Vol. 139, Issue 3

Sthecarlet & Black

Record-breaking number of new faculty hired

By Cadence Chen chencade@grinnell.edu

With the expansion of new tenure lines beginning this semester, the College added 15 new tenure-track professors, which breaks the record of the highest total number of new tenure-track professors since 2009. Traditionally, every new school year introduces no more than 30 new faculty members, but this year the College added 46 new faculty members, including tenure-line, term and visiting professors.

President Anne Harris, who assumed the position in July 2020, pushed to greatly expand the number of tenure-line professors. Harris said this expansion would help promote racial and ethnic representation at the College and expand the curriculum. With new professors, the College plans to add an African Diaspora Department.

This expansion comes at a time when tenure-line positions are limited and highly competitive in higher education. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, among four-year nonprofit institutions 49.5% of professors were tenured in 1993-94. This percentage dropped to 41.4% in 2018-19. The increasing number of PhD graduates who want a tenureline position outpaces the number of teaching positions available, which has stayed constant. One 2015 analysis found that only 12.8% of PhD graduates can acquire an academic position in the U.S.

According to Harris, a wider variety of faculty with tenure would

promote the institution’s sustainability and long-term relationships with students, as it is expected that most would stay with the College until retirement if tenure were granted.

“I firmly maintain Grinnell College is a model in higher education,” said Harris. “All of those things, I think they’re rapidly fading in higher education. And so, all the more reason for Grinnell to show that it can still be done.”

Former College President Raynard S. Kington, who served from 2010-2020, abided by the Board of Trustees’ wishes to limit the number of new tenure-line positions. But as the student population has begun to increase, Director of Institutional Research Carlie VanWilligen says that with Harris’ help, the Trustees now recognize the significance in the expansion of tenure lines.

According to the Faculty Handbook, term faculty often replace tenured and tenure-track professors when they are on sabbatical and research leaves. Visiting professors, who are often language lecturers, may only stay for a single semester and may not stay over two years.

Tenure lines are reviewed by the Executive Council, which the Faculty Handbook reports is composed of “the President (the non-voting chair), Dean (non-voting), Chair of the Faculty, Chairs of the three divisions of the College and two Members-at-Large elected by the faculty for two-year terms.”

Dining revamps operations as past problems persist and new frustrations arise

By Jandry Perez-Garcia perezgar@grinnell.edu

The Grinnell College Dining Hall has reopened the stir fry station and hired additional staff, as concerns over their practices and notes on their comment board piled up.

During the last school year, the

Dining Hall experienced health code violations, received allegations of lacking dietary accommodations and faced severe understaffing, forcing it to close stations and ask student workers to take on more responsibilities.

How has the Dining Hall addressed the issues from last year?

Grayson Towne-Colley `24, a

student worker at the Dining Hall, said that while the understaffing problem has improved, it has not been completely eradicated.

Towne-Colley also said that a lot of the additional staff that have been

Grinnell residents turned state legislative candidates speak at open panel hosted by Campus Democrats

By Conrad Dahm dahmconr@grinnell.edu

On Thursday, Sept. 22, Democratic Candidates Sam Cox and Sarah Smith, director of outreach programs and events at the College, visited Grinnell College for a panel hosted by the Campus Democrats. Smith and Cox are running for the Iowa House of Representatives and Iowa Senate, respectively. The S&B had the chance to speak to students who attended the event as well as students who hosted the event.

“We are hosting this event so students will feel more connected to candidates and the issues that face them,” said Jane Hoffman `25, cochair of Campus Democrats.

The Campus Democrats work to do campus outreach with students. According to Hoffman, one of their main goals is to connect students with candidates.

“Events like this help do that,” said Hoffman referring to the Sept. 22 event.

“We are also looking to rebuild the club after quarantine,” said Theo Prineas `24, the other co-chair for the Campus Democrats. “Meeting candidates helps do that.”

Both chairs said that meeting students helps not only the candidates garner support, but it also helps students become aware of the local politics in Iowa and Poweshiek County.

“This was a huge goal for Sarah and me,” said Abbie Herbrechtsmeyer `24, an organizer for Sarah Smith’s campaign. “The Grinnell student body is a huge opportunity to expand her

platform.”

Students who register to vote in Poweshiek County can vote in Iowa elections, even if they are not originally from Iowa. The organizers of the event also emphasized the importance of voting in local elections.

“Poweshiek county was an Obama to Trump county. It is a flippable county for the Democrats,” said Prineas. Poweshiek County has a population of 18,391, according to the 2020 Census. Considering this size, the Campus Democrats say that the College has a real ability to help influence elections.

“I have experience in electoral organizing work in New York City, and I want to continue that here,” said Grace Cuddihy `26, a first-year student. Other first years were in attendance at the candidate event, as well, and talked about their desire to meet candidates.

We are also looking to rebuild the club after quarantine. Meeting candidates helps do that.

Theo Prineas `24

“I am excited to meet candidates because it allows me to gain a wider understanding of their political platform and goals,” said Sage Gladstone `26.

The candidates themselves said they were happy to be able to attend. Both Cox and Smith have strong ties to the Grinnell community and the College itself.

“I was born in Grinnell and am

an employee of the College,” said Smith. Smith said she is glad to raise her children in the Grinnell community and loves working with college students.

I’m running as a Democrat because I care about the people of Poweshiek County and beyond. Rural communi ties have unique needs and I want to represent them.

especially, such as expanding access to rural hospitals and public schools.”

The candidates’s connections to the community are some of the reasons why the Campus Democrats hosted this event, according to Hoffman, but the main purpose is to get students excited about voting. Both Hoffman and Prineas said Campus Democrats hope to hold more events like this in the future, allowing students to meet with candidates and get to know them on a personal level.

Both Cox and Smith also spoke on the importance of Grinnell students voting in elections in Iowa.

“It is your right to vote in this election,” said Smith. “So, register to vote and vote in local elections, especially in elections in Poweshiek County.”

“I’ve owned Saint’s Rest for ten years. I love to interact with college students,” said Cox.

Both candidates spoke about their specific reasons for running. “I’m running as a Democrat because I care about the people of Poweshiek County and beyond. Rural communities have unique needs and I want to represent them,” Cox said.

“I ran in 2020 and lost my election,” Smith said, “yet this time I have sat down and spent time listening to the people I hope to represent. I care about healthcare and education

Editor’s note: Jane Hoffman is a staff writer for the S&B. Hoffman was not involved in the writing or editing of this article.

Arts: Artists

Rose Pirkle

MOHAMMAD IGBARIA

Jasper Gray `24 contacted Dining Services multiple times regarding issues with the gluten-free dining options.

So, register to vote and vote in local elections, especially in elections in Poweshiek County.

Sarah Smith

Iowa House of Representatives Candidate

Sam Cox Iowa State Senate Candidate

NICK EL HAJJ

Two democrats and Grinnell residents, Sam Cox and Sarah Smith, are running for state legislative positions.

SHAW and SHIC establish reproductive rights task force

Muslim Student Association returns to campus

By Molly Wilcoxson wilcoxso2@grinnell.edu

After a break due to the pandemic, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) has been reestablished. In the past, the MSA has hosted Islamic events on campus, and Ahmad Ayyeh `25, Nazma Noray `23 and Amani Alqaisi `25 said they plan to continue this legacy.

Noray said that the MSA is looking forward to hosting a variety of events catered toward Muslim students on campus as well as those interested in Islamic culture. In addition to hosting events during Ramadan and Eid, the MSA hosts weekly Jamaat prayers every Friday in the CRSSJ from 1-3 p.m..

referring to Muslim students on campus. “I do think we see each other around, but we don’t get to have many events together.”

By Marcus Cassidy cassidym@grinnell.edu

This semester, the studentrun Sexual Health Information Center (SHIC) joined Grinnell College’s Student Health and Wellness (SHAW) in working with a new reproductive rights task force on campus. This group, consisting of different members of Grinnell College staff, faculty and administration, will work to develop a comprehensive plan to protect student access to reproductive rights in the potential case of an abortion ban in Iowa.

Chaired by the Dean of Health and Wellness, Terry Mason, the group is presently only in its initial stages. The task force plans to meet with a member of Planned Parenthood to discuss the College’s legally-protected capacity to intervene on behalf of students.

Aris Ace Reyes `25, one of SHIC’s two administrators, works directly with the task force and said he felt optimistic following the task force’s first meeting.

“The task force was created to create an action plan for if Kim Reynolds decides and says that abortion would be illegal in the state of Iowa,” said Reyes. “Grinnell just wants to have a plan in case something’s going to happen, so they’re not being reactive and they’re being proactive.”

The creation of this task force follows other initiatives to support sexual health on campus. SHIC was previously shut down by the College in 2020 due to concerns related to insufficient employee training and supervision. To remedy those

concerns, SHAW partnered with SHIC to facilitate the organization’s ability to distribute Plan B to students using College funds.

“We need to make sure that we can minimize risk when we give something like that out to people,” Reyes said. “Now we have informed consent sheets that we give to people, so that they can see what the medication does and what it will do to their body. As long as they agree to that and they know what they’re taking, they can make the best informed decision for themselves.”

The training primarily focused on addressing informed consent and potential side effects. In the event of more serious medical circumstances, Kasey Herbers, Grinnell College’s acting physician’s assistant can prescribe ella, an emergency contraceptive for use three to five days after unprotected sex.

The MSA shut down in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and while the organization existed during the 2021-22 school year, they hosted no events. Instead, the Center for Religion, Spirituality and Social Justice (CRSSJ) was predominantly in charge of organizing Islamic events during that year, with the Dean of Religious Life, Deanna Shorb, overseeing these activities. These events included prayer groups and support during Ramadan, a month-long Islamic holiday.

However, Kamal Hammouda, the College’s interim Imam and former 2021 Grinnell mayoral candidate, said that the CRSSJ wanted to place the organization of Islamic activities into the hands of students during the 2022-23 school year. As a result, Shorb reached out to Ayyeh, Noray and Alqaisi to establish the MSA this academic year.

Hammouda recalled hosting the MSA in the back of his restaurant, Relish, during the 1991-92 school year.

“I have seen many iterations of the MSA,” Hammouda said. The MSA was active throughout the 2000s, and it maintained a social media presence from 2014-2018, prior to it being shut down.

For other events throughout the school year, the MSA leaders plan on bringing guest speakers, hosting meals and celebrations for Islamic holidays and possibly even traveling to mosques in Des Moines or Iowa City for worship. Hammouda has reached out to the Des Moines Islamic community to see if they are interested in a collaboration with the MSA.

“We want to empower the Muslim community and have us be more visible,” said Noray.

Although all MSA gatherings are open to any students interested in attending, the main goal of the Muslim Student Association this year is to create a community for practicing Muslims to feel comfortable with themselves.

“I think it’s important for us to have a space where Muslim people can gather,” said Noray. “And then, once we have that community established, we can work on educating the rest of the campus.”

“I hope we can gather the community more,” said Alqaisi,

Hammouda agreed with Alqaisi, noting that the Muslim student body on campus is relatively small. Although there are more Muslims on campus, he only has a list of roughly 20 students that he is in contact with. One of the goals for the MSA is to identify more Muslim students and get them involved.

Nazma Noray `23

“I want them to recognize the importance of being an integral part of the community in all aspects, and not to be isolated into themselves, like how some ethnic identities can feel,” he said.

Ultimately, Hammouda said the MSA wants to ensure that Muslim students feel seen and heard — that they are not forgotten as a part of Grinnell’s community. “Muslim students shouldn’t be afraid of asking questions, and I don’t think they should feel that being Muslim restricts them in any shape or form,” he said.

Aris Ace Reyes `25

“I think SHIC having plan B will definitely help make students feel safer,” said Madeline Fialkov `25. “It’s important that sexually active people have access to emergency contraception from a trusted, confidential and judgmentfree source on campus.”

Acknowledging this history, Hammouda said he plans to collaborate with the MSA this coming school year to build a strong Muslim community on campus by providing a spiritual voice to the activities of the MSA.

In the past, the MSA has worked with the CRSSJ to host events during Ramadan and Eid — a celebration which marks the end of Ramadan. In 2018, the MSA hosted Islamic Awareness Week, featuring movie screenings and panels elevating Muslim voices in the United States during a time of increased islamophobia.

Students frustrated with Dining Services

Dining Hall —

from

hired are non-student workers.

Mattia Wells, senior content strategist and media relations, said in an email to the S&B that students no longer sign up for shifts on specific stations. Rather, they sign up for “Front of House” and “Back of House” shifts — allowing for greater flexibility to meet the needs of the Dining Hall.

In addition to the understaffing problem, the Dining Hall was cited with five different health code violations, including low temperatures maintained in the salad bar and expired food stored in a refrigerator, by the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals on April 29 of this year.

Wells said that the Dining Hall corrected these violations immediately after they were issued and was thus not under a real threat to be shut down.

Wells also said that all full-time Dining Hall staff have been trained in all aspects of the Iowa Food Code using the ServSafe Management program which grants a certification that lasts five years. Staff are required to retake the test before it expires.

Wells explained that the temperatures of food, sanitizing solutions and dish washers are all recorded and logged. When items are not up to standard, such as having an improper temperature or being crosscontaminated, the item is disposed of, and a supervisor is informed.

Concerns from student athletes and students with dietary restrictions:

The S&B spoke to students with dietary restrictions who expressed concerns with the way the Dining Hall runs the gluten-free and vegan stations.

Noah Joseph `23 said that there may be a potential crosscontamination problem in the Dining

Hall. He has celiac disease and often has gastrointestinal problems after eating at the Dining Hall, a problem he said happens significantly less frequently when he is back home.

Wells said that the Dining Hall has put up signs to help increase awareness and hopefully decrease cross-contamination between stations.

Dining Hall, there may not be much, if any, food left.

“I think that the main issue is that they just need to pay attention. And if food is stale, then I don’t think that [they] should leave it out,” said Gray, referring to Dining Services.

Anika Sheth `26 said the vegan station also struggles with the availability, quality and variety of the

Hall from tennis practice, there is very little food left, with little variety. She also said that her practices often end after the Dining Hall closes.

Wells said that this is a new concern and that the Dining Hall was under the impression that student athletes would be able to make it to the dinner service on time. She also said that Dining Services packaged

Expressing concerns to the Dining Hall:

Gray said they put a comment including concerns over the lack of gluten-free options and included their email on the comment board by the Dining Hall exit during lunch service on Sept. 13. Gray said that the comment was taken down within 24 hours of being posted while older comments were still left on the board.

Wells said that the Dining Hall reviews the comments on the board daily and responds to them as soon as possible.

Joseph said that he believes this is insufficient as he doubts many people read the signs, especially if they are in a hurry.

Jasper Gray `24 said they find the variety and quality of gluten-free food in the Dining Hall to be below standard.

“We’re just tired of dry chicken and rice,” Gray said.

Gray also said that the food usually has been out for a while by the time they get it.

Both Gray and Joseph said that depending on the time they get to the

food. She added that it is worse for her given that she has many different food allergies which makes finding food that she can eat difficult for her.

Jasper Gray `24

Nichole Henning `26 said that often when she gets to the Dining

food for athletes that were unable to make it to the dinner service after fall break 2021, and they may start doing so again after fall break of this year.

In response to this possibility, Sheth, who is also on the tennis team said, “I think it can be very beneficial, but for tennis, we’re done after fall break until the spring, so by then it’s too late.”

“As soon as I get more space and I have the ability to have a kitchen and cook, I’m absolutely taking myself off the meal plan because it’s not dependable,” Sheth said.

The Dining Hall did not respond to Gray’s comment until Sept. 21, over a week after it was posted, and after the S&B inquired about the comment board.

Britt McConnell, consultant dietician, responded to Gray via email and acknowledged that they had increased the number of glutenfree and vegan options in response to student concerns, including stocking the medical diet cooler.

Sheth said that one of the reasons she chose the College was due to how accommodating they assured the Dining Hall was towards dietary restrictions.

“To hear that students are not getting the accommodations that they need in order to eat a proper meal, something that is essential for your survival, is concerning to say the least,” Sheth said.

SOFIIA ZARUCHENKO

The gluten-free section, which is especially vulnerable to cross-contamination, is located at the far end of the Dining Hall.

QINGSHUO DU

We’re just tired of dry chicken and rice.

OHANA SARVOTHAM

Kamal Hammouda, the College’s interim Imam, helped establish the Mus lim Student Association this year.

As soon as I get more space and I have the ability to have a kitchen and cook, I’m absolutely taking myself off the meal plan because it’s not dependable.

Anika Sheth `26

We want to empower the Muslim community and have us be more visible.

Grinnell just wants to have a plan in case something’s going to happen, so they’re not being reactive and they’re being proactive.

Features

New tenure-track faculty hired

for academic departments that have experienced sudden increases in pop ularity.

In the 2013-14 year, the Total Ma jor Counts, which can also be accessed on SharePoint, reports that 14 students graduated with a computer science degree, and in the following year, this number jumped to 38. Before this, the number of computer science graduates did not surpass 20, except for 2003-04 when the number was 25. In the 202122, this number increased to 56 grad uates.

higher learning institutions were un able to hire many new faculty mem bers. While new term faculty was hired to fill existing positions, no new tenure-track faculty were hired at the College for the 2021-22 school year, as indicated from a chart breakdown of faculty the dean’s office compiled for the S&B.

Record Faculty Hires — Continued from Front Page

The S&B was able to speak to four professors newly on the tenure track: Assistant Professor Laura Ng of the anthropology department, Assis tant Professor Ryan Miller, Assistant Professor Johnathan Wells and Assis tant Professor Pratima Hebbar of the math and statistics department.

Chair of the mathematics and statistics department Professor Jenni fer Paulhus said that she was the last professor in the department to receive tenure 11 years ago. Over this time, Paulhus said the department witnessed a high demand for math and statistics classes, sometimes causing over-en rollment issues for introductory class es.

“We were finally given this op portunity to expand for the first time in many years,” said Paulhus. “And that’s going to give us an opportunity to offer students a lot more interesting courses.”

Both Miller and Wells teach sta tistics, and Miller was a term facul ty member from fall 2018 to spring 2020. Miller predicts that because this is only the beginning of new hires, the statistics part of the department may become robust enough to split off into its own.

Ng, Wells and Hebbar were also offered tenure-track positions at other institutions. All the interviewed pro fessors newly on the tenure track said that Grinnell offered the highest sala ry, especially in relation to Grinnell’s relatively low standard of living. Heb bar said that Grinnell’s location may challenge attracting new and diverse faculty members to a tiny town. Har ris said that the College is able to offer strong, competitive contracts because it is endowment-dependent, which is valued at over 3 billion dollars, rather than tuition-dependent..

While maintaining or decreasing the student-to-faculty ratio of 9-to-1 is not explicitly an institutional priority, VanWilligen said that in the past few years, the increase of students, while gradual, has not been aligned with an increase in faculty.

According to the College’s In tegrated Post-Secondary Education Data System for Total Student Enroll ment, which can be accessed on the College’s centralized information plat form SharePoint, from 2010 to 2021, the student population has increased by over 5%, or more than 90 students. Going back the last 15 years, the num bers of tenure-track faculty members has mostly remained relatively stag nant until this year, said VanWilligen. The increase is especially noticeable

As the number of computer sci ence graduates is projected to increase more and more each year, the three Introduction to Functional Problem Solving classes are expected to in crease in popularity, especially with the course’s wide application into other fields. This semester, some firstyear students who intend to be com puter science majors were unable to be placed into this course.

Nationally, there is “an apparent increase” in the number of new hires in higher education, which can also be attributed to hiring freezes brought on by the pandemic. President Harris said that she lifted the moratorium on hir ing new faculty in 2021 and that there was no budget freeze.

From fall 2019 to spring 2022, Assistant Professor Nikolas Sweet, currently on the tenure track at the University of Wyoming, taught at the College as a term professor to re place tenured linguistic anthropologist Professor Brigittine M. French, who moved into an administrative role.

Sweet’s partner, Assistant Pro fessor Allison Caine, a cultural an thropologist, was also offered a ten ure-line position at the University of Wyoming. As part of the contract, they also offered Sweet a tenure line. Being a term professor at Grinnell College, Sweet did not have much bargaining power for Caine’s position. Sweet said that Caine was able to teach a short course at the College, but the College did not pursue any further relationship with her until the final year of the cou ple’s time at Grinnell, when Caine was offered a term position.

Exchange student program comes back to Grinnell after 10 years

By Jandry Perez Garcia perezgar@grinnell.edu

For the first time since 2012, Grinnell College has welcomed two foreign exchange students. As part of a new partnership between the College and the Leiden University College (LUC), the students, Jon athan Kellogg and Neele Ebertz, flew in from the Hague in the Neth erlands to experience college in the U.S.

Grinnell first launched the part nership in 2017 when they signed a Memorandum of Understanding, in which they agreed to explore po tential collaborations between the two institutions, said Director of Off-Campus Study Alicia Stanleyin in an email to the S&B.

In 2018, Stanley said, both in stitutions agreed to allow Grinnell students the opportunity to be able to spend a semester abroad at LUC. She also said that in 2019 the agree ment was expanded, allowing LUC students to come to Grinnell for a semester; however, the pandemic delayed their arrival.

The director of International Student Affairs, Karen Edwards, said that prior to the current pro gram with LUC, Grinnell had for eign exchange student programs with Waseda University in Japan, and through the ACM program in Costa Rica.

Theory & Methods in GWSS and Sociology of Gender.

Both Ebertz and Kellogg like Grinnell’s facilities, particularly the two different libraries on campus and the convenience of eating in the Dining Hall.

Kellogg and Ebertz were placed in the International Pre-Orientation Program (IPOP) when they arrived at Grinnell. Even though they are not first-year students, Edwards said the program would help them form connections. Both exchange students said they felt like they ben efited from the program and found Grinnell people to be very nice, ap proachable and friendly.

“You meet everyone else from different groups and it’s people that just traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles, and they’re just dropped in the middle of nowhere. And they’re all looking to social ize,” said Kellogg. “You talk to them and have interesting stories.”

Ebertz said that she would like to have conversations with people she does not know very well when she gets back home, as she has been doing at Grinnell. But while she is here, she is looking forward to Hal loween to see all the decorations in stores, as that is a holiday not typi cally celebrated in Europe.

Ng was a term professor from 2021-22. She filled the position of a tenured professor who had just retired.

According to Ng and Harris, going directly from the position of visiting professor to tenure-track professor is not common at most higher education institutions due to limited availability of positions.

Ng was also offered a tenure-line position at a public university. This contract would require her to take on a higher teaching load than Grin nell’s. Grinnell’s contract requires tenure-track professors to teach a 2-2 (two classes per school semester) in their first year and a 3-2 (three classes one semester, two classes in the oth er semester) in following years. The university also did not offer her much financial support for personal projects, meaning she would have to apply for grants for both herself and her stu dents. What drew her to the College was its equal emphasis on undergrad uate teaching and an investment into a professor’s own academic projects.

“There’s more investment in hav ing people stay,” Ng said. “If you have more tenured professors, then wow. These people are going to shape what the college looks like in the next ten years.”

Over the past two years, VanWil ligen counts 10 tenure-line professors that have left the College. She said that the pandemic caused many to reassess åtenured professors may have retired earlier than they originally anticipated.

Due to financial limitations and hiring freezes brought on by COVID-19, Dean of Academic Af fairs Beronda Montgomery wrote in an email to the S&B that numerous

In the psychology department, four professors left (two of whom re tired, two of whom moved as a cou ple for family reasons) last semester, and three new tenure-track professors were added. Chair of the department Professor Ann Ellis, who has been with the College since 1994, said that the department expanded in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Ellis said that clusters of tenured professors retire at similar times, either leaving the pro fession or graduating to senior faculty status.

For the math and statistics depart ment, the three new tenure-track pro fessors are only the first wave of new tenure-track hires. The department, according to the chair, is searching for three more tenure-line professors to join them for the following academic year.

In an email, Edwards told the S&B that the program with the uni versity in Costa Rica terminated with the end of their contract. How ever, when Grinnell tightened its foreign language requirements, stu dents from Waseda University found it more difficult to join the exchange program. With a lack of students, the program was forced to retire.

Now, Kellogg and Ebert are happy to be a part of the newly re vamped exchange student program.

Kellogg said the name of his major is difficult to translate, but in essence it is a combination of Eco nomics and Political Science; the major focuses on studying how in stitutions affect the economy.

At Grinnell, Kellogg will take macroeconomics, data science, en vironmental economics and classi cal mythology, wanting to take more math-based economics. At LUC, economic classes tend to be more theoretical.

Kellogg decided to come to Grinnell for the U.S. college expe rience. He chose to come here for only one semester, though, because he felt that studying abroad for his entire college career would be a very big step — one that was made more difficult by the pandemic.

Ebertz, on the other hand, had already spent a year in the U.S. in high school. Since she enjoyed the experience, she wanted to do it again. Ebertz is a culture, history and society major which she de scribed as being the combination of social sciences and humanities. She said she is taking Intro to Art Histo ry, Intro to Material Culture Studies,

However, Ebertz said she is feeling homesick because fall is her favorite season, and she would like to spend it with her family. She said she gets through it by talking and sharing with her Grinnell friends about her home in Germany.

Kellogg said he is shocked there is no public transportation. He also said he is simultaneously homesick and not homesick. On the one hand, he will be happy to go back home when the time comes, but he is en joying his time at Grinnell and feels excited to be here. Kellogg recom mended that other students travel abroad.

“It’s [study abroad] worth it. It’s just like, it’s something entirely different. If you’re considering it, I would say no matter where you go, do it. It’s very fun. It’s really fun,” said Kellogg.

Grinnell College celebrates 50th Anniversary of Title IX

an important stepping stone for gender equality.

In honor of the 1972 ruling, Grin nell College took part in the celebration happening at colleges across the nation by inviting multiple speakers to come share their work and experiences with Title IX. As part of the Title IX Sympo sium, the Rosenfield Program encour aged students to learn more about the history of the groundbreaking law. At one event, Porter spoke about her new documentary series titled “37 Words.”

letic participation in college and said, “What you get from participating in a team, any team, is responsibility, un derstanding the experience of working together, leadership and confidence.”

But the impact of Title IX extends far beyond the reach of the athletics department. In the 1990s, Title IX was expanded to include the prohibition of sexual discrimination on campuses, thereby creating consequences for sex ual assaulters.

kinds of harassment. But near uni formly, schools are falling down on the job,” Brodsky said. “So, the Obama administration in 2011 publishes this ‘Dear Colleagues’ letter, and they essentially say ‘We mean business. You’ve been getting away with violat ing the law and you shouldn’t count on it any longer.’”

By Eleanor Corbin corbinel@grinnell.edu

CORNELIA DI GIOIA

“Try to imagine a university where women are less than 10% of the stu dent body,” said filmmaker and lawyer Dawn Porter at a Scholar’s Convoca tion on Sept. 15. “Think about that. Look around you. How many women are there in this room? Get rid of 90% of them. That was the situation back in the early 1970s.”

This year marks the 50th anniver sary of Title IX, the law that requires equal opportunities for all sexes. For any organization receiving federal funding, which includes nearly ev ery U.S. university, Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex. This law, a mere 37 words in length, required schools to remedy hostile environ ments or risk their federal funding —

The documentary focuses on the fight to pass Title IX and the evolving mean ings of the law over time.

When Title IX was first passed, the law corrected the imbalance of men’s sports teams versus women’s sports teams. Women athletes now had en forced access and quality for playing sports. Much of the early uses of Ti tle IX related to equal opportunities in sports. Porter pointed to an important protest orchestrated by the Yale wom en’s crew team, where they brought attention to unequal facilities between the sexes. The protest was a moment that garnered national attention.

As an homage to the lasting im pact of women’s involvement in athlet ics, Grinnell incorporated their annual induction ceremony for the Grinnell Athletics Hall of Fame into the anni versary celebration.

Porter spoke to the benefits of ath

Alexandra Brodsky, another speaker brought to campus for the symposium, is a lawyer dedicated to representing students dealing with sex and race discrimination cases. Brodsky began her work as a student advocate, working with organizations such as “Know Your IX.” She was also one of 16 Yale students to file a class action Title IX complaint to the Department of Education.

In 2011, the Obama administra tion issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to colleges and universities, advising them to implement a “preponderance of evidence.” In other words, in cas es of sexual assault, the standard for evidence stated that the accused more likely than not committed the alleged offense. Brodsky points to this letter as a sign of favorable change.

“As a formal matter, it was very well established that schools had to respond to sexual assaults and other

A little over ten years ago, just af ter the letter was published, Grinnell established their first Title IX coor dinator, Angela Voos. Bailey Asber ry, the current Title IX coordinator, worked together with Voos on the task force.

“We worked with lots of folks thinking about what a policy needs to look like. How do we get people trained up to really help respond to this in effective ways? What does our pre vention work look like?” said Asberry.

Brodsky said that the burden of proof for a school to take action to pro tect or support a student is not nearly as high as that of a criminal trial.

“This kind of exceptionalism real ly permeates all of these debates about due process after sexual harm,” she said. “This sense that there’s some thing different about these types of in juries. That we need to treat them to be suspect, and we need to subject them to uniquely onerous and adversarial and traumatizing procedures.”

Asberry recognized that not every

outcome of a hearing is satisfactory.

“The most important thing that I do is conduct a fair process and try to be clear that even if we can’t make a finding of responsibility, it means that evidence available didn’t support mak ing that finding,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that you weren’t caused harm.”

Despite recent policies, Asberry remains optimistic about the state of Title IX on Grinnell’s campus. More than anything, she said that there is a far better trust between students and the available support systems. She works with confidential resources like Chaplin Deanna Shorb and the Grin nell Advocates to ensure that students feel comfortable speaking with some one.

“It’s about working through ed ucating folks on what to say, how to connect them and drive them to re sources on campus, even if that person is not me … At the very least we just want to make sure people have access to resources,” Asberry said. “And I would say when I look back 10 years ago, that trust wasn’t there.”

The topic of Title IX policies and enforcement at the College remains a topic of conversation at Grinnell and at colleges across the country. When Asberry imagines a perfect world 50 years from now, she said,“My sincer est hope is that my role is no longer necessary.”

“We really have this momentum of new energy that we can bring, and it’s a clear and definite thing,” Wells said. “Here’s three new tenure-line faculty. Here’s how we can see things changing or adapting or developing.”

OWEN BARBATO

Professor Laura Ng, anthropology.

OWEN BARBATO Kellogg, pictured above, is one of the new exchange students at Grinnell.

OWEN BARBATO

Professor Pratima Hebbar, math and statistics.

OWEN BARBATO

Professor Jonathan Wells, math and statistics.

Despite recent rainfall, Iowa drought continues to deplete Grinnell waterways

farm ponds tend to experience this more, according to Klein.

Because of the low water levels, low pH, low oxygen and low temperature from the storm, some fish at CERA died. Klein noticed it was mature largemouth bass of around 12 to 15 inches and mature sunfish of around six to seven inches who were impacted the most.

After this event, shorebirds and scavengers populated the pond shoreline to feast on the fish.

and instead focused on watering the greens.

The GCGC collects the water they use to run from northern Grinnell’s storm water runoff, which is north of 10th Avenue (close to the Bear Recreation and Athletic Center) and east of Interstate 146. The water from these streets runs into the gutters, which leads to the course’s two manmade ponds near the 1st and 9th putting stations.

By Cadence Chen chencade@grinnell.edu

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, which is updated every Thursday, 75 of 99 counties in Iowa are experiencing some level of drought. As of Sept. 15, 2022, Poweshiek County and much of southern Iowa are experiencing moderate to severe drought, which has decreased agricultural production across the state.

Despite two recent thunderstorms on Sept. 10 and 17, Grinnell has received less rainfall than normal in this summer and early fall. As of Sept. 21, this season has experienced a total of 18.24 inches of rain, lower than the average of 35 inches of rain in southeast Iowa, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). While droughts have occurred for centuries, recent changes in climate have made droughts more pervasive, and they may continue to intensify in the future, according to NOAA.

Loss of Wildlife

At the Conard Environmental Research Center (CERA), 365 acres of reconstructed prairie land owned by Grinnell College, the unexpected

QINGSHUO DU

rainstorm on the Sept. 10 resulted in around 50 to 100 dead fish along the shore of man-made, 10-acre Perry Pond.

During a kayaking event hosted by the Center for Prairie Studies (CPS) at CERA on Sept. 10, CERA Manager and CPS Outreach Coordinator Emily Klein and CERA horticulturalist Jacob Hill said there was between four to five feet of exposed shoreline. According to Klein, these water levels in Perry Pond and CERA are lower than they typically would be at this time of year.

Though the fish experienced many stressors that led to mass deaths, Klein said the drought condition was “a major contributing factor.”

On the following Monday, Klein and Hill said they contacted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to investigate why there were many dead fish on the shore. Klein and Hill said they had suspicions that chemicals may have washed into the pond due to the rain. The DNR tested the water and found low pH levels, indicating acidity, and low dissolved oxygen levels. Klein said representatives at the DNR said these were common occurrences during this time of year during a drought. The representative said smaller ponds and

Community-wide survey seeks to "Build a Better Grinnell"

By Saniya Kelkar kelkarsa@grinnell.edu

The project “Build a Better Grinnell 2030” is set to commence in the first week of October. The project aims to conduct researchbased assessments of the community’s strengths and weaknesses by engaging community members in conversation and taking necessary steps to improve the quality of life of the community at large.

The project is similar to a community-wide assessment conducted in September 2011 by a previous Build a Better Grinnell taskforce.

“It's good timing, particularly coming out of COVID-19, which changed the access to resources for a lot of people in the community and changed a lot of people's circumstances,” anthropology professor Monty Roper, one of the steering committee members, said about why the project-originators chose now to conduct this assessment.

Phase one of the project is to conduct a community-wide assessment based on conversations with the residents of Grinnell. Residents would be stratified by demographic group, so that the different needs of each group can be taken into consideration while conducting the assessment, Roper said. The second phase will consist of prioritising issues determined in the assessment.

The steering committee aims to represent all groups in Grinnell, including students. Student Government Association (SGA) President Loyal Terry is part of the committee, and Roper’s class

ANT 293: Research for Community Development will conduct the first phase of the research as well as help develop a methodology for the second phase.

Phase three will entail exploring those issues in greater detail to better understand the assets that exist in the community and the particular kinds of obstacles that people face. Then, Roper said, the committee will pull those inputs together, after the research is done, to begin addressing them. The committee does not have a

concrete definition of phases one and three, Roper said. The way those two phases will look depends largely on what issues the community identifies as important to further research.

Nicole Brua-Behrens, member of the Greater Poweshiek Community Foundation and leading member of the steering committee for the Build a Better Grinnell project said, “We hope to hear more about more nontangible social kinds of issues too.” She cited food insecurity, race and inclusion.

“That's one great thing about native prairies is they have a built in resilience and resistance to changes in your normal ups and downs of weather in this region,” said Klein. “Whereas other plants that have been brought in that are not native to this area feel the effects a lot more.”

While CERA has not had to adjust their land management too much, Klein said they needed to give more attention to how they were using their watering.

New approaches to a changing climate

General Manager of the Grinnell College Golf Course (GCGC) Shane Hart, who has served in this position since the course’s opening in 2016, worked in a team of three with Facilities Management (FM) to cut down on irrigation.

The course has historically not had to purchase external water sources for pond and irrigation purposes. They have been able to continue this practice by only maintaining 85% of the course.

On Aug. 11, 2022, the GCGC released a statement to address how the course is navigating this drought period. Rather than maintaining an irrigation system that pumps out water to all acres of the course from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. everyday, the course has cut back on fairway and tee box watering

Though the course does not measure exact water levels for the ponds, Hart estimates that the average pond depth is around seven to ten feet, and the ponds were down a third of those levels, at least until the recent thunderstorm on Sept. 17.

Before this storm, the ponds’s water levels exposed the culverts, or open drains, but the levels now reach the brim of the culverts. Overflow from the ponds goes to Sugar Creek in northern Grinnell. The 56-acre golf course, one of the largest parks in Grinnell, serves as a green space for the community.

“We just happen to be able to not provide the playing conditions that we want, but we realize this is mainly a recreational activity,” said Hart. “This is not of dire importance compared to those other people that are trying to provide food.”

But for farmers Ann Brau, who is on the board for the CPS, and her partner Lisle Dunham, the situation is more dire, Brau said. The pair have operated their farm Compass Plants for 23 years. They have two locations — one acre in their home on the edge of Grinnell and four acres in Poweshiek County’s Sheridan township.

Brau estimates the ideal amount of rain to receive during this season would be around 35 inches, and the town is currently at an approximate

17-inch deficit of this.

Brau said that this drought condition did not begin this year but rather is “a continuation of a drought that’s approaching three years long.” While the recent rain relieved land and production temporarily, Brau reported seeing two-inch wide cracks in the ground, indicating weakening roots and dry soil.

“With climate changing, our seasons have changed,” she said.

The drought condition has delayed Compass Plants’ normal seasons. In the spring, they would reliably harvest crops in April, but the colder temperatures during that time in recent years has prevented germination. Some summer crops, like tomatoes and sweet corn, may be planted a month later than usual. In this season, Brau said that they could not plant some fall crops in July and August, or they could not plant them at all.

The couple had to rely on private water from the Poweshiek Water Association. In their off-season, the water bill for both their home and their farmland would be around $35, but their last water bill was around $170. In a normal year, Brau said that they would not need to irrigate. They tried to use cisterns to collect rainwater to use in the absence of rainfall.

Brau describes Compass Plants as “micro” compared to other farms in the county, but she said that there are universal questions each farmer has to ask themselves during a drought.

“They're going to be making decisions on which crops to save ... because of water,” she said. “How much to water? How frequent to water? How much labor they can afford to do that? And how much of a decrease in production are they willing to take before they start watering or continue watering?”

Grinnell Giving Gardens provide free and fresh produce

By Taylor Nunley nunleyta@grinnell.edu

Small and unnoticed by some, Marvin Garden is tucked back on Marvin Avenue in Grinnell. Butterflies flit to and fro between the metal arbors encompassing the walkway, and a multitude of plant life thrives in the garden — cherry tomatoes at all stages of ripeness, a variety of peppers and marigolds to keep the insects away. This is just a fraction of what one of Grinnell’s many Giving Gardens grow.

Brua-Behrens said that in order to ensure community participation in the project, the steering committee will be training and hiring people from the town of Grinnell to collect information through conversations with people about community issues.

She added that the project is bound to get funds ($10,000 each) from members of the City of Grinnell, Grinnell College, Grinnell Mutual and the Claude W. and Dolly Arenas Foundation. The steering committee has also applied for a grant of $197,000 from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development, a mission area within the USDA which runs programs intended to improve the economy and quality of life in rural parts of the country. The status of the application will be confirmed by the first week of October, the same time that phase one will commence.

Because the committee does not have a clear contingency plan in place if Building a Better Grinnell does not receive the grant, they are identifying other potential sources of income for the project, Behrens said.

“The project is happening, regardless of whether the USDA grant goes through. If the USDA grant goes through, it'll make it easier to do.”

Marvin Garden is one of the nine Giving Gardens spread throughout the town of Grinnell. Although it is one of the biggest, it was not the first Giving Garden established by the Ahrens Family Foundation, which began the program; the one at Grinnell Regional Medical Center holds that honor instead. Started by Chad Nath, the first Giving Garden began the Ahrens Foundation’s goal of providing free produce to any individuals who wanted it. All gardens are open 24 hours a day. The only requirement is that individuals who come must pick the produce themselves.

Grinnell’s first Giving Garden quickly grew to several. Each garden is kept and tended by volunteers. Effie Hall, a Marvin Garden volunteer, detailed how her interest in native plants led her to be a dedicated volunteer at the garden.

Through Iowa State University’s

Master Gardener Program, Hall said she was able to cultivate her interest in attracting native pollinators to her front yard. She said she also became interested in vegetable gardens, just not in keeping one herself.

“I really have no background in gardening at all,” she said. “I am from the Philippines and I grew up in a city where we didn’t have any gardens.”

Hall said the opportunity to learn about vegetable gardens without the full responsibility of caring for them was ideal for someone coming from her background.

“I don’t want to do a vegetable garden here at home because I think that’s too much work,” she said.

When asked what her favorite part of working in the gardens was,

Hall said seeing the plants grow. “It’s nice to see, whether grown from a seed or a little seedling, a plant that grows or bears fruit.”

Imagine Grinnell, a partner of the Ahrens Family Foundation that works specifically to help create a more healthy Grinnell, has contributed to much of the Giving Gardens’ prosperity. Due to hot and dry periods in Iowa, Imagine Grinnell received a fund from Grinnell College over the summer to purchase a trailer with two water tanks. While this makes watering the plants more efficient, Hall said it still did not solve all of their problems.

“The city has to come and fill it up for us to have water, but it [Marvin Avenue] is a city street so there are water pipes under the street. We can definitely be connected to the main water system and have our own source of water,” she said. Hall added that one of Imagine Grinnell’s goals for the next growing season is to have this direct connection to the city’s water system.

When the first hard freeze comes to Grinnell each winter, the Giving Gardens will go into “hibernation,” according to Jennifer Cogley, the director of partner programs for the Claude W. and Dolly Ahrens Foundation. Cogley said volunteers cover the gardens with tarps, weed out all the dead plants and begin planning for the next season.

Cogley said the gardens are always open to volunteers, which involves current Grinnell College students. Any students interested should contact the Claude W. and the Dolly Ahrens Foundation.

ELEANOR HEDGES DUROY

Crops including cherry tomatoes, marigolds and peppers grow in Marvin Gar den. After the fall, the Giving Gardens will go into "hibernation" for the winter.

It's good timing, particularly coming out of COVID-19, which changed the access to resources for a lot of people in the community.

Professor Monty Roper, anthropology

ELEANOR HEDGES DUROY

Marvin Garden, located at Marvin Avenue, is just one of nine Giving Gardens located throughout Grinnell. All are open to visitors.

Arts

"Married to my favorite poet" W@G: Paige Lewis and Kaveh Akbar

By George Kosinski kosinski@grinnell.edu

During his joint roundtable discussion with Paige Lewis on Sept. 20, Kaveh Akbar sat on top of the table, dressed vibrantly in a shortsleeve orange button-down patterned with pink and green geometric designs, gesticulating as he spoke and filling the room with his voluble presence. Lewis was more understated, remaining in their chair and speaking at a lesser volume, interweaving deep and sincere meditations about poetry with deadpan humor. The difference between the two was striking, but their connection — both personal and artistic — shone brighter.

Akbar and Lewis have each recently established themselves at the forefront of contemporary American poetry. Akbar has published two collections, "Pilgrim Bells" and "Calling a Wolf a Wolf", edited "The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse" and had his work featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Best American Poetry and elsewhere. Lewis has one book of poetry, "Space Struck", and has had their poems in Poetry, American Poetry Review, Ploughshares, Best New Poets 2017, Gulf Coast, The Massachusetts Review and other publications. Akbar

and Lewis are married, and they recently moved to Iowa City where they both teach at the University of Iowa.

The two visited Grinnell College last week to open this fall’s Writers@ Grinnell series — a set of lectures given by notable current writers each semester, hosted by the English department and open to the public. The event typically consists of two parts: a roundtable discussion in the afternoon where writers have an opportunity to answer specific questions or conduct workshop exercises, and then an evening reading where they can share selections of their work.

Lewis read their poetry first on Tuesday night, after introducing themself as an “anxious person” and cracking a pun about the Greek tragedian Euripides. From their book "Space Struck", they recited poems which felt at first contained and intimate, only to expand and reflect on a multiplicity of experiences and phenomena: animal life cycles, the city subway and the Radium Girls, to name a few.

In his introduction at the event, Writers@Grinnell Director, and Associate Professor of English, Dean Bakopoulos described Lewis’ work as “astronomical” in scope. He said, “their poems shine, burst into orbit, explode

into supernovas and reassuringly glimmer at the end in ways that are unafraid. They are thrilling to read, not just because they move with an energy that feels infectious and an elegance rare in a poet’s new collection, but because Lewis’ poems also signal the arrival of a wholly new voice in American poetry. A voice wielding perhaps the rarest gift that imaginative writing can give its readers: absolute and unabashed tenderness.”

The uniqueness of Lewis’ voice mirrors the highly individual character of their poetry. “Every time I sit down to write, I'm a slightly new person, or maybe possibly radically new depending on the day. My writing tries to explore a small part of myself, a small part of something that I'm wondering about, or just [act as] an exercise in being comfortable with uncertainty. It’s an exploration in the unexpected, and not knowing is really important to me,” they said in an interview with the S&B following the event.

Lewis’ poetry is intensely personal, but that does not make it isolating or insular. They engage directly with environmental causes — most recently by volunteering at a local raptor center — and they hope that their writing can raise awareness and inspire a similar call to activism in the minds of their readers. “If someone can read my work and feel like, ‘oh, I feel that way too,’ or if it makes even one reader think about nature in a new way, or about how what they're doing is affecting nature, I think that can be super helpful,” they said. “I’m always thinking about nature and the ways in which we are destroying it and how helpless one can feel in those moments. That definitely influences my writing, even if it's sometimes just to say, ‘I feel helpless in this moment.’”

In his poetry, Akbar gravitates more towards religion and spirituality. After cracking an anti-joke about tomatoes that drew a few cringes, he recited some of his own poems from "The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse." His delivery — standing on tiptoe, wavering over the microphone, speaking in an even, charged voice

Uncovering the jewel box of the prairie

By Jane Hoffman hoffmanj@grinnell.edu

For a passenger disembarking a train at the Grinnell depot in the early twentieth century, the first sight welcoming them to town would be a majestic new building designed by renowned architect Louis Sullivan.

Merchant’s National Bank, on 833 4th Ave, was constructed in 1914 and opened on New Year’s Day 1915. In a February 1916 edition of The Western Architect, the building is described as “substantial and dignified; representative of the business conducted within its walls," well in line with Sullivan’s own oft-repeated aphorism and the cornerstone of his architectural philosophy: that “form ever follows function.”

A giant of the Chicago skyline, Sullivan pioneered the development of a uniquely American form of architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His designs eschewed the neoclassical impulses of the 18th and earlier 19th centuries; in lieu of columns, domes and triangular rooves cast from stone, Sullivan integrated brick, cast iron and terracotta ornamentation into his projects.

Widely denoted as “the father of the skyscraper,” Sullivan designed the Chicago Stock Exchange, the Guaranty Building in Buffalo and the Wainwright Building in St. Louis during his tenure at the famed Adler & Sullivan architectural firm.

The bank is part of a series of designs built in the final years of Sullivan’s career. Despite his earlier successes in Chicago, St. Louis and Buffalo, by the turn of the century, Adler & Sullivan had dissolved in the wake of the financial Panic of 1893, and Sullivan’s unique style had fallen out of favor as a Beaux-arts fever hit the United States.

During the final two decades of his life and career, his commissioned pieces shrunk in size and scope, but they still commanded much of the majesty of his earlier works. Merchant’s National Bank is one of eight banks dotted across small towns in the Midwest, a postlude to an

electric career.

The banks are often described as “jewel boxes,” given their straightforward construction complemented by intricate adornments across their facades and interiors rich with light filtered through stained glass panels.

It’s impossible to miss the ninepanel series along the Broad Street wall: a nacred blend of pink, white and yellow glass lays a palette for a series of emerald detail pieces. Gazing upwards, an expansive skylight brings the outside in, as sunlight diffuses through azure panels and evokes a lateafternoon sky.

The Merchant’s National Bank building is flush with the classic elements of a Sullivan piece: intricate ornamentation drawn from nature, especially the Midwestern prairie. Tri-blossom figures bloom across a spiraled roof band, and ochre vines carve a division between the main area and the former deposit room.

At the building’s façade, intricately carved terracotta frames spiral out of the so-called “rose window,” a jeweltoned, kaleidoscopic sunburst above the front door.

Glowing chartreuse pendant lights descend from the ceiling, their slender but solid form running parallel to the unique brick structure that makes

up both the building’s façade and exterior walls. Thinner and longer than standard bricks, they were integrated with iron elements whose speckles provide textural and color contrast, said Grinnell Chamber of Commerce Member Experience Coordinator Kendra Vincent.

Two golden griffins buttress the entrance — replicas cast in bronze from terracotta originals. Stepping towards the back of space, one meets the original griffins, statues that met an untimely end after a spate of vandalism in the 2000s. Their broken remains are now ensconced in glass, offering visitors the chance to see their rod and terracotta scaffolding.

Louis Sullivan died in 1924 alone and bankrupt in a Chicago hotel room. Despite the inordinate influence he commanded over American architecture, especially in the Midwest, a large swath of his buildings were demolished in the 20th century. The series of “jewel boxes” stand as his envoi, consumingly striking pieces backlit by a melancholic biography.

Except for a brief gap during the Great Depression, the building has been consistently used by banks or the Chamber of Commerce, which moved into the space in 1999, and welcomes visitors around the country to Grinnell, the “jewel of the prairie.”

— and subject matter — angels, covenants, interactions between human and divine — was spiritually complex and resonant. Bakopoulos praised Akbar's “audacity and honesty,” and called his poems “a testament to the deeply human notion of the sublime: so open-hearted that they feel dangerous.”

Akbar was born in Tehran, Iran, and words and phrases from Farsi which he learned as a youth now pepper his poetry, where he reflects on his identity and questions what it means to be an American today.

Though their subject matter does not always overlap, like Lewis, Akbar also sees poetry as able to affect positive social change. “Each poem is one gesture, among a lifetime of gestures, that can apply force against colonial systems and hierarchies. That collectively might move us towards the horizon of a better future,” he said. He highlighted the poet’s role in society as someone able to “get beneath [the reader’s] knowing and change the way in which someone encounters language, which is inherently political.”

Akbar and Lewis oozed collaboration at the event on Tuesday: they joked around together, riffed off each other and complemented one another’s poems. That spirit of collaboration is also fundamental to

both poets’s work.

“We were writing poems before we met, but we got very, very serious about poetry after meeting,” Lewis said. “We decided that one of our love languages would be writing a poem every day and sharing it with one another for a month. That was an awesome reward: being able to share your work with someone that you really care about and then immediately having them talk about what they thought. There are certain images that ended up popping up in our poems that were like, ‘Oh, wait, that's in one of my poems because we both had similar experiences.’ But there's also sometimes we’ll claim experiences, like we'll see something say, ‘Oh my God, that's mine. I'm going to write a poem about that. You can't write a poem about that.’ We're always kind of inspiring each other and encouraging each other to keep exploring new forms of writing, or just new ideas. I'm super lucky to be able to be married to my favorite poet.”

There are five remaining Writers@ Grinnell events this fall. Next up, debut novelists Belinda Huijuan Tang and Sarah Thankam Mathews come to Grinnell on Thursday, Sept. 29. There will be a roundtable discussion at 4:15 p.m. in HSSC room S1325, followed by an 8 p.m. reading in the Joe Rosenfield Center, room 101.

By Ashley Baek baekashl@grinnell.edu

If you find yourself at the Grinnell Farmers Market, chances are you will see local artist Rose Mary Pirkle’s vibrant artwork. Pirkle sells a variety of creations, from mix-matched and premade concrete mushrooms to key chains and vinyl records. However, all of her works have one thing in common: she decorates every one of them by hand, using a painted dot technique stylized in a mandala pattern.

Pirkle said that she fell in love with art as a hobby years ago. She started with coloring books and was encouraged by her loved ones to continue pursuing art. Eventually, she began to work on molding and painting rocks with her signature designs.

Pirkle created her stand four years ago, along with a public Facebook group called Rose’s Art Stand to post updates and photos of her artwork. Her booth at the Grinnell Farmers Market followed, initially selling granola bars and then expanding to sell her creations. Pirkle sells throughout Iowa, including in Grinnell, Newton and Marshalltown.

The turtles are always a huge hit! I create all these little creatures on my own.

“I had my hand in the farmers market a lot before selling my artwork. I used to make granola bars and sell them there. The farmers market is a great ... opportunity for me.”

Pirkle is proud of everything

she makes, and you can find a wide array of her work on Thursdays and Saturdays at the Grinnell Farmers Market. Of her best-sellers, she says, “The turtles are always a huge hit! I create all these little creatures on my own.”

Pirkle hand-makes every part of her artwork. The process can take a significant amount of time from the initial design stages to waiting hours for the concrete and individual paint layers to dry. She uses cement and molds — such as hearts, mushrooms and turtles — to create the bases for her artwork. After the cement dries, she uses acrylic paint to decorate them. The initial layer is a bonding layer to cover the hardened cement. On top of that, she paints colorful designs using a concentric, layered dot technique.

Pirkle finds inspiration from online sources such as YouTube and Pinterest, but her favorite way to gain creative insight is from talking with local customers. She said that she prides herself on creating artwork based on customer requests and collaborating on color combinations, designs and patterns.

EVAN HEIN

Paige Lewis read poems from their book "Space Struck" at the Sept. 20 Writers@Grinnell.

ELEANOR HEDGES-DUROY

Pirkle's art includes colorful cement mushrooms

Rose Mary Pirkle

EVAN HEIN

Kaveh Akbar sees poetry as one way to affect positive social change.

EVAN HEIN

Merchant's National Bank, sitting on the corner of Broad Street and 4th Avenue, was designed by renowned architect Louis Sullivan in 1914.

Rose Mary Pirkle

Women’s soccer kicks off season with a younger team

By Eleanor Corbin corbinel@grinnell.edu

Spectators of a Grinnell women’s soccer practice may notice a sparkly, red, wooden rod as it is passed from one player to another. This bar, affec tionately named “raise the bar” by the team captains, is given to players who have encouraged the rest of the team to work harder.

After the team lost 10 graduating players last spring, and five upper classmen players decided not to re turn to play this season, the captains said they want to help underclassmen fill those gaps by redefining team cul ture and work ethic.

Jill Paladino `23, Antarah Chopra `23 and Jane March `24 have stepped up to fill the void in leadership, serv ing as this year’s captains. They hope to adjust the areas in need of im provement that they noted during last year’s season.

“I think we’re all trying to figure out how to make this team and the en vironment something that we all want and something we can all enjoy,” said Chopra.

March notes that one of these difficulties comes from a lack of co hesion during the COVID years. A spike in cases amongst members of the team at the beginning of the fall 2021 season prevented the type of team bonding they normally hope for. This obstacle was particularly dam aging because the class years had not all played together before. Now that the team has some experience togeth er across class years, March said she hopes that team culture will improve.

“Now that we have classes that have actually played together before, our team chemistry on the field is su per awesome,” said March.

This season, 16 out of 22 play ers are underclassmen. As a result, many first-years and second-years have been getting play time and starting. The captains and other up perclassmen are dedicated to making the team a welcome environment for those coming in.

“I think they [first years] are finding their place,” said Chopra. “In practice, we’re also seeing them step up and take roles whether it’s cheer ing someone on from the sidelines or if they’re working really really hard to be the first person to the ball. Their work ethic and commitment is huge.”

Jane March `24

To the captains, making sure the first years feel a part of the team off the field is just as important as onfield communication. For example, the soccer team divides tasks like carrying equipment evenly among players instead of relying on under classmen to do so.

Student Athlete Mentor Reese Komsthoeft `25, the first “raise the bar” recipient of the year, mentioned

Grinnell football team wins first game of the semester

a time when she gave an extra pair of shin guards to a first-year who need ed it. She said support like that ex emplifies the way the team has been incorporating new members.

“I really wanted to start off the year by building strong connections with them [the first-year players] and making sure that they feel included and ... welcome on our team,” said Komsthoeft.

Komsthoeft’s own year, the class of 2025, makes up the largest portion of the team with nine players. Sec ond-years, as a result, have a major

impact on team dynamic in the wake of losing so many fourth-year play ers.

“Even though we’re sec ond-years, and even though we don’t have as much experience as the cur rent fourth years,” said Komsthoeft, “us and the third-year class really have to step up and just make sure that we keep team culture and team spirit alive.”

So far, the players are optimistic about how the season will turn out. Their first game of the season against the University of Dubuque ended in a

tie, a team that Grinnell has not beat en or tied with since 2009.

Many of the current pre-sea son games are against more difficult teams. As such, the team’s current 1-1-1 win rate is hopefully indicative of future in-conference success.

“We have lots of harder games coming up at the beginning of the season, but I think everyone’s been working super hard in practice, and we’re really excited to see how the rest of it goes,” said March, “but [we’re] feeling super confident right now.”

Straight down the line: Grinnell Women’s Tennis set to repeat last year’s success

By Emme Perencevich perencev@grinnell.edu

One month in, the Grinnell women’s tennis team’s fall season is in full swing. With two away victories on Saturday, Sept. 17, the team extended their Midwest Conference (MWC) winning streak.

“Against the conference opponents we’re in a spot where we’re the best team, but I think we’ve gone forward, and we’ve proved that in a lot of ways as well. So, it’s been a good start,” said Coach Zachary Hasenyager.

At the tournament at Ripon, Grinnell swept the home team 9-0. The same day they beat Lawrence 7-2.

By Eleanor Corbin corbinel@grinnell.edu

Grinnell College’s football team snatched their first victory of the sea son 28-7 against Lawrence College on Saturday, Sept. 17. This win came right after a disappointing 48-0 loss to Mon mouth College the week prior.

“We were pretty down after the first game,” said linebacker Clayton Burton `23, “but we kind of came to gether. We got pretty motivated mid week.”

Burton attributed the win to good communication between defense and offense. He was one of the top players in the game with a total of 8.5 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

Burton stayed modest, however, saying, “I think our whole team did pretty well though. Overall, I think my stuff just came from our team being pretty good and getting set up by my teammates.”

Quarterback Grayson Woodhouse `24 also played well, earning the title Performer of the Week. Woodhouse had an impressive afternoon, throw ing two touchdown passes with 187 passing yards. He also had 103 rushing yards which included two additional touchdowns.

First-years Keaton Fitzgerald `26

and Brandon Tennicott `26 both had significant playing time during the game. Fitzgerald made six stops and Tennicott had a fumble recovery. Due to the smaller size of the team, firstyears have been getting the chance to test their skills out on the field.

“Our freshmen get quite a bit of playing time compared to a typical team,” said wide receiver and kicker Nick Reinhardt `25. “So, it’s not as hard for us to get them involved.”

“I think for the fall semester, I’m excited for our Midwest Conference Championships. It is basically the weekend before fall break. It is where we can show our best players and our best tennis. It also determines who goes to Nationals,” said Ioanna Giannakou `24.5.

The team also welcomed eight new first-years this season, bringing the total number of players to 19. With a bigger team, they now must make adjustments to who they can take to tournaments.

“Everybody is forming good relationships and getting involved. We had fun this past weekend where I was able to bring six of the eight first-years to play against a couple of conference opponents and get them some experience and get them some good match play,” Hasenyager said.

Sabrina Tang `23 appreciated the opportunity to travel with some of the

newer team members.

“I guess one of the things that’s been different is learning how to work with a big team. And I think it’s been really great. I love all the first-years. I got to travel with them last weekend, and it’s been great getting to know them all and helping them acclimate to Grinnell, and that’s pretty awesome,” said Tang.

Everyone is forming good relationships and getting involved.

Coach Zachary Hasenyager

Last year the team raised the bar, sweeping the conference and making their way to the first round of the NCAA D-III National Qualifier. Tang was named ITA All American.

“I know last year was a really

good year for me, but I’m not trying to replicate it,” Tang said. “I’m just trying to train in such a way that I’m prepared to do it and then just go out on the court and have fun because after all, it is my last year, and I lost a lot of tennis to COVID and stuff so I’m just looking forward to enjoying it and then setting up a foundation for the team to succeed in the future.”

“We won the conference tournament, and then we won all of the singles and doubles flakes. We cannot do better than that, in some ways, but hopefully we’ll be able to repeat that feat,” Hasenyager said.

“[It was] arguably the most successful season in program history. And so again, replicating that or outdoing that is going to be a tall task,” said Hasenyager. “We’re starting to establish this kind of legacy and precedent of success.”

Clayton Burton `23

Looking ahead, the team hopes to win their game this week against Beloit College, but it is realistic about some of the harder opponents they will face later in the season.

“I think we just have to keep our spirits up throughout all of it regardless of if we win a couple games or lose a couple games,” said Burton. “We have to stay pretty level-headed through out.”

EVAN HEIN

The Grinnell women’s soccer team is predominantly comprised of first- and second-year players, but some of the upperclassmen players plan to “keep team culture and team spirit alive.”

Now that we have classes that have actually played together before, our team chemistry on the field is super awesome.

CONTRIBUTED BY JOSHUA VILLARREAL

On Saturday, Sept. 17, the Grinnell football team won their first game of the season 28-7 against Lawrence College.

CONTRIBUTED BY JOSHUA VILLARREAL

Quarterback Grayson Woodhouse `24 rushed 103 yards during the Sept. 17 game.

I think we just have to keep our spirits up throughout all of it regardless of if we win a couple games or lose a couple games.

EVAN HEIN

Members of the Grinnell women’s tennis team said they hope to continue their impressive winning streak from last sea son.

EVAN HEIN

Sydney Marin `25 sets up a serve in preparation for the ITA Midwest Regional tournament.

OpiniOns

Mental Musings: A good enough excuse

By Millie Peck peckcami@grinnell.edu

Hacking up a lung in class isn’t such a great look post-pandemic.

Nonetheless, when the doctor uttered the word bronchitis, I flushed with relief. The incessant cough and trouble breathing were a small price to pay for the label I needed to provide me with a “good enough excuse” to take a break. For almost a week, my body had been in fight-or-flight mode, plagued by insurmountable anxiety. In one week, I had a fellowship application due, a cross country meet, my first essay of the semester, the first layout for the newspaper, plus my parents were flying into town to cele brate my birthday. There just simply weren’t enough hours in the day. My cortisol levels were so high that my body vibrated as I crawled into bed after finishing work at 2 a.m. — far too anxious for sleep. I knew I had overloaded, but I told myself it was just one hellish week, not a pattern.

Going to class the next morning seemed pointless. I would simply sit there with my leg twitching, my mind racing from one obsessive thought to the next. I wouldn’t learn a thing.

I went anyways, of course, because anxiety has never felt like a good enough excuse. Since the pandemic, I have had so many professors tell me not to come to class when I am sick, but what about when the illness is in our brain?

Recently I have found it crucial to acknowledge that my mental illness is a disability because disabilities aren’t something that are “cured.” They are something that we live and cope with every day. When I started therapy ten years ago I believed I’d find the right cocktail of medication and therapy and I’d be cured. That hasn’t been the case. What I have found is that I am capable of feeling good, and I am capable of functioning at a baseline level now without engaging in disordered behaviors and insomnia or panic attacks. But maintaining my mental health takes a lot of work, and if I’m not careful, it can creep back in an instant.

I am tired of feeling guilty for making lifestyle adjustments rather than week-by-week ones — for feeling like my mental illness isn’t a “real disability.” As a Grinnell tour guide, I found that people were often surprised when I told them 23% of students qualify for disability accom modations. Most accommodations

for mental illness come in the form of extra time on tests, notetakers, breaks or preferential seating. These are very basic and necessary accommodations that are crucial to leveling the playing field academically, but I think the culture surrounding mental illness has made people feel guilty about needing any extra help at all — that we should be able to do it all without help is constantly reinforced.

outright denied. I’m told to just stand on my tiptoes, which I can do, but it leaves me so very tired.

The college environment doesn’t cater to our mental health. I received pushback from professors when I wanted to drop credits because, well, we are here for an education. Coaches aren’t always understanding about missing a practice for mental health unless it’s an absolute emer

it so that we function. I acknowledge that I am the one responsible for my well-being. I chose this college and this lifestyle, and yes, I could be managing my time better. My goal is not to complain about the workload, but sometimes mental illness means that anxiety rises without a particular reason. That’s why it’s an illness.

The funny thing is, our bodies are smart. They understand when we need a break, which is likely why my hell-week ended in sickness. But what if rather than running my body abso lutely ragged trying to do everything through the anxiety and depression and OCD until my body forces me to take a break, I could just take one when I needed it. What if I titled my email “Mental Health” instead of “Bronchitis” — shouldn’t that be equally valid?

position sobbing every night because they were dreading sleep, because sleep meant waking up which meant starting a new day, and that quite honestly felt like too much to bear. He told me that maybe they did. Maybe every person on this campus goes to bed feeling that way.

During my worst period of suicidality in high school, a teacher wrote on a psychiatric testing form that she thought giving me accommo dations was unfair, that the material was probably just too hard for me.

Despite hours of grueling clinical tests and months spent in psychiatric care, there is still this little voice telling me that I shouldn’t need extra help.

While I haven’t heard as blatant of an accusation at Grinnell, I have heard rhetoric of students wishing they had accommodations because they could have done better on the test if they had more time. If we can’t recognize classroom accommodations as “fair,” then how are we ever going to make the larger adjustments we need to live with these disabilities?

A guidance counselor gave me an analogy that helped me to reframe: if everyone looked over a fence and someone was too short to see over, we would get them a box to stand on. No one would protest that it was unfair because we would all understand that they needed that box in order to have the same view as everyone else. Sometimes I feel like when I am asking for a box, when I need an ex tension on an assignment or I need to take a nap instead of going to practice, I feel ashamed. And sometimes I am

gency. I don’t know why preventative care and accommodations aren’t just as important. Perhaps it’s because we view mental illness like bronchitis; we think that just taking some time off or getting some medication might fix it, but that’s not really the case. Taking care of our brain and mental health requires constant adjustment and attention. I roll my eyes when profes sors and coaches and administration tell us to “rest more” because it isn’t like those things aren’t also important to us. The average Grinnellian doesn’t choose to avoid sleep and meals; when the demands of academics and work and extracurriculars become too much, our mental health becomes the only thing that we can sacrifice. There seems to be this perception that we signed up for this, that we chose this and therefore we should be able to do it all.

The cultural dialogue surround ing mental illness has increased. We constantly see messages that tell us to sleep more and take better care of ourselves, but I know I’m not the only one who feels like mental health issues don’t hold the same weight as physical diagnosis. There seems to be a belief that we have more control over our mental health — we can take care of ourselves in a way that makes

Last fall was my first semester back to full-time school, after both the pandemic and since residential care for my eating disorder, so I decided to give myself some grace. I took less than a full course load, I ran cross country but didn’t race and I let go of leadership positions. My mental health was better than ever. I viewed it as a successful trial run and decided to get off the bench and join the game. 18 credits, two jobs and another var sity letter later, my mental health was back in the gutter. Turns out mental illness is a full-time job — a job argu ably more important than many of our other commitments, but because we don’t get graded or praised or receive a paycheck for it, it becomes the one we neglect.

But what if rather than running my body absolutley rag ged trying to do ev erything through the anxiety, and the de pression and the OCD until my body forces me to take a break, I could just take one when I needed it.

Last spring when old patterns of mental illness crept back, I asked my boyfriend why everyone else seemed to be able to do everything I was do ing, but they didn’t curl up in the fetal

Why is taking care of our mental health the first thing that we drop? Why is it okay to skip out on therapy or a meal or sleep, but God forbid we miss class until we are on our deathbed? I do all the things I do because I love them. I don’t want to miss class or practice or work. Taking a step back or setting boundaries is hard for me, especially when we have created a culture in which we aren’t very supportive in helping set those boundaries. Overloading isn’t cute, and getting less than 8 hours of sleep certainly isn’t sexy. We should have time to watch TV, and we shouldn’t feel guilty about saying no when we want to eat lunch rather than attend a convocation. I am still learning how to carve out space for myself, but it’s been extremely hard to do in an envi ronment that constantly tells me that I can do it all. Because I can’t. I’m not ashamed of that anymore. It’s time for us to learn to say no.

You know your limits, and in case you haven’t heard it recently, I’m tell ing you that your happiness matters. I know it’s hard, and most days I don’t do a good job at it, but it’s time we take a little more responsibility for the role we play in managing our mental health. We do have a choice, we do have a say in the boundaries we set, and I think we can do a much better job creating an environment where we don’t participate in destroying our mental health.

I guess what I’m asking for is a little more trust and understanding for ourselves and our peers — for invisible disabilities to be taken seri ously. I’m not asking myself to get so anxious that I make myself physically ill because I don’t think anyone will believe how bad I’m suffering until then. What I do want is to be validated and accepted when I say I’m not okay. Instead, we should look for a response like one of my favorite writers, Mellissa Febos said: “thank you for taking care of yourself.” Because even if we’re taking responsibility of our lives and acknowledging that we do hold ourselves to a high standard and college here isn’t going to be easy, we need the occasional grace to make the decision to protect our mental health.

On the Same Paige: Sexplainations and Other Equity Tips

By Paige Olowu olowupa@grinnell.edu

What’s On the Same Paige?

On the Same Paige: Sexplana tions and Other Equity Tips is an anonymous Q&A column centering around all things related to sex, gender and healthy relationships. This column serves as an educational resource aimed at increasing access to information, normalizing healthy behaviors and promoting a culture of sexual respect on campus. All questions will be answered by Post Baccalaureate Prevention and Out reach Coordinator Paige Olowu `22 in collaboration with the S&B and the Title IX office.

Who is Paige Olowu?

Hello! I’m Paige, a recent graduate as of this past May. This year I’ll be partnering with Title IX Coordinator Bailey Asberry as the post baccalaureate for prevention and outreach. Much of my work is rooted in student involvement. I hope to act as a bridge to the student body and to help find ways to partner with and encourage students to exercise choice regarding their self, body and sexual

ity. After attending Grinnell for four years (and choosing to stick around for another one), I think I understand the campus culture in ways that other staff, faculty and administrators can not. At Grinnell, there is an expecta tion that all members of the college

will help make this expectation a reality.

This week, Paige answered two of the most-asked questions on campus.

“We’re almost two months into the semester, where’s my relationship?”

It’s okay to feel lonely or that you’re missing out on a “fundamen tal” part of the college experience. More people feel that way than you would think. There’s a com mon misconception that the term

relationship is a good way to ensure one or more parties will feel dissat isfied or unfulfilled. A good connec tion is worth waiting for, and in the meantime, look around you! Friends, family, pets, professors, coworkers, even the person who took your order at the Grill last week has an ongoing relationship with you. Relationships are individual and something we choose to actively create and build.

“A hook-up asked me if I’d been test ed recently, should I be offended?”

person even knowing it’s there. Be coming informed of STIs and sexual health history is just one way of caring for each other. Take advantage of the College’s testing week (make a date of it) and get tested with a partner! Practicing safe sex can be a fun and sexy tool to strengthen your relationships — or go by yourself and enjoy the free ice cream.

community — students, faculty, staff and guests — should be able to pursue their work and education in a safe environment. Increasing access to information and destigmatizing be haviors regarding everyday consent, sober sex and healthy relationships

“relationship” is romantic and sexual in nature when in truth, any ongoing interaction we have with another person constitutes a relationship. A nonsexual friendship is a relation ship, your connection to your culture is a relationship, even your affinity to the College is a relationship! There are many different ways to engage in a relationship.

We’re often given the impression that being in a relationship (of any nature) is better than not being in one. However, initiating a relation ship purely for the sake of being in a

SPARC Policy

Nope, not at all! It may seem like an invasive and personal question, but it’s actually a purposeful (and hopefully well-intended) applica tion of safe sex. STIs can happen to anyone. According to the Center for Disease Control, at least one in every four people will contract an STI in their lifetime, with rates increasing for college-aged individuals. Some of the most prevalent barriers to safe sex are assumptions. Taking offense or believing that the question of sexual history was asked due to a lack of trust is contrary to consenting safe sex practices. For many people, an STI could be present without a

Reach out! The QR code will take you to an anonymous form in which you can ask questions, raise concerns or contact Paige directly. The form also provides confidential and non-confiden tial resources if more immediate help is needed.

Nadia Langley Allison Moore

Mohammad Igbaria

Nick El Hajj

Lucia Cheng Lilli Morrish

Isaiah Gutman

Nina Baker Millie Peck

Sam Bates

Emme Perencevich Maddi Shinall

Cornelia Di Gioia

Qingshuo Du Alina Ihnatesku Symbicort inhaler

The Scarlet & Black is published on Mondays by students of Grinnell College and is printed by Times Republican of Marshalltown.

The newspaper is funded in part by the Student Publications and Radio Committee (SPARC) and also relies on advertising revenue to cover operating costs. All publications funded by SPARC are copyright of SPARC and cannot be reproduced elsewhere without specific written consent from SPARC.

Contributions

The Scarlet & Black welcomes story ideas from students, faculty and other members of the town and college community. If there is any story that should be covered, please email newspapr@grinnell.edu or visit thesandb.com

Send letters to the editor via email at newspapr@grinnell.edu or mail them to Box 5886. The author’s name must be included, but letters can be published anonymously in certain occasions. Letters will be printed at the discretion of the editor. The opinions expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect those of the editorial staff. The S&B reserves the right

any

HANNAH AGPOON

OHANA SARVOTHAM

Paige Olowu 22’ hard at work

BackTpage

Dear Sage & Blunt,

How do I participate in hookup culture without being held back by the potential that [it’s] not reciprocated? I feel like it’s more embarrassing in a small school and town setting, which I’m not used to at all.

Sincerely, Hesitant to Hook Up

Dear Hesitant to Hook Up,

I think the problem here might be with hookup culture and not with you.

A relationship model that involves low-stakes sex with partners who are ideally as anonymous as possi ble doesn’t easily map onto a small college in a small town. In the case of unreciprocated affection, it’s much harder to avoid someone on campus who rejected your advances. At the risk of sounding extremely frigid, I’m going to suggest that maybe this relationship model needs work. (Not at all) hot take: hookup culture is kind of dehumanizing!

What if we all got a little more imaginative with our encounters? It is absolutely possible to have frivolous hookups and survive unrequited

interest without ignoring people or pretending not to know them. In fact, I think “participating in hookup culture” would be so much more fun if everyone extended a warm hello to all their overnight lovers whenever

thesandb.com

Sage & Blunt Advice: Hesitant to Hookup

those who are willing to go out and hunt for one are opening themselves up to the possibility of being turned down just as much as you are. And even if they’re not into it, most people are flattered by the idea that there are real people around them who are interested in kissing them! You might just have to accept the inherent risk, and hopefully you’ll take comfort in the knowledge that you’re not alone. Lean into the awkwardness. Have fun with it.

they ran into each other, maybe even get coffee with some of them every once in a while. Consider this my proposition to Grinnellians at large: stop being boring! This is a world we can create together!

What advice each sign should ask our resident advice columnist, Sage & Blunt

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)

Libras, you should be thriving this month! You’ve been drawing the short end of the stick the past couple weeks but take whatever les sons you’ve learned from that and start applying it to your life. But if you’re still feeling any discomfort, try to sit in it rather than running away from it. Harmony will come because you’ve dealt with it, not because you’ve pushed it away.

Ask Sage & Blunt how you can in tertwine your hobbies and passions into a career.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)

This month, everything is going to feel like it’s unraveling a little bit when all you want is for everything to be nicely tied into a little bow. Unfortunately, things usually get harder before they get better. Your season is coming, Scorpio, but you’re going to have to traverse some storms until then.

Ask Sage & Blunt about the mean ing of life.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)

This month, you need help putting some discipline in place. Your tendency to lead with independence and follow whatever new adventure or hobby is calling your name has led you astray. You should sit down, lock yourself in Burling and check off your to-do list. (Also, make a to-do list! Not just for your aca demic tasks, but your job and your personal life). How can you finish everything you need to get done this month?

Ask Sage & Blunt how to stay focused and how to keep your pri orities in check.

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Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

Practice being a leader this month. You don’t need to dive right into it, but lay the groundwork for opportunities to step up and run the show. How can you make sure your voice and opinions are heard in the coming weeks? Reflect on what being heard means to you and how you can practice that on a regular basis.

Ask Sage & Blunt how to grow a garden.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)

Practice using your imagination. Where would you be most relaxed? What is the most serene space you can picture yourself in? Where do you thrive? Indulge in the fanta sy of it all. Put these thoughts on paper and make a vision board for your future (especially your dream destinations!). Daydreaming is not a distraction — it helps you find purpose in the day-to-day.

Ask Sage & Blunt for advice on when to buy plane tickets.

Pisces (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20)

Despite everything I said about “cozying up” and “staying in” as winter encroaches on autumn, you need to go out, Pisces. Live this weekend to the fullest extent. Talk to everyone you run into. Don’t pass up any opportunity to party and meet new people.

Ask Sage & Blunt where the party is this weekend.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Apr. 19)

It’s time to focus on how you can slow down this month. Libra season will give you space to focus on re laxing this month. What does selfcare look like for you? Who are you when you aren’t working and never stopping to breathe? Which of your tasks do you need to prioritize, and which can you let go?

Ask Sage & Blunt how you can clear and reset your mind.

Taurus (Apr. 20 - May 20)

Since we are settling into a new season where we often find our selves stagnant from the perils of winter, it’s the perfect time to get a routine. This routine should bring us joy and comfort. Focus on building a routine that is ambitious but also achievable. Set yourself up for success. Your routine should include moments to just sit and be alone with no obligations rather than back-to-back meetings.

Ask Sage & Blunt what her favorite TV show is – you need a show to look forward to that you can build into your schedule.

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

This week, practice a healthy sleep schedule. You can’t complete your work in an efficient manner if you are running on two hours of sleep. Build your schedule around making sure you fall asleep at a reason able time rather than squeezing in some sleep when you have a free moment.

Ask Sage & Blunt the best way to relieve brain fog.

Rants & Raves:

CORNELIA DI GIOIA

I could recite some cuddly ideal istic manifesto for you, but for now we still live in the real world, where sexual congress is messy and terri fying. The thing to remember is that everyone wants a kiss on the lips, and

he GET ADVICE HERE!

Horoscopes: How to ask for help

By Ms Constellation Prize

I have always had a real affinity for Libras and what Libra season represents. Yes, I’m a Libra Moon, so I am biased, but who doesn’t love the fall air permeating through campus and the fallen leaves flooding the walk up to Burling?

Fall is the feeling of being home, settling in and snuggling up. Libras embody all these warm and fuzzy feelings.

Libra season started on Sept. 23, which happens right after the Sep tember equinox (Sept. 22 at 8:03 p.m.). The equinox is the day when there are 12 hours of day and night around the world. The September equinox marks the start of autumn. These two shifts in season create a wonderful opportunity to start fresh, reset and reevaluate.

Each sign has generally positive traits associated with it, but people who have sun signs can also practice those traits to a fault. For example, Libras are led by a desire for harmony and peace, but they can prioritize finding peace rather than healing or finding a solution.

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Spend this month turning your room into your sanctuary. Your room is going to be a safe haven during these harsh winters. You need a place to call home, otherwise the balance of your life is going to be off. Our phys ical spaces impact our inner peace. You don’t even need to spend tons of time in your room, but the hours you do will affect you.

Ask Sage & Blunt for design advice — how to make the most of our comically small dorms.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)

This month, you will find yourself in the spotlight time and time again.

Maybe you’re giving a presentation in a class or doing a stand-up set at an open mic in Bob’s Underground. Focus on finding your voice. Do you want to

Besides, all of life is rejection. You risk rejection when you apply for a job, when you raise your hand in class, when you ask a friend for a favor — there’s no way to avoid it, and there’s no reason this particular kind of rejection needs to be taken any more seriously. Practice challeng ing whatever it is you tell yourself when your interest isn’t reciprocat ed. I promise, you are very hot and funny. You deserve whatever kind of arrangement thatmakes you and all relevant parties happy. Embarrassment is the price of admission; it’s up to you whether you want to get on the ride.

Sometimes conflict is okay! Spend some time focusing on how these “positive traits” could actual ly be holding you back. For many, these are hard to see. They are called blind spots for a reason: we don’t know how to fix them. But it’s important to ask for help when our shortcomings start to affect us.

Seek support from people around you who have different signs. Keep your sights set on finding comfort and love this autumn.

During this season, prepare for winter hibernation by channeling your inner Libra. Even if you don’t have one in your chart, you are impacted by where the sun is, regardless of if it’s in your chart, because it saturates the environ ment around you!

Gather new relationships like our squirrel friends gather nuts. Buy a new blanket and rent your favorite movie (maybe with a new friend!).

Take joy in relishing these cozy experiences after that horrible heat wave that plagued the Midwest last week.

As always, take what resonates and leave what doesn’t.

be the loudest voice in the room? Is this something you enjoy? Or is it a burden on your day-to-day life? Try to parse out which aspects of public speaking you enjoy and which you dread.

Ask Sage & Blunt for some vocal exercises.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)

Since we’re getting nice and cozy, why not take this time to practice some new hobbies? Try doing something with your hands (knitting, crocheting, etc.). Let your brain calm down while your hands are busy. Life isn’t supposed to always be go-go-go. Your job is not to criticize everyone around you or yourself.

Ask Sage & Blunt for crocheting patterns and how to practice compli menting yourself.

Students & community members speak about what’s on theirminds in 75 words or fewer, and you’re invited! If you have a rantor a rave, email it to [peckcami].

They’ve replaced yik yak with Cigarrettes

Police

Tame your toes and shove on some shoes

Is it just me or is the food... bad?

The best thing since the front page!

Best of luck, Sage & Blunt