Collegian 2.8.2024

SAB hosts first-ever escape room night

Ohio Attorney General and Solicitor General visit campus, speak on wielding political power

By Jackson Casey CollEgiAn FrEElAnCEr

If Republicans want to combat a progressive agenda in civic life, they must understand how and when to use political power, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost told students at a Federalist Society event Tuesday.

“We have not infrequently had moments where we had political power, but we have been extraordinarily reluctant to use it,” Yost said. “The goal is to be able to have enough power, and once you have the power, you must have the courage of your convictions because the people who gave you power gave it to you for a reason.”

The Republican attorney general said he feels the conservative movement has not yet reached that place. In Washington, D.C., he pointed out, Republicans control only half of Congress.

“Conservatives frequently don’t have the power they think they have,” he said. “If you’re going to exercise power, you need to know how much power you actually have. Conservatives frequently kid themselves about it.”

Elliot Gaiser ’12, Ohio’s new solicitor general who was opinions editor of The Collegian in the 2011 to 2012 school year, joined Yost for the talk in the Heritage Room. Gaiser noted that even though conservatives might have to adapt their political strategies to check their opponents’ successes, doing so should never come at the expense of their principles.

“I categorically reject Machiavellian thinking that because some faction is using power in some respect, we therefore need to use power in an equal and opposite way without connecting that to some higher and truer principle,” Gaiser said.

The two discussed the ways the evolution of America’s prevailing civic theory has affected the political process and institutions more broadly. Their conversation approached these issues from a distinctly philosophical perspective.

“Freedom is not merely the absence of boundaries,” Gaiser said. “It is, in fact, defined limits that can create the certainty that you need to order your affairs in

accord with the laws of nature and nature’s God.”

Yost stressed that our institutions no longer impress the ideals they stand for upon the individuals within them. Rather, they have become captive to the ambitions of partisan actors, he said.

“Those institutions are no longer formative. We are actually deforming them because they’ve become platforms,” Yost said. “The institution is their platform for promoting their career, their identity, and their ideas — from there it’s a very short journey to the creation of an oligarchic system that overrides the idea of popular sovereignty.”

In his mind, young Americans can combat this shift by living and working according to the values those institutions were built to defend.

“Ask yourself, what do your jobs and the institutions that you’re a part of limit how you should live, rather than asking how they can promote the way you want to live,” Yost said. “I think it’s necessary if we’re going to once again build institutions that will hold together a plural-

istic society.”

He also said that a more genuine kind of statesmanship in line with that mindset was once much more common.

“Believe it or not, there was a time when politicians wouldn’t do certain things just because they might be able to get on the evening news,” Yost said.

Federalist Society secretary and junior Tobias Klooster said he feels a more active approach to using government power does not necessarily conflict with limiting the scope of government according to the Founders’ vision.

“I think that the general idea of demarking where the state’s power is and reinforcing that power when it’s necessary and proper, and making sure that the federal government stays within its enumerated powers, is especially important,” he said. Yost made sure to note that these specific aims align with the broader pursuit of good things in our society.

“Don’t let the mob convince you that the beautiful is actually ugly or trite,” Yost said. “Never give up on finding what is true.”

CCA III covers the art of biography

By Christian Papillon Coll E gi A n rE port E r

Biography is a tool not only for learning about the accomplishments of historical figures, but also for learning about good character and the times in which they lived, speakers at this week’s Center for Constructive Alternatives seminar said.

Hillsdale College’s third CCA of the academic year, “The Art of Biography,” ran Feb. 4-7.

Roger Kimball, editor and publisher of The New Criterion, spoke on Sunday afternoon on “Plutarch and the Art of Biography.”

“Plutarch’s goal was emulation,” Kimball said. “He wrote about famous men of the past primarily to disclose their virtues in order that we might aspire to embody those virtues.”

Kimball mainly discussed Plutarch’s work “Parallel Lives,” which consists of 23 pairs of Greeks and Romans who, in Plutarch’s view, shared similar destinies, such as Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar.

“His general procedure was to write the life of a prominent Greek and cast about for a suitable Roman counterpart,” Kimball said.

According to Kimball, 19 of the pairings include a brief footnote describing the similarities between the two figures, and Kimball believes that at one point all of them likely had similar notes.

Jonathan Eller, author of “Bradbury: Beyond Apollo,” spoke Monday afternoon about author Ray Bradbury. Eller talked of Bradbury’s writing career and his inspirations for writing “Fahrenheit 451,” namely Arthur Koestler’s “Darkness at Noon.”

“Arthur Koestler got it,” Eller said. “This book had a tremendous impact on Ray Bradbury, even before he was thinking of writing that book of an inverted world where firemen start fires instead of putting them out.”

Eller spoke of Bradbury’s writing style, which in turn inspired John Collier and Stephen King.

“Ray is the writer who takes the supernatural, traditional, gothic tale out of the forest and out of the castle, and puts it in small towns and suburbs,” he said.

Troy Senik, co-founder of digital media site Kite and Key Media, spoke Monday evening about the life and presidency of Grover Cleveland.

Senik said the idea that Americans regard Cleveland as an average to below average president is a new one.

“Grover Cleveland was not by any means regarded as a marginal president in his own day or in the generations that followed,” Senik said.

Senik cited a 1948 survey that ranked Cleveland the eighth-best president, just behind Theodore Roosevelt. Senik said that currently, Americans judge Cleveland with standards for modern presidents.

“If the way we think about presidents is going to be in any way coherent, we have to find a way to judge them that is responsive to what the office was when they held it,” Senik said.

Junior Brian Knewtson said he found Senik’s lecture on Cleveland particularly interesting.

“I appreciated how much the speaker had to convey about a president we did not know much about,” Knewtson said. “It was a good choice for the CCA to talk about someone who was known for good moral character.” Anne Keene, author of “Cloudbuster Nine: The Untold Story of Ted Williams and the Baseball Team That Helped Win World War II,” spoke Tuesday afternoon about professional athletes who served in World War II. Keene said the military valued sports experience.

See CCA A2

Curate hosts fifth-annual summit in Searle Center

By Michaela Estruth AssistAnt Editor

Taking time to pause and appreciate the unique experiences of any season of life is essential, Rebekah Dell, dean of women, said in her introductory talk at the Curate Summit on Feb. 3.

“Ask yourself, ‘What is something to experience in this season of life that I may not experience in any other season,’”

Dell said.

Women across campus gathered in the Searle Center for the fifth annual Curate Summit for a day centered around the theme of wonder. The event lasted from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with breakfast and lunch provided, and presented talks on topics including family origins, friendships, marriage and motherhood, hospitality, identity, and social media.

“One of my biggest takeaways from Curate every year is the essential need for a community of women because we

are connected and supported through one another not only by humanness but specifically by the callings of womanhood,” senior Ingrid Dornbirer said. Dell and other speakers challenged women to find beauty in the ordinary.

Freshman Lucy Hicks said she appreciated Dell’s advice to notice what the blessings are in every season. “Be content in the season you are in, embrace that season, wonder at it and at what you have now,” Hicks said. “However, that doesn’t mean you can’t look ahead, plan for the future, and be excited about it. But don’t skip over where God has put you now.”

Speaker Caroline Greb ’19 also challenged her audience to slow down and consider the beauty around them. “We have lost the muscle to exercise something slow,” Greb said. “We must chew instead of just snack. Let yourself enjoy the six course meal.”

Greb spoke on reclaiming beauty in a digital age, sharing her balance as a mother and artist and her usage of social media. She played on the social media idea of an influencer, saying that her influence is over her children and her customers in her efforts to show them the beauty in front of them.

“With Christian liberty comes Christian discernment,” Greb said. “The gospel should always be the ultimate place people are pointed. I must point them to the first things first and the second things second.”

The intention of influence and ease at which it should be done also emerged in a panel on hospitality.

“A hindrance is thinking it has to be a big ordeal, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be very casual,” Grace Balkan, executive assistant to the president, said in a panel on hospitality.

See Curate A2

Students gathered in Kendall and Lane Halls for an escape room night hosted by the Student Activities Board last week. Senior Sophia Frigerio, senior Chris Dick, freshman Austin Piecuch, and senior Ewan Hayes (left to right) work on their puzzle together in a classroom. Courtesy | e rik t eder

Senior Ingrid Dornbirer and alumna Greta Dornbirer ’22 pose for a photo at the Curate summit. Courtesy | i ngrid d ornbirer

Chapel Choir performs first concert of the semester

By Ellie Fromm Collegian Repo R te R

The Chapel Choir performed an array of Christian spiritual music in its first performance of the semester Feb. 4.

A baroque trumpet ensemble from the Eastman School of Music, a competitive music school in Rochester, New York, accompanied the choir for the performance of “Requiem.” Johann Michael Haydn originally composed it for a funeral Mass in 1771.

This concert was a “Concert Spirituel,” a spiritual concert performed in a chapel, whose tradition can trace its roots back to 18th-century Paris.

This performance was originally scheduled for last semester but was postponed to give the choir more time to master the work, according to junior Matt Byrne.

Timothy McDonell, director of sacred music, conducted the chapel choir in pieces including “O Radiant Dawn,” by James MacMillan and “Chantez à Dieu,” by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck.

Junior Ezra Blackwell said he enjoyed performing with the Eastman School of Music, which he believes showcased professionalism in the music department.

“The only dress rehearsal we had was an hour before the show,” Blackwell said. “It’s how professional musicians are, you just show up. They knew what they were doing, and it was pretty efficient.”

Praxis speaker presents on free trade in conservative economics

By Tayte Christensen Collegian Repo R te R

Free trade is necessary in order to provide economic security, Professor of Economics at Kalamazoo College Julia Cartwright said in a speech last Thursday.

Her speech, hosted by Hillsdale’s Praxis economics group, was titled “Economic Failures of National Conservatism.”

“There are three economic problems that we want to solve: what is produced, how it is produced, and who gets those goods,” she said.

The solution to the allocation of these goods is the price system, which is ultimately the result of the individual, Cartwright said.

“Neither free trade nor protectionism create jobs,” Cartwright said. “But entrepreneurs do.”

cannot sustain the population that we have in the world or the United States if we go back to 18th century technology, no way.”

Steele said he agrees with Cartwright’s observations that technology increases the number of jobs in the field.

“People think of technology as a job killer. It’s not,” Steele said. “We look at any of the statistics and whenever you look at the historical record, when you get technological advancement, you suddenly have more opportunities than there were before.”

Cartwright also discussed the place of tariffs in the economy, arguing that they cause harm.

“Tariffs help some and hurt others,” Cartwright said. “They make the supply chain more fragile, in that interacting with supply chains in this way makes them less robust.”

Sophomore Sophie Schlegel, who attended the performance, noticed the depth of the pieces as well. “The harmonies and use of dynamics were incredible and created such a sense of awe in the listener,” Schlegel said.

Michael Ruhling, a visiting professor and Haydn scholar, conducted the Chapel Choir, orchestra, and Eastman School of Music Baroque Trumpet Ensemble through excerpts from “Requiem.” Byrne, a bass in the choir, said he enjoyed performing “Requiem” because of the array of depth and emotion in the piece. “It’s kind of spooky at times, but it’s enjoyable to sing some of the fast parts, and then there are slower parts that are more melodic. It’s peaceful,” Byrne said.

Blackwell said he was satisfied with the performance, especially of “Requiem,” and how the choir, orchestra, and baroque trumpet ensemble performed and delivered the emotions of the piece.

“Once the performance happens, people rise to the occasion a little,” Blackwell said. “I think you have to give it your all in order to convey what the music is actually holding.”

Students and visitors from the Center for Constructive Alternatives attended the performance and said they were stirred by the emotions the pieces showcased and the harmony between every section of performers.

“The show was an absolute honor to witness,” freshman Miles Minard said.

The pieces selected for the concert all centered around Christian themes. Though many pieces were in Latin, with English translations in the playbill, they still deeply resonated with listeners, according to Schlegel.

“From the first note of the performance I got chills. It was beautiful,” Schlegel said. “What was interesting was that even though most of the words were in Latin or French, making it difficult to understand them, it still stirred my spirit.”

Joel Gehrke speaks on Ukraine and Tolkien

By Alessia Sandala Collegian RepoRteR

After the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Ukranian people will either follow a Western model or a Soviet model, said Joel Gehrke ’11 in a lecture hosted by the Dow Journalism Program Feb. 5.

Gehrke spoke on the connections between the Russo-Ukrainian War and the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as the overall implications of the war on the Ukrainian people and culture.

“They talk about problems as if it really matters if they are wrong,” Gehrke said about the people of Eastern Europe. “They have to manage downside risk in a way that Western Europe does not.”

As a foreign affairs reporter for the Washington Examiner, Gehrke spent time traveling in Poland and Ukraine in 2022, where he noticed many references to Tolkien among the Ukrainian people. “I am over there, and I

“There were about 2,000 cadets on base at one time that were shipping in and out, but one of the requirements was you’ve got to play on a team,” she said.

Keene’s lecture focused on Red Sox legend Ted Williams’ time in the military and away from the bright stadium lights. “It was a really treasured time in his life,” she said. “It’s because he was treated like Joe Average. He was just one of the guys. It relieved some of the celebrity pressure from him.”

Keene also spoke about the connections Williams

notice that Twitter and the information space is full of Tolkien references. There’s people calling Russians Orcs,” Gehrke said. “I then realized that this is not a one-off thing, and it’s not new for people in that part of the world to refer to Russia as Mordor.” On a trip to Maryland, Gehrke was practicing Russian in the backseat of an Uber when the driver heard him and struck up a conversation.

“Revo, a Soviet Red Army veteran, explained that under communism, if you work, the KGB comes and takes your stuff,” Gehrke said. “America is a place where the system is not defaming your character.”

While investigating the role Tolkien plays in Ukrainian culture, Gehrke discovered a project in Lviv to translate Tolkien’s work and military manuals.

“This philosophy professor at the local university started a publishing house in 2000 on what he calls ‘a mission to re-

made with other players and coaches such as Don Kepler and Babe Ruth.

The CCA concluded with a faculty roundtable on Wednesday afternoon.

“The art of biography is about getting into the soul of a person, seeing the world through the person’s eyes,” Professor of History Brad Birzer said. “The biographer holds the high duty of being humane, while also holding faithfully to the facts of his subject’s life.”

The fourth and final CCA of the academic year is scheduled for March 3-7 and will discuss “The American Musical.”

turn Ukraine to the Western Civilization,’” Gehrke said.

Freshman Josiah Jones, who lived in Ukraine until 2022, said he was happy Gehrke did not bring up the views of political leaders directly.

“Based on my time in Ukraine, I have yet to meet anyone who differs from the views expressed by Mr. Gehrke,” Jones said. “They are developing more pro-West views because they know that they will be back in a Soviet Union situation if they lose. That is why they fight so hard and why Ukraine didn’t fall in three days like everyone thought they would.”

Gehrke said journalist and author Anna Politkovskaya, who spoke out against Russian corruption and war crimes, influenced him in his views and writing regarding Russian tactics.

Politkovskaya was found dead in an elevator on Oct. 7, 2006, after continual criticism of Vladimir Putin and the Russian Federal Security Service.

“Politkovskaya was actually shot on Oct. 7, which was actually Putin’s birthday, so some view it as a birthday gift,” Gehrke said.

Freshman Megan Li said she was shocked that situations like Politkovskya’s still occur as if the Soviet Union still existed.

“We tend to think the things done by the KGB — or now the FSB — are only done in dystopian novels or in the past, but the reality is that things like that are still happening,” Li said. “We need to be aware of these things and also appreciate the system we have.”

Attendees gained a better understanding of the unseen aspects of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Li said. “Mr. Gehrke gave us a good, powerful reality of the war through his stories and time near Ukraine,” Jones said. “He brought humanity to it, as well as a good view of journalism.”

Cartwright talked about the importance of depending upon others in society to provide goods for one another, saying it is impossible to live in an autarkic society, or a society in which people operate as individuals rather than as a whole.

Instead, people must trade with and be dependent on one another for goods and services.

Associate Professor of Economics Charles Steele said he appreciated Cartwright’s discussion of “autarky” and its importance to economics.

“The idea is that this is a link to poverty,” Steele said.

Trade allows for these people to do the things they are good at and contribute to the economy in a positive way, Cartwright said.

Cartwright discussed the importance of technology in the trade market and argued that rather than replacing jobs, it adds more jobs to a given field.

“I think this is a point that’s really important because you take the point about technology,” Steele said. “If you want to stop technological advance – which is another way of saying, ‘Do I kill people?’ – you

Cartwright said contrary to popular thought, tariffs do not necessarily secure high-paying American jobs.

Freshman Alex Mooney attended the speech and said he appreciated Cartwright’s argument but disagrees with her ideas on free trade.

“For me, it was a good way of laying out the arguments, but it didn’t change my view,” Mooney said. “I oppose the position of the speaker pretty strongly, but I thought it was a good way of laying it out and seeing the other side.”

Mooney said he understands why people support free trade but does not entirely support it himself.

“I think the arguments for free trade are logically sound if you take into account the assumption that you have a strong system where the people are engaging freely and fairly,” Mooney said. “Where I think free trade is eroding nowadays, is in the erosion of those assumptions. So I’m not entirely sure if theoretical free trading is entirely possible.”

and what things were good and what things could be better,” Hicks said.

Balkan described how hospitality is an imitation of Christ in our desire for relationship and connection.

“Hospitality is a taste of heaven,” Balkan said. “The Lord was hospitable. It’s sharing the love of Christ to people.”

Dornbirer said she intentionally attended the hospitality panel because it would directly apply to her life after college as she adapts to apartment living and hosting.

She also said she loved connecting with younger women on campus, especially because this was her last Curate Summit. Hicks said her favorite talk was from Health Services Counselor Kaitlyn Zellner on families of origin.

“I didn’t know what it was about before, but it was a really great way to reflect and think about how I was raised

In addition to the lectures and meals, the summit offered free giveaways including copies of some of C.S. Lewis’ works. During leisure time, women could create their own individual tea bags to bring home with them and browse the racks of Hillsdalian Goods, a local, traveling boutique founded and run by Ashlyn Neveau, ecommerce product merchandiser for the college.

“I was definitely a little worried about lectures on my Saturday, but they were really good, and it was super flexible,” Hicks said. “You could attend the ones you wanted to and go to whatever worked with your schedule. All the goods and giveaways were so fun, and I loved Hillsdalian Goods.”

Curate from A1

CCA from A1

Students and visitors attending the most recent CCA showed up for the choir’s performance on Sunday. Elli E Fromm | Coll E gian

Jonathan Eller spoke Monday afternoon on Ray Bradbury, author of ‘Fahrenheit 451.’ Court E sy | JaC k Cot E

Professor of Economics Julia Cartwright spoke on the ‘Economic Failures of National Conservatism’ in a speech last week.

t ayt E Christ E ns E n | Coll E gian

Art department to host art history colloquium

By Emma Verrigni Collegian RepoRteR

Nicole Blackwood of Ralston College in Savannah, Georgia, will deliver the keynote address at the art department’s first online colloquium over Zoom Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., open for all to attend.

Blackwood will discuss “Painting the Incarnation: Sofonisba Anguissola’s Pigmented Pallet.”

Anguissola was a female Renaissance painter born in Cremona, Italy, best known for her portraits.

“Sofonisba was the only woman to get into Giorgio Vasari’s ‘The Lives of the Artists,’ a book that features famous artists like Michelangelo and Raphael,” Assistant Professor of Art Christina Chakalova said.

Vasari’s book, written in the 16th century, is one of the best sources of information on Renaissance artists.

Student presentations will follow the keynote address, according to Chakalova.

Art students from Hillsdale College, Emory University, University of Notre Dame, and Boston College will present art research papers accompanied by a slideshow, according to Chakalova.

Presentation topics will cover the identity of culture in the 18th and 19th centuries, contemporary interpretations, and artwork from the Americas.

Chakalova said the colloquium is a great way to celebrate outstanding undergraduate art students.

The colloquium will allow art students to network with other artists and to build their resume. The event will also prepare students for scholarly conferences, especially in higher levels of academia, according to Chakalova.

Chakalova said the art student with the strongest paper will win recognition.

“Not only do you get to put on your resume that your paper has been selected for a conference, you also could

potentially put that you were awarded the top paper prize,” Chakalova said.

Junior Eleanor Vaughan, who helped organize the colloquium, said students who wanted to present had to submit a class paper to the selection committee of student volunteers and have it approved to participate in the colloquium.

Sophomore Abi Palubinskas said the colloquium will help prepare her to teach art in the future.

“In order to be able to teach fine art, you have to be knowledgeable about art from

Hillsdale College Mock Trial team C finishes season at regionals tournament

By Zachary Chen Collegian Repo R te R Hillsdale College

Mock

Trial team C finished its season at regionals last weekend. Though the team will not advance to the next round, the Opening Round Championship Series, freshman and captain Ella Lovins says she was pleased with the team’s performance.

“It didn’t end the way we hoped it would,” Lovins said. “We didn’t get a bid, but we fought really hard and we saw some of the best teams in the nation.”

Hillsdale swept Lipscomb University team A, winning 2-0, then split ballots with University of Notre Dame team B with a score of 1-1 before losing the last two rounds 2-0 and 1.5-0.5 against Michigan State University team A and Washington University in St. Louis team A, according to Lovins. Lovins also said team C competed well in the tournament.

“I saw some of the best performances from my teammates that I’ve seen all season,” Lovins said. “We saw really tight scores and really great stand-out performances from some of our members.”

Freshman Nina Morey, who watched the tournament, said team C, which had an entirely new roster

between fall semester and the spring season, came together over the week between the last invitational tournament of the season and regionals.

“Having to mold together so quickly and then immediately go into two back-toback weekends of tournaments — I think honestly those tournaments helped a lot for us to bond and got us really well interwoven,” Morey said.

Lovins also said that the team worked hard to get ready for regionals.

“Especially in the week in between our invitational and regionals, the team really came together to put in the work to prepare,” Lovins said.

Hillsdale was the only team in the tournament to score against Washington University in Saint Louis, according to Morey.

“Despite the fact that we didn’t get what we came for, the fact that we were able to take half a ballot off of such a good team was really satisfying, and it was great to see everyone step up and compete well,” Ahern said.

Ahern and Morey also said that they were very grateful for the mock trial coaches, Sophie Belloncle and John and Lindsey Church. “The reason that the mock trial team as a whole has grown more successful and probably will keep growing

is because of the work that those three put into us,” Morey said.

Ahern also said that the coaches were dedicated to helping the team.

“They have been phenomenal,” Ahern said. “They’re really good at encouraging everyone and pointing out where people have improved, but at the same time giving us constructive criticism and really helping build the team so that we know where we have to focus and where we have to put in more work.”

Ahern was eager to continue training, even though the season finished for the team C.

“It is hard knowing that mock trial for the semester is likely over for me, and that it was over so quickly, but several of us have committed to doing more work over the semester to get better. We’re just so excited for next semester to get back in,” Ahern said.

Lovins said that she was also looking forward to next semester’s competitions.

“We’re a bunch of freshmen facing off with some pretty big teams,” Lovins said. “So keep an eye on where we go.”

all eras, different kinds of artists, and different kinds of cultures,” Palubinskas said. “Having a colloquium that allows you to talk about a painting that you really love and hear about other paintings will give me a lot more knowledge.”

Junior Clare Oldenburg said she is glad the colloquium is not just limited to art majors.

“I love that at Hillsdale I can be a physics major and still take 400-level art history classes,” Oldenburg said. “It’s definitely a blessing to be able to pursue all of my interests.”

Ambler Health and Wellness Center expands doctor hours

By Adriana Azarian Collegian RepoRteR

Ambler

The

Health and Wellness Center now provides an additional hour every weekday for students, staff, and faculty to see a doctor.

Dr. Scott Kirsch of Hillsdale Hospital is now available at the Health and Wellness Center between noon and 4 p.m. Before this semester, his hours were 1-4 p.m.

“We decided to make the change this semester because we have seen an increase in the number of students and staff and faculty who utilize our medical services, especially to see Dr. Kirsch,” Director of Health Services Brock Lutz said.

College Nurse Kari Coupland will still be available from 8-11 a.m. and from 12-4 p.m. to triage patients and provide over-the-counter medication.

The demand for a doctor has grown, with the Health and Wellness Center’s doctor visits increasing by 25% from the fall of 2022 to the fall of 2023, according to Kirsch.

“The extra hour allows us to meet a wider variety of student and faculty schedules,” Coupland said.

Lutz said the health center assesses students’ needs each

year to provide appropriate hours and personnel.

“We are always actively evaluating what services our students, faculty, and staff need and how to best provide those medical, psychological, psychiatric, nutritional, and chiropractic and strength training services,” Lutz said.

A doctor on staff allows the center to operate like an outpatient primary care office, according to Lutz. He said the doctor can diagnose, order labs and medical imaging, complete checkups, prescribe medications, and fill prescriptions.

“All of these tasks can be accomplished on a visit with the doctor at the college health center for a very small fee of $50, compared to the many hundreds or even thousands of dollars that it costs to go to any emergency room and the generally well over $100 it costs to go to an urgent care,” Kirsch said.

Coupland said patients will still need to make appointments with the doctor, though walk ins are accepted if Kirsch is available.

“I know that the staff at the health center is very busy taking care of all the students of Hillsdale, so I appreciate the doctor giving more of his time,” sophomore Veronica Fogo said.

SAB to host Faculty Revue in Plaster Auditorium

By Jacob Beckwith Collegian Repo R te R

Professors will exchange the classroom for the stage at the third annual Faculty Revue this Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. in Plaster Auditorium.

According to an email from the Student Activities Board, acts will include stand-up comedy, trivia, story-telling, and musical performances from professors including Jason Gehrke, Jason Peters, and Nathan Schlueter. Juniors Donny McArdle and Caleb Bigler will serve as emcees.

“This is a super high-attendance event,” SAB promotional team member and junior John Schaefer said. “Last year Searle was packed, and the students seemed to really like it because the professors showed a side of themselves that students don’t usually get to see.”

Schaefer said the trivia section will be a new addition, and will resemble a moderated game of “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” with professors competing against their children.

One of the highlights of last year, according to Schae-

fer, was the stand-up comedy done by Associate Professor of English Jason Peters.

“Dr. Peters is very, very funny,” Schaefer said. “He brings an offensive brand of humor that is one that Hillsdale students aren’t accustomed to, and breaks them out of their shells.”

Peters said he is looking forward to the opportunity to try some new jokes.

“Everybody needs to wear diapers because they will be peeing themselves laughing,” Peters said. “Nobody is safe. Especially soccer players.”

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters surprised junior Lauren Smyth in class Wednesday afternoon with the John D. Dingell Jr. Journalism Scholarship.

Thomas m ckenna | c ollegian

Sophomore Abi Palubinskas poses for a photo at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

c ourT esy | a bi Palubinskas

Opinions

Devil’s Advocate with Claire Gaudet

Being single on Valentine’s Day can be a blessing

I asked my first boyfriend out on Valentine’s Day, 2017. Since then, I’ve spent only one alone. It was 2021, and it was dreadful.

As of May, I’ll hopefully never spend Valentine’s Day alone again, which is nice. But, it also means I’ll never learn about myself in the way you get to when you’re single, which is a hugely overlooked gift.

On my single Valentine’s, I realized how much I value attention, and the lengths I’m willing to go to get it aren’t always healthy. That’s a valuable lesson for a 19-year-old girl with Snapchat to learn.

Keep kids out of Sephora

By Carly Moran a ssistant e dito R

Skincare has become the new diet culture, and young teens are the greatest victims of it.

If you’ve been online at all this past month, there’s a strong chance you’ve heard about “Sephora kids.” First brought up on TikTok, the phrase describes the wave of tweens running into beauty stores, like makeup retailer Sephora, to buy high-priced skincare products, subsequently damaging the displays and retail employees’ patience.

Much like a zombie apocalypse, there are hordes of them. We’re not entirely sure where they came from, and the disease is viral. Yet as easy as it is to make fun of ten-year olds who buy $40 snail mucin, they’re not little criminals, but rather the beauty industry’s most recent prey.

Senior Victoria Wagner, an Ulta employee of three years, said she has encountered the problem at her own store.

“Ever since young children caught on to skincare trends a year or so ago, displays and testers have never been the same,” Wagner said. “Recently I was tasked with cleaning the Drunk Elephant display, a brand that caters toward young adults and women looking to address skin concerns. Not only were the majority of the testers empty after being out for only a few months, but entire bottles of expensive serums had been dumped all over the display, causing the potent active ingredients to react with the sun and eat away at plastic.”

Products like Drunk Elephant use colorful packaging and cartoon designs, which can easily appeal to a younger demographic. Wagner emphasized how marketing plays a major role in the “Sephora kids” epidemic.

“This brand in particular has drawn in these kids because of their bright colored packaging,” Wagner said. “However, these brands’ potent active ingredients could cause long term damage to young skin. The only things these children should be using on their skin is cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen.”

While many social media platforms market themselves for ages 13 and older, there’s no real barrier to entry for younger children. This creates an easy pathway for tweens to gain access to untested beauty advice and revolving trends in a way previous generations never have before.

While some online creators may have genuine advice to give, such as accredited aestheticians and dermatologists, oftentimes they’re just trying to sell a product they have a sponsorship with. Even if it’s a quality product, it doesn’t mean it’s the right one for each person’s routine, especially for children with sensitive skin.

Pediatric dermatologist Tess McPherson spoke to BBC News recently about the use of harsh chemicals on young skin. “A lot of these are anti-aging products,” she said. “They may be suitable for older skin, but they are not suitable for children. They can cause irritation to skin whatever age you are, but clearly for younger skin, they can be potentially dangerous or problematic. For a child with eczema or sensitive skin, they could cause significant problems.”

While a simple moisturizer or zinc oxide-based SPF can be beneficial for any age, products containing exfoliants, Vitamin C or retinol can create more harm than good. Numerous dermatologists, such as New York City-based Ellen Marmur, do not recommend such products until far later in life.

“Your mid-twenties are a great time to start using retinol,” Marmur said in an interview to Vogue. “Many patients who have used it for years swear by it.”

I am no stranger to using skincare at a young age. Since I was 11 years old, I have dealt with acne to varying degrees, to the point of it being cystic in my late middle school years. I can vouch for the fact that bullying makes it that much easier to want a “quick fix,” even if it’s a $40 cream developed for 30 year olds with fine lines.

My struggle with acne began long before the days

of TikTok, so I can only imagine the peer pressure that exists now with social media. My own skincare product trials, even under the watch of a dermatologist, still led to skin barrier damage. While many cannot see it under my makeup, I have semi-permanent blotching and scarring that will take years to fix, if it goes away at all.

I have now found a skincare routine that works for me, but it’s increasingly difficult to research new products as the web grows murkier with advice. My heart aches for the 12-yearolds already obsessed with anti-aging creams, many of whom haven’t even dealt with their first pimple yet.

Consumerism loves to prey on insecurities, and with increasingly younger access to the internet, beauty-conscious tweens are the newest victim. This is not just about middle schoolers wrecking display shelves, but about body image and parents needing to set boundaries.

Our obsession with youth is the Narcissus of our age. Buccal fat removal, “The Wall,” fine lines. How much will it take before we’re stuck staring at our reflection forever, ignoring the world passing by? When I’m overwhelmed by the stippling on my ruddy cheeks, by the red bumps cresting upon my back, I look to my grandma. Looking at photos of her when she was my age, we could have been sisters.

Today, she is covered in wrinkles and sun spots, and yet we still call her beautiful. We admire her for the lines on her skin because they tell the story of a lifelong journey. I realize it is okay for my body to tell a story too.

Do not be afraid to grow old. It is a privilege. Especially if you are only 12.

Carly Moran is a junior studying politics and journalism.

Now, when I learn things about myself or discover new interests, I have to wonder if they’re rooted in my fiancé’s beliefs. I’m sure I have the same effect on him when he listens.

You can see this all over campus: Friends repeating political opinions their crushes said once in Constitution class, people dieting at the behest of their partner, previously devout individuals converting faiths. Having a foundational, single period in your late teens and early 20s is such a blessing. Your frontal lobe is still squishy and unformed, you’re

unattached, and it’s when you can think the most for yourself.

This is also the last time you’ll be surrounded with 1,400 peers who have as much free time as you, so prioritize making friends more than meeting fine honeys. All too often, people waste away their time in college chasing after a girl who won’t return their eye contact in class or a boy who won’t text them back. If people want to date you, 99.9% of the time, they will. So don’t spent too much time chasing the hard to get.

So, if you’re alone this Valentine’s day, relish in the fact that you can form your foundational principles in peace. And once you’ve done that: Get a girlfriend, loser.

Claire Gaudet is a senior studying rhetoric and journalism.

Celebrate Galentine’s Day, have a fraternal love Super Bowl party, and cherish the people you don’t want to kiss — they’re less likely to break up with you, anyways.

Democrats should capitalize on border crisis

By Joshua Mistry Collegian RepoRteR

When Republican senators voted against border bills tied to foreign aid, they gave Democrats the opportunity to portray themselves as the strong border party in November.

On Wednesday, 49 Republican Senators voted against a border deal that aimed to slow down illegal immigration, which Senate Democrats tied to aid for Ukraine and Israel. Now, if Democrats are hoping to take advantage of voters heavily interested in seeing the Southern Border secured, they can point to some Republicans who are willing to vote against border aid if it is tied to foreign aid. Biden’s recent statement that his administration would quickly act to secure the border if a bill is passed provides him with the ammunition to attack Republicans now that they have voted down his border bill. Biden said he would “shut

down the border when it becomes overwhelmed” if the bill had passed into law.

Biden’s change of heart can be attributed to voters’ evolving priorities reflected in polls, where immigration has risen to the top concern. As border crossings continue to rise, Biden administration policies, which have led to the crisis, are primed to take action that places blame on the Republican side of the aisle.

Trump’s pressure on House Republicans to reject any immigration compromise adds another layer to the complexity. Trump aims to leverage the immigration issue for the upcoming elections, putting the GOP in a delicate position. If the necessary number of Republicans vote against future border bills, they may face challenges explaining to voters why they did not take decisive steps to address the escalating border crisis.

In the Senate, proposed legislation aligns with Republican priorities, encom-

passing measures to support border security agents and elevate asylum-seeking thresholds. Despite these commonalities, Biden’s attempt to outpace Trump on illegal immigration may be a futile endeavor for Democrats. It could also be just the move Biden needs to secure enough independent voters in November.

Voter memory is often clouded and focused on the most recent of recent history. Voters will forget that the Democrats’ open border policies created the crisis in the first place, instead remembering how the Democrats attempted to secure the border, while Republicans fought against these efforts.

In the election of 2020, voters forgot the accomplishments of the Trump administration due to the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing Biden to win the day.

Joshua Mistry is a sophomore studying politics and journalism.

Being an RA: More than a discount

By Samantha Otting Collegian FReelanCeR

When I set foot into the library, SAGA, or A.J.’s these days, my ears are flooded with fellow freshmen chattering about how long their essays should be for their resident assistant application or whether or not they should apply to Kirn or Olds. It is great that so many are eager to jump at the chance at half-off room and board and talk to residents while sitting desk on the weekends, but that isn’t the only or even the best reason to apply. RAs can sometimes get a bad rap, but in reality, they are employed by the college to be someone that campus men and women can try to resemble.

solve tensions throughout the dorm. RAs are not meant to helicopter around the dorms, ensuring everyone is doing their homework, following visiting hours, and getting eight hours of sleep. They are there to be a mentor of sorts, willing to talk about

are always willing to bond with their girls by spending time chatting, working out, watching movies, or doing Bible studies. I have even known girls who will sit desk with the RAs for fun. An RA is someone who residents can come to for help, and someone residents know is there for them.

Yes, there are perks that come with being an RA, but there are plenty of reasons some students could shy away from the responsibility. RAs must hold themselves to a higher standard, as they represent what it means to be a Hillsdale student through their actions and the way that they re-

hard problems, willing to understand when the lines should be drawn in the sand, and knowing when to enforce rules.

A good RA is willing to have an emotional yet professional relationship with their job and the people they mentor.

The RAs I have seen during my time in McIntyre have made dorm life much more fulfilling. The RAs

On the flip side, some older residence halls don’t have a close-knit community, but the RAs are just as vital there. They ensure things are in order, communicate with the deans when issues arise, and make sure that the well-being of those in their dorms is the best that it can be. You don’t have to be very best friends with your RAs for them to be doing a great job. If they are doing everything they can to ensure that all dorms are safe and welcoming environments, then they’ve certainly earned half off room and board.

Samantha Otting is a freshman studying the liberal arts.

The McIntyre RA team. Moira Gleason| Colle G ian

A Professor’s Opinion

“What is your guilty pleasure?”

Christopher Busch, English

“It’s not really guilty, but I love to binge watch a show called Northern Exposure. I like to just sit on the couch with my dog and push ‘play all.’”

Anna Navrotskaya, French

“Being with my favorite cat because he will sit and not run away, and watching the metropolitan opera. A glass of red wine will go nicely with all of that.”

John J. Miller, Journalism Dave Stewart, History

“I enjoy reading the New York Times.”

“Lego. Lots and lots and lots of lego. I actually don’t have much guilt now that I think about it.”

Lessons from my mother on work and identity

By Caroline Kurt AssistAnt editor

We wrestle with the fallout of feminism.

Think what you will about feminism’s tumultuous social and political history, but it’s hard to dispute the troubling findings on women’s mental health.

Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers from the University of Pennsylvania found women’s self-reported happiness has declined since the 1970s both overall and in comparison to men.

Feminism in its current form has failed women: so many are unhappy and unfulfilled, not enlightened and empowered.

Our generation of young women hungers to fill the void left behind, but we cannot do so without first repairing our broken relationship with work.

As women, we long to give ourselves fully to something: a noble, beautiful impulse. We desire, in return, to be esteemed and loved. Because of this natural generosity, women are particularly vulnerable to two fallacies.

Many of us wonder: “If I give myself entirely to my professional work and win the race to the top, will I be esteemed and loved?”

Others (and even some of the same women) think: “If I give myself entirely to my husband and children, creating a picture-perfect home life, will I be valued as a woman?”

While we phrase these questions quite differently in our interior monologues, they captivate the minds of Hillsdale’s women. The problem with either scenario is not the type of work that occupies us, but our tendency to give work a role that belongs only to God: the author of our identity and worth as women.

Only after the Industrial Revolution did we begin dividing work sharply between the “domestic” and “professional” spheres, as if there was no interaction between the two. For thousands of years beforehand, most men and women worked alongside each other at the common family business – think of Charles and Caroline Ingalls from the “Little House on the Prairie” books.

When we fixate too sharply on the divide, we can lose sight of the dignity and meaning of every kind of work. Both men and women are called to cultivate and care for Creation. All work has physical and supernatural value: done well, it becomes a means to virtue and happiness.

This fragmentation can also distract us from a vo-

cational understanding of work, something more complex than the superficial labels of “housewife” or “executive.” Every man and woman exists to know, love, and serve God: our primary vocation. As social beings, we live for self-giving relationships, which take on different forms in the lives of single, married, and celibate men and women. Just as varied as our relational calling is our particular professional calling: the way we put our talents at the service of our neighbor. We find lasting joy and satisfaction by discerning and acting on our particular spiritual, relational, and professional vocation. Lived out well, they become an integrated whole that permeates our entire life.

life.

This is not to say that every full-time mother and homemaker needs a paid professional role. For some, this is the best path, but there are countless other ways for women to put their gifts to use while growing in identity: volunteering at a hospital, directing a choir, running a blog, coaching a sports team, holding a Bible study. The list goes on.

Nor is this to say that motherhood does not bring a wealth of personal development, the extent of which childless college students cannot fully imagine. The work of raising children and caring for a home is no joke — we pay strangers to replicate what many mothers do without salary or outside recognition ev-

Many women struggle to balance homemaking, motherhood, and mental health.

The role of wife, mother, and homemaker cannot be a cop-out from the question of vocation. So many generous, loving women are tempted to put the entire question of their self-worth and identity into the roles of wife and mother, leaving them unhappy in the home and lost when their children grow up and move away. Failing to address their spiritual and professional vocations creates profound repercussions in their families and wider society.

Many talented young women become wary of marriage and motherhood when they observe this pattern among the homemakers they know, concluding that only a career outside the home is capable of meeting women’s hunger for identity and fulfillment.

Rather, as I saw in my own mother’s life, motherhood can and should be the culmination of our moral, intellectual, and spiritual

ery day of their lives. These women gain a wealth of wisdom and virtue from their work.

That said, it’s immature and self-righteous to assume selfishness on the part of women who choose to work outside the home, or to dictate that women “belong” solely in the home. There are a million factors we cannot see behind any woman’s choice to work outside the home.

Most single mothers, unmarried women, and widows have no other choice. Altruistic reasons motivate many women to continue their careers: whether that is to pay medical bills, support an aging parent, or afford sending their children to quality schools.

It’s easy to take for granted the abundance of professional opportunities now available to women, but don’t. For hundreds of years, women were essentially limited to nursing, teaching, and secretary

work, if an outside profession was an option at all. Now, we can do almost anything. I, for one, am grateful to enjoy the same education and opportunities in journalism as my male peers.

Women don’t belong to the corporate world, as certain strains of feminism would have us believe, but they undoubtedly belong in it. Whatever their particular temperaments and gifts, all women bring an irreplaceable genius for relationality to the workplace. The professional world needs the life experience that devoted wives and mothers bring into their work. Done with a mind of service and a dedication to excellence, work in the professional sphere enriches our relationships and identity.

My own mother, an exceptional lawyer, was criticized both for scaling back her time at the firm to have children, and later, for continuing to work part-time in order to provide for our education. I’m grateful she persevered in her particular vocation, putting her genius for law to use both in her job and in our community. Her professional excellence had its roots in the sacrificial way she put her relationships with God, husband, and children at the center of her life.

My mother’s legal excellence made her a better wife and mother (and, I daresay, a top-tier essay editor). She modeled for her children –and especially for her only daughter – the way to live an integrated life.

There is no cut-anddried formula for balancing the responsibilities of family and one’s professional vocation. Women thrive by adapting their work to different seasons of life. This balance looks different in the life of every woman, and the very least we can do is refrain from judging them.

Rather than feeling threatened by women who make different choices than us, we should honor all those who dedicate themselves to their vocation, whatever form it takes.

As young women looking forward to our futures, we cannot stake our futures on either the hope of an “M.R.S.” and motherhood or professional success. Recognizing the profound goods of both motherhood and professional work, we can embrace our integrated vocation in the present moment, finding our identity in the love of God.

Caroline Kurt is a sopomore studying English and journalism.

Compiled by Christian Papillon

Mickey Mattox, Religion

“‘Thor’ movies. I do like the character. I think that Chris Hemsworth is funny. I don’t like the whole Marvel series. I just like the ‘Thor’ movies.”

Brad Birzer History

“I love rock music. It’s my hobby. I really like rock music going back to the 1950s, but especially the 1970s. I even have a website dedicated to it called ‘Spirit of Cecilia.’”

School vouchers expand parental choice in options for education

By Olivia Pero Culture e ditor

I went to a public school for my entire K-12 education, and I was the type of kid who told my parents every crazy thing my teachers and classmates did.

From girls getting pregnant freshman year to a new teacher who told students he was polyamorous and nonbinary, there never was a shortage of content. My parents made public school work for me, using what I told them as opportunities for conversations about our family’s values.

By the time I graduated, my school district was filled with LGBT flags, students taking hormones, and even some furries running around the hallways. I left the public school system just in time, but now I’m sympathetic to conservative students like me in public schools who have to be in that environment everyday.

With failing public education, vouchers should be available to parents and students. That way, public schools comfortable slacking off while they roll in government money can get the slap in the face they need to do better when they start losing students to better schools. Vouchers introduce competition between schools and turn education into a free market. People can vote with their feet. Parents can take their students and tax money to the educational institution of their choice. The effects of vouchers would take time, but they would affect positive change in American education.

Currently, public schools are slacking at their jobs despite the massive amount of money pouring into public education. According to the Education Data Initiative, federal, state, and local U.S. governments supplied K-12 public education with $810 billion or $16,390 per student in the 2021 fiscal year.

Meanwhile, literacy and mathematics proficiency rates have dropped to alltime lows and suffer compared to other countries. According to the New York Times, only 26% of eighth graders and 36% of fourth graders were proficient or above grade level in mathematics in 2022.

In reading, 31% of eighth graders and 33% of fourth graders were

proficient.

According to EducationWeek, by June 2023, 14 states passed bills creating school choice programs or broadening ones already in place, and 42 more states introduced the same bills.

The Heritage Foundation reported an increase in universal school choice programs. Universal school choice allows every student in a state to use a voucher or an education savings account rather than just special needs or low-income students.

The National School Boards Association website says, “School vouchers are education tax dollars that are diverted from public schools to help subsidize the tuition of private religious schools.” Naturally, the NSBA said it encourages Congress to deny voucher proponents’ wishes to set up a federal voucher program.

Groups like Raise Your Hand Texas say vouchers harm low-income, minority students because they take money away from the public schools where those students go.

Nevertheless, in an interview with PBS Frontline, Paul Peterson, a professor of government at Harvard University, said vouchers benefited African-Americans in Dayton and Washington, D.C. “For African-Americans, one year into the program, they were doing particularly well in math, compared to the students remaining in public schools,” Peterson said. “And there were some reading gains, particularly in Dayton.”

Vouchers improve the American public schools system because schools are forced to improve the quality of education, facilities, and opportunities for students or else they lose money when families take their tax dollars elsewhere.

Every student in America should not have to sit in classrooms listening to government propaganda spewing from their teachers’ mouths.

If anyone enjoys a satisfying story of good beating bad, the battle for vouchers might be the perfect one to follow in real life.

Olivia Pero is a junior studying politics and journalism.

Courtesy | u nspalsh

City News

Underdogs brings cocktails, food to grocery store

By Michael Bachmann Features Editor

Hillsdale residents will now be able to watch football games, shop for groceries, and enjoy beer, wine, and cocktails all in one place.

Underdogs, a sports bar in Market House Supermarket, opened on Jan. 25.

“Our opening has been awesome,” said Bret Boyd, the owner of Market House. “We are really proud of the facility and have been blessed with an amazing staff.”

The supermarket cleared out two-and-a-half aisles of groceries to make space for Underdogs, which includes bar and high-top seating, an extensive food and drink menu, and several flat-screen TVs.

“We have the capability to do any and all live sports, including Charger games, which students have really been loving,” Boyd said. “We are hoping to do a lot of meet-theteam events with the college.”

A trip to Las Vegas inspired Boyd to open a bar in the middle of the supermarket.

“I go to Vegas once a year and really wanted to bring a little Vegas back with me to Hillsdale,” Boyd said.

John Smith, director of operations, said that customers are already appreciating the bar’s bustling atmosphere.

“Sundays of the Lions games we had on all the TVs for hype,” Smith said. “A lot of people say the atmosphere feels more like a Vegas airport than a traditional restaurant.”

The menu, prepared by chefs Chase Cady and Edgar

Diaz, includes a variety of beef, chicken, and fish sliders as well as appetizers and entrees. Guests can also order

sushi from the Sushi Kabor which waiters will bring to tables. Drinks include Charlie the Charger, a blue coconut

rum cocktail, and a bloody mary topped with a slider.

Hillsdale College senior Benjamin Hinrichs, who attended Underdogs’ opening last month, said the food was excellent.

“I had the Sexy Chick slider which was very reasonably priced,” Hinrichs said. “The ambiance was very refreshing in its more modern decor. They very successfully go for a more upscale bar feel but it’s brought back to its small town roots by the fact that it’s in the local grocery store.”

Boyd said he was also inspired to open a bar in Hometown Hotspot after visiting Seed to Table, a supermarket in Naples, Florida that features restaurants, bars, and live music. With Meijer opening in Hillsdale, Smith said Market House hopes to set itself apart with Underdogs.

“In early January of 2023, Bret called me and asked me to build a restaurant in the store,” Smith said. “That’s how this whole thing started. We then made a call to John Tharp to screen all the games for all the college’s teams.”

Upcoming events at Underdogs including a Valentine’s Day dinner for two and a Super Bowl party. On Mondays, the bar airs “The Bachelor” and serves up a signature cocktail for a ladies night out. Boyd said businesses can also rent out the space, equipped with a full-sound system, for events. Customers can also stop at Underdog to order beer or wine as they shop for groceries. Drinks must be disposed before leaving the supermarket, Boyd said.

Hillsdale County’s deer harvest exceeds statewide average

By Carly Moran Assistant Editor

Hunters in Hillsdale County enjoyed a more robust deer harvest last fall than many other Michigan counties, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Hillsdale was one of only six counties in the state that didn’t post a lower deer harvest in 2023 than in 2022. Hunters in Hillsdale County killed 5,681 deer total, 46 more from a year earlier.

While some discrepancies in numbers can be blamed upon a new reporting system, Stewart said the milder winters, early corn harvests, and accessible shelter for deer in Hillsdale County contribute to larger populations, and a subsequently more successful hunting season.

“It’s very possible that there are differences in reporting rates between the two years,” Stewart said. “Eventually, whatever that reporting rate is should balance out and the DNR’s ability to understand changes between years

Statewide deer harvesting rates were down by 10%, according to the DNR. The counties that resisted the trend were all in the Lower Peninsula. They included Hillsdale as well as Branch, Huron, Muskegon, Sanilac, and St. Joseph counties. Deer harvests decreased as much as 40% in the Upper Peninsula. “We are trending downward and I think that’s largely because we have fewer and fewer hunters and a general reluctance for deer hunters to take antlerless deer,” said Chad Stewart, a deer, moose and elk specialist for the state DNR. Director of the Nimrod Center Al Stewart views Hillsdale as an exception to the trend of both declining hunters and declining deer populations. “Hillsdale County has lots of deer,” Stewart said. “You see them on campus and along our country roads. Most folks in Hillsdale county live in a rural environment. They appreciate the ability to make a living off the land that they own. People here relate to feeding their families and friends wild game, and recognize the healthy qualities of the wild game that they harvested whether it is a squirrel, duck or deer. The concept of ‘field to fork’ is strong in this county.”

should be pretty good, but it will take several years for this to occur.”

Professor of History David Raney, an avid hunter,

of inheriting—and now have the responsibility of maintaining and perpetuating— such a camp. Unfortunately, though, these hallowed hunt-

expressed the importance of hunting for the health of Michigan wildlife.

“In the northern parts of our state especially, deer camps have been an important social institution since the nineteenth century,” Raney said. “I have had the privilege

ing institutions have been disappearing from the landscape as the ravages of modern life have taken their toll.” Stewart attributed a large part of the hunting issue to the corn harvest.

“This year, we had a tremendous corn crop, which

certainly impacted deer movement,” Stewart said. “We also had a much higher percentage of standing corn going into firearms season. It’s hard to see deer in standing corn.”

According to Stewart, typically 66-75% of Michigan corn is harvested by Nov. 15, the beginning of deer hunting season. In 2023, less than 50% was harvested in time.

Compared to other communities, Stewart said Hillsdale County was able to harvest more corn. The weather was also quite warm compared to the rest of the state, allowing for more hunters to start the season with success.

“The highs for the first two days were in the mid60’s with lows of about 40 degrees,” Stewart said. “This allowed hunters to stay out hunting longer and limited their need to move around to stay warm. These types of conditions also allowed the deer to move around and not be stationary to maintain a constant body temperature to reduce loss of energy.”

Raney said there are also larger deer populations in southern Michigan compared to other regions, thanks to milder winters and abundant

crops. “In the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula, a number of relatively harsh winters and long-lasting snow cover have led to a significant winter kill in recent years, suppressing the overall deer population,” Raney said. “In addition, in the past several years the State of Michigan has authorized the cutting of large swaths of cedar swamp on state lands in or around deer yards, where the animals gather together during winter months, reducing both shelter and food for the deer.”

Without as many hunters, Stewart is concerned deer populations may grow out of control.

“The need to maintain or increase hunter numbers is very important to the management of wildlife and the habitat they use,” Stewart said. “Hunters are the primary funders of wildlife in this country and have been core to the restoration of animals over the last century. To expand the hunting ranks, hunters can mentor new participants.”

Underdogs is a new sports bar in Hillsdale. Courtesy | FaC ebook

Underdogs makes a special cocktail for ladies night out. Courtesy | FaC ebook

Hillsdale has milder winters than many other parts of Michigan.

Courtesy | FaC ebook

Brewing company hosts Valentine’s Day dinner

By Elyse Apel Digital Editor

Love is brewing at Hillsdale Brewing Company.

This Valentine’s Day, couples have the chance to enjoy dinner and dessert for two for $50.

“Valentine’s Day can be a stressful time to find a nice place to celebrate it,” senior Christopher Dick said. “So, Hillsdale Brewing Company revamping their kitchen [for Valentine’s Day] to offer an upscale experience at a great price is great.”

The experience will be from 4-8 p.m. and couples must make reservations ahead of time.

Dinner includes prime rib or shrimp scampi, gar-

lic mashed potatoes, green beans, and dessert for two.

Five shrimp can also be added for $5 and a side salad for $3.

“It’s a candlelight dinner for two in our beer garden with private and decorated tables, music, dessert, and no waiting,” said Felicia Finch, owner of Hillsdale Brewing Company. “We have also partnered with Smith’s Floral Boutique to allow couples to order a vase or wrapped arrangement that will be at their table waiting.”

The wrapped flower bouquet costs $25, while the flowers plus the vase costs $35.

“The addition of a bouquet is a really nice touch,” Dick said. “It takes the plan-

ning out of the dude’s hands, making it so much less of a worry.”

Hillsdale Brewing Company has offered this dinner every year since they first opened in 2018. “We have offered this every year we have been open,” Finch said. “This will be the third year we’ve hosted it in our beer garden.”

She added that it is a good opportunity for couples to celebrate Valentine’s Day with minimal stress or hassle.

“We usually have a good turnout and people like the extra touches to allow a more intimate dinner out,” she said.

Dinner at the Hilldale Brewing Company is not the only event happening in

Hillsdale for couples on Valentine’s Day.

“We have also partnered with other local businesses to offer discounts or a continued evening out,” Finch said. “Have lunch at the Hillsdale Filling Station, boudoir photos or mini sessions at Fether Studios, shopping at Maggie Anne’s or Hillsdale Jewelers, painting at Toasted Mud, flowers with Smith’s Floral Boutique, Anti-Valentines Day for One at Here’s to You Pub and Grub, and dinner, DJ, and dessert at The Dawn Theatre.”

To make your reservation for the special Valentine’s Day Dinner, call Hillsdale Brewing Company at (517) 212-8182.

Pub and Grub hosts anti-Valentine’s Day dinner

By Cassandra DeVries Social Media Manager

“Join us Valentine’s Day for our Anti-Valentine’s Day Dinner for those Single and Happy or Bitter and Hungry,” Pub and Grub advertised on Facebook.

Pub and Grub collaborated with numerous Hillsdale restaurants offering 10% off on Valentine’s Day, but while the other restaurants advertised romantic dinners for two people, Pub and Grub offered an anti-valentines taco dinner for one, according to waitress Lori Day

While intending to offer single people a less couple centered environment, Pub and Grub posted on Face -

book that those who are happy and married are also allowed at their restaurant.

For $25 customers will be served bacon pepper apricot cheese curds, surf & turf tacos (steak and lobster), and horchata bites a la mode for one person, according to its flyer.

Pub and Grub will also offer drink specials. There will be a bourbon valentines drink cocktail, according to Day.

“Pub and Grub has amazing food,” senior Phoebe Johnson said. “People think it’s just a bar so its food is so underrated.”

Jonesville accepts nominations for citizen of the year

By Elyse Apel Digital Editor

The City of Jonesville is looking for outstanding citizens to be nominated for its 2024 Jonesville Citizen of the Year awards.

Nominations should be submitted at the Jonesville City Hall by March 1.

There are both youth and adult awards and nominations are open to anyone living in the Jonesville community.

“The awards will be given for recognition of individuals with distinguished and outstanding citizenship in serving Jonesville,” a statement from the city said. “Award

recipients will be recognized at a ceremony to be held in April.” Jeff Gray, Jonesville city manager and member of the Jonesville Citizenship Award Committee, said he is grateful for the way the award ceremony brings the community together to honor the award winners.

“The Citizenship Awards night is one of my favorite activities that I get to be involved in,” Gray said. “It is a wonderful ceremony where the nominators give heartfelt speeches about the Citizens of the Year. We learn all of the quiet ways that the nominee has supported the community.”

“We invite any former winners to come and we certainly encourage their fami-

“The awards will be given for recognition of individuals with distinguished and outstanding citizenship in serving Jonesville”

lies and friends to come. It’s one of my favorite times of the year,” he said. “It brings

Kimball Camp throws first ever women’s crafting retreat

By Christina Lewis Collegian Reporer

Women seeking a break from the hustle of everyday life can come to Kimball Camp’s first-ever women’s crafting retreat, Food Service Director Shari Presnell said.

Kimball Camp was established in 1938 by Ora C. and Edna Kimball as a Christian camp for kids, according to its website. Over the years, the camp has expanded and now hosts retreats, weddings, reunions, and other events.

“Kimball Camp is located in Reading, Michigan on beautiful Long Lake. We have 101 acres and very nice trails to walk on,” Program Director Darrel Bryant said. The retreat is from Feb. 2325 and costs $135 a person, and is open to women 18 years and older. Registration ends Feb. 15. Included in the $135 fee are 5 home-cooked meals, activities, a chair massage, and lodging for two nights.

The crafting retreat is meant to provide an environment where women can recharge and work on any hobbies they have been putting off, Presnell said.

“I think that all of us are overworked, stressed out, and have too much going on. We just don’t have time to connect to our creative side or to get rest or recharge,” she said.

Presnell described what inspired her to plan this retreat.

“It’s something that I looked for as a single mom for years and never found,” she said. “My goal for the weekend is to provide a safe environment for women to just have some time to themselves. It’s going to be very organic.”

According to Presnell, some of the structured events that women can participate in include a painting class and an evening hike.

“Other than that, nothing is going to be really planned

or carved into stone other than mealtimes,” she said.

“The food will be provided for you. But, if you’d rather take a nap, that’s fine. I want it to be very relaxing. We’re getting furniture to put in front of the fireplace, so you could kick back with a cup of tea and a book or do whatever you want.”

Women can bring additional snacks and drinks if desired, according to Presnell.

“Alcohol will not be provided but you’re welcome to bring a bottle of wine or whatever you prefer,” she said.

Bryant said the camp is an awesome place to get away.

“When you’re at camp you just feel good and at peace with everything. It’s a place to relax where you’re not judged, but welcomed,” Bryant said.

Those interested in registering for the camp should call 517-283-2168 or visit Kimball Camp’s website.

people together and they can hear about the quality things that the nominees have done for the community.”

He said the committee looks for citizens with lots of community involvement.

“It has to be somebody that is involved with the community. Not necessarily paid work, but especially volunteer work,” Penrose said.

The Citizen of the Year awards program was started by Ron Hayes several years ago, who was the original chairman of the committee.

Penrose, who was a friend of Hayes, said he is honored to continue to chair the committee.

“It is important that we continue this event because it is a part of Ron’s legacy,” Penrose said.

The committee hopes to get multiple nominations to choose from.

“It’s not a contest, so there might be three or four people that are nominated,” Penrose said. “Depending on their qualification and how they’ve served the community, that’s how they are chosen.”

Nomination forms are available at City Hall or by visiting Jonesville’s website. For more information about the awards, call the Jonesville City Hall at (517) 8492104.

Hospice of Hillsdale County hosts annual Bowl-A-Thon

By Catherine Maxwell Assistant Editor

Hospice of Hillsdale County will host its 28th Annual BowlA-Thon at Hillside Lanes on April 13.

The fundraising event also features a silent auction, door prizes, and pizza.

“We do it to raise funds for our music therapy program and our other complimentary services that we provide our patients, which increases the overall quality of life,” said Marketing and Volunteer Coordinator Samantha Gordon.

The event’s title sponsor is financial company Willis Machnik. Individuals can register four- to six-person teams for $50, which covers two games, a t-shirt, shoe and lane rentals, and food and drink.

Gordon said people should participate because it supports a good cause.

“When patients sign up with us, they have six months left to

live,” she said. “Yes, we’ve had some patients last for a couple of years, but we help those patients when they’re in their most vulnerable states.”

According to Executive Director Shoshanna Finegan, the organization cares for an average of 40 patients at a time, as well as their families.

“We go a 50 mile radius to take care of patients,” Finegan said. “We serve patients in their personal homes. We serve patients in facilities and in assisted living facilities as well. Wherever a patient calls home, we will see them.”

According to Finegan, the organization provides a variety of free services for its patients.

“We never send a bill to our patients,” Finegan said. “If insurance doesn’t cover that amount, or let’s say they don’t have insurance, we cover that completely.”

According to Gordon, one of their most popular programs is music therapy.

“We have had music therapy since 2015, and we have to fund that ourselves because Medicare doesn’t pay for that,” Finegan said. “Medicare also doesn’t pay for bereavement services or programs, so when we fundraise money goes toward that as well.”

Finegan said the group also offers clergy services for patients and counseling services for anyone in the community experiencing loss.

Additionally, they provide any medical equipment, specialists, or hygiene items a patient might need.

“A lot of hospices don’t do that,” Finegan said. “We just feel that everybody that’s dying deserves to die in comfort and dignity.”

Anyone interested in registering a team for the event can do so at the Hospice of Hillsdale County website. Forms are due by March 15.

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

Feb. 6

Hillsdale City Police arrested Frank Bailey III on a felony and Civil Warrant for FTP Child Support.

Feb. 6

Michigan State Police arrested

Brandon Howard Bodell on a Felony Warrant for Larceny.

Feb. 5

Michigan State Police arrested

Kathy Ann Trujillo on a Felony

Warrant for Stolen Property-Receiving/Concealing.

Andy Penrose is the Chair of the Committee and a member of the Jonesville City Council. Penrose said he hopes the community will come out for the ceremony.

Men's Track and Field

By Joshua Mistry Collegian Reporter

Junior Ben Haas placed first in the weight throw, threw the third-best mark in the nation, and secured the fourth-best in G-MAC history when the Hillsdale men’s track and field team competed in the Ashland University Light Giver Invitational Feb. 2-3. Haas’ throw of 21.43 meters also puts him within .12 meters of the Hillsdale school record set in 2010 by Jason Stomps.

“The throws squad is just starting to hit our stride and hit the marks we expect. We are starting to train specifically for the championship meets and it is starting to get exciting,” Haas said. “The whole team is moving our attention to G-MACs and we are looking forward to performing on the highest level that we can achieve.”

On the track, fifth-year senior Joseph Ritzer ran a personal record of 22.69 in the 200 meter dash along with a fourth-place finish of 50.67 in the 400 meter dash. Fifth-year senior Sean Hoeft placed sixth in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:53.11. In the distance medley relay, Hillsdale Squad A made up of Hoeft, sophomore Seth Jankowski, fifthyear senior Benu Minetjes, and

junior Ross Kuhn, placed ninth with a time of 10:10.71. Senior Drew Ransom ran a personal best in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.11. Ransom said the Chargers faced tough competition in Ashland. "We all knew that the meet would be a great challenge from a competitive standpoint,” Ransom said. “But, even more importantly, absolutely beneficial for our own personal progress, and that's what we saw in many events on Saturday — a lot of great progress."

In the field, Haas placed sixth in the elite shot put with a mark of 15.41 meters. Sophomore Connor McCormick placed fifth in the pole vault with a mark of 4.7 meters. Junior Cass Dobrowolski placed fifth in the high jump with a mark of 1.95 meters.

Freshman Caleb Youngstedt placed seventh in the 5,000 meter run with a time of 15:32.28. He said the team had mixed results in a meet mostly seen as less important than bigger meets in the coming weeks.

“The meet went well, some got the marks they wanted, while others did not get what they were looking for,” Youngstedt said. “Luckily this meet was not incredibly significant, it was just another chance to get a solid effort before con-

Women's Tennis

Chargers open season with non-conference matches Chargers set PRs at Ashland

By Isabella Helms Collegian Reporter

The Hillsdale College women’s tennis team lost their matches against Eastern Michigan University Jan. 27, Purdue University Northwest Feb. 3, and Davenport University Feb. 4. Hillsdale came up short in each match, with scores of 1-6 against the Eagles, 2-4 against Purdue Northwest, and 3-4 against Davenport.

“We had some incredible matches against Eastern Michigan,” junior Courtney Rittel said. “On paper they were the better team by far, but we held our own and competed so well. The rest of the team battled hard and played well, which is very inspiring for the weeks to come.”

Freshman Ane Dannhauser, who was unable to compete due to an ankle injury, commented on the Purdue Northwest and Davenport match’s intensity and the team’s performance.

“The team we played this weekend was very competitive and good, but the girls went out and really gave it their all,” she said. “The energy was amazing, and everyone was competing really well. Even though we lost, all of the matches were very close, and I am super happy with how we started the season.”

In the doubles category, Hillsdale duo senior Melanie Zampardo and sophomore Megan Hackman secured a win with a score of 6-3 against their Eastern Michigan counterparts. Despite this early success, the remaining doubles matches ultimately tipped in favor of the Eagles.

ference championships.”

Jankowski placed eighth in the 800 meter run with a time of 1:53.53. He said the team has a strong training plan going into the next few weeks and is preparing for the upcoming conference championships.

“From what I saw everybody felt pretty good going into the meet,” Jankowski said. “We didn't let off the gas during training during the week prior to the meet because we pretty much only let off the gas when we are gearing up for conference championships.”

Jankowski said the team will keep up the training regimen to prepare for the big meets ahead.

“This week we will keep training hard and are looking forward to a Big Meet at Grand Valley to get some faster seed times for conference,” Jankowski said. “I think Coach White has been happy with what we have been able to do so far but he is definitely not satisfied, and neither are we.”

The Chargers will race next in the two-day GVSU Big Meet on Feb. 9-10.

“There’s a lot of great energy whenever we're together, and you can see how our good culture produces the results we want,” Ransom said. “There's a lot to look forward to.”

Team faces conference rivals at invitational

fied their races for the season.

Carrying her momentum into singles play, Zampardo also triumphed in the No.1 singles match against Eastern Michigan, winning with scores of 6-3, 4-6, 10-3. In the No.6 singles, Rittel competed in a closely contested match but eventually lost to her opponent 6-4, 3-6, 1-10.

“We did gain some incredible victories with Melanie and Megan winning their doubles match and Melanie also winning her singles match,” Rittel said.

Eastern Michigan University held its ground in the subsequent singles matches.

The match against Purdue Northwest had the Chargers fighting in both singles and doubles. In doubles play, Hillsdale managed to secure a victory in the third slot thanks to junior Elizabeth McGivern and senior Helana Formentin, who defeated their Purdue Northwest opponents with a score of 6-3.

McGivern overcame her Purdue Northwest opponent with scores of 6-3, 6-2. Despite this win, the Chargers were unable to overcome the Purdue Northwest lineup in the remaining singles matches, resulting in a 2-4 loss for Hillsdale.

The following day, Hillsdale faced Davenport in an early morning match that tested the team’s resilience, according to Hackman. Hackman and Zampardo dominated their Davenport opponents 6-1. Formentin and McGivern mirrored this success with the same scoreline.

“Today against Davenport, although we didn’t come out on top we gave it our best fight and everyone is finding their groove as we get into season,” Hackman said.

Davenport responded in

kind, taking the second doubles match and setting up a series of singles contests.

The singles matches were marked by a marathon match between freshman Ane Dannhauser and a Davenport player, which saw Dannhauser winning 7-6, 4-6, 7-5. Dannhauser said she was excited she got to play again.

“There is just something special about practicing all week and then being able to use everything you have worked on in a match,” Dannhauser said. “It’s also amazing to be able to play for a team because everyone is always there supporting and cheering each other on.”

Hackman managed to secure a win against the Panthers as well, balancing out the early loss in the doubles.

“Today against Davenport, although we didn’t come out on top we gave it our best fight and everyone is finding their groove as we get into season,” Hackman said. Hillsdale concluded both weekends 0-3 against their opponents.

As the season progresses, these matches will undoubtedly serve as valuable experience for the team, Dannhauser said. The Chargers are poised to face Michigan Tech on Saturday, Feb. 10 in the Biermann Center.

“I am really looking forward to what we can do this season,” Hackman said. “I’m pumped for the matches to come.”

Rittel also shared her thoughts on the rest of the season.

“The team is super excited for the upcoming season and we hope to accomplish some amazing things,” Rittel said.

By Anna Broussard Collegian Reporter

Hillsdale’s women track and field team traveled to Ashland University to compete in the Jud Logan Light Giver Invitational over the weekend.

Many of Hillsdale’s rivals competed at the invitational. Ashland, Findlay, Walsh University, Tiffin University, and Grand Valley State University were present which allowed for the chargers to prepare for the atmosphere for the upcoming conference championships at the end of February.

“It allows us to get a feel for the facility beforehand before championship season. It does give us a picture of what to prepare for,” junior all-American Reese Dragovich said.

As the team heads into the champion season, they are hopeful for the increase in their provisional rankings, she said.

“Provisional rankings come out instantly and are constantly updated. We are happy with how it went but definitely want to improve our provisional ranking,” Dragovich said.

The invitational was a non-conference meet, but showcased the team’s 400 meter relay team.

The rankings for the NCAA qualifying list were posted to the National Track and Field Ranking and Results website the following day, leaving Hillsdale ranked 18th provisionally, senior all-American Shura Ermakov said.

“We are running the 4x400 again at this upcoming meet and hoping to move ourselves up in the national rankings,” Ermakov said.

The 4x400 team made up of senior and 2023 all American Josee Hackman, Ermakov, Dragovich, and sophomore Francesca Federici placed second overall at the invitational over the weekend.

The focus of the upcoming weeks leading into conference championships is improving the provisional standings in the national rankings, especially with the 4x400.

“Our focus is going to be working on the 4x400 as we go into this upcoming weekend when we head to Grand Valley,” Hackman said.

The invitational communicated the success of the team thus far as the chargers identi-

“It's a matter of exposure,” Hackman said. “It's trying people out in different events and see who’s going to perform well.”

The importance of the invitational helped to guide girls through the fatigue of running many events at each meet.

“This showcase helped me practice doing several events in two days, and gave me an idea of how to race through some fatigue, like I will at conference championships,” Ermakov said.

The invitational allowed for the team to prepare for the championship in many ways and helped to prioritize the team element within the individual races.

“I reminded the team last week that there is nothing that limits us and we are capable of everything we set our minds to,” Hackman said.

As they head into the upcoming weekend, their goals include improving their provisional rankings and continue preparing for conference championships.

“The past weekend was incredible to see the team flourish and it is so unifying,” she said.

Men's Tennis Chargers start strong in singles play against Davenport Sunday

By Emelia Klanduch Collegian Freelancer

Senior Sean Barstow clinched the win for the Chargers men’s tennis team on Sunday, Feb. 4 after the team’s loss on Saturday against Purdue Northwest.

“Looking back, I guess there was more pressure than I realized,” Barstow said. “It honestly didn’t feel that different from just playing my normal match. I tried not to think about it too much. But it felt extra good to win that one.”

The Chargers won 4-3 against Davenport University on Sunday this past weekend after losing to Purdue Northwest 4-1 on Saturday. They won doubles on both days, but lost singles on Saturday. They came back on Sunday with wins in singles from freshmen Ellis Klanduch and Henry Hammond. Barstow’s win was the final point they needed to snag the victory over Davenport University. Klanduch said senior Daniel Gilbert had been in the middle of his match when he realized Barstow had won it for the Chargers.

“Dan was playing a match right next to him, and they were midpoint,” Klanduch said.

“As soon as he saw Sean win and throw his racquet down, Dan just dropped what he was doing and threw his racquet down and went to Sean, and we all stormed the court.”

Head coach Keith Turner said this celebration was the best part of Sunday.

“Day two highlight was Sean winning a tough three set match and watching the guys mob him after he clinched the dual match for us,” Turner said. “The highlight of Day 1 was how well we played in doubles. I can see doubles will be improved from last year.”

Sophomore Aidan Pack and Barstow won their doubles on Saturday 6-3. Senior Tyler Conrad and Klanduch won their doubles match 6-4. Gilbert and Hammond won 6-2 and clinched the doubles win for Saturday. Conrad and Barstow played close matches in singles. Klanduch took his singles to the third set, but ultimately Purdue Northwest took home the win Saturday.

Hammond talked about their mindset for Sunday after Saturday’s loss.

“We kind of just forgot about it and moved on straightaway,” Hammond said. “None of the team was that down because we knew we had to focus up for the next match. I think we all, without saying it, agreed we move on from it. I think we all knew we just needed that win and were very determined to get it.”

On Sunday, Barstow and Pack won doubles 6-4 and Gilbert and Hammond won their doubles match 6-1, giving Hillsdale the point for doubles. Pack lost singles on Sunday in a close three set match. Conrad lost his singles too, but the wins from the freshmen and Barstow gave the Chargers what they needed to defeat Davenport University.

The Chargers’ next match will be Feb. 10 against Michigan Tech. Barstow has confidence in his team’s ability to keep the winning streak going.

“I feel like we’re in pretty good form right now, so hopeful that it will go well. If we play well we should win,” Barstow said.

Sophomores Francesca Federici and Anna Lamoreaux competed at home last weekend. Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Women's Basketball

Chargers upset second-ranked Ursuline College

By Moira Gleason Assistant Editor

With a leading offensive performance by junior Lauren McDonald and a new face in the starting lineup, the Chargers outscored Ursuline College by 13 points in the second half for a 61-50 road win Feb. 3.

The Hillsdale women’s basketball team emerged from the weekend 11-9 overall and 7-5 in the G-MAC, solidifying its hold on the eighth spot in the conference. Ursuline ranked second in the G-MAC going into the contest but dropped to fourth with the loss.

“Since we had already beat three teams that were ranked higher than us, our mindset

was pretty simple: let's add a fourth team to that list,” head coach Brianna Brennan said. “Our players were hungry for it and a recurring theme for us this year has been resilience, which was shown throughout the Ursuline game.”

McDonald led the offensive effort on Saturday, scoring 17 of her game-high 23 points in the second half.

The Chargers led by as many as 13 in the contest, but that lead was cut to just three with 4:30 left in the fourth quarter. McDonald stepped up and put in a personal 7-0 run to stretch out the Chargers’ lead in the fourth quarter.

“Lauren is an absolute playmaker,” Brennan said. “She's a high-level player that has a

scoring mentality. We know we can count on her when we need a bucket and always feel confident when the ball is in her hands. She can score from all three levels, so once she gets going it's extremely hard to stop her.”

The Chargers dominated Ursuline on both ends of the floor.

According to senior Sydney Mills, the team put an emphasis on defending against twins Madison and Michaela Cloonan on the Ursuline team.

“Especially Michaela, Kendall McCormick did a really good job of just frustrating her the whole game and not making anything easy,” Mills said. “Our defense makes our offense flow, and that’s kind of

Super Bowl Opinions 49ers will get their revenge

By Ty Ruddy Collegian Reporter

The San Francisco 49ers are headed back to the Super Bowl after their comeback win over the Detroit Lions this past weekend in the NFC Championship game, and will beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday.

The 49ers lost the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV in 2020, but the matchup has changed, and will avenge that loss on Sunday

At the time, Jimmy Garopolo, now with the Las Vegas Raiders, was the quarterback in San Francisco. Now, Brock Purdy leads head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Purdy was the ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ pick in the 2022 NFL draft meaning he was the very last pick.He earned his way onto the 52 man roster last season and was the third string behind Garoppolo and then-promising prospect Trey Lance. Lance was hurt early in the season, Garoppolo later, allowing Purdy to take the reins. Since then the 49ers are 17-2 in the regular season. A trip to the NFC Championship last year was spoiled by injuries, but San Francisco picked up this season right where they left off. Purdy was in MVP contention for much of this season. He threw for 4,280 yards in the

2023 regular season, throwing 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions He was fifth in yards across the league and third in touchdowns, Purdy settled in well to Shanahan’s system during his first full year as the starter in San Francisco. He also posted the highest QBR among regular starting QBs this year.

Running back Christian McCaffrey, too, made an MVP campaign this season. His 1459 rushing yards led the league by almost 300. He ranked fourth for rushing touchdowns with 14 and was top five in almost every measured category for running backs including rushes over 20 yards, rushed over 40 yards, longest play, and attempts.

Finishing 12-5 in the regular season, San Francisco put themselves atop a competitive NFC West and secured a first round bye. Their 6,773 total yards of offense in 2023 ranked 2nd league-wide behind only the Miami Dolphins and the 49ers’s 28.9 points per game ranked third behind Miami and Dallas. Their defense also held strong during the regular season, particularly their run defense. San Francisco allowed only 1,525 rushing yards this year, which made their ground prevention third best in the

league. They struggled at times when teams took to the air but allowed just 298 points total, third best in the league.

The 49ers hit a few roadblocks during this postseason, but were able to overcome and advance twice. Their NFCbest record and performance during the regular season secured them a home game in the divisional round, but they had some rust to work out after a bye week. The Packers came out firing, giving the 49ers a scare that subsided only after a Packers missed field goal and a game sealing interception late in the the fourth by linebacker Dre Greenlaw of San Francisco. Last weekend, the 49ers dug themselves into a 17-point hole at half time. Eight minutes into the 3rd quarter, the Lion's lead was gone and the Super Bowl bound 49ers snuffed out any additional offensive attack from Detroit.

Thanks to their win last weekend, the San Francisco 49ers now stare down an opportunity to avenge 2020’s Super Bowl loss against the Chiefs, a chance to cradle Lombardi for the sixth time.

The Super Bowl is slated for Feb. 11 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

what makes our offense flow.”

In a show of its team defense, Hillsdale held Ursuline to 28.8% field goal percentage and 7-26 in 3-pointers. Hillsdale also won the rebound battle, grabbing 42 rebounds for the Arrows’ 36.

“Heading into the game really emphasized controlling the defensive end and winning the battle of the boards,” Brennan said. “Ursuline is one of the best rebounding teams, as are we, so we knew we had to come out on top. If we focused on the defensive end and took care of the boards, we knew we'd like the outcome.”

With leading scorer junior Caitlin Splain out with an injury, freshman Annalise Pietrzyk made her first career

start for the Chargers and added 10 points and five rebounds.

“It was a little nerve wracking,” Pietrzyk said, “but I also talked to my coaches, and they were like ‘we don’t expect anything different, just play the way you’ve been playing.’ And I was mostly excited to have the opportunity to do that.”

In a huge play, Pietrzyk sank back-to-back 3-point shots to put the Chargers within three points of the Arrows at the end of the first quarter.

“I am so proud of Annalise,” Brennan said. “She is a fierce competitor with a high basketball IQ. She is always making great decisions on the offensive end and can lock up

anyone defensively. She was already playing extremely valuable minutes for us, but it was exciting to see her step into that starting roll when we needed her too.”

Senior Ashley Konkle also added six points and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Chargers, Mills fell just short of a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds, and freshman Savannah Smith chipped in seven points off the bench.

The Chargers will be on the road this week, facing Walsh University on Feb. 8 and Lake Erie College Feb. 10.

Chiefs' defense will prevail

By Alex Deimel Assistant Editor

After defeating the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship two weeks ago, the Kansas City Chiefs are headed back to their second straight Super Bowl to face the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday. The Chiefs defense combined with 2022 NFL MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ undeniable talent will lead them to their fourth Super Bowl title. While the Chiefs have consistently beaten teams defensively, the 49ers have given up 52 total points this year in the playoffs, 21 to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round, and 31 to the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship. As the old saying goes, ‘Defense wins championships.’

The Chiefs had a very inconsistent regular season, including losses to the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders, but have proven their worth during the playoffs. They defeated an offensively-dominant Miami Dolphins team on a sub-zero night in Kansas City, holding Miami to only 7 points. Their next two playoff games were much closer battles. 2022 NFL MVP and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes led them to victory against the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, throwing for 215 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-24 win that

sent them to the AFC Championship game, and gave him a 14-3 career playoff record.

This season, although he continued to put up spectacular numbers, was an off year for Mahomes. The former first round draft pick threw for 4,183 yards and 27 touchdowns, which are not as nearly as notable as his 5,250 yards and 47 touchdowns from a year ago. In addition, his QBR dropped from 105.2 last season to 92.6.

Despite the drop in numbers, Mahomes led the Chiefs to their 10th straight playoff appearance, finishing 11-6 this year and locking up the 3 seed in the AFC conference. His primary target, tight end Travis Kelce, had another incredible season. Kelce finished second in receiving yards amongst tight ends with 984, only 36 behind 49ers tight end George Kittle. In the AFC Championship game, Kelce broke hall of famer Jerry Rice’s career playoff receptions record, and now has 156 playoff receptions going into Super Bowl LVIII.

Kelce caught the lone receiving touchdown for the Chiefs in their 17-10 win over the Ravens, finishing the game with 116 yards on 11 receptions. Even with Kelce breaking Rice’s record, the Kansas City defense was the biggest story of the day, holding a Ravens offense that averaged 27.7 points per game

to only 10, and managed to sack Lamar Jackson 4 times.

Defensive linemen Chris Jones and George Karlaftis were major contributors to the Chiefs defensive success this season, ending the regular season with 10.5 sacks each. Karlaftis has had 2.5 sacks this postseason, while Jones has had 2.

Their offensive talent and defensive dominance has led the Chiefs back to their sixth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. The last time Mahomes faced the 49ers was in his first Super Bowl appearance in 2020, where he led the Chiefs to a 31-20 victory, winning Kansas City’s first Super Bowl since 1970.

Going into Sunday, the Chiefs lead the 49ers in most defensive statistics. They allowed 4,926 total yards to the 49ers 5,167. In addition, the Chiefs defense has been one of the least penalized teams in the NFL, with only 73 defensive penalties to the 49ers 94 penalties. 49ers running back Christian McCaffery, who led the NFL in rushing yards this season, will have to face a Chiefs defense that only allowed 10 rushing touchdowns this year.

The Chiefs may be facing a different quarterback this time around, but it will not matter. Defense always wins championships.

Charger chatter

Seth JankowSki, CroSS Country and traCk

If you became supreme leader of the world, what would your first law be?

Everybody would have to watch track and field on TV. It doesn’t get enough views.

What’s your favorite song and why?

“I Remember Everything” by Zach Bryan because there’s nothing bad about it. It’s fun to listen to with all the cross-country guys who like country music.

What is your best party trick?

What do you want to do with your marketing major?

I’d love to work with sports teams in sports marketing. If that doesn’t work out, I’d probably fall back on sales. I’d sell bugs.

What are your favorite bugs?

Ants. They’re just cool with their colonies.

Compiled by Malia Thibado

Courtesy | Hillsdale College Athletic Department

Brennan eager for first year as head coach

By Moira Gleason Assistant Editor

New

women’s

basketball coach Brianna Brennan wants her players to have a better experience than she did in college, when she quit playing the sport that she grew up loving.

“Reflecting back on my negative basketball college experience fueled me to want to be better than what I experienced,” Brennan said. “Had I had the great, perfect team atmosphere and all this stuff that I was supposed to have or thought I was going to have, I don’t think I would be as passionate to be doing what I’m doing today.”

Brennan left basketball after three years as a forward for NCAA DII Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. Less than a decade later, 28 year old Brennan is the head coach of the Hillsdale women’s basketball team.

Prior to becoming head coach last April, she worked with former head coach Charlie Averkamp as lead assistant. In her two seasons in the position, the team won 30 games and appeared in its first G-MAC conference tournament since 2018.

Director of Athletics John Tharp said Brennan was an easy choice for head coach because she would give continuity to the program and build on the culture Averkamp started.

“The thing that I realized

quickly is how much she cares about the kids,” Tharp said. “Her office was always open, the student athletes were always in the office. I think they relied on her for a lot of different things.”

Under Brennan, the team has compiled a record of 11-9, including 7-5 in conference play, and is currently in eighth place in the G-MAC. Eight games remain in the regular season, including tonight’s road contest at Walsh University.

A native of Woodhaven, Michigan, Brennan grew up playing basketball with her dad and sisters. In eighth grade, she decided she wanted to play in college.

“I was just so passionate about it, and there had been some other players at our high school that had gone on to play college,” Brennan said. “I just kind of set my mind to it and was not going to let anything stop me.”

After a successful career at Woodhaven High School, Brennan committed to play for Gannon University.

By the time she arrived on campus, however, the coach who recruited her, Cleve Wright, had left the university.

“The new coach they brought in, the culture was not the same,” Brennan said. “We weren’t treated very well and the culture started dropping drastically. After three years, I decided that it

Men's Basketball

wasn’t something that I wanted to be a part of anymore.”

Brennan knew she couldn’t be done with sports, so she went to the volleyball coach at Gannon and asked to walk onto his team.

Coach Matthew Darling said yes.

“That was the first time in my life I’ve ever cried tears of joy,” Brennan said.

As a middle blocker, Brennan appeared in the NCAA tournament in 2016 and 2017 for Gannon, including the team’s first ever NCAA Division II Final Four appearance for volleyball in 2017.

Still, the adjustment from being a starter for the basketball team to hardly seeing court time as a volleyball player was difficult for Brennan as she learned who she was outside of basketball.

In the midst of this struggle, she attended the Ultimate Training Camp, a Christian ministry program for college athletes who want to glorify God through sports.

“During that time, I was asking God some of the hard questions because basketball was my identity,” Brennan said. “And he made it very clear that that was what was wrong. Basketball could not be my identity. My identity has to be found in Him.”

Brennan would let her relationship with Christ guide her

through the rest of her journey in athletics and life.

“My mindset was so different,” Brennan said. “My value wasn’t in producing in a sport anymore. I knew I could glorify him no matter what my role was.”

After teaching second and first grade for two years after college, Brennan knew she wanted to go back to basketball, this time as a coach.

“The time away from it was exactly what I needed to get the fire going in me,” Brennan said.

Brennan took a position as a graduate assistant, coaching at Eastern Illinois for two years while she earned her Master of Sports Administration.

The summer after completing her masters in 2019, Brennan was staying at her parents’ home in Michigan and preparing for a job interview when she received a phone call from a friend and fellow coach who put her in touch with Averkamp at Hillsdale.

“Coach Averkamp, who hired me, was like, ‘Could you come tomorrow and interview?’” Brennan said. “So I made it happen.”

Brennan canceled her other interview and headed to Hillsdale. She said she was struck by the culture of the athletic department.

“I could tell just how genuine people were here and how much

Chargers dominate rival Tiffin

fort, ending the game with three steals and one block. His four forced turnovers were a part of the 15 total committed by Tiffin. Despite a season-low six points, Reuter grabbed 13 rebounds, 11 of them being defensive rebounds,

an offensive rebound so it’s been my focus to try and continue to do more of that,” Reuter said.

Offensively, sophomore guard Ashton Janowski led the Chargers in scoring with 15 points, making seven of his 10 shot attempts. Janowski also had one assist and one steal in his 28 minutes of gameplay.

and trying to find more ways to get us a possession with

In addition to Janowski, senior guard Samuel Vasiu had a successful day shooting the ball, scoring 14 points and making six of his seven shots, as well as one rebound and one assist. Charles Woodhams also had 10 points himself, along with seven rebounds.

The Chargers saw productivity off of the bench as well.

Freshman guard Mikey McCollum continued in his role as sixth man, scoring nine points, grabbing two rebounds and one steal in 22 minutes. Another freshman who saw some productive playing time down the stretch was forward Caleb Glaser, who finished with six points and five rebounds.

Ten Chargers put up points against the Dragons, improving upon the 56 points they put up against Tiffin in their victory on Jan. 6. The victory puts them in 6th place in the G-MAC, right behind the Ashland University Eagles, who the Chargers will face at home on Feb. 17 at 3 p.m.

“I thought our guys were really locked in,” Bradley said, “They did a great job executing our gameplan, which can be really challenging to do on the road. It was a fun game, and being able to get a sweep against a good team in our conference is always huge.”

The Chargers shot 53% from the field, improving the team shooting percentage to 47% this year. Hillsdale also outrebounded Tiffin as a team 41 to 29, and converted 19 points off of forced turnovers, as well as providing 22 points from their bench players.

“I think the biggest takeaway from the game on the road at Tiffin was how connected we were," sophomore C.J. Yarian said. “We played great team defense the entire game and didn’t let up.”

The Chargers will continue its road trip against the Walsh Cavaliers on Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m, and then will face the Lake Erie College Storm in Ohio on Feb. 10 at 1 p.m. Hillsdale will look to avenge a home loss to the Cavaliers from January.

they cared, not just about athletics but about the students here and the mission,” Brennan said.

By the end of the week, she accepted the position.

Since becoming head coach, Brennan has focused on improving team defense and tells her team to play free and fierce.

Fifth-year senior Sydney Mills said Brennan has always been the kind of coach you could talk to about anything.

“The team culture of knowing this is more than just basketball has been Brie’s main message,” Mills said. “Being the oldest on the team is a weird dynamic at

times because I’m older than all my teammates, and everyone I came in with has already graduated. And coach Brie has done a really good job for me of checking in mentally, which has just meant the world.”

Brennan’s coaching philosophy begins and ends with building relationships.

“Getting to know them as a person, and who they are, and what makes them tick, and what motivates them, and what makes them laugh,” Brennan said. “You’re able to foster a lot of success when you see people first.”

Softball

Softball to open season at top seed

By

Head coach Kyle Gross said he feels the team is prepared for the weekend of competition.

“We’ve prepared a lot since coming back to campus and we’ve been able to be outside,” Gross said. “Most of the time we open the season never playing outside until our first game, so I think we are well prepared.”

Senior captain Erin Kapetyn said she is excited to start the season and echoed Gross’ thoughts.

“Hitting has been going really well, pitching has been going really well,” Kapetyn said. “Hopefully we can continue that into the games.”

The Chargers are returning G-MAC champions and aim to defend their title this season. They intend to continue their

tradition of hard work and plan to showcase this mindset, according to senior catcher Mckenna Eichholz. “We were ranked number one in the preseason poll,” Eichholz said. “We already have people noticing how much hard work we’ve put in but we want to make it known where we are and where we stand.”

Gross said she agreed with this sentiment, seeking to gain another G-MAC title and the opportunity to advance to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

“Our goal is making the NCAA playoffs,” Gross said. “We’re going to be challenged from day one and we are really looking forward to getting after it and starting our season.” With three freshmen and five seniors on the team, Gross said she is interested to see how well the team moves together and how individuals excel in their respective opportunities.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the team performs at their best,” Gross said, “and how our young players — that get opportunities — perform in their first opportunities and how our seniors kick off the season.”

basketball team dominated its G-MAC rival the Tiffin University Dragons, winning by over double their score in a 73-35 road win in Tiffin, Ohio. Hillsdale held the Dragons to 17 points in the first half, and a mere 18 in the second. Junior forward Joe Reuter played a major part in the defensive ef-

Head Coach Keven Bradley was unable to travel with the Chargers, but assistant coaches John Cheng and Evan Morrissey traveled with the team to Tiffin.

Brennan played basketball at Gannon University. Courtesy | Brianna Brennan

Capturing the Candid: a rise in alternative camera use

By Lillian Ferrell Collegian Freelancer

Digital, disposable, and Polaroid cameras create a vintage, candid photo — an aesthetic which surged in 2023.

The craze hasn’t stopped there. Smartphone apps Dispo and Lapse showcase Gen Z’s obsession with photos reminiscent of childhood prints. Why is there a sudden preference for older cameras when smartphones possess the latest photo lens technology?

Having grown up in an age where technology is integral to many aspects of life, alternative cameras may be just what people need to live more of their lives in the present moment.

Freshman Eva Bessette said she uses a 2003 digital camera she found at home. “I loved using it to document special times throughout my senior year and into college,” Bes-

Hillsdale

sette said. “I love the nostalgic feel and the novelty of having photos taken and taking photos of friends that are not readily accessible on your phone.”

Bessette said using a digital camera helps her hold onto memories and live in the moment. “When you are on an iPhone, it takes away from the moment, but when you use alternative cameras, it allows you to capture memories while saving the photos for later,” freshman Bella Walsh said.

Dispo and Lapse are ways to achieve the same spontaneous and imperfect image as a disposable camera while using a smartphone. Lapse even requires users to wait for their photo to “develop” before they can see the image.

Freshman Ellie Fromm said she prefers Lapse over her traditional iPhone camera.

“I think the Lapse camera gives a better effect,” Fromm said. “Maybe these apps have become popular because of the rise of ’90s and early 2000s influence — these apps give the look of these time periods.”

In fashion, television, and

“When you use alternative cameras, it allows you to capture memories while saving the photos for later.”

even photography, it seems the ’90s and 2000s have had an impact on many aspects of culture

and style in Gen Z students’ lives. Maybe it’s a craving for nostalgia in the years they grew up in that is resulting in such a push back from the clearest, brightest images to ones with unconventional lighting and uncoordinated poses, or maybe it’s a rebellion against the pressure of creating the most appealing social media content with the best angles, expressions, and outfits.

Alternative cameras are a refreshing way to embrace imperfection in a digital world of filters and extensive editing. They allow people to freeze real moments without stopping to take the perfect Instagram picture. People are choosing the beauty of reality over the glamorization of societal perfection through the use of alternative cameras.

By Emma Verrigni Collegian Reporter

Men can cultivate their style to reflect their goals, interests, and masculinity, some Hillsdale men say.

Senior Caleb Holm said masculinity does not come from the way one dresses.

“If you’re a man, you are, divinely and innately masculine,” Holm said. “You don’t need to become a man if you already are one.”

Holm said true masculinity comes from a sense of self assurance that one is a man. Men should embrace who they are, instead of trying to embody a particular aesthetic.

“Find a way to accentuate what you’ve already got. That’s really important,” Holm said. “You shouldn’t try to be something else. You should be comfortable and like the way that you were made, and the way that your tastes have been formed.”

Holm said he likes to wear traditional workwear, monochrome outfits, and jewelry.

Men should wear clothes that fit them, instead of trying to flatter their physique, according to Holm.

“Don’t wear clothes that are too small for you, and don’t wear things that are too big,” Holm said. “If you’re gonna wear a big top, you have to have slimmer pants, and if you’re gonna have big pants, you should wear a slimmer top.”

According to sophomore Nicholas Bass, masculinity and style are compatible, and style can be useful.

“If style were unique only to femininity, men would still be wearing neck ruffs from the 16th century. In other words, style changes for better or worse — I would argue for worse in recent decades,” Bass

said. “General ideas of masculinity are obvious, but style does not compete with those ideas, and can in some cases help to accentuate it.”

Sophomore Graham Wesbury said being conscious of his style makes him feel put together and allows him to succeed in other areas of life.

“Dressing well is usually a reflection of your internal state of being — it’s kind of like the whole clean room thing,” Wesbury said. “So if you have a really dirty room, generally speaking, your mind might be cluttered and all over the place. Dressing well conveys a sense of being mentally put together.” Wesbury said he became more conscious about his style in high school when he started going to the gym more often. Both his parents played an important role in the cultivation

“You shouldn’t try to be something else, you should be comfortable and like the way that you were made, and the way that your tastes have been formed.”

of his style, Wesbury said. “My mom actually helped me a lot. She’d say, ‘You should wear this’ or ‘You should buy this,’ and then she’d give me a couple pieces for Christ -

mas. I decided I liked them,” Wesbury said. “About half the sweaters in my closet are from my dad.”

Sophomore Erik Teder said his love of photography has helped him develop his fashion sense. “A lot of good composition in photographs is about the contrast of color, shape, and pattern,” Teder said. “That’s one of my guiding principles for every outfit I put together.”

Dressing well does not have to be expensive, Teder said. Often, when it comes to clothing, quality is more important than quantity.

“I have to give credit to my mom for teaching me how to take really good care of my laundry,” Teder said.

Thrifting used clothes appeals to Teder because it allows him to channel his creativity, he said.

“We have a bunch of thrift stores in our area that I really like,” Teder said. “It’s nice because when I find something, I can kind of visualize how it works with the other colors and patterns I already have. That makes it into more of a process and an art.”

Sophomore Jude Barton said the way his father dresses for work has influenced his style.

“He always goes to the city to work, and he always looks really nice,” Barton said. “So whenever I do something that is in more of a professional environment, I’ll try to imitate what he does.”

Traditionally masculine figures, particularly in movies, tend to dress well, Barton said. “Look at all the movies from the 1930s and 1960s,” Barton said. “You have all these ex -

tremely masculine men who look really nice. I would say that’s my goal, to imitate that era.”

“A lot of good composition in photographs is about the contrast of color, shape, and pattern. That’s one of my guiding principles for every outfit I put together.”

Barton said he plans to attend medical school and believes dressing well is more conducive to learning at a higher education institution.

“I believe you should dress to suit the occasion,” Barton said. “School is like work, essentially, so I try to dress nicely when I’m doing that.”

According to Bass, one can indicate respect by dressing to the best of one’s ability. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean one needs expensive clothes, Bass said.

“Wearing expensive clothes should not be the hallmark of how we define style,” Bass said.

Freshmen Eva Bessette (left) has been documenting her college experience with a 2003 digital camera. Courtesy | Eva Bessette

Sophomore Erik Teder said he uses his photography knowledge to guide every outfit he puts together. Erik Teder | Collegian

Senior Caleb Holm said he enjoys wearing traditional work clothes, monochrome outfits, and jewlery. Courtesy | Caleb Holm

Dan Thompson exhibits classical art pieces in Sage Art Center

By Megan Li Collegian Freelancer

Classical artist Dan Thompson’s exhibit, “Upright: Adventures in Teaching,” will remain on display in the Sage Center for the Arts Daughtrey Gallery until March 22.

According to Thompson, before he accepted the invitation to show at Hillsdale, he was warned by those around him of the college’s political standings.

Nevertheless, Thompson said his desire and curiosity to interact with more artists moved him to visit and exhibit his artwork at the college anyway.

“Ideology is one thing, political ideology in particular, but when you put a face to an ideology, it’s quite a bit more nuanced,” Thompson said. “You’re dealing with a person who you could identify with, who you could probably see similar pursuits and loves in.” Thompson did just that as he engaged with a room full

‘Mean

By Colman Rowan Collegian Reporter

of artists for a three-hour live portrait drawing demonstration Jan. 14 in the Sage lobby. Thompson studied as an undergraduate at the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design, a classical museum school a block from the White House.

After deciding to take a path in representational drawing and painting, he studied at a design school in Pennsylvania, a community school in Virginia, and with affiliates along the East Coast before the Graduate School of Figurative Art of the New York Academy of Art accepted him. “I spent about 11 years studying full time before I felt at least minimally prepared to try to embark on a career or adventure in professional practice,” Thompson said. Julio Suarez, chairman and associate professor of Art at Hillsdale, invited Thompson to exhibit his work at Hillsdale and give a drawing demonstration. “Not only is Mr. Thompson

a master of his craft, he is also dedicated to education and the preservation of traditional drawing techniques,” Suarez said. “I don’t know of any other artist that is able to communicate the process and keep the audience engaged as well as he does.”

For Thompson, the engagement goes both ways.

“I was riveted by the students,” he said. “I was riveted because I caught the sense of an earnest searching in them.

I just can’t say how refreshing that is. I have a taste of the art business and how much it can ravage an individual’s ambitions. It can steal them and turn them into a jaded temperament. I got quite the opposite impression from this.”

Thompson said his perspective on the heart of a human is integral to his approach to art. “Matters of spirit are things that are underappreciated when it comes to the great adventure,” Thompson said. “People need to connect with their

spirit because that is the engine of creativity — what they react to, people they interact with, the things they care about, the people they love. Those are the things that make somebody feel inspired.” Thompson did not attribute a style to his artwork, but rather a temperament of curiosity and earnestness. “I want to make sure that whatever is done visually embraces one visual voice,” Thompson said.

Sophomore Ellia He said Thompson’s selfless value of the human spirit inspired her as an artist. “We’re so obsessed with finding our own voice and style, but Thompson is like, ‘No. Art is not about you.’ It’s about the other person: capturing their spirit and life,” He said. He said she hopes to learn from Thompson’s understanding of human nature and his incorporation of that into his anatomical art, which has been used by medical professionals.

“Thompson’s model circles include dancers. They have amazing, incredible stories, but a lot of them are also very broken,” He said. “You want to capture that fire of the spirit about them. The way your face flows, the way you tilt your head, the way you look, the direction, the angles: This is what he’s trying to capture. I would definitely be trying to keep the gesture in that spirit to stylize the final product.”

Thompson said he narrowed down his exhibited pieces from 50 to 32 with his Department of Quality Control, also known as his wife. According to Thompson, he wanted someone who knew him and his art to provide awareness of an outsider’s perspective.

Thompson said the exhibition’s title is inspired by him standing for something which means a lot to him.

“My ambition was to display a series of pieces that were the results of dialogue,” Thompson said. “Every single one of the

drawings and shows is what I call an artifact of learning. That to me makes the demonstration more special because it became a champion of knowledge, education, and a kind of driving mindset rather than a result.”

Suarez said he hopes students who visit the exhibit will be moved to aspire to Thompson’s level of excellence.

“Listening to his commentary and seeing the results reinforced the fact that Mr. Thompson is one of the best demonstrators working today,” Suarez said. Thompson expressed interest in the educational plans of Hillsdale art students.

“I ask things I want to know from the students — where their head is at so we could talk more about what they’re going to do with their education,” Thompson said. “What are you going to do to make a statement because the time is so brazen, so short, and these matters are so profound?”

Girls’ tries to justify the American experiment to audience

The 2024 musical remake of “Mean Girls” uses the setting of the modern American highschool to toy with the same ideas as America’s Founding Fathers.

As far as the plot goes, if you liked “Mean Girls” (2004), then “Mean Girls” (2024) is for you. It’s basically the same movie but as a musical, with a different cast, adapted to fit slightly more modern times, and it’s not as good as the original.

The film begins with the good-natured and clearly homeschooled Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) moving from Kenya to the Chicago suburbs.

This movement from the African wild to civilized America already suggests the entrance into a higher society where laws and customs based on rationality reign.

Quite the opposite happens, however, as Heron finds the rules of the jungle — survival of the fittest — are in place. Amidst this primal society, Regina George (Reneé Rapp), whose very name suggests her queenship, reigns over the school like a despot.

One of the songs, “Apex Predator,” even shows scenes

of students acting like animals. George, the Apex Predator, controls everyone by flawlessly exercising the power of her feminine beauty.

This power Regina, or Queen George, holds, like the power King George III had, is something everyone wants a part of.

Since it’s a vulgar society where the strongest and most passionate rule, the whole school falls victim to George’s treachery.

But George makes a vital mistake by betraying Heron after bringing her into her exclusive fold — called The Plastics — for being glamorous but also “shiny, fake, and hard.” After this betrayal, Heron and her outcast friends decide to overthrow George through a musical number titled “Revenge Party.”

Driven by a desire for revenge, Heron succeeds in taking down George, but in the power vacuum, she is sucked into her own position. Infected with power, Heron becomes a plastic despot nearly as ruthless as George.

When George finds out the plan for her downfall was concocted by the new queen, Heron, she plants a book with insults for every member of her class, excluding Heron and the rest of The Plastics, thus framing them as the book’s creators.

The whole class breaks into one massive fight over the book as passions rage. As a result, the women of the school are called into an assembly. One of the

People bring forward testimony of times they’ve wronged people. Heron’s outcast friend, Janis Sarkisian (Auli’i Cravalho) then reveals they plotted to

teachers, played by Tina Fey, brings the women together by having them recognize they are not just victims but perpetrators too.

take down George to the assembly and sings a song in praise of herself and her individualism. George runs out after Sarkisian’s revelation while Heron follows asking for forgiveness.

George is then suddenly hit by a school bus.

After this event, Heron’s downfall in popularity forces the tearing of her conscience to fully come to surface. She decides she doesn’t want to be plastic anymore and comes clean on all her treachery, having to return to square one with most of her relationships.

After having to join the math team and winning the state championship with the phrase “the limit does not exist,” Heron shows up to the Spring Fling late, still adorned in her nerd getup. There they announce Heron, much to her surprise, as queen of the dance. On stage, she accepts the crown and proclaims the need for understanding, toleration, and forgiveness. Heron says everyone is a king and a queen that night and shocks everyone by breaking the plastic crown into pieces and distributing them to everyone. Perhaps the breaking of plastic is the intended metaphor, but what I saw was the rejection of kings and genesis of giving power to the people. Heron practically proclaims the rule of democracy, tries to break up factions — cliques — and gives the queenship’s power to all, making the rule of the

high school be one of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Thus the people, attempting to rise above that state of nature where passions control them and the mightiest lead, decide to come together to form a compact. They decide to use man’s highest capacity, that limitless capacity of rationality, to make their society best for all men.

Based on this, Heron is like that venerable person of the American tradition, George Washington, because she cedes the power she could have kept.

After this speech, the highschool dance continues and all are happy. All the cliques mix together into the melting pot through the power of that compact, which brings about equality of conditions and toleration.

Now, you may ask, what of Regina George? Well, like the modern monarchs, she becomes a simple facade. She too is at the dance, but physically disabled — wearing a neck brace — and too goofy to properly function, being high on painkillers.

Overall, “Mean Girls” was not a very good movie. I would not recommend going to see it. 3/10.

Professors’ Picks: Erik Ellis, assistant professor of Education

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

The recording by McCreesh places the polyphony in its plainchant context, and listening to it always has a powerful effect on me. I make a habit of listening to it at least once every Friday.

“Scholia to an Implicit Text” (1977) by Nicolás Gómez Dávila

If you don’t have a giant library and wealth sufficient to support you spending all your time in it collecting wisdom and repackaging it as pithy aphorisms, then reading Gómez Dávila is the next best thing. It’s even better in Spanish.

A 300-page novel turned into a 3-hour film demonstrates the relative strengths and weaknesses of the two art forms and makes for the only film that I would say equals or even surpasses its literary source. It is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.

Rowan rated “Mean Girls” (2024) 3/10. Courtesy | IMDB

Compiled by Alexandra Comus Collegian Reporter

Cristóbal del Morales’ “Circumdederunt me” recorded by Paul McCreesh (1998)

“The Leopard” (1963) by Luchino Visconti

Erik Ellis pauses for a picture while hiking. Courtesy | Erik Ellis

FEATURES

Students ring in spring with Punxsutawney Phil

By Sydney Green Circulation manager

For some, Groundhog Day is an overlooked holiday. For five students from Simpson Residence, it’s a holiday worth traveling more than five hours to celebrate.

The idea started between a group of friends while watching football and casually discussing plans for the weekend.

Sophomore Jonathan Williams, a resident assistant in Simpson, said the idea to travel to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, for its Groundhog Day celebration was a joke at first but quickly became a reality.

“A friend asked me if there was anything going on Feb. 2, and I joked about Groundhog Day being a serious day,” Williams said. “Then one thing led to another, and I asked if anyone wanted to go to celebrate it and pretty soon we were checking our schedules.”

Junior Samuel Blunt overheard the growing conversation but decided to do his own research before joining.

“I wasn’t sold immediately and decided to look up the lore around Groundhog Day,” Blunt said. “And then it was the idea of the pilgrimage that ended up convincing me.”

After planning the trip, Williams, Blunt, and freshmen Nate Gallagher, Joseph VanKat, and Alex Buehrer hit the road Thursday night for Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney where the celebration is held.

“You see 60-yearold men dressed up as Elvis, a guy in a top hot reading a scroll, and thousands of people there excited to watch it. ”

Groundhog Day, held every year on Feb. 2, is a longstanding evolution of Candlemas, originally a Celtic festival celebrating midwinter. The tradition evolved when Germany introduced the hedgehog into the lore. If the hedgehog saw its shadow, it meant there would be six more weeks of winter. Once the tradition was brought to the United States, groundhogs replaced hedge-

hogs as the harbingers of the year’s weather.

Since the late 1800s, the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, has predicted the weather for the rest of the winter. According to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, Punxsutawney Phil has been predicting the weather since 1886. His longevity is attributed to drinking the elixir of life, a potion that adds seven years to his life.

Prepared to witness this historic holiday in person, the students arrived at midnight and waited in a parking lot until the event started at 3 a.m. Buehrer said the city is devoted to the holiday.

“In the town, there are 43 statues of Punxsutawney Phil,” Buehrer said. “He was everywhere — figures of him as Statue of Liberty Phil, baseball Phil, or even a Wendy’s Phil, it was crazy.”

The group hiked the 1.3mile trek to the top of Gobbler’s Knob.

“The whole thing was wild,” Blunt said. “You see sixty-yearold men dressed up as Elvis, a guy in a top hat reading a scroll, and thousands of people there excited to watch it.”

The groundhog makes his proclamation to the president

of the Groundhog Club who, according to the club, is the only one capable of speaking ‘Groundhogese.’ This year, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, predicting an early spring.

Vice President of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Dan McGinley said the holiday is a day where ridiculous things can be taken seriously.

“Groundhog Day, you might not know it, but it’s about irreverence,” McGinley said. “It’s

about taking not being serious too seriously.”

The five students returned Saturday afternoon and have since enjoyed retelling their stories from the trip. Buehrer said he hopes to attend the event again next year.

“I think there are definitely people who are skeptical of Phil’s ability and the power of Groundhog Day,” Buehrer said. “I just wish they could have come with us and experienced it themselves.”

Williams said the excursion was a fitting reflection of the values of Simpson.

“The community in Simpson is built around this silly, goofy, boyhood mindset which we have to be serious about because we think it makes us a better man,” Williams said. “And so this Groundhog Day trip was a perfect mirror of that.”

Bible study floods inboxes Rebelling against the rebels: student starts conservative outlet

at 6:30 p.m. for his weekly Bible study.

Many Hillsdale students have found themselves receiving emails, advertising a weekly Bible study. For most, it’s a mystery how they ended up on the email list.

Freshman Paul Bwamiki, an international student from Uganda, started the Bible study at the end of last semester.

Bwamiki first began attending Bible studies as a middle schooler.

“When I was in grade seven, I started praying with other students in my school,” Bwamiki said. “I was so happy when I came to Hillsdale because it’s a Christian community.”

After arriving at Hillsdale, Bwamiki said he felt called to continue his spiritual outreach in the Hillsdale student body.

“Last semester, as I was reading and doing my assignments, I reached a point where I’d lost my place in the reading,” he recalled. “When I lost the reading, I started praying, and that’s when it came into my mind — I needed to start a Bible study.”

Bwamiki wasn’t quite sure how to start the group, but he felt confident that he needed to give it a try regardless.

“I had a lot of questions,” Bwamiki said. “How would I start it? Who knows me? Where are we going to be having it? But inside, God told me what to do.”

Bwamiki proceeded by inviting anyone who might have an interest in joining the study via email or personal contact. He also added plenty of students to the email list at random. The list now has 100 total recipients.

“It’s mostly random,” Bwamiki said. “There are even some professors on the list. I’d just type in names of people I know and go from there, adding anyone else that pops up.”

Bwamiki decided to gather students at the end of their busy weeks, choosing Friday

“He actually approached me first,” said freshman Maria Adamow, a classmate of Bwamiki’s. “It was after lab on a Tuesday, and he came up to me and asked if I was interested in a Bible study that met on Fridays. He explained what they do and invited me to be on the email list.”

Bwamiki didn’t expect many students to join him for his first study, but he was surprised by the turnout.

“I didn’t expect anyone to come because no one knew about it and few people knew me,” Bwamiki said. “The first day, I went in and started praying to God knowing I was going to be there alone. But surprisingly, six people came.”

Bwamiki’s study focuses on student input and a collaborative analysis of scripture. “It’s not just one person speaking — everyone can be given an opportunity,” Bwamiki said. “It’s an interaction where everyone gets to express what they think. Then after, we open up the Bible and see what the Bible says.”

Freshman Jean Veillard is glad to be a participant in the study.

“At first I didn’t want to go because I wasn’t really interested. But I went once, and I just keep coming back every Friday. We spend time learning new things, but we also meet new people.,” Veillard said. “He always tells people to come with a friend.”

Bwamiki sees his endeavor to organize and lead the Bible study as a duty of his faith.

“If the world ends right now or if Jesus comes back right now, and the world disappears, and we face Christ, he may ask me, ‘When you were in Hillsdale, what did you contribute to Hillsdale other than the academic part — but based on the spiritual, what did you add into this community?’”

By Eleanor Whitaker Collegian Reporter

While some passionate conservatives complain about the state of American culture, one freshman took action and created a platform for young conservatives to voice their opinions and ambitions.

Bradley Haley founded New Guard Press, an online publication, last June after seeing a lack of young conservative voices who challenge progressive ideology on an academic level.

“New Guard Press is an outlet for young conservatives who want to promote a positive vision for the future of conservatism and American culture,” Haley said.

New Guard Press publishes commentary from college-aged thinkers on cultural issues. Recent articles include, “My child, my choice: the rise of alternative schooling” and “Artificial intelligence and creation.”

“New Guard occupies this nice space of conservatism and provides an outlet for young conservatives to discuss the various elements of it, whether it be about understanding and appreciating classical music or what a full education looks like,” Hillsdale alumnus Austin Gergens ’20 said.

Haley said the name New Guard Press reflects his optimism in the power of his generation. The outlet’s slogan is “Rebelling against the rebels.”

“Whether our generation wants to accept it or not, we’re the new guard of the Western tradition and of the American founding, and we have to go into the future with that in some manner,” Haley said. “My proposal is that we go forward into the future by building on the tradition of the past. We are inheritors of that and we have to do something with it.”

Haley said he wants his readers to understand more deeply why they believe their principles.

“There are not a lot of people who are giving an actual vision of what our culture can be and what made our culture great, and this publication really does that from a place of appreciation for the western tradition,” Haley said.

conservative values, so I think it is neat that the New Guard is able to talk about it — how we perceive conservatism and what its roots are.”

Gergens said New Guard Press stands out from other conservative publications be-

New Guard Press’ writers are young conservatives who want a place to articulate their ideas. “We are looking for people who are very thoughtful and think about deep ideas, not just watch Fox News and complain,” Haley said.

Gergens uses his experience as a journalist at the Michigan News Source on the New Guard Press editorial team. “New Guard seemed like a novel concept that I liked,” Gergens said. “There are a lot of times when we rely on an older generation to talk about

cause of its young writers and audience.

Haley said he is especially passionate about the intersection of religion, philosophy, and politics.

“I enjoy writing about the religious aspect of our current culture and how we kind of went through a phase of being not religious, and now there is very much religious pushback in our culture,” Haley said. New Guard Press is growing its audience. “I’ve been encouraged by how positive the reception has

been among my generation,” Haley said.“I’ve heard a lot of people say to me that this is an idea they have had but never been able to do themselves.”

Freshman Luke Waters became a writer for New Guard Press after meeting Haley at Hillsdale last semester and connecting over their shared hope for America’s future.

“The understanding in our generation right now is that all institutions are corrupt and that’s right wing and left wing,” Waters said. “They have been poisoned with a kind of nihilism that is not acceptable to us. And so we want to cast a vision for those who are now coming along and having to live and use these institutions.

How do we reclaim them?

How do we rebuild from the ashes what has been lost and destroyed? That is what we write about.”

Waters said the main message he communicates in his articles is that political beliefs and values matter.

“How you live your life must come downstream of your spiritual relationship with God,” Waters said. “Because if it’s not rooted in something higher and something more objective, true, real, and deep, you will be just five years behind the leftist agenda. I am trying to encourage my readers to stop lamenting the fall of the West and actually begin to rebuild it.”

Waters said he loves working with Haley.

“I always like to say, ‘Delusions of grandeur are only delusions if you don’t make them come true,’” Waters said.

“Bradley is a guy who some might say has had some delusions of grandeur, but he’s making them happen and he’s going after it — and that’s the best kind of guy to work for.”

Jonathan Williams, Samuel Blunt, Nate Gallagher, Joseph VanKat, and Alex Buehrer met Punxsutawney Phil on Groundhog Day. Courtesy | Jonathan Williams

Haley founded New Guard Press in 2023. Courtesy | Bradley Haley

By Jackson Casey Collegian Freelancer

FEATURES

Go to Hell: visit Michigan’s oddest town

By Kamden Mulder Assistant Editor

After being pronounced dead in the Vietnam War, veteran John Colone escaped death, but sent himself to Hell — the one in Michigan, that is.

“I was shot four times, toe tag on, and put in a body bag and sent back to the morgue. They said I was dead and put me on the pile of bodies there,” Colone said. “The second time I rolled off the pile, they decided to open the bag. A young medic took a ballpoint pen and stabbed me in the foot. I jumped.”

After spending nearly two years in the hospital, Colone returned home. He bought and resurrected a failing car dealership before finding refuge in the little unincorporated community of Hell.

Hell, located 20 miles northwest of Ann Arbor, was settled in 1838 by George Reeves.

While the origins of the name are up for debate, Colone shares his own theory with visitors of the town.

“The 13th of October, 1843, the state came by and asked George what he wanted to name the town,” Colone said. “‘Call it Hell for all I care.’ I know that’s true because I wrote it myself.”

Colone, who grew up in Pinckney, Michigan, used to visit Hell as a young boy. Living only three miles away, Colone would make the trip to Hell’s liquor store, notorious for selling to underage kids.

A young salesman, Colone bought bottles of wine and sold boozy snow cones to his friends for fifty cents a piece.

According to Colone, Hell was a motorcycle town, bustling with gangs and fighting. That was the status quo until 1998, when Colone purchased a block of property and transformed it into a witty gift shop. Tourists can purchase coffee mugs, t-shirts, shot glasses, decor, and more, all designed around the town’s name: Hell. Colone had a dream to change the town for the better.

“I had to change the image,” Colone said. “The sheriff’s department called me to say I was crazy. I kept saying ‘I think I can change this.’ So the first thing I did was stop selling booze.”

With a population of just 72, the unincorporated community is now a tourist attraction, drawing visitors from all over the state. Colone is the brains behind rebranding the town as well as its unofficial mayor. “We did 287 weddings last year. A marriage that starts in Hell has nowhere to go but up,” Colone said. “We sell the position of mayor. We just opened the scattering yard. Leave the ashes of your loved one or that SOB that deserves to be in Hell. Everybody’s got somebody that’s tucked in a drawer somewhere.”

In addition to the gift shop, the small town offers miniature golf, a “creamatory” ice cream parlor, a real coffin, and

QUICK HITS: Stephanie Gravel

a Hell’s Locks of Love bridge, where couples can leave a lock to signify their love. Colone revealed there are over 900 locks currently on the bridge.

In September, Colone and his staff created their 100th t-shirt design, with the store boasting over $176,500 worth of inventory.

Colone said in the winter, only four employees manage the store, while in the summer months, the store requires up

Browning said they looked up the attractions before stopping but enjoyed the gift shop and planned to stay for dinner. “We wanted to make sure there was actually something here,” Hinton said. “It was a little bit out of the way so we wanted to make sure it wasn’t just a sign.”

Browning purchased a sign from the gift shop reading “Welcome to Hell” as well as other knick knacks.

“I was shot four times, toe tag on, and put in a body bag and sent back to the morgue. They said I was dead and put me on a pile of bodies there.”

to 17 employees to account for the influx of tourism to the town.

However, there is no typical tourist that visits Hell.

“Sometimes you think no one is average if they come here,” Colone said.

Rolanda Hinton and Danielle Browning made the stop in Hell during their road trip to Indiana.

Hinton, from Michigan, was aware of the town, which is what prompted the visit.

“It is the type of place you convince your best girlfriends to stop at with you,” Hinton said.

By Emma Verrigini Collegian Reporter

Associate Dean of Women

Stephanie Gravel discusses her family, hobbies, and what she loves about her job.

If you could have any other job, what would it be?

How about I keep my job, and we pick up Hillsdale College and move it to a warm state?

I love the four seasons, but I would like to live in a warm state. If I had to choose, I would probably pick something in child advocacy.

When you were younger, what did you want to do?

When I graduated high school, I thought I was going into advertising. I was going to go to school, get a business degree, and go into advertising. I don’t really know why I thought that. I had an uncle that was in advertising,

After experiencing the town, Browning said it is definitely worth the stop.

According to Colone, Netflix highlighted Hell as one of America’s funniest small towns.

Before assuming the status of “unofficial mayor of Hell”, a position that can be purchased by the day for $120, Colone served in the 101st Airborne Division of the Army during the Vietnam War. He was forced to choose between the draft and jail, with 22 points on his license for drag racing and an expulsion from college for poor grades.

maybe I enjoyed his stories. I definitely liked the creative aspect. I come up with a lot of ideas, but then I need someone to help implement them.

What was your favorite subject in school?

Everything but math. I mean, I can balance a checkbook — well actually, my husband does that for me.

What is your favorite thing about your job? Relationships, talking to students. I never know what a conversation is going to bring when someone walks through my door and dealing with all the different personalities is so fun.

What is your least favorite thing about your job? Working with Dean Pete. We have a love-hate relationship — he’s like a big brother.

“I went down and asked to be drafted,” Colone said. “After six week basic training, they asked me to consider leadership school. They saw something in me.”

Colone was sent to Vietnam during the 1968 Tet Offensive where he sustained grave injuries. He left the army in debt and decided to enter the car business. Even then, Hell was on Colone’s mind.

“Back in the 60s, we all named our cars on the fenders,” Colone explained. “Mine was Abaddon, and if you read the first page of Old Testament, it talks about Abaddon, the angel from Hell.”

Even Colone’s personal phone number, which was given to him while owning the car dealership, is hellish, ending in the numbers “6-6-6.”

Eventually, he became the fourth largest volume Chrysler dealership in Michigan, and one of his employees brought the 1998 sale of the town to his attention.

“A week later, I owned this store,” Colone said.

Colone’s goal has always been to be different, a trait that has carried through his entire life, and brought him much success while owning his car dealership.

“We have to be different than other places. I used to take anything for trade. 68 geese one time, horses, cows,” Colone said. “I took a pig on trade for a car.”

Do you have a favorite childhood memory?

In the summertime when my family would all come to my parents house, and we would play this massive capture the flag game. It would last for hours. It was like hide-and-seek capture the flag — we crossed about three property lines.

Any favorite hobbies?

I decided this fall I was gonna take up whittling. So I whittle and carve spoons. I bought the tools, got my little wood, and I just whittle and carve away. I’m looking forward to doing it in the summer when I can be outside, so I don’t have to deal with all of the wood chips.

Where is the best place you’ve traveled? Brazil. I loved it. It was gorgeous.

How did you meet your husband?

Colone explained these trades helped him acquire some of the property he owns in Hell.

“The guy next door here, contacted me and said ‘We would like to buy a new truck.’I still had to give him some money because the property was worth more,” Colone said. “Trucks were inexpensive, probably $6,000. So that’s how I ended up getting this property first.”

For Colone, the creative side of the business is one of the most fun parts, constantly coming up with new ideas to make people laugh.

“Our biggest thing is that people laugh,” Colone said. “Our postcards are ‘Hellmark’ cards because we do not send the very best. Little things like that are catchy.” Colone revealed he has not had a paycheck in 23 years. He lives off of his military benefits and Social Security, allowing him to put the success of his empire to good use. “We have bumper stickers that we give away free to veterans,” Colone said. “They say ‘Caution, caution, veteran who has been through hell and has received no consoling.’”

Colone also engages with different philanthropies, from food banks to nonprofits.

“It’s the privilege of still being alive and working in Hell,” Colone said.

We met at Grand Valley State University, Hillsdale College’s old rival. He was a young assistant coach, and I was in my senior year. I played for him for a year, and then we started dating a year after I graduated.

What’s your best memory with your daughter?

Last year we took off and went to Florida, just the two of us together and had a weekend vacation. We had so much fun. It’s cool when you make the transition to adulthood. She’s always gonna be my daughter, right? But when you make the transition, it’s like we’re friends, and we enjoy each other’s company. We had the best time.

What is it like having to hike up three flights of stairs to get to your job at the top of Central Hall?

On the good days I take the stairs, and on the bad days I take the elevator.

Gravel poses with her daughter and husband.

Courtesy | Stephanie Gravel

Colone is the unofficial mayor of Hell, Michigan. Collegian | Kamden Mulder

Colone’s store sells everything from shirts to coffee cups, all branded with the town’s name. Collegian | Kamden Mulder Colone bought his property in Hell in 1998. Collegian | Kamden Mulder