce of Legal Counsel. His work there caught the attention of the President Donald Trump administration, leading Trump to appoint Weaver to the Department of Justice’s O%ce of Legal Counsel during the president’s second administration. Gaiser said that during

Thanksgiving break of his junior year, he was sure of one thing: he did not want to be a lawyer. But while working in management consulting, he deeply longed for the intellectual discussions, debates, and collective search for truth that Hillsdale’s culture fostered. “I always think of the scripture verse, ‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,’” he said. “It’s not a searchlight. You don’t always see precisely where the end is.” One of Gaiser’s greatest career conflicts came when he had to release an opinion regarding religious charitable organizations that receive federal funding and the restrictions upon religious activity. Gaiser explained that lawyers ought to be willing and ready to apply the law without fear. “Hillsdale students are taught to be courageous,” Gaiser said. Zahra exhorted the students to join Federalist Society according to the principles Hillsdale College was founded upon and the purpose for the club’s existence. He said the Federalist Society provides students with an avenue to explore legal questions and arguments beyond the circle of campus. “You’re not here because you want to be told what to think. You’re here to learn how to think,” said Zahra.

the country have begun to use artificial intelligence at every level of security. According to Demoulpied-Racine, Temple University increased its usage of ZeroEyes recently, and New Mexico Junior College has used ZeroEyes for many years. Demoulpied-Racine said analysts reviewing the ZeroEyes footage have worked in law enforcement, and these analysts can only access limited video frames immediately before and a$er the alert, and the so$ware does not store video data. “We’re just adding another layer of protection to a layer of protection that has already been there,” Demoulpied-Racine said. Wilmer said security cameras will be able to track someone in real time as the person moves through campus brandishing a firearm — not only

the person’s exact location but also direction of travel and appearance. This enables Wilmer to dispatch the security team to the correct location immediately. “I can be running toward it and seeing the cameras pinging in the direction the suspect is going,” he said. Wilmer said ZeroEyes has detected firearms in the Margot Biermann Athletic Center when the shooting team practices with laser guns. A$er the security team puts scheduled trainings with authorized use of firearms on the calendar for ZeroEyes, the system will not raise the alarm, but still notify the security team. “We’ll get notification: ‘Hey, your scheduled training event is occurring right now, and we’re aware of it.’ So we’re seeing the camera pick things up like it should at this point,” Wilmer said.

Wilmer said that in general, students are not the concern, but outsiders with ill intent who may have traveled from miles away. “We all have an honor code, and it’s not about pranks and dorm raids and things of that nature,” Wilmer said. “It’s about the bigger picture.” For the past 30 years, when school shootings occurred on other campuses, the security team reads over every detail of the a$er-action reports to learn from what happened, according to Wilmer. Wilmer said the college’s security team has trained more extensively in active shooter responses than law enforcement. “We don’t have any new threats to the campus, we are safe here,” Wilmer said. “At the same time, we need to be prepared.”

Opinions

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A4 September 10, 2026

The Collegian Weekly

Claiming ‘Lake America’ is a win for patriotism By Michael Matus Collegian Freelancer President Donald Trump isn’t just placing tariffs on Canada — he has also decided to take away one of its Great Lakes by changing the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America. The master of international trolling is back at it again, doing what he does best, but this time, he’s insulted our neighbor with the truth. The government of the United States takes on the bulk of the burden when it comes to managing Lake America. The lake is more American than Canadian, and it’s appropriate for its name to reflect that. Trump’s executive order stated that the U.S. does most of the caretaking for the lake and is the main reason it’s so clean. The U.S. has spent roughly $4 billion maintaining the Great Lakes in the last decade, and the United States C o a s t

Guard operates most of the lake’s icebreakers throughout the winter. The lake has never been seen as exclusively Canadian because the U.S. and Canada own a relatively similar amount of Lake America’s coastline. Rochester, New York, and its 200,000 inhabitants also sit right next to the lake and support the already American-dominated shipping industry in the region. The United States’ relationship with Canada has soured in the past few years, and Trump is simply pulling another one of his trademark moves. He’s using this period of strife between the U.S. and Canada’s trade relations to do something that would provoke greater outrage if Canada were a perfectly happy ally, which it isn’t. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is already dealing with Trump’s increased tariffs; he probably won’t lose as much sleep over the name of a lake. The highest ground for outrage should be that it costs money to change, money that we don’t have. We recently sur-

passed $40 trillion in national debt, and this doesn’t help, but it amounts to nothing in comparison to the other sources of expenditure. Rebranding the lake’s name to be all-American is a worthwhile long-term investment. Trump’s “America First” trade policy can go too far, but renaming Lake Ontario Lake America isn’t changing anything about reality. It’s giving us the credit we deserve for what we’ve been doing on the lake since the 1780s. The name change is also an indication of where big tech stands when it comes to Trump’s directives. Apple Maps and Google Maps both already changed the name of Lake Ontario to Lake America on their respective platforms. The two tech giants were also quick to change the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America when Trump did his first renaming of a body of water in 2025. Their quick compliance indicates that

t h e r e ’s s t i l l enough of a consensus among tech companies that Trump is still in the driver’s seat, and that they’re fine calling America’s bodies of water what they are: American. An exec utive order changed the name, so if any future president cares enough about changing it back to Lake Ontario, it won’t be difficult to do. Canada has more than 800,000 lakes that are larger than 25 acres, three and a half times as many as the U.S. has of the same size. Lake America is also the smallest of the Great Lakes, so if there’s one for Canada to lose, this is the one. Canada will be fine with one less lake. America is the nation that uses and cares for Lake America the most — it’s high time we stopped calling it Lake Ontario. Michael Matus is a freshman studying the liberal arts. Illustrated by Paige Kutas.

It came before our time, but we must ‘never forget.’ Roughly 70% of Generation Z was born after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and the other 30% were so young they likely don’t remember it at all. We didn’t experience that singular, historic event 25 years ago that would dominate a vast portion of our lives and drive innumerable changes: globally, politically, and in everyday life. Even if our generation missed the storm, we still feel its wake: In TSA lines and airport security policies, in Americans’ dispositions toward Muslims and Islamic regimes, not to mention the legacy of the War on Ter-

ror and a quarter-century of policy that have affected us all. While we may not have been alive to witness the events of that day, our generation has a duty to honor the fallen by remembering and passing down their legacy. As there are those who remember the “greatest generation” of World War II soldiers, we might look up to our own greatest generation that preceded us: the ordinary Americans who fought back against terror on the day of the attacks and in the following years. These were not all soldiers. But they were all heroes. They were the 441 first responders

who died in the attacks, many of whom ran into danger without hesitation. They were the passengers of Flight 93, including Todd Beamer, whose last known words, “Let’s roll,” on that plane declared that Americans would not stand by as hijackers potentially threatened more lives. They were the thousands of citizens who eventually joined the Armed Forces, fought, and were killed in the War on Terror. These people are a testament to the degree to which liberty, democracy, and the sovereignty of our nation are worth fighting for — not only for those who lived to see

9/11, but for all Americans, past and present. While we may not remember them personally, it would be an even greater loss not to learn about those who defended our freedom when we were unaware or unable to protect ourselves. So, stay a few minutes longer to talk with a veteran who has a story to tell. Slow down, despite a busy schedule, to attend one of the college’s 9/11 memorial events Friday. Pray for the victims and their families who are still hurting and reflecting upon the attacks to this day. And above all, never forget.

Letters to the Editor Don’t just fit life into the cracks of your calendar By Maggie O’Connor Collegian Reporter In his Sept. 3 opinion “Embrace Hillsdale’s busyness. Life will only get busier,” senior Bradley Haley claims that busyness is an inevitable state of life and should be approached as an opportunity to grow in virtue. We already embrace busyness on Hillsdale’s campus, but we shouldn’t celebrate it. A healthier message for this student body is that your virtue does not lie in your busyness and that busyness may even get in the way of your growth as a human. The danger of praising busyness is that it may teach a

student that she is a machine whose goal is maximum efficiency. In reality, her schedule is an expression of her interests and goals and there are many reasons it may include fewer obligations, like giving her more time to read for pleasure or better ingest her schoolwork. The grading system often indirectly teaches students how to memorize material in order to acquire a good grade rather than how to acquire the material itself; there is a similar danger in optimizing your schedule to include as many classes, extracurriculars, and social activities as possible instead of slowing down to bet-

ter appreciate the experiences themselves. Haley says that “the thin cracks in my calendar are the spaces where virtue or vice come to the surface,” but there is a different way to live. We don’t have to experience life as one big overbooked, color-coded calendar with slices of free time here and there. In a statement accompanying a 1939 exhibition of oil paintings and pastels in New York, Georgia O’Keeffe wrote “Nobody sees a flower — really — it is so small it takes time — we haven’t time — and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.” Pursuing a liberal arts ed-

ucation is similar to seeing a flower: both are done in leisure and both help make you more human. Fifth-century Athens understood that the liberal arts can only be pursued in leisure because the things that make you fully human require time, space and contemplation. Schedule-maxxing defeats the purpose of your time at Hillsdale. Instead of adding that extra class you don’t need, try to see a flower. Maggie O’Connor is a junior studying art.

The college shouldn’t bribe students to cultivate virtue By Gabe Gerth Collegian Freelancer Students who are truly able to self-govern don’t need a scholarship to encourage them to give up their phones, and a college seeking to develop self-governing adults shouldn’t pay its students to break bad habits. That’s not what Elijah Guevara thinks. On September 3, in an article titled “Fund scholarships for phone-free students,” he argued that since most students struggle with phone addictions, it would be a good thing if the college offered a monetary incentive to help students kick the habit. The Honor Code that every student signs says that the crowning achievement of the

Hillsdale education is to reach self-government. Students learn to be adults: to shoulder responsibility, become good citizens, and for some, to prepare for marriage and kids. We don’t need special incentives to put down our phones. In his talk during freshman convocation, senior Nicholas Rutkoski spoke about how modern culture has lost the practice of doing a good thing simply for its own sake. Doing a good thing in itself is enough reward. Bags of money need not be waved in front of someone’s face to get him to do a good thing. When adults face problems with addiction, whether it be drugs or alcohol or any other vice, they address these problems simply because

they would rather live without those problems than with them. They are not paid to fix these behavioral disorders; in fact, most would pay other people to help them fix their problem. It should be no different for Hillsdale students. Most scholarships awarded to students are merit scholarships. A merit scholarship from Hillsdale awarding students’ academic, athletic, or artistic achievements is not the same as the college rewarding them for a desired behavior. Merit scholarships reward outcomes, not possibilities. They do not change based on how many hours one studies or how hard one works. However, a scholarship that rewards students for going without their phones rewards

a certain kind of behavior. And when it comes to changing behavior meaningfully, one must find the resolve to be virtuous. Waving money in front of someone for a period of time is not how you convince someone to change behavior. It’s just bribery. If Hillsdale is an institution at which students learn to self-govern and become adults, then it would be best if its students were actually treated as adults. A scholarship that rewards students for getting rid of their phones treats students as children, not capable adults. Gabe Gerth is a freshman studying liberal arts.

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September 10, 2026 A5

Remember 9/11 heroes, like my uncle

By Sean DaRos Collegian Freelancer On the highway by my house, before Yonkers meets the Bronx, you can see the buildings of Manhattan as they climb above the horizon. I am not old enough to have seen the twin towers there, but I have imagined my whole life the Sept. 11 that altered the New York City skyline. It is, after all, the main reason for my name. The Tuesday morning that my uncle, Sean Tallon, left for work, he had many reasons to be in high spirits: He had just returned from a two-week stay in Ireland. His sister had married my dad a few weeks earlier. What he now looked forward to was the end of his days as a probationary fireman when the drudgery of being the junior guy would lessen. After he had completed a year as a fireman, this trial period would be over. The appointed date would not be long after his 27th birthday on Sept. 27. At the time, New York City was booming and municipal jobs were highly desirable. A position in the FDNY was no small achievement for a son of Irish immigrants, nor could my grandparents help but feel less worried about the fire department than they had when he joined the Marines. They could never have imagined what his duty would require of him.

When the planes hit the towers, the world turned to watch smoke billowing from what had quickly become the two largest smokestacks in the city. In less than two hours, lower Manhattan had become an apocalyptic tempest of dust, smoke, and debris. There were bodies on the street. The whole family knew that my uncle’s station, the “Ten House,” was next to the World Trade Center. They knew that his firehouse was the first to respond. In addition to more than 2,500 civilian deaths, 9/11 elicited “the greatest loss of emergency responders on a single day in American history — 343 firefighters, 71 law enforcement officers, eight paramedics, and 55 military personnel,” according to a report from the Goodfellow Air Force base. The loss of life was unbelievable, but equally stunning was the bravery of those who risked their lives for the victims. Under the 110 floors of rubble in New York, the wreckage in Washington, D.C., and the cratered field in Shanksville, were the remains of many who valued serving Americans. My uncle’s “body was found with a cluster of civilians and firefighters; the firefighters had apparently tried to protect the civilians with their gear. A steel beam had fallen on his head, crushing it,” a Los Angeles Times article from 2006

reported. There were so many others who perished the same way — carrying out their duty in the midst of this terrible evil I have often thought of the resoluteness with which my uncle ascended the stairs of the

ine my uncle putting on a brave face as he put one foot in front of the next. Twenty-five years after 9/11, the attacks feel closer to the nation than they did 10 years ago. In the wake of Joe Biden’s pres-

Sean Tallon plays the accordion in firefighter gear. Courtesy | Sean DaRos

North Tower. If he felt fear, as he must have at some point, it was overcome by a sense of duty that superseded emotion. In the Divine Comedy, when Dante struggles to continue climbing, he pretends strength at the encouragement of Virgil. My mom always pictured her brother praying as he went up with his heavy gear. I can imag-

idency, withdrawal from Afghanistan decisively undercut the idea that America had far progressed from 9/11. A Pew Research survey found that in 2021, “69% of U.S. adults said the United States mostly failed in achieving its goals in Afghanistan.” It also noted that “46% [of U.S. adults] said Taliban control represented a major

threat to the U.S.” For many, the terrorist attacks of 2001 abruptly separate our nostalgic memories of the ’90s from the crazy world of today. Although the evil that 9/11 displayed was evident in America before the turn of the century, it has become more explicit since then. The celebration of killing babies in the womb and the abuse of children by transgender ideology certainly reflect the evil of the attacks since they heinously put on display the human capacity for evil. If progressives think that the world deserves the evil of their ideology, it is no wonder that Hasan Piker, a leftist influencer, said America “deserved” 9/11. Yet the heroic response on 9/11 and the national attitude that followed are as relevant today as the evil of the attacks. We should not only remember the devastation, but recall the men and women who fought the flames courageously. We should recall those brave civilians who revolted on Flight 93. We should recall the unity that Americans experienced after the attacks. Regardless of one’s opinion of the government after, before, or during 9/11, there is no denying that the sacrifice of those who died responding to it unified individual Americans. My dad, who watched the second plane strike the South Tower, remembers this unity

distinctly. When people started going back to work, there was a common duty that New Yorkers felt to their fellow man. Everyone thought about how the person next to them had been affected by the attack. They had a common purpose to go back to work and go on. My dad remembers the necessity of the first baseball game in New York City since the attacks. The game was not exactly enjoyable, but it had to be played. Today, America is rife with problems and controversies. The threat of leftist control in the government grows as conservatives continue to infight. If the America that we remember is to pass through this dark chapter and be salvaged, we need a quick, unified resistance. In the crisis, Americans must be resolute and unemotional in their sense of duty. We cannot despair. In a world tempted by sloth, the magnanimity of those Americans on 9/11 must inform our response to the national emergencies. When we feel unmotivated to carry out our mundane duties, we should all remember their commitment to their duty. Sean DaRos is a senior studying English and philosophy.

Buc-ee’s knows what’s good for business By Patrick Hennessey Collegian Freelancer Buc-ee’s says what other companies won’t: Conservative states are better for business. The massive travel center chain’s founder and CEO Arch “Beaver” Aplin III made headlines Aug. 17 by saying that his company will primarily build new locations in conservative states. “We’re growing — we’re building in a lot of places,” Aplin said at the opening of a new store in Benton, Arkansas. “When you find a conservative, business-friendly state with a phenomenal workforce, it makes a difference. And I’m starting to realize life’s too short to try and build in places that people don’t appreciate what you’re bringing.” Aplin’s remarks may seem politically aimed, but he’s only saying something all business leaders know, regardless of party affiliation: Businesses do better in red states, where

it’s cheaper and easier to run a business. Aplin’s comments received immediate backlash from liberals who threatened to boycott the company. The backlash almost universally attacked Aplin, who donates to Republican political campaigns, enforces rules against tattoos and body piercings among Buc-ee’s employees, and maintains a conservative-friendly atmosphere at Buc-ee’s with lots of meat, American flags, and cowboy hats. A woman with over 200,000 followers on X went viral for posting a video entitled “Bucee’s travel center says No More Liberals!!!” Her suggestion to travelers was to “drive right by Buc-ee’s, do not pull into Bucee’s, he doesn’t want our liberal blue dollars.” The main accusation is that Aplin, being a bigoted conservative, only wants to build in red states to further his simple-minded agenda. But this is not the case. Aplin may be a conservative and sup-

ports candidates he agrees with, but building in Republican states isn’t necessarily political — it’s a smart move for businesses. The states with the lowest corporate tax rates, including Texas, Florida, Wyoming, and South Dakota, are all red states. These states also have few government restrictions on business. People start businesses to make money, and if you’re trying to make money in the most efficient way, you don’t want the government reaching into your pocket or putting obstacles in your way. This is exactly why, in recent years, especially during the early 2020s when the federal government bloated substantially, hordes of businesses left traditional hubs of industry like Los Angeles and New York City and moved to conservative states. According to a study from CB Richard Ellis, also known as the CBRE Group, 164 businesses relocated their headquarters in 2025, part of an overall surge in

corporate relocations between 2020 and now, with the majority leaving blue states for red states. Many of these companies still boast their liberal agendas while moving to conservative states to save money. American Airlines, for example, opposes Republican bills that limit voting and LGBT rights. Nonetheless, the airline is based in Fort Worth, Texas, where it enjoys no corporate income tax and few government restrictions in the heavily conservative state. It’s an ironically hypocritical move for liberal companies to align with liberal policies to avoid getting cancelled — fully knowing if liberal candidates were elected, their businesses would become more costly to run. Buc-ee’s is simply honest with us. Further, Buc-ee’s has been practicing this from its inception, and it has worked well for them. Founded in 1982, the company has since grown substantially while still remaining in business-friendly states. Out

AI art is beautiful By Ben Martin Collegian Freelancer Artificial intelligence is all over social media — and there’s beauty in it. It seems one can’t open social media platforms without finding pictures of babies made from clementines, storms inside teacups, and hordes of Donald Trumps wielding lightsabers. AI-generated content is everywhere, and there are good reasons for it. The benefit of AI’s widespread influence on social media is twofold: for content creators, it’s fantastic at saving time, while for content consumers, it facilitates a sense of wonder. AI completes menial tasks in seconds that once required creators hours or even days of work, such as artistic development and advertising. AI can help streamline the creative process. It can finetune artistic works by tweaking saturation for a painting, equalizing sound in a song, or applying captions to a video,

so artists can devote more time to creating genuine art, rather than getting bogged down in mindless tasks. With AI, busy business owners can develop appealing content easily, without straining their tight schedules or their bank accounts. For those consuming media, however, AI content serves another purpose: it reawakens wonder. Go scroll through Adobe Firefly’s generative AI image gallery, and let your imagination run wild. Seriously, go do it. From onion ladies to glass cacti to iridescent dragons, the images and videos are so surreal that the viewer is sure to be amazed. AI content is one of the few mediums that so thoroughly ignites the imagination, stimulates the mind, and draws the consumer into a world of magic. In other words, the AI world lets us become children again. The truth is that AI is better at writing, visual art, video creation, and music composition than most people ever will be.

As AI content becomes more common, the overall quality of content will improve. Well-engineered prompts create content many people struggle to identify as AI at all, and oftentimes, even experts can’t tell the difference. Generated content has plenty of benefits — it helps us save time, experience wonder, and create better art. What does it matter if the banner on your company’s social media post was generated by AI? And why should a sunset cease being beautiful because a computer builds the image? When you open Instagram to a tuxedoed cat baking cookies, unshackle your imagination, laugh, and let yourself experience a bit of childlike wonder. Ben Martin is a freshman studying the liberal arts.

of the 56 active Buc-ee’s locations around the country, only three are in consistently blue states like Virginia and Colorado, and only seven are in states with a corporate tax rate above 6%. Texas, which has no corporate income tax or personal income tax, is home to nearly two-thirds of all Buc-ee’s locations. Lowered governmental restrictions have always led to business booming. The tax cuts and governmental size and spending cuts of the Calvin Coolidge and Ronald Reagan eras led to some of the greatest economic prosperity the U.S. has ever known. It’s simple economics — people respond to incentives, and when the government incentivizes entrepreneurship and the growth of corporations, the economy will thrive. Businesses get greater return on investments, new jobs are created, and inflation slows. This is what Aplin means when he says that he doesn’t want to build in places where

his work isn’t “appreciated.” In spite of what they claim, states like California and New York refuse to “appreciate” businesses, instead suffocating them with heavy regulations and high taxes. Florida and Texas, lowtax conservative states, continue to be breeding grounds for new small businesses and start-ups, with Florida currently leading the nation in new business applications, according to the Business Observer. Evidently, even the liberal companies know that conservative states are better for business, since they too are flocking to red states. They just won’t admit it. Buc-ee’s will. Patrick Hennessey is a freshman studying the liberal arts.

AI slop sucks By Samuel Falkowski Collegian Freelancer Social media is already out of touch with reality, but artificial intelligence is exacerbating issues by producing content that is unrealistic on another level. Picture this: It’s 11 p.m. and you’re in bed, scrolling shortform video content on TikTok. Some of the posts look just a little too perfect. Everyone has flawless skin, immaculate makeup, a perfect build — it all seems too good to be true. That’s because it is. Most social media platforms have AI-powered filters that edit faces and figures. Some of them do it convincingly, and in real time, for livestreams. For example, TikTok’s “Bold Glamour” filter creates contoured cheekbones, smooth lips, and defined eyebrows that stay in place even if the user touches her face. These filters set unrealistic expectations for appearances, which threatens self-percep-

tion and self-esteem. According to CNN, many creators state that they are dissatisfied with their natural appearance after seeing themselves with filters. This dissatisfaction and low self-esteem has led to a rise in teen depression and suicidal tendencies. Another issue is generative AI. While using it may make it easier to create content, not all of it is beautiful and inspiring. Just look at the “Italian brainrot” trend of nonsensical AI-generated images such as the three-legged shark named Tralalero Tralala. But that’s not the worst part of it. Recall the controversies over Grok AI in January after users generated nearly nude photos of celebrities, private citizens, and minors. Or the 2025 video that supposedly showed a strike on the Evin prison in Tehran, which was used by multiple media outlets before they realized it was crafted by generative AI. Generative AI has contributed so much misinformation

to social media that Henk van Ess of the Global Investigative Journalism Network wrote a guide to help journalists detect AI content. If journalists mistrust what they see, then the general uninformed public is hardly better off. According to Gallup polls, only 28% of U.S. adults trust mass media to report news accurately. Thanks to generative AI, people mistrust real photos and videos. Fake media certainly won’t help news credibility. Ultimately, AI is here to stay in social media. But how we deal with it is our decision. We can consume it and lose ourselves to a false reality, or we can reject it and seek out meaningful human connections and content. What matters is our choice to call it out when we see it for the fake, cheap media it is. Samuel Falkowski is a junior studying rhetoric and media.

A6 September 10, 2026

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City News

Bentley and Flynn go head-to-head at first mayoral debate By Gemma Flores City News editor

audience that disagreement is a part of healthy political discourse. “Please remember that everyone in this room may not agree on everything that is said here tonight, and that is OK,” Oleszkowicz said. “A healthy community can have a strong disagreement and still treat each other with civility and respect.” One of the first topics discussed was Hillsdale’s roads.

Both candidates agreed that the use of special assessment districts, which tax residents Mayoral candidates Bob extra to repair roads deemed Flynn and Matthew Bentley dilapidated by the city, could went head-to-head over Hillsno longer be relied on to fund dale’s hot-button issues at the the city’s road repairs. election’s first debate. Bentley and Flynn have disHillsdale Conservatives, a agreed on the Michigan Delocal political organization, partment of Transportation’s hosted the Sept. 3 event, which suggested “road diet,” which was held at Davis Middle would slim Broad Street in School. The debate included downtown Hillsdale from speeches from representatives four to two lanes with a bike of local causes and a formal lane on either side of the road. debate between Ward 3 CounFlynn has supported the road cilman Bob Flynn and Ward diet downtown, but said he 4 Councilman Matthew disagrees with extendBentley, the two caning the scope to the didates running for fairgrounds. mayor of Hillsdale. “The reason Anti-Fayette solar that I am in fafarm advocate vor of the road Steve Oleszkodiet is because wicz moderated I am the eterthe debate and nal optimist. posed quesI am always tions submitted the glass-halfby the audience full guy. I see before the event. a future downThe current town Hillsdale mayor of Hillsdale, bustling, busy, Scott Sessions, has with lots of people. served less than one year I do. Disagree with in office this term a$er beme all you want, I don’t ing elected last November. He care,” Flynn said. “Five, 10, Bob Flynn gestures to the crowd while discussing Hillsdale’s future. got the posi15 years from Gemma Flores | The Collegian tion through a now, downspecial election town Hillsdale following the 2025 resignation “Everyone knows that the is going to be the best damn of the previous mayor, Adam only issue is roads,” Bentley downtown in all of Southern Stockford, after he moved said at the debate. “We’re going Michigan. I feel it in my bones. outside of city limits. Ward 4 to need the accountability of In order to do this, we need to Councilman Joshua Paladino senior sta% and council to get make things a little better for served as the interim mayor all roads better, faster, quicker. the pedestrians and for the until the special election. That’s what I think the biggest store owners.” Flynn was the voice of issue is.” The road diet, Flynn said, WCSR, Hillsdale’s radio staFlynn agreed that roads are would help make downtown tion, for 46 years. He joined a big issue for the citizens of Hillsdale more walkable, thus the city council in 2024. Hillsdale, but stressed that the increasing business. Bentley Bentley served in the Army issue isn’t as cut-and-dried as said he feels that the change and worked in the securities it might seem. would be too expensive for industry until also joining “Every road in this city is too little payo%, citing a lack the council in 2024. He ran bad,” Flynn said. “We can’t do of necessity for the proposed against Sessions in the special every road in the city at once, bike lanes. election last year, focusing pri- so prioritizing which streets “MDOT has been very marily on road funding issues. need to be done, that’s one of clear that it’s our choice,” In his opening remarks, the big things we’ll need to do Bentley said. “We should do Oleszkowicz reminded the over the next couple of years.” what the people want. I first

heard about the road diet in ical of Mackie’s management both candidates say they will December 2024 when I’d only style. be following the case closely. been on the council two or “Our current city manag“I’m not going to condemn three meetings. And when I er has unlimited power. He’s anybody, say he’s guilty or not heard the word bike lanes, I been here for ten years. He’s guilty. It’s not my place to do immediately said, ‘No, that’s built up a nice power base. that,” Flynn said. “It’s not a fake.’ That’s not how you gov- He’s got a $10 million payroll. city issue. We’ve got our own ern. You don’t govern fakely He runs BPU. He runs the problems and our own things because Lansing is dangling water, he runs the electric, he to take care of.” some whatever so we have to runs the city. That is the most Bentley said though he had humiliate ourselves.” important position in the city,” political disagreements with Both candidates agreed that Bentley said. “Now with a new the sheriff, he had not seen the use of special assessment guy, the search will be import- anything particularly damndistricts to fund road repairs ant. It will be a professional ing thus far. are over. Ultimately, the two candi“Special assessment disdates expressed their respect tricts are done,” Flynn said. for each other’s passion for “The city heard the peothe City of Hillsdale. ple, but we also had “Bob and I have to do some steps, b ot h b e e n on some logical steps, council for two to stop. It was the years. Both of us council before will come back, us that voted to one with the do special asgavel. So the sessments. So stakes aren’t whoever was super high,” on council beBentley said. fore Matt and I “The reason I, were elected back despite myself, in ’21 or ’22.” got my name on Another issue the ballot last mindiscussed was the ute is not from any soon-to-be vacant city animus toward Bob that manager position. David he can’t run a meeting. It Mackie is set to step down was for opportunities like this. in May 2028 from Matthew Bentley talks about Hillsdale’s “only” issue: roads. That we can do polthe position. Mackie itics in Hillsdale, Gemma Flores | The Collegian currently serves as that we can be civboth the city manager and the search. In contrast with the il and agree to disagree, and director of the Board of Public way that we handled hiring that people can come and ask Utilities. Upon his retirement, the police chief.” us questions, and tell us what he will serve as the BPU diBentley clashed with Mack- they think.” rector only. The city council, ie over what Bentley saw as a No matter who is elected in in tandem with the mayor, will lack of transparency when it November, Flynn said both he be responsible for finding a re- came to the hiring process of and Bentley want what’s best placement. Police and Fire Chief Kristo- for the city. “We need to start probably pher Joswiak earlier this year. “I think we both have the right a$er Christmas to look “The police chief has been city’s best interests in mind if for candidates for a new city great, but the process was we were to be elected. I think manager position,” Flynn said. nonexistent,” he said. “We do on some topics, especially the “That is the key thing that we have to put more thought into road diet, we probably would need to look at over the next it. But we are not looking for a try to get to the finish line in couple of years. A new city savior for Hillsdale. City coun- different directions,” Flynn manager can maybe help us cil needs to step up and direct said. “I hope that, on election come up with some fresh the new city manager.” day, they make the choice that ideas, di%erent ideas, on how About the recent charges they feel is best in their mind we can fund the streets.” brought against Hillsdale for the city of Hillsdale.” Bentley has long been crit- County Sheri% Scott Hodshire,

Michigan faces rural leadership crisis By Henry Fliflet AssistANt editor Seventy-seven percent of local Michigan government leaders believe that not enough residents are willing to run for elected office, according to an April study by the University of Michigan. The problem extends to Hillsdale county, where Fayette township hasn’t had a clerk since January and the city of Hillsdale searches for an electric superintendent and a water and wastewater superintendent. “There’s several school board and township positions no one’s running for right now, with the November election coming up,” Hillsdale County Clerk Abe Dane said. “It’s especially difficult for clerks, because they have a lot of statutory duties that have been added to the job over the years, and there’s just been no pay increase to go with it. Then you add the public scrutiny, which can be less than civil at times, and that makes it a challenge that people don’t want to deal with.” According to the survey, 61% of local government leaders in Michigan said their jurisdictions have difficulty finding younger people to run for office. About half said that residents do not have enough time to serve, while a quarter cited insufficient compensation. Dane estimated that Hillsdale County township clerks make between $8,000 and $20,000 a year. “It’s a very low-paying, part-time sort of thing,” Dane said. “But they have these re-

sponsibilities, especially on an election year like this, that are closer to full-time.” Fay e tt e Tow n s h ip, a five-minute drive north of Hillsdale College, hasn’t had a clerk since January, when former clerk Jessica Bradley resigned amid public backlash against Ranger Power’s Heartwood II solar project, which, if approved, would cover 1,350 acres of farmland. The scope and controversy of the Heartwood II solar project, and others like it, is something new for many rural areas in Michigan, Dane said. The ability for these controversies to spread through social media such as Facebook is also a relatively new development. “People make a lot of noise online,” Dane said. “They’ll go to a meeting, and they’ll speak rather disrespectfully to the board, but they’d never go up to one of those people and say, ‘Hey, can you tell me about this? Why is it this way?’” Sam Fry, Hillsdale’s assistant city manager and economic development coordinator, said the difficulty extends beyond elected positions and township clerks. The city is currently trying to fill several positions, such as an electric superintendent and a water and wastewater superintendent. While these positions require specific technical skills, Fry said the difficulty of finding qualified candidates is similar. “In a rural area like Hillsdale County, it can be hard to find people to fill those roles,” Fry said. “Trying to attract and recruit and retain talent is something that the city strug-

gles with. It’s something that a lot of our larger employers find challenging at times.” Fry agreed with Dane that compensation issues also make recruiting difficult for small communities, who can’t necessarily a%ord to spend a lot on hiring and retaining talent. While these communities struggle to find qualified applicants with the resources available, Fry concluded that a widespread distrust of government and hostility toward public officials and employees have added an additional burden. “There are a lot of folks that are angry and upset about various di%erent issues, and unfortunately, you have really good public servants that sometimes find themselves taking the brunt of that,” Fry said. “I think that can also push good people away from serving in those types of roles as well.” The University of Michigan study found that a quarter of local government leaders believe potential harassment deters residents from running for office. “I think we’ve forgotten how important public services and local government and its various roles are to the functioning and &ourishing of a healthy community and a healthy body politic,” Fry said. Fayette Township resident Steve Oleszkowicz said he’s been able to see both sides of this new reality because he leads NoSolarFayette’s opposition to the Heartwood II solar project, while also working with local government, such as moderating the Hillsdale mayoral debate on Sept. 3. “I was always very, very

careful to not attack anybody on our board or planning commission,” Oleszkowicz said. “Our focus was on a solar company, and we didn’t a%ect the farmers, you know, the ones that were engaged in the project or anything like that. And at the end of the day, that won more people to our side than anything else.” Oleszkowicz sympathized with the township’s difficulties finding people. “It is hard to find people with an interest in stepping up and doing that,” Oleszkowicz said. “Those that have the skill set and the ability are typically already working full time or more than full time.” Hillsdale is preparing to begin searching for a new city manager, with current City Manager David Mackie set to step down in May 2028 under a revised contract. Other cities in the area are in the same position. Adrian has been searching for a city manager and has had an interim manager while looking for a permanent replacement since April. Sturgis, an hour southwest of the city of Hillsdale, also recently hired former Hillsdale City Manager Doug Terry as interim city manager, Fry said. “There are many, many communities across the state that are facing this exact problem right now,” Fry said. “It’s hard to find someone who is interested in taking on all the responsibilities of the role.”

City secures grant to fix low-hanging bridge By Alessia Sandala MANAgiNg editor The bridge over Hallett Street will undergo a $7.3 million renovation, following the passage of a city council resolution. The bridge, which currently stands at a height of 9 feet, 8 inches, will be increased to 12 feet, 9 inches to prevent accidents, such as in October 2023 when a garbage truck hit the bridge and the street was closed for two weeks while repairs were made. “They are raising the bridge to where it’s going to be at a level that we’re able to get our emergency vehicles and trucks under,” said Sam Fry, the assistant city manager. The project is fully funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation and is expected to begin in summer 2027, according to Director of Public Services Jason Blake. The bridge is located a half mile west of the Hillsdale Hospital on West Hallett Street. “They want to start light commencement this year,” Blake said. “Moving shrubs, overgrown trees, and stu% to get ready for a hard date next year.” Blake said the full project will take a majority of the summer, with MDOT hop-

ing to finish before the start of the 2027-28 school year. The railroad portion will be finished sooner, within two weeks, so that the Indiana Northeastern Railroad company can resume operation on the line. “That was one thing too. To keep this window so short,” Blake said. “For two weeks every day this rail is out of service for two weeks, Northeastern needs to be reimbursed for that rail freight that they can’t ship.” City Manager David Mackie said MDOT attempted to fix the bridge in 2017. “This project was teed up one time before this back in the late 2010s but they had an issue with the bidding process so it got cancelled,” Mackie said. “It’s taken them this long to get it back bid out and approved. It’s literally taken us 10 years to get 3 feet on that bridge.” The bridge is important for rail shipping in Michigan and also needs to be improved for public safety, according to Blake. “They do a commercial analysis of it and that’s why they determined that they do have enough traffic that it’s worth investing over $7 million into it,” Mackie said.

Ava-Marie Papillon illustrated the City News header.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 10, 2026 A7

Hillsdale city officials say they won’t bring in Flock cameras By Elaine Kutas seNior editor %ere are no Flock cameras in the city or county of Hillsdale and there won’t be anytime soon, according to Kristopher Joswiak, Hillsdale Police and Fire Chief. “I have no plans of bringing Flock cameras into Hillsdale,” Joswiak said. Flock cameras, created by the private technology company Flock Safety, are a system of automated license plate reader cameras. “I have had a lot of public feedback a&rming that people are unhappy with Flock cameras and would like them to stay out of our area,” Ward 2 Councilman Matthew Bentley said. “In Hillsdale, I’m of the opinion that we are safe and secure enough without this added technology, and I think it’s

tell private citizens whether they can use this technology, but the discussion ended with a conversation about creating a county resolution. %e county has not made any decision at this time. Currently, there are no ALPR cameras in Hillsdale County, but Coldwater approved installing four cameras in the city July 2023, making it the closest Flock location. Coldwater approved the cameras because of the heavy tra&c passing through town without stopping, Joswiak said during the Aug. 17 city council meeting. He reiterated that Hillsdale does not have a need to add these cameras since the city’s traffic is significantly less than Coldwater’s. “There’s nobody advocating for [Flock cameras],” Assistant City Manager Sam Fry said. “%ere are no mem-

“The people don’t want it. The law enforcement doesn’t need it. This isn’t a close call. No thank you, Flock.” important in these types of situations with this kind of technology.” Bentley, who is running for mayor, debated Bob Flynn and discussed the topic of Flock cameras in Hillsdale Sept. 3 at the mayoral debate, hosted by Hillsdale Conservatives. %ey discussed Flock cameras and its relation to the Fourth Amendment. Both candidates doubled down on their dislike of artificial intelligence and a&rmed keeping Flock cameras out of Hillsdale. Similarly, the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners addressed concerns about who can access the cameras’ collected information during their meeting Sept. 8. The conversation surrounded a proposed policy for these cameras in Hillsdale County that would not budget funding for the purchases. Ultimately, the commissioners decided to revisit the topic at a later meeting. “We can’t tell the sheriff what he can and cannot do, however, we do control the budget and to a certain extent we do control what the county purchases with those dollars,” Brad Benzing, vice chair of the board, said during the meeting. Commissioner Brent Leininger said that no matter what, the county could not

Lisznyai from A1 “She was just a very loving, kind, and generous person, very genuine in all of her interactions,” President of the Hillsdale County Community Foundation Sharon Bisher said. “%roughout her time here is when she did start to look at those drug court opportunities. We worked with her to try and identify ways that we could do some matching dollars for the drug court, so we were able to work together to support her efforts on the bench.” Lisznyai cared deeply about her faith, according to Willman. She taught Sunday School for many years at Saint Paul’s. “I’m sure everyone will say

bers of staff, no members of council that I’ve heard suggest it. So I don’t think it’s going to happen.” Livingston County in east Michigan removed Flock cameras last week a$er vandals caused damage to the cameras, according to local Howell, MI, reports. %is is one of many local and national instances of citizens fighting the cameras, citing infringements on constitutional rights like the Fourth Amendment. During the mayoral debate, moderator Steve Oleszkowicz summarized Bentley’s stance as opposition to “Big Brother” spying on citizens. Bentley said that he thinks crime in Hillsdale would need to increase exponentially before the cameras would be necessary. “Our levels of anarchy around here and criminality would have to rise tenfold before I think anyone would be interested in the tyranny of the invasion of privacy that flock cameras represents, and that is the feedback I’ve gotten across the board since I broached the subject at the meeting,” Bentley said. “The people don’t want it. The law enforcement doesn’t need it. This isn’t a close call. No thank you, Flock.”

that her desire to help and use the gi$s that she had in service to others was part of her character. It wasn’t unique to our experience and how we knew her,” Willman said. “From everyone we’ve talked to, and from all the ways I’ve known her over the years, that was a constant reality with Sara.” When the church was working to open a cemetery next to the church building, Willman said Lisznyai stepped in to help. “We have a cemetery here, and there are legal requirements when a church is going to organize and set up a cemetery, so she was instrumental in doing that and continued to serve in that way on an advisory committee,” Willman said. Lisznyai also had a radio

Paladino resigns, plans move to Ohio By Ethan Savka AssistANt editor

Ward 4 Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Joshua Paladino announced his resignation at the Sept. 8 city council meeting. Paladino, a Hillsdale College alumnus, recently accepted an assistant professor position at Cleveland State University and will be moving away from Hillsdale with his family in the next few weeks. Paladino, who is not running for re-election this year, informed the council that he is stepping down effective immediately. “Unfortunately, this will likely be my last city council meeting as my class schedule now conflicts with the city council meeting times,” Paladino said. “A very kind professor decided to cover my class tonight so I could come one more time and say goodbye. But it’s been wonderful serving on the city council.”

At the meeting, Paladino said the council has made progress on roads, city administration, and taking a more proactive approach to issues such as code enforcement. “We’ve made really great progress,” he said. “It’s been a good time. I’ve enjoyed it

“It’s really good to see employees coming in and wanting to get their jobs done,” Paladino said. “So thank you all. It’s been a pleasure to serve with you.” Ward 3 Councilman Bob Flynn asked how the council would handle the vacant mayor pro tem role for the

“Thank you all. It’s been a pleasure to serve with you.” a lot, especially when we’re arguing, nothing better than a good fight in politics. So I hope the council will keep that up, keep making good progress on the roads, and the changes to city administration in the past couple years.” He also praised city employees for taking initiative. He said he is confident they will continue serving the city well.

remaining meetings before the Nov. 3 election. As mayor pro tem, Paladino was responsible for filling the mayor’s role in the event of his absence. “Does the Mayor appoint a mayor pro tem for the next two months,” Flynn asked. “Do we go without a mayor pro tem for the next two months?” Discussion then turned to whether the mayor or

council must appoint a replacement at once. Ward 4 Councilman Matthew Bentley said the city can appoint an acting mayor if Mayor Scott Sessions is absent. He added that the charter provides for election of a mayor pro tem a$er each regular election and for an acting mayor when needed. “I’m just suggesting maybe we avoid all that drama until he misses a session,” Bentley said. “We can just leave it vacant for now.” Bentley expressed his gratitude for Paladiono’s help during the professor’s term on council. “%ank you for your service,” Bentley said. “%anks for dragging me into this mess. I think we can all agree to blame you for a lot of the new blood around here. For better or for worse. And I think it’s for the better. Well done.”

Ethan’s Donuts seeks new owner after 2 years By Francesca Cella opiNioNs editor %e owners of Ethan’s Donut Factory are looking for someone to buy the business, according to co-owner Wayne Babcock. “We’ve had a handful of interest from people that came through and looked at it, but nothing materialized,” Babcock said. W h e n E t h a n’s opened in 2024, the owners had planned on hiring someone to run the business, but they ended up running it themselves because they were unable to find a general manager, Babcock said. A$er two years, they decided to try putting it up for sale at the beginning of June instead. Conditions of the sale are flexible depending on the interest of the buyer, Babcock said. “We would be willing to sell just Ethan’s as a whole: all the contents, all the equipment, supplies, everything, or we would work out a lease program with them to own and to operate it,” Babcock said. “We would even sell the whole building if the person would be interested.” %e owners say they hope someone who cares about the bakery will purchase it and keep it running. “%e bakery or the donut business — it’s not for everybody,” Babcock said. “It’s a lot of hours, passion, early mornings. We need to find someone that has a passion for baking that just absolutely enjoys it. We haven’t found that person yet.” Susan Petersen, an employee at Ethan’s and a part-time show on WCSR called “Sara Lisznyai and the Law.” On the show, she discussed a legal topic and answered questions from callers, alongside former owner and general manager of WCSR Michael Flynn.

Hillsdale College student, said that running a donut shop requires providing a large selection for customers — which increases the workload for employees. “It’s very catered to customers,” Petersen said. “If you come in with an order, you can also say, ‘But can you do it this way?’ %ere’s just a

restaurants, there are bars. %ere was no real sweet place to go, and so that’s how we came up with the concept of donuts and ice cream.” His son also played a role in determining the type of business Babcock and the other owners would run. Babcock named Olivia’s Chop House a$er his daughter, and

ter-church coffee and donut runs. It’s also great for events where you just need a big order of sugary sweets,” she said. “It’s very convenient to have that.” Small businesses such as Ethan’s aren’t just important for Hillsdale — they’re important for America, according to Derek Spiteri, owner of the sandwich shop Handmade. “Small businesses and homeowners, that’s the last bastion of freedom,” Spiteri said. “%at’s what gives us our independence.” And the more that small businesses thrive in Hillsdale, the stronger the city’s economy will be, he said. “Having small businesses makes your town attractive,” Spiteri said. “It makes people want to come. It makes people want to get involved in the community and do Meredith Bowles (left) and Chloe Manifold (right) pose with their favorite donuts. community things Francesca Cella | The Collegian and work together.” lot of variety and options, and he said that when his son Babcock said if a new I think that’s hard to manage Ethan was 4, he asked Bab- owner expanded the shop to and keep up with as the de- cock to name his next busi- include more baked goods, mand changes throughout the ness a$er him. Ethan’s business would skyyear.” “His two favorite things rocket. Babcock and the four oth- in the whole wide world are “If someone would bake er owners are local, and most donuts and ice cream, and so sourdough bread, they could of them attended Hillsdale that’s how it all came about,” own this market,” Babcock High School, he said. All five Babcock said. said. either currently own a busiEthan is now 14, and ocThe current owners are ness or have owned one in casionally works a shi$ at the ready to help their successor’s the past. Babcock has previ- donut shop. business flourish, according ously opened and sold Chica“His favorite donut is to Babcock. go Water Grill, Olivia’s Chop probably the maple bar — the “If someone had the pasHouse, and Saucy Dog’s BBQ cream-filled with the maple sion to be their own entreprein Jonesville. topping — and his favorite neur, we could teach them ev“We were looking for ice cream is chocolate chip erything we know,” Babcock something to bring into the cookie dough,” Babcock said. said. “%e other owners and downtown of Hillsdale that Ethan’s has been a pleasant I would be willing to stay on was not available at the time,” addition to Hillsdale, accord- for a number of months to Babcock said. “There are ing to Petersen. make sure everything goes sandwich shops, there are “It’s definitely great for af- smoothly.” think she found a good deal of satisfaction in helping them make their way through those programs.” Flynn said he admired her commitment to her family along with her career. “It wasn’t just her law prac-

eral local businesses have vowed to donate a portion of their profits from the month of September to the Hillsdale County Drug Treatment Court. %ese businesses include Healthies of Hillsdale, Hillsdale Brewing Company, and Here’s To You Pub & Grub. “They decided that they wanted those funds, on Judge Lisznyai’s behalf, to go to the treatment court,” Bianchi said. “The community did that themselves. Usually you think, ‘Oh someone committed a felony, they wouldn’t like their judge.’ That’s not the case with people who are in the treatment court. %ey know we really truly care about them, that we want to help them get healthy.” Lambright said that her

“She was one of a kind, and will be greatly missed.” “You could tell she was a very caring person. She was very outgoing and had a good sense of humor,” Flynn said. “She wanted her law practice to actually be able to help people through di&cult times when they got in over their heads with things they couldn’t handle themselves. I

tice as a profession, but it’s awfully hard being a mother. It’s a full-time job in itself, and people who don’t understand that are living under a rock,” Flynn said. “Being able to do that and manage a business at the same time, it takes a special kind of person.” In honor of Lisznyai, sev-

heart for ser vice shone through in everything that Lisznyai said. “I remember talking to the judge one time and she said she applied for the judgeship to give back to the community. %at was what was in her heart, she just wanted to give back,” Lambright said. “She was one of a kind, and will be greatly missed.” Lisznyai’s memorial service will be held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, located at 2551 W Bacon Road in Hillsdale, Sept. 11 at 11 a.m.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

A8 September 10, 2026

SportS Softball

Cross Country

Father-daughter duo to coach softball

Chargers chase championships under new coach

By Sophia Mandt sEniOr rEpOrtEr When Kylie Gross accepted the position of associate head softball coach for the Chargers this season, her dad became her boss. Kyle Gross is going into his ninth season as the Chargers head softball coach. “I think it’s a lot more fun than it is weird because we’ve always been around each other,” Kylie Gross said. “It’s always a conversation. ‘Do you like these shoes for the girls?’ ‘I think we're gonna do these turfs.’ ‘We need to order pants and things like that for them to be ready for the season.’” Kylie Gross graduated from the University of Toledo with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 2017. She previously assisted her dad as a softball coach for the Chargers from 2020 to 2021, before becoming a coach for Kent State at the Division I Level. “I went to Kent State for two years, and then that head coach got let go,” she said. “That’s the way of college sports. And I was like, ‘okay, maybe coaching isn’t for me.’ I went back into the corporate world, and I was like, ‘actually, the corporate world isn’t for me.’ I knew I had to get back into coaching.” Kyle Gross said he never thought he’d become a softball coach. “But once I started coaching this game, it was just fascinating,” he said. “As a head coach, you’re a planner and a counselor and a support wrapped up in one. You’re responsible for the whole team, their well-being, their development, everything. It’s a blessing to be a coach, but it’s a huge responsibility.” Kyle Gross said he doesn’t see his coaching position as a job and hopes people can give softball a chance.

“This is just what I do, and I’m fortunate enough to get paid for it,” he said. “Watching young athletes go from high school to young women who are successful and confident: that's huge. It’s also an outlet to have my competitive drive and to compete against other teams and win. People out there that don’t know and don’t watch women’s sports don’t get to see how great this is.” Kylie Gross said her job involves a lot of tag-teaming, though she’s passionate about coaching defense. “If you were to watch softball or baseball on TV right now, most of the time you just get the pitcher’s view,” she said. “You don’t really see the rest of the defense. But if it was up to me, you’d have a high camera in center field and be able to watch the entire game.” Her dad, however, is more offensively minded. “My dad loves hitting,” she said. “I still know my way around the batter’s box, and when we do hit, it’s a team effort.” Senior Medleigh Danchak, who plays first base and catcher, said Kylie Gross enhances her dad’s coaching. “They’re very good at collaborating with each other,” she said. Kylie Gross said she played every sport imaginable growing up, but softball stuck. “My favorite part of the job is getting to coach and mentor young women and teach them the sport and watch them play it as passionately as they can, and help grow them into the adult that they’re going to be when they leave here,” she said. “It’s not always just about softball strategy. It’s also about how you are going to be the best version of yourself when you leave Hillsdale.”

By Blake Schaper COllEgian rEpOrtEr Hillsdale Cross Country begins their competitive season Friday, with a strategy for success and a new head coach. The men’s cross country team has new recruits: freshmen Oliver Garber, Brendan O'Donohue, Grant Skorupan, and Eli Strawbridge. The women’s cross country team added freshmen Grace Kollstedt and Audrey Hartman. Senior Caleb Youngstedt, entering his fourth college season, said his goal this year is to guide his younger teammates in their training and spiritual growth. “We have had a fair bit of success, culminating in our conference championship win in 2024,” Youngstedt said. “Beyond racing success, I have seen the team emphasize our development as godly men. The purpose of athletics at Hillsdale College is to de-

velop virtue and I have gotten to see that lived out among my teammates.” He said he is proud of the incoming freshman for transitioning so well into collegiate athletics. “Looking at our workouts and the intensity of our training, I think we will have a very solid season and potentially the deepest team in a long time,” Youngstedt said. Senior Megan Roberts has competed in cross country since sixth grade, and is entering her fourth collegiate season. “This season one of my main goals is to focus on being present as a senior,” Roberts said. “I want to pour into the underclassmen and set a Christ-like example of what it looks like to be a student athlete at Hillsdale.” Roberts believes that the current students can continue to make the team competitive. “The freshmen this year

Seniors Savannah Fraley and Eleanor Clark at the 2025 Hillsdale Invitational. Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletic Department

Games Multidoku Each of the first five rows and columns contain one each of 1–6 in their six squares. (In the sixth row and sixth column, a number from that range may appear multiple times or not at all.) The sixth row is an anagram of the sixth column, and the sum of the five values therein is given in the bottom-right triangle. This week's solutions will appear alongside next week's puzzles. If you have questions or feedback, please contact Matthew Tolbert at mtolbert@hillsdale.edu.

9/4 Puzzle Solutions Noughts and Crosses -

Minidoku -

Hillsdale men's cross country at the 2025 Hillsdale Invitational. Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletic Department

are eager to learn and have a lot of heart for the sport. I’m so excited to see how they grow over the next four years,” Roberts said. Joseph Lynn returned as Hillsdale’s head women’s and men’s cross country coach after a ten-year hiatus and has enjoyed being back in Michigan closer to family. “It's great to be back,” Lynn said. “I enjoyed the college and everything that it offers for not just student athletes, but students in general. The type of student that Hillsdale attracts is one that lines up well with a lot of the characteristics necessary to be a high level student athlete.” Lynn stated that he is focusing on making small gains wherever possible. I put a big emphasis on attention to detail,” Lynn said. “If we're doing something, we’re taking the time to do it right, not just checking the box.” For mileage, Lynn is having the men run up to 95 miles a week and the women run up to 60 miles a week on the dirt roads around campus and at Hayden Park. “The runs are the easy part of our plan. Anyone can go out and do that. It's all the little things that surround it — taking care of your body, making smart decisions with

sleep habits and nutrition, intake and hydration, and obviously just taking care of your body by doing physio work and recovery,” Lynn added. When asked about his goals, Lynn stressed that he focuses on the process, not just the outcomes. “I just want to see our athletes continue to make progress, individually getting better with day-to-day practice, believing that they're capable of more than what they think they are,” Lynn said. “ I know collegiate athletics is goal driven. I want to see us making progress.” Lynn believes that by focusing on processes, Hillsdale can continue to excel at the NCAA Championships. The men’s and women’s teams will compete at the Spartan Invitational Sept. 11 against Division I programs such as Butler University, Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, and The University of Toledo at the Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan.

Football from A1

14-14 with 12:05 remaining in the second quarter, before Hillsdale scored four unanswered touchdowns to build a 41-14 cushion. Ruddy added two receiving touchdowns, and finished the day as the Chargers’ leading receiver. He totaled 165 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Junior Tutt Carrico contributed 45 receiving yards and a touchdown. McKernan threw for 109 yards and two touchdowns. Junior quarterback Eli Boyce threw for 72 yards and a touchdown. McKernan and Boyce each ran for a touchdown as well. “We always talk about being balanced. We’ve got some guys that can get you running the ball, and we can get you throwing it too,” Shreffler said. On the defensive side, the Chargers held the Bearcats to 91 rushing yards. Junior linebacker Luke Penola led Hillsdale with 10 tackles and 1.0 sacks. “There are definitely things we need to clean up. You never want to give up over 20 points, but this team has a lot of talent, a lot of experience, and just plays really hard,” Penola said. “You never have to question the effort of the guys on the field, and that's the one thing that I think we preach the most. You saw it today. Guys were flying around playing as hard as they could, and that's all you can ask for.” Hillsdale plays Wayne State University at home Sept. 12. The game will recognize college faculty and staff.

“We knew all week that we were going to pound the rock,” Ngishu said. “I’m really grateful for the guys up front. They’ve been doing their job, going through fall camp, just improving day in and day out. I just know we’re going to do some great things the rest of the season.” The Chargers likewise opened the 2025 season with a 22-17 road victory against McKendree. “It feels great to be able to open up the season with such a big win at home because it sets the tone. As people get to see the score and be like, ‘oh, we need to go out to these football games,’ it builds that hype around the football team,” Ngishu said. “The crowd really helped us get going as well.” The Chargers started fast by scoring a touchdown on their first drive of the season. Senior quarterback Colin McKernan ran for a one yard touchdown, but McKendree tied the game 7-7 with 1:31 remaining in the first quarter. Ruddy, a 2025 Division II first team All-American, returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. “The kick return I think helped swing the momentum back to us,” Ruddy said. “Everyone on that unit knew we had a job to do right after they tied it back up, and everyone executed well. I am proud of that unit and the team for a great game. We still have work to do so we will keep building off of that win.” McKendree tied the game

Sports

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September 10, 2026 A9

Shotgun

Men's Tennis

Corbin, Dale qualify for US National Team

'We're loud. We're fun. We're obnoxius': Come watch us.

By Daniel Johnson assistant EditOr Senior Madeline Corbin and junior Taylor Dale qualified for the U.S. Open National skeet and trap shotgun teams at the USA Shotgun Shooting Selection Matches in Colorado Springs Sept. 1 and Sept. 7, respectively. From Aug. 28 to Sept. 7, 10 Chargers competed for a chance to represent the United States and contend for a spot on the Olympic team. Corbin placed third in women’s skeet a'er hitting 230/250 targets, earning her the fourth position on the women’s open national skeet team. Dale placed fi'h in women’s trap a'er shooting 231/250 targets, earning her the fourth position on the women’s open national trap team. Dale also won a gold medal in the final in the junior division, a category athletes may compete in until the end of the year of their 21st birthday. Senior Ava Downs qualified for the junior finals with a score of 218. Davis Hay and Luke Johnson competed in the skeet division alongside sophomore Zach Hinze and freshman Cameron Roberts. Juniors Marin McKinney, Lucci Kern, and Dale competed in the trap category along with Downs, sophomore Ro-

By Ethan Savka assistant EditOr

From left to right: Travis Mathews, Kaleb Horinek, and Hillsdale junior Taylor Dale in Colorado Springs, CO. Courtesy | USA Shooting Flickr

man Barrett, and freshman Kinsey Duzan. Corbin and Dale’s qualification for the U.S. national team is an immense accomplishment in the world of competitive shotgun, according to head coach Jordan Hintz. “The opportunities they get for making this team specifically, are really crazy,” Hintz said. “Taylor and Madeline may both have the opportunity to shoot at the world championships, which is the next biggest thing to the Olympics. That’s an insane opportunity.” If the conflict around Qatar limits the participation

Senior Madeline Corbin competes on her way to third place finish. Courtesy | USA Shooting Flickr

of military members, Corbin and Dale’s chances of competing in the world championships are particularly high, according to Hintz. “They only take the top three athletes to the world championships,” Hintz said. “However, given the current turmoil in the Middle East, it’s very possible that the members of the Army marksmanship unit will not be able to go there.” Corbin, Dale, and McKinney earned spots in the U.S. Open National team last May at the national selection match here in Hillsdale at the John A. Halter Shooting Sports Center and represented the U.S. in the International Shooting Sport World Cup in Lonato, Italy, in July. Corbin said qualifying for the team again is the continuation of a dream come true. “It's always been my goal to make it on the Open team and go to an Open World Cup,” Corbin said. “Last summer, I got to go to the Open World Cup in Lenato, Italy, and that was a really neat experience traveling with the Open team itself. The ladies and the men on that team — a handful of them are Olympians — they’re world champions, ranked number one in the world. It’s an honor to travel with them and have your name on the list with them, to wear a USA Cross on your back, and be in Italy.” Dale attributed making the team to more than her own efforts. “For me, it is a reflection

of the hard work and support I’ve received from my family, coaches, and teammates,” Dale said. “Earning these opportunities to compete for the United States is something that cannot be matched. I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to have such a huge support system that continues to help me achieve my goals.” Corbin credits much of her success to the college’s support for the shotgun team, support she says most other college shotgun athletes don’t have. “Talking to them, they don't have the support from their college and their professors the same way that Hillsdale does,” Corbin said. “So we are very, very thankful.” Hintz said his goal is to bring the enthusiasm from Corbin and Dale’s successes into the team’s continued pursuit of excellence. “It’s always a phenomenal opportunity for athletes to compete at pretty much the highest level possible,” Hintz said. “That experience is really invaluable, and hopefully we can take the success that some of our team members had and use that to keep driving us forward to keep doing bigger and better things.” If Corbin and Downs are selected as one of the top three in skeet or trap, respectively, they will represent the United States at the ISSF World Championships in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 12-21.

Armed with a pair of new players, the Hillsdale men’s tennis team is preparing for a fresh season. The eight-man team will play 19 matches and three multi-day invitationals. A'er finishing the previous season 9-10, the team hopes to put on a strong performance this year. Head coach Keith Turner anticipates a bounceback season a'er finishing last season with a losing record. “Our spring schedule is tough as usual,” Turner said. “I added two strong Freshman to the roster this year, Zeteny Paragi and Jack Ford. Our team goals are to make the NCAA Tournament, win the conference sportsmanship award, again, and have a 3.4 team GPA.” Senior Ellis Klanduch lamented the loss of two players from last year’s team. “It was a disappointment to lose Jackson [Clements] and Sam Plys over the summer,” Klanduch said. “Jackson transferred to Ohio State and Sam went to work back home. Sam was starting in the middle of the lineup and he was always a solid, dependable doubles player. Jackson usually started in doubles and would have appearances at six.” Junior Ryan Papazov encouraged students to attend matches, especially at home. “We’re loud. We’re fun. We’re obnoxious. It’s always good to watch us,” Papazov said. “It’s always fun to see a sport that maybe you’ve never had much interest in, and just being able to better learn and understand it, especially if you’re going into big corporate roles where, more o'en than not, it’s golf and tennis that people play. You may as well develop your knowledge now.” Underclassmen will provide critical depth for the team, Papazov said. Klanduch agreed, and said the freshmen – Ford and Paragi – are strong additions. He hopes to see them contribute in doubles matches frequently.

“I’m looking forward to growing the team dynamics,” Papazov said. “I think we’ve got two new freshmen that are very good. They’re solid players. They’re going to really help us build some depth into our team and into our game.” According to Turner, the seniors will lead the rebound. “My seniors and captains are Ellis Klanduch and Henry Hammond,” he said. “They’ve been with me long enough to know what I expect out of the team on and off the court. They do a great job of handling any distractions during a long season.” Klanduch’s leadership style had to develop quickly last season, he said. Stepping into the captain role presents new opportunities. “I’m excited about being captain and more of a leader this year,” Klanduch said. “I had to step in a little bit, not awkwardly, but unexpectedly, sophomore year, because Henry and I were the oldest two people on the team.The only guy we had who was superior to us transferred to Boston College, so I had to step in there early. I’m excited to finally have a pattern.” Papazov said the upperclassmen have kept the team steady and navigated conflicts. Their leadership will determine the direction of the team once the fall semester concludes. “I think this semester will be very formative of our positions and our roles, especially now that we finally have some upperclassmen on the team and we’ve got a lot more experience under our belts compared to previous years,” Papazov said. “But honestly, I’m very excited to see that happen, and then for the spring, we’ll see where that takes us. First, we need to get through the fall.” The Chargers will host the Chargers Summer Invitational at the Mary Jane Delp Tennis Courts, beginning Sept. 12.

Charger Chatter What is something people are usually surprised to learn about you? I danced for seven years for this niche company at my church that told Bible stories through dance. What is your go-to hype song? As a team, we’ve been listening to “Dark Horse” by Katy Perry. Individually, “The Show Goes On” has been my tradition for five years and it's never gotten old. Compiled by Charlee Amason

Chloe Pierce, Volleyball

What is a concept you often reflect upon? We talk a lot about being servant leaders on our team. I have a verse from Philippians written on my shoes that talks about considering others greater than yourself and serving them. Focusing on others and being others-oriented has always been my life motto. What is your most irrational fear? ATVing.

Photo Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletic Department

Sophomore Ben Ngishu takes handoff from Junior Eli Boyce.

C harger S portS

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A10 September 10, 2026

Volleyball

Baseball

Chargers take first losses Hillsdale recruits summertime Loggerhead pitcher of the season on the road By Francesca Cella OpiniOns EditOr

By Ashley Luke COllEgian rEpOrtEr The Hillsdale women’s volleyball team trudged back from the Parkside Invite tournament after losing three out of their four matches Sept. 4-5. “What went well was that we failed,” head coach Chris Gravel said. “It provided clarity for what we need to do moving forward. . . but it’s an easier ride when you win.” Hillsdale lost 3-1 to Nova Southeastern University, but came back to sweep Purdue University Northwest 3-0. Hillsdale lost to University of Jamestown 3-1 and University of Wisconsin-Parkside 3-0. Both matches on Saturday were tight for Hillsdale. UW Parkside won the first set 25-23 and the second 25-22 before claiming the third set 25-18. Hillsdale fought hard against UJ for the first two sets, losing 25-22 and 25-19 before beating UJ 25-23 in the third set. UJ then won the fourth set 25-16. Freshman defensive specialist/outside hitter Taylor Brownsword dominated the UJ match with 17 kills. Even though UJ won, Gravel said he was impressed with how Brownsword handled the ball. “She just seemed like she could do no wrong for a while,” Gravel said. “She was being very aggressive, swinging hard, and finding the floor, which we were having trouble doing.” The tournament reminded

the team of their need for consistency under pressure, Gravel noted. He said many of the plays were good either on offense or defense, but not both. However, Gravel said he saw fifth-year defensive specialist/ libero Chloe Pierce and senior middle hitter Molly Kennedy playing at steady levels. Pierce later won all-tournament team, her first time receiving this award. “Neither one of them had breakout days, but they were really steady the whole weekend, which we actually need more of,” Gravel said. “Hopefully the rest of the team can look to them for stability.” Kennedy said her play last week was motivated by the team. “When I walk onto the court, my primary goal is to do my job the best I can and make my teammates’ jobs easier,” she said. “Playing with this group of girls specifically pushes me to play every point and work harder for the person standing next to me who I know is doing the same.” Conference play will start next week, giving the Hillsdale women’s volleyball team a clean slate. “Our team battled well this weekend,” Brownsword said. “While it wasn’t the exact outcome we wanted…[it is] motivation to work harder and come back stronger for the next match.” Hillsdale’s next match will be Sept. 11 at Cedarville University.

Two Hillsdale College baseball players scouted for the team this summer. Sophomore Evan Coartney transferred to Hillsdale this semester after upperclassmen on the baseball team noticed his skill while they played together for the Oak Island Loggerheads in the Old North State League, a wooden-bat league in North Carolina. “He was in the transfer portal at the beginning of the summer, and I’m just watching him pitch. I’m like, ‘He’s pretty good. He’s probably not going to be in the portal for that long,’” senior Rocco Tenuta said. Tenuta is Hillsdale’s third baseman, and last season he led the Chargers with six home runs, 41 RBIs, and 31 walks drawn. He has drawn 94 walks in total, and is tied for the second most walks drawn in Hillsdale College history. Between playing seven games a week, practicing when they weren’t playing, and going to the beach on the weekend, Tenuta and junior Will Lehman got to know the right-handed pitcher well. “Rocco and I just liked him better than everyone else,” Lehman said. “He is a really nice guy and is really good at baseball.” Hillsdale baseball was down three pitchers from the previous year, and was looking for two replacements, so Tenuta reached out to head coach Tom Vessella. “I texted Tom, and Tom was convinced,” Tenuta said. “I sent him a couple videos, and then

Tom talked to him. He got him here on a visit and then he got him to commit. I was fired up about that. It was awesome.” In the summer league, Coartney averaged more than one strikeout per inning, with a 1-1

“Both of those guys could have easily transferred out after the two seasons they had, and probably gone to a higher level of baseball,” Coartney said. “But something that really made me interested in coming

Sophomore Evan Coartney pitches in Oak Island this summer. Courtesy | Noah Jones

win-loss record and an earnedrun average of 4.95. Coartney committed to Hillsdale in the second week of August. He said playing with Lehman and Tenuta and hearing about how much they appreciated the team culture at Hillsdale is what convinced him to transfer.

here was the fact that both of them stayed.” Hillsdale is Coartney’s third school in two years, following a semester at the University of North Carolina Wilmington and a semester at Savannah State. He said neither school was a great fit. “I don’t just want to go to a

school for baseball,” Coartney said. “I feel like I want to flourish in every aspect of life instead of just baseball, because I feel like there’s more to the picture than just having your identity based around your sport.” Lehman said the summer league had a much different culture than the Hillsdale baseball team, and that Coartney immediately stood out as a good fit for Hillsdale. “I think the biggest thing that stuck out to me was that not only is he a personable guy and fun to talk to, he is actually someone who has a good character and generally a strong moral sense of right and wrong,” Lehman said. The friendship Coartney formed with Lehman and Tenuta not only brought him to campus, but he said it also gave him examples of the type of player he wants to be. “It kind of gives me a mentorship in a way, especially since Rocco has the exact same major and minor that I’m looking at doing,” Coartney said. “It’s like I can almost try and follow in his footsteps being a leader and the role model for the team.” Coartney said meeting his new teammates and settling into Hillsdale has been a great experience, and that he’s looking forward to playing ball here. “It’s been tough for me to kind of figure out where exactly I want to or need to be, and after moving around to several places, I feel like I’m finally where I’m supposed to be,” Coartney said.

Golf

Chargers swing for G-MAC championship with new PGA Tour technology By Grace Brennan CulturE EditOr The Hillsdale men’s golf team introduced new stats technology while practicing at the Salmans Golf Performance Center and the Country Club of Jackson, preparing for their first tournament Sept. 13-15 at

Grand Valley State University. The five members chosen to play at the tournament will practice on Sunday, play 36 holes on Monday, and 18 holes on Tuesday. According to Senior Ryan O’Rourke, this week’s practice, and what the team calls ‘qualifiers,’ will determine which five

Senior Oliver Marshall competes at 2026 G-MAC Championship. Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletic Department

of the eight players compete in the first tournament of the season. “The lineup isn’t set before any tournament,” O’Rourke said. “It’s just up to whoever is playing the best. So we play a three-round qualifier where everyone on the team competes against each other. We have eight guys, and the top five guys get to play in the tournament.” Head Men’s Golf Coach Luke Kelly said he looks forward to seeing what his team is capable of. “I saw some guys play really well with good scores, which is encouraging for the start of the year, and makes me excited to get things going,” Kelly said. Kelly is introducing the team to a new program system called TourIQ, developed for the PGA tour. According to Kelly, only 10 other colleges are using the program. “I think it will help us improve our course management,

course strategy, and how we go about planning each week, so I’m excited to use that to our advantage as much as possible.” Kelly explained how TourIQ will help his players track their dispersion patterns — where the ball lands in proximity to where it was originally targeted — as they play. “We’re able to upload our dispersion patterns directly into this platform, and once we’re able to do that it gives us a course layover,” he said. “Each guy can take their dispersion pattern and line it up so that they can map out where their targets should be, before even getting to the course, so that they can already have an understanding of where they’re going to need to hit some shots, or where they need to lay back off the tee.” According to senior Oliver Marshall, this new program will be quicker than any technology the team has used in the past.

“We’ve had stats technology all four years I’ve been here, it’s just a new one this year that’s slightly different and easier to use. The last one would take an hour per round,” he said. O'Rourke said that practice is self-driven, so if someone on the team wants to get better he must set specific goals for himself. “Something to work on while practicing is trying to hit the ball at a certain spot with a certain ball flight, instead of going out there and hitting balls without any thought,” O’Rourke said. Marshall emphasized the importance of working on personal weaknesses. Having been injured in the past, he said he’s looking forward to improving since last year. “Putting is my weakness,” Marshall said. “There’s a lot of things to work on with that, like focusing on technique and hitting puts in real life, reading the greens. There’s a mix of

technical and external.” O’Rourke said he’s positive about his senior year on the men’s golf team. “I want to go out there, have fun, and enjoy being with the team,” O’Rourke said. “The events are a lot of fun because we’re all super close. If I don’t play the best golf, that’s okay. But if I play good golf, and if we continue to enjoy ourselves, then I’m happy.” On top of new technology, the men’s golf team has three main goals set for themselves, according to O’Rourke: Team GPA of 3.6, beat Findlay, and win the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Kelly said the ultimate goal of the season is to get closer as a team. “If we try to achieve that everyday, then we’ll end up where we want to be at the end of the year,” Kelly said.

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September 10, 2026

Aharon Dubovin records actors. Courtesy | Caitlyn Larsen

Caleb Ostella observes art at watercolor exhibit. Courtesy | Margaret Cole

CULTURE Vasiliki Paplomata observes art at watercolor exhibit. Courtesy | Margaret Cole

Hillsdale exhibit spotlight Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo: Disney is what we’ll do sessed with Ariel from ‘The Little kids,” Phelps said. theme to separate themselves Michigan watercolor By Grace Brennan Mermaid,’ so I would take long According to senior Mercy from everyone else,” Phelps said. By Lucy Billings AssistAnt Editor Award-winning watercolor paintings from the Michigan Water Color Society’s 79th Annual Exhibition furnish the Daughtery Art Gallery. Professor Emeritus of Art Sam Knecht’s entrance won best in the show. The exhibit opened at the Ella Sharp Museum in Jackson in July and travels around the state. It will be on display in Hillsdale through Oct. 4. Rocco Pisto, president emeritus of the Michigan Water Color Society, spoke on the opening night, along with Knecht and Chairman and Associate Professor of Art Julio Suarez. The show displays the work of artists from all over Michigan who belong to the society. “It’s not just watercolor,” Pisto said. “There are inks. There are acrylics on paper. There are washes. As long as it’s diluted with water, you can be part of our organization.” Knecht has been a member of the Michigan Water Color Society for about 40 years. This year, the out-of-state juror voted his piece “The Veteran” the best in the show. Knecht spoke about the love behind a “character portrait,” his term for a piece where he is inspired by an individual and tries to most authentically portray him. “The veteran has been deceased a number of years, but I met him at the First Presbyterian Church in Hillsdale,” Knecht said. “Ernie Ingle was there in his Veteran of Foreign Wars outfit. I was fascinated by his whole demeanor. I asked him if he’d pose for photographs and he obliged. The more we got to know each other, the more I was interested to learn.” Knecht said he kept his photographs of Ingle on file for many years. Just this past winter, he began painting the veteran’s likeness. “I sweat bullets doing it,” Knecht said. “There were some

very difficult passages — the background and the blends in his jacket, balancing out the structure of the space, getting the color changes and the value changes right. It totally obsessed me for a month or more.” Sophomore Helen Hickman said she was surprised to see watercolor’s flexibility in style and subject matter. “I definitely thought, ‘Michigan watercolorists? There’ll be a lot of beautiful landscapes and really great wildlife scenes and stu$,’” Hickman said. “There was that, for sure, but also so much more. Portraits, architectural scenes, abstract pieces — all there.” Visiting Professor of Art and gallery director, Roxanne Kaufman, spoke about the difficult and unforgiving nature of watercolor as a medium. “With watercolor, you make a decision and you follow it through,” Kaufman said. “I think most people think of watercolor as a romanticized medium and I think that’s its hidden secret. It’s actually quite difficult to advance in watercolor.” Knecht said it is encouraging to see watercolor pursued in the arts at Hillsdale, as they are one of the few collegiate art programs left with any course in watercolor. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to say at this moment: watercolor is alive in Hillsdale,” Knecht said. “It really is. Julio Suarez is keeping it alive, energized. What I’ve seen his students doing in student shows is terrific.” Hickman encouraged all students to come view the exhibition, as it pertains to the purpose of college. “The art department always does such a great job finding shows to display in the Daughtrey Gallery, and this exhibition is no different,” Hickman said. “We talk a lot about the good, the true, and the beautiful here at Hillsdale. While there is beauty to a well-structured essay or a cell under the microscope, it is worth everyone’s time to stop by the Fine Arts Building and take in some truly aesthetic works.”

CulturE Editor

The Student Activities Board announced Monday this year’s homecoming theme will be “Disney.” Simpson Residence knights will fight over who will be Prince Charming in Mock Rock, and the sororities will compete over who will fit into the glass slipper. “It lends itself well to every competition,” sophomore Andrew Spiegel, member of the Student Activities Board, said. “There’s plenty of material for trivia, songs for Mock Rock, and possibilities for banners. We also thought it would be funny to see Simpson guys dress up like Disney princesses.” According to junior Liam Brennan, Simpson Residence is always full of surprises. “You’ll have to come watch Mock Rock to find out,” Brennan said. “The goal is to get Joe Vankat dressed up like Princess Jasmine.” Simpson Head Resident Assistant Joe Vankat said he and the other Simpson RAs plan to take homecoming very seriously. “We’re shooting to win,” Vankat said. “Obviously, that is first and foremost. We’ve won three years in a row, and personally, I don’t want to lose that my senior year. But I think we just want to have a lot of fun with it — get all the guys involved and put on a good show for the rest of campus.” The Disney theme might push Simpson out of its comfort zone, according to Vankat. However, Vankat grew up watching old Disney movies and Disney Channel with his sisters. “I loved the Disney Channel movie ‘Lemonade Mouth’ when I was younger,” Vankat said. Most students will have a favorite memory tied to Disney that will encourage them to participate in homecoming, according to junior Lenora Schupbach. “Everyone can get hyped about the theme even if they don’t necessarily ‘like’ Disney, since it’s impossible not to have experienced that one Disney movie that kinda sums up your childhood,” Schupbach said. “When I was little, I was ob-

pieces of toilet paper and run around with it because it looked like mermaid tails swimming in the wind.” Junior Fara Newell, member of SAB, said her first Disney memory was seeing the premiere of “Tangled” in theaters. “I saw ‘Tangled’ before most of the world, and I remember it being so special and exciting.

Franzonello, house director of Mauck Residence, any women’s dorm has a good chance at claiming the trophy this fall. “I am so excited about this theme,” Franzonello said. “I feel like the space theme, in my mind, was kind of geared towards the guys. Girls are going to crush it with Disney. This is just the best theme I could pos-

That’s always been my favorite Disney movie,” Newell said. Junior Ross Phelps, member of SAB, hinted students should think about what genre of Disney the homecoming judges may favor. “I feel like we can suggest to people that we are working with judges who, as soon as they think of Disney, they think of the Disney movie they watched when they were kids, or the Disney movies they watched with their

sibly think of.” Franzonello’s only concern is the difficult task of sorting through the vast media of Disney. “It could be a little bit challenging because there’s so much you can do with the theme,” Franzonello said. Phelps said the Student Activities Board is expecting creativity from each dorm. “We want to see all the dorms really use the broadness of the

Creativity for the sake of competition isn’t everything, according to Franzonello. “Something that RAs Macky [Joostens] and Lucy [Jansen] and I have talked about is building a community, not just in our own dorm, but across the women’s dorms,” Franzonello said. “We want to walk over to events together, invite the freshman women to walk over with upperclassmen women, and really focus on being friends, while still being competitive and trying to win without that becoming overwhelming.” Homecoming is especially important for freshmen to participate in, Franzonello said. “For freshmen, homecoming is the first time the whole dorm comes together, and Mock Rock in particular,” Franzonello said. “My biggest takeaway from the past two years as an RA has been seeing the girls become friends with each other.” Sophia Rome ’25, director of student activities, agreed. Having choreographed three Mock Rock performances, said she appreciates how homecoming brings people together. “Leading up to the football game, all the dorms and other teams will compete through a series of competitions, starting with Banner Drop on Monday morning, and then ending with Mock Rock on Saturday night, which is the competition where everybody makes awesome dances. It’s a great week for camaraderie on campus and campus community.” Disney is a good theme for the overwhelmed Hillsdale student to focus on, according to Newell. “I think it’s really exciting, especially for us in college, to be able to go back to our childhood roots and relive some of that fun and whimsy,” Newell said. Illustrated by Paige Kutas

Study in style: Hillsdale architecture shapes atmosphere By Trinity Gentry AssistAnt Editor Marble staircases and classical structures shape students and their experiences, calling them to something higher, according to Alice Arnn, daughter of Larry and Penny Arnn, and the Hillsdale projects manager and partner at Michael G. Imber Architects. “From a student perspective, it’s always the great Churchill quote: ‘We shape our buildings and afterward they shape us,’” Alice Arnn said. “It’s true of the chapel — it’s true of all of these buildings — but my experience is designing the library, and it is full of reading rooms that are very aspirational.” As project manager, Alice Arnn is involved with the library addition, and she said architecture forms us. The atmosphere of the library, created by its grand marble staircase, reading rooms overlooking the quad through huge windows, and white oak floors, will stir students to meet the challenge rigorous education brings. “You’ll be studying, surrounded by beautiful white oak millwork and casework, marble fireplaces, big leaded glass windows that overlook the quad — spaces that

make you feel like you want to rise to the occasion and do something great,” Alice Arnn added. The architecture currently under construction is in line with the design of Christ Chapel, which was designed by Duncan Stroik, a professor at University of Notre Dame and a practicing architect. Stroik, McCrery Architects, and Mi-

Imber Architects. The architecture also impacts those who tour the college, according to Alice Arnn. “These new buildings, Duncan’s, James’ and ours — the architecture that people see when they visit campus — will match the quality of the academics and the quality of the philosophical mission of the college,” Alice Arnn said.

to reflect the pedagogy of the college. The environment of a college — the buildings, furniture, artwork — play a large role in a student’s experience and education, according to Stroik. He views classical architecture as encouraging those who participate there. “Whether you’re a student or a faculty member or somebody that works in food services, the

are similar to the higher versus lower registers of speeches, which she learned in logic and rhetoric. “You talk a certain way around your friends versus around your teachers versus if you were to give a speech. Similarly, architecture has maybe more vernacular styles versus the higher styles,” Northon said. “The kind of neoclas-

You’ll be studying, surrounded by beautiful white oak millwork and casework, marble fireplaces, big leaded glass windows that overlook the quad — spaces that make you feel like you want to rise to the occasion and do something great. chael G. Imber Architects are the designers behind the quad and its surrounding buildings. In the fall of 2023, Imber Architects was recruited to help develop a master plan for the college’s quad, according to Alice Arnn, creating a detailed vision for the spaces surrounding the quad like building additions. Following this, a series of architectural projects were broken up and divided among Stroik, McCrery Architects, and

Stroik is currently working on a war memorial for the quad, The Collegian previously reported. When Stroik designed the chapel, the college turned a corner, he said. “They realized how much more there could be, but also how much harder that is to do architecturally,” Stroik said. “And then there’s a cost associated with excellence.” He said the architecture currently under construction aims

buildings should ennoble you,” Stroik said. “They should make you feel more human, more valued, more enlightened. Architecture should do that, because as a classical institution — at a Christian institution — we value people, and we want to raise them up, right? We want to encourage them. We want to challenge them to be better.” Junior Lily Northon, one of the founders of the architecture club, said architecture styles

sical or classical elements of the chapel, and of the graduate building now, and of what they’re trying to do with the library, I think are meant to have that effect of ‘This isn’t just cozying up in your own living room.’ It’s, ‘You’re here to engage with something higher and bigger than yourself.’” Senior John Larocca, who is also part of the architecture club, was interested in architecture and visited Hillsdale

as Christ Chapel was being built. With plans to apply to architecture school after graduation, Larooca was impressed by the chapel’s construction as he watched someone doing what he aspired to. Larocca said he believes architecture can elevate a person’s mind as students are studying higher ideals, but the scale of a building isn’t everything. He said he appreciates structures that fly under the radar. “I think my favorite part of the new campus design is the redesign for the Grewcock Student Union, like the facade of that building,” Larocca said. “It just has a human scale that appeals to me.” Northon said the order and symmetry of the classical style can appear pompous, but it also reminds students of the high ideals in the Western tradition. “I think specifically with the more grandiose connotations of the ancient styles of architecture, it might seem a little pretentious,” Northon said. “But maybe we should think of ourselves as pursuing the best and the greatest that humanity has o$ered us, and hopefully become the best and the greatest ourselves.”

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September 10, 2026

CULTURE ‘The Outer Banks, paradise on earth,’ ended in disappointment By Lonán Mooney CollEgiAn rEportEr My memories of the summer of 2020 are mostly bleak, except for the hazy image of a sun-drenched show, with the catchphrase “The Outer Banks, Paradise on Earth,” playing in my head. Netflix’s “Outer Banks” is full of friendship, adventure, and mystery. However, with its extensive five seasons and controversial ending, this show’s only remaining value may be nostalgia. The show follows working-class teenager John B. Routledge and his friends in coastal North Carolina. They are known as the “Pogues.” Together they share adventures and clash with their wealthy rivals, the “Kooks.” First released on Netflix in 2020, the show garnered instant success. Early reviews gushed

about the emphasis on the reality of teenage life and adventure, with a timeless setting; the characters in the show are intentionally not depicted with cellphones and similar modern technology. In a 2020 interview with Garden and Gun magazine, co-creator Josh Pate expressed his intentions following the pilot season’s success. “It’s going to get bigger. Season two is an escalation of season one, and season three escalates from season two,” he said. “The mythology of the treasure expands and gets — hopefully — more exciting. We never know for sure what will happen, but I currently have six seasons planned in my head.” That was six years ago, and since then, the show has shi$ed dramatically. My favorite aspect of the show was the complexity and

range of the various characters. Each character was distinct, with their own sets of struggles and obstacles they had to overcome. The friends unite over their shared desire for adventure, and as a means to escape the reality of their lives. John B., the leader of the group, is an orphan who sees the search for treasure as a way to feel closer to his deceased father. Pope is a studious, promising young African American boy, who feels the pressures of expectations to excel. Kiera belongs to the “Kook” side of the island, but chooses to maintain connections with the down-to-earth Pogues. J.J. is a spunky go-getter, coming from an abusive household, who joins the group to stay out of his house and maintain distance from his father. Sarah and Rafe Cameron are

wealthy “Kook” siblings. Sarah is disillusioned by her world when she joins the troupe. Rafe, the outlier of the group, is a troubled young man, who desperately wishes for his father’s approval. Each character showed promise of character development and redemption in their own way. I was hopeful going into the final season. The stakes were high. The troupe had struggled and lost so much in pursuit of the treasure which at long last seemed to be within their grasp. However, this season proved to be disappointing in many ways. Throughout the seasons, the characters become endlessly consumed by the obsession that first unified them, whilst never seriously addressing their flaws and shortcomings as individuals. As reviews for the final season came in, fans complained about the show throwing in tropes

such as an unplanned pregnancy and plot twists such as killing off characters, rather than sticking to the genuine adventure, suspense and mystery the initial seasons promised. The new season debuted with the lowest viewership in the series’ history, according to Variety. In many ways, there’s a depth to this last season that wasn’t present before, as the crew mourn the loss of one of their own. The group is stranded in a storm, in a final effort to recover the treasure they’ve been chasing a$er since the first season. However, it proved to be disappointing. Revenge and murder become the show’s emphasis, as grace and growth decrease. Though it closes tightly wrapped up, it leaves the viewer feeling more defeated than anything. Unfortunately, “Outer Banks”

offers an original concept with promise from Netflix that went on for too long, only to end disappointingly. However, because the show’s fans love it so much, they are frustrated. The show took place during Gen Z’s own teenage years, as hard times bonded viewers to the show in a testament to friendship and adventure. Unfortunately, these core elements ultimately fall short, leaving the viewer with that same hazy memory, a beautiful, promising nostalgia that failed to be much more than that in the end.

Professors’ Picks: Elizabeth Fredericks Associate Professor of English

“Through a Door”

“Hymn to all the Restless Girls”

“Small Things Like These”

“Through a Door” by Regina Spektor is a beautiful meditation on longing to have a place to return to. There’s a line that seems to echo a line from Robert Frost’s poem “The Death of the Hired Man,” where she sings about how home is the place where when you go there, they have to let you in. I think the beauty of that yearning for a place you can return to, where you know you belong and you know you are loved, is a really beautiful close to that particular album.

This poetry collection by Annemarie Ní Churreáin is a remarkable reflection on the history of women in Ireland, on the history of the Irish Magdalene laundries, the mother and baby homes, and also Irish folklore. There’s a lot she braids together really skillfully. There’s a series of poems called Raven Chorus, and they’re scattered through the book. And every Raven Chorus poem is printed white on a black background. It’s a visually fascinating book, and the subject matter is rich and thought-provoking and beautiful.

This movie is based on a novel by the Irish novelist Claire Keegan, about the Irish Magdalene laundries and other baby homes. It’s very beautiful and moving, about a man who’s confronted with a moral quandary in the course of his ordinary life. You get a sense of the warmth and loveliness of the main character’s home life that he’s worked hard to build, and this very heavy decision he needs to make threatens the beauty and the goodness of that life.

Elizabeth Fredericks enjoys the view Courtesy | Elizabeth Fredericks

Pope Leo on vanity By Ethan Savka AssistAnt Editor Catholicism is fashionable, according to Vanity Fair. Last month, Pope Leo XIV appeared on Vanity Fair magazine’s “Best Dressed” list in the “Most Original Dressers” section. José Criales-Unzueta, the style correspondent of Vanity Fair, wrote that the pope’s style showed “innate Americanness.” Sophomore Isaac Trotter, a Catholic Society outreach board member for Simpson Residence, said young Americans are beginning to see the beauty in traditional church aesthetics. “I think it’s amazing because it kind of shows the culture recognizing the traditional vestments worn by the pope specifically, but also Catholic clergy,” Trotter said. “I think often, priests and bishops and the pope can get clowned for wearing ‘ridiculous’ garb. But I think the culture is starting to recognize there’s a reason we are wearing this, and it actually elevates the liturgy. It also elevates the people around whoever’s wearing the garments because that’s what it’s designed to do.” Catholicism offers a long tradition of symbolic dress that more Americans are beginning to appreciate, according to junior Christopher Ambuul. That tradition extends to the inside of Catholic churches. “I know that I’m much more attracted to a beautiful church than one that’s just a box and has a stage,” Ambuul said. “But if it has beautiful architecture and statues and stained-glass windows, I think it’s far more likely to go somewhere beautiful, to actually do something beautiful, than to go somewhere ugly. And I think it’s a lot easier to do something beautiful when you’re in a beautiful environment.” Senior Michael Bogumill, president of the Catholic Society, said the beauty of Catholic traditions should inspire Catho-

lics to contemplate their fashion choices. “The Lord created the world in a way that he could participate in his creation by making something beautiful,” Bogumill said. “He turns people’s eyes to Christ. As Christians, we’re supposed to take care of our appearance because we’re trying to attract people to Christ. That is an important part of apostolate, and includes reverence at church too.” Converts to Catholicism at Hillsdale have increased in recent years. As reported by The Collegian, 31 people — the most in the parish in 25 years — joined the local church, Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, last semester. Trotter believes the trend of Gen Z and American culture recognizing and appreciating Catholic aesthetics and values will continue. At the same time, he hopes a love of simplicity remains. “I think it’s part of a movement that is growing in the church of recognizing the beauty in more traditional things, and I think that is a growing movement in America,” Trotter said. “It includes recognizing the beauty of candles and decorative altar pieces and beautiful churches and religious and sacred art. I think it’s going to be part of a twofold process where people recognize the beauty of the treasures, and the elegance of the church in that sense. I hope eventually the church is able to also recognize the beauty in the simple as well, and those two things can sort of coexist.” Trotter said he hopes Pope Leo’s selection represents more than the choice of a fashion magazine. “Pope Leo being chosen as best-dressed is really cool because I think it’s a signal of the culture recognizing the importance and elegance of the vestments that we do have as part of the treasures of the church.”

History from A1 “Before class with some students, we were talking about retirement,” Stewart said. “I was making jokes — ‘Oh, professors don’t retire because we’re too poor.’ They asked me how I’m going to make money in retirement. And what popped in my head was, ‘Sell baseball cards.’ That a$ernoon nobody came to office hours, and they should have, but they didn’t. So sitting and waiting for people to come, I started fiddling around.” Stewart said the most recent addition to Hillsdale’s history department has taught for around seven years, so he knew all of the professors well enough to write entertaining descriptions for the cards. “I tried to write stuff that was just generally stupid — even if you don’t know the people, kind of funny — and then if you actually know the professor, ‘Oh, I get what’s going on there.’ Like references to some book they wrote,” Stewart said. According to England, plans for the fundraiser moved quickly, with Stewart giving them guidance throughout the process. PAT had approximately 600 trading cards printed for its three-day fundraiser, according to senior Lenny Fritz, president of the honorary. “We sold around 500 cards,” Fritz said. “We had 300 card holders, and we sold out of them.” England said the honorary made a net profit of about $540, and some of that money went to pay off the group’s debt. Though Fritz anticipated high demand, England and the other members of the board were surprised when they sold out of several professors’ cards. “Most professors have their groupies now,” England said. “Certain types of professors attract groupies that are very willing to buy trading cards, and certain professors attract

groupies that are not willing to buy trading cards. So it was really interesting to see the type of person that was a fan of each professor.” Junior history major Johnathan Dys said he bought the full set of cards because of their silliness. “What made the cards appealing is that they embody the personalities of these professors,” Dys said. “I think the history department is the most lively and most colorful department we have. I think part o f

that is the discipline of hist o r y itself. Sometimes you get to say crazy things in class bec au s e t h at’s w h a t actually happened, when the truth is stranger than fiction.” Associate Professor of Medieval History Charles Yost, who has been PAT’s academic adviser since 2023, said the cards reference details from conversations with Stewart in past years. On Yost’s card, Stewart jokingly appointed him as “Katepánō” of the fourth floor in Delp Hall. “Katepánō is the name of a regional commander in southern Italy during the Middle Byzantine period,” Yost said.

“So I’m the Katepánō of Upper Delp. I guess I’m in charge here.” Yost said the honorary accidentally went into debt because of the board’s excitement to revitalize the program and host more events. He described PAT’s leadership as a tetrarchy, similar to Diocletian’s structure of government in the third century Roman Empire. “Since 2025, we’ve had very energetic leadership. They have become more ambitious about putting on events,” Yost said. “We always have a small budget because most of our money comes from new initiates,

who p a y $60, a n d $50 of that goes to the national organization. Because they were doing more, they ended up spending a little bit more than we had.” Fritz said his favorite PAT event is called Crossing Baw Beese. “In December we will be doing Crossing Baw Beese, which is a reenactment of Washington’s crossing of the Delaware. Boats, costumes, and a giant American flag will be involved. We’ll see what else. People should come to the event and find out.” Yost said the tetrarchy hopes to support a community of history-loving students that

Compiled by Sophia Mandt CollEgiAn rEportEr can be professional, practical, and fun. Events are open to all of campus, but students also have opportunities to receive support with their history classes, according to Fritz. “An honorary in the past has been pitched as sort of an exclusive thing, and full membership is. There are benefits that come with that,” Fritz said. “But we’re trying to do a lot more events that are open to everybody — to give the whole campus a chance to come in, and help them out.” According to England, students who hope to join the honorary must have completed 12 history credits, which can include core classes. “Initiation happens halfway through the year, and there are GPA and credit hour requirements to join,” England said. “We anticipate a large joining class.” England said she thinks the trading cards were a great way to raise awareness and support for PAT. Though the cards are limited edition and rare items, according to England, the honorary may bring them back in future years. Dys said he is selling a signed card of Bradley Birzer, professor of history and Russell Amos Kirk Chair in American Studies, on eBay. But his longterm plan is to ask professors to autograph his cards and put together a display for them. “My favorite card is my Birzer one-of-one autographed copy, which you can buy on eBay for the low, low price of $1,844,” Dys said. Illustrated by Paige Kutas

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B4 September 10, 2026

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September 10, 2026

f e a t u r e s Campus Characters

Clara Dornbirer

By Matthew Tolbert Web & Puzzle Editor

Clara Dornbirer is a senior from Marengo, Ohio, and is pursuing an English degree. She currently serves as the director for the Love INC. of Hillsdale County GOAL program, a member of the Student Ministry Board, and a leader for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s SOMA worship night. She hopes to pursue wedding floral design after graduation. How did you end up as an English major? It’s a funny story because both of my sisters who went to Hillsdale before me were English majors, and I told myself coming in: “I will do any major except English.” But in the second semester of freshman year, I took Dr. Jackson for Great Books 1 and started to seriously reconsider my life after that. But in fall of sophomore year, I was like, “Nope, I’m going to keep resisting. I’m gonna be a marketing major,” so I added all these other classes. I hated every single one of them. And in the fall of sophomore year, I was taking Dr. Whalen for Great Books 2. That was a lethal combo there — Dr. Jackson, Dr. Whalen — both of them convinced me that English was what my passion was, and I just noticed

myself starting to love my English classes above anything else, and so I gave in. What was it like going to the same college as your sisters?

I have two older sisters and then a younger sister who’s a freshman here. So four of us have come to Hillsdale so far, and then I have a younger brother who’s a freshman in high school. Hillsdale was something — kind of similar to the English major — that I fought against for a long time. Being the middle child, I have that middle-child syndrome, wanting to do my own thing, but both of my sisters went here, and I remember coming to visit and falling in love with the place and seeing the connections that they had with people — everyone’s joy and love for not just the academics, but the people around them and the community. What’s your favorite movie and why? “Top Gun: Maverick.” It's such a good adventure movie, and it’s also kind of a reboot of a movie that’s not super good from the ’80s. Also, Miles Teller and all of them are such great actors. It’s fun to watch and inspirational. And for the time that it came out, there weren’t a

lot of good movies coming out at that point in time. How did you get into sailing, and what do you find so fun about it? I did a little tiny bit of it in high school. I love the ocean and love the sea, and marine science is always something I wanted to do, and so sailing was something off of that. I’ve always loved boating, so I went to a couple of the sailing club’s meetings freshman year. I’ve thought about doing it again senior year. What’s your favorite smell? Definitely the sea. I just connect with nature so much more when I’m at the ocean, and I feel like the ocean is such a beautiful display of God’s creation and his power. I feel so close to God when I’m on a beach. What was your favorite summer and why? The summer between sophomore and junior year. I went on a mission trip to Hampton Beach in New Hampshire with Campus Crusade for Christ. That was such a random step of faith. I signed up for this mission trip, and I lived there the

whole summer. We did a lot of random things. We were at the beach. We worked jobs. We did a lot of workplace ministry and evangelism, and then also we went out on the beach and talked to people about their stories and told them about Jesus. I grew a ton and learned a lot about how to communicate my faith, why it’s important, and how to love others well. What was your biggest pet peeve as an RA? When the kitchen is dirty. I’m so Type A about kitchens and keeping things clean, so when people did not clean up the kitchen, I said it until I was blue in the face.

a part of their faith lives. Service is something I really have wanted to work on in my four years, whether it was through RAing or other things. What extinct animal would you bring back to life if you could? Wo o l l y m a m m o t h . Those things are really cool, and I wish that they were still a thing. Imagine going to the zoo and seeing a woolly mammoth — that would be awesome!

What advice do you have for freshmen? Take the time to invest in your personal walk with the Lord. Freshman year can be a lot and really stressful, but if you lean into God’s grace and the way that he uses the community at Hillsdale to come alongside you, you’ll have so much more success.

How does it feel being a senior now? I feel like you look up to the senior class so much as a freshman, and especially having a sister now who’s a freshman, I feel like it’s come full circle for me. This is how Ingrid felt when I was a freshman. I feel like I should have it all together, but I also think none of the seniors ever do. It’s such a special time — it feels so sentimental. So I’m excited for this year. I’m excited to soak up all the last memories and do all the things! Why did you join the Student Ministry Board? Senior year, my goal has been doing the things that I value the most. So outside of academics, it’s been my ministry positions — Love INC. and Student Ministry Board. I think it’s getting to bless the students in that way, by being

Clara Dornbirer would bring back the woolly mammoth. Courtesy | Clara Dornbirer

‘An anchor’: Students gather for worship at SOMA By Gabriel Schrock Collegian Freelancer Every Thursday evening in Christ Chapel, students gather to lead one another in worship — a moment of respite in the busyness of the week. “The chapel is such a beautiful space, and the voices just reverberate around the walls,” SOMA leader and junior Sam Baggott said. “You can just hear the voices being lifted up. A reminder that eternity has already begun for us.” SOMA is a worship night hosted by InterVarsity, an interdenominational campus ministry, every Thursday from 7:30–8 p.m. In SOMA’s effort to appeal to all ministries on campus, group leaders select a mix of hymns and contempo-

Sailing from B6 “In the summer, there’s a little yacht club that’s active, and there’s instructors and all the little kids come sailing,” Jacqueline Hearne said. “So, my dad learned to sail because of that, and my grandma sailed on Lake Leelanau, and then I went to the sailing school until I aged out. Then I worked there for the past four summers.” Starting at the age of 7, Hearne continued to sail consistently until 14 and started teaching at the Leland Yacht Club at 16. She sailed with her parents and grandma, renting a sail boat and exploring the British Virgin Islands for spring break. Sam Hearne said that the difficulty with sailing is not so much the technique, but understanding how to read the weather — some-

rary worship music, according to Baggott. Each song is played by a variety of instruments such as a piano, guitar, cajon, and violin. InterVarsity started SOMA to bring the various ministries on campus in worship together under one umbrella of fellowship. SOMA means “body” in Greek. Thirty minutes is just what students need as a break from studying amidst their heavy class loads, according to Baggott. “There’s a lot of people that really care about SOMA and want to see it prosper and continue, and greater than that, want to bring other students into it because it’s good,” Baggott said. “It is right to worship God as a body and as a campus.”

On average, 75 to 90 students attend SOMA every week, according to Baggott.

for that week, and every member fulfills responsibilities for the week’s program.

SOMA leaders direct teams of four to five musicians. Four teams rotate during the month, giving most members at least a two-week break from leading worship, Baggott said. The leaders choose the songs

“It’s up to everyone individually to practice ahead of time and to be sure that they’re familiar with the songs,” Baggott said. The students involved in SOMA carry out lots of prepa-

thing his daughter does well. “It’s not a hard thing to do if you learn, but what takes experience is the weather in Northern Michigan across the lake. It can switch on you in 15 minutes,” Sam Hearne said. “So you got to be very weather alert as to how it can change.” With Lake Michigan’s unpredictable weather, one instructing day at the yacht club turned for the worse. “This summer at the yacht club on one of the days, it was super hot and humid,” Hearne said. “And before we go out with the kids, we’ll chat because the kids are out on their boats and some instructors are the boats and then some instructors on the paddle boats. It said ‘rain in the afternoon,’ so it’s fine. But then there was a storm on the other side of Lake Michigan that came across Lake Michigan very fast.

And within 10 minutes, it went from bright and sunny to dark, and we had all the boats out on the water.” Hearne and the other instructors had to capsize all the boats since the mast, which holds the sail, would attract lightning. Then, the instructors had to retrieve all the kids in speed boats. Hearne took first place this year in the yacht club’s race, which included 30 boats. Sam Hearne said this victory is a testament to his daughter’s skills as a sailor, who is able to take advantage of anything in a race that will help her excel. “She’s good at finding how to take advantage of the wind — every little bit, even if it only matters for a few seconds to a few minutes,” Sam Hearne said. Grant said Jacqueline Hearne’s skill as a sailor reveals a type of pat i e n c e Gr ant a d m i re s .

“She’s so calm — so patient with ever ything,” Grant said. “Like, the wind dies down a little bit and it’s gonna take longer — she is totally OK. Sometimes she likes that more because that means she can stay out on the water longer.” Sam Hearne finds that his daughter’s sailing abilities are a natural outflow of her personality. “You’re only the best by finding the areas to improve on, and that’s really what makes her personality work real well with sailing, or sailing work well with her,” Hearne said. “Sailing demands that — finding those little areas to improve on, and then that's how she is anyway.”

“It is far too easy to miss the joy of the Lord in a stressful, task-filled environment, and SOMA has been an anchor in my week to give up my work and worship.”

ration for the night each week. To do this, the team members listen to the songs throughout the week and examine lead sheets and chord charts chosen by the leader. “I pick songs, scripture passages, lead rehearsal, etcetera,” worship team leader and senior Zac Briley said. Briley has attended SOMA since his freshman year and has been a team leader since his sophomore year. “I love how SOMA provides an opportunity to worship God through songs during the week,” Briley said “It’s a beautiful way to live out faith at Hillsdale alongside other Christians.” While Briley has two years of leadership experience under his belt, other students are just

Hearne prepares to sail. Courtesy | James Brugeman

beginning their SOMA leadership journey. “This year I am leading one of the teams, and I’m so excited to lead my fellow students in worship,” junior Anders Moody said. “I’ve been going since my freshman year and loved it so much that I wanted to serve my sophomore year.” Senior Ellery Toman said she finds SOMA to be a great delight as it allows her to worship with her peers on campus while using her gifts for a greater good. “It is such a joyful time,” Toman said. “It is far too easy to miss the joy of the Lord in a stressful, task-filled environment, and SOMA has been an anchor in my week to give up my work and worship in fellowship.”

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September 10, 2026

Julie Adams performs in "Rusalka." Courtesy | Thomas M. Jauk

f e a t u r e s

Opera singer begins teaching at Hillsdale By Anna Northcutt Collegian Reporter Award-winning opera singer Julie Adams joined Hillsdale’s music department faculty as artist-teacher of music in voice this fall. Adams defies the stereotype that the best opera singers are always demanding and temperamental, according to Melissa Knecht, chairman of the music department. “Julie is the opposite of a diva and one of the most accommodating faculty members on our staff,” Knecht said. Adams is teaching private voice lessons and serving as assistant director of the musical. She said teaching voice can be tricky because the teacher cannot physically observe the student’s instrument. “I can’t peek down everyone’s throat,” Adams said. “Oftentimes I’m talking about some weird thing or asking my students to do interesting things, and the answer is always, ‘OK, sure!’ Everyone’s so enthusiastic and willing, it’s really, really awesome.” Adams grew up in Southern California, where she was exposed to music from a young age by her grandfather. “He was a beautiful singer, and he would cantor at Mass,” Adams said. “When he was babysitting me, he would practice and I would mimic him in the other room.” Adams’ grandfather encouraged Adams’ mother to enroll her daughter in voice lessons, since she was already matching his pitch. “Long story short, I was in lessons starting in second grade, and I was just bitten by the bug,” Adams said. Throughout high school, Adams said she was interested in musical theater, but after she began applying to colleges, she realized her forte might lie elsewhere. “The musical theater programs at the good colleges in this country are so competitive, and I can move well, but I’m not a dancer,” Adams said. “I got to the auditions, and all of them were like, ‘Your voice is so strong. Why are you auditioning for musical theater? You should be auditioning for the voice department.’” During her time studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Adams began winning competitions and landing roles for opera. “I always had the mindset of, ‘Keep your options open, see what happens,’” Adams

said. “And I was like, ‘OK, this opera thing’s kind of working out. It’s not so bad.’” By 2013, Adams had received her bachelor’s of music and master’s in vocal performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. “I went there because of the voice teacher that I study with,” Adams said. “I still study with him to this day. We’ve been working together for almost 15 years. At the time, he was the vocal coach for the Los Angeles Opera Young Artists Program, so I had met him there, and his students were having huge success.” Since graduating, Adams has sung all over the world. One of her favorite recent roles has been playing Rusalka in the opera “Rusalka,” which ended up being her debut performance in Germany during COVID-19. “I was living in a new country, experiencing rehearsals in a different language, meeting different colleagues — it was probably one of the most enriching, coolest experiences that I’ve ever had, and the music is so cool,” Adams said. Adams has continued to split her time between Germany and the United States, including making her debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich during the 2025–2026 season as Gerhilde in Wagner’s “Die Walküre.” In the midst of her busy career, Adams also met her husband, Tom Vessella, currently Hillsdale’s head baseball coach. “Our families knew each other forever,” Vessella said. “We just never met, because I was always off playing baseball, and she was always off singing.” The two met when they unintentionally went to dinner with their respective parents at the same restaurant, according to Vessella. They were married in 2021, and, in 2024, they welcomed a daughter. Adams said her priorities have shifted since gaining a new family member, but she always knew she wanted to stay in music. She said she is thrilled to join the music faculty at Hillsdale College while continuing to perform professionally on a more relaxed schedule. “This school is so difficult, and the students here are so exceptionally bright, so exceptionally kind, and so well-rounded that it’s really a joy to teach here,” Adams said.

Murnen or Wells? Doppelgängers roam campus

By Daniel Johnson Assistant Editor Kyle Murnen ’09 and Tim Wells ’06 look so much alike that people often confuse them. “I don’t think I have a week that goes by where I don’t have someone start a conversation with me, thinking I’m Tim,” said Murnen, who is Chief Staff Officer to the President. When Murnen stepped on-

Murnen play into their mistaken identities. “Both of us used to stop people relatively quickly, you know, just to help them avoid the confusion,” Wells said. “But since we haven’t been able to put a stop to it, it’s become more of a fun game. Not to put anyone down at their expense, but just to see, ‘Hey, how long can I keep this going before they recognize who it really is?’”

“Everyone refers to him as ‘mean Kyle,’ and they refer to Kyle as ‘nice Tim.’” stage at the 2021 Hillsdale faculty and staff Christmas party, most attendees thought they were watching Associate Vice President for Administrative Affairs Wells receive an award for 15 years of service at the college. Playing on their coworkers’ confusion, the two men agreed to switch identities for the night, according to Wells. “I think we fooled some people, but I think some people saw it and thought it was pretty funny,” Wells said. Murnen and Wells have known each other since they attended Hillsdale in the 2000s and have worked at the college in different departments for more than a decade. But it wasn’t until the last five years that people began to mistake Wells for Murnen and Murnen for Wells. “Gradually, people would start coming up to me and start talking to me, and about 30 seconds in, I’d realize they thought they were talking to Tim,” Murnen said. “And that was pretty hilarious to me.” Wells said that he and Murnen look so alike that the two of them might have to create a difference. “We have a similar build, similar hairstyles,” Wells said. “We’ve joked about needing to alternate when one of us has a beard and when one of us doesn’t, just to help people differentiate.” According to Wells, he and

Murnen said that he’s been congratulated for Tim’s accomplishments. “Tim Wells was coaching the Hillsdale Academy men’s basketball team, and so I would go to Kroger, and people would stop me and say: ‘Hey, great job in last night’s game, or you know, ‘Good luck in tonight’s basketball game,’” Murnen said. “And I would get a good laugh out of that and try to take a little credit for Tim’s coaching prowess.” Murnen said even their own family members have confused them. “One time, his wife Sumer — we were both at a college event — she grabbed my arm, thinking I was Tim,” Murnen said. “And then got startled when she noticed she was wrong about that.” Wells added that his kids have made the same mistake. “Our kids overlap in age,” Wells said. “His oldest and my second are in the same grade. So being on the same sports fields and whatnot, I’ve had one of my kids go up to him thinking it was me.” Executive Assistant to the President Mary Ann Powers said the joke was one of the first things she learned when she first started working in the president’s office. “When I first started my job, one of the first things I learned from my predecessor, Grace Balkan, was that a look-alike would come up to

the office,” Powers said. “It’s not Kyle. His name is Tim. Everyone refers to him as ‘mean Kyle,’ and they refer to Kyle as ‘nice Tim.’ So that was rule one when I first started working here.” Wells attributed these nicknames to the different roles he and Murnen take on in their jobs, with the different responsibilities involved in administrative affairs versus being a Chief of Staff. “We’re both very congenial guys. Different jobs have different responsibilities,” Wells said. “I think that’s maybe where those monikers came from.” Murnen added that while he and Wells have unique personalities, the average passerby can’t see that. “I think our habits and personalities are different in some important ways, but our resemblance catches people off guard,” Murnen said. “So I

get stopped walking across the street and someone — like his neighbor — will say, ‘Oh Tim, we got this thing going on in our neighborhood.’ She tried to get me to sign a petition or something. And I’m trying to understand like: ‘I don’t know you. I don’t think we live in the same neighborhood.’” Wells added that he’s working on creating some more differences between him and Murnen. “In a humorous way, I try to leave cookies and treats in his office every time I see him,” Wells said. “If we’re going to have a differentiator, maybe he has to let his belt out a little sooner than I do.” Murnen says he’s determined to prevent that outcome. “I don’t know about mean or nice,” Murnen said. “I just don’t want to become known as ‘fat Tim.'"

Wells is on the left; Murnen is on the right. Courtesy | Tim Wells

Sophomore sails twenty miles on Lake Michigan By Trinity Gentry Assistant Editor

Hearne sailing on Lake Michigan. Courtesy | Jacqueline Hearne

Gliding over the fresh, chilled water on a warm July day, sophomore Jacqueline Hearne sailed to North Manitou Island in her Hobie 16 Catamaran, making her longest trip this summer. Hearne, who is from Leland, Michigan, traveled over 20 miles in a day. Ho bi e s ai l i ng f u n c tions more like a trapeze than a traditional sailing boat. The boats travel faster and require more balance. “You’re in this thing called a trapeze,” Hearne said. “So it’s like, you have a harness on, and you — and whoever

you’re sailing with — you’re not actually on the boat. It’s just your foot on the boat, and then you’re hanging off.” With only a few weeks left of summer, Hearne was looking for friends to go sailing with. Elena Grant, a friend from her alma mater, St. Mary Catholic School, joined her. “I was just taking whoever wanted to go out because we need enough weight when it’s windy,” Hearne said. “So, I was taking her out and we had good wind, and we got probably halfway there. Then I was like, ‘We’re halfway there’ and she’s like, ‘I have nothing better to do.’ So, we just sailed all the way and it only took an hour and a half to get out there.”

Hearne, who loves skiing, cycling, running, and hiking, and is a member of Chi Omega, sailed the boat while Grant rode, and they talked about their upcoming college classes. On the way back, the wind died down, and Grant said they spent nearly three hours on the lake. “We’re like, ‘We’ve been out here for almost two and a half hours,’ and it did not feel like that at all. If anything, it felt like 15 minutes had passed,” Grant said. “It was a good test of our friendship, but I think we both passed because we’re still really good friends.” While Hearne said sailing a Hobie Cat boat for that long wasn’t a huge deal, it does re-

quire endurance especially with big winds, according to Sam Hearne, her father. “Hobie Cat’s a very moving boat. You’ll be exhausted after an hour of sailing,” Sam Hearne said. “You’re exhausted because you’re really moving. It’s very similar to sailboarding — the amount of physical activity done there — and kiteboarding.” Sailing has been in the Hearne family for generations. Jacqueline’s dad used to visit Leland in the summers, including the Leland Yacht Club. After marriage, he moved there.

See Sailing on B5