Collegian 3.28.2024

Hillsdale student defends vaccine consent age in Vermont Senate

By Ameera Wilson Coll E gian rE port E r

Children should not be able to receive vaccines without parental consent, said sophomore Alya MacManaway to the Vermont state Senate. MacManaway, a student from Vermont, spoke up against a bill which would allow minors to receive vaccinations without parental permission.

“I have been involved with the Health Freedom movement through my family for a long time and when my mom suggested that I go with her to testify I thought why not?” she said. This bill specifically referred to vaccines for sexually transmitted diseases for minors of 12 years or older.

“Not only would the parents not be informed of any preventative measures taken, but both the medical professionals and insurance companies would be required to actively hide this information from parents,” MacManaway said.

MacManaway argued minors are not qualified nor knowledgeable enough to understand the risks involved with these vaccines.

“A minor is neither equipped to make an informed medical decision, nor deal with the consequences of that decision,” she said.

Minors could be pressured to participate in medical pro-

cedures without protection of parents, according to MacManaway, referencing consequences of a bill passed in Washington, D.C.

“A similar bill was passed in D.C. in 2022, and during the process of repeal, a 12 year old’s experience of being coerced through peer pressure to take an unwanted vaccine was cited,” MacManaway said. “I have a serious concern that if this section of S151 goes onto the books, it will open up similar coercion in my home state.”

Madison Gilbert, a sophomore, said she agreed with MacManaway’s sentiment and added that this is both damaging to parental responsibilities and children’s innocence.

”By passing this bill, they are undermining their parents’ authority for their child, and giving children an option for this reinforces the idea that they could have sex,” Gilbert said.

Sophomore Rebekah Preston said this bill is a slippery slope.

“I think that passing a bill like that would raise the danger of parents’ consent in other areas, including gender changing surgeries,” Preston said.

MacManaway emphasized the danger of the bill but also encouraged young people to come forward with opinions, regardless of perceived difficulties.

See Senate A2

Jack Gohlke upsets March Madness, sets 3-point record

By Alex Deimel assistant EDitor

When Hillsdale graduate

Jack Gohlke ’23 stepped off the court following his team’s upset victory over the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the NCAA basketball tournament, the sixth-year senior for the Oakland University Golden Grizzlies had just etched his name in the record books.

His 32 points on 10 3-pointers and two free throws on the night of March 21 made him not only the fifth player ever to score 10 three-point shots in an NCAA tournament game, but they briefly made him the most celebrated athlete in the country. His 16 3-pointers were the most over a two game span in NCAA tournament history.

The Wall Street Journal called the Charger alumnus with a degree in accounting a “newly-minted March Madness hero.” The Athletic dubbed him “the NCAA Tournament hero we never saw coming.” The New York Times described him as “a 24-year-old graduate student with a widow’s peak and the same regard for shot selection as a gunslinger busting through saloon doors.”

The loss to the Wolfpack ended Gohlke’s college basketball career. But this final year with the Golden Grizzlies is only a small part of a storied career.

“I just want to give so much credit to my Hillsdale coaches and Hillsdale teammates for believing in me and also peo-

Although Gohlke and the Golden Grizzlies lost in overtime to the North Carolina State Wolfpack two days later, Gohlke’s star continued to rise. The Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year award winner has surpassed 70,000 social media followers, appeared on multiple national sports media shows, and already obtained his own lineup of brand deals.

Bob Flynn retires after 46 years at WCSR

By Lauren Scott City nEws EDitor

The voice of Hillsdale will go silent tomorrow, at least on the airwaves, when Bob Flynn of WCSR retires after 46 years. “It’s been a wonderful ride,” Flynn said. “I have enjoyed every minute of it.”

Flynn started working part time at WCSR the summer after his sophomore year at Hillsdale High School, which was in 1978. He started working full time in 1986.

ple back home [in Pewaukee, Wisconsin],” Gohlke told The Athletic after Oakland’s upset of Kentucky.

The Pewaukee High School alumnus finished his senior year by defeating current Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro just before graduating, ultimately ending Herro’s high school career. “I used to play against him two or three times a year in high school,” Gohlke said.

“There were so many battles between our teams. Thankfully, we got the last laugh at the end of high school, but he’s got like $100 million in the bank now, so I think he really got the last laugh in the end.”

Flynn covers the news and announces birthdays on air, but he said he doesn’t have particular segments.

Flynn said his father, Dale Flynn, worked at WCSR in the 1950s. “I would tag along with him and come down and watch him be on the radio and he’d let me do little things like find records for him, gather some of the news for him, things like that,” he said. “And I thought, ‘Well, this is cool. He gets paid for talking. I could do that.’”

“There’s no set structure to my program and I find that most fun,” he said.

Flynn said the best part of his job is that when he sits behind the microphone, he never knows what will happen.

Aaron Petersen, Hillsdale College dean of men, said Flynn has been a blessing to Hillsdale.

“Bob truly has been the voice of Hillsdale,” Petersen said. “When I came back to work for the college, I would hear him on the radio during the week and at church doing the readings on the weekend.”

Flynn often reads during Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.

Flynn said he believes it is time to retire because of the direction WCSR and radio in general is headed.

“We’re getting more into digital advertising,” he said. “We’re getting more into the social media aspect of things. And I understand, that’s the way the industry is going. I don’t want to go with it. You either adapt or die. I understand that completely.”

See Flynn A7

Q&A: Markowicz reflects on threats to American freedom

By Elyse Apel Digital E D itor

Karol Markowicz is the 2024 Eugene C. Pulliam Visiting Fellow in Journalism. She is a weekly columnist at the New York Post and Fox News, a contributor at Spectator World, and a contributing writer to Washington Examiner magazine. She recently published her first book: “Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation.”

Where are you from and where do you live? I was born in the Soviet Union and raised in Brooklyn. I very publicly moved to Florida two years ago, with my three kids and my husband. Being born in the Soviet Union and coming to America as a small child has made me appreciate, every single day, being an American. I know how easily my life could have gone a different way, and I’m so grateful to be here. Our family celebrates our yearly Americaversary, July 20, and it’s a really big deal —

bigger than birthdays. It’s the day we got free!

Why did you move from New York to Florida?

We moved during COVID-19 because I thought New York’s COVID policies were absurd and we wanted a better life for our kids. I refer to it as moving toward freedom because that’s what we should be doing — moving toward freedom — and Florida is far more free than New York.

What do you think of Hillsdale College and its students?

What has surprised you?

The students at Hillsdale are so smart, well spoken, well put together, and just impressive in every way. Campus is full of joy. Everybody seems in such a good mood, which is not standard for college campuses. You hear all these stories about how unhappy everybody is on a college campus, and Hillsdale really is the opposite of that.

Aerial photo shows

Bob Flynn smiles behind the mic at the WCSR station. l auren Scott | c ollegian

Jack Gohlke played basketball for Hillsdale before transferring to Oakland University where he led the Grizzlies to an upset victory over No. 3 seed University of Kentucky in the first round of March Madness.

c larence r ound | o akland athletic S

Documentary students travel to New York, interview Kat Timpf International Club highlights the

cultures of Hillsdale

By Alessia Sandala Collegian Repo R te R

The Hillsdale International Club showed Hillsdale College the world at its annual cultural fair on March 23.

Students presented tables on Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, Haiti, Ireland, Japan, Kenya, the Netherlands, Poland, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

“This is a tradition of the International Club that we have every spring semester,” sophomore and International Club president Caué Basso said.

“The main goal is to showcase all the different cultures and countries we have here on campus, because although the international student population is small, we still have several countries represented.”

The tables included posters, pictures, and food that described important characteristics of the country’s culture. The Korean table included a traditional Korean children’s game called Ddakji in its display. The game is played with a specially folded piece of paper placed on the floor. Each player then throws another folded piece of paper at the one on the floor in an attempt to flip it over.

“I decided to have this game here because not only do Koreans know about this but now a lot of foreigners do also because the game was played in ‘Squid Game.’ So, I feel like it’s cool to let a lot of people try it in person,” freshman Alex Cho said.

According to Basso, the fair provides students with international backgrounds the opportunity to talk about their country and culture.

“It is the opportunity we have once a year to talk about our countries and to show people our culture and our traditions because the world is much bigger than the United States,” Basso said.

Basso said that when the International Club plans the event, they hope to get as many international students involved as possible.

“We have board meetings to organize everything and then we reach out to all the international students asking if they can do the table for their countries,” Basso said. “We highlight the importance of representing their countries because not enough people are aware of how things are in the rest

of the world. I am from Brazil and there are people who think that in Brazil we speak Spanish, which is absurd.”

Basso said students do not have to be from another country to participate.

“You don’t have to be an international student to be involved. Most students doing things here are not from another country but they have some international background,” Basso said. “Their parents might be from somewhere in Asia or Europe or if they lived in another country for some time.”

Sophomore attendee Emily Schutte said the club brings an important awareness of the world to Hillsdale. “In America we are such a conglomeration of peoples and so sometimes we forget about our heritage,” Schutte said.

Sophomore International Club treasurer Ashlyn Linton said the club not only highlights the cultures that make up Hillsdale but provides a welcoming environment for international students.

“When I came here, I was immediately welcomed by International Club with a welcome basket that was delivered to my room. So I had sheets and I had other essentials,” Linton said. “There was also a card in the basket that hooked me up with a host family. If I ever needed any help, I could go to them.”

But the International Club helps international students acclimate beyond welcome packages.

“International Club does some really cool things. We help international students get visas and help them get social security numbers if they need to work in America,” Linton said. “We also have speakers come in throughout the year and several fun events like today to share different cultures with the school.”

Basso said the amount of international students on campus has been increasing, and he hopes the International Club will grow as well. “Two years ago we had eight new freshmen that were international,” Basso said. “Last year we had 15. So this year we should have even more than 15. It’s increasing every year.”

Senate from A1

“When I testified, I was probably the youngest in the room by at least 15 years, and unfortunately, I think this can be very characteristic of politics,” MacManaway said. “It is not that we as young people don’t care about these issues, but most of us either don’t want to get directly involved or don’t know how.”

MacManaway said testifying is important in order to give the Senate knowledge of the public opinion. “I think as constituents we can get angry at our legisla-

Karol Markowicz exposes consequences of ‘wokeness’

Damaged children are easier to control, said author and New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz in a speech on campus Tuesday.

Markowicz is the author of “Stolen Youth: How Radicals are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation,” which was the main subject of her talk. Her book, co-authored with Deseret News columnist Bethany Mandel, covers the reported realities of how “woke” ideas are infiltrating schools and influencing children. Markowicz, who is on campus as the Eugene C. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Journalism, said she defines “woke” as “leftism meets forced conformity.”

The book and her talk drew comparisons between what’s happening in America today to what has happened in totalitarian societies throughout history. Markowicz was born in the Soviet Union and, though she moved to America as a child, said she has heard stories from her family about the horrors of the Soviet regime. She said COVID lockdowns, which she experienced while living in New York City, made her realize the similarities between America today and the Soviet Union then.

“COVID exposed the totalitarian streak, the way the left was willing to say or do anything for the cause,” she said.

She moved her family to Florida in 2020.

“What I saw happen to New York during the pandemic re-

Q&A from A1

tors for not understanding our opinions and championing our specific concerns, but if we don’t tell them what these are, how could they ever do this?” she said. MacManaway claimed if people do not speak up, the consequences of laws are on them as well as their legislators. “Their job is to represent their communities, if we do not tell them what we think, then they cannot represent us properly,” she said. “As a community member, if I don’t voice my concern, that is on me.”

How did you become a journalist?

I really loved writing, and I had a blog, and it took off from there. I always really enjoyed writing but never thought it was something I could do as a career. And the fact that I get to do that is amazing to me every single day.

What inspired you to write “Stolen Youth: How Radicals Are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation” with your co-author Bethany Mandel?

“Stolen Youth” is about all the ways children are targeted for indoctrination. It’s not just

sponse and the way New Yorkers just accepted it drove us out,” she said. “You couldn’t see your family. Your kids couldn’t go to school. But the medical field joined together to endorse the George Floyd riots. That’s very specifically what happens in totalitarian societies: rules can and are bent for friends of the regime. The hypocrisy is not an accident.”

She said New York’s reaction to COVID showed that her children were not free to be children.

“We refer to our move to Florida as a move toward freedom, and it was for us all,” she said. “But the main point was to save our children, preserve their childhoods, and give them the life that we used to imagine could be had anywhere in America but found it could not.”

Markowicz said using children is an important part of a totalitarian system.

“I often say the left wants to tear us apart, and I get asked, ‘why would they want to do that?’” she said. “Because damaged children are easier to control. Cutting the parent out is important and it has been done in many totalitarian societies that we cover in the book.”

She discussed specific examples of what schoolchildren experience today.

“They’ve made protesting part of the experience of schooling,” she said. “When we lived in Brooklyn, the public schools had the kids march against climate change, against guns, against, vaguely, ‘hate,’” she said. “They’re turning kids into child soldiers for the cause.

schools. It’s happening at the library, at the doctor’s office, in the media they consume, and so on. We needed to make sure people knew the whole picture and what to do about it. The book was born because we were constantly sending each other stories and realized the pattern.

In the current political and cultural environment what are you writing about the most?

I always like writing about culture because I think what is going on in culture is so much more interesting than what is going on in politics. Andrew Breitbart said it best that “politics is downstream from culture.” I write a lot about what is

And parents are letting it happen because they’re too afraid to say no.”

People can’t argue with children, Markowicz said, so they are the perfect instrument for leftists to put their ideas forth without any personal responsibility.

“Leftist activists realized they could dodge the basic responsibility in any debate of providing reasoned and well articulated disagreement if they could simply defer to a child as a substitute,” she said. “That way, disagreement with their position equals hating children and the media supported them in this effort entirely.”

Markowicz said you can’t let them use your children and offered a solution: to make the abuses against them clear to all, especially parents.

“The people who lived through those times in the Soviet Union and Cambodia and China can maybe say they did not know. We wrote the book so that in 20 years no one in America can say they didn’t know,” she said. “We know what is being done to children. We have cataloged it and proved it and we have to stop it.”

The issue is that it’s hard to put forth ideas that are against the mainstream, Markowicz said. She discussed the difficulty she and her co-author had even getting “Stolen Youth” published. The fear of speaking out combined with the difficulty of convincing people that these things are actually happening is the main barrier to effecting change, she said.

“When I talk to regular liberals, not activists, they know

going on with our young people. I just think it is so important to focus on the messages they are getting and the ideas that are being sold to them. We need to challenge those ideas. I also write a lot about anti-semitism, especially after Oct. 7. Recently, I’ve written about the border a lot because I think that is the absolute central issue. And I think it has a lot to do with our culture that we are not doing anything about what is going on at the border.

Since the attack on Israel, what has been your experience as a Jew in America?

It’s been really tough since Oct. 7, but I have a lot of faith in America. I am an American first, so I feel secure here. Be-

this is crazy. They acknowledge that kids being asked to keep secrets from their parents is insane,” she said. “They’re afraid to act or speak up because they’re afraid of being targeted. But this is exactly how forced conformity wins.”

She said the gulags only existed in Soviet Russia for 30 of the regime’s 69 year lifespan. But their consequences — the stifling of speech, the fear of constantly-changing laws, the censorship — have persisted to the present day.

The solution to the forced conformity of wokeness in America is to fight in any way possible, Markowicz said.

Beth Dobrozsi, a longtime educator, said Markowicz’s ideas spoke to her even though she doesn’t have school-aged children.

“My four children are grown, the youngest is here, but there are takeaways, I think, regardless of your age. I can identify with a lot of what she said,” she said.

Her husband Doug Dobrozsi, laboratory director at Hillsdale College, attended the talk too.

“Her talk reinforced things I already thought or had hunches about,” he said. “It illuminated what I would call deeper, more detailed aspects of what I was aware of and, in a sense, was encouraging because just the fact that she’s telling her story and she’s fighting on the good side is encouraging.”

ing an American has been an absolute privilege. I came to this country when I was little, and I remember every day that it could have gone differently. In the time since October, I’ve just been reminded of how lucky I am and how not everyone around the world gets this lucky.

What advice do you have for Hillsdale students? Take the culture of Hillsdale with you wherever you go because you guys have a really good thing going here on campus.

Kat Timpf (third from the left) graduated from Hillsdale College in 2010. Buddy Moorehouse | Collegian

By Maddy Welsh SenioR editoR

Attendees of the cultural fair pose for a photo. Courtesy | Caué Basso

Students test their luck at SAB Casino Night

By Carly Moran a ssistant eD ito R

Students practiced their poker faces at the Casino Night hosted by the Student Activities Board last Friday.

The event featured poker tables, roulette, blackjack, and Texas hold ’em.

“I actually thought it was a really nice mellow event,” junior and creative team member Phoebe VanHeyningen said. “We had some nice ‘Great Gatsby’ music playing and almost everyone showed up in formal attire, which was really fun. Sometimes you’d hear riotous applause in the room, but mostly it was just people playing and having fun. I think it was a really nice way to scratch the itch for something like gambling.”

VanHeyningen said the SAB team was partly inspired by the 2021 President’s Ball casino theme, which some seniors at the event remembered.

While some students came to learn how to play, others like sophomore Cara Soli already knew some of the rules.

“I only played poker because I know the game and I enjoy it, so it seemed like the best way to play poker without actually losing any real money,” Soli

said. “I watched many rounds of roulette to enjoy the thrill of it without losing chips to pure chance.”

Students received $300 in fake money at the door and could play as long as their funds lasted.

“I decided to show up after my friend Nick Barrows invited me,” sophomore Nick Bass said. “I didn’t actually know that the event was going on that night but it ended up being really fun. My favorite game was definitely roulette. I stayed there for most of the time and ended up win-

ning a decent amount — fake money of course. Shout out to Abby for being a great dealer.”

The event ended up being much more popular than the SAB team expected, to the point they had to call in extra help.

“We had students deal because we wanted to add another table because there were so many people there,” VanHeyningen said.

Soli said she was glad she attended.

“The decorations, the sparkling juice, and the casino tables really made the casino vibe feel

real and authentic, whereas the formal attire created an atmosphere which helped to further the experience of a fancy casino night,” Soli said. “Overall it was wonderfully planned and put together.”

Students who enjoyed the inaugural event can fill out a survey in the Student Activities Office newsletter VanHeyningen said the more positive reviews received, the more likely the event will return in the 2024-2025 academic year.

Sigma Delta Pi to offer campus a taste of Venezuelan culture

By Christina Lewis Collegian RepoRteR

Hillsdale students can get a taste of arepas at the Venezuelan culture night on April 4.

The event, organized by Sigma Delta Pi, will take place in the Old Snack Bar. Associate Professor of Spanish Víctor Carreño said his wife, María Eugenia de Carreño, will teach two arepa — or cornmeal cake — cooking classes.

The first cooking class will start at 7 p.m., followed by another at 7:30 p.m. Although both cooking classes are full, students and faculty are wel-

come to try the food once it is cooked. The arepas will be served with carne mechada — shredded beef — and reina pepiada — an avocado and cilantro chicken salad. Attendees do not need to know Spanish in order to come to this event, according to Lecturer in Spanish Amanda Stechschulte. At 8 p.m., attendees will watch an excerpt from the documentary “The Twilight of Magical Socialism,” which covers the Venezuelan Bolivarian Revolution. After the showing, Victor Carreño will talk about his experience living in Venezuela and life under socialism.

Victor Carreño said he lived in Venezuela under the Hugo Chávez and Maduro regimes before immigrating to America in 2018. Chávez came to power in 1999 when he won the democratic elections. It was only after Chávez was elected that he outlined his socialist agenda, according to Carreño.

“The government called it ‘socialism of the 21st century’ because they wanted to convince people that they were going to do something new from previous experiences,” Carreño said. “But Chávez repeated many experiments of the past

that failed.”

When international oil prices fell in 2014, the Venezuelan government required companies to freeze their prices. This resulted in smuggling, hyperinflation, and an economic crash in Venezuela, according to Carreño.

“Even an arepa is a luxury food under the Maduro regime,” Carreño said.

This event is a good opportunity for students to learn about Venezuela, Stechschulte said.

“We’re so grateful that he’s willing to share his experiences with our students,” Stechschulte said.

Don Tocco to offer clubs funding,

speak on ‘arete’

By Nathan Furness Collegian F R eelan C e R Businessman

Don Tocco will speak to Hillsdale students about the lifelong pursuit of “arete’” on April 11.

Tocco began the annual Tocco Challenge in 2002 where he sponsored athletic competitions against Hillsdale students and gave $25,000 to the winning dorm or Greek house.

Since 2014, the long-time donor has regularly visited campus to speak to all students, often using “arete” as the center of his talks. Tocco’s speech in April will explore the biblical and Greek definitions of the word “arete,” which means excellence of performance and behavior.

“I wanted to offer the school another tool, a tool of inspiration and insights into real-world experience,” Tocco said.

Sophomore Patrick Hamilton said he thinks Tocco will offer an opportunity for students to learn more about how they should approach the search for excellence in whatever they do.

“Tocco does a great job showing off excellence in different areas, whether it be mental or physical,” Hamilton said.

As a long-time motivational speaker, Tocco said he hopes his message will reach many of the younger students who may not have heard it before.

“It is important for many of the freshmen and sophomores who didn’t hear me speak last year, who might not know about the 22 years of my Tocco Challenge,” he said.

This year Tocco will focus on the personal actions needed to achieve “arete.”

“Being on the road to ‘arete’ is becoming your best

self compared to nobody else, especially in character and virtue,” Tocco said.

His talk will challenge students to live out these qualities in their everyday lives.

“It’s an action and a lifestyle,” Tocco said, “and once we get on that road to ‘arete,’ we begin to develop skill sets that lead us to discover our God-given talents.”

Tocco said he will emphasize the five pillars that are crucial to one’s pursuit. The pillars include a desire for change, personal goals and objectives, faith in oneself and in God, determination, and courageous action.

“The pillars are the foundational elements that are essential to employ as we move toward excellence,” Tocco said. “There are five key things — imperatives — and without them, the task is daunting.” Tocco hopes to highlight the successful examples of people who pursued “arete.”

“I will be going into great detail on those five elements, and I will be using examples of friends of mine who are global leaders and how they used these elements in their own success, which can be emulated,” Tocco said.

Hamilton, who has met Tocco previously, said his advice resonated with his desire to understand how he should measure success in his life.

“Tocco taught me that success is measured in your relationship with God and that excellence in life stems from God,” he said.

Tocco said he wants students to understand that his principles can and will lead them to whatever they would like to do in life.

“You don’t have to be a global leader, but you can achieve that if you want to,” Tocco said.

Roundtable discussion takes feminism back to its roots, offers hope for the future

By Ally Hall Design eDitoR

What good has come from feminism?

“I would just put it simply: half of my students,” Associate Professor of History Matthew Gaetano said.

Catherine Sims Kuiper, assistant professor of education, led a roundtable discussion about feminism March 26 featuring Gaetano, Professor of Philosophy and Religion Nathan Schlueter, homemaker and CanaVox Assistant Academic Director Elizabeth Schlueter, Associate Professor of English Elizabeth Fredericks, and Assistant Professor of Theology Cody Strecker. The event included a moderated Q&A.

“I will clarify at the outset that we are asking most broadly about the advocacy for women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes, but note that this advocacy has developed over time,” Kuiper said. “It has responded to different needs and sometimes gone by different names.”

After defining feminism and giving a short overview of the movement’s historical “waves,” the panelists were first asked “what good or goods have come from or been pursued by feminism?”

Gaetano grounded the roundtable in Hillsdale College’s legacy regarding women’s access to co-educational higher education institutions. Hillsdale College was the second college in the nation to admit women in 1844, following Oberlin College in 1837. Ivy League institutions like Brown and Columbia didn’t admit women into undergrad-

uate classrooms until 1971 and 1983.

Among many other examples, Gaetano ended with suffrage advocacy in Hillsdale College’s administration.

“Joseph Mauck, the sixth president of Hillsdale College, was printed in the New York Times as a prominent American advocating women’s suffrage,” Gaetano said. “I think this is all part of the heritage of this institution. We should be wrestling with this all a bit more than we sometimes do.”

The panelists then answered the question, “what does feminism have to do with men, and does feminism have anything to do with the flourishing of men, specifically?”

Strecker provided examples of “toxic masculinity” tracing all the way back to Augustine of Hippo’s “The City of God” as well as the Roman emperor Claudius. He noted a distinction between masculinity rooted in force, pride, and envy versus a concept of masculinity based on loving service. “Feminist theologians and scholars can help us see that there is a one picture of force, pride, and envy in masculinity,” Strecker said. “And in total contrast to that is the other love which Augustine names: the love of the City of God. This is not dominating lust, but loving service. It is a picture of strength and power used not to be over or cause another to submit, but rather to in strength, receive and give in a true vision of lordship of the true lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Strecker encouraged Christian men to explore this type of masculinity.

“I think it calls for a kind of desire of Christian men to be feminists of a kind, to exercise this love and service in relation to other people, including women, who they want to see flourish,” he said. “Loving service, this alternative love, is not then it seems a threat to true masculinity, even if it is calling out a false kind.”

Nathan Schlueter stated that although modern feminism has had a “corrosive influence in our culture,” the response of anti-feminists has been damaging as well.

“I tend to place more blame on the men for a lot of the state of affairs we’re in right now,” Nathan Schlueter said. “Failures of men to stand up, be manly, and be real men. I think men blaming feminism is just unmanly. Real men don’t blame. They don’t blame everyone for their trouble — they instead seek to overcome and to stand up.”

Elizabeth Schlueter discussed the power dynamics at play in progressive feminism and how healthy marriage culture benefits both men and women.

“Men are really suffering today,” Elizabeth Schlueter said. “Part of that blame does fall at the feet of modern, progressive second-wave feminism, but women are also suffering because of that feminism. It is no longer pro-woman at all. If women can truly flourish, men can flourish too. It’s not that women flourishing takes a power piece of the pie away from men. I think having healthy marital norms is one of the keys. It’s not a transfer of power.”

The third question focused on feminism’s relationship to

Christianity. Fredericks explored certain traits that Christianity and feminism share and how they can each hold the other to a higher standard.

“I consider how many key Christian virtues such as hospitality and self-sacrificial care are skills or gifts that we often see or characterize as inherently feminine in nature,” Fredericks said. “So tapping into feminist thought at times can help us to be better Christians — more generous, more hospitable, more charitable, and more cooperative. I think tapping into Christianity is one of the various directives that helps feminism from turning into a system of thought that just gives women permission to behave badly

in the same way men historically often have.”

To round out the event, the panelists were asked which feminist thinkers had shaped them before leading into audience questions. The audience brought up questions about the relationship between career and motherhood, manosphere influencer culture, and how best to interact with feminist thought both inside and out of classrooms.

One student in attendance, sophomore Tully Mitchell, said she wouldn’t consider herself a feminist. Tully explained that she struggled with her cultural encounters with feminism at large, but liked how Hillsdale framed marriage, family, and

motherhood.

“The panel was really well balanced and refreshing,” Mitchell said. “The professors who portrayed feminism positively while also affirming the differences between men and women.”

Senior Sydney Davis, the secretary of the Hillsdale College Democrats club, said she had no reservations going to the discussion.

“These people are our professors, but they’re also mothers and fathers,” Davis said. “They’re members of the community. I knew they weren’t going to get up there and bash anything. I thought it was really great.”

Students and speakers gathered in the Hoynak Room for the roundtable discussion. Ally H A ll | Collegi A n

The Student Activities Board set up a casino in the Formal Lounge last Friday for students to try their hand at a variety of games. Courtesy | e rik t eder

Opinions

By Elizabeth Troutman editor-in-Chief

Holy Week is a time to remember the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and celebrate his resurrection — and a perfect occasion for students to stay on campus.

I have stayed on campus every Easter break that I have been a student at Hillsdale, and the decision to stay for my final Easter was a no brainer, as the long weekend is one of the highlights of my freshman, sophomore, and junior years. When I graduate in May, my Easter memories will be the ones I most cherish.

Without the stress of homework, classes, extracurriculars, or meetings, Easter break gives students three and half days — half of Friday and all of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday — to attend Holy Week services, spend time with friends, and explore the surrounding area. On Easter break, I enjoy play-

ing tennis, hammocking at Baw Beese Lake, and taking long walks with friends in the spring weather. With more time available, Easter is the perfect opportunity to cook and share meals with friends. There is even enough time to drive to nearby cities, like Ann Arbor or Holland. Students who stay for break find themselves with obligation-free days, something which is typically scarce on campus. Those who choose to stay in town for Easter can attend Holy Week services at any number of churches in the area. For instance, College Baptist holds a Maundy Thursday service, a Good Friday service, an Easter sunrise service, and a 10:45 Easter service. St. Anthony’s offers a Holy Thursday Mass, a Good Friday service, Stations of the Cross, and a Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Mass. Because I spend nine months out of the year attending my church in Hillsdale, I enjoy

Devil’s Advocate with Claire Gaudet

Casual dating is the best way to find

I planned weddings with three different men before meeting my fiancé. No, I’m not a serial runaway bride. Or a polygamist. I’ve just fallen in love before.

My wedding to my first boyfriend — which I planned at the ripe age of 15 — was going to be an intimate affair because of our shared teenage hatred for everyone. My second wedding to my boyfriend of two and a half years was supposed to take place last year — whoops.

Time has taught me that the third wedding was completely delusional, as freshman and senior relationships typically don’t work out.

Thankfully, each of these relationships ended sans wedding. Rather, they all ended with important lessons about which kinds of people I should never marry. This is why casual dating is the best way to “date for marriage.”

People on and off Hillsdale’s campus often turn down dates in the name of “dating for marriage,” meaning they’re turning down experiences which will help them better discern who they want to marry. They focus so specifically on their ideal person that they ignore most dateable people that cross their paths. This is not the way to pick your best possible part-

ner. I’ve learned exactly what I like and dislike thanks to my formative relationships in high school and early college.

For example, I’ve learned I can’t be romantically involved with men who are older than me, men who are eldest siblings, and men who are much shorter than me — despite the fact that these all sounded great to me for a very long time. If I turned down people who deviated from those categories, or even ended up with one, I’d be miserable and never expect it.

You wouldn’t jump in a pool without having learned how to swim, so why promise a lifetime to someone if

a spouse

you’ve never gotten a coffee date? The ability to compare and contrast and build on your past are some of the best tools in a dating arsenal. Don’t ignore them.

So, just go on dates. Go on dates with anyone who doesn’t immediately repulse you. Go on dates with people who aren’t your type. You might get a free dinner, or you might get a husband or wife.

Claire Gaudet is a senior

Stay in Hillsdale this Easter break Construction vs admissions rates

worshiping at that same church with the same people on Easter Sunday. Students have the opportunity to celebrate the resurrection intentionally. They can make their faith their own during this holy time by staying on campus.

Traveling for Easter break, particularly for those who have to fly home, takes away time that could be spent with friends or at church. The drive to the Detroit airport from campus takes an hour and a half, and it is often difficult to find a ride, not to mention the price of gas and plane tickets.

Staying on campus gives students more free time, rather than time in a car or a plane, and saves money. Staying on campus for Thanksgiving is not an option, as the college closes housing, making Easter the only chance students have to celebrate a holiday with their friends on campus with minimal commitments.

On Easter break, a culture of remembrance and joyous celebration replaces Hillsdale’s busy culture. Students have time to sit, talk, and worship together. One year, I had brunch after church in a friend’s backyard at her off-campus house. Around 15 students shared a potluck-style meal and rejoiced together that Jesus is risen. We all contributed to the meal, and enjoyed good food and conversation.

If you choose to stay on campus next Easter break, try to get your homework done in advance so you can spend stress-free time with God and friends. Easter is the most joyous day of the year as we celebrate Jesus Christ defeating sin and death on our behalf, and the best place to celebrate it is on campus surrounded by your favorite people.

‘Gentle parenting’ is a disservice to your children

By Anna Broussard Collegian reporter

From my experience as a nanny working for millennial parents, who raise their kids with the philosophy of gentle parenting, the result is disastrous in rendering well-behaved kids.

The “gentle parenting” model has become a social media buzzword. This technique is built around boundaries, empathy, and understanding. The purpose is to aid your child in navigating the overwhelming emotions they may experience.

According to an article on “the benefits of gentle parenting” from BetterHelp, an online therapy service, this parenting approach has grown more popular through social media, especially among millennial parents.

I have worked as a nanny for many years, and a family I worked for held to the principles of gentle parenting and expected me to do the same.

The parents explained that they did not discipline their kids, but rather used gentle parenting methods for conflicts.

Immediately, alarms went off in my head when I considered what “not disciplining their children” meant in practice.

I quickly came to find out that gentle parenting for this family was entirely based on communication. This meant for every negative or positive emotion one of the kids had, I would walk through it with them.

I became the emotional regulator for three children under age 8. Rather than administering consequences for bad behavior, I found myself trying to reason with a 3 year old having a tantrum after reminding him that throwing blocks at his sister was not kind.

Ultimately, I walked away from that job with hands-on experience as a part-time gentle parent, and I can confidently say that I do not believe that gentle parenting is the most effective way to raise kids.

From my limited knowledge of parenting, I was still able to see the importance of communicating consequences to children as they get older. When a child has done something objectively wrong, simply talking things through is not the most effective way to ensure a change in behavior. In my case, it actually proved to have the opposite effect, as the 3 year old never really altered his habit of throwing things at his sisters when he was upset. There may be benefits of

transitioning to gentle parenting techniques as kids get older, and communication can be an effective way to parent when kids are capable of rational thinking.

When applied to toddlers and young children, this tactic neglects to teach kids that actions have consequences, and creates a constant need for someone to process their emotions with them.

Gentle parenting requires parents to be fully invested in their children all the time in order to walk kids through strong emotions. This is unrealistic because the natural process of growing up involves kids attending school and spending more time away from their parents.

Obviously, parents cannot expect teachers and caretakers to follow their parenting model that takes a lot of emotional commitment. Gentle parenting is based upon consistency and patience to help navigate changing emotions, which for a 3 year old, can be every two minutes.

When attempted without consistency, gentle parenting produces kids who are poorly behaved. They will lack the ability to emotionally regulate and they will not understand proper consequences to their bad behavior. This is a disservice to a child.

Unfortunately, rejecting gentle parenting can be socially isolating. Parenting methods are always scrutinized, those who do resist the social pressures to gentle parent can be judged as insensitive and unempathetic.

According to BetterHelp, parents who do reject gentle parenting methods are insensitive to their child’s emotional needs. The old parenting model of discipline and an understanding of consequences has been frowned upon as traumatizing or oppressive on social media. The influencer culture of social media has become infatuated with exploring all the ways that our parents raised us “correctly” or “incorrectly.”

Fundamentally, there are benefits to learning emotional processing as a child, but understanding action and consequence is more important for the entirety of a person’s life. Coddling a child will not resolve the ways in which your parents failed in parenting long-term and will produce children far more incapable of living in the real world.

Anna Broussard is a sophomore studying politics and journalism.

By Isabella Helms Collegian reporter

First impressions are crucial.

For prospective students visiting Hillsdale, the sight of construction cranes and the thundering of jackhammers could sway their decisions unfavorably. The construction, albeit temporary and with the promise of educational advancement and facility advancement, could hammer admissions rates.

Fred Schebor, associate senior director of admissions at Hillsdale College, offered insights on the matter.

“I think it’s more of a disruption for current students than it is for prospective students, and the disruption for current students is manageable because they love the college,” Schebor said.

The temporary loss of the quad’s green spaces detracts from the campus’s immediate aesthetic appeal, but it is also a sign of growth and progress — a college that’s actively improving its facilities for future students.

“The people who love what the college stands for will put up with a little bit of dust and mud because that’s not what makes up this place,” Schebor said. “The same thing is true with prospective students: If they are going to be negatively influenced to the point where it affects their decision to consider Hillsdale, then they don’t understand the fabric and ethos of the place.”

The promise of a new, state-of-the-art learning center could very well outweigh the short-term inconvenience of construction, attracting students excited by the prospect of being among the first to benefit from these facilities.

It’s a narrative that, if communicated effectively by admissions counselors and student ambassadors, could resonate with academically driven applicants.

If current students exhibit complacency and speak negatively about the inconveniences construction entails, prospective students’ impressions of Hillsdale could be tainted. That said, the reverse could also be true since students who dwell on the positives can be just as infectious.

Recalling his experience at a school that he worked at nearly five decades ago, Schebor described how tour guides would routinely field complaints about the unpleasant smell in the biology labs, which stemmed from the use of ether for animal anesthesia during minor surgeries.

“We corrected that in a big hurry,” Schebor said. “What we want to be saying is, ‘Hey, what you’re smelling is the ether that we use to expose the students to complex systems and animals, and it’s a good thing.”

Just like the adjustment one must make when transitioning from standard to military time, students must learn to perceive this construction phase as a reset — a zeroing out of the old to make way for the new.

If we present ourselves as a community that can adapt and thrive amid the noise of construction, then we are not just selling a college experience — we are showing prospective students how Hillsdale lives out its motto.

Schebor praised the efforts of student ambassadors in handling inquiries about construction.

“I have not heard any discouraging comments from our ambassadors,” Schebor said. “I mean, Mrs. Lawson has done an outstanding job, and our ambassadors are just awesome. What they’re going to do is they’re going to take this, put a positive face on it, and be energetic and enthusiastic.”

The preservation of Margaret Thatcher and the planning of alternative green spaces during construction suggest a thoughtful consideration of campus aesthetics and student life. These interim measures indicate that the college values student well-being and community, even in times of transition.

“Construction will not have a negative impact on the impression that students get about Hillsdale College, as long as they’re considering Hillsdale for the right reasons,” Schebor said. “It’s a sign of progress, it serves the greater good, it’s going to be beautiful.”

Isabella Helms is a junior studying English and journalism.

studying rhetoric and journalism.

A Professor’s Opinion

Compiled by Jacob Beckwith

“What amenity should Hillsdale add to campus?”

Jordan Wales, Theology

“A pub, interiorly decorated in English style by a classical architect, open between noon and 7 p.m., with a ‘bring your own lunch’ policy (to keep costs down) and containing a faculty-only room in which professors might converse amongst themselves to deepen friendships and nourish minds as did Lewis, Tolkien, and the Inklings of yore at Oxford’s ‘Eagle and Child.’ This would foster greater inter-professor socialization and pay dividends for general well-being as well as imaginative teaching—not because of the drinks, particularly, but because of the regular conviviality and intellectual/personal exchange among professors. Iron sharpens iron.”

Darryl Hart, History

“I’d love to see the creation of a Faculty Club – a place faculty could go for coffee, pastries, light meals, adult beverages (after 5), and read newspapers and popular news magazines. Trinity College Dublin has one of the most pleasant I have experienced. It might seem exclusive and cut faculty off from students. But it could actually bring faculty social life to campus (right now it is mainly off campus), and could become a fascinating or mysterious part of Hillsdale since it would be restricted.”

Why is Hillsdale so meme-able?

By Cassandra Devries SoCial media manager

Hillsdale College is a uniquely meme-able place. With veteran meme pages like Barstooldale and Hillsdank College, as well as newcomers like Logrog Flashback and Fundie_ gyatt, posting on Instagram regularly, there are enough memeable people and groups to support the entire meme ecosystem.

Fundie_gyatt and Barstooldale’s memes largely rely on fraternity weekend habits and the perils of Manning Street, with Barstooldale adding a few memes about the ever-shirtless men of Galloway Residence.

Hillsdank_college features content about some of the college’s out-ofpocket stereotypes, and Log_rogflashback seems more like a sports commentary on the oddities of Hillsdale life.

I direct messaged all four, and we chatted about Hillsdale meme culture.

It is a popular consensus that Hillsdale simply breeds meme potential, and some things are just too ironic and unique not to be memed.

So why, one might ask, is Hillsdale so rife with memeable offenses?

It all boils down to three things, the account managers claim.

First, there is simply not much to do. Boredom sparks creativity, and normal pastimes aren’t really

on the table. People don’t go to the movies and Applebees on a Friday night, so they go to parties or swing club (places which only provide more fodder for memes).

Second, the admissions department is shockingly good at finding shockingly idiosyncratic people. People do things at Hillsdale they would never do in the wild. Men have milk chugging contests, women wear leggings under their jean skirts, and sororities throw date parties in the cafeteria.

Third, our stereotypes put “High School Musical” to shame. Instead of the druggies and the band kids, we have the extreme fundamentalists (fundies) quoting Machiavelli and the ATOs dressed in either baseball caps or Charles Schwab-level suits. We normally have tables filled with visiting donors who are overjoyed to sit in on a core chemistry class. We’ve got athletes, but even they like Aristotle.

Thus, despite an influx of meme accounts this year, I don’t think they are going to run out of content.

I’m convinced that if historians thousands of years from now wanted to understand Hillsdale culture, they would only need to survey the meme pages.

Cassandra Devries is sophomore studying economics and journalism.

Amanda Stechshulte, Spanish

“I would love to see an outdoor prayer space like the University of Notre Dame’s Grotto. It would give students a quiet, reverent place to pray surrounded by nature, and, perhaps, we could even incorporate memorial tiles to remember our beloved Hillsdale dead.

The Arb might be a good place for it, but it should be a quiet place where students know they can find peace.”

Brad Birzer, History

“One of my favorite things from my undergraduate days (at Notre Dame) was our ‘senior bar.’ It was a great pub for anyone over 21. Actually, I’d love a place where faculty and students (of age, of course) could share a beer.”

Anna Vincenzi, History

“An ice skating rink! It would make the long Hillsdale winters so much more enjoyable. And, with public skating hours, it would also be such a valuable contribution to the wider Hillsdale community. We took our kids ice skating a few days ago, and they loved it, but you need to drive to Jackson or Ann Arbor for it.”

Jason Peters, English

“A big hen house with a hundred laying hens and, near it, a vegetable garden mainly for late summer and fall crops. Both would provide meaningful work and good inexpensive food for students. I would also erect an attractive conspicuous sign elegantly inscribed with this quotation from Aldo Leopold: ‘There are two spiritual dangers in not owning a farm. One is the danger of supposing that breakfast comes from the grocery, and the other that heat comes from the furnace.’”

Senior advice: don’t worry about graduating with honors

By Lauren Scott City newS editor

When Hillsdale accepted me in 2020, I knew I wanted to perform well in every aspect of my college life. I planned my academics to graduate in seven semesters, worked at least 10 hours a week between my multiple jobs, and obtained several leadership positions. I will graduate with a B+ average GPA in May.

My one problem: I’m not graduating with honors.

This is not something that I gave much thought to until I heard other classmates discuss their honors. Despite my hard work, my GPA is 0.1 points too low to obtain honors. But upon further reflection, I realized I am glad I won’t be graduating with honors.

The college recognizes a student graduating with honors if his or her GPA is 3.4 or higher. There are also departmental honors, which each department creates requirements for.

Would I be happy to walk across the stage in May with honors? Absolutely. Everyone in the class of 2024 who is graduating with honors should be immensely proud of themselves. It is an outstanding accomplishment that should be applauded.

But when I thought about the sacrifices required for me to have obtained honors, they were not worth it.

Like most Hillsdale students, my time is divided between what seems like one million things. I work three jobs, serve as an editor for The Collegian, have the top leadership position at the student radio station, and belong to a sorority. If I had given up some of these involvements, I could have dedicated more time to my studies — but I didn’t want to.

The experience I have gained from the journalism department at Hillsdale is invaluable. Because of my work at The Collegian, every aspect of my academic life has improved. I spend well over 10 hours a week on Collegian tasks, which include writing and editing articles, attending meetings, and spending nearly the entire day in the Collegian office every Wednesday to design and edit the City News pages. I’m not graduating with honors, but I am a better writer and person because of The Collegian.

My work with Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM is something I am equally grateful for. It has brought me opportunities I never thought I would have, such as getting nominated for awards on a state and national level and

traveling to New York City twice. My writing and speaking has improved in a way I don’t think any class could have helped with because of radio.

I would have had more time to spend on my academics if I didn’t work three jobs, but I don’t regret working. Working at the college call center, career services, and Jitters has given me a great appreciation for my education. With the money I made, I helped pay for my tuition and all of my sorority dues. I’m not graduating with honors, but I appreciate my education more because I paid for it.

Because I wanted to get the most out of my college experience, I chose professors and classes I knew would challenge me, rather than ones I knew would be easy. Some of the most difficult classes remain my favorite ones, even if my grade was not an A. When I took biology with Prof. Angelica Pytel, lecturer in biology, I experienced one of the most difficult classes of my college career. But Prof. Pytel remains one of my favorite professors because of her passion for science, her love for her students, and her kindness. I am forever grateful I had the opportunity to be challenged and humbled through difficult classes. I

might have graduated with honors if I chose the easy classes, but the hard classes challenged and strengthened my perseverance. Some Hillsdale students are able to have a plethora of involvements and still graduate with honors. That is truly wonderful. But if you are someone who gave your all at Hillsdale and still won’t have honors, don’t fret. You were accepted to a school that now has an acceptance rate of 20%. Your school is important enough to be on The New Yorker’s radar. You’re a student at a school now ranked in the top 100 most competitive colleges in the nation, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. That’s reason enough to be proud.

I would never trade any of my experiences to graduate with honors. Because of my involvements and jobs, I have been shaped into a human being much better than the one who was accepted in 2020.

On May 11, I will walk across the graduation stage as a first-generation college student. And it won’t matter what my GPA is.

Lauren Scott is a senior studying history and journalism.

Stop ‘enshrining’ what isn’t sacred

By Therese Boudreaux Collegian FreelanCer

Headline writers have a favorite new buzzword for articles covering abortion legalization, and it’s ruining journalistic integrity.

The Associated Press in February: “New Hampshire Senate rejects enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution.”

Bloomberg Law News in November: “Ohio Voters Enshrined Abortion, But Courts Will Decide its Reach.”

The New York Times on March 4: “French Lawmakers Enshrine Access to Abortion in Constitution.”

The word “enshrine” has two meanings. One means to place something in a physical shrine, a structure regarded as holy. The other definition — used by journalists in these articles — means “to preserve or cherish [something] as sacred,” according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary.

Why do journalists think this verb is appropriate in hard-news pieces covering abortion? They might as well say abortion was “consecrated” in the constitution. It’s a clear case of propaganda. This kind of loaded phrasing seeks to make the reader subconsciously accept that abortion is not just good, but “sacred.” When journalists use the word “enshrine,” it artificially sanctifies the pro-abortion argument. It’s a way of claiming their opinion is true, without having to go through the trouble of proving it.

Rhetoric shapes not just the political sphere, but the way that people think. In George Orwell’s essay “Politics and the English Language,” he warns against this inaccurate usage of words. “[I]f thought corrupts language, language can also corrupt thought. A bad usage can spread by tradition and imitation, even among people who should and do know

better.”

The bare minimum requirement of a journalist is to understand what words mean. So, these journalists either have a second-grade vocabulary — which is unlikely for the majority of them — or they know better, and choose to abuse language anyway.

Although it’s common for pro-abortion journalists to use loaded phrases when covering abortion in the news, they have mostly stuck to secular-humanist rhetoric, with phrases such as “pro-choice,” “reproductive rights,” or “the right to bodily autonomy.” But now, by appropriating religious language, abortion activists are attempting to legitimize their godless arguments using godly authority. Unless pro-abortionists are willing to admit that their ideology is a kind of religion — a religion whose beliefs they are trying to force on the rest of us — they have no business sullying and abusing religious

language.

If journalists are dead-set on using positive terminology when covering a controversial topic, they should at least use words that don’t violate journalistic integrity. The words “legalize,” “protect,” and even “safeguard” are reasonable alternatives. More accurate headlines would read something like “Ohio Voters Legalized Abortion...,” “New Hampshire Senate rejects including abortion...,” and “French Lawmakers Protect Access to Abortion in Constitution.” The fact that the writers chose “enshrine” over these options is proof enough of biased intentions.

People can debate whether abortion is good, bad, or somewhere in between. But abortion is not holy, so stop implying that it is.

Therese Boudreaux is a senior studying politics and journalism

City News

County applies to renew Community Corrections Program

The program has allowed the release of 47 inmates from the Hillsdale County jail

By Logan Washburn Associate Editor

Hillsdale County has released 47 inmates so far this year as part of its Community Corrections Program, according to Community Corrections Manager Mark Katz.

“The goal through community corrections is to not have people sitting in jail that don’t need to be in jail, and to try to reduce the overall prison commitment rate,” Katz said. “It’s trying to help people identify those needs and get involved with whatever programs are going to help them become successful.”

The program aims to reduce the number of inmates in the county jail and the number that go to prison, according to Katz. The program’s funding from the Michigan Department of Corrections runs out Oct. 1, so the county is applying for another grant to carry it until October 2025.

Capt. Jason Stiverson of the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office, who oversees the jail, said the number of arrests in the county has outgrown the size of its jail, causing overcrowding in the last two or three years. The jail can hold a total of 80 inmates, according to the sheriff’s office.

Stiverson said deputies have had to turn away suspects because there was not enough room.

“We will always take the majority of your felony arrests, drunk drivers, domestic violence, and assaultive crimes,” Stiverson said. “But

unfortunately if we’re overcrowded, sometimes we won’t take people that have larceny charges.”

The program, based in the 1st Judicial Circuit Court, launched Jan. 15, according to Katz. He began assessing suspects for pretrial release Feb. 1.

“Community corrections is about pleading risk assessments and making recommendations to the judge as far as bond at arraignment,” Katz said. “Once people come out of jail under whatever capacity – under some kind of bond condition – community corrections works with them to help identify the needs in their life and try to help them get on pace.”

If the program continues assessments at its current rate, it will assess 270 suspects by the time its funding expires in October, Katz said. He had assessed 61 suspects as of March 26, 47 of whom were released from jail and 35 of whom ended up under supervision. He said only one suspect in the program had not shown up to court. Katz said he personally supervises cases with location tracking, alcohol monitoring, or drug testing, and alerts law enforcement to any issues. He hopes to expand the program by including the cost of more supervision technology in the new funding.

Circuit Court Judge Sara Lisznyai wrote the program’s first grant to help supervise suspects, according to Katz.

“Judge Lisznyai wrote this initial grant because once

people are bound over to circuit court, there’s really no entity that provides supervision until after their sentencing,” Katz said. Stiverson said when there is not enough room to house

The overall number of inmates has not yet fallen, according to Stiverson, but the number of people needing space in the jail would be higher without this program.

“This has helped alleviate

“The goal through community corrections is to not have people sitting in jail that don’t need to be in jail, and to try to reduce the overall prison commitment rate.”

inmates, suspects are still cited or assigned court dates. But the sheriff’s office has had to work with judges to reduce sentences, lower bonds, and transfer inmates to other programs like drug recovery houses.

“The community corrections program is a vital program that we’ve needed for quite a while,” Stiverson said. “I’m glad it’s up and going, and we have someone available to monitor people while they’re out waiting for their court process.”

some of our issues, but unfortunately we’re still overcrowded,” Stiverson said.

Many inmates in the jail have been there awaiting trial since before the program launched, according to Katz.

“We’re just now actually starting to catch some of those people as they enter into the circuit court process,” Katz said. “Probably four, maybe six months from now, we’ll have a true indicator.”

Chief Assistant Prosecutor Jamie Wisniewski called overcrowding at the jail a

“long-standing concern.”

“A lot of what it’s doing right now on the front end is relieving some of the overcrowding in the jail system for people who could be safely supervised,” Wisniewski said. “Prioritizing sort of the ‘lesser evil,’ if you will – who has to stay and who has to go –that’s a terrible place to be in. Because no one has a crystal ball.”

When four men from Battle Creek robbed a marijuana shop in Camden, they were released under this program, Wisniewski said. According to the sheriff’s office, the Michigan State Police arrested them Jan. 31.

Eighteen-year-old Jeremiah Javon Smith, 18-yearold Milton Tyler Hudson, 19-year-old Dontay Dequan Banks, and 23-year-old Treshaun Omeirr Boykins each faced four charges, according to the sheriff’s office. The charges included breaking and entering, possession of burglar tools, larceny from a vehicle, unlawful driving away in an automobile, and fleeing and eluding.

The suspects were released for reasons including their young age and that they did not have a “substantial criminal history,” according to Wisniewski. Online records show they are currently in the court process.

“In those circumstances, the individuals we’re dealing with are quite young, they don’t have substantial criminal history,” Wisniewski said. “It’s not like they had a long, lengthy record to refer back

to, so that is one of the factors.” Officials use a manual called Praxis to evaluate suspects for the program, Wisniewski said. The manual assigns points to different criminal history factors to decide if suspects are a “low,” “average,” or “high” risk. Katz declined to comment on this situation, citing MDOC policy. But he said in cases like robberies, the Praxis scale could recommend anything from a personal recognizance bond to release with a geographic tether and a $40,000 to $50,000 fine.

The program aims to set suspects on a good path after they have been arrested, making it difficult for a judge to convict them, according to Katz.

“Our job is to help them paint a different picture of who they are, what they’re about. If we can do that, we’re going to make judges’ decisions very difficult, and that’s our goal,” Katz said. “If somebody comes through on a crime and really turns things around and is making good choices and doing really well, it makes it hard on judges.”

Wisniewski said she thinks the program’s risk assessment is helpful, but not perfect.

“It’s just one factor of many to be considered by the court,” Wisniewski said. “With any tool, there are limitations. It’s important that we’re looking beyond the tool sometimes. So it is helpful, but it is not a replacement for some of the other considerations.”

Hillsdale families react to proposed Michigan homeschool registry

By Elizabeth Troutman Editor-in-Chief

Many of Hillsdale’s homeschool families say they fear that a registry of homeschooled children proposed by the Michigan Department of Education will lead to more attempts by the state government to restrict the educational freedom of families and schools.

“Michigan families have exercised this right unimpeded by the government to the end of many brilliant, well-educated young people,” State Rep. Andrew Fink ’06, R-Hillsdale, told The Collegian. “Home education is a valuable resource, and it is my belief that the recent effort to have the state intervene in it is misguided and imprudent.”

In January, Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Rice asked the legislature to create a bill that would require every student, including private and homeschool students, to be tracked annu-

ally by a government database.

State Rep. Matt Koleszar, D-Plymouth, said on X (formerly known as Twitter) in December that Michigan is one of only 11 states that doesn’t count or register homeschooled children. He claimed abusive parents take advantage of that to avoid being caught.

“It’s time to support all Michigan students and change that,” he said. “Michigan cannot allow this loophole to continue.” Fink said he opposes efforts to register homeschool students because Michigan law guarantees the protection of the parent-child relationship. He addressed the allegations involving a set of abusive homeschooling parents who fostered up to 30 children, which Koleszar used to justify the homeschool registry. “The victims in this case were children already included in the state’s foster registration,” Fink said. “No one has yet answered my question as

to how a homeschool registration would have effectively prevented abuse when another state-operated registration did not. It is a poor and cynical excuse for the government meddling with the thousands of families who have found home education works best for them.”

Elizabeth Schlueter has homeschooled all nine of her children for more than 10 years. She said she is thankful Michigan law respects the rights of parents.

“Currently, Michigan state law is very friendly to homeschoolers, and puts the burden of proof on the state to prove that the child is not being educated at home,” she said. “Parents are not required by law to gain permission from the state in order to homeschool.”

The homeschool registry may be an attempt to circumvent the will of the people as expressed in Michigan law, Schlueter said. As the primary educators of their children, she

said parents should be able to choose their child’s schooling method.

“The real issue here is that the teachers’ unions do not like choices in education,” Schlueter said. “Choices for parents mean that public schools will have to improve in order to compete and keep students. Registering homeschoolers is one step toward putting pressure on unwilling parents to bow to sub-par educational choices.”

Assistant Professor of Education David Diener said he is concerned about the potential bill because parents should have the ultimate authority over and responsibility for their children’s education. Diener and his wife have homeschooled their four children.

“The government is not ultimately responsible for education, and it is dangerous when the government starts to intrude on or control the right that parents have to educate their children as they see fit,”

he said.

The majority of homeschool parents deeply care about their children’s education, Diener said.

“There is in fact a significant amount of data showing homeschoolers to be way ahead of students in government-run schools by all sorts of academic, social, and emotional measures,” Diener said. “So, the political rhetoric in favor of the government’s regulating homeschoolers seems obviously problematic, given that homeschoolers are doing a much better job of educating children than the government is.”

Bob Snyder, pastor of Countryside Church and homeschool dad to his six children, said he homeschools because of the bond it builds between parents and children and the opportunity to teach his children the Bible.

“In God’s organization of society, he set up sphere sovereignty for three institutions— the family, the government,

and the church,” Snyder said. “Each sphere has limited authority under God and each sphere should respect the God-given jurisdiction of the other two spheres.” Wendy Coykendall ’10 was homeschooled by her missionary parents in Ethiopia and now homeschools four of her five children in Hillsdale. She said she would not have a problem with the government knowing that her children are homeschooled, but she would like to know what further information she would be asked to provide.

“There are certain things I don’t care if the government knows,” she said. “I don’t care if the government knows that I educate my children at home. I don’t care if the government knows what type of education they’re receiving. Anything more than that, I would want to consider carefully if I want them to have that information.”

St. Anthony’s to host conference on marriage and sexuality

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

St. Anthony’s Catholic Church is hosting a conference

“On Marriage and Human Sexuality” Saturday, April 6 at the parish.

The Diocese of Lansing Commission on Catholic Social Teaching is supporting this conference to foster “charitable but informative” dialogue on marriage and the family, according to Kelly Cole, the event’s main coordinator.

The conference will begin with Mass at 8 a.m. followed by a light breakfast. The talks will begin at 9 a.m.

“Marriage is often the deciding factor for the stability of our society and happiness and transmitting the Christian faith,” said Elizabeth Schlueter, one of the conference speakers. “We really want to help people at St Anthony’s understand it and live it and to make the point that marriage has social ramifications.”

According to Cole and

Schlueter, the conference will teach attendees how to think and talk about topics such as gender ideology and decline in marriage with their children or those struggling with these teachings. There will be three talks throughout the conference. Cole said Nathan Schlueter, professor of philosophy and religion, will give the first talk titled “Sexuality and Social Justice.” She said the conference was partially inspired by his course, “Philosophy of

Love, Sex, and Marriage.”

Greg and Stephanie Schlueter, Nathan Schlueter’s brother and sister-in-law, will speak on “Becoming His Image: God’s Plan for Marriage.”

According to the church’s advertisement, the couple directs the national Catholic family movement Mass Impact and co-hosts the podcast and radio program “IGNITE Radio Live!”

“Every church is concerned about these things and is in its own way trying to strengthen

marriage and give its members the best information it can,” Elizabeth Schlueter said.

Cole said the conference is open to Catholics and non-Catholics. “When it comes to basic teachings on marriage and family, there’s a lot of common ground among Christians and not shared in the common culture,” Cole said.

Schlueter said she hopes to take “a positive approach of hope” and help people understand and live out the Catholic

Church’s teachings. “We have to be creative about ways of living these teachings. That’s the hopeful part of living in a culture that is opposed to these things,” Schlueter said. “The truth is life-giving and helpful for flourishing, and it’s good news. That’s the silver lining to the struggles we’re all aware of.”

New business to offer color analysis, style expertise

By Megan Li Collegian Reporter

Empowered Image Consulting recently opened in downtown Hillsdale to offer professional personalized color and style consultations for clients.

The business is owned and run by Mindy Shoemaker, a certified Christian image consultant. Shoemaker said she built the business around a method of color analysis developed by the company Style by Color, which offers consultations to customers about the colors and styles that look best on them.

According to Shoemaker, who has been a hairdresser for 30 years, she first found color analysis after making an appointment for the service in Jackson, Michigan. She said she began thinking about getting into the business herself, but she was having trouble finding a suitable company to train with.

“I just prayed about it to God,” Shoemaker said. “‘If you really want me to do this, you’re going to have to bring the company to me because I can’t find what I’m looking for.’”

Shoemaker encountered Color By Style, a Christian-based company out of North Carolina started by Shari Braendel in the early 2000s, through Google. After sending the owner an inquiry and talking with her over Zoom, Shoemaker said she

knew the company was the right fit for her. “I wanted some excitement, something different,” Shoemaker said. “I’ve always loved everything that has to do with beauty and fashion, and this just seemed to be a perfect fit for me.

It’s all been in God’s plan.”

Shoemaker said she offers both color and style analysis consultations, which include a pre-consultation questionnaire to gauge her clients’ expectations. She said she determines the client’s color codes by finding what matches their skin tone, eye color, and contrast level.

Shoemaker also said she finds their signature colors by matching them with six different colors and teaches them how to pair colors up through their personalized code.

Shoemaker also said the appointment also includes instruction on the client’s best jewelry color, stone color, star style (best contrast), and more.

The appointment lasts an hour and a half, according to Shoemaker, and the client leaves with a virtual color deck, paperwork referencing the appointment, and a card deck on a keychain with his or her 36 best colors, including best animal print, makeup colors, and handbag and shoe colors.

For a style or image analysis, Shoemaker determines the cli-

ent’s body shape with a system called Bod-X and teaches the client how to dress it.

“I go through shirts and pants and dresses and skirts,

necklines, sleeve length, hem link,” Shoemaker said. “We also go through style personality and determine what their style personality is so it’s easier for

Stockford to host campaign fundraiser

By Jackson Casey Collegian Reporter

Adam Stockford, mayor of Hillsdale and candidate for state representative, will hold a campaign kickoff fundraiser at Hillsdale Brewing Company on April 11.

Stockford will speak alongside a few guest speakers, but he said he hopes the event will serve primarily as an opportunity for his supporters to spend time with one another.

“We’re going to try to keep the speaking to a very minimal part of it,” Stockford said. “We’ve got a great college up on the hill that has plenty of opportunities to listen to world-renowned speakers. The rest of it’s just going to be about camaraderie — spending time with your friends and neighbors.”

Stockford is campaigning on a platform of localism. He said he hopes to return power to townships and local

forms of government rather than concentrating power in the Lansing bureaucracy. Achieving grid stability and energy independence are among his policy aims.

“Democrats have passed these disastrous green energy mandates that have already been tried in states like California, and they’ve failed miserably,” Stockford said. “Instead of sitting down and looking at real policy that would help Michigan residents, they would rather virtue signal and destroy the state in the process.”

He said the state’s frequent overreach violates the principles of self-government that serve Michiganders best.

“This is not something that’s conducive with self-government,” Stockford said. “This is the ‘experts know best,’ cookie-cutter policy out of Lansing that wants to treat every municipality, city, and township in the state of Michigan the

attended the event. “He loves the town. He loves the community. He loves the people,” she said.

same. We’re not the same. We want different things.”

Freshman Drew Bennett said he sees Stockford’s emphasis on local empowerment as a clear positive.

“While I am not fully familiar with the mayor, his emphasis on returning power to local government is important, especially given the potential ballot initiative in Michigan that would restore local control over utility-scale solar installations on agriculturally-zoned land,” Bennett said. “Again, not being fully aware of his popularity in Hillsdale, I’m not sure how he will fare in the district, though I will say I live in Michigan, and driving back to campus I have seen a couple of campaign signs in the area supporting him.”

Stockford said his views on government were greatly influenced by what he learned as a student at Hillsdale College nearly a decade ago.

“My notion of what self-government is all about was really cemented during my time at Hillsdale College,” Stockford said. “When you’ve got a school that teaches people to take ownership of their community, of course those people are going to want to get involved in local government. They understand that not only do we have a duty to do that, but you want to have a voice in your community.” Stockford said Hillsdale has had an undeniable impact on local government. He said this is a good thing, and he plans on maintaining that legacy at the local level. “If I win this election, which I certainly plan to, we’re looking at the last three state representatives for this area being Hillsdale College graduates,” Stockford said. “That’s the effect of an education that teaches you that it’s a duty to serve the public.”

them to shop and see that these are the styles and design of the clothing that they’re more attracted to.”

Shoemaker said she has had clients send photos to her after the consultation during shopping trips or ask her for help during closet cleanouts.

“Once they get it, it is so interesting, and it’s really neat to see the difference it creates on the face when you put on the right colors,” Shoemaker said.

Publisher of the “Simply Hers” magazine and friend of Shoemaker, Marlanea McGraw, said that her appointment has not only taught her that black, her former go-to color, was not one of her colors, but also has helped her clear her closet and put together an outfit faster.

“The struggle is real every morning figuring out what to wear,” McGraw said. “With Mindy’s program I will not only eliminate this stressor, but know I look great every single day.”

Special education teacher and long-time friend of Shoemaker, Genevieve Hundley, said she loved the difference that Empowered Image Consulting made in her life.

“When you’re sitting there, and you’re really just looking at your face and not the colors, that’s where you really are able to see like ‘Oh gosh, when I wear that color, my dark circles really show or the scars on my face or

dark spots are really showing,’” Huntley said. “Once we figured out my colors, then it was like ‘Wow, I really do see the difference wearing certain colors.’ I’ve actually had people stop and compliment me.”

Shoemaker said the business has increased her confidence and deepened her faith, as well as her desire to help others. She said it has been a way for her to share her faith, which she said society has not been very receptive to in recent years.

“I pray about this business and about the women that God sent me every day,” Shoemaker said. “I pray before I have a consultation that God just allows me to help these women and whatever they may need, whether it’s just a color analysis. I really feel like it gives you a closeness to people.”

Shoemaker enjoys bringing positivity through color analysis to each woman.

“When you look good, you feel good,” Shoemaker said. “It’s such a great feeling to be able to help women especially do that. We’re very hard on ourselves. It helps the women see the beauty in themselves again.”

Restaurants to run Foodie Walk downtown

By Evalyn Homoelle Senior Reporter

Several downtown Hillsdale restaurants will host a Foodie Walk event on April 8 from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Foodie Walks happen once a month between April and September, and participating restaurants serve a themed dish. April’s theme is “Grilled Cheese Promenade” and will feature food from Here’s to You Pub and Grub, The Elks, Hillsdale Brewing Company, Handmade, and the Hillsdale Filling Station Deli.

Foodie Walk attendees start at a location and walk to other restaurants on the itinerary at their own pace, paying $5 at each restaurant to sample its featured themed dish. Hillsdale Brewing Company co-owner Felicia Finch said the Foodie Walks have been happening for four years, and that the number of attendees varies from around 100-200 customers.

“Everyone is encouraged to attend the event, including pets on leashes,” Finch said. “There are also two downtown refreshment areas to grab a drink while you eat.”

Hillsdale mayor Adam Stockford said he plans on attending several of the Foodie Walks this year and appreciates what the events do for the Hillsdale community.

“Our food service businesses are the lifeblood of our city and we are so grateful to have so many who go above and beyond in their efforts to get people downtown and walking,” he said. “These Foodie Walks not only enrich our business district, but highlight the unique culinary options Hillsdale has to offer. My family is excited to attend a couple this year, like every year.”

Flynn said it was a tough decision, as he loves the listeners.

“I’m going to be 62 in August,” he said. “I really don’t want to have to learn how to do it all over again, because the way I’ve done radio for the past 46 years is slowly fading away. It’s time for the younger people to come in and do it. It’s nothing about the people I work with. It’s nothing about the listeners, because I’m going to miss the listeners. That’s going to hurt the most.”

His wife, Cindy Flynn, said she has loved witnessing his commitment to the community of Hillsdale. “He was born and raised here in Hillsdale and he is a true Hillsdale person through and through,” she said. “He’d do anything for anybody.”

McKibbon Media Group hosted a retirement party for Flynn at Johnny T’s Bistro on March 21, and Cindy Flynn estimated 400 to 500 people

Bob Flynn said his replacement will be Harrison James, who currently does the WCSR midday shows. He will take on Flynn’s air time, which is 2-6 p.m.

James said he was at first intimidated by the idea of taking Flynn’s spot as afternoon host, but he is feeling better about it now.

“Now that I’ve filled in for him while he’s been on vacation, it’s been slightly less stressful,” he said.

Flynn said he has experienced much kindness from the Hillsdale community since announcing his retirement.

“A typical response I’ve been getting is ‘WCSR won’t be the same without you,’” he said. “That’s very sweet of them to say.”

Mike Flynn, Bob Flynn’s former boss of 25 years who is not related to him, said listeners appreciate how open Flynn is on air.

“He is spontaneous,” he said. “He’s a people person. His life is an open book, even on radio. He’s a great employee, loyal to core.”

Mike Flynn said he’s gotten to know Bob Flynn quite well over the years, as they traveled and worked together. Mike Flynn ran the station after his father, former WCSR owner Tony Flynn, retired.

“We had some disagreements over things, but nothing major,” he said. “In fact, he’s one of my favorite people. The radio station won’t be the same without him. I don’t know what they’re gonna do without him.”

Scot Bertram, general manager of WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM, said the bond between the host and listeners is intense.

“Bob has been welcomed into the homes of countless area residents, providing local news and weather, broadcasting high school and Hillsdale sports, and soundtracking the lives of thousands,” he said. “Bob will be deeply missed on the airwaves by many, which speaks to the power of local

radio.”

Flynn said although he performs varying tasks at the station, his main job is to make people smile.

“My job is to make somebody smile today,” he said. “If I have not made somebody smile today, I’m not doing my job.”

Flynn said over the years he has been a companion to many widows and widowers as they listen to him on air throughout the afternoon. He has been a companion to animals too.

“I have learned that music makes cows happy and happy cows give more milk,” he said. “I was told by several farmers, ‘Oh Bob, we have you on all day out in the barn. Because the cows love you and they give more milk.’”

Petersen said he appreciates Flynn’s good wit and music taste. “What I liked most about him on the radio is his sincerity and how he spoke to all of us as if we were all his friends and extended family,” he said. “He has been a true blessing to our community.”

Former Hillsdale College football coach Keith Otterbein said it was always great working with Flynn. “He was upbeat and positive about our players and teams, definitely a glass-halffull person,” he said. “Bob is a fixture in the Hillsdale community, his involvement with Charger athletics will be missed.”

Flynn said he has had some emotional experiences while working at WCSR, such as when his former boss, Tony Flynn, died.

“He was 92 when he passed away,” he said. “But when he passed away, that was a tough day. Then they asked me to speak at his funeral. That was even tougher.”

Flynn said he also grieved when his former boss and WCSR owner Jamie McKibbon died in a boating accident in 2020.

“It was tragic,” he said. McKibbon’s wife, Katina McKibbon, still owns the station, according to Flynn. “We’ve had a couple other people that I worked with for a long time who have passed

away,” he said. “It’s always tough because these people are my second family. It’s not just the people I work with.”

Gary Wolfram, city councilman and professor of political economy, said Flynn’s voice will be missed.

“Bob Flynn has been the voice of Hillsdale for decades,” he said. “He knows our community better than anyone I have met in the almost four decades my wife and I have been here.”

Flynn said he never pursued a radio career for money. “I don’t do it for the money. And I don’t do it for the glory. There is no real glory,” he said. “I do it because I make people happy. It’s nice to have somebody come up to me at the grocery store, or after church, or just out in the street saying, ‘You know, that thing you said yesterday just made me laugh.’ Then I’m doing my job.”

Flynn from A1

Mindy Shoemaker is a certified Christian consultant. Courtesy | Mindy s hoe M aker

Sports

Softball

Hillsdale sweeps rivals, extends win streak to 12 games

By Ellie Fromm Collegian Reporter

The softball team swept conference rivals during its first weekend of G-MAC away competition, extending its win streak to 12 games. The Chargers beat the Malone University Pioneers 5-1 and 5-0 on Friday and the Findlay University Oilers 3-2 and 11-0 on Monday. Senior McKenna Eichholz hit a grand slam in the fifth inning of the first game against the Pioneers, helping the Chargers gain runs early in conference play while giving up only a few, according to head coach Kyle Gross. Eichholz said hitting became easier at the beginning of the Malone games once neces-

sary adjustments were made to counter the pitches thrown.

“We had to adjust,” Eichholz said. “All of us took that adjustment and tried to square up the ball as best we could and really shoot for more drives instead of pop-ups.”

Sophomore Taylor Lewis said the team performed well against Malone, with every member of the team contributing.

“We strung together hits well, and we have also been executing well as a team,” Lewis said. “We had very solid defenses in both games and our pitchers did phenomenally.”

Gross agreed, adding that some of the smaller plays made by the Chargers created big impacts on the final scores.

“We were able to make the correct adjustments,” Gross said. “We also executed a lot of small balls, with a lot of bunts and slaps. We did these really beautifully in both games on Friday.”

On Monday, the Chargers and Oilers both pitched well, according to Gross. The Chargers prepared for this strength from Findlay going into their second game, which Gross

Men's Tennis Chargers win first two G-MAC matches

By Jamie Parsons Collegian Reporter

The men’s tennis team won 7-0 in the first two matches of the G-MAC season March 23-24.

The Chargers opened their season with a victory over Kentucky Wesleyan on Saturday. Hillsdale won the doubles point by winning all three doubles matches. Senior Daniel Gilbert and freshman Henry Hammond played a tiebreak to secure the No. 3 doubles match 7-6.

“Winning a close match always feels good, especially since we did not play well,” Gilbert said. “We were able to use our experience and play differently to still win the match.”

The Chargers also stood undefeated in the singles play, winning all six matches, wrapping up their match against Kentucky Wesleyan with a 7-0 win.

The Chargers had a second match against Thomas More on Sunday, securing a second-straight 7-0 G-MAC victory. Dominating both the doubles and singles, the Chargers won all three dou-

Shotgun

bles, winning the doubles point, and won all six singles matches.

New to the Conference in 2024, Thomas More left Hillsdale unsure of what to expect from them leading up to the match.

“Sometimes it can be a blessing and a curse to play a team you know nothing about because you don’t know how they play, but also, they don’t know how you play,” Gilbert said. “But the team handled it with no problem, which is great to see that we took a potentially tough situation and turned it into a routine victory.”

Each Charger had a successful weekend, winning all their singles and doubles matches. For head coach Keith Turner, sophomore Aidan Pack stood out because of his success playing as the No.1 position.

“It was great for Aidan Pack to go 4-0 on the weekend playing No.1 singles and No.1 doubles,” Turner said.

The men’s tennis team currently stands 7-6 overall and 2-0 in the G-MAC. “We accomplished our goal of winning all the matches over the weekend. We can

expect tougher matches over the last 4 weeks of the regular season,” Turner said.

The Chargers head off for matches at Cedarville on Friday and Ashland on Saturday over Easter break.

“It will be a challenge this weekend as we will probably be playing outside,” Turner said. “We haven’t had a chance to practice outside in a number of weeks. Hopefully we can pull out both matches.”

Hillsdale will host Findlay on April 12 and Tiffin on April 13. Hammond has encouraged students to watch home tennis matches.

“Not a lot of people understand tennis so it's hard for them to get into it,” Hammond said. “But if you were to go to a tennis match and stay for a while and see what the atmosphere is like and how loud it is, and if you hear everyone cheer and you just join in and cheer with them, then it's loads of fun.”

said contributed to their 11run score difference. “We continued to hit hard ground balls in the second game,” Gross said. “That pressure on their defense made them make some errors. We had the kind of constant ground balls that they eventually made mistakes on.”

The Chargers originally planned to play the Walsh University Cavaliers on Saturday, but these games were canceled due to bad weather, such as strong winds and low temperatures. Gross and the Walsh

University coach are working to find a date to reschedule the games.

“We are currently working to find a date that works,” Gross said. “Due to our different schedules, that is proving difficult. So, it is yet to be determined whether we make up that game or not.”

The Chargers will play four conference games this upcoming weekend at their home stadium. Games begin on Friday against the Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers at 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. On Saturday,

the Chargers play the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Gross said he is looking forward to competing on Charger home turf this weekend. With Trevecca Nazarene University being located in Nashville, Tennessee, the home games provide extra rest opportunities for Charger players.

“We get to practice on our field all the time,” Gross said. “We only get a few games at home each year in our conference, and they’re so precious.”

Women's Tennis

Hillsdale start 2-0 in conference play

By Isabella Helms Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale women’s tennis team clinched back-toback victories in its first two G-MAC victories this weekend, ending a three match losing streak.

The Chargers earned a 7-0 win against Kentucky Wesleyan College March 23, followed by a 6-1 victory in their first-ever competition against Thomas More University March 24.

“The team had a great weekend with our two match win and it’s a great feeling to start our conference season undefeated so far,” junior Libby McGivern said. Dannhauser said she did not consider it one of their toughest weekends.

“It was a great way to start, but it will only get tougher from here. I think the team is improving every weekend so hopefully we will be ready when we play against the strongest teams,” Dannhuaser said.

The Chargers did not concede a single game in doubles play on Saturday. The No. 1 duo of sophomore Megan Hackman and senior Mela -

nie Zampardo, alongside the No. 2 pairing of junior Courtney Rittel and freshman Ane Dannhauser, each secured 6-0 victories, taking the doubles point from the Panthers decisively.

With Dannhauser leading the charge at No. 1 singles with a 6-1, 6-0 win over her opponent, Zampardo, Mcgivern, Formentin, Spinazze, and Hackman followed suit, ensuring a clean sweep without dropping a match.

Riding the momentum into Sunday, the Chargers faced Thomas More, dominating all three doubles matches from the start.

At No. 1 doubles, Hackman and Zampardo teamed up against the Saints to earn a 6-2 win, laying the groundwork for another successful match. The Chargers maintained their lead in singles, with Rittel and Dannhauser winning 6-1, and McGivern and Formentin achieving a 6-0 victory.

As victories in singles play came swiftly, with Dannhauser, Zampardo, McGivern, Spinazze, and Rittel winning their matches and allowing the Chargers to secure the overall victory.

“A lot of us were able to go 4-0 on the weekend, which always feels good and doesn’t happen often,” Zampardo said.

In particular, McGivern commended Spinazze for her performance this weekend.

“Bella hasn’t gotten to see a ton of match play this semester, but she played in the lineup both matches and won with ease,” McGivern said. “She really demonstrated who we are as a team, because no matter where you’re at — in or out of the lineup — you play a role and are constantly working hard.”

With a 2-0 start in G-MAC play, the Chargers aim to extend their winning streak in upcoming matches at Cedarville University on March 29 and Ashland University on March 30.

“It feels really good having a successful start to conference,” Zampardo said. “It’ll be exciting building up from here each week going forward.” McGivern said she is as hopeful as Zampardo.

“Overall everyone did amazing and I know we’re going to carry this success into next weekend,” McGivern said.

Hillsdale earns national title in clay target shooting

By Carly Moran Assistant Editor

The shotgun team won first place overall at nationals for the Division Two Associate of Collegiate Unions International/Scholastic Clay Target Program March 18-23.

The team also won the Division Two national championship titles in Super Sporting, American Trap, Trap Doubles, and Skeet Doubles. The Chargers were the best in Super Sporting regardless of division, and 11 of their athletes were selected as All-Americans.

“We have won seven Division Three highest overall national championships and

knew that moving into Division Two would be difficult, but Hillsdale's motto prevails: strength rejoices in the challenge,” head coach Jordan Hintz said on Facebook. This was the team’s first year competing in Division Two, after winning first in Division Three for seven years. The tournament took place at the National Shooting Complex in San Antonio, Texas.

Hintz credited the team’s success to practicing sporting clays and a talented freshman class. “We brought in a handful of very talented freshmen,” Hintz said in an interview. “So they were definitely the big

drivers of our success down there. But also the rest of the team in general. I think that this is what we've always been working towards, and now we had a chance to do it.”

In women’s class AA skeet, freshman Madeline Corbin placed first, senior Ida Brown second, and freshman Ava Downs fifth.

In men’s class AA doubles skeet, sophomore Jordan Sapp

took third, and junior Josh Corbin took tenth. In women’s class AA doubles skeet, Corbin took first and Brown took fifth. “I didn't shoot above average, but I don't shoot below average,” sophomore Leif Andersen said. “So it ended up working out.”

In men’s class AA doubles trap, senior William Stuart took second, and freshman Luke Johnson took seventh. In women’s class AA doubles trap, Corbin took first, Downs took eighth, and Brown took ninth.

“I didn't shoot above average, but I don't shoot below average.”

In women’s class A trap, senior Jessica Strasser took first.

“We shot well in all of the line games, so trap, trap doubles, skeet, and skeet doubles,” Hintz said. “Probably our best performance was in super sporting.”

In women's class A sporting clays, Brown took third. “It still came down to sporting clays this year, because we probably would have won by a higher margin if it weren't for the sporting clays event,” Brown said.

Looking toward the next season, the shotgun team currently has two incoming freshman recruits. Marin McKinney of Missouri, and Taylor Dale of Wisconsin will be joining the team in the fall. “We definitely left a lot of targets out there,” Hintz said. “So there's still more that we can do or that we could have done. It'll be really, really interesting to see next year how we're able to keep moving forward, losing three very valuable members of the team.”

Junior Joni Russell has 117 strikeouts this season. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Sophomore Emma Vis, freshman Maggie Olaveson, and sophomore Hannah Hoverman play against Findlay. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Chargers start outdoor season

By Joshua Mistry Collegian Reporter

Junior Ben Haas led the Chargers at the Lee University Invitational in Cleveland, Tennessee, March 22-23, winning hammer throw with a PR and meet record mark of 64.32 meters.

Haas also placed second in the shot put with a personal best mark of 16.45 meters.

Junior Richie Johnston ran a Lee University Invitational record, winning the 3,000 meter steeple with a time of 9:11.95.

"Most of the distance squad spent spring break in the Tennessee mountains, and I could feel that strength toward the end of the race,” Johnston said, "We have also emphasized more specific workouts, which I think will help us during this outdoor season."

Women's Track and Field

Hillsdale sets four meet records

“We're looking forward to getting deeper into the outdoor season.”

"We finally get to run outside, which we’ve missed, but the other part is the great energy and momentum we built up through our successes during the indoor season," Ransom said.

Senior Sean Fagan placed second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.71 seconds, and second in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.04 seconds.

"Now that we're starting a new season again, we’ve ramped

On the track, seniors Drew Ransom, Jamahl Burke, Owen Gardner, and Joseph Ritzer placed fourth in the 4x100 meter relay with a time of 42.38 seconds. Senior Alex Mitchell placed third in the 3,000-meter steeple with a Lee University Invitational record time of 9:20.81. Sophomore Colsen Conway placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 59.19 seconds, and eighth in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.65 seconds. Ransom also placed 10th in the 100-meter with a time of 10.82 seconds, and thirteenth in the 200-meter with a time of 22.17 seconds. Ransom said the team is excited to enjoy the outdoor season and to build on the success of the indoor season.

up the workouts and lifts, which left us all feeling a bit tired this weekend I think. But it will pay off later in the season, which is when it really counts," Fagan said.

In the field, freshman Jackson Childress placed third in the discus with a personal record mark of 43.64 meters. Junior Matthew Belanich placed second in the hammer throw with a personal best mark of 55.29 meters. Junior Cass Dobrowolski placed first in the high jump with a mark of 1.98 meters. Freshman Ethan Dorrell placed fourth in the javelin throw with a mark of 48.47 meters. Junior Alfonso Garcia placed second in the triple jump with a mark of 13.7 meters.

Freshman Tommy Flud placed second in the javelin throw with a mark of 54.42 meters. Flud is excited to see how the team continues to progress now that outdoor season has begun.

"We're looking forward to getting deeper into the outdoor season. So far we've looked really good, and we're only going to keep getting better," Flud said. Hillsdale will next race at Michigan State University in the MSU Spartan Invitational from April 5-6.

By Anna Broussard Collegian Reporter

The women’s track and field team won seven titles, set four meet records, and scored three provisional marks to increase its NCAA Division II rankings at Lee University in Tennessee as they kicked off the outdoor season last weekend.

Though strong winds made it a challenging meet, the team had many impressive performances, senior All-American Josee Hackman said.

Sophomore Tara Townsend, who placed first in the pole vault, scored a provisional mark of eight in NCAA DII after the weekend.

“From indoor to outdoor season everybody is ready to compete whenever possible,” Townsend said.

Junior Lucy Minning, who ran the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes at the invitational, placed fourth out of 64. She said the weather played a factor in her race as it had with many others.

“I had a nice tailwind for the 100 meter. It helped me,” she said. “But, it definitely negatively affected the other races.”

With the strong performances across the board over the weekend, the team has been looking forward to the outdoor season, Minning said.

Since the close of the indoor season, the team has been preparing for their next goal of conference championships in May. The transition between seasons has helped the team focus.

"It has been a pretty smooth transition.

I prefer the outdoor season, so I have been looking forward to it."

“It has been a pretty smooth transition. I prefer the outdoor season, so I have been looking forward to it,” Minning said.

Coming off the recent Division II indoor champion -

ships, the team is continuing to focus on their goals for the outdoor season, Townsend said.

“I think every championship we’re expected to win it all,” she said. “I fully expect us to win every time.”

Hackman agreed that the expectations for the team were always high, especially for the outdoor season.

“We hold ourselves to a high standard and our competitors do too,” she said. Townsend added that the excitement of the outdoor season comes with the unexpected weather challenges.

“Outdoor is the real season, it's a lot more fun,” she said. “You never know what the weather is gonna be like so it's always exciting to see how you can deal with what's thrown at you.”

Although the Chargers set a good tone for their opener, Lee University is known to be a slower track for all teams, Hackman said.

Hackman, who placed third in the 400, said she was happy with how the race went.

“I am happy with how I executed the race, although the race was slower for all the runners,” she said.

Chargers take fifth, 10th as spring season winds down

By Thomas McKenna Sports Editor

Late surges pushed the golf team over conference rivals in two tournaments in the past two weeks as the Chargers set their sights on the G-MAC Championships in late April.

Hillsdale placed fifth out of 18 teams at the Ralph Hargett Memorial Invitational in Monroe, North Carolina on March 18-19. On Monday and Tuesday, the Chargers tied for 10th out of 18 teams at the Findlay Spring Invite in Richmond, Kentucky.

In both tournaments, Hillsdale golfers started slow but rallied in the later rounds to move up the rankings, said head coach Matt Thompson.

“We struggled in the first round and battled our way

back,” Thompson said. “We had the third best round yesterday to climb the leaderboard a little bit and got a lot closer to the rest of the field. As the tournaments went on, we settled in and played some good golf. We’ve just got to get off to some better starts.”

Hillsdale’s score dropped throughout this week’s tournament in Kentucky, from 305 in the first round, to 305 in the second, to 286 in the third. Like the team, freshman Oliver Marshall shot lower as the tournament went on, carding 75-72-68 to finish one-under-par in the latest tournament.

“He’s been great,” Thompson said. “I think his round of 68 yesterday finally put a lot of the pieces together that he's

What was the last thing you read?

"Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief" to prep for the new show on Disney Plus! It took me back to my childhood.

What would you tell your younger self?

Focus less on being perfect all the time and worrying about what others might think if I fail.

Coffee or tea?

Coffee! I love a good latte.

felt like he's been really close to having.”

Marshall said he has felt his mindset improve in later rounds.

“Some of it was just knowing the course a little better after having played it a couple times,” Marshall said. “I'd say a lot of it was just that I did a little better with my mental process during last round than the two previous rounds.”

urke and freshman Robert Thompson have consistently been in the Charger lineup this season.

“We’re right on the edge of qualifying for regionals.”

Marshall’s fellow freshman, Ryan O’Rourke, also shot best on the last hole with an 8076-72 overall. Marshall, O’Ro-

“They came in as highly accomplished junior golfers and I think they've kind of done a lot of what we hoped they would do their freshman year,” coach Thompson said. Sophomore Max Burns dropped 10 strokes on his final hole, finishing with a two-under-par round after an eight-over second.

“I just made some kind of nitwit moves and fell behind the pack immediately. That's

just kind of tough at the beginning of a tournament,” Burns said. “On the last one, I was able to come back a little better at the end to help the team out a little bit.”

Junior Will Verduzco shot a 73-73-76 in the Findlay Invite.

Verduzco has battled injuries as a Charger, including a bad wrist his freshman year, a broken fibula sophomore year, and a separated shoulder this year. His March appearances were two of his three this year.

“I think it's culminating in my last senior year,” Verduzco said. “Hopefully we can do something special with that. I know that I'm determined to do what I can you know provide for the team and play my role as a senior now setting

the example for these guys below me and being a leader in that sense.”

The Chargers head to Noblesville, Indiana next week to play in the Ken Partridge Invitational at Purgatory Golf Club April 7-9.

Burns said the course’s open design makes wind more difficult for golfers.

“It’s fun, but it can be hell,” Burns said.

The G-MAC Championships in Owensboro, Kentucky will be played April 22-24.

“We’re right on the edge of qualifying for regionals,” coach Thompson said. “We’re going to put everything we have into the next few weeks and focus on getting off to some better starts.”

How would you spend $50,000?

I would take my family on a trip to somewhere tropical where we could enjoy spending time together.

If you had to eat a crayon, which color would you choose?

I would eat the peach-colored crayon.

How would you move a mountain?

I would pray really hard and hope the mountain would move.

Charger Sports Baseball

By

Feature

“It was an awesome weekend, and a ton of people were on the stands enjoying it, which made it a lot better,” senior Danny Passinault said. Passinault said the weather was cold, but defeating Tiffin on their home field helped.

The Tiffin Dragons defeated the Chargers Friday afternoon 7-0 in the series opener.

“We couldn’t get anything going offensively in our first game but quickly turned it around and won the next three,” senior Joe Hardenbergh said. “We had great performances all around from our pitching staff, and they came up huge to keep us in all of the games.”

In the Saturday doubleheader, Hillsdale defeated Tiffin twice. Hillsdale beat the Dragons 8-3 in the first game and 5-4 in the second game. Hillsdale scored seven runs in the first three innings of the first game.

“Following our first game, our hitting came around, and we were able to get contribu-

tions from everyone in the lineup 1-9 which was huge,” Hardenbergh said. Hardenbergh had a tworun double to right field in the bottom of the first inning, followed by junior Will Shannon’s three-run double in the bottom of the second inning. Freshman Rocco Tenuta contributed another double in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the fifth, Tiffin scored two runs, but Hardenbergh had a walk with countered bases loaded. Passinault and Shannon added a single and a double, and Sallee stole two bases to seal the Charger’s victory.

Freshman Daniel Higdon pitched for the Chargers, striking out two and walking two over five innings. “He’s a bright spot for the team and will be for the next four years,” Passinault said. Senior Chad Stevens also pitched well for the Chargers with two innings of relief, striking out three and preventing a baserunner.

In the nightcap, Hillsdale beat the Tiffin 5-4, returning from a three-point deficit to sweep the day.

Senior Jeff Landis hit a double, freshman Will Millard hit a sacrifice fly, and Passinault hit a single. Passinault also dove for a catch in center field, preventing Tiffin from pulling further ahead.

“I have to shoutout Danny Passinault for his game-saving catch and game-tying triple in the following inning in Game 3,” Hardenbergh said.

Passinault had a second incredible catch to prevent Tiffin from scoring again, and then Passinault hit a triple to right field to score, tying the game 4-4.

“I accidentally made it look a lot cooler than it was,” Passinault said. “I took the wrong route but ended up getting it anyway. It was cool to contribute and save the play.”

In the final play, Tiffin misplayed a ground ball, allowing Passinault to score and secure the 5-4 win for the Chargers.

In Sunday’s final, Hillsdale won 9-3 against Tiffin.

In the third inning, the Chargers made five runs and maintained its lead for the rest of the game.

“It was really fun to watch them defeat Tiffin at the home stadium,” baseball fan sophomore Shaelyn Martens said. “I can’t wait for their next game.”

The series against Tiffin brought the Charger’s record to 8-13 overall.

“We’re starting to turn a corner and play better baseball,” Passinault said. “It’s that point in the season when it’s all coming together.”

Hardenbergh agreed.

“We played complete baseball this weekend in all three facets of the game and hopefully can use this momentum going forward,” Hardenbergh said.

The Chargers will travel to Nashville to play against Trevecca Nazarene in a four-game series this weekend.

After that upset victory, Gohlke’s next stop was a fivehour drive to Hillsdale to play for John “Roundy” Tharp and the Chargers. “Hillsdale was my only fullride offer. I had a couple of other partial offers from other Division II schools, but it was before my high-school season started senior year, and I kind of just wanted to get it locked in so I knew where I was going,” Gohlke said, “What I didn’t realize was how many people from home would be excited for me to go to Hillsdale because they get ‘Imprimis.’”

other, the pair did not meet until arriving on Hillsdale’s campus.

confidence and trust with his Oakland teammates.”

At Hillsdale, Gohlke met one of his closest friends and roommate of four years, Patrick Cartier ’22. Despite only growing up 10 minutes away from each

Five years later, the former roommates were both competing in the NCAA tournament, but for different teams. While Gohlke was dominating Kentucky, Cartier’s Colorado State University Rams lost to the University of Texas Longhorns, 56-44.

“The process of what and who Jack Gohlke is as a basketball player was a day-in, day-out, shot after shot grind,” Tharp said.“His work ethic and treatment of his teammates is truly one of a kind.”

Both Gohlke and Cartier were redshirt freshmen their first season at Hillsdale. They went on to lead Hillsdale to multiple NCAA Division II tournaments, including an appearance in the Elite 8 in 2022.

“That year had a lot of parallels to my season this year at Oakland,” Gohlke said, “We went to Greece before the season started at Hillsdale, and we went to Italy this year. That just helps the team so much when you go on those trips and then not trying to feel each other out anymore, you’re just connected.”

Gohlke and Cartier are not the only players from their recruiting class still playing basketball. Former Charger Peter Kalthoff is currently playing professional basketball in Slovakia, where he is averaging 15.9 points per game for Iskra Svit.

“Jack’s positivity is contagious and he inspires the right approach on and off the court,” Kalthoff said. “He really gives everyone the time of his day and always works on building up relationships. At Hillsdale we all had confidence in his consistency and ability to get hot at any point and win a game for us. It makes me smile to see how he has cultivated a

After spending half a decade in a Charger uniform, Gohlke graduated last year and entered the transfer portal, looking to spend his final year of NCAA eligibility at the Division I level. Golden Grizzlies Head Coach Greg Kampe came knocking, and Gohlke found himself wearing black and gold. Gohlke’s 13.1 points per game this season led Oakland to its first Horizon League tournament championship in program history, its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2010, and its first tournament victory since 2005. This season, Gohlke attempted 364 total three-point shots, while taking only 10 shots from inside the arc.

the CPA exam if he decides to take it.” Even after he finished his final season as a Charger, Gohlke still visited Hillsdale Academy with his teammates and read to the kindergarten class to celebrate National Reading Month.

“They were very popular coming off their successful season. It’s always one of the fa-

vorite days of the kindergarten class,” said Nicole Walbright, the college’s assistant athletic director, who organized the guest reading. Gohlke said he hopes to play professional basketball.

“I’m pretty much just back to workouts and stuff because the process for your first pro season starts pretty early,” Gohlke said. “I’m hoping to get some workouts with some NBA teams, and obviously just getting the workout doesn’t mean you’ll get drafted. Maybe if those workouts go well I could earn a spot in the NBA Summer League which would be really cool.”

When the #14 seed Golden Grizzlies met Antonio Reeves and the #3 seed Kentucky Wildcats in Pittsburgh, in the tournament’s South Region, they were 14-point underdogs.

During his final year at Hillsdale, Gohlke was elected as the president of Hillsdale’s accounting club.

“Jack is crazy about basketball and his work ethic on the court is surpassed by no one, but he held his own in the classroom as well,” Hillsdale Associate Professor of Accounting James Webb said.“Students can’t coast through an accounting major. Knowing that he wanted to pursue basketball professionally, Jack could have taken the easy way out but he finished 150 credits and will certainly pass

Cassandra DeVries Social Media Manager

The baseball team beat the University of Tiffin in three out of four games in its home weekend series March 22-24 at Hillsdale’s new field, the TFO Partners Field at Lenda and Glenda Hill Stadium.

Gohlke made a record 16 3-pointers in his two NCAA tournament games. Clarence Round | Oakland Athletics

Jack Gohlke played at Hillsdale College for five years. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Freshman Tyler Turner turned two double plays against Tiffin. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Gohlke reads to Academy kindergartners. Courtesy | Hillsdale Athletic Department

Gohlke from A1

A10 March 28, 2024

CReduced Shakespeare Company returns to campus

By Christian Papillon Collegian Reporter

The Reduced Shakespeare Company returned to campus for a third time after previous performances in 2016 and 2018.

The show featured a variety of comedy sketches and styles including slapstick, musical, and stand-up acts. The end of the first act featured a silent movie parody which used a strobe light to emulate old film quality.

performance.

“I thought it was well done,” Sommerville said. “All in all, it was very enjoyable.” Professor of Economics Gary Wolfram said he had a good time at the event.

“It is really nice to see that level of artistry here at the college.”

The three-man group, including Dominic Conti, Austin Tichenor and Tré Zijuan Tyler performed “The Complete History of Comedy (abridged)” on March 8 in Markel Auditorium.

“We had a good audience and good reactions at the performance,” Professor of Theatre James Brandon said. “It is nice to see that level of artistry here at the college.”

According to Brandon, the group has performed a different show each time it has visited Hillsdale. Brandon said the group presented “The Complete History of America (abridged): Special Election Edition” in 2016 and “William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged)” in 2018. Sophomore Tobias Sommerville said he enjoyed the

“I thought the lines were very clever. The acting was excellent as well. It’s really nice to see a professional performance right here at the college.”

“I thought the lines were very clever,” Wolfram said. “The acting was excellent as well. It’s really nice to see a professional performance right here at the college.” Wolfram said he tries to attend most of the events the college offers.

“We enjoy all the events that you can go to at Hillsdale,” Wolfram said. “There’s always something going on.”

Father-daughter duo performs piano, violin concert

By Sophia Mandt Collegian Reporter

A world-renowned father and daughter musical duo performed a series of French repertoire in Christ Chapel March 20. Pianist Stanislav Ioudenitch and his daughter, violinist Maria Ioudenitch, have won countless awards for their musical abilities. Stanislav is a previous winner of the Cliburn Gold Medal, a prize he won at the 11th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Maria has taken first place in international music competitions, among them the Ysaye International Music Competition and the Tibor Varga International Violin Competition.

The Ioudenitchs are Uzbekistani, with Stanislav having been born in Uzbekistan and Maria in Russia. The program began with pieces by Maurice Ravel and Lili Boulanger and concluded with “Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano” by César Franck.

Though the performance relied on nothing more than a singular piano and violin, both Stanislav’s and Maria’s music filled the chapel with a rich and powerful sound.

“I was amazed by how smooth and dynamic Maria’s playing was,” freshman Anna Bromm said. “I’ve never heard a violin sound like that before. She had so much expression, and the combination of that with the piano really blew me away.”

Bromm said her favorite piece was “Perpetuum Mobile: Allegro” because of the intensity of the instruments.

Bromm said that while she had never been to a violin and piano concert before, they are her favorite instruments.

“I really appreciated how the repertoire and skill of the performers gave them both the opportunity to shine rather than one instrument overpowering the other,” Bromm said.

Bromm said she would consider the performance a highlight of the semester.

“I would absolutely go again and tell everyone I know to go as well,” Bromm said.

“I’ve never heard a violin sound like that before. She had so much expression, and the combination of that with the piano really blew me away.”

Sophomore Olyvia Oeverman said she decided to attend the performance last minute and was not previously familiar with the musicians.

“I was blown off my feet in a way I couldn’t have imagined. It sounds cliche, but it’s true,” Oeverman said.

Oeverman said that while the pieces were modern in style and didn’t follow the same structured forms of baroque or classical pieces, this uncertainty only brought her more excitement.

“The use of dynamics, intricate themes, and contrast between violent runs and soft, lyrical voices kept me on the edge of my seat,” Oeverman said. Oeverman said that the talents of both Stanislav and Maria were breathtaking. She found the performance inspiring.

Junior Anna Perrone and

sophomore Jake Hamilton were able to perform a piano masterclass under Stanislav’s instruction.

Perrone said Stanislav taught her proper Russian technique for building speed and finger dexterity as well as interpretation.

“He said not to look at your hands or the keys when trying to express a certain emotion or capture a specific sound,” Perrone said.

Hamilton said he was encouraged and motivated by the experience of the masterclass.

“Mr. Ioudenitch was very gracious in his coaching, and I found his advice insightful and worthwhile,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said he was very impressed by Stanislav’s gracious personality, and he thoroughly enjoyed all of Stanislav’s events during his time on campus. After hearing Stanislav play, Hamilton said he was more motivated to practice harder and put his advice to practice.

“Observing how he played at the concert, I could definitely see him applying the advice he had given me about technique,” Hamilton said. “While difficult passages seemed incredibly effortless to him, he maintained extreme flexibility, without appearing to tighten or lock with tension, within his control of the playing.” After the masterclass Perrone attended the concert and said she can attest that Stanislav follows his own advice.

“I thought that his perfect coordination with Maria Ioudenitch could very well have been the result of his advice to never look at your hands,” Perrone said.

As a pianist, Perrone said she found Stanislav’s flawless technique and range of sound and emotion inspirational.

“Unlike other instruments, where the performer partici-

pates in creating the sound, the piano is more like a machine which the performer operates with his fingers,” Perrone said. “Mr. Ioudenitch’s command of the instrument and personal connection with the sound the piano made was truly remarkable.”

Hamilton said a unique feature of Stanislav’s playing is how low he sits at the piano. This is the result of an accident he suffered earlier in life. Stanislav’s wrists appear to nearly sit be-

“I thought that his performance with Maria Ioudenitch could very well have been the result of his advice to never look at your hands.”

low the keys, which is unusual among pianists. Despite this, he plays with incredible control and precision, making difficult passages look like second nature.

“Even during the masterclass, he, sight-reading, played certain sections of my piece better than me, though I’ve been practicing this piece for months,” Hamilton said. “His accuracy and command of the keyboard is extraordinary.”

The Ioudenitchs have won many awards independently. Sophia Mandt | Collegian

Stanislav Ioudenitch taught a piano masterclass to Hillsdale students. Sophia Mandt | Collegian

The Reduced Shakespeare Company performed “The Complete History of Comedy (abridged).” Courtesy | The Reduced Shakespeare Company

C U L T U R E

Flowers, Concordia professor perform in recital

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

Adjunct Instructor of Music Taylor Flowers performed with violinist and violist Zoie Hightower in a recital titled “Dualities” March 25 in McNamara Rehearsal Hall. Flowers played piano while Hightower performed on the violin and viola. Hightower is a doctoral student studying violin and viola at the University of Michigan and a professor of viola at Concordia University in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

“It’s amazing watching the violinist and pianist work together so closely. It’s almost like an invisible thread going between them,” sophomore Clare Lashaway said.

The concert featured four pieces: “Sonata for Violin and Piano” by Francis Poulenc, “Deep River” by Samuel

Coleridge-Taylor, “Viola Sonata in F minor” by Johannes Brahms, and “Suite for Viola and Piano” by Ernst Bloch. Flowers said the theme of duality presented itself in the choice of French and German composers, in Hightower’s use of the viola and violin, and the collaboration of a string instrument and the piano.

“They did a really good job of picking pieces that were true duets instead of just violin or viola solos with a piano accompaniment, so it ties back into the program really nicely,” sophomore Elena Bull said. Bull said both musicians brought their interpretations of the pieces together, particularly in Brahms’ “Viola Sonata in F minor.”

“In the Brahms piece, the piano and the violin melodies trade off a lot and they’re bouncing off of each other

with the different themes,” Bull said. “I can tell that they’re making an effort to sound like each other and imitate each other so that there’s a more cohesive unit in the piece.”

Sophomore Samuel Jarzab said he was impressed by Flower’s and Hightower’s abilities to communicate with each other and their awareness of what the other person was doing.

“The Bloch piece was extremely, extremely dynamic, just how many themes, variations, and ideas there were throughout the piece,” Jarzab said. “I was at the edge of my seat the whole time.”

Lashaway said she has studied piano with Flowers for three semesters and enjoyed watching him perform outside of their lessons.

“He exudes the same confidence in concert as when he’s

teaching students,” Lashaway said. “My favorite thing was seeing the same techniques he taught us come to life.”

Flowers said he and Hightower chose the music based

on what they enjoyed playing together. He said he encourages people to also listen to different kinds of music. “Always explore music outside of your immediate circle,”

Flowers said. “It adds so much more enjoyment to life, and it’s a robust experience.”

Support this year’s Academy Awards losers

By Claire Gaudet Opinions

If you took “Oppenheimer” out of the lexicon — which swept at the academy awards, winning seven of its 13 Oscar nominations — 2023 would still have been a fantastic year for cinema. Too often art recommendations are based on accolades. Everyone had to see “Oppenheimer” this year in the same way they had to see “Titanic” in 1997 and “Slumdog Millionaire” in 2008 — films which won 11 and eight Oscars, respectively. But those years’ losers live on as some of the best remembered films

of all time, such as “Good Will Hunting” and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” The losing 2024 Best Picture Nominees have just as much to offer as some of these great, historical losers, so don’t let their lesser acclaim discourage you.

My favorite film of last year was Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” which secured a single Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Da’Vine Joy Randolph.) The film follows the budding friendship between a sullen highschool student, Dominic Sessa, and his visually-impaired teacher, Paul Giamatti.

Professors’ Picks: Jared Parker, assistant professor of psychology

This is a film sure to resonate on Hillsdale’s campus because we have all been sullen students or, more recently perhaps, overworked teachers. It tackles themes of grief, sullied opportunity, and the drama with which people young and old hurl toward threats or cruelty. How it only won a single Oscar is a shock to me, though what it did win was more than well-deserved.

Another film that regrettably took home a single Oscar this year was “American Fiction.” It was both this year’s Best Adapted Screenplay and one of the most hilariously poignant depictions of race relations I have ever seen.

The film follows a downon-his-luck novelist who finds that lying about his life story will sell better than any of his

“The losing 2024 Best Picture Nominees have just as much to offer as some of these great, historical losers.”

lived experiences. Star Jeffery Wright and director Cord Jefferson poke fun at white people’s fetishization of black cul-

ture in the modern age. It is an excellent and entertaining addition to any adult’s understanding of American culture in 2024.

The Academy Awards can be fun — I think we all enjoyed Ryan Gosling’s Marilyn Monroe inspired rendition of “I’m Just Ken” — but they can also be misleading. If people only support award-winning summer blockbusters, less and less great films will be made each year.

So take the time to support this year’s losers. At the very least, they’ll be less of a time commitment than “Oppenheimer.” At the very most, they might become some of your new favorites.

From the minds of Hillsdale’s professors: the song, book, and movie everyone ought to know

“Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” (2001) by the White Stripes

The White Stripes rule, and everyone should listen to them.

“Infinite Jest” (1996) by David Foster Wallace

It’s hard to categorize “Infinite Jest.” In Wikipedia it is tagged under the following genres: metamodernism, encyclopedic fiction, science fiction, and part of the “new sincerity” movement (whatever that is). The novel is about many things at the same time: a young genius at an elite tennis academy, a former thief and Demerol addict living at a recovery house, and a group of Quebecois separatist terrorists who all happen to be in wheelchairs (really). Much of the novel revolves around a mysterious art-house film called Infinite Jest (hence the title of the book) which is so powerfully entertaining that those who watch it lose interest in everything else and become zombies for the film, doomed to watch it over and over again until they die. All of that might sound a bit outlandish, but Wallace’s deft, funny, neurotic writing style makes it difficult to put down. The book struck me like a sledgehammer when I first read it. Wallace’s insight into the modern condition is something that needs to be grappled with.

“The New World” (2005), dir. Terrence Malick

If you have never seen a Terrence Malick film, this is a good place to start. “The New World” is Malick’s beautiful and haunting retelling of the founding of Jamestown and the lives of John Smith, Pocahontas, and John Rolfe. I remember watching it for the first time on a big screen in a pitch black room, and being totally overtaken by the beauty of Malick’s directing and Emmanuel Lubzeki’s cinematography. An interesting bit of trivia: Earlier in life, Malick received a Rhodes scholarship to study philosophy at Oxford, but he never completed his degree because his advisor (Gilbert Ryle) wouldn’t sign off on his thesis topic – the concept of “world” in Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Wittgenstein. One way of viewing The New World is as a cinematic exploration of that same topic. Indeed, Malick even went so far as to hire Hubert Dreyfus, a noted scholar of Heidegger, as a consultant on the film.

Jared Parker pauses on the False Kiva trail in Canyonlands National Park. Courtesy | Jared Parker

Taylor Flowers played the piano, and Zoie Hightower played the violin for their recital. Adriana Azarian | Collegian Left to right: Dominic Sessa, Paul Giamatti, Da’Vine Joy Randolph star in “The Holdovers,” which earned one Oscar. Courtesy | Screen Daily

From fire to fame: natural history museum celebrates 150th anniversary

By Eleanor Whitaker Collegian Reporter

Fossil fuel. That is what Hillsdale College’s fledgling natural history museum became after a fire ravaged the college on March 6, 1874.

The cabinet of curiosities contained hundreds of specimens before the fire, including minerals, plants, bird skins, and fossil casts, according to an 1879 issue of the Hillsdale Herald, the college newspaper at the time. Only a few dozen were spared from the damage of the flames.

The bricks and bones of the museum perished — but the spirit of its curator did not.

Professor of Natural History Daniel Fisk, a man almost as eccentric as the specimens he collected, arrived at the college two years earlier with the resolve to start a natural history museum. The fire threatened to terminate his plans.

But according to his autobiography, Fisk saw the fire as an opportunity for rebirth.

from the annals of antiquity,” Swinehart said. “It means that the labors of Dr. Fisk, past Hillsdale College presidents, trustees, faculty, students, and donors were not in vain.”

While visitors and students walk through the room every day, few know the destruction, loss, and challenges Fisk and Swinehart overcame to establish the museum as it is today.

With a new building, mission, and spirit, the museum grew after 1874 due to donations and Fisk’s own excavations across the United States.

In 1879, the Hillsdale Herald praised the new museum.

“It is a matter of surprise and congratulation, on the part of returning absentees, to see a collection fully twice the size of the former cabinet, built up in five short years out of nothing,” an article reads.

The growing size and increasingly rare specimens caught attention outside of the college as well.

“Prof. McLounth, Ph.D., of Ypsilanti Normal School [now

“The professor had not seen all his beginnings of a museum melt into nothingness, and perhaps it was just as well, but his heart seemed broken anyway,” Fisk wrote. “But not so his resolution. Another collection, as well as another housing, must be the sacred task. So to that task, the next 12 years were tirelessly dedicated.”

Fisk reestablished the museum the day after the fire. By the fall of 1874, the museum had its own floor on Knowlton Hall, a new building dedicated to the natural sciences.

Fisk’s legacy lives on 150 years later. On March 7, 2024, lovers of natural history gathered in the Daniel M. Fisk Natural History Museum in Strosaker Science Center to celebrate its sesquicentennial anniversary.

The current curator of the museum, Professor of Biology Anthony Swinehart, said the celebration aimed to remind people of the museum’s history.

“This event is special because it represents the successful resurrection of the museum

Eastern Michigan University], says of our college museum, that it is ‘the best museum in the state,’’ an 1880 issue of the Herald said. “By which he does not mean that it is larger than Ann Arbor [University of Michigan], but more available for study and better mounted.”

Albion College] to commission a two-year expedition to collect rare specimens for their museums.

“We have hundreds of photos from the expedition, including pictures of shrunken heads, and natives and all kinds of things like that,” Swinehart said. “There were a lot of biological specimens, but there were also a lot of archaeological specimens, important

next few decades due to lack of care.

“Things started to not do as well. And especially if you start getting into the ’40s, ’50s, and ’60s, things really start to decline,” Swinehart said. “Sadly, most of the specimens were lost or stolen or given away. Things fell by the wayside.”

“A biology professor told me he witnessed people putting specimens like moose heads and stuff out on the lawn for people to take.”

specimens from what is called the Amerihome tribe and Marivaux pottery.”

Swinehart said the museum currently displays one armadillo, which he believes to be from the South American expedition.

But even an impressive collection would not satisfy Fisk. He asked the trustees to fund a new building solely to house the new museum.

“There never was a more promising chance to build up a great museum in this college than now,” Fisk said in 1885. “The next 10 years may see a little world of nature housed here for daily study that shall be not only a credit to the college but an immense benefit to all succeeding classes in science. Shall we have the museum?”

The trustees granted Fisk’s request to fund a museum, but no building was ever built.

According to Swinehart, Fisk left Hillsdale College in 1885 because he felt a calling to the pulpit, and he took most of the enthusiasm for the museum with him. Although one of his

When the Strosacker Science Center was built in the 1960s, all science equipment was moved out of Knowlton Hall, and rare specimens were scattered across campus.

“A biology professor told me he witnessed people putting specimens like moose heads and stuff out on the lawn for people to take,” Swinehart said. “He said he saw them shoveling specimens out the third floor onto a dump truck to take to the dump.”

This was the dilapidated state of the museum when Swinehart, a young biology professor from Purdue University, arrived at Hillsdale College in the 1990s.

During his job interview, Don Toczek, a professor of biology at the time, told Swinehart about the former museum and the disasters it withstood. Swinehart said he knew if he received a teaching position at Hillsdale, he would restart the natural history museum.

“There were two things I pledged to do as a successful candidate,” Swinehart said. “One was to establish a biological station, which I did, and the other one was to bring back the museum.”

The museum’s greatest accomplishment during this time period was funding an expedition to South America.

Between 1880 and 1882, Hillsdale College partnered with the Smithsonian Museum and

students curated the museum with some success, quality declined, and in 1910, the museum was once again damaged by a fire in Knowlton Hall. Swinehart said the museum lost many specimens over the

When Hillsdale gave Swinehart the position, he set to work fulfilling his promise. Like his predecessor Fisk did before him, Swinehart began by digging through the metaphorical rubble of the museum. He searched the cabinets, offices, drawers, and halls of campus for odd-looking natural objects. “I found a rock being used as a doorstop in Central Hall. I thought, ‘That’s not from around here.’ It ended up being a lava sample from the Sand-

wich Islands, which are now Hawaii. I went into Central Hall and I asked one of the secretaries where she got it. She said, ‘We don’t know. It’s been there for decades.’” Swinehart said.

Once he recovered the few specimens left of Fisk’s legacy, Swinehart acquired an old anatomy lab room in Strosaker to display the collection. On March 7, 2011, the Daniel M. Fisk Natural History Museum reopened for the first time since the 1960s with a name honoring its founder.

“Since that day, I have been not only gathering up what was left of the museum but adding tens of thousands of specimens myself. We are getting to the point where we are similar in quantity to what we had at one time and, in some cases, better in quality,” Swinehart said.

Swinehart estimates the museum now contains more than 10,000 cataloged objects from around the world and almost every geological time period. The collection includes specimens dug up here in Hillsdale, like several mastodon bones.

Unfortunately, Swinehart said only around 5% of Fisk’s original collection remains in the museum today. Some of these rare objects, like a giant clam cataloged by Fisk, are

a dinosaur, he got a call from the dig site.

“‘We’ve got an animal for you,’ the caller said. ‘An amateur found it.’ They promised it to Hillsdale, and it was delivered,” Swinehart said.

Swinehart and Hillsdale students finished digging up the herbivore Edmontosaurus Annectens, a species of duckbill dinosaur, in 2015. They affectionately named it Linda after the woman who discovered it, and brought it back to campus.

“What else can I add to the number one spot on my bucket list after that? This is too soon to check off number one,” Swinehart said.

The addition of a second dinosaur in 2018, Donna the triceratops, made the Daniel M. Fisk Museum the only museum in the state of Michigan to display two, real-bone dinosaur skeletons.

“There is no other place where you can see two real-bone dinosaurs,” Swinehart said. “Other places have cast bones, and I think University of Michigan has one, but Hillsdale can formally boast we have the most dinosaurs on display.”

Although it took 150 years, Swinehart has implemented Fisk’s vision to make a muse-

endangered species illegal to collect in the present day.

Though the museum collection was growing rapidly, Swinehart said he thought something was missing from the collection, the one thing that defines a natural history museum — dinosaur bones.

“When you think of a natural history museum, you think of dinosaurs,” Swinehart said.

I never dreamed we could ever have a full dinosaur skeleton, but I thought at minimum we’ve got to have some dinosaur bones.”

Swinehart contacted a privately owned dinosaur dig site in North Dakota that allowed researchers to dig on the property for a weekly fee. He and his students began digging there every summer starting in 2009.

After Swinehart had established a relationship with the dig site and put in a request for

um that inspires students to pursue an education in the natural sciences.

“Many of our classes will go to the museum and do some exercises that help with seeing what they’re learning in class,” Swinehart said.

The museum’s specimens have contributed to six published research papers, including one on a collection of rare fresh-water mollusks that would make most marine biologists jealous.

Swinehart said he often stops to admire the museum’s specimens and contemplate their history.

“I often just walk through the museum, and it’s become so commonplace that sometimes I just have to stop and remind myself, “Oh my God, we’ve got two mostly real-bone dinosaurs in here.”

Donna the triceratops was added to the musuem in 2018. Courtesy | The daily Telegram

Edmontosaurus, like the one in the Fisk Musuem, are duck-billed, plant-eating dinosaurs. Courtesy | The Daily Telegram

An early Hillsdale postcard called the Knowlton Hall of Science the “Musuem Building.” Courtesy | Anthony Swinehart

Anthony Swinehart and junior Max Aylor celebrate the Fisk Museum’s 150th anniversary. Erik Teder | Collegian

Vesper service begins the great fast FEATURES

As Western Christians prepare to celebrate Easter, the Orthodox Lent is just beginning

By Adriana Azarian Collegian Reporter

The church is filled with golden icons of Christ and saints, each bearing the same gentle, intent expression. Men and veiled women enter solemnly, bowing and crossing themselves before the ornate images. Following a service, they will turn their gaze from the two-dimensional images to each other, fall prostrate, and implore, “Forgive me, a sinner.”

This is Forgiveness Vespers, the service that kicks off Eastern Orthodox Lent. While western Christians prepare to celebrate Easter this Sunday, Orthodox Christians have just begun the season of fasting and prayer. Because the Orthodox Church uses a different method to determine the date of Easter, Lent began the evening of March 17, over a month after Western Lent began on Feb. 14.

“Forgiveness is what Lent is all about,” said Justin Jackson, professor of English and a deacon at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Albion, Michigan. “If you’re fasting, if you’re almsgiving, if you’re praying — this is all pointing us toward the forgiveness of one another because essentially our whole faith is predicated upon the forgiveness of God.”

The first week of Lent, called “Clean Week” involves prayer services and more intense fasting. Orthodox Christians spend Lent abstaining from meat, fish, dairy, wine, and oil, with lightened fasts on certain feast days and weekends, according to junior Anna Jackson, not related to Justin Jackson, vice president of Hillsdale’s Orthodox Christian Fellowship. “We don’t believe in separating the body from worship,” Anna Jackson said. “Fasting unites the body and

“Fasting unites the body and spirit in an endeavor in turning toward Christ.”

the spirit in an endeavor in turning towards Christ. You’re denying yourself and turning outward toward him. I might be kind of hungry, and I might be constantly aware of that, but that also makes me aware of why I’m hungry. And if that’s because I’m trying to do something for God, then my mind is constantly turned towards him, even in the discomfort.”

Justin Jackson said these general fasting guidelines are the ideal for the faithful. Individuals follow them as they are able, typically under the guidance of their priests who help them adjust according to

spiritual and physical needs. During the weekdays of Lent, Orthodox churches have Presanctified Liturgies. According to sophomore Deaglan Maines, a member of the OCF, this service is a vesperal liturgy in which communicants receive the “lamb,” or body of Christ, which the priest sanctifies, or consecrates, at the preceding Sunday Liturgy. “You don’t celebrate in a season of repentance, but the body of Christ persists throughout, so you can and should receive,” Maines said. Orthodox Lent ends when Holy Week begins, after

liturgy on Lazarus Saturday, the day that commemorates the resurrection of Lazarus. Like Clean Week, Orthodox Christians have services every day and increase their fasting practices.

“Holy Week takes you through the passion and the entombment of Christ, which is the true sabbath of Christ resting in the tomb on the sixth day,” Justin Jackson said.

According to Anna Jackson, the Orthodox Church traditionally receives new members through baptism in a service the morning of Holy Saturday.

“On Holy Saturday, you’re not sure whether to be happy or sad because Christ is in the tomb, but he’s also destroying death,” she said. “Your friends are getting baptized into the church and receiving communion the first time, and it’s such a beautiful time.”

That night, the parish returns to a completely

dark church for the Paschal Liturgy. The congregation processes three times around the church. The priest will bang three times on the church door with a book of the gospels. When the door swings open, the congregation enters triumphantly, greeted by swinging chandeliers and brilliant candles throughout the church. This time they will turn to each other and proclaim in every language they know, “Christ is Risen!”

Justin Jackson said Pascha, or Easter, is a celebration of Christ’s victory over death, “our existential foe.”

“Our Paschal troparion, which we sing for 40 days, is ‘Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death and upon those in the tombs bestowing life,’” he said. “If death has been trampled down, and Christ has transformed it into eternal life, there’s really nothing to fear.”

Students attend United Nations summit

By Christina Lewis Collegian Reporter

While some students sailed in the British Virgin Islands for spring break, other students traveled further north to the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

A group of 12 students attended the Christian Council International’s United Nations Fellowship which included the 68th annual Commission on the Status of Women and a conference on the Status of Women and Family.

Junior Mark den Hollander said he has served as a U.S. representative for CCI for two years and saw a need for more conservative voices

lot. It wasn’t always easy because you’re doing hard work, sitting in the middle of a whole bunch of people who have very different opinions from you. That can be very challenging mentally.”

Ph.D. student Theodore Madrid said the trip consisted of observing a lot of the inner workings of the UN, attending meetings, and going into delegations. “A lot of time was set aside for meeting with delegates or heads of different nongovernmental organizations and talking to them about their work and the sorts of things going on at the UN,” Madrid said.

ing in the UN because it’s very liberal and left leaning,” Cheng said. “A lot of the values that

the UN is indoctrinating into third world countries are very devastating.”

Some con servatives fail to recognize the sig nificance of the UN as a global influence, according to Cheng.

“I basically made it my mission and started recruiting students and talking to people,” Den Hollander said. “They learned a

Sophomore Charlie Cheng said he learned how the UN functions and how NGOs like CCI can influence some of the UN’s agendas. “Some other NGOs hosted lectures to inform about other problems that people are fac-

“Western nations, dominantly the European Union and the U.S., are pushing a very liberal concept called ‘comprehensive sexuality education’ in third world countries,” Cheng said. “It aims to sexualize children. But the words are painted in a way that it doesn’t seem that way.”

The comprehensive sexuality education “gives young people accurate, age-appropriate information about sexuality and their sexual and reproductive health, which is critical for their health and survival,” according to the World Health Organization.

Madrid said that after reading the fine print of resources the UN is sending to third world countries, he realized the material is more graphic than advertised.

“The UN couched, especially the treaties, to some extent, in language that sounds a little bit more benign—like it’s just an ordinary introduction to human sexuality for young people. But it’s way worse than that,” Madrid said. “It’s very obscene, very graphic, and begins at the very youngest ages.” Cheng said a lot of third world countries sign the resolution agreement without knowing what they’re supporting, and nations who oppose the resolution face loss of funding threats.

“I think we should pay more attention to the UN and possibly influence it ourselves to promote rights and values that we consider are right,” Cheng said.

Freshman Alex Mooney said he didn’t realize how much influence the UN has on third world countries.

“Even though the UN doesn’t technically make laws, it still has massive influence in a lot of other ways, especially culturally,” Mooney said.

Freshman Bradley Haley said the trip was a great experience

to learn about international politics.

“The trip gave me new insights into what’s actually going on on the global level with issues that I care about on the domestic level,” Haley said.

In addition to third world and international political influence, the UN and other progressive organizations have strong media platforms, especially on issues like the transgender movement, Den Hollander said.

“One of the main objectives at the UN right now is really trying to promote comprehensive sexuality education in every sphere of life for Western society,” Den Hollander said. “They’re trying to essentially replace every aspect of what we know in life.”

Haley said through its com-

prehensive sexuality education, the UN is exporting to the rest of the world a secular ideology and religion, unlike any values treasured at Hillsdale.

“It was interesting to see how what we’re kind of exporting to the rest of the world is an ideol

ogy and religion and it’s not the Christian religion or free market principles or anything that you know, we here at Hillsdale treasure,” Haley said.

Mooney said he was thankful for the opportunity to meet people from different cultures and hear their different perspectives without a language barrier since everyone at the UN spoke English.

“I met people from Africa, all over Asia, and South America. It was fantastic to meet all these people,” Mooney said.

Den Hollander encouraged conservatives to stay informed about the world around them.

“I think that in order for us to stay up to date with what’s going on in the world, we have to stay ahead of what all of their talking points are,” Den Hollander said.

Fr. Joshua Figerio celebrates the Pascal Liturgy. Elyse Apel | Collegian Parishioners at Holy Ascension process around the church three times at the Easter Vigil before entering. Elyse Apel | Collegian