Vol 139, Issue 10

Sthecarlet & Black

“The Davis smile”

Honoring the legacy of Davis Cooper `26

By Allison Moore mooreall2@grinnell.edu

Davis Cooper `26 had a contagious smile. According to his roommate, Luke Robinson `26, Davis sometimes asked if he should fix the gap between his two front teeth. Some of Davis’s teammates dubbed the signature grin “the Davis smile” or “the Davis gap.”

“Someone called it that, and I was like, ‘That’s so true,’” said Robinson.

Davis Oakley Cooper was a first-year student at Grinnell College, where he also played as a linebacker on the college football team. He was only 18 years old.

When Davis’s parents visited Grinnell in early November, they placed a cross at the spot where he died on Oct. 31. Etched on it was Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me.”

healing.

Adam Khater `23 played with Davis as a fellow linebacker. He became quick friends with Davis, who Khater said “really identified himself as a football player. A lot of the things you learn in football, they teach you, they prepare you for life.”

Khater said that both on and off the field, Davis’s passionate, positive energy was infectious. The two often played poker together, but when asked if Davis was skilled at the game, Khater responded, “No, he was incredibly easy to read. Sorry Davis, if you’re listening.”

When he arrived at Cowles Hall on his first day at Grinnell, Robinson met his new roommate: a smiling, shirtless Davis. An easy going guy himself, Robinson said, “it was pretty funny.”

VILLARREAL

Students volunteer at the University of Iowa Mobile Clinic

By Ashley Baek baekashl@grinnell.edu

A University of Iowa vol unteering program has allowed a handful of Grinnell College pre-health students to volun teer at various mobile clinics around Iowa City on week ends, adopting skills to help them along their career paths.

Morgan Kennedy, the clinic operations executive for the mobile clinic, wrote in an email to the S&B, “The Uni versity of Iowa Mobile Clinic was created over 20 years ago to address a need in our com

munities to provide healthcare and preventative medicine to our neighbors who were uninsured or underinsured.”

Kennedy added, “One of the most special things about Mobile Clinic is the interpersonal relationships between various colleges. Our volunteers span from undergraduates to medical and PA students. Each stu dent volunteers in roles that are of interest to them and their future career goals.”

UGSDW Bargaining

On Nov. 7, some of Davis’s coaches and teammates gathered on the football field to light lanterns in his honor. Since the lantern send off, other Grinnell students have found ways to celebrate and remember Davis’s life and provide spaces for grief and

Compromises proposed and new issues raised

By Ellianna Cierpiot cierpiot@grinnell.edu

At the collective bargain ing session on Thursday, Dec. 1, the bargaining teams from the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers (UGSDW) and the College focused on propos als about union rights and how new workers would be intro duced to the union during train ing in a conversation that some times became contentious.

The issue of a union ori entation has been discussed at previous collective bargaining sessions, but in this session fol

International Student Award honors Nancy Schmulbach Maly `61

By Taylor Nunley nunleyta@grinnell.edu

The International Student Leadership Award has been created in honor of Nancy Smulbach Maly `61, Grinnell alum and pio neer of international student admission and affairs at Grinnell College and in the U.S.

“International student admission and affairs at Grinnell College is inextricably linked to Nancy’s dedication, forethought and creativity,” said Karen Edwards, dean of International Student Affairs and one of the people responsible for spearhead ing the creation of the award, according an article published on the Grinnell Col lege website. “This award commemo rates Nancy’s pioneering work, and it will lift up student leaders from around the world for years to come,” Edwards said.

Each Spring, the $1,000 award will be presented to one third-year interna tional or U.S. student who largely grew up overseas. The student’s eligibility

for the scholarship will be determined based on their leadership and involve ment within their community both at the College and in the greater Grinnell area.

Maly said she hopes the student will use the award money to further finance the commitments they are involved with.

“It’s my hope that the money the student will be given, will in some way enhance, broaden, enlighten, change or develop his or her own background life on cam pus. If it’s to be used away from cam pus, it will help that student in his or her development at Grinnell,” said Maly.

In her conversation with the S&B, Maly emphasized how import ant she believes it is for every stu dent to experience a different culture.

The summer before her senior year of high school, Maly, an Iowa native, board ed a steamship headed for Bremerhaven,

lowing prior College pushback, UGSDW offered a potential compromise with an unpaid 30-minute union introduction which would be led by union stewards and take place after already occurring new-employ ee trainings or initial workplace meetings.

However, the College raised concerns about this be cause many workplaces use online training, and it may be difficult for the 201 separate workplace supervisors to uni

Robinson runs cross country at Grinnell, and he said that his and Davis’s passion about their different sports helped to bond them almost instantaneously. Though admittedly

CLS’ CPR/BLS class overfills

By Conrad Dahm dahmconr@grinnell.edu

The Center for Careers, Life and Service (CLS) offered a CPR/BLS class on Tuesday, Nov. 15 in the Natatorium.

12 Grinnell College students were able to take the class and are now certified to perform CPR and Basic Life Support.

The course was taught by Kelly Johnson Rose, American Red Cross in structor, and was overseen by Mary Jane Shroyer, di rector of CLS’ Health Pro fessions Career Community.

According to Rose, CLS offered this course last semester. “The first class hosted in May was very well received,” wrote Rose in an email to the S&B. This year, the course filled up all 12 available seats quickly, so quickly that CLS plans to hold an other class in the spring.

“We have 11 more on the waitlist,” said Amelia Denek `24, health profes sions community volunteer

SGA announces new cabinet appointees

Community: Jingle Bell Holiday brings Grinnell joy

Features: Alicia Stanley wins award

CONTRIBUTED BY JOSH

Davis Cooper’s coaches and teammates gathered on Nov. 7 on Rosenbloom Field to remember their friend and release lanterns into the sky.

OHANA SARVOTHAM

Student Government Association announced the hiring of new cabinet members in an all-campus email on Nov. 29. From left: Concert Coordinator Nam Do `25, Communications Coordinator Harry Hamilton `23, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Corrdinator Lily Piede `26, Concert Coordinator Olivia Rikabi `26, Student Education Policy Committee Coordinator Grace Cuddihy `26 and Concerts Coordinator Hayden Davis `25.

CLS offers CPR/BLS class, plans to provide more pre-health opportunities

coordinator. “We are prob ably going to have another course in the spring semes ter.” The class was offered as part of a larger push for CLS to offer resources for students who wish to pur sue medical-related careers.

“I have offered suture clinics, but last spring, we offered CPR/BLS training for students who were interested in being certified for sum mer jobs or their own per sonal development, and the response was good,” wrote Shroyer in an email to the S&B. Since the College is located at least an hour away from any major cities, there is a lack of classes for stu dents who want certifications for medical related jobs. For Denek, this holds true, as she is on the pre-medical track.

“Because of our location, it has been super difficult for students going into the health profession to get what they need during the academic year,” said Denek. According to both Denek and Shroyer, CLS has been wanting to hold more classes for students who want to pursue medical-re lated careers to help them enhance job opportunities.

According to Rose, the CPR/BLS certification is appropriate for med ical personnel ranging from physicians, nurses, dentists and pharmacists.

“I think this [CPR/BLS] credential makes students more competitive for summer internships and gap year jobs that allow them to gain ex perience to be stronger med ical or professional school applicants,” wrote Shroyer.

Denek also told the S&B that the class itself

was well received by stu dents. “The turnout was great,” Denek said. “The class was pretty comprehen sive. It was really good.”

Both Denek and Shroyer said they hope that this class will help boost interest in the medical field for students and provide them with valu able skills. Along with offer ing more CPR/BLS classes in the future, coordinators, such as Denek and Shroyer, who work for CLS hope that more medical-related class es will be held in the future.

“Students who are inter ested in these types of oppor tunities should visit the CLS website at career.grinnell.edu and use the ‘Customize Your Experience’ button at the top of the page to indicate their Health Professions interests so they receive email notifi cations when new opportu nities arise,” Shroyer wrote.

Mobile Clinic welcomes Grinnell student volunteers

Interested students can sign up for volunteering shifts at one or two of twelve avail able clinics in Johnson Coun ty every weekend, according to Amelia Denek `24, the professional community vol unteer coordinator in charge of the program this semester.

Securing transportation to Iowa City in collaboration with the Center for Careers, Life and Service (CLS) is a major aspect of Denek’s job.

Kennedy congratulat ed Denek’s work, saying, “Amelia Denek has been instrumental in trying to arrange carpools for these students to reduce these [transportation] barriers.”

to go every week or every oth er week, but I know some peo ple go once a month,” he said.

“This [clinic] is meant to be like a clinic that’s to tally free for people who are underrepresented,” Ayyeh said. “Whether or not you have insurance doesn’t re ally matter,” he added.

pate in the program that is one of a few opportunities available for pre-health Grin nell students to obtain valu able real-world experience at the undergraduate level.

“I personally love this type of work, and I love being with the patients,” he said.

Kennedy wrote in an email to the S&B, “Our part nership with Grinnell College has been wonderful and has al lowed many Grinnell students to have extremely impact ful volunteer experiences.”

She added, “It really is a team sport utilizing every one’s skills and interests.”

Ahmad Ayyeh `25

DI GIOIA

Nancy Schmulbach Maly `61 has award named in her honor

Germany. For the next three months, Maly would be living in unfamiliar Bavaria, located in Southern Germany, with her host family. Just 17, Maly’s own first international experi ence would pave the way for a lifetime dedicated to global en gagement at Grinnell College.

The following year after her stay in Germany, Maly and her family hosted their first in ternational student at their home in Cedar Rapids. They contin ued the trend in the summer of the next year when both she and her sister visited Germany.

“It was three years of expo sure to international life,” Maly said. “I got to a point where I was advocating that every U.S. per son should spend at least three months out of the U.S. to expe rience another culture. I felt it would change their perspective on life. My belief was it would make them more appreciative of what they had as U.S. citizens.”

Maly also mentioned the lifelong relationships that inter national experiences, especially

those related to hosting fam ilies, cultivated. She told the story of how she and her hus band were traveling to Poland and the Czech Republic and offered to conduct admission interviews for any internation al students who were applying to Grinnell College from these countries. Maly at the time served as a student recruiter in the New England and Mid-At lantic areas. It was in the city of Brno in the Czech Republic that Maly met Alexandr Gagamov.

Gagamov was admitted to Grinnell College follow ing their interview but need ed more time to develop his English. Maly offered to host him at her home. “He ended up not coming to Grinnell, but that was okay because he be came a part of our lives for a year. And he still is now — he lives in Illinois and is married to a classmate of his. We call him our fifth child,” said Maly.

At the official announce ment of the award in her name, Gagamov and several others of Maly’s close friends, family and coworkers surprised her with the news. “I understand

now from my own children that they were working on this with alumni and development since last April,” Maly said.

Maly attended the meeting under the guise that it would be a presentation on interna tional student affairs when it instead shifted to focus on her.

“They [those in attendance] all knew about it and nobody spilled the beans,” she said.

Edwards helped to plan the surprise for Maly. “It could have been an announcement that in volved her more directly, but it felt extra special to turn it into a surprise reunion of that co hort of friends and family who love her dearly,” said Edwards.

Maly, who is 83, said she is honored to have a legacy of this scale to leave behind in the years to come. “I wanted it [the legacy] to be something about the International Student Program. And so this is like a dream come true,” she said.

Edwards said the award still has a few kinks to work out.

In tandem with Maly, the Office of International Student Affairs plans to finalize the award and its details over winter break.

Ahmad Ayyeh `25, one of the volunteers at the mo bile clinics, said, “It’s still open to people who aren’t in the pre-med community. Say, for example, if someone was interested in just a lot of scribe work, they are able to just go and volunteer.” Med ical scribes help transcribe patient information during clinical visits, in real-time, into electronic health records.

According to Ayyeh, different positions require different types of training. Some positions, like tak ing vitals, require in-person training that happens once a semester, while other po sitions, like scribe work, require online training.

Ayyeh, a student on the pre-health track, works as an Arabic translator and a scribe at the clinics. “I personally try

The mobile clinic now serves 12 sites as well as a telemedicine branch. Ac cording to Kennedy, over 700 patients visited the clinic last year, with 66% report ing being uninsured, 41% identifying as minorities and 24% being rural Iowans. The clinic has also offered over 1,200 COVID vaccines since the start of the pandemic.

Ayyeh said he finds in spiration for this work from his past experiences. “I im migrated to the US from Jordan back in 2017. At the beginning, we didn’t have access to health insurance or anything, and I remember we had some sort of a similar clinic back in Chicago, where we moved to, and it was just awesome being able to get help that one day without paying hundreds, if not thou sands, of dollars,” he said.

Ayyeh said he appreci ates the chance to partici

procedure.

Mary Jane Shroyer, di rector of the health profes sions community, emphasized what this opportunity means for Grinnell students inter ested in pre-health. “Health professions programs ex pect applicants to have some clinical exposure prior to ap plying and to demonstrate a commitment to serving their communities,” she explained.

formly notify UGSDW of each training before it happens. Additionally, the College team said they were concerned that variety in workplace size, with some workplaces being only a few student workers, could stretch resources too.

The presence of a UGSDW representative at orientations would not be a requirement for workers, according to UGSDW’s team. The current stance of UGSDW about the union orientation is that a UGSDW representative be allowed to give a union introduction, which the College would neither prohibit nor encourage.

The College also raised concerns about UGSDW’s Union Security and Dues propos al. Citing the importance of student privacy and information security, the College’s team pushed back on the part of UGSDW’s propos al that said that union members could submit dues check-off authorization forms with digital signatures.

In regard to the Union Coverage and Ju risdiction proposal, high school students who work in Dining were not included under the new definitions, but UGSDW stated that, since high school students were included under the existing Dining contract, they should be includ ed in the new bargaining unit as well.

The bargaining teams also went over the grievance procedure, specifically the timeline and process. The College team changed their proposal for filing a grievance, which now states that a grievance may be filed within 10 days of the incident occurring. UGSDW’s pro posal on grievances also includes the require ment that a union representative be present in meetings outlined in the steps of the grievance

Frank Harty, legal counsel to the College and member of their bargaining team, ex pressed concern that requiring the presence of a union representative in order to use the griev ance process would take away student agency. UGSDW said that they were willing to consider creating contract language which would state that student workers have a right to union rep resentation, and also would require that student workers be notified of this right when they file a grievance.

The College’s proposals include excep tions to the grievance procedure. Specifically, Service Leadership Work Study (SLWS) posi tions would not be covered under the grievance procedure because they are volunteer positions and, according to the College, would be subject to the rules of the workplace at which they vol unteer. The College said that in cases of work place discrimination, SLWS workers would still have recourse through Title IX, but UGS DW raised concerns about recourse for issues with getting paychecks or wages.

The College’s proposals also exclude SGA members from the grievance procedure. They stated that this was because there were instanc es where the SGA contract would directly con flict with the grievance procedure, such as in cases of impeachment. The teams did not reach an agreement on grievance procedures or who would be included under them.

The next collective bargaining session will take place on Thursday, Dec. 8.

As student workers, all staff members of the S&B will be included in future collective bargaining. The S&B remains an independent newspaper and is committed to maintaining its integrity in reporting.

CORNELIA

Mobile Clinic— Continued from Front Page

UGSDW Bargaining

Compromise proposed — Continued from Front Page

Award announced — Continued from Front Page

QINGSHUO DU

JUSTIN HAYWORTH

Nancy Maly `61 was honored with an award for international students in her name. From left: Konstantinos Kambouroglou `95, Vivek Venugopal `01, Nancy Maly `61, Al Maly, Suha Gillani `16, Natz Soberares `13 and Alexander Kambouroglou `93.

CPR/BLS

Our partnership with Grinnell College has been wonderful and has allowed many Grinnell students to have extremely impactful volunteer experiences.

Morgan Kennedy University of Iowa Mobile Clinic Operations Executive

I personally love this type of work, and I love being with the patients.

Remembering Davis Cooper `26

“I thought that was a really beautiful, heartfelt thing to do for him and his family,” said McNab.

not a night owl, Robinson said that he and Davis would stay up for hours talking about sports, classes and anything else they could think of. Robinson’s favorite memory of Davis is simple: “just talking to him every day.”

According to both Robinson and Khater, Davis had no difficulty mak ing new friends. “He’d be talking to all sorts of different guys … all sorts of different girls,” said Robinson. In fact, Khater only had one answer when asked about Davis’ personali ty: confidence.

“Davis was just an amazing in dividual. He’d always be there for his team, he’d always be picking people up, on and off the field,” said Khater.

Kameron Ward, a volleyball and track and field coach at Davis’ alma mater, Notre Dame High School (NDHS), recalled Davis’ kindness and friendly smile. Ward wrote in an email to the S&B, “Davis was truly a one-of-a-kind young man … he was the type of person who made you feel better simply by being around him.”

Davis played as a linebacker for the NDHS football team, the Knights. NDHS football coach Joe McNab said that Davis was “very competitive. He wanted to be really good, he played hard.”

On Nov. 4, NDHS honored Da vis and the Cooper family. Along with many in the crowd, every foot ball player held a yellow paper with the number four on it — Davis was #4 at NDHS and #5 at Grinnell. Mc Nab said that the player who wore the #4 jersey this year gave it to Da vis’ younger brother, Elliot, who will wear Davis’ number as he plays out the rest of the season.

At Grinnell, many members of the football team have honored Da vis by wearing black t-shirts that read “LLDC5,” long live Davis Coo per #5.

Brent Barnes, Grinnell head football coach, said that when Davis committed to Grinnell, the coach ing staff were elated. “He’s a char ismatic guy [who] definitely stood out to us,” said Barnes. “We were very, very happy to get him, not just from a talent standpoint, but also just someone with his leadership skills.”

Jason Martinez, defensive coor dinator and assistant coach for the Grinnell football team, began re cruiting Davis during the spring of 2021. “He fit everything we want, from an outside linebacker perspec tive. He was the type of kid that you can build a defense around. He was super, super athletic, very versatile and was a great football player,” said Martinez. “And he knew the advan tage of going to an institution like Grinnell College.”

Martinez said that soon after Da vis committed to Grinnell, he texted and communicated with many of his other newly committed teammates. He would often text Martinez to ask about particular exercises, methods of training and to see Grinnell’s playbook. According to Martinez, Davis was “very passionate about whatever he was doing, whether that was football, working out, in the classroom or just the social life of just trying to be a great friend.”

Within the first three days of summer conditioning, “you could tell he was getting very close with teammates. He seemed to already be an integral part of the team.” Barnes said, “his ability to bond with just about everyone on the team was

pretty special.”

Martinez also emphasized Da vis’ desire to succeed academically. He said, “One of the brighter things about Davis was yes, he was a real ly good athlete and football player. He was a great, great human being, but he was also very intelligent. He worked hard to not only do well ac ademically but also make sure his teammates [did] as well.”

Davis’ high school principal, Alice Cotti, said that while at Notre Dame High School, he enrolled in a rigorous academic program with a particular focus on advanced math and science. Cotti said she was over joyed when she saw Davis in the school courtyard wearing a Grinnell sweatshirt.

“I remember telling him that it was one of my favorite liberal arts colleges,” Cotti wrote in an email to the S&B. “I was so proud that he had discovered such a highly regarded school, a hidden gem of a place that not many kids from Southern Cali fornia know about. I was so happy for him.”

Though Davis spent less than a semester at Grinnell, his impact on

campus was undeniable.

On Nov. 1, the day after Davis’ passing, Grinnell College held a grief and support session in the Joe Rosenfield Center room 101. Ap proximately 300 people attended, including many of Davis’ friends, classmates and teammates who shared their favorite memories of Davis. Many people referenced his signature smile.

“It just showed that a lot of peo ple were impacted by Davis,” said Khater.

Two weeks after the grief and support session, Rachel Woock `23 and Julianna Vadja `24, both vol leyball players, helped to organize a “Remembrance Walk” for Davis, which they held on Sunday, Nov. 13. Both Woock and Vadja wanted to help support the football team and anyone else grieving by creating an activity that allowed for “grief through exercise,” said Vadja.

“I wanted another opportunity to show up for each other,” said Vadja.

Woock is a co-leader of the Student Athlete Mentors (SAMs), which include a representative from each sports team who serves as a support person. “A big part of SAMs is supporting our teammates and the rest of the Grinnell student commu nity. We have a lot of knowledge of resources that we use to help our teams.”

But after hearing the news of Davis’ passing, Woock talked with the SAMs to remind them, “don’t feel pressure to feel in charge of your whole team in the grieving pro cess, because you’re a human, too.”

Woock said she enjoyed “not forcing anything to happen but just coming together. And just talking, we found a lot of value in that.”

Barnes said that the football team “certainly rallied around each other … It’s been a long month. In some ways, it feels like this hap pened six months ago. Some days

you wake up and it feels like time starts to lose some identity.”

“I want to acknowledge and stress the importance of mental health. A lot of guys on the team have been suffering,” said Khater. “I’m scared for my teammates … We need time.”

After Davis’ death, Robinson transferred to a different room in Norris Hall, but he said that the con struction and the room’s placement next to the fire escape prevented him from sleeping well. He slept at his cross country coach’s house for a few nights before returning to his original dorm room in Cowles.

“Coming back [to Cowles] could be a reminder of Davis, which you can think of as a sad thing, but you could also think of it as a good thing,” said Robinson. “I think about Davis, so it can feel sad, but it’s also good [because] he was a great per son.”

Robinson said that he finds in spiration in Davis’ passion and ded ication to his sport. “Davis doesn’t have the chance to compete any more, so I just want to go out there and do what he would do and be the best I can be,” he said.

“So many of our young alums in college come to campus to visit us when they are home for Christmas, and we are struggling with the fact that [Davis] won’t be coming back.” Cotti wrote, “Instead we will be at tending his memorial service [in Los Angeles]. He has the most wonder ful family, and we would ask all of you in the Grinnell community to keep them in your prayers.”

Davis is survived by his father Darin, mother Beverly and young er brother Elliot. On Dec. 20, the Cooper family will hold a memori al service for Davis in Los Angeles, California.

The Cooper family has request ed privacy at this time and were un able to be reached for comment.

Alicia Stanley wins Lifetime Achievement Award

By Eleanor Corbin corbinel@grinnell.edu

When Alicia Stanley stepped onto Rice University’s campus, she planned to become an engineer. She had no intention of working in inter national education. Her first French class, however, would change the trajectory of her studies forever. Af ter a long and lively career working internationally, culminating in her job here at Grinnell as the director of off-campus study, Stanley received the 2022 Institute of International Education for Students’ (IES) Life time Achievement Award.

In order to qualify, individuals must have worked a minimum of 15 years in study abroad or international education and have made significant contributions to the field. The recip ient is selected by IES’ nominations committee, composed of other study abroad professionals.

But as a first-year at Rice Univer sity, she was not aware of the world that was waiting for her.

“Even though the math and sci ence courses were really hard, the French language class I started taking as a first-year student was terrifying,” said Stanley.

Stanley had little exposure to for eign language education up until that point, only briefly taking Latin in high school. In an effort to challenge herself, she decided to spend her full third year abroad in Paris with the IES.

Stanley said studying abroad was a life-changing experience for her. She fell in love with the museums, music and culture of Paris.

“I had started to make friends and really feel like I had enhanced my language skills,” she said. “I was dreaming in French.”

When she returned from Paris in the fall of 1988, she changed her major and graduated from Rice with a bachelor’s degree in French that spring.

Stanley received her master’s de gree in public service management at DePaul University in 2002. She said that DePaul is where she learned that a career in study abroad was possible.

Stanley began working for IES in 2004. She joined the organization’s enrollment management division be fore moving to the academic depart ment where she worked with their centers in Italy and France.

“I felt like I had come kind of full circle,” said Stanley.

While she enjoyed her time at IES, Stanley says that she missed the individual interactions with students that she got in some of her work prior to graduate school.

Stanley went to work for De Paul University as their assistant director of operations in the study abroad program. Then, she moved to Northwestern University, where she worked as associate director of study abroad for nine years.

Finally, in 2017, Stanley made her way to Grinnell College where she has worked since as the director of off-campus study.

“I kept hearing about this sort of global movement that was happening at Grinnell College,” she said. “I was just so curious to see what was hap pening here.”

Stanley described her job as hap

pening in cycles. In the fall, she said that it is all about promoting off-cam pus study and encouraging first-years to check out the Institute for Global Engagement (IGE). After Feb. 1, when off-campus study applications are due, Stanley reviews applications and helps students prepare for their abroad experience. IGE then spends the summer reviewing and updating their off-campus policies. Once the fall starts, the cycle begins again.

Now, the Institute of Global En gagement and the Student Council on Curriculum are going on a listening tour in which they have conversa tions with the SEPC for all majors and concentrations. The goal is to un derstand the curricular barriers that students may have to consider when planning an international experience.

In addition to Stanley’s work through educational institutions, she has also served as the vice chair of the Forum Council, on Academic Council and on the 60th Annual Con ference Planning Committee with IES.

“I was being recognized for my service in the field beyond my dayto-day,” she said, “so it was nice to be recognized in that way.”

Stanley sees international ex periences as a way to expand one’s perspective, having learned so much about France in her time living there. She noted language building, career development and independence as examples of the various goals stu dents can have for their time abroad.

“You learn so much about wher ever it is that you call home and your self and your place in the world,” said Stanley.

EVAN HEIN

Alicia Stanley realized her passion for an international education after she studied for a full year abroad in Paris.

CONTRIBUTED BY TED SCHULTZ Davis’ coaches said he was an integral part of the Grinnell football team within the first three days of summer conditioning.

CONTRIBUTED BY TED SCHULTZ

Adam Khater `23 (right) described Davis’ positive energy as infectious.

Community Jingle Bell Holiday brings seasonal joy to Grinnell

By Cadence Chen chencade@grinnell.edu

When the wind pushed in the bitter cold, parents tended to their running children wrapped in mittens and scarves, neighbors caught up with one another and students laughed and chatted — all huddled around the gazebo in Central Park.

Soon enough, everyone turned around for the park lightup ceremony. At the end of the countdown, the tree shined but quickly turned off. In the next few seconds, like a flicker, the tree shone again, but this time it was accompanied by glittering archways lining the park.

On Nov. 18, the Grinnell community celebrated the start of the holiday season with the annual Jingle Bell Holiday. Coordinated by the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, this event aims to support and point residents towards local businesses early in the season for their holiday needs. This event has persisted for over 20 years.

Someone once said it takes a village, and our village is the best.

The Chamber of Commerce coordinated with Grinnell College to offer shuttle rides to the corner of 5th and Broad Street to increase student attendance at the event.

The event kicked off at 5 p.m. with opening remarks. Dancers from Michelle’s Dance Company and Stepping Out Dance Studio came out on the stage and high-kicked to the sound of “Jingle Bells” in bright red holiday dresses. After the lights ceremony ended, it was time to start exploring all that the town had to offer.

At 5:30 p.m., there were free horse-drawn carriage rides around downtown Grinnell.

“Someone once said it takes a village, and our village is one of the best,” said DJ John Cox, who played music throughout the event.

This year, volunteers introduced two new light-up archways that trace the walking paths of Central Park. Community members were invited to decorate mini trees, whose lights will be on daily from 4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., and decorations are set to stay up until the end of the year.

Kendra Vincent, the member engagement coordinator for the Grinnell Area Chamber of Commerce, said that some townspeople joke that this event helps the town resemble scenes from a holiday movie.

“You have carriage rides and the lights and the shops are open,” she said. “It really is kind of that cheesy Hallmark experience.”

Across the street from the park, the Winter Farmer’s Market was held inside Hotel Grinnell’s ballroom. Local artisans and farmers sold holiday decorations, stocking stuffers, farm-grown produce and more.

One vendor, Sheryl Anderson of Bunny Traxx Ceramics, sold painted ceramic molds, kitchen aid and football-themed items. On her table, there were classic holiday red trucks carrying wrapped presents and gnomes topped with ceramic, light-up Christmas trees for hats. Visitors could pick up and examine the items to appreciate Anderson’s handiwork.

“I just like to watch people look at the items, and that keeps the inspiration going,” she said.

Tony and Christina Sporer, who works part time at the College as an administrative assistant, run Tangled Roots Farm and participated in the market. They sell crops hand-picked from their farm, baked goods, ornaments, jams and more. This was their first time participating in the Winter Farmer’s Market and experiencing the holiday season in Grinnell.

Christina said that they were surprised at the magnitude of the crowds that were coming to the event and that were receptive to their business.

“We’re just happy to be here,” she said. “Grinnell, of all places, is just a mini melting pot. Even though we’re in the middle of nowhere in Iowa, there’s still this really vibrant community.”

Over 55 small businesses, shops and vendors included, stayed during Jingle Bell Holidays. 10 more businesses participated this year than last year.

This year's lights include two new light-up archways, all of which were lit up for the first time for Jingle Bell Holiday.

12 Days of Grinnell-mas

With exactly 12 days left in the fall semester, there is still so much holiday joy to explore in and around the town of Grinnell. Use this advent calendar to find unique and exciting ways to bring some seasonal fun to the end of your semester.

Day 1: Monday, Dec. 5

Start your 12 days with a tour of the lights in Central Park. The lit up tree and archways that decorate the area make for a great photo opportunity or late-night walk.

Day 2: Tuesday, Dec. 6

Treat yourself to a drink from the Saints Rest Christmas menu, like the eggnog latte or holly berry cider.

In the coming weeks, the Grinnell community will continue its celebration. Strand 3 Holiday Merchant is offering free tickets to see “Bad Guys,” “Minions: Rise of Gru,” or “League of Superpets.”

These tickets can be picked up at a large number of sponsors, local businesses downtown, a list of which can be found on the Chamber website.

Every Saturday in December, people are welcome to head over to Central Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to take pictures with Santa for “Santa in the Park.”

More information on these events and others can be found on the Grinnell Chamber’s website under the community calendar.

Day 3: Wednesday, Dec. 7 Need to do some gift shopping? Check out the Grinnell Local Artist Market at the Grinnell Arts Center from 12 to 5 p.m. for a variety of jewlery, ceramics, woodworking and more.

Day 4: Thursday, Dec. 8 Join the Poweshiek County Conservationists to gather the evergreen boughs and make wreaths from 1 to 3 p.m. RSVP using aadnres@poweshiekcounty.org

OHANA SARVOTHAM

Michell's Dance Company and Stepping Out Dance Studio kicked off

Jingle Bell Holiday with a performance.

DJ John Cox OHANA SARVOTHAM

CLIMB Theatre to hold workshops, performances throughout Grinnell

By Jane Hoffman hoffmanj@grinnell.edu

When Anton Jones `02 considers the potential of theater, his mind goes to the word’s Greek root, “theatron,” which can be defined as a ‘seeing place.’ For Jones, theater is not merely about performing. “It’s about seeing, and seeing each other,” he said.

In the coming weeks, the Grinnell community will have a chance to enter such a ‘seeing place’ when CLIMB Theatre, of which Jones is the artis tic director, visits Grinnell during the weekend of Dec. 9.

CLIMB, based in the Twin Cities, is an organization that performs plays and hosts workshops grounded in so cial-emotional learning, often working in schools with students of all ages.

In the fall of 2022, Abraham Teu ber `22, CLIMB’s community con nections coordinator, reached out to the Grinnell College Office for Com munity Partnerships, Planning and Re search to apply for grant funding for a CLIMB visit to Grinnell. CLIMB’s visit is being funded by the Mellon Presidential Grant, a $150,000 public humanities grant awarded to Grinnell by the Mellon Foundation in 2018.

Sarah Smith, director of commu nity partnerships at the College, said that CLIMB’s mission — defined on their website as to “inspire and propel people towards actions that benefit themselves, each other and their com munity through plays, classes and oth er collaborative works” — aligns with the grant’s stated emphasis on projects that utilize the humanities to “amplify different voices and bring campus and community together.”

Through the grant, CLIMB re ceived funding to stage four free play performances and teach 16 classes in the broader Grinnell community. Throughout the process, Teuber, Jones and their coworkers continually asked, “how can we hit as many groups as possible?" said Teuber.

Through collaboration with Smith and Morgan Niner, Americorps VIS TA service members in the Office for Community Partnerships, Planning and Research, Teuber connected with Fairview Elementary School and the Mayflower Community, a retirement community that also offers assisted living and memory care. During their

visit, CLIMB’s artistic team will teach classes at Mayflower and both the Fairview and Grinnell campuses.

Smith and Niner shared that they were particularly enthused by CLIMB’s use of theater to work through challenging situations and fa cilitate difficult but necessary conver sations in a novel medium.

Over Dec. 9 and 10, CLIMB will host a weekend of free public pro gramming that is open to everyone in Grinnell.

On Friday, Dec. 9, CLIMB will perform “Grandpa and Lucy” at 4:15 p.m. in the Harris Center. “Grandpa and Lucy” is an adaptation of a chil dren’s book, originally written by a 9th grade student, about a family’s experience with Alzheimer’s disease, and it focuses on building “intergener ational empathy and resilience,” said Teuber.

On Saturday, the group will host “An Afternoon with CLIMB Theater” in the Harris Center, offering a day of performances and workshops. At 11 a.m., the group will perform “Dragon shield,” a piece about growth mindsets and positive self-talk. From 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., participants can join the group for lunch, drop-in workshops and games before another production of “Grandpa and Lucy” at 2 p.m.

The event organizers acknowl edged the tensions that can surface be tween the college and town communi ties, but they spoke to the potential of events like CLIMB’s programming to bridge divides between these commu nities. Jones focused on how people of all ages, identities and walks of life are often able to coalesce around the importance of “intergenerational in teractions,” such as those that will be facilitated over the weekend.

"That relationship [between col lege and community] can be really fraught. There's vulnerability that's inherent to theater and art, especially when you're getting to know people," said Teuber.

Despite these challenges, CLIMB emphasizes the transformative po tential of theater as a medium for bridging divides and bringing people together to creatively engage with one another. “The real magic of theater is that live interaction between humans, between all of those people engaging in the space together,” said Jones.

By George Kosinski kosinski@grinnell.edu

Rendered in vivid color and exqui site detail, random objects and elements of nature emerge alongside one another, all in heavy contrast against monochro matic backgrounds. Baseballs, butter flies, silverware and minnows populate Tilly Woodward’s paintings. More than anything else, though, she paints bird nests — woven lattices of twigs so del icate that it feels they might blow away in the slightest breeze. Surprising combi nations of subject matter — a humming bird beside a wine cork, a chess piece in a nest, flowers and a Swiss Army knife wrapped in red ribbon — arrest the eye and engender new, unexpected resonanc es between seemingly ordinary objects.

For Woodward, the curator of ac ademic and community outreach at the Grinnell College Museum of Art, art has always been an important mode of speech and self-expression. “From a young age, it was an essential form of communication for me, both in terms of interior dialogue but also as a way of pro cessing the world,” she said. “One of my earliest memories is of scribbling, which is probably no surprise,” she added with a laugh, alluding to the intricately tangled lines of her signature nests.

Woodward grew up on a farm, which she credited as a significant influence on her work. She said that it provided her with ample free time to pursue her artistic passion while also acquainting her with interactions in the natural world and the cycles of life and death which now reso nate throughout her paintings.

She also cited her high school ex perience at Phillips Academy, in Ando ver, as an important step in her artistic development. “The art department there was tremendous, while going to a high school that had its own museum was a pretty fantastic experience. In fact, my first paying job off the farm was working one spring break at the museum, cutting mats for their works on paper.”

As she studied, Woodward said she was always interested in a variety of mediums. “I did quite a bit of work in ceramics early on, and my MFA and my BFA are both in sculpture. I switched to two-dimensional work once I finished my MFA and drew for about twenty years exclusively, and then started paint ing in 1999.”

Over the years, she has noticed her work change dramatically in content as well as form. “When I was younger, I think my work was angrier and more confrontive,” she said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve grown more interested in building relationships rather than con frontive ones. The idea of beauty in quiet reflection has been an important influ ence in this last phase of work that I’ve been involved with.”

Woodward’s most recent work con sists of an array of small oil paintings —

various objects are depicted at the center of stark, black backgrounds. She said that she favors this compositional style be cause, for one thing, it is highly practical.

“I work a pretty busy job, between forty and fifty hours a week at least. I paint in the evenings between seven and nine, and on the weekends, so I find it works really well to have something that’s fo cused and that allows me to look at one thing very clearly.”

Slowing down is one of the things that I engage with, and I hope that the paintings help other peo ple engage with that too, taking time to notice small things and their inherent meaning and beauty.

Tilly Woodward

She said that this style also allows her to investigate how objects hold mem ory and meaning. “With each object, you might not know its history, but I hope that the viewer feels some intent as they’re looking at it. Oftentimes, things may be paired which might not naturally go to gether but somehow the forms’s interac tion or the metaphor that the two objects create makes a lot of sense to me.”

She said that she hopes her paint ings can help others appreciate the world around them in new ways. “Slowing down is one of the things that I engage with, and I hope that the paintings help other people engage with that too, taking time to notice small things and their in herent meaning and beauty,” she said.

Woodward paints commissioned

Tilly Woodward

and non-commissioned works which have been exhibited nationally in galler ies and museums, and they can be found in museum, corporate and private collec tions around the world. At Grinnell, her work is most visible as part of the annual Grinnell College Innovator for Social Justice Prize (Grinnell Prize), awarded annually to individuals who, according to the College’s website, are “standing strong in the face of adversity” and “cre atively approaching the biggest challeng es that confront society today.”

Woodward said that the College reached out to her in 2011 during the prize’s inception, since some of her past work had engaged with themes of social justice. She suggested creating a painting to tell a story about the work of the indi viduals who won the prize. “I’ve had the privilege and the honor of creating visu al metaphors to tell the stories of people and organizations who are doing incred ible good in the world, which has been a lovely task.”

Now, every year, Woodward makes a painting for the Grinnell Prize that distills the winner’s life and work into abstract form. She said that this entails a process of navigating between conveying information while also producing some thing that is aesthetically striking. “You need content, but you also need to have something that’s visually successful,” she said.

Woodward said that currently she is enjoying finishing up a commissioned piece, but she is also looking forward to returning to her own work. “I’ve been thinking that doing some flowers that will carry me through the dark of winter might be nice,” she said.

Her art can be found online at her website (www.tillywoodward.com) and on campus at the Macy House and the Nollen House.

Upcoming arts events on campus

OWEN BARBATO

While Tilly Woodward holds two degrees in sculpture, oil painting has been her medium of choice for the past two decades.

CONTRIBUTED BY CLIMB THEATRE.

CLIMB Theatre Resident Artist Kia Brown.

SportS

In JRC 101 and beyond, students unite to support home countries in World Cup

By Taylor Nunley nunleyta@grinnell.edu

After four long years, domestic and international students once again joined in rooting for their favorite teams in the World Cup, the biggest sporting event in the world. The 2022 World Cup officially began on Sun day, Nov. 20, with host country Qatar and Ecuador’s match. It will run until Dec. 18, when one country out of 32 will be crowned the world champion.

Students, faculty and staff met in the Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC) room 101 from the week of Nov. 21 to 27 to watch the games in a designated shared environment — the College discouraged students from watching in both the Humanities and Social Studies Center and Noyce Science Center, saying these buildings are pri marily used for academic purposes.

Grinnell students had no trouble finding a place to watch the tourna ment, though, as watch parties were held all across campus.

Miles Brown `26, who watched the United States’ games against Wales and Iran with a group of friends in the Dibble Hall lounge, said the World Cup was very different from the American sports he is used to watch ing. “Both games I felt the same, just sheer terror for 90 minutes,” he said. “I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire time because with it only be ing a one-point difference, things can change with the kick of a goal. In the end, America prevailed, though, and with it I was happy.”

After the U.S. team’s victo ries, Brown remarked on his and his friends’s shared sense of pride in their country. “Regardless of our state, we all came together in Iowa and got to watch the big game. It was really in

spiring.”

Jonathan Kellogg `23, a student from the Netherlands, said he is excit ed to see his country compete in the tournament again. In the 2018 World Cup, the Netherlands did not qualify. “The last time I saw the Netherlands playing the World Cup, I was 12 or 13,” he said.

Kellogg visited JRC 101 to watch World Cup matches a few times while it was open for viewing. He said that each time he visited, not many other students were present. He predicted that will change with the Netherlands match against the U.S. on Saturday, Dec. 3. “No one really cares about the best games, which is going to change in the next one, because that’s the Netherlands versus the U.S., which I find exciting. At the same time, if we lose, I’m confronted by everyone be ing happy, but if we win, everyone is going to be mad at me.”

The Netherlands has made three World Cup final appearances, yet has never managed to take home the title of world champions. Kellogg said he does not think their record will change this year. “We’ve not been playing so well,” he said. Kellogg said he pre dicts that the Netherlands will get to the quarterfinals — “the semifinals if we’re really lucky,” he said.

Kellogg remains optimistic at the possibility of defeat though. “But we’re here. We didn’t qualify last time. Our team is not looking bad,

which is already great, so I am just feeling happy about being here,” he said. “I’m just hoping we can take the U.S.”

Upcoming Home Games

Scott Lee `26

Lee also expressed his belief in there always being a country that fares far better than predicted. “Every time it’s held, there’s a Cinderella country, and I’m curious to see who it’s going to be this year. So far, I would defi nitely have to say it’s the U.S. It’s very surprising that they haven’t lost so far,” he said.

Noor Yahyaoui `25, an interna tional student from Morocco, said she loves the community aspect of the World Cup at Grinnell, especial ly among international students. “I love the spirit that’s going on around school. All my international friends are supporting their teams, and it’s very beautiful and wholesome. It’s like a supportive outlet where we all come together. We leave politics aside, and you see everyone from around the

world coming together,” she said. Yahyaoui, who cheers on her home country’s team, watches the games with her friends and, on occa sion, with her parents over video call. She said the World Cup is treated like a celebration in Morocco where “ev eryone goes out into the streets” and school is canceled. “It’s a very sup portive community we build around sports where we all connect to home and with our people,” she said.

This past Saturday, Dec. 3, and Sunday, Dec. 4, eight teams faced each other in the knockout stage. On Monday, Dec. 5 and Tuesday, Dec. 6, the remaining eight teams will face their opponents and the winners will progress to the quarter-finals, the first of which will be held this coming Fri day, Dec. 9.

An investigation into a social divide on campus: President Harris on campus culture and “crossing 10th”

By Carter Ottele otteleca@grinnell.edu

This semester, I’ve been investigating the divide between athletes and non-athletes at Grinnell College. To wrap up my project, I talked with President Anne Harris to get a sense of the administration’s perspective. Our conversation ebbed and flowed from the tactical to the philosophical, addressing specific programs as well as the very concept of athletics at an academic institution.

Harris, who attended a liberal arts college for undergrad before teaching at DePauw University, called Grinnell’s social divide unique among the institutions she had been part of. “There’s something very particular happening at Grinnell,” she said.

She first learned of the divide in the fall of 2019, when the Grinnell football team received national attention for forfeiting their season. Along with low participation, the team cited the school’s disinterest as a pivotal reason for prematurely ending the season. Harris conversed with football players during the process and learned that many student athletes felt unsupported and excluded by both the administration and the student body.

Harris linked the 2019 experience to the concept, “crossing 10th,” a phrase I’d never heard before this discussion. In this case, 10th refers both to the physical gap between the Charles Benson `39 Recreation and Athletic Center (Bear) and campus (10th Avenue) and the symbolic gap between athletics and academics. Crossing 10th, then, involves combining sports with academics. The task can challenge non-athletes, who are rarely obligated to cross 10th literally or figuratively. Harris told me that the administration held a two-day retreat in May dedicated to this topic.

“How do we valorize athletics at Grinnell?” Harris asked rhetorically. Evidently, the administration views this question as part of a broader effort to improve the social health of students. Harris stressed the importance of a united school that can overcome superficial divisions, especially those guided by assumptions or “social misgivings.”

“We don’t enter this space as

stereotypes. We stereotype each other,” Harris said. Whether it’s nonathletes perpetuating stereotypes about athletes or athletes refraining from connecting with non-athletes, the Grinnell community suffers.

When I asked for the administration’s solutions to the problem, Harris listed a few strategies. The mandatory First-Year Experience course, she said, represents an opportunity to “have conversations and change one’s mind.” The Bear, with diverse offerings for all students, can guide non-athletes toward crossing 10th. And, more than any other plan, Harris emphasized the role of spectatorship. “Spectatorship is a relatively unexplored identity at Grinnell,” she said.

As she explained, the process of attending sports competitions at Grinnell and cheering for peers can help non-athletes feel closer to athletes. At the same time, athletes may feel closer to the people supporting them during games or tournaments. As such, she “profoundly” invites all Grinnell students to turn out and motivate their fellow peers.

Similarly, Harris accentuated the need for change to come from students. “I can send emails. I can make speeches,” she said. Nevertheless, “people have to change their own hearts.”

because they love it,” Harris said. Sports should be fun, and as much as Grinnell values athletic competition, the seriousness of athletics should never trump the school’s social health.

Thus, the social divide seems problematic. It threatens the school’s social health, feeds into stereotypes and jeopardizes our ability to “see each other in living color,” as Harris phrased it. From this interview, I gained crucial insight into the implications of the social divide and potential paths moving forward.

Our conversation also touched on conceptual topics. Harris, a trained scholar of medieval art, illuminated the historical Western divide between mind and body. As part of the larger movement to rethink Western orthodoxy, she said, the school has to reinforce the intrinsic bond between intellectual and physical pursuits.

By strengthening that link, students can reclaim their status as amateurs — defined not in the typical sense, as opposed to professional, but in the French etymological sense, as “someone who does something

As I arrive at the end of my project, I have tried to reflect on the knowledge I have gained. I struggled to summarize my research from this semester because it has veered in so many directions.

To the best of my ability, though, I have condensed it into five takeaways: First, athletics does not draw from a meaningfully different population than the rest of the school. Second, most students form friend groups early in their time at Grinnell for athletes, it is particularly easy to make these initial connections with teammates, and for the rest of their time at Grinnell, it remains easier to hang out with teammates than nonathletes. Third, some athletes feel a sense of exclusion, but non-athletes are more aware of the divide. Fourth, school culture has cemented this division by embracing stereotypes and discouraging social expansion. Finally, change can only come from the active decision to combat external pressures, reverse calcified social positions, foster a variety of interpersonal connections and thus bridge the social divide.

On the last point, I have spent this semester upending my own assumptions. I hope this project can inspire others to change their hearts as well. Maybe, if Grinnell acknowledges and addresses the problem, we can grow beyond it.

Scott Lee `26 is rooting for both the U.S. and South Korea. He said rooting for two teams allows him the chance to have a backup in case one does not perform well.

CORNELIA DI

Miles Brown `26

We don’t enter this space as stereotypes. We stereotype each other.

President Anne Harris

Spectatorship is a relatively unexplored identity at Grinnell.

President Anne Harris

Every time it’s held, there’s a Cinderella country, and I’m curious to see who it’s going to be this year.

OpiniOns

By Paige Olowu olowupaig@grinnell.edu

Sexplanations and Other Equity Tips is an anonymous Q&A column centering on all things related to sex, gender and healthy relationships. It serves as an edu cational resource aimed at increasing ac cess to information, normalizing healthy behaviors and promoting a culture of sexual respect on campus. Questions will be answered by Post Baccalaureate Pre vention and Outreach Coordinator, Paige Olowu `22, in collaboration with the Title IX office.

When does a drunken hook-up be come nonconsensual?

Before I answer this question, I want to share a definition of consent: consent consists of an affirmative, conscious deci sion by each participant to engage in mu tually agreed upon sexual activity. When thinking about consent, I often refer to the Planned Parenthood acronym F.R.I.E.S. which states that consent must be freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic and specific. Obtaining consent isn’t the absence of a “no” but rather the presence of an avid yes. Consent consists of an outward demonstration indicating that an individual has freely chosen to engage in sexual activity.

In places like college campuses where the perception is that drinking and sexual experimentation are common or expected (but do not have to be!), the relationship between sex and alcohol or other drugs (including prescriptions) is quite nuanced. While consensual sex can occur when al cohol has been consumed, we must also

recognize the impact alcohol use can have on clear, informed decision making. Alcohol and other drugs can complicate one’s ability to give and recieve consent. Alcohol and other drugs impair judgment, affect one’s capacity to communicate and impact the ability to read and interpret communication from others. To be clear, it is never the victim’s fault when they ex perience sexual violence, even when they have consumed alcohol or other drugs.

The point at which a drunken hook up turns nonconsensual rests in our un derstanding of the difference between influenced and incapacitated. A person in fluenced by alcohol and other drugs may display signs of euphoria, exaggerated emotions or lowered inhibitions, whereas an incapacitated person may have diffi culty speaking coherently, show signs of confusion, weave and stumble and even pass out. Questions you can ask yourself to help tell the difference are: Is my part ner coherent? Can my partner communi cate their thoughts clearly? Does this per son understand what is going on around them?

An incapacitated person cannot give consent. If you are unsure whether a per son is sober enough to consent, it is best to not engage in any sexual activity. Relying on non-verbal communication, inferences or passivity can lead to dangerous mis understandings or assault. If at any time it is reasonably apparent that either party is hesitant, confused, unsure or unable to fully communicate, both parties should stop and hold off on sexual activity until sober.

It’s important to note that giving and obtaining consent through active commu nication is a crucial aspect of sexual ac

tivity for established partners. Whether it is only your second time hooking up or if you’ve been dating for the past 3 years, if a partner has given consent to sexual ac tivity in the past, it does not automatically apply to current or future interactions. Ev eryone has the right to change their mind at any point, even if it is something they have previously said yes to. Questions you can ask to check in sound like: Do you like this? Do you need a break? Are you having fun? What do you want to do next?

Consensual responses to these ques tions look and sound like contiuous com munication at every step — responses like, “this feels good” or “I want to do this now” should indicate that the needs of ev eryone involved are being met. If anyone is ever worried that asking for consent may ruin the moment or prevent their hookup from happening, I’d advise them to look inward and examine why their hookup has to happen at that time. If the reason for not asking is because allowing their partner to opt out will mean that the hookup won’t happen, then it probably shouldn’t happen in the first place. I’m not going to spout that “asking for con sent is sexy.” Rather, asking for consent is mandatory. Asking for and obtaining consent and engaging in clear and contin uous communication allows all partners to effectively express their boundaries, wants and desires.

I hope that helped answer your ques tion. Consent is only truly meaningful when someone can give it knowingly, voluntarily and affirmatively. If these con ditions do not exist from the beginning to the end of each instance of sexual activity, it is non-consensual.

Paige Olowu `22 answers questions related to sex, gender and healthy rela tionships.

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

Op-ed: Free Palestine, a call to action

By Lena Wiebe wiebelen@grinnell.edu

This fall, as many Americans gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving — a holiday that traditionally marks both the fall harvest and the advent of American settler violence — Israeli settlers and soldiers have beaten, in jured, and murdered a higher rate of Palestinians than in any other year re corded by the UN.

This violence has escalated throughout the Palestinian olive har vest season, historically a “key eco nomic, social and cultural event” for between 80,000 to 100,000 Palestinian families who, according to the UN, rely on the harvest for their income and wellbeing. According to the Times of Israel, on Oct. 18, a 70-year old ac tivist was beaten with clubs by masked settlers in the illegally occupied West Bank for accompanying Palestinian farmers into their fields. On Nov. 3, a group of settlers were recorded beating and setting dogs on a Palestinian fami ly who were harvesting olives on their own land. On Nov. 5, the UN reported that a group of about 40 Israeli settlers assaulted and stoned three Palestin ians, including a 13-year-old child, while they were harvesting their olive trees, and then stole their crops and harvesting machine.

These incidents are not isolated. One report by Haaretz found that there had been over 100 cases of settler vi olence against Palestinians in just 10 days this October. This violence is also not the result of rogue settlers acting against the rule of law or will of the Israeli government; in fact, B’Tselem has reported that the Israeli govern ment legalizes, subsidizes and defends

violent dispossession of Palestinians from their land, communities and homes.

Settler violence in Palestine is also not only a modern symptom of Israel’s increasingly far-right government. In 1948, Jewish settlers forcibly displaced more than 700,000 Palestinians from their homes in the Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”). Today, Israel continues to illegally refuse the right of return for seven million Palestinian refugees. Internally, Israel denies Palestinians equal rights in immigration and re location, political participation and freedom of movement, and has passed discriminatory laws to expropriate Pal estinian land, including for Jewish-on

ly communities. Groups like Amnesty International and Israeli human rights organizations such as B’Tselem and Yesh Din have described Israel as an apartheid state.

So why does Grinnell College, a “social justice institution,” continue to fund and support Israel’s violent occu pation of Palestinian lands?

The College purchases and sells Sabra products, including hummus, at the Spencer Grill. Sabra is co-owned by the Strauss Group. The Harvard Crimson has reported that the Strauss Group provides direct financial assis tance to the Israeli Defense Forces. The College purchases and uses HP computer and technology products;

the Who Profits from the Occupation independent research center has found that HP-branded corporations provide services, technology, and servers to the Israeli army and police as they enforce and maintain Israeli apartheid. The College has also historically refused to divest its investments from corpo rations and mutual funds that cause harm; according to an April 2018 re port from the College board of trustees, the College refused to divest its $2.9 billion endowment from fossil fuel industries. Because the endowment is so opaque, we have little idea of what other harm the College may be causing through their financial support.

There is an urgent need for solidar

ity with Palestinians at Grinnell. U.S. taxpayers give Israel $3.8 billion in military funding each year, according to the White House. Student workers at Grinnell provide the labor and tuition payments that keep the College run ning, allowing the College to contin ue funding Israel’s colonial apartheid project. Yet despite their position of complicity, many students at Grinnell remain uncomfortable with discussing the plight of Palestinians, the ways that Grinnell College contributes to the op pression of Palestinian peoples or even in discussing colonialism at all. Why has the College’s direct support of co lonial violence been reduced to a neu tral moral issue? As a Grinnell student, I cannot stand by while the College invests the profits of my labor in Israeli settler violence.

Palestinians have been clear about the action we can take in solidarity with their fight for liberation. Nearly all of Palestinian civil society has en dorsed the Boycott, Divestment, Sanc tions (BDS) Movement, which aims to end Israeli apartheid by withdrawing global economic support for it. This includes the Palestinian Trade Union Coalition for BDS, which has called on trade unions across the world to take action to support BDS and Palestinian workers.

Grinnell students should ask themselves whether they are comfort able with their labor and support being co-opted to defend and maintain an apartheid state. And then they should take real action — by boycotting Sa bra, demanding that the College end its financial support of Israeli apart heid, and by standing in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for liberation wherever possible.

SPARC Policy

Contributions

The

Nadia Langley Allison Moore Mohammad Igbaria Nick El Hajj Lucia Cheng Lilli Morrish Isaiah Gutman Eleanor Corbin Millie Peck Samuel Bates

OHANA SARVOTHAM

OHANA SARVOTHAM

Lena Weibe `25 said she wants more students at Grinnell to denounce colonialism and settler violence in Palestine.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 - Dec. 21)

That moment when one of the main characters sees it for the first time: “Oh my gosh, that’s real snow!”

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19)

The protagonist sheepishly points out the mistletoe hang ing above them to their love interest. They hesitate and al most kiss, but an awkward un cle interrupts them before they get to share a festive lip lock.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18)

The ex-love interest crashes the family’s holiday dinner right before the main characters were going to introduce themselves as a couple!

Pisces (Feb. 19 - March 20)

Any character (bonus points if it’s the dorky dad) wear ing an ugly festive sweater or tie in the final scene of the movie.

Aries (March 21 - April 19)

One of the random side char acters — hometown shop owner or local barista, etc — says the title of the movie in the movie.

Taurus (April 20 - May 20)

The main characters go Christ mas tree shopping together, get separated and find one another again, conveniently next to the perfect tree (of course, snow be gins to fall at this very moment).

Gemini (May 21 - June 20)

The younger brother of the family starts an obligatory snow ball fight, and one of the main characters gets hit a little too hard in the face and starts crying (which the love interest helps wipe away).

Cancer (June 21 - July 22)

Dad makes a toast at dinner where he welcomes the main char acter to the family, rambling about the family’s totally out-of-leftfield holiday traditions, like their

famous family Rage Cage match. Leo (July 23 - Aug. 22)

A gaggle of carolers come to the door with snow falling behind them. They’re singing the main couple’s favorite holiday song.

Virgo (Aug. 23 - Sept. 22)

The workaholic family member plans to go to work on Christmas day, but then makes a surprise ap pearance at the end, saving the day.

Libra (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22)

The main character spends the whole movie asking to get hot chocolate and ends up burning their tongue because they are too excited when they finally get it.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 - Nov. 21)

The sibling who gets sick and throws up because they ate all the chocolate in all of the advent calen dars, which almost ruins the holiday.