Collegian 09.17.2026 by The Hillsdale Collegian

The Margaret Thatcher statue came to its temporary spot on the south quad last week.

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

Charger football shuts out Wayne State Warriors By Robert Matteson sPorts editor The Chargers exploded for 621 yards on offense and shut out Wayne State University on their way to a 49-0 victory at home Sept. 12. Junior wide receiver Tutt Carrico scored a career-high three touchdowns, totalled 111 receiving yards, and added 47 rushing yards. He was

sides of the ball and in the special teams, it showed up on the scoreboard, and that’s what it’s supposed to.” Hillsdale got off to an early lead when sophomore Ben Ngishu ran for an 8-yard touchdown on the opening drive of the game. The Chargers led 28-0 at halftime and continued their dominance in the second half. The Chargers played four

The Collegian | Ashley Luke

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Vol. 150 Issue 4 – September 17, 2026

Senior class gift to support miltary scholarship By Matthew Tolbert web & Puzzle editor Hillsdale’s 2027 senior class gift aims to add $20,000 to the Freedom Scholarship, a fund for military service members and their dependents, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the American founding, the Legacy Board announced Sept. 10. “We wanted a gift to reflect the unique moment in which we are completing our time here at Hillsdale,” said senior Legacy Board member Clara Bozzay at the gift-unveiling ceremony. “We’ve had the opportunity to begin our $nal year during a particularly meaningful moment in our nation’s history: the 250th anniversary of the United States. Throughout this year, we have been and will be continued to be reminded of the freedom

that was fought for, sacri$ced for, and ultimately entrusted to each generation that has followed.”

outlast the class gift, according to Manager of Alumni and Student Engagement Kaeleigh Di Cello.

“We have been and will be continued to be reminded of the freedom that was fought for, sacrificed for, and ultimately entrusted to each generation that has followed.” The Freedom Scholarship, which the college $rst established in 2007, predates this senior class gift. Partnering in the funding of a preexisting scholarship allows the fund to

“This senior class, rather than creating a second scholarship with funds that would be spent down, decided to add a current scholarship so that they could grow something

that’s already established and existent,” Di Cello said. According to Bozzay, the Board aims to raise $20,000 for the Freedom Scholarship. Di Cello said that just over $4,200 of this had already been raised at the gift unveiling ceremony. According to Financial Aid Director Jimmy Criswell, the Freedom Scholarship covers the billed costs of veterans, with smaller awards for veterans’ dependents and children of disabled or deceased service members. He estimates just under 100 students receive Freedom Scholarship awards at present. “We have 16 active veterans, and I’m going to speculate in the neighborhood of 80 or so dependents of veterans,” Criswell said.

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Q&A: WSJ editorial writer talks journalism Junior Ryan Skura makes catch against Wayne State.

By Elijah Guevara News editor

Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletics Department

named Great Midwest Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week. It is the Chargers’ third weekly honor this season. “This is the best offense I’ve ever played on here,” Carrico said. It is the $rst time Hillsdale has begun the season 2-0 since 2022. “The guys have been preparing really well, and I don’t think it’s an accident that we’ve been playing really well on Saturdays,” Head Coach Nate Shreffler said. “I think the way that they’ve been approaching each day during the week and getting dialed in on the game plan on both

different quarterbacks in the game. “That’s the most competitive room we’ve had at the quarterback spot since I’ve been here,” Shreffler said. “Legitimately there’s four or $ve guys in there that are just battling every day, and they push each other.” Junior quarterback Eli Boyce threw for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Colin McKernan threw for 126 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore quarterback Avery Holt added one rushing touchdown.

Elliot Kaufman delivered a speech on campus on Tuesday.

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Courtesy | Tim Howard

Elliot Kaufman is a member of the Wall Street Journal’s editorial board and gave a speech titled “Israel’s War and the Forever War Against Israel” on Tuesday, sponsored by the Dow Journalism Program. Kaufman’s book, “In the War Room: The Inside Story Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis,” which he co-authored, was published Sept. 8. Q. What’s a memorable experience you had while writing your book, “In the War Room”? A. It would be a phone call I received from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I pick up the phone and he says “Hello, I’m gonna give you a précis of everything that happened in this war,” and then just began and launched

into it. We went at it back and forth for three hours, of him giving his account and me interjecting with questions and challenges. I was able to subsequently speak to him many more times in person, and with other officials, but to have that and just get that jolt on the phone for me was memorable. Q. What kind of challenges did you pose to Netanyahu? A. I actually have a good story about that. The reason he was so forthcoming on this phone call is that he actually misunderstood what was happening. I had set up, with his staff, an interview for publication, but somehow he got it mixed up and thought this was an off-the-record

brie$ng. So he was incredibly forthcoming. At the very end, after three hours, he tells me something like, “So, you can’t write any of that, but in your own words, if there are certain things you want to use, just let us know.” And I said no to him and had to challenge him on that and say that was not the agreement that his staff had con$rmed. We both had to $ght it out right there and then, yelling over the phone, about what I could use. I didn’t want to “burn the source,” but I certainly wanted to hold my ground and not surrender the outstanding material I had just gotten.

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Margaret Thatcher returns to public view ‘What a true American By Elijah Guevara News editor The statue of former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher moved Sept. 10 to a temporary location between Central Hall and the Strosacker Science Center last week due to construction. The only statue of Thatcher in North America and part of Hillsdale’s Liberty Walk, the Cold War-era leader dubbed the “Iron Lady” will eventually move to a permanent location in a planned garden between the Welcome Center, which is under construction, and the Classical Education building, according to Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé. “There’ll be a beautiful reading garden. On one end there’ll be Margaret Thatcher, and the other end will be Ronald Reagan,” Péwé said, referring to the Reagan statue, also part of the Liberty Walk, which was moved from campus to the Halter Shooting Sports Center in 2024 to make room for construction. “They’ll both face the Clas-

sical Education building,” Péwé said. “They’ll be set quite a ways apart, but they’ll be in

in September 2027, must be completed $rst, and construction on the War Memorial and

The Margaret Thatcher statue now sits on the south quad. The Collegian | Elijah Guevara

the same reading garden.” There is no timeline for when the Thatcher and Reagan statues will be moved to the Reading Garden, according to Péwé. Construction on the Welcome Center, set to $nish

the planned extension to the Dow Hotel must be well on the way. “The Margaret Thatcher statue is safe where it is for a while,” Péwé said. According to Péwé, the col-

lege chose the statue’s current temporary location because it’s where the Victory Bell, originally hung in Central Hall, sat. The bell was removed and taken to Cincinnati in February 2025 for restoration, according to The Collegian. “The bell used to be mounted right there on the concrete slab, and when we removed that, it was obviously just an empty slab,” Péwé said. “We could have torn that out, but we decided maybe that would be the best temporary location for Thatcher, so students, faculty, and visitors could enjoy her without putting her in storage.” Margaret Thatcher served as prime minister of the U.K. from 1979–1990 and leader of the U.K.’s Conservative Party from 1975–1990. Thatcher visited Hillsdale College in November 1994, and a statue on the Liberty Walk sculpted by Bruce Wolfe was dedicated in her honor in 2008. She died April 8, 2013, at the age of 87.

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stands for’: College remembers 9/11 victims By Blake Schaper CollegiaN rePorter Students planted American flags around the Civil War statue to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11,

memorial event sponsored by Rogers with the Young America’s Foundation and College Republicans, local $re$ghter Lieutenant Russ Picek reflected on his work with recovery efforts at Ground Zero in the

“A nation that forgets its history is doomed to repeat it again.” and about 150 people attended a ceremony sponsored by a dean and two student groups. “A nation that forgets its history is doomed to repeat it again,” Associate Dean of Men Jeffery “Chief ” Rogers said. “We are a great country, but we were brutally attacked. It causes us to look up, because help comes from above.” At the noon Central Hall

days following the terrorist attacks. “Actions of patriotism, our love for our country, and the American freedoms that we have became very prevalent that day, and many days, months, and years to follow,” Picek said.

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A2 September 17, 2026

English professor teaches new online course on Homer’s ‘Iliad’ By Sophia Mandt seNior rePorter Hillsdale’s latest online course is on Homer’s epic poem “The Iliad,” taught by Professor of English and Dean of Humanities Stephen Smith. Smith said he’s always had a special love for “The Iliad” as well as “The Odyssey” and has taught both works throughout his teaching career. “I’m deeply convinced that the beauty and the poetry and the wonder and the wisdom of Homer are as much for the present moment of readers everywhere,” Smith said. “As for the past, I think his poetry offers readers an incomparable education on the soul and on virtue. You really need to call forth Dante to equal ‘The Iliad.’” Director of Online Learning Jeremiah Regan said the course follows the earlier release of “The Odyssey” online course in July, taught by Chairman and Associate Professor of English Benedict Whalen. The two Homeric courses launched around the same time as the release of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” film, which bolstered interest in both online classes, Regan said. “The Odyssey” film has earned more than $1.68 billion worldwide since its release in July, and sits as the

second highest-grossing movie of 2026 and Universal Pictures’ highest-grossing movie of all time. “We try to always look at subjects that the college teaches when we’re coming up with course ideas, and ‘The Iliad’ is in the required core courses,” said Regan. “It’s a great work of Western literature.” Smith taught “The Iliad” because of his popularity with online course audiences and his ability to do well on camera, according to Regan. “He’s a master of epic poetry,” said Regan. “He has taught two other courses on epic poetry: Dante’s ‘Divine Comedy’ and John Milton’s ‘Paradise Lost.’ It was a natural fit to have Dr. Smith teach ‘The Iliad.’” Regan said he encourages Hillsdale students to take online courses and noted that the online course platform has a groups feature that lets students take online courses together. “It’s a great way to keep in touch with your classmates and continue learning,” he said. “This is not a substitute for doing your reading assignments or talking to your professor, but it’s a nice supplement to those things that can enrich your experience.” Smith said he missed his students while teaching the class in an empty room during

filming. “You really want a group of 15 to 18 wonderful young people with you while you do it, but it nevertheless works,” he said. “Online courses are meant to offer a spur, a spark, a way into the study of these wonderful books. What I want

tion of what Homer teaches about virtue. “Both his works are wonders to the ages,” said Smith. “I may be in the minority, but I’ve always thought that ‘The Iliad’ is greater than ‘The Odyssey’. I love the intensity and the focus of ‘The Iliad.’ It

Stephen Smith on the set of “The Iliad.” Courtesy | Jeremiah Regan

most through the online class is for readers to go to Homer himself and begin a lifelong friendship.” Smith said the course follows the rage of Achilles and the will of Zeus. The course focuses on themes of glory, truthfulness, and friendship, and concludes with the ques-

reminds me of ‘King Lear’ or a Shakespearean tragedy, but with a better ending.” Smith said he finds Paris, described as “the appalling prince of beauty,” as one of the most memorable characters in “The Iliad.” He said he also loves Helen, “the face that launched 1,000 ships.”

WSJ writer speaks on Israeli war, antisemitism By Tim Howard CollegiaN FreelaNCer What started out as a murderous attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, soon became something else in the minds of many people, according to a member of the Wall Street Journal editorial board in a speech on Sept. 15. “The war was reimagined as a war of Israeli aggression and a war of pure Palestinian victimization,” Elliot Kaufman said. “There was great excitement at the impending annihilation of the Jewish state and the extermination of its people, only to be followed very quickly by forgetting about all that and looking at it as a war of Israeli aggression.” Sponsored by the Dow Journalism Program, Kaufman’s speech was titled, “Israel’s War and the Forever War on Israel.” Kaufman discussed the content of his book, “In the War Room: The Inside

Story Israel’s Fight Against Hamas and the Iranian Axis,” which was released Sept. 8. The security failure that occurred on Oct. 7, 2023, was a direct result of the Israeli war room’s inability to foresee and prepare for a full-scale invasion, Kaufman said. In Israel’s fight against Hezbollah, a Muslim political group based in Lebanon, Israel’s response was different, according to Kaufman. “When it came to Hezbollah, Israel saw that threat coming a mile away,” Kaufman said. “Israel had spent more than a decade preparing for exactly that war, and everything seemed to go marvelously.” The media adds to this unwarranted and unjust sentiment toward the Jewish people, Kaufman said, because it leaves out essential parts to the story unfolding in the Middle East. “The hardline anti-Israel

critique has a very simple technique. It just pretends Hamas doesn’t exist. It was never there. It never mentions it. It never comes up,” Kaufman said. “By excluding such a detail, the setting of urban warfare becomes one of the Jews murdering civilians. One does not see how Hamas integrated their system in the cities with no regard for their citizens.” Kaufman, who spent the day visiting classes and meeting students, said he wants public perspectives to shi$ toward the truth. “I was impressed with how he angled his arguments and his general discussion towards our generation and towards young people,” senior Storm Drexler said. “He seemed very aware of the negative presence that his country is facing in social media and in the news today.” These untold obstacles give the situation layers of entanglement and take away the

9/11 from A1 “We were stopped many times by New Yorkers that day for hugs, kisses, and to thank us for doing what we do — perfect strangers at that time showing what a true American stands for,” Picek said. At the Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium, a piece of one of the Twin Towers was put on display, and firefighters climbed 110 flights of the stairs at the stadium, symbolizing the number of floors first responders had to climb on 9/11. Hillsdale’s Legion XII sang the national anthem during the Central Hall ceremony. Students from Hillsdale’s Marine Corps platoon leader class program members also participated in the ceremony by standing vigil. “There are some students who have connections. Personally, my grandfather helped build the Twin Towers,” junior and Hillsdale College Republicans President Joseph DiPrima said.

Jeffery “Chief” Rogers addresses the crowd. Courtesy | Blake Schaper

narrative of Israeli aggression, according to Co-director of Jewish Civilization Program Michael Weingrad. “The complexity of the decisions involved, over the war of the last three years, the extraordinary pressures that Israel was under, especially from the Biden administration, and given all that, the surprising success that Israel has had when they really had suffered one of the most crushing blows of their history,” Weingrad said. Weingrad said he is currently reading Kaufman’s book and that it is “a real page turner.” “It will soon be 80 years of having Israel in the world,” Kaufman said. “And people still pretend that it is anything other than bizarre and retrograde for there to be such a thing as anti-Zionism to undo an entire country.”

The ceremonies ended with a concert at Christ Chapel, where an army trumpeter and organist played American folk music like “Shenandoah.” “I was interested in doing a 9/11 ceremony for College Republicans because of the 25th anniversary. We were going to invite a speaker,” DiPrima said. “We reached out to Chief, and he said, ‘Hey, I am already hosting an event with Hillsdale YAF, let’s all work together.’” The 9/11 ceremony is important for the college to carry on the legacy of unity, DiPrima said “For us being part of a college, whose mission is to educate people and to help them to become better citizens and better people in general, it’s important for us to both be able to say, ‘We honor those people and provide the opportunity for our students and for everyone to be able to honor those people,’” DiPrima said.

Firefighters climb to honor the 9/11 first responders. Courtesy | Blake Schaper

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“I love when the old men of Troy are on the battlements and observing Helen; they say, ‘beauty, terrible beauty,’” he said. Smith said a tremendous amount of time, loving work, and attention to innumerable details goes into every Hillsdale online course, and praises the work of Ian Reid, film director and executive producer of Hillsdale Studios, a college outreach program that produces educational videos. Reid said he works with a production company known as Distant Moon, headquartered in Washington, D.C. He works with the online learning team on topic development, marketing, and the visual look and feel of the courses. “‘The Iliad’ was a fun project because it and its companion course, ‘The Odyssey,’ were filmed on the largest set that we’ve built for online courses,” said Reid. “It was a 60 foot by 35 foot set that was a recreation of an Athenian temple in one direction, and what looks like Odysseus’ house from another direction.” Reid said bringing audiences into the world of “The Iliad” takes effort. In total, Reid said he’s been part of roughly 40 Hillsdale online courses and college documentaries. “My mission in all the work that our team works on is to create work that helps audi-

ences wrestle with life’s deepest questions and understand the world around them more clearly and come in contact with their creator,” Reid said. “Producing these online courses has been a deeply gratifying way of working towards that mission. That’s what really drives a lot of us who work on the courses.” Regan said “The Iliad” has been well-received by online audiences, who have even written letters to Smith. “We get comments from people saying ‘I’ve been meaning to read this poem, and now I finally have, thanks to your course that has helped me understand it,” he said. “That’s the best success story we can have. Someone watches it, then they feel confident and excited, and they go read the poem, just like one should, on their own.” The purpose of Hillsdale’s online courses is to teach all who wish to learn, Regan said. “We’re trying to meet people where they are, but give them the same core education, the same tenets, the same principles that our undergraduate students get,” he said. “They’re not under the scrutiny of the professor, but what they’re absorbing allows them to experience a version of this great education that our students have.”

Kaufman from A1

some talent for it, and get a good response when they do it, then this is a fantastic way to get your writing before lots of people.

Q. How did you become a journalist? A. I’ve always loved the newspaper, and started reading it from a very young age. I would say I was 7 years old, and started with the sports section by my cereal bowl before school. But, I kept up with it. At Stanford University, I started writing for a campus paper, and then a$er that, sent articles out to outside publications, and I became a summer intern at the Wall Street Journal. I had a year-long fellowship and a$er that they kept me on full-time. And so I’ve been at the Wall Street Journal editorial page for eight years now. Q. What’s your favorite part of being a journalist? A. During this war since Oct. 7, 2023, so many people, including my wife and many of my friends, have felt so frustrated that there is this immense propaganda campaign against the state of Israel. In New York City, we would see posters of the hostages on the streets that were taken and maliciously ripped up. As a journalist and in my role writing editorials at the Wall Street Journal, I really felt like I was able to tell the other side of the story and fight back against that kind of propaganda in the pages of the Wall Street Journal, and using the tools and the tradecra$ of journalism, speaking to sources in Israel and around the world, be able to bring new and more accurate information about something that so many people were lying about. Q. Should young people go into journalism, and if so, why? A. If they want to, and if they’re good at it, yes. I think it’s a worthwhile profession. I do worry sometimes people go in there with too much of an attitude of, “I’m going to change the world and everyone should listen to what I say.” That cannot be the healthiest impulse, especially when they’re strict news reporters, or even 22-year-old opinion journalists. I think if people enjoy writing, have

Q. What’s your advice for Hillsdale students? A. I graduated from Stanford University in 2018. It hasn’t been that long, and yet, if you asked me what classes I took, there are a lot that I have already forgotten entirely. But there were a few classes that were the complete opposite and I haven’t forgotten them, and I realize those were the classes with outstanding professors. To have a home-run class like that, you have to have a great professor. So what I tell students is to figure out as quickly as you can who the great professors are, and take all their courses. It doesn’t matter if I’m not as interested in the topic. They’ll make it interesting because they’re good at what they do. Q. How should young people care about and interpret what goes on in the news today? A. You probably don’t need to focus on much of what the media thinks you should focus on. Most of it is shortterm and ephemeral, whether it’s the latest outrages over the White House ballroom or something like that. I promise you, it will pass. I’m not sure that it will matter so much to people’s individual lives that they follow this or that global trend. In general, I tell people to have more of a bias toward business stories and stories about the economy, which are the least sexy topics. But by reading the business section of a major newspaper on a regular basis, you can gain a real knowledge of how these things actually work and things in the corporate world that are relevant to the decisions you make.

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September 17, 2026 A3

Penny’s to host Larry’s Alumnus becomes college CFO and treasurer mocktail, jazz night By Ashley Luke assistaNt editor Penny’s will host the second Larry’s event of the semester Thursday, Sept. 24, from 8-10 p.m. The evening will feature games, live jazz, specialty mocktails, and College President Larry Arnn himself. “Dr. Arnn is a man of his

Hayes, a junior, has been trialing new recipes for their mocktails, Wright said. Hayes is working on balancing the flavor of “Splex on the Beach,” a mix of pineapple juice, peach juice, orange juice, and non-alcoholic gin, Wright said. Music honorary Theta Epsilon will perform live jazz throughout the evening. But

Courtesy | Instagram

word,” said junior Bailey Wright, Penny’s event manager. “I would be shocked not to see him.” Wright said that Penny’s has sent a request for Arnn to attend and that the event is on his calendar. Arnn was consulted when Penny’s picked the event’s name, according to Wright. Penny’s first held Larry’s in March 2026, and has hosted four more since then. The first Larry’s of this semester had a large turn out of graduate students and freshmen, Penny’s general manager Maria Adamow, a senior, said. “We didn’t advertise until the day before because we had so much going on, but we saw a really great turnout,” Adamow said. Each Larry’s menu is a bit different, according to Wright. Specials manager Catherine

Wright said the Penny’s team is thinking about changing it up in the future. “We normally have Theta play jazz for us each time and they’ve been really great,” Wright said. “But we have been talking about opening it up to other campus bands as well, if they would like to offer some jazz.” Penny’s will host three more Larry’s events this semester, on Oct. 24, Nov. 5, and Dec. 3. “We’re in a rhythm now, and it’s a really fun time,” Wright said. “Everybody likes the switch up to Larry’s.”

Thatcher from A1

we had to rework the entire course. But now, since the Victory Bell was already one of the holes on the course, we hit Thatcher instead of hitting the bell. It’s kind of full circle now.” Associate Director of Admissions Benjamin Strickland, a former frequent statue golf player himself, said he is happy to see the Thatcher statue placed on the south quad. “I hope she stays on the quad. She’s an iconic hole on the course,” Strickland said. “And, despite the size, I’ve definitely had a few tap-in chips go right through the legs of her chair. It would be legendary if her new permanent location was chosen with statue golf in mind.”

Senior Joe Vankat said he is fond of the Thatcher statue and is glad to see it in public again because of its history. Vankat said it is also used in statue golf, a game primarily played on the south quad of campus invented by members of Simpson Residence. Real golf balls are swapped for foam balls and holes in the ground for statues on the Liberty Walk, according to Vankat. The Thatcher statue was a staple of the game, Vankat said. “When Margaret Thatcher was on the quad, she was the first hole that we would play in statue golf,” Vankat said. “When she was removed,

Freedom from A1 A Freedom Scholarship, according to Criswell, can come from one or more of 62 funding sources. The Perkins Award — the specific fund the Legacy Board plans to grow — is used as a general source. From there, Freedom Scholarships can be funded in the absence of a more fitting source to accommodate fluctuating enrollment. “It’s our general Freedom Scholarship. It’s hard to predict the way veteran enrollment is going to be,” Criswell said. “We need to have a very solid baseline.” Senior Lucia Samuel said she appreciated that the Legacy Board chose to join with a program already proven to last. “I like the continuity of something that has worked in the past, and I’m sure it will

continue to work,” Samuel said. Senior Rachel Nay said she supported the idea for the class gift. “I think it’ll be a great thing for the school to acknowledge that service, but also keep giving to it over time,” Nay said. Senior and Legacy Board member Hidi Cramer said she believes the Freedom Scholarship allows the senior class to recognize the sacrifices made by military service members. “We’re in the business of improving our hearts and minds here at Hillsdale College,” Cramer said. “A lot of that is intended to give back to our community, state, and nation as well. I think that very few encapsulate that better than our veterans and armed forces.”

By Faith Miller assistaNt editor

Hillsdale College alumnus Paul Hatty ’90 now works as Hillsdale’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. “I have the greatest job in the world. Being the CFO allows me to work with an extraordinary senior staff group with very unique backgrounds and experiences,” Hatty told The Collegian in an email. Hatty spent the last 10 years as the CFO of one family-owned and two private equity-owned companies before coming to Hillsdale 10 months ago. The businesses ranged from diary products to consumer goods to an IT company, according to Hatty. Hatty brings a broad range of talents, understanding, expertise, and leadership to the Financial Affairs Division of the college, according to Chief Administrative O$cer Rich Péwé. “Paul was chosen to serve as the College’s CFO because, as an alumnus married to an alumna, he understands the meaning of the College and is deeply committed in his heart to serving its purposes and advancing its mission,” Péwé said in an email to The Collegian. “This is where he wants to finish his career. Most importantly he exhibited to President Arnn (during the national search) that he could advance Dr. Arnn’s goals and

help sustain the work of the College better than the rest of the candidates.” His role as CFO at Hillsdale allows him to be involved in every significant issue being addressed at Hillsdale, Hatty said. “This involvement is at times financial, ensuring we are prudent with the mon-

“After spending time with Dr. Arnn and hearing his vision for Hillsdale College, the opportunity became even more intriguing. It wasn’t about the financial results of the next month, quarter, or year. It was about the mission,” Hatty said. “It was about giving back to the college where I graduated. The college is

“It wasn’t about the financial results of the next month, quarter, or year. It was about the mission.” ey received from students and donors,” Hatty said. “It is sometimes strategic, making sure what we do is mission-aligned and will further the long-term health of the college. And sometimes the involvement is simply adding perspective and asking questions to make sure we are thinking through all the various options.” Hatty didn’t expect to end up back at Hillsdale, having graduated in 1990 with majors in accounting and French. He did not think the college would want to hire him, considering he had a public and private equity background, and had never been a college CFO before.

where I met my wife. Everything I have, my wife, my family, my career, is first from God. But also, because I went to Hillsdale. And the chance to give back to the college and help set it on a path for the next 100 years was a powerful motivator for me.” Hatty met his wife, Ann, at Hillsdale, and they married in 1993. Now one of their eight children attends Hillsdale. They also have five grandchildren with two more on the way. “What I like about the mission is that it starts with being ‘grateful to God for the inestimable blessings…’ He has provided,” Hatty said. “As the parents of eight children, we have

always tried to teach our kids to approach everything they do with both gratitude and humility. To see this virtue at the beginning of the mission statement makes a powerful impression on me.” Hatty’s strength lies in his love for Hillsdale and the perspective he brings from having worked as a CFO in the for-profit world, according to Matthew Ra$n, associate vice president of investment management. “Paul’s focus on building strong relationships with Dr. Arnn and peers on senior staff will allow the College to function as it is intended to function,” Ra$n said. “He also takes a servant-leader approach to directing our department and in working with others, which brings a sense of humility to a role where pride can easily take root. You can tell that this is not his first rodeo.” Hatty has a quick mind, and is always asking questions and trying to learn something new, according to Chief Staff O$cer Kyle Murnen. “It’s a remarkable combination of traits that make him not only an excellent fit as CFO, but also a great leader and friend,” Murnen said.

‘Foundational to all sciences’: Sorensen joins physics faculty By Anna Northcutt CollegiaN rePorter

bachelor’s degree in 2018, Observatory. and associate professor of Sorensen completed a mas“The observatory has a physics, said Sorensen’s work ter’s degree in physics at very old refractor telescope concentrates on a relatively Kierstin Sorensen, visiting Northwestern University that still uses the original new area of study in physics. assistant professor of physics, and worked spent her last two summers for s e vera l taking daily photos of the years toward sun. Eventually, she hopes a Ph.D. in to publish a paper with her astrophysics observations, demonstrating before her rehow the sun rotates based on search adviser how its sunspots change over left unexpecttime. edly in her Sorensen joined the phys- sixth year. ics department in fall 2026, According teaching College Physics to Sorensen, along with the accompanying she enjoyed lab and recitation. She said tutoring asshe hopes to show students t r o n o m y who might not be physics classes during majors how physics can still her underconnect to their chosen fields, g r a d u a t e primarily biology or chemis- studies, and try. volunteering “Physics gives the ‘why’ for with outreach Sorensen observes Saturn through the historic Dearborn Observatory telescope. a lot of things, and so having programs such Courtesy | Kierstin Sorensen an appreciation for it is real- as the Whitely important,” Sorensen said. water Observatory. lens from 1861,” Sorensen “Gravitational waves were “It is foundational to all the In graduate school, So- said. “Keeping that connec- predicted by Einstein as part sciences.” rensen said she appreciated tion to the sky, even in a of his general theory of relaSorensen said her love for how astronomy and related very light-polluted suburb of tivity 100 years ago, but only physics began in high school scientific outreach, such as Chicago, was very helpful in in 2015 were they finally conand continued during her serving as an observatory keeping my passion for the firmed experimentally to exundergraduate studies at host for the general public, research I was doing.” ist,” Hosmer said. “The way the University of Wiscon- kept her connected to the real According to Sorensen, her people describe them are like sin-Whitewater. world. research fell into the category ripples or waves in the fabric “Spring semester of my “A lot of research now is of theatrical astrophysics, as of space-time. Miss Sorensen’s freshman year, I decided to on computers,” Sorensen said. it centered on writing code field is related to that, so her take an introductory astrono- “You’re typing up code in Py- to model how white dwarf bi- interest and experience in naries — a type teaching and outreach, as of dead star well as this really productive — evolve over area of astrophysics and gravtime. itational waves is the kind of S o r e n s e n thing we look for in a professaid her work, sor.” along with that Senior Teresa Crnkovich, of many oth- who works as a teacher’s aser scientists, sistant for Sorensen’s 8 a.m. contributes to physics lab, said it’s evident creating “the- how much Sorensen cares oretical back- about her students. ground” which “She does astronomy, and will be tested it seems she’s very passionate against real ob- about that, but there’s also servations made passion for the students and by the Laser In- getting to help them,” Crnt e r f e r o m e t e r kovich said. “She’s a very unSorensen at her graduation from Northwestern University. Space Antenna derstanding teacher, and it mission years in makes my 8 a.m. TAing less Courtesy | Kierstin Sorensen the future. stressful.” my course, and the course was thon and other programming LISA is a joint mission Sorensen said her pitch taught by this little Romanian languages, and you kind of of NASA and the European for astronomy is that it often woman, Juliana Constantines- lose sense of what you’re ac- Space Association, accord- serves as a backdoor through cu,” Sorensen said. “She saw tually doing. Having that con- ing to Sorensen. The mission which students become intersomething special in me and nection to the sky and having will consist of three separate ested in physics. took me under her wing. In that connection to people spacecraft launched in the “People get interested in the fall of my sophomore year, through outreach just kept mid-2030s on independent astronomy, and then they I took her physics statics class, me going.” orbits and will measure grav- want to learn why things act and halfway through I deDuring her time at North- itational waves as they pass that way in astronomy, and clared my major as physics.” western, Sorensen said she through space. they find their way into physAfter completing her served as a host at Dearborn Paul Hosmer, chairman ics,” Sorensen said.

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A4 September 17, 2026

The Collegian Weekly

The opinion of the Collegian edito,ial staff

Pu,sue joy, not good g,ades

Be an adult about the ‘baby science’ classes By Elijah Ahrens Collegian FreelanCer The “baby sciences” at Hillsdale are mandatory for a reason. I’ve earned my highest and lowest grades in these introductory science courses. One was outrageously easy. One was brutal. Another felt dull and uninteresting. Humanities majors often see these courses as a sad compromise, an attempt to squeeze some liberal-artsy idealism into an already jam-packed core curriculum. But I took something important away from each class, and I’m glad I had to take them. One thing I regret, however, is approaching these courses with complaints. Hillsdale College weaves the natural sciences into the core curriculum by tailoring math and science classes to humanities majors, approaching the subject through a philosophical or historical lens. “Baby science” courses o)en involve studying the great ideas, major figures, and principles of each field. Instead of writing a five-page lab report, students might write a fivepage paper about a historical figure or a scientific debate. In theory, this should create the best of both worlds for humanities majors, but many grumble that these courses feel difficult, uninteresting, or pointless. Students come to Hillsdale for its challenges, but the “virtus tentamine gaudet” feeling doesn’t take long to fade. Students quickly become comfortable hand-picking their challenges while avoiding unwanted ones. Maturity, however, comes from embracing the unwanted challenges of life. Students o)en ask how they will use what they’re learning in a “baby science” course, especially because it doesn’t contribute much to their major. But they would do well to see the “baby sciences” as a win-win opportunity for growth. On the one hand, a student might get a professor who provides the ideal. Some professors excel in teaching

the basics of their field in an engaging way while assigning little homework. This is something to be grateful for. While ideally every Hillsdale student should be able to devote ample time and energy to five courses a semester, it’s o)en realistic to shoot for three. A “baby science” course that feels like a breeze can help lighten the load. If students find “baby science” courses difficult or dull, they should remember a few things. First, everything is uninteresting to the uninterested — and the reverse is also true. Second, this is your opportunity for maturity. College should be the place where individuals learn to find solutions to life’s problems. With this in mind, it’s also important to consider the perspective of the professors. It’s probably not thrilling for a professor to teach another batch of moderately-interested humanities majors about phylogenies when he could be doing research with pre-med students instead. College works best when its members work together toward a common goal. This requires students to set aside their own interests at times — including their desire to complain. Professors would rather hear sincere feedback rather than complaints and grievances, but they often only receive the latter. Children want the world to suit and serve them. But an adult must attend to the people and circumstances around him. Children complain about their problems, but adults can’t afford to complain because they know it harms everyone — themselves most of all. Let’s approach the “baby sciences” as adults and see them as an opportunity for growth. Elijah Ahrens is senior studying philosophy and theology.

As we race toward midterms, Hillsdale’s promise of academic rigor looms large in all our heads. For the freshmen, it will be the first real test of your Hillsdale career. In an environment as small and as competitive as Hillsdale, it’s the first in a long line of benchmarks against which you’ll measure your success. It’s the first challenge that necessitates that joyful strength referenced in Hillsdale’s motto. But what’s easy to forget is just how personal that challenge is. Hillsdale is no picnic when it comes to academics. So, when your midterm grades come back and are, inevitably, not what you expected, it’s easy to let imposter syndrome

creep in. It’s happened to all of us at one point or another during our time here. There is always some benchmark that it feels like you aren’t hitting, no matter how desperately you want to. It could be grades, extracurricular activities, social lives, or a combination of all three. There’s always going to be someone who has it all together when it feels like all you can successfully do is (ounder about. At a school that makes its high expectations of its students clear, it’s nearly impossible to avoid comparison, that pesky joy thief. So when the questions inevitably dri) into your mind — “Am I really strong enough for this?

Was this whole college thing a mistake?” — remember two things. First, you’re not alone. Every Hillsdale College student was in your shoes at one time or another, and most of your peers are wondering the exact same thing at this very moment. Hillsdale wouldn’t be Hillsdale without its academic rigor, and you’ll find that sometimes your grades will re(ect just how challenging it can be. Don’t let it get you down. Take it as an invitation to learn, not a sign of insurmountable failure. Second, your race is your own. Though many Hillsdale students have similar backgrounds and beliefs, our paths are all wholly different. The

purpose of our time here, really, is to learn to know, love, and serve God as best we can. How we do that will be different for everyone, depending on our temperaments, our talents, and our interests, and the Lord’s plan for each of us differs accordingly. Rather than hyperfixating on how your successes or failures compare to those of the people around you, pursue the path that God set for you. Run your race, and do it with excitement. These four years will go by much more quickly than you think. It would be a shame to waste even a second of it thinking you’re not up to the task Hillsdale has set before you.

Homecoming is Hillsdale’s Superbowl By Hershey Hackberry Collegian FreelanCer Any senior who has failed to participate in homecoming since freshman year should be ashamed. Students are busy bouncing from one color-coded calendar invite to the next. But there are a few weeks on this campus when that strength is put to the test: homecoming. It’s not just choreographed parkour on a boat pushed by

someone who lives on your floor, like Mock Rock my sophomore year. It isn’t just for the banner you slaved over in the basement of your sorority house. What homecoming really is is a celebration of tiny traditions passed down from one student body to the next. And that is what we have a responsibility to keep alive. That is what makes every minute of lost sleep and every drop of coffee you drink during those three weeks worth it. Do it to keep our small-college traditions alive. Some things are just uniquely Hillsdale. Things like going on Saga dates before swing club and reading the Aeneid to relax on a Friday night. Some things will only ever be socially acceptable in this tiny bubble that we call home. And the way we do homecoming is one of them. To everyone who thinks

that people will judge you for the things you did in college, I have some news for you. In the real world, people perceive college the same way we perceive middle school. Sure, looking back on seventh grade photos will make you cringe, but you were in middle school, so it doesn’t matter. Similarly, if you decide to wear a chicken onesie and dance in Galloway Mock Rock, none of your future colleagues will ever know, care, or hold it against you. Obviously, don’t take this mentality too liberally. Think before tweeting anything that could ruin your marriage prospects or political career, but let yourself have fun this homecoming. No matter how busy you are, you definitely have a few spare hours over the next few weeks to volunteer at the preschool, paint a banner, or

learn some dance moves. So stop doom scrolling, put your reading for Love, Sex, and Marriage class away, and sign up for Mock Rock. Hershey Hackberry is a senior studying politics. Illustrated by Annie O’Connor.

Ladies, be traditional. Ask a guy out. By Blake Schaper Collegian reporter It’s OK for women to initiate relationships. Those with a more traditional view on courtship might be surprised to learn that, historically, many women were the first to show affection and o)en started relationships. A woman in the Medieval Ages would give a knight who caught her attention a handkerchief or another article of clothing. In return, he was required to wear it and prove himself worthy of her affection, according to the rules of courtly love. During the Regency era — the early 1800s and the age of “Pride and Prejudice” — women o)en wrote letters to their love interests, attempting to catch their attention. In the Wild West, during the late 1800s, women would o)en put advertisements in

newspapers seeking a husband. One of them read, “A widow lady, age 28, with some means (a stranger), without incumbrance, wishes to make the acquaintance of a gentleman of means, with a view to matrimony, if agreeable.” These advertisements gave rise to courtship by mail, which in turn helped build families in the frontier and contributed to the domestication of the American West. Modern dating values encourage women to ask men out. Modern dating is more focused on equality between the genders and suggests that relying on men to make the first move is harsh on more shy and introverted men. It also rejects the idea that a woman should subdue her feelings for a man if he never initiates. Movements like #MeToo, though helping lower sexual harassment in society, have

made men more cautious to ask women out for fear of being labelled a creep, stalker, or player. Women have a natural desire to be pursued in a relationship, but modern online dating has distorted this desire by dehumanizing men. Popular dating apps allow women to customize their match preferences by height, build, and even profession. Additionally, the internet has given women constant attention and prospects, which in turn has caused them to look down on individual men without ever having a conversation with them. Women making their interests clear helps work against the consequences of dating app culture. Men should be comfortable with women asking them out. Men know that a woman who asks someone out is courageous, direct with her wants, and transparent —

all beneficial qualities to have in a partner. It is common for men to go out on a date only to realize that the woman was not interested in him and only trying to be polite. If a woman asks a man on a date, it’s clear she truly wants to get to know him better and is interested in a relationship. Women have made the first move throughout the history of Western civilization, and modern dating problems only makes this more necessary. No need to wait around — if you reach out first, you might just get the man of your dreams. Blake Schaper is a sophomore studying economics and mathematics.

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September 17, 2026 A5

MAGA belongs in America. It won’t work in Germany. By Elijah Guevara news editor When a right-wing party in Germany won a regional election last week, many conservatives celebrated as if an extension of the Make America Great Again movement had prevailed. Those conservatives should think again. A populist, outsider party won a Sept. 6 German state election by a landslide. Alternative for Germany (AfD) won with 43.8% of the vote in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The two establishment German parties, the Christian Democratic Union and Social Democratic Party, lost, with 17.2% and 9.3% of the vote respectively. The AfD has for years been ostracised by the German estab-

lishment for its hardline stance against mass immigration, critiques of liberal economic policies, and its enthusiasm for national pride and patriotism. After its victory, the AfD received praise from American right-wingers, who likened the German party’s values and movement to their own Make America Great Again movement. “Wow! The Populist Party in Germany just had a really big night,” President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social Sept. 8. “They finally got tired of the absolutely horrible Immigration rules and regulations which have hurt Germany so badly.” He added in the message a German variation of his MAGA slogan, “MGGA!!!”, meaning “Make Germany

Great Again.” Vice President JD Vance and Elon Musk echoed Trump’s messages on social media. While some similarities exist between the MAGA movement and AfD, the two political movements are fundamentally different. Patriotism has different connotations. An American conservative can hear “Make America Great Again” as a call to restore economic and military strength, as well as traditional social norms. A German hearing a similar call — “Make Germany Great Again,” as Trump put it — must contend with a national history in which the language of greatness and rebirth was used in the early 20th century to justify dictatorship, war, and genocide.

The American slogan risks upsetting only those on the left or those opposed to the right; the German slogan implies much more, and far worse for a nation that has struggled with patriotism for generations due to the legacy of World War II. In America, both parties and independents use the U.S. national (ag freely. In Germany, only the AfD uses the German national (ag prominently, signaling that patriotism, often seen as shameful or taboo in Germany, is a part of its central identity. The AfD and MAGA still have things in common. Members of each movement share concerns about immigration, economic policy, national sovereignty, and distrust of established political parties. Amer-

icans who note similarities in this foreign movement are not tone-deaf, but that doesn’t mean they fully understand the movement’s deep historical context. Postwar German democracy was built the way it is because of the fallout from the Weimar Republic and rise of Nazism. The AfD’s critics argue that the AfD’s nationalism and hardline immigration stances threaten a hard-won constitutional order. That is a distinctly German debate, not simply a German version of an American issue. Germany’s institutions and political establishment, including the informal “firewall” of parties intentionally blocking the AfD from forming a governing coalition, are also a part of that postwar architecture.

It will take more than scrolling on X to understand the nuances and history of German politics. If Americans weigh in at all, we should do it without projecting our domestic perspectives onto a nation whose national experience is so different from our own. Meanwhile, a recent poll projects the AfD will win another election this Sunday in the German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 37% of the vote. Americans should watch with wary eyes. Elijah Guevara is a junior studying history.

Put down your phone and let Charlie rest By Jayden Jelso assistant editor I’ll never forget where I was when I heard that Charlie Kirk had been shot. I had just gotten back to my dorm room after my afternoon class on Sept. 10. I whipped out my laptop, opened YouTube, and saw the words “Charlie Kirk shot” in all caps under the first recommended video. For the next two hours, my friends and I waited, barely breathing, until President Donald Trump announced Charlie’s death on Truth Social. When I went to dinner, the dining hall was half empty and silent. One year later, many writers, podcasters, and content creators have belabored the narrative: Charlie was the ideal conservative; he stood for something greater than himself; his legacy

lives on through those who will pick up his microphone. But barely anyone has spoken of how the fallout from his murder is tainting his legacy. It took Charlie’s assassination for me to realize the whole truth: Overconsumption of online content is a secular religion that people use to distract themselves from reality. It is the white noise that crackles from your phone as you sit with your family at the dinner table, eyes glued to the little screen in your hand instead of your loved ones’ faces. In the days following Charlie’s death, I deleted all my social media. I had already given up Instagram for the semester, but Sept. 10, 2025, convinced me to delete YouTube and X as well. As someone who creates content for marketing, I knew the internet too well, and I knew how it would react to the assas-

sination. I knew the conspiracy theories would (ow and I knew exactly what they would say. I knew the mob would blame Israel. I knew they would blame Charlie’s wife, Erika. When you spend enough time on the internet, the rituals become remarkably predictable. Many people talk about how algorithms are tailored to a)rm your biases. They claim “the internet is fake,” “you can’t trust anything you see,” and “TikTok rewards controversy.” But no one who says this without consistently questioning internet narratives believes it. We tend to think of consumerism as a left-wing issue. After all, many liberals do gobble up short-form sound bites. The modern LGBT movement wouldn’t exist without the idolization of sexuality. The body positive crowd is defined by its

I thrive on energy drinks By Monica Smies Collegian reporter

Energy drinks keep you sharp. Caffeine, via energy drinks and coffee, is essential for many students’ basic functioning at Hillsdale, and there are many health benefits to drinking a moderate amount of caffeine — despite common belief. At times it feels as if the only way to get through all five of my Wednesday classes is by starting the day with a Bubbl’r, grabbing a coffee from Jitter’s halfway through the day, and then grabbing another coffee from AJ’s after class. Life as a busy student — academics, extracurriculars, meal times, social life and all — would be somewhat impossible to navigate without the support that my caffeinated energy drinks give me.

Not only do caffeinated drinks give people a boost to get through long days, but there are also noticeable health benefits provided by the natural caffeine (caffeine sourced naturally from plants an d c of fee beans) found in some of these drinks. Studies done by Central Nervous System Neuroscience and Therapeutics show that caffeine is effective at reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. According to the same CNS study cited above, both men and women who drink about 3-5 cups of coffee a day have roughly a 60-70% lower risk of getting either Alzheimer’s or dementia in old age in comparison with those drinking little to none. The study also demonstrated that a higher intake of caffeine lowers the risk between 30-50% of getting Parkinson’s disease for males. Drinking a mo derate amount of caffeine could be dodging the bullet of degenerative cognitive diseases. From a scientific standpoint, caffeine helps preserve our long-term health. It is important to note that moderation is required to obtain the health benefits of caffeine intake. There are serious health issues that can arise from excessive intake of

caffeine, especially in energy drinks such as “Monster” and “Redbull,” according to a study done by Nutrients. In addition to containing large amounts of caffeine, these energy drinks often contain ingredients such as guarana, niacin, taurine and sugar. Guarana and taurine strain the cardiovascular system when combined with caffeine, niacin in high doses is harmful to the liver, and processed sugar contributes to long term health problems. These drinks also facilitate consuming caffeine above the study’s wrecommended 400mg limit. If you enjoy drinking coffee or other energy drinks, keep in mind what other possibly harmful ingredients might be included and the effects of excessive caffeine intake. But moderate consumption of caffeine provides health benefits with each sip, and helps get you through the day. Enjoy your energy drinks despite what your friends may think. When you all are old and gray, and they have dementia, you can sit back and sip your caffeinated drink in peace, with your neurons firing like in the old days. Monica Smies is a sophomore studying philosophy. Illustrated by Mag gie O’Connor.

celebration of gluttony. But the preference for dramatic, outlandish narratives is just as much of a right-wing issue. It simply comes in the form of endless podcast consumption, the high of dramatic in-fighting, and constant finger-pointing. It doesn’t matter whether it’s peddled by edgy loudmouths like Stephen Crowder, attention-seeking conspiracists like Candace Owens, or immature provocateurs like Nick Fuentes. It’s all the same. I do not claim to know what’s true about Charlie’s assassination. But the religion of consumerism requires those who follow it to have an opinion at all times. Bonus points if that opinion is in the form of a pandering slogan like “I will not die for Israel” or “turn Gaza into a parking lot.” If you don’t have an opinion

about anything and everything at all times — especially Charlie’s murder, his wife’s microexpressions, or the war in the Middle East — you will pay the price to the consumerist cult in the form of harassment, accusations, and threats. Even your friends, though they mean well, will punish you with patronization. With all of this outside noise telling you you’re wrong, it’s tempting to cave to the social pressure and join with the internet hivemind, but let me give you a word of advice: don’t. If you stand, you will find peace, and ridicule will seem like a small price to pay for it. Michael Knowles, a conservative podcaster and Hillsdale’s 2027 commencement speaker, recently illustrated how one ought to stand firm with grace and conviction. He declined to moderate a debate about Char-

lie’s death between Candace Owens and Andrew Wilson. “The whole internet seems to think this debate will be mustsee content, and I’m sure it will be,” Knowles said. “I bet it will get zillions of views. That is, in fact, why I’m declining. I am probably the single worst person to moderate this debate because, for 10 or 11 months now, I have been, very possibly, the only person on the internet who has consistently maintained that our friend’s murder should not be used for podcast content.” In a world of Stephens, Candaces, and Nicks, follow Michael’s example. Put down your phone and honor Charlie’s legacy by letting him rest. Jayden Jelso is a senior studying English.

Energy drinks drain By Elizabeth Caneday assistant editor I’ve never had a sip of an energy drink, and I hope that will never change. Energy drinks don’t solve any problems for busy college students; instead, they promote overwork and avoidance of rest. Consumption of energy drinks masks real dangers: lack of sleep, inadequate nutrition and hydration, and dependence on stimulants for energy. I appreciate a quick hit of caffeine from tea or a mocha, waking me up before a long day of class. But I also believe in moderation — especially when it comes to drugs. (Yes, caffeine is a drug — it’s the most widely used psychoactive stimulant in the world.) The Food and Drug Administration considers caffeine safe in reasonable quantities, recommending adults consume less than 400 mg of caffeine in one day. But a latte and two energy drinks would be well over that limit. For example, a 12-ounce Alani, Prime, or Celsius has 200 mg of caffeine. And though coffee is not an “energy drink,” an average 8-ounce cup of joe contains 80 mg of caffeine, while a latte has around 150 mg. But the worst part: Energy drinks’ labels don’t state the FDA’s “safe” limit or warn consumers about the risks of consuming large amounts of caffeine. At low levels, caffeine toxicity — overdose — may induce headaches, restlessness, or insomnia. Higher levels of caffeine toxicity can even cause comas and seizures. Caffeine also interacts dangerously with alcohol, according to the FDA, which can cause high blood

pressure and an irregular heart beat. Energy drinks provide a quick hit of stimulation, which keeps the brain awake and blocks adenosine receptors, which regulate sleep cycles and heart rate. The almost-immediate effect, though, reduces drowsiness and masks the feeling of fatigue. Because the adenosine receptors aren’t allowed to fulfill their function, the brain may begin to depend upon caffeine for energy. Another problem with energy drinks is that most of them are full of artificial sweeteners such as erythritol and sucralose. These damage the liver and gut microbiome, an ecosystem closely connected to immune health and the nervous system, according to a study done by Elsevier. During busy seasons, students may feel that energy drinks are the best way to refuel, when naps feel impossible and removing any commitments from a busy schedule seems out of the question. In these times, I recommend taking a deep breath, getting some sunshine (if at all possible, considering Michigan’s weather), chatting or praying with a friend, and having a snack with a cup of coffee or tea. Since coffee is a natural source of caffeine, it is absorbed more slowly into the bloodstream than caffeine from energy drinks. Though they may provide a bigger initial boost, energy drinks

have a higher likelihood of causing a “caffeine crash,” a rapid decline in energy. Don’t expect your body, mind, and soul to be well when you get less than six hours of sleep every night, especially when expected to perform to the Hillsdale standard. Don’t mask your symptoms of burnout, exhaustion, or overwork by chugging energy drinks — instead, let your brain and body rest. Instead of avoiding your sleep deprivation problem by overdosing on caffeine, prioritize sleep, sunshine, and snacks. College students aren’t superhuman. So, the next time you’re tired, do your body a favor. Put down the Celsius and take a nap. Elizabeth Caneday is a sophomore studying English. Illustrated by Maggie O’Connor.

A6 September 17, 2026

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City News

Who’s running for mayor? Matthew Bentley Bob Flynn

“There are many of my fellow townies that are conMayoral candidate Matvinced that the college has thew Bentley said he was some malignant agenda and reluctant when former City is pulling strings behind Councilman Joshua Palathe scenes,” Bentley said. “I dino first suggested that he would like to give the college run for a city council seat in more credit.” 2024. In terms of management, “He twisted my arm for Bentley said he disagrees 18 months,” Bentley said, with the way the city counlaughing. cil has been run in recent Bentley, a Hillsdale native years. In his view, the city who served in the Army becouncil has become overly fore working in the securicomplacent and unwilling ties industry in Chicago, ran to discuss important topics. unopposed for the Ward 2 Though members of city seat in 2024 and said he staff have been “keeping the hasn’t looked back since. lights on, for the most part,” In the special election last he said there is a lack of inyear following Mayor Adam terest in governance. Stockford’s resignation, His solution to the isBentley ran against Scott sue is to put more power Sessions in an effort to stop into committee discussion. the Michigan Department of Though he was told comTransportam it t e e s tion’s proheld the posed “road m o s t diet,” which weight w o u l d when it slim Broad came to St re e t i n goverdowntown nance Hillsdale w h e n from four he first lanes to started two, with on t he bike lanes council, on either B entley side. Afsaid that ter losing he was to Sesdiscoursions with a g e d 46.98% of f r o m t he vote, pushing Bentley said for more h e’s n ow discusrunning out s i o n of a genuine during love for pohis time litical dison councourse. cil. “I think “Since politics is Paladino fun, espelost the cially in gavel, Hillsdale,” I c an’t Bentley rememsaid. “I ber that think there we’ve should be h a d more of it and more Matthew Bentley, a mayoral candidate and sitting councilman. any committee political participameetings that CourtESy | MatthEw BEntlEy tion. This was an lasted more than opportunity to do politics, fake. People come to Hills- 10 minutes,” Bentley said. “I so that’s why I decided to get dale because it’s Hillsdale was told when I got on, lecin the race.” and they want to invest in tured even, that that’s where Bentley said his platform it. They have other reasons, the governance happens, in hasn’t changed, and that and I don’t see how the mu- the committee meetings. Hillsdale’s biggest issue still nicipal government has any- That’s rich, seeing that since needs to be tackled: roads. thing to do with that.” we’ve had the current may“We should fix the roads One reason new busi- or, there has been no such faster, and we should put nesses may be attracted to energy. In fact, since the more money into the roads,” Hillsdale, Bentley said, is SADs debacle, I don’t know B ent le y that we’ve said. engaged O ne in much way to of anyfree up thing.” s o m e With money elections for road coming repairs, up, BentBentley said, is redirecting the presence of Hillsdale ley said he’s optimistic. resources away from foster- College. Though the rela“Whether I’m mayor or ing economic development tionship between the college not, there will be an entirely in Hillsdale and taking a and the town hasn’t always new council. I think there more laissez-faire approach. been easy, Bentley said, he will be a lot more energy He criticized those on coun- is grateful for the college’s and new blood,” Bentley cil who acted as though they in$uence and its support in said. “I expect whoever wins knew more than they did. the growth of the town. those other races, they will “I don’t think it’s much of “The college is benevo- be wanting to fix the roads. our business at all,” Bentley lent; It’s not a mysterious op- So we will hopefully meet said. “We are not experts. erator,” Bentley said. “What in committees and find the Some of us like to LARP as is Hillsdale without Hillsdale money in the budgets and finance bros, but we have a College? We grew up togeth- prioritize roads. As I say, (we specific job to do, and it’s er. We’ve always been co-lo- need) committees, council not, in my opinion, having cated and, God willing, we taking responsibility, and some vision for the future always will be.” showing some energy and of Hillsdale. I don’t believe The college has helped direction to staff, instead of it’s effective, and I think it’s put Hillsdale on the map being an autopilot behind wasteful of our energies and and continues to foster Dave Mackey. We need to limited resources.” growth in the town, accord- step up.” In Bentley’s view, the city ing to Bentley. He said he has been doing “too much” hopes that some Hillsdale in terms of Hillsdale’s devel- residents will be able to betopment. ter appreciate the efforts that “I guess the big three are the college puts into making the road diet, the Keefer, Hillsdale the town it is. By Gemma Flores City News editor

and the Dawn,” Bentley said. “If that’s what economic development looks like, I don’t see that that’s been worth it. We’ve been chasing a phantom.” Bentley is referring to the Keefer House Hotel and the Dawn Theater, two real estate development projects in downtown Hillsdale that the city’s government has gotten involved in. While the Keefer’s completion date has been pushed back six times, construction is set to finish Sept. 30. The Dawn Theater has been searching for a management company since last year. “There’s this tendency for the city staff and sometimes the mayors or the city council to take credit for bringing in a new establishment,” Bentley said. “That’s a little

“I think there will be a lot more energy and new blood.”

occasionally checking in to make sure things stay on track. Bob Flynn talked to “Trust but verify,” Flyn Hillsdale from behind a said, quoting former presradio microphone for more ident Ronald Reagan. than 40 years. He covered Instead of waiting for city government, spoke disagreements to surface with local o%cials, and saw during public meetings, businesses open and close. Flynn said he would like to While his job gave him talk with council members an expansive view of the ahead of time about upcity and its needs, he was coming issues to hear their intentional about keeping concerns and work toward politics out of his job. an agreement before a con“Politics and journalism flict reaches the council do not mix,” Flynn said. $oor. Now retired from the ra“I hate surprises,” Flynn dio station WCSR 92.1 FM said. and two years into his first Flynn said the city’s reterm on the Hillsdale City lationship with Hillsdale Council, Flynn is running College is generally good, for mayor. He said he hopes but he believes the college to take the relationships he could do more to account made and the lessons he for its impact on the comlearned covering the city, munity, especially as it reand apply l ate s to them to the town’s gover ning tax base. it. “What “I’ve alupsets a ways been lot of the intereste d residents in making of Hillss u re t h at dale is Hillsdale is t h at we doing posih ave to tive things, do with and helping less b eit to grow c a u s e for busiou r t a x nesses and base has f a m i l i e s ,” shrunk,” Flynn said. F l y n n W h o s a i d . ever wins “ We’r e the mayorall being al race will maxed face some out on real issues, taxes, yet Flynn said. the tax Nonethebase is less, he reshrinking peatedly because stressed his Hillsdale belief in the [College] city’s future. is flex“We’re a ing their rural town, muscles we c ou l d and buyus e s ome ing up more busiproperness, and we Bob Flynn poses at Checker Records in downtown Hillsdale. ties that then are could use some not taxed.” ElliE FroMM | thE CollEgian more industry,” While mainFlynn said. “We could use city manager will require taining the generally posa little lift-up, but we’re not forethought and patience, itive relationship between in as bad a shape as some Flynn said. Because the the college and city, Flynn people make us out to be.” city manager oversees the said he’d look out for everyThe two biggest issues day-to-day administration body in the community. facing the city, according to of the city, Flynn said the “It’s not ‘What can the Flynn, are the poor condi- person hired needs to be city do for the college,’” tion of the streets, and find- someone the council can Flynn said. “It’s the other ing a new city manager as trust. way around. What can the the current manager David “Finding a manager is college do for the city?” Mackie Ultiprepares mately, to step Flynn down in said he 2028. wants Flynn t h e said he City of wants the Hillscity to establish a dedicated going to be a process,” Fly- dale to become a place fund out of the city’s budget nn said. “We need to start where people come rather for roads. The city would focusing on that, probably than a place people leave to contribute to it every year, starting in the new year. find something to do. allowing the money to ac- I’ve never hired an execu“I want Hillsdale to be cumulate for future repairs. tive in my life, but it’s a six- the place to come visit,” “Streets are going to to-eight-month process to Flynn said. “Let’s find some crumble,” Flynn said. “You start whittling the candi- things, let’s do some things. save a little here and there dates list down.” Let’s make some things and then when you need it, The mayor should not happen.” it’s there instead of panick- act as the city’s chief execFlynn said that he could ing. Today’s council needs utive, he said. Rather than see this happen in the next to think 20, 30 years down do the city manager’s role five or 10 years. the road. I wanna be proac- poorly, Flynn said the may“I think my greatest tive, not reactive.” or’s main responsibility is weakness is that I’m too Flynn acknowledged presiding over city council much of an optimist,” Flynn that he does not yet have meetings and working with said. “I like to see the good a concrete plan for a fund, the rest of the council. in people. I like to see the and that it would require “The duty of the mayor good in things and I’m very consultation with city of- is not to run the city,” Flynn hopeful.” ficials. said. “The duty of the mayA slowly-growing fund or is to run the city council would also be a temptation meeting.” for future councils withFlynn said he would out a long view of the city’s focus on hiring qualified needs. people, allowing them to “Once we get the ac- do their jobs well, and then By Henry Fliflet AssistANt editor

count established, we’ll get a big ruler, like the nuns used to use, with the metal edge,” Flynn joked. “We’ll keep it somewhere, so that when somebody says, ‘Hey, there’s that money just sitting there,’ we can slap them on their palms.” Flynn sees the concept as part of a larger philosophy: acknowledge and accept that his time as mayor will be brief compared to the impact of the decisions he makes. “I don’t want to saddle councils 20 years from now with problems, so that all of a sudden they’re like, ‘what were those idiots 20 years ago thinking? Why did they just tell us not to worry about it?” Flynn said. Like establishing a longterm fund, finding a new

“I think my greatest weakness is

that I’m too much of an optimist.”

September 17, 2026 A7

Zilantros brings authentic Mexican food to Hillsdale By Sophia Bryant FeAtures editor

Customers line up outside a bright red trailer, ignoring the sti$ing, sticky air, to enjoy tacos and quesadillas for lunch or dinner. Zilantros Mexican Food parks at 184 W. Carleton Road every Wednesday to serve food from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The food truck arrives around 8:30 a.m. to begin preparing for the day, according to Carlos Alvarez, one of the owners. “Making people look forward to us being here because they like our food is what makes us feel really, really good,” Alvarez said. “We do a lot of work and everything, but when somebody comes and says, ‘Hey, I had your taco, and it was

like the best tacos we had,’ that’s what we enjoy.” Alvarez’s wife, Lina Silva, is the main cook for the truck. “She’s got all the secrets to the recipes,” Alvarez said. Their daughter, Ruth Ramos, is the cashier. They prepare for the week ahead on Mondays. “It looks like trips to the meat store, trips to the Mexican store, receiving our order from a company that delivers our produce from Toledo, and that’s mostly in the morning,” Alvarez said. “Then in the afternoon, it’s prepping for Tuesday, which is cleaning up the trailer, %nishing up the cleaning, and %lling it up with whatever we’re going to need for the next day.” On Tuesday, Zilantros

is open in Archbold, Ohio, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. They spend the rest of Tuesday afternoon preparing the truck for Wednesday, when they come to Hillsdale. They cook 90% of their food in the morning they serve it, according to Alvarez. “Mainly the big rush hour would be from opening at 11, sometimes to 1, sometimes 1:30, and then it slows down,” Alvarez said. “And it picks up again around like 4:30. From 4:30 to closing time, which is 6, it’s rush hour.” Zilantros serves food in Wauseon, Ohio, Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and in Adrian, Michigan, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays. They cater at various events like weddings or festivals, according to Alvarez. From left to right: Ruth Ramos, Line Silva, and Carlos Alvarez pose in front of the Zilantros truck. Sophia Bryant | thE CollEgian

“We try to rest on Sundays,” Alvarez said. When Ruth turned 15 in 2016, the family wanted to %nd someone to make tacos for her quinceañera. “We struggled to find somebody that can bring this type of tacos to the party,” Alvarez said. “We couldn’t find anyone. All we could find was somebody that could deliver the tacos already made, which were good, but weren’t exactly what we were looking for. And we sat down and thought, ‘Well, maybe there’s an opportunity that we can start something.’ So we started doing that for open houses and any other parties with just tents and portable grills, and then it evolved to the food truck.”

Customers line up for lunch at Zilantros. Sophia Bryant | thE CollEgian

The food truck opened in 2022. They recently added several new items to the food truck, according to Alvarez. “We used to just have tacos and burritos and quesadillas, but now we added the birria meat and the birria tacos,” Alvarez said. “We added the specialty birria pizza. Everything’s been good. Hillsdale’s been very good to us.” Birria meat is a traditional Mexican dish of lamb, goat, or beef cooked slowly. While waiting for her food, Amber Reynolds said her family looks forward to this truck every Wednesday. “My son asked me %rst thing after school if the taco truck was here,” Reynolds said. “So we love them.

There’s no better tacos in town.” Megan Bildner said she comes to the truck often. “I love the quesadilla,” Bildner said. “The quesadillas are delicious, and the avocado salsa is perfect.” Julie Apel, assistant headmaster at Hillsdale Academy, said Zilantros is a delicious, easy dinner. “I just think the people are extremely kind and gracious hosts, and so we love supporting their business,” Apel said. “Their al pastor tacos are amazing.”

Average age of Hillsdale Airport hosts annual fly-in Hillsdalians grows By Malachai Thompson CollegiAN FreelANCer

By Matthew Tolbert web & Puzzle editor

The City of Hillsdale has increasingly older residents, fewer babies, and a growing cohort of middle-aged adults, according to the latest demographic estimates. The share of minors has fallen by more than one percentage point since 2010, while the share of seniors has grown by just under two percentage points. Michigan’s overall share of minors fell even further, by over three percentage points, while Michigan’s share of seniors rose by nearly %ve and a half percentage points. While the demographic estimates place the city’s median age at 29.6 years — the youngest of any municipality in the county — the data is skewed by college students, who are generally counted at college addresses rather than permanent residences. A Collegian analysis estimates that even if college students were excluded from the data, the city would still far outpace the rest of Hillsdale County in the 20 to 24 age bracket. While the 20 to 24 age group grew by around 2 percentage points since 2010, the largest increase was in the 35 to 44 range, which grew by three percentage points, re$ecting an estimated increase of 200 non-student residents. Hillsdale Assistant City Manager Sam Fry said that this growth might be due to young adults recognizing the unique charm of Hillsdale as a home. “A lot of folks left to maybe start careers somewhere else, but when they’re get-

ting ready to start a family or maybe they have a couple years of job experience, they’re really fond of Hillsdale and they think it’s a nice area to live,” Fry said. “I think there are a lot of folks that, even if they started and went somewhere else, they’re kind of looking to try to come back.” The city’s share of residents younger than 18 is currently at 20.2%, just below the county-wide average of 21.5%. The City of Jonesville and Camden Township have the highest shares of minors, at 32.9% and 38.6% respectively. Unlike Hillsdale, whose demographics center on the young-adult and middle-aged population, Jonesville and Camden Township have a broad mix of residents of all ages. As a result, the Census Bureau estimates their median ages are about two to three years older than Hillsdale’s, re$ecting the wider mix of older residents. Census Bureau estimates place Camden Township as the poorest municipality in the county, with Jonesville near the middle. Hillsdale’s position $uctuates depending on metrics. By median household income, it ranks second-lowest in the county. Fry said economic growth is linked to attracting younger residents. “There are many good reasons to see what can be done to try to retain young people,” Fry said. “I think that’s really important for Hillsdale, making sure that we have opportunities here for young people in our community that want to either move here or want to stay.”

Ava-Marie Papillon illustrated the City News header.

Nearly 100 cars and planes were on display at the Hillsdale Municipal Airport Fly-In Sept. 13. The annual event first took place in 1948, hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Hillsdale. Today the airport’s management continues to run it smoothly. This year, the fly-in honored the victims of 9/11, according to the Hillsdale Exchange Club’s f lye r for t he event. Owners of helicopters and small aircraft offered rides, and clear skies over the weekend allowed for constant $ights from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Exchange Club, a volunteer group focused on child abuse prevention, put on a pancake breakfast in one of the hangars, a meal it has offered for the last 37 years. A food truck offered iced coffee and other refreshments. In addition to aircraft rides, there was a car show throughout the day. Car enthusiasts had vintage sedans, modded pickups, and shiny new Corvettes, available for attendees to look at, with many proud owners eager to tell attendees about their automobile. John Condon, a car enthusiast and Hillsdale resident

for more than six decades, said it is valuable to have a space where the community can show off their cars for the

“It’s a good-sized show. It’s not too big that you can’t enjoy all of it,” Condon said. John Edelman, who has

A helicopter lands behind a memorial at the Hillsdale Municipal Airport. MalaChai thoMpSon | thE CollEgian

public to enjoy. He also mentioned how much he enjoyed the pancake breakfast, a factor

attended the $y-in for many years, said the event offers a unique opportunity for a

Firefighters gather at the Hillsdale Municipal Airport Fly-In. MalaChai thoMpSon | thE CollEgian

that he said draws people in. Condon said he attends car shows all around the county, but has returned to the $y-in for the last couple of years due to its size.

community gathering point, and that the opportunity to socialize and see new exhibits are the main factors bringing people back. “Look at all the peo-

ple coming out,” Edelman said.“That’s a good thing, you know.” Edelman noted that this year there were more personal aircraft on display, and expressed an interest in seeing older military helicopters and planes in coming years. Beyond the fun rides, exhibits, and community congregation co-hosted by airport management, frequent attendee and former Hillsdale Mayor Greg Bailey thinks the $y-in shows the value the municipal airport holds for Hillsdale. Bailey said he has been involved with the airport since the inception of its new terminal and has enjoyed watching the airport as it’s progressed. He said he hopes to see the improvements and changes that will be made in the coming years. “It br i n g s awareness to the airport,” Bailey said. “It sometimes gets a bad rap because it does take up a lot of land. There’s plenty of trees that have to be cut to keep the airspace clear. But I think it provides an economic engine to the community, and not just the college. There’s all kinds of ways it can be used to bene%t the community.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

A8 September 17, 2026

SportS Feature

From Hungary to Hillsdale via Florida: Zeteny Paragi joins men's tennis By Matthew Tolbert Web & puzzle editoR A decorated tennis player from Hungary, Zeteny Paragi, has joined the men’s tennis team, after transferring from Rollins University in Florida. Paragi won two singles matches and a doubles match in his first tournament as a Charger. Before coming to the United States, Paragi played in professional events back home in Hungary. A native of Tárnok, a suburb of Budapest, Paragi said he spent most of his time in the city growing up. “I did most of my stuff in Budapest, which is a big city,” Paragi said. “I was doing everything in Budapest. I was going to school in Budapest. I was doing my training in Budapest as well, so I was basically going home to sleep.” Paragi’s interest in tennis was kindled by members of his extended family. “I started when I was 5,” Paragi said, “All of my family was playing tennis, and my uncle was a really good tennis player as well growing up. So, in some sense, it was inevitable for me to play tennis. My grandpa took me down to tennis school for the first time with a coach, and after that, I stuck with it.” However, Hungarian culture doesn’t entertain student athletics, so Paragi was forced

to play with a club outside of his school. “In Hungary, they do not really support student athletes. You can go to a sports school, but other than that, there’s no support for it,” Paragi said. “In Hungary, you play for a club, and that’s how you train. You train at the club with the guys who are in the club, and then you go to tournaments on your own.” This was part of why Paragi decided to pursue college in the United States. Another reason was wanting to prepare himself for a career in finance. “If we just look at how the U.S. operates and the companies that the States produce as well, it’s the biggest economy in the world, and that’s not by accident. The money is here in the U.S.,” Paragi said. “What better way of actually figuring out what business is about than to come into the U.S. and actually learn it from the source.” This didn’t make it any easier for Paragi’s family to send him so far away, he said. “At first, everybody was a bit against it in the family. My brothers were sad I had to leave. My mother was really against the whole thing of coming out to the U.S. But my father was supportive about it, so my mother was supportive about it as well. But she — the motherly love, I guess — didn’t want me to leave Hungary.” But Paragi was unfazed he

said; one of his goals was to push himself into new, unfa-

colleges with good academics and a tennis program,” Paragi

Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletic Department

miliar territory. “It’s definitely good to get out of your comfort zone and come to a different continent,” Paragi said. After high school Paragi took a gap semester working in Hungary, but started as a tennis player at Rollins in January. However, he had to leave unexpectedly, creating the opportunity for him to transfer. “After that, I was looking for

said. “I came across Hillsdale. I sent an email to Coach Keith, and then we started talking.” Men’s tennis team head coach Keith Turner said he found Paragi’s resume stellar. “Zeteny played for a top-10 nationally ranked team at Rollins. He could definitely help us,” Turner said. “His academics were also strong, which of course is necessary to get accepted at Hillsdale.”

The good impression went both ways. Paragi said he found Hillsdale’s offerings compelling. “Coach Keith showed me the facilities that Hillsdale has, and I did a bit of research about Hillsdale as well,” Paragi recalled. “Everything seemed to be what I wanted to get out of a college setting here in the U.S., so I decided to move forward with it and sign with Hillsdale to play tennis here.” Turner said he was surprised at how easily Paragi adjusted to Hillsdale. Paragi said he found the team atmosphere similar to — and in some ways more committed than — the club environments he played among in Hungary. “The way my club was operating and how I grew up playing tennis, it was pretty similar to this,” Paragi explained. “I think that [student athletics] definitely have a better atmosphere in the sense where we all strive for one goal and we all work towards that goal every single training. With a club setting, it’s not about the team. It’s about individually what your goal is with tennis.” Paragi has been especially helpful in achieving the team’s goals in doubles, according to junior Rintaro Goda. “We’ve focused mostly on strengthening our doubles lineup, and he’s probably one of the best doubles players I’ve seen so far,” Goda said. Paragi’s doubles partner,

sophomore Patrick Cretu, has appreciated his new partner and is optimistic about continuing to play alongside him this year. “We’ve been having a lot of fun as a doubles team,” Cretu said. “We are both still learning each other’s style, mentality, and tendencies, but we’re excited to keep competing.” That said, Paragi is expecting the transition to Hillsdale to have challenges. “I’m more of a summer person. I like the hot weather much more,” Paragi said. “It’s going to be interesting with the Michigan winter going to -20 Celsius. So we’ll see how I can handle that, but most probably, I will be able to adjust to it.” Some adjustments are more lighthearted, such as supermarkets. Early this semester, Goda heard that Paragi had never been to a Walmart, so Goda took him on a shopping trip. “Everything is twice the size,” Paragi explained. “When I go into the supermarket, the supermarket is twice the size, and every single portion is twice the size. Same with trucks and everything.” Turner is optimistic about Paragi’s prospects this year. “He seems to be adjusting well. He seems happy,” Turner said. “The guys like him, and he has been receptive to my coaching. It’s been a great fit so far.”

Women's Tennis

Club Rugby

Chargers prepare for home season opener

Rugby falls to defending National Champions

By Francesca Cella opinions editoR Hillsdale women’s tennis welcomed two new players to the team and is gearing up to open the season with the Chargers’ Summer Invitational Sept. 19-20. Freshmen Addison Trotter and Emily Muresan have been practicing, lifting, and eating team dinners with the Chargers since they arrived on campus a couple weeks ago. “It’s really fun, especially because I was coming from Florida in a really small town, so I didn’t have very many people to practice with,” Trotter said. “It’s really nice just having a team around me and just being able to encourage each other. It’s a really good environment.” Head coach Melanie Zampardo said the freshmen are settling in well. “They want to get the most out of practice every single day,” Zampardo said. “They’re acclimating well with their teammates, and they’re just overall taking everything regarding being a student athlete by the reins. They’re just doing great at acclimating in school, tennis, even their spiritual life.” The fall season is a precursor for the spring championship season, and will give the players opportunities to compete in various doubles pairings, according to Zampardo. Senior Ane Dannhauser said she’s excited to have Trotter and Muresan on the team. “They’re both super enthusiastic and they fit in with the team really well,” Dannhauser said. “I

Football from A1 Hillsdale had 11 rushers combine for 351 yards, the most the Chargers have run for in a game since Nov. 2023. Holt led the backfield with 56 yards. “The scout team prepared us tremendously this week,” Carrico said. “The quarterbacks played great. The offensive

can already tell that they’re super hardworking and just very eager to be there and to get better.” As she heads into her last year at Hillsdale College, Dannhauser said her goal is for the team to sweep the Great Midwest Athletic Conference tournament. The Chargers took fourth in the tournament last year. “I’d say that winning conference would be my biggest dream for the team at the end of the year,” Dannhauser said. “And then seeing if junior Briana Rees and I can go to nationals. I’m just trying to soak it all in because I’m kind of in shock still that it’s my last year.” The team has performed well for the last several years and has a good shot at winning the conference tournament this year, according to Zampardo. “2021 was the last time that we won our conference tournament, and ever since then we’ve been chasing our way back to the top,” she said. “We continue to remain top three or four in our conference every year, and this year we have the ability to really take that first place prize.” As Zampardo enters her second year as head coach, she said she is looking forward to her position now that she has a year of experience under her belt. “I’m just very grateful for my team and all the people that support me and the opportunity to do this,” Zampardo said. “I think I have the coolest job in the world, so the team’s willingness to trust me as their leader means a lot to me.”

line blocked amazing. I can’t believe that we rushed for 350 and had 620 yards. That’s insane.” On defense, the Chargers held the Warriors to 194 yards. “If other people aren’t doing their assignments, then I can’t make plays,” sophomore defensive lineman Jayden Njoroge said. “So I feel like all around as a defense, we put in a whole

By Reagan Vicars Collegian FReelanCeR Hillsdale College Rugby Club lost its first home game of the season 29-10 to No. 1 defending national champions Franciscan University of Steubenville Sept. 11. Despite the loss, Head Coach Mike “Bama” Harris expressed his pride in the team’s performance. “They brought physicality,” he said. “They were there when they needed to be there for each other as well as for themselves.” Franciscan scored a try early on, but missed the conversion kick. Junior Ike Lindley responded for the Chargers, scoring a try but missing the conversion kick. The Barons scored two more times before the half, successfully converting one of them, bringing the score to 17-5. At the beginning of the second half, senior Angel Jimenez was forced to come off the field due to a minor calf injury. Freshman Tomas Liebenberg described the impact that losing Jimenez had on the team. “Angel’s skill in the game was a real link between the front and the back line. The team felt a shift in momentum once he was gone, but by the end we had regained our footing” he said. “We definitely need to work on our slip-ups. But when we were both playing at our best, I think we were beating them.” The Barons picked up momentum after the half, furthering their lead by two trys, with another successful conversion kick that brought them to 29 points. Sophomore David Britenbunch of work during this off season, and that showed today.” Njoroge had 3.5 sacks, junior Leighton Scott had an interception, and fifth year linebacker Jacob Vance recovered a fumble. “The two turnovers last week highlight just how crucial they can be in any game,” Vance said. “Our goal going into the game was to shut them out and the

feld scored for the Chargers in the final minutes of the game, bringing them to 10 points after another missed conversion kick.

expressed his excitement for the match, saying that he wanted to provoke the crowd in attendance, even though he did not fully understand the

Hillsdale makes a kick-off against Franciscan. The Collegian | Reagan Vicars

During the game, a sheet of paper titled “The Basic Rules of Rugby” was passed around the crowd of student onlookers. Many of these students said they found the sheet helpful, as they attempted to learn the rules of rugby for the first time. “I have no idea what’s going

game itself. “I just wanted to see guys hit each other,” said freshman Joanna Stanton, after explaining her lack of knowledge of the game. In attendance was former rugby advisor and Associate Dean of Men Jeffrey “Chief ” Rogers who was glad to see

"I didn't like them celebrating on my field." on,” freshman Daniel Vander Galien said. “I’m here because we’ve got to support our Simpson guys.” Freshman Michael Swartz

“Hillsdale people supporting Hillsdale people.” Following the post-game handshakes, both teams formed a circle in the middle

turnovers both came later in the drives and helped keep points off the board.” Hillsdale has not turned the ball over through their first two games of the year. “Ball security is always a key for a high functioning offense.” McKernan said. “In conference play, we just need to continue executing at a high level and

continue to get the ball to Shea, Tutt, Ben, and all of our fantastic athletes we have.” The Chargers travel to play nationally ranked Northwood University Sept. 19 at 12 p.m. to begin Great Midwest Athletic Conference play. “I don’t think I’m going to have to wind these guys up at all,” Shreffler said. “They know

of the field, praying the Lord’s Prayer while embracing each other. This display of sportsmanship and fellowship did not prevent College President Larry Arnn from commenting on Franciscan’s previous jubilee after their victory. “I didn’t like them celebrating on my field,” Arnn said from the sidelines. After the game, Jimenez offered his perspective for the future of the team. “We’ve got a lot of young guys and a lot of time to get better; the season is just beginning,” Jimenez said. “We’ve seen where we stand against the top competition, so we are ready to start dominating the conference games.” Starting freshman Luke Molenkamp shared his excitement over the game, and the improvement he has already felt the team make. “The backs were much more put together in this game,” Molenkamp said. “The best thing we can do now is pay more attention to the little things.” As the Chargers look forward to Saturday’s home game against Robert Morris University, Harris wants to focus on increasing the speed and movement of the ball to their advantage. He then expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance. “I’m just so proud of them for everything,” Harris said. “They really showed a lot of heart.”

exactly who we’re playing, and they’re going to prepare at a level that they have been, and that's at a championship level.”

Sports

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Golf

September 17, 2026 A9

Club Soccer

Chargers climb leaderboard on last day of play Men and women take to turf as season kicks off By Grace Brennan CultuRe editoR

said. Hillsdale shot a 313, 29 over par, and a 297, 13 over par, in the 'rst two rounds to sit at 17th &e Hillsdale Golf team place before entering the last placed 13th in three rounds at round on Tuesday. &e Meadows at Grand Valley Senior Oliver Marshall and State University, for the season Stalcup played the 'nal 18 holes opening Midwest/Central Re- in 1 over 72, with Marshall gional Preview Sept. 14-15. shooting birdie on three holes “We didn’t play our best, espe- and Stalcup with four birdies. cially the 'rst two rounds, but the “&e rain on the second day last day we scraped together a de- made it a little more tricky, but cent score as a team,” sophomore it also so(ened up the greens Parker Stalcup said. to make approach shots easier,” &e Chargers had a rough Stalcup said. “My tee shots were start on Monday, according to 'nding the right spots and I was Stalcup. &e course was 'rm and hitting great approach shots, but the greens were running fast, he around the greens, I wasn’t playing my best.” Hillsdale shot a 290, 6 over par, tying for the fourth best score in the 'nal round, passing Missouri University of Science and Technology, Ti)n University, and Winona State University. Marshall, Stalcup, and sophomore John Cassiday all tied for the individual lead for the Chargers, 'nSenior Oliver Marshall lines up a putt. ishing at 13 over Courtesy | Logan Taylor par, and placing

54th. Junior Jackson Piacsek, Hillsdale’s best scorer a(er two rounds, 'nished the tournament at 15 over par and rounded out the Chargers’ team score. Marshall said there were positives to how he played, but he’s looking at how he can improve for the next tournament. “I didn’t hit the ball well at all Junior Jackson Piacsek tees off in Allendale. the entire tour- Courtesy | Logan Taylor nament, but did putt decently, which was a posi- tions,” Kelly said. “One of the bative,” Marshall said. “I will need sic mistakes we made was playing to work on my swing a bit before par 3’s poorly, which stems from we travel again next week.” not picking out good targets, not According to head coach being committed to targets, and Luke Kelly, the team will only get having lazy swings because of it.” better. &e Chargers play next week “Monday was about as poorly in their second event at the UInas we could possibly play,” Kelly dy Invitational at the Broadmoor said. “We came back stronger Country Club in Indianapolis, Tuesday and I was encouraged by Indiana. what they put out.” “We will aim to get our iron Kelly said he noticed a few distances more dialed in. Our mistakes the team needs to work distance putting needs work, on. and our speed is not great either,” “We weren’t quite on our Kelly said. “Next week will be a A-game with the weather condi- strong week for us.”

Games Battleship There are four ships of length 1 (•), three ships of length 2 (◀ ▶), two ships of length 3 (◀ ■ ▶), and one ship of length 4 (◀ ■ ■ ▶). Each ship is surrounded by empty water on all sides, including diagonally; no two ships touch or intersect. The numbers along the border indicate how many ship pieces appear in that row or column.

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.

9/10 Puzzle Solutions

By Ethan Savka Assita,t E-itor Hillsdale’s men’s and women’s club soccer teams opened their seasons with varying results over the weekend and high hopes for the year. &e men’s club split its 'rst two games with a loss Sept. 11 at home and 3-2 comeback win Sept. 12 at Wayne State University. &e women’s team lost to Michigan State University on the road. Freshman starter Rafael West said the bounceback win Saturday gives the men’s club momentum. “While they were de'nitely the better team, what sucked was us losing like that on Friday,” West said. “We went into Saturday’s game having just played. We were all exhausted, and it was hot outside.” Winning on Saturday a(er falling behind early felt amazing, West said. “&ose rides home a(er you get a big win is the best feeling,” West said. “You were down, but you realize what you were doing wrong. You 'xed it, and you didn't give up. Comebacks are always really sweet to pull o.. To go from feeling like the whole game has just not been your day, to then /ipping it on its head and winning — that is awesome.” &e men’s club wants to earn a nationals ticket by 'nishing top four in their bracket, according to junior Cruz Reichert, the club’s president. It also aims for the program’s highest point total and a better result in every rematch from last season. “We have a new team this year, having lost a large group of seniors who were committed to this team for the last four years,” Reichert said in an email. “Our new team is composed equally of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are admirably 'lling those gaps. &ey all bring a liveliness to the team culture that is vital to a positive and enjoyable season.” &e men’s division switched leagues, joining the U.S. Soccer’s o)cial club league. Reichert said the move should mean better competi-

tion and better o)ciating. Reichert said he looks forward to two home games this fall. Hillsdale hosts Grand Valley State University at 10:30 a.m. on Homecoming Saturday, Oct. 3, a match the club president believes will carry major implications for the season. “We’ll also have a lively game at home against Central Michigan University Oct. 30, the perfect way to celebrate on your Halloween weekend,” Reichert said. &e women’s club is also younger, according to Gena Grant, adviser and assistant coach. Grant said the Chargers want a winning season built on unity and morale, with coaches placing players where they compete best. “Last year, we had 10 seniors who led the team well,” Grant said. “&is year, we have a younger team with a lot of excellent talent and passion.” Club soccer, she said, still 'ts a Hillsdale schedule. “&e women’s club soccer team is a perfect balance for those who want to play soccer at a competitive level while also earning a solid education at Hillsdale College,” Grant said. “Our season is intense but short, and it conveniently ends when the papers and 'nals start piling up.” Following the loss to MSU, the women’s team moved to 0-2-1 on the season a(er losing to Bowling Green State University and tying with Grand Valley State University earlier in the season. &ere are four more women’s home games at Hayden Park this fall. &e team will play the University of Michigan Sept. 20, Carnegie Mellon University Sept. 27, University of Notre Dame Oct. 9, and the University of Toledo Oct. 11. “&e games are played with great intensity,” Grant said. “&e players feed o. the energy from the stands, so the more fans, the better.”

Charger ChaTTER Zac A'olter, Football

What, surprisingly, haven't you learned yet? Well, I haven't learned it yet? Then I don't know what it is! If you were a supervillain, who would you have a vendetta against? !"#$%"&'(#&)(*+,&-%)".+-)*/"& 0*%,1&-."&-2)3-%%4&0*%,&-+5&+#)& 631)&+#)&'-)".7&8&)(*+,&)(-)91&*%: %";-%7&<#+9)&2-%%&*)&0*%,7&8&)(*+,& 4#3&1(#3%5&="&-%%#'"5&)#&(-/"& >-%0#+5&63*2"7?&8)91&+#)&0*%,7&@#3& 2-+9)&2-%%&*)&0*%,7& Compiled by Matthew Tolbert

What's your record in an ice bath? I’ve gone 15 minutes. After that, I think it starts to get not great for you anymore. I normally don’t time it very much. Eventually I’ll get out.

How many hamburger patties do you have at a time? It’s probably two per burger, but I might eat two double cheeseburgers. I probably could do !ve. Photo Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Junior Tutt Carrico celebrates after a touchdown. Courtesy | Ashley Van Hoose

C harger S portS

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A10 September 17, 2026

Cross Country

Kuzma defeats Division I competition, earns national honors By Blake Schaper Collegian RepoRteR

Junior Ally Kuzma won National Athlete of the Week for her performance at the 2026 Michigan State Spartan Invitational Sept. 11. Kuzma finished first in the women’s 6K as she outran competition from the Big 10 Conference, Big East Conference, and Mid-American Conference. The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association recognized her as the top athlete of the week. The Great Midwest Athletic Conference also named her Women’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week. “Going into the race, my plan was just to stick close to the front and feel the race out,” Kuzma said. “I found myself running a bit behind a girl from MSU for most of the race and I knew I eventually wanted to start a kick at least one kilometer from the finish. At 4K, I started closing the gap so I decided to take the race a little earlier with around 1.5 kilometers to go. From there, I was able to make a gap myself and had about a 10 second finish ahead of second place.”

Kuzma is the second Hillsdale athlete to receive this honor. Emily (Oren) Newcomb won the award in 2014 and 2015. “I learned the importance of

timistic in the beginning with the initial gap between myself and second, but since I stayed focused and confident that I could have a good close, I was able to pull off the win.”

Forest Akers East Golf Course in East Lansing. “This is my first season coaching her, so I’m still learning her and learning how her body reacts and handles certain workouts,”

The race was hosted by Michigan State University at

In the men’s race, freshman Eli “Silas” Strawbridge ran the first 8K of his competitive career. “It definitely hurt, but I learned a lot and I think I made some solid moves; overall, I’m excited for the next opportunity to race,” Strawbridge said. “The competition was pretty good. I got to run with a number of my teammates for most of the race and there was definitely some jostling and shuffling to find your way through the other runners.” Strawbridge said his training on the dirt roads and hills around campus were helpful in preparing him for the race. “I am hoping to work on my kick for the last mile or so and pass some people in the last part of the race. Other than that, I’m excited to stick with Coach Lynn’s training and grow with the team as we get stronger and tougher both mentally and physically.” The men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete next at the G-MAC Preview Sept. 25 in Ti&n, Ohio.

Courtesy | Ashley Van Hoose

Junior Ally Kuzma crosses the finish line at the Spartan Invitational.

staying engaged and not giving up,” Kuzma said. “I was not op-

“A lot of what she had done in the past is similar to my training philosophy. So it’s been an easy transition in essence.” The men’s team finished in 8th place out of 23 teams, and the

said Joseph Lynn, head coach of the women’s cross country team.

women’s team finished 12th out of 24.

Men's Tennis

Volleyball

Early wins show promise for strong fall

Chargers earn first victory in conference

By Olivia Glisson Collegian RepoRteR Hillsdale men’s tennis won two draws in its season-opening home invitational against Ashland University, Walsh University, and Lawrence Technological University Sept. 12-13. “Our coach really worked hard this past weekend setting up the whole tournament and being able to manage all the difficulties with injuries and scheduling,” junior Ryan Papazov said. “He definitely deserves a lot of credit for that.” Papazov and freshman Zeteny Paragi played in Flight A singles, with Paragi making it to the final match but ultimately losing 6-4, 6-2. Papazov lost his first match, but won his second and third to take third place in Flight A, winning by default after his opponent from Lawrence dropped out. In Flight B singles, sophomore Patrick Cretu lost his first match, winning the first set 7-6, but losing the second set 6-3 and the tiebreaker 10-8. He went on to win his second and third matches to win the consolation tournament for Flight B. After earning a first-round bye, junior Rintaro Goda triumphed in Flight D, winning his second round match 7-5, 6-4 and then winning the championship match 6-4, 7-6. In doubles, seniors Henry Hammond and Ellis Klanduch lost an initial match to Ashland in Flight A, but came back to

win the Flight A Consolation, beating Lawrence 6-4 and teammates Cretu and Paragi 6-3. Papazov and freshman Jack Ford dominated Flight B dou-

and Ford’s matches as some of the most exciting of the tournament. “Jack and Ryan had an incredible doubles performance and I was really amazed by

Junior Ryan Papazov and freshman Jack Ford compete in doubles. Courtesy | Ashley Van Hoose

bles, beating Lawrence 6-2, Ashland 6-2, and another pair from Lawrence 6-1. Goda described Papazov

the level they were able to perform,” he said “They were always on the offense and constantly applied pressure even

on the receiving games. Jack, in his first appearance, had an amazing run at doubles.” “I was very impressed by the intensity of the players on court,” junior Jorie Buie, who attended the matches on Sunday, said. “I would encourage other students to go out and support the team when they can.” Despite the brutal heat and sun this weekend, Papazov expressed immense pride in the team. “We had younger guys pull off great victories, especially in their first collegiate tournament,” he said. “We had a bunch of returners doing what they left off doing in the spring.” According to Papazov, confidence and experience has gotten the team where they are. “Our training has really shown that we are strong in a lot of areas and now it's just about doing some fine tuning.” Goda affirmed Papazov’s comments. “Every player knows what they need to work on and I’m very excited to see how our team develops over the next few months.” The Chargers will travel to Grand Rapids to play in the Davenport Invitational Sept. 25-26.

By Ashley Luke assistant editoR Charger women’s volleyball took its first win in conference play after losing two weekends in a row, making their Great Midwest Athletic Conference record 1-2. Hillsdale’s match against Northwood University Sept. 15 was the first home match of the season. The Chargers swept NU 3-0, winning the first set 25-22, the second 25-12, and the third 27-25. “I could tell when I walked in that it was going to be a good match,” Volunteer Assistant Coach Stephanie Gravel said. “Hillsdale was loud in warm ups, calling every ball. We looked like we were ready to go and have a great match.” Sophomore outside hitter Taylor Cook led the team with 12 kills while Chloe Pierce led with 16 digs. “We served tough and really challenged Northwood’s serve receive,” Stephanie Gravel said. “We mixed up our offense, sharpened up our defense, and had a lot of key digs at crucial moments.” On Sept. 11 and 12, The Chargers lost to Cedarville University and Ohio Dominican University, respectively. After losing three of the four matches at the Parkside Invite tournament Sept. 4-5, Head

Coach Chris Gravel said the matches were a wake up call for the team. “There is finally a sense of urgency that we’ve lacked up to this point,” Chris Gravel said. “So there is definitely hope.” In the match against Cedarville, Hillsdale lost 25-21 in the first, second, and fourth sets, but won the third set 25-20. Against ODU, Hillsdale won the first set 25-15 and the fourth set 25-20. ODU won the second, third, and fifth sets 25-15, 25-21, and 15-7, respectively. Chris Gravel said despite their losses, the Chargers are always focused on how they can perform better for their next game. “It’s always about our next match, win or lose. Losing two weeks in a row was pretty tough for us,” Chris Gravel said. “The quicker we can get back on the court and play another opponent, the better.” The Chargers will face off against Gannon University Sept. 19 and Ashland University Sept. 20, both at home in Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena. “I’m excited to finally be at home. It’s always fun having our fans in the stands to watch us,” junior outside hitter Hannah Baker said. “I think our record doesn’t really show how skilled this team really is, so I’m excited for another opportunity to compete.”

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September 17, 2026

CULTURE Kiara Aldana, Lexi Travis, and Aryn Tomasetti in the arb. Courtesy | Samantha Mandel

Anna Northcutt recites poetry in the arb. Courtesy | Samantha Mandel

Students and professors test their memories at poetry recitation By Samantha Mandel Senior reporter Students and professors gathered in Slayton Arboretum Sept. 10 for a poetry recitation hosted by the Memorization Club. “I think memorization is just another level of attention and understanding,” Ellery Toman, Memorization Club president said. ”It’s not completely separate from the reading. I feel like it’s just the next level.” Against the green backdrop of the Arb, faculty and students took turns standing before the crowd to recite works they committed to memory. !e selections ranged across poets and traditions. Associate Professor of French Anna Navrotskaya recited a poem in Russian called “A Girl Sang in a Church Choir” by Aleksandr Blok, while students listened with drinks in hand and plates of prosciutto, mozzarella skewers, and fruit, supplied by the club.

Blok’s poem, written in 1905, depicts a young woman singing in a darkened church about sailors who have gone to sea and those who will not return. Navrotskaya said she did not understand the poem’s historical context when she first read it as a child, but its image of loss stayed with her. “It’s a very sad, touching, beautiful image,” Navrotskaya said. Navrotskaya’s father spent five to seven months of the year at sea as a civilian captain, while her grandfather served as a Soviet naval officer during World War II. “Anything related to ships, to the sea, anything water related speaks to me,” Navrotskaya said. “When I was a kid, I wanted to be a captain.” To students in the audience, Slayton Arboretum complemented the poetry. “!ere aren’t many places in the world where you can hear Russian poetry recited in the Arb beneath the leaves while sipping

on sparkling lemonade,” sophomore Sam Davis said. “!at’s a special kind of treat I am very grateful to experience here.” Davis was not alone in appreciating how the natural setting complemented the event. “I’m so grateful to be surrounded by God’s beauty while sharing the beauty that man has, through the expression of humanity that comes from poetry,” sophomore Gabi Hippler said. Before beginning, Kevin Gary, associate professor of education, joked that it was only fair for him to subject himself to a task he regularly assigns his students. “I get to teach Logic and Rhetoric, and some of my former students are in the audience,” Gary said, nodding to them. “One of the joys of the class is having them recite.” He then o$ered some lighthearted context for Shakespeare’s troubled prince: “Hamlet is having a really bad day,” Gary said before delivering the soliloquy with raw emotion. His voice

carried throughout the Arb, harmonized by the so% sounds of the lake, and his dramatic delivery held the audience silently spellbound. Moments like this highlighted the event’s purpose. !e Memorization Club exists to preserve words in the mind, and not just on a page, according to Toman. Navrotskaya said recitation reveals new dimensions within written works. “Imagine you have a precious stone that shines di$erently every time you turn it,” Navrotskaya said. “!at’s what every word in a poem does. !e person reciting becomes a unique musical instrument that helps those words come alive.” Toman recalled something Memorization Club founder Miriam Ritchie ’25 taught her: “You don’t know a passage until you’ve memorized it.” “!is sentiment really makes people want to strive to memorize it to the highest point, where they can reel it o$ at a moment’s

notice because it’s inside of them,” Toman said. Timothy Green, assistant professor of education, shares a similar philosophy. “Exercise your memory as a muscle,” Green said. “It is a key part of what it means to be educated classically. !is is the kind of school that takes important works to heart.” Green and Gary then gave examples of people who have had everything taken from them except for the poems and prayers they committed to memory, including those su$ering from dementia. “What if life strips everything away from you?” Green said. “You’ve got to have some things in your heart, in your head.” The club has applied that practice to both poetry and Scripture. Previous events have included recitations of the books of Luke and Acts, with participants memorizing and collectively reciting entire books of the Bible, Toman said.

For !ursday’s event, organizers reached out to professors and gave participants time to choose and prepare their pieces, according to the club secretary, junior Anna Northcutt. She said that the faculty participation helped produce the club’s best turnout for an event that was not a full Gospel recitation. “Each time a professor told me that he or she would recite, it was just the happiest moment ever,” Northcutt said. “We really had no idea if we were going to be able to get anyone when we came up with the idea of a faculty recitation.” !e Memorization Club plans to hold another open recitation Oct. 21 at 4:30 p.m., where participants may recite poetry, Scripture, or another work they have memorized. A recitation centered on the Book of John is planned for November.

GREEN light on Gatsby: Get dolled up for Garden Party By Ashley Luke ASSiStAnt editor Junior Ross Phelps has read “!e Great Gatsby” seven times. He has a shirt with the book’s cover on the front. He is even taking a one-credit class on the novel this semester. “No one is happier about the Great Gatsby theme than me,” Phelps said. !e Student Activities Board will host Garden Party at Slayton Arboretum Sept. 18 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. The event will have snacks, live music, and a signature mocktail bar, according to SAB’s instagram. When SAB was brainstorming theme ideas for Garden Party, Phelps, who is on the creative team for the board, jumped at the opportunity to highlight one of his favorite novels. Initially, SAB had a few di$erent ideas, but Phelps’ suggestion tied them all together, he said. “We were able to mesh multiple ideas from multiple people into one theme,” Phelps said. “We thought ‘!e Great Gatsby’ would appeal to the student body of Hillsdale.” “!e Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitsgerald is a 1925 novel about millionaire Jay Gatsby and his tragic romance with

Daisy Buchanan. !e story is told through the eyes of Buchanan’s cousin, Nick Carraway. In 2013, the book was adapted for a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Toby Maguire as Carraway, and Carey Mulligan as Buchanan. Professor of History Darryl Hart, who is teaching the 1-credit course on Fitzgerald’s novel, said he wonders if Garden Party will be a celebration. “Gatsby has lots of parties,” Hart said in an email. “But the book is really dark. It’s almost a crime novel — a murder suicide. How do you party over that?” Garden Party will capture the feeling of a raging Gatsby party mixed with the classic roaring

’20s, rather than directly copying the book, Phelps said. But one very important aspect of the book will be evident throughout the night. “!e green light is a key theme I just adore,” Phelps said, referring to a light mentioned in the book that symbolizes Gatsby’s love for Daisy Buchanan. “I told them, ‘I’m totally open to suggestions for everything else, but if there is not a green light at this thing, I’m rioting.’ !ere will be one, so keep your eyes peeled.” Many students on campus have dresses and suits that are le% unused, Phelps said. He encouraged guests to imagine Gatsby’s reaction if he saw their outfits from across the party. Wearing a

&apper dress is fun, Phelps said, but attendees should unearth their unworn gowns and suits with wow-factors. Even before junior Mary

and be a tribute to her grandmother’s generosity and classic style over the years. Senior SAB member Martha Kennedy found her dress at a

dress can be spotted in SAB’s Garden Party promotional video on their Instagram page. No matter what you wear, Garden Party is an opportunity

Claire McNeill and Martha Kennedy gossip about Garden Party in SAB promo. Courtesy | Fara Newell

Brecount heard the theme, she already had a dress picked out. It is a gi% from her grandmother. “My grandmother has a wonderful eye for beauty,” Brecount said. “Since I was little, she would gi% me a dress for my birthday or Christmas.” Brecount’s silk cocktail dress will fit with the theme, she said,

Drinks from SAB's promo video. Courtesy | Fara Newell

thri% store in Cleveland, Ohio. “I always go to the fancy dress section when I thri%,” Kennedy said. “And I got this one for five dollars at a thri% store back home.” Kennedy said she has not had many occasions to wear her dress, and she is looking forward to wearing it at Garden Party. Her

to step into another world for the night, Phelps said. “You have an invitation to Gatsby’s party, which is rare. He doesn’t throw those out very frequently,” Phelps said. “Use your imagination for a moment. Pretend like you’re going to Gatsby’s soirée, because this is what it is.”

Don’t be afraid to be an amateur, embrace it: Moore gives opening lecture By Sophia Bryant FeAtureS editor Students should not be embarrassed by failure, Assistant Professor of English Cameron Moore, said at the department’s Opening Charge lecture Sept. 10. “!e way up is the way down, our charge is forward into failure, and the great enemy to be defeated is us,” he said. Moore’s lecture, titled “‘Only undefeated because we have gone on trying,’ or, ‘A thing worth doing is worth doing badly:’ T.S. Eliot, G.K. Chesterton, and Failure,” gave the English department’s call to action for the year. Moore said in the poem “Four Quartets,” Eliot claims we live in a dark wood, and we constantly try to recover what has been lost while knowing we will never succeed.

“Having struck out 99 times in a row, we might be down by a lot,” Moore said. “But we haven’t lost the game as long as we step back up to the plate. !e moment we quit trying, we’re defeated. Another way of saying it is that our trying is the only condition on which our defeat isn’t final.” Eliot says we must constantly try and fail, while Chesterton argues in “!e Defendant” that what many people call “bad art” is really just art not good enough for them. But because things are inherently worth doing, they are worth doing badly, according to Moore. “We want beautiful art done well by professionals,” Moore said. “But more than that, and underlying that professional work, like the bulk of an iceberg that lies beneath the water, we want mediocre art and mediocre music and mediocre theater and mediocre

sports and mediocre essays all done by amateurs.” Moore said we should still strive for excellence, but we shouldn’t allow our failures to stop us from trying new things. “Babies trying to walk and falling over is hilarious,” Moore said. “You have laughed at babies falling over and being bad at walking. It’s just really funny. Why are we so embarrassed? Babies aren’t. It’s just delightful. !ey try and they fail. !ey’ll get there.” Moore said the home is a good place to try and fail, but we struggle to value the beauty in our families and homes. Eliot and Chesterton both argued we fail to attend to the eternal because of our tendency to be distracted, so we must defeat ourselves, according to Moore. !e way to attend to the eternal is by

paying attention to the details in our lives. Moore referenced Chesterton’s work “Heretics,” which claims that the family and the home are the ultimate romance and adventure. “Instead of seeing ourselves as fantastic and remarkable creatures inhabiting a world of wonders, we tend toward a bored dissatisfaction with our environments, especially the places we live,” Moore said. “For Chesterton, the root of this problem is a problem of the imagination. We fail to really see our own lives because we don’t properly imagine our own lives.” Moore told !e Collegian he hoped students would leave the lecture with the courage to try new things, like art or theater. “I hope students walk away with a renewed energy and enthusiasm for going and try-

ing things and having fun and delighting in form making for ourselves rather than just delegating that to other people,” he said. Moore said Benedict Whalen, chairman and associate professor of English, asked him to give this year’s Opening Charge lecture about a month ago. “Just sharing the wealth that we have here,” Whalen said. “Sometimes you can get a newer faculty member who remains hidden and has all of this to o$er, like this wonderful talk. So that’s one of the reasons. And he’s also such an energetic speaker that I thought, ‘!is is a sure-fire, can’t-fail speaker to have here to really energize us.’” Senior Emelia Klanduch said Moore’s talk demonstrated a new, encouraging attitude to-

ward failure. “I really appreciated him asking us to reconsider the way that we think about home and family,” Klanduch said. “Especially as a college student, you get so separated from your family that you don’t really think about it as something enchanting or truly incredible, and he’s arguing that there’s this fairytale quality to having a family.” Christina Lambert, assistant professor of English, said she thought the lecture was a great start for the semester. “I loved the emphasis on being an amateur, and I love the reminder that being an amateur is just being a lover,” Lambert said. “Being an amateur means you’re not perfect at everything, but you love what you’re doing, and we want that to be students’ mindsets.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 17, 2026

CULTURE

Libraries and museums should have books, not Artificial Intelligence By Ava Jolley Senior reporter If you like artificial intelligence, you’ll love the !eodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, which opened in Medora, North Dakota on July 4, 2026. I had heard about the museum in the spring when I planned a summer road trip, and, as a self-certified history buff, I quickly added it to my itinerary. For months, I looked forward to visiting the museum, browsing the library, and enjoying the view of the Badlands from the museum grounds. Before my visit, I did not see a negative review of the museum, which only increased my anticipation. As my dad and I drove up to it, we were immediately impressed by the architectural design of the building that seemed to blend into the environment. We were less impressed by the overwhelming presence of AI.

A$er we entered, we were given wristbands, called compasses, that could be scanned throughout the museum for the interactive AI stations placed every few steps. At most compass stations, AI generates an image of museum goers in “Teddy’s time,” or a 1900s style campaign poster with an AI version of their faces on it. At the end of the day, all of their AI content would be emailed to them at no additional charge. Upon entering the galleries, my excitement was quickly replaced with overstimulation as I was greeted with shoulder-to-shoulder crowds of people waiting to scan their compasses at all the stations. All the while, actor Nick Offerman narrated stories from Roosevelt’s childhood through overhead speakers. In an attempt to get through the first exhibit, I bumped into dozens of people scrambling to see replicas of Roosevelt's letters as AI animal projections ran around their feet. When I reached the central

gallery, a chronological display of Roosevelt’s life and presidency greeted me, but I couldn’t actually read it or see anything because of the massive lines of people waiting to scan their compass to get an AI photo of themselves. I was frequently shoved out of the way by unattended children running around and screaming, or bumped into bored parents, glued to their phones as they meandered in the middle of the walkway. In an attempt to learn something or see an artifact, I beelined for a less-populated side gallery. Luckily, one of the most famous Roosevelt artifacts was in that empty gallery: his diary, opened to the entry that read “X, the light has gone out of my life,” which he wrote a$er his mother and wife died on the same day. !ere were no AI interactives in that exhibit because AI is not necessary to experience the drama and depth of the past in a meaningful way. Despite the heavy use of AI,

the museum’s architectural design was beautiful and the chronological layout was easy to follow. However, there is no library at the !eodore Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. When I asked a staff member how to get to the library, she informed me that the museum was the library. According to her, there are no books on their campus and they are available through the National Archives’ website. “Library” is a misleading name. As a whole, the museum is more of an experience than an education. !e most off-putting factor was the reliance on AI for the function and interest of the museum. I observed most visitors completely ignoring the actual artifacts and genuine historical information that was present — instead, exclusively interacting with the AI content. !e closest many visitors came to interacting with history was in the completely packed gallery where guests could ask questions to an

AI Teddy Roosevelt. It is nearly impossible to get through the museum without being surrounded by AI. History is meant to be studied, not forcefed. Museums are meant to be educational, not filled with AI slop. Guests of all ages were glued to screens and said things such as, “I didn’t know that’s what the past looked like!” But it’s not what the past looked like. !e AI images and videos rarely resembled historical accuracy, but simply slapped on a sepia filter and some old-looking clothes and called it the past. AI cannot properly and accurately synthesize the details and nuances of historical data. In today’s world, AI is the main attraction. It decreases museums’ need for staff, and, since it is more interactive, is more engaging than words or artifacts. !e museum’s reliance on AI reflects a poor understanding of public history. It is the duty of museums, teachers, docents, filmmakers, and writers to pres-

ent the past as it truly was. History would not have been studied for millenia if people did not find the past interesting or helpful. A good public historian can present the past while engaging museum visitors in a way that builds their curiosity and critical thinking. That is how the past should be preserved in public memory and passed down through generations which will unearth new discoveries and create new hypotheses. AI cannot do these things. As humans and Americans, we are responsible for preserving our history — whether good, bad, or politically incorrect — and educating future generations on who we are as people, a community, and a nation. !is task of historical stewardship is not compatible with the nature of AI. History ceases to be history when a man-made machine makes changes and rewrites the past while burying the evidence. AI is not an education. AI is not history.

The Taildraggers will be a ‘GoodTime’ at Dawn Theater concert

The Taildraggers play the guitar together. Courtesy | Joe Biscaro

By Sophia Mandt Senior reporter !e Dawn !eater in downtown Hillsdale will host !e Taildraggers, an electrified blues and country-rock band, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Mary Wolfram, chairwoman of the Friends of the Dawn !eater, said attendees can expect a 40-minute set from opening band GoodTime, followed by two 40-minute sets from The Taildraggers. GoodTime is a student band featuring senior Amelia King on female vocals and guitar, sophomore Bo Brannon on lead gui-

tar, junior Ryan Conley on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, junior Lucy Jansen on fiddle, junior Dave Bellet on bass, and sophomore Leo Marquell on drums. Wolfram said students will receive discounted tickets for $5 each when attending !e Taildraggers with four friends or more. “We have a liquor license, so anyone 21 and over can get beer or wine, and there will also be other concessions,” Wolfram said. !e Dawn !eater has a history of live music acts a$er the historic 1919 venue closed as a movie theater. The Dawn is

College concert mourns American tragedies By Gabriel Schrock CollegiAn FreelAnCer On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the college hosted an event called Spirit of America inside Christ Chapel to commemorate American events like 9/11, World War 1 & 2, and Vietnam. “Because of my history of performing, I am driven to perform patriotic music,” Trumpeter Chuck Seipp said. For 32 years, Seipp was a trumpet player for the United States Army Band in Washington, D.C. Now he tours the country to perform at patriotic events along with organist Craig Williams, who has played the organ and piano for more than 45 years. Chris McCourry, artist and teacher of music and director of jazz studies and trumpet, performed at the event as well. “I wanted to play with these guys,” McCourry said, “So when they asked me if I would like to play, I said absolutely.” The performance included “America the Beautiful,” “Mansions of the Lord,” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Accompanying many of the musical arrangements, videos were played on a screen at the front of the chapel. During the Vietnam tribute song, photos of soldiers and American flags displayed the hardship, sacrifice, and brotherhood of American soldiers during the war. “It is paying tribute to America, and veterans,” Seipp said. “Be-

cause this year is the 250th, most programs this year are similar to what we have been performing tonight.” Seipp added the videos were meant to add an emotional touch that would clue in the audience in the purpose of the program. Before each piece was played, Seipp gave a synopsis of the song to help the audience understand its significance and importance in American history. Even though students have not lived through the events honored, many said they found the experience to be extremely festive. “I think it was a good variety of America’s musical tradition with a lot of patriotic songs,” senior Rhys Woodard said. Woodard said the concert seemed a perfect way to honor America. His favorite song from the event was a vintage jazz hit from the 1920s, “Rhapsody in Blue.” Darren Schrockhammer, a sophomore at Michigan State University, came to hear the musicians as well. “My favorite part was getting to hear the powerful organ music,” Schrockhammer said. “I know Williams is the organist at West Point, and that’s the largest pipe organ in a house of worship in the world. Getting to experience the music of someone who plays such an incredible instrument felt like an opportunity that would not come again very soon.”

known for having good acoustics, according to Wolfram. “Once it closed in 1996, the new owners called it the Roxy and started booking bands,” Wolfram said, referencing previous ownership. !e main presenting sponsor of Saturday’s event is Hillsdale Renaissance LLC, a real estate and property management firm dedicated to restoring and preserving Hillsdale’s downtown district. !e performance is also supported by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Charlie Miggins ’25, who serves as community liaison for Hillsdale Renaissance, said !e Taildraggers first performed at a family-friendly folk fest during the spring Parents Weekend and were well received. “!ey did a great job, the audience was great, and they loved them,” he said. The performance should bring more people to downtown Hillsdale, according to Miggins. “!ere’s lots of good to that,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for people to meet people and to have some local entertainment from local talent and support the people that are around us. It’ll be great for bringing life into downtown.” Guitarist Joe Biscaro said he started playing with the band af-

ter the band’s drummer invited him to audition. “And sure enough, he called me two days later and was like, ‘Hey, would you like to play with us?” Biscaro said. “I was like, ‘Well, yeah, I have a lot of fun with you guys.’ !at was about seven years ago.” Biscaro said he’s been a blues fan since high school, when he started playing guitar and gravi-

music scene inspired by Chicago blues. !e band’s “Guitar Don” and his brothers started The Taildraggers in South Rockwood. “South Rockwood is in an area that’s called Downriver — it’s south of Detroit, just down the Detroit River,” Biscaro said. “In the scene there was very blues-heavy, with a lot of blues rockabilly fans. Don was quite exposed to the whole downtown

The Taildraggers perform together at Folk Fest. Courtesy | Joe Biscaro

tated toward blues and southern rock. Currently, Biscaro mainly plays electric guitar. Biscaro said !e Taildraggers have existed since the early 2000s and are part of a southern Detroit

city of Detroit blues even before starting !e Taildraggers.” Biscaro said !e Taildraggers get their Chicago blues from musicians like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Stevie Ray

Vaughn, and their Western honky-tonk country in&uences from artists like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, and Hank Williams. “Downriver south of Detroit there’s always so many good musicians, working class musicians, guys that do it on the side or just love it,” he said. “!at’s the kind of scene that !e Taildraggers emerged out of.” Biscaro said !e Taildraggers play frequently at local bars in Dearborn and Taylor, with much of the band’s bar gigs taking place in the Downriver area. According to Biscaro, the band is working on some original songs, but currently specializes in playing live covers. “We don’t try to cover the music as it sounds on the recordings,” he said. “Most of the stuff we play is our covers that are played in our own original way. We feel very lucky and blessed to be a part of the music, a part of something bigger than us, and pass the torch for this style of music for years to come.” Wolfram said she encourages students to see !e Taildraggers. “Just get off the hill and walk in the door of the Dawn !eater,” she said. “It’s right at the bottom of Hillsdale Street. Get out and explore a little bit. Get off campus.”

‘Anyone can cook’: ‘Ratatouille’ on the quad By Bristol Whitley CollegiAn FreelAnCer For the first time in two years, the Student Activities Board hosted an outdoor movie night Sept. 9 with a showing of Disney’s “Ratatouille.” The movie was shown on the South Quad with blankets scattered across the grass and popcorn, candy bars, and soda provided. During the movie’s two-hour run time, the crowd was enthusiastic despite technical di%culties. Student Activities Board member sophomore Sara May ran the event. She said she had the idea a$er hearing about the last movie night held by SAB in 2024. “I wanted to do it because I wanted to experience it out here,” May said. “I had heard great things. I also just think it’s really cozy and something that I’ve always wanted to do.” “Ratatouille” is a 2007 animated movie about a rat who helps a young man learn to cook in a famous Parisian restaurant, as both grow in their newfound roles in family and friendships. May said SAB is considering bringing movie nights back on an every-other-year basis. She was not concerned about the technical di%culties. “I was frustrated with the projector at first, but luckily, I have great team members, and they were able to work that out,” May said. Students echoed apprecia-

tion for a cozy event; freshman Maura Willis said it felt nostalgic. “It was very friendly and welcoming,” Willis said. “It really reminded me of drive-inmovies when I was a lot younger. We had a big barn that we would project movies onto for our birthdays, too.” Fifth-year student Charlie Cheng said he enjoyed the simplicity of the night. “!ere were not too many people, which made it particularly intimate,” Cheng said. Charis Winn, a freshman who said she has loved the movie since she was a child, said she appreciated the time she got to spend with her friends. “It brought a sense of community to experience even the small things, like watching a movie, together,” Winn said. “It was super fun to work on French homework while watching ‘Ratatouille.’ It just gave that vibe. I got 100% on each of the activities that I worked on.” Junior Sofia LaHood said she has also been a “Ratatouille” fan since she was a child, and she quotes it o$en with her sisters back home. “I think that this movie is a classic, and I’m glad that they’re watching it,” LaHood said. “It’s my friend’s first time watching it, and it’s been entertaining to watch her watch it.” Cheng enjoyed experiencing “Ratatouille” as an adult. “I thought it was awesome. ‘Ratatouille’ is one of the most classic cartoon masterpieces

out there,” Cheng said. “I loved watching it again a$er so many years — seeing things I didn’t notice before.” One of LaHood’s favorite parts of the evening was the audience’s reaction to a romantic scene in the film. “I liked when everyone started clapping when Alfredo Linguini kissed Colette,” she said, “!at was wholesome and cute, and I’m glad we support that.” May agreed the student engagement was a highlight of the evening. “I loved when everyone clapped and oohed and aahed at the good parts,” May said. “I think that that’s such a fun experience of a communal movie like this — you get the crowd’s reaction. I think that’s great, and that means they’re invested in what’s happening.” When choosing the movie,

May said the board had to consider the legal side as well as the ideal audience experience. SAB could only get a public performance license for certain films, two of which were “Ratatouille” and “Monsters University.” SAB took a vote and “Ratatouille” won by one vote. Despite the close call, May had confidence in the popularity of the movie, according to May. Senior Nico Galindo said he grew up watching the movie in Spanish, but the movie is part of the reason he is now learning French. He explained that there is one important quote from “Ratatouille” that everyone should hear: “Anyone can cook.” “And cooking in a very general sense,” Galindo said. “If you’re going to a rugby game, playing music, anything. Anybody can cook.”

Students enjoy watching 'Ratatouille' on the quad. Courtesy | Devin Houts

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September 17, 2026 B3

f e a t u r e s Quick Hits: Jacob Laubacher

Laubacher with his goddaughter, Mara. Courtesy | Jacob Laubacher

By Matthew Tolbert

Web and Puzzles editor In this Quick Hits, Associate Professor of Mathematics Jacob Laubacher talks math, beauty, and knitting. When did you first get the nickname “Dr. L”? It was probably my first year being a professor [at St. Norbert College]. !is would have been nine years ago. I found students had a hard time pronouncing my last name and spelling it. I’ve gotten some very weird [versions] like “Dr. Log Chopper,” “Dr. Lamberger,” and “Dr. Lawbreaker.” So I just decided, let’s go with L, and that seemed to work. It’s hard to misspell. What do most people misunderstand about math? Because of how we were trained young, a lot of people just see it as, “I’m just trying to solve for x.” I think it’s unfortunate that you have to go through so much math to see the other very large, often hidden, beautiful side of math. It’s all beautiful to me, but the side of logic and proofs and writing and all these things that I’ve now built a career on is not what people think about when they think “math.” Why did you choose to go into math? !e wand chooses the wizard. I didn’t choose this. Math chose me, I guess. My parents always tried to tell me and my siblings to do what you love. I always liked math, though, so I blindly kept pursuing math because it made sense. What would you be doing if you’d never fallen in love with math? I would have taken over the family furniture business. We were Labaucher Upholstery. We would refinish furniture. My grandpa started it in 1949, and then my dad took it over, and then I worked for him for summers growing up. He trained me to do all that stuff. What is your favorite childhood memory? Probably cutting and hauling firewood for my grandpa to make maple syrup. We would make maple syrup together. !at was 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup. It’s quite the process. How did you end up at Hillsdale? Hillsdale is a pretty magical place. It’s been on my radar ever since I was maybe a junior at Ohio Dominican University, and I was complaining about something, and my dad was like, “Why don’t you just go to Hillsdale?” And I told him, “Why didn’t you tell me about Hillsdale?” I didn’t even know about it! So then I went and got a job, and getting a job as a professor in math is hard, just like a lot of other subjects. I think I applied to 102 schools, and I had five interviews and one job offer. So I went to Wisconsin; that’s where the offer

was. I got lucky enough last year: Hillsdale happened to be hiring, so I was like, “Wow, how about that? Is that luck or God was looking out for me?” What’s a quirky hobby no one expects you have? I taught myself how to knit. I got injured from running in grad school, and running was my escape. When I couldn’t run for a few months, I thought I might end up in an asylum. So I needed some outlet to do something while I’m sitting on the couch. At first, I was just shuffling a deck of cards, and I thought, “!at’s no good.” So I decided I can pick up a hobby where I actually get something out of it. I was at Bowling Green at the time, and they had a small local shop, and the ladies there got me all set up: some knitting needles, some yarn, a book, and then I would go back to them every week with what I was doing, and they would just rip me to shreds, tell me all the things I was doing wrong, and try to help me fix it. Now that’s something I’ve continued to this day. What’s the most interesting thing you ever knitted? Probably Christmas stockings. It took me a while to get the right proportions and figure out how to turn the toe or the heel, but now I kind of got it down, and everyone gets a stocking. Which is better, a whiteboard or a chalkboard? Chalkboard! We’ll start with erasing. Erasing a whiteboard — it’s awful. Kill me, shoot me, gut me — in that order. It’s not good. Also, when you’re teaching for 50 minutes, a whiteboard marker will not hold up. A lot of the people who say they like whiteboards, it’s because they’re in bio or something, and they write on the board on a whiteboard for two minutes of those 50. Try writing for 50 minutes straight — that marker won’t last! And the marker smells; I’ll get a headache. !at’s no good. If we didn’t have chalkboards here, I wouldn’t be at Hillsdale. You have a Rubik’s cube on your shelf. When did you first learn to solve it? I think I was a high school senior. How fast can you solve it now? In my peak, we used to do tournaments in grad school, almost like a March Madness in brackets — a best of best of three and then elimination. I think my best is 32 seconds. I don’t think I could do that now. ... At Kent State, where I got my master’s, one of my professors was on the team of researchers who killed the cube. No matter how you scramble the cube, you can do it in 20 moves or less. He was on that team. I took a cube theory course in grad school, which is a lot of group theory. It was so cool.

Yearbook documents legends, history, and love

By Sophia Bryant

Features editor For more than a century, the Winona yearbook has preserved memories that represent each school year to future generations. “This book will literally sit in archives for decades, and the future generations will look at this and be thinking, ‘Oh, I found my mom and dad when they went here, and what was going on on campus,’” said Brian Shaw, teacher of art and the new Winona faculty adviser. Mossey Library has some of the earliest volumes of Hillsdale’s yearbook in its collection, which used to be called “!e Wolverine,” from 1897 and 1898. After 1898, there’s a gap in the library’s record. The next yearbook is the Winona from 1913. The earliest books contain far more text describing the events of the year than pictures. The 1913 Winona yearbook starts with the “Legend of Winona.” Winona was the daughter of a Native American chief and the love of a Native Brave named Baw Beese. One day, while Baw Beese was away, the Great Spirit demanded her as a sacrifice, so she was tied to a canoe full of holes and drowned. T h e 1 9 1 3 ye ar b o ok also begins with the editor’s apology for the book. “Now the time, foretold by prophetic line, has come for the entrance of a new and remarkable character,” the introduction says. “Rumor has it that she is the author’s most labored production; that her character partakes not of the realistic; that she is altogether a creation of the fancy, combining in one form a hundred types. Her cue is spoken; Winona enters, followed by the apologies of the editors.” T h e 1 9 4 3 ye ar b o ok

lists the names of students who left college to fight in World War II, and the 1944 yearbook contains a page dedicated to them. “Certainly, as you look back at the history of yearbooks, they have a flavor based on the time of when it was created,” Shaw said. In the 1973 yearbook, there is a page completely covered in cut-out photos of people’s heads. !e first page of the 2003 yearbook is dedicated to the engagements of couples who met at Hillsdale. Maria Servold ’10, as-

people,” Servold said as she flipped through it. “Oh my gosh, everyone’s so young.” Shaw said that now, the yearbook feels incomplete because not many people have their portraits taken for each edition. “I want students to know that it’s actually an important thing for you to come, swing by, and have two minutes of your time sitting for a portrait,” Shaw said “!at would be a way to really make sure we’re covering everything. That way, we’re feeling like we’ve

“This book will literally sit in archives for decades, and the future generations will look at this and be thinking, ‘Oh, I found my mom and dad when they went here.’” sistant director of the Dow Journalism Program and faculty adviser to !e Collegian, was the Winona faculty adviser for 15 years before passing the position to Shaw this summer. She said she’s glad that he is excited to take over the leadership. “He’s got enthusiasm, and he knows how to design, and he’ll be able to teach them great design, which is only going to make a better yearbook,” Servold said. When Servold was a Hillsdale student, people were excited for the yearbook, but now, some people question the worthiness of it compared to their phones and digital archives. She pulled out the 2010 yearbook, when she graduated, to show pages full of senior portraits. “!is feels like most of the

created a complete book.” Creating anything with graphic design, including the yearbook, involves creativity and technicality while finishing pages on tight deadlines, according to Shaw. “!e fun part in graphic design is always the ideas and the creativity that can come, where you can, again, take an idea and then start to make that a visual presentation,” Shaw said. “I tell students that even layout creates a feel. The way we compose pictures on a page will give it a certain feeling.” Sophomore Vivian Stewart, the Winona’s editorin-chief for this school year, said that in September, the staff is distributing the 2026 yearbooks, deciding on a theme for the 2027 yearbook, and organizing the table of

contents for this year’s book. “In the next month or so, we’ll start working on pages once we have more event photos rolling, and the big picture planning out of the way,” Stewart said. The biggest challenges of the yearbook are keeping a regular staff throughout the year and representing all of student life, according to Stewart. “The campus life is just so broad, and there’s so much going on, that we’re trying to represent in one book, one publication,” Stewart said. “It’s pretty difficult to be as thorough as we want to be sometimes, and we’re also limited by space.” Stewart said the staff wants people to look back on their yearbook in 30 years and show their kids w h at h ap p e n e d w h e n t he y we re i n c ol l e ge. “Somebody found the 2001 Winona and was able to find their parents in the picture from when they went to Hillsdale, which is a lot of fun,” Stewart said. “And I found some of my high school teachers in their yearbooks from 2015. And so it’s fun to go back and see the generational history of Hillsdale.” Shaw said the college, via the yearbooks’ publisher, Josten’s, mailed a 2025-2026 yearbook to everyone who graduated in 2026, as it has done for graduating classes for years. “It’s not so much that you care on the day you graduate that you’re going to get a yearbook in the mail,” Shaw said. “But it’s 10 years down the road when you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, I remember that event,’ or ‘Oh, now who were those people that we did this thing with?’ And you go look it all up, and you enjoy the memories, and it’s meaningful down the road.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 17, 2026

F E A T U R E S The crew pushed the SUV out of the mud.

The crew prepares to rescue Webb's SUV.

Courtesy | James Webb

Campus Characters Zac Briley

By Sophia Bryant

When did you start doing archery?

Zac Briley is a senior from Tigard, Oregon. He is pursuing a politics degree with minors in German and classical education. He is the president of the Student Federation; the president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the politics honorary; a Drummond Fellow; and a member of the archery club. He serves as a worship leader at SOMA, a worship leader at College Baptist Church, teaches Sunday school, and leads a men’s small group. He served as a resident assistant in Niedfeldt Residence last year.

I was probably in first grade. I shot archery competitively for about 10 years, so I’ve been to state tournaments and won a bunch of local tournaments. I have a sparkly purple Olympic recurve bow that’s all tricked out at home. Here I shoot my compound bow.

Features editor

When you were 5, what did you want to be when you grew up? Probably Lightning McQueen. !ere was a point in my life where I half thought I might go on Broadway. I really enjoy music, so I was like, “Well, how can I make a career out of that?” So probably like in a band or on Broadway, doing something musical, which I still do as a hobby. Do you play any instruments? I play drums, piano, and guitar. I wouldn’t say I play bass. I dabble in bass. And then I’ve done jazz voice for the last five years. And technically I’ve performed on the pipe organ, but I wouldn’t say I played the pipe organ. What do you like to do on a lazy Saturday? Ideally, go shoot my bow. !at’s my nice, slow start to my Saturday morning. I’ll get up, and I will go when there’s still dew on the grass, out to the outdoor archery range and shoot my bow. It’s a good thing to do where you’re doing something, and you’re not thinking about much else. And then I love to cook, so I’d probably end it with a good home-cooked meal.

Zac Briley in Köln, Germany. Courtesy | Zac Briley

What do you like to cook? I like to grill just about anything, and the Drummond Fellowship is a hunting fellowship. So, last year at the end of the semester, I cooked bacon-wrapped duck, which is excellent, for a bunch of guys in my dorm. Over the summer, I worked on perfecting a baked salmon recipe, since I didn’t have a grill. Do you have any food addictions? I’ve really tried to not be addicted to coffee. I don’t even drink soda. I do enjoy a good glass of kombucha, and I’ve made my own. I’m an undercover kombucha fan. Why did you decide to major in politics? I’ve always really enjoyed it, just from a conceptual level. It started with a love of history, and then I view politics as present history. So I’m just interested in that, but not with designs on elected office or anything. If lightning strikes and God says I have to go run for elected office, I will. But I’m more interested in the policy world, and how it intersects with the classical education world. What is your ideal job after graduation? I would love to work in education policy to help make good Christian education more affordable for more families.

A Few Good Men rescue professor’s SUV By Ethan Savka

assistant editor Hi l lsda le students face-planted in mud to rescue a professor’s SUV earlier this month. Associate Professor of Accounting James Webb’s car was stuck in a large muddy puddle for six days before the students pushed it out. Webb owns several acres of woods behind his house outside of town, and had taken the car out to pull tree stumps. !e two-wheel drive SUV spun out in a low, muddy spot in the woods. Next came several days of rainstorms. Webb considered calling a tow truck, but then he remembered Hillsdale’s dedicated volunteer group, A Few Good Men, were coming out to help him cut up trees that fell in the storms. “!eir reputation precedes them,” Webb said in an email. “AFGM had been out in the same woods helping during last year’s homecoming week, and they had a team available.” When the team arrived on the scene, it did not know of the predicament. It set about moving the vehicle nonetheless. “What shocked me the most was that I didn't know about the truck being stuck until

we got to the job,” crew leader and senior Angel Jimenez said. “Usually, for something that big, we get a heads up, but we didn’t know about it. But we were ready to handle anything, so we saw it, assessed the situation, jumped into action, and things went smoothly. We were able to adjust on the fly.” Once the nine-person crew realized the project ahead of

“When we got down there, the water was up to over half of the tires, it was touching the bottom fender of the car in the front and then the back was just barely on some very muddy ground,” Trotter said. “As we were pushing, we were slipping and falling down into the mud, and so it was a messy job for sure. It probably took us four or five rounds of pushing.

“Six super humans took off socks and shoes, waded into the muddy water, and pushed from the front.” them, they got their hands — and legs — dirty. “The team was super dynamic,” Jimenez said. “I was shocked at their ability to just jump in and be willing to literally get their feet dirty, get in the mud. I had some hesitancy, but they were willing to jump into action, and I was like, ‘Yeah, that’s what we signed up for.’” Sophomore Isaac Trotter said he ended up covered in mud, and that freshman Edward Boeke also slipped and fell face-first into the mud.

I had mud all up my whole leg because I fell. I didn’t fall into the watery part, but it was just like straight mud everywhere.” Webb attributes the rescue to two factors. “Knowledge from Physics 201 and the pure strength of youth,” Webb said. “We wedged traction boards behind the back wheels. !ree team members sat in the back to add weight. Six super humans took off socks and shoes, waded into the muddy water, and pushed from the front.” !e news reached College

President Larry Arnn. After the work was finished, Webb sent an email to Arnn with the subject line “Heroes that walk amongst us.” !e email listed the names of the nine students involved in the rescue. “It really is a sign of how unique our student population is, and I want to brag on them,” Webb said. “!is incident may be a unique one-off, but I know their teams help people in real need throughout our community every week of the school year. AFGM is tied with the Accounting Club as my favorite student group. I think readers should consider joining both.” Jimenez said the group does not seek attention. “We didn’t know that we were going to get broadcast because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter,” Jimenez said. “We do it for the person, do it for our Lord, and it just so happens that every once in a while we get noticed, which we’re super grateful for. But ultimately, it is for God and for our neighbor that we do it.” Webb is grateful for the enthusiasm A Few Good Men showed. “A collective roar with associated honking may have been heard by neighbors near and far,” Webb said.

‘Edgier Nancy Drew’: Local author discusses novel By Faith Miller

assistant editor An idea for a book series struck Margo Judge during a conversation about children’s books with her best friend, and that very night she wrote the first chapter of what is now her published novel, “White Out.” “I said to her, ‘Somebody ought to write an edgier Nancy Drew.’ !e minute I said it, I knew my character, I knew the story, I knew exactly what was going to happen in it,” Judge said. The book, published in 2019, follows the inner dialogue of 16-year-old Wren, who has a special ability to understand people just by studying their face and eyes. But she meets a girl at school whom she cannot read, and that girl has a secret Wren must figure out. Judge is now working on the second book in the series. Judge moved to Hillsdale with her husband in 2023 after living in Washington, D.C., for 32 years. !ey moved to Hillsdale because they wanted to be near their two grandsons, son, and daughter-inlaw, Jean Judge, the assistant general counsel at the college. !e book is a collection of Wren’s journal entries written to her recently deceased father, according to Judge. “!e intention of writing the book is to give inner voice honor,” Judge said. !e book follows two parallel storylines: one in Wren’s real life and another in her White Outs, where she is transported to an international city where she lives an alternate life. Wren’s story goes in and out of her White Outs and her real life, but is all

through the perspective of her journal to her dad. Judge hopes for the book to validate young people who feel on the inside, but don’t project on the outside. “I wanted to put a heroine in the real world and actually show that a young person at the age of 16 could figure out a way to save a classmate from a situation that that classmate was trapped in,” Judge said. “What I’m basically saying is, young people have a lot of power to do things for themselves, for the world.” Judge said she wanted the book to have a sense of mystery like the “Nancy Drew” novels, a 20th-century series of books about a teenage girl who is an amateur detective. !e series ran from 1930 to 2003. Judge said her career as a life coach helped her write the character of Wren. As a life coach, Judge helps her clients move through different ‘levels’ of emotion. Level one is feeling total desperation, level two is feeling angry, level three is the beginning of perspective — understanding that part of the responsibility is on the world and part of it is on oneself. “Once you gain a little bit of perspective, you can move forward,” Judge said. Judge’s training as a life coach helped her develop Wren’s character arc. “She starts out in level one as a recluse. She moves to level two as anger, which is one step up, she moves from that into perspective, which is one step up from that, and the next step is being altruistic, being able to help other people,” Judge said. The dedication to the book, “May the tiny girl in the sequin flats never be for-

gotten,” reveals the personal preciated the book because it story behind Judge’s decision showed how under the radar to include a character who human trafficking is in our was sexually trafficked as a daily life, and how it can be in main part of the storyline. public schools as it is in the While on a trip with her aunt book,” Hanson said. “Margo to Bangkok in her 30s, Judge Judge did a great job of outsaw a young girl — whom she lining how easily hidden huguessed to be no older than 11 man trafficking is in our world years old — sitting by an older today.” man whom she guessed to be Judge’s husband, Clark in his 50s. !e man had his Judge, a former speechwriter hand on the young girl’s thigh. for President Ronald Reagan, “It was the first time that said he was a sounding board I had ever experienced my for Margo, but he never gave stomach turning,” Judge said. her feedback. Judge wanted to help the “Someone who’s doing girl and thought of ways to something like this, you want get her out of the situation, to give them a chance to work but her aunt told her it would their thoughts out, and someput the girl in more danger if times it’s hard to work your Judge attempted to save her. thoughts out inside your own “So, the night that I’m sit- head. It helps to be talking to ting with my best friend, and someone,” Clark Judge said. the idea of ‘White Out’ comes “So that’s what I was doing.” to me, that memory comes back really clear, and I go, ‘OK. I know what I’m dedicating the book to. I know what I want to do in the book. I want to do honor to this little girl that I could do nothing ab out,’” Judge said. Junior Madd i e Hans on read the book for Judge to gauge how it sounded to a young adult audience. She said the book made her more aware that human trafficking is something she should always be on the look out for. cover of Judge’s book “White Out.” “I really ap- The Sophia Bryant | The Collegian