Collegian 1.17.2024 by The Hillsdale Collegian

Michigan’s oldest college newspaper

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Vol. 147 Issue 14 – January 17, 2024

Hillsdale College finished electrical work for the new athletic stadium at Hayden Park during the break. Erik TEder | Collegian

Sexual assault lawsuit threatens Hillsdale’s Title IX exemption Campus By Elizabeth Troutman convert them from the pur- tion of sex to include “sexual and institutions far from the reacts to Editor-in-chief suit of goals to compliance orientation and gender iden- educational field, because evwith rules, rules made for tity.” If Hillsdale was forced to eryone should push for their A sexual-assault lawsuit other purposes than those of comply with Title IX, it might independence,” Cato Institute remaining filed last year could threaten the charity,” Hillsdale College have to permit male students Senior Fellow Walter Olson Hillsdale College’s religious President Larry P. Arnn told to use female bathrooms and told The Collegian. by placing its pol- The Collegian. “Our goal is to play sports with either sex. Hillsdale General Counsel presidential freedom icies under the authority of help young people grow to be Title IX’s religious exemp- Bob Norton warned that all the federal government, legal excellent people through high- tion would still apply to Hills- nonprofit organizations could say. er education. The Department dale, but an ongoing case is be subjected to administrative candidates experts Two women, a current ju- of Education has a thousand challenging the right of insti- regulations that would change

Karol

By Eleanor Whitaker Collegian Reporter

By Moira Gleason Assistant Editor

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are most likely to win the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, according to many students and faculty. “This election is about one man, and his name is Donald Trump,” freshman Bradley Haley said. “However, the determining factor of Trump’s success or failure in 2024 will be his ability to shift the focus away from himself and onto the state of the nation under President Biden.” Professor of Political Economy Gary Wolfram said he was surprised by Biden’s choice to run for reelection. “I had thought that Biden would step down after one term,” Wolfram said. “He is the oldest sitting president in history at 81 years old and would be 86 if he finished his second term. A recent poll found that 75% of voters think Biden is too old to effectively serve a second term.” Trump won the Iowa Caucus with 51% of the vote on Jan. 15. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Former South Carolina Gov. and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley were far behind with 21% and 19% of the vote respectively. Trump has been charged with 91 criminal offenses, which some states argue disqualifies him from the ballot, a decision the Supreme Court has agreed to review. Wolfram said he thinks Trump’s overwhelming lead in the polls, despite his criminal charges and absence from debates, is shocking. “You have a former president who was one of only three presidents to have been impeached, and the only president to have been impeached twice,” Wolfram said.

See Election A2

nior and a former member of the class of 2024 who has since transferred, claimed that students at Hillsdale face “an unusually high risk of sexual assault” because the college does not comply with Title IX, which seeks to prohibit discrimination based on sex. “This is no accident: Hillsdale does not accept government funding in a misguided and ineffective attempt to avoid its obligations under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,” reads the lawsuit, filed on Oct. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. The lawsuit claimed that Hillsdale’s tax-exempt status is a form of federal financial assistance. The plaintiffs’ accusations mischaracterize Hillsdale’s culture, policies, and procedures, according to a statement from the college, which also insists that it is exempt from the regulations of Title IX because it does not accept federal funding. “Subjecting Hillsdale and all charities to comprehensive federal regulation would

goals other than this, some of them contradictory to this.” If Hillsdale loses the case, the federal government will become the ultimate authority on a number of issues, according to Mary Margaret Beecher, executive director and vice president of the Napa Legal Institute, a public-interest law firm that focuses on religious freedom. Even though the lawsuit against Hillsdale does not specifically target a religious issue, Beecher said it concerns who has authority over Hillsdale’s governance. “The lawsuit’s fundamental question is, ‘Who’s in charge here?’”Beecher said. “Is the government in charge? Or are religious institutions free to govern themselves in accordance with their beliefs?” The Obama administration altered Title IX guidelines in 2011, compelling schools to adjust their procedures, making it more likely that students accused of sexual assault would be found responsible for their alleged actions. In 2021, the Biden administration expanded the defini-

tutions to govern themselves according to their religious beliefs. In Hunter v. U.S. Department of Education, the Religious Exemption Accountability Project, an LGBT activist group, is suing to prevent students from using tuition grants, student loans, and any other federal financial assistance at schools exempt from Title IX that operate according to traditional beliefs on sexuality. REAP’s self-proclaimed mission is to prevent religion from “serv[ing] the interests of white Christian supremacy” and make it “contribute to human flourishing, affirmation of LGBTQ+ youth, and racial and reproductive justice.” A ruling that places Hillsdale under Title IX’s jurisdiction could reach far beyond rural Michigan. Other religious institutions, from higher education to secondary and elementary schools, would risk losing their religious freedom. “What Hillsdale is fighting for here is a principle that is very important for institutions all over the rest of the country,

with each presidential administration. “This is not a partisan issue; any nonprofit organization would be affected,” Norton said. “This would be at best, onerous and costly for nonprofits, and at worst, it would destroy them. One of the greatest strengths of American society is that we as citizens retain the latitude to solve our problems together, outside of government interference. This civil society and our very freedom of association as Americans is at risk.” Whether Title IX applies to schools that do not receive federal financial aid was put to the test in Buettner-Hartsoe v. Baltimore Lutheran High School Association. Beecher’s Napa Legal Institute represented the defendant. “These cases are kind of motivated by an interest in having the federal government oversee religious institutions, even the way they’re living out their religious beliefs,” Beecher said.

See Title IX A2

The Hillsdale College Chapel Choir stayed on campus until Dec.12 to film and record a selection of songs. (See A2) Austin Thomason | Hillsdale College

Markowicz named Pulliam Fellow Karol Markowicz of the New York Post will visit Hillsdale College for two weeks in March and teach a one-credit class on persuasive writing as a Eugene C. Pulliam Distinguished Fellow in Journalism. “My class will include how to make your opinion writing factual, effective, and interesting,” Markowicz said. “I hope the students will learn how to take brave stances, even when they are unpopular, and learn to articulate their ideas to a wide group of people.” Markowicz is a columnist for the New York Post and Fox News and host of the podcast “The Karol Markowicz Show.” In 2023, she cowrote her first book, “Stolen Youth: How Radicals are Erasing Innocence and Indoctrinating a Generation,” which addresses targeted indoctrination of children in schools, media, and elsewhere. “Karol has been on our radar for a couple of years as a powerful voice in journalism for freedom and families,” Dow Journalism Program Director John J. Miller said. “As a newspaper columnist and a radio host, she also combines print and audio, just like the Dow Journalism Program.” The Dow Journalism Program and External Affairs collaborate to select the Pulliam Fellow each semester. According to Vice President for External Affairs Douglas Jeffrey, Markowicz was an easy choice. “I was previously unaware of her, but when I and my colleagues looked through her work she seemed an excellent choice and someone who would be of great benefit to students in the journalism program,” Jeffrey said. In addition to her class, Markowicz will give a public lecture titled “Erasure of Innocence” in Plaster Auditorium March 26 on the same subject as her book.

See Pulliam A2

A2 January 17, 2024

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Chapel Choir records on campus during winter break

SAB to By Isaac Green put his own twist on,” Byrne continue to prepare for perfor- and the music is challenging tinue to sing for weekly Sunday host Late News Editor said. “It’s familiar, which is mances scheduled throughout and a lot of fun to sing.” Choral Evensong services. always nice, and he was very The Hillsdale College Chap- creative with the arrangement, Night el Choir remained on campus so it was really exciting to both until Dec. 12, filming and re- learn and perform.” cording selections of songs they Participants stayed in college performed earlier in the year for housing or off campus, accordCereal Bar the marketing department’s me- ing to senior Bridget Whalen. dia team. “A crucial part of Chapel Choir’s mission is to give people an opportunity to have a profound encounter with beauty,” junior Madeline Scheve said. “The idea with the recordings, then, is to give this opportunity to those outside of Hillsdale.” The choir recorded six pieces, five of which made the final cut for release, according to junior Matt Byrne. The five completed arrangements included “The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee” by Jean Berger, “O Radiant Dawn” by James MacMillan, and “The Message” by Timothy McDonnell, the director of sacred music at Hillsdale College. “One of my favorites was definitely ‘The Message’ because it’s a traditional Christmas carol that Dr. McDonnell

“As far as I am aware, this could become a regular thing for Chapel Choir,” Whalen said. “The program is still relatively new and has made some incredible progress in just a couple of years.” The choir worked on a similar project a year prior during the 2022 fall semester in the middle of the academic season, according to Scheve. “We did it during the school year which was very difficult to do on top of homework and other school obligations,” Scheve said. “Having the recordings after school was officially over relieved a lot of stress and gave us time to focus on singing.” The group has another recording session planned for the end of the academic year, according to senior Cecilia Gulick. The group will also

By Moira Gleason Assistant Editor

The Hillsdale College Chapel Choir worked on six songs during its extended stay. Austin Thomason | Hillsdale College

the semester. “I’m really looking forward to working on Haydn’s ‘Requiem,’” Gulick said. “We have some amazing soloists planned

They plan to put together a sacred music showcase for the upcoming CCA and perform around Easter, according to Scheve. The choir will also con-

“Whatever we do, it will be an opportunity to contemplate Christ through music,” Whalen said. “We are the Chapel Choir, after all.”

Mock trial begins preparation for spring season By Zachary Chen Collegian Reporter Hillsdale College Mock Trial has re-stacked its teams in preparation for the spring season. Mock trial assigned its members to new teams in order to gain the best competitive edge possible, according to sophomore Chloe Noller. Last semester’s mock trial teams Scary Decisis, Rekt Judica, and De Novo Member have dissolved and reassembled into A, B, and C teams. “The program is really working hard already,” Noller said. “We’ve had hours upon

Election from A1 “He has been saddled with numerous legal problems, including whether his actions of January 6, 2021 amounted to insurrection, and yet the party appears ready to nominate him.” According to sophomore Levi Mendel, chair of the Hillsdale College Republicans, the Department of Justice is using unprecedented methods to prevent Trump from being on the ballot. “Contesting an election is one thing, attempting to ban a candidate with tremendous popular support is quite another,” Mendel said. “Ironically, those attempting to ‘preserve democracy’ in their own words are the first to resort to banning candidates regardless of the will of the people.” The lack of a strong third candidate to Trump or Biden surprised Mendel and junior Sam Morse. “It seems that individuals in both parties, especially young voters, desire a fresh face in The White House,” Morse said, “but the deepening left-right divide and an air of Trump’s

hours of drafting meetings over break, and we are buckling down for a fantastic competitive season.” Seniors Justin Lee and Caleb Sampson will be captains of Team 1038 (A), while junior Natalie LeBlanc and sophomore Ashley Poole will be captains of Team 1039 (B), and freshmen Brennan Berryhill and Ella Lovins will be captains of Team 1040 (C). Before the first round of regionals begins in February, each team will participate in an invitational tournament. Team A will attend the Great Chicago Fire Invitational at the University of Chicago Jan.

20-21, while Teams B and C will compete at Indiana State University in the Indiana Hoosier Hoedown Invitational Jan. 27-28. The teams will then compete at regionals, which can qualify a team to advance to the Opening Round Championship Series. To qualify for ORCS, a team must earn a bid by winning sixth place or higher, according to Noller. Each bid allows a program to advance one of its teams, Lee said. Hillsdale’s goal is to earn two bids in order to advance the maximum number of teams. “While we are capable of

receiving three bids, as we did last year, a single program may only send a maximum of two teams to their respective ORCS competition,” Noller said. Regionals will take place on Feb. 3-4 for Team C and on Feb. 24-25 for Teams A and B. If mock trial earns two bids, two Hillsdale teams will compete at ORCS. As at regionals, Hillsdale’s goal at ORCS will be to receive two bids to continue on at the National American Mock Trial Tournament. Hillsdale College Mock Trial made its first appearance at nationals in 2022, and last year the program made school

history by sending both A and B teams to the competition. The team won fourth place overall and second place in its division. “It was a historic moment, as HCMT has only ever sent a team to Nationals only once before,” Noller said. This year, the teams are preparing diligently to perform their best in the upcoming tournaments, according to Noller. “It’s gonna be tough, the competition is good and everyone is working for those bids to nationals,” Noller said, “but so are we, and we are working hard. I’m excited.”

‘unfinished business’ lauded by many Republicans and feared by Democrats have caused voter-bases to double down on the assumed leader of their respective parties.” Mendel said businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the race after the Iowa Caucus, and DeSantis failed to make a distinction between themselves and Trump, while Haley does not appeal to the voter base. “Trump has taken a position as America’s foremost anti-establishment politician, leaving little room for DeSantis or Ramaswamy with similar messaging,” Mendel said. “Haley seems to have leaned into her foreign policy experience, but ended up representing the establishment side of the Republican Party, a faction which has suffered mightily after the failures of the neoconservatives in the 2000s and 2010s.” Senior Avery Noel, president of the Hillsdale College Democrats, said he wishes GOP candidates would criticize Trump more openly. “It’s hugely disappointing and showcases their fear of him

as well as their weakness as people that they are unwilling and or unable to tell the truth about him,” Noel said. Morse said he predicts that the 2024 general election will be a 2020 election rematch. “While many Republican candidates have proven worthy challengers as an alternative voice, Trump’s popularity continues to ride on the success of his past administration, coupled with doubts cast on the validity of the most recent presidential election,” Morse said. “For the Democrats, a legitimate challenger from the left to Biden has yet to make a meaningful push.” Noel said turnout from Generation Z will determine the results of the election. “If Gen Z shows out like they did in 2020 and 2022, I see no path for Trump; lower Gen Z turnout due to frustrations with Biden’s policy on Israel and Palestine leave a path for Trump,” Noel said. “President Biden has to be able to tell people how he has bettered the country through policies like the inflation reduction act and the Chips and Science act, as well as remind people of the dangers of Trump.” Bradley Haley said this election will determine which values will dominate the presidency during the next four years. “People who believe in the sacredness of unborn life, the freedom of speech, and traditional morality have found an unlikely champion in Donald Trump,” Haley said. “Conversely, President Biden is the face of the leftist establishment that proudly advocates for abortion, transgenderism, and censorship. The underlying worldviews that Trump and Biden represent are what is truly on the ballot.”

Title IX from A1

said. “Outside counsel hired by the college conducted a thorough and vigorous investigation in the case of both plaintiffs,” Norton said. If the court determines that Hillsdale’s tax-exempt status qualifies as federal funding, Hillsdale would likely also be required to comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, Beecher said. Schools under Title VI are required to try to collect and report demographic information on students including race, which Hillsdale currently does not document. “Certain laws have power over anyone who receives federal financial assistance,” Beecher said. “If it’s determined in one context, that federal financial assistance includes 501(c)(3) status, it’s going to have this domino effect on all the other statutes that use that term.” The change could threaten Hillsdale’s independence, even if its practices don’t violate Title VI, said Devon Westhill, president and general counsel for the Center for Equal Opportunity, a conservative civil-rights think tank. “Once you begin to have the government entangled with enterprise, it becomes less independent,” Westhill told The Collegian. “You have less control over it. And you’re subject to the whims of the political winds, and that changes all the time.” As an independent institution, Hillsdale should be free from government influence, according to Westhill. “Any entanglement with the government really is a corruption of what Hillsdale is trying to do,” Westhill said.

Former President Donald Trump gives a speech after winning the Iowa Caucus. Courtesy | YOutube

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In Buettner-Hartsoe, former students sued their private high school, alleging the school had not adequately addressed complaints of sexual assault and sexual harassment. The school argued it was not subject to Title IX due to not receiving federal assistance. A judge for the United States District Court for the District of Maryland rejected the high school’s claim, holding that because the school received a federal tax exemption as a non-profit organization, it was subject to Title IX. The case is currently on appeal, and the outcome would not immediately affect Hillsdale College, which is in a different jurisdiction. Yet it would create a precedent that other courts could follow. “It’s essentially the exact same issue that’s going on with Hillsdale right now,” Beecher said. “The question of whether tax exempt status gives the government supremacy over institutions, policies, and internal documents.” Olson said that Title IX was never written to hinge on tax status. “It was written to apply to a much smaller, narrower group of institutions,” Olson said. “If some court were tempted by the [plaintiff ’s] argument, it would have to consider not only that things have been set up the other way for a very long time, but the results would be to destabilize the tax environment not just for Hillsdale College individually, but for many, many other institutions.” Although the college is not subject to Title IX, its policies meet its standards, Norton

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Students can stop by the Student Activities Board office in the Grewcock Student Union tonight to grab a bowl of cereal and celebrate the first day of classes. SAB will host their traditional first event of the spring semester from 8-10 p.m., welcoming students back to campus with a cereal bar and a chance to catch up with friends after break. “We really love how cozy the event feels,” junior and SAB promo lead John Shaefer said. “We bring students into the office and everyone mingles around chatting. The cereal, despite being the draw, is just a means to encourage reconnection between students after winter break. There is a lot of excitement in the air about the upcoming semester and after the first day of classes it is all starting to feel real.” According to junior and SAB events lead Abby Richardson, this event will remain the same as previous years, but the team will offer gluten free and dairy free options. “The event is already perfect, so we’re just bringing back the classic,” Richardson said. Senior and SAB creative team member Phoebe VanHeyningen said this event is always a favorite of the SAB team. “Students should attend because it’s going to be a laidback and fun environment to hear about your friends’ winter breaks before the semester picks up,” VanHeyningen said. The late night cereal bar will kick off a full agenda of SAB events this spring, including favorites like President’s Ball and CHP and new events like Midnight Market and Casino Night. “We have some really fun ideas for new and old events that we can’t wait to roll out,” VanHeyningen said.

Pulliam from A1

“My public lecture will be about the loss of innocence that accompanies this indoctrination and what it will mean for a generation of children raised in this system,” Markowicz said. Born in the USSR and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Markowicz said she intended to pursue law when she started a blog after 9/11 and eventually broke into journalism. “I was a political conservative in New York City and I was blogging about the aftermath of the attacks on my city and country,” Markowicz said. “Throughout this period I believed I would eventually go to law school and become a lawyer. I was working in the legal field by day and blogging at night.” Markowicz said she soon started working for a public radio station in New York City as a conservative voice for its election coverage. At the advice of an editor friend at the New York Post, she pitched some of her work to the Post opinion page. “I have been writing for the New York Post ever since,” Markowicz said. “I’m glad I didn’t go to law school.”

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Opinions

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January 17, 2024 A3

Opinions (517) 607-2415

Vivek Ramaswamy was wrong to threaten rights of young voters By Elizabeth Crawford Assistant Editor Vi v e k R a m a s w a my dropped out of the Republican presidential race after his poor showing in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night, when he carried less than 8% of the vote. Part of his problem may have been that instead of trying to win support, he campaigned to make it harder for young Americans to cast ballots. “Only 23% of adults under 30 say patriotism is very important to them, and 23% of Americans under 25 vote,” Ramaswamy wrote last year in the Wall Street Journal. His solution was to propose a 28th constitutional amendment, which would raise the minimum voting age to 25, except for young adults who pass a civics exam or serve in the military or as first responders. While the premise of Ramaswamy’s idea is worthwhile — voting should be tied to civic duty — his proposal would only advance the incoherent views Americans have on adulthood and responsibility. In other words, if his amendment were to pass, it would prolong adolescence and immaturity. Ramaswamy’s statistics ignore the bigger picture. National pride may have dipped, but Gen Z’s voter turnout in elections is proving to be higher than those of previous generations. In the 2022 midterm election, 28.4% of young adults between the ages of 18-24 voted — outpacing millennials, Gen X, and boomers who voted at the same age, according to the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Perhaps lower levels of national pride actually increase civic engagement, at least for members of Gen Z. Ramaswamy also doesn’t address the other problems that increasing the voting age raises. If young people are incapable of voting, why should they be allowed to drive cars, drink beer, and get married before it? Why should they have to pay taxes?

Under Ramaswany’s constitutional amendment, a young American could drive at 16, get married at 18, drink at 21, and vote at 25. In other words, at the age of 18 young people can determine their life partner, but not their two-year elected representative. Ramaswamy’s exemptions — such as a civics exam or six months of service as a first responder or as a member of the military — are better as commentaries on American social decline than as solutions to the problem. A civics exam, for instance, is not the magical solution to unlocking national pride. Most high schoolers across the country are required to spend at least a semester studying the American political system. Forty states require a civics course as part of their high-school curriculum, according to CIRCLE. If young Americans after their high-school graduation are still uneducated on the historical and political development of America, then that is a failure of the education system, not the voting system. It requires an educational correction. Compulsory military service also doesn’t guarantee national pride. Six months of military service or as a first responder isn’t going to change that. And, on a practical level, six months of service is barely enough time to complete basic training, much less have the on-the-job experience which would, according to Ramaswamy’s theory, grow national pride. National pride flourishes when people believe they have a bright future under competent leadership. When Gen Z looks at Washington, it sees House members whose average age is 58, senators whose average age is 65 years old, and an octogenarian president. Even the man who beat Ramaswamy in Iowa is old: Donald Trump is 77. We see more senility than virility. Let’s change our country — but not the voting age. Elizabeth Crawford is a senior studying politics and journalism.

Devil’s Advocate with Claire Gaudet Michigan is more than its harsh winters The winters are cold, cloudy, and snowy. The closest Chickfil-A is an hour away. The governor is at best incompetent, and at worst, commanding a troop of flying monkeys. This is Michigan. But, as I returned home to my muggy swampland of southern Louisiana this break — and rewatched ESPN’s 30 for 30 on the Pistons for the 100th time — I realized I’ve actually enjoyed the place I’ve lived for the past three years. And, dare I say, I’ll miss Michigan after graduation. Lorelai Gilmore famously “smells snow” in seasons two and five of “Gilmore Girls.” I never got that when I was younger — snow where I’m from smells like dirty sludge that blades of grass still loom over. I know what snow smells

like because of Michigan, and it’s just as good as she described. In-state students have had more white Christmases in their lives than most of us will probably ever see, and I’m jealous. Maybe not as jealous as the California and Texas kids, but jealous nonetheless. And, riddle me this: if we didn’t all go to a school this cold, how would mock trial bros ever get to show off their thrice-layered, Burberry outfits? Michigan is also, undoubtedly, one of the most interesting states for sports fanatics. I dressed up as Pistons’s Center, Bill Lambier, for Halloween in 8th grade, in Virginia — decades after his career ended — because Michigan sports are that entertaining. People like

Ty Cobb, Isiah Thomas, and recently, Jim Harbaugh have made hundreds of thousands of people across the country proud to root for the home team. Car buffs will tell you Michigan is top-notch as well. Look around the Olds parking lot. Most of those brands had representatives in Detroit at some time or another. If you haven’t been yet, go to the Henry Ford Museum, and you’ll see the greatness of the Motor City. Nature is another tool in the cool-state arsenal. Hillsdale students have six National Parks and 103 state parks to visit all within driving distance. That’s more than almost any other state in the union. Every fall and spring break, hoards of students scour the UP, our Student Activity Board sponsors

ski trips every year, and we still have the gall to say that where we go to school is boring. For these fleeting years, we get to live in one of the most interesting places in the country. It snows in the winters, and it’s hot as any American beach in the summers. It’s rich with history — and not just the political kind. It has some of the greatest sights I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. I’m tired of the Michigan slander. And, believe me, if my fiance from Ohio can’t convince me that this place is a nightmarish hellhole, nothing can. Claire Gaudet is a senior studying rhetoric and journalism.

Pope Francis caught in crossfire of LGBT debate. Courtesy | Catholic News Agency

Vatican’s new document does not validate gay marriage By Caroline Kurt Assistant Editor It’s all over the news: in the most recent Vatican declaration, Pope Francis permitted gay marriage in the Catholic Church. Except he didn’t. Released Dec. 18, the declaration from the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of Faith made for a perfect storm of headlines right before Christmas. Many have seen the now-viral image of the Rev. James Martin — an American priest famous for advocating acceptance of the LGBTQ agenda in the Catholic Church — blessing a gay couple. Martin’s actions, however, are grossly out of line with both the spirit of the document and the teaching of the Catholic Church. Fiducia Supplicans, a “Declaration on the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings,” is a poorly-timed document with obvious flaws, yet one that continues to uphold the beauty of the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage. It struggles to straddle the political divides of the modern Church, while having a heart for the many Catholics who struggle with same-sex attraction. From the very beginning, Fiducia Supplicans is clear that nothing in the Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage has — or can — change. “This Declaration remains firm on the traditional doc-

trine of the Church about marriage, not allowing any type of liturgical rite or blessing similar to a liturgical rite that can create confusion,” Prefect Cardinal Fernández wrote in the preface. The Catholic Church defines marriage as the “exclusive, stable, and indissolvable union between a man and a woman, naturally open to the generation of children.” “It is only in this context that sexual relationships find their natural, proper, and fully human meaning,” as explained in Fiducia Supplicans. We are all called to holiness and to uphold the virtue of chastity in our relationships, whether married or single, opposite- or same-sex attracted. The Catholic Church asks a hard thing of same-sex attracted people to forgo the kind of sexual relationships they desire in the name of a truer Love, but provides the resources, communal support, and supernatural grace to make such a request possible. Fiducia Supplicans invites same-sex attracted people to “draw ever closer to the love of Christ,” not condoning their sin but giving them the means to transform their lives and live in accordance with the Gospel. Fiducia Supplicans encourages not the blessing of samesex unions but of same-sex attracted people whose interest is in drawing closer to Christ and his Church and amending their fallen lives.

It is here, in expanding on the pastoral meaning of blessings in hopes of offering same-sex attracted people greater avenues by which to seek and find Christ, that Fiducia Supplicans seems to stumble. It has been widely misinterpreted, and some of that responsibility falls on the way the document was worded. Fiducia Supplicans stumbles on the point that samesex couples must approach a blessing — and priests must give it — so that they have the grace to break from sin and live according to the teachings of the Catholic Church. This is particularly important in the context of the modern Church, in which advocates of the LGBTQ agenda are hungry for any sign from the Vatican that the Church will cave to their demands and practices. The men who drafted the document cannot have perfectly foreseen its reception by the media, but should have done a better job anticipating the way it would be received. Right from its release, it became an object of polarization and confusion for Catholics and non-Catholics alike, wounding many who have made great sacrifices to remain faithful to Church teaching and (mistakenly) saw Fiducia Supplicans as a break from that. Catholics have a right to charitably criticize the actions of the Vatican, moreover, Pope Francis has encouraged

them to do so before. If, as a Catholic having read Fiducia Supplicans, you feel discouraged or confused, you can express those sentiments in a way respectful of the Church. Take, too, those sentiments to prayer, and ask God to continue helping Pope Francis and the Magisterium guide the Church. Fiducia Supplicans is in part an ambitious response to the political divides within the modern Church: particularly, a response to the German bishops whose Synodal Way threatens to lead to a schism within the Church and the many faithful Catholics outraged by their actions. Pope Francis and his cardinals are eager to avoid a schism without caving to the German bishops’ practice of ‘marrying’ same-sex couples. Fiducia Supplicans imperfectly seeks a middle road, neither allowing same-sex ‘marriage’ nor being so stringent with blessings as to bar people in same-sex relationships from receiving them. The document loses many of its Hydra-qualities upon a humble reading of it. Surely, it isn’t a perfect document, but it has real truth and beauty to offer. To anyone who has seen headlines about the matter or who has a bone to pick with the Vatican, read Fiducia Supplicans first, with an open heart. Caroline Kurt is a sophomore studying English and journalism.

City News A4 January 17, 2024

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Mayor Stockford announces state rep campaign After running unsuccessfully in 2020, Stockford launches his campaign for 2024 By Logan Washburn Associate Editor Adam Stockford, mayor of the City of Hillsdale, has joined the race for state representative — again. “My hopes for Lansing are a series of bills restoring authority and autonomy to local township boards, school boards, and city councils,” Stockford said. “I don’t want to go to Lansing to make friends. That’s never been my motivation.” Stockford, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2020, will run again in this year’s Republican primary for District 35 of the state House of Representatives. The district includes Branch and Hillsdale counties and part of Lenawee County. The primary election will take place Aug. 6 and the general election will take place Nov. 5, according to Hillsdale County Chief Deputy Clerk Abe Dane. “I would not want to run against me,” Stockford said. “Our campaign is organized, we’re working on raising money to be competitive with any special interest that’s thrown up against us, we have support all through the district and across the state, including many friends in Lansing.” Stockford lost to current state Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Hillsdale, in the 2020 primary by 31.6% to 21.8%, according to the Hillsdale County Clerk’s Office. Fink announced his campaign for Michigan Supreme Court justice in September.

Adam Stockford is Hillsdale’s mayor. Courtesy | Facebook

Branch County Commissioner Tom Matthew is running against Stockford in the primary. “I don’t have much to say about him except he’s a nice guy, and I’m a better candidate for the 35th District,” Stockford said.

Matthew also serves on the board of health for the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency. He announced his campaign in November, and said he welcomes Stockford to the race. “Healthy competition is vital for democracy,” Matthew said. “I look forward to seeing

him on the campaign trail and trust the people of Branch, Hillsdale, and Lenawee counties to make an informed decision on election day.” No Democrats have yet filed to run for the seat, according to an online candidate list published by the Michigan Secretary of State’s

office. Stockford said he is focusing his campaign on self-government, and said he thinks the district’s residents want a strong legislator. “I believe local officials know their communities best, better than Lansing, and are well equipped to make deci-

sions that affect their constituents’ day-to-day life,” he said. Stockford thinks many counties have become “extensions of the state government,” he said. “Chartered cities, such as Hillsdale, Jonesville, Coldwater, Reading, etc., actually draft their own ordinances, making them more similar to the legislature,” he said. “That experience will give me a leg up on the competition.” Stockford said he will use his experience as mayor to make energy a focal point of his platform. “I want to reverse some of the disastrous green energy mandates coming from the capitol, amongst other things,” he said. “I don’t subscribe to nanny state policies that tell constituents that politicians know better than they do regarding the major decisions that affect their family, their health, and their professions.” Matthew said discussing disagreements during the campaign is an important part of American government. “The beauty of our country is that we have the freedom to engage in meaningful debate and fight for our values,” Matthew said. Stockford said his main goal would be to reduce the size of the government. “My litmus test is simple. Does this legislation give people more freedom? Does this legislation make government smaller,” Stockford said. “If the answer to those two questions is yes, it’s probably good policy. Otherwise, it’s likely more law meant to hamstring the individual.”

Meijer’s store, gas station plan to open by summer By Lauren Scott City News Editor Meijer expects to open its gas station in April and its main store in May, according to Alan Beeker, City of Hillsdale zoning administrator. “The company has been a pleasure to work with,” Beeker said. “They are very community-oriented and

have worked to establish and maintain a good relationship with the city.” He added that the Michigan-based retail chain plans to hire more than 300 people. Meijer will announce the opening dates for its new location on M-99 six weeks prior, according to Erin Cataldo, a public relations manager for the company.

Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford said the city will benefit from Meijer in innumerable ways. “Hillsdale gained an expansion of our commercial district, growing in geography, which means more development is not only a possibility, but a very distinct probability,” Stockford said. “Many of our local organiza-

Upcoming in the city:

tions are already planning on partnering with Meijer, and

“The company has been a pleasure to work with”

those conversations are taking place right now.” Stockford said the new jobs will have varying pay scales, from entry level to salaried management. Hillsdale College senior and Hillsdale resident Shannon Golden said she is looking forward to the variety Meijer offers. “Meijer has a great variety

of home goods, beauty products, and groceries that haven’t been available in Hillsdale until now,” Golden said. Cataldo said Meijer plans to hire residents of the city and students. “We look forward to being part of the Hillsdale community and providing a convenient new one-stop shopping option,” Cataldo said.

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

CBD Cardio Drumming will temporarily hold its classes at Hillsdale Brewing Company in January and February.

Jan. 14

Jan. 13

Hillsdale Craft Supply is hosting a Valentine’s Day card making class on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m.

Michigan State Police arrested Michael Paul Leyo for domestic violence. A $10,000 bond with 10% allowed was posted.

Michigan State Police arrested Jack Dean Loveless on 3-Contempt of Court Warrants for FTA and on a warrant out of Steuban County, IN. A $740 cash bond was not posted.

Jan. 12

Hillsdale County Sheriff ’s Office arrested Allison Lee-Marie Qualls for probation violation. No bond allowed.

Hillsdale City Police Department arrested Chad Eugene Lortie for PPO violation. A $500 cash bond was not posted.

Toasted Mud is hosting a canvas class on Jan. 23 from 6 to 9 p.m. Cost is $38. “Mom Meet Up” occurs every Friday at 10 a.m. at 9 East Bacon St.

Sports

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Sports Swim

January 17, 2024 A5

Women's Track and Field

Chargers grab top finishes, fall to Saginaw Hillsdale sweeps By Maddy Welsh Senior Editor

After winter break and a team training trip in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, the Charger swim team opened the year with individual wins against Saginaw Valley State University. “We did well in a very challenging situation,” head coach Kurt Kirner said. “We didn’t match up well because the other team did choose to wear championship suits, but I was proud of how my team swam in terms of their tenacity and how they were able to put together some good races.” The Chargers put up some top individual swims but Saginaw overtook Hillsdale 15477. “We were closer to Saginaw at our mid-season meet, but it’s OK since we are putting the hard work in now and breaking down our bodies so at the end of the season we can drop time and place higher at G-MACs,” freshman Izzy Ondracek said. Senior Caroline Holmes placed in the top two in each of her events, finishing first in the 200-yard freestyle in

1:58.35, and second in the 100 backstroke in 1:00.66. She swam backstroke for the second place 400 medley relay alongside juniors Joanna Burnham, Megan Clifford, and Lucia Ruchti, finishing in 4:03.07. “The first meet after our training trip is always tough, but I think our team did a great job of giving our best effort for each race and persevering through the event lineup,” Holmes said. Clifford also finished top two in her individual events. In the 50 freestyle, which Kirner said she doesn’t swim often, she finished first with a time of 24.93, nearly a full second ahead of the second-place Saginaw athlete — a huge margin for such a short sprint. She finished second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 58.05. Junior Emma Dickhudt was the third of three Chargers to finish first in an event, taking the top spot in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:07.54. “Our first meet back after a training trip is always a challenge because we are exhausted from all our hard work, but

Senior Phoebe Johnston races in Hillsdale on Sept. 23. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

By Cassandra DeVries Social Media Manager

I was very proud of our efforts and energy this past weekend at our meet against SVSU,” Dickhudt said. “We were all very positive and focused on giving our best efforts despite being tired from the past few weeks of tough training.” Kirner described the meet as challenging, but Holmes, one of the team’s captains, noted it was a good opportunity to gauge the team’s preparedness for the championships. “This meet was a good benchmark to see where we are with one month left before conference,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to attacking the last few weeks of training to put ourselves in the best position possible for GMACs.” Dickhudt, another captain, said the team’s morale

was high. “We were all very positive and focused on giving our best efforts despite being tired from the past few weeks of tough training,” she said. This weekend, the team will have its last meet before the G-MAC championships February 14-17. The Chargers will travel for a meet against Davenport University and Aquinas College. “They have some very good swimmers and I have a lot of respect for that coach and how he does things,” Kirner said. “It should just be a great matchup. It should give us one last chance to try to get some quality swims in, maybe even some opportunities to get some good seed times for championships.”

Men's Track and Field

Haas earns qualifying mark in first 2024 meet By Joshua Mistry Collegian Reporter The Hillsdale men’s track and field team started the season with a slew of first-place finishes against Ashland and Findlay Jan. 12 as sophomore Ben Haas earned a provisional qualifying mark in weight throw. Haas finished in first place in the weight throw with a mark of 20.18 meters. This mark was slightly shorter than his mark from December, which currently ranks second in the country. On the track, senior Alex Mitchell placed third in the mile with a personal best time of 4 minutes and 20.41 seconds. Senior Sean Fagan won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.50, and senior Drew Ransom placed first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.21.

“The team as a whole did well especially since we haven’t competed in 4 weeks,” senior Justin Doughty said. Doughty placed fifth in the 400 with a time of 56.30, and sophomore Nathaniel Osborne placed eleventh in the mile with a time of 4:37.14.

“The goal was just to get back into competition, and we did that,” Masaka said. “I think we had a few people that did really well there. But it was probably about what we were expecting.” The runners who competed in the mile worked on main-

“The goal was just to get back into competition, and we did that.” “Our goal wasn't to be super competitive,” Osborne said. “On the distance side, we didn't have anything super impressive, but that wasn't the goal.” Sophomore Mark Masaka placed tenth in the mile with a time of 4:37.06. He said the team saw the meet as an opportunity to prepare for the more important competitions ahead.

podium in 400 meter

taining a good pace without pushing themselves to the limit, Osborne said. “Our instruction for the first 800 to 1200 meters was to run fairly strong, nothing too bad, and then just kind of let loose through the end,” Osborne said. For the men's mile race, the Chargers also had multiple other runners finish in the top five, including junior Richie Johnston with a time of 4:20.61

and junior Ross Khun with a time of 4:25.44. "I think the main thing for distance runners is this meet was essentially sort of a training meet. Almost everybody did the mile instead of doing their specialized event,” Masaka said. “We'll start really getting into the thick of running after this meet on Friday, as preparation up till now has just been kind of like warm-up.” “I think we're looking pretty good, we've had some people that have had some really good performances, and I think that's going to continue,” Osborne said. The Chargers will host the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic, a tune-up meet, Jan. 27. “Overall, as a team, we do have the ability to do something really well in our conference, if we just keep the trajectory we've been on since last semester,” Masaka said.

The Hillsdale women's track and field team swept the podium in the 400-meter dash and took home four top finishes in the sprint events from their second meet of the season on Jan. 12. The Chargers traveled to Findlay, Ohio, for the second time this season to battle the University of Findlay Oilers and Ashland University Eagles. Freshman Zoe Burke won the 400 in a time of 1:00.27. Senior Josee Behling took second in 1:01.27, and Sophomore Francesca Federici placed third in 1:01.36. Together with senior Shura Ermakov, the trio won the 4x400-meter relay in 4:02.81. Sophomore Lucy Minning won the 60 in 7.95 and the 200 in 26.53. Sophomore Anna Lamoreaux placed second in the 60 in 8.27 and took fourth in the 200 in 27.02. Sophomore Tara Townsend placed third in the 200 in 26.91 seconds. “We did pretty well, but everyone felt a little slower the first week just because we weren't training altogether and with coaches,” Minning said. Ermakov won the 60 hurdles for the Chargers with a personal best time of 9.01, and senior Louisa Klaserner won second in 9.05. Klaserner also said the team felt slightly disoriented after the winter break. “It was hard to get that same energy up for the second meet because we're all getting back from breaks. Everybody's a little sluggish,” Klaserner said. “I think once we get rolling in the season again, the energy will pick back up. It's always just a little bit disorienting to come back after a break.” Junior Katie Clifford placed third in the pole vault, clearing 3.56 m, and junior Erika Mogelvang placed fourth in the high jump clearing 1.52 m. The Chargers began their season before Christmas break, competing at Findlay Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. After a season off, Behling

returned with a first-place finish, finishing the 400 in 59.09. Burke started her collegiate career with two track wins, taking first place in the 800-meter run before the break and the 400 after Christmas. Burke won the 800 in 2 minutes and 19.71 seconds. “We had really good energy going into our first meet,” Klaserner said. “Everybody was really excited about it.” Klaserner won first in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.97 and took third in the 200. Minning placed third in the 60 in 7.82 and second in the 200 in 26.10. “The 60-meter dash went really well for me — I got a PR in the 60s,” Minning said. “I like the first meet of the year because I don’t get particularly nervous about it since we leave so fast afterward.” Senior Morgan Iverson said the meet showed the team where to focus their energy. “It was a really good starting point for all of us. It exposed some soft spots and things to address, but we'll get into a rhythm here soon and fix all the things that need to be fixed,” Iverson said. “We’ll be ready when conferences come around in February.” After the first meet, the Chargers went on winter break. “Coach Thill sends us weekly training regimens. He would give us five workouts for the week and we would hit whatever workout we can on whatever day works best,” Klaserner said. “We just try to stay in shape and make sure we're running and doing as much technique as we can.” As the team looks ahead to its third meet, Iverson said she is confident they will master all the “nitty gritty, like super microscopic type of technical things” that will make them a national threat. “We want a bunch of girls to go to nationals so we can win nationals,” Iverson said. The Chargers will run at home Jan. 27 at the Hillsdale Wide Track Classic.

Charger chatter Ben Haas, Thrower What's your favorite SAB

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your hometown, Clarkston,

Bowling because it's fun

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to be competitive in a dif-

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house called the Woodshop.

If you could choose a

It was featured on "Diners,

new facility that Hillsdale

Drive-ins, and Dives."

would build, what would it

If you could add one color

be?

to Hillsdale's colors, what

I love Costco, so if we

would it be?

could have a Costco for

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students, I would use it

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every week.

Compiled by Jacob Beckwith

adds more character.

Charger

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A6 January 17, 2024

Women's Basketball

Chargers move to 7-8 over break, Mills to return next week

Sophomore Dani Hohlbein drives to the rim against Davenport Dec. 28. Courtesy | Reva Ludwig

By Moira Gleason Assistant Editor Despite missing two starters due to injuries, the Hillsdale Chargers defeated the Thomas More University Saints 69-60 on Jan. 13 and emerged from break 3-4 in the G-MAC and 7-8 overall. The team has continued to tighten up its defense, cut down on turnovers, and improve offensively as it moves deeper into conference play, according to head coach Brianna Brennan. “We’re working on sharing the ball and working the ball earlier in possessions so that we can get easy buckets later on,” Brennan said. “Valuing each possession is crucial, but then making sure that we’re finding the hot hand and we’re getting the highest percentage shot we can offensively.” Thanks to a strong defensive effort, the Chargers held

onto a double-digit halftime lead against a fourth-quarter push to upset the Saints 6960 on the road Saturday, with junior Kendall McCormick recording two career highs of 16 points and six steals in the contest. “We knew that defensively we were going to have to tighten things up and take away those easy shots so that we can make them feel uncomfortable and make them feel our pressure, and we did that,” Brennan said. “It was our best game of team defense thus far.” According to junior Caitlin Splain, beating the newest member of the G-MAC was a much needed victory after the Chargers fell to the Saints at home Jan 4. “It was a quick turnaround because we played them less than two weeks before, so it was still really fresh,” Splain said. “We obviously had

that game in the back of our minds. Our big saying was ‘revenge is sweet.’ And we went in there, and we got revenge.” The Chargers started the break with back-to-back losses 76-62 to Northwood University and 58-49 to Malone University on the road despite a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double by senior Sydney Mills against Northwood and three players scoring in double digits against Malone. Hillsdale went up against the defending NCAA Division 1 Mid-American Conference Champion University of Toledo on Dec. 30 for an exhibition game in front of almost 4,000 people. The Chargers put in a strong offensive effort including eight 3-pointers and a team high 15 points from McCormick. “It was a huge stage for us to play on,” Brennan said. “The mentality was, ‘why not us? Let’s go out there and give

them everything we can.’ And they did that.” The Chargers bounced back after Christmas to win two of three home games, beating Davenport University 66-61 Dec. 28, falling to Thomas More University 6555 Jan. 4, and picking up a 71-62 victory over Tiffin University Jan. 6. Splain filled out the stat sheet against Davenport, going 4 of 4 from beyond the arc in the first half and leading the team in three categories with 18 points, nine rebounds, and three assists. In their first game against Thomas More, the Chargers were up 46-44 going into the fourth quarter but went scoreless the first seven and a half minutes of the final quarter, allowing the Saints to take the lead. “We just had a lot of defensive lapses and couldn’t quite get the offense going in the

fourth quarter,” Brennan said. The Chargers had a strong 3-point night against Tiffin, shooting 47.6% from beyond the arc with 10 makes and holding Tiffin to 17.6% with only three makes. This past week, the Chargers lost 71-49 to Trevecca Nazarene despite a strong second half and a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double from junior Lauren McDonald. The team then rallied for their victory over Thomas More. With Mills supporting from the sidelines due to an injury, Brennan said other players like McCormick, McDonald, and Splain have stepped up to fill the void in scoring and rebounds. “When she’s able to come back, ever yone else has stepped up their rebounding,” Brennan said. “So we won’t have to rely on her to bring in those double-doubles every

game, although I’m sure she still will because that’s who she is.” With Mills set to return as a starter this week, the Chargers now head into a threegame homestand, beginning with Malone University Jan. 17 at 5:30 p.m. According to McDonald, the team is working to maintain strong defense and keep momentum into the fourth quarter. “We’re definitely focusing a lot on the defensive side because especially in the last game, our defense is what catapulted us to winning because we got the momentum going there, got steals, and got easy shots,” McDonald said. “We definitely want to keep the emphasis on the defense, but we’re going to work on playing all four quarters.”

Football

Football maxes out Academic All-District spots Eight Hillsdale football players earned honors for excellence on and off the field By Sarah Katherine Sisk Assistant Editor The Hillsdale Chargers football team placed the maximum number of players on the College Sports Communicators’ Academic All-District Team this 2023 season. This season, eight players qualified for the All-District team, including seniors Garrit Aissen, Trevor DeGroote, Drew Ransom, and Sam Zemis, along with juniors Ben Affholter, Bart Bixler, Ty Williams, and Riley Tolsma. The CSC All-America program recognizes athletes with outstanding athletic and academic abilities. According to head football coach Nate Shreffler, the CSC All-District Team recently changed their criteria to include a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and being a starter in at least 60% of the games or playing in at least 90% of the games. Thirty players met the GPA criteria this fall according to

Shreffler. He said the football coaches have high standards for the team, which the players fully embrace. “This past semester we had a 3.26 team GPA and saw 83/117 achieve a 3.0 GPA or higher,” Shreffler said. Shreffler said to optimize performance and maximize potential, the players must become accustomed to doing difficult things well. “I believe Hillsdale does that, on and off the field, better than anyone else,” Shreffler said. In addition to attending study tables, Shreffler said the freshmen meet every two weeks with the coaching staff to track their progress throughout the fall. “Most of our student-athletes will take advantage of the writing center and meet with professors as needed,” Shreffler said. According to Shreffler, getting off to a strong start freshman year is key in setting

successful habits for the rest of their academic careers. “I can’t speak to what other student-athletes at other schools go through, but I do know that we have some of the toughest admission re-

ed to football, you have to plan ahead and even sacrifice other activities,” Ransom said. “It’s hard, but the program's emphasis on excellence in the classroom means we get all the help we need from our

“With nearly 20 hours per week dedicated to football, you have to plan ahead and even sacrifice other activities.” quirements in the country and our students are challenged every day on campus,” Shreffler said. Ransom said Hillsdale’s high academic standards make achieving this feat nearly impossible without careful planning. “Time management is an absolute necessity. With nearly 20 hours per week dedicat-

coaches too.” Affholter said finding time to complete schoolwork during the season can be difficult, making for some late nights after practice, but the program framework supports the team well. “We have study tables for the freshmen and other guys who are struggling, but do grade checks with everyone

periodically to ensure we stay on top of things,” Affholter said. He also said he meets with the Director of Academic Services Christy Maier weekly to help manage his studies. Maier said she loves working with football players to help them achieve academic success. “I have multiple football players who meet with me weekly,” Maier said. “We discuss the challenges of the week, set goals, and identify strategies to help them achieve their goals. Then, the weekly check-ins also establish accountability.” Maier said these challenges aren’t unique to student-athletes, but they are intensified by the time constraints they face. “I think the greatest obstacle varies from person to person,” Maier said. “For some people, it’s time management; for others, it’s perfectionism; for others, it’s overcoming fear

and self-doubt.” Many of the program’s coaching staff understand this delicate balance well, since many are Hillsdale alumni themselves, making their support consistent and top-tier, Ransom said. “They are extremely flexible with any school-related conflicts, schedule frequent grade and mental wellness checks, and provide several tools for help with assignments such as a writing lab during daily study tables,” Ransom said. “Most of the staff has experienced a Hillsdale education and understand the difficulty of fully alternating one’s focus between school and athletics, so they help us in any way they can.” The CSC will announce the 2023 Academic All-American winners on Jan. 23, 2024, selecting from the pool of All-District honorees.

www.hillsdalecollegian.com

January 17, 2024 A7

F E AT U R E S

Starting the New Year with Christ

Forty-four students attended SEEK this year, 34 students more than last year. Courtesy | Paul Sri

Catholic and Protestant students attend Christian conferences over winter break By Michael Bachmann & Michaela Estruth Features Editor & Assistant Editor Ear-deafening music, bright lights, broad smiles, shouts of joy — typical descriptions of a New Year’s Eve celebration. While these are a part of the classic celebration in Times Square, they also describe how many Hillsdale students welcomed 2024. Hillsdale students attended two different Christian worship events staged around the New Year. A group of Catholic students attended SEEK, and several Protestant students attended Passion, a Christian youth conference with speakers and worship. This year, more than 60,000 people attended Passion, which sold out the Mercedes Benz stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, according to senior Addison Longnecker. Longnecker, along with senior Caitlin Dugan and

Dugan and Longnecker have both attended Passion multtiple times. Courtesy | Caitlin Dugan

freshman Eva Bessette, joined the attendees. Framed around Isaiah 26:8 — “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your truth we wait for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our souls” — Passion is a conference for young adults, to begin the new year glorifying God. “This verse drives the mission of Passion to see the name of Jesus lifted high on college campuses around the world,” Dugan said. Dugan and Longnecker have both attended Passion in previous years. The conference always occurs around the new year, sometimes on New Year’s Eve. Although it did not fall on Dec. 31 this year, the purpose of preparing for the new year in worship remained the same. “While this year it did not occur directly on the turn to the new year, it is a conference that helps surrender the year to God and His moving,” Long-

necker said. “It is an incredible way to start the new year and to really center your focus on our purpose.” Dugan has attended the conference for the past four years. She said her favorite song was a new release by Passion called “He Who Is To Come.” “It was a powerful reminder that our God is coming back for us, and he is still on the throne no matter how dark and sinful this world gets,” Dugan said. Junior Clare Oldenburg, who attended SEEK, agreed that spending time with Christ is a great way to start the new year. “It set the tone for how I want the rest of the year to progress,” Oldenburg said. “I was able to reset and had a lot of time to think about what the Lord wants from me this year. It’s like a New Year’s resolution but better.” SEEK is a five day conference designed for college-aged Catholics and run by FOCUS, More than 24, a Catholic missionary organi000 Catholics zation. SEEK started 25 years gathered for ago with just 50 participants. This year, 44 Hillsdale students Eucharistic joined 20,000 other college stuprocession. Courtesy | Fo- dents from around the country. “It’s really uplifting. You cus Catholic look around you and see lots of normal people — kids my age in jeans and hoodies, laughing, joking, playing pranks even,”

junior Paul Sri said. “You know that they are all there because they want to go deeper into their faith. It’s empowering to realize that the church is so alive right now.” Last year, only 10 Hillsdale students attended the retreat. Sri said more were able to participate this year thanks to financial support from FOCUS’ digital outreach. “This year was the first time

able to make it into some.” Participants also attended keynote lectures together each evening. Oldenburg and Sri agreed that Msgr. James Shea, president of the University of St. Mary, gave the most impactful lecture of the week. “He delivered the most profound and engaging account of the fallenness of mankind and our need for a Redeemer,” Sri said. “I can’t really describe it,

“It’s such a beautiful testament to the true presence when you have such utter silence and reverence in a massive crowd.”

we had an official group registered under Hillsdale,” Sri said. “We’re really excited to make this a tradition.” Students began each day with Mass in the Dome at America’s Center, the same venue where Saint John Paul II celebrated Mass in 1998 when he visited St. Louis. Men and women then broke into separate sessions for morning lectures. In the afternoons, retreatants could choose from one of several lectures to attend According to senior Elizabeth Dickinson, popular lectures quickly reached their maximum capacity. “Multiple lectures — conquering perfectionism, ten tips for peace, well ordered family life — all maxed out per fire code restrictions and the doors Oldenberg poses with her Catholic Society sweatshirt. had to be closed,” DickCourtesy | Clare Oldenburg inson said. “I wasn’t

but it was so real. I have heard many talks about our brokenness. Something about this talk resonated with each of the 22,000 people present.” Between prayer and lectures, students also had time for fellowship at lunch and games and entertainment in the evening, including a concert from Judah and the Lion. Oldenburg said the retreat is a great opportunity to catch up with friends from high school, old parishes, and summer camp. “I love the moments in between lectures when you can get to know the person next to you,” Oldenburg said. “I had a whole discussion about the platonic ideal of a shotty with a girl I met on the bus. What is a shotty? What would she be like? What would she look like?” For many, the pinnacle of the week is a Eucharistist procession in the stadium. Dickinson said the retreatants were joined for adoration by an additional 4,000 Catholics from

the St. Louis area. “It’s such a beautiful testament to the true presence when you have such utter silence in reverence in such a massive crowd. You see 24,000 brought to their knees by the Eucharist,” Dickinson said. “It’s so nourishing in a time when you can be so dragged down by the rest of the problems the world has. It gives you so much hope.” Crowds also formed for confession, which was heard by over 400 priests who also concelebrated mass together every morning. According to Dickinson, the line was over 1,000 people long. “They heard over 4,000 confessions in just two hours,” Dickinson said. Longnecker said she was also struck by the beauty of corporate worship at Passion. “One of the most incredible moments was when the entire stadium burst into spontaneous praise at the end of one of the worship sessions,” Longnecker said. “Unprompted by the band, everyone began singing ‘holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.’ It was such a moving thing to be a part of — the Holy Spirit was so present.” The last morning of worship was a small glimpse of Heaven before the start of the semester, according to Longnecker. “The worship lasted for almost 45 minutes but it felt like only a few minutes as we sang about our holy and worthy God who gave Himself to bring us back into a right relationship with himself,” she said. “I will never forget that moment!”

QUICK HITS with Khalil Habib By Elizabeth Crawford Assistant Editor In this Quick Hits, Associate Professor of Politics Khalil Habib talks guitar, Gregorian chants, and baba ganoush.

What is your favorite class to teach and why? Impossible to say, as I love all my classes, especially any class focusing on philosophical literature and political philosophy.

What’s your favorite Lebanese tradition involving food? One of my favorite Lebanese traditions is eating Qurban, Holy Bread, which is distributed by a Catholic priest during Mass on religious holidays and on the 40-day anniversary of the passing of a family member. Some of my favorite Lebanese foods are kafta, baba ganoush, Lebanese sausage, foul, and knafeh, which is a traditional Lebanese dessert made out of cheese and soaked with a sweet syrup called attar.

Who’s your favorite guitarist and why? It’s really hard to say. I love jazz/fusion guitar, and I would say Alex Hutchings is a big favorite and major influence. He is a melodic player with incredible technique and taste, and a great person and friend — I take lessons with him. I also like John Scofield, Julian Lage, and Grant Green. Lately, I have been listening to Jack Ruch, a great and tasteful guitar player out of Nashville who blends jazz with blues to great effect.

Do you have a favorite band? Not so much anymore, as I am not really into bands. I prefer jazz, classical, Gregorian chants, and Middle Eastern music.

Impossible to say, as I am still working my way through them. I would be overjoyed if I could arrive at a point where I can distinguish them intelligently.

What’s your favorite Charger athletic team? My graduate student Brazilian Jiu Jitsu team.

Why should someone major in politics? The study of politics is a study into the nature of man and the best regime suited for his development and flourishing. It is also a study of the political principles that shape our lives. Reflecting on those principles and their influence is an exercise into self-knowledge.

What’s your best piece of advice for students? Practice humility. Imitate Socrates and Jesus. What’s one fiction book students should read before they graduate? The Divine Comedy. If you had to choose between Plato or Aristotle, who would you pick and why?

What is your favorite holiday and why? Easter. It is the most significant holiday in the history of Christendom.

Habib’s go-to midnight snack is peanut butter and chocolate. Courtesy | Hillsdale College

A8 www.hillsdalecollegian.com

January 17, 2024

C U L T U R E

Barack and Michelle Obama executive produced “Leave the World Behind.” Courtesy | Google Images

Obama produces strikingly realistic disaster movie By Olivia Pero Culture Editor “Haven’t you been paying attention to what’s going on out there… We’ve all been deserted.” This is one of the final lines in “Leave the World Behind,” a disaster genre film which Netflix released for streaming Dec. 28. Based on Rumaan Alam’s 2020 novel, director Sam Esmail and executive producers Barack and Michelle Obama present a stark depiction of the U.S. falling into a doomsday-type situation. The two hour and 18 minute film follows the fictional Sandford family on vacation in an Airbnb outside New York City. Julia Roberts plays the wife, Amanda, who is an uptight working mother of two, married to a Type B professor, Clay, played by Ethan

Hawke. The couple has two screen-obsessed teenagers: Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie). When the Sandfords arrive, they visit the beach where they encounter the first of many strange events. An abandoned oil tanker called the White Lion grounds on shore, scattering alarmed beachgoers. That night, the Airbnb’s homeowner, George “G.H.” Scott (Mahershala Ali), and his college-aged daughter, Ruth (Myha’la Herrold), unexpectedly arrive at the Airbnb in the middle of the night while the Sandfords are staying there. Because of a citywide blackout, the Scotts ask to stay the night. In typical Type A, Type B fashion, Amanda doesn’t trust the Scotts while Clay doesn’t see the problem with letting two strangers stay in the house with his family.

The Scotts stay in the basement that night, and the next day it becomes apparent there might be some truth to their story as the TVs, phones, and radios continue to be without signal. Then George watches a plane crash onto the beach, and a drone drops thousands of Iranian pamphlets reading “Death to America.” TikTok users have dissected “Leave the World Behind” down to the heavy use of blue, the Airbnb’s paintings, and Rose’s obsession with “Friends.” Throughout the film, blue is a recurring color, symbolizing the chilling atmosphere of doom that increases around the Sandfords and Scotts. Amanda always wears blue clothes, the Sandford’s bedroom in the city is painted bright blue, and the televised emergency alerts are screens of cerulean.

Deer serve as another symbol within the story – one that’s comforting but apprehensive. They serve as a reminder for the characters to trust nature, not unreliable man-made things like phones. Hollywood’s liberal allegiance makes an appearance in the film, with nods to America’s history of slavery and a portrayal of modern racial dynamics. The bias is realized through details like the White Lion and the 1619 radio channel. The White Lion was the name of the ship which brought the first slaves to America, and 1619 is the year the White Lion arrived in Virginia. The film’s New York City setting also recalls the country’s founding. The original U.S. colony was significant in winning the American Revolution, creating a full circle effect of the country’s founding

and demise. B-roll shows satellite footage of the earth. Combined with the abandoned mansions neighboring the Airbnb, the b-roll proposes the possibility that the world’s wealthiest people — those part of the “evil cabal” — will “leave the world behind” to save themselves from whatever tragedy awaits. While viewers never find out what happens to the main characters, they certainly appear to be the last people on earth. Obama’s involvement in the film gives credibility to the societal collapse the movie portrays. After serving as president of the U.S. for eight years, Obama undoubtedly gained a deep insight into the inner workings of international affairs. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Esmail said he worked with Obama while writing the

script in order to make the film as accurate as possible. “I am writing what I think is fiction, for the most part, I’m trying to keep it as true to life as possible, but I’m exaggerating and dramatizing,” Esmail said. “And to hear an ex-president say you’re off by a few details… I thought I was off by a lot!” Regardless of your political affiliation, Obama supplies this film with the realistic dystopian feeling other films have missed. While some may consider the movie to be a conspiracy theorist’s fantasy, it really serves as a unique insight from elite members of the nation. Disaster can strike when least expected, so maybe doomsday preppers aren’t as crazy as some think.

‘Reacher’ proves TV still wants real masculinity By Caroline Kurt Assistant Editor When he’s not shooting down bad guys, Jack Reacher is busy breaking their legs or gouging their eyes out. He’s the kind of gritty television hero we can’t seem to shake: all-American, a man’s man, making the world he inhabits more delightful for it. The second season of the crime thriller series “Reacher,” based on the series of books by Lee Child, debuted last month on Amazon Prime. Alan Ritchson plays the title role. The show follows the adventures of Jack Reacher, an ex-military police officer who in the first season was falsely accused of mur-

der while passing through a small Georgia town. Reacher and the few friends he makes along the way find their physical and mental prowess tested by the ever-growing conspiracy against them, with small-town thugs giving way to national crime. Season two brings back only a handful of recurring characters as the ever-independent Reacher discovers a plot against his former military companions while living as a drifter in the South. It’s lacking the charm of smalltown Georgia, but remains action-packed and engaging. I’m not normally a crime thriller kind of person — my youngest brother will tell you that I fell asleep during “The Dark Knight” — but

after watching the first two episodes of the new season, I was hooked. Reacher is the kind of hero we need but have forgotten to ask for: self-assured, bold, demanding of himself and others, patriotic, and ready to put his life on the line to protect the innocent. He’s as masculine as they come. For better or for worse, Reacher spends little time examining his feelings or being “in touch” with his emotions. Rather, he acts. The core of the show, Reacher is shamelessly himself. He, for one, must not have heard that masculinity is toxic, or perhaps he just doesn’t care. The first season garnered a 92% approval rating on Rot-

ten Tomatoes, and its success proves that America is still hungry for the kind of hero John Wayne and Clint Eastwood once portrayed. While set far from the Wild West, “Reacher” still capitalizes on our fascination with brazen, gun-slinging masculinity. Viewers have the assurance that if Reacher is in the room, everything will be okay. Reacher’s cowboy-style morals are questionable at times, particularly in the bedroom. Nevertheless, my family and I found that skipping the sex scenes didn’t detract from the plot or our enjoyment of the series. I admittedly winced at some of the more violent parts, but there’s something delightful about the straight-

forwardness of the show, not bogged down by the intense introspection and navel-gazing we’re so used to in the media these days. Reacher does what’s necessary without hesitation. “Reacher” isn’t for everyone. Don’t expect the character complexity of a period

drama or the cinematic splendor of a Wes Anderson film. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart, but it’s well-paced, captivating, and ultimately satisfying, in a cowboy-justice kind of way. I, for one, will be tuning in this Friday as the final episode of season two is released.

Alan Ritchson stars as Jack Reacher in the 2023 Amazon Prime series. Courtesy | Google Images

Music, monogamy, murder Grippando releases new legal thriller “Goodbye Girl”

By Alexandra Hall Design Editor

Taylor Swift’s music ownership battles inspired “Goodbye Girl.” Courtesy | Google Images

Imani Nichols is a Grammy-winning pop star. She’s also the most underpaid artist in the world. As a teenager with no guidance, Imani entered a shady record deal with her now ex-husband who became rich off Imani’s royalties. Seasoned legal thriller writer James Grippando released “Goodbye Girl” Jan. 9, a novel inspired by the 2019 music ownership battles between Taylor Swift and record executive Scooter Braun. Braun acquired Swift’s first six albums, present and future royalties included. “Goodbye Girl” showcases how such strife can turn sour when handled by the wrong people. “Goodbye Girl” is the 18th installment of the author’s Jack Swyteck series. Grip-

pando’s own experiences as a lawyer inspire criminal defense attorney Swyteck’s adventures in Miami. Swyteck is notorious in the area, having already acquitted plenty of shady characters. Luckily for readers, you don’t need the first 17 novels for “Goodbye Girl” to make sense. Club owners, Russian oligarchs, and trained assassins flood the plot of “Goodbye Girl” and keep readers hooked with brief chapters that exchange character points of view each time. Despite its moderate length, the novel is concise and easy to follow with storylines that intersect appropriately. Nothing feels contrived, and the drama seems to happen in real time. At her concerts, Imani encourages her fans to pirate her music, and Shaky, now losing that profit from the

royalties, decides to sue. A mutual friend brings in Swyteck to defend Nichols, and he gets sucked into a case much deeper than just intellectual property. “Piracy” might be as outdated a term as “CDs” to young readers, but “Goodbye Girl” makes it more relevant than ever. The novel reveals the rich underground of industry pirating, giving characters the space to represent different viewpoints on pirating. Many people who pirate music do so to “stick it to the man,” when really they’re robbing their favorite artists. Some people who pirate just don’t want to spend the money. There are even vigilante groups against pirating who go to extremes in order to catch those at the top of the pirating food chain.

Years prior to the music ownership debacle between Imani and Shaky, FBI agents found the body of a man named Tyler McCormick tied to a piling with the novel’s title words carved into his chest. The seemingly random homicide from years before becomes deeply involved with the trial, adding layers of unfaithful marriages, crooked ex-boyfriends, and even Russian mafia ties to the plot. With Grippando’s past legal expertise and present thumb on the cultural pulse, “Goodbye Girl” offers an exciting, twisted alternative reality to the music ownership news stories that hit Twitter feeds weekly.