Collegian 4.25.2024

College to finish pavilion construction in June

By Catherine Maxwell Assist AN t e ditor

The construction of the Phi Sigma Epsilon Alumni Pavilion will finish in June, and new projects involving Central Hall, Mossey Library, and the Grewcock Student Union may begin within the next two years, according to Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé.

The college is also considering expansions to the Dow Hotel and Conference Center. According to a proposal presented to the City of Hillsdale Community Development Committee in March, the four-star hotel would feature 158 rooms, conference and dining facilities, and a public fine dining restaurant.

“It will serve as a foundational piece in facilitating both the visitor growth the college has experienced, and the future growth that is anticipated,” said Tim Wells, associate vice president of administrative affairs. “This facility would aid in the furtherance of the college’s mission in affording necessary accommodation and meeting and

event spaces so that the offerings provided can be presented to the broadest possible audience.”

Wells said the college currently receives an estimated 70,000 visitors a year, and as the school’s event calendar expands, that number is expected to grow.

“With the growth in visitors and event attendees, having a location that would afford people the opportunity to stay on the campus would have direct benefit to city enterprises and businesses,” Wells said.

There is currently no start date for the project because it is still in the discussion and planning phase, according to Wells. If the expansion moves forward, it will take approximately two years to complete.

Péwé said the Phi Sig Pavilion will be dedicated at homecoming next semester, but will not be open to student use until the spring semester. Students and faculty will be able to reserve the space through the Student Activities Office, but it will be reserved for alumni of Phi Sig during every homecoming.

“It will be a great space for

English professor to move to part time after 33 years

By Lauren Washburn City News e ditor

Professor of English

Christopher Busch is retiring from full-time teaching after 33 years. “I’m really grateful to have had the chance to come here,” Busch said. “The students have been just a joy.” Busch said he will remain in Hillsdale and teach one class per semester for at least the next three years.

“One of the best parts of my day is actually being in class and being with the students,” he said. “That’s why I didn’t want to retire completely.”

College President Larry Arnn said Busch has been a faithful servant of the college.

“He is a careful scholar, a beloved teacher, and an entirely agreeable man,” Arnn said. “We will miss him, and we thank him with all our hearts for his service.”

Busch came to Hillsdale with his wife, Lorna, in 1991. He said his wife worked at the college in institutional advancement and later taught a few English classes before she died in 2020. Their daughters, Antonia ’16 and Mariele ’19, are Hillsdale alumnae, while their son Brendan is a current senior.

“It was really my dream to teach at a small liberal-arts college,” Busch said. “I’ve really, really loved it so much.”

Justin Jackson, chairman and professor of English, said Busch is a caring and sweet man.

“As a professor, he wants his students to learn to love literature,” Jackson said. “Everything in his classes revolves around this simple but profound premise. I think students find his classes to be an oasis from the regular pressures of their academic life because of the way he approaches teaching and in caring about his students’ learning.”

Jackson said he knows two of Busch’s children well.

“I had Antonia in Great Books a long time ago, and I used to ball all the time with Brendan,” he said. “You can see the love Dr. Busch and his wife, Lorna, raised their children with.”

Busch said his favorite courses to teach were on Willa Cather and Robert Frost, and he also loves teaching non-English majors.

Senior exercise science major Morgan Iverson said she enjoyed her class with Busch. “He simply wanted you to love the books because he loves them,” she said. “Dr. Busch invites each student to share in the joy that he has each day, which is an honor to be a part of.”

Busch said something he appreciates about the college’s English department is that everyone is supportive of one another.

“We all love literature and we all love teaching,” he said. “Over the years, some of my best friends have been in the English department.”

larger meetings, smaller concerts, recitals, receptions, parties, chess club, classes, and casual gatherings,” Péwé said. “It will be a new hub for student activities.”

Péwé said the pavilion’s completion depends on brick and window deliveries. After the building is finished, the college will install irrigation and plant new grass.

“The lot will be flat, green, and perfect for various physical activities, lawn games, and the type of events that took place on the quad,” Péwé said. “We located the pavilion strategically so that we can still set up tents for all school events like Centralhallapalooza.”

The pavilion’s amenities include a large indoor room, kitchen, storage space, and men’s and women’s restrooms, according to Péwé. The covered outdoor space features a gas fireplace, radiated heaters, an outdoor kitchen and grilling station, a full-sun patio, and a firepit with built-in seating.

The Phi Sigma Epsilon Alumni Association donated

the land to Hillsdale College in 2022. Although the fraternity has not existed on campus for more than 30 years, Phi Sig Alumni Association member Ross Anderson ’79 previously told The Collegian that members continued attending homecoming celebrations.

“We wanted a permanent structure on that property that would preserve our legacy, honor the Greek system on campus, and be a safe meeting place for people,” Anderson said at the time.

Péwé said the college also plans to begin renovations within the next two years to extend Central Hall, renovate and extend Mossey Library, and reface the Grewcock Student Union.

Péwé said the school hopes to add more classroom, office, and study spaces and unify the aesthetics of the campus.

“Our plan is to harmonize without conformity,” Péwé said. “Eventually it’ll be one of the most beautiful campuses in the country.”

See Pavilion A2

City councilman kickstarts effort to repeal blue law

By Lauren Washburn City News e ditor

Hillsdale County is the only county in Michigan that prohibits restaurants and bars from selling liquor on Sundays, but voters could change that in November if a petition drive collects enough signatures.

City Councilman Robert Socha introduced the petition to repeal Hillsdale County’s blue law. If his effort gathers at least 1,492 signatures of registered voters by July 31, voters will have a chance to repeal the law during the election on Nov. 5. The law prohibits liquor sales in restaurants from 7 a.m. Sunday to 2 a.m. Monday, according to Socha.

“I would encourage my neighbors not to drink in excess, but I’m not going to encode that and enforce that in law,” Socha said. “To vote yes

and impose those restrictions is really handcuffing all local businesses with their Sunday business and sales. That’s why most places are closed on Sundays in Hillsdale.”

Here’s to You Pub and Grub and Johnny T’s Bistro in Hillsdale and Olivia’s Chop House in Jonesville are closed on Sundays. El Cerrito, Hunt Club, Underdogs, and White Oaks Golf Club in Hillsdale serve liquor throughout the week but remain open on Sundays, only serving wine and beer.

“When there’s a football game on TV at Underdogs and it’s a Sunday and you want to have a gin and tonic, you can’t order that because of this law, but you can order a beer,” Socha said. “It seems silly to me that you can allow one and not the other.”

See Blue Laws A4

Mock trial finishes season as second-best program in nation

By Zachary Chen Collegi AN r eporter

The Hillsdale College Mock Trial Team A came in second at its national championship tournament last weekend, after finishing first in its division. It fell in the final round to the University of Virginia, which won the championship at the American Mock Trial Association National Championship Tournament in Chicago. Before the final round, Hillsdale defeated the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with a score of 2-1 in the first round, then swept 3-0 victories against the University of Texas, Dallas, and Macalester College before splitting ballots 1.5-1.5 with the University of Georgia, according to junior Abby Davis.

The tournament included 48 teams from across the United States. They were randomly divided into two divisions, and the winners of each division

competed in a final round for the national championship, according to junior Abigail Wagner.

“It was so surreal to get to compete in the final because that round is such a crazy dream for me and for almost anyone who competes in AMTA,” Davis said. “It was so thrilling, and it almost didn’t feel real to compete in it. This entire semester our team has bonded over chasing this really ambitious and out-there goal, and I still can’t believe we got there.”

Davis, who won two All-American Individual Awards at the tournament, said the final round was the cleanest round of mock trial that Hillsdale had in the entire tournament.

Justin Lee, a senior and team captain, said he never expected the chance to compete in the national finals when he first joined the mock trial team his

freshman year. “None of it actually hit me until probably the day we were driving back,” Lee said. “It really was just like, best of all case scenarios, wildest dreams. I really couldn’t have asked for anything better for a final tournament for the year.”

This is only the third year

Hillsdale has competed in the National Championship Tournament, according to Davis. Caleb Sampson, a senior and team captain, said the team’s goal was to compete in the final which Hillsdale did not qualify for last year when they placed second in the division.

“To be that close, and to come up short, was what drove us to compete even harder throughout this entire season,” Sampson said. “So to make it to the final this year, to have that experience, was absolutely everything we had aimed for, and it was a blessing to compete in that final round.”

Jonathan Church, the head coach for the Hillsdale Mock Trial team, said the team’s success this year is the result of several years of preparation.

“The work they put in is absolutely immense, and it started really three years ago, where they got their first break to the national championship,” Church said.

The team consists of seniors Sampson, Lee, Konrad Vorbaarshott, and Curtis Herbert; juniors Davis, Wagner, and Njomeza Pema; and sophomore Patrick McDonald. According to Church, the team has gotten successively better at preparing an entirely new case for the national tournament in the short time between the Opening Round Championship Series and the National Championship Tournament each time they have qualified.

“Frankly, a lot of it just comes down to: Are you willing to sit in the seat and do the work that you know you need to do to get that short prep done?” Church said. “So I would say that the nationals run really started three years ago with a decision by the people I’ve mentioned to say ‘I want to do a pile of work.’”

Each member of the Hillsdale Mock Trial team won All-American Individual Awards at the tournament by qualifying for the final round, according to Davis. Additionally, McDonald and Wagner received All-American Witness Awards and Davis received an All-American Attorney Award for their outstanding performance in earlier rounds of the tournament.

Student fed to host coffee with construction workers

By Sydney Green Ci RC ulation Manage R

The Student Federation will serve coffee and donuts to students and construction workers on Friday, April 26, from 9:30-10 a.m.

“The construction workers are always very friendly, and try to go out of their way to greet us,” sophomore and federation representative Lucy Treene said. “I got the idea after seeing one of the construction workers drinking coffee on a cold day once and thought this would be a great way to continue fostering community.”

The event will be located outside the library by the construction gate, and the federation will provide coffee and donuts.

Federation president and sophomore Jacob Beckwith said this will be a good time to meet the new workers as they build the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education.

“We walk by the guys at the gate every single day for classes,” Beckwith said. “This is a great opportunity to get to know some of the construction workers and what they do because they are going to be on our campus working for the next few years.”

Eric Benson, a worker for Weigand Construction, said he is looking forward to the break from work.

“I’m excited,” Benson said.

Péwé said the schematic plans are done and the college has begun fundraising. The school would like to begin the projects while the quad is inaccessible due to the construction of the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Classical Education.

“Our hope is that by July we’ll be able to make some decisions about what we do next,” Péwé said.

The union will be refaced to be more complementary with the style of Christ Chapel, according to Péwé.

“The Grewcock Union is fantastic and everyone loves it, so we’re not doing anything to change the interior spaces,” he said.

The school plans to change the pitch of the triangular pediment above the columns and add a covered walkway that will run from the chapel arcade to the library, where it will join one of the library additions, according to Péwé.

Péwé said the college plans to add additions to both the south and west sides of the library.

“We’re planning to do an undercroft for the library addition that would go down these grand steps, and then we’d have reading rooms above that,” Péwé said of the west addition on the front of the building.

Maurine McCourry, director of the library, said the extension will add classrooms, restrooms, study spaces, and reception areas.

“We can seat fewer than 400 people in the library at any one time,” McCourry said. “It would be ideal if at least half the student body could be here at any one time to study.”

McCourry said the school hopes to begin the west addition as soon as possible.

The second library addition will expand the south side of the library.

“The administrative area of the library would pretty much stay the same,” McCourry said.

“I like coffee and donuts any day of the week and any time of day.”

The federation also granted probationary club status during an April 18 meeting to three new clubs: a women’s holistic living club, an old English reading club, and a marketing club — a chapter of the American Marketing Association.

Beckwith said the variety of new clubs is a testament to the initiative and varying interests of students.

“It’s exciting to see student groups continuing to form semester over semester,” Beckwith said. “I really love how at Hillsdale if there isn’t a club for something that you’re interested in, you can create one and find a group of friends that wants to be part of it.”

At the same meeting, the federation approved funding requests for the incoming senior class, Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority’s Kappa Blue 42 event, and College Republicans.

The meeting was the federation’s last of the semester. Beckwith said he is impressed with the work ethic of his fellow representatives.

“We had a lot of new members this semester and I have loved seeing them step up and embrace their roles,” Beckwith said. “I’m excited to see everything in store for the fall with a semester of experience now under our belt.”

She said the Heritage Room would either be expanded or moved and enlarged.

“It would be a much bigger reading room but in the same style,” she said. “It would be a very classic, comfortable, warm, inviting space with lots of books. The books in that area would probably all be behind glass just as most of them are in the Heritage Room right now.”

McCourry said the school also plans to renovate the interior of the library at some point in the future. The library has not had new carpet or paint since 1994, and much of the furniture is from the ’70s or the ’90s.

“It’s literally falling apart,” she said. “We’re having to throw away chairs that just fall to pieces and can’t even be repaired.”

The school also plans to add more outlets and refresh the library’s style, according to McCourry.

“I am hoping for a much more classic look and a much warmer look,” she said. “I personally would like to see a little bit more of the Heritage Room-type feel brought into the library.”

McCourry said the library also needs space to display collections such as Sir Martin Gilbert’s book collection.

Péwé said the college will renovate the Old Snack Bar and move the admissions offices into the new space, which will include offices and rooms for interviews and larger group presentations.

The college will also extend the back of Central Hall and double the size of the building, according to Péwé. The architecture of the extension will complement the front of the building and Christ Chapel, he said.

Sophomore Anna Teply said she believes the college is being very purposeful about making the campus cohesive.

“I appreciate the effort that the college is putting into creating a beautiful environment for us to learn in,” she said.

Angie Berry to retire from college bookstore after more than 30 years

By Christian Papillon Collegian RepoRteR

After more than 30 years of working for the college, Angie Berry ’83 will retire from the bookstore on April 30.

“My favorite thing about my job has been the people,” Berry said. “I’ve loved working with the staff and customers on a daily basis. They’ve come to be like family.”

Berry was born and raised in Hillsdale, where she currently resides with her husband. She said she spent her early years sledding, going to concerts and plays, and swimming.

“Hillsdale College is in my blood,” Berry said. “All through my young years and through high school, I was affiliated with campus as the child of a professor.” Berry is the daughter of the late Arlan Gilbert, who was a professor of history at the college from 1960 to 1998.

“It touches my heart that Dad loved the place so much and got to see me basking in the light of Hillsdale, too,” Berry said. She said she also worked in the bookstore as a student.

“When college came around, I initially thought that I did not want to go to Hillsdale,” Berry said. “I went elsewhere for a while and didn’t like it. I came to realize what a gem Hillsdale really was.”

After graduation, Berry worked in a variety of retail jobs off-campus before coming back to Hillsdale, first as a part-time worker and then in a full-time capacity since 1994.

“Angie is the smiling face that greets everyone when they come into the bookstore,” Bookstore Director Cindy Willing said. “She has supported all the faculty, staff, and students over the years.”

The college will host a retirement party for Berry at 2 p.m. on April 30 in the Formal Lounge.

“Although we are sad to see Angie go, we are so grateful for the years of dedication she has given to all her colleagues and students throughout her time at Hillsdale,” Willing said. “We wish her the best for her retirement.”

Berry said she plans on spending her retirement traveling, baking, and reading.

“Maybe now I can sit down with my cup of tea and read a book in its entirety in one sitting,” Berry said. “I’ve sold books all these years. Now I can read them.”

Sophomore Claire Lashaway has worked in the bookstore since her first semester on campus. “It has been a wonderful experience working at the bookstore,” Lashaway said. “Ms. Angie was very supportive and patient in helping me learn a new job.”

Chariot teams race down Manning

Nationals from A1

“All three are excellent competitors,” Sampson said. “They did an excellent job this weekend, and we would not have made it to the final without them.”

Davis was a powerful anchor for the defense throughout the tournament, Sampson said.

“I think Abby Davis’ closing arguments were really, really excellent — some of the best closing arguments I’ve ever seen her give in the last three years I’ve competed with her,” Lee said.

McDonald put on excellent witness performances throughout the tournament, according to Sampson.

“His signature Boston accent and characteristic smirk on the witness stand was something that charmed judges in both of the rounds he competed in,” Sampson said.

Church pointed out McDonald’s diligence and preparation.

“Patrick — he’s a wild man,” Church said “I’ve never seen anybody take more notes be-

fore a round. I’ve never seen them organize material the way he does.”

According to Sampson, one of the highlights of the tournament occurred when the team gathered together to pray at the end of the fourth round, which the team does at every tournament they compete in.

“At this prayer circle, after our fourth round of Nationals, it was pretty emotional,” Sampson said. “We didn’t know if we would make it to the final round. We thought it could have been our last moments together at a mock trial tournament. And the sense at that prayer circle was just a sense of gratitude because for the last four years of my life, mock trial has been what I’ve done and these people have been my community. And the opportunity to thank God for that was special.” Wagner said this year’s team A, which is officially numbered 1038 and nicknamed “the Great ’38” is very close knit.

“I’m sure everyone on ’38 will say this, but I think the team got where we got because

By Skye Graham Collegian Repo R te R

Professors talked Taylor Swift, tattoos, and Colonel Sanders while eating hot wings on stage in the third annual Hillsdale Hot Ones event hosted by Niedfeldt Residence in Plaster Auditorium last Friday, April 19. Assistant Professor of History Miles Smith IV, Associate Professor of Classics Eric Hutchinson, and Chairman of the Psychology Department Collin Barnes volunteered as guests at the event inspired by the YouTube show of the same name. Proceeds from the event went toward the Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center in Hillsdale.

Junior and Neidfeldt head resident assistant Harrison Layman and senior John Ritchey, Niedfeldt house director, asked professors questions while both professors and interviewers ate progressively spicier hot wings.

“The wings got so spicy that both the interviewers started getting lightheaded, delirious, and extremely sweaty,” freshman Jayden Jelso said. “It was clear they were in a ton of pain, all for our entertainment.”

Senior Christopher Dick, who also attended the event, said he found joy watching Layman struggle to finish his wings.

“The man went on a transcendent journey field by capsaicin and questions,” Dick said. “It’s fun to see Niedfeldt RAs in pain, and also seeing professors push through doesn’t hurt.”

Events like Hillsdale Hot Ones help humanize professors and improve the relationships between staff and students, Layman said.

“Sometimes we think of professors as towering figures who hand out your grades, but then you see them eating spicy foods and in their personal lives just like you,” Layman said. “Every single Hot Ones, I’ve walked away liking the guests more than I did at the beginning because it feels like I’ve bonded with them in their suffering.”

other necessities for the team.

everybody treats it as a family,” Wagner said. “And it wasn’t something that we wanted to do because we needed to all personally be national champions — everybody was doing it for the person they were looking at, not for themselves.”

Pema said she will miss the team and its graduating seniors next year.

“I’ve been on a team with them since I was a freshman, and they’re some of my best friends,” Pema said. “I’m going to be really sad to let them go and not have this particular iteration of the team again.”

According to Church and Wagner, family, alumni, and members of the B and C teams all came to support the Great ’38 at the tournament.

“The support from the entire community was a really incredible part of this weekend,” Wagner said. “It’s not like it doesn’t always exist, but when you do something like go to a national final it’s something you feel and see a lot more.”

Davis said team manager junior Natalie LeBlanc was extremely helpful as she took care of logistics, filming, and

“Natalie LeBlanc is amazing,” Davis said. “Even though she didn’t compete, she was so, so important to it happening this year.”

Sampson thanked the team coaches for their dedication as well.

“Our coaches, John Church, Lindsay Church, and Sophie Belloncle, are truly fantastic mentors and guides,” Sampson said.

Church was quick to acknowledge the critical role that the assistant coaches play in helping the team succeed.

“Our assistant coaches, Lindsey Church, my wife, and then Sophie Belloncle, one of our alums - they volunteer hundreds of hours to make what we do possible,” Church said. “We wouldn’t go to the heights we do without our assistant coaches.”

Sampson said he felt blessed to have been able to compete and honored to have captained the team this year.

“I’m grateful for the whole opportunity, and I’m grateful for what we were able to accomplish,” Sampson said.

Competitors gathered on Manning street last Saturday to construct wooden carts and race them down the road in teams of two. Kyle Johns | Campus Re C

Pavilion from A1

Due to Splex construction, CHP moved to Lane basement

By Martha Carson opinionS Czar

CentralHallaPalooza is moving for a third time — this time, to the Lane basement. After breaking ground in the Splex parking lot for the addition of four new tennis courts, SAB has been forced to move the annual event for another time.

Next week in The Collision:

- Elderly woman dies after standing eight consecutive hours at Easter Vigil mass

- Boy to marry girl and remain in Hillsdale post-grad

- Students hospitalized after cereal-box eclipse glasses fail

- Graduation parties mark first good shindigs of the semester

- Sajak to deliver speech sans vowels after unlucky spin

- SAB Chariot Race inspires new pony play club

- Students designate square of grass between library and fence as ‘new quad’

- CampusNet crashes during hell week as seniors rush to announce jobs on LinkedIn

- Historic: Member of Arete Club talks to female classmate

- Hillsdale Roundnet Club beats men’s soccer to varsity status

- Sophomore politics major gets Hill internship, everyone has to hear about it

- Koon detransitioning: moving back to women’s dorm

- Catholic cabal: Latin heard in tunnels under campus

- Tragic End: overachiever crushed by weight of cords

- Gate guy proves chivalry is not dead

- Full moon: pantsing accident during Galloway feast

- Record low: only five reported DUIs in Hillsdale this week

- College graduates 150 teachers, two are qualified

- Student joins Van Andel in effort to remain in dating pool

The event’s continuous changes have sparked outrage and confusion among students.

“I know it’s not necessarily

“Well, we usually have it in the big field near Broadlawn, but now it’s a construction zone,” said sophomore SAB member Karen Narc. “Then we thought we could move it to the quad, but now it’s a construction zone. Then we wanted to move it to the Splex parking lot, but now it’s a construction zone. It just seems really unlikely that construction can touch us in the Lane basement, it’s like a fallout shelter.”

SAB’s fault, but I’m still going to DM them ‘Go die,’” said junior Jay Erk.

“At this point we should just have it at Matt Byrne’s house, all of his equipment is already there,” senior Bert Hauser said.

Other students have taken issue with the construction trend at large.

“Why are we trusting the people who designed the Sajak Media Center to keep building stuff around campus?” freshman Aurther Critic said.

Despite the recent changes, SAB members say the event will still be as fun as ever.

“If you think about it, the acoustics in the lecture halls are probably pretty good,” junior SAB member Ann Noying said. “And who doesn’t look good in fluorescent lighting? I know I do.”

“At least this way it won’t matter if it rains,” Narc said.

Trump Tower to replace Dow Hotel and Conference Center

By Maggie Covfefe Senior CuStodian

Hillsdale is getting its own Trump Hotel.

Construction crews will break ground this summer on Trump Tower Hillsdale, a 52-floor high rise building which will replace the Dow Hotel and Conference Center. The new hotel is part of the college’s greater plans for campus improvement.

“It will be an excellent addition to our campus,” college President Perry Larnn said.

“This will be a place where our partnership can achieve its aims more fully than ever.”

Former President Donald Trump made a small gift of a million dollars to fund the first stage of construction.

“I think Hillsdale College is a wonderful place that does wonderful work in a state that I need to carry in November,” Trump said.

Guests of Trump Hotel Hillsdale can expect to find a U.S. Constitution Reader on every pillow, TVs displaying online courses, and red,

white, and blue towels. There will be several high speed elevators throughout the building, but no escalators so the Searle Center does not lose its one accolade.

Architects designed the conference rooms after the classrooms in Lane and Kendall Halls so visitors can LARP as Hillsdale students during their stay.

“We want our friends to be able to participate in the work of the college as much as possible while they visit,” Larnn said. “We also expect the new

Trump Hotel to open sooner than the Keefer House Hotel.” The Keefer House Hotel is currently expected to open in 2045.

Richard Inprints, the parent of a freshman student, said he is looking forward to the completion of Trump Hotel Hillsdale.

“Finally, I can stay right on campus for parents weekend instead of driving two-and-ahalf hours everyday from the nearest hotel,” Inprints said.

‘Too loud’: Cops bust afternoon baby shower on Manning

By Emily Fish Chief-no-more Hillsdale

city police shut down yet another rager on Manning Street this weekend.

At approximately 2:23 p.m., Officer Eric Young approached the hosts of a baby shower due to neighbors’ complaints that the music was reaching distracting volumes and the girls’ voices sounded shrill.

“The ladies were getting pretty rowdy, and we had suspicions that if we let the party continue, the whole street wouldn’t be able to take their afternoon naps,” Young said. “If I let parties like this take place, who knows what the kids will try next?”

The women gathered to celebrate their friend, junior Mary Union, who is pregnant with her first child a few months after her December wedding. Cops knocked on the door, asked Union to step out of the

house, and administered a lengthy talking to about the

said. “She wouldn’t dare get drunk while carrying pre -

city’s noise ordinances. Shower attendee junior Serene Wilder said the police have nothing to worry about because the guest of honor can’t even drink.

“Not only is Mary underage, she’s pregnant,” Wilder

cious cargo.” The baby shower playlist ranged from Ben Rector and Jason Mraz to Michael Buble and Stevie Wonder.

Sophomore ATO Zachary Louder expressed relief that the cops didn’t notice the

drinking games he and his brothers were playing in the front yard next to the party while blasting Kanye. “A lot of our brothers are underage, and we drank a lot of beer, so I’m glad the cop was distracted by the girls,” Louder said. “All they seemed to be doing in there was exchanging gifts, eating finger foods, and playing ridiculous games like ‘baby food taste test’ and ‘guess the candy diaper,’ so I’m not sure what the problem is, but better them than us.” Louder worked with the deans to compose a fair punishment for Union’s delinquency. “We’ve decided to assign her nine months of AA,” the dean said. “She should be done around the time the baby is born.”

City News

By Logan Washburn & Elyse Apel Associate Editor & Digital Editor

I’ll Be Your Rock, an LGBTQ nonprofit that mentors youth, plans to launch a chapter in Hillsdale.

“We have been working toward a Hillsdale chapter of I’ll Be Your Rock for about a year now,” said Christine Terpening, founder of the group. “There are gay and trans kids in the Hillsdale community that are hurting and are in dire need of the kind of support that I’ll Be Your Rock offers.”

I’ll Be Your Rock, which aims to offer “inclusive resources” and reduce suicide among LGBTQ-identifying youth, is planning a chapter in Hillsdale. It currently has chapters in Vermontville and Charlotte. It is planning additional chapters in Michigan cities Manistee, Middleville, and in Livingston, Texas.

The group pairs youth with mentors, or “rocks,” in a private Facebook group and monthly meetings, according to its website.

“Our rocks may be straight or a member of the LGBTQ+ community. A rock is a safe person kids can reach out to in a time of need and we listen, support and, if we can, we help them solve their problems,” Terpening said. “Our

rocks have tackled emotional support, food insecurity, transportation, medical needs, and school advocacy. We also celebrate them [the kids] by attending their events such as sports, plays, fair projects, and other activities.”

City Councilman Joshua Paladino ’18 said he opposes the group and its mentorship methods.

“It is inappropriate for adult strangers to speak with minors about sex and sexuality, especially in a ‘discreet’ way through a private Facebook group,” Paladino said. “These conversations should occur between children and their parents, guardians, or other well-known and deeply trusted parties.

I’ll Be Your Rock hosts private Facebook groups to connect LGBTQ-identifying youth with their mentors, according to Terpening.

“While Hillsdale awaits their chapter, we have a private Facebook group that any young person can join in for a safe space to receive positive messages and let them know how valuable and amazing they are,” Terpening said. “The group is run by ‘rocks.’ Kids are welcome to invite their supportive adults.”

One affiliated private Facebook group focuses on the Maple Valley area near the small town of Vermontville, just southwest of Lansing.

According to its description, anyone joining this group is “officially a rock.” The group has more than 150 members.

“We are working on ensuring Maple Valley be [sic] a safe and inclusive school district and community,” the description reads. “We will keep this group open for healthy discussion, sharing of community needs, and resources for parents. Anyone not in line with kindness and inclusiveness will be removed.”

I’ll Be Your Rock also hosts monthly meetings in Vermontville. Stacey Filak, the group’s principal officer in 2022 according to IRS filings, said in a GoFundMe post that mentors and LGBTQ-identifying youth gather at a “secret location.”

“The meeting place – a secret location that is only given to kids and their allies – is safe and anonymous,” Filak wrote. “The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable. It doesn’t feel like a support group. It feels like a club, and it is one that I’m thrilled to be a part of.”

The group’s website says it enables kids to “evolve and grow and change.” “Queer kids, indeed, know who they are at a young age,” the website reads. “We are more than monthly meetings. We communicate with kids regularly to check in and provide support in any way

Senior center to host

Amish lunch Wednesday LGBT children’s support group is ‘coming soon’

By Sydney Green Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale County Senior Services Center will hold an Amish Luncheon open to all seniors on May 1. The event will take place at the Miller Farm in Quincy from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and will provide free transportation.

“Our strategy is to get them out of their homes so that they’re not so lonesome or bored,” said Maribeth Kaltz, Successful Aging through Financial Empowerment case manager. “I think going to this Amish farm to have a full course meal will help with that.”

The event is sponsored by SAFE+, a program funded by a grant through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. According to Kaltz, SAFE+ seeks to educate elderly people on scams.

they need.”

Samantha Fether, owner and photographer at Fether Studios in downtown Hillsdale, said she thinks I’ll Be Your Rock will be a “wonderful addition” to the community.

“The number of children who feel scared to reveal their preferences or gender identity to their loved ones is sadly high,” Fether said. “I’ve heard counts of insults toward trans individuals, the use of ‘gay’ or ‘queer’ as a slur, and absolute disgust toward people who simply support the pride community – and this was mostly from adults.”

I’ll Be Your Rock expects to face some pushback in Hillsdale, according to Terpening.

“There has been some negativity regarding queer issues in Hillsdale, but those people can usually be quieted by stating the facts of alarmingly high suicide rates among LGBTQ+ youth,” she said.

The board of Families for Hillsdale, a “nonpartisan, nonprofit coalition” aiming to strengthen local families, said in a statement that it disagrees with bringing the group to the community.

“Proper sexual expression consists of monogamous relations between the husband and wife. These arrangements conduce to the happiness of individuals and the preservation of society,” the statement

reads. “Children as well as adults should be encouraged to pursue these modes of behavior.”

I’ll Be Your Rock tells parents how to work on “getting this right from the start,” according to its website, and works to build “allies” whom it encourages to start chapters.

“Allies are paramount to a healthy, happy queer person,” the website reads. “Being an ally can be as simple as honoring pronouns and as extensive as standing up for LGBTQ+ rights.”

Terpening founded I’ll Be Your Rock in January 2022 in Vermontville, partly because of her personal experience.

“I know what it’s like to grow up in a small community and fear that you may be gay,” Terpening said. “Full of fear, I immediately came out loud to my community via social media letting our youth know that if they needed to know one gay adult, I was that adult. I announced that I would be starting I’ll Be Your Rock, rural LGBTQ+ support, so that no community mourns the loss of one of their precious kids.”

Since I’ll Be Your Rock’s founding, it has hosted various events like a Valentine Party for “all LGBTQ+ youth and their rocks,” according to Facebook. The group is planning its third annual Ver -

montville Youth Pride festival on Aug. 17.

“We welcome all kind community to this event that is focused on a day of fun and inclusion for LGBTQ+ kids and teens,” Terpening said. The group opposes community members it deems intolerant, according to its website.

“Will there be hate? Yes, but an enlightened community will not tolerate them,” the website reads. “We have taken on homophobic school board members and hateful citizens that are willing to speak out.”

Strawberry festival to bring food, crafts to community

By Alessia Sandala Collegian Reporter

ter Recreation employee.

“Our basic premise is to just keep them safe and help them to fight back against things like scams or identity theft,” Kaltz said. “By educating and also helping them make connections with the community they don’t be -

come as vulnerable to being a victim.”

“I love cooking and baking and am looking forward to having them.”

The event will promote the educational opportunities provided through SAFE+ at the luncheon, according to Kaltz.

The lunch will be provided by Amish baker Sue Miller, owner of the Amish Goodie Shop. Miller plans to make a variety of dishes including apple and pecan pies, mashed potatoes, gravy, chicken, bread, and vegetables.

“It has been my dream to be a baker,” Miller said. “I love cooking and baking and am looking forward to having them.”

The event costs $10 and is limited to 24 spots. Those interested can RSVP by calling Perennial Park at 517-4372422.

The Coldwater Strawberry Fest is returning to downtown Coldwater on June 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will have crafts, food, animals, and an array of strawberry products for attendees to purchase.

Strawberry Fest will be located in the Tibbits Opera House parking lot and other side streets in downtown Coldwater.

Mariah Welke, recreation supervisor for Coldwater Recreation, said the event typically gathers a large crowd from the surrounding area with an estimated 5,000 people in attendance at past festivals.

The event will include many activities for attendees and countless strawberry related products, Welke said.

“We had more than 200 vendors the past few years,” said Margo Boyd, a Coldwa -

As of this week, Strawberry Fest has 110 vendors signed up but hopes to reach nearly 200 by June, according to Welke.

“We are going to have a petting zoo this year and we are expanding to have more food trucks than before,” Welke said. “We will still have our strawberry farmers selling their strawberries and a whole variety of good things to buy.”

The festival is not new to the Coldwater community but an important event nonetheless, according to Welke.

“This is my sixth year doing it, but it’s been going on longer than 30 years,” Welke said. “It’s a community event that brings people together.”

Welke said the Strawberry Fest provides a transition from harsh Michigan winters to spring. Many people who have summer homes return around the time of the

festival, and Strawberry Fest is a perfect opportunity for friends to g et together after the winter.

Welke said not only does Strawberry Fest provide fun activities but it is the perfect opportunity to find a last minute Father’s Day gift.

“It’s the day before Father’s Day, but people also like to get out in the spring,” Welke said. “There is usually nice weather so it’s really the first time people are outside wandering around seeing friends they haven’t seen in a while.”

Boyd said the festival hopes to have a positive impact on the area by bringing people to the community.

“We want people to have something to do, come out to look at things, and to draw people to downtown Coldwater,” Boyd said.

Prince,

“When you talk about opening it up on Sunday, you’re just opening up the doors again for more accidents, problems, and domestic violence situations,” he said.

If the matter appears on the ballot in November, Socha said voters who want to repeal the law will have to vote “no” and voters who want to preserve it will have to vote “yes.”

“The way the law was draft-

ed is the way that we have to put it on the ballot again,” he said.

When voters approved the ban in 1980, most voters within the city of Hillsdale favored it, 1,570 votes to 1,136, according to a document from Hillsdale County Clerk Marney Kast. In the county as a whole, 8,722 voters favored the ban and 6,139 opposed it.

Socha said his petition is available to sign in several Hillsdale locations, including Here’s to You Pub and Grub, Hillsdale Brewing Company, and White Oaks Golf Club. “Blue laws were there to keep taverns from opening because they wanted people

to behave well on Sundays,” Assistant Professor of History Miles Smith said. “But by the 20th century, they were heavily supported by working class Americans because it basically gave you a free day off from work.”

Smith said he thinks many people don’t see blue laws as serving a purpose anymore. “Because we aren’t as much

of a church society, they’re not prioritized as much,” he said. Ballot questions can address the same topic only once every four years, said Socha, so failing to repeal the ban this year means the next attempt could not occur until 2028. He said Kevin Conant, owner of Here’s to You Pub and Grub, tried to get enough signatures for a petition but fell short.

“I enjoy a nice sangria with my meal occasionally.”

Conant said the petition fell short of 600 signatures, as previously reported in The Collegian. Hillsdale Brewing Company co-owner Felicia Finch said although her business doesn’t sell liquor, the ban hurts those who do.

“As a patron I’d be able to partake in a local business for food and a cocktail,” she said.

“I enjoy a nice sangria with my meal occasionally.”

Finch said it might encourage more businesses to open on Sundays if they could have their full menu available.

John Smith, director of operations at Underdogs, said because grocery stores can sell liquor on Sundays, restaurants also should be able to sell it.

“We pay for a liquor license and it really reflects on business,” he said.

Socha said if this law is repealed, restaurants will be able to sell liquor with no restrictions.

“I don’t advocate for alcoholism or drunk and disorderly conduct, but I’d love to be able to get a Manhattan on a Sunday,” Socha said.

“It’s an old law that needs to go,” she said. “We need to enter this century and allow local people to support local businesses.”

Mike

pastor of Hillsdale Community Church of the Nazarene, supports the ban on Sunday liquor sales.

Blue laws from A1

Rainbow art by a 5th grader in I’ll Be Your Rock. Courtesy | FaC ebook

Women's Track and Field

New

Hayden

By Anna Broussard Collegian Reporter

The women’s track team hosted the first outdoor home meet in three years at the new Hayden Park facility, winning fourteen titles and personal records despite the cold weather conditions.

The meet was preparation for the G-MAC conference championships which will be hosted at the facility beginning May 1 and ending May 3.

Sophomore Anna Roberts ran the steeple chase for the first time, scoring a personal record and winning in 11:59.3 followed by freshman teammate Eleanor Clark in second.

“I will run it at conference championships, although I usually run the 800,” Roberts said, “it is a bit of a step up.”

There were many big performances for the team. Senior Lousia Klaserner set a new personal record in the 400 meter hurdles, senior Shura Ermakov had a strong 200 meter dash race, and multiple freshmen won events, Roberts said. Ermakov, who ran the

track hosts first meet

200m, placed first with an impressive time of 24.95 seconds.

“The racing went well. The conditions were not great, it was like 40 degrees and pretty windy, but there were a lot of positive performances,” Ermakov said.

The atmosphere of the race was a big catalyst for the positive performances, Roberts said.

“It was really fun to finally be able to compete on that track for the first time, because we've been working out on it for the past few months,” Roberts said, “Knowing that we were like the first team that actually got to run on it was really special.”

As a senior, Ermakov ran the Hillsdale hosted meet for the first time since her freshman season.

“The old track was like 25 years old and it was not usable for college,” Ermakov said, “My last home meet was my freshman year of college.”

Sophomore Francesca Federici, who ran the 4x100 meter relay, said that the atmosphere of the meet was super exciting

Women's Tennis

which rallied the team when looking forward to GMAC conference championships.

“It got us really excited for G-MACs and to compete when the weather is better will be great.” Federici said.

The meet hosted Lake Superior State University, Spring Arbor University, the University of Olivet, and Siena Heights University, but more will be present at G-MAC conference championships, Roberts said.

“The meet gave the team a little glimpse of how G-MAC’s will be, we will have 14 teams here competing in just two weeks,” Roberts said, “It was exciting to get a small taste and know that it's going to be a lot more exciting the next time we race.”

The Chargers will head to Walsh University and Ashland University over the week and weekend in preparation for conference championships.

Many Chargers will be competing at Walsh on Thursday April 25, while some are traveling to Ashland on Saturday, April 27, Roberts said.

Chargers end season with fifth seed

By Isabella Helms Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale women’s tennis team concluded its regular season last weekend by defeating Ursuline College 7-0 on April 20 and losing to Walsh 5-2 April 21, giving the Chargers a fifth seed in the upcoming G-MAC Tournament.

“Another great week of competition to finish our regular season and head into the conference championship,” junior Courtney Rittel said. “Ursuline was an easy win for the team, but Walsh was definitely a hard loss.”

Freshman Ane Dannhauser said there was a narrow margin of competition against Walsh.

“This weekend was good and bad. The match against Ursuline was tough because it was super cold and windy, but we managed to get the job done,” Dannhauser said. “ If I had won two more points in the first set of my match the momentum would have been completely different, but it was a good match nonetheless.”

In their match against the Ursuline Arrows, the Chargers did not drop a single game, clinching the doubles point with 6-0 wins in all three flights. The pairings were senior Melanie Zampardo and sophomore Megan Hackman at No. 1, Rittel and Dannhauser at No. 2, and senior Helana Formentin with junior Libby McGivern at No. 3. Hillsdale continued its

dominance in singles play, with 6-0, 6-0 victories across the board: Dannhauser (No. 1), Zampardo (No. 2), McGivern (No. 3), Rittel (No. 4), senior Julia Wagner (No. 5), and sophomore Isabella Spinazze (No. 6).

“The weather for the Ursuline match was not what we were hoping for,” Zampardo said, “It was super windy and felt like 35° so we were all playing with our hoods up and our sweatpants on. We were able to go the whole day without dropping a game on a single court which is not easy to do,” Zampardo said.

The following day, the momentum initially continued against Walsh as the Chargers captured the doubles point with victories by Hackman and Zampardo (6-4) and Rittel and Dannhauser (6-3).

“I feel positively about Walsh because 5 out of the 6 singles matches went to third sets and Courtney was able to pull out hers which was awesome, but the rest of us did not,” Zampardo said. “With just a couple more points going our way, we could have won the match 5-2.”

Rittel, who finished an undefeated day, was the only player to overcome a first-set loss and triumph 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.

“We stayed strong and won the doubles point which is super positive headed into the conference championship as the doubles point will be critical to winning the title,” Rit-

Men's Track and Field Chargers

win 13 events at home

tel said. “Singles was about as close as it can get. I had a huge three-set win at 5, but unfortunately, four of my teammates lost in third sets so we ended up losing the match.”

Tight losses in remaining singles matches contributed to their overall defeat, including a tiebreak defeat for Dannhauser at No. 1 and three-set struggles for Zampardo (No. 2), McGivern (No.3), Formentin (No. 4), and Wagner (No.6).

“Everyone put up a solid fight,” Dannhauser said, “and I know that we are going to be ready to take on Walsh again. At least on Thursday they won’t have the home-court advantage, and now we know what to expect. I am looking forward to the fight and can’t wait to see what we can achieve this weekend.”

Ending the weekend with a season record of 8-13 and a G-MAC conference tally of 5-4, the Chargers are set to enter the G-MAC Tournament as the fifth seed.

Their first challenge will be a rematch against fourth-seeded Walsh University on April 25 at the Center Court in Owensboro, Kentucky.

“The team is ready to face Walsh again on Thursday and finish those close matches so we can hopefully advance to the next round of the tournament and bring home a ring,” Rittel said.

Softball from A6

“I think we all play for each other and wanted to hit well and keep that going,” Eichholz said. “We had two games, and with five innings, you can leave fast and it’s a good day in the office. So I think we also had that mentality of let’s clock in and get this job done.”

Senior Erin Kapteyn said the games on Saturday helped the team build momentum for the large wins on Sunday. She said that Saturday’s experience helped each member on the team play a part in the wins.

“The team played great on Sunday,” Kapteyn said. “Everyone was able to contribute in some way, either getting an at bat or a spot on the field. It was really fun to see everyone get an opportunity to play.”

The Chargers celebrated five

By Joshua Mistry Collegian Reporter

Racing at home for the first time in three outdoor seasons, the Chargers took first in 13 events and won two new NCAA DII provisional qualifying marks.

Junior Ben Haas led the way on the field winning the hammer throw with a personal best mark of 64.88 meters and placing second in the shot put with a provisional qualifying mark of 16.84m. Additionally, his winning mark in the hammer throw moved him to sixth in the nation in that event.

Junior Cass Dobrowolski took first in the high jump, with a personal best mark of 2.14m, moving him up to seventh in the nation and potentially securing his spot in the Outdoor Championships.

On the track, senior Owen Gardner placed second in the 100m with a time of 11.13 seconds. Senior Benu Meintjes placed second in the 200m with a time of 22.26 seconds. Senior Micah

Vanderkooi placed first in the 800m with a time of 1:58.24. Freshman Noah Gazmin won the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 10:26.89 with junior Caleb Bigler not far behind, placing second in the event with a time of 10:52.09. Seniors Drew Ransom, Joseph Ritzer, and Jamahl Burke joined Gardner to place first in the 4x100m with a season best time of 41.91 seconds.

Ransom also placed first in both the 100m and 200m with times of 11.06 seconds and 22.13 seconds respectively.

“It was very exciting to finally compete on the new track. We practice on it everyday, but the opportunity to actually race on it is limited, so to say we were looking forward to it would be an understatement,” Ransom said.

Sophomore Mark Masaka and freshman Rhys Woodard joined Gazmin and Vanderkooi to win the 4x400m with a time of 3:37.41

"So we're gonna do maybe one more hard workout, and then we're supposed to really

Men's Tennis Hillsdale falls to Walsh

By Jamie Parsons Collegian Reporter

The men’s tennis team closed out the 2024 regular season with a 6-1 loss against Walsh University April 19.

In doubles play, the Chargers won one of three doubles with freshman Henry Hammond and freshman Ellis Klanduch claiming a 6-4 victory at No. 3 doubles. The Chargers lost 4-6 in both No. 1 and No. 2 doubles, losing the doubles point.

“Doubles is always a lot more stressful than singles for me,” Conrad said. “A lot can go wrong because of how much shorter the format is. In a full match like singles it is more likely that the better player will win. Doubles just has a lot of chances to slip out of your control quickly.” Head coach Keith Turner said he switched up the doubles pairings this match with hopes the team would win the doubles play.

“We hadn’t won the doubles point in 4 straight matches so I felt a change was needed,” Turner said. “We will keep this lineup for the conference tournament.”

In singles play, the Chargers won one of six matches with senior Sean Barstow claiming a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win at No. 3 singles, and securing Hillsdale’s only point.

“Sean continued his great singles play that he has shown all year,” Turner said.

graduating seniors on Sunday during the games against the Arrows. According to Gross, Senior Day was successful in every aspect. “You couldn’t write a better script for senior day,” Gross said. “Just the way they played, the weather, the games, and the crowd. We had a large crowd, and some alumni came back for the games. It was a very good weekend and a special senior day.”

Kapteyn said the day was full of emotional memories. Looking back on four years of Charger softball memories made her grateful for the time she spent here, according to Kapteyn. “Senior Day was very bittersweet,” Kapteyn said. “It finally hit me that my softball career is coming to an end. Looking at the dugout, with all the underclassmen cheering and crying when

settle into our bodies. sort of let that training sink in. Then really, it's to go all out at conference," Masaka said.

In the field, Connor McCormick won the pole vault with a season best time of 4.81m. Freshman Thomas Flud won the javelin throw with a mark of 59.64m, with freshman Ethan Dorrell placing second with a mark of 51.05m.

Junior Alfonso Garcia won the triple jump with a mark of 13.33m and placed second in the triple jump with a personal best mark of 6.2m.

"The team is getting ready to tune up this week and make sure we take care of the fine details so at conference championship we don’t foul any more jumps. We are praying for warm weather and getting amped especially off some big performances like Cass jumping 7ft for the first time," Garcia said.

Hillsdale will host the G-MAC Championships May 1-3, and will also be sending athletes to compete in Walsh and Ashland this weekend.

Turner also said the match against Walsh was closer than what the final score indicated. The Chargers underwent tight singles matches as Klanduch took his opponent to the third set at No. 4 singles, and Hammond had a close 6-4, 7-6 (4) match at No. 5 singles. Unfortunately, both players came up short in narrow defeats.

Senior Daniel Gilbert said his performance at No. 6 singles has shown him what he can improve on to be a stronger competitor going into G-MAC’s.

“There are a few things that I’ve been able to work out in practice the last week to make sure I maximize my potential at conference,” Gilbert said.

The Chargers head into the G-MAC Tournament quarterfinal on April 25 where they will begin with a critical match against Northwood.

“We need to win, simple as that,” Turner said. “They are a better team than the score indicated when we beat them 6-1 a few weeks ago.”

Gilbert agreed with Turner saying all the team is looking for is a win.

“Bottom line is if you lose your season is done, and we don't want that to happen,” Gilbert said. “Northwood is a good team, but we know we can beat them in every singles spot because we did it earlier in the season.”

the seniors were announced, was one of the happiest and saddest moments I’ve faced on that field.”

This weekend, the Chargers are scheduled to face the Northwood University Timberwolves in Midland, Michigan. They play at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

These two games are important for the Chargers to retain their current seeding in the G-MAC, according to Gross. The Timberwolves are ranked fourth, two places behind the Chargers.

“This is a big regional matchup and one that will help us secure our spot,” Gross said. “Winning these two games on Saturday would help us maintain the second seed in our conference. We’re sitting in second, and if we win these two games we will stay second.”

Opinion Kentucky Derby picks

By Faith Senne Collegian Freelancer

Sierra Leone: Although he has won three of his four races, this horse makes his move on the homestretch. While this strategy has worked, it has also cost him a win. In the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes, Sierra Leone made his move two furlongs (a quarter mile) from the finish. While he took the lead for a short while, he lost in a photo finish. Sierra Leone is a serious competitor, but it seems more likely he will end up behind Fierceness or Catching Freedom.

Catching Freedom: Coming back from last place, Catching Freedom won the $1 million Louisiana Derby last month by one length and from the outside. Both Catching Freedom and Sierra Leone make their moves two furlongs before the finish. But Catching Freedom had a faster time for the last two furlongs of the Louisiana Derby than Sierra Leone in the Remsen Stakes, despite the Louisiana Derby being a sixteenth of a mile longer. With his superior homestretch speed, Catching Freedom has a good chance of winning.

Underrated Who Wins? Overrated

Fierceness: Of his five starts — including three wins — the horse’s Florida Derby Grade One win has been his most spectacular thus far. Fierceness took the lead early, then pulled away on the homestretch to win by 13.5 lengths. Just as spectacular was his Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile win. Although he was not in the lead for the full race like his Florida Derby win, Fierceness pulled away from the rest of the field in the homestretch by 6.25 lengths. Fierceness will win the Kentucky Derby.

Charger Sports

Meet Joni

"She's more than just an All-American. She's a remarkable human being."

By Ellie Fromm Collegian Reporter

At 8 years old, Joni Russell was told by her Little League softball coaches that she would never pitch.

“I started taking pitching lessons at eight,” Russell said. “Then I went to my rec ball coach and asked if I could pitch, and she told me ‘No.’ Her daughter and the assistant coach’s daughter were both pitchers. I played third and first base for two summers and never pitched.”

At 10 years old, Russell was spotted by a travel softball coach while practicing her pitches with her father at her brother’s baseball game. The coach invited her to try out for his travel softball team.

“I had never pitched a real game in my life,” Russell said. “I was just practicing for two years. Then this coach put me in a scrimmage situation for the tryout. I walked almost everybody and hit people.”

But Russell still made the team and played for that coach until she graduated high school and became a Charger.

On April 14, the 21-yearold junior pitcher broke the Great Midwest Athletic Conference strikeout record. She now holds the record with 642 career strikeouts, surpassing the 616 career strikeouts of former Trevecca Nazarene University Trojan Haley Fagan.

Russell first visited Hillsdale College as an eighth grader for a recruitment camp in 2016.

“Joe Abrahams was the

Softball

coach at Hillsdale at the time,” Russell said. “He loved me as a little eighth grader. Actually, one of the Hillsdale catchers came and caught for me instead of my dad. She shooed him off.”

After a blizzard hit campus while she was visiting, Russell turned her search to Southern schools in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Growing up in Cable, Ohio, a small town three hours from Hillsdale, Russell sought out schools with warm sunshine and marine biology programs, the field of study she believed she would pursue.

“For the rest of my college recruiting experience, we spent tons of money trying to go down south,” Russell said. “I was like, 'I’m going to school in Florida so I can be near the ocean.’” Russell attributes her love for softball largely to her father, who walked with her through the recruitment process. Through travel tournaments and backyard training, Russell said softball brought the two closer.

“My dad and I are really close,” Russell said. “He caught every single lesson of mine until I got too fast for him to catch anymore. He’s a big part of my experience.”

When the pandemic began, Russell began to see the beauty of attending Hillsdale College and the community it had to offer.

“COVID really opened my eyes to what was important to me, and I didn’t want to be a marine biologist anymore,” Russell said. “I wanted to be

Chargers extend win streak to seven games

By Ellie Fromm Collegian Reporter

On Saturday, the Chargers defeated the Storm 5-1 and 5-0. They beat the Arrows 8-0 and 10-1 on Sunday, playing to only five innings in both games. In conference play, the Chargers hold a record of 18-4. Lake Erie College and Ursuline College are ranked thirteenth and fourteenth respectively in the G-MAC. The Chargers are ranked second, behind the Trevecca Nazarene University Trojans.

“These were wins that we had to have,” Gross said. “We took care of business, did what we needed to do, and played well.” Senior McKenna Eichholz said the Chargers played well

in their games on Saturday, especially once they adjusted to different pitching styles.

“Our offense did really well,” Eichholz said. “We just had to adjust to the pitching and we were able to get through the lineup. Once we were able to figure it out and go from there, we didn’t look back.”

Gross said the Chargers pitched strongly on Saturday, only giving up one run. They performed well in offense and defense, according to Gross. “Pitching was dominant,” Gross said. “In the second game, Erin [Kapteyn] shut Lake Erie out. We also hit four home runs on Saturday, and four more on Sunday.”

The Chargers played to five innings in both games again Sunday, quickly running up the score. Eichholz said the team played hard from the onset, to honor the seniors but also the team as a whole.

See Softball A5

closer to my family, and I was doing more research on Hillsdale. I began to really love Hillsdale and its values.”

Head coach Kyle Gross recognized Russell’s talent immediately.

“Joni was somebody that I recognized early on could be huge for the program,” Gross said. “And the more I got to know her, the fit here just seemed perfect. So I was really trying to show her how she could fit in here and be great, not just on the field but on the campus too.”

Russell said Gross attended many of her travel softball games during high school. During her junior year, he offered her a position on his team. Gross brought her to Hillsdale multiple times during the recruitment process.

Russell said she was fortunate to be given playtime her freshman year, which she believes gave her the experience necessary to excel early in her collegiate softball career. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association named Russell an NCAA Division II All-American athlete, and she was awarded the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore.

“I was blessed with a lot of innings my freshman year,” Russell said. “So sophomore year I felt a lot more confident and like I knew what I was doing.”

Senior infielder Grace Wallner and Russell became friends quickly during Russell’s freshman year. Wallner said she liked

Baseball

Russell’s positive and easygoing attitude.

“I had no idea she was this good of a pitcher until her freshman year when she just started mowing people down,” Wallner said. “Before that, I had no idea she was as good as she is as a recruit.”

Gross said he has enjoyed watching Russell grow as a pitcher, a person, and a leader on his team over the past three years. Returning this season after being named an All-American pitcher, Russell put a lot of pressure on herself as a team leader.

“It’s good for her mentally to be able to let go of that pressure,” Gross said. “I’ve seen her do it, and I think it makes game day experiences better for her. It helps her perform better because she doesn’t put that pressure on herself.”

Through all the success and struggles, Russell credits her success to her faith and teammates, who always cheer her on. She said their support relaxes her on the mound and realigns her focus.

Russell broke the G-MAC strikeout record in the first game of a doubleheader game day against the Ohio Dominican University Panthers. Hillsdale won the game 6-0.Gross said the Chargers and Panthers are conference rivals.

According to Gross, these two games were important for the Charger’s conference ranking. Currently, the Chargers are ranked second, one place above the Panthers.

“I tend to overthink things,” Russell said. “During the whole Ohio Dominican game, I was telling myself these four things — smooth is fast, The Lord is

my strength, one at a time, and for my teammates. In a game, those reminders center me.”

Beyond the pitcher’s circle, Wallner said, Russell’s faith inspires and comforts those around her.

“Sure, she’s a great pitcher and softball player, but there’s just so much more to her,” Wallner said. “As a friend, she’s an example of Christ’s love. She’s just such a dynamic and incredible person.”

An exercise science major and early childhood education minor, Russell volunteers at Mary Proctor Randall Preschool.

“I’m at the preschool all the time,” Russell said. “The kids found out I’m an All-American because the head teacher told them. Some of them will come to our games and it’s the cutest thing. I love it.”

Hillsdale drops three of four to Northwood

The baseball team hit the road for five games last week, defeating Grand Valley on April 17 and dropping three of four to Northwood University April 20-21.

This marked the Charger’s second victory over Grand Valley this season and the first time since 1999 that Hillsdale has twice defeated Grand Valley.

The Chargers started in a five-run deficit but scored 10 runs in the next three innings.

Junior outfielder Zak Kent and senior catcher Jaekob Sallee hit RBI singles in the first inning, but Grand Valley responded with seven runs in the bottom of the first.

In the top of the third inning, seniors Will Shannon and Jeff Landis hit back-to-back home runs. Kent hit a two-run home run, Sallee hit a two-run single, and freshman Rocco Tenuta hit an RBI double.

Grand Valley scored two more runs in the fourth inning, but Shannon hit a two-run home run, and Tenuta hit an

RBI single.

In the seventh inning, Shannon hit an RBI single, and freshman Tyler Turner hit a two-run single. Senior Danny Passinault contributed a stolen base and two hits. Aaron Jasiak also added two hits.

“Will had a great day,” Passinault said. “He scored a bunch and had a big game.” Shannon made five hits out of six, a career record.

“I was seeing the ball really good that day,” Shannon said. “It always feels good to hit well.

On April 20, the Chargers faced Northwood University, losing 6-3 and 7-3.

In the first game, Shannon opened the game with a solo home run, Landis hit an RBI single, and Passinault hit another solo home run, but Northwood overtook them and won the game.

Junior Tommy MacLean pitched six innings, striking out two and walking two, and senior Devin Murray pitched the final two innings, striking out three and walking one.

In the second game, Passinault hit a double, freshmen

Will Millard and Tyler Turner both hit RBI singles, and freshman Rocco Tenuta hit an RBI double.

Again, Northwood hit back hard and took the victory.

Senior Drew Olssen pitched four innings, striking out six and walking three. Freshman Logan McLaughlin pitched the final two innings with two strikeouts and one run.

On Sunday, the Chargers defeated Northwood 16-2 in the first game but lost 9-8 in the second.

In the first inning, Hillsdale made seven runs on three hits with three walks, Shannon’s RBI single, Senior Joe Hardenbergh’s two-run single, and freshman Will Millard’s tworun triple.

In the second inning, Shannon hit a two-run home run, Tenuta hit an RBI double, Hardenbergh hit another RBI single, and Turner added a tworun single.

In the fourth inning, Sallee hit an RBI single, and Shannon hit a two-run home run.

Senior Paul Brophy pitched five innings, striking out one

and walking none. Sophomore Patrick MacLean and Junior Kolin Endres both struck out two and had a walk in relief.

In the second game, Hillsdale lost 8-9.

“The second game was a heartbreaker,” Shannon said. “We added four extra innings but couldn’t quite get it.” Hillsdale and Northwood traded the lead back and forth for the better part of the game. Passinault reached third in the top of

C U L T U R E

Taylor Swift’s newest album filled with regrets

By Skye Graham Collegian Reporter

Taylor Swift released her long-anticipated “The Tortured Poets Department” on April 19. The album has a lot of impressive songwriting and commentary but fell short in some significant areas.

The album featured a number of songs that were lyrically and musically complex, but also a number of filler songs. With

31 tracks on the full version of the album, a number of songs didn’t feel particularly memorable.

One of the songs that stuck out was “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” in which Swift details her ability to perform while going through hardship in her personal life. The song’s upbeat style, combined with melodramatic lyrics, complements the song’s message effectively.

Swift expresses her desire to be married and have children through some of her lyrics. In “The Prophecy,” Swift laments her failed relationships and prays for her life to change. In “loml,” Swift addresses a past relationship and looks back with regret as she remembers the desire she had to be married to this person.

Though Swift’s previous albums featured songs like “Lavender Haze,” which critiqued

the institution of marriage, this album seems to reflect Swift’s maturing views on marriage and family life. This theme throughout the album, makes for an interesting departure from Swift’s previous work. There were a number of songs in the album, however, that didn’t stand out. “How Did it End?” and “Robin” were forgettable in the grand scheme of the album. While there are certainly merits to a double album,

the excessive amount of songs made it difficult to enjoy each song individually.

Though there were many great lyrics in “The Tortured Poets Department,” there were also a number of sacrilegious and blasphemous lyrics. In the song “Guilty as Sin?” Swift makes an extended metaphor which compares herself to Jesus being resurrected. This metaphor, particularly in a song filled with sexual overtones, was

unnecessary and concerning to hear in such a mainstream album.

“The Tortured Poets Department” is certainly not Swift’s best work. It’s also by no means the worst. It has its merits and its downfalls, but it would be surprising if this album was remembered by future generations.

Author to continue creative writing course in 2026

By

The Nigerian novelist and professor whose debut novel, “The Fisherman,” and his second novel, “An Orchestra of Minorities,” were both finalists for the prestigious Man Booker Prize, an internation-

al award given to authors of full-length, English novels from Britain, Ireland, or the Commonwealth of Nations.

“Writing is the one thing I have done all my life,” Obioma said. “It is for me a kind of lifestyle. I don’t think I could exist without writing.”

Obioma received his Bachelor of Arts and master’s degrees from Cyprus International University in Nicosia, Cyprus, before attending the University of Michigan to earn his Master of Fine Arts degree.

This year, Obioma is on sabbatical from his position as an associate professor of English at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is currently working as a distinguished writer in residence at Wesleyan University.

Obioma also teaches the Creative Writing Honors Program in Fiction — mainly as a remote course — for Hillsdale College.

Associate Professor of English Dutton Kearney said he first invited Obioma to campus in 2019 after reading a review on Obioma’s novel “An Orchestra of Minorities.” Obioma’s visit, however, was

delayed until 2021 due to COVID-19.

“I’m always looking for writers to invite to campus,” Kearney said. “Here was someone writing tragedies in the contemporary world.”

According to Kearney, College President Larry Arnn also found Obioma to be an impressive author as he offered him a job teaching a creative writing course.

Obioma has now reached the end of his second time teaching the course to Hillsdale students.

The creative writing course consists of eight weeks of reading and discussing successful works of modern fiction. The students then write two original stories building off what they learned from their readings, Obioma said.

“The fiction coming out from Hillsdale, both this year and last year, is quite unique,” Obioma said. “It is informed by the great books. The language is quite formal and distinct from what I’m used to reading from other books or magazines. The language feels almost pre-modern. It’s obviously a result of what is emphasized: the great books

and the classical education.”

Senior James Lauve is currently in the penultimate week of Obioma’s class.

Lauve said he has been writing original stories and sharing them with his friends since elementary school. He said Obioma’s class has been helpful in his development as a writer.

“Chigozie Obioma is a published author — that’s not nothing,” Lauve said.

While he was on campus, Obioma also gave a lecture titled “Connections, Disconnections, and Re-Connections in Fiction.”

“It’s the idea that every effective story deals with relationships and how people connect and disconnect and sometimes try to reconnect,” Obioma said. “The same can be said about real life. You grow up in a family, have friends, lovers, sometimes you disconnect from them and sometimes you reconnect.”

Obioma will release his third novel “The Road to the Country” on June 4.

According to Obioma, the novel will be in a war model, akin to “All Quiet on the

Western Front” by Erich Remarque, but focusing on the relationships of a couple and two brothers attempting to reconnect during the historic Nigerian Civil War of 1967.

“The entire novel takes place in the future and is witnessed from a vision from the seer,” Obioma said. “I have written about this war, a historical event, like it’s something that can be stopped.”

Kearney and Lauve said they plan to read Obioma’s new book.

“I think we’re really lucky to have him here at Hillsdale,” Kearney said. “He’s a major contemporary artist who has a vision. It’s really fantastic to see that what we do with the liberal arts is so compatible with what he does in literature.”

Though he won’t be able to teach the creative writing course in the near future due to his new book, Obioma said he is eager to continue teaching students in either the spring or fall semester of 2026.

Professors’ Picks: Francis Steiner, professor of Biology

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

“Wayfaring Stranger” (1858)

It’s a song I play on guitar and sing. It’s very beautiful, and it is one of the most highly recorded old Appalachian folk songs.

“Rats, Lice and History: A Chronicle of Disease, Plagues and Pestilence” (1935) by Hans Zinsser

It’s a picaresque account of how epidemics have shaped and affected humanity. It’s specifically about louse-borne typhus, caused by the microorganism known as Rickettsia.

“The Godfather” (1972) dir. Francis Ford Coppola, “Dances with Wolves” (1990) dir. Kevin Costner

This is a tie between “The Godfather” — because it reminds me of home (kidding… well sort of) — and “Dances with Wolves” because I love the topic and the majestic and almost surreal empathetic account of the Native American indian’s plight.

Malia Thibado Collegian Reporter

Author Chigozie Obioma visited campus last week to teach students enrolled in his creative writing class and give a lecture on relationships in fiction.

Chigozie Obioma said Hillsdale students write unique fiction. Courtesy | Dutton Kearney

Francis Steiner poses for his undergraduate senior picture at Walsh College in 1975. Courtesy | Francis Steiner

Adam Carrington to leave after a meaningful decade FEATURES

By Colman Rowan Collegian Reporter

As this semester comes to a close, so too will Associate Professor of Politics Adam Carrington’s time at Hillsdale.

Carrington has accepted a position as an associate professor at his alma mater, Ashland University in Ohio. The position includes a joint appointment as co-director and chaplain at the John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs.

Carrington began his teaching job at Hillsdale in fall of 2014 right after getting his Ph.D. at Baylor University.

“Leaving here is going to be really hard,” Carrington said. “We are not leaving, my family and I, because we’re frustrated or angry or don’t like it here. We have really loved our time here. It really was a question of where we felt called to live out our vocation.”

Carrington said he loves the work that Hillsdale has done.

“There are amazing things going on here that I’m proud and

happy I’ve been a part of,” Carrington said. “If I had stayed, I would have been continuing to be a part of those good things. But there is a chance to go back to my alma mater and try to be part of building something— and that is certainly attractive.”

Carrington said he hopes he can resonate with the many first generation college students who are like he was in college.

“I’m hoping that this can be an avenue through which I introduce them to the fact that it is wonderful and exciting to get to study these things in a way that I didn’t appreciate till I got to college.”

At Ashland, Carrington said he expects to continue to study and teach in his area of expertise: American political institutions and constitutional law. With his new position, Carrington said he will also have the opportunity to start and direct a law and society program.

“This would be very much liberal arts focused,” Carrington said. “It’s an interdisciplinary major looking to prepare stu-

The hero campus needs: gateman stands guard

By Alexandra Comus Collegian Reporter

He’s the hero campus needed, regardless of whether we deserved him—gate guy.

Gate guy’s job is to control the foot traffic around the construction zone for the Diana Davis Spencer Graduate School of Education building. He closes the gates when trucks drive onto campus and opens them when it’s safe again.

Dennis Cook, the original gate guy, said his father started working on construction projects for the college, and that inspired him to serve the college in its new construction projects.

“I’m a Hillsdale local, born and raised,” he said. “I have worked on seven buildings here. I worked on the Searle Center from start to finish, and I also worked on Christ Chapel when they constructed it. I also got to work on Lane and Kendall. That was one of my first jobs at the laborer’s union.”

Cook said he has been in the laborer’s union for 15 years.

“When they started this project, I went on with them again. I hop between different companies, but try to stay local if I can,” he said.

Cook said he typically does the same type of construction work.

“Usually, I work with the masons, and we deal with dif-

ferent types of brick and stone. Right now I’m working with the carpenters to create the foundation,” he said.

Cook said he enjoyed his brief interactions with students. He said mostly people just greet him politely when they pass by.

“I’ve gotten to meet a lot of students. Some of them have even asked about working, but I tell them that most of the trades do take a four-year apprenticeship,” Cook said. “A lot of it, however, is on-the-job training, and then a little bit of schooling.”

He said students this year have typically behaved themselves pretty well, except for a few people.

“We’ve had a few people walk up through the heavy machinery gate, and we are just worried about them twisting their ankles,” he said.

His most recent work tending the entrance to the construction site has earned him a fan account on Instagram.

The account, named “gateguycentral,” has more than 50 followers as of this Wednesday and labels itself as the “#1 Gate Guy Fanpage” in the bio. The page has various memes about Cook and his job. “I don’t even have Instagram,” he said, laughing, “But that’s funny. I love the community around here.” Cook said he will be involved for the duration of the project.

dents for the study and the practice of law, whether that be law enforcement, lawyers, judges, or other things like that.”

He will also oversee a minor called “Faith and Society,” in which he will study and teach the intersection of political theology and political philosophy.

Senior politics major Caleb Sampson has taken three classes with Carrington and said he has enjoyed seeing him and his family at church on Sundays.

“I am so excited for Dr. Carrington as he begins this new chapter of life,” Sampson said. “From what I’ve heard, he has the opportunity to create a truly special academic environment at Ashland—one that looks similar to Hillsdale and advances the same values that we do. More than anything, though, I’m grateful for his kindness and mentorship over the past two years.”

Associate Professor of Politics

Khalil Habib said he has had great memories working with Carrington over the years.

“I am sad to see Dr. Car-

rington leave Hillsdale College,” Habib said, “but I know that it is a great opportunity for him and his family to return to their roots and to be closer to family.”

Carrington said he greatly appreciates what he has learned as a professor at Hillsdale.

“Teaching and learning really requires that you truly care about and love, not just the material, but the people you’re learning and studying with,” he said. “Unless you start from that perspective, it doesn’t really matter how much you know if you don’t first love.”

Carrington said the same love of the subject that drives professors also drives the students.

“I have learned that myself, but I’ve also seen it in other faculty, I’ve seen it in the students. The relational leads to the educational,” Carrington said. “Never shortchange that or second guess that or think that isn’t an essential thing. If you can’t laugh and cry together, then that puts a limit on how much you can learn together.”

“I’ll be here. There are likely to be many more construction projects too, and I intend to take part in them. I might even retire here,” he said.

Senior Monica Blaney said she hasn’t talked much with Cook aside from greetings as she passes, but she has noticed when he plays music.

“Typically there’s rock music playing, but one day I walked by and he had classical music playing. It was a little out of the ordinary, but I thought it was kind of cool,” Blaney said. Blaney said she enjoyed the subversion of expectations.

“It was lovely. I thought it was very classy—not what you typically associate with construction workers just ‘getting the job done,’ you know?”

Erik Benson, a construction worker who fills in at the gate when Cook is on other tasks or on break, said he is newer to the type of construction work they are doing at Hillsdale.

“I’m a local, and I did eight years of residential work,” Benson said. “I just got into

the apprenticeship last year to do commercial work, but I’m pretty green when it comes to laying concrete foundations.”

Benson said most students he interacts with are polite and pleasant to deal with—with a few exceptions.

“There are a couple of notso-smart guys who will try to come through when I have my gate closed, and I just stare at them,” Benson said.

Benson said the amount of workers will increase soon, and they can augment the number of people who have shifts to man the gate.

“We’ve got two more workers who are supposed to start April 17, and hopefully when they come, I can be out in the field learning,” Benson said.

Although the job may be tiring at times, construction work provides a worker with a skillset that can benefit him or her for life.

“It’s a nice career, because once you learn a trade you can take it anywhere you go,” Cook said.

20 year old excels in grad school

By Caroline Kurt Assistant Editor

Jameson Payne was just 12 years old when he took his first college class—a biochemistry course the summer before he entered seventh grade.

“The average age in that class had to be 35 or 40,” Payne said. Many of his classmates were veterans of the military studying for a nursing degree. When Payne raised his hand for attendance, the professor stopped short.

“The professor was like, ‘You’re funny. Is your mom or dad sitting in the class?’” Payne said. “He really did not believe me.”

The professor then put a problem up on the board and glanced at Payne.

“It was a super easy problem, nothing special,” Payne said. “So I got up and I answered it. He was dumbfounded, like, ‘What the heck am I witnessing?’”

When Payne started his first semester as a Van Andel School of Statesmanship student this January, he had not yet turned 20 years old. Though the age of a college sophomore, Payne has earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and political science from Kent State University, traveled Europe with his cousin, and done research for the Heritage Foundation.

some substantive work,” Payne said.

After his time at the Heritage Foundation, Payne began work on a scholarly law review concerning the 14th Amendment, racial classifications, and affirmative action through the George Mason University Civil Rights Law Journal.

When Payne’s cousin came to visit him in D.C., the two decided to travel to Europe.

“We were thinking, ‘He’s about to be in the National Guard, I’m about to be off to law school or somewhere or other. This is really the last time we can do something,’” Payne said. “It was a very fly by the seat of our pants thing.”

The summer of 2023, the two traveled through the UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, and Germany.

“I came back and I was putting serious thought into what I wanted to do next,” Payne said.

Payne decided a masters in statesmanship from Hillsdale would best equip him for law school.

“You need a strong backing in political theory and Amer-

“I never took any high school classes.”

ican history because constitutional law is not like traditional law,” Payne said. “It is very first principles based and so this kind of thing is perfect.”

An Ohio native, Payne took advantage of his state’s College Credit Plus, a program that allows students to earn high school and college credits at the same time. Payne’s biochemistry course was his first class in the program.

“I started part time and then in what would have been my ninth grade year of high school, I just went full time,” Payne said. “I never took any high school classes.”

Though Payne began college wanting to be a chemist, he became interested in constitutional law and changed his career plans. Payne interned at New Civil Liberties Alliance, a law firm in Washington D.C. after graduating Kent State in 2022.

“That was kind of my jumping-in point into the world of conservative public policy and litigation,” Payne said.

From his boss, Payne learned about an opening at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Legal and Judicial Studies. There, he worked as a research assistant for eight months.

“I’m glad that they really gave me the opportunity to do

Payne said he found Hillsdale a welcoming place with a strong community and approachable faculty. He decided to live on campus in Galloway Residence.

Freshman Paul Bwamiki, Payne’s roommate, first met Payne through the dean of men over Christmas break.

“Jameson loves God, he is a focused and determined man, he is a problem solver,” Bwamiki said. “Jameson is a man I love. He is more than my roommate, he is a brother to me.”

Mark Kremer, associate professor of politics, teaches Payne in his politics and Shakespeare course. “He’s insightful,” Kremer said. “He definitely feels with the texts, and he can psychologize with the characters.”

Payne credits much of his success to his family — his grandmother, who drove him to college classes before he had a driver’s license, and his parents, who supported and encouraged his interests.

“I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for their help and their love,” Payne said.

Cook, who has been dubbed “gate guy” by students, stands guard at the contruction site. Alexandra Comus | Collegian

Students promote Carrington for the 2024 election. Courtesy | Adam Carrington