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Students dance at Garden Party, moved to the Searle Center Sept. 18.

Freshmen Teddy Randall (left) and Cameron Roberts (right).

All Photos Courtesy | Student Activities Board

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Vol. 150 Issue 5 – September 24, 2026

How many students wear Hillsdale merch? Don Tocco to put By Skye Graham AssistANt editor Fourteen percent of students wear Hillsdale merch on any given day, according to a poll conducted by The Collegian. The poll was conducted by observing more than 130 students in the Grewcock Student Union and tallying the students who were and were not wearing Hillsdale College merchandise. Junior Aidan Watts said he notices athletes wearing Hillsdale merch up the hill more often than other groups on campus. “A lot of it tends to be branded with their team,” Watts said. “So a lot of times you see them wearing shirts that say ‘Hillsdale Football’ or ‘Hillsdale Baseball.’” The bookstore sold 10,181 units of Hillsdale College clothing in the 2026 fiscal year, according to Bookstore Manager Cassie Cooper. Students tend to buy traditional, basic merch items rather than ones with elaborate colors or designs, Cooper said. “The traditional items definitely trump the fun ones in terms of sales, but we’ve had some luck with the fun stuff

too,” Cooper said. “This past spring, we brought in a crewneck that had a bear on it with the USA $ag, and that did super well.” Cooper said the bookstore sees the most purchases during the rush periods, which are the orientation weeks in the fall and spring semesters. Finals week is also busy due to the bookstore’s “Five Days of Finals” sale. The bookstore runs promotions the day after every home football, volleyball, and

‘Full of charm’: Charlie Brown musical opens By Alessia Sandala MANAgiNg editor The Peanuts crew comes to the stage of Markel Auditorium in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” Sept. 23 through 27.

basketball game based on how well the teams do. For every touchdown, set, and basketball game win, the bookstore takes 5% off purchases the following day. The bookstore carries a wide variety of options to appeal to different people’s style preferences and occasions, Cooper said. “We have some really nice pieces that you can dress up,” Cooper said. “We try to carry some nicer, upscale pieces that can be dressed up or dressed

down. The best way to show your pride is to advertise.” Senior Nora Shipp said some of the nicer clothing the bookstore offers tends to be priced higher, which prevents her from buying it. “I only have t-shirts,” Shipp said. “I don’t want to wear those to class, and I don’t have any of the cuter sweatshirts or anything because they’re crazy expensive.” Watts said he differentiates himself on campus by wearing merch for his fraternity, Delta Tau Delta, rather than Hillsdale-branded clothing. “On campus, I identify with Delt,” Watts said. “We wear our letters up the hill to show our presence on campus.” Carly Moran ’25 said she wears Hillsdale merch when she’s away from campus more o%en than she did when she was a student at Hillsdale. “Despite it being such a small school, it’s amazing how many people will comment on Hillsdale when they see me wearing my alumni hat or sweatshirt,” Moran said. “Airports are where I get the most compliments, mainly from fans of the college but occasionally other alumni. Also, I look pretty good in grey and blue.”

on 25th annual challenge this fall

By Elijah Guevara News editor

usinessman and friend of the college Don Tocco will host his 25th annual challenge, giving student clubs a chance to compete for their share of up to $100,000. This year’s “Tocco Challenge” has expanded from five events in previous years to 10 events this year. It will take place over several weeks and include new events in cornhole, so%ball, golf, and a music challenge. While the challenge has begun in the spring semester in past years, Tocco said he wanted to hold it in the fall semester due to the increase in competitive events. “It’s going to be a decathlon,” Tocco said. Tocco said the prize pool will range from $75,000 to $100,000. All participating clubs will receive a share of the prize, but better-performing clubs will earn larger amounts. This year’s challenge will be open to all students to compete for a student club of their choosing.

Tocco said he hopes all students, athletes or not, can benefit. Students will compete against Tocco himself. “Don Tocco loves our college, he loves our students, and he loves competition,” said Jeff Lantis, director of development for athletics. “He lives and breathes it, especially in his business.” The challenges in tennis, chess, and baseball are tentatively planned for Oct. 2, and the men’s and women’s basketball and so%ball challenges for Oct. 9, according to Jeff Lantis, director of development for athletics. However, these dates are subject to change. “I hope students’ main takeaway is not to underestimate their capabilities,” Tocco said. “Some people go through life with some preconceived notion of what they can or cannot do. If you preconceive those too early, you never get out of the shell completely. It is ultimately about being the best we can at what we decide to do.”

See Tocco A2

Q&A: Craftsman talks God, work, and YouTube By Elijah Guevara News editor

theatre and dance. “It’s a really fun opportunity to revisit really well-known characters.” Junior Huba Bodor-Gosztony, who plays Charlie Brown, said the show is something Hillsdale students will be able to connect to, even

Scott Wadsworth. Courtesy | Scott Wadsworth

Scott Wadsworth is a carpenter and blacksmith with decades of experience. His YouTube channel, “Essential Craftsman,” where he uploads videos of himself building, repairing, and giving advice on craftsmanship, has nearly 1.9 million subscribers. Wadsworth gave a lecture titled “The Problem of Pain Evasion: A Case for Grit” Sept. 21, sponsored by the President’s Office. Q. How can young people benefit by learning to work with our hands, even in small ways? A. Living in a first-world country in the 21st century, where the focus of effort has

been to reduce work, pain, and labor, has taken us out of contact with the material world. And by the material world, I mean commodities — the things that grow, come out of the ground, and are used to make things. I believe working with things that put us in contact with the material world gives us a more reality-based relationship with our life generally, and reminds us that we depend on products from people everywhere. Someone somewhere always has to produce the things it takes for us to stay alive. Q. Many students work with our minds toward in-

tellectual and academic pursuits. What can putting our physical bodies to work do for us? A. Variety is the spice of life. If you work mainly with your mind, try to work with your hands for a change. Also, being created by God, we are creators. When you make things, and you take something that has little beauty or utility in and of itself, there is a fulfillment in seeing the final stages of beauty and utility emerge from what you have done. It builds a type of self-reliance and confidence, and hopefully some gratitude.

See Q&A A3

Meet the students who make homecoming By Patrick Matteson AssistANt editor

Junior Huba Bodor-Gosztony and senior Ava Jolley in the play. Courtesy | Austin Thomason

The musical, with music by a live orchestra, centers on a day in the life of Charlie Brown with classic “Peanuts” comic strip story lines, such as Lucy’s psychiatrist booth and the baseball game, woven in. “It may surprise some people to learn that Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang are characters in a fully staged musical,” said Victoria Matsos, visiting assistant professor of

though the characters are meant to be children. “I think Tory [Matsos] took it in a direction where Snoopy’s off to college and he’s bringing his friends along,” Bodor-Gosztony said.

See Musical B2

When homecoming week arrives, students see the banners hanging, teams rehearsing, and the competitions ready to begin. For the Student Activities Board team, it has been months in the making. Sophia Rome ’25, director of student activities, knows both sides of that experience. A%er spending four years participating in homecoming as a student, she is now helping make it happen. SAB holds its first major planning meeting for a given semester on the reading day in the previous semester. During that meeting, the team begins developing ideas for the upcoming events.

“The theme is selected that day, and then we keep it a secret,” Rome said. “All of the staff come in with at least one theme idea for each of our big

and senior Austin Piecuch said the group chose the theme with more than just the competition in mind. “You always hear a lot of

“The more creative energy you give to people, the more you get to see what the different groups of campus are able to come up with.” events, being homecoming, Welcome Party, and Garden Party. We put them all up on the white board, and then we vote as a staff.” SAB events team member

repeated songs or ideas that teams use in Mock Rock, and so we settled on the theme of Disney because we were like, ‘Let’s give them something broad to work with,’” Piecuch

said. “The more creative energy you give to people, the more you get to see what the different groups of campus are able to come up with.” As homecoming approaches, events team lead and senior Lucy Hicks said she and her team are focused on turning those ideas into actual competitions and making sure the events run smoothly. “We’re currently working on prepping Minute to Win It games and powerpoints and then trivia and its questions and categories, and then the events team will work together to edit those,” Hicks said.

See Hoco B3

A2 September 24, 2026

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Passages to bring students to Holy Land By Blake Schaper CollegiAN reporter

cians, and clergy from multiple denominations Hillsdale students will once who all talk again be able to visit Israel this about what it’s winter with Passages, as part of like to live in Isa program designed to bring rael,” Westblade college students to the Holy said. Land. The trips will “Passages wants to find take place over Christian students who will, Christmas break. by going to Israel, learn what’s The deadline to happening there, come back, apply is Oct. 1, advocate for Israel, and speak but Westblade positively about the devel- said students opments there, rather than are encouraged fall into some of the stereo- to apply as soon types that you might get from as possible, as pro-Palestinian types,” said t h e ap p l i c a Assistant Professor of Religion tion requires a Don Westblade, who manag- Zoom interview es Hillsdale’s partnership with and homework Passages. teaching stuThe Passages program has dents about the taken nearly 12,000 college stu- locations they Students pose for a group photo on the Passages trip to Israel. dents and other young adults to will visit. Courtesy | Abigail Montgomery visit the Holy Land since 2016, We s t b l a d e according to its website. The said students who go on the imated. All of its proxies are ef- Israel, according to Westblade. program is headed by members trip will ride a boat on the Sea fectively neutralized. So all the “We might be one of the last of many American conservative of Galilee, view Israel from threats of past years of Hamas few colleges that they invite beorganizations and companies, heights around Jerusalem, and Hezbollah, those guys are cause too many students were including board members from sightsee in Lebanon, and have so underfunded now. They can treating this as a vacation inHobby Lobby and the Museum a Shabbat dinner with an Israeli hardly do any damage. So if you stead of as a learning opportuof the Bible. family. want to go to Israel on a safe nity,” Westblade said. “It’s an educational trip that “This is the time to go,” trip, it seems to me this is the According to Westblade, a involves visiting sites and lec- Westblade said. “Look what’s year to go.” 10-day trip to Israel can cost tures from journalists, politi- happened this year. Iran is decSophomore Abigail Mont- up to $5,000, but Passages is gomery went on the Passages working to make the program trip last year, and described the a$ordable for students. experience as transformational “In the last couple of years, for her faith. Students were able they’ve dropped the price to atto walk in the footsteps of Jesus, tract more students, so it’s unsail on the Dead Sea, and even der $1,000, and that includes ride a camel, she said. airfare, hotels, meals, and all “My parents were actually the transportation,” Westblade against the trip originally, as said. they were worried about the Professor of History Paul safety in Israel,” Montgomery Rahe, who coordinated the said. “But I felt very convicted Hillsdale–Passages partnership that I had to go, and after the for the first year it was o$ered deadline was extended, they in 2016. agreed.” “I sent out email blasts once She said there was about 10 every three days. ‘Chance of a hours of homework, including lifetime,’ ‘Almost free trip to videos and podcast episodes to the Holy Land.’ 200 people apwatch, designed to prepare stu- plied,” Rahe said. “We got two dents for the sights they were buses and sent 80 people.” going to see. Since the first year, Rahe “I think Hillsdale students said there have not been as should definitely apply and go many applicants. Rahe said to Israel,” Montgomery said. that it is highly likely for some Passages provides a chap- enterprising freshman to be lain from each school to guide admitted on the trip, even if students as well as security their resume does not include personnel to protect each bus as many extracurriculars and of students. Passages carefully achievements as upperclassStudents listen to a lecture outside Jerusalem. filters applicants to ensure those men. Courtesy | Abigail Montgomery on the trip are there to seriously learn about and advocate for

Retired Lt. General Waddell speaks on foreign policy By Olivia Glisson CollegiAN reporter Ever-changing technology impacts foreign policy, especially in places like the Strait of Hormuz, according to Lt. Gen. Rick Waddell in a speech on campus Sept. 15. The Hillsdale College Alexander Hamilton Society hosted Waddell as its first speaker of the semester. Waddell discussed his experience as a military commander and a financial advisor in his talk, “Around the World in 60 Minutes: What Every Citizen Should Know about Global Politics.” Waddell is a lieutenant general who retired after serving in the U.S. Army for 39 years. From 2017 to 2018, Waddell served as deputy national security advisor to President Donald Trump and, as director for European Security A$airs on the National Security Council in former President Bill Clinton’s administration. Waddell also taught a one-credit course for the Center for Military History and Strategy at Hillsdale this semester, Sept. 14–18. “Normally we would bring in our own speakers, but it just happened that he was here,”

Mooney said. “General Waddell is probably one of the most high level people that Hillsdale will bring in as a speaker this semester and it was great to have him here.”

there,” Waddell said. “20 million barrels is about 20% of the petroleum products traded in the world.” Waddell also explained the implications of the war in

Waddell lectures in the Heritage Room Sept. 15. Courtesy | Olivia Glisson

During the talk, Waddell explained primary and secondary maritime choke points, the narrow lanes in which most global trade passes through. Waddell said these choke points continue to be important in international relations through their impact on current events. “The checkpoint known as the Hormuz Strait, why does it matter? Oil and petroleum products about 20.3 million barrels per day went through

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Ukraine, as Russia is a top producer of grain and oil. “There was a legitimate widespread concern about worldwide famine, with both the physical lack of grain and the price,” he said. “We were able to avoid that. Although in the last three months, both sides have taken to attacking the other side’s grain facilities.” Waddell also explained the trade war between the United States and Canada. He refer-

enced a podcast from a Canadian professor of economics, concerned that Canada will lose badly. Waddell then applied the same economic principles to other international struggles. “We can affect 20% of their entire economy. And it’s the same whether we’re looking at Germany, France, the U.K., or China,” he said. “They are far more dependent on our market than we are on theirs.” Sophomore Rocio Nordquist attended Waddell’s speech and said she is excited to bring the information she learned to her classes. “Sometimes, since we’re talking about theories and not really real-life scenarios all the time, it’s good to bring that real life application mindset into my economics classes,” Nordquist said. “For example, the other day, we talked about international trade and it lined up so well with the talk.” Mooney said he was grateful for the information that Waddell had to share, and that he will take the information into his future career in Washington, D.C. and the Hillsdale College debate club this semester. “I love to hear the geography side of it, the broad overview of what’s important that’s happening in the world and what do we need to know?” Mooney said.

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Former trustee Larry Selhorst dies at 93 By Megan Li seNior editor Longtime board of trustees member Lawrence “Larry” Selhorst died Aug. 8 at age 93 after being involved with Hillsdale College and the conservative movement for more than 35 years. “Larry was an old hand on the board when I came to the college,” College President Larry Arnn told The Collegian in an email. “I found him wise and careful. He gave me lots of good advice and was a steady support. He was that way for his whole service on the board, which precedes me for some years. We miss him and are grateful to him for his service.” Board member and chairman emeritus Bill Brodbeck ’66 said Selhorst was invested in the board’s work in furthering the college’s mission. Selhorst became a trustee in 1991. “He was a fine man and did very well on the board,” Brodbeck said. “He treated it as a serious thing, which each of us is obliged to do.” Born in Coldwater, Ohio, on Jan. 4, 1933, Selhorst attended John Carroll University before starting his career in the steel industry. He founded American Spring Wire Corporation in 1968 and served as chairman of the Meridia Health Systems in Cleveland; Meridia’s Suburban Community Hospital; and Russell, Burdsall, and Ward Corporation. Selhorst was a devout Roman Catholic and a skilled golfer. He is survived by his wife, Martha Selhorst; his brother, John; his children, Sandra, Kathryn, and Timothy; and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said Selhorst was granted emeritus status when he left the board in 2015, though he still attended meetings until about five years ago. Hillsdale’s financial independence from federal and state taxpayer money drew Selhorst to the college, according to Péwé. “I spent a good deal of time around him,” Péwé said in an email to The Collegian. “He was a steady man with a great personality. Always calm, cool, and relaxed no matter the situation. He always had funny stories and was extremely generous with his advice.” In addition to his entrepreneurship in the manufacturing industry, Selhorst was a prominent voice in the early conservative movement that rallied around William F. Buckley Jr. and National Review magazine. Jack Fowler, contributing editor and former publisher of National Review, said Selhorst was one of the first members of the advisory board of National Review Institute, a nonprofit think tank that supports

Tocco from A1 The cornhole event will feature only students from Greek life, who will represent their fraternities and sororities, according to Lantis, while the other events should still be open to all students. “Expanding the events to include cornhole and music, along with a few more sports teams like golf and softball, will add to the participation rate and encourage other leadership groups on campus to continue their good work,” Lantis said. Tocco is an author, speaker,

National Review’s mission. Fowler said he became very fond of Selhorst over the course of several cruises the National Review would host. “Tall, good-looking, cheerful, smart man, not smarmy, not a know-it-all — there was something about him,” Fowler said. “He had a real presence and a real dignity. Martha, his wife, was just an elegant, beautiful, lovely lady. They were the kind of couple that I think when most people saw them, they would wish that they could be like them.” Fowler remembered a conversation he had with Selhorst in late 2015 as publisher, where Selhorst called him to comment on National Review’s negative stance toward Donald Trump at the time. “National Review — this is 10 years ago — had an infamous issue against Trump,” Fowler said. “What Larry was getting at was — he was not prescient, he was observant — the lay of the land culturally and politically called for someone like Donald Trump.” Fowler said Selhorst was not “Trumpy,” but was disappointed that National Review could not see the problems of the “aggrandized Left.” “I thought at the time, ‘If Larry Selhorst is thinking this, that says something fundamentally is changing,’” Fowler said. “He was a weather vane. He knew what way the winds were blowing.” Selhorst’s friend Bruce Schooley said he met the Selhorsts on a National Review cruise about 25 years ago. “They were both leaders in their own way. They’re both very proactive actualizers,” Schooley said. “It was fun to be around them because they were examples of how you actually move balls down the field, and they were both highly intelligent and extremely articulate.” Schooley said Selhorst knew everything that was going on in the conservative moment and was willing to invest his time and money in it. “He had an entrepreneurial spirit, which is why he was so good for the movement because he kept thinking of things that the National Review or other people in the movement should do that were more proactive and practical,” Schooley said. “It wasn’t all just kind of lofty principles. He was interested in figuring out ways in which it can actually become real in people’s lives.” Schooley said when he went through cancer treatment at the same time as Selhorst’s son, Selhorst supported both of them through that. “It was encouraging because his son survived and I survived,” Schooley said. “We just loved having them as friends and loved our time with them, and we’ll miss the fact that he’s gone.”

and founder of D.L. Tocco & Associates, a marketing company based in Troy, Michigan. He has hosted the Tocco Challenge at Hillsdale College since 2002. “Tocco’s willingness to financially support clubs and organizations over the years has been inspirational,” said Director of Athletics John Tharp. “He is a true friend of Hillsdale College and someone who has made countless lives better through his work with our students.”

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September 24, 2026 A3

‘Understanding God’s creation’: Mario Guzmán joins psychology faculty By Sophia Mandt seNior reporter In childhood, Mario Guzmán-Sescosse read a book given to him by his psychologist titled “A Trip Across Madness.” Upon reading it, he realized he wanted to understand and help people struggling with mental health problems. “That was my first encounter with clinical psychology,” Guzmán said. “That psychologist said to me, ‘I think you will be a good psychologist. You should consider that.’” Years later, Guzmán is now an Associate Professor of Psychology at Hillsdale College. Guzmán said he was immediately drawn to teaching at Hillsdale when he saw a job opening for a psychology professor. “Hillsdale is doing something that no one else is doing, at least to my understanding, and that is to try to preserve the Western values and the idea of knowledge in alignment with the idea of wisdom, and not only with technology or practicality,” Guzmán said. “When I learned that Hillsdale College had an open position in psychology, I didn’t hesitate. I am very grateful that they considered me for this position.” This semester, Guzmán is teaching Theories of Personality and two sections of Psychology in the Modern Era. Chairman and Associate Professor of Psychology Col-

lin Barnes said what stood out about Guzmán was his personability and thoughtfulness. “He asked thoughtful questions about how we approach psychology at Hillsdale and showed genuine respect for the college’s mission and commitment to liberal arts education,” Barnes told The Collegian in an email. “That’s very hard to find in psychology.” Guzmán has had years of clinical experience and training in cognitive behavioral therapy and Jungian analytical psychology, a form of psychotherapy developed by psychologist Carl Jung. According to Barnes, this rare combination is comparable to someone knowing their way around both modern chemistry and the esoteric world of medieval alchemy. “The fact that he is oriented at all toward wider problems than the field’s prevailing methods can touch is foremost,” Barnes said. “Dr. Guzmán’s broad-mindedness and reverence for the divine make him di$erent from many — maybe even most — psychology professors elsewhere.” Guzmán said he was first trained in Jungian analytical psychology, which analyzes the conscious and unconscious mind and underlying patterns or archetypes of collectively unconscious human behavior. “It’s a beautiful way of understanding the mind, mental health problems, and many other things,” he said. Guzmán said he later com-

pleted another master’s program in cognitive behavioral therapy. His Ph.D. focused on researching post-traumatic

ities and the spiritual elements of our experience as humans.” Guzmán said he wants his students to know the field of

Guzmán in Rome. Courtesy | Mario Guzmán

stress disorder from a cognitive behavioral therapy perspective. “I see psychology as my apostleship, as part of my mission as a Christian,” Guzmán said. “I want students to see that psychology has many things to offer, not only in the mental health area, but also to Christianity and to our understanding of what it is to be a human being and what are the complex-

psychology is at times opposed to religion and Christianity, with major psychology figures like Sigmund Freud holding a negative perspective of religion and spirituality. While some psychologists are dismissive of religion, others embrace its importance, according to Guzmán. “Other authors like William James, Carl Gustav Jung, Gor-

Homecoming volunteer days, hours change this fall By Ashley Luke AssistANt editor Homecoming volunteer hours will run from Sept. 24 until Oct. 8, stopping over fall break so students can visit their families and GOAL leaders can plan larger events. Instead of the traditional single week to log volunteer hours for Homecoming, hours will straddle fall break, running from Sept. 24–30 and then picking back up Oct. 5–8, Director of Student Activities Rachel Marinko said. The new placement will add four more days to the usual seven days to count hours, which allows GOAL leaders more time for volunteer events. “We’re hoping to give students more time to complete projects and also to give the GOAL leaders more days where they can spread out their events, so that we can have more events that are bigger and that can accommodate more people to volunteer,” Marinko said. GOAL Director Alex Buehrer said he wanted to encour-

Q&A from A1 Q. What is the most fulfilling part about your work? A. The fulfillment has been that the things I’ve learned about making these silly videos apparently have been a blessing in the lives of some not insignificant number of young men who are aimless and drifting in the world at this time. Young men have been under attack. Emasculation is one of the drumbeats of our culture. I get so many comments saying, “You remind me of my grandfather. I wish I had listened to him more.” I get other comments saying, “Watching your videos has made me a job foreman and now a superintendent, and my livelihood is better,” and “I want to become a better man, and a better father, and a better husband.” The blessings and challenges of YouTube have been more than I anticipated, both fulfilling and uplifting, as well as exhausting and anxiety-inducing. I think that’s a pretty good description of life generally. Q. How did you start your YouTube channel, “Essential Craftsman”? A. The way “Essential

age students to spend time with their families instead of staying on campus to complete volunteer hours. “We don’t want students, especially freshmen, to feel compelled to stay here over fall break and not see their families. So we decided to make it so no hours will count over fall break, and then shift it earlier to have 11 total days of volunteering instead of seven,” Buehrer said. For Homecoming 2025, SAB and GOAL changed the point system from the dorm with the most volunteering hours to a bracket system with levels of hours, according to Buehrer. Teams could tie if they landed in the same bracket of logged hours. But because of the extended hours this year, Buehrer said SAB and GOAL increased the number of hours for each benchmark. A team will earn the most points if they log an average of 9-10 hours per resident, he said. “It should be hard to get the highest number of points,” Buehrer said. “It’s a sacrifice,

but we also have the time, and we will have the projects to get people active in the community.” Volunteering during homecoming is often how students find out about GOAL programs, Buehrer said. The Source at the beginning of the year is overwhelming with many programs displayed, but during homecoming, students are exposed to programs they often stick with after festivities end. “This is our biggest push until the Day of Service in the spring,” Buehrer said. “Every year after homecoming, people will start volunteering with GOAL programs because they didn’t know they existed before then.” Junior and McIntyre Head Resident Assistant Lizzie Schueckler said she is excited to see how the extended hours will encourage freshmen to log more hours. “We placed second out of all of the dorms and set a new record for women’s volunteering hours last year,” Schueckler said. “I want to keep that same

energy as last year, even though it’s longer.” Buehrer, who is also a head RA in Simpson Residence, said Simpson is ready for this year’s challenge. “Last year, as a dorm, we had 1,000 hours in one week total. With 11 days, I’m excited to see what the number could be this year,” Buehrer said. Students can volunteer at a number of events including Buddy Olympics, a field day for young adults with special needs, and Community Sports Field Day. Students can earn two volunteer hours by donating blood at the American Red Cross blood drive Oct. 6, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. in the student union. Students can also sign up to volunteer as parking attendants for the Hillsdale County Fair, Sept. 23 through Oct. 3.

Craftsman” found its audience was we bought a lot and started building a house, getting 150 videos out of the process. The way it started, though, is a di$erent story. The recession of 2008 pretty much wiped me out economically. I had plans for some little apartments, which is how a blue-collar carpenter guy usually gets ahead, and that went away. I pretty much resolved myself that my retirement program was going to be my work truck and my tools. But then my son Nate, who lived in Mesa, Arizona, came up with his family for Christmas, and he said, “Dad, I think we ought to make some videos in your shop, because we could put them on YouTube and people would watch them.” I thought YouTube was just funny cat and fail videos. But Nate said people like watching people lay bricks and build things, and he thought we ought to make some videos in my blacksmith shop. He also said it would be a marketing advantage for my swords and knives. So the first video we made was just of him filming with his phone in the shop one evening. He came back up again a month later, and

we filmed two or three more blacksmith videos and started uploading. This coincided with the History Channel show “Forged in Fire,” which sparked a real blossoming of interest in blacksmithing. So, after we put up the videos of me blacksmithing, it went somewhat viral over the weekend and got around 110,000 views on a video titled “The Blacksmith’s Anvil.” But the big deal was we went from 300 subscribers to 5,000 over the weekend. Well, that got our attention, and Nate started coming up a little more often. We uploaded more, put up a couple of carpentry videos, and in Arizona we filmed building a little garden shed for my other son, and soon most of the audience stuck around for the carpentry videos rather than blacksmithing.

best example of documenting a house-build series. It’s also by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done. It’s not hyperbole when I say it almost killed me. I have sleep apnea, and I was falling asleep at every stoplight. That was my most significant construction thing I’ve ever done. What’s greater for me, though, is that every time I make a video and speak to the camera, I think I’m speaking to my great-grandchildren. It’s about legacy — the things we build, entropy will claim those. But for some period of time, if the internet persists, long after I’m dead, I’ll still be teaching people, including my descendants. That’s my favorite project.

Q. Do you have a favorite video or project? A. There’s a YouTube playlist on my channel called “The Spec House,” where we built a house for the channel. That was a lifetime accomplishment. We were the first ones on YouTube to build a house from start to finish, and I daresay it’s the

Q. What advice do you have for Hillsdale College students? A. Number one: Learn to love to do hard things. Number two: Seek all the wisdom you possibly can. Pray for it, and especially in choosing your spouse, because from that one decision will come 90% of your joy and 90% of your misery, and it will turn you into something worthwhile.

don Allport, and Viktor Frankl didn’t see any con%ict in integrating the wisdom of religion in psychology,” Guzmán said. “They saw that it was the duty of psychologists to understand religious phenomena and to study religion from a psychological perspective. Why do humans believe? Why do we have these ideas of transcendence? How can those ideas help us, or how can those ideas harm us as well?” Guzmán said he loves teaching and hopes his students develop epistemological humanity — the acceptance that they can’t know everything about the world. “There’s no single theory that can explain the complexity and mystery of life,” he said. “But the more we study with a good anthropological and Christian understanding, the more we are understanding God’s creation. I see teaching and learning as a way of understanding God’s creation, and I hope that I can transmit that to them.” Beyond his teaching and academic research, Guzmán hosts a podcast in Spanish titled “Descifrando Laberintos,” which translates to “Deciphering Labyrinths.” “I used to have experience in radio because I was a radio host for many years in the past,” he said. “The podcast got some traction. I have around 100 episodes, and they cover pretty much all topics in mental health problems, from depression,

anxiety, personality disorders, types of therapy, pharmacotherapy, family dynamics, sexuality, and so on.” Guzmán said he has paused the podcast while starting his teaching at Hillsdale, but hopes to resume it in the future. Senior Zhizi Zhang is currently enrolled in Guzmán’s Psychology 101 class. She said Guzmán is passionate about his subject. “He gets emotional sometimes,” Zhang said. “He had class on 9/11, and he showed us a PowerPoint about the cross in the ruins, and he was talking about the significance of the cross during that tragedy. I think his faith life is very much part of his lecture style.” Zhang said Guzmán, who was born in Mexico, even has a sign-up sheet on Canvas for students to have Mexican dinner at his house. “That’s also very special,” Zhang said. Sophomore Stephen Comus is also taking Guzmán’s core psychology class. He said that instead of learning the names of other students in the class, Guzmán had Comus learn about someone else and say everything about them. “We had one friend starting from the very beginning,” Comus said. “It seems that he has a lot of life experience over very di$erent parts of the world.”

Wadsworth speaks on grit, perseverance, and faith By Patrishia Arteaga CollegiAN FreelANCer Carpenter and blacksmith Scotts Wadsworth, who runs the YouTube channel “Essential Craftsman,” made the case for confronting personal pain from the perspective of a blue-collar worker. His lecture, “The Problem of Pain Evasion: A Case for Grit,” was sponsored by the President’s Office and explored the value of grit, perseverance, and spiritual humility in the face of su$ering through four key themes: the need for su$ering, the fulfillment of su$ering in creativity, the value of grit, and God’s role in the blacksmith’s shop. Wadsworth’s involvement in the carpentry industry began after his decision to leave Oregon State University to pursue the trades. He said he discovered that grit is the reason for his 50-year-long career. “When I had that stroke of insight that I didn’t need an education, I had no idea how much grit I was going to need to pursue a career in construction,” Wadsworth said. Wadsworth began his lecture by identifying the relationship between human nature and pain, explaining the di$erence between two types of pain. “I think that as humans, and especially as humans with families, we have a responsibility to avoid needless pain, but not evade pain,” he said. “Avoiding speaks to using wisdom, and evading speaks to trickery or cunning.” Wadsworth explained that, in the trades, carpenters use grit to grind wood, which is a mixture of crushed sharp stone aggregate molded into a belt-like shape. He employed this carpentry tool in order to illustrate the power of character grit. “When the grit comes into contact with the steel, the steel is pretty tough too. Grit’s tougher, but the particles of grit will crack,” Wadsworth said. “Some particles crack and leave pieces of grit. They fracture in a way that leaves sharp edges, so you can break

me down, but I’m still going to grind you.” Wadsworth ended with a reading and Q&A session on the poem “If ” by Rudyard Kipling, identifying the positive spiritual growth that results from demonstrating grit every day. “We’re all going to experience that triumphant disaster. We see that growth, which recognizes the relative insignificance of anything that happens like these sorts of things, and the cosmic import of just saying, ‘Thy will be done,’” Wadsworth said. Eric Coykendall, senior director of resource development for the K-12 Education Office, said he enjoyed the lecture. “Wadsworth is a delightful man speaking from a life of great experiences and good stories. I think he’s trying to talk about something that’s actually hard to talk about,” Coykendall said. “As somebody who likes making things myself, it is a hard thing to talk about.” Junior Samuel Falkowski said Wadsworth’s spiritual insights were helpful. “It was a wonderful talk and very down to earth,” Falkowski said. “It was nice to see how he connected theology and just ordinary everyday philosophy with great metaphors that used his craft.” Sophomore Tim Schuchardt, who said he has five years of carpentry experience, said he agreed with Wadsworth that blue-collar work can play a pivotal role in growing a person’s perseverance. “There’s nothing that quite gives you access to philosophy like the trades. I thought Scott’s talk reconciled the beauty of philosophy and the beauty of the material world, and spoke to our responsibility as humans and as Christians to mediate between the two,” Schuchardt said.

Opinions

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A4 September 24, 2026

The Collegian Weekly

Put down Plato and engage with pop culture Pop culture gets a bad reputation, but it’s what allows us to take a step back for much-needed rest. Enjoying the content of our time doesn’t mean our taste is less refined. Current writers such as Kristin Hannah and Brandon Sanderson create beautiful scenes that encourage their readers to tell stories in fresh ways, just like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens did in their time. Many Hillsdale students grew up on classical literature and music and were taught to think critically about them. But not everything has to be ac-

Adding Flock cameras to America’s roads endangers regular citizens’ privacy and increases government surveillance over everyday life. Flock Safety, a surveillance technology company, produces automated license plate readers which are popping up across the country, raising concerns about mass surveillance in the age of artificial intelligence. They capture license plate information, as well as vehicle information such as color and identifiable features. Although these cameras were designed to aid law enforcement in criminal investigations, they don’t just track alleged criminals. A nationwide database accessible to police and government officials stores information about everyone’s location and movements, with no restriction to localities. In a letter to the CEO of Flock, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., called the company’s 120,000 cameras in 49 states an “unprecedented national surveillance network” that disregarded privacy rights. Anyone is capable of abusing a tool like that, including members of law enforcement. Police officers have previously used Flock cameras to stalk their love interests or ex-girlfriends, forcing the company to set new guardrails against the abuse of the system. Authorities arrested a police officer in Kentucky after he used a Flock camera to stalk his ex-girlfriend more than 2,000 times. And he’s not the only one. At least 50 law enforcement officers have been accused of using these cameras for stalking, the Washington Post reported in August. These cases, among many others, prove that it’s too tempting for law enforcement to abuse the power these cam-

eras place at their fingertips. Flock’s proponents argue that the cameras help catch criminals and aid police investigations. While this may be true, the end goal of solving crimes does not justify violating fundamental rights in the process. Americans recognize that privacy is one of these fundamental rights. Police need a search warrant to go into people’s homes, and must show a judge probable cause before obtaining one. With the exception of urgent emergencies or explicit permission, police also need a warrant to search phones and other private devices. The United States government has criticized other regimes, such as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Chinese Communist Party, for their mass surveillance policies. Putting AI surveillance cameras on American streets is hypocritical at best, and a gateway to tyranny at worst. Almost 100 cities and towns have banned the use of Flock license plate detectors. These range from the deep red Hood County in Texas to the leftist stronghold of Cambridge, Massachusetts. A recent YouGov poll showed that these areas are not outliers. The survey found that 46% of respondents opposed the technology, compared to 38% who supported it. These cameras are anything but popular, yet hundreds of thousands of them line the streets. Flock cameras, which exist in the name of safety, do not keep Americans safe at all. Nationwide surveillance creates far more problems than it solves, and threatens the rights Americans hold dear. Skye Graham is a senior studying history.

doesn’t have to be Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” That’s OK. It’s good to read books that speak directly to the culture you live in and to love the 2000s music from when you were little. There’s no problem with loving the best of what Western civilization has to offer, but you don’t have to pretend. Ordinary books, music, and hobbies are just as worthwhile. Whether it’s reading modern fiction, dancing to K-pop songs, or turning on a Formula 1 race each week, spending time on what allows you to unwind is crucial to a happy life. Being passionate about

something outside of academics also helps forge friendships and community out in the real world, where most people don’t read Aristotle. Having a topic you love talking about because it’s fun makes you stand out in a crowd. Pretending to love Milton because the people around you say you should won’t make you a smarter or better person. Spending your free time on what you love will. So set aside your books this weekend, and jam out to the Beatles. Sometimes you need to trade John Locke for John Lennon.

Letters to the Editor

Flock cameras are a step toward tyranny By Skye Graham Assistant Editor

ademic. It’s healthy to step away from academics and find what lets you unwind at the end of a long day. The real world is more than the Western canon, and listening to Laufey and Noah Kahan doesn’t make us less educated. Everyone at Hillsdale has heard intense religious debates and arguments about the best great book. While these intellectual discussions have their time and place, they shouldn’t consume every waking moment. Your favorite book might not be Augustine’s “Confessions,” and your favorite song

If you want a date, ask her out By Mary Schlueter Collegian Freelancer In his piece “Ladies, be traditional. Ask a guy out,” Blake Schaper argues that it is traditional for women to initiate relationships and ask men out, referencing medieval and Victorian-era practices. He blames modern dating apps for the dehumanization of men and the refusal of women

to give them a chance. I agree with Blake that modern dating apps have made dating difficult, with people settling for external appearances rather than character or virtue. It isn’t fair, however, to shove the obligation of asking someone out on women. Maybe in the medieval era women handed out symbolic handkerchiefs, and maybe Victorian women wrote love

letters, but the ideal of the romantic tradition has been the man pursuing his beloved, not the other way around. Not only does having the responsibility of asking someone out and going through the process of planning dates reinforce a man’s confidence, it also makes women feel pursued rather than pressured to pursue. Men, you shouldn’t be

comfortable with women asking you out. No great love story features a strong, fearless woman pursuing her beloved but passive man. Be confident, courageous, and manly, and maybe you’ll get a date. Mary Schlueter is a freshman studying the liberal arts.

Gents, don’t ask women to woo you By Zachary Chen Collegian Freelancer Apart from misrepresenting medieval courtly love, mangling Regency correspondence practice, and entirely misconstruing female agency in formally initiating romance throughout the history of Western civilization, Blake Schaper’s Sept. 17 opinion article (“Ladies, be traditional. Ask a guy out.”) doesn’t completely miss the mark. Specifically, Schaper correctly ascertains that “it’s OK for women to initiate relationships” and that “dating app culture” tends to dehumanize both men and women. But the rest of his article gives flawed advice to both would-be wooers and wooed: I’m tempted to hope it was satire. Even worse, he gets courtly love in the “Medieval Ages” dreadfully wrong. First, let’s get the history straight. While it did signal a lady’s reciprocation, the act of granting a knight a favor never initiated romance. It was a

reward for long devotion, an honor which confirmed the knight in his passionate service. That is to say, a lady’s kerchief recognized past valor and spurred further feats. This step occurred in the middle of a romantic saga, not at its inception. In no sense was it equivalent to a college girl making the first move by asking her crush out. Moreover, literature dramatized the ideal of courtly love represented by favor-giving. It was neither a description of daily life in the Middle Ages nor a prescription for today’s dating culture. As long as we’re on the topic of historical accuracy, I should note that, according to Assistant Professor of English Leta Sundet, exchanges of letters between unmarried and unrelated men and women in the Regency Era were typically reserved for engaged couples. No Regency woman (or man) would have attempted to “catch the attention” of a potential partner via post. Second, let’s discuss dating in the modern world. As

a man, I make no pretense of speaking for women’s feelings on being told they ought to ask men out. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the practice — women initiate relationships all the time. But Schaper’s exhortation for men to “be comfortable with women asking them out” only discourages initiative, smacks of wishful thinking, and moves stress and responsibility from the man’s plate to the woman’s. Asking a woman out is awkward, as it always leaves one open to being rejected. That’s exactly why men shouldn’t sit back and wait for romance to sweep them off the couch: Willingly becoming vulnerable shows consideration and respect for a woman and her feelings. Though it stings, rejection isn’t necessarily bad — it often molds a man’s character for the better. Neither does rejection after a first date indicate malice on the woman’s part. Schaper writes that “a woman who asks someone out is courageous, direct with her wants, and transpar-

ent.” But the same is true of a woman who says “No, thanks” to unwanted wooing: No one ever said a first date entailed a second. The medieval knight only won his lady’s favor by long suffering, hard trials, and lovesick yearning. I’m sure one of today’s “more shy and introverted men” can stand up straight, look a woman in the eye, and ask for her number. Dating, love, and romance are a tango for two. But, as every swing club regular knows, it’s frustrating to dance with a guy who leads poorly. Gents, if you’re looking to date, don’t shy away from risk and vulnerability. Instead, pursue virtue and cultivate excellence like any good knight, and don’t be afraid to serve a lady by asking her out. Whether she grants you her favor or not, the endeavor is noble. Zachary Chen is a senior studying Greek and Latin.

Honor the man who helped feed a billion people By Guest Writers Dear Editor, Sept. 12 was the 15th anniversary of the passing of agronomist Norman Borlaug. This year is a good time for us to commemorate him. He was one of the greatest benefactors of mankind. His application of modern science to agriculture initiated the Green Revolution and is estimated to have saved the lives of as many as one billion people in the less-developed world. His pioneering work in genetics and the use of modern science, including chemistry, for growing crops cut famine and poverty, greatly reduced infant mortality, and raised

incomes and living standards for poor people in the developing world. His revolution also reduced land use — saving more for nature and wilderness — and had the side effect of reducing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 but unfortunately seems forgotten today. No popular movement or cult rose around him, and outside of development economics he is mostly ignored, despite his incredible contributions to human well-being. Perhaps that is a “first world problem,” a consequence of us taking modern living standards for granted

and romanticizing the hard life of 18th-century agriculture. As he put it, “Some of the environmental lobbyists of the Western nations are the salt of the earth, but many of them are elitists. They’ve never experienced the physical sensation of hunger. They do their lobbying from comfortable office suites in Washington or Brussels. They have never produced a ton of food. If they lived just one month amid the misery of the developing world, as I have for 60 years, they’d be crying out for fertilizer, herbicides, irrigation canals and tractors and be outraged that fashionable elitists back home were trying to deny them these things.”

Borlaug was a true hero who made it possible for billions around the world to be better fed. Let’s celebrate him and his legacy. Sincerely, Charles N. Steele, associate professor of economics Roger Butters, associate professor of economics Christopher Martin, associate professor of economics Ivan Pongracic, professor of economics Abel Winn, associate professor of economics. Gary Wolfram, professor of economics

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September 24, 2026 A5

Dependence on the state isn’t cool, conservatives By Henry Fliflet Assistant Editor At the first Republican midterm convention in more than 40 years, President Donald Trump pledged to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, framing it in his Sept. 9 speech as “a reward for four years of a horrible, horrible situation caused by Biden.” While it seems unlikely that Trump will be able to fulfill this promise, the sentiment itself is what’s concerning. Handing out cash is the wrong response to a Democratic left that is increasingly embracing socialist candidates and policies. If Zohran Mamdani’s rise in New York, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s standing in early 2028 Democratic polling, or Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign here in Michigan is a concern, then the right should offer something substantively different. If its response to this left-wing populism is just a less-fashionable version of the same ideas, the better-branded radicals will win. Conservatism will cease to be anything more than yet another vehicle for state intervention.

While even a Republican Congress might block Trump from making good on his offer, the intent behind it is a continuation of Trump’s recent use of direct payments as a political strategy. In December, his administration distributed a $1,776 one-time ‘Warrior Dividend’ to 1.45 million service members, using funds Congress had appropriated to supplement military housing allowances. That’s nothing compared to the scale of his $5,000 proposal, which, at an estimated total cost of $1.2 trillion, would exceed the roughly $1 trillion the Pentagon requested for national defence in the fiscal year 2026, according to AP News. The federal budget deficit for the year is already projected to reach approximately $2 trillion. The closest historical parallel to this spendthrift impulse, the three COVID stimulus checks many Americans received, were still less than Trump’s proposed payment at around $3,200 per eligible individual. Although economists still debate the effects this had on the economy, stimulus checks helped people who were legitimately struggling. On average, families spent around 30% of their stimulus money paying

off their debts, and put another 30% in savings, ac c ord ing to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

Americans still have concerns about

the economy — gas, rent, and groceries are all more expensive — but the market has nonetheless stabilized in the last five years. A massive cash inf l u x

would raise prices and interest r a t e s even further because its recipi-

ents would be able to spend the money more freely than they could during the pandemic. But the checks’ worst effect would be to establish a new kind of politics. Americans are already jaded about the country’s federal government, with just 17% saying they trust Washington to do what is right at least “most of the time,” according to Pew Research. If this current cynicism devolves into a widespread belief that the government is only there to hand out money, we lose sight of the government’s purpose. Trump doesn’t have to keep his promise (an unlikely Republican victory in November notwithstanding) for his suggestion to set the tone for American politics on both sides of the aisle. Relatively soon, he’ll step down from the presidency after 14 years of changing the way Americans do politics. He’s been a force to fight for or against, and what comes next for the Republican Party (and by extension, American politics in general) is uncertain. So much so, in

fact, that every political solution may be on the table. Sixty-two percent of Americans aged 18-29 say they hold a “favorable view” of socialism, according to a Cato Institute survey last year. That’s my generation — like me, they all grew up under Trump’s influence, and like me, they are unsure about what comes next. If conservatives can’t convincingly make the case that dependence on the state is, in fact, a bad thing, people will turn to leaders who are willing to wield the state’s power. At the same Republican midterm convention where he promised the $5,000, Trump repeatedly stressed that he wanted voters to “pretend I’m on the ticket.” He won’t be on the ticket forever, jokes about a 2028 presidential run aside. What replaces him on that ticket shouldn’t be a deeper dependency on the state. Henry Fliflet is a junior studying English. Illustrated by Annie O’Connor.

Lafayette bled for America. Put him on the walk. By Alessia Sandala Managing Editor When a musket ball struck the Marquis de Lafayette in the leg in the middle of a battle, he collapsed to the ground. But the wound didn’t stop him from getting back up and rallying his men so they could continue fighting the British. The Liberty Walk holds statues of statesmen who gave everything for the pursuit of liberty, and the man who defied his king and crossed an ocean to become an American hero deserves a spot among them. Before Lafayette fought in the American Revolution, the king of France had him arrested for trying to sail to America to fight for Washington. Lafayette, who was just 19 years old at the time, escaped and arrived in America. He earned his fame in America gradually. Congress believed he was too young to command troops, but Lafayette

persevered. He offered to fight for free to prove how highly he valued the colonists’ principles. The Battle of Brandywine, where Lafayette was injured in the leg, established his reputation for resourcefulness and commitment to American liberty even when his life was at risk. He organized a strategic retreat, while seriously injured, to prevent the destruction of the American army on the battlefield. After the battle, Lafayette became George Washington’s closest ally and stood by Washington amid the commander-in-chief ’s many losses. Lafayette camped at Valley Forge, where more than 2,000 soldiers died of disease and malnutrition in the winter of 1777–1778, and he witnessed the suffering of his men firsthand. He bought uniforms and muskets for the soldiers with his own money. “In the place he occupies, he is surrounded by flatterers and

secret enemies,” Lafayette wrote about Washington during his time at Valley Forge. “He finds in me a trustworthy friend in whom he can confide and who will always tell him the truth. Not a day goes by without his talking to me at length or writing long letters to me. And he is willing to consult me on most interesting points.”

to France, where he once again displayed his commitment to liberty. Although Lafayette is not an American, the ideals he embraced and fought for were. In France, he served as a moderate voice in what would become the National Assembly and as the commander of the French National Guard during the French Revolution.

“He finds in me a trustworthy friend in whom he can confide and who will always tell him the truth.” As Washington’s confidant, Lafayette influenced some of the most important decisions of the war by working closely with America’s new French allies and developing the strategy for defeating Britain at Yorktown in 1781. After Americans hailed him a hero of the American Revolution, Lafayette returned

He took command of the National Guard after the attack on the Bastille — a symbol of the French crown’s excess and absolute authority — demonstrating the power of the people. Lafayette also drafted the “Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen,” with the help of Thomas Jefferson. The document proclaimed that “men are

born and remain free and equal in rights” and that the government’s role is “the preservation of the natural and inalienable rights of man.” He acted in accordance with the words he wrote. Lafayette believed that because all men are created equal, slavery has no place in the world. He advocated for abolition throughout his career. He even attempted to convince Washington to support his plan for gradual emancipation in America and, later, put the plan into effect in South America’s French Guiana. Lafayette’s plans ultimately failed when Napoleon Bonaparte came to power and reinstated slavery. Lafayette’s vision of liberty, which he learned fighting on the battlefield in America, eventually landed him in prison in France. But prison didn’t stop him either. Fifty years after he fought for America, Lafayette travelled, at the invitation of President

James Monroe, to see the nation he helped build. Americans rejoiced at his triumphant return and massive crowds cheered as he passed through all 24 states. His return to the states became a celebration of America’s fight for freedom in the early days of America’s new republic. He advocated for the God-given rights laid out in the Declaration of Independence for the rest of his life. When he died, the United States government commemorated Lafayette as a true American hero with the same national observance and military honors Washington received. America honored him like Washington when he died, so he deserves a place among America’s founders on Hillsdale’s Liberty Walk. Alessia Sandala is a seniorstudying history.

John James would be a cheaper governor By James Joski Collegian Freelancer Michigan’s gubernatorial candidates might be running on the same issues, but their solutions are very different. Although Democratic candidate Jocelyn Benson and Republican candidate John James both promise to increase affordability, improve healthcare, and strengthen education, only James has a plan that delivers. Affordability is the cen-

tral issue of the Michigan November election. A recent poll commissioned by the Detroit News and WDIV reported that 25.7% of Michigan voters said affordability or the economy was their top issue. “As governor, my focus will be on driving down costs and growing our economy — making Michigan among the most affordable states in the country,” Benson said in an interview with Bridge Michigan. As nice as that sounds, B e n s on h a s demonstrated very little ability to achieve that vision. She is unwilling to repeal Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s gubernatorial mandate for the total elimination of fossil fuels by 2050, a move that the Mackinac Center for Public Policy reports would double utility bills. James, on

the other hand, calls for ending Whitmer’s initiatives and maintaining the operation of the Line 5 pipeline, a major conduit of oil and natural gas to the state. Whitmer ordered the shutdown of the pipeline in 2020, but legal challenges have blocked her. Although Benson has not said whether she would also seek the shutdown of Line 5, her six years of silence while serving under Whitmer give every reason to believe that she would. To tackle housing prices, both candidates support relaxing zoning restrictions and decreasing other construction-related regulations. The key difference is that Benson supports increasing the income eligibility for Michigan’s Homestead Property Tax Credit, a tax reduction for homeowners who fall under a specified income. This move essentially expands a housing subsidy and betrays a belief inherent within many of her promises. She thinks more money will solve the problem. Take healthcare: Although both candidates say they seek to improve affordability and access in the face of increasing prices and closing rural hospitals, their methods vary.

Benson plans to buy off medical loans and forgive doctors’ student debt while James aims to reduce chronic illnesses (through implementing preventive care models within the existing Medicaid system), and to secure federal funding through targeted reimbursement programs, moves that would lessen the load on Michigan’s own treasury. For James, redirecting money will solve the problem. In no place are these two competing fiscal habits more apparent than in Michigan’s floundering academics. The state is ranked 45th in K-12 education, according to U.S. News and World Report. Both candidates look to enact literacy programs that have been proven successful in other states, especially Mississippi. They also seek to increase teacher salaries to attract educators, but again differ in method. Benson proposes increasing government expenditure by establishing a $60,000 price floor on teacher salaries, a move that would undoubtedly cause salaries across public education to rise as older teachers and administrators demand raises. Contrast this with James’s policy: redis-

tribute money to teachers by cutting down on administrative costs. Teachers still gain, but the administrators don’t. Furthermore, James pledges to opt Michigan into the federal Education Freedom Tax Credit, which reimburses individuals up to $1,700 for donations made to authorized scholars h ip - g r ant i ng organizations. Those organizations then grant the money to eligible families for use in tuition, tutoring, and more. Benson says she will refuse this money, believing it will drain resources from Michigan’s public schools. Apparently it is better to have no families save money rather than only some. Only one candidate has a plan that is consistent with his promises: James. Benson’s policies mean higher utility prices and more government expenditure,

things incompatible with securing long-term affordability for Michigan, and she can’t spend her way out of that. James Joski is a junior studying biochemistry. Illustrated by Mag gie O’Connor.

A6 September 24, 2026

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City News

Hillsdale County Fair returns next week

Games, rides, and booths will come to town the week of fall break online or at the door. Sophomore Ella Schuberg said she grew up going to the Hillsdale County Fair with her parents, who are both graduates of

By Francesca Cella opiNioNs editor

The 176th Hillsdale County Fair will feature truck pulls, a concert, and a donut-eating contest. This year’s theme for the self-dubbed “Most Popular Fair on Earth” is “Red, White & Moo: A Barnyard Salute to America’s 250th.” $e fair is also one day longer this year, spanning eight days from Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, with a “feature event” daily. That’s one more opportunity for Paul Hosmer, associate professor of physics, to attend the fair with his wife and four kids, who all submit items in different contests and usually go to the fair multiple times. “Of course, the kids love the animals, so we’ll go around and see the animals, and then one of the days we’ll go and do rides,” Hosmer said. “And then the other day we’ll just go and do stuff that we didn’t get to, and food that we didn’t get to because a lot of it is about getting the fair food.” In addition to food trucks, livestock exhibits, and vege-

James Hosmer, 10, holding his first place turnips CourtESy | Paul hoSmEr

Johnny Hosmer, 8, holding his second place carrots. CourtESy | Paul hoSmEr

table displays, which the fair will have all week, feature events include a TNT Demolition Derby, the TK Pro Rodeo, and a monster truck competition. Graham Barham, an American country pop singer,

will perform along with Eddie and the Getaway and Kay Harper & Company Oct. 1 and doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Each grandstand event requires tickets, which are available for purchase

Council debates BPU appointment By Ethan Savka assistaNt editor

Tensions rose at the Hillsdale City Council meeting as council members debated Mayor Scott Sessions’ suggestion of himself as a candidate for an open poistion on the Board of Public Utilities. At the Sept. 21 meeting, the council considered the s e l f - n om i n at i on of Sessions to the board of directors of Hillsdale’s Board of Public Utilities. $e BPU vacancy arose after board member Mike Prince’s resignation, which was approved by the council at the meeting. Sessions then nominated himself for the position without submitting a resume or application to council, according to Ward 2 councilman and mayoral candidate Matthew Bentley. Citing a conflict of interest, Sessions moved to recuse himself from the discussion around his nomination. Bentley objected. “I guess I don’t understand how you recuse yourself after appointing yourself,” Bentley said. “We’re too far into the process for you to have a fig leaf and recuse yourself. You appointed yourself.” Ward 1 Councilman Jacob Bruns concurred with Bentley. “He initiated the process, so I agree, it’s not a real recusal,” Bruns said. “It’s not just participation in what’s going on, it’s initiating what’s going on.” After some discussion, the council agreed that the mayor could still answer questions while recused.

the school, so she made sure to attend with friends last year both days that she was available. “We did every ride, we went and saw the rodeo, we went and watched a bunch of

$e body then approved his recusal 6-1, with Bentley in dissent and Sessions abstaining. Bentley then took aim at the appointment itself. “Who advised you that this would be a good idea?”

boards, and BPU Director Dave Mackie, who is also the city manager, clarified that the board has had to cancel two recent meetings for a lack of quorum. Sessions, he said, has attended every meeting since becom-

Mayor Sessions served once before from 2013 to 2017. thomaS mCkEnna | thE CollEgian

Bentley asked Sessions. “The reason why I’m running is to represent the people of Hillsdale,” Sessions said in reply. “$at’s the main reason why I’m doing this, so we have representation on the BPU board, which we haven’t had. We’ve had to cancel meetings.” “You avoided my question,” Bentley said. “My question was ‘what was the deliberation?’” Sessions said that several councilmen serve on city

ing mayor last fall. Bentley said Sessions did not make a su&ciently strong case for the position. “I think I — and the people — would feel more comfortable if it had actual genuine oversight, and not this frankly laughable process of you just appointing yourself,” Bentley said. “I think this is embarrassing. Speaking for the people, who I represent, I think it’s a farce.” $e council voted 5-2 to

table the appointment of Sessions to the BPU. Councilmen Bentley, Bruns, Flynn, Socha, and Wolfram voted in favor of tabling, with councilmen Morrisey and Stuchell opposing the motion. Sessions abstained from the vote. Concerned citizens filled the final half hour of the meeting with comments largely focused on the appointment of Sessions to the BPU board of directors. City resident Penny Swan stood up and said she thought the whole issue could have been avoided. “The whole discussion about mayor Sessions being appointed to the BPU board — that’s why you need a mayor pro tem,” Swan said. “This is a big mistake not making someone mayor pro tem so that the mayor didn’t have to try to navigate the s***show that took place here.” Swan blamed one man for the problem. “M r. B e nt l e y, you’ve b e e n on council for two years and you still don’t seem to have an idea how this city functions,” Swan said. “You don’t understand the board, you don’t understand the legalities. You like to hear yourself talk.” City resident Howard Spence echoed Bentley’s procedural concerns. “Anyone who applies for a job is expressing an interest, and people look at them and interview them, instead of one person saying ‘oh, I want that job, I’ll take it,’” Spence said.

live music. $ere were food options galore,” Schuberg said. “We had fun walking around, seeing all the historical exhibits that they had posted up. I definitely think that the rides were my favorite part, but I did get the best belt of the century because there was a belt booth with completely custom-made and branded belts.” $e fair isn’t just a fun evening activity, according to senior John Beecher. It’s also an opportunity to appreciate the culture of the town we live in. “There’s a real community outside of Hillsdale College in the city of Hillsdale that you can plug into and give back to,” Beecher said. “I think going to the fair is a good way to support that financially, but also just socially.” A day pass is $7 for those ages 12 and up and children under the age of 11 are admitted for free. Tickets for day passes as well as for individual feature events are available for purchase at hillsdalecountyfair.org or in person.

Mayor pro tem seat will be vacant By Gemma Flores and Lonán Mooney City News editor aNd CollegiaN reporter Following the resignation of former Ward 4 councilman and mayor pro tem Joshua Paladino, the Hillsdale City Council decided this week to leave the mayor pro tem position vacant until after the next election. Paladino announced his intention to resign at the Sept. 8 city council meeting and officially notified city staff and Mayor Scott Sessions via a Sept. 16 email. Paladino took a teaching position at Cleveland State University over the

“I move that it is vacant until the election, as the charter says,” Bentley said. $is motion was then supported by Ward 3 councilman and mayoral candidate Bob Flynn. “We only have four meetings left, so barring something bad, we can nominate someone to run the meeting that day and we should be good,” Flynn said. When the new city council members take their seats after the Nov. 3 election, the current council members said, the new council would elect a mayor pro tem. $e new council members, however, won’t take their seats until December un-

“I move that it is vacant until the election, as the charter says.” summer, and is currently in the process of moving closer to the school, which is located roughly three hours from Hillsdale. “It has been a pleasure to serve with you all,” Paladino wrote in the email. As mayor pro tem, Paladino presided over council meetings and acted as mayor of Hillsdale in the event that the mayor wasn’t available. He served as the mayor from December 2024 to November 2025 following the resignation of Mayor Adam Stockford in December 2024. Section 4.5 of the Hillsdale City Charter requires that a mayor pro tem be ready to serve. At the meeting Monday, the council decided to leave the position vacant rather than elect a new mayor pro tem, as elections are fast approaching. Ward 2 councilman and mayoral candidate Matthew Bentley opened the discussion.

der a new state law that supersedes city laws. “$e charter says ‘a term expiring at the first council meeting following the next regular city election,’” Flynn said. “New Michigan state law, if I’m not mistaken, is that the new council will not take their seats until the first of December. $is seems like something, since the state of Michigan has stuck their fingers in it, that we should probably rewrite or amend moving forward.” Changes to the city charter must be voted on, however, according to the city’s lawyer Tom $ompson. “To amend it you actually have to put it on the ballot because it’s a charter provision,” $ompson said. “$at would cost you money.” In an effort to streamline the process, the council decided to keep the charter’s rule as is and leave the position vacant until Dec. 1.

Ava-Marie Papillon illustrated the City News header.

September 24, 2026 A7

Hambleton, McDowell fight for Ward 4 By Charlee Amason CollegiaN reporter

A fireman is squaring off against a veteran for a city council seat in the Nov. 3 city council election. Two candidates are in the running for the Ward 4 council seat: Steve McDowell and David Hambleton. Both candidates identify economic development and roads as major concerns for the city. McDowell was born and raised in Hillsdale and spent nearly 40 years working as a captain and deputy chief with the City of Hillsdale Fire Department a$er serving as chief at the Hillsdale Township Fire Department. He said his service in the fire department has given him experience making split-second decisions and understanding the needs of the city from an administrative perspective. “I’ve been on that side of the fence serving in action, and now I’d like to help more on the administrative side,” McDowell said. “I understand the needs on the city side of things.” Hambleton, a Navy veteran, moved to Hillsdale in 2007 and said he has led committees and organizations throughout his career in military and civilian life. He is a former member of the Tax Increment Finance Authority and served with the American Legion and Civil Air Patrol. He is also a board member at Key Opportunities — an employment and transportation service. He said he decided to run because he believes some members of the council have become disconnected from the residents they represent. “I hope to bring a voice of common sense and curiosity, and to ask questions and offer creative solutions my neighbors wish they had time and inclination to bring before the city,” Hambleton said. “I want to represent my neighbors.” Hambleton and McDowell agreed that the condition of Hillsdale’s roads is the biggest issue facing the city. “Our roads are horrific,” McDowell said.“The plan to remediate them is taking too long to get funding and materialize.”

If elected, McDowell said his first priority would be improving the city’s roads while also working to bring businesses to Hillsdale. “I would like the city to grow,” McDowell said. McDowell said the city needs a larger tax base to have enough revenue for repairs. He thinks the city needs to concentrate its efforts to increase the tax base by attracting businesses and industry to the city. He pointed to

es investing in territory to be excited about the prospect of being here, and tax abatements provide an opportunity to foster that,” McDowell said. The candidates took different positions on special assessment districts, which can be used to fund improvements to specific properties or areas. Under a SAD, property owners in a specific area can be charged an additional $5,000 in taxes to help pay

“I care about the community, and I care about their needs.” the fact that the city has lost businesses such as J.C. Penney and Sears over the years. “We’ve lost a lot,” McDowell said. “The people deserve options — this is not a onehorse town. I’d love to see the city get back to what it once was.” McDowell attributes the lack of business growth to the increase in online shopping,

for a specific improvement, such as road or infrastructure work. While McDowell said Hillsdale needs to attract businesses and pursue state grants to expand its tax base and generate more funding for road repairs rather than using SADs, Hambleton said special assessments could be appropriate in some cases.

“I hope to bring a voice of common sense and curiosity.” but said he would like to see the city use tax abatements to encourage businesses to move into Hillsdale. He said the city needs to actively be seeking businesses that could add jobs and increase tax revenue that would benefit residents directly. Hambleton said the city should instead focus on funding existing infrastructure. He explained that fixing the roads would best encourage economic development. He said the city should also be cautious about offering tax incentives and make sure residents receive a clear benefit from them. McDowell instead proposed temporary tax abatements to give businesses something to look forward to. “We want those business-

He said they should not be used to allow residents with greater financial means to move their road projects ahead of other needed repairs. “Safety and utility of our roadways should drive prioritization of work, not purchased favors,” Hambleton said. Both candidates expressed a desire to see a stronger relationship between the council and Hillsdale residents. McDowell said he would make himself available to residents and hand them his business cards so that they would bring concerns directly to him. “I am representing the people for Ward 4,” McDowell said. “I will vote the way they want me to vote. What I want to see the most is

what will benefit the city as a whole.” Hambleton said council members need to better understand the financial situation of Hillsdale residents. He critiqued what he sees as a proclivity of the council to approve city plans without enough consideration of their costs from the taxpayers. McDowell said there are also changes he would like to see in the way council members interact with each other. He said disagreement is normal and inevitable, but that council members and city officials should be able to work through those differences without making a spectacle of it. “I don’t think discrepancies should be shown before the people,” said McDowell. “Differences of opinion, on the other hand, is fine.” Hambleton said his yearone priority would be working with the mayor, city manager, and other council members to redirect spending toward roads and other services residents use. “It seemed when we moved into Hillsdale we saw more services for less tax dollars,” Hambleton said. Both candidates said they want Hillsdale to grow, while maintaining its character as a small and invested community. McDowell said his background in public service shaped his approach to the position. “I’m a small-town guy, and I’ve always been a servant to the people,” McDowell said, “I care about the community, and I care about their needs.” Hambleton said he hopes his experience in the military, local organizations, and business will help him contribute to the city. “I’ve been blessed to have been able to help amazing people accomplish incredible things. I bring a global perspective and success patterns and love for my neighbors that, applied to local systems and governance, will help fix the roads and grow Hillsdale where my heart is,” Hambleton said.

TK Pro Rodeo to come to town By Elaine Kutas seNior editor The Hillsdale County Fair, running Sept. 26 to Oct. 3, is bringing southwestern American culture to the Midwest with the TK Pro Rodeo. Tyler Kijac, the founder of TK Pro Rodeo, said that his rodeo company will bring all the classic rodeo attractions to Hillsdale Sept. 30. “There’s a lot of rodeos around the state to attend but we are one of the only authentic rodeo companies,” Kijac said. “We are from Oklaho-

“I’m from rural Pennsylvania, and there are lots of rodeos over there, and so it kind of reminds me of home,” Adamow said. “Overall, the fair is connecting us college students to the town community, which is something that I feel like we don’t get access to a lot. It’s a great place to see what’s going on in the greater community and in the rural agricultural world as a whole.” Boasting a family-friendly event with skilled riders and stock, TK Pro Rodeo is in the business to entertain.

“A lot of people might remember the movie from a few years ago with Glen Powell, ‘Twisters.’ That was our livestock, and I taught Glen Powell how to ride a horse.” ma and a lot of our riders are from Oklahoma and Texas, which people don’t normally get to see around at normal county fairs.” Based out of Jay, Oklahoma, Kijac’s rodeo company travels around the country bringing rodeo attractions to every state, according to its website. The company has been voted the Stock Contractor of the year for the last three consecutive years. “We show all the traditional rodeo events, it’s not just bull riding and barrel racing, we’ve got top notch bull fighters and some of the best livestock in the United States. There’s not very many firms that can say the same — not any in this region anyway.” Senior Maria Adamow has attended the rodeo at the Hillsdale County Fair every year since starting at Hillsdale.

“A lot of people might remember the movie from a few years ago with Glen Powell, ‘Twisters,’” Kijac said. “That was our livestock, and I taught Glen Powell how to ride a horse. That production in that movie is the same one we will be producing at the rodeo in Hillsdale.” TK Pro Rodeo will feature a full production including bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, steer tying, and more. “Rodeo’s are just super entertaining as a whole so I love going back,” Adamow said.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

A8 September 24, 2026

SportS

Club Volleyball

Swim

Women's swim dives into new season Volleyball club brought By Lucy Billings ASSiStAnt Editor !e Hillsdale women’s swim team welcomed a new assistant coach and four freshmen chasing another successful season. Maggie Kayt Franks joins as the team’s assistant coach this season after assistant coaching for Albion College and working with Hillsdale head coach Kurt Kirner over the summer at the University of Michigan. “I worked at various swim camps and that’s how I met coach Kirner,” Franks said. “When he called and said he needed an assistant, I was very happy to jump on that.” According to Kirner, he’s taken a few days off coaching to travel for his son’s wedding. Senior Inez McNichols said Franks took the extra responsibility in stride. “She’s been running practices. She’s stepped up and been great so far,” McNichols said. “I’m really happy to have her and excited to get to know her more throughout the year.” McNichols also said she be-

lieves the freshmen have been settling in well and will make great additions to the team. “Coming to college for the $rst time is always an adjustment,” McNichols said. “We’re just trying to make their transition process smoother and have a bunch of activities, but they’re doing great. !ey are adjusting to practices really well.” Freshman Cali Kissel said the team culture outside of the pool has been one of her favorite parts of her experience. “We had our first team breakfast and that was so fun,” Kissel said. “Or going out to Udder Side to get ice cream has been really fun, getting to see everybody’s personalities and talk to everyone and laugh.” Franks said the tight connection of the women’s team has been encouraging to her as well. “Everybody’s been really welcoming, kind, and supportive,” she said. “I’ve never coached an all-women’s team before so that was something I was intrigued by, a little wor-

ried, but I really enjoy it and I think it develops a certain bond amongst the teammates differently than a co-ed team.” Kissel said her biggest goal in performance is being pushed by the excellence of her teammates and seeing how far she can come by the end of the season. “We have such strong swimmers and lots of humble people on the team who are willing to teach you and encourage you,” Kissel said. “I’m looking forward to working hard as a team and hopefully, winning G-MACs.” McNichols added her personal dreams for this season are to perform strongly at conference meets and stay more relaxed under pressure. “We always show up for our big meets, for conferences, and I’m sure we’ll do the same. I’m excited to build for a great conference meet,” McNichols said. “I also want to have the most fun possible this year. It’s my last year of swimming ever. I have the goal to not be afraid of my events and race in a brave way.”

Franks said her ambitions for the team are high academics and continual growth. “My top priority for these girls is always improvement, whether that be in the classroom or in the pool,” Franks said. “!ere’s always something better we can do each time we race or take a test.” Franks also said the team hopes to stay at the top of conference standings once more. “It’s been about 10 years since we have been below second or $rst so we’re going to continue that push,” she said. “Hopefully we can push back up into that conference championship again.” The Chargers hold their Blue and White intrasquad meet at home Sept. 26 and face their $rst invitational against Indiana Wesleyan University and Campbellsville University Oct. 3 in Marion, Indiana.

back to life after 4 years By Francesca Cella opinionS Editor Hillsdale’s women’s club volleyball is playing regular matches against other schools for the $rst time since 2022, and they are kicking off the season with a match Sept. 24 at Spring Arbor University. !e club did not play any matches last year and competed in one tournament the year before that, but juniors and co-presidents Ava Caggiano, Annie Entner, and Maggie Schaer are attempting to change that. “We started scheduling

ive and encouraging players.” !e team welcomes people who just come to exercise and spend time with their friends, but that doesn’t prevent the club from taking practice seriously especially when they are preparing for a game. One of the three club leaders will step aside from practice and teach them volleyball basics, according to Caggiano. “!e past few practices we’ve gotten to know each other more,” freshman Sarena Doot said. “We’re clicking. As a setter I have to be able to click with my hitters and give them the set they want and talk

Club Volleyball in 2025. Courtesy | Adelle May

Club Rugby

Rugby defeated by Division IV champions By Reagan Vicars CollEgiAn FrEElAnCEr Hillsdale College Club Rugby lost its $rst conference game of the season 24-10 to defending Division IV champion Robert Morris University at home Sept. 19. Hillsdale Club Rugby competes in Division III of the National Collegiate Rugby league. !e Robert Morris Colonials scored $rst, using a tactic it would repeat throughout the rest of the game: A player punted the ball behind the Hillsdale backline, and a Robert Morris back ran to recover it in the try-zone for the score. !e following conversion kick was successful. Shortly after the Colonials scored again on a run, but the conversion attempt was unsuccessful. Hillsdale College head coach Mike “Bama” Harris said the lack of footage on Robert Morris made the opening stretch di%cult to prepare for. “RMU is one of those teams that doesn’t have a lot of $lm on them, and it would have been helpful to see that they were a kicking team,” Harris said. !e Chargers had several scoring opportunities near the end of the $rst half, gaining possession multiple times near

the Colonial’s try line, but never scored before halftime. After halftime, the Colonials scored twice more, converting one of the two kicks. !e $rst score again used the punt-and-recover tactic; the second came on a run. Junior August Enman advanced the ball down$eld for Hillsdale, putting junior Joseph

ognizing the play. Harris pointed to moments like that one as evidence of his team’s response to a di%cult matchup. “Our boys were very resilient to a very polished RMU side,” Harris said. In the $nal minutes, freshman Henry Lindley advanced the ball into scoring position, and senior Luke Jones scored

Hillsdale Rugby lifts senior Luke Jones against Robert Morris. Courtesy | Reagan Vicars

Bromm in position to score. !e Chargers conversion kick was unsuccessful. Late in the game, the Colonials attempted the punt-and-recover tactic again, but freshman Karsten Ingalls prevented the score after rec-

a try for the Chargers. Lindley explained that sequence as something that he and other new players are working toward. “It’s one thing to understand the game enough to get by, and it’s another thing to actually

understand it and be able to play it to the fullest extent possible,” Lindley said. Despite the loss, seniors Angel Jimenez and Enman said the game gave younger teammates valuable time on the $eld. “Spirit-wise, this game was good for bringing in a lot of the guys. We gave some of the new blood a lot of opportunity, and they’re really motivated,” Jimenez said. Enman echoed that sentiment. “I’m really proud of our newer guys stepping up, and I’m looking forward to once they get it all $gured out. !ey’ve already brought the physicality,” he said. !e Chargers face John Carroll University on the road in University Heights, Ohio, Sept. 26. Harris said the team will focus on getting the ball out of rucks and scrums more quickly, to give opponents less time to adjust defensively. “Now it’s back to the tool shed to sharpen what we need to sharpen,” Harris said. “We will be ready for John Carroll.”

games because we wanted club volleyball to be competitive and have a purpose and a goal we were all working towards together, which in turn inspires a more tight knit community,” Caggiano said. Because the team is o%cially only a club and is not part of a league, they will play anyone who agrees to compete with them. “We’ve just been contacting a bunch of different schools this semester,” Entner said, who acts as team captain and coach. “I’ve just been DMing and emailing them and reaching out to their coaches to see their availability.” !e team aims to play one match a month and participate in a tournament at the University of Michigan in November. “We’re super ready,” Entner said. “We’re just tweaking things now and all the girls are super excited.” Although some players have never competed in club volleyball before this semester, Caggiano said the team has worked well together. “We have anywhere from someone who played abroad in Italy on a pro team and is now at Hillsdale College to people who have never touched a volleyball, but the culture is so good and everyone is so encouraging,” Caggiano said. “No one’s really seeking their own glory or trying to dominate. !e best players on the court are some of the most support-

it out, so I think we’re all like, ‘Hey, this is going to work.’” Sophomore Bella Ciraco transferred to Hillsdale after playing varsity volleyball at Trinity College and semi-professional volleyball at Rome City Institute, a school for international athletes. She’s currently getting back into volleyball after recovering from an injury. Ciraco said playing with such a variety of skill levels was an adjustment, but club volleyball at Hillsdale is helping her improve in different ways than her semi-pro team did. “I need to be able to play with different levels and gauge where everyone’s at,” Ciraco said. “A big part of being a good athlete is thinking, ‘Who are you playing with and how can you contribute to the team that you’re on?’” !e club volleyball team looks forward to new players, regardless of their skill levels, Ciraco said. “We would love to welcome anyone who is willing to set down their books for two hours and just work hard towards a common goal,” Ciraco said. “And I think that’s what’s really amazing about volleyball –– it’s just such a team sport, and it really creates amazing bonds because you have to depend so deeply upon your peers.”

Opinion

The Seahawks strike back: they will be Super Bowl champs By Josh Mistry SEnior rEportEr !e NFL season has barely started, but through the $rst two weeks, one team stands out as the most complete Super Bowl contender: the Seattle Seahawks. At $rst glance, Seattle is not the obvious choice. Teams with elite quarterbacks at the helm — like the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, or Cincinnati Bengals — might seem like more plausible Super Bowl winners. Other teams like the San Francisco 49ers or Dallas Cowboys might have a higher offensive ceiling when at their best. But winning the Super Bowl is not about having the best player at one position; it is about surviving sluggout games, injuries to key positions, and di%cult matchups. From what we’ve seen this season and last, the Seahawks

are the best equipped to make it to the Super Bowl and win. It starts with their defense. !e Seahawks $nished last season with the league’s top scoring defense, and they’re showing no sign of regression. !roughout their $rst two games, they have allowed only 17 total points, including their last road win over the Arizona Cardinals in week two where they only allowed seven points. !eir defense held the Cardinals to a measly 151 total yards, 3.2 yards per play, and 10 $rst downs. On the offensive side, the Seahawks put up 31 points with their backup quarterback against a Cardinals defense that held Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers to just 14 points the week before. !is is not the result of unlucky turnovers or fluke plays, but a well-balanced offense and a defense that grinds

teams down and wins despite personnel changes at key positions. !e Seahawks also have the offensive star power necessary to stretch opponents’ defenses. Jaxon Smith-Njigba won 2025 Offensive Player of the Year with almost 1,800 yards and has al-

ba caught nine passes for 155 yards and three touchdowns, including an 82-yard bomb. !e Seahawks can win handily even without perfect quarterback play when their deep threat receiver creates explosive plays. While quarterback might be a reason to pick the Bills or Chiefs,

"They're showing no sign of regression." ready started this year off with 277 yards and four touchdowns. !e threat he poses forces defenses to account for him on every single snap. His skillset was on display against the Cardinals, even with backup quarterback Drew Lock starting. Smith-Njig-

it is not the strongest part of the Seahawks unit. !e lesser importance of this position to the Seahawks is what will win them another ring. !is played out when they won without Darnold. Lock replaced him in Week 1 and then

started against the Cardinals, throwing for 235 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Almost any other name being thrown around as a Super Bowl contender would see their season as a wash almost instantly after losing their starting quarterback to injury. But the Seahawks have shown their scheme is something even a backup can keep functionally succeeding. !e Seahawks’ offensive line and running game are crucial to their success and are why they will still be grinding teams down come January. Against the Cardinals, they rushed for 162 yards despite missing their starting right guard. In the fourth quarter, the Seahawks scored on a 16 play, 70 yard drive that lasted more than 10 minutes. Fifteen of those 16 plays were runs. !is grinding style of play wears down the Seahawks too,

but their depth and agility at plugging players into their scheme sets them apart. Injuries are inevitable throughout the season, and the team that wins in February will not do so with their Week 1 starting lineup. !e Seahawks have already won games while missing starters at some of the most crucial positions: quarterback, offensive line, and safety. !e answer to the question, who will win Super Bowl LXI is not the team that can play the best single game, the one who has the flashy quarterback, or the roster full of stars. It is the team that can survive and adapt to win 17 different styles and types of football games because of the strength of their gameplan. !at team is the Seattle Seahawks.

S$%r'(

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 24, 2026 A9

Opinion

God Bless America and long live Canada, too By Gabe Gerth CollEgiAn FrEElAnCEr “O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise . . .” Americans and Canadians heard these words belted out at the !rst Bu)alo Bills home game Sept. 17. This is good news. As soon as the Bills announced that they would play the Canadian National Anthem at every home game this year, they drew scrutiny and outrage. On Fox News’s Big Weekend Show, Tomi Lahren said “it makes no sense to me, it’s stupid.”

Most see this as an unnecessary gesture; others see it as blatantly anti-American. For those people who think that America should primarily serve its own interests, the decision to sing a foreign national anthem at a sporting event in the U.S. seems heretical. This view is wrong and omits our history of goodwill with Canada. America would not be American if not for our Canadian allies. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 60% of the United States’s oil imports come from Canada. In fact, Canada sells us its oil at a discount because it is more pro!table for them to give it to

us at a discount than to ship it to the rest of the world. Historically, Canada proved their allegiance to us when they sheltered six American diplomats in their Iranian Embassy during the hostage crisis of 1979–1980. On 9/11, Canada not only allowed more than 300 commercial flights to land across their country, but it also sheltered and fed our citizens until they could safely return to the U.S. This fond view of Canada is not shared by our president and his sycophantic cabinet. On Sept. 13, aboard Air Force One, Donald Trump said “I !nd Canada to be the worst

country to deal with.” Canada — not Iran, China, Russia, or even North Korea — is the most difficult country to deal with according to Trump. It is not Canada periodically testing their nuclear capabilities like North Korea, or waging an unprovoked war on another sovereign nation. Surprisingly, when it came time for fans of the Bu)alo Bills to put down a deposit toward season tickets during the building of the new stadium, Canadian fans showed up. A FoxNews article states that as of 2025, 18% of the personal seat license deposits at the new stadium were held by Canadians.

Despite being goaded by our president into hatred of America, Canadians seemingly still love football enough to invest in football tickets here. This kind of devotion to American sports by Canadians is not novel. In the NHL, Canadians hold about 10% of the season tickets for the Detroit Red Wings and as much as 20% for the Bu)alo Sabres. The Sabres play the Canadian anthem before every home game as a nod to their Canadian fans, and the Bills have indicated that they intend to do the same thing. The Bills and Sabres are owned by the same owner, Terry Pegula. Pegula appreciates

Canadians that have been and ought to be our friends. Regardless of all the uproar, it did not seem to have a detrimental impact on how the Bills played, seeing as they won 4131 against a very respectable Detroit Lions team. Playing the Canadian national anthem at an American football stadium that is a mere 15 miles from the Canadian border because there is a strong Canadian presence in that team’s fanbase promotes friendly relations with a country that has historically been our ally. Outrage against such a decision is cavalier and unwise.

Action Shooting

Action Shooters score high, prepare for national competition By Daniel Johnson ASSiStAnt Editor Eleven action shooting athletes competed in the Michigan United States Practical Shooting Association Sectional Sept. 19, with !ve athletes scoring in the top 10 of their division. Alumnus Gregory Clemen ’23 won the match overall. The Chargers competed in the limited and the limited optics divisions, contending in 10 stages against over 220 other action shooters from across the Midwest. The event had no team scoring. Athletes compet-

ed individually for top spots in their division and overall. Senior John Beecher placed 10th in the limited optics category, followed by senior Jonah Kirstein in 19th and sophomore William Grohs in 36th. John Beecher placed 40th overall. In the limited category, sophomore Joseph Beecher placed third. Seniors Clara Bozzay and Jianna Coppola took !fth and sixth, followed by sophomore Kathryn Madden in seventh. Action shooting competitions involve shooting targets

set up around di)erent obstacle courses in di)erent stages. Competitors are scored based on how quickly and accurately they !nish each stage. Athletes compete in di)erent divisions based on the type of sights on their guns, from iron sights to sophisticated red-dot systems. Hillsdale alumnus Gregory Clement ’23, now a professional action shooter, won the match decisively, according to John Beecher. “It was not particularly close,” team captain John Beecher said. “We’re very proud of Greg for representing Hillsdale.”

Senior Kayla (Mullin) Davenport, a captain on the team, said that divisions have varying levels of competitiveness, making a top-twenty !nish in some divisions as impressive as a podium !nish in others. “Limited Optics is one of the most, if not the most, competitive divisions,” Davenport said. Davenport said the match revealed the team’s growth. “I think we’re in a really good spot going into the Collegiate Championship,” Davenport said. “We’ve all poured a ton of time into the team and

into practice and training since the beginning of the semester.” Grohs said that a huge part of the team’s growth has been in mental discipline. “If you aren’t mentally in the spot you need to be, or if you're thinking about the wrong things and not trusting your hands to know what to do, then that’s when you start having weird hang-ups,” Grohs said. John Beecher said that the match warmed up the team for nationals next week. “It forced us to really go back to the fundamentals to shooting clean and shooting

Games

Women's Tennis

Noughts and Crosses -

High spirits brighten gloomy day for Charger tennis By Elaine Kutas SEnior Editor The unpredictable Michigan weather brought both rain and 60-degree temperatures last weekend, which forced the

Sophomore Sydney Singh serving. Courtesy | Elaine Kutas

carefully under not ideal conditions,” John Beecher said. “Throughout this week we’ll move from that baseline of very strong fundamentals to start gassing up, start pushing, and then hopefully be ready to lay down our best match on Saturday.” The action shooting team will compete in the Spring!eld Armory USPSA Championships Sat. 26 at the Ailes Action Shooting Range at the John A. Halter Shooting Center in Hillsdale, against collegiate teams from across the country.

women’s tennis team’s Summer Invitational inside the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center Sept. 19 and 20 for a slow start to the season. Despite the location change, the Chargers played two days of doubles and singles matches against Great Midwest Athletic Conference foes Northwood University and Walsh University, as well as Wayne State University. “I think it was a very positive weekend overall,” senior Ane Dannhauser said. “Honestly, I don’t think everyone’s results went the way they wanted for the entire weekend, which is just normal for the !rst tournament.” The Chargers played three doubles and three singles matches each over the course of the two days. Doubles partners junior Briana Rees and Dannhauser won two of their

doubles matches against teams from Walsh. Individually, Rees and Dannhauser both won two of their three singles matches. Freshman Emily Muresan took to the courts for her !rst match as a Charger, winning two of her three singles matches. According to Dannhauser, Muresan and freshman Addison Trotter’s doubles matches didn’t go as well as they hoped, but said that she’s excited to see the pair learn what competition feels like. “Standout performances were definitely from Emily,” Dannhauser said. “On Sunday, Emily was competing at a very high level, and she managed to beat a really good girl from Wayne State, so that was a very positive sign that made me so excited for the year to keep building on that momentum.” Rees said although it is titled the Summer Invitational, she enjoyed playing inside because it bolstered the team atmo-

sphere for the !rst time back on the courts. “We were much closer to each other than when we play on the outdoor courts where there can be four courts in between you and your teammates,” Rees said. “I think it really helped us with our cheering and showed the freshmen how an actual dual match in the spring will look.” Sophomore Sydney Singh started her season after being injured last year. Despite having a hard day, Singh said the season is looking bright. “I am really excited for a new season and am so ready to see how the freshmen will perform,” Singh said. “They are so excited and it is fun to see them in the spot that I was in last year. Our team looks really good so it will be a fun season.” The Chargers will next travel to Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the Davenport Invite Sept. 25 and 26.

The numbers around the border indicate the length of the longest runs of consecutive noughts or crosses in that row or column (a zero means that symbol does not appear in that row or column).

9/17 Solutions 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.

CHARGER CHATTER Eleanor Clark, Cross Country What’s the best thing $100 can buy?

What’s the strangest hill you’re willing to die on?

"Nespresso coffee pods and Drizzilicious. The Nespresso coffee is an everyday essential and I think I buy Drizzilicious weekly, specifically the Birthday Cake flavor."

"The Beach Boys are better than the Beatles. I think this is because I grew up listening to the Beach Boys, but I think they are a lot more fun and their music makes me so happy."

If you could take over a country, which one would it be and why? What is the best flavor of ice cream?

"Italy, because of all the cool historical stuff. I don’t know how I would run the country, but it would be cool to be there for a while." Compiled by AUTHOR NAME

"'Maddi Banani.' I get it at this place by my house. It’s vanilla and banana with milk and dark chocolate. Courtesy | Austin Thomason

Photo Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Hillsdale Volleyball after their youth clinic. Courtesy | Ashley Van Hoose

C harger S portS

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

A10 September 24, 2026

Football

Golf

Conference rival hands Marshall shoots 10 under, best school finish since 2017 three rounds, which ranked $%h out heartbreak on the road By Grace Brennan CulturE Editor

By Robert Matteson SportS Editor Despite a strong defensive performance, Hillsdale’s o!ense came up short in a 10-7 loss at Northwood University Sept. 19 to begin Great Midwest Athletic Conference competition. The Timberwolves retained the Riepema Cup, the trophy given to the winner of the rivalry each year. “It was a hard fought game,” head coach Nate Shreffler said. “We had some opportunities, and didn’t make the plays when we needed to, and they did. But I’m proud of our e!ort. Our guys played really hard. I think if we continue to play that way, we’re going to be just $ne down the stretch.” Hillsdale took a 7-0 lead when junior quarterback Eli Boyce ran for a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter. The Chargers did not score for the remainder of the game. Northwood took a 10-7 lead with 6:43 remaining in the fourth quarter. A%er a short offensive possession, Hillsdale’s defense got a stop and gave the ball back to the offense with 3:23 to play. Senior quarterback Colin McKernan led the Chargers down the $eld before the drive stalled at Northwood’s 25 yard line. Northwood blocked Hillsdale’s game-tying $eld goal attempt. Boyce $nished the game with 58 passing yards, 39 rushing yards, the rushing touchdown, and an interception. McKernan threw for 76 yards. Senior wide receiver Shea Ruddy led the Chargers with four catches for 50 yards. “We just have to keep getting

good at the things we practice,” Ruddy said. “We had a couple of missteps in the game, things that we have the capability of doing, but sometimes things don't go our way in games. We just need to keep working on the things that we know we can execute well.” On defense, Hillsdale held Northwood scoreless for the entire $rst half and only allowed 3-14 third down conversions. “We had a little bit of adversity right out of the gate with Jacob Vance getting hurt, and Alex Lee went in and had a great game,” Shreffler said. Lee, a senior linebacker, set career highs with 11 total tackles and 2.0 sacks. Junior linebacker Luke Penola had 10 tackles, and $%h year defensive back Colin Morrow contributed nine tackles. With the loss, Hillsdale's record fell to 2-1. “I think we just move on from the Northwood game and focus on Thomas More,” Lee said. “They show signs of explosiveness on o!ense, and if we just play like we did last week and the week before, we'll be in a good spot. I like our chances defensively.” The Chargers return home to play Thomas More University at Frank “Muddy” Waters Stadium Sept. 26 at 12 p.m. for Community Day. Everyone in the community can attend the game without a ticket. Charger Athletics will host a $250 kickfor-cash for one randomly chosen Charger fan. “We’re going to practice this week like it’s a championship game and try to go out there and put as many points up as we can,” Ruddy said.

The Hillsdale men’s golf team placed third in the UIndy Invitational hosted at Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana Sept. 21-22. The Chargers shot 17 under par as a team, and $nished in third place. This is an improvement from their 13th place $nish last week in the Midwest Regional Preview tournament. Senior Oliver Marshall set an all-time scoring record with the best 54-hole performance in program history since 2017. Marshall $nished 10 under par, and placed fourth overall. “I putted very well the last day and hit my wedges very well the whole tournament which allowed me to make a lot of birdies,” Marshall said. Marshall made 16 birdies over

among all players in the tournament. According to Marshall he is pleased with his scores, but more interested in the team score. “We need to keep getting better as a team throughout the season if we want to reach our goals by the end of the year,” Marshall said. Sophomore Parker Stalcup, freshman Anthony Stouder, and junior Jackson Piacsek rounded out Hillsdale’s team score. The Chargers entered the $nal round of play in sixth place, but $nished in third place a%er under par scores from all golfers. Head Coach Luke Kelly said that Marshall played well, but he can continue to improve. “I think he knows and understands that it still wasn’t his best,” Kelly said. “Keeping him motivated and working to be

Sophmore Parker Stalcup tees off. Courtesy | Ryan Thorpe

Senior Oliver Marshall after taking fourth place. Courtesy | Ryan Thorpe

consistent each week will help make him one of the best players in the conference.” The conditions of the course were scoreable, despite some wind, according to Marshall. Stalcup agreed. “The greens weren’t rolling too fast but they were true,” Stalcup said. “We had a rain delay the $rst day but a%er it was just cloudy and somewhat cold.” Stalcup $nished 14th overall, his second best performance of his college career. He shot a 3-under-par 69 in the first round, an even-par 72 in the second round, and 1 under par in the third round. “I played well, was hitting my irons great, and making a lot of long putts,” Stalcup said. “I didn’t take advantage of the par $ves which were playing very easy this week, but I played the par 4s and 3s very well.” Stouder shot 2 under par and Piacsek shot 1 under par in the

tournament. According to Stalcup, the team was in contention to win in the $nal round of play. “The team played very solid and came within one shot of the lead towards the end,” Stalcup said. Kelly said that there is always room for improvement since progress is never stagnant. “Each day we are either getting better or getting worse,” Kelly said. “Based on the things I saw last week we need to clean up our shots around the green, and be more con$dent o! the tee.” Hillsdale returns to action Sept. 28-29 at the Sunnehanna Collegiate tournament, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Volleyball

Chargers fall in conference, host first-ever youth clinic By Ashley Luke ASSiStAnt Editor Hillsdale volleyball hosted its $rst-ever youth clinic for the Hillsdale community Sept. 19. The Chargers held the clinic a%er losing to Ashland University 3-1 Sept. 19. Hillsdale also lost to Gannon University 3-1 Sept. 18. “We are always trying to get kids in the gym,” said Megan Molenkamp, assistant volleyball coach. “Interacting with our community is really important to us, but it’s really hard to do that during the fall because we’re all so busy in the gym working out all the time. So a youth clinic right a%er a match seemed like a great idea.” Christian Peck-Dimit, Hillsdale’s marketing and game day experience manager, said the clinic was inspired by a for-

mer coach he worked with. He said the event was a tribute to the strong support of Hillsdale’s community in Charger sports. “We have an absolutely incredible community here in Hillsdale,” Peck-Dimit said in an email. “They help our student-athletes and their teams on and o! of their $elds of play in more ways than I can count. One of those things is their faithful attendance at our athletic events. We love the Hillsdale community and feel that we should be taking advantage of any way that we can show this love or give back to them.” Local elementary-aged children received free admission to the Ashland game prior to the clinic if they wore their school sports uniforms, Molenkamp said. The clinic lasted 30 minutes and had stations where children learned di!erent volleyball skills.

“Each of our Hillsdale College athletes had the opportunity to teach the skill that they

Hillsdale competed against Gannon Sept. 18, losing 25-15 in the $rst set, winning 25-14

Freshman Taylor Brownsword and junior Ellie Fles blocking. Courtesy | Ella Schafer

get to perform on the court, which is so fun and special,” Molenkamp said.

in the second, and dropping the third 25-19. The Golden Knights won the fourth set 31-

29. Sophomore Taylor Cook led the Chargers with 12 kills and senior Chloe Peirce had 21 digs. Head coach Chris Gravel said the di!erence between winning and losing against Gannon was Hillsdale’s lack of aggression. “We were almost waiting for them to make a mistake, and it wasn’t going to happen,” he said. In the loss to Ashland, Hillsdale won the $rst set 25-23 and lost the last three 25-17, 25-18, and 25-15, respectively. “We did show improvement from the week before,” Gravel said. “We’re playing at a higher level, but consistency is what we really need to work on this week, and we're looking forward to a good week’s practice.” The Chargers will host Kentucky Wesleyan College Sept.

25 and Thomas More University Sept. 26 for Community Weekend, o!ering free admission to all attendees for both matches. Peck-Dimit said the games Sept. 25-26 are an example of the college giving back to the Hillsdale community for their love of Charger sports. “Justin Price’s Farmers Insurance Agency has made a generous sponsorship of this weekend’s volleyball matches and football game,” Peck-Dimit said in an email. “We are able to make all three of those competitions completely free to attend for all fans. We are also raising money for a local charity, Love INC in Hillsdale, at Friday's 7 p.m. volleyball match.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 24, 2026

CULTURE Members of the student band GoodTime. Courtesy | Amelia King

Lost Mary plays for Hillsdale’ s angels By Grace Brennan Culture editor Local alumni band Lost Mary will perform at Pi Phi Picnic, a philanthropy and community outreach event created to raise awareness for children’s literacy Saturday. The backyard of Pi Beta Phi will be set up with a banner, a stage, picnic blankets and baskets, and hot dogs and Poppi sodas, on Sept. 26 from 5-6:30 p.m. “We invite all members of campus to come and hang out,” said junior Rachel Ward, Pi Phi’s director of philanthropy and service. “We will have food there, and live music.” Tickets to pre-purchase hot dogs were already sold Sept. 16-23 in the student union, but Ward said tickets are not necessary. “This is going to be a really fun environment for people to join together and listen to music,” Ward said. “It’s a good transition from summer to fall.” Pi Phi’s most popular philanthropy event is Mr. Hillsdale, when one man from each dorm catwalks and performs for the school in an attempt to charm the judges and be named Mr. Hillsdale. But to introduce Pi Phi to more of campus, Vice President of Recruitment senior Sam Otting came up with the idea of Pi Phi Picnic last fall. Last year’s Pi Phi Picnic had a student band perform, but this year Pi Phi President senior Gia Coulthard asked alumni band Lost Mary to perform. “Some people in community relations are really big fans of Lost Mary,” Ward said. “Our president actually has a personal connection with them. They were very enthusiastic to do it, especially for the philanthropy.” Lost Mary is a folk and Americana two-man band, made up of members Luke Martin ’17 and David Johnson ’17. Martin and Johnson have a history of performing on campus. “We’ve played on campus

quite a few times in different forms,” Martin said. “Back in college David played guitar in the college band Deaf Davey and the Wineboxes, performing at Battle of the Bands, Centralhallapalooza, and many other events. We both also played random pop up events with our music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha, which is now Theta Epsilon. Since graduating college we’ve played at the homecoming tailgate twice now as Lost Mary, in 2024 and 2025.” According to Martin, the duo will play 12-15 songs for their set, including some of their unreleased music. “Our setlist mostly includes songs that will be on our upcoming album ‘Some Kind of Peace,’ which will be released in the new year,” Martin said. “This album consists of a lot of the singles, including ‘Vintage Ford,’ ‘Big Blue House,’ ‘Dogwood Flowers,’ as well as other unreleased songs.” Martin said they enjoy playing some songs that haven’t hit the public ear yet to see the crowd’s immediate reaction. “We’re still a relatively new band, so material for shows can be limited, especially since we play only original music,” Martin said. “We occasionally throw in a new song just to see how it feels on stage, and how people connect with it, and this sometimes helps us to decide whether or not a song should be recorded and then released.” Ward said she looks forward to having the alumni band perform for Pi Phi and the rest of campus. “Seeing that other people know their names and are excited that we’re playing their music makes us very excited to have them here,” Ward said. According to Martin, he and Johnson are just as excited to be back on campus. “We always enjoy playing on campus,” Martin said. “It doesn’t have the stress of a venue or a festival, and it’s usually more laid back. Also, the younger generation feels more connected to our sound than other crowds.”

GoodTime brings a new take on an old genre By Monica Smies Collegian reporter

has developed new musical skills thanks to Conley’s encouragement. “Bo has this ability to solo on the guitar that is something I could never fathom for myself, and it is amazing to witness,” King said. King said she taught herself to play guitar six years ago. Now she plays guitar for GoodTime and is the lead female singer. “When I got to Hillsdale, I discovered everyone here is musical,” King said. “I felt like being in a community of people who loved music so much really encouraged me to grow in my ability to play guitar, to

volved in various music groups, including Theta Epsilon, one of the men’s music fraternities on campus. Bellet sings and plays the guitar, but for GoodTime, he plays the bass. “Dave is unbelievably talented. He can recognize when one note is o$ and it helps keep the band together,” said King. Marquell plays football for Hillsdale and is the band’s drummer. “Our drummer, Leo, is a super fun guy,” Conley said. “He’s the curveball of the group and fits in so well,” Conley said. “He keeps us on our toes, keeps us playing upbeat music. When

A new student band is committed to giving students a GoodTime. GoodTime band has played country-folk music at Hillsdale College since the band formed in the spring semester of 2026, when junior Rylan Conley reached out to its now-members. “We found there was a lack of a true country band or a country-folk sort of genre band on campus,” Conley said. “We all really love playing that music and want to try to fill that gap so everyone can enjoy what we love.” S enior Amelia King, junior Lucy Jansen, junior Dave Bellet, sophomore Bo Brannon, and sophomore Leo Marquell are members of GoodTime. Conley is the lead male singer and plays guitar. G o o d Time played for Country Party, JukeGoodTime performs at the Dawn Theatre. Courtesy | Amelia King box, and CHP Showdown in the spring se- sing, and also to use my gifts some of us want to play slowmester of 2026 and will contin- to perform at di$erent places.” er, sad Zach Bryan music, he’ll ue to play for events this year. With two friends, King come in and be like, ‘You know, GoodTime recently played at started a band called the MLKs let’s do some Lynyrd Skynyrd.’ Welcome Party, Concert on the her sophomore year. The guy is just great.” Quad and opened for a band “I always had this dream Jansen plays the fiddle for called The Taildraggers at the since freshman year of be- GoodTime, and she does so enDawn Theater Sept. 19. ing in a big band,” King said. tirely by ear, rather than sight Brannon, the lead guitar “I would see Schizmatics and reading the music. player of the band, has played Runaround and I’d think to “I’m so grateful to have Lucy the guitar since he was in high myself, ‘What I would give to in the band,” King said. “She’s school. be in a band like that?’ Then just super talented at fiddle, “Rylan came to me and said, Rylan, who I had gotten to and really adds something spe‘Hypothetically, if we were to know through playing music cial to the band.” start a country band, would together with our friends, was Jansen said she had a muyou want to play lead guitar?’ like, ‘Hey, do you want to be a sical connection to Brannon, I said, ‘You know what man, singer in this band?’ And I said, even before they began playing I really don’t know how to do ‘Hell yeah, I do.’” together in GoodTime. that but absolutely yes,” BranConley, Bellet and Brannon “It was so cool playing ‘Hills non said. said since they arrived at Hills- of Donegal’ at Concert on the According to Brannon, he dale College they have been in- Quad,” Jansen said. “Bo’s dad

and uncle (my godfather) played the same song together in their band. It felt like one of those moments where everything lines up perfectly and you know you’re doing the right thing.” The band focuses on bringing country-folk music to campus while occasionally blending in the pop-country genre, according to King. “I love that GoodTime is a di$erent style of music — it’s country-folk music — and normally I feel like bands tend to play pop or rock or things like that,” King said. “We have harmonies, which you don’t see in a lot of these other bands. It’s cool to be doing something a little bit different than what I’ve seen before on campus.” The band wants the campus to be e x p o s e d to traditional country music, according to Bellet. “GoodTime is trying to bring that awesome sound to a place where it’s unfamiliar, which is Hillsdale College,” Bellet said. The band agrees that they all work together well as a musical group but also are becoming good friends. “I really love GoodTime for the community that it has built,” King said. “It has led to deeper friendships.” Bellet encouraged students to expand their knowledge of country music. “The old country is a treasure trove of variety and expression,” Bellet said. “If you judge country music in general by the releases that you hear on the radio and on Spotify within the past 10 years, you’re making a mistake, and you should listen to GoodTime.”

From Hong Kong to MI: Hope College professor reflects on ‘Ode to Joy’ By Elizabeth Caneday assistant editor In a Musical Forum lecture, students sang “Ode to Joy” in two-part harmony and watched a video of gang violence in Hong Kong. Samuel Pang, assistant professor of music and director of orchestras at Hope College, delivered the Sept. 18 lecture on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and the humanity of music. “One performance of a Beethoven symphony inspired me to leave my hometown, Hong Kong, and go all the way to Vancouver and study theology,” Pang said. “I’m sure Beethoven wasn’t thinking of Hong Kong or Canada or any theology school when he wrote the symphony.” Pang began the lecture by sharing a story from his time as an orchestra director at a Hong Kong high school. After a July 2019 performance in Austria, in collaboration with the University of Vienna, he said he was confused by several text messages which told him to be careful about returning home. According to Pang, the messages told him about riots and gang violence in the streets of Hong Kong and another nearby

town, Yuen Long. “Moments ago, we were singing ‘Alle Menschen werden Brüder,’ which means ‘all people become brothers,’ in one of the most celebrated concert halls in the world. Meanwhile, our hometown faced the greatest crisis in

tors being beaten by pro-government rioters. Watching the events unfold, Pang said he couldn’t stop thinking about Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, which his orchestra had played on that eventful night. According to Pang, Beethoven

Samuel Pang conducts students. The Collegian | Elizabeth Caneday

our lifetimes,” Pang said. During the lecture, Pang played a video from the New York Times that depicted the protests and violence. The newscast showed anti-government protes-

chose to use German poet Friedrich Schiller’s poem “Ode to Joy” for his final symphony. “Perhaps Beethoven adopted the text because his vision of joy united humanity and expressed

ideals he had cherished for decades. But he did not just adapt it word for word. He also substantially reshaped the poem,” Pang said. These were intentional choices, according to Pang — Beethoven intentionally reordered the poem’s lines to create a continuous line of development from the terrestrial to the divine. At this point in the lecture, Pang asked his audience to sing “Ode to Joy.” According to Pang, its well-known words demonstrate the continued impact of Beethoven’s composition. Pang said though he began to process the events of July 2019 by thinking about music, studying theology brought him greater understanding. According to Pang, the Chinese believe they need images of gods to enact their powers, and there are gods for almost anything: money, the kitchen, fertility, the earth. “In Hong Kong, both gangsters and the police worshiped the same god — Guandi, the Chinese god of war. What is more dehumanizing is that all these ancient religions believed that humans were slaves to these gods, and that humans had to work to please them.” Pang said when the ancient Is-

raelites fled Egypt, God instructed them not to make images because they did not need physical gods to bribe or worship. “It was God’s way of telling the Israelites they should never make themselves slaves of pagan gods,” Pang said. “Neither should they create for themselves images of gods, because humans are the image of God and are to enact God’s blessing and dominion over all creation.” Sophomore Julia Burke said she appreciated how Pang emphasized music’s humanizing nature. “He talked a lot about how worshiping God and having a personal connection with our Creator is what makes us di$erent from other animals. Worship is what makes us human,” Burke said. Pang said the 100-year-old founding principal of Regent College, James Houston, told him music will be crucial to the next Christian reformation. “Houston’s thesis is that in our DNA we are naturally made to be worshipers, and music has a way of triggering that DNA in us,” Pang said. “We’re given the gift of music, which we must develop, refine, and perfect through hard work, to trigger the DNA that enables all our fellow human beings

to bow our knees to both Father and Son.” Pang said this is not just a recently developed Christian idea, but one shared by philosophers such as Aristotle and Pythagoras, 500 years before Christ. “Ancient philosophers thought of music as a way to find something greater than themselves,” Pang said. “Even before they knew Christianity, they thought music triggered us in a way that most of us would respond to it similarly.” Pang ended the lecture on a hopeful note. Regardless of when the next reformation comes, he told students to use their musical skills to praise God. “Worship the Lord with excellence,” Pang said. “Use music to help communities find greater commonality with one another in encountering an increasingly dehumanizing world.” Freshman Xixi Qiu said she was surprised by the lecture’s theological emphasis. “I got an email saying this is a lecture on Beethoven’s 9th, so I went thinking I was going to get a music theory lesson and came out thinking about human dignity,” Qiu said.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 24, 2026

CULTURE

Joy Quartet gets stuck in airport en route to DC performance By Sophia Bryant Features editor The members of the Joy String Quartet stood at the gate to board their flight to Washington, D.C., where they would perform Sept. 15, and tried to explain to the gate agents why they couldn’t check their instruments. “String players can’t check instruments because the pressure and temperature under the plane — and the fact that there’s a bunch of luggage moving around down there — make it really dangerous for the instrument,” said junior Julia Peyrebrune, who plays the viola for the quartet. “And so we basically refused to check the instruments, and they said ‘You can’t get on the plane.’” The quartet is made up of Peyrebrune, cellist senior Peter Andrews, and violinists senior Isabelle Ekstrom and junior Aidan Watts. They left Hillsdale at 8 a.m. the day before to play at the Grand Reopening Celebration

of Hillsdale’s Washington, D.C., campus. Because they refused to check their instruments, Peyrebrune and Watts had to board a different flight, and arrived in D.C. late that night, according to Watts. “We weren’t at the hotel until 11:50 p.m.,” Watts said. “So it was a wild trip. The gate guards gave us a lot of problems. They always want to gate check our instruments, and we had to explain to them we can’t gate check them.” Professor of Music Melissa Knecht, who chaperoned the trip, said that despite the issues, the quartet stayed professional. “No one ever got angry,” Knecht said. “It’s a great group. Hillsdale should be very proud.” The next day, the quartet played background music in the Kirby Center for three hours, from 10:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. “They kept their standards very high,” Knecht said. “It’s easy when you play that long to start getting sloppy and not listening. And they just kept the highest

standards the whole time they played. I was very proud of each of them and what they contributed because like I said, it’s exhausting.” It was the 2026-2027 Joy Quartet’s $rst performance together, according to Knecht. Students go through a long audition process to join the quartet. Once in the quartet, students perform on historical string instruments, donated by David and Bonnie Joy Hough in 2022. “They were fantastic, and it’s not just my opinion,” Knecht said. “One of the things about that event is there are a lot of people that have gone to a lot of concerts. This is Washington, D.C., and a lot of times they thought that they were just hired professionals. But when they found out they’re Hillsdale students, they were so excited.” While the quartet played, friends of the college, staff, and guests received tours of the building and ate a luncheon in the banquet hall. College President Larry

Arnn and Matthew Spalding, vice president of Washington operations and dean of the Van Andel Graduate School of Government, both gave remarks, according to Shaun Rieley, director of educational programs and teaching fellow. “If you have been to the Kirby Center, all the walls and the whole renovation is about the beauty of architecture, and then to have classical music that not only sounds beautiful, but is — a lot of times — the music during the times of the Founding Fathers,” Knecht said. “I mean, the Founding Fathers would have heard a lot of those composers, and to have that all combined, I think it de$nitely enhanced the day for the donors.” After the performance, the quartet walked around the National Mall and stopped at a coffee shop, according to Peyrebrune. “It was such a short trip that there wasn’t much that we could do together,” Ekstrom said. “But

it’s a very good group of musicians, and I’m so honored to be there.” Ekstrom said the gate agents for their return trip to Hillsdale also tried to gate check their instruments. “All three of us ripped off the tags as soon as we got on the strip,” Ekstrom said. “But the flight attendants on the aircraft were actually really helpful. It was a discrepancy between the gate agents and the flight attendants.” While they brought their personal instruments on the trip to D.C., the Joy Quartet plays on old instruments at concerts in Hillsdale. Peyrebrune plays a viola made by Giulio Cesare Gigli in the 1760s. “It’s kind of crazy,” Peyrebrune said. “It’s older than America, and I’m like, ‘How am I allowed to have this?’” Knecht coaches the quartet once a week, and they practice together twice a week as well as performing in various concerts, according to Watts.

“It’s a privilege because you really don’t get a lot of opportunities to do that, to play on instruments like that, or to be in a group with such dedicated and capable musicians all the time,” Watts said. The quartet will perform at the Blake Center for Faith and Freedom in Connecticut this winter. Currently, they are preparing for their Halloween performance. “We are going to dress in costumes and play for the community,” Ekstrom said. “So it is a lot of fun music. You’ll recognize a lot of the pieces we play, and the group every year really enjoys doing this concert.” Peyrebrune said that since everyone in the quartet trained for over a decade in music before college, everyone brings different ideas. “They expose you to new ways of thinking and new ways of being creative,” Peyrebrune said. “You have to be willing to try new things.”

Tom Holland’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ breaks records By Sophia Douglass Collegian FreelanCer With the cinematic release of both “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” Tom Holland made a splash this summer. The Marvel $lm picks up four years after “Spider-Man: No Way Home” with a struggling Peter Parker defending New York City from a mysterious vigilante. The blockbuster earned $360 million its opening weekend. It has now secured its spot as one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, earning $2.415 billion worldwide on a $225 million budget. The movie’s massive success proves that audiences still enjoy good superhero movies, and Marvel has recon$rmed its ability to write such stories. With the Spider-Man saga, Marvel created a young version of the character, and Holland’s youthful charm has made Marvel’s Spidey massively successful. Previous Spider-Man install-

ments have been less successful. Andrew Gar$eld’s “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, the last Spider-Man movie created solely by Sony, was a $nancial disappointment during its 2014 rerelease. According to The Numbers, it generated $709.67 million on a $200 million budget, while

“Brand New Day” made almost 11 times its budget. “Brand New Day” proves that Marvel has created a Spider-Man universe that is not only more enjoyable to fans but also more $nancially lucrative.

fourth album, 'Angel' Singer-songwriter Lizzy McAlpine released her newest album, “Angel,” a love letter to human connection and folk icons of yesteryear, Sept. 18. McAlpine began releasing music on Soundcloud during the early part of the lockdown, where a niche subset admired her vocal ability and natural talent for writing lyrics. In August of 2020, she released her $rst album, “Give Me a Minute.” In 2022, she released her second album, “$ve seconds flat,” which gained traction a year later through a viral Tiktok trend when “Ceilings” became an internet sensation. Also in 2023, McAlpine collaborated with Noah Kahan on his song, “Call Your Mom,” solidifying her place in the indie-folk music sphere. In the past six years, McAlpine has released four albums, each one showing her strength as a lyricist, with every songwriting element tackled with amazing care and creativity. In her album “Angel,” McAlpine reaches a refreshing level of authenticity and meticulous consideration of folk. McAlpine shared how she has been able to really delve into her love of folk music with this latest album in a recent interview with Vogue. “During the writing of this album, I started listening to a lot of Joni [Mitchell] and Nick Drake and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and all those artists. I think they just found me at a time when I needed them,”

sion amongst superhero fans: which Spider-Man is the best? Although that decision is mostly subjective, Business Insider believes Tom Holland is the best Spider-Man because of the actor’s young age. Tobey Maguire, the original actor for Spider-Man, holds

to be less quirky and quippy, and so, less accurate. Andrew Gar$eld’s version, on the other hand, has received the opposite consensus. His portrayal of the superhero is considered to be the most accurate of the three actors, while his version of the man behind the mask is not

any amount of creative control. So, the massive success of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is more associated with Marvel’s involvement than that of Sony. “Brand New Day” has resurfaced a popular topic of discus-

a special place in fans’ hearts. His version is the original and the blueprint for both Andrew Gar$eld and Tom Holland. Maguire’s portrayal of the awkward Peter Parker is very accurate to the comics, while his portrayal of the superhero himself seems

nearly awkward enough. His Peter Parker has a cooler, edgier persona than what audiences typically associate with the character. So, Gar$eld’s overall portrayal of the character is considered the weakest according to Business Insider.

Courtesy | Wikimedia Commons

Lizzy McAlpine releases By Lonan Mooney Collegian reporter

Sony owns the film rights for the character of Spider-Man while Marvel owns the image of Spider-Man, allowing them to profit from toys and other merchandise. What makes Tom Holland’s Spider-Man series is unique because it is the only adaptation over which Marvel had

McAlpine told Vogue. “Angel” explores themes of connection in various forms. With her songs “The light in the painting,” “I have a friend,” and “Over country,” McAlpine explores love and devotion in its purest form. McAlpine purposefully emphasized friendship in this album, saying it is an unexplored topic in today’s songwriting. With her focus on connection, McAlpine is also embracing phone-free concerts, like fellow indie-folk artist Phoebe Bridgers. She said she appreciates the genuine atmosphere they create, according to Vogue. “It’s fun and freeing in a way, being able to tell stories, mess up, and knowing I could just be myself,” McAlpine said in the Vogue interview. Her vocals, exhibited in previous songs such as the single “Pushing It Down and Praying,” have a haunting, lilting strength reminiscent of Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, and bluegrass star Alison Krauss. Earlier this year, McAlpine came out with a cover of “House of the Rising Sun,” a testament to her vocal ability, soft-launching her folk intentionality with her new record. In an interview with Rolling Stone, McAlpine revealed the meaning behind her title track. “The last line of that song [Angel] feels like a thesis statement of the whole record,” McAlpine said. “‘I have always been waiting just to be.’”

Musical from A1 The musical, with its small cast, stood out as a perfect option for the Tower Players’ $rst show of the year. “This play is full of charm and great comic moments and great music and choreography. So it’s a really good $t for us,” Matsos said. Bodor-Gosztony said he had big shoes to $ll to make Charlie Brown his own, while remaining true to the classic character. “I think it’s really hard to tell from the outside, but he’s a little pigeon-toed. I’m not sure if he’s like that in any of the TV shows or comics, but I just felt like that was so Charlie,” Bodor-Gosztony said. The cast grew in their acting, singing, and dancing skills as they transformed into their characters, according to Matsos. “My favorite part has been and continues to be watching the cast deliver the show every night and make new discover-

ies and $nd new opportunities to deliver the story,” Matsos said. Junior and stage manager Elizabeth Williams said she has enjoyed working backstage and watching the actors tell the story. “I have grown to love the ending song, which is called ‘Book Report,’ where all of the characters are writing a book report about ‘Peter Rabbit.’ I think that song is single-handedly the most played song in my head ever,” Williams said. “I think I sing it every time I go to do homework or I go to a class, I'll just start singing Charlie Brown lyrics in my head, and I think every day I just look forward to that scene.” With the show opening this month, the cast had to work on learning lines over the summer to be ready, according to Bodor-Gosztony. “It was intense, but also everyone came in super prepared, which was awesome,” Bodor-Gosztony. “It was really great to be a part of a cast where everyone was taking it serious-

The "Peanuts" gang looks up at the stars. Courtesy | Austin Thomason

Tom Holland is the most consistent of the three actors. His portrayal of both sides of the character has been well-acted for the past decade, and he consistently brings a sweet charm to the character that makes his Spidey the most endearing to audiences. Holland was 19 years old when he $rst appeared as Spider-Man, whereas Maguire was 26 and Gar$eld was 27. Due to Holland’s excellent acting and his youthful charms, his character is the best of the three actors’ portrayals. In this way, Marvel and Holland have delivered the best version of the beloved web-slinger to date. The future of Holland’s Spider-Man is still up in the air, but Sony and Marvel insiders suggest that a second trilogy may be in the works. Considering the massive success of “Brand New Day,” Holland’s future as Spider-Man looks promising.

Ava Jolley and Rhoen Nevins in the musical. Courtesy | Austin Thomason

ly. That made it so much easier because everyone came in basically off-book so then we were mostly working on blocking and music.” The musical also features complex technical elements that the crew had to $gure out in the last month, according to Williams. “Linus’ ‘Blanket and Me’ song was the most technically di&cult with timing of cues, as well as the intricacies of the blanket flying. So every day it’s a celebration to get through that one,” Williams said. Matsos said students should go see the show and bring a friend. “It’s really heartwarming, funny, and moving,” Matsos said. “I think people are going to really enjoy it.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 24, 2026 B3

Babysitters build mudpies and sing Gregorian chants By Megan Li

senior editor When junior Britta Slayton started babysitting in Hillsdale two years ago, she didn’t expect the kids she watched to tell stories about her. “I watched one of my families around three weeks ago when they were like, ‘Our friends told us when you were babysitting them, you guys went and you ding-dong ditched somebody and then you ran away,’” Slayton said. The shared churches, schools, and co-ops in Hillsdale where families overlap make these stories, which have inspired other babysitting adventures for Slayton, possible. When Slayton moved from St. Louis to Hillsdale and transferred to the college, she said the Hillsdale community felt very connected and homey. “Every family I know there didn’t know each other,” Slayton said, referring to her babysitting in St. Louis. “Here, everybody knows everybody.” Slayton is the second oldest of seven siblings, and she grew up constantly babysitting. “As soon as I could drive, I was always driving and doing my own gigs and stu" for families at church,” Slayton said. “I was homeschooled, so we knew a lot of families in that area.” Slayton said it didn’t take long for her to get connected to babysitting opportunities in Hillsdale. She has watched kids ranging from a few months to 12 years old. “Here, I regularly watch a

“It’s funny picking them up because I literally know half of the families that go to the Academy,” Slayton said. “I know all the kids that are getting dropped off after school. It’s super funny.” Slayton said as a local babysitter, she uses an “email group that literally every woman in Hillsdale is on” where mothers can connect to babysitters. “When I was trying to pull together jobs for the summer, I sent out an email,” Slayton said. “I was like, ‘Hey, I have some availability these days and these hours, and if you need any help, either babysitting or nannying positions, shoot me a message.’” !at was how Slayton got connected with the family who works at the sports complex. “!ere’s families where you don’t quite click, but this one just felt genuine, and I really enjoyed doing it,” Slayton said. Slayton has about three other families that request her babysitting, but it doesn’t happen frequently because the families know she is busy with school. “I haven’t had any huge issues yet. Granted, we haven’t had midterms yet,” Slayton said. “The parents are really $exible with, ‘If you need more hours, let us know. If you need to cut back, let us know.’ I know I have that to fall back on.” Junior Elizabeth Christian, who started babysitting as a young teenager, said the first family she babysat for had five children all under 8 years old. “It was my first time babysitting, and the kids were insane,” Christian said. “It definitely set me up to think that no other

From left to right: Clara, Luke, and Sylvie with a rabbit. Courtesy | Britta Slayton

family who works at the Splex, and I pick up one of their kids three days a week,” Slayton said. “We just chill and we go on little adventures around campus, and it’s so cute. I think he probably babysits me more than I do him on some days because we just vibe — we are like jumping around puddles after it rains.” Slayton said she babysat the boy and his three older siblings two days a week over the summer. Even now, she sometimes picks up all of them at Hillsdale Academy.

babysitting job is hard ever.” In Christian’s freshman year, professors reached out to her with babysitting opportunities, and she babysat regularly during her first two years at school. “I always think you have so many hours in a day anyway, and how many of those hours do we spend wasting time or doing something different?” Christian said. “I was like, ‘I’m not doing homework right now. I’m getting a break from that, but I’m also getting to play with this ado-

rable child,’ and it’s perfect.” Christian said although she sometimes arrives with books and games prepared, she likes to let the kids she babysits decide what to play. “Kids are so imaginative and so creative and so much more capable than we often give them credit for,” Christian said. “When you just let them loose on the world — being outside is an amazing thing to do with kids — they just go crazy.” Christian is also a singer, and she loves singing to the kids she babysits. “Pro tip: If you’re babysitting, sing the Grego-

die,’ and it’s like, ‘OK, cool, I can do that.’ Some parents really like it when you know CPR because that’s a big deal.” Slayton said having previous experience babysitting, working at a restaurant, or being raised with young siblings help give parents peace of mind when hiring a babysitter. “Usually the parents don’t want to leave their kid, and they’re like, ‘I wish I didn’t have to work all the time,’” Slayton said. “Just understanding that and showing, ‘I’m gonna take care of your kid. They’re gonna learn, they’re gonna grow, they’re gonna

From left to right: Britta Slayton, Sylvie, Clara, and Luke. Courtesy | Britta Slayton

rian chant — they find it so soothing,” Christian said. Christian said while she babysat in families’ homes back in Pasadena, California, here she often takes the child she is babysitting around campus. “Everywhere you go, if you have a child on campus, people stop you and are like, ‘Who’s the baby?’” Christian said. Slayton said her babysitting style changes depending on who she is babysitting. “Some that are just very quiet, and they would rather just sit. !is kid I babysat — we’ll read for hours,” Slayton said. “Other kids are like, ‘Let’s go build a mud castle.’ I’m like, ‘All right, bring it on.’ It just depends on their personality, and I’m more introverted, but I find it really easy to figure out how they want to connect and get to know each other.” Slayton said learning how to take care of kids, not just how to keep them entertained, can have a lot to do with how someone was raised or one’s family dynamic. Growing up as one of the oldest in her family, she once had to raise her youngest newborn sibling for a week after her mother was hospitalized during the coronavirus quarantine. “You have to be willing to learn and adapt well to the different situations that there are. You have to be able to connect with the parents and make them feel comfortable to leave their kids with you because that’s a big deal too,” Slayton said. “Some parents will be really chill, and say, ‘Make sure that they don’t

have human connection time’ — it helps when you just have that friendly outgoing mindset with the families and showing that you want to be there, not just you have to be there.” Freshman Lucy Wujek said she is excited to find babysitting opportunities in Hillsdale. As the oldest of 15 grandchildren, she was often surrounded by little kids at home. “I nannied over the summer, and I just have always loved spending my time with kids,” Wujek said. “It’s the only way I really want to spend my extra time.” Wujek said she admires the strong faith held by many families in Hillsdale, as well as the size of the families. “I think it would be cool to babysit for families that have such a strong faith,” Wujek said. “At home, I nanny for two di"erent families of four, but here I feel like there are a lot of young families with a lot of kids, and I love that.” Slayton said she can’t wait to have her own family one day, and she treasures the experience of watching other people’s families and having their trust. Knowing how much the kids she watches enjoy spending time with her makes Slayton feel accomplished. “It’s a really fulfilling and sweet job,” Slayton said. “If you have a heart for caring for young kids, and just helping the community in that way, moms will appreciate you so much and love the time that they get to hear what you did with their kids when their kids go home.”

‘Some sort of whimsy’: Students start bird club By Ethan Savka

assistant editor Birds, birds, birds. For a new student club, t he bird is t he word. Led by president and junior Brandon Meeks, the group of 20 began assembling last semester when Meeks placed posters around campus to generate interest. Every Saturday, members go on a birding expedition, usually to nature reserves outside of Hillsdale. “I have liked birding for quite a few years now,” Meeks said. “I’ve just mostly done it alone, and a little bit with my family, who has taken some interest in it. I decided to create the club kind of on a hair at the end of last semester, and so I started putting out posters as finals week was happening. I just felt like it would be something good to start doing with other people and see if anyone else is interested on the campus and get us together.” Freshman Beatrice Long learned about the club through a friend before she arrived at Hillsdale and got involved right away. She has attended one expedition so far this semester, when the club went to Lost Nations, a reserve in Pittsford, Michigan.

“We walked for a little while without seeing many birds, and then we came to this beautiful little place looking out over a lake where we heard a particular bird that we wanted to investigate,” Long said. “And we saw lots of birds from there. We saw some kingfishers. We saw a pair of grebes, woodpeckers. We saw some American redstarts. And

and I like to look at birds. And I went to Africa this summer and saw more birds.” Gardner finds Michigan’s bird selection underwhelming after the birds he saw in Africa. “I saw a lilac-breasted roller and an Egyptian vulture, and also a secretary bird,” Gardner said. “!e secretary bird is a bird that has really long legs, and it looks like a turkey with

“It’s also a good time just to get out in nature and really appreciate God’s creation.” we probably sat there and just talked about philosophy and stu" for about an hour.” Club member and sophomore Ronan Gardner said he was thrilled to hear of a birding club coming to Hillsdale. “!e club exists primarily to just go out, look at awesome birds, and expand our knowledge of ornithology in general,” Gardner said. “But it’s also a good time just to get out in nature and really appreciate God’s creation and the awesome things that are birds. I joined this semester because I love birds so much,

really long legs, but it stomps on snakes and kills them and eats them, and it’s really cool.” Gardner’s roommate, junior Sam Jones, said the club has piqued his interest even though he does not bird-watch. “I think the birding club is a really fun way for students to get outside, slow down a little, and appreciate something that’s easy to overlook in day-to-day college life,” Jones said. “I’ve known about Ronan birding for the entire time I’ve known him, he loves birds so much. He’s even set up multiple bird feeders.”

Long believes students with busy schedules can find time for the club. “A lot of people are very interested, but they don’t really feel like it applies to them,” Long said. “But honestly, it’s not that much more than going on a hike. And whatever level of bird identification you happen to be at, you can come and just enjoy yourself. It’s a come-as-you-can basis. And there’s a semester-long competition for who can see the most sorts of birds. So that should be a lot of fun.” Meeks plans to make the club an official college-recognized organization this semester. He believes birding holds a special charm that other hobbies lack. “It seems to me that birds capture some sort of whimsy that other animals don’t,” Meeks said. “I think there’s just something about the beauty of their plumage and the various sizes and shapes they can take, and perhaps even the ability they can $y. I don’t know what it is. !ere’s something about that just appeals to people.” Birding can open up new experiences for its enthusiasts. Gardner, for example, has learned a new language. “Tweet tweet,” Gardner said.

Hoco from A1 Piecuch reflected on the preparation for the trivia competition. “Trivia takes a lot of time for the events team prior,” Piecuch said. “You have to prepare all of the trivia questions, and then have to double check to make sure all the questions and answers are right, because Hillsdale loves to dispute questions.” However, because homecoming has so much tradition, SAB has some experience from previous years to work from, according to Hicks. But the tradition does not mean that the events happen on their own. Rome said the SAB team begins more intensive planning about a month before homecoming by creating posters, ads, preparing team sign-ups, contacting judges, and developing the games. “I would have to say that Minute to Win It and trivia take the most work because we have to do research for questions and games that fit the theme,” Rome said. Mock Rock requires another layer of coordination. While dorms and teams focus on their performances, SAB works with other departments to handle the logistics of the $agship event. Rome said the team communicates with Director of Events and Game Day Coordinator Pat Hornak, audio-visual sta", and campus security to make sure the event runs smoothly. Despite the overwhelming amount of preparation involved, Rome said her first homecoming as director has been unexpectedly smooth. “Surprisingly, and pleasingly, it hasn’t been very challenging,” Rome said. “!e team knows exactly what they are

Cars from B4

It’s also painted in an unmistakable British racing green. Santalov has been around motorcycles his whole life, and both his parents along with many other family members are riders. Santalov said although he doesn’t get to ride the Triumph around much with school, it’s still one of the best ways to commute. “Also, because Michigan does not require you to wear a helmet on a motorcycle, here around town I don’t wear a helmet if I’m just riding,” Santalov said. “I mean, is it still a dangerous thing to do? Absolutely. But at the same time, one of the best things about riding a motorcycle without a helmet is that people can see my face and I can see theirs. So you can smile at individuals that you know, wave at them, say hi, and I think it’s a benefit, not just for me, but for some of my friends."

S doing for homecoming, and we are really excited about it.” For Hicks, being part of the SAB team has been a rewarding experience. “I really enjoy being part of the SAB team because they’re really great people, and I really enjoy working with all of them,” Hicks said. “During homecoming, you get to know the people on sta" more. It’s just really fun work.” Piecuch said working behind the scenes has also given him a di"erent perspective on what homecoming means to the student body. “Homecoming is always really fun,” Piecuch said. “It’s one of those things that you never quite know when you’re coming in as a freshman. You’re never quite sure what it is when people start telling you about it, and then you actually experience it, and like, ‘Holy crap!’ !is is such a crazy part of campus life.” Piecuch, who is experiencing his final homecoming as a student, said the work is ultimately about creating that cherished experience for others. “A great thing about homecoming, and you see this right at the beginning with the homecoming parade, is the bringing together of campus,” Piecuch said. “Everything has this common identity of, ‘We are part of Hillsdale.’” Even though students compete against one another throughout the week, Piecuch said the competition can ultimately bring students together. “A lot of people leave homecoming finally feeling like they’re at home on campus because of just all the hard, grueling work that they’ve done together,” Piecuch said.

Sophomore Jess Church has a bright orange 2021 Ford Mustang. She loves the car and has been driving it for a little over a year. “I got it in kind of an interesting way,” Church said. “So my cow had a really nice calf and I sold it, and that’s how I got enough money to buy it.” Church has lived in Ohio her whole life, and her dad started their family farm in 2008. A calf can range from about $700 on the low end to $3,000 and up on the high end, according to Cropologies. !e calf didn’t pay for the entire car though, so she had to sell her old one, a 2012 Mustang. Both Phelps and Santalov bought their vehicles o" of Facebook Marketplace. “I would recommend everyone to just take a risk on an older car,” Phelps said. “It’ll bring you a lot of joy.”

Students visit Cedar Point By Sophia Bryant

Features editor Some students petted camels while others screamed on some of the world’s tallest and fastest roller coasters during the Student Activities Board’s Cedar Point trip Sept. 12. Cedar Point is an amusement park next to Lake Erie in Ohio. Around 40 people attended the trip this year, according to senior Devin Houts, media team lead for SAB. Junior Sophia Finch rode Top !rill 2, a coaster that holds the world record for the tallest and fastest triple-launch roller coaster. “It’s basically a multi-launch coaster that launches you up a vertical hill, like vertical up and down, and it reaches a top speed of 120 miles an hour,” Finch said. Finch said her favorite ride was Steel Vengeance, a roller coaster with a wooden support structure, but re-equipped with steel tracks and sca"olding. It holds the world record for the longest hybrid roller coaster and the roller coaster with the most air time. “It had elements of everything a good roller coaster could have,” Finch said. “So it was fast. It had really good drops. It had really good inversions. It had some quick turns here and there, and spiraling around.”

Houts also said Steel Vengeance was her favorite ride. “I had never been to Cedar Point before, but I didn’t realize that it was such a hot spot for the more intense roller coasters,” Houts said. Finch said even people who don’t enjoy big roller coasters could have fun at Cedar Point. “I was really impressed by the park itself,” Finch said. “It’s basically on a peninsula in Lake Erie, so it’s a really cool location, and they have 18 thrill roller coasters, and then a bunch of other types of rides. And they have a family park called Camp Snoopy. So they have a lot of di"erent attractions, and there’s something for everybody there.” Sophomore Electra Fire said she doesn’t enjoy riding roller coasters that go upside down, but she loved the Ferris wheel and the petting zoo. “I’m so easy to please,” Fire said. “Give me some animals. There was a camel, multiple donkeys, two cows, a lot of goats and sheep, and then birds and swans and geese and ducks.” Fire went on the trip with her roommate, sophomore Morgan Rigg, who is from Ohio and went to Cedar Point in the past. “It’s just fun to see the simple joys of people who’ve never been there before,” Rigg said.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

September 24, 2026

Senior Ellie Fromm and junior Georgie Tillman at the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum.Courtesy Forum. Courtesy | Phoebe Warren

f e a t u r e s The Venice Canals.

The outside of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The Collegian | Ellie Fromm

Ruins, cathedrals, and mountains: students earn credits in italy through Italy in May. In those three weeks, we traveled to at editor in ChieF least 17 cities. In Rome, where the trip be!e best two credits I’ve ever gan, we visited the Roman Foearned at Hillsdale College I got rum, the Basilica of San Clemby spending three weeks in Italy. ente, the Vatican Museum, and Assistant Professor of Histo- the Sistine Chapel, where we ry Anna Vincenzi and indepen- saw Michelangelo’s “Creation dent study lecturer and Vincen- of Adam.” zi’s husband, Lorenzo Bonaiti, We also visited St. Peter’s Baled me and 32 other students silica and the excavations under the basilica, where we saw what are believed to be the bones of St. Peter. We climbed the 551 steps to the dome of St. Peter’s. !is was only the beginning of ascending church towers, and there was soon a saying for the entire trip: “We never met a tower, or a mountain, we didn’t climb.” Some of us caught a local opera performance of “La Traviata,” and a group attended the pope’s Tuesday audience, which happened to be on the 45th anniversary of Underneath the San Clemente in Rome. the day St. Pope John Courtesy | Claire McNeill By Ellie Fromm

Paul II was shot. It felt like we spent a week in Rome, but we were only there for the first two days of the trip. In those few days, we ran through the pouring rain in St. Peter’s Square, were serenaded at dinner by a small band that got us to sing “Bella Ciao” — an Italian anti-fascist anthem — and heard the Vatican announcer say that “Hillsdale College, Michigan” was represented that day by students and faculty, since they regularly announce the groups in attendance. A"er a day in Subiaco and Anagni, we traveled to Sicily, where we studied the influence of Muslim rule, from the early ninth century to the late 11th century, on the Christian churches such as the Monreale Cathedral through their external architectural and internal design differences. A"er spending the night in Palermo, we visited a local market for lunch and a Jesuit church before departing on a $ight back to Perugia. We then stayed at villas and took day trips to cities. In Orvieto, Catholic students went to Mass at the Orvieto Cathedral

— where the Corpus Christi, a linen stained with Christ’s blood from a eucharistic miracle, is — and later, students toured the cathedral together. !e Mass, it turned out, was a First Communion mass. We then all bought dinner items from a grocery store and gathered in the square across the street from an impromptu picnic, each person contributing something — dried apricots, different types of bread, meats, cheeses, and wines. !e next day, we visited Assisi and met our favorite tour guide, Francesco. He was constantly mocking us for moving slower than him despite our being younger. !ere, we visited St. Francis’ Basilica, the Basilica of St. Clare, San Damiano convent, and St. Carlo Acutis’ tomb. In our free time at night at the villa, we played soccer, divvying up new teams each night. From there we traveled to Florence, the heart of the Italian arts, where we stayed near and visited the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, saw Michelangelo’s “David,” and saw the sun set over the city, among other

Q u i c k H i t s : J a re d W h i t e By Samuel Falkowski

Collegian FreelanCer In this Quick Hits, Associate Professor of Spanish Jared White talks soccer, puppetry, and Halloween. What’s your favorite part of teaching Spanish at Hillsdale? I’ve taught at other institutions, and I’ve had some classes that are this engaged, but not this frequently where the students really care about what they’re learning, and they try to improve. Most of the classes I teach tend to be lower-level Spanish classes. But in the upper-level ones, it’s like I’m giving you a chance to start rowing the ship, and I need you to take us into harbor. And it’s really delightful for me to watch students rise to the challenge of language learning. What’s your favorite way to spend a completely free Saturday? I like to watch soccer. On Saturday morning, if my team’s playing, I’ll try to watch. My son plays soccer in a smaller soccer league here in town, so if he’s playing, I watch him play soccer. I also like to mow my lawn. It’s kind of therapeutic for me to be out there on my mower, look back at my straight line, and be proud of myself. Also, spending time with my family. I have a

3-year-old daughter — everything’s so new for her, and she gets excited about little things. It’s fun to be around her and watch her learn. What’s the greatest movie of all time? I love “Back to the Future” — I love that trilogy. I can sit down and watch it with my kids any day of the week. Probably my favorite is “O Brother, Where Art !ou.” I like that quite a bit. “!e Godfather” is one of my favorite movies too. I really like gangster movies. I don’t know why, but it can really appeal to me. Maybe I’m desensitized to violence. What got you hooked on doing shadow puppet performance? In 2018, my friend who’s a puppeteer came to me and said he needed help at a conference. I’m always happy to help him because he’s also the director of the plays when I was acting as a grad student, so I said, “Yeah, absolutely, I’ll help you with whatever.” So we spent three hours just rehearsing with these puppets for this show that I’d never done before. We did the conference, there was great turnout, and we got awesome feedback. A"er the conference, he said to everyone he had performed with, “Hey, let’s get together and form a puppet troupe. Let’s do this.” So we decided to do that, and we just took off from there.

Do you like sweet or savory foods? Depends on the mood. Usually, it’s sweet. I’m a bit of a sweet tooth. Which bands growing up did you think were the greatest? I loved U2 when I was a little kid. I thought it was the best ever. My mom had a record player, and I would play “!e Unforgettable Fire” on repeat. She also had Bruce Springsteen, so I played his “Born in the U.S.A.” album all the time too. If I turn on the radio these days, I’m usually going to stuff from the ’90s. I even like old Shakira — not English-speaking Shakira. I loved her; she was amazing. The homecoming theme this year is Disney. Do you have a favorite Disney character? I like Gaston from “Beauty and the Beast.” I really admire somebody who has a ton of $aws and just goes for it. !ey accept the fact they’re where they have the $aws, and then they still just behave the way they do. It’s not noble and it’s not redeeming, but it’s admirable. It’s the same reason I like Don Juan, you know, where he’s just — he’s an awful human being. But my goodness, it’s like he’s so determined to do this terrible thing. I get a kick out of Gaston when I watch him. Any car. It’s yours. What would it be? I’m not much of a car guy. Maybe the “Back to the Future” DeLorean. I’ve always liked those cars, except this summer, I was in Utah and I was behind a DeLorean. !e license plate said Doc Brown — this guy was a total fan. He was going over some railroad tracks. I just watched the back hitch just li" and plop and li" and plop, and I realized that the car is a piece of junk. I wish I were more car savvy to give you a car. I drive a Tacoma, which I like a lot. It’s a good truck.

White and Jason Yancey conduct puppets. Courtesy | Kate Berry

What’s the hardest word to pronounce in Spanish? It’s probably a made-up word: “Parangaricutirimícuaro.” !at’s probably the hardest one. It’s a tongue twister we have in Mexico. It’s a play on a village in Mexico: San Juan Parangaricutiro. What was your best Halloween costume ever? I used to skateboard a lot when I was a kid. I made this Halloween costume on a board I had broken doing a board slide. I made it so that it looked like the board went through me, and it was hanging over my midsection. !at was my favorite Halloween costume. What could never live without? If it’s an item, it’s my glasses. I put my reading glasses on a lot because I can’t read my books. If it’s a person, then it’s my wife. I cannot live without her. Tell her I said that. What was the best piece of advice you ever received? It was from my master’s Spanish adviser. At the time, I was debating whether I wanted to go into pre-med or become a Spanish professor. I went to her office, having a panic attack and saying, “I don’t think I can survive as a Spanish professor. Can I make a living? I want to have a family. I want to take care of my family someday.” And what she did was, she opened her door and she screamed — well, not exactly a scream — but she said loudly across the hall, “Hey, Jeff!” Jeff Turley was another Spanish professor there. She said, “Hey, you’re a Spanish professor.” He said, “Yep.” She said, “Do you have a family?” “Yep.” “Do you take care of your family?” “Yep.” And she told me, “Jared, it’s going to be OK. If you do your best, you will do fine.” And I’ve done my best since then, and it’s all worked out. So it’s the confidence that people have in me that helps push me forward.

church, museum, and bell tow- summer’s trip. Applicants are er visits. encouraged to apply as soon as It was one thing to study possible. the Roman Empire and the !e days were spent walkearly Catholic Church in class- ing, sightseeing, discussing rooms, and entirely another to architecture and how different go and see where these things conquests shaped the architechappened, where those people ture. Our nights were spent at walked, dined, and lived their family-style dinners, playing political lives. soccer with our professor, and A"er day trips to Venice and in group prayer. Don’t miss out Milan, where we visited the Ba- on a chance to do the same. silica di Sant’Ambrogio, we bused to the Dolomites in Northeastern Italy, a mountain range and a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a roughly two hour hike up, we toured Italian World War I trenches in the mountains with our guide, Franz. !e next day we hiked near our lodging, prayed the Liturgy of the Hours morning prayer as a group, and sang “O God Beyond All Praising” atop the mountain. Bonaiti and Vincenzi are accepting Fromm inside the Colosseum. applications for next Courtesy | Claire McNeill

Students drive in style By Michael Matus

Collegian FreelanCer Students bought snazzy hot rods and rare classic cars by working around the clock and selling baby calves. Junior Ross Phelps has a 1992 red Chrysler LeBaron convertible. It was most recently used as a prop for the Student Activity Board’s Welcome Party at Phi Sig Pavilion. Phelps bought the car his freshman year because his previous one, a 1984 Pontiac Fiero, was damaged by the shipping company he used to transport the car to Hillsdale. “!ey accidentally hit the oil pan and it leaked all over the place,” Phelps said. “I didn’t know because the oil had dispersed over the trip up here from where I live in Oklahoma. So when I drove it, I drove with no oil for three days, and there’s nothing on the dash that’s like ‘Hey, put more oil in,’ so it ruined the engine.” Phelps then had to decide what would be a good, practical, and affordable car to replace it with. “I was specifically looking for a LeBaron convertible because my father, who went to college in Texas in the early ’90s also got a red 1992 LeBaron convertible for college,” Phelps said. “I had an opportunity to get a new car, and thought, ‘Should I get a new reliable normal car, or an old terrible car that looks kind of fun?’ I was a freshman, so I chose the old terrible car that was super fun, and I’m glad I did.”

On February 25, 2025, Phelps was driving down Galloway Drive when the car began making a squeaking sound. “It always makes weird noises, right? So I thought it was totally fine,” Phelps said. A minute later, sparks $ew out from the side, and the car pivoted down two feet. “I realized that there was no longer a wheel on the front driver’s side of my car,” Phelps said. !e whole wheel had come undone from its bolts and rolled right into a neighbor’s mailbox, completely crushing it. He had to pay for a new mailbox to be installed, now the nicest one on Galloway Drive. Sophomore Theodosius Santalov owns a 2006 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle. One of the reasons he bought it, besides it being a lot of fun, is its loyalty to tradition. “It goes back to some of the things I like about Hillsdale and the United States,” Santalov said. “I like that we have this kind of English patrimony, and it comes with some of those regal elements you’ll find in Washington, D.C., between architecture and whatnot.” Just as he loves things handed down through Western heritage, he loves the Triumph Bonneville because it’s loyal to the tradition from whence it came, a tradition of classic British engineering mated with modern performance.

See Cars on B3

Ross Phelps's parents with their Chrysler LeBaron convertible. Courtesy | Valerie Ellis