10.17.13 Hillsdale Collegian

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Senior Class president Albert DeLapp ’14 in his football uniform.

Klaus’ ends gala Evan Brune and Morgan Sweeney News Editor and Collegian Reporter

Vaclav Klaus spoke on the topic, “Europe and America: Our Common Crisis” on Oct. 10, finishing off two days of celebration at the launch of the college’s Rebirth of Liberty and Learning Campaign. Born in 1941, Klaus survived Nazism and communism and took an active stance against the latter. He spoke about the European integration’s destructive influence on Europe’s economy, and how the European Union regulates far too closely to allow any real economic growth. Klaus talked about the noticeable similarities between the American and European systems. “The ideas leading to the weakening of the market economy and to the strengthening of the welfare state, with all of the inimitable consequences, come from this side of the Atlantic,” he said. Klaus said the only hope for Europe is a firm, principled resistance to the beliefs and philosophies that threaten it. The same holds true for the United States. Klaus’ example of peaceful, democratic leadership in the midst of an undemocratic world, is the reason College President Larry Arnn chose Klaus as the final speaker for the gala. “He carried on,” Arnn said, “as I have promised to our friends that we will do ... He has done the

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Vol. 137, Issue 7 - 17 Oct. 2013

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Gaetano earns Ph.D.

The photos on the left and right are the two only known photos inside the historic musuem in Knowlton Hall, circa 1895.

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

Micah Meadowcroft Assistant Editor

Fisk, DeLapp, & Swinehart:

The men who saved the museum Sally Nelson Opinions Editor Hillsdale College once had one of the best natural history museums of any college in the country. But two fires and almost 100 years of neglect, punctuated with theft, left the remnants of the Daniel M. Fisk Museum of Natural History’s former glory scattered across campus in boxes and drawers. After 13 years of work, professor of biology Tony Swinehart reopened the museum in 2011. Thanks to a recent grant from the Student Federation, Swinehart will be able to continue his renovation project with new carpet today and new display cases sometime in the near future. Professor of Science Daniel Fisk founded the Museum in 1872. But the 1874 fire that destroyed the main campus building incinerated much of what Fisk had started. “Rumor has it that the fire started in the museum, but it wasn't the museum's fault,” Swinehart said. “The college was putting up plaster and lit a fire to dry it.” Swinehart reopened the doors to the museum in the Strosacker Science Center on March 7, 2011, exactly 137 years after Fisk began digging through the ashes to find surviving specimens. The destructive fire

cemented Fisk's determination to continue expanding the museum. When the college built Knowlton Hall to replace the classrooms destroyed in the fire, Fiske established the museum on its first floor. From 1874 to 1910, the museum blossomed, drawing visitors from across the Midwest and donations from across the world. Former Hillsdale president Ransom Dunn even indicated in a letter that, as he rode across the country raising money for the college, he collected specimens for the museum. “There were literally thousands of specimens,” Swinehart said. “It was a campus icon. People wrote poems and short stories in the Collegian about the museum.” The Hillsdale Herald reported on Oct. 24, 1878, that: “The College museum grows as ever. Two Cobra de Capellos crawled all the way from Richard Lawrences in India, to Prof. Haynes’ for the benefit of science. The mummy’s head, now the property of the museum is the gift of Mr. Baggerly, of Quincy, as is also the complete skeleton of a Chinaman.” The college cosponsored an expedition to South America with the Smithsonian Institution and Albion College in 1880. The college received a letter from then U.S.

Above: Knowlton burnt in the winter of 1910. Below: Note the fossils in display cases in the charred remains of the museum.

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A professor skipped school last Thursday. He was at the University of Pennsylvania instead. And yes, he had permission. When he left, Matthew Gaetano was a professor in the history department. He has returned now, a changed man. He is Matthew Gaetano, doctor of history. Gaetano skipped school to defend his dissertation. That was the final step in a long process to earning his doctorate degree. Graduating from Hillsdale in 2005 and returning to teach in 2011, he has been working on the dissertation throughout his two and a half years of teaching here. Gaetano’s dissertation topic reflects his specialization as an intellectual historian: one who studies the history of ideas. “My dissertation is about the teaching of theology and metaphysics in the universities of the Italian Renaissance, particularly the University of Padua,” he said, slouched, staring at the ceiling as he tried to articulate years of study in a few sentences, “I’m mainly interested in how the thought of Thomas Aquinas may or may not have been integrated into a renaissance intellectual milieu.” At 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 10, Gaetano defended his research and the claims he made in his dissertation before a panel of experts. When informed that he had succeeded in defending his dissertation, he officially became a doctor. There will be a ceremony to

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Hillsdale’s hand in the ALDS Staff vs. staph Matt Melchior Collegian Reporter

Jack Butler Assistant Editor

Currently the Detroit Tigers are competing for the American League Championship and they can thank Hillsdale College alumnus Mark Beauchamp `93 and his friend John Bendzinski for their contribution in the division series. The Tigers were three innings away from being eliminated from the American League Divison Series by the Oakland Athletics. The Tigers trailed by one run in the bottom of the seventh when Victor Martinez put a good swing on a pitch. Josh Reddick chased the shot to the right-field wall and leaped to rob Martinez of a game-tying dinger, unfortunately for Reddick, Bendzinski and Beauchamp were already camped out under it. “I don’t think he had a chance,” Beauchamp said. “He made a great play, but I think he was about a half of a foot short. I did reach over the rail, but I think it was going to hit the pole.” Their first row seats in right field entitled them to any souvenirs that escaped the yard. However, on Martinez’s home run, Reddick thought the fans interfered with the catchable ball. “I don’t blame Reddick for being frustrated,” Beauchamp said. "Where the fans can affect the play, it can change the momentum. And it changed the momentum for them and changed the momentum for us," Reddick told Jim Caple of ESPN. “All you can look at as home-field advantage and it being absolutely frustrating that a fan can

On Sept. 26, Hillsdale College athletes received an email from athletic trainer Lynne Neukom. “We have had three cases of staph this week in our athletes. As so, all locker rooms, the weight/cardio room and the athletic training room will be bombed tonight. If your athletes have any food items, please ask them to remove them. If you have any questions, please let me know...” Staph had struck the Chargers. But when this Staphylococcus-spawned skin infection first appeared, the college was ready. “Staph is one of the most common infections we see as a health profession,” said Athletic Training Program Director Lynne Neukom. Brock Lutz, director of health services, agreed. “The staph is more widespread than it has been in incidences that I’m aware of, but that’s not odd. Staph is fairly common,” Lutz said. “It’s on our skin all the time, but most of us don’t notice.” An untended lesion on the skin usually provides the means of entry. A pre-existing response unit also complemented past experiences with the bothersome bacteria. “We’re part of the team: Don Brubacher, Rich Péwé, Dean Philipp, to really talk about what’s going on,” said Lutz. “It’s very similar to what we did last year with chicken pox.” As soon as this team learned what had happened, it acted to limit the spread.

Hillsdale College alumnus Mark Beauchamp and his friend John Bendzinski pose after catching a home run ball in game four of the American League Division series. (Courtesy of Russ McNamara)

“It’s nice to think I may have helped the Tigers win, but I haven’t been thanked by the coach yet,” Beauchamp said.

(Micah Meadowcroft/Collegian)

change the outcome of a game." A home run is one of few reviewable plays in Major League Baseball. Rule 3.16 in the official rules of baseball states: “No interference shall be allowed when a fielder reaches over a fence, railing, rope or into a stand to catch a ball. He does so at his own risk. However, should a spectator reach out on the playing field side of such fence, railing or rope, and plainly prevent the fielder from catching the ball, then the batsman should be called out for the spectator’s interference.” The umpires reviewed the play and ruled defendants Bedzinski and Beauchamp not guilty. Martinez’s home run would switch the momentum into the Tiger’s favor, meanwhile the Athletics would fail to score in the rest of the series and the Tiger’s would advance.

“We have to do a kind of double cleaning, do above and beyond what we can to best prevent what’s going on,” Lutz said. Neukom, who deals regularly with sick and injured athletes, also helped execute this strategy. “When something like this happens, we do extra cleaning to make sure we get everything, anything that’s contagious in nature,” Neukom said. That includes “fogging”–enclosing an area and then filling it with a vaporous disinfectant– potentially contaminated areas like the weight room, training room, and locker rooms. The whirlpools, popular among athletes for ice baths, were also closed during the peak risk of infection, through originally for technical issues. These cleaning procedures have, for the most part, successfully contained the contagion. “Anything like this is a collaboration between health services, the deans, and housekeeping. It was that collaboration that limited things to where they were,” he said. “It got taken care of and it was limited.” In fact, Neukom said Hillsdale actually gets less staph infections than other schools, partly because wrestling is not a sport at the college. As the nature of college and athletic life facilitate the spread of disease, most of the procedures undertaken to stymie such sickness are cleaning rigamarole, Neukom said. “Unfortunately, in the athletic environment, athletes sweat a lot, and you can’t help that,” she said. “But typically, we do all of this cleaning but you don’t know

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INSIDE Q & A: Steven Van Andel CEO of Amway talks about the `70s, liberal arts, and the business world. A2

The hellbound train Review of Cormac McCarthy’s recently-released screenplay. B1

A Few Good Men The campus volunteer group has plans to expand. A3

Arnn gets skyscreamed The college president finds himself in a sticky situation. B4 (Courtesy of A Few Good Men)

Candidate Profiles

Profiles of mayoral, city council and clerk candidates. A6

(Tommy Lundberg/Collegian)

News........................................A1 Opinions..................................A4 City News................................A6 Sports......................................A7 Arts..........................................B1 Features....................................B3

Why I don’t hate the Greeks Contrary to apparent popular belief, I do not hate the Greek system. A5 twitter.com/ hdalecollegian facebook.com/ hillsdalecollegian


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17 Oct. 2013

Q & A: Stephen Van Andel Abi Wood Arts Editor Stephen Van Andel, CEO of Amway and a donor and trustee to the college, came to campus for the new capital campaign kick-off. He gave a talk Oct. 2 on the mission and growth of Amway and its involvement in world-wide social change.

Amway CEO Stephen Van Andel attended the opening gala of the Rebirth of Liberty and Learning Campaign. He recently endowed the Van Andel Graduate School of Statesmanship. (Courtesy of External Affairs)

You went to school at Hillsdale in the 1970s. How is Hillsdale different now from how it was then? I’ve been here on and off over the years, although I’ve really been here more frequently since I joined the Board of Trustees and I’ve always donated to Hillsdale. The part to me that has not changed at all is the mission. The mission that the college has today is the exact same mission that they had back in the `70s. I think, to a large degree, the mission is what sets this college apart from elsewhere. The college knows where it wants to go, and its not afraid to say “here’s what we stand for.” I knew that back when I came here, and I think that is actually a significant benefit to the college because a lot of colleges are a little wishywashy on what their mission truly is, or it changes, depending on the day or the whim of the indi-

vidual people. Not Hillsdale. I’m very happy that it’s stood the test of time. I also look at the kids at Hillsdale today and they seem way smarter than when I was here. When I look and I talk with the students today, they have such a commitment not only towards the college, but also for themselves and toward their future. There wasn’t as much of that when I was going here. How do you think Hillsdale prepared you for where you are today? It wasn’t anything in accounting specifically, or finance, or anything like that. I initiated a process that I personally used to figure out how to resolve issues and come to a conclusion. That process is a process I have tweaked and refined over time, but it is something I learned in school. I can’t say any one individual taught me, part of it just came out of necessity. One of the things you said in your talk is that leadership requires strong principles. How do you see Hillsdale fostering these principles? Part of Hillsdale’s goal is not just to give someone “an education,” it prepares students to be future leaders, so it exposes them to a lot of different situations, areas, and people that really helped them in the process of develop-

ing their leadership skills. Hillsdale does a great job of that. Hillsdale’s principles are very consistent with my individual principles. How should college students in today’s economic climate be preparing themselves for the employment world outside Hillsdale? If you have an idea of what your interests are and where you want to go, I would try to get as much exposure to those areas through the college and through people to get an idea what they are like and maybe connect with a few people and build relationships that can help you as you get out of school and move into the world. That would be the one greatest thing to help your career. The more relationship you build and as you move forward, I think it will help you. Do the liberal arts matter in the business world? You’ve got to know how to read an income statement, but you don’t necessarily need an accounting class to learn that. You can learn that on the job just as easily, in fact, probably more quickly. I think its less the specifics of the individual classes on liberal arts that is important and more the whole. Why do you give to Hillsdale?

As time went by I realized how much they prepared me and helped me. I would like to perpetuate that, not only at the undergraduate level, but at the graduate level as well. I would like to see more Hillsdale grads end up in leadership positions and in academia. I think having a philosophical basis of Hillsdale ending up in academia elsewhere is a great thing. We need more. That is one of my reasons for wanting to help the graduate school. How involved is Amway in social change? Sharing with other people is part of who I am as an individual. Grand Rapids is our home base. I don’t personally do it in all countries, but, as an organization, because that is such a strong principle or value of mine that is just part of who we are as a business. You taught a class during your most recent visit to Hillsdale. How was that experience? I have really enjoyed it. I enjoy talking to you students. You are way smarter then you give yourselves credit for sometimes. The questions you ask are very observant and I thought they were very intellectually stimulating.

Profs weigh in on global warming Alums awarded Natalie deMacedo Assistant Editor The Hillsdale College science department agrees with the conclusions reached by the United Nation’s Intercontinental Panel on Climate Change’s newest report. “It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming [of the earth] since the mid-20th century,” the report, released on Sept. 25 said. Professors from the physics, chemistry, and biology departments explained how humans affect climate change. “Evidence that humans are responsible for the bulk of global warming has been increasing over the years,” Professor of Physics Jim Peters said. According to Peters, the main cause of global warming is an increase in carbon dioxide. “Light from sun comes in and warms the Earth, and the atmosphere works as a blanket,” Peters said. “Greenhouse gases lock heat in, such as methane, water vapor and carbon dioxide.” According to Professor of Physics Ken Hayes, each human produces 20 tons of carbon dioxide per year. The carbon acts as a blanket which steadily warms the Earth. “Carbon has been trapped in the earth and incorporated for billions of years, creating coal, oil and natural gas,” Peters said. “Since the Industrial Revolution and particularly the

last 50 years, we have used up if temperatures change, crops a significant portion of the car- will have to be moved north, bon.” where the soil is of a lower Hayes was inspired by a quality, despite the tempera2009 physics journal article by ture change. This will result in Harry Pollock of the University a plummeting productivity of of Michigan. crops. By using 300-meter-deep As species are forced move, boreholes in the ground, Pol- certain species will not be able lock was able to determine how to adapt. long it took for heat to travel “The polar bear is the postinto the earth. The technique al- er child of the environmental lowed Pollock to track Earth’s movement,” Professor of Bitemperature back 1,000 years. ology Jeffery VanZant said. “The ground is like a record- “Once the ice is gone, they are ing device,” Hayes said. gone.” Hayes made a scaled down The professors all agreed version of a there were borehole in ways to com“Liberals stole his own back bat global yard to test warming, but environmentalism Pollock’s exfirst, people from the periment and need to unconservatives.” had the same derstand result. that global — Professor of “We have warming is Biology Tony to show peoa real probSwineheart ple so they lem. don’t have to “ [ T h e believe me problem is] but see it for significant themselves,” Hayes said. enough that people should recProfessor of Chemistry ognize that if we are going to Mark Nussbaum said the data do things, we need to do them about the Earth growing warm- soon so it’s not as intense in the er was conclusive, even if the future,” Nussbaum said. cause is not. Peters emphasized the need “Man-made things can have for education. He said people global effects, and what we need to be educated about the do in our habits has global ef- facts so they can try and solve fects,” Nussbaum said. the problem. According to Professor of Hayes said everybody needs Biology Tony Swinehart, the to change their carbon emisheat has significant effects on sions. ecosystems. “This is not a problem “Life will adapt but life solved by individuals,” Hayes adapts better when change said. moves slowly,” Swinehart said. Nussbaum and Swinehart For example, Swinehart said offered other solutions.

“Auto companies are developing better hybrids and electrics that are becoming widely accepted.” Nussbaum said. He suggested that companies through their own creativity not only address environmental problems, but offer something people like. “That works better than if the government comes in and tells you what to do,” Nussbaum said. “We need responsible leaders to see long-term issues and make a huge difference.” Swinehart said he, as a conservative himself, is looking for conservative solutions to global warming. “We should not do anything immediate and drastic to negatively affect the economy,” Swinehart said. “My preference is innovation and incentive.” Swinehart said being independent from foreign oil was good for both conservatives and liberals. He gave an example of burning the methane from landfills as an energy source, and said the immediate problem is making these fuels economically feasible. “When America puts its mind to something, we can do anything,” Swinehart said. “We put a man on the moon.” Swinehart encouraged students to be open-minded about the facts and not to avoid global warming for fear of being labelled a liberal. “Liberals stole environmentalism from the conservatives,” he said. “This is also a faith issue with regard to environmental stewardship.”

Charter school program expands Phil DeVoe Collegian Freelancer

Hillsdale College opened four new charter schools through the Barney Charter School Initiative since 2009. The college plans to open another 46 by 2022. The two newest schools, located in Bentonville, Ariz., and Savannah, Ga., have only been open for a few months, but are already filling up spots. At a 700 person capacity each, the Savannah school has 322 students for K-6 and the Bentonville school has 385, with nine grades, K-8. The first two schools were built in N.M. and Texas in 2009. Since last year, both schools have seen significant growth as well, with the former gaining 60 new students and the latter exceeding 700 students. According to Phil Kilgore, director of the charter school development program, the goal of the charter school initiative at Hillsdale College is to build schools where grades K-12 can learn in the same liberal arts way as Hillsdale students. It is a way for classical values to be imparted to students at an age when they are most open to learning.

“Charters give these schools freedom from various aspects of the government

“A lot goes into cultivating the schools,” Assistant Professor of History Terrence Moore

President Larry Arnn speaks to students at the opening of the Founders Classical Academy in Lewisville, Texas. (Courtesy of External Affairs)

laws,” Kilgore said. “Charter schools say, ‘if you give us freedom, we will run a school and produce better results.’”

said. According to Moore, all the principals, teachers, and staff must be trained at three lev-

els. This is done to ensure the transfer of the Hillsdale message to the students. Without the rigorous training, there will be no assurance that they will teach in the way that Hillsdale wants them to. The curriculum at the charter schools differs from the Hillsdale curriculum in that it is rooted in the American experience, as opposed to the college’s Western tradition curriculum. This is done to show the importance of the American tradition and how the founders came to believe what they did. “It is an education based on that of the founding fathers, both the education they had and the education they recommended,” Moore said. Grade school students are taught in the liberal arts tradition: their phonics and arithmetic classes are taught in a specific, individual way, independent from the classic public school phonics and arithmetic classes. “It is important for the new generation to learn the way the founders would have wanted. It will make a smarter people,” Moore said.

President Larry Arnn, Tom Cobb, and Joel Schellhammer at the alumni awards banquet. (Doug Coon/External Affairs) story as well as I do." Daniel Slonim Professor of Mathematics Circulation Manager and Computer Science Jack Reinoehl introduced Troy VanAkin A president of a college, a `89, who received the Excellence chairman of the U.S. Chamber in Education award. VanAkin is of Commerce, and a state suthe president of Thiel College in preme court justice are a few of Greenville, Penn. the alumni who received awards “We were kind of lucky during homecoming weekend. with Van Akin,” Hasted noted. The college hosted its 62nd “Jack's the only one in the math annual alumni awards banquet department who was here when on Sept. 27, giving awards to VanAkin was in school.” six people, most of them alumni Reinoehl was VanAkin’s adwho had achieved distinction in viser during his time at the coltheir fields. lege. This year, a new element David Viviano '94 received made the ceremony special: each the Distinguished Alumnus of the alumni was introduced by award after being introduced by a faculty or staff member with Professor of History Tom Conwhom he had developed a perner. A justice of the Michigan sonal relationship during his Supreme Court, Viviano had time in college. Conner as a history professor Grigor Hasted, director of when he attended Hillsdale. alumni relations, and the man Stephen Van Andel was unwho organized the event, said able to attend the banquet, but the banquet this year was espealso received the Distinguished cially nice, largely due to the Alumnus award. Van Andel way the awards and recipients is the Chairman of Amway, a were presented. direct-selling company, and re“There was something about cently became chairman of the the chemistry of this particular U.S. Chamber of Commerce. group that, in combination with Van Andel received his the connection with the presentaward the Wednesday after the ers, made for a very special banbanquet, when he spoke about quet,” he said. principled leadership at a “Food College President Larry Arnn for Thought” luncheon. introduced Ryan Walsh `09 with Members of the Alumni Exthe Graduate of the Last Decade ecutive Board, the alumni office, award. Walsh, who was presiand the president's office work dent of his class, is now a clerk together every year on deciding for U.S. Supreme Court justice who should receive the awards, Antonin Scalia. Joyce Curby of the alumni office Walsh said in an email that he said. She said recipients are usuwas happy to hear Arnn would ally involved in business, polibe introducing him. tics, or the arts, and awards are “I knew he'd make it funny,” often given following a signifihe said. “I also knew I was in for cant event in someone's life. a bit of a roast, which promised This year, Lauria received to be amusing.” his award at the close of his Journalism Program Directerm as president of the Alumni tor John J. Miller introduced Board,and Van Andel received Thomas H. Cobb, who received his after being appointed to the an honorary alumnus award for Chamber of Commerce chair. his exemplary service and loyLauria said even though he alty to the college. A graduate was president of a board that of Michigan State University, was involved in deciding who Cobb is the founder of the Cobb received awards, he was not inShotgun Team Scholarship and volved in any of the discussions. the Thomas H. Cobb Endowed Hasted said it was good to see Scholarship in Objective Jourcurrent students, faculty, staff, nalism. and alumni all come together to Dean of Men Aaron Petersen celebrate at the banquet. introduced John Lauria, who is “I love the interaction that completing his term as president you have when an alum comes of the Alumni Executive Board back who's obviously achieved and received the Tower Award. a lot in their lifetime and the "Having Dean Petersen inprofessor who knows them is troduce me brought tears to my still there,” Hasted said. “That's eyes," Lauria said. "Aaron and a special thing to see.” I have known each other since third grade. He knows my life


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A3 17 Oct. 2013

A Few Good Men goes nonprofit Campus security

A Few Good Men worked in the summer on the home of Hillsdale resident Edith Lawrence. Materials were provided by local businesses. (Courtesy of A Few Good Men) Vivian Hughbanks Collegian Reporter By the end of the semester, Hillsdale College won't be the only place you could find A Few Good Men. The organization's board of directors is working with a lawyer in town to file the paperwork to officially become a Michigan nonprofit: their first step toward involvement on a

national scale. AFGM was founded in the spring semester of 2012 by senior Ben Holscher with the goal to build bridges of service between the college and the community. “There's always someone with a need,” said senior Ben Hindle, the organization's chief financial officer. Last year, AFGM experienced an explosion of needs in the community and a huge

increase of interest among students. In the three semesters of its existence, AFGM has grown from one work crew to 13. In an effort to involve more people from the community in service, AFGM made the decision to become a nonprofit. “We don't want to be a college organization,” Hindle said. “We want to be a community effort, bringing in new people every day.” This idea was realized with a roofing project completed this summer. Members of AFGM, local churches, and the Hillsdale community came together to reroof the home of Hillsdale resident Edith Lawrence. Both Hillsdale Free Methodist and Jonesville Lumber contributed to the project. “Seeing the local businesses participate with zeal and gratitude was wonderful to see,” member and senior Nathan Seither said. “[It was] a real community project.” AFGM hopes to promote interest in community work projects within the Hillsdale community itself. Recently, AFGM has taken action to get more Hillsdale residents involved. “I realized that what we're doing at the college will really do the most benefit if we can spread the vision into the community,” Holscher said. “Our goal developed from simply to bridge build between Hillsdale

ODK Leader of the Month

(Courtesy of Aaron Sanford)

Gala

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thing that we must do, if we are to keep our honor as he has kept his.” According to Ellen Donohoe, executive director of capital campaigns, over 1,100 guests participated in the events of the gala. “We had about 700 students join us, which doesn’t include the choir, the orchestra, or the 200 students who served meals or the student actors who served as greeters,” Donohoe said. According to Donohoe, 486 of the guests were members of the President’s Club. During the event, the college received further donations toward the campaign. “At this early date, we can credit the gala with several million in pledges and bequests,” she said. Since its inception, the campaign has raised a total of $186 million of its $472 million dollar goal. Planning for the gala began at the close of the Founder’s Campaign. “We started over a year ago

Museum From A1

Secretary of State William M. Evarts hoping that the trip would encourage diplomatic relations between the U.S. and South American countries. But in 1910, Knowlton Hall burned. Though the exterior survived, the interior was scorched and the ceiling in the museum collapsed. Though most items remained intact, Swinehart said, the specimens were moved into boxes and scattered across campus. Many irreplaceable items were stolen or lost. “For some time the specimens lay strewn about the campus unprotected. By the time they were removed many articles of small intrinsic value, yet of immeasurable value to Hillsdale’s museum had been taken away,” the Hillsdale Collegian reported on May 7, 1914. “Ever since that time people have at various times gained access to the hall and “helped themselves.” In 1934, for example the Egyptian mummy was found in the basement of the Mossey Library, Swinehart said. Since then, it has disappeared like so many of the items the archives of the Collegian describe. But in 1914, DeLapp `14 spearheaded a movement to restore the museum. Swinehart only recently discovered his role in the museum. Because of Albert DeLapp’s dedication to

Aaron Sandford is a senior Art major. In the music department, he accompanies Missy Osmond’s private voice studio, teaches informal private voice lessons, co-directs and acts in the Opera Workshop production, and sings as a baritone in the Chamber Choir. He also works for the college by designing posters for campus events such as the CCAs, and he serves as Editor-inChief for the Winona as well as a designer for the Tower Light. He is a member of Mu Alpha, a men’s music honorary, where he assists the Songmaster in his duties and designs poster advertisements. with some planning,” said Lynn Prough, director of special events. “There were many people involved.” Prough said that committees came together and discussed every aspect of the two-day gala, such as transportation, lodgings, volunteers, and student representatives. Two companies from Chicago, Partytime-HDO Productions and Frost Lighting, were brought in to decorate the Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center. “They called it a transformation,” Prough said. “They said they were going to transform the space, and that’s exactly what they did.” Prough also highlighted the efforts of Saga, Inc. and the college maintenance staff. “Saga produced all of the food and did a marvelous job,” she said. “And we couldn’t have done any of this without the help of the maintenance staff.” Overall, Prough said the event had very few issues. “I’ve been involved in four on-campus galas, and this one was the smoothest,” Prough said. “There was a very smooth transition from plan to execution.” During the two-day celebra-

tion, guests were invited to various lectures and discussions, ranging from the Barney Charter School Initiative to the college’s core curriculum. “We bring the guests here not only for the celebration, but to learn more about the college,” Prough said. “There were people who learned a lot about the college that they didn’t know.” Donohoe said she was glad that the guests spent time on campus. “It was wonderful to see everybody experiencing the college first-hand,” she said. “It’s an amazing place, rich in principles and ideas, and our guests got to see that.” Despite the relaxed party atmosphere, Donohoe said the gala was about higher principles. “The gala isn’t just a big party about money,” she said. “It’s about joining forces and advancing the entire institution in service to the country.” Prough said she was tired after the event, but expressed satisfaction. “It was just a great success,” Prough said. “I’m very pleased with how everything worked out.”

managing and superintending the “enormous task,” the Collegian reported, the class of 1914 rebuilt the museum on the third floor of Knowlton. "If he had not done what he did, everything would have been lost," Swinehart said. “We only have five percent of what we used to have left. But without Albert DeLapp, we would have had nothing.” DeLapp started a legacy on campus as many of his descendants attended Hillsdale. Currently, six of his granddaughters attend Hillsdale: senior Elizabeth Viviano, juniors Julia DeLapp and Mary Kate Kibbe, and freshmen Bridget DeLapp and Rebecca Viviano. “He never really talked about his accomplishments. He was just one of those men that felt you had to be involved,” Albert DeLapps’ grandson Dennis DeLapp `82 said. “This recent discovery of what he did with the museum was the first I had heard of it. But it doesn’t surprise me.” In the 1960s, the sciences moved out of Knowlton Hall to Strosacker. And yet again, the museum neared extinction. Faculty were told to select the specimens they wanted from the museum, Swinehart said. Students picked next and the remains were dumped. To this day, Swinehart finds remnants of the museum scattered across campus. In 2004, Swinehart found a lump of lava brought to Hillsdale in the 1870s from the Sandwich Islands - now known as Hawaii - used as a

doorstop in Central Hall for 25 years. In 1999, just days before Knowlton was torn down, Swinehart and former professor of biology Donald Toczek searched for discarded remnants of the museum. The men saw a tiny door near the ceiling of the former theater prop room. In it, the men found multiple cobra skins, a candle-powered incubator, and an old wooden crate full of one of the most complete collections of American freshwater clams. Since then, Swinehart has dedicated hours of time and energy into continuing the legacy Fisk and Albert DeLapp began. “Over the past two years I’ve worked for Dr. Swinehart in the museum. His admiration for history and appreciation for natural sciences have shaped the museum into what it is today and provide a foundation to where it will progress in the future,” junior Greyson King said. “Dr. Swinehart is one of, if not the biggest source of progress in the restoration of the museum. Though less than five percent of the museum’s original specimens remain, the museum still showcases irreplaceable relics of local, national, and global history. The stuffed armadillo on display, for example, was carried by boat from South America to Washington, D.C. From the Smithsonian, it traveled by train the horse and buggy to be displayed in the musuem. "You just can't replace that history," Swinehart said.

College and Hillsdale community to being a growth of vision and ownership of Hillsdale community within the community.” Another reason for the change in status is outside interest in starting related organizations. “I've already spoken with many people who are interested in starting a similar program in their own communities,” Holscher said. According to Holscher and Hindle, AFGM is working to establish a model of leadership and operations so newly-developing organizations can have a pattern to use. The board hopes that their mission to meet community needs will catch on. “We would love to see this thing go national,” Hindle said. According to Director of Communications and junior Anna Shoffner, AFGM has developed brochures, yard signs, and radio spots to spread awareness of AFGM's mission. “[It's] opportunity for individuals to live out their beliefs in a very practical, tangible, applicable way so that our frustration with the state of our nation doesn't stop with rhetoric and words and arguments,” Holscher said. “It goes on to spur us to action in the most beautiful way possible, which is helping and serving other people.”

will register bicycles Kelsey Drapkin Collegian Reporter Campus security is increasing efforts to keep students’ property safe by implementing a voluntary bicycle registration program. The registration is a free, one-time form to be filled out by students and faculty. Those who register are given a small sticker with a unique four-digit identifying number to put on the front of the bike. Unlike car registration, there is no annual renewal. While theft is uncommon on Hillsdale’s campus, Bill Whorley, director of campus security and emergency management, said two students’ bicycles were lost or stolen over the summer. “While it’s not security’s responsibility, I, as a human being, felt bad that they lost property,” Whorley said. The new registration program aims to aid identification of bicycles while also helping students keep a record of the bicycle’s make, model, and serial number. “I’d like to have a mechanism where students can record and file the registration information,” Whorley said. “How many people, when they buy a bicycle, write down the make, model, and serial number?” This information is vital for police to register lost property in

national databases. “I continue to notice a lot of bikes that are not locked up,” Whorley said. “They’re put in the racks, but not locked.” Junior Andrew Baker, who had not heard of the registration program, rides his bike to campus regularly. The location he leaves his bike determines if he locks it. “If I leave it near Central Hall or the library, I sometimes don’t lock it up, but if it’s near Lane or the science building, I lock it up for sure,” Baker said. Baker said he has no intention of registering his bicycle. In addition to student-owned bicycles, college-owned bikes also suffered from a lack of security. Amanda Bigney, director of student activities, said there are no longer any bikes available because they were all either broken beyond repair or never returned to the union. “We’re looking at revamping a little bit and keeping the security on them a little bit tighter,” Bigney said. In the next few months, Bigney said she will be looking into getting new bikes to make available in the spring. The nowmissing bicycles were purchased when the Grewcock Student Union was built five years ago and were in need of replacing.

The endowment: what is it and how does it work? Alex Anderson Web Editor

On Oct. 9 Hillsdale College launched “The Rebirth of Liberty and Learning Campaign,” a new fundraising effort intended to build upon the college’s current endowment. A financial endowment is considered to be a donation from an individual of specific funds or property to a institution, with the purpose of investing and acquiring interest over a lengthy period of time. At Hillsdale, the endowment funds a large portion of students’ scholarships, professors’ salaries, and even certain campus maintenance projects. According to Hillsdale College Treasurer Patrick Flannery, the fair market value of the college’s current endowment at the end of September was $386 million. Last fiscal year, the endowment had a 10.63 percent return. The recent economic slowdown caused by the 2008 recession put stress on the college’s endowment.

Hillsdale College Provost David Whalen said the college took crucial measures in reducing any negative impact that a troubled economy could have on investments. “The college responded to the downturn by cutting its budget by 10 percent that fiscal year,” Whalen said. “If the college sees that the endowment is returning less than planned it tries to curtail current expenses.” The new campaign projections hope to raise $472 million over the next eight to 10 years. “The majority of the goal in the new campaign is to seek funds for the future endowment,” Flannery said. Of the estimated $472 million, the college predicts that $334 million will be considered endowments. Every year the college allocates five to six percent of the total 10.63 percent return, from endowment, for college expenses. “Five to six percent is withdrawn from the return every year and dropped into the college’s operating budget,” Whalen said. Whalen said over the past

12 years the market has stayed relatively flat. This stagnation has caused endowments to have a low return in interest, in comparison to the initial anticipated returns. “The endowment hasn’t earned a lot of interest due to the flat performance of the stock market. It ought to be growing based on its own compounding,” Whalen said. “Just like your bank account, you want it to grow. Not because you keep making deposits but because you are acquiring interest.” Whalen attributed the college’s independence from state and federal funding to the generous donations that has created such a promising endowment. “It is not too much to say the endowment is what permits the independence of the college. If the college did not have the endowment it would not be able to afford students scholarship,” Whalen said. “The independence of the college and the strength of our endowment are very closely tied.”


OPINION 17 Oct. 2013 A4

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Online: www.hillsdalecollegian.com Editor in Chief: Caleb Whitmer News Editor: Evan Brune City News Editor: Taylor Knopf Opinions Editor: Sally Nelson Sports Editor: Morgan Delp Arts Editor: Abigail Wood Spotlight Editor: Casey Harper Web Editor: Alex Anderson Washington Editor: Bailey Pritchett Assistant Designer: Hannah Leitner Circulation Manager: Daniel Slonim Ad Managers: Matt Melchior | Ellie Voci Assistant Editors: Macaela Bennett | Jack Butler | Natalie deMacedo | Shaun Lichti | Chris McCaffery | Micah Meadowcroft | Teddy Sawyer | Sam Scorzo | Amanda Tindall Photographers: Anders Kiledal | Shaun Lichti | Joelle Lucas | Ben Block | Carsten Stann | Ben Strickland Faculty Advisers: John J. Miller | Maria Servold The editors welcome Letters to the Editor but reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, and style. Letters should be 450 words or less and include your name and number. Send submissions to snelson1@hillsdale.edu before Sunday at 6 p.m.

Bookshelf

Melika Willoughby

The opinion of The Collegian editorial staff

We Hillsdale students tend to panic every time something goes down in D.C. During this embarrassing government shutdown, for example, students’ Facebook and Twitter accounts have been flooding our feeds with angry posts about the feds shuttering up the national zoo and monuments or the Obamacare website’s, er, difficulties. Yes, it’s frustrating that the panda cam is down. But other than making it more difficult to write economics papers based off of government websites, the government shutdown hardly affected us here in Hillsdale, Mich. What if instead of getting our Bidens in a bunch, we started caring about city politics here in Hillsdale? The decisions our representatives make over on Broad

‘Left to Tell’ shows passion vs. reason

Josh Andrew Student Columnist Our van pulled off the road at “Visalia Drug Testing & More.” Spencer, the executive director of my Christian ministry, had warned me of this step with a meme that superimposed his head over Hulk Hogan’s: “Drug tests? What kind of drugs are we testing?” Spencer’s face was white as cream cheese and his silver hair stood like spray-painted toothpicks atop his oval head. It was all too believable. Regardless, I had consumed four bottles of blue Gatorade in anticipation of this visit, and my performance overwhelmed.

the citizenry being involved in local politics. We claim to be politically minded, ready to change the world with a tattered copy of “Nicomachean Ethics” in one hand and the Good Book in the other, but we don’t even take the time to find out the who behind the signs set up in front of houses across town. So attend the forum and make your voice heard. All of your angry tweets did not reopen the federal government and failed to defund Obamacare. Really, you didn’t build that and you’re not going to. You could, however, voice your opinion to the city council. We’re hoping to get some stop signs put in at the awful intersection of West and Fayette Street. What do you want?

Three plastic cups later and I was fumbling my way out. Tony the driver and the two excons were leaned up against the van sharing a cigarette as I exited the lab. To say they were smoking is generous. That poor Lucky Strike was being devoured, consumed, and lost deep in the throat of each like they were never getting it back. “Good pissin’ kid.” They could think of only one reason for me taking so long, and it didn’t involve the vigor that comes with overhydration. The whole “ex-cons talking strategy in the back” began to make sense. Suffice to say their samples were not their own. Still, they were impressed and treated this as their only occasion for talking to me all summer. Our communication was of the nonverbal variety, the bobbing of a buzzed head that says, “we know what you’re capable of.” As I repositioned myself in the van, Natalie entered beside me and grabbed my oxford collar. She pulled me close, and my eyes focused on the red dots that ran like angry fire ants across her face. “I know things about the soul.” She said it earnestly, even expectantly. I didn’t reply. My mind reverted to lessons of strangers and dangers with popsicles and lollipops. Besides, I was in the

process of finishing my first melancholy postcard that featured a dramatic vista that I had never seen. I planned on sending it to all my friends so they knew I loved them. (If you’re interested, my best line described the fluid sky and the sequoia trees and the mountain wind as united in a single body of movement, a sign of incarnation: heaven descending into earth. The inspiration was really coming, and we hadn’t even left Fresno yet!) We stopped for dinner at the Gateway Restaurant and Lodge, the sort of place that still advertises color TV and boasts a sensual theme song on their website that Kenny G would be proud of, a lilting melody smooth as jazz with the line “come on in” repeated eleven times. Sitting to eat, I remembered my eight-year-old sister who always told her bow-tied and barretted church friends that her brother was going to Hell because he never blessed his food in public. Conviction brought my head down, but I quickly raised it to see Natalie almost bull- rushing my table, the tattoos on her chest stretching and relaxing. As she drew close, I noticed that her right eye demonstrated certain displeasure with her left, straining in the wrong directing like an obstinate dog. Her feet had the opposite problem. They

pushed away from each other, each foot spewing out and nearly creating a 90-degree angle with her torso. She had apparently seen the head bob and was now looking at me as though I were that unnamed person for whom she had prayed her entire life. It was something like ecstasy and awe. “You’re a Christian too!” She did not wait for a response. She told her story. Natalie had never left her hometown. The 28.6 square miles of Visalia, California was the extent of her. She did not move beyond it. At 30 she knew nothing but the role of caretaker to her mother. And so this was Natalie’s first job after losing her former client to a plug and the rest of her family to modern concerns. But Natalie knew something about the soul and she was ready to share. “My mom died and the doctor was saying that you’ll know when the soul leaves the body. ‘Cause he was a Christian, you know, and it was okay, you know? And when she died I saw the moment of her salvation, you know? She let go of my hand and received the Spirit. I think we all need to lift our hands, you know, let God into us for a moment.” Natalie actually said that. I didn’t say anything. I needed to use the bathroom.

REDSKINS: NO HARM, NO FOUL, MR. COSTAS

Jonah Goldberg Syndicated Columnist “Think for a moment about the term ‘Redskins,’” NBC Sports commentator Bob Costas exhorted viewers in his halftime tirade during Sunday’s CowboysRedskins game. “Ask yourself what the equivalent would be, if directed [at] African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or members of any other ethnic group. When considered that way, ‘Redskins’ can’t possibly honor a heritage or a noble character trait, nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. “It is an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day

From the Archives: Bust missing from library

Even after a campus-wide search and a thorough check of the Mossey Library, the bust depicting the late Austrian economist Ludwig von Mises remains at large. The bust is made of bronze, is eighteen inches high, and weighs approximately 50 pounds, according to Head Librarian Dan Joldersma. It has been part of the Ludwig von Mises room for nearly twenty years. The missing bust was first noticed early last semester. Since that time, college security and the library staff have executed a search of the entire campus. “Security has done a thorough

impact economic development in the city, which could bring more businesses or restaurants that you all would love to see. Too often, we complain about the town we go to school in and say: why can’t Hillsdale College be somewhere more exciting? Plus, learning about city politics in Hillsdale town fills the void in our political education here at Hillsdale College. So often, we focus on abstract political theory or national elections that, really, we have zero say in. At the risk of beating a dead statistic, we would question why you put so much emotional energy into national elections, for which you have no control, while hardly caring about local ones, which playout less than a mile from our school. We love the idea of a republic, but a republic depends on

Blue Gatorade, melancholy postcards, and the soul

Special to the Collegian

“I heard the killers call my name. I cowered in the corner of our tiny secret bathroom. My mind echoed with one thought: If they catch me, they will kill me.” Immaculée Ilibagiza, a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, writes about her escape from racial slaughter in her autobiography, “Left to Tell.” Ilibagiza’s raw portrayal of a nation afflicted with hate-animated chaos compels readers to reflect on human nature in an unconventional and moving way. Themes we love at Hillsdale—the necessity of virtue, the nature of regimes, and reason ruling passions—permeate this contemporary version of “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Hillsdale requires incoming freshmen to study these themes on a theoretical level by reading a biography of George Washington and a portion of Aristotle’s “Nichomachean Ethics.” Instead of boggling yet-untrained minds, future Hillsdalians should be required to engage the ideas of virtue and reason through the story of a woman who has experienced what happens when those ideas aren’t applied as Aristotle would have liked. “Left to Tell” should be required reading for incoming Hillsdale freshman. Racial tensions have historically plagued the small central-African nation of Rwanda. Despite a mutual language and culture, the Hutu majority and Tutsi minority have long struggled over political authority. Ilibagiza was born Tutsi, bearing all the physical distinctions: height, lighter skin tone, and an elegant neck. During the genocide, these traits became her death warrant. At 22, Ilibagiza was studying engineering at the National University of Rwanda. When racial tensions began to rise following the assassination of the Hutu president by Tutsi rebels, her father begged her to return to her rural village home. There, her brother delivered the news: “I saw the Hutu killers. They have a list of names of all the Tutsi families, and our names are on it! They are planning to kill everyone on the list!” It was April 7th, 1994. The genocide had begun. Desperate to spare his only daughter from rape and murder, Ilibagiza’s father sent her to hide at the local Hutu pastor’s home. When two dozen Hutu men attacked her village, Ilibagiza and seven other Tutsi women were shown to their quarters: a 3-by-4 foot bathroom. One small window allowed sparse daylight. The women filed into the refuge, the door closing behind them. They would remain in the bathroom for 91 days. Armed with machetes, nail-studded clubs, and spears, hundreds of Hutus soon surrounded the house, dancing like madmen. “Kill the old and kill the young,” they chanted. “A baby snake is still a snake, let none escape!” They ravaged the home, searching for the women. For three months, they came time and time again. Ilibagiza watched Hutu butchers dismember and decapitate her Tutsi neighbors through the bathroom window. In 100 days of killing, the Hutus murdered 800,000 people. Ilibagiza poses provocative questions about the causes of the bloody conflict. “It wasn’t the soldiers who were chanting,” Ilibagiza writes. “These were my neighbors, people I’d grown up with. How was it possible for a heart to harden so quickly?” Ilibagiza’s faith led her to believe that the evil, inherent in man’s nature, was cultivated by hatred and eventually brought her neighbors to murder. Years of inculcating violence through a political system based on race and discrimination created a tinderbox. Radio propaganda encouraging the extermination of all “cockroaches,” as the Hutu government called the Tutsis, ignited the racial fire. The nature of a regime, and the principles it centers on, matters because it impacts its citizens’ character. The killers did not have ordered souls and allowed base passions to rule their actions. These lessons—the need for virtue, the nature of regimes, and necessity for reason to rule the passions of men—can be taught on a theoretical level. We could require incoming freshman to read Aristotle. Or, we can convey these ideas through the vivid story of a woman who experienced the applications of these ideas and their implications. When Ilibagiza emerged from hiding, she weighed a skeletal 65 pounds. Clinging to the one thing she owned, her father’s rosary, she stumbled into a French refugee camp. There, she learned that two of her three brothers and both parents were dead. Years later, Ilibagiza met the man who murdered her family and did the unthinkable: she forgave him. “I wept at the sight of his suffering,” she explained at a recent lecture at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. “He was now the victim of his victims, destined to live in torment and regret.” April 17th, 2013, nineteen years after huddling in the bathroom, Immaculée Ilibagiza became an American citizen. “I feel American,” she said in a New York Daily News interview. “I feel free—I feel like I am born again. I feel like I have a home again.”

Street have a better chance of directly impacting us than the soap opera that is Pennsylvania Avenue. On Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m., WCSR radio and The Collegian will host a forum in Phillips Auditorium with the candidates running for Hillsdale mayor and city council. The candidates will present their ideas and answer questions submitted by the public in advance. All students and community members are welcome to attend. You, yes you, should submit questions and attend. You may think “this doesn’t affect me” or “it doesn’t matter because I’m not registered to vote here.” But city council makes the decisions about the quality of the roads you drive on for four years. It has the ability to

search, and we have searched inside and outside of the library,” said Joldersma. Joldersma asks anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of the bust to contact him, college security, or anyone employed with the college staff or administration. He also noted that if anyone has the sculpture, they can return it to the Dean of Men or Dean of Women’s offices or can place it anywhere in the library. No questions will be asked. Greg Corombos Thursday, April 13, 1995

The Uses of a Liberal Arts Education

By Forester McClatchey

intent,” Costas continued. This is ludicrous. I say this not as someone who has particular love for the Redskins or its name. I say this as a lover of words. Words are magical things, routinely defying the sort of logic-chopping on display in Costas’ tirade. Their euphony can be a siren calling us to dangerous shores. Logophillic pundit William Safire, an unreconstructed paronomasiac, could be so seduced by clever puns, he often crashed whole columns into them. My former boss, William F. Buckley, was often in the dock on charges of aggravated sesquipedalianism, to which he always pleaded nolo contendere, informing the court of public opinion: “I am Lapidary But Not Eristic When I Use Big Words.” But neither big words nor big wordplay are the issues in the largely eristic tussle over the Redskins. This debate is about bad words. Slate magazine recently announced it would no longer refer to the Redskins by name. “Changing how you talk changes how you think,” editor David Plotz explained. “... If Slate can do a small part to change the way people talk about the team, that will be enough.” “In public discourse,” Plotz adds, “we no longer talk about groups based on their physical traits: No one would ever refer to Asians as yellow-skinned.”

I hope Slate will be similarly brave about refusing to use the “C” in NAACP. After all, the “Colored” in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People refers to skin color, too. And if I described the president of the NAA[initial redacted]P as “colored,” I’d be in huge trouble. Redskins lawyer Lanny Davis insists the team’s 80-year-old name should be grandfathered in, even though he concedes that someone might be offended. Time’s Sean Gregory sarcastically responds: “So we have to be sensitive to the one offended person, but can’t change the name, because it’s been around for a long time. Sorry, offended person. We love the name too much, for too long.” Well, yeah. I’m not offended by the C in NAACP -- which isn’t racist for obvious reasons -- but someone out there must be. That’s not an argument for changing the name. I am offended, however, that the Philadelphia Eagles are named after the Blue Eagle, the propaganda symbol of the New Deal’s National Recovery Administration, which restricted competition and even threw a dry cleaner in jail for undercharging (by a nickel) to clean a suit. But I don’t think the Eagles should change their name on my account. And that’s my problem with Costas’ crusade. He -- and the

editors of Slate -- are simply deciding to be offended about something they don’t need to be. According to various accounts, “Redskin” actually has quite innocuous origins. It was probably adopted from Native Americans themselves. And though it obviously took on nastier connotations over time and in some contexts, it strains credulity to believe that the team name was intentionally pejorative or that the fans or the ownership see it that way today. Words become offensive when we choose to be offended by them. When should we be offended? That’s a tough question. “The answer, of course, lies in the context,” the late Hugh Rawson wrote in his lovely lexicon, “Wicked Words.” “The meanings of words change according to who says them, to whom, and in what circumstances.” Rawson chronicled many words that were uncontroversial in Chaucer and Shakespeare but are considered repellent today. Ultimately, of course, this isn’t a fight about words but about cultural politics and the imperative to scrub society of all offensive language (or, often, merely language that offends liberals). That fight will never end, and not just because some people always need to be offended by something. It will never end because words themselves will never cooperate.


A5 17 Oct. 2013

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

The GLIAC cannot continue its failed basketball experiment Morgan Delp Sports Editor As the Charger women’s basketball team warm-up time wound down, they noticed a drastic decrease in volume — both in sound and number of people surrounding the court. Their friends and classmates left in throngs between layups and jump shots, as the stands emptied around a team that thrives on fan support. The men’s team had played Lake Erie in an exciting game before, winning in a close contest that came down to a momentum-swinging three-pointer by Cody Smith with four minutes left of play. A nearly-full arena had cheered on the Chargers to their victory against the Storm. After the men’s win, it was nearly 8 p.m., and accounting tests and Western Heritage papers beckoned Hillsdale students away from the Roche Sports Complex and back to study rooms and dorms. Most had been at the arena for two hours already, and the average Hillsdale student can’t afford a lot of leisure time on a weeknight. When women play after men, both teams lose fans. Both teams end up

suffering when civil rights activists prioritize political correctness over the practical reality of what is best for the basketball programs. The GLIAC needs to change its policy of alternating yearly w h i c h team plays first and return to the way it was before the 2010-2011 season. This way, the number of fans peaks at the end and climax of the women’s game, when they really need the support, and the strong fan base will stay through the men’s contest. The opening scenario is not merely a figment of the players’ imaginations. In last year’s Collegian, Macaela Bennett reported that attendance was down at both Hillsdale teams’ games when they switched to the men-first format. GLIAC Commissioner Dell Robinson said that was a trend seen at all schools across the conference when the switch was first implemented in 201011. “Hillsdale women lost over 3,000 fans, while Saginaw Valley State University and University of Findlay each dropped over 5,000. Eleven of the women’s teams saw attendance numbers increase again in the 2011-12 season when it was again the men’s turn to

(Collegian Archives)

play second,” Bennett reported. The whole change was brought about by the nosy Michigan Gender Equality Team, which not only lacks a clever acronym, but also nonsensically claims that having the women play first forces them into a “warm-up role.” They got the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) involved, and they brought down their bureaucratic first on the GLIAC, bullying them into changing their ways. Well, Michigan Gender Equality Team, although the GLIAC may not be led by rocket scientists, believe it or not they have some handle on what works for their basketball programs. Imagine

Rock n’ roll is noise pollution

Victoria McCaffrey Special to the Collegian Any onlooker courageous enough to brave the recent MTV Video Music Awards subjects himself to some of the most distasteful entertainment in our society, and Miley Cyrus’s appalling performance was no exception. After a few years of stardom, Miley has joined her fellow song artists in their typical debauchery, complete with onstage twerking, grinding, and stripping. However, the most dismal aspect of contemporary entertainment such as the VMAs is from the entertainers themselves, but rather stems from the eager anticipation of fans who accept entertainment in novel forms of all sorts. Despite this brief “shock” factor after a particularly raunchy act like Miley’s, the audience not only absorbs the entertainment but also hungers for something even more racy. Indeed, this must be the case, as the entertainment culture has progressively worsened over the last fifty years, each decade proving more decadent than its predecessors. So when, you may ask, did this downward spiral occur? While every genre of music (yes, even classical) has had critics, the openly sexual behavior characteristic of modern entertainment would have been banned in previous generations, much less deemed appropriate for children. Miley may be

gearing herself towards a more “adult” market, but, as she began her career entertaining children, her audience has simply expanded to both groups. However distasteful this may be, inappropriate entertainment and song lyrics are not new phenomena. “Rock n’ roll,” an old colloquial term for sex, was attributed, fittingly, to the onslaught of promiscuous lyrics and cacophonous instrumentals in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Although early rock n’ roll bands appear tame in comparison to modern entertainers, they both initiated and reciprocated the lackadaisical moral standards of the times. By the mid 1960s pop culture was bombarded with such Beatles’ lyrics as “Sexy Sadie you’ll get yours yet” and “Tried to please her, she only played one night stands”—lines that would never be found in hit music of previous decades. There certainly are much more debasing songs written today, but the aforementioned Beatles lyrics are representative of ideologies that helped pave the cultural path towards current depravity. Furthermore, bands like the Beatles were not limited to sexual innuendos, as they even penned the lyrics, “Christ you know it ain’t easy/ You know how hard it can be/The way things are going/They’re going to crucify me.” This particular song, “The Ballad of John and Yoko,” was clearly not intended as a respectful prayer, especially coming from a group of men

who behaved like adolescents at best. As for the cultural influence and example the Beatles set, songs such as “All You Need Is Love” were clearly written with the intention of an antiwar message and did indeed possess a degree of social impact. Modern pop-culture originates in the rock n’ roll movement, and contemporary music has not forgotten its history. True to its roots, modern “artistry” continues to shock, scandalize, and influence impressionable minds, particularly those of children. As each generation ages, however, entertainment worsens by demand, for the audience can be entertained only by something more scandalous than that to which it is accustomed. And the worst part is that the audience generally includes young children. Whatever happened to presenting an audience—particularly children— with lovely, harmonious music? While it might not be immoral to expose children to rock n’ roll, there remains so much beautiful music in the world that it seems tragic to subject them to anything else. Plato noted in “The Republic” that the most important part of education is being exposed to the beautiful, and this is, perhaps, the wisest course to make with music and entertainment choices. The problem with modern entertainment is that beauty ceased to be a priority five decades ago.

on. My time at Hillsdale has been an incredible, sanctifying journey so far. As a freshman, I called people from the town “Townies” like everyone else did. By Townie, we usually mean an obese, grungy, and probably smelly person who doesn’t shower, wears gross clothes, shops exclusively at Wal-Mart, uses curse words, and probably lives on some kind of run-down farm. But it wasn’t until I joined Young Life and met some Townies that I grew disgusted with myself for calling these individuals something so degrading. Before, a Townie’s story was merely a comic strip of flat events featuring alcoholic fathers and uncaring mothers. Yet I was humbled to realize that their life struggles were full of real heartache and depth. I have come to know a few high school girls through my time in Young Life. Even after three years, I know that the various hurts I’ve observed are just a snapshot of what lies beneath. To some of these girls, “I live with my stepfather” means not only an absent father, but the biting sting of abandonment. “He broke up with me” means not only the end of a relationship, but a cry for constant love. Like our own, this pain is profound and their tragedies are real, contrary to the simplicity that the stereotype dictates.

I had been failing to see the dimensions of their pain and consequently, of their souls, by focusing on their appearance. Indeed, as C.S. Lewis once noted, “You have never talked to a mere mortal.” By summarizing and labeling these immortal souls as Townies, we reduce them to disposable caricatures. Furthermore, when we classify somebody according to a certain place in society, we set up expectations for that individual. By maintaining those expectations, it becomes harder and harder to do ministry. The classification separates and divides. What a failure it is for the Christian to detach from his fellow man. To have a relationship necessarily means to relate—which is something that division hinders. If ministry entails relationships, then this division is incompatible with the Great Commission. These people—human beings—are alive. Townies are not the others, as if Hillsdale College students are the Platonic Form of individuals and Townies are the lesser of us. Not everybody who uses the word Townie is making a conscious effort to stereotype somebody from the town— but the real matter is this: we should be making a conscious effort not to classify individuals. We Hillsdale students need to eliminate Townie from our vocabularies.

‘Townie’ dehumanizes Hillsdale residents Savannah Tibbetts Special to the Collegian We all know the stereotypes. Hipsters like skinny jeans, obscure music, and fair trade coffee. Sorority girls only wear leggings and pearls. Athletes never open books. But the danger of a stereotype is not necessarily its tendency towards falseness. In reality, many stereotypes are fairly accurate. Rather, stereotypes are wrong because they dehumanize the people they describe. When we see people and put them into boxes, our minds flood with preconceived notions. We put boundaries around those people, and thus limit what we think they can do, say, or be. This is both sickening and frustrating. If every individual is a whole being with a soul, mind, and heart, then developing a list of adjectives by which to define someone is, in effect, deciding their fate within society without acknowledging their eternal value. And humans are created in the image of God, not in the image of society. Of course, individuals are responsible for their own actions and friends. Yet this does not justify our decision to put them in a particular box—boxes labeled fat, skinny, sorority girl, frat boy, Republican, Democrat, rich, poor, prostitute, preacher’s daughter, and so Dear Editor, Last week, the Collegian published a review of Rich Lowry’s “Lincoln Unbound.” Although I have not read the book, the review indicates Lowry’s thesis, a return to fundamental American principles, principles Lincoln emulated, will restore American political and economic prosperity. As a Kentuckian with Confederate sympathies, it is easy to vituperate against Lincoln, but such charged arguments usually descend into fruitless shouting matches. Instead, I hope to present a more nuanced, more historical account of Lincoln, specifically his policies in Kentucky. Perhaps this quote from Lincoln best reveals the importance of Kentucky, a state with access to the Mississippi River, a population of around one million, and a wealth of natural resources: “I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky.” Throughout the war, he sought

that maybe the GLIAC has reasons other than hating women’s sports for doing what they do. At the risk of being hunted down by the Michigan Gender Equality Team, I will claim that a larger fan base gathers for men’s games than women’s. The statistics clearly support this statement. The women still draw their own crowd of dedicated fans, but they benefit from the men’s fans coming to the games early or planning to purposefully catch the second half of the women’s game before the men’s. If students had seen unfairness in the women-first order of play, I would be all for addressing the problem, as

Why I don’t hate the Greek system

Garrett Holt Special to the Collegian Contrary to apparent popular belief of which, until recently, I was unaware, I do not hate the Greek system. I did go through a stage of antiGreekness at one point, but as of late, such sentiments have become drastically reduced. I am not opposed to the Greek system. In fact, I believe the Greek system does much good, and, when operating at its best, can be beneficial for many people. The Greek system should be, as it says of itself, an extracurricular that can enhance your college experience. But far too often it is promoted as something you should do if you are “cool.” It is not for everyone. A founding member of Delta Tau Delta told me one should ask, “Will this make me a better person?” For some people, the answer is “no.” It has even been advertised to freshman men at the beginning of the year orientation as “the only way to become a man on campus.” Many people get sucked into a house, and are never seen again by anyone outside their fraternity or sorority. The Greek house can so easily become one’s identity. We all know those people we cannot mentally separate from their house. For something that is supposed to enhance your college experience, it often transcends that and becomes one’s entire experience. But I then realized that independents too often do the exact same thing for practically all of the above items. How many people do we categorize as “Bob, he’s an HCFer,” or “Jenny, she’s in

ing principles? All this is not to portray Lincoln as a tyrant; indeed, it is the purpose of this article to avoid such inflammatory language. Instead, I hope to suggest the complexity of the Lincoln narrative, a story too often shrouded in myth and generalization. David Roach ’15 Dear Editor, Casey Harper’s notion (“Redskins need a new name,” Oct.10) of a professional football team in our nation’s capital operating under a name other than “Redskins” is preposterous. One of the NFL’s most storied franchises, the Washington Redskins have honored Native Americans for eight decades and counting. Their timeless logo features a strong, stoic Indian chief poised for battle. The logo is in no way clownish or disrespectful. Paying athletes millions of dollars to proudly represent the Redskins’ name and lega-

Swing Club”? Many Independents are just as separated from campus to the Greeks as the Greeks can be to them. So Greeks: realize that yes, many people do disappear into the Greek System. And Independents: realize that many, many of you do the same with your own cliques, whether you’re a hipster or an HCFer. Greeks: just because I might try to get someone to stay independent doesn’t mean I hate the Greeks, in the same way you convincing them to join doesn’t mean you hate independents. Greeks: the system is exclusive and can hurt many people’s feelings. Independents: continually harassing Greeks who join and mocking them with stereotypes has the same effect. I didn’t rush, not out of some deep-seated dislike for the system but because I simply did not see what it could offer me that I did not already have with the brotherhood in my dorm. Another reason is that I view many of these problems listed as more likely to occur with the Greek system than Independents, but it can and does happen to both. So friends, don’t waste these wonderful years we have here living in your own clique. Get out and meet other people outside your group because at the end of the day, we are all united by a community greater than our club, group, or Greek house. We’re all children of God and students of Hillsdale. The only way we can ever hope to close the Greek-Independent rift is if people stop making fun of the other side and actually try to truly know them. Trust me, they’re probably pretty nice. Hillsdale, be known by who you are, not what you do.

(Dane Skorup)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

to deracinate and suppress Confederate sympathies in the state; he suspended the writ of habeas corpus on September 15, 1863 and established martial law on July 5, 1864. These policies, together with voice voting, enabled Union soldiers to arrest LieutenantGovernor Richard Jacob and newspaper editor Paul Shipman because they voted for McClellan in the 1864 election. These policies permitted federal troops to suppress religious magazines, such as the True Presbyterian. Separate from freedom of speech issues, the Emancipation Proclamation liberated the slaves in the Confederacy, but not in the Border States because Lincoln feared freeing the slaves would spark secession in Kentucky. In summary, he practiced something like realpolitik in addressing the political exigencies of the war. And it worked. But were his actions moral? Were they indicative of America’s found-

men’s basketball head coach John Tharp suggested in last year’s article. But when Hillsdale’s female players and coaches prefer the original order, as Bennett reported, and attendance numbers back up their beliefs, the GLIAC cannot allow this injustice to endure. Official basketball practices started this week, and while the order is back to women first when the GLIAC season starts in December, it’s not a permanent change and the cycle of nonsense will continue next year. Robinson claims they will address the issue in a few years, after all possible measures of trying to increase attendance have been exhausted. That makes no sense. Spend all available resources on fixing a solution to a problem that never existed? Looks like the bureaucratic mindset of committee-driven America has weaseled its genius into Hillsdale College basketball. Gather the powers-that-be, Dell. Stand up to the OCR and reverse this failed experiment. Chalk it up to a good try and move on – for the sake of fans, schools, and most importantly, the student-athletes who want to play before a spirited crowd.

cy in America’s most popular spectator sport does nothing but honor American Indian culture. Are we really too oversensitive and ignorant as consumers of popular culture to properly assess the context in which the Redskins nickname exists? A May 2013 AP Poll found that only 11 percent of Americans believe the name is offensive and ought to be changed, indicating that 11 percent of Americans are fixated on political correctness. Changing the name would set a dangerous precedent of empowering political correctness in American sports. Do the Kansas City Royals advocate a political system which suppressed our ancestors for centuries? Do the Milwaukee Brewers condone alcoholism? Do any of the numerous teams bearing pirate-related monikers encourage rape and pillaging on the high seas? Of course not. Let’s not set a precedent which will allow whiny groups crying “social justice” to

impact Sunday afternoon. Additionally, Harper’s argument is far more offensive than the term “Redskin.” “Jew” is not a racial slur. Embedding “Jew” with actually offensive terms such as “Negro,” “Cracker,” and “Jap” is unacceptable. Given the context, use of the repugnant slur “Kike” would have been less offensive (and more effective). Are Jewish people supposed to be offended by the word “Jew?” Following such logic, is “Christian” an offensive term? Redskins owner Dan Snyder is no more obligated to alter his team’s name than President Obama is to share insipid commentary on the situation. The Washington Redskins ought to remain the Washington Redskins, regardless of what a self-righteous 11 percent minority wants. Alex Eaton ’17


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CITY NEWS A6 17 Oct. 2013

2013 Mayoral Candidates:

son, Brian Watkins: ‘believe in better’ Scott Sessions: ‘like like father’ “Believe in better” is Hillsdale mayoral candidate Brian Watkins’ slogan going into this November’s election. “I believe, and I think a lot of people believe, that Hillsdale is better than people think it is. But at the same time, there are lots of things that we can do to make it better,” Watkins said. Watkins is in his second year as a City Council Ward I representative and works as an external affairs specialist with Toyota doing video and photography. He is a Hillsdale native and grew up on a farm just outside of town while attending the local schools. He studied film at Northern Michigan University and joined the 82nd airborne of the U.S. army upon graduation. While he enjoyed the military atmosphere, Watkins longed to return to Hillsdale and raise his kids on a farm the way he had grown up.

Toyota eventually moved him back to Michigan, and Watkins returned to his beloved hometown. Wanting to get involved in the community, he ran for city council and now feels he is up for the challenge of mayor. Watkins believes his communications experience will be a major asset if elected. “One of the things I ran on while running for council was communications,” he said. “I still feel that there is not enough communication from the city to the people. There use to be a dedicated position to communication.” He approached council with the idea to develop a short-term communication committee and council approved it. The other major issue for Watkins, and for other candidates as well, is repairing the city roads. He said approximately 35 miles of road need to be fixed right now. “The biggest thing for me is probably streets,” he said. “It’s a big thing for a lot of people, it been the big thing since I moved back. And I’m trying to find a way to fund the streets. That’s the challenge. It’s been neglected for years and now we’re trying to play catch up, but there’s no money there to do that.” Watkins supported the income tax initiative to fund the large project that failed in last year’s election. “The council decide after

studying the issue, that the income tax was the best overall option,” he said. “It made the most sense. It was the least burden on city taxpayers. It also brought in revenue from people that use the streets but don’t live in town. We didn’t do the best marketing job with that and a lot of people were not in favor of it.” The income tax failed by a large margin, and Watkins said it is probably not something that he is unsure of whether or not council can bring that option forward again. “We can’t do it without the people. Anything we do that’s going to be a substantial enough amount to fund the streets is going to have to be on the ballot, and the people are going to have to approve it,” he said. “The hard part will be selling that idea to the people. But also, if we can’t sell it to the people and it fails, we need to decide how do we move forward from there. Because it’s still something that needs to be addressed.” If Watkins isn’t elected mayor, he will still be on council for two years. He said his main goal will be to find a sustainable way to repair the streets. “We have all the numbers we need. We have all the options available to us. We have every tool that we need to make a decision,” he said. “There is really no reason once new council starts in November, that we can’t start working on that.”

A word from Mayor Doug Moon:

Current Hillsdale Mayor Doug Moon is not seeking re-election in November but did outline what characteristics he hopes the new leadership exemplifies. “I think that whoever has the job really has to realize that you have eight different agendas being pushed,” Moon said. “You have to be strong enough to cut through all of that to get to the heart of it.” Moon has been on Hillsdale’s City Council for seven years, serving as mayor since fall of 2009. In that time, Moon has helped the town tackle problems with the streets, blight, and high unemployment rates. “Everything’s kind of changed within the past 30 years, and we’re just trying to find our place now,” Moon said. “Instead of large automotive plants, we’re getting smaller shops and diversifying a little bit, which has been fantastic.” In order to continue enacting these positive changes, Moon says the new mayor will have

Father of Hillsdale’s youngest mayor ever and husband of Phi Beta Phi sorority house mom, Scott Sessions aspires to follow in his son’s footsteps as Hillsdale’s future mayor. Sessions was raised in Eaton Rapids, Mich. and then majored in business and administration at Indiana University. After college, he served in the U.S. Army for two and half years before moving to Hillsdale when his employer, Fasco DC Motors, opened up a plant here. Sessions has since lived in Hillsdale for 19 years and served as a city council ward III representative since 2011 as well as finance committee chairperson for a year. The position he desires has changed since the 2011 election, but his message hasn’t. “I campaigned on fixing the streets when I ran for city council and my main priority is still that,” Sessions said. As mayor, Sessions wants to vamp up the city’s current plan of using $350,000 to fix one road a year to fixing at least two roads annually with $600,000. He hopes this will boost the economy and draw new residents and businesses to town. “Fixing the roads is the biggest plan to promote economic development, but you have to work to bring in more businesses by giving tax incentives

like tax abatements,” Sessions said. “The economy is a big concern, and we need to make it economical for business to stay here.” Sessions witnessed what happens when it’s not economical for businesses to remain in Hillsdale when his employer for 26 years moved to Mexico in 2003 and he was left unemployed. After going back to school and becoming a certified medical assistant, Sessions was hired as the purchasing manager for the Hillsdale Community Health Center. Another cornerstone of Sessions’ campaign includes the city income tax initiative. “I voted against it, and I still don’t agree with it,” Sessions said. “I think it’s the city’s responsibility to fix the roads without going back to the taxpayers and asking for more money.” Sessions foresees that the new mayor’s biggest obstacle will be uniting the council. “The most important thing is getting the council to work together to make Hillsdale better,” he said. “I’m running for mayor because I think I represent the people of Hillsdale and I’m going to listen to them so I can

do what they want me to do.” Sessions also hopes to get the college more involved in the community. “Maybe we can get some input from the students about fixing the roads and finding waste in the budget,” he said. “Students should come to the city council meetings and let us know what they want because that’s important to us.” After living in Hillsdale for nineteens years, Sessions hopes to improve the city under his leadership. “I want to see Hillsdale do better,” he said. “It sure means a lot me.” Written by Taylor Knopf & Macaela Bennett Photo credit: Shaun Lichti

to focus on uniting the council. “I think the biggest issue will be corralling council,” Moon said. “I really hope that they are able to do that because if not, you can get so bogged down and derailed. Unfortunately, after every election, people come in without really understanding that the job is about everyone here being on a team.” Moon believes both of the candidates are good choices for the position and hopes that whoever wins will stay focused on bettering Hillsdale. “We’re Hillsdale, you’re not in this for the money,” he said. You’re in it for the community.” - by Macaela Bennett

Q&A with council and clerk candidates

What do you think qualifies you for city council or city clerk?

Adam Stockford (ward I): I have worked at all levels of government, and policy analysis is my occupation, so I believe I have the right kind of experience for the job. As an advent scholar of history, I look for real world examples of policy and that plays a huge part in my decision making. I know Hillsdale values because I have lived them across the boards. I feel I am a good communicator, and I think good communication between council and the residents is essential, and thus far hasn’t been maximized by city government. I have a great network of resources to call upon when the need arises. Ruth Brown (ward II): I am running to continue representing the voters in ward 2. I have gone door-to-door multiple times in the four years I have been on Council and have received mostly positive feedback from my constituents that they are pleased with my re-

sponsiveness to their needs and concerns over the past 4 years and that I have communicated effectively with them and represented them fairly. I have lived in Hillsdale since 1966 and in Ward 2 for 24 years.

her most important problem. Our failed road system not only damages our cars, but it discourages people and businesses from moving to Hillsdale. To strengthen our local economy, we need to fix our roads.

Emily Davis (ward III): I want the interests of our neighborhood to be represented on the city council. The recent debate over the proposed income tax also piqued my interest. As a Hillsdale native, I have a personal interest in the growth and prosperity of our town. After graduating from Hillsdale College in 2005, I worked in healthcare marketing and development and have experience working with boards on collaborative efforts. Patrick Flannery (ward IV): When I lived in Dacono, Colo., I served on city council from 2004 to 2007. I gained valuable experience in that position that will help me here in Hillsdale. I have a background in accounting and finance. The number one issue facing Hillsdale is financing our road repair and replacement. My skills will help the city solve

Amy England (clerk): I would provide some stability in the clerk’s office if I were to be elected. I currently serve on the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Board of Special Assessors. I have working relationships with all city departments and department heads through both the boards I serve on and from my experience as chairperson of The Great American Parade over the last five years. I have operated my own business, so I understand time management, record keeping and organization concepts. I feel that I am the best candidate for this position, as no other candidate has such a proven record of working with the city or built working relationships with those in city offices than myself. RobiIyn Swisher (clerk): My most recent

WCSR and Collegian partner to hold candidate forum Marcus Hedenberg Collegian Reporter

The Collegian will partner with local radio station WCSR to host a political forum for the Hillsdale city government candidates at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 22 in Phillips Auditorium at Hillsdale College. At the forum, six candidates running for the offices of mayor, city ward, and clerk will be given a turn

to speak about why they seek their respective office before moderators from The Collegian and WCSR present them with questions. WCSR will broadcast the forum live and will also be live-streaming online. Both mayoral candidates, Brian Watkins and Scott Sessions, will be present, as well as council candidates Patrick Flannery, Adam Stockford, and Emily Davis, and city clerk candidate Amy England. Flannery’s opponent for ward IV, William Arnold, and clerk candidate, Robilyn Swisher, are unable to attend due to prior

commitments. The opposing candidates for wards I and II, Laura Smith and Jacob Nieuwsma, have both dropped out of the race, although their names will still appear on the voting ballot. Both chose to endorse their opponent instead. Although candidates running for mayor and council will be allowed to rebut their opponents over some controversial questions, Bob Flynn, afternoon host of WCSR, emphasied that the event is not a debate. There will not be an open mic for questions, although attendees are free to speak to candidates after the event to ask more questions. “The main question is going to be ‘are you for or against the city income tax?’ That’s going to be the elephant in the room that everyone wants answered,” Flynn said. “I’d like to get as many questions from the public ahead of time as possible as well.” The forum is scheduled from 6:30 to 8 p.m., although the length could vary depending on the number of questions asked. “We hope that many students and community members attend the forum and submit questions,” said Taylor Knopf, city news editor of The Collegian. “This is a great opportunity for candidates to share their

platforms with the public.” Watkins said that he believes the forum is a crucial step toward better informing Hillsdale’s residents. “Something that’s always been an issue for me is that you really never know who you’re voting for half the time on the local stuff,” Watkins said. “You might know who they are, but not what they’re about.” Sessions added a similar sentiment. “I think it is a good idea for everyone interested in the current election to hear the candidates views regarding the issues facing them,” he said. “It allows the voters an opportunity to make an informed decision about a candidate.” Flynn said the forum bears historic significance since it’s the first local election for Hillsdale in a long time to have so many elected positions contested. The forum also marks the first time The Collegian and WCSR have worked together. “We are happy to be participate in putting on this forum for the candidates,” Knopf said. “It is great journalism practice for us as well.” Prior to the event, the public can email questions for the candidates that may be asked during the forum. There will also be an opportunity to write questions to the candidates outside the auditorium. Please email your questions to Hdalecollegian@ gmail.com. To hear the live event, tune into WCSR at 92.1 FM or 1340 AM.

work experience has been at Somerset Beach Campground in the office. I have worked there for the past three years. My duties there have been customer service; answering a multi-line phone system; making reservations; handling incoming and outgoing mail; maintaining a cash drawer; and dealing with whatever problems may arise. I have also had ten years accumulated experience as a youth leader of children from the nursery through grade twelve. The last five years of that experience have been at Somerset Beach Free Methodist Church as a paid staff position. I have also been married for 22 years and have four children. Through managing our household and all of our different schedules, I have learned the value of being organized and staying on top of things. note: William Arnold, who is running for ward IV, was not available for comments. Also Laura Smith (ward I) and Jacob Nieuwsma (ward III) both chose to drop out and endorse their opponents.

Vanished Hillsdale 1965: Twin tornadoes terrorized Hillsdale

Ten people were killed and nearly 100 injured when twin tornadoes struck the Hillsdale area on Palm Sunday in 1965. The first of the two tornadoes touched down around 8 p.m. The second followed 20-30 minutes after, taking the victims of the first tornado and the responders trying to rescue them by surprise. The tornadoes destroyed millions worth in in property. The Baw Beese and Bear Lake areas were both hit. Houses were flattened and livestock killed. Some people were blown out of their homes. Mrs. Hugh Norris, an 80-year-old who lived on Baw Beese Lake, suffered only a bruised shoulder and some aches and pains despite being thrown, with her house, 700 feet down the shore and 50 feet into the lake. She was rescued by two of her neighbors. Others were not so lucky. Two young boys were torn from their father’s arms and killed. In the aftermath of the disaster, the local people—as well as state and national organizations—worked to rescue those still trapped, provide for the victims, and clear the wreckage. More than 60 Hillsdale College students helped with the recovery. -Compiled by Walker Mulley from the Hillsdale Daily News’s coverage the week after the tornadoes


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Tennis qualifies for GLIACs

Hannah Leitner Collegian Reporter

With the final conference match of their regular season finished and Findlay defeated, the Hillsdale College tennis team (8-6) looks forward to preparing for GLIACs. The Chargers beat the Oilers 6-3 last night in the Biermann Center, with wins coming from all three doubles teams, and the singles matches of junior Morgan Delp, sophomore Lindsay Peirce, and freshman Jada Bissett. This win, along with two over the weekend, means the Chargers are heading to the GLIAC tournament, most likely seeded sixth of the eight teams in the draw. They are poised to seek revenge on third-seeded Tiffin University. Hillsdale lost to the Dragons 6-3 earlier this season. Starting out the past weekend slowly with a 6-3 loss against Walsh University on Friday, the team gained momentum as the weekend progressed, resulting in a 9-0 win against Lake Erie College on Saturday and an 8-1 win against Malone University on Sunday. Head coach Nikki Walbright

SPORTS A7 17 Oct. 2013

said that now that the team knows they have a spot in the GLIACs guaranteed, they can practice with more focus. “Now that we know we are returning to the GLIACs, we have a better idea of what we need to do and get to see what we need to accomplish to com-

pete well at GLIACs,” Walbright said. Bissett said the team not only focuses on the physical part of tennis, but also the mental part, such as building confidence, continuing to play aggressively, and playing under pressure situations.

Freshman Dana Grace Buck slices a forehand in Friday’s match against Walsh University. (Anders Kiledal/Collegian)

“[Tennis] is a really mental sport and that’s what makes it difficult to practice,” Bissett said. But for the tennis team, the key to perfecting their mental game as well as their physical game comes down to how they practice. “We are really trying to just get a ton of reps in, meaning we are playing a lot of points, a lot of tiebreakers, hitting a lot of serves, to make sure that when we are in the pressure situation of GLIACs, muscle memory and confidence takes over,” junior captain Morgan Delp said. Delp said that while the wins of the weekend and last night were part of a necessary confidence boost before heading to GLIACs, the team needs to focus on each match as it happens. Bissett agreed. “After coming off these past wins we are really excited. We definitely want to stay strong against the other teams,” Bissett said. Walbright hopes the girls remember that a positive attitude and enjoying the game are also key aspects of success in tennis. “[Our team members] have been really positive and eager to win,” Walbright said. “So they just need to keep working really hard and continue having fun.”

VOLLEYBALL DEMOLISHES WAYNE, FINDLAY Monica Brandt Collegian Reporter The Hillsdale College volleyball team did not lose a set in either of its games this weekend. Sweeping both Wayne State University (Mich.) on Friday, and the University of Findlay on Saturday, the Chargers reached an above .500 record for the first time this season, with a 9-8 record overall and a 6-3 record in the GLIAC. The Chargers were down a player this weekend, with junior Alexis Waugh unavailable due to illness. Waugh is one of the team’s setters, which left sophomore Marissa Owen as the only setter through the whole rotation. “I was definitely nervous,” Owen said. “But the rest of the team picked me up and gave me confidence.” Owen had 27 assists against Wayne State, and set a career record of 42 assists in Saturday’s game against Findlay. Head coach Chris Gravel said Owen and sophomore Jenalle Beaman had noteworthy

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we do. That’s the beauty of it.” “Whenever you get 2,000 people living together, you’re going to get things spreading,”

games this weekend. He explained that they came out and did more than they had in the past. Beaman was the first Charger of the season to win the GLIAC North Division player of the week. She had eight kills and 10 digs against Wayne State, and 13 kills against Findlay. “Everyone brought their game,” Beaman said. She explained that the games were challenging because they were missing Waugh and learned a new rotation the night before Friday’s game. The rotation struggled in practice, Gravel said, but was successful over the weekend. He explained that this was due to the talent of his non-starters who were challenging opponents for the starters on the other side of the net. “In practice, the opposing side really made us work,” Owen said. “We were used to that fight.” The team knew these games would determine how well the rest of the season would go, Beaman explained. She said the players were all on the same page even with the extra challenges.

Lutz said. In addition to these cleaning procedures, Neukom and Lutz both urged personal responsibility and basic hygiene--showering daily, not sharing clothes, washing hands, etc--as the best way to limit the spread of this and any disease in the future.

“We still came in with the mentality that we were going to win,” Beaman said. The team reached a .424 hitting percentage against Findlay, the highest in over two years.They had 50 kills and only eight errors. This weekend, the Chargers have two home games, against Lake Erie College on Friday at 7 p.m. and Ashland University on Saturday at noon. “Expect a good game between Ashland and us,” Beaman said. She also said to expect a lot of fight from both teams. Owen said the goal is to keep the momentum from two perfect weekends going into these games. “You should be able to tell that we are working hard,” Gravel said. “It should look like we are having fun.” After this weekend, the Chargers will play in the GLIAC/GLVC Crossover Tournament in Aurora, Ill. on Oct. 25 and 26. Owen said they will watch a lot of film before the tournament to figure out what the other teams like to do. “Every match is big from here on out,” Gravel said.

“The most important thing with staph is personal responsibility, and that’s what we preach,” Neukom said. “Don’t think: ‘Oh, I’m worried, think: Oh, this is a good reminder to get it checked out.” Even these simple steps could make a big difference, Lutz said.

“If people did that, this would go away,” he said. Indeed, Neukom said staph is far from her biggest concern. “I’m more worried about influenza,” she said.

Swimming falls to Northern Michigan Doug Williams Collegian Freelancer The women’s swim team had a disappointing beginning to their season in their first official meet as they fell to the Wildcats of Northern Michigan 130-75 at home. Hillsdale’s only first place finishes came from sophomore Jennifer Wheeler, who took the 1000 free in 10:52.98, and junior Rachel Kurtz, who won the 100 free in 55.53. The Chargers’ best event was probably the 1000 free, with sophomores Zoe Hopkins and Hannah Leitner taking third and fourth place respectively, in addition to Wheeler’s win. Other notable performers for the Chargers were senior Jordan Rucinski (third in the 200 and 500 free), junior Sarah Rinaldi and freshman Emily Balog (second and third in the 200 IM respectively), sophomore Naofa Noll (second in the 100 butterfly), freshman Kylie Powrie (second in the 500 free), junior Ali Bauer (second in

the 100 breast), and the 200 freestyle relay (senior Hayley Johnson, freshman Emily Shallman, Powrie and Kurtz). Kurtz had a strong start to her season. In addition to taking first place in the 100 free, she also took second in the 50 free. Kurtz noted the new level of training that has become the new norm for the team. “It’s standard to have high yardage early in the season but I think [head coach Kurt Kirner] has intensified training a bit,” she said. Kurtz focused on the positive side of the loss, saying, “we’d like to have a good record but training is more important in the long run.” Rinaldi attributes the results of the meets to the workload the girls have been dealing with recently. “We are all pretty tired, but it’s important to work through that. We’ve had really hard practices lately but considering that, I think we did well,” she said. Rinaldi also thinks the team will draw inspiration from the loss, as well as from the special technique training they’ve had

recently. “I think it will motivate us to work hard this week,” she added. Kirner is optimistic despite the loss. He noted the impressive performances of Wheeler and Hopkins in the 1000 free, Kurtz’s time in the 50 free, which is quite fast for this early in the season, and the girls in the 100 breaststroke who all swam very well (Bauer, Rinaldi, and junior Cayley Cruickshank). Kirner has high hopes for the rest of the season, too. “We have the same talent group as last year, lost only a little, and gained some in the freshman class,” Kirner noted. “We went from being a breaststroke deficient team two seasons ago to having one of the best now.” The girls will have a chance to bounce back from the loss this coming Saturday at Lewis University. Kirner hopes the team will “swim well in someone’s pool and do better than last week by not taking any steps backwards. I’m optimistic though.” Until then, the girls will stay on the grind and work hard as they always do.

Football

Collegian)

Volleyball

Hillsdale College: 35 Northern Mich.: 16

Hillsdale College: 3 Findlay: 0

Scoring Plays

Hillsdale College: 3 Wayne State: 0

Alex Koski 3 yd run (Mette kick) Isaac Spence 8 yd run (Mette kick) Steven Harding 28 yd interception return (Mette kick) Koski 2 yd run (Mette kick) Wade Wood 3 yd run (Mette kick) Weekly Leaders Rushing: Spence 11-56 Wood 13-51 Koski 7-27 Passing: Landry 11-21-0-90 Receiving: Lou Cangelosi 2-22 Evan Sassack 2-19 Tackles: Brett Pasche 11-3 Tim Moinet 3-6 Devin Moynihan 2-7

Season Leaders Kills: Emily Wolfert (178) Caitlin Kopmeyer (106) Assists: Alexis Waugh (316) Marissa Owen (267) Digs: Caitlin Kopmeyer (201) Sydney Lenhart (190) Tennis Hillsdale: 6 Findlay: 3 Hillsdale College: 8 Malone: 1 Hillsdale College: 9 Lake Erie: 0 Hillsdale College: 3 Walsh: 6

MEN, WOMEN FINISH THIRD AT KENOSHA Caleb Whitmer Editor-in-Chief

The Hillsdale College crosscountry teams placed well at their last meet before championship season. Both teams say they like their chances in the GLIAC meet next weekend. The Hillsdale men and women finished third in their respective 8,000 meter and 5,000 meter races. The men scored 93 points, while the women totalled 146 at the University of Wisconsin Parkside Rosa Invitational on Oct. 12. Junior Joshua Mirth, 2nd in 25:04, led the men. Sophomore Kristina Galat, 13th in 18:20, led the women. Although several runners hit personal records for their 5,000 meter times, as a team, the women left Wisconsin a little dissatisfied with their performance. “We didn’t have a bad performance,” Galat said. “Compared to last year it was a lot better, but not where everyone wanted to be.” Galat was the first of the Hillsdale women to P.R. The Oren sisters finished next for Hillsdale; freshman Molly Oren in 18:32 and sophomore Emily Oren in 18:38. They placed 25th and 31st. Senior Victoria McCaffrey, 36th, crossed the line at 18:46. Hillsdale’s next runner, junior Shena Albaugh, ran her fastest 5,000 meter race ever: 18:56. “I texted her over the weekend, ‘Hey, you’re an 18-minute girl now,’” head women’s coach Andrew Towne said. The team ran without injured

freshman Julie Bos, who established herself as one of the team’s top runners at the University of Notre Dame meet, where she finished second on the team. Towne said he hoped she’d “factor in” to the next meet, although said they’d be careful not to rush her back into competition too quickly. “It wasn’t a great, great performance, but it was solid,” Towne said. “The reality is, from here on out, it all counts. From here back, none of it mattered. I think that’s a good sign.” Junior John Wierenga said the men were generally pretty excited with the race. The men took third of 28 teams at Kenosha. After the setback at the Notre Dame race, Wierenga said he thinks the team is back to where they need to be. “Last weekend was definitely a step in the right direction,” Wierenga said. Freshman star Joe Newcomb tailed Mirth for the race, finishing 16th in 25:48. “Obviously a really solid time for a freshman,” head men’s coach Jeff Forino said. “We’re really proud of how he’s been running every week.” Juniors Luke Hickman, 25th, and Jack Butler, 26th, finished together -- Hickman in 26:04 and Butler in 26:05. Freshman Luke Daigneault rounded out the top five for the men in 32nd at 26:12. “At the conference and the regional level, we have a chance at making it to nationals this year -- the best chance we’ve had in a long time. But we need everyone there giving their all.” The teams compete next at the GLIAC meet on Oct. 26 in Houghton, Mich.

Sophomore Kevin Frost runs at Hayden Park in the Michigan Intercollegiates race on Friday. Hillsdale’s nonvarsity runners competed at home last weekend. (Carsten Stann/Collegian)

Sophomore Hannah Leitner swims the 100-yard butterfly race in last weekend’s meet against Northern Michigan. She placed first in her heat. (Ben Strickland/

BOX SCORES


17 October 2013

(Anders Kiledal/Collegian)

Charger Sports

FOOTBALL DEFEATS WAYNE STATE Aaron Schepps Collegian Freelancer

After losses in each of the last three seasons to the Wayne State Warriors, the Hillsdale Chargers dominated their longtime rivals on Saturday, winning 35-16. The game got off to a tough start for the hometown Chargers, with the Warriors quarterback Carl Roscoe finding widereceiver Dominique Maybanks for a 49-yard touchdown on the first drive of the game. The Chargers responded by methodically grinding down their opponent in every element of the game.The offense controlled the line of scrimmage and established a successful running game. The defense and special teams repeatedly gave the team good field position. For example, the Chargers started their first scoring drive of the game with a short field after a key defensive stand and a contested punt. Hillsdale’s defense was the star once again, getting three sacks, seven tackles for loss, and forcing three interceptions. Each of these turnovers resulted in a touchdown for the Chargers. Junior Tim Moinet’s first quarter pick precipitated an eight yard rushing touchdown by senior Isaac Spence. Senior Steve Harding returned his interception for a touchdown early in the third quarter, a decisive moment in the victory. Senior Steve Embry grabbed his fourth pick in three weeks -- quite the clip for a linebacker. Junior Alex Koski put the final punctuation on this last turnover with his second touchdown rush of the game. Koski left the field limping after a nasty late, out-of-bounds hit in the first half, but returned triumphant in the second. “We’re pretty old-fashioned in how we think you win a game,” head coach Keith Otterbein said. By this he explained that the team ought to win the

battle for things like the line of scrimmage, field position, and turnovers if they are to come away with a win. Saturday they did just that. Over the course of the weekend, the Chargers also dedicated resources to try and claim another victory: defeating cancer. Hillsdale personnel on the field and all over Muddy Waters Stadium donned “Block out Cancer” t-shirts during the game. Throughout the weekend, the team arranged a number of opportunities to include ten local child cancer patients in team events. Individual players volunteered to host kids and their families. The families were invited to the team meal on Friday evening. The kids were also invited to be present in the tunnel as the team ran on the field and were also on the field for the coin toss. Coach Otterbein expressed his satisfaction that the Chargers were able to “make a way for the kids to be around football, to show that the team cares, and also to raise awareness about funding to help keep the coffers full so they can cure some of these cancers.” With another GLIAC victory in the bag, the Chargers will play its second home game in a row against the Ferris State University Bulldogs on Saturday. The Bulldogs are coming off a big win over Grand Valley in a 54-44 rivalry shootout. Coach Otterbein explained the that the team will look to tackle especially well against the Bulldog’s option offense. The Chargers’ offense will stick to their gameplan and focus on avoiding negative plays that fuel the energy of the avid Bulldog defense. The Chargers would improve to 4-1 in the GLIAC and 4-3 overall with a win over Ferris State this Saturday. Kickoff will be at 2:30 p.m.

Sam Scorzo Assistant Editor

Above: Redshirt freshman Joe Srebernak dodges a Wayne State defender after catching a pass in the Chargers’ domination of the Warriors. (Cartsen Stann/Collegian)

Above: Junior Dan Pittman tackles a Wayne State Warrior at Muddy Waters Stadium last Saturday. (Anders Kiledal/Collegian)

Charger Chatter: Jenalle beaman I started playing with a travel team. I was a setter on the team—I did that through middle school as well—then in high school they moved me to the position of hitter. You are a leftie. How does this contribute to your game?

Sophomore Jenalle Beaman, from Laffyette, Ind., originally heard about Hillsdale College through its volleyball camp. She said that when she came the first time it was in the fall, and she fell in love with the campus. She has been playing volleyball since sixth grade, and plays as a hitter on the Hillsdale volleyball team. She was just named North Division GLIAC volleyball player of the week. Why did you first start playing volleyball?

It’s really hard hitting outside—those hitters are usually all righties. It does give me an advantage when balls are set too far; however, I can get around the whole ball without as much difficulty as a righthanded hitter. How do you balance sports with Hillsdale academics? Our team really makes school a priority. Whenever I’m not at volleyball practice, I’m doing schoolwork. It is volleyball, school, eat. If one of us has a test, the team is really understanding and will help you through it. You are known for your high jumps. To what do you attribute this strength?

Varsity golf added next fall

Beginning high school and at the end of middle school I [hit a growth spurt] and my hitting got really good. I play back row too, but I love hitting. What is a special talent or hobby you have outside of volleyball?

I like to doodle. I draw caricatures of people—I did that all through high school too. I draw them of the volleyball girls with funny sayings. Where is your favorite place to study? The library. It secludes me from stress and school. I like it where it is quiet—it is easier for me to focus when there is nothing but silence. You’ve played volleyball for most of your life and have been a part of a couple different teams. What is special about the Hillsdale volleyball team? We are all very close and are so similar. Most teams have drama and all that—with this team I feel like there is no drama. We

laugh a lot. Our team is a team where everyone improves, so it’s not like we’re just going to stay where we are. We are always wanting to improve and willing to improve. How often do you work out and practice? (In season) four hours every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Three hours on Tuesday and Thursday. What game are you most looking forward to this season? I was definitely looking forward to the Northwood game. We played them a few weeks ago and I’m looking forward to playing them again. We were so close: down 21 to 24, then we came back up 25 to 25. We stayed neck and neck until they won 28-26. That’s the team I am excited to play again—I want to crush them and prove we definitely had the advantage there and we could have done it. -Compiled by Abi Wood

Starting next fall, the Hillsdale Chargers will look to dominate the GLIAC in men’s golf, as it joins the NCAA division II. The push to reinstate a golf team at Hillsdale came in the form of an endowment. The donor, lifelong golfer Dawn Potter, is not an unfamiliar face to the college: in April 2013, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from Hillsdale. “The college is thrilled to be able to offer a men’s golf program,” Director of Athletics Don Brubacher said. “It’s a blessing that this donor has stepped up and given us resources to offer the program to Hillsdale students.” Chief Staff Officer Mike Harner will be the head coach of the new team and Samuel Webster, associate professor of mathematics, will be the assistant coach. “I’m exceptionally happy about the reinstatement,” Harner said. “It’s a sport that we have competed well in in the past and to have the opportunity to do so again is a great thing.” When Harner attended Hillsdale 30 years ago, he was a member of the golf team. By the time he came back to work for the college, the team no longer existed on campus. It was disbanded in 2004 along with other sports because of “financial pressures for the college and the athletic department,” Brubacher said. However, Harner’s love for the game compelled him to sign on as the faculty advisor for the Hillsdale men’s golf club when it was formed two years ago. Harner also started teaching the golf classes offered on campus this year. “Any student here with at least some interest in learning about golf should take the class in the time frame that he’s teaching it because you’ll learn an extraordinary amount about the game,” Brubacher said. “I’ve

watched the work he’s done with the class and it’s really exciting.” Harner has already started recruiting incoming freshmen for the team and said that some of the club members will transfer to the varsity team. In terms of recruiting, Brubacher said they are “finding there are a lot of quality golfers who fit with Hillsdale’s standards.” The team will consist of about eight to ten guys, five of whom will travel for tournaments. President of the golf club junior Matthew Chalberg, who will play on the varsity team next year, said that the club’s goals for this year are to improve their scores and to run practices and tournaments as if they were a varsity sport to allow for an easy transition next year. The club currently looks forward to two tournaments this fall, as well as two in the spring. Chalberg said the best thing about the reinstatement is that it will give him and his teammates a chance to play more consistently. “I’m really looking forward to it. Harner mentioned we are going to have something like 21 playing days between 12 tournaments,” Chalberg said. Brubacher said he is excited to be able to provide the avid golfers on campus the opportunity to play more competitively. Brad Monastiere, sports information director, said that he hopes golf will follow the same pattern as the women’s tennis team, which was the last sport added at the college. “Tennis is a great template for the golf program. We brought in student-athletes that have become leaders on campus and helped us be successful in that sport,” Monastiere said. “It’ll just make the athletic department better, just as tennis has made the athletic department better.”

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B1

ARTS

17 Oct. 2013

Anders Kiledal

Orchestra to perform fall concert Teddy Sawyer Assistant Editor

(Anders Kiledal/Collegian)

The largest Hillsdale College Symphony Orchestra to date performs their fall concert Oct. 19 and 20 with all the talent and half the nerves. They are playing predominantly the same repertoire as in their single performance at the Rebirth of Liberty and Learning Campaign Gala Concert this past week. Instead of focusing on one major overture or symphony and complementing it with shorter pieces, as is the orchestra’s general wont, they are performing a variety of shorter, more recognizable works. These include “Festive Orchestra” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Nimrod” by Edward Elgar, “Navarra” by Pablo de Sarasate, “The Tender Land Suite” by Aaron Copland, “Emperor Waltzes” by Johann Strauss Jr., and “Dance Bacchanale” by Camille Saint-Saëns. “It’s great to have a performance behind us, and we can really settle down for concert week and polish what we need. It’s definitely different, but I actually really like it,” junior violinist LaRae Ferguson said. “I thought it would be more stressful having to learn two new movements, but it’s actually been really nice because it’s almost more the icing on the

cake to add the new movements.” The pieces are the same as during their performance last week with with addition of the first two movements to the Copland Suite. “This is somewhat of a classical pops concert: single, more well-known, shorter works that tend to be more familiar,” Conductor and Professor of Music James Holleman said. “Classical pops are standard repertoire that should be recognizable — not like movie music, but more variety and single movements from larger works.” In the more recent past, the orchestra has focused on larger works as the focal point of each concert, and it has been awhile since they focused on smaller works, he said. “I like the variety of this concert. It’s kind of a fun and lighter sort of concert — and I’m more of a variety kind of person, so I like that,” Ferguson said. “I thinks it’s fun to play and to listen and a lot of stuff is either fun to listen or fun to play, so I really like that.” Ferguson and senior Ryne Bessemer are performing a violin duet that forms the center of the Sarasate piece. “I really enjoy that it is both a solo and a duet. You don’t have the pressure of being ‘the one,’ so you can enjoy the solo and have fun with the orchestra,”

{See Orchestra, B2

After the orchestra takes a bow: a look at the Big Band afterglow Chris McCaffrey Assistant Editor The lights dim in McNamara Rehearsal Hall. A band strikes up a jazz standard. People pour out of the symphony orchestra concert and start swing dancing across the floor. This is the scene at the post-concert afterglow. The College Jazz Big Band will be hosting its Jazz Afterglow on Oct. 19 following the 8 p.m. Symphony Orchestra concert. Scheduled to begin at 10 p.m., the afterglow will feature live jazz mu-

sic, refreshments, and dancing. Attendance at the orchestra concert is not required. “The energy generated by these is phenomenal,” Teacher of Music Chris McCourry said. “It’s a really unique thing that only happens at Hillsdale.” The afterglow is a long-standing Hillsdale tradition that gives students a chance to socialize and enjoy themselves after the Saturday night orchestra concert. McCourry directs the college’s Big Band, an ensemble of about 20 students performing the jazz music that serves as the focal point in the afterglow. The band also plays at several jazz festivals throughout the year, including the annual Liberal Arts Jazz Festival.

“It’s a great place to debrief after the concert,” sophomore John Becker, a member of Big Band, said. “It gives you an atmosphere where you can hang out with friends.” The band will play popular jazz standards for students to dance and enjoy, and food will be provided. McCourry started the tradition in 2002. It quickly grew so popular that, without any advertisting, students still showed up. “There’s always enormously positive feedback from students,” McCourry said. The afterglow developed from the common orchestra tradition of having parties after concerts. With the introduction of the Big Band, the after-

glow transformed from a “little cocktail hour” into something all its own. Swing dancing is a huge part of what makes the afterglow so popular, and students from the Hillsdale Hepcats Swing Club always attend. “It’s one of my favorite events on campus,” junior Wes Wright, treasurer of Swing Club, said. “It’s not something you’d find anywhere else, and you get to dance to a live band, which is a lot of fun.” McCourry encourages students to attend. “It’s very much the opposite of low-key,” McCourry said.

cmccaffrey@hillsdale.edu

All aboard the hellbound train: Cormac McCarthy writes brutal screenplay Caleb Whitmer Editor-in-Chief The smallest crumb can devour us. Cormac McCarthy believes so strongly in the danger of our crumbs that he’s warned us twice: the first time in his novel, “Blood Meridian,” and the second time in his screenplay, “The Counselor,” which was released by Vintage Books on Oct. 15. The actual movie comes out next week. If director Ridley Scott stays true to what McCarthy wrote, “The Counselor” looks to be one of the most poetic and savage movies of the year. Its violence will turn your stomach and its sex will induce abstinence in ways church groups could only dream of. But McCarthy has always had a knack for finding the most valuable of truths in humanity’s darkest recesses. In that way his screenplay, which reads like a dialogue-heavy novella, is no different from his other fiction. McCarthy’s lead, known only as “counselor,”

does a job for Mexican drug lords. It’s supposed to be a one-off deal that sets up him, his new fiancé, and a few of his friends for the good life. It doesn’t work out that way, as you might guess. The counselor’s story is straight tragedy, more Globe Theatre than Hollywood. When the curtain raises, we find the counselor in bed with soon-to-be fiancé, Laura, played by Penélope Cruz. They talk about the counselor’s past sexual encounters with women. The counselor says that, during, they always exclaim “Oh my God” or “Jesus Christ” – “always something religious like that.” They talk about how funny this is, but by the end of the scene Cruz gasps religiously with the rest of them. McCarthy uses sex in “The Counselor” similarly to how he uses violence in “Blood Meridian,” that is, he uses it as an image for our connection to redemption and the divine. “Life is being in bed with you,” the counselor tells Laura. “Everything else is just waiting.” Divine imagery accompanies sex wherever it appears in the story –– no matter what deranged way it makes that appearance. At one point, Laura is even called “Angel”, with a capital “a.”

{ See McCarthy, B2

Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

Poet Middleton to visit campus This week’s comic artist: Tracy Brandt

short time but making a marked imprint on students and faculty through his poetry and lecture. He died the following summer after a brief, courageous battle with liver cancer. “It’s odd for having known a person all of about two days and one hour of my life,” Somerville In poet David Middleton’s newest book of pub- said, “But the connections were just amazing. We lished poetry, “The Fiddler on Driskill Hill,” he decided to do this in honor of him, in a large part has a brief poem hearkening back to the first book because of the impact he had here and his early of poems he ever published. He speaks of despair death.” staring from blank pages “UnMiddleton is specially til the courted muse released equipped to speak on Wilmer her grace/ And words flowed Mills and his poetry, having into verses like a prayer.” written a memorial essay on him And that is how Middlethat was published in Modern ton’s work often seems—a Age magazine. The piece was poetic prayer. titled “Singing the pieces back Middleton will be visiting in place: The life and verse of Hillsdale College Oct. 28 and Wilmer Hastings Mills.” 29. He plans to read to stu“I first heard about David dents from his poetry and give Middleton from a student, Alex a lecture on the life and poetry Merigaglia (’13),” Somerville of Wilmer Mills. Both events said. “He went to a conference will take place in the Dow in South Carolina in the summer Leadership Center, rooms A after his junior year and heard and B. David Middleton read. He came This is the first official inback raving about it.” stallment of the visiting writMiddleton knew of Hillsdale ers program’s “Wilmer H. through Imprimis and various (Photo by Misty McElroy) Mills Visiting Writer” series. interactions with Hillsdale proProfessor of English and Difessors like Professor of English rector of the Visiting Writers Michael Jordan, who published Program John Somerville said some articles in Modern Age, and he was happy Mills’ personal friend and fellow poet Jeff Hard- to receive the invitation from Somerville. ing, was technically the first visiting writer to pay Middleton said he knew he wanted to be a writer tribute to Mills during his Hillsdale visit, but the in the fall of 1963, when his ninth-grade English fall program had not been officially named the teacher gave a writing assignment based on Gian Wilmer H. Mills Visiting Writer at the time. See Poet, B2 Mills visited in the fall of 2010, staying only a Abigail Wood Arts Editor

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Movie review: ‘Gravity’

Robert Ramsey

Aka Sushi: fresh fish in Jackson, Michigan Evaluating American sushi restaurants is difficult. “Authenticity” is out of the question: I can name the good, authentic Japanese sushi restaurants in this country on two hands, and none of them are in this state or the states bordering it. At the same time, quite a bit of American sushi tastes good. Really good. Enough to make me drive to Jackson on a very regular basis in order to indulge my cravings for deep-fried goodness. Aka Sushi is a stellar example of what an American sushi restaurant should look like: it understands that it is in no way authentic, yet the service is stellar. First, let’s be clear on one thing: sushi, whether in Japan or the United States, is not designed to be a social experience. While partaking in it with another person or two is entirely acceptable, you have come for the sushi, not the conversation. Aka pulls this off deftly. Its interior is miniscule and its décor post-modern; it oozes a sense of individuality and efficiency. The fact that they keep their line of waiting customers (and indeed, there is a line) within feet of your table also emphasizes the focus on the food. Before we get to the food, a quick comment on the service: if it is packed, you will not receive much attention. This is not due to the fact that the waitresses are rude –– they are quite kind and helpful –– merely to the lack of them. While it is understandable that a sushi restaurant would be run on a tight budget in Jackson, I don’t like to wait ten minutes for a check or to order a dessert, and I shouldn’t have to. The food, though, is all positive. Their Nigiri sushi, the raw fish over rice originating in Japan, is incredibly fresh and flavorful. I have eaten at sushi and seafood restaurants throughout the Midwest and none, I repeat none, have fish this fresh, making me suspicious that they have some strange deal with Satan over at Aka. Get the red snapper and the yellowtail, while these don’t have the fat of the tuna, their freshness allows them a dynamic flavor for the price. Their appetizers are also surprisingly delicious. The edamame is always a perfect balance of warmth and salt, and it offers a welcome entry into the meal. If you are feeling more adventurous, get the tako-su, an octopus and seaweed salad. The cool saltiness of the brine and tosazu sauce bring a wonderful umame flavor to the table. When venturing into the world of sushi rolls, one must be willing to abandon all pretense of authenticity. Sushi rolls are almost entirely an American creation, and while you can sometimes find them in Japan, they are nothing like the giant gastropod-esque creations served here. Nevertheless, the sushi rolls at Aka are quite good and they should be indulged in. Take note of the “Rolls” section of the menu next to the Nigiri. While basic, these rolls are very good for the price. I particularly appreciate the Special California or the Spicy Tuna. Also, do not bypass the “Tempura Roll” section. It is considerably cheaper than the Special Rolls, but it offers much of the same flavor and fried deliciousness. I recommend the Spicy Salmon. The Special Rolls exist on an entirely separate level. They exemplify America’s eating problems and lack of subtlety. In some ways, though, this is not a bad thing. I myself often order the ironically entitled Las Vegas roll, a deep-fried leviathan built of cream cheese and four different types of fish. While delicious, I would not spend your entire budget here. The menu has much to provide outside of it. Skip the beer at Aka. In fact, skip the beer at any Japanese restaurant whether in Japan or not. Japanese beers are disgusting, lagered creations which are the product of commercialization and the fact that most Japanese lack the proper enzyme to digest large amounts of alcohol. Do try the sake, though, if you have never had it. For the quality, it is affordable and a good introduction. On a side note, if you ever see a sake that is cheaper and served cold, run. Low quality sake is chilled in order to mask bad flavors. Aka is a gem, particularly for this area. While it may not embody haute cuisine, its prices and freshness make for a great experience. Dinner for two for around twenty dollars is entirely doable. rramsey@hillsdale.edu

Poet

Warners Bros.

Kate Patrick Collegian Freelancer

You’re only five minutes into “Gravity” and you’re already curled up into a ball in your seat. Your jaw’s set, and your heart’s pounding. You’re just peeking over your knees at the screen because, even though you’re terrified, you can’t tear your eyes away. How would you react if you were cut loose into outer space? What would you do if you were spinning and somersaulting over and over with no way of getting back to your space shuttle or righting yourself? In outer space, there is no gravity. How would you save yourself? Is it ever right to give up on life? Alfonso Cuarón’s newest film, “Gravity,” challenges viewers with questions about death, life, fortitude, and how to know when life is still worth living. “Gravity” opens with characters Dr. Ryan Stone (Sandra Bullock) and Matt Kowalski (George Clooney) working on a space-shuttle mission when debris from a Russian missile strike rushes towards their craft, destroying the shuttle and killing all team members save Stone and Kowalski. The film charters their journey through space as the pair search for a way home to

Orchestra {From B1 she said. It also allows the pieces to move around the instrument sections fairly noticeably. Along with the featured violins, the cello, oboe, flute, horn, and many other sections have prominent parts of varying length within the concert. “We’re playing a lot of short pieces instead of one massive overture or symphony, but it

makes the concert more accessible,” senior cellist Ellen Roundey said. The accessibility and variety also allow musicians to play pieces that they already have an affinity for that would not be played as part of a more focalized concert. “I’m really excited for the Strauss and for the Copland,” Roundey said. “The Copland because I never knew it existed until I got the music, and I have always had a soft spot for Strauss, and I think it’ll be really fun.” Holleman said he is excited

at it head-on and see it for what it is,” Showler said. Showler’s favorite poem of Middleton’s is titled “For an Artist with ParkinFrom B1 son’s.” The poem is a tribute to MiddleCarlo Menotti’s opera “Amahl and the ton’s father, examining the struggle of Night Visitors.” She told the students to an artist cut off from artistic interaction image what adventures Amahl and the by disease. three wisemen had on their way to Beth“It is haunting, but redemptive at the lehem. Middleton hurried the travelers same time,” Showler said. “This is our journey on a bit by introducing Superworld and Middleton captures it perman into the story. His teacher loved it. fectly.” “She told me that I had talent and I Middleton’s status as the first official caught fire,” he said. “Who wasn’t goWilmer H. Mills Visiting Writer is a siging to believe something like that at age nificant one for many students, includ14?” ing senior Ian Andrews, who He said he quickly realized had the opportunity to spend he was not good at fiction with Mills when the poet “For that’s what bow and strings are for, time and started writing poetry. visited campus in the fall of Now he serves as the po- To raise things up in song 2010. etry editor for two literary Between The Fall and Paradise “I enjoyed his poetry imjournals, including Modern mensely,” Andrews said of Age, a journal founded by And urge the world along.” Mills. “His visit seemed to me Russell Kirk that has acto set the tone for the few that cepted poems from Hillsdale followed, as the majority — David Middleton, have professors. of the visiting writers have im“The Fiddler of Driskill Hill” mersed themselves in culture He has published multiple books of poetry, the most reof the student body, and lent to cent being “The Fiddler on us their own mature affirmaDriskill Hill.” tion of our love for poetry. It Middleton said while many poets have the 23rd Psalm, the first chapter of Gen- seems fit that the writers to come should influenced him over the years, the top esis, etc.” bear his name.” two texts that have affected his work are Senior Ethan Showler, a student faShowler never had the chance to meet the King James Bible and the poetry of miliar with Middleton’s work, said that Mills personally, but he said he has fallRobert Frost. interwoven through the southern frame- en in love with his writing and thinks it “I don’t write free verse,” he said. work of Middleton’s poetry is a deeply fitting for the fall Visiting Writer Series “I’m not against free verse, but I find I liturgical, spiritual sense of the world; to be named after the beloved poet. do better when I have a set form with references to the incarnation, the Eucha“It’s a little strange to say it, but berhyme scheme and a certain number of rist, and especially the Father’s creation cause he visited here and made such syllables per line.” of the world through speech. an impact, when Wilmer died he just He added that Frost’s work is clarifyHe added that Middleton is unafraid instantly became a legend for the poing. to use images of sensuality, despair, etry community here,” Showler said. “I “‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy destruction, and “visceral signs of the don’t know how it happened, but it most Evening’ is like looking through a clear Fall.” This darkness is answered by certainly did, so I can’t think of anyone window,” he said. the liturgical thread lacing Middleton’s better to honour in this way than Wilmer Frost wrote poems in a particular work. Mills.” place—New England—and Middleton “He’s always writing with a view to said his poetry, grounded in Louisiana, the end of things; this stuff has all alawood@hillsdale.edu has a similarly rooted location. He was ready been redeemed, so he can look

{

born in northern Louisiana, which he described as “protestant and rural,” but moved to Cajun, swamp-filled southern Louisiana later in life. He now lives in Thibodaux, La. It was Middleton’s childhood in Northern Louisiana that familiarized him with the King James Bible. “I was raised a Southern Baptist, although now I am an Episcopalian,” Middleton said. “At breakfast every morning my father read a chapter from the Bible to my mother and me. Every morning until I left for high school I heard those beautiful poetic rhythms of

Earth. From an artistic standpoint, “Gravity” does not disappoint. Panoramic images of Earth and the expanse of stars are frequent, humbling the audience with the simple splendor and size of the universe. Cuarón deftly weaves slow, quiet moments into high-adrenaline scenes pumped with chaos. One moment Kowalski is cracking jokes to keep Stone’s mind off her terror, the next moment the two are crashing into a space station, bumping and skidding over the surface as they grasp at anything that might stop them from hurtling back into open space. In one scene, Stone thrusts herself into the space station and strips off her space suit just so she can breathe. A floating Stone closes her eyes and curls into a fetal position among drifting pens, pipes, and tools. The image evokes peace, relaxing the viewer for one blessed moment before Stone is forced to confront an out-of-control fire. For most of the film, Stone is paralyzed by panic and relies on Kowalski to guide her through the motions. When Stone loses Kowalski, the real journey begins. Because death is so close and so real, Stone must come to terms with her own potential fate. She verbally recognizes that everyone dies, but fear grips her so tightly that she can’t function or think clearly. Kowalski, who has accepted the fact that death is very near and almost inevitable,

tells Stone, “You’re going to have to learn to let go.” Kowalski’s words incite Stone to do more than let go of her fear of death. Stone knows all about death. While drifting in space with Kowalski, Stone reluctantly describes her own daughter’s death. For Stone, death has always been something real and concrete. What she doesn’t understand is that even though death comes for all of us, we can’t stop living. We all die. The question is, what are we going to do with the days, minutes, and moments until death? Are we going to sit in dread of fate, or are we going to shake our fear and live the lives we’ve been given? When Stone decides to live every moment fighting to get back home, she finds new peace amidst her terror and loneliness, and new fortitude to do what she can to get back to Earth. Cuarón’s experiment with philosophy and masterful handle on visual effects offer viewers a film worth seeing. “Gravity” is breathtaking in all its terror and beauty. The audience is forced to think about the phrase, “everyone dies” while experiencing the sun emerging around the rim of the Earth and space stations exploding among the stars. Prepare to leave the theater emotionally drained and physically exhausted.

about both the quality and the size of the orchestra this year. “The winds are fairly constant, but the strings are much larger than one at our sized school normally would be,” he said. Students and faculty alike show excitement for the rest of the orchestra season, beginning with this weekends concerts. “We have a really great orchestra this year. I am really excited about the potential we have,” Ferguson said. “Great attitude, great technique—I think it’s going to be a great year.”

kpatrick@hillsdale.edu

(Anders Kiledal/Collegian)

McCarthy

{ From B1

This wouldn’t be a McCarthy story without violence. And there is violence. The drug cartels seem to have a fetish for beheadings. They do it often in this movie. Creatively. Javier Bardem’s character, who resembles Robert Downey Jr. circa 1999, explains for the counselor one particularly clever, battery-powered gadget used for beheading poor schmucks in crowded city streets. Called a bolito, it later returns in the flesh. I mean that literally. McCarthy, like in most of his work, here depicts humanity at its worst. Whether the burning poetry of his prose will translate to the silver screen, I can’t say. But it is certainly there. No living writer, and certainly no screenwriter, can make murder sing like McCarthy. But lots of movies like to monologue about the human condition, right? Not like they do in “The Counselor.” Brad Pitt’s character, Westray, is of course the one who quotes “Blood Meridian.” Then he quotes Goethe. In German. And describes the line as “really Plato on wheels.” These things just don’t happen in most movies. “I won’t flesh out the argument,” Westray tells the counselor in that same conversation, “but the only thing ultimately worth your concern is the anguish of your fellow passengers on this hellbound train.” The dialogue is as McCarthy as anything else he’s written. What’s the last movie you saw that used the word “purloined”? This is not your standard Hollywood blockbuster. The gems of McCarthy’s screenplay

might be polished, but are they worth slogging through the rest of the movie to get them? I’m not sure. McCarthy has never glorified the horrifying actions of his characters. Bad people are bad, and bad things exists. McCarthy poses the question, “How do we cope with them?” That said, battery-powered decapitation machines make for difficult reading. What he says about sex is unrelenting and even worse. So what about viewing? A good litmus test: if you love “Breaking Bad,” you will, if not love, appreciate “The Counselor”. It is a tragedy about consequences. In fact, we never see, or even hear about, what exactly the counselor’s involvement with the drug cartels was. That’s not important, McCarthy tells us. “I would urge you to see the truth of your situation, Counselor,” a character named Jefe says. “That is my advice. It is not for me to say what you should have done. Or not done. I only know that the world in which you seek to undo your mistakes is not the world in which they were made.” Everyone makes mistakes. After we do, to paraphrase another movie, it’s what we do that defines us. How will we define “The Counselor”? Next week we’ll see a moral tale that gets lost in its own depravity or a human tragedy filled with unsettling truth. Either way, don’t buy popcorn. cwhitmer@hillsdale.edu


Spotlight

B3 17 Oct. 2013

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Alumnus serves as state representative Jordan Finney Collegian Reporter

Following an Oct. 10 speech, Hillsdale students crowded around an energetic alumnus with a strong message to young people who are interested in politics: step up and lead. Tom Morrison’s amiable confidence and down-to-earth grassroots tactics won over Illinois voters in the past two election cycles. However, the popular state representative’s journey to his home state’s General Assembly has been anything but typical. “In college, I hated interviewing politicians because I’d get this answer that was all over the place—and now I am one,” Morrison said with a wry smile while adjusting his red tie. Morrison, the third of four brothers, grew up in Glenview, a suburban community 18 miles north of Chicago. Drawn by the conservative principles of his role model, former President Ronald Reagan, he left northern Illinois to attend Hillsdale College. “When I first got to Hillsdale, I wanted to be the next Paul Harvey,” Morrison said, referring to the late conservative radio show host. “He was heard by more listeners than Rush Limbaugh has.” Determined to break into the radio industry, Morrison applied for a position at WSCR, a local station, before his first week of classes had finished. He landed it and worked more than 20 hours a week for the rest of his college education. “I don’t really recommend it. I wish I would have spent more time really studying issues in depth and talking to people on campus about them,” Morrison said. After graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, Morrison worked as a news anchor in Iowa for a short period of time but decided life in front of the camera wasn’t for him. He moved back to Illinois and began teaching 5th graders at Christian Liberty Academy, where he started a pro-life group for older students. “We went on a field trip to the state capitol building,” Morrison said, “I had never even been there before. A pro-life lobbyist approached me and said ‘you need to run for office.’ I laughed and shook my head, thinking ‘no one’s going to vote for me. It sounded crazy at the time, but it certainly planted a

Gaetano

seed.” Six years after his first visit to the capitol building, Morrison ran a campaign against a six-term Republican incumbent on a shoestring budget to become a state representative. He lived frugally—skipping out on Starbucks, nice clothes, and movie nights— to scrape together the funds to run a basic campaign. “After teaching, I started a disaster cleanup business with my brother,” Morwrison said, “So when I finally announced my campaign I already had an unofficial slogan lined up: ‘It’s time to take disaster cleanup down to the state capitol.’ People were sick of sleaze, corruption, and big government. Illinois is

“If you want to run for office to do something and not to be somebody then you can have a real impact on people’s lives.” - Tom Morrison,

Illinois Representative like a statewide version of Detroit.” Morrison went on to win Illinois’ 54th district by an 8-point margin against Republican incumbent Suzanne Bassi. However, the road to red ties and speaking opportunities wasn’t easy. Morrison recalled standing patiently outside a private residence while door-to-door campaigning. After an awkward period of waiting, the door opened wide enough for a woman to glare at him. “She said ‘I know who you are,’” Morrison said. “‘You have no business running for office. This is my uterus and you shouldn’t have an opinion about it.’” The woman continued to talk for a solid five minutes about Morrison’s pro-life views. He did not utter a word for the duration

grant the degree in December. “But that is pro-forFrom A1 ma,” Gaetano said with a grin. Provost David Whalen said that the college is delighted with Gaetano’s accomplishment and congratulates him. “And—I should add—anyone who knows Dr. Gaetano should know not to be surprised by this success,” Whalen said. Gaetano made progress over breaks, especially the summer. “It’s very difficult, especially given the culture at Hillsdale College, to make all that much progress on the dissertation during normal class time” Gaetano said, explaining that being available to students in office hours, grading papers, and preparing for classes occupies most of his time during the year. Gaetano’s brother has acted as a kind of dissertation coach for him, trying to keep him on task and motivated. “He would often be angry at me for taking on an extra independent study,” Gaetano said. “He’d say, ‘There’s no way you’re going to get this thing done, even with just your course work, if you add one or two extra independent studies.’” Gaetano worked sometimes during evenings but generally weekends and breaks. He described his attitude about the process. “Get it done as fast as you possibly can,” he said, then qualified the statement: “Of course, everyone has been very supportive and encouraging, but they realize the dangers of having this kind of unfinished project early in your teaching career. Of course, Hillsdale takes itself very seriously, and if I didn’t get it done, I couldn’t have a long term position here.” Whalen said that the college hired Gaetano in a tenure track teaching position with full confidence in his competency to teach and the expectation that he would attain a terminal degree. “The Ph.D. does signal a kind of a summit,” Whalen said, describing it as the completion and culmination of a certain type of learning, but also as the beginning of a life of teaching and scholarship, adding that with a completed

of her rebuke. He nodded and listened. Finally, out of breath, she paused and cocked her head to one side, “You’ve been listening to me.” Morrison spoke for the first time, smiling gently, “Yes ma’am. I want to be your representative for Springfield.” The door opened a little wider. She paused and thought for a while. “I’m voting for you,” she finally cut the silence. Her four words changed Morrison’s campaign strategy for the rest of his political career. “After that, I sent out scores of thank-you notes,” Morrison said. “If I talked to a voter they’d get a thank you card addressing the specific issue we talked about. A lot of candidates think you have to have the big flashy TV commercials but no it’s just a personal relationship with the people.” Since taking office in 2010, the conservative’s political views on abortion, marriage, and his state’s high taxes and pension debt crisis have been a source of controversy. Morrison maintains that his political life is anything but glamorous, but exactly where God has called him to be. “The stories of Chicago-area corruption are all real,” he said. “I’m here to try to clean it up because people are hungry for real change. If you want to run for office to do something and not to be somebody then you can have a real impact on people’s lives.” In fact, Morrison influenced lives before he even took office. “He is an honest Christian and a hardworking man who does what he says he’s going to do. He had a profound effect on my life as a little kid,” said Bryan Morey, a Hillsdale sophomore and former student in Morrison’s 5th grade class. The Hillsdale alumnus plans to run for a third term in the Illinois General Assembly and is generally upbeat about the future of politics in America, an attitude that he cultivated while at college. “Hillsdale taught me to think critically about the role of government, the nature of liberty, and the responsibility that we have as citizens to participate,” Morrison said, “It’s one thing to complain and it’s a completely different thing to step up and actually do something about it.”

dissertation, “there’s an element of suspension that is removed.” Gaetano had a draft of his dissertation done when he arrived to teach at Hillsdale. “It has just taken a couple of years to make the revisions necessary, in part because of all the other things that I’ve been doing and learning how to do,” Gaetano said. Gaetano was not alone on the dissertation boat. Instructor of Philosophy Lee Cole is finishing his dissertation and plans to defend it in 2014. The pair became friends at Hillsdale; Cole graduated the year before Gaetano in 2004. Cole attended Villanova, close to U. Penn. Cole’s dissertation is also related to Thomas Aquinas and titled, “At the Limits of Realism: St. Thomas Aquinas and the Intellectual Knowledge of Singulars.” That Thomistic theme in both their dissertations has been a boon to working alongside each other. Cole’s dissertation has allowed him to explain some of the Thomistic theories Gaetano has encountered in his research, and Gaetano has been able to explain the historical context and impact of the ideas that Cole has been exploring. “That’s part of the reason why we’ve been able to contribute to each other’s projects in such a constructive manner.” Whalen expressed his admiration of Gaetano and Cole’s relationship. “There is a certain kind of beauty in their mutual association with the college as undergraduates, and their continuing friendship through graduate school, and even the extension of that friendship into their intellectual interests,” Whalen said. The celebrations of Gaetano’s success have been myriad. Gaetano’s own announcement of his success on Facebook-which he paired with celebratory YouTube videos, including clips from “Rocky Balboa” and “Star Wars”--received 177 likes, while his wall was flooded with congratulatory messages and comments. Students celebrating his accomplishment littered his door with sticky-note well wishes and scattered signs of Gaetano’s face on triumphant and doctoral pop culture figures around campus. “The students here are the best,” Gaetano said, “I love them. I’m so blessed to be a part of this college.”

Professor Spotlight Ramona Tausz Collegian Freelancer

Although it’s only his first semester teaching at Hillsdale College, Assistant Professor of Mathematics William Abram has exciting ideas for the future. The new addition to the Hillsdale Mathematics department said he hopes to start up a lot of student research. “I do a lot of research, and some of that is of a level appropriate for undergraduates,” Abram said. “I’m really hoping to recruit students, start working with students one-on-one on research and maybe even get some publishable results. That sort of thing can be really good for a student’s career and also for their development in mathematics.” This semester, Abram is teaching two sections of Integrated Calculus I-A and one section of Non-Euclidean Geometry. He said his experience in this 300-level class has been one of his favorite things about teaching at Hillsdale so far. “My non-Euclidean geometry class has only four students in it, and so I get to talk about advanced topics and go on tangents more than I would in a larger class,” he explained. “I really cater the course to the needs of the specific students and to their interests, and that’s always a good experience to get to do on that level.” Abram holds a Masters and a Doctorate in Mathematics from the University of Michigan. Abram also received a dual degree from the University of Chicago: a B.S. in Mathematics combined with a B.A. in Economics. He hopes to put his interest in economics to use here at Hillsdale. “I’m hoping to help to organize the students who are interested in actuarial science,” he said. “I have a background interest in actuarial science and finance. I’ve taken some of the exams myself and I’d be interested in helping students prepare for the exams.” Abram recently bought a house nearby, where he lives with his wife, his 3-month-old daughter and their four bunnies.

My favorite...

Author: Leo Tolstoy

Composer: Sergei Rachmaninoff Quote: “If you treat an individual as he is, he will remain as he is, but if you treat him as if he were what he ought to be and could be, he will become what he ought to be and could be.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Overheard at Hillsdale: the best of the week

Anon saga employee taking a beef brisket out: “just scrape off the gel and no one will notice.” “Oh, I’ve got clown make-up, alright. I just don’t have it with me right now.” -Student talking on his phone in the Union at 1am Being in a gunfight is like riding a bike. It hurts if you get shot. -Matt Little

Monday night Football at Johnny T’s Bistro! 3 HD big screens $1.50 PBRs $4.00 pitchers $1.00 off well drinks Progressive chicken wings starting at 8:30 $0.30 each, up $0.10 each 1/2 hour


Spotlight B4 17 Oct. 2013

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Free Methodist Church adapts to meet growing need Morgan Sweeney Collegian Reporter Due to rising attendance, Hillsdale Free Methodist Church held its second service in its gym for the first time ever. The church will continue to do so while college students are in town. David Turner, the church’s worship leader, said that it was about a year ago that church leaders started thinking about moving the service into the gym. “There were several Sundays where we were bringing chairs into the sanctuary and people were sitting in the aisles,” Turner said. “We thought, ‘This is not a good solution. We need to find more space.’” According to Turner, who has been at the church since he moved to Hillsdale 25 years ago, the church has been growing steadily for several years now. “Free Methodist is the biggest it has ever been since I’ve been here,” Turner said. “The Lord has really blessed us, and it’s amazing to be a part of it.” Turner attributes Free Methodist’s growth to several things. One is Reverend Keith Porter, pastor of the church for seven years now, whose lively sermons sometimes cause a jolt to run through the surprised audience, as well as frequent laughter and amens. Junior Brandon Butz has been attending Free Methodist since the fall semester of 2012 and said that Porter is the reason he was drawn to go there. “The main thing that attracts me [to the church] is Pastor Keith — his humility and absolute fearlessness in saying what needs to be said,” Butz said. “I don’t think he’s always right, but he has a certain air about him that’s just like, ‘I need to get these things out there to these people, and if I’m wrong, then

God will correct me.’ There’s kind of I went with a close friend, and they Free Methodist can continue to grow $2 million. this thing where he’s tired of people not asked us to turn around and introduce to about 150 to 200 more people.Be“If we continue to grow in our cursaying what needs to be said, which I ourselves,” Lambert said. “The people yond that, the gym won’t suffice. The rent state,” Turner said, “we won’t have thought was really cool.” there were really kind and loving and I church has considered adding on to its much of an option other than to build. Turner said that Porter’s Bible-cen- knew that I liked it. I also really enjoyed facilities but is not quite ready for that. At that point, we will pursue that a little tered, counter-cultural teaching is a big the sermon and Pastor Keith’s fervor Church leaders have figured out the cost bit harder.” part of what attracts people. and ability to communicate.” of building a larger sanctuary — about “I think people want to hear what God has to say,” Turner said. “The word of God is what God tells us, and to hear that as opposed to ‘Seven Steps to Balance Your Checkbook for Jesus’ — not to say anything against that — but I just think people have a hunger for the word of God, not just contemporary Christian culture’s take on things with a few verses peppered here and there.” Another reason Free Methodist has grown, Turner speculates, is because of its atmosphere of grace and warmth. “People who may have never gone to church before, people that have a history they’d rather not disclose, can be intimidated by church,” Turner said. “But [at Free Methodist], we understand that we’re all messed up to some degree and that it’s only because of Jesus and God’s grace that we’re here and that we can even experience God’s love and salvation. So there’s not a lot of judgment that many people usually fear in churches.” Senior Grace Marie Lambert, who has been attending Free Methodist since freshman year, originally chose the church bePastor Keith Porter addresses his congregation in the basketball gym at Hillsdale Free Methodist Church durcause of the people. “On the first Sunday I was there,ing last Sunday’s second service. (Caleb Whitmer/Collegian)

Alumna covers politics and pot for National Review Jack Butler Assistant Editor

Betsy Woodruff ’12 has covered an array of topics for National Review. Her articles have ranged from an examination of frat-boys’ political proclivities and reviews of cultural products like “America, You Sexy B*tch” and HBO’s “Girls” to accounts of trips out to Colorado to investigate the effects of its recently-loosened marijuana laws (National Review’s cover story Sept. 16) and to South Carolina to watch disgraced former Governor Mark Sanford sell forgiveness to potential voters in his House campaign, and just about everything in between. She’s even had a contract to appear on MSNBC. “There are few things I’ve written about that aren’t interesting,” Woodruff said. But Woodruff did not spring, Athena-like, from the journalism god’s forehead. Indeed, she credits her experiences at Hillsdale for preparing her for her current career. After involving herself in the Hillsdale Collegian from its first meeting her freshmen year, she did as much for the school paper as she could, working as circulation manager, staff writer, and city news editor. “Reporting has more to do with my job than anything I read in a book,” she said. “The more you do it, the better you get at it.” But the classes she took at Hillsdale were quite helpful nonetheless, especially in cultivating the critical, imaginative, and detail-oriented habits of

mind which she carried to her present profession. Dow Journalism Program Director and National Review writer John Miller, who taught Woodruff in his Advanced Writing course during her senior year and pressed her case at National Review, recalls how clearly her writing shone in the class. “That’s where I got to know she was a talented writer,” Miller said. “She wrote with a lot of humor and a lot of color. She’s one of the best college-age

“Take hard classes, don’t go to grad school, be a better person, take interesting classes, don’t stress about your GPA, and brush your teeth.’” - Betsy Woodruff writers I’ve ever been around. Her writing has a real confidence to it.” While at Hillsdale, Woodruff mentored Caleb Whitmer, the Collegian’s editor-in-chief, who served as her copy editor in the city news section as a sophomore. Whitmer said he owes a lot to her tutelage. “Betsy is the coolest of the cool. She’s a fantastic journalist, and honestly inspiring for my own

journalism career,” he said. “I would not be the journalist I am without her influence.” Both Miller and Whitmer agreed that Woodruff’s writing superbly exemplifies her generation. When Miller learned about “America, You Sexy B*tch,” co-written by co-Millennial (and senatorial daughter) Meghan McCain, for example, he immediately sought Woodruff out. “I thought, gosh, this would be perfect for Betsy. A 50-year old guy can’t write about this,” he said. “It’s really helpful to have young conservative women write about this stuff.” Whitmer echoed these sentiments. “She does such a good job of writing in a millennial voice,” he said. “You can really tell it’s Betsy when she’s writing.” Woodruff is a William F. Buckley Journalism Fellow at the National Review Institute. “I think it’s a lot of fun. It’s given me a lot of great opportunities,” she said. Her experiences have also taught her lessons she wishes to impart upon current Hillsdale students. “Take hard classes, don’t go to grad school, be a better person, take interesting classes, don’t stress about your GPA, and brush your teeth.”

(Courtesy of External Affairs)

I scream, you scream, we all get skyscreamed Imogen Kane Collegian Freelancer Two weeks ago, two ice cream cones, one vanilla, one chocolate, were dropped into the center of College President Larry Arnn’s Saga table, splattering him with ice cream. “The first thing I thought was, oh crap, someone just skyscreamed Dr. Arnn,” said senior Ethan Showler, who was sitting at Arnn’s table. “What do you do?” Those at the table watched Arnn’s reaction closely: “He hadn’t moved, he didn’t say anything, but he was almost vibrating; there was this visible tension of him being incredibly, incredibly angry and just not moving, keeping it in,” Showler said. Rumor has it that Arnn had previously said he wanted to be skyscreamed. It was unclear

whether that was in jest or not until it actually happened. “He didn’t like it, we all found out very shortly,” senior Garrett Holt said. Arnn immediately sent senior David Ahmanson upstairs to find the offenders, but by the time he arrived they had fled the scene. Arnn later came up himself and was seen questioning students present about whether they had seen who had done it. One student who asked to remain unidentified was approached by Arnn. “He asked, ‘Did you see who coned me?’” the student said. “[Arnn] said ‘You have to tell me if you know who did it.’” Arnn was also seen talking with security and student workers at the Grewcock Student Union front desk. Prior to the incident, Arnn and the students at

his table had been discussing Aristotle. When the cones hit, the table fell silent; after sending Ahmanson, Arnn backed away from the table, stood, and according to Richert said, “We’ll finish this later.” Then he left. About 10 minutes later, Arnn returned and resumed the conversation where he had left off. Skyscreaming, normally a student-to-student joke, has never been pushed beyond just that. “Students are more or less aware of how inappropriate it is to skyscream faculty, which is why there’s such a big reaction about this: just because it’s simply inappropriate,” Showler said. “The the fact that someone set this precedent, pushing the boundaries

way past being respectful is unfortunate.” “When we’re…with the college president, we normally try to be more respectful,” Richert said. “Who would have the audacity to do this?” As of print, no culprit has been found. The president’s office declined to comment. “Hopefully if the administration does take action, it will be appropriate to the level of what actually happened,” Showler said. “I think there should be consequences, even just as preventative measures [so people know] there will be consequences if you do stuff like this.”

REAL Pit-smoked

BBQ

350 Hillsdale St. (517) 610-5586 Dine In & Carry Out

(Tommy Lundberg/Collegian)


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