Collegian 9.8.2022 by The Hillsdale Collegian

www.hillsdalecollegian.comVol. 146 Issue 3 - September 8, 2022

“The biggest reason why classical schools close is because of poor leadership,” Diener said. “As institutions, it's incredibly important to have well prepared teachers in the classrooms because the heart of education is in a classroom.

“A lot of people have to swipe twice, and swiping does take a little bit longer,” Syllaba said. Almost half of students still swipe their IDs, sometimes slowing down the line when the machine struggles to read theAscard.aresult of these prob lems, on Aug. 30, 2022, 200 students waited in a line that lasted for 15-20 minutes, limiting their time to eat be fore a 1 p.m. class. Metz, too, was “feeling the frustration” about the wait times, Kwon said.After meeting to discuss

some of the complaints and problems with the machines, Metz made two changes to the process.

The first students in Hillsdale College’s new Graduate School of Classi cal Education have arrived. If all goes well, they’ll earn master’s degrees in the spring of 2024. “I'm incredibly excited about this program because I believe it can be a gold standard for what a grad uate program in classical education should be,” Assis tant Professor of Education David Diener said. There are 11 students in the group. For the first se mester, they are taking three core curriculum classes together. Beginning in the second semester, the stu dents will have their choice of elective courses. “The classes in this program are extremely high quality and very rigorous like the rest of Hillsdale classes,” Program Coordina tor Jaime Boerema '22 said. “It's really important for the cohort to have a strong community, and that's one of the reasons that all the students are taking those first courses together as they learn these fundamental and beautiful things before they branch out into areas ofTheinterest.”three core classes this semester are History of Liberal Education taught by Assistant Professor of Educa tion Erik Ellis, Philosophy of Education taught by Diener, and Humane Letters taught by Associate Vice President for Curriculum and Professor of English David Whalen. “All of the classes are amazing,” Rebecca Willis '18, a student in the program said. “They really are. I'm not just sayingWillisthat.”taught in Kentucky for four years at Highlands Latin School, a classical Chris tianWhenschool.Dean of the Grad uate School of Classical Education Daniel Coupland first talked to Willis about the program, Willis said the program had everything she wanted.“During my four years of practical experience in the classroom, I came across a lot of questions,” Willis said. “When I looked at the course list and was talking to Dr. Coupland, I knew these courses would answer my questions.”According to Coupland, the first cohort was originally going to have 10 students. “We had so many quality applicants that we decided to take 11,” Coupland said. “Nine of them have some connec tion to Hillsdale College: eight were undergraduates and one was a graduate student.” There are more Hillsdale graduates than non-Hillsdale graduates in this cohort, Cou pland“Thatsaid.makes sense be cause they experienced the Hillsdale education at the undergraduate level and were drawn to the school and its ideas,” Coupland said. “When we opened up the graduate program, these Hillsdale graduates already knew about the program but were also interested in continuing their Hillsdale experience in gradu ateAccordingschool.” to Coupland, the program wants to attract classes of 15-20 students in future“Dependingyears. on the year it may skew a little higher or lower in terms of undergrad graduates of the college,” Coupland said. “We think it's probably healthy that the program has a mix of both Hillsdale undergrads and people who have gone and completed their undergrads at otherAccordinginstitutions.”toDiener, the new program aligns with the undergraduate educa tion program and Hillsdale’s philosophy of education.

If there aren't good administrators running the school who understand the mission and vision of classical education, the school isn't going to be able to fulfill its mission.” Willis said she would like to return to teaching after graduating from this program and then would consider working in admin istration.“Ilove being a part of my students’ days, and I love them being a part of my day,” Willis said. “However, I do think that there is a great need for good lead ers in education, and I can see administration in my future.”Teaching experience is not a prerequisite for the program, but it is recom mended, Coupland said. “We think that it will be a much richer experience for students if they have teaching experience,” Cou pland said. “It could be a year, six months, or a couple of years."Themajority of the people who applied for the program have K-12 teach ing experience, but not all of them do.

Collegian Reporter Metz Culinary Manage ment has promised shorter lines at the Knorr Dining Hall thanks to new equip ment.Alexis Kwon, senior mar keting manager for Metz, said the company intro duced additional card read ers to speed up the process for workers and students. “We implemented a new technology solution that allows for faster check-in and retail purchasing,” Kwon said.

Metz addresses dining hall lunch lines by adding improved equipment

At first, the machines did the“Metzopposite.really thought it was going to be faster but I don’t think they realized that both readers go in the same machine,” said Kelly Syllaba, a Metz employee who works the front desk at the dining hall.Because the two readers went into one machine, people in line had to wait for one of the two to process before swiping or scanning theirTheID.swiping was anoth er problem, according to Syllaba.

By Olivia Pero Assistant Editor

Students wait in the Comforts line at lunch time on Wednesday. Jack Cote | Collegian

See Education A2

For students looking to speed up lines even more, Kwon and Syllaba recom mended switching to scan

ning their IDs on the mobile app instead of swiping it. While physical IDs can wear down and fail to read, virtual IDs scan as long as the barcode is RichardsonSophomorevisible.Abbysaidthese im provements have been the difference between eating lunch or skipping it. “Before there were times I wasn’t able to get food,” Richardson said. “Now, I’m able to get into SAGA in a timely manner so I can actually get lunch and get to class.”

By Annabel Peltzer Collegian Freelancer

The classical education graduate students pose after their History of Liberal Education class in Kendall Hall. Jack Cote | Collegian College hosts panel with Academy of Science and Freedom fellows

First, instead of using two reading machines connected to one processing machine, the front desk switched to one machine per process ing machine. When either machine slows down, it no longer limits the other ma chine from processing. The second solution was technical. The machines took longer to process IDs because the machines store the student account infor mation.

The United States faces a national emergency of scientific distrust, said Dr. Scott Atlas, a founding fel low at Hillsdale’s Academy for Science and Freedom. Atlas joined Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and Dr. Martin Kulldorff to discuss COVID-19 policy failures and the scientific status quo at a colloquium held last week in Plaster Audito rium by ASF. “The government and what I call the credential class leading these essential institutions — and I mean public health agencies, universities, doctors, sci entists, schools, the media — have been exposed,” Atlas said. “They've been exposed as non-experts and pandemic,Earlypoliticized.”intheCOVIDAtlasalong with Bhattacharya and Kull dorff developed alternative methods to the COVID guidelines of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx. In 2021, the three partnered with the college to create ASF. “The goal of the acade my is to teach, just like the college,” College President Larry Arnn said. “I’m proud of those guys.” According to its website, the academy aims to help repair the scientific system by “educating the Ameri can people about the free exchange of scientific ideas and the proper relation ship between freedom and science in the pursuit of truth.”The academy will host lectures, offer internships, and propose and promote implementable policies within science, Atlas said. “There is now an un precedented denial of fact rampant in science and public health leadership,” Atlas said. “As a society, during the pandemic, we have broken the social contract with our most precious resource, our children, harming them directly and failing as role models.”Thefellows reported that minorities, children, and poor communities car ried the burden of COVID lockdowns.“Itwaspoor families that faced the worst of it,” Bhattacharya said. “And it is poor families in blue states that closed their schools that caused the pandemic learning-loss that is Whenhappening.”thefellows began laying out alternative strat egies, they discovered how closely grant money was linked to scientific journals andTopublications.drawaccurate con clusions based on data that was more objective, they analyzed academic peer re views that were distanced from the monetized and politically biased “cartel system.”“There needs to be a bright wall between scien tific funders making de cisions about who to fund and their participation in health policy,” Bhat tacharya said. “It is a deep conflict of interest that silences scientists, creates an illusion of consensus that doesn't exist, fools the American people, and fools the world population into doing things that are very, verySomedangerous.”attending the talk questioned the value of salvaging and reforming failed institutions with deep-seated financial, media, and political ties. Ph.D. candidate Brett Waite asked the panelists why they are striving to restore faith in public in stitutions and what makes them deserve it. “I do not think they deserve our trust or our re spect,” Kulldorff said. “We have to restore the integri ty of science and with our generation of scientists, I’m not very hopeful. But fu ture generations hopefully can restore how science shouldAtlasoperate.”explained the necessity to create new scientific institutions that challenge the status quo and preserve scientific truth.“If we are a society that doesn't believe in facts anymore,” Atlas said. “I don't even know where to go from there. We need to fix science. It's broken.”

New classical education master's program begins this year with 11 graduate students

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper By Nathan Stanish

“We figured out how to dump the account informa tion,” Syllaba said. Now that the workers regularly reset the machines, the processing goes faster for swipes and scans. Thanks to these improve ments, lines have sped up significantly.OnSept.6, 2022, 200 stu dents waited in line during the noon rush, but the line only lasted for 10 minutes, disappearing by 12:06 p.m.

YAF to place almost 3,000 flags on campus to remember 9/11

College releasesnew online course on economics

| Collegian

Michael Tripepi and Nathan Michael Herring are the newest assistant professors of physics. McKenna

Education

"Students interested in the program should not say they don’t qualify because they don’t have any teaching experience," Coupland said. Willis said she is grate ful to the donors and staff members who made this program happen. “For years people have been planning this program and have generously donat ed a lot of time, money, and resources,” Willis said. “I'm so grateful that Hillsdale is doing this, and I'm so grate ful for the opportunity that they're giving us.” It’s important for the Hillsdale community, stu dents, and also the people who know about Hillsdale but are not necessarily connected to the college, to have a good understanding of what this program is and what it is offering, Boerema said.“Iencourage anyone inter ested in the program to come and talk with us about it,” Boerema said.

The course consists of eight lectures, guided by Laffer, with appearances from supply-side economic historian Brian Domitrovic, publishing exec utive Steve Forbes, Fox News financial program host Larry Kudlow, economic writer and commentator Stephen Moore, political and economic writer Amity Shlaes, and College President Larry Arnn. The course is the 35th free online class provided by the college.

By Alexandra Comus Collegian Freelancer History professor Wil fred McClay published a young reader’s edition of his textbook “Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story” in August following the success of the first edition, published in 2019.McClay, Hillsdale’s Victor Davis Hanson chair in classical history and W] western civilization, said many parents asked if he would write a version of the book with the same material but accessible to a younger audience. In response, he completed a two-volume young reader’s edition of the textbook. McClay said it is import ant for citizens, especially young citizens, to under stand their country and the underpinnings of the society in which they live.

The Collegian has a new and improved website >>>>>>>>>>>> visit hillsdalecollegian.com BREAKING NEWS

By Thomas McKenna Collegian Freelancer Building a laser lab and exploring the unanswered questions of the cosmos are among the plans of the two newest members of Hills dale’s physics department. Assistant Professors of Physics Nathan Michael Herring and Michael Tripepi ’17 were hired this summer following Profes sor of Physics Ken Hayes’ retirement after 32 years in theTripepidepartment.firstcame to Hillsdale as a high school student attending the college’s one-week summer science camps. Tripepi stayed on campus three summers in a row, taking classes in math, biology, and“Ichemistry.startedgoing to those and just really fell in love with the campus and the types of students that are drawn to Hillsdale,” Tripepi said. “It was really those summer science camps that got me into Hillsdale. Otherwise, I really wouldn’t have considered it.” Tripepi majored in physics and mathematics at Hillsdale. He then attended the Ohio State University and received a doctorate in physics. Tripepi said he was planning to go into research and industry, but his love for teaching and the liberal arts eventually brought him back to Hillsdale.

“The purpose of the lab will be to offer students the opportunity to work with lasers in a variety of applications, from materi als damage and generating different frequencies of light to possibly spectroscopic techniques on chemical and biological samples,” Tripepi said.In returning to his alma mater, Tripepi will be work ing with one of his former instructors – and now head of the physics department –Dolch. Not only was Tripepi in several of Dolch’s classes while a student at Hills dale, but he was among the students who interviewed Dolch when Dolch was be ing considered for a faculty position.“When we hire new faculty, we always make students an integral part of that process,” Dolch said. “Dr. Tripepi was already a physics major when I inter viewed here at Hillsdale, so strangely, he interviewed me seven years before I interviewed him.” Tripepi said he’s excit ed to come back to old friendships he formed with professors who are now colleagues.“Apotheosis,” Tripepi said, describing the new position. “Like being raised up with the gods.”

The college produced the lectures in a documenta ry-style approach, the first of its kind among Hillsdale’s courses, according to Direc tor of Online Learning Kyle Murnen. Viewers will learn the basic principles of macro economics, the consequences of high taxation, and why certain states prosper while others continue to struggle. They will also learn Laffer’s plan to reform and remedy the U.S. economy, Murnen said.Laffer served as the chief economist in the Office of Management and Budget in the 1970s. In 2012, he founded the Laffer Center of Supply-Side Economics which is “dedicated to preserving and promoting the core tenets of supply-side economics,” according to LafferCenter.org. Laffer has advised many world leaders, including former President Ronald Reagan, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and former Presi dent Donald Trump. Laffer is known for his Laffer Curve, a model demonstrating the relation ship between tax rates and tax revenue collected. It became popular in the late 1970s when the country was suffering from stagflation, according to Murnen.“Welive in similarly inter esting times, brought about, as Dr. Laffer argues, by ‘runaway stimulus spending,’” Murnen said.The stimulus spending refers to the funds distribut ed to American Citizens in the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, passed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in 2020. In 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was passed--a $1.9 trillion stimulus package, the largest in U.S. history, ac cording to AmericansUSAspending.gov.wonderhow to get the economy back on track and secure a prosperous future for their families in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Murnen.“Laffer explains complex data and ideas of supply-side economics, such as the impact of taxation, regulation, and government spending on the U.S. economy, in very intu itive, common sense ways,” MurnenAssociatesaid.Professor of Economics Michael Clark said it's important for Americans to learn about supply-side economics. This aspect of economic thought focuses on increasing the supply of labor and goods as the path to fostering economic growth. “There is much contention and debate in macroeconom ics, but supply-side economics engages ideas that we know are fundamental to the longterm prosperity of a country," Clark said.

Thomas

By Sarah Katherine Sisk Collegian freelancer Hillsdale released its newest online course, “Sup ply-Side Economics and American Prosperity with Arthur Laffer,” on Aug. 23, addressing the economic con cerns of voters ahead of the 2022 midterm elections. This course “will be an excellent addition to Hills dale’s online course catalog,” according to Gary Wolfram, director of economics and professor of political economy at Hillsdale College.

“The form of patriotism that the United States has brought into being is one of the bright lights of human history, and we should not allow it to be extinguished, either through our inatten tion to details or through ignorance of our story,” McClayAssociatesaid.Professor of Politics Adam Carrington said he is excited to educate his children with the book. “In a republic, every gen eration must learn self-gov ernment through incul cating America's founding principles,” Carrington said. “This necessary education includes knowing our history. ‘Land of Hope’ tells American history the way it should be told. It shows that we Americans have much about which we should be proud in our past. We also have had to overcome evils, often with great effort.” Hillsdale graduate student Christopher Goffos said he will use the new edition of “Land of Hope” as an educational tool for his three children. “I’m delighted to see that Bill McClay — who is not only a compelling storytell er, but a real historian con cerned with both genuine facts and serious ideas — is publishing an edition of his book that will be accessible to a younger audience,” Goffos said. “I hope to use it to teach my son the truth about America so that he can confidently love and defend the nation of his birth.”Aproper study of histo ry is beneficial for children, McClay said. “I think that history lifts us out of an obsession with the present,” McClay said. “We begin to see that things have happened before, that they are not unlike what is happening now, and that we might be able to learn something from the past. There’s something liberat ing about the

“Dr. Laffer for decades has been a force in explaining why prosperity can only come about through market forces and limited government,” Wolfram said. “As a member of President Reagan’s Eco nomic Policy Advisory Board, he was instrumental in lower ing the top marginal tax rate from 73% to 28%, resulting in economic expansion. His famous ‘Laffer Curve’ is a per fect example of how to clearly and concisely make people aware of the costs of excessive taxation and the dangers of government intervention.”

“I realized that I really enjoyed mentoring the younger graduate students and helping them in the lab,” Tripepi said. “So, I thought, ‘why don’t I try going into teaching?’” Tripepi started working as a teacher’s aide at Ohio State and then applied to an opening at the Hillsdale physics department. “I thought ‘well, let’s give it a shot, why not?’” Tripepi said. “And after one thing and then another, here I am.”Herring attended Central College, a small liberal arts college in rural Iowa, where he double-majored in physics and philosophy. He received his doctorate in physics at University of Pittsburgh in 2020. Herring said he originally planned to double major in music and physics, but ended up double-majoring in phys ics and philosophy, with a music minor. “I thought physics and philosophy complemented each other so well,” Herring said. “Because philosophy is ultimately about the pursuit of truth, and physics is looking at a particular kind of truth, like ‘How does the physical world work?’ ‘What are the basic princi ples by which it operates?’ So the philosophy training allows one to then step back and try to put that into a largerAssociatecontext.”Professor of Physics Timothy Dolch, head of the physics depart ment, said the two new hires specialize in different areas.“Together they cover physics broadly,” Dolch said. “Dr. Tripepi from the experimental side of things, and Dr. Herring from the theoretical side.” While much of the de partment specializes in the experimental side of phys ics, Herring said he brings a particular specialization in particle physics and cos mology. He will be offering a course next semester on cosmology, which studies the origins and evolution of the universe. The course will be open to students of any major with no pre-req uisite“We'recourses.going to talk about the open questions,” Herring said. “We're going to talk about the evidence for the Big Bang theory. What are the assumptions of the theory? What are some places where we don't know what's going on? These are open questions that could be solved.”

By Sarah Katherine Sisk Collegian Freelancer

Members of the Young America's Foundation will place 2,977 flags at the foot of the Civil War statue on Friday, Sept. 9 in honor of the Americans killed in the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.“Itis imperative that ev ery American reflect on the significance of that tragedy and what it means for our country today,” said Zach Bauder, president of the Hillsdale YAF chapter. All students are wel come to participate in the memorial by placing flags provided by YAF, Baud er said. YAF launched its “9/11: Never Forget Project” in 2003. Since its debut, participating students have placed more than 12 million flags at various high school and college campuses around the nation, according to YAF.org.“Wewill make sure of the victims that, as Virgil writes in ‘The Aeneid’ and as is displayed boldly in the National September 11 Memorial Museum in New York City, ‘no day shall erase you from the memory of time,’” Bauder said. It is essential that the generations born post9/11 maintain a reverent awareness of the attack that occurred on home soil, according to Associate Dean of Men Jefferey Rogers. In past years, Hillsdale students participated in the city’s “Tunnels to Towers” 5k run, hosted by the American Legion. The run commem orates the firefighters and other first responders who sacrificed their lives in ser vice of their fellow Ameri can citizens, Rogers said. Rogers said although the live coverage of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center is unsettling, it is important not to turn our heads away from these events, “lest we forget, and unfortunately, as history attests, we are prone to forget.” In memory of those whose lives were cut short, we should adopt an “attitude of gratitude” for each day we are given, Rogers said. In a itselfcountryshakeJenningsbusinessJaneandprofessorandbyseempull-outpost-Afghanistanera,AmericanstobeweigheddownadarkviewofAmericaofthemselves,saidPeterJennings,associateofmanagementBrouwerD.andE.McIntyrechairinadministration.saidthewaytothisviewisforthetorediscoverandthevirtuesthat made America great. “The idea of patriotism stems from love. Love of home, love of family, love of this country,” Jennings said. “Citizenship isn't just about individual inter ests and rights. It's about duties and obligations that stem from a love for the common good. When that love is a shriveled thing, that sense of duty and honor is also shriv eled.”Jennings said the col lege’s values are one of the main reasons he chose to work for “WhatHillsdale.wehavehere is rare, precious, and fragile. It is good. And we are a great country,” Jennings said. “We just need to rediscover that good and recommit ourselves to it. We need to get serious about being good people.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.compast.”A2 September 8, 2022

On the experimental side, Tripepi said he plans to build a laser lab that will allow students to etch mate rials for various purposes.

Hillsdale physics department welcomes two new faculty members

McClay publishes children's edition of 'Land of Hope' from

Linnea Shively | Collegian

Despite a growing sen timent among academics and legal scholars favoring strong government regula tion for Big Tech monop olies, Kacey Reeves West said the Chicago School of Economics still provides the answers concerning com panies that impact every American’s asBigularityBrandeisian’sso.”overhaveamonopolizationActginningbeenvague,”antitrustforthatstudyintomentdisagreestion.”tainingtionargueoppositionofristsofNewthesoninfourthofTuesday,ChicagoandWest’seconomyHillsdale’slife.politicalclubPraxishostedlecture,“AntitrustBigTech:HastheSchoolFailed?,”onAug.30.West,a2018graduateHillsdaleCollegeandayeardoctoralstudenteconomicsatGeorgeMaUniversity,addressedchallengesposedbytheBrandeisians,agroupacademicsandlegaljuwhohavebeencriticaltheChicagoSchool’stoantitrustlaw.TheNewBrandeisiansgovernmentregulaisessentialtomain“perfectcompetiTheChicagoSchoolandfindsgoverninterferenceharmfulthecompetitiveprocessesthemarket.“Whenyoubegintoantitrust,yourealizethere’salotofroominterpretationbecauseisinitselfveryWestsaid.“Andit’svaguesincethebewhentheShermanmadewhattheycallillegal.It’sverybigtermthatpeoplestruggledtodefinethepast100yearsorWestarguedtheNewsurgeinpopfollowstheriseofTechcorporations,suchAmazon,Facebook,and

Twelve groups of student-musicians to perform at Concert On The Quad on Friday

Sophomore Tatum Linde saw the need for a women’s gym community at Hillsdale and founded Ladies in Fitness Training, or LIFT, a women’s only weightlifting club. “The purpose of LIFT is to bring females together and create the time and the space for girls to create community while also learning techniques for lifting and working out,” Linde said. At the first few meet ings, members will learn proper technique and par ticipate in circuit strength training, according to Linde.“We’ll make sure that people feel confident with the equipment, and they can adjust it to fit them,” Linde said. “Then people can feel like they aren't just following us and that they have the ability to vary it.” Through teaching technique and exercise variations, LIFT aims to help women gain the con fidence to create a routine and work out on their own, Linde“Goingsaid.to the gym when you don't know what's going on can be scary and intimidating,” sophomore and Yoga Club instructor Kody Richards said. “If you can go and be in an environment where you know you won't be judged and you know other people are going because they also want to learn how to prop erly use equipment in the gym, it creates a more open and welcoming environ ment.”LIFT meets in Found er’s Gym, a new fitness location on the lower level of the Stanton Founda tion Center for American Classical Education, for merly Mauck Elementary School. Although the club meeting runs from 6 - 7 p.m., LIFT has Founder’s Gym reserved until 8 p.m. The extra hour is used for community building and a female-only open gym time, according to Linde. “Having a specific time and a place to go and having other people to hold you accountable will motivate people to actually make fitness a priority,” sophomore and club mem ber Abby Gilreath said. “When you have other women that are meeting together at that time, it's more like a team mindset.” Along with creating Founder’s Gym, the college added updated gym spaces to each dorm to make exercising more accessible for students, according to Richards.“Thewhole fitness ini tiative from the adminis tration is because students are stressed out and don't exercise,” Richards said. “Staying physically fit is one of the best ways to decreaseAccordingstress.”to Linde, exercising provides a break in her busy schedule and helps relieve stress. “It's almost like an escape where you get to engage with your body, and it's a little bit of a ground ing experience,” Linde said. “Personally, it helps me refocus and reset.” Along with providing a break from Hillsdale’s rig orous academics, a consis tent exercise routine helps students live out classroom lessons, according to Rich ards.“We talk a lot about the well ordered soul. It's really difficult to live a well ordered life if you aren't active and take care of your body,” Richards said. “Your body is what your soul is sitting in and if you're not exercising the home of your soul, you're not being a very good steward of it.” Richards encourages students to spend their time intentionally in order to see the benefits of exer cise.“Students need to learn that you have as much time as you make, and if you make time to work out, you're going to feel so much better and you are going to perform so much better in school,” Richards said. “That's a skill that we can take with us for the rest of our lives.”

The Student Activities Board is hosting Concert on the Quad from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 9. “There are 12 groups performing, and they each have 20 minutes to perform any song that they wish,” Director of Student Activi ties Madelyn Clark said. The bands will be performing songs that are more acoustic, so the con cert will be different from CHP showdown, Clark said.The concert will provide an atmosphere where stu dents can mingle with one another since the music won’t be so loud to prevent conversation, SAB Promo tions Team Member John Schaefer“There'llsaid.be some tables and chairs set up so stu dents can listen and relax,” he said. “As of right now we're supposed to have cof fee, chai tea, and Meckley’s donuts as refreshments.”

Hillsdale in D.C. professor connects Shakespeare play to self-government

By Elizabeth Crawford Collegian Freelancer

Reading William Shake speare’s “Sir Thomas More” is a great way to learn the virtues of self-government, Director of Academic Programs for Hillsdale in D.C. Matthew Mehan told students on Monday. “It is, to my mind, the most concentrated exam ple of the sort of mental ecology of a statesman that Shakespeare ever pro duced,” Mehan said. “It is the only one where a good leader is Mehanportrayed.”saidhechose to talk about “Sir Thomas More” because it exempli fies the connection between Shakespeare and self-gov ernment. The soliloquy is

Hillsdale students will have the opportunity to see lions, tigers, and bears at the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo with the Student Activities Board on Sept. 10. SAB will cover admission to the Indiana park for as many as 40 students, making this a cost-free excursion to kick off the school year, according to Director of Student Activities and Affairs Madelyn Clark. Students have the option to take trans portation provided by SAB or drive themselves to Fort Wayne, which is about 90 minutes south of Hillsdale. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo opened in 1965. Tripad visor named it one of the top zoos in the country in their 2015 ratings for “The Top 10 Travelers’ Choice Zoos in the U.S.” With more than 40 acres of land, the zoo boasts 200 species and over 1,000 animals.Junior and SAB member Gabby Lewis said in addition to a free zoo ticket, attendees will receive three tokens. These tokens are redeem able at the zoo for guests to participate in extra activities not included with general admissions.“Thereare plenty of unique experiences like one of the oldest carousels in the Midwest as well as an oppor tunity to feed stingrays and giraffes,” Lewis said. According to Clark, SAB chose the Fort Wayne Chil dren’s Zoo because multiple members have been to the zoo and enjoyed it. “I have personal ties to the Fort Wayne Zoo,” Lewis said. “As soon as we were brainstorming, we knew that we would love to share that experience with the student body.”Lewis said she is especially partial to the orangutans and the carousel. Those two ex hibits bring back fond mem ories of her childhood, as Lewis and her grandmother would frequent the zoo when she was young, she said.

By Colman Rowan Collegian Freelancer

The Collegian gets a new website

By Linnea Shively Circulation manager

“The site felt old,” Ne whook said. “It was cluttered on the back end. On the front end, we had trouble with our photos and the way stories displayed on pages.” According to Web Con tent Manager James Allen, the digital marketing team began to work with the Collegian last February to design the website. “We agreed the website should be cleaner with a focus on high definition imagery, image-centricity, and readability,” Allen said. “We met with the Collegian several times to pick a new template.”Inaddition to design changes, Newhook said IT services has been working on creating a way to send letters to the editor through the website and sign up for an email newsletter. The on line paper is available from Hillsdale’s website, increas ing accessibility, Newhook said.“With a visually impres sive and captivating site, readers will be incentivized to stay on and check the website more often, finally bringing proper attention to the quality work of each student who contributes,” former Collegian Edi tor-in-Chief Ben Wilson ’22 said.

SAB to host first trip to Fort Wayne Zoo

Women's fitness club launches

Students can bring money if they wish to par ticipate in some activities that will be at the concert, Schaefer“There'llsaid.be a couple of artists there from the art honorary, who will be painting portraits of students for a fee,” Schaefer said.Although there will be some chairs provided, students are encouraged to bring blankets to sit on the quad, Clark said.

Kacey Reeves West '18 lectures on Big Tech

A3www.hillsdalecollegian.com

By Michael Bachmann Assistant Editor

By Lauren Scott Assistant Editor

Sophomores Clare Wildern, Roni Crnkovich, Kaeleigh Otting, and Tatum Linde (left-to-right) work out at the Founder's Gym.

Director of Academic Programs for Hillsdale in D.C. Matthew Mehan discusses "Sir Thomas More" with Colmanstudents.Rowan | Collegian

More’s internal struggle of pride, power, prestige and burden upon being ap pointed to a high leadership position, Mehan said. “It's an example of the kind of speech that a good leader would give to himself,” Mehan said. “It’s the kind of counsel that if you want to lead suc cessfully, you need to get in the habit of giving yourself.” In his lecture, Mehan explained an illustration of a crest showing two snakes winding up a staff and pro tecting a dove from More’s “Utopia,” which Shakespeare references in the play. “You actually need dangerous things in order to make healthy things,” Mehan said. “We have to be simple, clean, good Chris tians, but we also have to be wise in the ways of this world so that we don't get devoured like sheep by the wolves.”Bydoing this, a person can better self-govern, Me hanSophomoresaid.

By Kamden Mulder Collegian Reporter

After eight months of work, Hillsdale’s IT ser vices and digital marketing department launched a new Collegian website earlier this week.The website features a cleaner look with higher quality images and anima tions, according to Collegian Digital Editor and senior JoshNewhookNewhook.said the Colle gian wanted a new website to update the publication’s image and increase reader ship among students, faculty, and friends of the college.

“Platform companies essentially provide a plat form like a digital space for buyers and sellers to meet,” West said. “They are unique because they actually don’t createSeveralinventory.”courtcases are ongoing concerning the Big Tech companies. West said Chicago's interpretation of antitrust laws provides the surest way forward since leading Chicago School economists were appointed as judges to various district courts.“Robert Bork, Frank Easterbrook, and Richard Posner, who were legal academics at Chicago, were actually able to implement economic theory into the legal decision making prac tice because, at one point or another, they were all appointed as judges,” West said.The New Brandeisians also have their own legal academics: Louis Brandeis, former Supreme Court justice and namesake of the movement who died in 1941, and Lina Khan, for mer Yale law school grad uate. In her lecture, West targeted Khan’s assertion that antitrust laws needs to be overhauled to recognize the “competitive process.” Both the size and net work effects of Big Tech frighten the New Brandei sians, West said. The size of the monopolies frightens the group because they force other companies out of the marketplace; the net work effects frighten them because of the interconnec tivity of platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. According to West, the New Brandesians’ solution to these issues is twofold: either there must be “per fect competition” between producers and consumers or legal monopolies should be codified with set price ceilings and control of who enters and exits the market. The reliance on this idea of “perfect competition” thwarts the idea of competi tion itself, West said. Com petition entails the threat of a winner and a loser, with the winner facing the ever present threat of being supplanted. Khan asserted the Chicago School is guilty of relying too much on neo classical models of supply and demand; yet these same models often describe the “perfect competition” which Khan presents as a solution to Big Tech antitrustaseemodelnon-monopolisticofthatClellandthatorhaveeitherarewithtreasurerabidefortuallylawsthesetheysaid.tinythreatsunderstandBighelpingtrustIvanProfessormonopolies.ofEconomicsPongracicsaidantilawswereguiltyofthemonopoliesofTech.“BigTechcompaniesallthattheirmainarecomingfromupstarts,”Pongracic“Andtheyfiguredoutcanactuallyusealloppressiveantitrustandregulationstoacmakeitsoexpensiveallofthesecompaniestobythoseregulations.”SeniorRobMcClelland,ofPraxis,agreedPongracicandWest.“Somanyproductsthatpurchasedtodayareonlineentitiesthatnophysicalpresencetheyarephysicalthingsareboughtonline,”Mcsaid.“AndIthinkchangesthewholeideawhatamonopolisticorpricingis.”Westsaidshehopestomorescholarshipandmeasuredapproachtolaws.September8,2022

Dottie Roland said she appreciated learning about the connec tion between literature and politics.“Itwas a good taste of what students might get to experience, especially touching on taking on these contemplative ideas that we get from our liberal arts education and then apply ing them into our real life,” RolandFreshmansaid. Ty Ruddy agreed.“Shakespeare was an absolute genius,” Ruddy said. “I think there's a lot to be learned."

Google who have cornered the market on what West calls “platform companies” or “two sided markets.”

The Chargers’ offense is fully healthy for the first time since early last season, and exciting, high-scoring contests should be expected weekly.What’s more, Saturday will be the most electric form of college sports possible: a college football night game. Whether it’s Thursday, Sunday, or Mon day Night Football in the NFL, or the occasional night game in college football, putting the gridiron under the lights gives the contest a feature-film feel to it, and nostalgia from Friday night lights is simply unmatched. Many Hillsdale students come to campus holding on to their fandom for their fa vorite team from childhood, meaning Saturdays are spent watching College Game Day or Big Noon Kickoff. While some site the skill difference between Division I and II, the passion inherent in a team like Hillsdale more than makes up for it. No Charger is playing for a $100,000 NIL deal, and sitting out of a game to preserve one’s draft stock or NFL signing bonus is all but completely off the table. The Charger uniforms have no name plates on their backs, leaving players far more focused on representing the one on the front. That Hills dale difference shows itself on the gridiron as much as it does in the classroom, and makes every game more than

www.hillsdalecollegian.comworthwhile.A4 September 8, 2022

Opinions

The FBI has been working alongside the Department of Homeland Security to combat the “domestic terror” threat – the same DHS who a few months ago shut down its Disinformation Governance Board after public outcry over the clear danger the organiza tion posed to the First Amend ment.We are in a cold civil war, wherein the national security apparatus is being used to sup press political dissent. Consid er the whiplash between these lines: “Now America must choose:...To be a nation of hope and unity and optimism, or a nation of fear, division, and of darkness? MAGA Republicans have made their choice. They embrace anger. They thrive on chaos. They live not in the light of truth but in the shadow of lies. But together — together, we can choose a different path.” With that juxtaposition, Biden verbally excised 74 million Americans from the body pol itic. One does not unite with such people. The only way to unify is to unify against those who “have made their choice,” using federal law enforcement to label all them extremists, and treat them as such. It requires the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia applying the law unequally to sentence nonviolent protestors merely present on Capitol grounds during the Jan. 6 riot to months or years in fed eral prison, while dropping charges against rioters who forced then-President Donald Trump into the White House bunker, injuring dozens of law enforcement officers, and setting national landmarks aflame. The latter scenario is replayed whenever favored groups riot. Will Antifa heed the call of Biden to oppose “semi-fascist” Republicans, and get off scot-free while doingTheso?day after this speech, Biden appeared to walk back his remarks, saying “I don’t consider any Trump supporter a threat to the country.” Yet his official Twitter account continues to say that “MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our republic.” His administration continues to stay the course, with or without his approv al. Until the FBI, DOJ, and other federal agencies stop investigating and prosecuting Americans of just one political persuasion for the most trivial of alleged crimes, while al lowing real crimes like arson, assault, and looting escape un punished because of ideology, the soul of America will be at war with itself.

ny turns off the power of designated areas when they experience weather that could produce a wildfire, such as heat waves and high winds. Ironically, many res idents resorted to running generators, which have a higher rate of sparking fires than power lines. I remember my high school U.S. history teacher losing power for an entire week. She was on a well system, meaning she had no running water, let alone electricity. If rural commu nities cannot access water during blackouts, matters will only be made worse without transportation, as

California’s electric vehicle policy is preventing this basic human right. It is important to note that the new rule was intro duced by the California Air Resources Board, one of the many administrative groups created without a citizen’s vote. The law was created without consent, let alone a majority opinion.

Go to football games

Gabriel Powell is a senior studying politics.

The bill does not just af fect my home state, but the entire country, specifically Michigan. With Detroit as America’s automotive capital, the Motor City can choose to take advantage of the policy by pioneering a diverse line of affordable electric vehicles, or contin ue to rust. Michigan was once famous for innovation.

California’s intense regula tions have resulted in com panies such as Tesla and Oracle moving thousands of jobs out of the state. With all of this said, I am in support of alternatives to fossil fuels. I do believe in climate change. Howev er, I believe in responsible action that will improve society rather than sinking it into economic turmoil. We do not need a monetary extinction, nor do we need a biological one. Nuclear and hydroelectric power, alongside incentivization and foreign policy that holds polluting countries accountable, are the only realistic solutions for Amer icans to help the earth. Carly Moran is a sopho more studying politics and journalism. She is ad man ager at the Collegian.

California’s climate policies cause more harm than good

well. The right to free move ment is recognized globally, both by the U.S. Consti tution and the European Union.

The Collegian Weekly

Biden’s speech was meant to unite the nation. Courtesy | Fli C kr “EVs will only grow more expensive as demand increases.”

Biden’s speech was a declaration of cold civil war

By Carly Moran “California Dreamin’” is becoming just that: a dream.Sacramento’s govern mental overreach has led to more than 413,000 resi dents moving out of state since 2015. As time goes on, I am tempted to join their ranks, especially after the passage of the most recent update of the California Air Resources Board’s Clean Air Act. The bill now requires all new cars in California to have zero emissions by 2035. Though the inten tions are positive, like many other climate policies, it will ultimately cause more harm thanCaliforniagood. is notorious for causing more harm than good with its “progressive” climate policies. The plastic bag ban enacted in 2014 requires me to pay 10 cents per bag, and they are twice as thick as the ones you will find in Michigan. They are not biodegradable, nor are they an economical solu tion. I do not know a single person that has bought a reusable bag in response to the bill – few people think that far ahead. For quite some time, California also required, through AB 1884, that you request a straw rather than automatically receive one when at a restaurant. Once again, nothing changed. People have given up on en forcing the law, and servers have returned to handing out the forbidden utensil forDuefree.to the massive scale of the Clean Air Act, it will affect market trends unlike the plastic straw and bag bans. However, it will result in the exclusion of lower classes as they struggle to both afford a new elec tric vehicle and find gas stations. EVs will only grow more expensive as demand increases, resulting in a supply chain issue. Califor nia continues to perpetuate bourgeois environmental ism.Perhaps the most ig nored issue with the new bill is how power outages will affect charging. Pacific Gas and Electric, a major energy provider for the state, faced lawsuits after its power lines were found responsible for starting the Camp Fire in 2018. In response to the lawsuits, the state-monopolized compa

The opinion of The Collegian editorial staff College football is back. This Saturday, for the first time this season, Charger fans will be able to watch their football team play. Especially for students who have never been to Frank “Muddy” Waters stadium, this is the perfect opportu nity for a first game. The team is fresh off of a high-octane comeback win over Lake Erie, featuring a 70-yard go-ahead touch down and a game-sealing interception in the endzone.

By Gabriel Powell President Joe Biden de clared war on his political foes last week. His speech “On the Continued Battle for the Soul of the Nation” was only slightly mistitled: he was openly declaring a war that had been quietly occurring for some time, moving that war into a more public and dangerous chapter. That speech ramped up the rhetoric in the presi dent and his administration’s continued demonization of the opposition party. “There is no question that the Republican Party,” led by Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans “is a threat to this country,” Biden said. MSNBC contributor Eugene Robinson called the speech a “war time address.” That begs two questions: Is the United States at war? If so, against whom? The answer is yes, albeit in a non-traditional sense. Biden has declared war on a sub stantial part of the American people.Thepresident’s speech in Philadelphia made the answer to the second question abun dantly clear: MAGA Repub licans are extremists who “ threaten the very foundations of our republic,” he said. Abra ham Lincoln did not use terms so condemnatory in his “First Inaugural Address,” despite the fact that seven Southern states had already seceded. Lincoln, however, hoped for unity with those states. Biden’s remarks were a continuation of his administration’s attempts to marginalize the opposition party. The previous day, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “the MAGA agenda…is one of the most extreme,” defining extremism as merely disagreeing with ma jority opinion. To malign the views of a substantial number of people as “extreme” based upon the expression of a mere majority is incredibly danger ous, at least for a republic that seeks to preserve the rights of political minorities. Jean-Pierre was only following the cues of her boss, who called the MAGA philosophy “semi-fas cism” the previous week. The harder question to answer is whether the nation is at war. In the literal sense, the answer is no. There are not red and blue armies exchanging gunfire across the American countryside. But in a broader sense of the word, the answer is less certain. Biden’s own words and actions demand we assess this question. Just two days after repeating his implied threat that citizens would need F-15 fighter jets to oppose the government, Biden took the stage in Philadelphia, flanked by U.S. Marines, in front of a blood-red backdrop, and declared that “equality and democracy are under assault” by MAGA Republicans. The Biden Administration’s national security apparatus has been acting accordingly. Attorney General Merrick Garland directed the Depart ment of Justice, including the national security division and the FBI, to investigate parents at school board meetings who were protesting mask man dates and critical race theory in their childrens’ curriculum. This was done at the behest of a letter by the National School Boards Association asking the federal government to use the Patriot Act, which itself was solicited by the Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona. Since then, whistleblowers have come to Congress from the FBI alleging not only that the FBI created a specific threat tag for such investiga tions, but also that FBI leaders are pressuring agents into reclassifying cases as “domes tic violent extremism” cases, even when unfounded. Given recently leaked FBI documents listing the Betsy Ross flag, the Gadsden Flag, and the Second Amendment as indicators of “domestic extremism,” the FBI may have concocted a basis.

ship “Trumpish” may be an insult to Trump, and it ig nores the fact that many of the people the party lead ers wish to exclude from the party were firm Trump supporters. For the same reason, it is also wrong and misleading to describe the opponents of the local par ty leadership “Cheney-ish.”

“The

doesgeneroustrulyfriendnotsimplygiveaway,butalsobuildsupthecharacterofthosearoundhim.”

Soaring to new heights: Hillsdale needs a new mascot

Eagles are better than horses. Courtesy | p ubli C Domain p i C tures

By Micah Hart Flags line the streets, in dividuals adorn themselves in American parapher nalia, and people openly discuss their beliefs with out fear of ridicule. This is Hillsdale College. The United States is sup posed to be this way, but according to the president, a significant number of citizens are “a threat to this country.”While President Biden blabbers on about the division in this country, Hillsdale College steps up as a haven for medical lib erties, a beacon of freedom of thought and speech, and a protector for the many great asylum-seeking Cali fornians.Because of this, Hills dale College needs to change to a more fitting mascot that emphasizes the school’s commitment to excellence, courage, and liberty.Anobvious contender for the coveted gig is the baldTheeagle.beloved bird became an American staple early on in the new ly-formed United States.

worth pointing out that both Dixon and Rep. Tim Walberg, another target of the local party leadership, were both endorsed by Trump and Fink. Is the local leadership unaware that as long as Whitmer is in office, every conserva tive Republican initiative is dead in the water? Fortunately in the last elec tion conservative voters in Hillsdale County over whelmingly repudiated the local party leadership’s pre ferred precinct delegates, voting instead for precinct leaders who want results. This last lawless effort by the party leadership to disenfranchise Hillsdale’s conservative voters will not succeed. But their self-pro claimed “Hillsdale Repub lican Party vs. Everybody” strategy, despite playing well on Twitter and Face book, is only helping hand Michigan over to four more years of Progressive despotism.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com Opinions Don’t abuse

By Megan Williams

Don’t ‘let it go’

a homeschooled kid who grew up nearby in Ysiplan ti, was and is an outspoken advocate for every issue so-called overaWhitmerrialwhere,shouldenergyFink,arecruitedvictorystrengthenusingleadershipSocandidateit’siganOrderofPolicetionalendorsementsschool,UniversityMarineAndrewmarriage,strongreform,tionProlife,conservativesConstitutionalcareabout:gunrights,elecintegrity,immigrationreligiousliberty,lawenforcement,parent’srights.servedintheCorps,attendedtheofMichiganlawandreceivedthefromtheNaRifleAssociation,theOfficersAssociationMichigan,theFraternalofPolice,andMichRighttoLife.Inshort,hardtoaskforabetterthanRep.Fink.whatdidthelocalpartydo?RatherthantheirresourcestoprospectsforinNovember,theyandendorsedprimarychallengertowhichconsumedandmoneythathavegoneelselikethegubernatoracewhereGretchencurrentlyholds27-1fundingadvantageTudorDixon.Itis

Schlueter responds to local GOP infighting

Hillsdale College advocates. The figurehead of Hills dale, our beloved mascot, should resemble these values. The current mascot, Char lie the Charger, is not a failure of a mascot.

A more accurate term for them would be “DeSantish TheRepublicans.”difference between these groups is not wheth er to wage war against progressive despotism, but how best to do this. Whereas the local par ty leadership prefers to spend precious resources nursing personal grievanc es, attacking allies with inflammatory rhetoric, and purging the party of the impure, the DeSantish Re publicans care most about focusing on the issues and getting results.

A case in point is the recent election in the 58th district of Michigan. The incumbent in that race was Andrew Fink. Both An drew and his wife Lauren were students of mine at Hillsdale College. Andrew,

You’re sitting in a dark theater, clutching your warm, salty popcorn between your chubby little fingers. The fa miliar music booms through the speakers and the sparkles illuminate the screen. You see the golden spires, the waving flag, and the twilight sky as the camera pans out to reveal the iconic castle. The swooping letters glide across the screen: Walt Disney. Most of us experienced the magic of Disney growing up. We sat with our families en thralled by silly songs of “The Jungle Book” or envying Belle’s magnificent library in “Beauty and the Beast.” Dis ney movies gave us dreams of becoming a princess, or pillaging the Caribbean seas, or traveling to far-off lands to find your long-lost family. Yet these movies aren’t made only for six-year olds; the magic of Disney shouldn’t wear off as you grow up. Now I understand. You’re a 20-year-old college student. You gave up watching “The Lion King” once you turned twelve, swearing you were too old to watch a warthog eat worms and sing “Hakuna Matata.” Yet the fantastical fairy tales, the terrific tunes, and the quirky characters found in Disney movies are becoming more relatable than ever. The older you get, the more you need to be reminded not to take life so seriously. Here at Hillsdale, we are bombard ed by rigorous coursework, the pressure to succeed, and the apparent inability to say “no” to upcoming opportu nities. When we have free time, our first reaction is to scroll through Instagram, but we should start pulling out our computer and logging into our siblings’ Disney+ ac count. We should recognize the lessons and joy we can still experience by watching some animals sing in an enchanted forest. Disney movies provide an escape. Surrounded by gray clouds, patches of snow, and exhausted peers, we need bright colors and cheery characters to lighten the mood. Whether it’s the teals and turquoises and of the Australian coast in “Finding Nemo” or the imaginative costumes and jewel-tones of “The Princess and the Frog,” Disney immerses its viewers in a new universe and pulls the audience into these cre ative settings, leaving them inspired and encouraged after they leave this fantasti cal Disneyworld.has recently made strides to create more engaging characters that connect with the audience’s emotions, and, more specif ically, show realistic familial relationships. Gone are the days of princesses shunning their fathers, ignoring their mothers, and awkwardly connecting with siblings. We no longer see stepmothers attempting to murder their children, like the evil witch in “Snow White,” or aloof, absent fathers that are push ing their daughters to marry like the sultan in “Aladdin.” Disney’s newest collection of families have more complex emotions, genuine relation ships, and relatable family Onedynamics.ofDisney’s recent animated films, “Encan to,” featured the Madrigal family–all of whom possess magical abilities. As the story progresses, one of the grand children attempts to save their family’s magic, which is in danger of disappearing. While dancing donkeys and revolting rats enthralled the children, adults were attract ed to the authentic familial interactions portrayed in the Thefilm.granddaughter, Mirabel, has arguments with her older sisters that replicated interac tions with my own siblings. The interactions between the Madrigal family, whether it was scenes of them trying to behave at the dinner table or arguing about who was the “perfect” sibling, mirrored memories I have with my family and reminded me of the importance of those Withconnections.thecharacters acting, and looking, more realistic than ever, Disney movies offer a lot more than a good plot and fun songs: they teach us lessons. “Encanto” reminds us of the impor tance of effective communi cation, especially with sib lings and parents. This is an especially sobering reminder to college students, who tend to think they’re invincible, and it comes in the form of an encouraging, entertaining, hour and a half program. So the next time you realize you have an hour to spare on a Tuesday night or are trying to brainstorm an activity in the Simpson lobby at 4 p.m. on a Saturday, log onto your computer and pull up your favorite Disney movie from when you were a kid. Just because you’re an adult does not mean you can’t learn les sons from their most recent films. Watch a Disney movie and don’t just “let it go.” Megan Williams is a senior studying rhetoric and public address and journalism. She is an editor at the Collegian.

Charlie has a fascinating origin story, as reported by the Collegian in 2017. The college held a com petition where students could write the story of Charlie the Charger in 2017. Freshman Cal Mc Nellie took home the gold. McNellie brilliantly told a story of how Charlie end ed up at Hillsdale in hopes of pursuing what is both good and beautiful. While this is a heart warming story and invites all of Charger nation to rally around the horse on game days, the eagle’s history goes even further back and connects perfect ly to the freedom, strength and courage that Hillsdale College adheres to. The eagle already has a home here, so why not make it official by swap ping out the Changingmascot?theface of the college will be no easy feat. What would it be if it were easy? This is Hillsdale College, where strength rejoices in the challenge. Micah Hart is a sopho more studying politics and journalism. He is an assis tant circulation manager at the Collegian.

In the Sept. 1 issue of The Collegian my colleague and friend Charles Steele attempts to explain the sources of division within the local Republican Party of Hillsdale County. While I fully agree with Prof. Steele that the details of the current conflict are “rather convoluted” and that now is “a particularly bad time for infighting,” I disagree with him the nature of the Accordingconflict. to Steele the current divide is “akin to a local split between Trumpish Republicans and Cheney-ish Republicans.” The former, he writes, are “local thinklocalrenegadewhovotedSpeakingcommerce’establishment“tendsliberty,”progressive/leftgovernmentmarilyRepublicansConstitutionalwhoareprifocusedonfightingoverreachandassaultsonwhereasthelattertobetheolderGOP‘chamberofwing.’”assomeonewhoforTrumptwicebutalsoobjectstotheactionsofthepartyleadership,Icallingthatleader

Nathan Schlueter is a professor of philosophy and religion at Hillsdale College. friendships: Fulfill Venmo requests

Letter to the Editor:

By Nathan Schlueter

By Jack Little Consider this the confes sion of a reformed Venmo user. In one instance, a sim ple request from a frater nity brother for repayment for a midnight McDonald’s run lingered for more than two years. Despite text after text and reminder after reminder, the request went unanswered.Cicero’sdefinition of jus tice is rendering unto each man that which he is due. In this sense, neglecting Venmo is a grave injus tice — it creates animosity between friends. After all, there’s no such thing as a freeJillianlunch.Parks, in her Sept. 1 Collegian piece “Be A Generous Person: Don’t Venmo request,” claims that Venmo has led to “a culture that emphasizes being indebted.” I would con tend that it merely creates an environment of fiscal responsibility. Individuals who simply say “I’ll get you back next time, bro” never intend to, and must be held to account. I would know. I used to be one of them. This is not a rejection of the Christian notion of charity, which is admirable and should be practiced, but is instead a recognition of real-world circumstanc es that arise when handling money. Yes, of course, it is more than accept able to offer to pay for a friend’s meal as much as one would like. There are few who would demand repayment for gas money for a two-minute drive to Kroger or to Rough Draft. Such a thing would be pa tently absurd and parsimo nious. But a 45-minute trip to Jackson for Starbucks? A two-hour drive to the airport? Consider chipping in.

Venmo reminders, as something in and of themselves, also fail to create the environment that Parks so bemoans. From a user perspective, they are easier to fulfill than creat ing a payment – the user merely must tap a button to complete the charge, as opposed to setting a recipient and an amount.

It’s not rude to use an app to ultimately make your friends’ lives easier. American society may be focused on indebted ness, but it is irresponsible to claim that this is the result of students making Taco Bell runs when the average American in their 20s has a FICO score of 662 (nearly 50 points below what is considered a “good” credit score), or when America as a whole owes nearly $2 trillion in student debt. Don’t blame Venmo when institutional lenders should shoulder the blame. The truly generous friend does not simply give away, but builds up the character of those around him. Don’t mollycoddle your friends and feed into their fiscal irresponsibility. Make them pay up. Jack Little is a senior studying history.

September 8, 2022 A5

Ancient Rome also celebrated the eagle as “a symbol of imperial power, and therefore represent ed courage, strength and immortality,” according to the United Kingdom-based Reading Museum.

As funny as it may sound, Hillsdale is already in better shape than the United States. The United States had noth ing to go off of when creat ing their image. The way for the Hillsdale eagle transition has already been paved by one of the glowing figures that adorns the campus. One of the most memo rable parts of campus is the massive statue of the eagle that serves as a reminder of the freedom and liberty that

According to a History Channel article by Eliza beth Nix, “The Continental Congress gave Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jeffer son, and John Adams the job of designing a national emblem for the new nation. However, the three Found ing Fathers failed to come up with a design that won Congress’ approval, as did two later committees that were given the task.” The designs then went to Secretary of Congress Charles Thomson. Thomson fused ideas to create the U.S. emblem. One of the designs by William Barton, a lawyer who submitted his work to the third com mittee, included a white eagle, which Thomson reasonably changed to the American bald eagle. Since then, the bird has been a figurehead for Amer icanParadingvalues. an eagle as a prominent symbol is not uniquely American.

for grants or paymentmatching programs through the state EV infrastructure initiative,” he said. Fry said private businesses have expressed interest in offering charging stations, but officials are still waiting to see whether or not those plans come to fruition. Hillsdale County’s demand for electric vehicles is low, along with its charging infrastructure, Fry said. “We have not seen significant demand for EV charging infrastructure in Hillsdale at this time, although that could certainly change if we see mass EV adoption by the public in the coming year,” he said. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has sought to encourage the use of electric vehicles through her January plan offering additional rebates that, combined with a $7,500 federal tax credit, would save electric vehicle buyers in Michigan around $10,000 when purchasing a newAdditionally,vehicle. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist announced in April that Michigan would provide $577,000 to new services designed to “expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure, increase access to electric vehicles, and broaden electric vehicle adoption in communities around the state.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.compossible.”City News A6 September 8, 2022 ‘America

current leadership of the Hillsdale County GOP and will not be reviewing the matter,” state Chairman Ron Weiser said in a letter. Weiser said Leininger’s Aug. 25 meeting is “not considered legitimate.” Leininger, however, said he and the officers would not comply with the state party’s ruling.“The state party has no authority in determining who the officers are of the local executive committee,” Leininger said in a press release. “The letter from the chairperson of the Michigan Republican Party was a mistake, sent in error based on inadequate knowledge of the Aug. 25, 2022 meeting, and as such, will be disregarded.”

The original HCRP executive committee officers held a Sept. 1 meeting with more than 100 attendees.

By Maggie Hroncich Editor-In-Chief

The Hillsdale Municipal Airport hosts vintage aircraft for its annual Patriot’s Day event. Courtesy | Facebook

Students and local residents will have the chance to catch a birds-eye view of Hillsdale on Sunday, Sept. 11, during the seventh annual Patriot’s Day Fly-In.From 7 a.m. to 2 p.m, the Hillsdale Municipal Airport will offer plane and helicopter rides, breakfast, raffles, and a military aircraft display. Airport Manager Ginger Moore said the event is held on or near 9/11 each year. “There’s always been what we call the ‘fly-in’ or ‘dawn patrol,’ which is where pilots look for a place to go to have breakfast. That tradition has been going on ever since I was a little kid,” Moore said. “We changed it to the second Sunday in September about seven years ago and we called it the Patriot’s Day Fly-In in honor of Moore9/11.”said she expects a turnout of more than 1,000 people, including many first responders and soldiers. “We have a lot of our veterans and military come to the event and we also get a lot of old warbirds and experimental aircraft,” Moore said. “We’ll have our local fire, police, and ambulance here with their trucks on display as well.”The Yankee Air Museum, an aviation history museum near Detroit, will provide a UH-1 Huey Greyhound at the fly-in. The helicopter served in combat in Vietnam from October 1967 to December 1971 with the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, according to the museum's website.Attendees will have a chance to ride in the Huey helicopter for $99 a person, and there will be a raffle drawing at 11 a.m. for a chance to win a free ride. The airport will also offer $30 airplane rides and $40 small helicopter rides. The Hillsdale Exchange Club sponsored the fly-in, which will include a breakfast of scrambled eggs, sausage, pancakes, and fruit cups. The meal will cost $7 for adults and $4.50 for children. Other attractions include Maria’s Tacos food truck, a classic car cruise-in sponsored by the Hillsdale Bicentennial Car Club, and a 50/50 raffle. Jacob Hooper ’22 said he attended last year’s fly-in event and enjoyed seeing Hillsdale from a new perspective. “I flew in a helicopter and a small plane. Seeing the college campus and my house from above was so cool,” Hooper said. “We also flew over the city and Baw Beese, which was crazy to see just how big the lake was and how small the buildings were downtown.”

By Evalyn Homoelle Assistant Editor Hillsdale County is home to only two electric vehicle charging stations, at a time when federal and state programs aim to increase electric vehicle usage and create a national electric vehicle charging network. The two charging stations are in Jonesville, according to the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center. There are no stations in the city of Hillsdale. One of Jonesville’s two electric vehicle charging stations is in a public lot behind Olivia’s Chophouse. “The charging station is used more often than I expected,” said Olivia’s owner Jason opportunitiesCountychargingforlookingcommunicationsBPU’saccordingelectriccurrentofarestationsinfrastructureelectricbychargingnearstationelectricJonesville’sBugbee.secondvehiclechargingisonBeckStreetWalmart.Thetwo-portstationispoweredChargePoint,aprivatevehiclechargingcompany.ThenextclosestchargingtoHillsdaleCountyinColdwater.TheHillsdaleBoardPublicUtilitieshasnoplanstoinstallvehiclechargers,toSamFry,marketingandcoordinator.“WewereveryrecentlyintopossibilitiesbringingmoreEVstationstoHillsdaleandareseeingwhatareavailable

Patriot’s Day event offers helicopter rides, raffles

“We have not seen significant demand for EV infrastructure.”charging nation, state increase electric vehicle use, county offers two charging stations

Courtesy | Jon Smith

law in November 2021, earmarked funds dedicated to creating charging stations across the country will be used starting this month. The $7.5 billion specifically allocated for electric vehicle charging stations will be used under the National Electric Vehicle “submitandreceiveoverelectricmillionallocatedInvestmentchargingofgoalTheInterstatestationonefiveallocationsfromuseDepartmentTransportationvehicleaccommodatesupportingFormulaInfrastructurePrograminstatesastheyhigherelectrictraffic.TheDepartmentofandofEnergywill$5billionofallocationstheinfrastructurebilloverthenextyearstohelpstatesbuildelectricvehiclechargingevery50milesoftheHighwaySystem.Bidenadministration’sistoconstructanetwork500,000electricvehiclestationsby2030.TheInfrastructureandJobsActmorethan$110forMichigan’svehicleinfrastructurethenextfiveyears.Tofunding,MichiganotherstatesmustanEVInfrastructure Deployment Plan before they can access these funds,” according to a memo from the Federal Highway vehicle.American-assembledaftertaxownerslegislation,16put“Inflationpurchases,creditsAmericansfoundfuture.”to13%allwouldlargerresearchforthepurchasinglikelywouldAmericansvehicles.transitioningdividedAmericansPewafterandcouldtaxelectricAmericanshaveandAdministration.Withrecentinflationfuelshortages,officialstriedtoincentivizetopurchasevehiclesthroughcredits.Somearguethiscombatfossilfuelusestabilizetheeconomythefuelshortage.AnAug.1pollbytheResearchCenterfoundarelargelyontheissueoftoelectric“Aboutfour-in-ten(42%)saytheybeveryorsomewhattoseriouslyconsideranelectricvehiclenexttimethey’relookinganewcarortruck,”Pewreported.“Aslightlyshare(45%)saytheybenottooornotatlikelytodothis,whilesaytheydonotplanpurchaseavehicleintheAdditionally,thepolltwo-thirdsofsupporttaxforelectricvehicleanincentivetheReductionAct”inplaceafteritsAug.passage.Underthisnewelectricvehiclecanclaima$7,500creditforupto10yearspurchasinganewelectric

Two groups are competing to control the Hillsdale County Republican Party after weeks of “Whatinfighting.isthelocal party?” HCRP Secretary Jon Smith asked. “In theory, we’re going to have two, but one will be sanctioned.”TwentyRepublicans met on Aug. 25 to remove officers of the HCRP’s executive committee, according to County Commissioner Brent Leininger. Party members voted to oust Smith, Daren Wiseley, Belle Steier, Jon-Paul Rutan, Josh Gritzmaker, and Lance Lashaway, Leininger said.“They had an illegal meeting, they illegally booted us,” Smith said. At the meeting, Republicans voted to replace the executive committee officers with Leininger, Zoning Board Member Penny Swan, County Clerk Marney Kast, Prosecutor Neal Brady, recently-defeated County continues27.“AmericawhichthePartyforward,”RepublicanSomerlot.KathleenCommissionerSchmitt,andBambi“WewillbetheHillsdalePartygoingLeiningersaid.TheMichiganRepublicanofficiallyrecognizedHCRP’spriorleadership,SmithcalledanFirst”group,onAug.“TheMichiganGOPtorecognizethe

The divide and its consequences Leininger said he and the other officers would consider “all steps necessary including legal action” to obtain their positions. The Aug. 25 meeting was justified, Leininger said, as elected officials and party nominees serve on the executive committee under party bylaws and Michigan election“We’velaw.got some work to do on our end to follow through with those removals and replacements,” Leininger said. Meanwhile, Smith said the HCRP’s prior leadership would continue to hold events and conduct party business. Smith said more than 100 people attended the party’s Sept. 1 “Business Spotlight” event. “We’re going to do some great things, still, before we leave,” Smith said. “The state party recognizes us as the legitimate party.” Smith said he and other HCRP officials are speaking with an attorney representing Macomb County Republican Party officials in a similar dispute.Atthe same time, both Smith and Leininger said they are open to negotiations with the other Leiningerside.said he didn’t believe the factions could resolve their differences before the November election, but that he and party officials would meet with the HCRP’s initial leadership at an “appropriate time.” Smith said negotiations are contingent on what he called “election rigging.” “We could sit down and have a talk about this,” Smith said. “Unless we have an honest talk about election rigging, we're not going to come to the table.” County Clerk Marney Kast denied any election fraud, and said the HCRP’s grievances stem from a failure to file proper paperwork. Deputy County Clerk Abe Dane said if people doubt election integrity, they should request access to campaign filing forms. “Anyone can look at those and see the errors that were made,” Dane said. “We didn’t make them, we just found them. And I think the errors speak for themselves.” Party division is unlikely to affect ballots in the November election, Dane said. The HCRP will get a new executive committee after the election, despite whether the “America First” leadership maintains their committee positions, or whether Leininger and his fellow officers take control of the party. Leininger said after the election, the HCRP will hold another county convention. “In November, we'll have new delegate-elect members selected to the executive committee for the next two years,” Leininger said. Smith said the state party wants to facilitate “a clean transfer of power,” and that HCRP officials will work to do so “if at all First’ group keeps official county GOP control, rift widens

Background

The HCRP executive committee accused more than 61 county convention delegates of being “Trochky [sic] International Socialists” in early August. Party officials barred the delegates, including state Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, state Rep. Andrew Fink, and Hillsdale College Professor of Economics Gary Wolfram, from attending their Aug. 11 county convention. “I was astonished,” Wolfram said. “But we held our own conventionWhilemeeting.”theofficialtookplace in Sozo Church, Leininger led an alternate convention of disavowed delegates in a downtown parking lot. The state party ruled in favor of the alternate convention on Aug. 19, and accepted their nominees to represent Hillsdale at the state Republican RepublicanLeiningerconvention.andotherofficialsthen held the Aug. 25 meeting to remove HCRP executive committee officials from office.

As part of JosephinfrastructureandInfrastructuretheInvestmentJobsAct,the$1trillionbillPresidentBidensignedinto

The Michigan Republican Party ruled against this on Aug. 27, recognizing the HCRP leadership that barred delegates from the county convention.

By Logan Washburn City News Editor

6 Sept. - A 41-year-old Jackson woman was arrested on a felony warrant for concealed carry weapon. A $20,000 bond with 10% allowed was not paid.

Tudor Dixon: from steel worker to politician

POLICE REPORT: The Collegian has compiled a selection of arrests from the City of Hillsdale and Hillsdale County in the past week.

- A 30-year-old Manitou Beach man was arrested on a felony warrant for breaking and entering with intent. A $50,000 bond with 10% allowed was not posted.

Brian Louwers aims to make Michigan Kiqs a destination for the community and college students. Linnea Shiveley | Collegian

- A 28-year-old Hillsdale resident was arrested for resisting and obstructing, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a Schedule 4 narcotic. He is charged with a felony warrant for dangerous drugs, four criminal bench warrants for failure to appear, and on a civil warrant watch for failure to pay child support. No bond was allowed.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed in May that Michigan has lost thousands of auto jobs on her watch. When she became governor, Whitmer inherited 169,500 auto jobs and statistics show that number has since decreased by nearly 3,000 jobs, equalling 166,700 jobs in May 2022, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

3 Sept. - A 41-year-old Camden man was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, two bench warrants for failure to appear, and a felony warrant for resisting an officer. No bond was allowed.

2 Sept. - A 44-year-old Jonesville man was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The allowed 10% of the $5,000 bond was paid.

By Linnea Shiveley Circulation Manager

By Logan Washburn City News Editor

4 Sept. - A Sand Creek man, 21, was arrested for aggravated assault. A $10,000 bond with 10% allowed was not posted.

Though Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer leads her Republican opponent Tudor Dixon, the race is far from decided.Whitmer led her Republican opponent Tudor Dixon by 11%, in a poll of likely voters last month. But Whitmer may have to win over a number of Michiganders to remain in the governor’s mansion, as more than half of those surveyed by Lansingbased research firm EPICMRA said they view her negatively.Bornin 1971 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Whitmer is a graduate of Michigan State University and MSU College of Law. After serving on both the Michigan House of Representatives and the State Senate and practicing law for two years, Whitmer became Michigan’s 48th governor. She won 53.3% of the vote in the 2018 gubernatorial election with her campaign promise to “fix the damn roads,” though Whitmer has asked voters for more time to make good on this pledge due to lack of funding. Whitmer is a mother of five and wife to dentist Dr. MarcWhitmerMallory.gained national attention in 2020 for her COVID-19 pandemic response. She prohibited travel between residences and “inessential” long-distance drives. Her executive order banned the operation of lawn and landscaping services, motor boating, and golf. She also required stores to stop selling home gardening supplies, prompting the Michigan GOP to denounce her “draconian lockdowns and incoherent shutdown orders.” Michigan’s second female governor made headlines in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court overturn of Roe v. Wade for her support of abortion. She filed a motion with the Michigan Supreme Court in June to repeal a state law criminalizing abortion. Pro-abortion groups Emily’s List and Planned Parenthood Affiliates of Michigan have donated nearly $100,000 to Whitmer’s campaign. “To participate fully and equally in society, Michigan women need access to abortion,” Whitmer said. Whitmer has boasted on Twitter of creating 25,000 “good-paying auto jobs” while in office. She secured a $2 billion investment from Ford, a $4.5 billion investment from Stellantis, and a $7 billion investment from GM, according to her website.

Tudor Dixon worked in the steel industry. Now she hopes to forge a stronger Michigan as governor. “Running and growing a Michigan-based steel company as a woman – that was tough,” Dixon said to MLive. “When the times get tough, the tough get going.” A Trafalgar poll of likely voters showed Whitmer had a 4% lead on Dixon in late August. Just before that, Dixon had been trailing Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer by 11%, according to an EPIC-MRA poll. Dixon recently sparked controversy with comments about abortion in the case of rape.“The bond that those two people made, and the fact that out of that tragedy there was healing through that baby, it's something that we don't think about,” Dixon said to Fox 2. Dixon clarified she is “pro-life with exceptions for the life of the mother.” Originally from Illinois, Dixon graduated from the University of Kentucky and began working for Michigan Steel in 2002. She took a break from the industry in 2009 after having children with husband Aaron Dixon and being diagnosed with breast cancer. After winning the fight against cancer, Dixon returned to work, becoming district sales manager for Finkl Steel. Steel is a family business for Dixon. She said one factory her family worked with changed its environmental footprint by switching methods of production.“Inthesteel industry, we made steel castings the same way for many years,” she said to WZZM. “Innovation is great, we should always be focused on that.” Dixon eventually worked her way into the conservative media world. She co-founded Lumen Student News in 2017, and became an anchor at America’s Voice News in 2019. Today, she lives in Norton Shores, Michigan. Dixon, 45, boasts of being a working mom to four girls. Dixon said issues like COVID-19 and education spurred her run for governor. “I'm watching what's happening with kids in school and started to talk to folks and say, 'Who's going to run against Gretchen Whitmer?'” she said to WZZM. “We said, if we can build the right team, this is theRepublicantime.”

Sources: City of Hillsdale Police Department, Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office

Calling all shoe lovers to Hillsdale’s newest store on Howell Street: Michigan Kiqs. Brian Louwers and his wife, Karri, opened the Michigan Kiqs shoe store in May 2022. After Louwers’ resale of shoes on eBay expanded, he needed a larger space to handle inventory.According to Louwers, curiosity from the community and a lack of similar stores inspired him to open a physical location for his online shop. “It's like an eBay store that you can walk into,” Louwers said.Without online fees and shipping costs, the brick and mortar location offers lower prices than Louwers’ online store, he Louwerssaid.also buys or trades barely worn, trendy shoes. According to Louwers, he looks for high-end and almost new shoes. Sellers can choose between cash or store credit, but earn slightly more for their shoes by receiving store credit. During weekdays, students interested in trading can make an appointment on Facebook to trade with Louwers. On Saturday and Sunday, Michigan Kiqs is open between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Louwers said his main goal is to draw awareness to the store since most of his business remains online. “My idea is that I just want people to know we're here,” Louwers said. “The next time they think ‘I need a pair of shoes,’ our name will pop into theirKatherinehead.” Cerne, who lives in Detroit but vacations in Hillsdale in the summer, visited the store after spotting a sign at the Hillsdale farmers market.“Ithink that the selection they have here is very eclectic and it’s a great opportunity to get a good pair of shoes–slightly worn but in very good condition for half to a quarter of the price,” Cerne said. After Cerne’s kids saw the pink Vans she bought, they couldn’t wait to visit the store. When her son Blaise needed new shoes, they returned to browse Nike Air Jordans displayed on the store wall. “Students want the coolest and latest and obviously they don't have a lot of money to spend,” Cerne said. While many shoe fans trade online, Cerne and Muller commend the benefits of buying in person. “You get to feel it,” Cerne said. “You can see it, you can try it Accordingon.” to Muller, shopping in person allows customers to see the quality of the shoe for themselves. It also benefits buyers to converse with store owners to learn more about the shoe. As sneakers evolve, different collaborations keep fans searching for new shoes. “Any sneakerhead likes the shoe for the story as well,” Muller said. “Collaborations provide this idea of exclusivity and turn shoes into more of a collectible thing as you’re collecting history and trying to keep track of culture at the time.”According to Louwers, the main draw to opening a location in Hillsdale is the college. With proof of past or present attendance, acceptance, or employment at Hillsdale College, customers can receive a 10% discount. “The overall experience, I think, is way better when you find those shoes in person,” Louwers said. “Being in person makes it just a whole better experience, and kind of what being a sneakerhead is all about.”

www.hillsdalecollegian.com City News

By Elizabeth Troutman News Editor

Whitmer was a vocal adversary of former President Donald Trump. She accused him of being “complicit” in a plot to kidnap her in October 2020 by two men who were indicted on Aug. 23. In response, Trump tweeted that Whitmer “has done a terrible job” governing her state. He criticized her for failing to keep her campaign promise to fix Michigan’s roads. “I understand she’s not fixing those potholes,” Trump said. “It was all about roads and they want to raise those gasoline taxes, and we don’t want to do Whitmerthat.”and her opponent, a former anchor for conservative news outlet America’s Voice News, have clashed over education. Dixon has criticized Whitmer for the length of time she closed schools during the pandemic. While the incumbent has said she values early childhood education, teacher recruitment, and closing the funding gap between Michigan schools, Dixon supports a school choice program Whitmer’s administration has opposed. The governor criticized former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ school choice proposal in favor of increasing public school“Everyfunding.Michigan kid deserves access to high-quality public education,” Whitmer said.Senior and President of the Michigan College Republicans Dan Harmon said he thinks Whitmer will be a tough incumbent to beat. “Despite this the race is not over and Michigan elections have historically been much closer than the polls often predict,” Harmon said. “Tudor Dixon does have a chance in a red wave year, especially with Biden’s unpopularity in this state in addition to Whitmer’s draconian COVID policies.”

National Committee Spokesman Nathan Brand ‘15 told The Collegian Dixon is a “phenomenal” candidate. “As Michigan struggles to recover under Whitmer’s lockdowns, excessive mandates, and her attacks on parents rights, families are looking for a new direction,” Brand said. “No better time than now to find a campaign to help and elect Republicans.”Dixonsaid she opposes teaching critical race theory and gender ideology, according to Fox 17, and told WZZM she trusts parents to make decisions about their childrens’ seendisrepairpotentiallybackWZZM.forhistory.reachingtolawpoliticalhopesstrainingfocussaidleastsureinnovationsourcesattractpriority,makebusiness?”downFoxregulations,”goingprosperousbusinessesshesheandgrandmothernursingoneCOVIDRecoveryeducation.fromWhitmer’smandatesremainsofDixon’stopissues.AhomekeptDixon’s“lockedawaysenthometodiealone,”saidtoMLive.Dixonsaidsawmandateshurtingatthesametime.“Allowpeopletobewhilethey’rethroughtheshesaidto17.“WherecanweslimgovernmenttohelpDixonsaidshewouldreliableenergyabutalsohopestorenewableenergytothestate.“I'malwayssupportiveofandideastomakethatwearehavingthepossibleimpact,”DixontoWZZM.“Wecan'tonthattothepointofourelectricalgrid.”Ifelected,Dixonsaidshetoworkacrosstheaisleonissueslikeenforcement,accordingWZZM.ShesaidMichiganisacrucialtimeinits“Thisisaturningpointthestate,”shesaidto“Weeitherbringitontrackorwecouldseeastateinlikewe’veneverbefore.”

Whitmer promises to codify abortion, fix roads if re-elected

September 8, 2022 A7

Couple opens store to serve ‘sneakerheads’ of Hillsdale

Louwers hopes to serve the community by selling and buying shoes.

Tudor Dixon hopes to improve education. Courtesy | Facebook Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is lead ing Tudor Dixon in the polls. Courtesy | Facebook

“Any sneaker head likes the shoe for the story as well.”

Chargers look to follow up third consecutive G-MAC win

Women's Cross Country Men's Cross Country

By Alex Deimel Coll E gi A n rE port E r

When the Hillsdale College women’s cross country team traveled to Olivet College for the Comet Open, a 5k race that the women said they planned to treat as a practice run.According to head coach R. P. White, the team achieved that goal, and is now charged up for the next meet of the season.

After an undefeated sea son and a commanding win at the GMAC/MEC confer ence meet last spring, the Charger swim team is back in the pool and ready for moreThecompetition.teamwelcomes five new faces to the pool deck — four freshman swimmers and one junior, Nickaylah Sampson, who walked on to the team after transferring to Hillsdale in spring 2022. Head coach Kurt Kirner said the new swimmers, and par ticularly the freshmen, add a lot to the team. “The freshman class is event-diverse and strong. I feel they are able to fill in many of the holes created through the graduating seniors,” he said. “That along with our entire team step ping it up should give us a strong contingent going into this upcoming season.”

Courtesy | Hillsdale College atHletiC department

www.hillsdalecollegian.comSports

There is also new lead ership on the pool deck. After former assistant coach Zoe Tracey stepped down from the role, Alissa Lufkin filled her shoes as full-time assistant. Lufkin, who swam for Kirner at Hillsdale, had previously been a part-time assistant coach. On the student side, seniors Sydney Slepian and Leah Tunney have been elected as the team senior captains, with junior Car oline Holmes as this year’s junior“Justcaptain.asinany season, we’re going into it hoping everyone shares a great deal of camaraderie, genuinely are just having a lot of fun with teammates and are grateful to be there,” Slepian said. “That’s what we focus on — everyone feeling loved and accepted and from there we’re able to produce a lot of positive training and a lot of good workouts that further lead to success.” The new swimmers are excited to be a part of the team.“It’s been super fun get ting to know everyone. Hav ing the team has made the transition to college really easy and smooth,” freshman Emmy Sigtryggsson said. “Swimming wasn’t always the plan in college and I’m very grateful to be a part of a team with such amazing women.”Sampson was also not expecting to swim in col lege. A lifelong swimmer, she originally enrolled at the United States Military Academy which has Division I swimming. Sampson joined the rowing team instead, but last spring she transferred to Hillsdale after West Point started requiring COVID-19 vaccines. After talking with Kirner and training over the summer, she walked onto the team this fall. “From what the girls are telling me, it’s a lot of fun,” Sampson said. “Meets were not fun in high school. I used to get very stressed and would psych myself out. But I actually had the privilege of watching a meet one time and I saw how much fun they were having. Also this team specifically is the best in the Midwest, so I’m excited to be a part of a team like that.” Charger swim races for the first time October 8 at 12 p.m. This will be their only home meet during the entire season and it will be their celebration of the senior class. Kirner and Slepian both encouraged attendance at this meet since it will be the only chance to watch the team compete and the last time the seniors will race at their home pool. “Go or die,” Slepian said, jokingly.

“It was kind of a formal ity, just getting our feet wet per se,” White said. “We had a conservative approach up front.”The course, according to sophomore Liz Wamsley, was fairly easy to run. “It was pretty flat. There was one section that went through the woods that was not quite a full mile. That was the roughest the terrain ever got.”Half of the top twelve fin ishers were Chargers. Wamsley took second place with a time of 18:47. Junior Gwynne Riley followed close behind, taking third with a time of 18:53. Junior Meg Scheske finished fifth with a time of 19:11. “Really across the board all the girls closed really hard,” White said. “That was the goal going in and they thought they executed it really well.” Sophomore Vera Thomp son finished 6th with a time of 19:28. Junior Natalie Martin son and sophomore Brynn Ed ison scored one after the other. Martinson took 11th, finishing at 20:07. Edison followed be hind, finishing 12th at 20:21. Wamsley said one of her favorite parts of the race was running close to her team mates.“About halfway through, we were all in the same block sticking together at the same pace and I just really liked that and was very excited for future races because it was nice to be working with the team for the same goal,” Wamsley said. One of her other favorite moments, she said, was when the team broke from their steady pace toward the end and allowed themselves to speed up. “I just found that very exciting because I got to be competitive there,” Wamsley said.On Sept. 7, the G-MAC chose Liz Wamsley for Cross Country Athlete of the week, adding another victory on to her second-place win from the weekend.Having officially kicked off the season with their first race, the team will soon work together to elect team captains and set goals for the rest of the season.Next weekend, the Char gers will race in the Calvin Knight Classic at Calvin Uni versity on Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. 2021-2022 Chargers win the G-MAC/MEC championship.

By Tracy Wilson dEsign Editor

"The men's team is looking to be in a very good spot this year."

By Maddy Welsh Assist A nt Editor

Women's cross country on good footing for season Chargers start season at Comet Open

Swimming

A8 September 8, 2022

The Hillsdale men’s cross country team started its sea son off at the Olivet College Comet Open 5K on Thursday, Sept. 1, which was hosted by Broadway Acres Golf Club in Charlotte, Michigan. Six members of Hillsdale’s team competed against run ners from Lansing Commu nity College, Olivet College, Albion College, Adrian College, Jackson College, and Lake Michigan College Leading the charge for Hillsdale was sophomore Donnie “Dobby” McArdle, who finished 10th overall with a 16:25 run. “I think the team hit a major turning point at the GMAC Championship during outdoor track in that I’ve never seen our guys race as fearlessly as they did that week,” McArdle said. “I think that energy carried into a lot of our summer training, and I think we’re going to need to get comfortable with racing fearlessly and not caring about the pain that may come with doing Followingthat.”behind McArdle was senior Issac Waffle, who finished at the 16:29 mark, earning him 11th overall. The third Charger to cross the finish line was senior Sean Hoeft, finishing 15th at 16:44. “The men’s team is look ing to be in a very good spot this year,” Hoeft said. “We have much more depth than last year, and we have a lot of guys that have put in the work this summer to challenge for those top five scoring spots for the team.” Hillsdale had two fresh men make their collegiate debuts on Thursday. Seth Jan kowski took 23rd ,finishing at the 17:21 mark, while Mark Masaka finished close behind at the 17:54 mark, taking 28th. Junior Dylan Palmer finished between Jankowski and Masaka at 24th with a time of 17:30. “We are already a very connected team,” Jankow ski said. “I can tell that as a freshman from the inclu siveness my teammates have shown me and I’m looking forward to becoming even more like a family as the season goes on.” The Chargers will get to stay in Michigan for their next meet, traveling to Grand Rapids for the Calvin Knight Classic at Calvin University on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. Three weeks later the Chargers will run their third race at Lansing Community College on Sept. 30.

“The freshman class is strong.diverseevent-andIfeeltheyareabletofillinmanyoftheholecreatedthroughthegraduatingseniors.”

“That's what we focus on: everyone feeling loved and accepted and from there we're able to produce a lot of positive training.”

against Davenport. Courtesy

Her GOAT status ex tends beyond legacy.she’syearsAfteredfirmVentures,ontennis.shewritingcareernotisfinalistonlyRafaelTiafoecesVenussaid.cialsuccess“bigfectionatelyoldOpenquarterfinalistbecamethatreallycameniswasn’tup,“Especially,pursueSerenaNo.12yearofacyofficiallyachievements.on-the-courtWilliamshasretired,butherleglivesoninthenextstarsAmericantennis.CocoGauff,ablack18oldtennisplayerrankedintheworld,creditedwithherdecisiontotennisasacareer.like,growingbeforeIwasborn,theremany[blacktenplayers]beforeSerenaalong.Therewasnotaniconofthesportlookedlikeme.”GaufftheyoungestfemaleattheU.S.in13years.FrancesTiafoe,a24yeartennisplayerwhoafcallsSerenahissis,”alsoattributedhistoSerena.“She'sspeonandoffcourt,”Tiafoe“SerenaWilliamsandWilliamsiswhyFranTiafoeisevenaname.”beatWorldNo.3NadaltobecometheAmericanATPquarterattheU.S.Open.Heroff-the-courtimpactonereasonSerenadoescalltheendofhertennisa“retirement,”insteadinaVogueessaythatis“evolvingaway”fromSerenaplanstofocusherfamilyandSerenaaventurecapitalthathasalreadyinvestin55differentcompanies.givingtheworld27ofunparalleledtennis,readytobuildanother

department

Serena Williams officially retired after | Getty Images

By Isaac Green Assist A nt Editor

Chargers win tournament, end week 4-1 Sports Opinion By Nathan Stanish Coll E gi A n rE port E r

After a 27-year career, Serena Williams officially re tired from tennis last Friday. Williams, now a 40-year-old mother, shocked the world one last time with an up set over 26-year-old Anett Kontaveit, the No.2 player in theThisworld.last display of en durance only adds to a long list of accomplishments that cement Williams’ GOAT, greatest of all time, status. Serena set the record for most Grand Slams in the open era in one of the tough est periods of competition in tennis history, battling the likes of her sister, Venus Wil liams, and Maria Sharapova for Grand Slam after Grand Slam. She won her first Grand Slam at 17 and her last at 35, entering the record books as both one of the youngest Grand Slam win ners and the oldest Grand Slam winner in the history of the Women’s Tennis Associ ation. In fact, when she won her X title, she was pregnant. Serena may not have as many weeks at No.1 as Steffi Graf in the '90s, or as many overall Grand Slams as Margaret Court earned in the amateur and open era, or as many decades on court as Martina Navratilova. But Serena has set herself apart as the greatest server in the history of women’s tennis and established herself as the best player alive for a full decade in the 2000s and early 2010s.

US Open proves Serena Williams is the GOAT

winning the US Open. Courtesy

The Hillsdale volleyball team beat the Davenport Panthers 3-2 on Sept. 6 and won three of four matches last weekend in the 2022 Charger Invitational.TheChargers played in matches on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday against the Fer ris State Bulldogs, Missouri S&T Miners, Gannon Uni versity Golden Knights, and Colorado School of Mines Orediggers.Afterstarting the season last weekend in a similar manner, winning three of four at the Rockhurst Invitational, head coach Chris Gravel not ed the improvement that he has already begun to see. “We became a little more consistent and we were com municating at a higher level,” Gravel said. “That doesn't mean we don't need to be more consistent and have bet ter communication, but that was the noticeable difference to me.”Atthe close of the tour nament, sophomore Marilyn Popplewell was named Tour nament MVP for her perfor mance during the weekend. Popplewell and sophmore Allie Wiese won G-MAC of fensive and defensive players of the week, respectively. “I think it goes to show that our passers and setters were working really hard this weekend in order to give the hitters, including my self, opportunities to score,” Popplewell said. “It also shows how an even attack all around can open things up. Our middles did a great job of pulling blockers in order to give the other pin hitters and me opportunities to put the ballGraveldown.”emphasized the work that Popplewell has put in leading up to this point which is now beginning to pay“She'soff. been steadily doing well as we've asked her to do several things,” Gravel said. “The game of volleyball is full of errors and failures and you have to be able to recover really quickly, and she's been working on that and doing a better and better job which showed this weekend.” The Charger’s overall performance for the weekend remained mostly positive as they posted 3-1 wins in their first two matches followed by a third win at 3-0. Even in their 3-1 loss to the Oredig gers, their initial energy to start the match earned them a 25-20 first set victory. “I think we came out very strong this weekend in all our matches,” Popplewell said. “But, we will need to work on keeping our feet on the gas moving from the first to the second set as there was consistently some let up there thisThisweekend.”certainly was a notice able trend for the Chargers, who took the first set in every match and yet lost three out of four second sets during the weekend. The single second set victory that they were able to secure was in a long 33-31 battle against Gannon. With the season now fully underway, the new roster has had a chance to play together in several competitive match es and according to assistant coach Taylor Wiese team dynamics are looking good. “I think we have really good team chemistry,” Wiese said. “They've come together really well, in the preseason, and even now.” After a quick turnaround and victory in a home match Tuesday against the Daven port Panthers, the Chargers now look to begin conference play on Sept. 10 against the Lake Erie Storm at Lake Erie College.“We’ll be working on understanding matchups and where to put the ball in certain situations,” Gravel said. “In conference play you can obviously spend a lot more time on breaking down a team and attacking the weaknesses and this team just needs to understand that at a high level so we can be successful in it.”

Sports Volleyball September 8, 2022 A9

Sophomore Allie Wiese digs attack | hI llsale College athlet IC

Senior Megan Kolp jumps for the ball. Courtesy | Isabella s heehan

TeSlaa finished with seven catches, which he turned into a game-high 157 receiving yards and two touchdowns, includ ing what would prove to be the game-winner.Needingatouchdown to win, the Storm drove it down to the Hillsdale five-yard line with under 45 seconds to play.

The Charger defense, however, stood strong, as Graber came up with a game-saving inter ception in the end zone to seal the“Somevictory.breaks went against us in terms of officials’ calls and different things, but we just kept playing,” Otterbein said. “In the end, Julius came up with a big play. We were aggressive, we were blitzing, he was playing man-to-man and cut in front of a slant route and picked it.” The team now looks ahead to its first home game, set for 7 p.m. on Saturday against the Walsh Cavaliers. The team is scheduled to play three total night games this season, though this will be the only one at home. “I wish every game could be a night game, I love it,” TeSlaa said. “I like playing at night because the weather and just the atmosphere is totally different with the lights on and everything, I love it.”

Last-second heroics at the goal-line helped the Hillsdale College Chargers complete a double-digit comeback and doll-out revenge in their 35-31 win on the road in the team’s season opener against the Lake ErieTheStorm.Charger football team struggled out of the gate, as senior quarterback Luke Keller threw back-to-back intercep tions, putting Hillsdale in a 14-point hole early. The fourteen unanswered points in the fourth, and a defensive stand on the five yard-line in the game’s final moments, however, helped bring the team all the way back to secure an in-conference road“Towin.hang in there like we did showed a lot of character,” head coach Keith Otterbein said. “Our kids didn’t flinch, didn’t get uptight, just kept playing and didn’t get distract ed.”The win also dealt a dose of revenge for a game the Char gers have not forgotten. Last year The Storm, who finished with only two G-MAC wins, took down the Chargers at home, effectively keeping the team from winning the confer ence“Thattitle.was a big focus going into this week,” Keller said. “A lot of people that were playing in that game were playing in this game as well, so there were a lot of bad feelings left over and business that needed to be taken care of.” Despite his two early inter ceptions, Keller topped 300 total yards and five total touch downs, earning him G-MAC Offensive Player of the Week. “He played really well, didn’t force the ball, tucked it and ran a few times, and we had a few designed runs for him where he was very pro ductive,” Otterbein said.

Saturday marked the first time Keller played since tear ing his right ACL in the second quarter of last year’s home coming game. “I felt great, my knee felt great, I felt healthy,” Keller said. “It was really awesome to be back out there playing with my brothers, it’s been a while. I put a lot of hard work in over the offseason and throughout the summer, and then had a pretty good camp, I think. It was great, it was probably one of the most fun football games I’ve ever been a part of, just being down and having to comeKellerback.”started the Chargers’ scoring with a one yard touch down run early in the second quarter, after senior defensive backs Julius Graber and Nick Crum, respectively, forced and recovered a fumble on the Lake Erie 14-yard line. After the Storm responded with a touchdown run of their own, Hillsdale took 17 plays and over seven minutes of game time before Keller found sophomore wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa in the back corner of the endzone to cut the lead back to seven at the break. Despite a 21-yard touch down catch from junior Michael Harding, the Chargers still found themselves trailing 21-31 with just over seven minutes left to play. “Them having a new coach ing staff was going to create some challenges,” Otterbein said. “It took us a little bit of the game to adjust to what they were doing. They created some problems for us and we had to get that corrected, but we settled in fairly quickly, and just kept hanging around.” With their backs against the wall, the Chargers finally struck, using a 51-yard pass to junior wide receiver Tim Boyd to set up a Keller touchdown run.With its deficit under seven for the first time since the score was 0-0, Hillsdale’s defense forced a three and out to get its offense the ball back. The Chargers needed just one play, a 70-yard bomb to TeSlaa on a double-move, to take the lead for the first time all game. “One of the big things that was going through my head, was I hope I don’t cramp up because the drive before that, I was just getting off the ball, and both my calves felt like they were on the verge of cramping up,” TeSlaa said. “Ini tially I wasn’t even in the game on that play, but I checked myself in because I was like I want to be in for this play.”

By Christian Peck Dimit AssociAte editor

C harger S port S Chargers come back to take down storm Sophmore Isaac TeSlaa against Lake Erie Storm in 2021. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi Football GAME STATS Saturday September 3 | 3 00 p.m. THIRD DOWN CONVERSION RATE PASSING YARDS RUSHING 54%31POINTSYARDS3517534360%279vs.129

A10 September 8, 2022 www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Running from May to the end of October, this market is the perfect way to start your weekend! The market is in the county courthouse parking lot from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What’s

Vander Wall set out to paint every state bird and fell in love with the idea of stationery. “Over the next few years, I started making more card designs. That was a type of art that I really enjoyed because you could do so many different styles,” she However,said.her busi ness wouldn’t come into being for another few years. During her junior year of high school, Vander Wall participated in her homeschool group’s handicraft fair. “I had my cards, and a lot of moms decided to use my cards as their Christmas cards for the year, so I got some big orders,” Vander Wall said. “For me, it was a bigSincedeal.”the home school fair, Vander Wall, who is from the Chicago area, has participated in several local farmers markets, as well as Hillsdale’s Maker’s Market. Markets have become a passion for Vander Wall, who has fallen in love with the community. “Honestly, markets are so much fun,” she said. “It’s a lot of fun to be part of that commu nity, meeting people and networking. It’s a good way to start conversations and to meet people in the area.”When it comes to her style, Vander Wall has discovered that she loves to maintain interest by switching up her “Latelymedia.Ikind of take all of my art supplies, dump them in a pile, and go from there,” Vander Wall said. “So, I definitely like mixed herMakers’leftoverwhenVanderMolterSophomoremedia.”DaniellearnedaboutWall’sworkshepostedcardsfromMarketonInstagram.“Ireallylikedtheone I bought; it was an anatom ical heart with a gram ophone on top of it. It’s currently still hanging up in my room,” Molter said. “She’s really talented.” Senior Ava Helms found Vander Wall’s art to have a very classic style. “They’re simplis tic, but in the best of ways so that they don’t have too much going on,” she said. “They’re pretty versa tileLookingtoo.” forward, Vander Wall said she doesn’t believe it’s realistic for her to turn her business into a full-time job, although she certain ly wants to continue selling.“Ithink it’s every artist’s dream to make a living off of what they do,” she said. “Realistically I don’t see it becoming much more than a side gig.” While it may never become her career, Vander Wall said she truly enjoys creating and sharing her art and being a part of the com munity.

By Aubrey Gulick Senior Reporter sealed, delivered: student stationery sells on campus

Stop by for an artfully made cocktail or latte to sip and listen. The event is Friday Sept. 9 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Kicking off their fall season, The Sauk will be premiering ‘Desert Song,’ a musical of trials, tragedy, and true love. Their four performanc es this weekend will be the world premiere of Mark Cornell’s newest produc tion.Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from The Sauk online or by phone.

Culture

Not too good to be true, Schizmatics are back for fall

www.hillsdalecollegian.com September 8, 2022 B1

The Hillsdale Coun ty Farmers market gives students and Hillsdale cit izens a weekly opportunity to shop from local farmers, artisans, and vendors.

One of Cheerfully Made Design Co.’s greet ing cards. Courtesy | Kate VanderWall VanderWall makes cards for all occas sions. Courtesy | Kate VanderWall

When sophomore Kate Vander Wall began exploring watercolors in seventh grade, she had no idea her natural talent would flourish into a business one day. Cheerfully Made Design Co. is a statio nery brand that features designs crafted by Vander Wall. She began making stationery in grade school when her mom bought her a set of watercolor paints. “I made these two pieces of art that were birds: there was a cardi nal and a mockingbird,” Vander Wall said. “In my opinion, they were the best pieces of art I had ever made; I was super proud of them.”

Rough Draft Coffee & Cocktails has a great environment for live music. Courtesy | Rough Draft Facebook The Sauk will be premiering ‘Desert Song’ this week in Jones ville. Courtesy | The Sauk

Schizmatics returned to Hillsdale College for another year of performances. Courtesy | Schizmatics

“Schizmatics” or “The Schizmatics”? Which is it? Even the members can’t make up their minds. Re gardless, the campus can’t keep its eyes off of them. This band of six sopho mores— Matthew Byrne, Owen Gerth, Gavin Listro, John Schaefer, Dravyn Spies, and Jack Walker— formed mid-second semes ter of their freshman year. “It was Gavin’s brain child,” Gerth said. According to Listro, the genesis of Schizmatics began one night in late February. The group was in his room in Simpson Resi dence, talking and sharing their musical talents and inclinations. According to Listro, when he visited Hillsdale his sophomore year of high school he attended Centralhallapa looza. It became his dream to form a band once he was on “Itcampus.justkind of hap pened,” Listro said. “In Simpson, people are always in your room, so I was like ‘we pretty much have a whole band here.’” A few weeks later, the group met for a Saga dinner and brainstormed band names and songs at a long booth.After hours of discus sion, they finally decided on “Schizmatics.” Listro said the name plays off the fact that three of the broth ers are Protestant and three of them are Catholic, but they were all in Simpson. “We didn’t have an ex tensive friendship between us, beyond where we lived,” Listro said. “We needed a name that went along with that. A sort of unity despite the schisms that separate us.”On April 4, the members gathered for a photo shoot to help promote their new project. Three days later, the group competed in CHP Showdown, perform ing after campus’ two most popular senior bands. The whole group agreed that the night was nerve-racking and“Itstressful.wasscary because we didn’t know how we would be received,” Walker said. They gatheringrememberedonthestairs near the Writing Center and practicing their three-part harmony.Soonenough, they were on the stage singing and playing like they were pros. But instead of an audience of just themselves in a Simpson dorm room, they were looking out into a sea of peers. Afterward, fans were swarming them, and upperclassmen were saying people were changing their votes, Listro said. Hillsdale has had many successful bands in the past, but fans say this group is different.Thebandmates agreed that their unique horn section propelled them to fame. If you’re familiar with Schizmatics, chances are you’re well aware of Gerth’s saxophonic interludes and Schafer’s trumpet solos. A fan favorite and staple of their set is a cover of Frank ie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” After the CHP Show down, the band waited all night, but the results were not released until the fol lowing morning. “I was at breakfast with some football guys, and they asked me how the night was,” Spies said. “I was scrolling on my phone, and it popped up. I was like ‘Dude, we won!’” Over the next two weeks, Schizmatics learned six songs to add to their original five. They met for rehearsal two or three times a week for at least two hours.“We made sure that every rehearsal was worth while,” Gerth said. On April 23, the band performed for the first time on the CHP stage. The members recalled that night, discussing which was more nerve-racking: CHP Showdown or CHP. “We had to prove our selves at showdown. It was like we were up against the wall,” Walker said. But Gerth said there were higher expectations at CHP because of their first performance at the show down.They graced the stage more confidently this time with more experience under their belt. The crowd already liked them, was familiar with their setlist, and was excited to see them mount the stage again. Listro said one of his fa vorite memories was when they gathered for prayer before going on stage. “Right before the show, we went on stage, and our Catholic boy, Matt, prayed us out,” Gerth said. “I felt so much better after that because I felt like we just centered ourselves and kind of had a unity within the Schizmatics.”Uponarriving back to campus this fall, Schizmat ics played at Welcome Par ty, learning five new songs in three days, and then at the Chi-Omega Kickoff. For now, the band said they will continue to play and“We’reimprove.just trying to relax a little bit and play for the fun of it because that’s why we started because we all love it,” Schaefer said. But with their focus on this year’s CHP showdown, they’re not short of goals. Or fans.

By Michaela Estruth & Alexandra Hall Assistant Editors happening in Hillsdale this week?

Signed,

The Hillsdale County Farmers Market continues every Saturday morning through October. Kamden Mulder | Collegian Rough Draft is host ing a night of live music. Hillsdale College stu dents Rosemary Surdyke, Stephen Berntson, Gavin Listro, and Matt Byrne will be performing.

punchy combinations of font, color, shape, and size. A poster for the upcoming “Battle of the Bands,” featuring the Harry James Orchestra against Hillsdale’s own Big Band, uses lively shades of red, black, and gold with a dash of humor to bring a peppy, vintage feel to the event. For the post er, Shaw hand-drew two trumpeters, later com bining them with digital images and “Connects,”wording.aseries of three posters, couples bold colors with clean lines and well-chosen images to, in the words of Shaw’s Artist Statement, “examine how Hillsdale faculty connect to our community and to the world around them.” The exhibition also in cludes Shaw’s award-win ning design for the Mich igan Deer Management Patch. A deer bounds through rays of gold, toffee brown, and navy, evoking the state’s rich ties to deer hunting. An embroidered version of the patch will be available to Michigan hunters this year.Among other religious pieces in his exhibition, Shaw’s devotional for par ents of Hillsdale College students stands out for its simplicity and natu ral beauty. The two-page booklet features the story of British explorer Er nest Shackleton, through whom Shaw shares a message of true greatness in the light of Christ. Blue and white glaciers (with a subtle Cross) grace the covers, appropriate since Shackleton led an expedi tion to the South Pole. Shaw’s students praise his patience, reflective ness, and wise mentor ship. Junior Carly White house says Shaw taught her, “what it means to be creative… how to push the boundaries of creativ ity…and how to think.” Senior Hannah Cheng loves Shaw’s practice of group critique, which “helps us internalize why things work”. Of his artistic process, Shaw acknowledges the difficulty of creativity. “The process of refining the original concept may take many redos,” but as any viewer of Shaw’s work can see, the reward is well worth it.

If you like worshiping the devil, you’ll love heavy metalThismusic.probably echoes some stereotype about metal music you’ve heard before. It’s on par with saying that listening to rap music will make you try drugs, or that all country music sucks. The differ ence, however, is that the mainstream appeal of these other genres have allowed them a chance to clear their name based on popularity and accessi bility alone. Metal music hasn’t received the same grace.You never dial the radio just in time to hear an upbeat announcer introduce “Angel of Death” by Slayer — a song which I don’t recommend to first time and“Welcomemetalacatchysyntheticwell-knownwithwasandgotLove,”albumaficionado.perfectbyoffly,genreanduncoveralbums,yourselfBut,listeners.ifyouexposetotherighttracks,orbands,youcanthetantalizingacutelyinspirationalthatismetal.Luckithereexistmanytracks,ofafantasticalbum,agreatband,thatareforanynewmetalTheFinnish-Greek“FromHellwithbyBeastinBlackravereviewsfromfanscriticsalikewhenitreleasedin2019,andgoodreason.PowerandGlammetal,foritsflashysoundandmorechoruses,becametaboosubgenreamonglistenerseversincetotheJungle”“Livin’onaPrayer.”

Metalheads, like all other music fanbases, are known to adopt the pretentious mindset that if something is popular, it can’t be good. “From Hell With Love” helped change this longheld opinion. It’s hardcore themes combined with lead Yannis Papadopoulos’ impressive vocal range have made it one of the more well-received power metal albums in recent memory, despite its gaudy elements. And, with it’s primarily fast-paced and synthetic nature, the entire album is reminiscent of everybody’s favorite classic rock standards, just with a screamier flare. What’s special about this album lies outside of its good reception and general sound. The lyrics flawlessly take well-known stories and make them newWithagain.as many songs as there are about lovers growing apart, it can be hard to find new ones to resonate with. Radio stations are haunted with whiny, recycled verses about driving around all our old spots, and missing your body next to mine. Why not kick things up a notch?“Sweet True Lies” is the perfect antidote to modern love songs’ boring apathy. Hearing “Faith torn asun der / I’m burning alive / Baby, baby tell me more of your lies / Say you want me for a lifetime / I believe you even when I know it’s a lie / Love’s so blind,” screamed at you won’t make you sad about your inattentive boyfriend, it’ll make you angry in the best way. You won’t be missing anybody’s body next to yours after listening, that’s forIfsure.love songs aren’t your thing, maybe self-loathing is. If Nirvana’s popularity made anything clear it’s that people have some deep-seeded issues with themselves — and even though I love “734” — I think “Beast in Black” ex plores the topic with more panache.In“Die by the Blade,” Papadopoulos sings “The abhorrent beast / Has revealed its ugly face / You can smash all the mirrors / But there’s only one true escape / Fight until you / Die by the blade of the one you hate.” Though both the song and the album as a whole are inspired by the rivalry in the manga series “Berserk,” the smashing of mirrors in the name of hatred still demands deep self-reflection from the listener.Every track on this album has unique themes and poetic lyrics to ex plore. “Repentless” deals with the imposition of religious authority, “Un limited Sin” explores the corruption of innocence, and “Oceandeep” makes me — a 20-year-old wom an with a living boyfriend — believe that I have lost myThere’swife. something important about having a message slapped across your face. You can con tinue to dial the radio and feel comfortable with the same auto-tuned comforts made popular on Tiktok, or you could choose to challenge your musical norms.Ican say with near cer tainty that you’re not going to hell if you listen to this album — but if that’s what scares you, maybe stay away from Judas Priest.

There is only one pro fessional ballet company in the state of Michigan, and they are spending their Saturday night performing on the Markel Stage at 7:30 p.m.This production is part of the professional artist series organized by the heads of the theatre and dance, music, and art de partments. James Brandon, chairman of the theatre and dance department said these performances expose Hillsdale students to pro fessional work. “This is a way to bring outside culture into Hills dale,” Brandon said. “It will be good for students who may want to be mu sicians, dancers, actors, or artists.”

has performed at Hillsdale, the campus welcomed the group for a performance in 2018 as well. The company will also teach a master class to members of the Tower Dancers and dance minors on campus. Assistant Professor of Dance Holly Hobbs said she is partic ularly enthusiastic about the performance and the opportunity for dance students to learn from the members of this company. “It’s a wonderful op portunity to experience professional level ballet, not only on the stage, but also in the classroom,” HobbsAmongsaid.the numbers being performed are “Serenade” by George Balanchine, and “Soireé” by Isaac Aoki – selections from their 2022-2023 season. The performance is open to the public, but ticket reservations are required.Toreserve, boxoffice@hillsdale.edu.email

Brian unveilsShawmusings

Hana Con nelly sampled one of the real fruit strawberry ba nana smoothies, “You can taste all the real flavors of the fruit; it tastes healthy, so props to them for not just using syrups.” The Proctors said they value these flavor nuances and ensure that their food and drinks are prepared with“There’sprecision.awhole science to making coffee,” Earl said. “It’s actually hard for me when someone orders a drink to let anyone else make it because it needs to be Toperfect.”guarantee quality with every order, Earl carefully trains his em ployees on how long milk must be frothed, precisely what temperatures drinks must be heated to, and how many shots of espres so should be added for the bestThetaste.Proctors strive to fulfill the Great Commis sion while still paying the bills. As part of this joint focus, Overflowing Cups and Cones hosted wor ship nights every Tuesday evening from July through August. Local bands and artists led participants in praise, followed by a brief gospel message as guests enjoyed food from the drive-through.“IthinkI’ve seen my wife pray with more peo ple here than I’ve ever seen her pray at church,” Earl said.The Proctors’ audience looks to support the cou ple in their missions. “It’s nice to support local businesses who care about you too, not just huge corporate chains,” Connelly added.

Shaw displayed his graphic design expertise with posters and colorful infographics.

This is not the first time the Grand Rapids Ballet

The Grand Rapids Ballet company will perform at Hillsdale College. Courtesy | Grand Rapids Ballet

Culture www.hillsdalecollegian.comB2 September 8, 2022

By Caroline Kurt Collegian Freelancer

By Cassandra DeVries Collegian Freelancer

Spinning into town: ballet returns

Thoughtful, dynamic, and engaging: such is the artwork of Brian Shaw, Hillsdale’s professor of art. Beginning Sept. 2, members of the Hillsdale community can stroll through his new exhi bition, Design Musings. Featuring roughly two dozen posters, paintings, badges, and pen-and-ink works, Shaw’s attention to detail is apparent in every piece he “Somecreates.oftheworks on display are personal and attempt to visually represent thoughts I have reflected on for many years,” Shaw wrote in his artist statement. “Many of the works show my perceptions of my new surroundings. Altogeth er, these are my Design Musings.”Perhaps most intricate are Shaw’s theandexhibit,brambles.deredsignaturecolorfulthesetheofofHisimaginativelyaretheycallynity.”embedded“ainhePortbyCornwalltheIsaacbouquetvaluestheseBeauty,”messages,”apartandbolsappreciateapparent.ciationbuildings.ofstatelyofdale’sPurpose”includescompositions.pen-and-inkTheexhibitfour.“BuiltwithshowsoffHillscampusintheforman“H,”highlightingtheyetinvitingnaturesomefavoritecampusShaw’sappreforsymbolismis“You’llalsoseethatIsignsandsymasstructuralelementsconveyorsofmeaningfromtheirliteralShawwrote.In“Truth,Goodness,ShawimmersessignatureHillsdaleinaneye-catchingofflowers.“PortFishermen”showshistoryofasmalltown.InspiredconversationswithIsaacnativeswhilewasonsabbaticalthere2011,Shawdisplayshistoryoffishing[is]inthecommuViewerscanpractismelltheseasaltasgazeatthedrawings.Shaw’sacrylicworksphotorealisticandarranged.twinpaintings“SignsHillsdale”and“SignsPortIsaac”captureendearingnatureoftwotownsthroughsmatteringsofroadsignsborwithcornstalksandWalkingthroughtheShaw’spostersinfographicscatchonlooker’seyewith

Caroline Kurt | Collegian Professor Brian Shaw’s art exhibit featured several pencil draw ings. Caroline Kurt | Collegian

Christian couple serves Cups & Cones

‘From hell with love’: the case for metal

By Nikoleta Klikovac Collegian Freelancer

By Claire Gaudet Sports Editor

Metal afficionados appreciate the sound of Beast in Black’s 2019 album. Courtesy | Dark Connections

Overflowing Cups and Cones was born in an impossibly long ice cream line. One summer evening at another shop, Earl and Carie Proctor decided to open their own business. This past May in Hillsdale, the Proctors opened Overflowing Cups and Cones, an ice cream and coffee drive-through. While Carie was initially worried about the risk involved in starting a busi ness, she saw an opportu nity to spread the gospel and pray with the people she met at work, some thing she was unable to do at her previous job. “She is really smart and has always been good at business,” Earl said. “I’ve always wanted her to have her own company. She’s constantly leaning out the window and praying with peopleLocatedhere.”at 214 S. Broad St., the coffee and ice cream shop was initially a carwash, but the previous owners transformed it into an ice cream drivethrough. When Earl and Carie Proctor purchased the business, they expand ed the menu to include more options for coffee, hot dogs, nachos, onion rings, and crispy chicken sandwiches. They now even sell breakfast items such as muffins, burritos, egg bakes, and bagels. Freshman Abigail Ben ham agreed, describing her Oreo flurry as, “The perfect amount of oreo chunks in really yummy iceFreshmancream.”

“The Proctors strive to ful fill the Great Commission while still paying the bills.”

Brandon said the per formance is not limited to those interested in the cre ative arts, as each of these series will be suited for a general audience as well.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com September 8, 2022 B3

QUICK HITS: Christina Chakalova

By Elyse Apel Opinions Editor Born and raised in Mich igan, Matthew Nolan ’19 re cently returned to his home town to take up a teaching post at Hillsdale Academy. After three years of teaching in Austin, Texas, the former biology and philos ophy major will be teaching sixth-grade English. “When I got the chance to come back home, be around family and in the town I grew up in and teach at an awe some school, I knew it was the right choice,” Nolan said. Nolan spent his childhood in Hillsdale, attending and graduating from the local public high school. He went on to receive bachelor of sci ence degrees in both biology and philosophy from Hills dale College. But that’s not all he did at Hillsdale. “I was a busy person,” Nolan said. “I played the trumpet in the jazz bands, combos, and orchestra.” Nolan also volunteered in youth ministry at his church, St. Anthony Catholic Church, and worked at Rough Draft when it first opened. “I was one of the inaugural employees at Rough Draft. I worked there for about two and a half years,” Nolan said. Nathan Schlueter, pro fessor of philosophy and religion, taught Nolan while he was a student at Hillsdale.

that’s my favorite part about living in a small town is that, for better or worse, you are recognizable to everyone. Having that familiarity and understanding that you are a part of it, that you will be no ticed. Knowing that you are ingrained into a community is a cool Nolanthing.”brings much energy to his classroom, where he will spend the year teaching 22 students, a much smaller class than he has been used to teaching the last few years. “I have no doubt he will make a great impact in the classroom and our school at large,” said Mike Roberts, headmaster of Hillsdale Academy. “His enthusiasm for teaching and joy in learn ing will serve him well as our sixth grade teacher.”

Nolan also takes that ener gy to the soccer field, where he is helping to coach the Academy’s high school team. He most enjoys teaching sixth graders because they still have a genuine love for school and learning. “They’re always curious and asking questions. They’re kind of starting to figure out how to do life. Not success fully all the time, but that’s okay because they’re just venturing out,” Nolan said. “It’s cool to work with kids who are still curious and funny and trying to be people coming alongside them to do that is a very, very fun

Matthew Nolan coaches soccer at Hillsdale Academy. Courtesy | Matthew Nolan

Omicron Delta Kappa honorary celebrates campus leadership

During a trip to Turin, Italy, Christina Chakalova visited the Sabauda Gallery. Courtesy | Christina Chakalova

Matthew Nolan’s first semester teaching at Hillsdale Academy began this August. Courtesy | Matthew Nolan

If you could study under any historical artist, who would it be? Guido Reni. Most peo ple probably haven’t heard of him, but he was in his lifetime by far the most wealthy and famous artist of the Baroque age. He basically transformed art into a, “You pay me for my talent and not for how many figures and how big it is,” that was kind of more of the standard in the middle ages. So he really transformed the profession. And he painted so beautiful ly. He’s my personal fave. What are some of your talents and hobbies? I’m a really good skier. That’s the Austrian coming in — expert level skier. If you were on a desert island, what three books would you bring other than the Bible?

‘We’re very lucky to have him back’ College alumnus returns to teach at Acad emy

By Maddy Welsh Assistant Editor Christina Chakalova joined the faculty this fall to teach art history. In this quick hits interview she talks fine art, skiing, and exotic birds. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What is something on your bucket list? To travel to every site I teach that I haven’t traveled to yet, to see artwork that I teach in person. If you could have an unconventional pet, what would you choose? An exotic bird, although I will say I feel bad for birds that are caged. Let’s say an exotic bird as long as I don’t have to cage it. I wouldn’t re ally want a lion or something like that. For my dissertation, I wrote on a patron who had one of the most incred ible menageries in Central Europe and so I’m trying to think of myself as him now. He had lions and exotic birds and hyenas. He had an emu, the first one in Central Europe. What is one thing you used to believe but have changed your mind about? I used to believe that I had to know everything. And then I went through grad school and I realized that I don’t know everything and in fact, I don’t know anything. I’m always going to be learn ing and I don’t need to have all the answers, but I should know where to look.

If you woke up one day with enough money to buy anything, what would your first few stops be? First would be charity. The second would be to take my students on an international trip. Take them all to Italy to view the artwork we’re talking about. And then final ly, I’ll think about myself and I’m going to go on a vacation. I’ve never been anywhere crazy tropical so it would have to be a vacation to Fiji or Seychelles. What is one piece of ad vice you try to live by? You can’t direct the wind, but you can control it. An other way to say that: you’re not in control but you’re in charge. They’re two different things. It helps me keep anx iety and stress at bay because things will go wrong.

FEATURESthing.”

Schlueter was thrilled to hear Nolan was returning to the community to teach. “Matt is a man in full: a public school kid with a great conversion story who is equally at home in the natu ral sciences and the human ities and plays a mean jazz trumpet to boot. What’s there not to like? We’re very lucky to have him back,” Schlueter said.Following his graduation from Hillsdale College, Nolan unexpectedly de cided to take a job teaching science and math. “It was very happen stance,” he said. “I was plan

By Moira Gleason Collegian Freelancer With a new faculty advisor and 10 newly-mint ed members chosen from the senior class, Omicron Delta Kappa has kicked off the year at Hillsdale College with the renewed purpose of recognizing and promoting leadership across campus. The national honorary recognizes college students who exemplify leadership in one of five areas: academics and research, athletics, ser vice to campus and com munity, communications, and creative and performing arts.According to faculty advisor and assistant history professor Jason Gehrke, the Hillsdale’s ODK circle consists of seniors who have made themselves servants of the campus community. Membership in ODK, he says, is a certain type of ac knowledgement that the stu dent has been a leader and has an interest in developing the social and community atmosphere of Hillsdale. “Leadership is such a special and important part of Hillsdale College and its mission,” said Catholic Society Vice President and ODK member Emma Purdy. “This place seeks to create leaders and build leaders, and ODK acknowledges that and honors it.” A lifetime membership honorary, ODK provides a place for these students to collaborate with each other and learn from leaders across the country. “It’s the idea that you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with, right?” said JP Schlueter, the honorary’s newly elected president. “So if you’re with a group of people that are high achiev ing individuals, chances are you’re going to want to do better, and ODK provides a platform for that.” For Alpha Tau Omega President Bennett Nichols, being a part of ODK means being able to connect with other leaders on campus and gain a new perspective on leadership.“It’sagood way to branch out and meet other leaders and develop relationships. That’s part of being a leader: having relationships out side of what you do to get a different perspective and see how other leaders on campus do what they do and how they lead,” Nichols said. This benefit of this col laboration isn’t limited to the students in the program. Gehrke described taking on the role of ODK advisor as a uniquely edifying experi ence.“The ODK honorary is all seniors who are at the end of their college career and have a lot of experi ence and knowledge that is different from my own. You always learn from your students, but being part of this circle is a special kind of partnership,” Gehrke said. “Working with them is a way to edify the college and the campus in a way that I wouldn’t be able to just by working in the classroom.” According to Purdy, the honorary hopes to extend its impact beyond the students in the program this year by promoting leadership across campus.“What we realized was that Hillsdale as a campus has a lot of leaders,” Schluet er said. “These are highly driven individuals who want to be better, who want to do better, and who want to serve their community. And so this year for ODK, what we’re trying to do is to tap into the leadership through out campus, not just the people in specific leadership positions or roles. And so we’re hoping to run some talks on leadership that all of campus will be invited to.”Though the honorary has hosted speakers in the past, Gehrke noted that these events will be different. Throughout the semester, ODK plans to present a series of speakers who rep resent leadership in various areas of everyday life includ ing family, education, and business. Schlueter hopes this series will help give Hillsdale students an exam ple of real-world leadership and the resources necessary for“Isuccess.thinkit’s easy, especial ly at Hillsdale, to talk about the abstract ideals and vir tues of leadership,” Schlueter said. “But to have people that are actually living it in their day to day life – we want to recognize those people and put ourselves at their feet to learn from them.”

George Orwell’s “1984,” “Art and Architecture 1600 to 1750” — it is so dry but I read it for pleasure reading — and Homer’s “Odyssey.” When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? An actress. I would say teaching is a performing of sorts. What are some of your all-time favorite pieces of fine art and why? My all time favorite pieces would be The Deposition by Pontormo. It’s in the Cap poni Chapel. I would say the whole Capponi Chapel because it’s part of a whole thing. I can’t just focus on the one piece because it com municates with all the rest of the artwork. Everything Bernini, I can’t pick one. And the Calling of Saint Matthew by Caravaggio. That’s always been one that’s really moved me. What subject would you have studied if not art? I think nothing because if you are so dedicated to some thing it can only be some thing that you truly love. So I just couldn’t imagine doing anything else.

ning on going to seminary af ter graduating and discerned that was not the future, so here I was with these degrees right after graduation and no jobAfterprospects.”deciding to pursue teaching, Nolan reached out to Founders Classical Acade my in Austin, Texas. “A phone interview led to me being offered a job a week later and moving across the country a month later,” he said.Nolan’s time teaching in Austin allowed him to better appreciate living in Hillsdale. “Hillsdale is all about the people,” Nolan said. “I think

Courtesy | Regan Monnin

Courtesy | Regan Monnin Regan and Jordan married on September 11, 2021.

The couple bases their travel schedule off tourna ments to help boost Jordan’s national ranking and pursue his dream of joining the professional circuit. Similar to the amateur versus pro golf circuits, disc golf has differ ent levels depending on your national ranking. With two sponsorships and a growing social media following, Jor dan has a three year plan to increase his brand, skill, and his support system in order to join the professional circuit. Following tournament schedules and finding opportunities for Jordan to play, Regan is continuing her remote job with a publishing company, which requires internet connection five days a week.“Most free campsites don’t come with internet service or WiFi, so we usually stay in Walmart or Cabela’s parking lots overnight,” Regan said. “We’ve had no issues spend ing the night in parking lots, but there are some odd people every once in a while.” As they have headed out west, the couple has noticed more van campers like them. With more national parks and attractions in the west, people who live on the road tend to spend a lot of time at national parks and monu ments.Currently stationed in northern Idaho to visit Re gan’sReganfamily,and Jordan are resting and gearing up for their next adventures in the coming year.

September 8, 2022 B4www.hillsdalecollegian.com

FEATURES Regan and Jordan Monnin travel the country in their 2015 Jeep Wrangler.

“We leave here on the 18th of September and are head ed to Utah for two weeks, and we’re going to see a lot of national parks,” Regan explained. “After that, we’re going to stay in some places for a week at a time, and then in December, we’re heading to either Florida or Texas for an extended period of time.” Going into the disc golf off-season, the Monnins wanted to set up in an area with lots of disc golf courses and opportunities for Jordan to get a part time job to help fund the next leg of their travel.“We’re trying to make and save money when it’s possi ble,” Jordan said. “If we can do that for a couple months whileIcan still practice and im prove, it’s just a smart move. We’re trying to look towards the future and prepare for when we settle down.” But for now, the couple sees no signs of settling down. While they’re young, without any kids or family to look after, they are able to travel across the United States in their Jeep and continue to do the things they’re passionate about. While it’s not always easy, and the drastic change in lifestyle took some serious adjustments, the Monnins wouldn’t give up this oppor tunity for anything. “It’s definitely difficult ad justing to life without a home base or stability, and people think we’re crazy for doing this,” Regan explained. “But we’ve seen more friends in the last three months than we did while we were in Cincinnati, and once people see us living like this and in our element, they realize that we’re not that crazy – we’re just having a really great time.”

Courtesy | Regan Monnin

Married alumni call a Jeep Wrangler home

By Megan Williams Culture Editor Usually, hopping in a car and traveling across the country is an experience reserved for truckers and retirees, but for 23- and 24-year-old Hillsdale alumni Regan and Jordan Monnin, it’s just their way of life. Road tripping across the state of Michigan for their honeymoon in September 2021, the newlyweds devel oped a love for life on the road and struggled to accept the monotony that came with a 9-to-5“Sleepingjob. and camping and living in the Jeep on our honeymoon was so much fun, and we absolutely loved it,” Regan said. “When we got back to Cincinnati, we realized the city wasn’t the best thing for us, so we were loosely talking about going on the road for months.” The Monnins explained that they eventually hit a breaking point in December and they needed to get out of the city. They began attending RV shows, looking at vans, and trying to find the best option for how to get on the road. With the price of vehi cles at an all time high, the couple realized they couldn’t afford to sell everything just to purchase a van, and they came to the same solution. “I came home from work one day and told Jordan that we should live in his Jeep,” Regan explained. “He told me he had been thinking the same thing, so we decided to do Theirit.”

2015 Jeep Wran gler required some extra love, care, and equipment in order to be road trip ready, so Regan began researching, watching YouTube videos, and following other “van-life” influencers online. “It took two months of research and three months of building the Jeep and getting it ready,” Regan said. “Our apartment’s lease ended in May, so our goal was to be on the road by June 1.” Upgrading their Jeep required a new roof rack to hold their tent, an outdoor kitchen setup, auxiliary lighting, a rear bumper with a water carrier and tire holder, and ladders to climb on top of the vehicle. In order to create room for storage inside the car, the Monnins took out the back seats and replaced that space with shelving to hold their food, tools, and personal belongings.Withallthe necessary tools and extensions to make the Jeep their home for the fore seeable future, the Monnins set off on the road, spending their first night in Defiance, Ohio, and the next month in the state of Michigan.

Regan and Jordan Monnin travel the country, playing disc golf and sharing their adventures online

Courtesy | Regan Monnin Jordan gears up for a skillful disc golf throw.

The couple began docu menting their new lifestyle on social media, with Insta gram and TikTok accounts dedicated to their journey. Regan, the hand behind the videos, details the monotony, the highs and lows, and the odd questions that people think of, like “Where do you shower?” and “How can you afford all this?” “I started social media ac counts for fun and it turned into a really nice way for friends to follow us around, as well as highlighting the cool stuff we get to do,” Regan explained. “Jordan can make disc golf videos, post his photography, and I even had a video go viral on TikTok.” Jordan, the mechan ic, facilities manager, and driver, spends his time taking care of Regan and the Jeep and competing in disc golf tournaments throughout the country. As an avid, compet itive ultimate frisbee player in high school and college,

Historic Mt. Rushmore was one of the couple’s many stops.

Courtesy | Regan Monnin Before beginning, the couple prepped their Jeep for long-term travel.

Jordan has been involved in the frisbee world for years. After injuring his shoulder and back during his junior year of college, Jordan picked up disc golf as a more relax ing way to continue his love for frisbee. During COVID, it was one of the few activities he could constantly partici pate in, and he developed a real skill for the sport. “There were still leagues and tournaments all during COVID, and I just kept getting better and better at it,” Jordan said. “When Regan and I were discussing going on the road, she asked if I wanted to play disc golf professionally, and I realized it was something I thought I would really enjoy.”