Collegian 8.31.2023

By Micah Hart PoliticAl corrEsPondEnt

Some students thought Gov. Ron DeSantis excelled in remaining relevant and part of the discussion at the first Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee, WI on Aug. 23, while others said the Florida governor failed to connect with the audience.

Eight Republican presidential candidates battled it out on Aug. 23 in the first Republican presidential debate, absent primary front-runner former President Donald Trump.

Last year, three of these candidates — businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, and DeSantis — visited campus.

Instead of debating his fellow candidates, Trump held a one-on-one interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson at the same time.

“I think if Trump keeps playing wild cards, then he’s out for good,” junior Emily Griffith said.

Others, such as junior Charlie Birt, said they believe Trump helped himself by avoiding the debate and that DeSantis, who attended the debate, presented himself as another strong option for voters.

“Trump and DeSantis did well to stay above the fray in the two-person race,” Birt said.

Junior Vivian Turnbull said the Florida governor did not present enough of a national case on specific questions.

“DeSantis struggled with seeming stiff and once again reverted to only talking about Florida when asked certain questions, particularly the abortion one,” Turnbull said.

When asked about his abortion policies, DeSantis said he would not allow lateterm abortion.

See Debate A2

Faculty responds to AI threat on campus

By Sydney Green circulAtion MAnAgEr

Professors are including statements in their syllabi that limit or ban students from using artificial intelligence programs such as ChatGPT, following a letter from the provost’s office this summer.

“Faculty are encouraged to discuss AI use with their students on the first day of classes and place a statement in their syllabus,” Provost Christopher VanOrman said in the letter.

“It is essential for faculty to be transparent with their expectations and to have frank conversations with their students about the moral implications of AI.”

VanOrman said he values

academic freedom and wanted faculty to consider specific policies regarding AI tools at their own discretion.

“I hate making policies because I think that academic freedom is very important,” he said. “I want my faculty to know that if this is something they think is useful or should be prohibited, they should be able to do what they think is right in their own classroom.”

VanOrman said some STEM faculty members permit the use of AI for research purposes, while others choose to give a verbal discouragement in class. According to VanOrman, all syllabi in the English department contain a department policy statement that prohibits the use of any AI

tools. VanOrman also said the history department is considering adopting the statement.

The English department policy statement said that because writing necessitates wrestling with the text, any use of AI is strictly forbidden. AI uses accomplishes the opposite of the user’s intention, according to Associate Professor of English Jason Peters.

“I happen to be one of those people who's not all that impressed by labor-saving devices,” Peters said. “I think what those devices finally do is they don't save labor — they get rid of laborers.”

Writing becomes beautiful, Peters said, when the reader can grasp a sense of personhood.

From speechwriter to entrepreneur: alumna launches writing firm website

By Thomas McKenna Assist A nt Editor

After four years writing speeches for the president of the United States, one Hillsdale College alumna shifted to launch a communications firm.

Brittany Baldwin ’12 launched the website for her firm, Illuminate Consulting, last month.

“I resisted having a website for a long time,” Baldwin said. “It reached a lot more people than I thought.”

She founded the firm after she left the White House in 2021. In the two and a half years since starting her own business, Baldwin said she has tried to focus on the dis tinguishing specialty she can provide her clients.

“Everyone who has their own company has to think about ‘What is their secret weapon?’” Baldwin said. “A big part of my secret weapon is being able to really get to know a client, see their strengths in a way that even they themselves can't see, and then find a way to draw that out.”

Baldwin wrote speeches for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, including during his presidential campaign, before serving as a presidential speechwriter and special assistant to the president during the Trump administration. She credits her Hillsdale ed-

ucation with shaping her into a “sharper thinker” and a “sharper writer.”

“Reading great books, learning how to become a great writer, constantly being pushed to be excellent, developing a great work ethic, being around professors who inspired me, and learning how to become the wom - an of

every other class that I took at Hillsdale because, frankly, it was very practical,” Baldwin said. “We were getting very specific, very concrete feedback on our work, which I think made us better quickly.”

Miller arrived at Hillsdale during her senior year. Baldwin was one of his first students, Miller said.

“It was a delight to teach her and now to watch her flourish as a professional writer,” Miller said. “Anybody who needs the services of a wordsmith would be wise to look her up.”

An American studies major, Baldwin included Professor of History Brad Birzer among the professors who had the greatest impact on her education and character.

“Writing generated by ChatGPT is really kind of voiceless, and what makes writing interesting is this sense that there's a real person,” Peters said.

Senior Caleb Greene spent his summer interning at a startup AI company and said he thinks faculty should not ban AI uses altogether. “It wouldn’t be smart for an institution like Hillsdale to just be anti-AI; the reality is that it is going to radically transform the world,” Greene said. “I think we need to start owning the conversation on it now and look into how we can adopt and engage with it.”

Greene said AI can be helpful, but it becomes detrimental when students seek to use

it to shortcut their education. He said faculty ought to gain more familiarity with the tool they are prohibiting.

“I think faculty should expose themselves to technology and have an understanding of how it works,” Greene said. “Otherwise they will fall behind the curve and not have the tools to combat it if needed.”

Chair and Professor of English Justin A. Jackson reminded students to embrace the motto of the college in his lecture to the class of 2027 on academic honesty.

“What's the point of strength rejoicing in the challenge if you're going to cheat?” Jackson said. “Don’t rob yourself of the education that you are paying for.”

Six student productions named CBI finalists

charac - ter that I wanted to be have all fundamentally shaped who I am and therefore how I work,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin said as a George Washington Fellow, she did not want to complete the Washington Hillsdale Internship Program, but found during her Heritage Foundation internship that she loved writing. In the fall of her senior year at Hillsdale, Baldwin took Advanced Writing with John J. Miller, director of the Dow Journalism Program. “It was so different from

“Dr. Birzer had this incredible way of making history into a beautiful poetic story,” Baldwin said. “Not only did it teach me to love history even more than I already did, but it taught me the power of storytelling.”

Birzer said he greatly admires Baldwin.

“I think the absolute world of Brittany,” Birzer said. “She was not only one of the finest students I’ve encountered at Hillsdale — all my students are awesome — but she was an amazing friend and babysitter of my kids. I would trust her with the world.”

By Jane Kitchen Assist A nt Editor

College Broadcasters Inc.

selected six Hillsdale student radio and video productions as finalists for the 2023 National Student Production Awards.

Finalists include the four highest-ranked submissions for each of CBI’s award categories. This year, colleges across the country sent in nearly 1,000 total submissions. CBI will announce the winners this October at the National Student Media Convention in Orlando, Florida.

“I can tell them, ‘Great job!’ over and over, but hearing it from someone outside the program, especially when being measured beside students from great radio/audio programs across the country, really can resonate with a student,” said Scot Bertram, gen-

eral manager of WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM.

Senior Abigail Snyder’s show “The Virtual Voyage” is one of the nominees for Best Regularly Scheduled Entertainment Program.

Snyder said the show was the result of her desire to share her passion for the history and culture of Israel with others, especially when travel was restricted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It's an armchair travel show where I take people to my favorite sites in Israel, all from their comfort zone,” Snyder said. “So once you put on your headphones, you can be in your dorm room or your living room, and you get to feel like you're there touching the Western Wall, or on the Temple Mount, or swimming in the Dead Sea.”

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

Juniors Nathaniel Privitt and Julian Burchard (left- to-right) enjoy the swing set at Baw Beese BBQ on Friday.

Brittany Baldwin '12 worked as a speechwriter at the White House. c ourTES y | LinkedIn

WRFH students hold award from Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Courtesy | radiofreehillsdale.com

SAB announces 2023 homecoming theme

By Isaac Green News editor

Prepare for togas and olive wreaths on campus as dorms, members of Greek life, and other coalitions compete for the title of homecoming champion.

The Student Activities Board announced the “Ancient Olympics” theme Tuesday in an Instagram post, according to junior SAB promo team lead John Schaefer.

“When we decide themes, they are normally very contentious and we’ll argue about it a lot,” junior and SAB media team lead Jack Cote said. “This year for our entire read-

ing day meeting all of us were pretty unanimous on every single theme.”

Homecoming teams will compete Sept. 18 to 23 in events like banner drop, trivia night, and mock rock, with the top three finishers earning points towards their homecoming scores. At the end of the week, the team with the most points will take home the victory.

Junior and Niedfeldt head resident assistant Harrison Layman said he thinks a specific theme like this will force teams to think outside the box.

“I think it provides a lot of opportunities for creativ-

ity,” Layman said. “How can you take it and use it in a way that's not the immediate thing that jumps to everyone's mind?”

Layman said he is interested to see how far SAB takes the theme for events like trivia.

“Are we just gonna have a bunch of classics kids and they're like, ‘Alright, this is what we're answering questions on’ or are they going to kind of loosen it up a little bit?” he asked.

Students have taken events like Mock Rock in surprising directions before, according to junior and SAB events team lead Josiah Jagoda, who said

WRFH hosts open house in new facilities

while it’s hard to say what will happen this year, he thinks certain ideas will be popular.

“I would imagine there will be some togas involved,” Jagoda said. “I could see a one-onone wrestling match or maybe a crowning at the end.”

Jagoda said if any frustrations arise, students should remember faculty, not SAB team members, judge the events.

“It's a very Hillsdale-type theme,” Layman said. “I can’t think of very many other schools who would be like ‘Yeah, our theme for this thing is the Ancient Olympics.’ It's very on brand in that regard, so I'm excited to see what everyone does.”

Alumnus joins marketing as podcast manager

By Sophia Mandt Collegia N Freela NC er

Shadrach Strehle ’19 returned to Hillsdale College this year as podcast manager for the Hillsdale College Podcast Network.

Strehle studied history and journalism at Hillsdale and was the program director of

Radio Free Hillsdale before he left for the professional world.

After graduating, Strehle worked briefly as a reporter before moving to Washington, D.C. There he worked for the Salem Media Group as the technical director for a nationally syndicated radio show with 3 million daily listeners. He then moved back

to Hillsdale, starting his own podcast called Vulgate Media, and worked with clients nationally through groups such as “The American Conservative.”

When Hillsdale launched the Podcast Network and posted a job for a podcast manager, Strehle said he knew he had to apply.

Strehle said he loved his time at Hillsdale as a student.

“I always joke that it’s the best four years of my life before I got married,” Strehle said. “What the college does, not only on campus but nationally, is good. Even though I was working for myself, I thought that I would much rather be working for something that has some value.”

Strehle said he has always loved podcasts and recorded his own as early as seventh grade before the podcast arena became popular.

Scot Bertram, general manager of WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM, said Hillsdale is working on podcasts to reach more people.

“The college has many ways to reach people across the country,” Bertram said. “However, audio and podcasting is one place where

“We're better than what the Democrats are selling,” he said. “We are not going to allow abortion all the way up 'til birth, and we will hold them accountable for their extremism.”

Former South Carolina governor and Trump Administration U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, discussed the feasibility of an abortion ban.

“When it comes to a federal ban, let's be honest with the American people and say it will take 60 Senate votes,” Haley said. “It will take a majority of the House. So in order to do that, let's find consensus.”

Turnbull said she admired Haley’s honest response to the issue.

“I appreciated Haley’s answer to the abortion question when she reminded that a president alone cannot pass laws, and they frankly do not have the senate votes to pass a national ban,” Turnbull said. “It isn’t the answer candidates usually give, but in some ways, it is the most honest one. Presidential candidates tend to over promise and forget the fact that they have to get Congress on board to actually implement the changes.”

For freshman Josiah Jones, Haley and Ramaswamy won the night.

“Haley combated Ramaswamy’s foreign policy ideas with her experience as a diplomat, and definitely put her in consideration for my vote,” Jones said. “Ramaswamy did exactly what he wanted to do — get attention and get his

name known. Kudos to him on that.”

Sophomore William Deaton said he thinks Ramaswamy knew what he needed to get done at the debate.

“Vivek had a grand time, apparently seizing every moment captive with his eyes on the prize,” Deaton said.

Birt and Griffith said Ramaswamy walked the Republican line, and Griffith questioned what else the businessman had to offer.

“Vivek is saying all the right things maybe a little too perfectly,” Griffith said, “and it just seems like he’s saying everything Republicans want to hear, but what else is there?”

Birt agreed that Ramaswamy reiterated Republican talking points — he discussed gender-identity issues and focused heavily on the Constitution.

“Ramaswamy went above and beyond, in memorizing cliché Republican platitudes,” Birt said.

Senior Avery Noel said hedid not appreciate the rightwing approach Ramaswamy took.

“Vivek Ramaswamy showcased all of the worst parts of today's Republican party, from his blatant lies on climate change to his tirade against the ‘woke,’” Noel said. “Ramaswamy took up all of the oxygen in the room and placed himself further to the right of any candidate on the stage; even Gov. DeSantis, a former Freedom Caucus member, wasn’t spouting anywhere near as much rightwing propaganda and lies as Ramaswamy.”

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie pointed attacks at candidates like Ramaswamy, saying the newcomer sounded like ChatGPT.

“I was most appreciative of Chris Christie,” Deaton said. “Without Chris, the debate would have simply been a boring discussion, not a debate. He brought the antagonistic,

we didn’t have a centralized strategy or point where people could find all of the audio the college is producing.”

Bertram said podcasting is a growing medium, and it is readily accessible to audiences. One great thing about podcasting, according to Bertram, is that it is free.

Associate Professor of Management Douglas Johnson said marketing is an exciting field into which the college can expand through podcasting.

“It tends to be very creative and is focused on identifying what customers want and creating products and services for them,” Johnson said.

Since Strehle is a Hillsdale graduate, he had the advantage of attending a college with an innovative and forward thinking approach in marketing itself as an institution, Johnson said.

“Relative to our peer institutions we probably have about the best marketing operation of any school of our size,” Johnson said. “The integration of podcasts and marketing of the school in general, it sets us apart.”

name-calling that we all lovingly recall when thinking of President Trump.”

Jones said it is clear Christie was on the stage to refute Trump.

“Christie is obviously controlled Trump opposition,” Jones said.

Not every candidate had a star performance, according to Jones and Birt.

“Burgum, Hutchinson, Scott, and even DeSantis didn’t stand out to me,” Jones said. “Pence leaned a little too much on the Christian rhetoric, but definitely scored by getting everyone to admit that he had no authority to overturn the 2020 election.”

Birt said this is a two-man race between DeSantis and Trump. The other presidential hopefuls failed to impress him.

“Other candidates seemed ready to reach for draft cards, or had me reaching for my Rough Draft coffee to stay awake,” Birt said.

By Emma Wiermann Collegia N Freela NC er

WRFH Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM held an open house Aug. 29 to celebrate its relocation to new facilities in the Stanton Building.

“This complex opens up all sorts of opportunities to do things even bigger and better than we were previously,” said Scot Bertram, general manager of WRFH.

The station, founded in 2016, originally operated out of the Knorr Student Center in a room adjacent to the Old Snack Bar.

“I always made a joke last semester when I was doing my newscast that I was in a closet, so when I was doing the weather reports, I could never look outside to see if that actually was the weather,” said junior Lauren Smyth, a student newscaster.

Despite cramped accommodations, the station won numerous awards over the past few years, including Radio Station of the Year in the College Audio category from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters in 2019 and 2023.

Freshman Megan Li said she attended the open house because she hopes to become involved in the program.

“I just want to be a part of what people are doing here in some way, even if it's not me talking into the mic,” Li said.

Junior Megan Pidcock, production director at the station,

Awards from A1

Snyder said each 22-minute episode of “The Virtual Voyage” requires eight to 10 hours of work to produce.

Among the finalists is “Hillsdale Student, American Hero,” a documentary film about the life of Hillsdale alumna Elizebeth Smith Friedman. The film, which was a class project for students in Buddy Moorehouse’s Documentary Filmmaking course, is Hillsdale’s only finalist in the CBI visual division.

Alumni Josh Barker '23 and Christian Peck-Dimit '23; seniors Abigail Snyder, Maggie Wackenhut, and Maddy Welsh; and juniors Jack Cote, Linsey Larkin, Megan Pidcock, and Lauren Smyth contributed to the six finalist productions: “Election Night 2022,” “The Grammar Minute,” “Hillsdale Student, American Hero,” “Ian Fleming,” “Lauren Smyth News,” and “The Virtual Voyage.”

Smyth was nominated for awards in three categories: Best Newscast, Best Promo, and Best Documentary.

said there are benefits to working with the radio program.

“It's a really good way to become more articulate,” Pidcock said. “It provides industry standard experiences. It's just a really great way to get a lot of skills in one place.”

Plans to establish the studio in the Stanton building first began a year ago, according to Bertram. He said meticulous planning went into the studio design, from layout to soundbleed considerations.

“The planning was important to make sure the execution turned out the right way,” he said.

The new station boasts a dedicated editing workspace and three dedicated broadcasting studios, a sizable expansion from its previous single-studio setup.

“Now we can have multiple students working at the same time when previously it was really only one at a time,” Bertram said.

According to Bertram, tech updates include a shift from analog to digital control boards which will offer the station more connectivity between studios and more options for bringing content in.

“The journalism department has always been very strong through the Collegian, and now the radio and audio side of things is also,” Bertram said. “We are thrilled to be here, the students are amazed at the facility, and we are really looking forward to getting back to it."

Smyth said she was most excited about her documentary project, which focused on the life of English writer Ian Fleming, best known as the author of the James Bond novels.

Smyth said she appreciated the challenge of trying to tell a story that was factually accurate but also entertaining and dramatic.

“I combined audio from the James Bond movies — whether it was music, sound effects, or dialogue — with clips of Ian Fleming talking,” Smyth said.

“So, as Ian Fleming’s story progresses, so does James Bond’s story. You can kind of hear them both at the same time.”

Bertram said he attributes WRFH’s success to quality control, attention to detail, and focus on individual students.

“We don’t develop programs or content to win awards,” Bertram said. “The focus is on finding the right way for a student to get involved. How do we transfer the interests, passions, and knowledge of our students into audio form? That’s the question we try to answer.”

Debate from A1

Shadrach Strehle '19 at work in the studio.

Courtesy | s hadraC h s trehle

Senior Addison Longenecker tries out the new equipment.

Courtesy | e mma Wiermann

Former Gov. Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence argue at the Republican presidential debate.

Courtesy | usa t oday

Sohn marks campus' newest dorm community

By Carly Moran Assist A nt Editor

When the college approached donor Kenneth Sohn with the idea of naming a dorm, he knew he had to name it after his wife, Marilyn J. Sohn.

Kenneth and Marilyn Sohn have donated to Hillsdale College since 1996. The college sweethearts have been married for nearly 70 years and are the proud parents of six

grown children. Ken continues the family business, Sohn Linen Service, while Marilyn enjoys traveling, country music, and dancing. “The college's vision for Sohn was to design an upperclassmen dorm with an assortment of common spaces to provide community,” said Nancy Johnson, associate vice president for institutional advancement. “Ken, like Marilyn, is a steadfast supporter of Hillsdale College, and is

delighted to support its students by naming the Marilyn J. Sohn Residence in honor of his wife.”

Sohn Residence, alongside Kirn Residence, colloquially known as New Dorm, will be dedicated on Oct. 3 at 11 a.m.

While Sohn Residence has private bathrooms in each room, and seven single rooms, Johnson says it makes space for community with multiple study spaces, community areas, a full kitchen, and a gym.

“It’s geared for upperclassmen women who want to stay on campus,” Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said. “Also, to accommodate the increase of post undergraduate summer visitors who participate in teacher training, various outreach programs, alumni weekend, graduate programs, and shooting competitions.”

Because Sohn is the first dormitory of its kind on campus, head resident assistant and junior Sophia Rome said building fellowship among residents would be an exciting challenge.

“My time as a resident and an RA in Olds taught me the importance of community in a dorm,” Rome said. “My team last year set common goals that we worked towards through the year. These goals united us and directed us to serve the residents. I hope to bring the positive experience I had serving the dorm alongside my Olds teammates to my new role in Sohn.”

Rome emphasized the importance of building relations between hallmates, regardless of housing.

“Even with the more private living spaces, Sohn was intentionally built with a variety of common areas that will help the community flourish,” Rome said. “We see the dorm as a home and hope that the women will open their space to others on campus.”

Get the interview: cover letter and resume workshop guides students toward careers

By Alexandra Hall

dE sign Editor

Anyone claiming to be a “resume expert” raises a red flag, according to Executive Director of Career Services Ken Koopmans.

During the Career Services cover letter and resume workshop Aug. 30, students had the chance to understand the subjective nature of resumes. The workshop sought to answer student questions, review pre-existing resumes, and consider what employers look for in prospective employees.

Student career coaches Carlie Steele, Njomeza Pema, and Tristan Wertanzl each led discussions in the Formal Lounge to answer questions and give advice about writing cover letters and resumes.

“Realistically, employers spend about 10 seconds looking at your resume and your cover letter,” Steele, a junior, said, “so they kind of scan and automatically pick out key-

Keeping it classic: Hillsdale local returns as professor

words. Those will click with them and then they’ll keep reading.”

Attendees asked how to maintain a professional tone while also showcasing their personalities.

“Cover letters aren’t supposed to be a huge love letter to the company,” Steele said. “They’re just supposed to be an insight into who you are. They’re not supposed to get you a job — they’re supposed to get you an interview. That way you can really put a face to the name and continue the relationship.”

In Wertanzl’s group, he noted that creating resumes and cover letters can be daunting for freshmen. It is a challenge to determine what should be included on a resume when the student’s experience is sparse.

“Don’t be worried about the fact that your clubs and jobs happened in high school right now,” Wertanzl said. “As soon as you land jobs in college, that’s when you move those

to the top and slowly phase things out.”

Students of all grades have to make decisions about what information to include and in what order.

“I’ve heard conflicting things about putting your GPA on your resume,” attendee and junior Vivian Turnbull said. “I’ve heard that it looks suspicious if it’s not, but I’ve also heard that it’s not necessary at all.”

Wertanzl said GPA, like many things on resumes, can be subjective.

“Overall, I’d list if you have a 3.4 or higher unless you’re on the 4.0 dean’s list,” Wertanzl said. “But specifying isn’t really necessary. And if you’ve got a 4.0 — I pray for your mental health.”

But it’s not just work. Other kinds of experience are just as important as paid positions, and sometimes even more important, according to Program Manager and Internship Coordinator Roma Rogers.

“Some things are experience and even though you aren’t getting paid, whatever skills done or products produced in things like clubs may be relevant to the job you’re applying for,” Rogers said. “Please include those. You don’t have to put ‘volunteer’ or ‘club,’ but you can highlight your position.”

Each discussion highlighted two components of all resume discussions: subjectivity and tailoring. While the coaches advised students to have a staple cover letter and resume, each job prospect should be altered to fit the role.

“Even if you haven’t worked in a specific field yet, you can pretty much tailor any experience you have to make it somehow relate to what you’re applying for,” Steele said. “You should always write a new cover letter, but you probably have transferable skills that can apply to every industry.”

Baw Beese BBQ caps off first week of classes

By Lillian Ferrell Coll E gi A n Fr EE l A n CE r

The Student Activities Board celebrated the first week of classes with a barbecue at Baw Beese Lake on Aug. 25.

“I had a blast,” freshman Clara Bozzay said. “It was super fun to get to see the community really come together after a hard first week of classes.”

SAB provided burgers and hot dogs in addition to chips, popsicles, and refreshments. Students who attended enjoyed yard games, paddle boarding, kayaking, and swimming.

The night was set to upbeat pop music tracks as students commemorated the accomplishment of making it through their first week of classes. More than 400 students attended the event in total, according to junior and

SAB promo lead John Schaefer.

Bozzay said playing volleyball with her peers was one of her favorite parts of the barbecue.

Students also played a variety of other games including soccer, cornhole, and spikeball.

“It really lets people organically form friendships and relax and have fun after a busy first week,” Schaefer said.

Schaefer said he loves the barbecue because it brings the Hillsdale student body together after classes kick off.

“It was pretty busy and a little stressful trying to get everything set up in time, especially getting the charcoal lit and ready,” Schaefer said. “However, we were able to get all of our materials to the site in time and we had a fairly effective supply chain set up for whenever materials ran low. The event itself was a ton of fun and we were thrilled with

the turnout.”

The event was a wonderful opportunity for freshmen to get acquainted with the rest of the student body, according to

freshman Jacqueline Roth.

“It was a good chance to meet more of the Hillsdale community and get to know people better,” Roth said.

By Moira Gleason Assist A nt Editor

When Patricia Craig decided against attending Hillsdale College at the age of 18 and went to the University of Dallas instead, she did not expect to return more than a decade later as an assistant professor of classics at the college.

Craig, a Hillsdale Academy graduate and the daughter of Professor of Politics Mickey Craig, joined the classics department this semester to teach first semester Latin and advanced Latin and Greek. Earning her master’s and doctorate in Latin and Greek from the Catholic University of America, Craig taught at CUA, George Washington University, and Christendom College before coming to Hillsdale.

“I didn’t know that I would come back to Hillsdale,” Craig said. “But it’s my hometown, and so it’s really nice personally for me to be here. Hillsdale is well known for having a great student body and hard working students. It’s such a treat for teachers to have good students because then you’re challenged to become a better teacher, and that’s something I realized would be a great opportunity here.”

Although she later fell in love with Greek and majored in classical philology, Craig began her undergraduate studies at the University of Dallas as an English major and a Latin minor.

Her classes in English trivium and a project on the British-American poet W. H. Auden during her junior year helped turn Craig toward classics.

“I read all the works of W.H. Auden and then read a lot of secondary literature about him,” Craig said. “I saw in his poetry a real love for the classics, and he clearly had been formed by studying classics. So, my favorite English poet seemed steeped in classical poetry and literature.”

Studying ancient philosophy, Craig said she had a hard time understanding Greek philosophers because she was not reading the texts in their original language.

“At a certain point, I realized I wanted to read Aristotle and Plato in the original Greek, and I had no Greek,” Craig said.

Increasingly interested in grammar, Latin poetry, and Greek philosophy, Craig decided during her junior year to step away from her English classes to learn Greek and pursue the study of philosophy and poetry through classics.

“I became really interested in the conversation among philosophers and poets that had really sprung up with the Greeks, since we don't really have much writing that existed before classical Greece,” Craig said. “And then I became really interested in the way that the Romans picked up on themes in Greek literature, so I wanted to keep delving into that.”

During her graduate studies, Craig wrote her disser-

tation on the Roman stoic philosopher and playwright Seneca. Craig said that she put Seneca’s tragedies and philosophical works in conversation to explore the philosopher’s portrayal of exemplary virtue and virtuous death in his tragedies.

Her background in Roman poetry and philosophy made Craig a great fit for the classics department at Hillsdale, Associate Professor of Classics Carl Young said.

“Her particular research specialty fit well with our department,” Young said. “It gave us something that we didn't have before, someone who could do Roman philosophy but also Latin poetry. That was something we really needed.”

Craig said she has a strong interest in spoken Latin and Greek and incorporates speaking as well as reading and translation into her classes.

“I think the more input in a language you receive, the more quickly you progress in a language,” Craig said. “I studied Latin for nine years without any speaking, and then when I was 25, I went to one week of immersion. I couldn’t really speak any Latin in the beginning, and then by the end of the week I was speaking quite well, and I noticed that I was reading more quickly and with more enjoyment than I ever had before.”

In the past two years, Craig has run a number of conferences at the University of Kentucky and Christendom College for spoken Latin and Greek. While preparing for these conferences, she met her current fiance, Aloysius Aeschliman, with whom she would meet to practice speaking Latin.

Young said Craig’s teaching approach makes her a good candidate for Hillsdale’s classics department.

“It involves a lot of speaking, a lot of reading out loud, a lot of memorizing passages and reciting them out loud, imitating great writers from Greek and Roman antiquity,” Young said. “It’s a different method than I use and most of my colleagues use when we teach Latin and Greek. But it’s one that’s becoming increasingly popular. Students were asking for this sort of natural language method, spoken Latin.”

According to sophomore Cecilia Jansen, a student taking Intro to Latin Literature, Craig’s use of spoken Latin was jarring at first but is proving helpful in learning both vocabulary and the content of the texts.

“It was definitely a hard transition, just because it’s something that I’m not really used to,” Jansen said. “She asks us comprehension questions on the readings in Latin. So we have to know what’s going on in the story but also how to answer those questions in the language that the story is written in, which I appreciate because there are so many things that you can take from the language rather than just translating it into English.”

Sohn resident assistants celebrate opening of the new women's dormitory.

Courtesy | s ophia r ome

Assistant Proefessor of Classics Patricia Craig brings spoken Latin and Greek to the classroom. Courtesy | h illsdale a r C hives

Sophomores Miriam Ritchey and Madison Gilbert and senior Brooke Timmerman (top-tobottom) pose for a photo at Baw Beese BBQ. e rik t eder | s tudent aC tivities Board

Opinions

Devil’s Advocate with Claire Gaudet

(517) 607-2415

Online : www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Editor-in-Chief | Elizabeth Troutman

Associate Editor | Logan Washburn

Senior Editor | Maddy Welsh

Design Editor | Ally Hall

Digital Editor | Elyse Apel

News Editor | Isaac Green

Opinions Editor | Claire Gaudet

City News Editor | Lauren Scott

Sports Editors | Olivia Pero

Culture Editor | Jillian Parks

Features Editor | Michael Bachmann

Science & Tech Editor | Olivia Hajicek

Political Correspondent| Micah Hart

Social Media Manager | Cassandra DeVries

Circulation Managers | Sydney Green & Emma Verrigni

Ad Manager | Nathan Stanish

Photography Editor | Claire Gaudet

Assistant Editors | Moira Gleason | Carly Moran| Kamden Mulder |

Thomas McKenna | Jane Kitchen | Linnea Shively | Michaela Estruth |

SK Sisk | Alex Deimel | Beth Crawford

Faculty Advisers | John J. Miller | Maria Servold

The editors welcome Letters to the Editor but reserve the right to edit submissions for clarity, length, and style. Letters should be 450 words or less and include your name and number. Send submissions to the Opinions Editor at mgaudet@hillsdale.edu before Saturday at 3 p.m.

Don’t get a cat in college

If you’re bored, you’re boring

If living off campus has taught me anything, it’s this: things are expensive. If that’s not enough, doing stuff is also pretty pricey.

I, like you may be now, was shocked by this troublesome reality. And unfortunately, there might be idle moments in your otherwise wild and exciting school year where you feel bored but don’t have the money to fix that. Luckily, you have a whole year of free entertainment and food at your fingertips thanks to the bountiful cornucopia of Hillsdale College.

Despite the fact that our college is in the middle of nowhere and it can seem like

there’s nothing to do, sporting events, plays, concerts, guest lectures, movie showings, and so much more happen on campus every single day. And I cannot stress this enough, these events are almost always free to students.

Never again in our lives will we have an opportunity like this: free food and stuff to do all the time, every day, for nine beautiful months. Are you kidding me? Pretty soon, we’ll all be 40 years old and scraping by to get both popcorn and Coke at the movies.

If you haven’t taken advantage of this, you’re crazy — and the excuses I’ve heard

are crazier:

“It’s too cold to go to football games in Michigan.”

Ann Arbor’s economy would plummet if University of Michigan fans adopted that mentality.

“Athletes never come to our plays, so I’m not going to their games.” You sound like a whiny baby, and maybe people would support you if you supported them.

“I’ve got too much homework to go to Founder’s Day.” You’re going to lay on your bed and watch TikTok for three hours, and you know it.

If you’re bored and broke — which you almost certainly

are as a college student — you need to start going to campus events. Not only are they free, but they’re fun. Imagine a world where every event attracted as many students as Mock Rock and Centralhallapalooza.

For those of you that have made it this far, homecoming events start on Sept. 18, the first home football game of the season is Sept. 23, and “Pride @ Prejudice” is opening on Oct. 4 in Sage. Be there or be square.

Claire Gaudet is a senior studying History and Journalism.

Stalemate at the debate

By Jackson Casey Collegian Freelan C er

The first Republican presidential primary debate showed that former.

President Donald Trump and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy have more in common than meets the eye.

Ramaswamy and Trump have similar outlooks on policy, agreement on the need for structural changes within the GOP, and hold populist attitudes. All these have made Ramaswamy recognizable as the former president’s stand-in.

party remains torn by the same crises as faced former President Donald Trump during his rise to his 2016 nomination.

agenda is a hoax.”

By Alexandra Hall Design eD itor

It took Bean three seconds to jump from my arms in the passenger seat to the nook behind the gas pedal. As my sister and I tried to yank the cat’s tail so he wouldn’t seal all three of our fates, I came to one distinct conclusion: college kids shouldn’t own pets.

My sister adopted Bean at half price on Halloween a year prior — the local humane society capitalized off of people’s superstitions about black cats. My sister, like many college students, saw an animal in need and thought she had the resources to provide for it. But after a lease change, Bean had to live in a shelter before we were able to drive him home to our parents’ house.

A walk down Manning Street will reveal as many feral cats as crushed beer cans. As much you may have the urge to swoop one up, give it the care it needs, and start the next phase of pseudo-adulthood: leave the cat alone.

Every other week, and especially between semesters when leases are being signed, another cat horror story strikes conversations and group messages alike. Whether it’s one left locked in a bedroom all summer because the owner’s parents don’t know about it, or snuck into a dorm and kept hidden in a closet, the epidemic of bad cat ownership is almost as bad as the

feral cat problem itself. Peestained drywall after the cat was locked in a room and parties scaring cats into the box springs of mattresses would make even the staunchest cat haters cringe.

Animals make wonderful additions to people’s lives. They’re loving companions, they help reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and they allow owners to build skills of responsibility and care. But college is not the time to take on such a big commitment.

All too often, eager owners-to-be say things like “Well, it’s not a dog,” because cats generally require less maintenance and exercise than dogs. But cats are not toys. Unless you’re going to be living in a place where you can safely care for a cat for at least a few years, adoption is not a viable plan. There are plenty of ways to reap the benefits of animal companionship without owning them during these tumultuous years. Local shelters and humane societies are always looking for volunteers to help socialize and take care of the animals. So until all your ducks are in a row, try not to add a cat to the mix.

Alexandra Hall is a junior studying Rhetoric and Media Studies and Journalism.

Americans should seriously consider Ramaswamy’s proposed referendum for aggressive political action, which is similar to the one Trump initiated during his first campaign. But that doesn’t mean that the reasonable challenges posed against their shared vision by veterans of Republican politics ought to be ignored. Consensus is almost always necessary when a movement attempts to evolve.

While all eight candidates at the debate attributed America’s problems to the failings of the Biden administration and progressives in government, it’s clear the

Ramaswamy’s central placement on the debate stage was fitting given his constant clashes with the other candidates. He captivated the audience with fiery rhetoric, announcing early on that the only war he’d declare as president would be a “war on the administrative state.” He also described the rest of the field’s remarks as “pre-prepared slogans.” Through statements like these, Ramaswamy aimed to contrast his plan for revolutionary change with the failed establishment’s tendency toward “incremental reform.”

Ramaswamy’s positions fit his revolutionary vision well, with most of them being extreme compared to the party establishment’s stances. When asked his position on the matter of U.S financial support for Ukraine, Ramaswamy swiftly stated that he “would not support it,” while other contenders gave more nuanced responses. His opinion on climate change is similarly strong: in his view, “the climate change

As is the case with Trump’s rhetorical choices during his own time as a primary candidate, Ramaswamy’s phrasing invited plenty of conflict with others on the stage. Most of the candidates caught in Ramaswamy’s crosshairs during the debate fought back aggressively — including former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence touted his record as a proven conservative, especially in the realm of pro-life advocacy, throughout the debate. He argued that the party ought not to “bring in a rookie [like Ramaswamy]” in the political fight against Joe Biden.

Others on the stage voiced similar positions, especially strongly prolife ones, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who noted his signing of the “Heartbeat Bill” recently enacted in the state. Ramaswamy remained silent during the abortion discussion, making it one of the only discussions during which he failed to lead the pack.

One of the unique problems facing the Republican

party during this election cycle is the possibility of Trump’s conviction. When the candidates were asked whether they’d support Trump as nominee if he were convicted on any one of those charges, Ramaswamy was the first to raise his hand.

Vivek Ramaswamy’s successful night at the debate and strong performance in this primary has almost entirely been at the Republican establishment’s expense, with his popularity largely bolstering the strength of the movement started by Trump’s original campaign.

The fact that such a large segment of the GOP stands in opposition to that movement, though, is evidence that the party has yet to mend the gap between the Trump-aligned base and the old guard. and if it fails to come to terms with that truth, it may be incapable of choosing a champion with an innovative vision for the nation and the popular appeal necessary to unite both party and country.

Jackson Casey is a freshman studying the liberal arts.

A man without a plan

By Michael Bachmann Features eD itor

I thought I was ready for my senior year. And by all metrics of a Hillsdale College student, I was. I’d carefully curated my classes, established what were sure to become lifelong friendships, and secured my own off-campus house.

But nothing could have prepared me for how quickly my life fell apart. I arrived at the Student Activities Office last week and saw a Hillsdale College Student Planner was not there waiting for me. The planner, the presence of which had been as dependable as a freshman cracking a “What is the good?” joke, was gone, and with it went my organization and motivation.

The annual planner has been with me since my freshman year, and has always guided me toward academic

success. Each night, I would sit with it to carefully plan the coming day, making todo-lists, goals, and a schedule. Not everything I wrote down got done, but the planner did help me keep my priorities straight and visualize each week.

Now that I go plannerless, each day is a whirlwind of unfocused efforts and crumpled up notes: What pages was I supposed to translate for Latin? Did Dr. Gaetano tell me to read Augustine or Aquinas’ treatise on grace?

When did I schedule my lunch meeting?

In my confused stupor, I have walked past the Student Activities Office several times, hoping that a pile of planners will appear on the SAO desk. But alas, none have — just a sad stack of “Women’s Roundtable” pamphlets and “Man Up” flyers that no students have claimed. “The Mentor,” a

magazine which claims to help students adjust to college life, sits where the planners should. But how can we succeed if we don’t have planners?

The annual planner was printed thanks to the generous funding of the Student Federation. As well as a calendar, it included a student handbook with departmental information, contacts for Hillsdale businesses, building hours, and more. This year, Student Affairs published the handbook online, preventing the Student Federation from spending money on the planner.

But the administration shouldn’t have made the decision alone, especially when they aren’t paying for the planners. If the student body wants planners, which has been the precedent for years, the Student Federation should have had a say.

Perhaps the reasonable

solution to my problem is to buy myself a planner, but I won’t. Until I am provided with my complimentary planner, I will continue to write my to-do lists on spare loose leaf and printer paper from the library

To the freshmen, enjoy your blissful ignorance. To my fellow upperclassmen, stand with me in solidarity. To my professors, please forgive the inevitable slip in my grades. And lastly, to my editor, I am sorry I got this piece to you late. I would have finished on time if I could have written it down in my planner.

Michael Bachmann is a senior studying History and Latin.

Some of Hilllsdale’s feral cats. MaddY Welsh| Collegian

,

Missing the Barbie of my childhood

By Lauren Scott City News editor

I am one of five daughters, so obviously I grew up in a Barbie-obsessed household. I was excited to see the live-action movie “Barbie” this summer to relive childhood memories and feel nostalgic. But instead, I received a lecture about something I have heard 100 times before.

If you haven’t seen the Barbie movie, let me save you some time: the message is that gender equality is important.

In the beginning of the movie, Barbieland is a matriarchal society. Although the Barbies are happy, the Kens feel useless and that their only purpose is to be with a Barbie doll.

Later in the movie, Barbieland becomes a patriarchy, with its own set of problems.

The movie shows how matriarchy and patriarchy are both flawed, and comes to the conclusion that both genders are needed for a successful society and the well-being of all citizens.

Although gender equality is important, I think most people know sexism is bad. Did we need a movie about dolls to tell us that?

If the goal is to educate people about sexism and why it’s bad, selling this narrative through a movie about a doll who lives in a dream house is

probably a bad idea. The audience for “Barbie” is primarily women and kids (the citizens who aren’t oppressing women).

If director Greta Gerwig wants to make a movie about gender equality, she should. But she shouldn’t use “Barbie” as a means to do this. Why make a kids’ movie something serious and political?

Entertainment can have a deeper meaning, but it’s wrong for a movie to market itself as kid-friendly and then preach politics the whole time.

“Barbie” could have been a fun movie that had a strong message of girl power if the producers had let Barbie be Barbie. Instead they made her rude and unapologetic to Ken, unsure of herself, and, eventually, a human being.

I watched “Barbie” with my sisters in the hopes of getting a glimpse back into my childhood. But when I left, my itch for childhood nostalgia was barely scratched. Instead, I received a lecture I’ve heard many times before.

Lauren Scott is a senior studying History and Journalism.

‘Barbie’ is for men too

By Nathan Stanish Ad M ANAger

The Barbie movie is not just for women. It preaches a message of self-identity and self-worth equally important for men.

According to CinemaScore, the male audience of “Barbie” gave an average Agrade after seeing the movie, just a tick below the average A grade the female audiences gave.

Still, many men online have criticized the movie as a man-hating piece of propaganda. Ben Shapiro, champion of exaggerated pop culture reactions, called it a “flaming garbage heap” of a movie.

In reality, the Barbie movie opts for a very simple message that should not be upsetting for men to hear, conservative or not. And it does so in the best way possible: a dance sequence.

For most of the movie, Ken is a glorified accessory. His life revolves around getting Barbie’s attention, doing “beach” better than the other Kens, and cycling through colorful outfits. Over the course of the movie, he evolves into the true antagonist, channeling his insecurities into bringing patriarchy to Barbieland—until Barbie saves the day.

If the movie stuck with that characterization only, accusations of man-hating might bear weight. But as the movie progresses, Ken becomes more than a pathetic accessory-turned-antagonist. Thanks to a very catchy song and dance number, Ken takes a journey from insecurity to self-actualization that brings new meaning to his character arc.

At first, the song summarizes the stereotypical male angst:

I’m just Ken

Where I see love, she sees a friend

What will it take for her to see the man behind the tan and fight for me?

Unsurprisingly, that portion of the song went viral online, popping up in thousands of short videos about the dreaded “friendzone” or similar predicaments. What

so many missed about the song were the last few lines:

I’m just Ken (And I’m enough)

And I’m great at doing stuff

So, hey, check me out, yeah, I’m just Ken

My name’s Ken (And so am I)

Put that manly hand in mine

So, hey, world, check me out, yeah, I’m just Ken

Baby, I’m just Ken

(Nobody else, nobody else)

In just a couple of minutes, Ken goes from being in an incel rage to having a genuine sense of self-worth, and that’s the message too many men missed. It may be cheesy, but men have to realize they are “Kenough,” and should not base their self-worth on a woman. For Christians, that point rings especially true—self-worth should come from God, not other humans, women or otherwise.

The movie even suggests that misplaced self-worth is one of the primary motivations behind the patriarchy, and that segues into the message of the movie for everyone: the patriarchy harms men and women in different ways, and a better understanding of the struggles women face — including the stigma against homemaking, which the movie condemns — provides a better world for everyone.

Nobody should leave the Barbie movie thinking men are the worst. Rather, everyone should leave with greater understanding of the dangers of a society that discourages female leadership.

No society should encourage the affirmation of one gender to be the self-worth for another. Rather, men and women alike should pursue their dreams—without pressuring one another to be ordinary or extraordinary.

That message may come with more than a healthy dose of monologues and pink set pieces, but it’s a good one nonetheless.

Nathan Stanish is a junior studying Religion and Journalism.

A Professor’s Opinion

“What’s the most annoying thing students do in class?”

Korey Maas, History

“I have all my freshmen boys at 8 a.m., so usually they’re too busy falling asleep to be annoying.”

Nathan Schlueter, Philosophy and Religion

“I’d have to create an itemized list. Well, when they’re falling asleep in class, using their phones, not bringing their books…. really a lot of things they do.”

Ivan Pongracic, Economics

“Start packing up before I'm finished with the lecture. But I'm sure the students would answer that the most annoying thing the professors do is not finishing the lecture on time!”

Jeffery Hertel, German

“An old rule of war is to ‘know your enemy.’ While war is an imperfect metaphor for college education, one must nonetheless have a semi-accurate idea of the identity of an author if the work is to be accurately judged and credit is to be given where

it is due. This task of reconnaissance (‘Aufklärung’ in German, which is the same word they use for Enlightenment) becomes much more difficult when work is turned in without the author giving his or her name. In the proverbial war of wills and words

that is the classroom, assignments turned in without any sort of identification are akin to non-uniformed partisans, and as history shows us, these don’t tend to have the same rights and protections as declared combatants.”

“Although gender equality is important, I think most people know sexism is bad. Did we need a movie about dolls to tell us that? ”

Compiled by Skye Graham

City News

Hillsdale expects donut factory by end of year

By Maddy Welsh Senior Editor

Downtown Hillsdale is getting its own bakery.

Located at the corner of McCollum Street and North Broad Street, Ethan’s Donut Factory is under construction. It is set to open by the end of the year according to Wayne Babcock, house director of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and one of the business’s five investors.

Babcock is the founder of multiple Jonesville restaurants: Olivia’s Chop House, Saucy Dogs Barbecue, and Chicago Water Grill. He is working with four other local business owners to open Ethan’s Donut Factory: Matt Taylor, Darin Spieth, Sean Bondra, and Richard Moore.

The shop will provide custom made-to-order donuts with a variety of toppings for customers to choose from, Babcock said. Other sweets like cookies, brownies, and hard scoop ice cream will also be available. Babcock said the owners plan to cater sweets for events like birthdays and weddings.

“Our main claim to fame is going to be the custom-made donuts,” Babcock said.

Babcock said Moore and Spieth originally came up with the idea for the shop after discussing ways to invest in downtown Hillsdale, and then brought Babcock, Bondra, and Taylor in.

Babcock said. “We came up with the idea of a sweet bakery.”

He said, though, that he is taking more of a lead on the project since he has a background in the restaurant busi-

ing construct Ethan’s Donut Factory along with Foulke Construction, another local company.

“We’re doing the HVAC side, so all the kitchen stuff, that’s all us, and the heating

actly when the project will be complete.

“The job could be done in a month or it could be done in six months, it depends on how fast they want to move,” he said.

new business,” he said.

Senior Emily Jones said she’s looking forward to the bakery’s opening.

“I used to hate donuts but now, I’m excited, because I like donuts,” Jones said. “And it’s good because we won’t have to drive to Duncles and waste gas during inflation.”

Hillsdale College Donor Services Support Coordinator, ATO alumnus, and Hillsdale resident Jacob Carson ’23 praised Babcock and said he’s looking forward to his newest business endeavor.

“Wayne is one of the greatest men that works at Hillsdale and he has been a loving and caring chef and house father,” Carson said. “He deserves all of the success that comes to him.”

“We’re all friends, we’re all business people in the community, and just one day everyone got a bright idea to do a business together. And we came up with, ‘What does downtown Hillsdale need?’”

ness. Babcock added that the shop is named after his son, Ethan, while Olivia’s Chop House is named after his daughter, Olivia.

Griffiths Mechanical, a local HVAC company, is help-

New size inclusive clothing store opens doors in downtown Hillsdale

and cooling of the building,” said Ryan Griffiths, president of Griffiths Mechanical.

The company has been working on the building over the course of the summer, but Griffiths said he isn’t sure ex-

Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford said he is anticipating the project’s completion.

“It’s been a generation since we’ve had a bakery in downtown Hillsdale, and of course I’m excited for any

The five investors purchased the whole building but are only using part of it for Ethan’s Donut Factory. The back half, Babcock said, is being leased by a couple who is opening a brewery, set to open around the same time as the donut shop.

“And what goes better than donuts and beer? I mean, that’s everything you need in life right there,” Babcock said.

Key Opportunities to start year-round Makers Market

By Gray Turner Collegian Reporter

Local nonprofit group Key Opportunities is launching a new program called Makers Market.

invaluable work experience.

According to the Key Opportunities Facebook page, its program participants also have the opportunity to sell products or crafts they create alongside the local vendors.

opportunities this new market will provide for the community.

Senior Anna Bassols, an art major, said this program is important to help support local artists.

By Elyse Apel Digital Editor

Hillsdale residents now have more options to shop for clothes in downtown Hillsdale after HMNstyle opened up this summer.

The store specializes in having a diverse array of clothes and being inclusive in both its pricing and sizing, said Nikki Maynard, marketing director at HMNstyle.

Maynard said they wanted to have options for everyone from the local college students to residents of the nearby senior home.

“Soon after starting, we decided to run with a message of inclusivity,” Maynard said. “That has now become the image for our brand.”

HMNstyle first started as an online store, right in the midst of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Founder and current CEO of HMNstyle Scott Pienta said he saw an opportunity during the pandemic to kick start an online boutique with a strong live-streaming presence, a business idea he’d had for a number of years.

“I realized before COVID the growing potential for online shopping and had been planning it for several years,” Pienta said. “I am excited that technology and recent events have fast-tracked this new opportunity forward and allowed us to bring quality products and reasonable prices to consumers that shop traditionally or online.”

Maynard joined the HMNstyle team while it was still online only, but she soon realized that the company needed a physical location.

“Our homes were just overridden with clothes and recording equipment,” she said. “We knew having a store would allow us to use that as a warehouse and store while allowing us to go back to our normal lives.”

As soon as the first physical location of the store opened downtown, Maynard said the community’s support had been overwhelming.

a few friends, senior Anna Bassols said she was impressed by their diverse clothing selections, reasonable prices, size inclusivity, and fashion-forwardness.

“All three of us are different sizes and have different tastes, but all of us left with something we really liked,” Bassols said. “In Hillsdale, we usually have to wait for trends to trickle down into the Walmart section or go to Coldwater or Jackson to get clothes. Other boutiques in town are lovely, but frankly not priced for college students.”

Junior Megan Pidcock also said she was impressed by the accessibility of the pricing.

“I like the variety of styles offered at affordable price points. I think they have a lot of good options for athletic wear and more business or formal attire at prices that fit within the college student budget, and they had a few sales over the summer,” Pidcock said.

Maynard said that while the store is already doing well, they hope to continue to fine-tune it to fit the community’s needs.

The event is kicking off on Tuesday, Sept. 5 and will continue year-round, running Mondays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a social media announcement by Mayor Adam Stockford. The store will be located at 400 N. Hillsdale St. Key Opportunities’ primary mission is to offer employment experience and retail training for individuals with disabilities. The new Makers Market program will provide local artisans a platform to sell their goods and Key Opportunities participants

“It’s important for individuals to come home and feel proud of completing a hard day’s work, regardless of their ability,” said Georgia Mason, program director of Key Opportunities.

The market currently has 10 vendors total. Mason said she personally selected each vendor by vetting their work from other art shows, social media, and different venues where the artisans displayed their talent.

In a Facebook post advertising the event, Stockford said he is excited about the

“Art is the fundamental human language,” Bassols said. “Local artists create art that is beloved here, in our context and time, and beautifies the world we live in. It makes everything just a bit sweeter. There is purpose in creating and enjoying creation, especially on the most local, intimate levels.”

Local artisans interested in participating in the event should email photos of their products to Georgia Mason at gmason@keyopp.org.

POLICE REPORT:

The Collegian compiled a list of recent arrests from the City of Hillsdale Police Department and the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office.

Aug. 29

Hillsdale City Police arrested a 22-year-old Litchfield woman for possession of methamphetamine, a concealed weapon violation, and contempt of court. No bond was allowed.

Aug. 27

“From the start, we’ve been shown a lot of support,” Maynard said. “We didn’t expect the store to so quickly take on a life of its own, but we are figuring it out.”

She attributes part of that to HMNstyle’s “Uniquely You” message.

“We pride ourselves on just knowing that we’re offering something different,” she said.

After visiting HMNstyle with

“We look at this as a partnership between us and our customers,” she said. “We aren’t trying to do things on our own. We love suggestions and teaming up with the community. If you came into the store and said that you wanted to do a photo shoot, I’d be like ‘hell yeah.’”

Aug. 28

Hillsdale City Police arrested a 34-year-old North Adams man on a domestic violence warrant. A $10,000 bond with 10% allowed was posted.

Aug. 26

Aug. 28

The Hillsdale County Sheriff’s office arrested a 40-year-old Hanover man for contempt of court. No bond was allowed.

Aug. 25

Michigan State Police arrested a 45-year-old Horton man was arrested for operating while intoxicated. A $10,000 bond with 10% allowed was not posted.

Michigan State Police arrested an 18-yearold Camden man for malicious destruction of property. A $10,000 bond with 10% allowed as not posted.

The Hillsdale County Sheriff’s office arrested a 40-year-old Allen woman for fourth-degree child abuse. A $20,000 bond with 10% allowed was posted.

“Soon after starting, we decided to run with a message of inclusivity.”

HMNstyle opened this summer in downtown Hillsdale. Courtesy | Facebook

Ethan’s Donut Factory will be located at the corner of McCollum Street and North Broad Street.

Maddy Welsh | Collegian

Officials, professors react to Whitmer’s fall policy agenda

By Thomas McKenna Assistant Editor

Michigan Gov. Gretchen

Whitmer called for paid family and medical leave, 100% clean energy, and the rolling back of medical restrictions on abortion in a speech that unveiled her fall agenda on Wednesday.

“I am excited to be here as we round out eight months of history and progress,” Whitmer, a Democrat, said. “Today I want to answer one question: ‘What’s next?’”

After a series of policy wins earlier this year – including repealing “right-to-work”, reinstating prevailing wage, and extending civil rights protections to gender identity and sexual orientation – Whitmer laid out her legislative priorities as the Michigan legislature prepares to return from break next week. She said “it’s time” to ensure employees receive paid family and medical leave.

“No one should have to choose between being there for their family and a paycheck,” Whitmer said. “Paid family and medical leave is a pro-family, pro-small business policy that will grow our state and its economy. Let’s get this done.”

Whitmer did not provide details on the proposal. Democrats hold a 56-54 majority in the Michigan House of Representatives and a 20-18 majority in the state Senate.

State Sen. Joe Bellino, R-Monroe, told The Collegian the requirement would discourage businesses from

investing in Michigan. “It will be another check mark for why not to come to Michigan,” Bellino said. “Another check mark. We’ve already got four or five bad check marks.”

Jimmy Greene, president of the Association of Builders and Contractors of Michigan, told The Collegian paid leave is a “wonderful idea,” but is “not economically possible” for his industry.

“If you are out on family leave and you have a core responsibility to my company — and your core responsibility literally keeps my business afloat — the question then is, ‘Who’s doing your job while you’re out on family medical leave?’” Greene said. “More importantly, I’m still paying you.”

Senior Avery Noel, president of College Democrats, said he appreciated the governor’s optimistic tone.

“The governor’s stance on issues such as paid family leave is remarkably bipartisan and, I’d hope, would be met with support from both sides of the aisle,” Noel said. “People forget that in his own State of the Union addresses, President Trump called for a similar policy.”

Former President Donald Trump in his 2020 State of the Union address supported a bill to allow new parents to collect future child tax credits early, accepting a payment cut down the road. The bill did not provide new funding for medical or family leave payments.

Professor of Economics and

Public Policy Gary Wolfram served as Michigan’s deputy state treasurer from 1991 to 1992 and an economic adviser to state legislators.

“This would basically be a tax on employers to provide a benefit that would already be provided if the employees preferred it to higher wages,” Wolfram said. “Those companies that provided this benefit in the place of higher wages would be able to attract workers away from those that didn’t provide the benefit. Every dollar a small business owner spends on the paid leave is a dollar it cannot spend on wages.”

Wolfram also said the policy would pose the most harm to smaller businesses.

“The companies that are most able to respond to this increase in labor costs are the large businesses,” Wolfram said. “It will be easier for Walmart to deal with this than Hillsdale’s local hardware store.”

Whitmer also endorsed the pursuit of “100% clean energy,” but did not specify a timeline.

“Let’s enact a 100% clean energy standard for Michigan,” Whitmer said. “This means all the energy we produce will be from wind, solar, or other common sense sources.”

Bellino said the goal is not feasible as he thinks solar and wind energy remain unreliable and inefficient.

“We’ve got to have gas, we’ve got to have nuclear in the mix,” Bellino said. “We

can’t get rid of coal until we cite other stuff. So these ideas of getting rid of coal this quickly is just foolish.”

Wolfram said natural gas should be considered a “common sense energy source.”

“The governor did not explain how this would be achieved other than alluding to having all energy produced in Michigan by wind, solar, and ‘other common sense sources,’” Wolfram said. “It is obvious that there is a reliability issue with regard to wind and solar power, which the governor glided over.”

Whitmer also called on the state legislature to pass the Reproductive Health Act, which would prevent the state government from interfering with access to abortion.

“Slaying our zombie laws was great, but there are still other bad laws that put politically motivated, medically unnecessary restrictions

on abortion,” Whitmer said.

“This forces patients to drive hundreds of miles for care or mandate that they receive biased, inaccurate information about their health.”

Bellino said the governor wants abortion “24/7, on-demand.”

“I pray for those people that have abortions,” Bellino said.

“But if you go into a medical procedure, you should be in a facility that meets hospital standards when it comes to cleanliness. She wants to take all this stuff away.”

Associate Professor of Politics Adam Carrington said Whitmer is doubling down on her past progressive policies.

“Michigan has been used to either split control between the parties or sole GOP control until this year,” Carrington said. “It will be interesting to see how they react to a more decidedly left-leaning direction for the state government

City finishes chip seal, fog coat treatment on Marion Street, LoPresto Avenue

By Trey Roberts Collegian Freelancer

The Hillsdale Brewing Company will host a charity event to raise money for cancer treatment for retired Allen Village Fire Chief Paul Lewis on Saturday, Sept. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m.

“Paul is a friend and a Mug Club member, so the event just made sense to be put on here,” said Felicia Finch, co-owner of Hillsdale Brewing, who is hosting the event. “The event is $25 at the door, and that gets you dinner, which is pulled pork, mac-n-cheese, coleslaw, and tea, lemonade or water, alcoholic beverages will be extra, but all proceeds go to the retired chief.”

Lewis has to drive to Ann Arbor and Brighton several times a week for treatment and will be having surgery at the end of September, according to an Allen Township Fire Department Facebook post.

“Paul is one of those guys that you can count on, just a dependable guy,” said Deputy Chief Rick Riggs, a 20-year veteran volunteer firefighter out of the Jonesville Fire Department. You knew when you showed up on scene and he was there, that he would get the job done. He is a real go-getter.”

Finch said Lewis is currently undergoing radiation treatment for a rare form of cancer called myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma.

“We see people on their worst days, it usually isn’t a great day to see our truck outside your house, or beside your car on the side of the road,” Riggs said. “The type of person who volunteers to run into the danger is special, and that’s what Chief Lewis is. That’s what all our volunteers are. Paul could be counted on when times were tough. Just a wonderful guy.”

By Caroline Kurt Collegian Reporter

The city finished maintenance on parts of Marion Street and LoPresto Avenue earlier this month.

“It’s embarrassing to have roads in the city in the condition Marion and LoPresto are in,” Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford told The Collegian. “Anything we can do to improve them is a win for the city.”

According to the City of Hillsdale‘s Facebook page, the city contracted Pavement Solutions, Inc. to install a double chip seal with a fog coat Aug. 14 and 15. The repairs took place on Marion Street bordering Kekoose Park to the north, and Lopresto Avenue bordering Mill Pond to the east.

The new treatment will help protect the road from the stress of cold winter and hot summer temperatures.

By Skye Graham Collegian Freelancer

The intersection of North West and Fayette streets is now a four-way stop, following a recommendation of Hillsdale’s Public Safety Committee to prevent accidents by adding stop signs on North West Street.

The City of Hillsdale Police Department released a temporary traffic control order that was signed by Chief of Police Scott Hephner on July 17, creating a 90-day trial period before a vote by the Hillsdale City Council to make the signs permanent.

“Several citizens reached out to me about the North West Street and Fayette Street intersection,” said Ward 4 City Council Member and Hillsdale College alumnus and current

Extreme high and low temperatures impact the longevity of asphalt roads, and,

tenaw County Road Commission, chip sealing involves first spraying a thin layer of hot asphalt onto the road, then immediately pressing a layer of crushed gravel into the fresh asphalt. The gravel is compacted into the asphalt, and the excess is brushed away. Once hardened, the road is smoother and more skid-resistant, anti-glare, and water-resistant.

saves the city money that would otherwise be spent on dust-limiting measures and grading the road.

The city fog-coated the streets after sealing them.

Bauer described the project’s temporary road closures as being low impact on local residents.

“The project serves a purpose for what we’re trying to do, but it’s not like building a whole road,” Bauer said.

now that it is not just theory but practice.”

Noel said he supported the governor’s focus on keeping abortion accessible.

“I really love that she speaks on such a difficult issue with such clarity and strength, particularly as a woman when women’s rights are so consistently under attack from those calling themselves ‘pro-life,’” Noel said.

State Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale, told The Collegian he does not consider the governor’s speech “anything other than a vague yet lengthy entry into a suggestion box.”

“My focus will continue to be on standing up for the rights of all Michigan citizens, and policies which support the growth of our state, not the growth of the government,” Fink said.

The Great Pages Circus to host last show tonight

By Quinn Delamater Collegian Freelancer

according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, can cause asphalt roads to become brittle and buckle as years go by.

According to the Wash -

Chip sealing typically costs between a fourth and a fifth of a full pavement overlay but provides similar results, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation. An asphalt overlay, which adds an entire layer of asphalt to the road rather than a thin coating, is more time intensive than a chip seal.

“It’s a short duration fix, but it does keep,” Hillsdale City Engineer Kristin Bauer said.

Bauer said the chip seal

Jordan Wales, associate professor of theology and Hillsdale resident, is hopeful about the project results.

“I’m willing to tolerate the inconvenience,” he said. “The GPS used to direct me down Marion Street when I first arrived in town but I learned to avoid it even before I learned my way around. I imagine those who live there will enjoy the changes, as well as the long-ignored GPSes of the world.”

The final shows of the Great Pages Circus will be Thursday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds. Each show will include an hour and a half of clowns, jugglers, and aerial dancers, according to the circus’s Facebook page. Tickets can be purchased online and at the box office which opens an hour before all show times begin. Admission for adults costs $20, and children ages 14 and under can be admitted free when accompanied by a paid adult.

accidents in the area toward the end of last semester, only a couple months before the stop signs were put in place.

“I love it, as soon as I came back to the town and saw that there was a stop sign I was so excited. It’s such a hard turn to make because you can’t see anything over the hill,” Moneyhon said.

But Hillsdale resident Bobbie Hasch said he is concerned drivers won’t follow the new signage.

“I was so happy when the stop signs went up,” Hasch said. “Unfortunately people still run the signs.”

Sophomore Mattie Grace Watson said she is looking forward to seeing the Great Pages Circus. “I absolutely love events that bring us together with the Hillsdale community,” she said. “It gives us a chance to bridge the gap between college and town while attending fun events like the circus! I have never been to a circus in Hillsdale before, but I have heard so many people talk about how amazing the Great Pages Circus is. I can’t wait to go with all of my friends and see what this exciting and new experience is all about.”

Junior Chiara Vacarro also said she is looking forward to attending.

“I am really excited to go to the circus because I have never personally been to a circus before,” Vacarro said. “There’s not much to do in Hillsdale so when something comes to town it’s very memorable. Also I am excited for fair food, especially funnel cake.”

Joshua Paladino. “They didn‘t feel safe crossing the street. The hill on the south side of North West Street makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic when you are

grad

stopped at Fayette Street.”

Senior Emilie Moneyhon, a student who lives on North West Street, said she supports the new stop signs. She said there were at least two traffic

As the traffic control order nears the 90-day mark of the trial period, the police department and city council will consider the stop signs’ effectiveness.

“The project serves a purpose for what we’re trying to do, but it’s not like building a whole road.”

student

The new stop sign resides on North West Street.

Lauren Scott | Collegian

Gov. Whitmer announced her fall policy agenda Wednesday.

Courtesy | Twitter

Charger

Men's Tennis

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

Four freshman join men's tennis team

By Olivia Pero Sports Editor

After finishing the spring season with a 13-8 win-loss record, the Hillsdale men’s tennis team will begin its fall season with the addition of four freshmen.

“Losing Brennan Cimpeanu and Brian Hackman to graduation will certainly hurt,” head coach Keith Turner said. “We will need to improve throughout the season if we are going to compete for a G-MAC championship.”

Freshmen Henry Hammond from London, Ellis Klanduch from North Carolina, and Kenko and Pali Vician-Flechler from South Carolina will join the team.

“Half of our roster is made up of freshmen, so having

two of our three tournaments be at home will be helpful for them to get used to competing on our courts,” fifth-year senior Tyler Conrad said. Turner said the team’s strength will be its lineup for 1-6 singles and 1-3 doubles.

“However, we probably don't have a true number one player this year, so we will need to overcome that,” Turner said.

According to Turner, the team will be depending on seniors Conrad, Sean Barstow, and Daniel Gilbert.

Conrad ended the spring season by earning first team all-conference honors for the third season in a row, and Barstow earned second team all-conference honors.

“They need to have strong

years if we are going to compete for a G-MAC championship,” Turner said.

Sophomore Aidan Pack played No. 2 singles as a freshman for most of the spring season, and he went undefeated in the conference tournament.

“I’m in the best shape of my life right now,” Pack said. “I’ve been training hard this summer, and I’m striking the ball well in practice, so I feel very confident.”

According to Turner, Hammond and Klanduch were strong junior players.

“It will be interesting to see how they perform at the college level,” Turner said. Despite the concern of keeping up with other programs who are able to bring in top international players, Turner said he is excited about this year’s freshmen.

“I believe they are all good fits for the school and our program,” he said. “Henry Hammond and Ellis Klanduch should certainly help us in the lineup. Pali and Kenko Vician-Flechler will get opportunities to help us as well.”

When it comes to training, Turner said he is always try-

ing to implement new practice ideas to keep things fresh.

“There will be a focus this fall on shots we probably don't work on enough like drop shots and lobs,” he said.

For his senior year, Conrad said he hopes to make a strong appearance at the In-

Women's Tennis

tercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional which features all the best teams in

the Midwest region.

“I did not get the chance to train much this summer, and as a result I am very ready to get back to competing with my team,” Conrad said. Hillsdale will host the Charger Summer Invitational Sept. 16-17. The Walsh University Cavaliers, University of Findlay Oilers, and Lawrence Technological University Blue Devils will come to compete in the invitational. According to Conrad, there is little pressure on the team for the fall season. “At the end of the day, the fall season is largely just a precursor to how the spring season might go,” Conrad said.

Women's tennis has big plans despite small team

By Isabella Helms Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale women’s tennis team is down to eight players this year.

Head coach Liam Fraboulet said he is enthusiastic about the new team dynamic, and he sees the decrease in size from 11 players last year as a potential advantage.

“We have only one freshman this year, and her name is Ane. We lost four seniors from last year,” Fraboulet said. “It’s great because we have a good size roster now, which makes it easier to run practices and manage matches.”

Fraboulet said he is excited to see how the team performs this season.

“There are a lot of senior girls who are going to have their last chance to compete

and I think they’re excited to go out there and fight,” Fraboulet said.

Important dates on the calendar include a home tournament Sept. 8-9, and competing in the ITA Midwest Regionals in Indianapolis the following

With freshman Ane Dannhauser joining the team, Fraboulet said the fall season will be crucial for team development.

“You don’t have as much stress in the fall as you would have in the spring, so for a freshman like Ane, it’s a great way to start,” he said. “In college, tennis is much more of a team thing.”

Dannhauser said she is excited to be part of the team.

“I can’t wait to see what we achieve this season,” she said.

Junior Courtney Rittel said she also looks forward to the upcoming season.

“It is so nice to be back on the court,” Rittel said.

“We are super excited for our first match in only two short weeks.”

Sophomore Isabella Spinaz-

ze said the new team dynamic offers unique opportunities for growth and success.

“We only have eight girls this year, which will be a great opportunity for us to step up, get good playing time, and really focus on keeping ourselves healthy both physically and mentally,” Spinazze said.

Spinazze said Dannhauser is hard working and impressive, both on and off the court.

“It’s coming up quickly, it’s packed, and the fall season usually goes by pretty fast,” Fraboulet said. “It’s a good chance for the whole team to play as many matches as we can, get into a rhythm, and get better.”

Throughout the season, Fraboulet said he hopes to retain the current team culture while also emphasising a

more professional approach in preparation for the spring.

“One thing I want the team to do better is to think about tennis outside of set practice times,” Fraboulet said. “This

whole lives. I just want them to give 100% when they are in the classroom and 100% when they are on the court.”

Building on Fraboulet’s emphasis on commitment and excellence, Spinazze outlined the team’s ambitions for the year ahead.

“Our goal for this year is to keep competing in the G-MAC like we did last year,” Spinazze said. “These three upcoming tournaments will tell us where we are and what we need to do to prepare for the success. We’ll have lots of opportunities to play at home, which will be really fun and we get to be on campus which always brings a different type of energy.”

school is very challenging and it takes up alot of time, but we compete against women who have been playing tennis their

Sophomore Aidan Pack played No. 2 singles as a freshman last year.

Courtesy | Isabella Sheehan

Junior Courtney Rittel stands ready at the net last season. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi

“We have only one freshman this year, and her name is Ane. We lost four seniors from last year.”

“I just want them to give 100% when they are in the classroom and 100% when they are on the court.”

“I'm in the best shape of my life right now.”

“I believe they are all good fits for the school and our program.”

Playoffs in Hockeytown: Yzerman restructures Wings roster

By Alex Deimel Assistant Editor

I wrote an article last September detailing why I believed the Detroit Red Wings would make a triumphant return to the NHL playoffs, which they’ve missed every year since 2015.

Well, I was wrong. Their playoff drought remained in effect. That will not stop me from attempting to foresee this year, and my faith in Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman’s “Yzerplan” remains as strong as ever.

The Wings are playoff bound. I guarantee it. Yzerman made great moves this offseason. The first was trading for and then signing forward Alex DeBrincat. Yzerman acquired the Farmington Hills, Michigan, native by sending Dominik Kubalik, prospect Donovan Sebrango, and two draft picks to the Ottawa Senators. DeBrincat then signed a four-year contract extension, averaging almost $8 million a year.

Red Wings fans everywhere are excited. Not only did DeBrincat grow up in Michigan, but the 25-year-old forward has averaged more than 62 points a season since his rook-

ie year in 2017. Yzerman did not stop there. He signed 28-year-old left wing J.T. Compher to a five-year $25.5 million deal. Compher spent the last seven seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, winning a Stanley

Sprong to one-year deals, as well as defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere and veteran goalie James Reimer (who is likely to back up the Wings’ current goalie Ville Husso), to one-year deals. DeBrincat and Wings cap-

with forward Lucas Raymond, and hopefully, a healthy Robby Fabbri, who is coming off of a knee injury.

The third line will likely feature veteran center Andrew Copp, who is also coming off a career high 42-point season

who the Red Wings acquired in a trade with the Edmonton Oilers in June. The starting pair will likely remain the same defensively with 2021-22 Calder Memorial Trophy winner Moritz Seider and Jake Walman.

pick. Lastly, Gostisbehere will be alongside former Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Justin Holl, who signed a threeyear deal in July. In most sports, a rebuild does not normally consist of many free agent signings. Nevertheless, adding a larger veteran presence on defense with Petry, Gostisbehere, and Holl, a dynamic scorer in DeBrincat, and some depth offensively with Kostin, Fischer, and Compher will allow a stacked prospect camp time to develop throughout this season as well. Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper, and Elmer Söderblom, are just the start of a long list of young guys that have very promising careers ahead of them.

The 2022-23 season was disappointing. An 80-point season is nowhere close to where I expected. Nevertheless, the moves made by Yzerman this off season make me confident. DeBrincat being in a Red Wings uniform for four years will mean many more goals, and a veteran presence on defense will mean a playoff appearance by the Red Wings this season.

Cup with the team in 2022, and is coming off a career high 52-point season last year.

In addition to Compher, Yzerman signed forwards Christian Fischer and Daniel

tain Dylan Larkin are both clear favorites to be on the Red Wings starting forward line, with veteran David Perron at right wing. Compher will likely join the second line

last year, as well as Fischer and returning winger Michael Rasmussen. The final line will most likely consist of Sprong, returning center Joseph Veleno, and winger Klim Kostin,

Veteran Ben Chiarot will be alongside newly acquired Jeff Petry, who the Wings received from the Montreal Canadiens after trading away Gustav Lindström and a fourth round

The drought will finally end.

Chargers set sights on another G-MAC title

By Ellie Fromm Collegian Freelancer

The Hillsdale softball team will kick off its fall season Sept. 9 against the Madonna University Crusaders in Livonia, Michigan. Last season, the Chargers finished 35-21 overall, including a 17-5 record against G-MAC opponents.

The Chargers are coming off a record-setting season defensively. The pitching staff’s 1.71 ERA was a G-MAC record.

Preseason games are an opportunity for the team to get familiar playing together. This also allows freshmen to gain college experience before the conference season.

The 2023-24 team consists of 19 players from across the country, with some of the most represented states being Ohio, Michigan, and Texas. The Chargers’ fall season is travel heavy, with only two games scheduled at home, both on Sept. 16.

Hillsdale will play teams from various Collegiate divisions, not exclusively NCAA Division II schools, such as the Michigan State University Spartans, and the Valparaiso University Beacons, both of which are Division I schools. This gives the team a chance to compete at different speeds of play, a challenge it will meet during tournament play later in the year.

Last season, the team won the G-MAC tournament championship title, while finishing in second place in the regular season. The Chargers qualified for the NCAA DII regional tournament, where they lost 2-1 in the first round to the University of Indianapolis.

This year, head coach Kyle Gross said the team’s goal is to add another G-MAC title as well as to be competitive in the regional tournament. Gross has led the team to regional tournament play three out of the

four years he has been coaching at Hillsdale.

A key component of this year’s team is the abundance of experience, Gross said.

“We had seven freshmen last year so their experience is valuable this year,” Gross said.

This year, the team added three freshmen: Catcher Emili Blackie from Ohio, catcher Medleigh Danchak from Texas, and middle infielder Sydney Davis from Ohio. There are nine upperclassmen on the team. Davis said she is excited for her first season with the Chargers.

“I am most focused on adjusting to college-level softball since it’s a step up from high school,” Davis said.

First Team All G-MAC junior pitcher Joni Russell said leadership is necessary to be competitive this season.

“This year as a team we are focusing more on leadership

and confidence,” Russell said. “Everyone on our team is a leader in some capacity. We just have to have the confidence in ourselves to step up and make our teammates better so overall the team can be better.”

Russell’s 0.76 ERA was the second best in program history, and was good for fourth in all of NCAA Division II. Russell also broke Hillsdale’s single-season strikeout record with a season total of 268, which was the fifth most in Division II.

Gross said he tries to ensure practices are fun because of how hard the team has to work.

“We like to be the hardest working team in the G-MAC, exemplifying ‘Strength rejoices in the challenge,’” Gross said.

According to Russell, the team communicated well last year, and it hopes to continue to have strong communication this year.

“Hard work beats pride,” Gross said.

Opinion

Steve Yzerman restructured the roster for the Detroit Red Wings season. Courtesy | Getty Images

Junior pitcher Joni Russell earned first team all-region honors last year.

Courtesy | Regan Meyer

Chargers favored to win seventh straight G-MAC tournament

By Alex Deimel Assistant Editor

The Hillsdale volleyball team was picked as the top team in the 2023 G-MAC Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Chargers received 89 first-place votes in the poll, released Aug. 29, and are favored to win the G-MAC North Division and capture their seventh straight G-MAC tournament championship.

Last season, the Chargers finished 24-6 in the regular season, with a 16-2 conference record. Their G-MAC

tournament win gave the Chargers a bid to the NCAA Division II tournament, where they lost to the Ferris State University Bulldogs in the second round.

The Chargers will begin their campaign Sept. 1 against the Northern Michigan University Wildcats. Both teams are competing in the UP Open, which is hosted by NMU in Marquette, Michigan. It will feature Hillsdale G-MAC rivals Northwood University and Michigan Technological University.

“We definitely are going to make a good run in the con-

ference this year,” assistant coach Allyssa Van Wienen said. “We practice the same as we always have, and we approach every match the same with the mindset of ‘we’re going to do what we have to do to win.’”

The Chargers will return two players who were All G-MAC first team players for the 2023 season. Van Wienen said junior libero Alli Wiese, as well as junior outside hitter Marilyn Popplewell will be players to watch this season.

“I think a strength is our commitment to one another

and the program – everyone is very bought in,” Popplewell said. “We all love each other and work our hardest for each other everyday in practice, so that will hopefully correlate well with how we represent on gameday.”

This year’s team will feature four freshmen. Junior Jaclyn Wise will be joined by her younger sister Greta who is also an outside hitter. The Chargers also added two middle hitters: Marcelina Gorny from Prospect Heights, Illinois, and Molly Kennedy from Copley, Ohio. In May, head coach Chris

Gravel signed his fourth recruit, setter Vasiliki Paplomata from Triadi, Thermi, Greece. d

Returning players for the Chargers also include All G-MAC second team middle hitters Maizie Brown and Megan Kolp, as well as All G-MAC third team setter junior Lauren Passaglia.

“I think everyone is just really excited to get back on the court for game day to showcase the work we’ve put in this preseason,” Passaglia said. “The conference keeps getting better so it will definitely be an exciting year.”

Hillsdale will play four games in the UP Open. After the match against NMU, the Chargers will face the Winona State University Warriors, the Concordia University St. Paul Bears, and the Michigan Tech Huskies.

The following week, the Chargers will head to G-MAC rival Findlay University to compete in the Findlay Classic, during which the Chargers will face fellow Michigan schools including the Wayne State University Warriors and the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinals. This will prepare the team for its first

Charger chatter

J ordan S app , S hotgun

What’s your favorite prematch ritual?

My favorite pre-match ritual is oddly enough, throwing up before going into my first round of the day. I hate the feeling everytime I do it, but I like to think that it means I really want to win.

What would you do if you were invisible for a day?

I’d mess with all of my buddies, especially those that live at White Barn.

What’s your favorite class you’ve taken at Hillsdale?

My favorite class I have taken so far would be Intro to Archery.

If you had to pick another sport to play, what would it be?

I’d have to pick golf. I've played golf for a good bit of my life, and I enjoy it every time I go to play. You can make a lot of money from it too.

What movie character do you most align with?

I align the most with “Happy Gilmore” because he’s a golfer who hits bombs.

What do you do in your free time?

I like to golf. Back home I live on a course and I would typically spend my days

The Hillsdale volleyball team gained four freshman this year. Courtesy | Hills dale College Athletic Department

Compiled Alex Deimel and Emma Verrigni

C U L T U R E

‘Hillsdale’ play makes New York City debut

By Jillian Parks Culture editor

Anton Chekhov never set a play in a Hillsdale frat house, but Michigan native and New York playwright Roman D’Ambrosio did last month in Manhattan when he staged a reading of “Hillsdale,” based on Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya.”

The play, which takes place in the fictional house of a disbanded fraternity chapter, follows two former fraternity brothers, Michael and Bruno. The friends anticipate the arrival of their former chapter president when their respective love interests from past years enter to stir up old feelings and new problems.

“It was never the concept of Hillsdale having a small campus,” D’Ambrosio said. “The point was more that Hillsdale is, by definition, outside of the metropolitan norm. This type of play can’t be done in a city. It can’t be. In a city, it’s much easier to run away, but in a small town like that, you’re gonna get followed.”

D’Ambrosio staged a reading of “Hillsdale” at a venue in Chinatown on July 25. He wrote his first draft of “Hillsdale” in October 2019, and set up the first workshop in March 2020 at Circle in the Square in New York City. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was paused for a year and half. He ended up rewriting it during the time between his first workshop and the staged reading.

“Some people asked me if I hated conservatives, and some people asked me if I was a conservative, and I kind of liked that,” D’Ambrosio said. “I liked that ambiguity. I think it just makes it such an interesting work of art. It’s not like an endorsement, but I am telling you that these characters are worthy of love and respect.”

While he is not a Hillsdale graduate or a conservative, he grew up in Midland, Michigan

and attended Northwood University. While studying business, he often found himself traveling to places like Michigan State University, Saginaw Valley State University, and Hillsdale College for weekend fraternity parties.

“They’re not like these giant ragers, but I didn’t view that as like, ‘Oh, that’s like a disappointment’ or something,” D’Ambrosio said. “I viewed it more as basically a petri dish, but larger, where it’s an isolated place to observe these social things happening that affect the real world.”

This petri dish ended up being the source of inspiration for D’Ambrosio’s play.

According to D’Ambrosio, one of the central messages of the play is the wide range of people who call themselves conservative, particularly those stratified by class.

“The president comes in and says, ‘I’ve been thinking about the financial state of this house; it is falling apart, and we should sell this house and make some money on it,’” D’Ambrosio said. “This sets off Michael and destroys him because, much like Uncle Vanya, it’s basically saying for years and years we’ve kept up this property while you’ve lived a life of being a quote unquote, ‘intellectual’ who deals in the world of ideas. Well, I have to deal with the world, and I have to deal with a world of dirt.”

The argument ends with a sword fight between Michael and the fraternity president.

“It’s really funny and bad,” D’Ambrosio said. “They’re both horrible and drunk and uncoordinated. There’s a ‘don’t tread on me’ flag in the background.”

D’Ambrosio, having grown up in Michigan, said he has an explicit goal not of empathizing with or promoting conservative values, but rather presenting people with those values as people, not caricatures.

“I think people who would

consider themselves conservative feel as though there’s no entry point into the mainstream theater world, especially, I think, when you live here in New York City,” D’Ambrosio said. “I always felt like there was this big lack of opinion, frankly. And I felt that when people would write plays in which characters were conservative, it was just very cliche stereotypes. And it’s like, but no, that’s not what an actual Jan. 6 person is like.”

Christopher Matsos, chairman of the Hillsdale College Department of Theatre and Dance, lived and worked in New York City for years without an issue.

“I appreciate his concern that there isn’t an entry point into the theater world if you are conservative, but I think that misunderstands what conservative means,” Matsos said. “I didn’t need an entry point. Being conservative is not a disability. We don’t need

special access to be able to get into an industry. We simply go where we’re going to go and do what we’re going to do. And if he thinks that this is representing conservative voices, I think he maybe needs to revisit what conservative means.”

Five actors participated in the staged reading, which was directed by Rabiah Rowther of New York University and the Actors Studio Drama School. According to both D’Ambrosio and Rowther, both audiences and actors were receptive to, if not fans of, the play.

“It was interesting just to see how this pieced together with all the different backgrounds these actors had: some of them are television actors, and some of them are theater actors, and some hadn’t even done a lot of theater but loved theater and loved Chekhov specifically,” Rowther said. “One thing that I found was that everyone really resonated with this play regardless of background and experience and political views, but it was great, and we formed bonds very quickly.”

D’Ambrosio’s dreams for the play include getting it published and watching it sustain a run in New York City.

“We are building out the production team and looking for funding and producers to secure a regular long term run of the play in New York,” D’Ambrosio said. He said he also hopes for a future in which the Hillsdale College Theatre and Dance Department does its own performance of the show, but Matsos said that is unlikely.

“Hillsdale will be unable to produce this play,” Matsos said. “It has some rated R content that is not in keeping with the types of material we tend to produce. But furthermore, I don’t think it has attained a literary quality that is commensurate with what we’re trying to teach our campus and com-

munity. I’ve only read perhaps three quarters of it, and I don’t want to pass judgment without having read the whole thing.

But at this stage, I’m afraid that’s the best I’d be prepared to say about it. If we’re interested in looking at ‘Uncle Vanya,’ we would simply produce ‘Uncle Vanya.’”

Matsos said he wants to challenge D’Ambrosio to reconsider the play’s branding and characterization of Hillsdale itself.

“As someone who knows Hillsdale, my confusion is just, what does this have to do with Hillsdale?” Matsos said. “It seems that he picked the title and setting somewhat arbitrarily, because the script betrays an ignorance about the place, the geography, and the culture. I think ultimately, by not giving himself the freedom of his own invented institution, he’s probably doing himself a disservice.”

But the play’s reception lands differently with some people outside of Hillsdale.

“It’s easy to attribute certain characteristics to people based on their political ideologies and what they follow and — guilty as charged! — I know I do it, too,” Rowther said. “But the beauty of this play is that these people are human. They have real wants and needs and they strive to do what serves the interest of the larger community and world around them. What I loved about Roman’s writing is that it doesn’t play in favor of Hillsdale nor does it criticize it. It just is.”

Either way, all parties agree on the importance of new works, creative exercises, and asking good questions.

“I support the creation of new works of dramatic literature, and I’ve worked as a playwright myself,” Matsos said. “I’ve made efforts to nurture new playwrights and plays, so I’m not speaking as someone who is against his work. He has a right as an artist to voice whatever he thinks may be of interest to his audience.”

Professors’ Picks: Elizabeth Fredericks, associate professor of English

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

Compiled by Micah Hart

PolitiCal CorresPondent

“I Dream a Highway,”

Gillian Welch

“Robert Plant (of Led Zeppelin) called the album ‘a masterpiece of the infinite’ and the epically long closer, ‘I Dream a Highway’ epitomizes that praise in a poignant reflection on an individual life and art and America more broadly. When everything and everyone seems to have sold out and gone wrong, what’s a person to do? The song drifts through memory and longing and despair, from Welch’s home of

Nashville to her birthplace of Los Angeles, but the refrain always pulls it back to melancholy but enduring hope: ‘A silver vision come and bless my soul / I dream a highway back to you.’ As Welch’s allusion to Lazarus suggests, something can always come back to life.”

“Never Let Me Go,”

Kazuo Ishiguro

“Ishiguro, whose family emigrated to the U.K. from Japan when he was a child, won the Nobel Prize in literature in 2017, and this is perhaps my favorite of his novels, though since he’s a

genre-hopping virtuoso, it’s hard to pick. This apparent dystopian alternate history features a trio of clones destined for organ donation and death, but under this sci-fi premise is a melancholy meditation on what makes us human, what constitutes the soul, and what an education is really for, even if one never gets to ‘use’ it. Ishiguro’s handling of ethics is understated, but the heartbreak he ends with is not.”

“The Third Man”

“This noir film is the second collaboration between director Carol Reed and

writer Graham Greene (yes, that Graham Greene) with a scene-stealing supporting turn by Orson Welles. In addition to a memorable soundtrack, stunning cinematography, and a tense third-act sewer chase, it’s a meditation on ethics and opportunism in post-war Vienna, divided between various Allied occupiers. Welles’s monologue to his old pal Holly Martin on the Ferris wheel brilliantly captures the seductiveness and bankruptcy of his worldview. Like every good noir, it ends in disillusionment, and sticks with you (all this in a compact 104 minutes, no less).”

“Some people asked me if I hated conservatives, and some people asked me if I was a conservative, and I kind of liked that,” D’Ambrosio said. “I liked that ambiguity. I think it just makes it such an interesting work of art.”

Fredericks talks with her swim coach as a Hope College student. COURTESY | Elizabeth Fredericks

Playwright Roman D’Ambrosio watches the staged reading. COURTESY | Roman D’Ambrosio

U L T U R E

Junior Matt Byrne hits the open road on summer tour

By Sophie King Collegian Freelan C er

Instead of waiting tables or summer camp counseling, junior Matt Byrne spent his summer playing bass guitar on tour with his hometown country rock band, the Back Country Boys.

“When you play on stage, it’s the most exciting thing you’ll ever do. When you come off of that, and you go back home, and you’re sitting there alone, the change seems more drastic than it really is,” Byrne said. “I see now why so many musicians are drug addicts.”

Byrne traveled from midJune to the first week of August, playing close to 30 total gigs in cities across the south and midwest. The group visit-

ed six states, including Georgia, Tennessee, and Illinois.

The band rented an RV to travel and carry their musical equipment and stayed in hotels and Airbnbs along the way.

“The worst part was driving during the day,” Byrne said. “Even when the AC was on, it couldn’t compete with the outside heat trying to cook the metal box that we were driving.”

The band typically played in restaurants or bars offering a three hour show, featuring mainly song covers but also eight or nine of the band’s original songs. The sets covered a wide range of country music from artists like Johnny Cash, Midland, and Morgan Wallen.

“We have fans that consistently show up to watch us,” Byrne said. “That’s always fun to see people who really want to support you.”

Lead singer Mike Joyce and drummer Brayden Reites began to play together in high school during COVID-19. Then in July 2020, Joyce met pianist Colton Pointz playing outside his father’s restaurant, the Pub & Grill, in Ave Maria, Florida. By March 2021, they had developed into a threepiece band.

“Around that time, when it was just us three, we officially became the Back Country Boys,” Reites said.

Byrne knew Joyce from middle school, and last summer, Byrne was working at the Pub & Grill when the manager,

Community thrift: More than the material

By Lauren Scott City News Editor

Hillsdale Community Thrift has grown into more than a place to buy cast-off clothes, shoes, and furniture.

“Many people that we have contact with don’t have a support system, and they just need someone to say, ‘I care about you,’” said Michelle Hebert, community outreach coordinator at Hillsdale Community Thrift. “That’s what we do at the thrift store.”

In addition to being a popular local store among college students, Hebert said the thrift store acts as a support system to homeless people who find a residence.

“When they get their place, they can come to us with a voucher and we will give them their basic essentials,” Hebert said. “So they might get a couch, table, and lamp.”

Hebert said they have also donated furniture to veterans.

“We have actually morphed into becoming like an agency,” she said. “So many people come to us with all kinds of problems.”

Hillsdale Thrift helps homeless people get their birth certificate, social security card, and driver’s license, upon the condition of a clean drug test.

“Most of the time when you’re homeless, you lose all your paperwork,” Hebert said. “You’re moving from place to place, and you’re limited on things you carry.”

After a donation of clothes ar-

rives, Hebert said the clothes are sorted through to see what can be sold at the store. Clothes in poor condition are donated to be repurposed.

“Synthetic materials take more than 200 years to break down,” she said. “We started recycling a couple years ago. Most of the product stays within the United States. And a lot of people think, ‘Oh, it just goes overseas.’ Not the company that we deal with.”

Hebert said the donated clothes are turned into rags, padding for car seats, and fibers that can be turned into thread. Hillsdale residents can donate any and all clothes, no matter the condition.

But community thrifting reaches college students too. Many Hillsdale College students enjoy thrifting because it brings a unique wardrobe for a small price. Junior

Rachel Houts said about 90% of her clothes are thrifted, and she has found many wardrobe staples at Hillsdale thrift stores.

“There are many items I’ve dug out of the Hillsdale thrift store that I adore, but my favorite has to be this massive black coat I thrifted my freshman year here,” Houts said. “It’s enormous, incredibly warm, adds a little dramatic flair to my day, and costs me all of $6.”

Hebert said many people are starting to thrift because it is a smart option.

“We’re repurposing items,” Hebert said. “I see lots of great things that come through here that are

Joyce’s brother, connected him with the band.

“Up until then, they had gone from no bass player to a 70-year-old bass player to no bass player again, so it just kind of worked out perfectly,” Byrne said. That summer, the group did a smaller-scale tour in Chicago and Nashville. By the time this summer rolled around, the group was ready to take it a step further.

“We wanted to ramp it up again,” Reites said. “We proved that this can work; we know a lot more people now. We can get way more gigs.”

Byrne said playing and touring with the band has been a very valuable experience for developing as a musician, especially through learning to

play songs quickly.

“I had to learn about 50 or 60 songs in two or three weeks when I first started,” Byrne said.

While in Chicago, Back Country Boys had the opportunity to sing the national anthem at a Chicago White Sox game, which Byrne, Joyce, and Pointz all said was the most memorable performance of the summer for them.

“I’ve played baseball my whole life, so playing in that stadium was a really cool full circle moment — to come back to the baseball field, but this time I’m playing a piano,” Pointz said.

“We got to stay on the field and tour the stadium, and they had a postgame concert,” Byrne said. “Jake Owen per-

formed, and we got to watch him from our box. That was a pretty cool experience — I mean, I’ve never done anything like that.”

The Back Country Boys have undergone significant change since this summer: Pointz recently left the group and plans to move to Nashville, Reites is a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University, Joyce is working as a full-time musician, and Byrne is back in Hillsdale studying philosophy.

“Coming back to school definitely reminds me that I do want to be a musician for a career,” Byrne said, “But the awesome thing is that I get to play gigs while I study here, so I’m not going crazy because I still get my fix.”

New community youth theater takes the stage

By Ellie Fromm C ollegian Freelan C er

Acts of Youth, a nonprofit founded late last year, produced its first production on Aug. 11 at the Dawn Theater. The skit list included parts from “Clue,” “Abbott and Costello,” and “Children’s Snow White.”

reusable. And I think we are becoming a society of learning to reuse things, either for financial reasons or just because it’s fun.”

When senior Emilie Moneyhon came to Hillsdale, she was hoping to find a place that sold affordable clothes since she has been thrifting her whole life. She said most of her clothes are from garage sales.

“I found this really cool, blue winter coat that I’ve used all four years at Hillsdale that I bought as a prospective student from Hillsdale Community Thrift,” she said. Moneyhon said her love of thrifting was instilled in her by her mom’s love of antiques.

“Thrifting is a cheap option and a way to avoid fast fashion,” Moneyhon said. “You also find more unique clothing that makes you stand out in a crowd.”

Moneysaid said she owns many “grandma sweaters” that she has bought at the local thrift store, as well as two vintage swimsuits.

The mission of Hillsdale Community Thrift is a great reason to shop there, Moneyhon said. Houts said she thinks it is smart for college students to start thrifting.

“Obviously the reduced prices are a huge pull, and often mean that what you’re getting is of much better quality than Walmart or Amazon can offer for the same prices,” she said. “But thrifting also combats environmental concerns, which are becoming more and more important.”

They are taking the stage in Hillsdale in hopes of helping youth express themselves and their imaginations. The group aims to encourage and celebrate creativity while teaching life skills like time management and teamwork, according to the website.

“Together we hope to cultivate a safe and fun atmosphere of respect, encouragement, and the simple appreciation of play,” Danielle Rhine, founder of Acts of Youth, said.

Students ages 4 to 17 participated in the first production. The choir, which is separate from the theater company, was composed of more than 40 students, according to Rhine.

While Acts of Youth is a Christian-based theater company, it does not require belief in the faith to participate. The company aims to provide a Christian environment for all regardless of personal beliefs, according to senior Niki Klikovac who works for the group.

“I am a Bible-believing Christian; this group will be biblically aligned to the best of my human ability and conviction,” Rhine wrote on the website about founding Acts of Youth. “Questions are always welcome.”

Acts of Youth seeks to allow students of all ages and experience to participate in its productions. Through this process, the group hopes to instill confidence in the actors.

“My anxiety made it near-

ly impossible to talk with my peers, and sometimes I would lose my voice entirely,” Rhine said. “Theater largely contributed to my overcoming this area of my life. It wasn’t one single moment where my chains of insecurity fell to the floor but instead small victories that were catalysts for courage and, finally, a voice.”

Rhine said she sees Acts of Youth as an opportunity to give back and help children who might relate with her early theater experiences.

“We believe that one thing that sets us apart from other theater groups is that we are focusing on the life skills attained through theater instead of only accepting students who already love acting and highlighting their established skills,” Rhine said.

Klikovac said she helps direct skits and design costumes for the group.

“I love working on a script and taking in a story,” Klikovac said.

Theater practice for the Aug. 11 production happened twice monthly for close to two hours at Baw Beese Lake. Klikovac said the schedule was feasible due to practice and memorizing

at home. Rhine said it was a big learning experience.

Professor of Theatre James Brandon recommended Klikovac for director and said he believes this opportunity is great for her. He said he loves when the Hillsdale College Theatre department can be involved with the local community. The college contributed to the performance by loaning costumes to Acts of Youth.

“Anytime a place like Hillsdale College can contribute in that way to the community is a real big victory, a real win,” Brandon said.

Both Rhine and Klikovac said group members developed more confidence and talent.

“Some of these kids started off barely being able to introduce themselves by name and they are now standing in front of their peers representing a character and performing,” Rhine said.

Acts of Youth hopes to produce another show next summer.

“We hope to develop strengths, empower areas of weakness, and introduce new skill sets that we believe are practical to real life,” Rhine said.

The Back Country Boys played nearly 30 gigs this summer.

COURTESY |Matt Byrne

Hillsdale Community Thrift employees pose in front of the store.

COURTESY |Michelle Hebert

Klikovac poses during first production.

COURTESY |Niki Klikovac

Science & Technology

Q&A: Senior Elizabeth Speck interns for NASA

By Erin Osborne Collegian Reporter

Elizabeth Speck is a senior chemistry major and math minor from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. She interned this summer at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Langley, Virginia.

Q: What is one question that everyone always asks you about working at NASA?

A: Everyone always asks if we faked the moon landings, which we definitely did not. Speaking of moon landings, I saw the shed where they keep the Apollo 1 capsule. No one is allowed in there, but it was right next to a wind tunnel that I saw do a test at Mach 5 [five times the speed of sound], which reverberates through your chest. I also got to see a rocket launch.

Q: What is Langley?

A: Langley is the oldest aeronautics research center in the nation. It was founded back in 1917, before NASA or NASA’s predecessor, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, existed. Langley is mostly a flight research center, but I was working in materials research.

Q: What materials did you research?

A: My project was called “Extreme Environmental Protective Coatings.” I worked to synthesize materials that would go into a coating which would keep different materials protected from high temperatures and high pressures while in space.

Q: How did you get your internship?

A: I’ve done a fair bit of chemistry research over the summers, which is how I had the background I needed in order to be accepted. The classes I took at Hillsdale in the chemistry department helped me make good insights into the project. There were about 20,000 applicants who applied to NASA, and only 1,700 were accepted across the United States. There were about 25 students in my program at Langley.

Q: Why did you want to work at NASA?

A: When I was in third grade, I was obsessed with becoming an astronaut. We went to the Kennedy Space Center, and I was glued to the exhibits. I really love chemistry and

materials research, and I saw that NASA has internships for chemists, so I applied. It was crazy to work at a place that has so much history.

Q: Have you done aeronautics research before?

A: No. When I researched at the University of South Dakota, my research was in inorganic chemistry. At the University of Wisconsin, I researched organic polymer synthesis.

Q: What did you learn about NASA?

A: I learned a lot about aeronautics, and also got to tour different NASA facilities. You learn a lot about the different projects while you’re there. The internship really broadened my perspective on what NASA does. They have all

these different projects, and everyone is so excited to talk about what they’re doing and to collaborate.

Q: What is your favorite memory from the internship?

A: We did a lunar landing simulation, and I didn’t crash my pod, even though the other researchers did. It’s really hard for astronauts to see where they are landing on the moon because the moon is in grayscale. The simulation helps astronauts to practice and to study how astronauts are able to use equipment.

Q: How was the community at Langley?

A: I wasn’t expecting a great community at Langley, but the researchers were a really great group of people. Everyone is a nerd, in the best way. Our group of interns became really close. We went on camping trips together and had movie nights twice a week and went to the beach a lot together. It was a huge blessing.

Q: What was the biggest challenge of working at Langley?

A: We had to come up with creative solutions to some pretty challenging problems and work a lot of long hours. The project was difficult, but it was never taxing to work on, and I felt very productive. My mentor really pushed us, and I absolutely loved that.

Michigan court overturns ‘forever chemical’ regulations

By Elizabeth Crawford Assistant editor

Drinking water in the city of Hillsdale is free of socalled forever chemicals, according to a report from the Board of Public Utilities. But last week Michigan’s Court of Appeals overturned the state’s regulations on the substances, which can contaminate water supplies.

Industrial manufacturing company 3M sued the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, challenging regulations that imposed cleanup costs on chemical companies if the department could prove they polluted the groundwater, according to Bloomberg Law.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS, nicknamed “forever chemicals,” are grease proof and waterproof and can last in nature for thousands of years, according to environmental group Clean Water Action. These substances appear in everyday products like nonstick cookware and fast food packaging.

While the Hillsdale BPU found in 2022 that the city’s drinking water is not contaminated with “forever chemicals,” PFAS pollute the water in surrounding cities like Jackson, where the water includes higher than recommended levels of these substances – close to 10,000 parts per trillion – according to PFAS Exchange.

High concentrations of PFAS exposure may bring adverse health outcomes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Assistant Professor of Chemistry Ian Walsh said these side effects are still being studied.

“What people are looking for more now is chronic exposure to these things,” Walsh said. “If we drink it

once, it’s nothing. But if we drink it every year for 85 years of our life, what does that do? How do you study that?”

Michigan’s ruling comes after the United States Geological Survey released a report over the summer about PFAS water supply contamination. The USGS reported in July that more than 45% of test sites, from rural to urban areas, contained PFAS.

The EPA links high PFAS exposure to increased risks of cancer, decreased fertility, endocrine dysfunction, and obesity. Scientists, however, are unsure if the relationship between these chemicals and the supposed side effects is one of correlation or causation.

“Research is still ongoing to better understand the potential health effects of PFAS exposure over long periods of time,” the USGS

report reads. “Their persistence in the environment and prevalence across the country make them a unique water-quality concern.”

The substances are prevalent: according to one report, 97% of Americans have these chemicals in their bloodstreams.

But the Environmental Working Group says federal limits on chemicals in the water supply may not be enough to protect consum-

ers. “The federal government’s legal limits are not health-protective,” the EWG states. “The EPA has not set a new tap water standard in almost 20 years, and some standards are more than 40 years old.”

While Walsh questioned the trustworthiness of government and businesses to solve the problem of water contamination, he said he doubted the safety standards

imposed by activist groups like EWG.

“Environmental organizations would probably have the tendency to overestimate how bad something is — that’s their natural bias,” Walsh said, “whereas something like the government would be the opposite.”

Elizabeth Speck interned at NASA this summer.

Courtesy | Elizabeth Speck

College Montanans react to climate ruling

By Olivia Hajicek Science & Tech Editor

Montanans in the college community have divided reactions to a recent court decision that says the state’s promotion of fossil fuels violates the Montana Constitution.

Sixteen Montana youth brought the constitutional challenge against the state’s fossil fuel-based energy system in 2020, saying it contributed to climate change, violating their rights under the Montana Constitution. Judge Kathy Seeley of Montana’s First Judicial District Court ruled against the state on Aug. 14, citing these harms and blaming them on the use of fossil fuels.

Under this ruling, potential climate effects of carbon dioxide may play a role in the approval process for some state-sponsored projects.

Charles Steele, chairman of economics, business, and accounting, grew up in Montana before studying and then teaching at Montana State University. Steele, who has studied climate policy, said in an email that he thinks eliminating fossil fuels would be a disaster.

“An honest accounting of fossil fuel use would find overwhelming net benefit,” Steele said. “Any contemporary, developed society that attempts to eliminate fossil fuels will find this course is unsustainable, and if successfully pursued it will lead to poverty and death.”

When fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are

By Catherine Maxwell Collegian Reporter

The controversy unfolding between Canada and Meta should be a warning about the dangers of outsourcing a country’s safety. Canada’s Online News Act, also known as Bill C-18, became law in June, according to CTV News. While the Canadian government promoted the bill as a means of protecting “the way Canadians access news content that is vital to democracy,” the bill requires social media companies to pay for the presence of domestic news organizations on their platforms.

Meta, the parent company

burned, they release carbon dioxide, which is known as a “greenhouse gas” because of its ability to trap heat around the earth. Some people, including scientists cited in the court ruling, are concerned too many greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere will cause destructive global warming.

Sierra Dilworth ’23 said in an email that while finding a good alternative to fossil fuels is difficult, she admires the young activists’ initiative. Dilworth lived in Kalispell, Montana, near Glacier National Park before moving to California this summer.

She said she is glad their case could be heard despite attempts by elected officials to stop it from going to court.

“I have lived in Montana for the past nine years,” Dilworth said. “In just those nine years I have perceived a noticeable increase in haze from pollution in my valley, the Flathead Valley. Flathead County’s population has steadily grown every single year since 2010. People are flocking to Montana because they see that it is a beautiful place. However, if measures are not taken to protect the state’s environment, its beauty will slowly but surely be stripped from it.”

The plaintiffs mentioned various harms related to changes in the environment, including sickness from wildfire smoke, inability to enjoy outdoor activities, and despair about the future.

Steele said neither these harms nor their alleged connection to fossil fuels were

Social

of Facebook and Instagram, responded by announcing Canadian news outlets would no longer be allowed on its platforms, arguing the news groups did not provide enough monetary incentive to comply with the new regulations, according to The Associated Press.

Canadians can still view foreign news outlets. Former Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodriguez accused large tech companies of shutting down local newsrooms, a problem the law attempts to solve.

The controversy heated up when Canada’s record-setting fire season, which began in April, worsened. Meta refused to

demonstrated.

“Seeley’s decision relied on numerous allegations that are clearly contrary to fact,” Steele said. “Seeley claimed Montana is a major emitter

tain and improve a clean and healthful environment in Montana for present and future generations.”

Reagan Linde ’22 said in an email that the environ-

form,” Linde said. “Growing up in such a beautiful state where you spend a considerable amount of time in nature creates a certain fondness for the tranquility and beauty of the space you are in that should make you want to preserve it.”

She said while she does think the climate is changing, she does not think this is completely unprecedented or caused entirely by humans. She also said while many Montanans are glad their state is paying attention to the environment, the state is much more conservative than it was in 1972 when environmental protections were added to the state’s constitution.

The plaintiffs argued Montana’s current environmental laws violate these constitutional protections.

The Montana Environmental Policy Act requires environmental reviews for some state-sponsored projects. The law didn’t allow agencies to consider out-ofstate effects, so agencies assumed they weren’t allowed to consider climate impacts.

proceeding if the challenge was based on greenhouse gas emissions.

“It seems that Gov. Gianforte wishes to inhibit proposed measures to put checks on environmentally abusive policies and procedures,” Dilworth said. “The lack of environmental transparency which Gianforte seems to be promoting between policy makers and Montanan people is not just a problem with the state of Montana; it is endemic in politics today.”

The ruling overturned both of these recent laws. Agencies will be permitted to consider greenhouse gas emissions in their environmental reviews, and people will be able to sue them if they don’t.

“I know that many Montanans are also not thrilled about the vague phrasing and judicial activism element,” Linde said. “They recognize that this ruling could set a precedent that would be difficult to enforce without a severe hit to some of our state’s top industries.”

of greenhouse gasses, yet Montana accounts for less than 1% of U.S. emissions, according to data from the NSF’s National Center for Atmospheric Research.”

The Montana Constitution includes “the right to a clean and healthful environment,” and provides that, “The state and each person shall main-

ment is incredibly important, especially to Montanans. Linde is originally from Billings, Montana, and she now serves as assistant director of student activities and student programs.

“We are called to be stewards of the earth and I think that most people recognize this in some way, shape, or

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, a Republican, signed a bill in May making this clear. The amended version of the MEPA says that an environmental review “may not include an evaluation of greenhouse gas emissions and corresponding impacts to the climate.”

Later that month, the governor signed another bill amending the MEPA. This bill said that a challenge to an environmental review couldn’t stop an agency from

legislation.

The state of Montana has a 60-day window to decide whether to appeal the ruling to the Montana Supreme Court. Steele said he hopes the decision will be overturned on appeal.

“These climate court cases are a form of lawfare designed to circumvent democratic processes and impose radical economic and political change,” he said. “They are a threat to freedom and self-government.”

Canadians

Trudeau claims that Meta is putting profits over Canadians’ safety, but he assumes taking care of Canadians is Meta’s job. Meta, however, is a company, not a nonprofit charity or a government institution, and it has every right to make decisions based on its bottom line.

liance, a Washington D.C.based journalism advocacy group, wants the nation to pass similar legislation to Canada’s Online News Act.

If America wants to broadcast how little it cares about its people, that’s exactly what it should do.

The best response would be to admit that Meta’s decision is Canada’s fault.

reestablish Canadian news outlets on the platform, despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s request that the company make an exception to the new policy.

Meta has acknowledged a loophole to its policy –– Canadians can still see information from “official government agencies, emer-

gency services and non-governmental organizations,” according to a statement the company provided to CNN.

But Trudeau believes Meta’s actions, which stemmed directly from his own policies, are a significant danger to his people. Despite this, he continues avoiding responsibility for his own

A government, not a company, exists to care for its people. If faced with a situation that made communication difficult, a good government would find alternative solutions instead of whining about perceived injustice.

The United States should take note. According to Reuters, the News Media Al-

A prime minister — or a president — who truly cared would accept the blame and take steps to ensure this misguided policy never happens again.

Opinion:

media law, not Meta, endangers

“Faced with a situation that made communication difficult, a good government would find alternative solutions instead of whining about perceived injustice.”

Montana boasts thousands of mountains.

Courtesy | Sierra Dilworth

A mountain goat on Mount Aeneas in Montana. Courtesy | Sierra Dilworth

From Iraq to Hillsdale: college staff retires from service

By Ty Ruddy Collegian Freelancer

When Mike Murray helped his high school football team win a state championship in 1985, he never thought it would lead to a 32-year career in the military.

Murray, the head of gift and estate planning at Hillsdale College, will retire from the United States Marine Corps Reserve this fall after 32 years of service.

His journey to the armed forces started when West Point noticed his athletic skill at Divine Child High School in Dearborn, Michigan. Although Murray did not attend West Point, the recognition sparked his interest.

“There was somebody at Divine Child whose dad was connected to the service academies,

so they must have put my name on a list and I started getting letters from the Army,” he said.

“I grew up in a very patriotic home, so I went through the process, interviewed with the local congressman, and got an alternate nomination,” he said.

Murray ended up playing football and baseball at Albion College instead. Murray said he hoped to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a prosecutor while studying at Albion.

Still, military service was never far from Murray’s mind.

“It kind of sparked this concept of service,” Murray said. “I started going through the application process and came to this realization: ‘Service is something I want to do because my country has blessed my family.’”

During his three years at Albion, Murray served as an

QUICK HITS with Carl Young

By Elena Sickau Collegian Freelancer

Carl Young, associate professor of classics, delves into mythology and philosophy. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

What was your favorite childhood memory?

My dad was a police officer and a competitive pistol and rifle shooter, so most of our family vacations were spent going to shooting competitions. I basically grew up on a range, watching my dad compete in shooting. I think fondly of that.

What mythical creature would you have as a pet or friend?

I think it might be a centaur; it would be Chiron. They’re cool and you could maybe ride one, and if it’s Chiron he could teach you everything you need to know about being a warrior and a hero.

What other careers interest you?

I almost pursued a career

interfraternity president and spent summers playing football abroad in Ireland. After graduating a semester early, Murray began to look at the law programs for different branches of service. Most services send hopeful judge advocates to what is called office introduction school, a six-week program designed to teach military rank and culminating in a law contract.

“I looked at them, I did some research and discovered that the only one that actually puts you through Officer

Candidate School and gives you that challenge was the Marine Corps,” Murray said. “You spend six months in basic and learn about the weapons systems. “

After the recruiting process, Murray signed a contract

From 1994 to 2002, Murray served on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as a judge advocate. In 2002, he came off active duty for the first time. A year later, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, the phone rang once more, and he accepted an activation to serve as an officer out of Battle Creek, Michigan. After the offensive push, Murray remained in the Reserve.

“The whole trip was a big patriotism boost,” Keith Otterbein, head football coach at Hillsdale College, said. “Even beyond the trip, we are fortunate to have Michael as a Marine. His discipline and priorities are right where they need to be. He is a man of phenomenal integrity.”

as he made his way back to the campus of Albion College for spring commencement. He attended OCS that summer.

“I was commissioned on the morning of Aug. 16, boarded a plane that afternoon, came home and started law school the next Monday,” he said.

“I started doing the Reserve and I liked that I was able to juggle it,” he said. “Then it got me promoted. I was a major before I came off active duty.”

He was activated again in 2006 and joined a unit that went to Iraq. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel. With connections in Washington, D.C., Murray provided the college football staff an opportunity to tour the capitol.

Director of Health Services Broke Lutz said he befriended Murray when they began working at Hillsdale on the same day 12 years ago.

“Michael has an uncanny ability to walk into a room and know 95% of the people by two degrees of separation,” Lutz said. “I think that is a tribute to his memory of people, the various things that he has done in his life, and his genuine desire and ability to love everyone he meets well.”

New club ordains new rules

By Siobhan Weed Collegian Freelancer

Fourteen students handpicked by the college chaplain, Father Adam Rick, have committed to live a countercultural life of prayer, fasting, and reflection as part of the new society of St. Stephen.

“The society first emerged out of necessity,” said Rick, who needed an ecumenical group of students he could count on to help with the weekly Evensong prayer services.

“Domine Iesu, suscipe spiritum meum” or “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Consisting of 14 students, the society is modeled after the example of St. Stephen, a first-century martyr, one of the first deacons, and the patron saint of acolytes. Inspired by the life of St. Stephen, the society strives to instill the spirit of Christian discipleship in those around them through their mission of living in service to others, Rick said.

cial media and technology use, and weekly service at Evensong. Other rules focus more on bodily health such as proper sleep, good meals, and exercise.

“So far I’ve found holy hour to be the easiest to follow since I incorporated it into my life during Lent this past year,” senior Michael Hoggatt said. “I can’t function properly without it. Let’s be real, though — wearing a tie on Fridays is the easiest rule to follow.”

in intelligence. I was in the army for a while before I went to school, and I was in military intelligence. When I got out of the army, I actually applied to and was accepted into some government intelligence agencies.

What’s the best and worst thing a student can do in class?

The thing that annoys me the most is when students don’t prepare and just show up and take up space. My favorite thing is when students disagree and debate me, push back and find out why I say the things I say in class.

What’s your favorite smell?

Right now, I really like the smell of my new puppy, Fritz. He’s a German short-haired pointer. Other favorite smells — bourbon. It’s a weird smell, but I like the smell of a weight room.

What’s your favorite myth?

I suppose the one that comes to mind most immediately is the myth of Oedipus. What

makes Oedipus a hero? He’s unlike other heroes, and what makes him one is he solves the riddle, he answers the question of the sphinx. What makes him a hero is knowledge. But what is his reward for that knowledge?

It’s this horrible, terrible suffering; he ends up killing his father, having incest with his mother. I think what appeals to me about that is the suffering that comes from knowledge and the tragic aspect to it.

What makes your day better?

Good conversations with students, with colleagues, with my family. That’s what I love about this place. I have great conversations in class, I have great conversations around the water cooler with my colleagues.

What class at the college would you take?

For one thing, I need to work on my German, so I would take classes in the German department.

The club quickly evolved into something more spiritual than practical.

“I felt called to equip a group of students with classical spiritual disciplines so that they can build a spiritual life ordered by timeless Christian principles,” Rick said. “We read a lot about the good life at this college, and I wanted to provide students with the tools to live a good Christian life through spiritual discipleship and a rule of life together.”

The society hopes to stand apart for students on campus as models of the Christian life.

“The Society of St. Stephen is a fellowship of students seeking to consecrate our lives fully to Jesus Christ by sitting at his feet, walking in step with his Spirit, serving his people, and supporting one another in his school of discipleship,” the mission statement reads. “With his help, we desire to bless the Hillsdale College community and model for all how to follow Jesus on ancient well-ordered paths.”

With this as its objective, the Society of St. Stephen was born, adopting the motto

“He was a model of spiritual devotion, and demonstrated this by offering his life for the gospel,” Rick said. “That kind of singular devotion is what we are after as a society.”

An important function of the society is assisting in Evensong, the ecumenical evening sung prayer service. Members also meet in smaller groups on a weekly basis for the purpose of spiritual discernment and direction.

Senior Claire Hipkins, a member of the society, highlighted the importance of the society’s rule of life.

“As of right now, the society is following a rule of life — specific spiritual disciplines designed to structure our lives around rhythms of prayer and worship — in community,” Hipkins said.

The society is ordered around four principles which instruct its members in integrity, discipleship, honor, and service.

The rules of life vary in difficulty, but all aim to guide the members in upholding the four principles. Some of the rules include a weekly 24-hour fast, limits ofnso-

Other rules have been more challenging, Hoggatt said.

“The hardest rule to follow has been limiting my involvements to maximize spiritual and social time. Maybe it can be helped, but I do this to myself every semester.”

In addition to the entire society, sub-groups meet to challenge one another and cultivate deeper discussion.

“We have triads, groups of three, that meet as a subset of the larger women’s and men’s groups,” Hoggatt said. “These help keep us accountable to the rule in the context of good friends.

At the onset of its their inaugural year, Hipkins said the society is eager to continue its spiritual journey under Rick’s guidance

“Since this is the society’s first year, I don’t know concretely what it will look like for me,” Hipkins said, “But I’m very excited for the challenge and the possibility to grow in my faith in community.”

“Service is something I want do do because my country has blessed my family.”

Carl Young’s favorite season is fall. Courtesy | Hillsdale College

Murray currently serves as head of gift and estate planning Courtesy | Hillsdale College

Murray and his squadron in Baghdad.

Courtesy | Mike Murray

Murray will be retiring from 32 years of service this fall.

Courtesy | Mike Murray

Kocatepe Mosque

A call to prayer: living in the ‘queen of cities’

Students share their experiences exploring and interning in Istanbul this the summer

By Michaela Estruth Assistant editor

The Muslim call to prayer echoed through the streets of Istanbul at 4:45 a.m. while Hillsdale interns slept undisturbed in their Airbnb. After weeks in a city originally foreign to them, the chanting came to shape the rythm of their days.

“Allahu Ekber Eşhedû en lâ ilâhe illallah Eşhedû enne Muhammeden.”

Four students — seniors Adam Bentley and Joseph Perez, junior Ciaran Smith, and sophomore Sebastian Breeland — spent their summers interning in Istanbul, Turkey.

Breeland interned at the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions and spent his day recording information from historical documents.

“My primary job was taking important details from each document I looked over, such as spatial coverage, dates, and organizing these details into a spreadsheet in order to digitize every document with accurate information,” Breeland said.

Breeland learned about the program from Assistant Professor of Medieval History Charles Yost, who taught a course last spring on the history of Istanbul.

“The purpose of the course was to give students a sense of the centrality of this city in the history of the West and the world,” Yost said.

Yost and Professor of History Richard Gamble led the college’s annual trip to Turkey in mid-May.

“I hope that the students who accompanied us to Turkey came away with a concrete, spatial sense of Istanbul and western Asia Minor,” Yost said. “From now on, when they read about the history of this region, it won’t be some mythic land but a concrete place in their minds.”

The trip lasted two weeks and included tours of Troy, Ephesus, Pergamon, and Myra.

But the internship spanned two months, from the start of June to the end of July. Interns stayed in an Airbnb in Galata, the historic Genoese quarter of Istanbul.

Senior Joseph Perez interned for both the American Research Institute and the Netherlands Institute in Turkey. He worked with digitizing and translating cemetery records, which included burial permits and burial applications. Among the documents he worked with was a diplomatic correspondence from Nazi Germany to the Turkish government.

“The work itself introduced me to the logistics of running an archive, which was completely new to me,” Perez said.

“I also read a ton of 19th-century diplomatic papers, which helped sharpen my French.”

After work, the interns would often go out for dinner and visit famous sights in the city.

“Eating out for most meals was not only more normative in Turkish culture, it was also quite practical,” Perez said.

“Buying groceries in Turkey is hardly less expensive than eating at a restaurant.”

Perez and Breeland both said they were in awe of Suleymaniye Mosque, commissioned by Suleiman the Magnificent in 1557 and located on the third hill in the old city.

“It’s among the most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen, interior and exterior,” Perez said.

While many imagine Istanbul as part of a mythic middle eastern culture, the city itself varies throughout the different neighborhoods, according to Breeland.

“You think of Istanbul as this hyper-Middle Eastern city, and pockets of it are similar to that. But at the end of the day, it is very Western and probably even more secular,” Breeland said. “At the same time, Istanbul is a massive city. While corners of it might feel like your typical Mediterranean city, others feel like downtown Tehran.”

The interns also befriended other students working in the city, including students from the University of the Bosphorous in Istanbul. Perez said the group would regualarly play poker with the students he met at his internship.

While religious devotion varies throughout the city, Islam remains the prominent religion in Turkey, which characterizes each day.

“Hearing the call to prayer five times a day and seeing mosques everywhere without almost any still-operating churches were constant reminders that I was away from home,” Breeland said.

On the last day of the trip, Perez and Smith took the Istanbul Metro to ride the ferry across the Golden Horn one last time. On the way

back, traveling up hill, the metro suddenly stopped.

“The lights were flickering on and off,” Perez said. “No one knew what was going on. No transportation official was working. After 10 minutes, Turkish passengers forced open the door, jumped out, and started walking down the passage tunnel. Ciaran and I did the same.”

Four internship positions are open for next summer, and Yost encouraged anyone interested to contact him. The study abroad experience im -

pacts the student beyond educational value or even tourist travel, he said.

“I know that our interns came away from this experience profoundly changed by their time as residents in the ‘Queen of Cities,’ as Constantinople was called by the Byzantines,” Yost said. “Once

you go there you realize why so many men have fought and died to possess this city.”

Despite missing the familiarity of home, Breestand said the experience was incredible. “I would go back in a heartbeat,” Breestand said. “Turkey is a beautiful country.”

Hillsdale interns hanging out with University of the Bosphorous students.

Courtesy | Joseph Perez

Bentley buying food at a döner store that sells Turkish-style kebabs.

Courtesy | Joseph Perez

Courtesy | Joseph Perez

The Blue Mosque is known for its blue ceramic tiles. Courtesy | Joseph Perez

The interior of Suleymaniye Mosque. Courtesy | Joseph Perez