The Hillsdale Collegian 1.27.22 by The Hillsdale Collegian

Students walk to Lane Hall on Wednesday after several inches of snow fell earlier this week. Grace Umland | Collegian

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

Vol. 145 Issue 16 - January 27, 2022

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Contact Center to relocate downtown this summer By Michael Bachmann Assistant Editor The Contact Center will relocate to a new office downtown this summer from the basement of Kendall Hall to accommodate the college’s growth. “The move was really necessitated by a shortage of space on campus,” Contact Center Director Mary Mar-

geret Spiteri said. The new Contact Center will open on Howell Street, about a 10-minute walk from campus. According to Spiteri, the workspace will be a modern office with plenty of natural sunlight, something she said is lacking in the basement of Kendall. “Over the years, one thing I've heard is that students are always looking for a way to

bridge the gap between the college and the community,” Spiteri said. “Having an office downtown will be a great way for students to bridge the gap themselves.” The Contact Center announced the plan to move to student employees last week. “I'm super excited about it,” contact center employee and sophomore Reilly Demara said. “The way they described it to us sounds

really cool. It's going to have big windows and they are designing it with Dean Dell, so I know it will be a beautiful space.” Many students, however, say they are concerned about the 20-minute round-trip walk to the new office. “As nice as it would be to get a larger work area with more daylight, being that far from campus is going to be hard for a lot of people

Hockey Club President Zack Niebolt instructs members of the Hillsdale College hockey club team. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi

without transportation to and from campus,” sophomore Justin Doughty said. To encourage students to continue working for the contact center after the move, the new office will have a dedicated study space. Spiteri said this will give students the opportunity to work and study in the same building. This allows them to stay productive after their shift is over or while they are waiting

Career Services launches initiative to equip student entrepreneurs By Elizabeth Troutman Assistant Editor

Hockey Club hits ice for first time since COVID-19 pandemic began By Jillian Parks Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale Club Hockey Team has returned to the ice this semester after a year off caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Every Sunday, the team’s nine members travel to Optimist Ice Arena in Jackson to play in the beer league. “A lot of guys on the team have played for several years, some have played for basically their whole life, and some guys are newer to the sport,” senior Ryan Perkins said. “The guys who are more experienced are

just helping the newer guys learn how to play. But overall, everybody’s there to have fun and enjoy playing as a team.” The club started during the 2019-2020 school year, but they took a break last season because of the rink’s mask mandate for players and the college’s policy that club sports avoid interactions with other schools and teams at that time. “It’s exciting to be back, but it’s very early in the season,” junior Eamonn Weed said. “At Hillsdale we’re very focused on academics, and that’s a good thing. So with the club hockey team, we’re not trying to be

Division II athletes, like some of our actual student athletes. We’re just having a good time. And it’s a good way to reconnect with a part of my past and do something that I love outside of school.” Hockey Club President and senior Zachary Niebolt jumped through a series of hoops to found the club: he met with club sports director Brad Kocher, proved the student body’s interest, worked out logistics, and completed paperwork. “I will say Zack has been extremely central to getting the team going, keeping it

moving, and getting the guys together,” Perkins said. “Also, just keeping the team excited to play. Zack’s definitely been the guide for our team.” The team practices every Wednesday night at 8 p.m. in the outdoor rink set up by alumnus Craig Connor ’77, who was a member of the college’s former varsity hockey team. According to Niebolt, Connor’s rink is almost the size of a full National Hockey League rink complete with boards, nets, and extra skates.

See Hockey A2

for a ride back to campus. “I think this will be a positive for students who want real business work experience,” Spiteri said. “You already get that in the contact center dealing with callers and friends of the college, but having this seperate office will make it feel like you are getting even more of a business experience.”

A new Career Services initiative will prepare eight entrepreneurial sophomores to launch their own businesses. The Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence is a five-semester fellowship during which students will develop their business ideas through a combination of coursework, interactive learning, networking, and mentorship, and working on various projects and assignments. Fellows receive $2,000 in scholarship per semester from the Kehoe family, totalling $10,000 over the course of the program. Ken Koopmans, initiative director and director of Career Services, said the idea came from the high interest in entrepreneurship demonstrated in Career Services’ annual survey. The college saw this interest and the number of successful graduates who have started their own companies, and started an initiative to provide support to aspiring student entrepreneurs. “The demand was evident, the purposes of promoting free enterprise and private ownership align well with the mission of the college, and the college has so many outstanding connections,” Koopmans said. “It made sense to bring all these pieces together and develop the initiative.” “The Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence was founded to develop the next generation of character-driven entrepreneurs and equip them with the skills and knowledge they need to launch a successful business in the 21st century,” Koopmans said. Applications were open to sophomores in the fall. Applicants were required to submit a resume, cover

letter, writing sample from a Hillsdale class, letter of recommendation from a faculty or staff member, and an essay proposing their business idea and describing why they would be a good fit for the fellowship. In the final stage of the application process, initiative directors interviewed top candidates. “Our inaugural cohort has eight passionate and dedicated students: Caleb Greene, Alydia Ullman, Nicholas Cain, James Simpson, Mary Ruth Oster, Emily Land, Robert McClelland, and Kiley Hatch,” Koopmans said. Hadiah Ritchey ’20, project manager at Career Services and initiative coordinator, said the students involved have a variety of interests. “Some people came to the program already having a business they already started,” Ritchey said. “And then some people came with just kind of an idea of something they would love to do in the future.” Sophomore Emily Land said she plans to open her own social media marketing agency specializing in social media management, content creation, and brand strategy. “I decided to apply due to my lifelong gravitation towards entrepreneurial activity,” Land said. “I have started many small businesses throughout my life ranging from lemonade stands to a jewelry company. I love the atmosphere of freedom and hard work that surrounds the entrepreneurial sphere.” Sophomore Mary Ruth Oster has enjoyed developing her plant therapy business idea. “I am excited for the opportunity to gain a better understanding of business and leadership through the classes, lectures, and mentors the program offers,” Oster said.

See Career A2

Professor Take: Inflation is a big problem in Hillsdale By Sean Callaghan Assistant Editor The current spike in inflation could lead to a recession, according to Professor of Economics Ivan Pongracic. “We are in a situation that we haven’t been in for a long time,” Pongracic said. In December, the rate of inflation jumped up to a record of 7% without declining.

Pongracic said the government has been spending an enormous amount of money since the financial crisis of 2008-09. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation, he said, with the deficit of the federal government going from $1 trillion to $3 trillion. “The federal government assumed all sorts of emergency power and started spending

as if there was no tomorrow,” he said. Pongracic said the results of low interest rates include mortgages and student loans. “Why have the interest rates been so low?” Pongracic said. “We have engaged in this experiment which will be forced to come to an end in a pretty painful way of incredibly expansionary monetary policy and extremely low interest

rates for almost 14 years now.” He said one of the primary causes for this jump in inflation was the Federal Reserve accommodating the federal government by buying about half of the $6 trillion worth of accrued debt over the course of two years. “There were insufficient private entities, certainly not foreign central banks and foreign governments, that wanted

to buy $3 trillion worth of bonds,” he said. The federal government relied heavily upon the Federal Reserve, creating an unprecedented level of monetization. “Different parts of the government are using the power to create money to finance the fiscal operations of the federal government,” Associate Professor of Economics Christopher Martin said. “This

is worrisome because it means our budgetary decisions are not having to go through Congress as much. The Federal Reserve’s loose money policies are facilitating the volume of spending that we’re seeing.” Pongracic said the Federal Reserve began retracting part of this spending in 2017, but now faces the pressure of the legislature due to the effects of

See Inflation A2

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January 27, 2022

SAB to host ice skating event By Aubrey Gulick Assistant Edtior Students have the chance to ice skate for free in Jackson this weekend during the Student Activities Board’s Skate Night. SAB will take students to Optimist Ice Arena for a night on the ice and will cover the cost of admission and rental skates for the event. “Ice skating is a fun winter thing,” Chaplain’s Office and Student Activities Assistant Programs Director Riley Arlinghaus said. “When the days are super gray, we always want to make winter something that’s special instead of something that’s just a drag.” According to Arlinghaus, the event was partly inspired by the past success with wintery activities, including SAB’s ski trip. It also speaks to SAB’s mission to give students opportunities to forge friendships. “Being able to go with a group of your friends and have an adventure a little further from campus is something that will really solidify those relationships,” Arlinghaus said. Although this is the first year SAB has planned a Skate Night, the event has generated a lot of interest, with more than 60 people on the waitlist as of Tuesday. “This is our first year going to Jackson, but before COVID-19, SAB always tried to offer at least one trip a semester to a nearby city,” senior Gladys Oster said. “Jackson is our community and we would like to introduce students to the things that are there,” Arlinghaus said. “There’s a lot more to Jackson, so the hope is that we’re forging a path that students can continue to walk down and go see what else is there, maybe with a friend on the weekend,” she said.

The Tongan landscape after an underwater volcano erupted on Jan. 15. | Facebook

Disaster in Tonga: Hillsdale alumnus and former ambassador weighs in on volcanic eruption By Megan Williams Assistant Editor An underwater volcano erupted off the coast of the Kingdom of Tonga, a Pacific island country, on Jan. 15. The explosion released 18 megatons of energy, making it 1,200 times more powerful than the atomic bomb the U.S. dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Joseph Cella, former ambassador to Tonga and Hillsdale College alumnus, explained how the United States will continue to provide aid to the islands affected by the volcano. The United States Agency for International Development can immediately send $100,000 to the islands in

need. Cella explained the United States military has already sent the USS Sampson, a Navy destroyer, to provide protection and deliver supplies to Tonga. The volcano, Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haapai, caused a 7.4-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunamis, with tsunami-effect waves being recorded on the west coast of the United States. The volcano shot ash and dust 25 miles into the sky. Sia ‘Uhila Angilau maintains a Facebook page called Ordinary Tongan Lives, featuring stories of Tongan people. Angilau has begun posting first hand accounts of what Tongans experienced after the volcano erupted. “The first wave I saw was about 23 feet. It came and

collapsed right at our house, destroyed it, and flowed straight to the other side of the island,” Angilau reported. “My brother and nephew quickly helped me up a wild hibiscus tree as we waited on the wave to subside.” The Kingdom of Tonga consists of about 170 islands, some of which suffered more damage than others. Tsunamis wiped out every house on Mango island, the home of 62 Tongans. Angilau featured one of these victims on her blog. “Altogether, there were nine main families of Mango and 62 of us altogether. We found everyone in one spot. Every family was complete except ours,” Angilau wrote. Ash started to fall on the island that night, forcing the

60 Tongans to cower under a blanket until morning. “By 5:30 a.m., we said a prayer together, then I went down with a few other men to look for my father,” Angilau said. “I distanced myself from the group, cried a bit, and talked as if my father could hear me. I asked him to give me a sign so I could easily find him.” Beginning to search among the debris, the group eventually made their way to a place encircled by fallen trees. “In the middle of it was a mound of sand and my father was lying on top,” Angilau said.“Telai Tutu’ila, my father, had passed away.” Flo Curr, Fijian resident and wife of New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Fiji,

described the resilience of the Tongan people throughout this disaster. “A lot of people realized they’ve been saved by the grace of God,” Curr explained. “Pacific Islanders, Tongans, specifically, are very resilient.” Curr said the day after the eruption, the Tongans were focused on rebuilding their nation and getting back to work. People turned up in masses to help clear a runway of all debris so planes with humanitarian supplies could land. “We first praise God, and second we realize the power of humanity and the Tongan people who can just rise up from these disasters and carry on,” Curr said.

Students make twisted candles at Rough Draft for Hygge Night on Wednesday. Courtesy | SAB

Hockey from A1

ing games for a case of beer. The main motivation is the difference between the $700 “They had a pretty famous necessary to play intercollecoach Ted Lindsay, who was giate versus $250 to play the a coach with the Red Wings beer league. and a player for a long time in “There’s a whole span of the NHL,” Niebolt said. “But these guys,” Perkins said. Hillsdale has not wanted to “Some of these guys used to add any more varsity sports play in college, so they’re pretty recently. I talked to Dr. Arnn good. Some of them are defiabout it, and he said the college nitely not super experienced. needs another sports team ‘like We never really know what I need another nose,’ so there we’re gonna get. A lot of them isn’t much hope for a varsity are just there to hang out with team these days. So we will be their buddies and have fun, content with the club for now.” and then we show up and we’re “It’s just awesome to have super competitive.” that resource,” Weed said. Students can find updates “Jackson is a 40-minute drive, on the team and their games so it’s a longer trip on weekon Instagram @hillsdalehockends. Craig Connor has been ey. The team will play nine so hospitable to the guys on games in the next nine weeks. the team and students, inviting “Hockey is the fastest, most them to come out and skate exciting sport, I would argue,” on his rink. It’s great to see an Niebolt said. “There’s nothing alumnus of Hillsdale and the quite like seeing a bunch of hockey program giving back to guys with knives on their feet "The Loft" radio for Bestas Comedy Program. this community. ” show was nominated skate around fast as they Rachel Kookogey | Collegian The team will play, not in can, hit each other, and shoot an intercollegiate division, but really hard pieces of rubber at against a group of 30-50 men each other. It’s uniquely Michicalled the beer league, named gan. And we're good.” after their tradition of playJunior Eamonn Weed at the first hockey club game since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi

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Inflation from A1 the pandemic. He said the government started handing out stimulus checks to people without forcing them to work, adding to the increase in inflation. “When you get money in your account, you have less incentive to work,” Associate Professor of Finance Robert Atra said. Atra said one concern will be as to how the government will pull people back into the workforce. “The fact that the Federal Reserve is still financing the money will lead to an enormous number of problems,” Pongracic said. Pongracic said one solution is for the government to create a “soft landing” by gradually slowing down the economy to slow down inflation. “The Federal Reserve has to convince people that the

Career from A1

Students returned to campus early from Christmas break for a three-day “LaunchPad Symposium” where they learned the fundamentals of starting a business and living a well-balanced life, according to Koopmans. By the end of their senior year, students will have to take Principles of Accounting I and Principles of Marketing I and participate in various interactive seminars on topics ranging from digital marketing to start-up capital. Students meet with the program director every other week during “Ideation Hours,” discussing their business and progress in the fellowship. Each semester, fellows will also be required to speak

inflation rate is going to fall,” Martin said. “They will have to accomplish this by raising interest rates. If they do this too aggressively, they will cause a recession.” Martin said the Federal Reserve needs to maintain credibility with the people. “If the central bank sacrifices its independence and loses its credibility, high inflation rates follow, and it’s incredibly difficult to break out of those kinds of high inflation situations because so much of it is

psychological,” Pongracic said. Martin said the less people trust the Federal Reserve, the more aggressive the Federal Reserve needs to act. “The Federal Reserve also has to ensure its credibility is protected against the legislature,” Pongracic said. “If the Fed continues down this path, it will very likely sacrifice its credibility.” Pongracic said one option is for the Federal Reserve to engage in painful policies with a high chance of plunging the economy into a serious recession. Another negative outcome

is that savers will lose the purchasing power they once possessed. The situation will prevent many of these savers from retiring. “Inflation is a way of causing a partial default for everyone who owes money,” Martin said. “It is a fraud on those who have saved money. Everyone who has had bonds or cash or something has seen a lot of their savings be eroded.” High inflation distorts the price system, causing shelves to be full of the wrong items. Businesses in turn end up going bankrupt because these prices have become distorted, Pongracic said. “You’re not going to be paid back as much as you expected,” Martin said. “It’s a subset of this whole issue of creditors being harmed.”

with 10 industry professionals, so by graduation, they will have met 50 successful entrepreneurs. Fellows will be matched with a specific mentor senior year to help them prepare for their final business pitch. Between their junior and senior years, the fellows will complete an apprenticeship with an experienced entrepreneur, funded by the initiative. “The goal for the fellows is that they each will have a fully-formed business idea and plan that is ready to launch as soon as they graduate or sooner,” Koopmans said. “They will also have gained the skills they need to manage and grow their business as time goes on. Fellows will also walk away from the program knowing what it is to lead a well-balanced life and have the tools they need to do so.”

The fellows will also attend Executive Speaker Events, which will usually be open to the entire campus body. The initiative has hosted one speaker so far this semester and plans to host two more. “We are so thankful to Mr. Kevin Kehoe and the entire Kehoe family,” Koopmans said. “Mr. Kehoe is an experienced entrepreneur himself, and we’re grateful that he is investing in the next generation of entrepreneurs. Without his generosity and support, The Kehoe Family Initiative for Entrepreneurial Excellence would not be what it is today. Other generous donors have contributed, as well.” Applications will open in the fall of 2022 to sophomores of all majors. Koopmans said the initiative leadership looks for students

who are “passionate about entrepreneurship, dedicated to the Hillsdale mission, able to problem-solve and persevere through challenges, and who have a desire to excel in personal growth and leadership.” Ritchey said a small percentage of entrepreneurs are business majors, so the initiative will provide students with extracurricular support. Career Services will continue offering entrepreneurship resources to all of campus as the program continues to grow. “This fellowship will act as an incubator for the businesses our fellows plan to start,” Koopmans said. “Everything they learn and work on in the fellowship will help them develop and launch their business upon graduation.”

“The fact that the federal reserve is still financing the money will lead to an enormous number of problems.”

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January 27, 2022

www.hillsdalecollegian.com Riley Arlinghaus '21 and senior Sophia Berryhill advertise for the 2022 Curate Women's Summit in the Grewcock Student Union. | Instagram

Students to become detectives at SAB murder mystery event By Hayden Price Collegian Freelancer

Curate set to host third annual women's summit By Elizabeth Troutman Assistant Editor The third annual Curate Women’s Summit will feature 25 speakers in the Plaster Auditorium this weekend. From 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Hillsdale women will have the opportunity to attend up to four break-out sessions and connect with other women, including alumni, staff, and faculty. For the first time, the day will be followed by a Mini Maker’s Market featuring local female artisans. “The purpose of Curate is to build up our female community by connecting students with some of our remarkable alumni, staff, and faculty,” Olds Residence House Director Rachel Marinko said. “We want to encourage our female students to consider the many different paths you can take

to grow as a woman. If something a speaker says resonates with a student, we hope it can create a connection for her to learn even more from that speaker.” Student Activities Program Assistant Riley Arlinghaus said students can especially look forward to Professor of Art Barbara Bushey and Dean of Women Rebekah Dell’s panel on creativity, and homemaker Allison Hutchinson’s speech on volunteering. “The speakers truly want to connect with students, and Curate is the best place to find yourself in conversation with a new friend or mentor,” Arlinghaus said. The theme this year is “Radiant.” “We chose the Radiant theme because we love the definition: sending out light and shining or glowing brightly,” Marinko said. “I think it applies to our com-

munity of women here. We also liked the visual aspect of it for décor.” Junior Kate Pipher has attended the Curate summit for the past two years. “I have really enjoyed the wisdom from so many different women on so many different topics,” she said, “and I’m excited to see what I will learn this year.” Morning coffee and light refreshments, lunch from Handmade, and afternoon snacks will be provided. There will also be a makeyour-own tea bag station. “The coffee and pastries are nice,” Pipher said. “They really pamper us.” Students can visit the Curate website to register. “It’s a day for our college women to feel loved and cared for,” Marinko said, “because we really do want the best for every single woman who comes to Hillsdale.”

Career Services welcomes alumni on pre-health panel By Evalyn Homoelle Social Media Manager Alumni who work in the healthcare field credited their time at Hillsdale for much of their success in their career at a panel event hosted by Career Services and the Pre-Professional Society on Tuesday. The nine panelists represented healthcare fields ranging from dentistry, chiropractics, physical therapy, speech language pathology, veterinary medicine, sports medicine, orthopedics, and nursing. Assistant Director of Career Services Sharon Kahn said the panel is part of a “Careers In” series offered every other year. “Career Services collaborates with the Pre-Professional Society to offer events that cater to what events our pre-med and pre-health professions students are interested in,” Kahn said. “Career Services is here to support students and to adapt to the trends of what students are interested in.” Several of the panelists were Hillsdale College alumni, such as 2010 graduates Kam and Kate Mueller and 1995 graduates Kathy Petersen and Stacy Vondra. The panelists explained their education and career paths before joining students in the audience for a time of discussion to answer questions and share career advice. Many of the alumni panelists credited their time at Hillsdale for thoroughly preparing them for their healthcare careers. “What I love is the expanse of knowledge that I gained in medical school and in my career,” Kam Mueller ‘10 said. “I feel like my education has

been very well-rounded and I can thank Hillsdale for that.” Sophomore Caitie Burns, a biology major, hopes to become a veterinarian and said the event gave her several practical next steps as she prepares for her career. “Dr. Alison VanZant gave me advice to say yes to every opportunity.” Burns said. “She also told me about opportunities to get connected and gain experience locally during my time at Hillsdale.” Burns said she enjoyed hearing each health professionals’ honest perspective of their career, as well as their favorite and least favorite parts of working in the healthcare field. Jill Bollman, an audiologist, said the personal aspect of her career is what makes working in healthcare so meaningful. “What I love about my profession is making a difference: I get to witness fitting a baby with hearing aids and seeing him hear for the first time, seeing the joy on his face when he hears his parents’ voices for the first time,” Bollman said. “Those moments make it so worthwhile.” Many of the panelists noted the versatility of specialties, flexible work hours, and variety in scope of practice for each of their careers. Kate Mueller ‘10 said she decided to go into the medical field her junior year at Hillsdale. She received a scholarship from the United States Air Force to earn her physician’s assistant degree, and then worked as a P.A. for the Air Force for three years. Mueller worked in family practice and primary care for several years, but is currently not practicing so she can stay at home with her children.

Similarly, Kathy Petersen ‘95 enrolled in an accelerated nursing program after graduation to become a registered nurse. After practicing labor and delivery and NICU nursing for several years in Hillsdale, Petersen ran the IT program for the medical health records at Hillsdale Hospital for five years. She found she had extra time in this position, so she enrolled in an online program to become a registered nurse practitioner. Aside from the versatility and opportunity for growth in her nursing career, Petersen said she appreciates how family oriented her health career is. “What I’ve loved about my career is that it is very family friendly.” Petersen said. “We have eight children, but I’ve always worked at least parttime.” To any student interested in a healthcare profession, Kahn said she recommends taking Pre-Professional Advisor Christopher Hamilton’s Exploring Health Careers one-credit class, volunteering in a health-related GOAL Program, and visiting Career Services to make sure that students are on track with graduate school prerequisites and observation hours. Jake Neukom, who holds his Doctorate of Science in Physical Therapy and works in outpatient orthopedics and athletic training, advised students interested in a healthcare profession to take steps early in their college career to decide if they want to pursue healthcare. “Volunteer and observe,” Neukom said. “Take as many classes as you can to become as well-rounded as possible.”

Students can become detectives on Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in the second annual murder mystery event hosted by the Student Activities Board. “Students sign up to play a character in the mystery,” said Riley Arlinghaus, student activities program assistant. “They’ll have a role and also try to figure out what has happened in the murder mystery. Being the character is part of their mystery as well.” The event will be held in the Campbell Banquet Hall, which was previously Dow A and B. Students in teams of two to five can sign up for free. Each person in a group

will have a distinctive role, with one character secretly playing a murderer. The goal of the non-murderers in a group is to discover who the murderer is. Teams will receive prizes based on spirit, costumes, and a correct guess of the murderer. SAB will announce the prizes and themes prior to the event’s start. “Teams will have a sense of what they’re doing before coming, so they will have an idea of how to fit the theme and get into the spirit of the game,” Arlinghaus said. The event will offer an opportunity to break away from studying by constructively spending time with friends. SAB decided to hold a murder mystery event again this year due to the

event’s previous popularity, said Zane Mabry, director of student activities. “People had a really fun time,” Mabry said. “It kind of sounded weird to me at first, but it actually worked out really well. It was definitely well-received overall.” SAB is preparing to improve upon last year’s murder mystery. “We’re excited to make this feel like a special evening,” Arlinghaus said. “It’s super fun to get together with a group of friends and try to figure something out. We do that in class all the time, but this event has a different sort of stakes.” Students can sign up through email or a link in the Student Activities Office newsletter.

David Payne, one of the speakers at the Inklings CCA, impersonates C.S. Lewis. Courtesy | An Evening with C.S. Lewis

The Inklings come to Hillsdale in upcoming CCA lecture series By Erin Osborne Collegian Freelancer The Inklings created some of the best-loved literature in the 20th century, and next week they’re coming to Hillsdale College as the subject of a CCA. The Inklings were an informal literary discussion group associated with J. R. R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. “Professor of History Bradley Birzer will introduce the program by talking about all of the Inklings, including Owen Barfield and Charles Williams,” said Matt Bell, director of the CCA program. English literary critic Michael Ward will lecture on “The Abolition of Man” and Professor of English at Wheaton College Michael Drout will present on J. R. R. Tolkien’s scholarship. Bell said he recommends enrolled students arrive early to ensure seating. “This program will be very well attended by friends of

the college — especially for a CCA in January — and students alike,” Bell said. “If it’s not a record, it will be very close.”

“They are great literary minds and their works help us think clearly not only about human nature and the world we live in, but also the world to come“ Past CCAs have featured literature, either about a genre like the American nov-

el or epic poetry, or about an individual author, like Shakespeare. However, the Inklings CCA will feature a group of writers, rather than a specific genre or individual writer. “They are great literary minds and their works help us think clearly not only about human nature and the world we live in, but also about the world to come,” Bell said. Freshman Maya Toman, who will be attending the CCA, said she is very interested to learn more about Inkling members J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and their work. “I love their writings and I am excited to see what the speakers have to say about that,” Toman said. Toman said she studied a few of C. S. Lewis’s works in high school. “‘The Abolition of Man’ is probably one of my favorite books of all time, but Tolkien is my favorite writer of all time,” she said.

Campus 'doing well' with COVID-19 By Ben Wilson Editor-in-Chief Campus is “doing well” with its handling of COVID-19, according to Director of Health Services Brock Lutz. As of Monday, six students were in isolation after receiving positive tests, bringing the semester total to 100 students tested, 61 of which were positive. “We have had a steady flow of positive cases with

mostly mild symptoms,” Lutz said. Following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance updates late in December, the college requires students to quarantine for a shorter duration than the 10 days it observed last semester. “We are following the guidelines of five days of quarantine from the start of symptoms,” Lutz said, “with students cleared to return to

classes on the sixth day.” Lutz said the plan has “worked well the first few weeks of school.” “We are grateful that this semester has been relatively calm compared to the past 3 semesters," he said. According to the last reported data from the fall semester, 455 students were tested and 113 were positive from August to December 2021.

A4 January 27, 2022

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Organists: Please pipe down in the chapel By Ben Wilson

promises these hours: Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10:15 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 10:15 p.m. The reality is that we get less than six of those 16 hours for silence. But it’s not just students practicing. The music department holds organ lessons in Christ Chapel. Approximately 13 hours of instruction take place in the chapel weekly, according to the music department. Seventeen students take organ lessons, and each needs at least an hour a week to practice. Given that three organs are available in Howard Music Hall, it seems unnecessary to hold lessons in the student body’s designated spot for prayer. The chapel should be shared among all students. The disproportionate and unpredictable time given to the few who play the organ is deterring the chapel from providing its full spiritual impact to the school. The administration and music professors should reign in the hours for organ playing and promise to keep most of the day open for students’ quiet time.

I’m tired of doing the chapel dance. It’s my near-daily routine of walking into Christ Chapel, hearing the blaring organ, and walking right back out. The beautiful chapel was built to give our campus a spiritual center, a place for students to gather and pray. Instead, the chapel has become the nation’s largest rehearsal studio. Students play the organ every day at unpredictable times. Melodies bellow throughout the building, disrupting all who come to enjoy the quiet. And while the talent is exceptional and music lovely, it interferes with what the main goal of Christ Chapel ought to be: giving students a quiet space for spiritual reflection. The college must limit and post the hours organ playing is allowed, leaving the majority of the day for quiet reflection. As it stands, most of the day is available for students to play, except for a few scattered, inconvenient “quiet” hours: Monday-Friday from 6 to 8 a.m., noon to 1 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 10:15 p.m. The college’s website Ben Wilson is a senior boasts that “the chapel studying politics and journalis open to students for ism. He is the editor-in-chief personal devotion.” It at The Collegian.

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All too often, students neglect to consider the benefits of the core. Many perceive the core to be a cumbersome requirement, an unnecessary drag upon their education. The reality is far different. Alumni of liberal arts colleges often complain of being underprepared to enter the workforce. In addition to knowing the essence of the true, good, and beautiful, students should

also have some knowledge of how to apply these principles. The core helps address this need by creating well-rounded students. Hillsdale has always set itself apart from other schools by offering a classical education. Such an education expands far beyond politics and the classics. While the Founding Fathers studied these areas, to be sure, they also studied mathematics and science.

George Washington studied geometry and trigonometry, according to MountVernon.org. Thomas Jefferson, according to Monticello. org, studied mathematics, political philosophy, and natural philosophy (a form of science). In addition to law, Abraham Lincoln studied Euclid’s geometry when learning to construct an argument, according to The Wall Street Journal. The founding fathers studied

a broad range of topics to help them properly understand and apply the art of statesmanship. As Hillsdale students, so should we. Students can become better people by becoming better rounded and better educated. Instead of simply learning about the good, let’s learn to influence the world for good. Let’s rise to the challenge of the core.

Texas bill shines a new light on abortion By Megan Williams The Supreme Court of the United States has considered dozens of abortion cases in the last half century, but Americans are still confronted with a confusing maze of rulings, legal jargon, and an utter failure to settle the matter. It all stems from a single problem: the court’s refusal to define a person as protected by the Constitution. Yet, the newest abortion case on the court’s docket–Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health organization–provides an opportunity for these justices to correct their predecessor’s missteps. In 1973, seven judges voted to legalize abortion in the case of Roe v. Wade. Abortion became classified as a form of privacy that the government could only limit under certain exceptions. But on Sept. 1, 2021, the state of Texas enacted a law that restricts abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected. In order to enforce the law, Texas created a system where citizens can sue abortion providers and abettors for up to $10,000 for breaking this law. Heather Hacker, a founding partner of Hacker Stephens LLP, is representing clients in two Supreme Court cases where plaintiffs are attempting to strike down the Texas Heartbeat Law. The mere existence of the Texas Heartbeat law, and the backlash against it, proves how much of a tangled web the legal battles over abortion have become. “In these two cases, the underlying issue is abortion, but the issues the court is deciding right now are jurisdiction,” Heather Hacker explained. “The law involved is a prohibition on abortion after fetal heartbeat is detected. But the court has not gotten to that question yet: whether such a prohibition is consistent with the Constitution.” The standard that Roe v. Wade opinions established was one based on the trimesters of a woman’s pregnancy; states could only restrict abortion during the third trimester. However, this standard was

Texas passed a heatbeat abortion bill in 2021. Courtesy | Flickr

created with little, if any, Constitutional basis, according to Carrie Severino, president of the Judicial Crisis Network. “I don’t think anyone even pretended the trimester framework could be deduced from the Constitution itself,” Severino said. “There isn’t some constitutional standard there that Roe was elucidating because Planned Parenthood came up with a different standard.” In 1992, Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey further changed the precedent of Roe v. Wade. Instead of focusing on the straightforward trimester standard--however arbitrary or unscientific it may be--the court changed the regulations to focus on an “undue burden” that restricting abortion access would create for a woman. A large problem arose out of the undue burden standard: how does one objectively define what an undue burden is? This created a subjective rule that courts were forced to interpret, leaving the standard up to judges’ discretion. “As long as Roe stood, the right to an abortion was absolute,” law student Saswato Ray wrote in Harvard Political Review. “After Casey overruled it, the standard’s ambiguity left courts to engage in fact-intensive line drawing exercises from tolerably to unduly burdensome, trying to find a metric.”

The lack of constitutionality within both the Roe and Casey decisions placed judges into a role of interpretation that they were never supposed to assume. Former United States Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist addressed this problem in his Webster v. Reproductive Health Services decision. “The key elements of the Roe framework – trimesters and viability – are not found in the text of the Constitution or in any place else one would expect to find a constitutional principle,” Rehnquist wrote. “The result has been a web of legal rules that have become increasingly intricate, resembling a code of regulations rather than a body of constitutional doctrine.” “As Justice White has put it,” Rehnquist continued, “the trimester framework has left this court to serve as the country’s ‘ex officio medical board with powers to approve or disapprove medical and operative practices and standards throughout the United States.’” Currently, the Supreme Court has deemed a person as someone viable to exist and breathe on their own. However, that definition is flawed by the basic reality that no child under the age of 5 would be able to survive without the help of others. Because this definition is so shaky, states have begun to define a person themselves,

which has led to varying opinions. New York allows abortion up until birth, therefore defining a person as a physical being who lives outside a womb. On the other side of the spectrum, Texas’ law defines a person as someone with a heartbeat. To end this battle of semantics, shaky constitutional foundations, and questionable scientific assertions, the Supreme Court must explicitly define who is covered by the rights and protections in the Constitution. If unable to establish this definition, the court must give this ability back to the states to stop governing from the bench. Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization provides the opportunity for the Supreme Court to give states the power to decide abortion access. Severino explained how this decision would align with the Constitution better than the current policy. The Constitution protects the fundamental rights of its citizens--freedom of speech, religion, etc.--to establish those basic freedoms. But every other issue it doesn’t address is supposed to be left to the states’ discretion.

immune response. In the study, researchers found that students who had their feet in cold water for 20 minutes were “much more likely” to get a cold over the next five days compared to the control group of students. The researchers theorized that having cold feet causes the blood vessels in your nose to constrict, which lowers the immune system’s ability to fight foreign particles. So, when it’s 10 degrees and you’re wearing heels or loafers with no tights or socks, you’re just tempting fate. I know we’re American history buffs at Hillsdale, but we don’t need to imitate Valley Forge. Even our statue of George Washington is wrapped in a thick cape for the cold weather. Last January I was giving a campus tour to new transfer

students with a peer who was dressed to about the same degree of warmth as I was, except I wore boots, and she wore loafers with no socks. You can guess which of us was complaining about the cold. As we walked around campus telling stories about the statues and campus architecture, she always wanted to go inside to warm up. Life is happier when you’re warm, and more convenient when you can plow through any turf as you’re running late for class. So listen to President Larry Arnn, and get your boots on.

Megan Williams is a junior studying rhetoric and public address. She is an assistant editor at The Collegian.

Winter woes are solved with clothes

By Rachel Kookogey

Ladies, it’s cold outside. You don’t have to dress to the nines when it’s nine degrees. Winter in Michigan is neither the time nor the place to wear summer shoes. Michigan does get all four seasons. A common joke in the state is that “if you don’t like the weather, just wait 10 minutes and it will change.” So, we’ll get our chance to wear spring, summer, and fall clothes when the seasons come. But right now, it’s winter, and you should check the weather app before you leave the house underdressed. Not only can the Hillsdale winter temperatures be very cold, but sidewalks and paths are often covered with snow, ice, or a melting combination of the two. If you’re not wear-

ing boots, you’ll probably have to take roundabout routes or end up with wet feet. When I was a freshman, I learned this the hard way. One day the temperatures were actually warm for February (mid 30s), and I tried wearing a cute pair of sneakers. When I crossed Hillsdale Street on my way to class, the melting snow puddles at the foot of the sidewalk curb were too wide to avoid and deeper than I expected. I ended up with one foot completely soaked in ice-cold water. Needless to say, I was late to class that day. Just recently, I was sitting in class, feeling a little chilly in my turtleneck, jeans, and boots. A few seats down from me, another woman was wearing a spaghetti-strap jumpsuit and sandal heels. It wasn’t even a Monday, so this was no “pin

day” sorority requirement. She just chose to dress like it was the middle of June. Even if you have to dress nicely for some occasion, there are plenty of warm professional clothing and shoe options. Nice tops can have sleeves, tights and skirts go together, and heels come in boot form. Don’t tempt hypothermia just to show off. There’s also the option of wearing boots and carrying your nice shoes in a bag until you get up the hill and indoors. The warm temperatures indoors are not an excuse to wear limited clothing outside during the winter months — just layer your clothes. Now, perhaps this fellow classmate was warm inside the classroom. But I doubt her bare feet were comfortable outside of Kendall Hall, where

the temperatures were so low recently that my fingertips already hurt from the cold in the time it took to walk the block from the library to my dorm. Sometimes I don’t wear gloves in order to text while walking, but I should know better: My fingers are too sensitive for that. Likewise, toes need covering, too. The media often talks about decreasing the spread of COVID-19 by wearing masks and social distancing. But we don’t focus enough on the importance of practical immune system-boosting measures like taking vitamins, getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, exercising… and dressing appropriately for the weather. According to a study by Cardiff University in England, having cold feet lowers your

Rachel Kookogey is a senior studying rhetoric and public address. She is the associate editor at The Collegian.

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January 27, 2022 A5

Why you should go Greek By Jacob Carson When I arrived on campus, I looked at Greek houses and saw one thing: a group of degenerates who find fulfillment in drinking and debauchery. What brought me to my first rush event is a mystery. Perhaps I was dissatisfied with the clubs and extracurriculars I found myself in, or tired of the monotony of dorm life throughout the first semester. Either way, my expectations were low. Then I changed my mind about Greek life. Being on campus for a semester had already given me some ideas on what the different houses were like, but this still wasn’t enough to get me on board. I was skeptical of the friendly faces and engaging conversation,

but soon found myself with a bid—and I took it. Dissatisfaction and monotony had caught up with me and this, I thought, could be my way out. Entering such a foreign group for the first time was daunting. For some reason, getting to know the active members was difficult despite my outgoing nature. What shocked me during this process was, even after joining, the faces stayed friendly and the conversation genuine. Greek life here isn’t meant as a joke, or a mere excuse for degeneracy, rather a place to elevate other students to their greatest potential. About three weeks into my pledge process, more than a month into my second semester at Hillsdale, I went to confession for the first time in two years. I began

taking my faith more seriously and became incredibly curious about what I believe, and why I should believe it. This is something no class up the hill could teach me, no one lecture about “the good,” or paintballing with Chief at a “Man-Up” event could supply. No, this growth came from my peers, from my friends, from my brothers. The candid faith I could observe in them inspired me, and in turn, made me excited to learn in my classes and grow as a man. Through others, I found the qualities I wanted to see in myself. I was able to model myself after those who came before me and see what was possible of them while they were my age. To me, this seems rare. This story isn’t even

unique to me. I have friends throughout the Greek system at Hillsdale who don’t fit the mold or stereotype of someone who should rush. One who comes to mind is a friend whose father, while in college, created an anti-Greek club to dissuade others from joining fraternities and sororities. And yet, my friend has found the same fulfillment and joy that I have. The stereotype of drinking and degeneracy still exists in my mind, as I’m sure it does with many others on campus. This conflicts with my own experience in Greek life, and while I’m no philosophy major, I think I can figure out why. Hillsdale tends to attract a unique type of person. There is a yearning for deeper community on campus. The inti-

U of M misses the ‘Mark’ on misconduct – again Mark Schlissel is the last fired in a chain of firings at U of M. Courtesy | Flickr

By Alexandra Hall The University of Michigan is the latest institution of higher education in the spotlight over sexual misconduct after making headlines for the third time in two years. The Jan. 15 firing of former university president Mark Schlissel is what has launched the university into public criticism. On the same day, U of M released a 118-page document filled with Schlissel’s emails to one of his subordinates, which revealed an inappropriate relationship between the two spanning several years. The correspondence ranges from travel itineraries to sexual innuendos. Schlissel even forwarded the woman, referred to as “Individual 1,”a New Yorker article entitled “Sexual Fantasies of Everyday New Yorkers.” U of M’s transparency with the emails is admirable and supports the University of Michigan Board of Regents’ unanimous vote to fire Schlissel. In July of 2020, U of M fired Provost Martin Philbert for sexual harassment. In an address to the board following Philbert’s firing and amending how future situations of the sort were to be dealt with, Schlissel said: “That’s exceptionally important because of the power dynamic...It makes it difficult sometimes for folks to effectively say no, then you put an employee in a very difficult circumstance.” The irony would be more humorous if the well-being of people at a power disadvantage weren’t jeopardized. Historically, U of M has been nothing short of embarrassing when it comes to dealing with situations involving sexual misconduct. Robert Anderson, a former university sports doctor, was the head of the University Health Service and an Athletic Department Team Physician. He served from 1966 to 2003. Within this time frame, Anderson sexually molested numerous

TikTok is the rising social media. Courtesy | pngimg

patients, according to the independent report from a law firm, WilmerHale, commissioned by U of M. Robert Julian Stone, one of Anderson’s victims, allegedly told school officials about various acts Anderson committed and filed a lawsuit. A report released in March 2020 shows that U of M officials knew there were accusations made against Anderson as early as 1975. A former associate vice president of student services, Thomas Easthope, tried to fire Anderson. In his federal testimony, Easthope said that Henry Johnson, vice president of student services at the time, overruled the decision despite knowing about Anderson’s abuse. Only this week did U of M reach a $490 million settlement to be shared among the 1,050, mostly men, who

claimed they were sexually abused by Anderson. Some of Anderson’s victims appeared outside of the most recent president’s house, and have even spoken out about the ridiculous nature of the entire scandal. The U of M campus is once again up in a fury about the culture that is so evidently displayed by those in power there. A culture of dismissing victims, abusing power, and pushing mistreatment under the rug like dust. The higher education system makes a fool out of itself with every passing year, whether through admission discrepancies, insanely unaffordable tuition rates, gimmicks for majors, and criminal stunts. What happened was undoubtedly disappointing. What was done as a result is hopeful. If every case were treated

with swift decision-making and definitive verdicts the way Schlissel’s was, the fear about coming forward with future allegations would be lessened. The more that victims of abuse see these situations being handled properly, the more likely they are to take action in their own cases. Schlissel talked the talk about power dynamics as he was leveraging his own. His case should be an impetus for universities to pay more attention to what goes on right under their noses. Institutions should brush up on how they are making resources accessible for students and faculty members to reach out if needed. Alexandra Hall is a sophomore studying biology.

Letter to the Editor:

The real problem with TikTok By Charles N. Steele

The vacuous TikTok pro/con exchange in the Collegian (Jan. 20) entirely sidestepped the most important issue concerning the app. TikTok is used by the Chinese government to collect and analyze data on users. The Chinese assemble files on anyone

who downloads the app; while TikTok is privately held, it cooperates closely with the Chinese government, and under Chinese law there are no restrictions on government access to data. According to a study by the Swiss internet privacy firm Proton Mail, if you are on TikTok, the Chinese government tracks your ISP,

your location, your tastes, your networks, and likely collects biometric data on you, including face scans. It should be obvious why this is not a desirable thing. The Chinese government has systematically engaged in cyberattacks and industrial espionage against the United States, it unleashed the SARSCoV-2 virus on the world,

it has institutionalized forced organ harvesting of political prisoners and a social credit surveillance system on its own people. It is a terrible idea to share one’s personal data with such a regime. Charles N. Steele is an associate professor of economics at Hillsdale College.

Jacob Carson, Stephen Edleblut, and Christian Peck-Dimit (pictured left to right). Courtesy | Hillsdale SAB

mate relationship attempted by the deans which I earlier downplayed is exemplary of this. Other dorms or groups aspire to this but at the end of the day, seem to mimic the Greek style of fraternity to accomplish greater relationships. If I were to advise a new student on campus, the first thing I would tell them is to find their home. This is different for everybody, and whether it is based on your

interests, talents, strengths, or something entirely out of the ordinary, find a home. I speak from experience when I say the Greek houses here are out of the ordinary, and this is exactly what makes them worthwhile. At the risk of sounding like a sorority sister right after rush has ended, I found my home. Jacob Carson is a sophomore studying history.

DC is better than Marvel By Claire Gaudet I think DC has more compelling characters than Marvel. Call me a counterculturalist, call me stupid, but this is the hill will I die on. Let me clarify. I think Marvel does certain things better than DC. After all, it is the biggest movie franchise ever. Even if what it does better is pandering to sheeple by means of jaw-dropping visual effects, it’s better nonetheless. My point is that, when looking at the heroes and the villains for what they are, there seems to be a winner as far as crafting realistic and deep stories. Like any good superhero tale, let’s begin by looking at origin stories. Many DC critics say that a huge flaw in the comics is that heroes were simply born into circumstances that would facilitate their super-career. People say things like “Batman wouldn’t be anywhere without the Wayne fortune funding his Batmobile,” or “Superman is only here because his dad shipped him off of Krypton.” OK, fair. At least DC heroes did not fall into their jobs like Marvel heroes. People who were destined to be great, or devoted their lives to avenging their parents, seem more inspiring than a high school student who just happened to get bit by a sciencey bug. Once you have a good hero, you need a great villain for them to fight against. Many Marvel fans argue that

because Marvel villains think they are doing the right thing, they are more realistic or compelling than the DC villains who just want to act out. There are some people who, if stumbling upon superpowers, would do wrong while thinking they were right (think of a radioactive Son of Sam or Zodiac Killer, for example). There are others, many more, in fact, who were already committing petty crimes just because they could— and now they have laser beams. It seems more accurate to heighten day-today evil than to assume most villains would have a messiah complex. There are a hundred different rabbit holes to fall into in this debate. Marvel makes better movies than DC does, but DC has always had the market cornered in television. Marvel shamelessly copied DC characters, but they did make them more appealing. “Batman vs Superman” was bad — fair, but it’s only 0.2 IMDb points below “Spider-Man 3.” At the end of the day, there are no clear winners except the fans who get to explore the universes that they love. That being said, talking about the “epic cinematography of ‘Spiderman: No Way Home,’” does not benefit society at all, so stop doing it.

Claire Gaudet is a sophomore studying rhetoric and public address. She is the social media manager at The Collegian.

Alumnus exposes Biden By Haley Strack Hillsdale alumnus Philip Wegmann ’15 recently achieved a hallmark of journalistic success: He received a presidential scolding. During President Joe Biden’s press briefing on Jan. 19, Wegmann, a White House reporter for RealClearPolitics, started to ask a question about the president’s rhetoric surrounding a voting bill favored by many Democrats. “You campaigned and you ran on a return to civility,” Wegmann said. “And I know that you dispute the characterization that you called folks who oppose those voting bills as being a Bull Connor or a George Wallace, but you said they would be sort of in the same camp.” Biden interrupted Wegmann. “No, I didn’t say that,” the president barked. “Look what I said. Go back and read what I said, and tell me if you think I called anyone who voted on the side of the position taken by Bull Connor that they were Bull Connor.” Biden then patronized Wegmann. “That is an interesting reading in English,” he

said. “I assume you got into journalism because you like to write.” Wegmann, who says he did in fact go into journalism because he likes to write, was referring to Biden’s speech on voting rights, delivered in Atlanta on Jan. 11. Biden invited a look at what he said. These were his words, from the transcript: “Do you want to be on the side of Dr. [Martin Luther] King or George Wallace? Do you want to be on the side of John Lewis or Bull Connor?” George Wallace and Bull Connor, both Democrats from Alabama, were notorious segregationists. During the Civil Rights Era, Wallace was the state’s governor and Connor was the commissioner of public safety in the city of Birmingham. In other words, the president likened Americans who disagree with his views on voting rights to white supremacists. Biden said exactly what Wegmann claimed. Wegmann was right. Biden was wrong. Anybody who likes to read or write can see that.

Haley Strack is a junior studying politics. She is the D.C. editor at The Collegian.

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A6 January 27, 2022

Pro-life demonstrators march through downtown Hillsdale. Courtesy | Twitter Twitter

‘A very rich sense of community:’ St. Anthony’s hosts March for Life in downtown Hillsdale By Maddy Welsh Assistant Editor Approximately one hundred people participated in a March for Life in downtown Hillsdale sponsored by St. Anthony’s Catholic Church last week. Rich Moeggenberg, a parishioner at the church who is also the college’s director of financial aid, helped organize the march. He said he reached out to leaders in the Hillsdale College for Life club to advertise the march. Senior Ethan Richards, a long

time member of the club and a Hillsdale local, also worked hard to encourage participation. “I got a hold of as many people as I could,” Richards said. “I emailed the people from the club that weren't going to D.C., friends of mine, I went to Catholic Society, Lutheran Society, and tried to recruit from there.” “I would say it was a 50/50 split between college affiliates and community members,” Richards said. “Some older, some younger, but there was a good split of people. It was really

encouraging actually, to know that it wasn’t just college people coming into Hillsdale and pushing this. There are people in the community willing to stand up for it.” Father David Reamsnyder of St. Anthony’s opened the march with prayer and college chaplain Adam Rick gave a benediction, Moeggenberg said. Throughout the march, the participants sang hymns which contributed to the reverent atmosphere, according to Richards. “It was an hour that we gave to God and it was

prayerful,” Moeggenberg said. “And that’s what the local march is about.”

“It was an hour that we gave to God and it was prayerful.” Richards said he enjoyed participating in the march and was moved by the faithfulness of the

North Adams man charged with conducting criminal enterprise By Josh Hypes Assistant Editor A North Adams man awaiting sentencing for a probation violation now faces a separate criminal enterprising charge, according to the Hillsdale County Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors charged Shane Edward Mitchell, 45, with criminal enterprise relating to his tree-cutting company, Mitchell’s Tree Climbers. His bond is set at $50,000, according to court documents. Prosecuting Attorney Neal Brady said charges stem from Mitchell’s tree-cutting service as a way to defraud customers out of thousands of dollars by contracting work, receiving payment, then not showing up to do the work. He scammed customers in this way for more than three years. Hillsdale City Police identified six victims during their investigation, according to Lt. Jason Stiverson of the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office. Stiverson said Mitchell allegedly stole more than $1,000 in two or more instances leading to the criminal enterprise charge. In November, Mitchell pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon as a

habitual offender and was placed on probation for 11 months. Mitchell later failed to report to his probation agent later that month, leading to his arrest in December. Chris Gautz, the Michigan Department of Corrections public information officer, said Mitchell tested positive for methamphetamine during a drug test upon arriving at Hillsdale County Jail in December. Mitchell pleaded guilty to the probation violation on Jan. 13 and now awaits sentencing in February. In the criminal enterprise case, Brady said he offered Mitchell a deal of pleading guilty to one count of theft by false pretenses over $1,000, a five-year felony, with restitution to be paid to all the victims. In exchange, Mitchell would not face the criminal enterprise charge, which carries a 10-year prison sentence if Mitchell is found guilty, according to Brady. “He will likely reject that offer and say that it’s all a civil matter, some have even sued him civilly,” Brady said in an email. Brady said Mitchell could argue that he meant to do the work but fell on bad times by getting in trouble with the law, getting addicted to drugs, and struggling with the COVID-19

Shane Edward Mitchell could face 10 years in prison. Courtesy | JailTracker

pandemic. Mitchell had a probable cause hearing on Jan. 26. Brady said Mitchell wants a preliminary exam scheduled next week where prosecutors will have to show enough evidence to charge Mitchell. Rod Dunham, Mitchell’s attorney, declined to comment on the case. At the time of publication, Mitchell is expected to remain in Hillsdale County Jail until his sentencing hearing in February. If the judge concludes that there is probable cause Mitchell

committed criminal enterprise, then a trial will be scheduled for the summer, according to Brady. Rod Dunham, Mitchell’s attorney, declined to comment on the case. At the time of publication, Mitchell is expected to remain in Hillsdale County Jail until his sentencing hearing in February. If the judge concludes that there is probable cause Mitchell committed criminal enterprise, then a trial will be scheduled for the summer, according to Brady.

JANUARY

participants. “There was a very rich sense of community,” Richards said. “I think that's a really important part of doing pro-life work is encouraging one another and having that rich community, especially when so many people are opposing you and what you stand for.” St. Anthony’s began putting on the local march for life last year, in the midst of pandemic restrictions. “When COVID hit and the march was basically canceled or went virtual, the president of the local chapter of the right to life movement

had an idea and said, ‘Hey, why don't we just do a local March?’” Moeggenberg said. The 2021 Hillsdale March for Life was successful, especially in terms of student participation, Moeggenberg said, so he said he felt encouraged that it would go well this year. “I wanted to try again because it's good when you have youth down there,” Moeggenberg said.

Local group offers free tax services to residents By Michael Bachmann Assistant Editor

Hillsdale County residents who earn less than $57,000 will be eligible for free tax-return services through a new program that begins on Jan. 31. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program will also serve residents of Jackson and Lenawee counties. Eligible residents have the opportunity to seek assistance in person at the Arbor Church in Spring Arbor or the Jackson Department on Aging. According to MLive. com, residents may also submit their documents at local drop-off sites where volunteers will be working to prepare tax returns. The Hillsdale Community Library will be the drop-off site for Hillsdale County. “The benefit of the program is to help those who are low income to get their taxes done for free,” said VITA director Tami Farnum. “We really try to help the client get the maximum refund possible. We look at all credits that they might qualify for.” Both in-person assistance and drop-off require an appointment, which can be scheduled at 517-247-2099 or online at the Community Action Agency website. “Our appointments do fill up quickly, so you might be placed on a waitlist,” Farnum said. “But we usually update our schedule every two weeks and call people on the waitlist to get them in.” Residents who qualify for assistance must bring their Social Security card, a state-issued photo identification, W-2s, and several other documents to their drop off site or in-

person appointment. Before working with residents, VITA volunteers undergo a vigorous two week training program taught by a Lansing Community College professor and must pass a IRS certification exam. “We don't just throw new volunteers right into it,” Farnum said. “We have great site leaders who help them every step of the way, until they feel comfortable doing it on their own.”

“The benefit of the program is to help those who are low income.” Farnum added that there are also volunteer positions available answering phones and scheduling appointments for those unable to do the two weeks training program. Farnum encouraged all eligible residents to take advantage of the program, since they can receive benefits through Earned Income Tax Credit. “There are some that might not normally file tax returns that might be eligible for the child tax credit,” Farnum said. “With that they could get up to $3,000 per child.” Residents who make more than $57,000 but less than $73,000 a year also have the option to file their own federal and state taxes for free using My Free Taxes website. In person assistance is available at Jackson District Library or at 517-247-2099.

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January 27, 2022 A7

Local police purchased multiple 2022 Ford Explorers. Courtesy | Ford

Hillsdale Brewing helps CAPA host children’s pajama fundraiser By Lauren Scott Circulation Manager

City police to upgrade fleet By Logan Washburn City News Editor The Hillsdale Police Department expects to add two new Ford Explorers to its fleet, according to Hillsdale Police and Fire Chief Scott Hephner. The city has ordered two 2022 Ford Explorers, one for detectives and one for patrolling, Hephner said. The detective unit will be unmarked, while the patrol car will be marked and come with a “police interceptor” package, a model specifically designed for police. The 2022 Ford Explorer comes with a 10-speed transmission and “available intelligent four-wheel drive,” according to Ford. The Hillsdale City Council discussed bids for

the patrol car on Oct. 4, 2021, according to a city council meeting agenda. “The bid vehicle is a replacement vehicle for our detective’s car,” Hephner said. “We have a patrol car

“The city has ordered two 2022 Ford Explorers, one for detectives and one for patrolling.” that’s on order right now.” Hephner expects the patrol car to arrive in the spring of 2022, but said the delivery date was delayed due to supply chain issues. “We have to wait for them to get built, which takes longer than it used

to, and then you’ve got to deal with the microchip issue,” Hephner said. “We’re expecting the one we ordered in October to hopefully be here by spring, but we just don’t have an exact date.” The city initially sought bids on a new unmarked sedan during the summer of 2021 with no success, according to Hephner. “We actually put it out for bid at the end of last summer, and we got zero bids back. We were trying to replace it with a car, and not many people are making cars anymore, so we had to figure something else out,” Hephner said. As of Monday, Hephner said, only one company had submitted a bid for the project. Hephner, however, said he expected more bids

to come in by the deadline. The Hillsdale City Clerk's office stopped accepting bids on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The city prioritizes bids that are local. “The city actually has a purchasing policy that if a local dealer can come within 3% of the lowest bid, we will give strong consideration to a local bidder,” Hephner said. The new cars will replace the city’s current 2010 detective vehicle, along with the city’s oldest patrol car, according to Hephner. The police department replaces its oldest vehicle with a new one every four to five years. Hephner said. “We try to get them replaced before they hit catastrophic failure."

The Hillsdale Brewing Company recently partnered with Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness to collect pajamas for kids with the “Cozy Kids campaign.” Christie Campbell, executive director of CAPA, explained that the event occurs every year. “We collect gently used or new pajamas for kids every year. They are then given out to the community at Project Connect, which is a community event,” Campbell said. Campbell said Hillsdale Brewing reached out to CAPA through the Hillsdale County Community Foundation to see if they could do anything to help this year. Nici Plumb, a waitress at Hillsdale Brewing, said the restaurant serves as a drop-off location for the campaign. “We are very thankful for the help Hillsdale Brewing has given us to help get more pajamas for the kids in the community,” Campbell said. Campbell said this year’s event would look different

since Project Connect has been canceled due to the pandemic. They are working on another option to get pajamas out to children in the community, she said. Campbell said support from the community has been encouraging. “I have not counted how many pajamas we have received this year so far, but our community is amazing, and we couldn't do this program without them,” Campbell said. Campbell said CAPA is a non-profit dedicated to fighting child abuse and neglect in the Hillsdale community. CAPA has multiple programs geared toward helping children. “We have many programs such as safe sleep, Stewards of Children, Triple P (Positive Parenting Program), Baby Think It Over, Real Caregiver’s Rock, and our Cozy Kids campaign,” she said. Campbell said those interested in donating could drop off donations for the Cozy Kids Campaign into a tote inside the door of CAPA’s office, located at 20 Care Drive, Suite C in Hillsdale.

The Sauk Theatre wins 17 BroadwayWorld awards By Olivia Hajicek Collegian Reporter The Sauk, a community theater in Jonesville, took home 17 of the 25 BroadwayWorld 2021 Detroit Awards, including Best Streaming Production, Best Play, and Best Musical. The BroadwayWorld Regional Awards are “the largest fan-based theater awards,” BroadwayWorld said in an email. The Detroit Awards cover local theater productions in Michigan. The Sauk won four BroadwayWorld awards in previous years, according to Trinity Bird, executive director at The Sauk, but public support this year was exceptional. “To know that the public is the ones who not only nominated us but then went back and voted—it’s really, honestly pretty overwhelming the support we received,” Bird said. COVID-19 restrictions are still affecting the theater, but public support is significant, according to Bird. “It was during a rather

challenging year with seating capacity limits, and then the first half of the year the actors had to wear face shields when they were performing,” Bird said, “There were a lot of things we had to do to make sure it happened, and knowing we had the support from the community was quite special.” One of The Sauk’s awardwinning productions, “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,” began with a shutdown setback because of COVID-19. “Originally before COVID we were going to do ‘Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,’ the play, and then when COVID shut us all down, we canceled that and found a smaller show,” Bird said. Bird said when the show was canceled, they discovered the radio version of “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.” “It’s based on the story of a young girl who wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Sun asking if there really was a Santa Claus,” Bird said. “The reporter lost his wife and daughter to illness the year before, so the editor of the paper gave him the task of responding.”

Bird said the actors performed from their homes, while the stream was controlled and broadcast live from the theater. One of the actors, Tiffany Thatcher, won the award for Best Supporting Performer In A Streaming Play. “This was amazing; just to be nominated was such an honor,” Thatcher said. “I was nominated in two separate categories, and to

card. Jones allegedly committed credit card fraud while in jail on Jan. 16, according to JailTracker. Jones was arrested for credit card fraud on Jan. 20, according to the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office. Jones’s bond is set at $5,000, the Hillsdale County Sheriff’s Office said in a report. Kimm Burger, Jones’ defense attorney, said Jones is awaiting multiple trials in

addition to the new charge. “He does have a new charge pending for illegal use of a transaction device which is a felony carrying a possible penalty of up to four years in prison,” Burger said. “He has four additional files that are waiting for trial.” Jones has four additional charges against him for which he is awaiting separate trials. Jones was charged with one count of fleeing and eluding in a

“Peter and the Starcatcher,” the 2021 BroadwayWorld winner for Best Musical. Courtesy | Trinity Trinity Bird

have something that you love to do be acknowledged and respected is insane. It just touched my heart and really validated all that I do, and it makes me happy that doing what I love makes other people happy.” The production won three other awards, including Best Streaming Play. The Sauk’s production of “Peter and the Starcatcher,” a prequel to “Peter Pan,” won

five awards, the most of any show nominated. Its awards included Best Production of the Year (In-Person) and Best Musical. Another Sauk production, “Approaching Zanizibar,” won four awards, including Best Play. “‘Approaching Zanzibar’ is a play about a family’s crosscountry trip to visit a dying relative,” Bird said, “and each scene of the play is a different

location on their trip as they travel.” Bird said the awards for “Approaching Zanzibar” are special for him. “It is a play that I have wanted to direct for 20 years, and we finally did it,” Bird said. “It’s a very challenging, difficult play, but people who came to see it were very intrigued by it and obviously liked it enough that they went and voted for it, so that was pretty special.” Thatcher played the mom in “Approaching Zanzibar” and will be performing in “Tony N' Tina’s Wedding,” which received the award for Most Anticipated Upcoming Production Of A Play. “Tony N’ Tina’s Wedding,” is an immersive experience for the audience who are the guests at a wedding ceremony and reception, Bird said. Johnny T’s in Hillsdale will host the event, featuring dinner cake, champagne, and dancing. “It’s very fun, it’s very crazy, and I’m really excited to finally do it,” Bird said.

Hit-and-run suspect charged with credit card fraud in jail By Lauren Scott Circulation Manager The suspect in a fatal hit-and-run is facing a new charge for credit card fraud. Dylan Lee Jones, 24, faces multiple charges in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that occured in August 2021. Since his arrest in September, Jones has been charged with two counts of possession of methamphetamine, and most recently, illegal use of a credit

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stolen motor vehicle, two counts of possession of methamphetamines, and one count of reckless driving.

“Jones allegedly committed credit card fraud while in jail.” Jones has a probable cause conference for this charge scheduled on Feb. 2, at 9:30

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in the circuit court. “This is an informal way to try to resolve the case,” Burger said. Burger described where this case is headed. “If it does not resolve, then it will be set for a preliminary exam wherein the prosecutor has to show that probable cause exists that a crime was committed and probable cause exists to show he did the crime,” Burger said.

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Jones is a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run that occured on Aug. 21, 2021, killing 56-year-old Kevin Brewer and his dog. Brewer was walking near Moore Road and Wildlife Drive when he was struck by a white Chevy Malibu at 8:30 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Hillsdale City Police reports.

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A8 January 27, 2022

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Sports Junior Sydney Mills is averaging a double double for her second straight season. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi

Women's Basketball

Chargers hold fourth G-MAC spot despite Kentucky Wesleyan loss By Claire Guadet Social Media Manager The Hillsdale College women’s basketball team lost its only game this week after Trevecca Nazarene University postponed at the last minute due to complications with Covid-19. The Chargers have held their ranking in the G-Mac this week, remaining in fourth place. The Trevecca Nazarene women’s team was unable to travel, leaving the Chargers warmed up for a game that would not happen. “It was due to COVID,” Assistant Coach Brianna Brennan said. “They were unable to play, they didn't even come up here. There’s not much teams can really do with difficult situations like this. We were ready for them, and we will be next time too.” Two days later, the Chargers lost a home game to the Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers 78-57. “We had some good practices and a little extra time to prepare,” Brennan said. “We thought we were pretty ready to go, but they showed up and were ready to play. They have a very distinct style of play that they brought out in that game. It's very fast, very in your face.” Senior guard Grace Touchette led the Chargers in scoring for the game with 13 points, and was followed by junior forward Sydney Mills with 10 points and nine rebounds. “Kentucky Wesleyan is a very fast, high pressure team, they cause a lot of problems

Brown from A10 According to Hofmeister, Brown is a very strong, determined, dedicated, and fearless individual. “She has the kind of mindset that she can overcome anything,” Hofmeister said. According to Brown, she started shooting 10 years ago when she was in fifth grade. “I started with American Trap and then progressed to American Skeet in sporting clays,” Brown said. "I joined Hilldale’s team and started shooting doubles skeet, doubles trap, and super sporting as well.” Brown’s biggest inspirations include Todd Bender, winner of 24 NSSA World Championships. “Scott Vivix is my coach back home who continued to coach me after high school,” Brown said. "Dale Royer and Caitlin Connor are both coaches here at Hillsdale. They are current and former members of US national teams. They are the ones who really told me that I was good enough to continue shooting at this level and that I would be good enough to make the national team.” Faith Pendergrass, Brown’s best friend from home, always encouraged her to shoot bunker. “Faith started shooting the year before I did,” Brown said. “We became friends a

year after I started shooting. She picked up bunker when we were both a lot younger. Faith and her dad are the ones who have always insisted I would be good at shooting bunker and wanted me to pick it up a long time ago.” According to Brown, shooting has helped develop her character. “I was fairly shy and reserved as a younger kid,” Brown said. “When I got into shooting, it helped me learn to make connections with other people. It helped me become more outgoing.” Brown said she wants younger students who shoot to know that they can continue to shoot in college and beyond. “I think the one thing that's understated about shooting in general is that people don't know it exists," Brown said. "People don't know it's an Olympic sport or that you can do it in college. If I had known when I was younger that shooting sports are something I can do in college and I could keep doing as a career, that probably would have encouraged me to work for it a lot harder. I didn't know I could get a scholarship for shooting in college until I was a sophomore or junior in high school. I think that's why it becomes just a hobby for a lot of kids. They prioritize other things because they don't think they can continue to compete in shooting sports after high school.”

Frank Muddy Waters Stadium during a night game. Courtesy | Pintrest

Hillsdale from A10 They create an intimate experience. You can walk right by the endzone to grab a half time snack. At basketball games fans can practically walk up to Coach Tharp on the sidelines and tell him what play to call. Fans are in on the action, even if they choose to sit in the farthest seat possible in any of the arenas. And better yet, when the entire football team comes on a Friday night to cheer on the volleyball team, they take up half of Dawn Tibbetts Potter Arena, creating an unmatched home

court advantage. It is obvious you’re going to get better quality basketball and softball at U of M, but that doesn’t mean Hillsdale games aren’t as entertaining. Because everyone knows that being at a small school like Hillsdale means everyone knows everyone. Charger athletes aren’t some strangers you pass once in your four years on the way to class. They are people you know, making games something you truly want to invest in. One of my best friends is Karoline Shelton, an AllAmerican on the volleyball team and my first guy friend on campus was basketball superstar Pat Cartier. Last semester I walked from class

defensively for a lot of teams in the league, including us,” Mills said. “For us, our big thing was being able to contain their drives.” Mills said that although the Chargers had a plan ready, their defensive scheme did not work out as well as they had hoped. “In the first half, we didn’t really come out with a great start,” Mills said. “As the first half went on, we didn’t have the best defensive game that we could have had. As we went into the second half, I think we really cleaned up our defensive game. But, at that point, we just weren’t really shooting well from the three-point line, which is usually one of our strengths.” Even after the game, the Chargers still lead the G-MAC in three pointers made per game with more than nine. The team was held to just five made threes, shooting below 20% from outside. They also hold the conference lead in opponent three-point percentage, holding teams below 27% from three. The Panthers made almost 35% of their shots from deep. Junior forward Maverick Delp agreed that the loss was a result of both defensive and offensive efforts. “We’re usually a really strong shooting team,” Delp said. “When we aren’t shooting so well, our defense kind of contains assets to make up for that. So, this time, since our defense didn’t really contain, and our shooting wasn’t great, we

just kind of got ourselves in a hole.” Although the team did not perform as they had planned, there were still Chargers who played a good game. “I thought Dani Salenbien had a really good game,” Delp said. “She made a couple of tough plays, drew a couple of fouls on one of their good players. I thought she had some really good hustle plays and played a super tough game.” Sophomore guard Dani Salenbien posted four points, three rebounds, and two assists, shooting 50% from the field. The Chargers sit at 10-7 with a 7-4 conference record, good for fourth in the G-MAC. The only teams ahead of them are Kentucky Wesleyan (9-3 G-MAC), Walsh College (9-2), and Ashland University (10-0). The team feels hopeful going into their next game against Ohio Dominican University, having already beaten them 78-63 earlier this year. “We know this team and we know what they're trying to do, so right now we’re just tweaking little things and getting ready for them,” Brennan said. “ODU is a great team and on any given night anyone can beat anybody else. We just have to be ready at any time to secure a win.” The Chargers play Ohio Dominican Thursday, Jan. 27 at 5:30, and then host the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets Saturday, Sat. 29 at 1:00.

The University of Michigan's Big House seats 109,901. Courtesy | MLive

to class with linebacker Kyle Kudla, and sat next to sharp shooter Grace Touchette in physics. This isn’t just an occurrence for me, many others on campus know the athletes, which makes games much easier to invest in. You know the players competing personally. How many people can say they know any of the athletes at U of M? They are basically celebrities there. Game day at U of M is a holiday. The whole city might as well be at the game. And while games might be just half full at any Hillsdale sporting event, that doesn’t mean they aren’t less of a holiday. They can be anything the fan wants them to be:

a chance to get rowdy for your friends competing, or a simple way to relax and enjoy your Saturday. And athletes here aren’t glorified or celebrated the way they are at big D1 schools — can’t we all be thankful for that? My fellow editors at the Collegian joke about me being a jock, but when it comes down to it, what does that really matter? I could be biased because I’m an athlete at Hillsdale. I will tip my hat to the very talented athletes at U of M for all they’ve accomplished, but for me, it’ll forever be Chargers by a million.

A9 January 27, 2022

Charger Reaction

Sports

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Hillsdale swimmers speak out on transgender controversy By Claire Gaudet Social Media Manager

Hillsdale swimmers say they are worried that athletes who compete as transitioned females will take over the recruitment and scoring systems of college swimming. Lia Thomas, who competed as a male swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania, transitioned to female, joined the women’s team at Penn, and now has broken both university and national records this season. “She’s taking away relay spots from biological females,” sophomore freestyler Caroline Holmes said. “If I was her teammate, I would be like ‘Well, what's the point in me competing?’” The NCAA requires athletes born as biological men to receive hormone therapy for a year before they can compete as women, and Thomas began therapy in 2019. Many athletes, however, argue that the effects of testosterone suppressants would not negate her nearly 20 years of male development.

Swimming From A10 “Our whole team was back together. Some of us, including me, were gone for COVID last week when we narrowly beat Saginaw Valley," sophomore Caroline Holmes said. "So it was nice to have a full team again." Though the point margins were not quite as tight as last week’s 114-113 win, the meet was close, especially considering both Davenport and Calvin had divers in the rotation, which earned them 32 points each. “We had a number of races where we just won by a couple hundreds of seconds or we just won by a touch, or we came from behind,” Kirner said. “And I mean, it's just impressive. It's the true definition of what a competitor should be. So I'm just so happy and thrilled with their response to things and their ability to go into it and understand just what it takes to compete.” Notable wins came from junior Leah Tunney who finished the 200 yard freestyle in 1:55.79. She just out-touched the second place finisher who swam a 1:55.92. Freshman Megan Clifford came third (1:58.86) and sophomore Sarah Pataniczek came fifth (2:00.27). Freshmen Joanna Burnham and Emma Dickhudt came two and four in the 200 yard individual medley at 2:14.04 and 2:17.25 respectively. Clifford won the 100 yard butterfly with a 59.03, again just hundreths of a second faster than the second place finisher. Pataniczek finished third with 1:01.17 and senior

The NCAA has said it will allow the governing bodies of each individual sport to set their own requirements beginning in 2022-23. For the time being, however, Thomas is still able to swim in the women’s category. “Other transgender athletes have spoken out about this,” junior freestyler Leah Tunney said. “From their experience, they didn’t start to feel a huge difference in their testosterone levels until 36 months. So, these other athletes are saying it's way too soon.” Thomas’s physical prowess can still be seen in her physical appearance despite her years on hormone blockers. “Its super interesting because when transgender atheletes became a huge thing it was initially with a bodybuilder and a track runner who were transgendered women,” Tunney said. “I remembered talking to my swimmer friends and we didn't ever think it would be an issue for swim because it's such an exposing sport as far as uniforms go. I was honestly shocked when the story came out.”

Several athletes have spoken out against Thomas’s successes in the female category. In an interview on Christiane Amanpour’s podcast, Micheal Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, said that “we all should feel comfortable with who we are, but I think sports should be played on an even playing field." Phelp’s comments were met with backlash from critics who say he was born with a biological advantage as well. According to Scientific American, his lung capacity is two times greater than the average person. Phelps isn’t the only Olympian who has criticized Thomas’s participation in women’s sports. In an interview with Newsmax last Friday, Olympic gold-medalist Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, said she also disagreed with the NCAA’s rules, saying both its and Thomas’s choices come without “responsibility and some integrity.” Others have supported Thomas as a female swimmer. The Ivy League, Penn’s athlet-

Stefanie Walker finished sixth at 1:02.36. Hillsdale came first and second in the 100 yard freestyle, with junior Marie Taylor in first (53.65) and sophomore Cecilia Guadalupi (54.34) in second. Holmes won the 100 yard backstroke with a 1:00.34 even after missing the last meet and multiple days of practice due to contracting COVID-19. The second place finisher swam a 1:00.40. “I was proud of that, I fought for that finish,” Holmes said. “I'm definitely feeling the remnants of not being in the water for a week now, but I think I was just trying to block it out in the race.” Tunney also topped the 500 yard freestyle with a 5:12.57. Junior Sarah Clark and sophomore Amy Mills finished fifth (5:26.43) and sixth (5:30.33). In the 100 yard breaststroke, Hillsdale swimmers came fourth, fifth, and seventh. Dickhudt swam a 1:10.33, Burnham a 1:10.78, and junior Hannah Douthitt a 1:12.29. The Chargers closed out the meet with a win in the 200 yard freestyle relay. The team was composed of Guadalupi, junior Sydney Slepian, Tunney, and Taylor. Kirner said he had never coached an undefeated season before last year in over thirty years of coaching college swimming. “Being undefeated is never a distinct goal that we’re constantly striving for during the season,” Slepian said. “We take each win as it comes as a product of our hard work in and out of the pool and proof of our overall dedication to the sport.”

“It’s been an incredible season and we hope we can cap it off with an incredible conference meet and get some kids to qualify for NCAAs,” Kirner said. The Chargers will swim at an invitational meet at Butler University on Sunday, Jan. 30. “We’ll get to compete against a lot of different teams at a lot of different competition levels,” Holmes said. “A lot of people going to this will be fierce competitors and will just push us. And this is our one final meet before conference, so this is the time to finalize your race plan.” Kirner said the meet will give them a good opportunity to prepare for conference. “We’re really using this meet as an important opportunity to get those times and to practice against good competition,” Kirner said. “So it's to practice our mindset and our mental plan, how we get prepared on deck for races and then just to practice some race plans.” Kirner said he feels confident in how well the team will do at conference. “We're in a really fortunate situation. The Omicron wave that we have going on has really closed off a lot of meets and we have not had to interrupt our schedule for anything,” Kirner said. “So while we're going to go in pretty crisp and well prepared, the other teams have stagnated a little bit. Now again, they're going to be hungry to compete when they get to the championship.” The G-MAC and Mountain West conference meet begins on Feb. 16 and will run through Feb. 19 as a conclusion to the regular season.

ic conference, proclaimed in a statement its “unwavering commitment to providing an inclusive environment for all student-athletes while condemning transphobia and discrimination in any form.” Swimmers at Hillsdale worry that transgender athletes will undermine Title IX, a federal civil-rights law that seeks to provide equal opportunities for female athletes. “Whenever you allow men who have transitioned to women to compete with women, I don't think that's in line with what Title IX has fought to support or protect,” Holmes said. “Lia choosing to be transgender isn’t an issue, you’re free to do what you want to do. However, when you choose to compete against women and have this huge biological advantage, that is where the problem lies.” Thomas’s eligibility has Hillsdale swimmers questioning what kind of athletes will be recruited by D1 schools. “Especially with schools that are on Title IX and have a lot of scholarship money, D1 specifically, why are they

going to be recruiting biologically females who will be losing when they can just recruit people that identify as female but are biologically male who can simply demolish the competition?” sophomore Phoebe Johnston said, who swims both butterfly and IM. Hillsdale swimmers have their own ideas on the future of swimming, and hope that the NCAA will continue making amendments to their rulings. “As far as letting transgnder people compete, I would make a separate category for them,” Johnston said. “With swimming, especially at the collegiate level, they score men and women differently. They’re on different teams, so it’s still the university's swimming and diving, but it’s always the men’s team and the women’s team. We’re not scored together, we do not race together.” Other swimmers agree with this, advocating for distinction rather than descrimination. “It upsets the level playing field everyone relies on in athletics,” Tunney said. “I’m

actually surprised that it's even really an issue. A transgender athelete shouldn’t be stopped from competing altogether, they should just be in the level that doesn’t give them this huge competitive edge. I think a good solution would be opening a transgender male or female category.” Other students want politics removed from the issue, and instead prioritizing consideration for the female athletes who have dedicated their lives to their sport. “I’m not here to prevent anyone from competing,” Holmes said. “I’m a lover and fan of the sport, the last thing I would want would be for people to be turned away from the sport. But the purpose of sports, and women's swimming, is not to promote a political agenda, it’s to encourage success. Whenever you complicate the situation, like by not separating men and women, the purpose of the sport is undermined.”

Joe Reuter averaged 13.5 points per game this week. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi

Basketball From A10 “It helps when you shoot 11-of-13 on two-point field goals in the first half and I think that really allowed us to jump out and get a big lead,” Reuter said. “It was our consistency that allowed us to be level-headed and stay focused and we knew they were going to come back and make a push, we were able to weather the storm really well.” The storm came in the form of a long, 26-13 run from the Panthers as they slowly crawled their way back into the game, cutting the Chargers’ lead to just seven. “I thought we played really well for about 25 minutes of that game, the last six or seven minutes of the game when they were getting down hill on us, that was my fault,” Head Coach John Tharp said.

“We changed our defense up a little bit, wanted to protect the three-point line, they just attacked the rim on us, and we didn’t think the two-point shots were going to beat us, because of that we struggled a little bit, but that was totally on me.” Put on the free-throw line in the closing seconds, Goessler knocked down four straight free throws to put the Panthers away. “Down the stretch guys like Goessler were able to knock down their free-throws, it just adds to the confidence and a level of maturity to this team,” Reuter said. After having gone 2-3 in their previous five games at home, Cartier said the team was happy to string a couple of home wins together. “That’s something we take a lot of pride in so I was really happy we were able to come out with wins and we had pretty good crowds for both

games, which was awesome to have support,” Cartier said. “It was really cool to bring home a couple of wins in front of the home crowd for sure.” The team will head to Ohio Dominican University for a game against the Panthers, who they beat at home earlier this year, on Thursday, followed by a home stand against the Cedarville University Yellow Jackets. “Ohio Dominican creates problems for us because of how many ball screens they set and it’s something where you have to be really good on the ball and controlling the basketball, they’re talented that way,” Tharp said. “Cedarville, talent wise, is probably one of the most talented teams in our league with a bunch of guys individually that can make plays, they’re long, they’re athletic, and they move the ball pretty well, they’re just very good.”

CHARGER CHATTER Gerry Jones Jr.

If you could What is one get famous song that could be the from any nonsoundtrack to sport related talent, what your life? would you want it to be?

Gerry Jones Jr., is a junior applied mathematics major on the golf team from Suffolk, VA. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

That’s hard, since it would literally define my life. Maybe because it’s one of my favorite movies, I’d choose the theme from “Interstellar.” It has the clock ticking in the background, so it’d be almost like a reminder of how your life is going by.

Being a world-class singer would be cool. I listen to pretty much everything, but I’d probably go for something like hip-hop. Something trendy.

Who is the greatest golfer ever?

Do you have a go-to party trick?

Tiger Woods. His resume is obviously impressive, not just in how much he’s won, but also in how he’s been able to come back from his injuries and surgeries. He’s come back to win a major, when no one was expecting it. I think his determination to not give up makes him one of the greatest athletes ever.

I don’t know if this counts as a party trick, but I can solve a Rubik's Cube in under 20 seconds. It’s a small thing which I took up a few years ago, which is now kind of a hobby.

Compiled by Tess Owen

A10 January 27, 2022

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The Chargers have won their last three games by an average of almost 17 points. Courtesy | Anthony Lupi

Charger Sports

Men's Basketball

Chargers grab pair of home wins By Christian Peck-Dimit Sports Editor

The Hillsdale College men’s basketball team picked up a pair of home wins against the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans and the Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers, stretching its win streak to three games and moving within a half game of first place in the G-MAC. The team’s record improved to 13-4 overall and 8-3 in the G-MAC, behind only

Malone University and Walsh College, who both hold 8-2 in-conference records. “I think throughout the whole weekend we had a plethora of guys who stepped up and contributed so that was really awesome to see,” junior forward Patrick Cartier said. “We just played for each other, I thought it was a really solid couple of games.” The team’s weekend started with a 67-51 win over Trevecca. The Chargers held their opponent to under 40%

shooting from the field and under 24% from three with just 10 team assists. “Our whole year we’ve had really good scouting, the coaches have really worked hard, as far as telling us tendencies with guys like what hand they like to go to or what moves they like to do, I think that’s been a huge part of our defense this year,” Cartier said. “I say this to our guys a lot, when we’re all locked in and playing together, five guys guarding the

ball and one person at a time, I think we’re really hard to score on and tough to beat.” Cartier dropped a gamehigh 19 points, with freshman guard Joe Reuter not far behind with 17 points off the bench, knocking down three threes. Both out-scored any single Trevecca player. Reuter has emerged as the team’s highest bench scorer and shoots a team-best 44% from three. “It’s definitely much more of a mental game in high

Ida Brown hopes to compete in the 2024 Olypmics. Courtesy | Ida Brown

school, but I think one of the biggest adjustments that I’ve needed to make is constantly knowing sets, constantly knowing plays, knowing defensive schemes and knowing personnel, especially on defense,” Reuter said. “It’s really nice knowing that I’ve been able to see the progress being made, the game is becoming a lot slower now and easier to read.” The Chargers then took on Kentucky, using a full team effort to come away with a

77-70 win. Cartier led the way again, with game highs in points and rebounds, with 20 and eight respectively. Four other Chargers had double-figure scoring nights, led by senior forward Austen Yarian with 13 points to go along with six rebounds and a game-high five assists. Reuter and junior guards Kyle Goessler and Jack Gohlke each added 10.

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Sports Opinion

Hillsdale sports over U of M By Reagan Gensiejewski Design Editor Standing in the August heat outside Frank Muddy Waters Stadium four years ago my friends and I, all players on the softball team, proudly sported our black Otter Army t-shirts. The crowd of students surrounding us edged closer to entering into the first football game of the season. We made our way to the stands, buzzing with excitement. The team ran out in its crisp white and royal blue uniforms as a banner waved in the air, proclaiming: Charger Football: Priceless. This game was during my freshman year and I still remember every detail. There was a huge thunderstorm that temporarily paused the game, so I played card games in MacIntyre Residence until it resumed. When it finally did, I rushed the home bleachers, cheering as the Chargers secured a win against Mercy-

Shotgun

Brown makes bunker shooting national team

By Olivia Pero Collegian Freelancer

Junior Ida Brown, a member of the Hillsdale College shotgun team, made the U.S.A. Women’s National Team for International Trap this year. She ranked fourth on the team after learning how to shoot bunker less than a year ago. A round of bunker involves shooting five targets from five different positions. “Spring selections in Tucson was to select the US National Team to travel to World Cups,” Brown said. “They took the top six women and top six men from both trap and skeet for the team. I made the top six women so I'm on the US National Team to travel to World Cups

between now and nationals in July.” According to Head Coach Jordan Hintz, a lot of people in the international circle realized that Ida has talent. “I certainly was on the same page as them,” Hintz said. “Bunker is a very difficult game to just pick up and she started shooting really well right away in it. I'm not surprised by the success that Ida has been having. If anything, I would say that her success has happened sooner than I would have imagined.” Brown has quickly grown in her form and work ethic, according to Hintz. “Ida has learned a lot from the Olympic coaches and Olympic team members since she's been shooting the International Trap,” Brown

said. I always knew that the possibility for Ida to excel in shooting was there.” Junior Alecca Hofmeister, said that Brown and her were in the same hall freshman year and became close friends. According to Hofmeister, Brown will be traveling to different countries to compete with the national team. “One of Ida’s first competitions for bunker was in St. Louis in May last year,” Hofmeister said. “Ida was surprised by how well she did because it was a completely new discipline for her. People always say that you have to grow up shooting bunker because it's more challenging. Ida was surprisingly really good at bunker. Bunker is one of the international

disciplines for shooting and sporting clays is not, which is why Ida wanted to see if she could do well in bunker.” Hofmeister said Brown competes in every competition she can. “This past summer, Ida entered a lot of competitions independently,” Hofmeister said. “I saw Ida shoot in California when I was visiting her. She went as an individual to get more practice, get her name out there more, and see how she placed. In August, I watched Ida at a shoot in Wisconsin where she did really well.”

See Brown A8

Hurst University. Charger football is priceless, in fact all Charger sports are. I would take a Hillsdale College sporting event over a University of Michigan sporting event every day of the week. It would be easy to say that Division I sporting events don’t appeal to me because I hate crowds or because I am more of a homebody, but that would be a lie. I’m as extroverted as they come and that is the reason I am obsessed with Hillsdale sports. Games are intimate and personal, a better social environment than any U of M game can offer. It begins with the location of the competition at Hillsdale. Every stadium or field on campus perfectly fits the character of the school: simple and traditional.

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Swimming

Swim team stays undefeated, named Scholar All-America By Maddy Welsh Assistant Editor

The Hillsdale College swim team pulled out a win at its last tri-meet of the 2021-2022 season, making the team officially undefeated for the second year in a row, according to Head Coach Kurt Kirner. The meet on Jan. 21 saw Hillsdale race Davenport College and Calvin University with final scores of 125-109 and 127-104 respectively. This week, the Chargers swim team was also named the Scholar All America Team for the 15th year in a row by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America. Teams who are awarded this distinction must have a teamwide GPA of 3.0 or higher.

The team boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.43. “I’m so proud of our team,” sophomore Caroline Holmes said. “The curriculum at this school and the practices that we do are both pretty challenging, and it’s so awesome that our team can excel in both areas.” “Whether we've had injuries, we have not been at our best at so many of these meets,” Kirner said. “But then again, other teams have their issues too. It's just about everybody who is on deck for us being able to step up and fulfill a role in race.” The whole Charger team got a chance to compete this week.

See Swimming A9

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January 27, 2022 B1

C U L T U R E

Stay stylish without frostbite

Winter fashion do’s and don’ts: How to dress to impress even in the snow

A purse is a perfect accessory to up an outfit. Evalyn Homoelle | Collegian

By Evalyn Homoelle Social media manager The wind howls as you open the student union doors and attempt a mad dash to the library. Your eyes tear up as the bitter cold and freezing rain nip at your face. It’s January. In south-central Michigan. In a Polar vortex. With temperatures dipping and seasonal depression reaching an all-semester high, you might be tempted to forgo putting any effort into fashion and succumb to wearing layers of leggings and a fluffy sherpa to class every day, or for the guys, your favorite hoodie and flannel combo. Thankfully, you don’t have to sacrifice fashion on the frozen altar. Follow these fashion tips to stay both warm and stylish this winter. Love the layers With temperatures reaching the single digits, it’s important to stay as warm as

Accessorize While many fashionistas mourn the winter season and the inevitable necessity of hiding away their fabulous outfits

K N I O R

possible on your way to class. If you know you’ll be outside a lot on a certain day, invest in a pair of thermals to wear under your jeans and sweaters. They are structured to keep you toasty without making your outfit look bulky or frumpy. In addition to these underyour-clothes layers, have fun experimenting with layering visible pieces to create contrast and visual interest. Play around with different colors, prints, textures, and lengths: start with a simple long-sleeve tee, turtleneck, or light sweater, add a sweater vest, jean jacket, or blazer, and top it off with your go-to outerwear. Make sure that your outfit is well-balanced—if you have heavy layering on top, opt for tighter pants to keep your outfit looking uniform and streamlined.

Layers are the best way to stay warm in the winter. Evalyn Homoelle | Collegian

There are dozens of ways to tie a scarf. Evalyn Homoelle | Collegian

under puffy parkas, winter accessories provide a creative outlet to express your fashion sense. They’re great at keeping you warm, too. Hats: Beanies are a classic go-to that will probably never go out of style. Ribbed-knit, cable-knit, slouchy, pompom…the options are endless. But if you need a simple place to start, check out Carhartt’s beanies that are all the rage this season. Feeling adventurous? Embrace your individuality and unique style and rock a beret, fedora, or faux-fur bucket hat. Mom was right, it’s important to cover your head and ears when it’s snowing, but use your headwear as a chance to express your fabulous fashion. Gloves: Once you feel how hard it is to write notes or send a quick text with stiff, frozen hands, you’ll quickly realize how important it is to have a trusty pair of gloves. Feeling cutesy? Fuzzy mittens are for you. An avid texter? Sleek touch-screen gloves will

ty pieces that will build your professional wardrobe in years to come. One of the pieces that will heighten your style and add variety to your outerwear is a wool dress coat. An excellent dress coat might cost upwards of $100, but this price reflects the coat’s quality and timelessness. If you just want a peacoat to wear for your college years, check out Old Navy and Gap for short and fulllength coats starting at around $40. For starters, stick with a neutral color, such as black, gray, or camel. If you’re looking to invest in another dress coat, consider varying your collection with fun patterns such as animal print, plaid, or herringbone, or statement colors such as forest green, lilac, pale blue, or magenta. Side note: Zip up your coat when you go outside. Just do it. As much as we love the “I’m tougher than the weather” vibe, everyone is too focused on getting inside as quickly as possible to notice your outfit aesthetic in the snow.

E WEE

RASPBERRY MOCHA LATTE (HOT) By Tracy Wilson Features Editor I get this drink all the time, and I will probably continue to get it multiple times a week until I run out of Charger Change. The sweet, tangy Raspberry flavor perfectly offsets the slight bitterness of the Mocha. It can be nice to have a fruit-flavored drink in the winter months, when drinks usually feature spices and lots of cream. At the same time, it isn’t fruity to the point where it’s out of place.

Invest in a wool dress coat College is a great time to start investing in high quali-

Color coordination Nothing says polished and professional like a monochrome outfit. Even if you don’t feel put together, you’ll certainly look it! Stick with combining neutrals of the same shade and add pops of an accent color through footwear, hair accessories, or jewelry for visual interest. Toward the end of February, start to incorporate pastels and subtle prints into your wardrobe as you anticipate the lovely spring weather and sunshine. Strength rejoices in the challenge, as does the fashionista in overcoming Michigan’s best attempts to keep them indoors in a cozy sweatsuit. Best of luck as you enter this wintry wonderland, determined to let your true fashion sense shine. And one final note: please, don’t wear shorts or sandals outside until May—all of Hillsdale will thank you.

Collegian Critique

The Lumineers re-emerge with stripped-down, 30-minute album By Hannah Cote Culture Editor

suit all your needs. Headed off to an interview or fancy event? Chic leather gloves are the way to go. Scarves: One of the best ways to literally tie your accessories together and finish your outerwear ensemble with a bang is to find a scarf that matches or coordinates with your hat and gloves. Ladies, we all know you have a pin on Pinterest of “150 Ways to Tie a Scarf,” but if you don’t own one, now is a perfect time to invest in one. Save the plaid scarves for late fall and the holiday season and opt for a solid knitted, flannel, or merino wool scarf that will coordinate with your solid and patterned winter coats and jackets. Men, don’t be afraid of this tip. You, too, can embrace the sheer elegance and professionalism of a simple scarf paired with a blazer or dress coat—Sherlock, is that you?

Though “BRIGHTSIDE” features only nine songs and 30 minutes of music, this short album feels more like a cup of tea rather than a shot of espresso. The new work doesn’t measure up to The Lumineers’ previous hit albums, such as “Cleopatra” and “III” – but it was never meant to outshine them. The Lumineers’ are not concerned with trending tracks and topping charts. Instead, they’ve given their audience music curated just for them. Throughout all their discography, The Lumineers’ remains raw, clear, and intentional. Each song on “BRIGHTSIDE” is crafted with precise lyrics, soft sounds, and deliberate vocals. Though some may argue that “BRIGHTSIDE” isn’t as immersive as their 13-track “III,” it’s immersive in an entirely different way. “BRIGHTSIDE” sounds as if we’re sitting in a living room with Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, the founding members of the band. “A.M. RADIO,” the second track on the album, almost feels like a live cover – but that’s just what The Lumi-

neers’ do. They’re storytellers, singing for us and with us. These songs aren’t intended to be one-hit wonders. In “BIG SHOT,” The Lumineers’ confirm this. Schultz sings out “And you wanna be a big shot / You wanna be the big man.” Apparently he doesn’t want to be the big shot, he just wants to keep singing. What truly stands out in “BRIGHTSIDE” is The Lumineers’ presence in each song – namely, that their personality and voice isn’t lost in the lyrics or rock beats. “ROLLERCOASTER” opens with a smooth piano melody. As Schultz sings out “Sittin’ on a rollercoaster / Holdin’ on for dear life,” his gentle presence forms a sense of irony. Though he’s holding on for dear life, the gentle putz of the piano, slow guitar strums, and clear vocals keep the listener grounded. “REMINGTON” is arguably the only song that strays away from their style, with an opening rock beat and synthesizer. Still, the echoey vocals take us back to the days of “Cleopatra” and “Ophelia.” Though this stripped down folk-rock band didn’t try to make a “big shot” album, what matters is that they’re staying true to what they know.

The Lumineers’ new “BRIGHTSIDE” album cover. Courtesy | Twitter

C U L T U R E B2 January 27, 2022

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

In brief: Faculty members to collaborate with guest organist in upcoming recital

By Nathan Stanish Collegian Freelancer This Friday at 8 p.m. Christ Chapel will be hosting a crossover of musical instruments and styles, featuring Hillsdale faculty members Brad Blackham, Chris McCourry, Emily Douglass, and guest musician Edward Maki-Schramm. Brad Blackham, director of keyboard studies, will be playing piano in the recital. Blackham said he loves the

opportunities he has at Hillsdale to perform with other musicians. “I’m just very happy and very lucky to have a career like I do here at Hillsdale that allows me to both teach and perform, and the more I can perform with our talented music faculty and the guest artists we bring in the better,” Blackham said. Chris McCourry, director of jazz ensembles, will be performing trumpet in

the recital. Blackham and McCourry have been collaborating in recitals since 2005, when Blackham first joined the Hillsdale faculty. McCourry will be playing “Pictures at an Exhibition” by Modest Mussorgsky. Blackham described “Pictures at an Exhibition” as a “phenomenal piece” and one he hasn’t yet experienced with organ and trumpet. Emily Douglass, artist-teacher of music, joins the

ensemble with her voice. She will be singing a piece with McCourry entitled “Let the Bright Seraphim,” a trumpet and voice piece composed by Handel and very popular in the Baroque era, Douglass said. This is not the first time Douglass has collaborated at the college, she said, as just last November she joined Blackham as a fellow soloist in the orchestra concert. Edward Maki-Schramm, the organist and choirmaster

of Christ Church in Detroit and the artistic director and conductor for the Community Chorus of Detroit, will be joining the Hillsdale faculty. He and McCourry will be concluding the program with the aforementioned “Pictures at an Exhibition,” arranged from its original form as a piano piece to a duet for trumpet and organ. The recital is free of charge and students are encouraged to attend and experience the

rich music showcased by this program. “Music can be enjoyable for students that don’t study music,” Douglass said. “College is a time where students are studying new topics and forming new ideas. If you have never attended a music recital, now is a great time to try it.”

Collegian Critique

‘tick, tick... Boom!’ portrays life of Broadway director By Luke Morey Assistant Editor Andrew Garfield was busy in 2021. Almost a month before he reprised his role as Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” Garfield entered the musical world in “tick, tick… Boom!” playing the lead, composer Jonathan Larson. The film is composer Lin-Manuel Miranda’s directorial debut. Before Larson composes his hit musical, “Rent,” he struggles to break through to Broadway. The movie shows the week before Larson’s 30th birthday in 1990, which to him feels like a death knell. As Larson later describes, Stephen Sondheim had his first show on Broadway before he was 30, while Larson is fighting to finish his musical “Superbia” for a workshop, nowhere close to Broadway. Larson has only one song left for his musical: the second-act song by the female lead and the turning point of the show. But he can’t figure out what to write. On top of that, his best friend Michael,

played by Robin de Jesus, is leaving his dreams of theater to pursue an advertising job, and his girlfriend Susan, played by Alexandra Shipp, has a deadline to decide on a dancing job at a school in the Berkshires. All of this adds to Larson continually hearing a ticking in his head that grows louder as the workshop draws closer. When the workshop is a day away, Susan needs an answer about the job in the Berkshires, and they argue through a song called “Therapy,” which the show describes as “scenes of a modern romance, told through song.” As they finish the argument, Susan realizes Larson is trying to determine how to use this break-up as a song in his musical, and she leaves him. Larson goes to the pool, and while he’s swimming–and as the music gets louder and more chaotic–he suddenly reaches a moment of pure calm and the idea for the crucial song he needs hits him. As the workshop proceeds with very few problems, Larson transports back to the moments that inspired the

song, envisioning Susan singing as the female lead in the song, “Come to your senses.” Larson waits impatiently for a call after the workshop, and finally gets one from his agent. His agent says she’s only heard raves about his musical, and “they can’t wait to see what this Jonathan Larson does next.” As Larson realizes his musical is not understandable to any audience, his agent says to keep writing and keep writing, and to keep throwing things at the wall hoping that something sticks. Broken, Larson goes to his friend Michael in his new advertising office to try to get a job. As Larson panics about running out of time, Michael reveals that he has AIDS, and has only a year at most to live. In this moment, Larson realizes how much he has ignored life in his attempts to write his masterpiece musical, which now won’t even be produced off-Broadway. Larson runs away to a park, hearing the ticking increasing until it’s the only thing reverberating through his head. Larson then finds a piano in an outdoor concert

hall and the ticking stops as Larson begins singing about his life, finding inspiration in his surroundings. Larson’s 30th birthday is the next day. While he sits in his apartment, the phone rings. It’s Stephen Sondheim, who saw “Superbia.” Sondheim tells Larson that he loved the musical and wants to meet up to talk it over. The movie then moves to voiceover. Larson dies at 35, the day before “Rent” premiers and becomes a sensation. Once “Rent” took off, musical theater changed drastically thanks to Larson’s influence with rock instruments in his sheet music. “tick, tick… Boom!” perfectly describes the pressure to be a success felt by so many Americans, especially in the modern day. While giving homage to a brilliant composer who changed Broadway forever, and influenced people like Lin-Manuel Miranda, it also shows that nothing can be forced. While Larson tried to force a hit musical, he found his masterpiece musical later in life when he began to write

about his own life experiences. It’s easy to get too focused on one aspect of life, and ignore everything else. But a truly happy life is one balanced between all sorts of things, including friends,

hobbies, and jobs. The anxiety of being successful early, or having made this much money by this age is a detriment to living happily, and Larson’s life exhibits this fact perfectly to the audience.

Andrew Garfield stars as Jonathan Larson in new musical. Courtesy | Twitter

New ‘West Side Story’ brings old film to life again By Michaela Estruth Collegian Freelancer It’s been 60 years since the original “West Side Story,” and a remake has finally hit the theaters. The familiar story models after Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, with a twist ending. Set in 20th century New York City, the film centers on a gang conflict between the Jets, poor white boys, and the Sharks, Puerto Ricans who are new to the neighborhood. Maria, a young Puerto Rican girl portrayed by actress Rachel Zegler, falls in love with Tony, played by Ansel Elgort, an ex-member of the Jets. Their love is forbidden, but that doesn’t stop them from sneaking away to see each other. Stephen Spielberg, the award-winning director and co-producer of the film, desired to arrange the old story

with a mix of familiar scenes and new ones. Spielberg created a new role, Valentina, played by 90-year-old actress Rita Moreno who starred as Anita in the original 1961 film. She returned to the screen and sang “Somewhere” in the 2021 edition. In the original, Maria and Tony sung this duet, expressing their love and hope to someday find a place where they could be together. Valentina sings of her hope for the racial division and strife to settle, allowing for a home for her people. Spielberg intentionally assigned this song to the returning star, Moreno, to signify the same hope in our culture today. Spielberg also added more Spanish dialogue between Puerto Rican characters, depicting the actual lifestyle of these new immigrants. Unlike the 1961 film, Hispanic actors play the Puerto Rican roles.

Both these aspects added authenticity to the story, reveal-

up in America which helped them to depict the tension and

death an enemy gang member. Tony distanced himself from

Rachel Zegler and Ansel Elgort star in new “West Side Story.” Courtesy | Twitter

ing the reality of that time. Moreno, who grew up in Puerto Rico, co-produced the 2021 version and helped bring this authenticity. She recounted to the actors and actresses true stories of her life growing

lifestyle on screen. Spielberg also added background details to some of the main characters. In the film, it’s revealed that Tony was just released from prison on bail for almost beating to

the gang, striving to set a new identity for himself. Elgort plays this Tony as strong and mature which contrasts the rather “pretty boy” depiction of Tony in the 1961 film. With all these minor

additions and adaptations, the beloved musical takes on a more realistic story. This engages the audience, drawing them in and swinging their hearts through the character’s raw emotions. The whole story is more believable and in that way even more beautiful than the original, idealistic, rather “distant” film. The audience sympathizes with both sides, hates the divide, loves the connection, and awaits the intense ending—all the while discovering new aspects of the plot and humming familiar, old songs. In any case, if you’re a lover of classics, music, dancing, intense plots, and tear-jerking endings, consider watching this beautiful film. Step away from the dreary, long winter and into a bright, hot summer in Manhattan where hate divides but love surpasses all expectations.

Features

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January 27, 2022 B3

My Funny Roommate: Ben Wilson By Jacob Hooper Collegian Freelancer “Hoop, where’s the stop? Where’s the stop, Hoop? WHERE’S THE STOP?” I jolted out of my sleep to hear Ben yelling these words in the bed above me in our tiny bedroom at the Hillsdale House in Washington, D.C.

Before I could ask if he was okay, Ben slammed his hands on the mattress, quickly climbed down his ladder, and started pushing against the bed as if he were trying to stop the entire bunk from moving. The greatest surprise? He slept through the entire performance. Silence followed. After a

Seniors Jacob Hooper and Ben Wilson pose on Theodore Roosevelt Island.

Courtesy | Jacob Hooper

SAD from B4 was what I always wanted. This is where I always wanted to be. I had great friends, nothing was wrong in my life, nothing was missing, and yet I felt so depressed,” said Mackyntoich. “One day was finally the breaking point. I was standing in an Olds shower just letting cold water run over my body and that was it. I knew something was very wrong.” That was when Mackyntoich decided to go to the Health and Wellness Center to seek help. “I explained everything that was going on inside of me and how I just didn’t know why. They immediately told me that I have seasonal affective disorder.” Mackyntoich said that the Health and Wellness Center gave her some vitamin D gummies and told her to take them the rest of the semester. “Within a couple of days, I was feeling better,” she said. “Part of it was taking the gummies, but I also think part of it was just knowing that there was something real happening. That was just so powerful, knowing that I’m not insane.” Coupland pointed out that SAD can have symptoms that affect all areas of the day-to-day lives of those who have it. Common symptoms include weight gain, difficulty concentrating, and sleep issues. It affects more women

than men. Brock Lutz, director of health services, said SAD commonly affects a large portion of the student population. “We certainly have a fair amount of students every year who get hit by this type of depression,” Lutz said. “Many of them learn to not dread it so it doesn’t become a self-perpetuating cycle, but to tell themselves ‘I’ve been through this before, I made it through, and I’m going to practice what I learned.” Mackyntoich said that too often people discredit the effects of SAD, which doesn’t allow space for those with a diagnosis to seek help or talk about their struggle. “They call it ‘winter blues,’ but seasonal affective disorder is a major depressive disorder. It’s not just ‘I’m feeling sad.’ Yes, you do feel sad, but it’s because of a chemical imbalance in your brain from not getting enough sunshine,” Mackyntoich said. One way to spread awareness and openness among the student body could be to destigmatize a SAD diag-

second, Ben tilted his head at me: “Hoop, what just happened?” I lost it and laughed harder than I ever had in years. As it turned out, he had a dream that we were in a car zooming towards a cliff. He was trying to stop the vehicle and save our lives— an odd explanation for me to hear at one-in-the-morning. That’s Ben Wilson: a chaotic man who is often unpredictable but one of the best friends and roommate I could have ever asked for, even if he can’t fathom that Little Caesar’s is Detroit-style pizza. Ben, while supportive, can be rash. The bunk bed in our WHIP bedroom stood next to an old furnace with a hideous glass lamp sitting on it. The curtain covering our massive window hung dangerously close to the lamp. I warned Ben about this potentially hazardous situation multiple times in the first few days of WHIP. Yet, early one morning, Ben wanted to see sunlight, so he yanked open the curtain. Crash! The glass lamp was no more: smooth move, Ben. Ben can put his mind to anything. Through his dedication, he achieved incredible feats. After we returned from WHIP, Ben wanted to get serious about living a healthy lifestyle. I watched him plan out that process: a rigorous nosis. Mackyntoich said that would be a first step to achieving a healthy relationship between mental health issues and students. “I didn’t tell a lot of people about the diagnosis freshman year. I felt a lot of shame, but also a sense of just ‘wow, I’m so stupid,’” she said. “It made me feel weird to be diagnosed with something. There is such a stigma around being diagnosed even with something like seasonal affective disorder when it’s literally the sun being down causing you to feel sad.” Mackyntoich said SAD is something she thinks they should talk more about at freshman orientation events and that she doesn’t remember it being discussed during her orientation at all. “Since my freshman year, I’ve talked to other freshman classes and they said it was mentioned at their orientations, so I don’t know if I just missed it or what. I just remember catching myself and thinking ‘Why do I feel so depressed?’ Unlike at other times, there was nothing I could pinpoint as the cause.” Thankfully, SAD can be

“I was standing in an Olds shower just letting cold water run over my body and that was it. I knew something was very wrong.”

Freshman Katie Lannon and sophomores Emma Burbach and Ben Kennedy brave the cold. Collegian | Michael Bachmann

Seniors Ben Wilson and Jacob Hooper walk together outside Union Station in Washington, D.C. Courtesy | Jacob Hooper

workout regiment and a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. In the following six months, I watched Ben undergo a complete transformation. When he visited me in D.C. this past summer, Ben looked the happiest and healthiest I had ever seen him. Indeed, he was living life to the fullest. Perhaps one of my best moments with Ben was when I ran for class president last March. As I felt myself under an immense amount of stress, significantly offset by taking vitamin D and having a healthy lifestyle. “Many students learn that a whole-person approach is vital,” Lutz said. According to Lutz, some ways to combat SAD are to eat nutritious foods, exercise 3 times per week, get 7-8 hours of sleep each night, spend time with friends, and invest in one’s spiritual life. Mackyntoich said that she now religiously takes vitamin D from October through the spring semester. “I just keep doing it even when I’m in a warmer climate, so all the way through Christmas Break. Taking your vitamins sounds like such mom advice, but seriously, do it. It will make you feel so much better.” Along with taking vitamins, Mackyntoich has found other methods to manage SAD. “Self-reflection is so important,” she said. “It allows me to look at a week and realize that I had six bad days in a row and that, even though I was taking my vitamins, it was completely overcast all week. It’s just good to have that awareness and explanation that the week seemed bad, but it was completely out of my control. For no reason, it was bad because it was dark, but realizing that it will be light again and that everything will be okay.” Light therapy and counseling are both additional forms of treatment. These services are available for students at the Health and Wellness Center. Reach out to one of our counselors early on in the process,” Lutz said, “even when symptoms are moderate.” Mackyntoich said that her experience with SAD was a big learning experience for her on the importance of having community and talking to other people about how you are feeling. “If you are dealing with seasonal affective disorder, it is so helpful to just have someone to talk to. Just know that it is normal and it is okay,” she said. “Ultimately, there’s something to be done about it and nothing to be done about it. Sadly, we can’t make the day brighter or longer, but we can offset the effects.”

hearing many positive and negative opinions amid a competitive election, Ben never left my side. He became one of my strongest advocates and always offered support to calm my paranoid mind. He sat next to me during the Legacy Dinner, where we learned the class president election results. I couldn’t eat my dinner because of my nerves, yet Ben patted my shoulder and said, “Hoop, you got this. Quit worrying.” He was right: I won, and it

Quick from B4 and I’ll do that even if it’s not running or on the bike. If you didn’t do what you do now, what do you think you’d be doing? I’ll kid around with my students that if I’m not coaching or teaching, I’m preaching. I don’t know that I’d be a priest, in my Catholic faith and upbringing, because I’ve been blessed with a wife and children, but I would definitely say that I believe all of us can minister in a

was one of the best nights of my college career to date. Ben was there for it all. He expressed his pride in my hard work running the campaign and put Jordan Peterson on my radar to consider for commencement speaker with the class board. There are countless stories I could share about Ben, but the nightmare tops them. We have a brotherhood, one I hope will last well past the finale graduation brings.

outstanding, and being in a small college town is a favorite. I mean, this is just the greatest school in the land. I don’t really dwell on or think about what we’re missing here. Life is full and exciting just because of what we share and have together here at the college. If you could live in any fictional world, which would it be? I’d love to be with Edmund and Lucy in Narnia and be a part of going through the closet with them perhaps. But I think it’s easy to think

Bill Lundberg takes a selfie in the snow. Courtesy | Bill Lundberg

way that we can really honor God—to know, love, and serve Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. What hobby do you think you dedicate the most time to? I love to golf. I’m not in any way a great low handicapper as we say, but for me, it’s really a time to be outdoors. I’ve come close, but no hole in one yet, and maybe when I do get one that’s when I’ll cut back. What is one of the most beautiful places you have ever been to? Well I was just in Yosemite and it was breathtaking. It was just really beautiful to see Half Dome and El Capitan and just to be in Yosemite. It was special too because of being with my kids and grandkids. What is one of your favorite and least favorite things about Hillsdale? The things that are offered in our community are

about what this ideal other place would be like when hopefully we’re working hard in this life to stand before God someday and enter into the courts of the Lord forever. Would you rather live in the city or the country? I have been able to experience the city in my athletic career, running in Madison Square Garden. Those places are great, but I love the kind of steadiness in the country. We currently live in a log home out in the woods. How do you feel about the current NFL playoff? I couldn’t believe this last weekend. On Saturday we had some really close stuff and a lot of defense. And then Sunday, it was just explosive and unbelievable seeing Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen put on the Patrick-Josh show offensively. It’s been interesting.

F e a t u r e s

January 27, 2022 B4

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Ginger Moore’s painting of Lucy. Collegian | Olivia Hajicek

QUICK HITS:

‘Wild Bill

Getting sad with S.A.D.

Students manage Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Lundberg By Isaac Green Collegian Reporter Bill “Wild Bill” Lundberg is the Hayden Park fitness director. This interview has been edited for length, style, and clarity.

By Elyse Hawkins Opinions Editor

If you got stuck in an elevator and could only listen to one song the entire time, what song would you want to listen to? Chris Tomlin’s “How Great is our God.” That would keep me pretty relaxed and focused on who’s got everything under control anyways. If an animal was to all of a sudden become the size of an elephant, what animal would be the scariest? I have had encounters with bats. You might call me Batman on the side because I’ve had to deal with those at times. I’ve become quite a hero with my wife, but I don’t think I’d really want to run into one much bigger than what my tennis racket can deal with. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would you want it to be? As a runner in my background, I tend to be quite the carbs guy, but I think I’d probably want to do fruits and vegetables. My wife’s a dental hygienist so she’s a good influence on my eating. What is the perfect temperature for wearing a t-shirt? I’m fine with anything, even in the 40s and 50s,

“Take your vitamins, kids.” Senior Vera Mackyntoich is specifically referring to vitamin D, the most common treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is also colloquially known as seasonal depression. Kari Coupland, a nurse at the Health and Wellness Center, said SAD is a type of depression that usually starts in the fall and then goes into the winter months. “Early intervention is key to managing the symptoms,” Coupland said. Mackyntoich said she sees herself as an example of what happens when intervention doesn’t happen early. “I’m from Georgia, which is a very sunny climate, so I’d never really dealt with a dark winter before,” Mackyntoich said. “When I came to Hillsdale freshman year, it didn’t really impact me in the fall, but then January and February came around and I was just so sad.” Even though Mackyntoich had dealt with depression and anxiety in high school and knew the signs, she didn’t immediately seek help. “I was at Hillsdale and I was supposed to be the happiest ever because this

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‘Life of the party’: Hillsdale flyers befriend feline By Olivia Hajicek Collegian Reporter

ne of Hillsdale Municipal Airport’s employees lives in the building and sometimes greets flyers by coming out from under the chairs in the terminal building. “Airport Lucy,” as she’s been nicknamed, is a cat. Some of her primary duties include warding off mice and making people happy. “I’d never seen her kill a mouse until this Christmas,” Airport Manager Ginger Moore said. “That was my Christmas present, to let me know she was doing her job.” Moore describes Lucy as a “foodaholic,” but when she tries to call Lucy with a treat, Lucy doesn’t come. She is distracted by the attention she is receiving. “One time I had a guy, he had an engine problem. His engine quit, and he made it to the runway, and then he had to push his airplane off the runway. It was at night, and it was a weekend too, so we weren’t here,” Moore said, “and he said it was the best feeling in the world when the

cat greeted him and just sat in his lap and comforted him.” Moore says Lucy has lots of fans. People take pictures with her, bring her gifts, and fly in just to visit her. “I’m hoping when I retire to make children’s books called ‘The Adventures of Airport Lucy’, where she stows away on airplanes to unknown destinations, and she learns about geography and different cultures,” Moore says. A painting of a green-eyed black cat in full flight gear hangs next to the counter. Moore says that is what the cover of her children’s books will look like. “I did make a painting up here of Lucy in her outfit,” Moore said. “She’s an aviatrix.” Stenciled beside Lucy are the letters J-Y-M—or Juliet-Yankee-Mike— the three-letter identifier for Hillsdale Municipal Airport. Pilots use a phonetic alpha-

bet, Moore explained, so people on the other end can distinguish the letters. No formal art study went into Moore’s paintings, several of which are hung around the room. Moore relies on talent, practice, and, in many cases, odd small parts of airplanes. It was in search of airplane parts for her paintings that Moore met Monico Lopez, who is a mechanic at the airport. Moore says Lucy often joins Lopez and his wife Letitia in the hangar.

“I call her ‘Lucy-du;’ She calls her ‘Lulu,’” Monico Lopez says. “She likes to come out to the shop and lay on the parts and lay on the coats and just chill out.” Other times, Airport Lucy is more adventurous and has been known to hide in planes and cars as well as in the model plane display case below the counter, which Moore says they call the “cat aquarium.” “She’s definitely the life of the party,” Line Manager Mitchell Lockwood said.

Airport Lucy loves people. Collegian | Olivia Hajicek

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Carrington cares for others, battles cancer By Garrett Goolsby Collegian Freelancer

rofessor of Politics Adam Carrington’s recent cancer diagnosis has not stopped his devotion to his faith, his family, or his students. “He is a ‘put your oxygen mask on last’ kind of guy,” his wife, Emily Carrington, said. Visiting Assistant Professor of History Miles Smith, a

close friend and colleague of Carrington, said although the diagnosis has interrupted the family’s daily life, Carrington remains unafraid. “The amazing thing about Adam is that he is completely at peace with his disease. There is no sense of fearfulness.” Adam Carrington has worked at Hillsdale College since 2014, but first got interested in studying politics

Adam Carrington is known for his faith and his love for his family. Courtesy | Facebook

when he read Newt Gingrich’s “To Renew America” in the 5th grade, he said. “The fact that politics was more about ideas than elections was brought home to me for the first time,” Carrington said. He later went on to work as an intern for a think tank in Washington, D.C., and earned degrees at Baylor University and Ashland University before he eventually started working

at Hillsdale College. “ By the time I got to grad school, I was very committed to the liberal arts tradition, and wanted to teach at a small liberal arts college.” Carrington said he would always remember his interview with College President Larry Arnn. “As most people will find when interacting with him, he did most of the talking. I was inspired by that conversation,” Carrington said. “He said they want to be the best at what they do. The college had a clear mission and that impressed me.” Carrington said he has a special fascination with the U.S. Supreme Court. This emphasis informs the way he approaches teaching his classes, he said. “To me, Supreme Court cases are where the political rubber meets the road,” Carrington said. “You get to see what political ideas look like drawn out as policies that have affected someone’s life.” Smith said that as a colleague, Carrington is “completely chill.” “There’s no sharp edge on Dr. Carrington,” Smith said. “At the same time, he is a brilliant academic.” Smith and Carrington have collaborated in writing a book chapter about Protestant intellectual, social, and political thought. They have also

formed a close friendship. “Early on, we bonded over our common experience of being graduate students in Texas, and talked a lot about what it means to be a Christian,” Smith said. “His faith is very important to him. He is very easy to talk to about heavy things and has helped me to understand what real humility looks like.” Smith also described Carrington as a devoted family man. Carrington and his wife, Emily, have two daughters, Abigail (4) and Eliza (1). “His daughters climb all over him,” Smith said. “It’s a huge part of who he is.” The couple met during their undergraduate years at Ashland University. It was not love at first sight, Carrington said. “I actually helped set her up with a friend,” Carrington said. “I did a really good job with it, too. It didn’t wind up working out for some reason.” They started dating after sharing a table in a Western Political Thought class. Following Emily’s graduation, the two were married. “One of my first memories of him was his performance in the Mr. University pageant,” Emily Carrington said. “I had no interest in him at the time, but I thought it was totally unjust that he didn’t win. Adam’s entire performance in all three rounds was much more clever

and better executed than other contestants. I have very clear memories of him in a choir robe with a plunger and a crown for his formalwear round.” Carrington’s dedication to his faith and his family is one of his distinguishing characteristics as well, she said. “He has a reputation for being a serious Christian and an all around good guy,” Emily Carrington said. “When our oldest daughter was very sick, he was the one to sit with her night after night. I had to be busy doing something - changing sheets, cleaning, tending, but sitting with the sick child who I could not help was really hard for me. He would simply hold her and be there. That is who he is as a dad and as a husband.” In the fall of 2021, Carrington was diagnosed with cancer. Yet, he continues to sing to his daughters every night. “I am committed to being here for you. I won’t miss a day if I can help it,” he told his students just after he received the diagnosis. “There is a quote by Ernest Hemingway that describes Adam in a single phrase,” Smith said. “‘Courage is grace under pressure.’ That is who he is, and who he has continued to be in his battle with this disease.”