Applications are down

about 5 percent from last

years record numbers.
Director of Admissions Jeff
Lantis and his team have pro-
cessed over 1,950 applications
so far, about 100 fewer than
this time last year.
But by the time late tran-
scripts and letters of recco-
mendation arrive, Lantis said
he expects the total number
of applications to be close to
last year`s fnal count oI about
2,200.
Lantis attributed the dip to
three main factors.
I dont want to give U.S.
News and World Report
much credit, but we missed
the listing this year [due to]
a paperwork glitch with an
organization that supplies info
to U.S. News, so our absence
there may have had an im-
pact, he said. The national
ad campaign that was run last
GOP presidential candidate
Rick Santorum backed out of
Hillsdale Colleges Constitu-
tional Symposium last Saturday
night, 48 hours before it was
scheduled to start.
Santorums decision came
after a frenzied week of student
and administrative efforts to
put together Hillsdale`s frst
forum for presidential hopefuls,
including hours of phone calls,
sleepless nights, and thousands
of dollars of sunk costs for the
schools administration.
We laid the groundwork for
something really great and we
almost did it, said Elliot Gaiser,
Collegian opinions editor and
Constitution Symposium Chair.
The event drew cooperation
from Central Hall to Benzing
Hall and back, at a time when al-
most all upper-level administra-
tive staff were in California for a
National Leadership Seminar.
I wish people would know
just how close we came to doing
a thing that CNN and state party
chairmen couldnt do, Gaiser
said. If anything, its shown me
that people our age can move the
world if we set our minds to it.
The story of the event
includes candidates campaigns
suggesting dozens of different
dates, days of radio silence,
calls to staffer upon staffer and
senior state politicos, and ulti-
mately, Santorums withdrawal.
The Plan
Gaiser said he considered the
idea of a presidential forum for
months beIore getting aIfrma-
tion from college administrators.
The green light came after
Hillsdale President Larry Arnn
cornered Gaiser in Saga, Inc, at
the beginning of February, three
weeks before the Feb. 28 Michi-
gan primary.
Dr. Arnn looks over at me
and says, Dyou think you can do
this? I say, I can gosh darn try,
and Dr. Arnn says, I think were
going to try this, Gaiser said.
That week, Gaiser and senior
Mike Morrison, juniors Katy
Bachelder and Sarah Anne
Voyles, and sophomores Melika
Willoughby and Brianna Walden
formed a Hillsdale Constitutional
Symposium Executive Commit-
tee under administrative point-
person Production Assistant
Victoria Bergen 11.
The six of us would walk up
to the president`s oIfce, Victoria
would join us, we were greeted
by Natalie Mock all of us
graduates or students from the
past two years. We walked into
Dr. Arnn`s oIfce and sat down
at his table and worked from the
oIfce oI Dr. Arnn, Willoughby
said, laughing.
Provost David Whalen said
the administrations position on
the event was established from
the outset. He said the college
asked that each candidate be
invited to speak and the event
disrupt campus life as little as
Vol. 135, Issue 15 - 23 Feb. 2012
Michigans oldest college newspaper www.hillsdalecollegian.com
A8
In Spaces...
A5
A5
B4
TWITTER.COM/
HDALECOLLEGIAN
FACEBOOK.COM/
HILLSDALECOLLEGIAN
Student syposium sidelined by withdrawal
Marieke van der Vaart
Editor-in-Chief
Student
Sculptor
Alumnus
Filmmaker
Pink
Wave
In Arts..
In Sports...
Patrick Timmis
News Editor
Admissions
applications
down
Rule number 24 of George
Washingtons Rules of Civil-
ity and Decent Behavior in
Company and Conversation
states: 'Superfuous Comments
and all Affectation of Cer-
emony are to be avoided, yet
where due they are not to be
Neglected.
Partygoers took those in-
structions to heart at the Kirby
Center for Constitutional Stud-
ies and Citizenships celebra-
tion of Washingtons Birthday
on Feb. 20.
In 1879, an act of Congress
implemented the frst Iederal
holiday to honor an American
citizen. Today, it celebrates the
service oI all the nation`s frst
citizens.
'The very oIfce Washing-
ton held owed its existence to
him, said David Bobb, the
Kirby Centers director, in a
toast. He is indispensable;
however, he never acted as
though he was indispensable,
and for that we honor him
tonight.
Other participants echoed
Bobbs tribute to Washingtons
humility. When asked what
quality he most admired in the
nation`s frst prresident, author
Michael Zak pointed to his
restraint.
He could have been a
Cromwell, but he chose not
to, Zak said.
Others said they draw
personal inspiration from his
example.
A clinical psychologist from
New Jersey praised Washing-
ton for his steady model as
a Iather fgure to his young
country. A local college stu-
dent joked that the standard of
Kirby Center celebrates presidents
Emily Reagan
Collegian Freelancer
See A3
See A4
See A2
Santorum skips out
'LJLWDOFDPSXVVXUYH\VFRQWDLQVHFXULW\DZV
Student voting for Outstand-
ing Senior Man and Woman
closed on Sunday night, but
sources told The Collegian that
the voting website might have
skewed the results by allowing
for discrepancy in the outcome.
It just goes to show that our
school is not on the cutting edge
of technology, said a student ITS
employee who asked to remain
anonymous. And as much as
we would like to think that this
is Hillsdale College, you know
were all still human just as
fawed as the next person.
The student said the online
voting process through Survey
Monkey, a voting website, has
two major glitches: the site does
not require ID verifcation, and
by clearing the Internet History
cache, people could clear their
cookie or tracking fle,
allowing them to vote again.
Anyone could vote, and
they could vote as many times
as they want, the student said.
I do know that some juniors
voted, and I defnitely tried to
see if it would let me vote twice.
It didnt ask you who you are;
just clear your cache, and vote
again.
An email containing the link
to vote was sent only to students
with senior standing all 568
of them but that allowed
recipients who are not gradu-
ating this spring to still vote
or forward the email to other
juniors, sophomores, and fresh-
men to vote.
One junior student with
senior standing said he voted
anyway.
I think they just looked
at how many credits I had and
included me in the senior class
email because of that. I voted
because I sensed the voting
system was fawed with me
getting an email and all. It was
mischievous
of me, and
I probably
shouldnt
have done it.
Director
of Career Ser-
vices Joanna
Wiseley, the
advisor to the
class of 2012,
said that she
and the of-
fcers decided
to switch the voting to Survey
Monkey this year and pay for
the service.
The college also used
Survey Monkey to select the
winner for the senior class T-
shirt design competition. Senior
Design Editor Bonnie Cofer
the winner of the competition
said she noticed the polling site
allowed for repeated voting.
I think its unfair and that
bothers me. I
dont feel like
it was a fair
win, Cofer
said. The fact
that I know
the system
was abused in
that instance,
makes me
concerned that
similar things
might have
happened in
other voting processes with the
same website. I wish that they
would either go back to voting
on paper ballots or use an online
system that required you to sign
in. With the system they are us-
ing now, they are just asking for
someone to abuse it.
Wiseley said she understood
that others could vote if they
received the link, but she hoped
it would not come to that. Nev-
ertheless, she did not see any
discrepancies in the results.
There are 374 members of
the senior class and 305 votes
were submitted.
I did not notice anything out
of the ordinary, Wiseley said.
There were way less responses
than there were members of
the class. The voting was re-
ally even. It was a really good
cross-section and the numbers
were really well dispersed. So it
would indicate to me that there
was not a conspiracy.
The bottom line is it is just
the top three and I think they are
all great candidates, and the fac-
ulty makes the fnal decision.
Wiseley was not able to
view who voted, but she was
able to see the IP address of
each vote. Although she said
she did not see repeat votes, the
senior oIfcers may decide to
return to ballot voting.
Maybe we will do a ballot,
Wiseley said. We just thought
we would get more response if
we didnt do it at the Grewcock
Student Union and polled who-
ever came to lunch that day. I
just didnt like that. [The issue]
is on our agenda for our next
senior oIfcer meeting and their
recommendation is that they
will take it forward to the next
class, the class of 2013.
Seniors Nate Jebb, James
Manion, Clint Westbrook, and
Ryon Wiska represent the men
there are four nominees because
Wiseley did not see a good
breaking point in the results.
Seniors Brittany Baldwin, Dina
Farhat, and Kelsey Shunk were
nominated for the women.
Emily Shelton
Collegian Freelancer
With the system they
are using now, they
are just asking for
someone to abuse it.
Senior
Bonnie Cofer
Basketball wins
GLIAC title
See A8
(Sally Nelson/Collegian)
(Sally Nelson/Collegian)
(Sally Nelson/Collegian)
There was more than the
normal assortment of students in
A.J.s Caf at 9 p.m. on Monday.
There were still the groups
of laughing students gathered
around tables, not even pretend-
ing to study; the stone-faced
couples separated by glowing
laptop screens, pretending to
study; the students sitting by
themselves, pretending to text as
they waited for their friends.
But this last Monday, Presi-
dents Day, the normal A.J.s
patrons were joined by the read-
ing day crowd.
That included two separate
games of Settlers of Catan, two
tables of card games, a professor
meeting students, and an infux
of students who celebrated their
three-day weekend by not doing
any reading.
Sophomores Sam Stone-
burner, Haley Pelissier, and John
Walsh, as well as a friend of
Stoneburners from his home-
town, just fnished their game
and packed the board games
pieces back into its box.
This was kind of an historic
moment for [Haley], Stone-
burner said. She beat the people
who taught her to play and, in
some cases, the people who
taught them to play.
Stoneburner said he woke up
at 8 a.m. to do Greek homework
and practice for a chemistry
presentation he had to give on
Tuesday.
I knew if I wanted to play
two games of Catan I needed to
wake up early, he said. That
was worth waking up for me.
He had gotten a group
together to play a game after
lunch.
Who won earlier? Pelissier
asked.
Brandon.
Sometimes that kid is cra-
zy, Stoneburner said, chuckling.
Pelissier woke up early to
do homework as well, but two
hours later than Stoneburner.
After an afternoon of theater
rehearsal, she ate dinner and
then sat down to a three hours of
simultaneous Catan and home-
work. She said she had enjoyed
the reading day.
Couldnt have come at a
better time, she said.

Walsh had gotten up and
was talking in a hushed voice
to a Catan player from the other
table.
Hey! Are you giving her
advice? Stoneburner asked.
No, Walsh replied. Im
just telling her what she did
wrong.
While Stoneburner and com-
pany were playing Catan, senior
Mel Caton was just returning
from a weekend trip to Florida.
After classes on Friday, Caton
and her sister drove down to
Fort Wayne, Ind. and got on a
plane in this tiny little airport in
the middle of nowhere with one
gate.
I think it was like 70 degrees
all three days we were down
there, she said. The weather
report said it was supposed to
rain everyday which was the
most depressing thing ever but
we ended up having fun the
whole time, and it rained for like
an hour.
The sisters spent their week-
end just enjoying Florida.
It was really great. I though
it was a little funny they called
it a reading day because I dont
know about you, but I didnt
really need a reading day at this
point of the semester.
Caton said she did a grand
total of 25 pages of homework
reading over the weekend.
Back in A.J.s, sophomore
Emily Schutz sat on the other
side of the caf. She, along with
a friend, was waiting to see
Provost David Whalen, sitting at
a nearby table, for her Victorian
and Modern Literature class.
Do you think we should get
closer? she asked her friend,
as another student sat down
across from Whalen. It sounded
like theyd been waiting there a
while.
Schutz, sitting with an open
English literature anthology in
front of her, had spent the day
writing a paper shed put off all
weekend. However, she took a
break long enough to take a walk
with her friend and enjoy the
unseasonably warm weather.
I kept telling myself, Its
February 20, its February 20,
she said.
Her thoughts on the reading
day?
Best idea theyve ever had,
she said.
Outside the Grewcock Stu-
dent Union, a group of students
built a fre in one oI the pits set
up by the Student Activities
Board.
Crammed together on the
non-smoky side oI the fre circle,
junior Jack Hummel turned to
the rest of the group.
This is like the time Sarah
stole my seat, Hummel said.
I thought we were past
that, Sports Editor Sarah Leit-
ner said.
I will never get past that. It
will defne my college expe-
rience, he replied, his face
scrunching up into a mock tears
as the group laughed.
Junior Elizabeth Anne Odell
was supposed to work at 9 a.m.
Monday but accidentally slept in
until 9:25. She eventually made
it to the library for work.
I worked from 10:22 to
11:22, if that makes any differ-
ence, she said.
What did she do with the rest
of her weekend?
After a pause, she said: I
asked everyone what they did
with their long weekend. Its all
the rage.
'Well we kindled the fames
of love, Hummel said, gestur-
ing to junior Caroline Forsythe.
You have to kindle them from
time to time.
Junior Trent Kramer said he
though the reading day was good
for the students.
I think its good because
a lot of people get to go home,
get to see their family, he said.
Also, people get to sleep in a
little and get some rest.
The conversation continued
around the fre.
Dental hygiene is the pur-
pose of reading day, Forsythe
said, who claimed shed brushed
her teeth four times that day.
Did anyone else know its
Presidents Day? asked junior
Chris Waters.
Kramer said he was pretty
sure Monday was the one-year
anniversary of the 2011 ice
storm that cancelled class for the
day.
That was so good for every-
one, he said.
I think it keeps you going,
Waters said.
It really does, Kramer
agreed.
It gives the weekend room
to breathe, Waters said.
Sophomore Anika Top
started her shift behind at the
desk in the student union at 9
p.m. She pointed to a neat row
of Harry Potter movies lining the
edge of her desk.
'I have fve, six, and seven.
Im here until 3 a.m., she said.
Shed woken up Monday
morning at 7:30 a.m., which she
described as ungodly. She and
friends travelled up to Ann Arbor
for the day where she studied
in a coffee shop and ran some
errands at the mall. She returned
to campus in the evening.
I grabbed some movies,
did some reading, and now Im
sitting at my desk pretending to
read, and watching movies, she
said.
It was a nice break.
By midnight, A.J.s had
thinned out. Gone were the
groups of laughing students, the
stony-faced couples, and the
awkward loners. Both Catan
boards were cleaned up and the
card players were gone. Whalen
fnally leIt at 11:30 p.m., exactly
an hour aIter his A.J.`s oIfce
hours were supposed to have
ended.
Only a few students were
left sitting at the tables, most of
them working on papers. The
only noise in the union came
from a group of students near the
freplace, laughing hysterically
as they passed around a smart-
phone.
Im not so well rested, Top
said. But brain rested.
NEWS
23 Feb. 2012 A2
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Caleb Whitmer
Web Editor
Campus bonds, rests on extra day
A living hell: Students grapple with grad school apps
Sarah Leitner
Sports Letner
Senior Kirsten Block has
written countless papers and
survived seven fnals weeks, but
applying to graduate school has
been a totally new challenge.
Its a living hell, she said,
laughing.
For senior Catherine Sims,
being accepted in the Ph.D.
program in political theory at
the University of Notre Dame
means a sigh of relief. She
said the program offers her the
opportunity to look at ancient,
medieval, and modern political
theory, as well as take advan-
tage of other departments such
as philosophy. They have also
offered her a stipend.
Notre Dame was my No. 1
choice, Sims said. I love the
school. I love the campus.
Sims also traveled to Texas
for an interview with Baylor
University and had a phone
interview with the Catholic
University of America.
Sims said she has been plan-
ning on applying to doctorate
programs after college since the
beginning, though she joked
that last semester she consid-
ered creating a contingency
plan.
Its kind of a relief to have
some options that way, she
said.
Sims said she plans to teach
at the undergraduate level after
earning her Ph.D.
Very few people actu-
ally get a Ph.D., said Joseph
Garnjobst, associate professor
of classical studies. Thats
really for the people who are
the most dedicated to it the
people that cant think of do-
ing anything else but getting a
Ph.D. and then teaching at the
collegiate level.
Other seniors more recently
made the decision to apply for
graduate programs.
Ive been thinking about it
tentatively for a couple years
now, Block said. It took a lot
of contemplation and prayer this
summer to decide its what I
wanted to do.
Block is looking into gradu-
ate programs in classics, theol-
ogy, and early Christian studies.
It takes a lot of thought
about what you want to study.
And it takes a lot of reading to
get an idea of what you want
to study, she said. When you
contact people in grad schools,
you want to have read some-
thing theyve written.
The process of looking for
a graduate program is much
different from that of an under-
graduate program, Block said.
Because graduate studies are
much more about who you will
study with, she said she has not
gone on many campus visits.
Its not as much about the
experience or the feel of the
place as [is] undergrad, she
said.
While Blocks top choice
would also be Notre Dame, she
is also looking into programs
at the University of Minnesota,
the University of Kentucky, the
Catholic University of America,
Fordham University, and Bos-
ton College.
You get so excited about
every institution, she said.
Senior Trevor Anderson said
hed had a vague idea that he
would pursue further education,
and now he is looking at theol-
ogy and philosophy graduate
programs. He settled on gradu-
ate school at the beginning of
this school year.
When you get a degree in
philosophy and religion, you
either teach or work at Mc-
Donalds, he said. Its all or
nothing.
Sims, Block, and Anderson
all said their professors have
played a major role throughout
the process.
My professors have been
extremely helpful and support-
ive, Sims said.
Block said the amount of
help she has received has been
overwhelming.
Ive had so many people
help me, from how you go
about looking for a school, to
getting recommendations, to the
way of presenting yourself in
your personal statement, she
said.
Sims also said she feels that
Hillsdale has several advantages
that help students prepare for
more schooling, such as the per-
sonal attention students receive
from professors.
The classes here have a
kind of rigor that will absolutely
prepare students for graduate
level work, she said.
Garnjobst said the classics
department has meetings every
semester for students interested
in majoring in classics. In these
meetings, they ask the students
if they are interested in studying
classics at the graduate level.
We try to map out these
things so that they can have
a schedule have an idea of
whats out there, he said.
There are several ways clas-
sics students can explore their
interest in graduate school,
Garnjobst said. Students can
read outside of class in the areas
that interest them. The Latin
program at Hillsdale Preparato-
ry School also offers classroom
experience.
This offers students lesson
planning, classroom mainte-
nance, and grading experience.
If you do [like teaching],
thats great, Garnjobst said. If
you dont, then youve learned a
valuable lesson without actually
having to go get a job.
By the summer of junior
year, Garnjobst said the depart-
ment expects students to have
taken their GRE. Students
interested in going on to gradu-
ate school also have opportuni-
ties to write and publish book
reviews.
There are a lot of opportu-
nities for students to do things
that graduate students do. They
present papers. They write book
reviews, he said. So we are
trying to get them to operate at
the graduate level while at the
undergraduate level.
Garnjobst said the depart-
ment also takes students to Ann
Arbor to do research for papers
that they write for different
classes.
If they thrive in that envi-
ronment, thats a great sign for
us because its easy to write
letters of recommendation for
people who are self-starters,
self-motivated, thrive in that
kind of environment, know how
to do the research, and write
great papers that get accepted to
regional and national conven-
tions, he said. Theyre essen-
tially graduate students.
Garnjobst acknowledged
that graduate school is not for
everyone.
It isnt for people who
think, I really enjoyed my
Hillsdale experience, he said.
Graduate school isnt just so
they can keep the Hillsdale
experience alive.
Anderson said it is profes-
sors like Garnjobst that have
shown him, by example, that
graduate school was something
he wanted to pursue.
I want to go to grad school
because of professors like Jack-
son and Westblade and Cole
who have intellectual rigor,
a heartfelt love for the truth,
and a love for their students,
Anderson said. I wouldnt be
as excited about going to grad
school if I wasnt so taken with
that vision of life that they
have.
year was not as focused on
admissions. [And] certainly
the economy.
That doesnt mean The
Collegian wont run a
smartest class ever head-
line next year.
Were pleased with the
recruiting year, Lantis
said. Were pleased with
the quality of the applicant
pool. We think that its bet-
ter quality even though the
quantity isnt the same.
Lantis said the success of
faculty and alumni, as well
as the schools increased
presence in D.C., contribute
to Hillsdales improving
reputation.
Junior Crystal Marshall,
the head student ambas-
sador, said fall visitation
numbers seemed higher than
in the past, but have slowed
down lately, leaving student
ambassadors scraping for
hours. She expects those
numbers to pick up again in
the spring.
The college will send
out its regular acceptance
letters April 1, and Lantis
said about 900 students
will make the cut. Based on
averages Irom the last fve
years, he expects about 40
percent of accepted students
to make a deposit in May.
USNWR and other publi-
cations use admissions rates
as a gauge for colleges
academic rigor, a practice
Lantis called potentially
misleading.
Some schools will
actually go out and recruit
students for the express
purpose of denying them
admission, to lower their
admit rate and look more
favorable amongst the col-
lege guides, he said. We
dont have the time, inclina-
tion, or manpower to want
to create more unqualifed
applications to review. We
like having a more narrow
group of applications that
are highly qualifed.
Admissions Counselor
Shannon McCleary said her
job includes re-educating
prospectives about the col-
lege itself.
We have a lot of stu-
dents who say, I will be
the president of the United
States, she said laugh-
ing. Im like, Oh, the last
student said that too. Guess
youre gonna be running
against each other.
But even more students
are afraid that since they
arent politically active, they
won`t ft in at Hillsdale.
What I always try to
encourage is, you dont have
to be politically active, but
we want you to be aware,
McCleary said. And the
way our education is set up,
youre not just going to be
aware about politics and
current events, but youre
going to be aware about a
lot of different areas and
felds.
!
ADMISSIONS
From A1
(Sally Nelson/Collegian)
NEWS A3 23 Feb. 2012
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Matt Spalding is the vice
president of American Studies at
The Heritage Foundation. He is
a Claremont Mckenna College
alumnus and former classmate
of Hillsdale College President
Larry Arnn. Spalding wrote We
Still Hold These Truths, the book
that gave the 2012 Conserva-
tive Political Action conference
its title. The Collegian sat down
with Spalding to talk about
what These Truths are, and
the nature of different strains of
conservatism.
What are the principles you
mention in your book that you
call the core of civic life and
education?
I talk about equal rights,
nature, consent principles of
the Declaration of Independence
to which I add property rights,
religious liberty, the rule of law,
Constitutionalism, independence,
and it all culminates in self-gov-
ernment. Theyre all interconnect-
ed. They really work as a whole.
So rather than talking merely
about property rights, which is
an economic argument, [I talk
about] self-government. Theyre
really intertwined in a deep and
fundamental way, so you have to
go through and explain that.
How do libertarians and
FRQVHUYDWLYHVPDQDJHWRQG
common ground?
The problem with looking at
conservatives as groups is they
all kind of have their own little
philosophies. So libertarianism is
really based on a very different
philosophy its radical individu-
alism in which the individual cre-
ates their own sense of meaning.
Its very narrow, and differ-
ent philosophically. Its roots are
very different than the roots of the
American Founders. We want to
point that out to them, but do it in
a way that teaches them some-
thing.
They believe in limited
government Constitutionalism,
so you approach them that way.
You have a common ground, and
you want to draw them back to
the Declaration and the Found-
ing as a whole to show them that
their understanding of limited
government the protections of
the individual fundamentally
depend upon having an idea of
what that individual is.
Which brings up the question
of human equality, and what is
that equality? The narrower liber-
tarian rights argument, which is
actually good as far as it goes, is
insuIfcient, at a certain point.
It really demands a certain
understanding of the moral
meaning of the individual and
their purpose. It cant be merely
about your right to something,
but also, What is happiness?
You broaden it to the full discus-
sion of the Founding, and you
shift towards that. Their views of
limited government ultimately
depend upon the laws of nature
and natures God. Its as simple
as that.
Now, does this solve every
question about the role of religion
in society and the debates were
having? Of course not. Thats
what politics is about. But, in a
deeper fundamental way most
people who are libertarians are
not actually libertarians.
What is GOP candidate Ron
Pauls appeal to conservatives?
The fact, I think, that Ron Paul
is drawing a lot of attention, is
not because of his full philoso-
phy which, I think, most people
dont actually buy but because
hes hitting certain themes which
I think are perfectly reasonable:
that government is out of control,
that we should get back to the
Constitution. Even the argu-
ment about sound money [is a]
perfectly legitimate argument. We
shouldnt misread that to think
that somehow conservatives have
accepted the full argument of lib-
ertarianism. Limited government
is perfectly consistent with our
arguments about the Founding.
How do progressives and
conservatives differ on civics?
The modern civics debate is
really a debate between civics as
knowledge in which civics
is understood to be a part of a
broader question about liberal
education, where the content is
meaningful and civic educa-
tion in the modern sense, where
its all about experience, experi-
ential learning, getting out and
doing things, becoming civically
Q&A with Matt Spalding:
Libertarianism and Founding ideals
Tyler ONeil
Collegian Freelancer
WARM WINTER BLUES
He thought he was think-
ing ahead when he nailed the
stakes into the loose dirt in
front of the union two months
ago. He was going to beat the
Michigan freeze. But what was
supposed to be an ice skating
rink by now, in the words of
senior Michael Peters, student
director of mens residence
life, is basically a pool.
She gets to have a normal
work day. She doesnt have
to trudge through snow banks
to get to her front door. And
her crew doesnt have to clear
any roads or lay any salt in
addition to their tedious work
routines.
Its been a welcome bless-
ing, said Vicky Phetteplace,
superintendent of custodial
services.
Michigans warm winter,
while a blessing to some, has
posed challenges to others in
the Hillsdale community. For
Phetteplace, the lack of snow
and ice has lessened the typi-
cal stress and workload that
winter usually brings.
On a scale from one to 10
in terms of severity, I would
rank the winter weve had so
far as a four, Phetteplace said.
Typically we have a full plate
of job tasks and the adverse
weather slows the maintenance
teams down and adds to the
normal workload, which is al-
ready a lot. Like any job, you
have to prioritize time. But
our crew is fexible and always
does a good job.
Outside of Hillsdale, Michi-
gan sporting events have also
been impacted by the balmy
winter. The Cheboygan Daily
Tribune reported that due to
lack of snow, the Indian River
Sprint Dog Sled Race was
canceled. In Mason Coun-
try, Mich., Erin Lloyd of the
Northern Michigan 9&10 New
reported that the Michigan Ice
Open, an ice fshing competi-
tion, was also canceled.
While Michigan is heading
into its second warmest winter
since 1932, many residents are
hesitant to give up on the pos-
sibility of more cold weather.
For Peters, the weather
hasnt created serious prob-
lems, but has left many
students disappointed about
missing out on typical winter
activities. While the ice skat-
ing rink behind the Grewcock
Student Union has yet to get as
much use as in previous years,
Peters remains optimistic.
Were still anticipating
a Hillsdale winter, so were
going to keep the rink up and
give it a shot, he said. If all
else fails, well hold a pool
party at the end of the year.
Bailey Pritchett
Collegian Freelancer
NEW PARLI
CHALLENGES
FOR DEBATE
Hillsdale College Debate
Teams 10-hour trip to Truman
State University was well worth
it. In addition to setting a new
record for Lincoln-Douglas
debate, the Chargers team went
10 and six this weekend at The
Missouri Association of Foren-
sic Activities State Champion-
ships last weekend.
The team did not place
overall, but that had to do with
the small amount of entries we
had, junior Ian Blodger said.
Only four Hillsdale students
competed.
Blodger and Sophomore
Bryan Brooks both made it
to the elimination round in
L-D. However, Brooks was
matched with Blodger for the
elimination round and since two
team members cannot com-
pete against one another and
Blodger held the higher seat,
he advanced to the next round.
After advancing, Blodger took
second place in the entire tour-
nament.
The outrounds were tough
but they were really educational
for me, Blodger said. I had
to prepare in a different manner
because the timing between the
rounds was different. It was
more similar to the timing in
national competitions, so it was
good practice.
The team also competed in
parliamentary debate, but none
of the team members made the
elimination round in this style.
It was a very different
style of parliamentary debate,
sophomore Ian Hanchett said.
We came across some very
interesting rounds which we
had to make up positions for on
the fy.
Brooks said that last weeks
events prepared Hillsdale stu-
dents for important tournaments
coming up, includiwng the Pi
Kappa Delta Competition and
the National Forensics Associa-
tion National Tournament in
March and April respectively.
In one of our parliamentary
rounds, aIter the frst fve min-
utes of our opponents speech,
everything that we had prepared
before the round was suddenly
inapplicable. Ian and I, working
together within two minutes,
were able to prepare multiple
positions, Brooks said.
This is one of the hardest
situations that a parliamentary
debater can fnd himselI in
because we have about two
minutes to provide a reason
why a well-researched and
prepared case is a bad idea.
Even though that was the only
round we won, we feel that the
tournament was success for us
because we excelled in the most
diIfcult position we could be
put in.
Sam Scorzo
Collegian Freelancer
Washington set a high bar for
dating prospects.
The Kirby Centers current
initiatives include the First
Principles on First Fridays
Lecture Series, a live Constitu-
tion Town Hall webcast, and
an upcoming Constitution 101
online course that has al-
ready registered over 100,000
participants from across the
country.
The course coincides with
the publication of The U.S.
Constitution: A Reader, a
collection of 113 primary
source documents developed
for teaching Hillsdales core
course on the Constitution.
So with all this emphasis
on the Constitution, it seemed
natural to set an evening aside
to pledge the man who made it
possible.
It was because he was born
that America was born, said
Eleesha Tucker, director of
education for the Society of
the Cincinnati.
!
KIRBY
From A1
(Sally Nelson/Collegian)
(Sally Nelson/Collegian)
(Sally Nelson/Collegian)
Jon Paul Morosi, a national MLB writer for FOXSports.com, spoke at Hillsdale Col-
leges sportswriting seminar this month. (Joe Buth/Collegian)
NEWS
A4 23 Feb. 2012
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
!
KATES TAKE
KATE
OLSON
Reading
Days
Dear Kate,
I have a question about love. Im a freshman and I think I met
my soul mate this weekend. That reading day couldnt have come
at a better time. We spent the day walking around hand-in-hand,
cuddling in the Grewcock Student Union, watching movies, and
playing video games. You said that our task here at Hillsdale Col-
lege was to fnd our spouse, get married, and start producing little
Lincoln look-a-likes. Well, Im doing the best I can. I wish we had
more reading days to prance around campus with our Iriends, firt-
ing with boys, and such. College is so much fun! Anyway, to my
question: Do you think its possible to know youve found the
one after only a day or two together? I just feel like this is meant
to be.
Sincerely,
Head-in-the-clouds
Dear Idiotic Freshman,
Loans. Scholarships. Grants. Debt. Debt. More debt. Grace given
by everyone from donors to your parents. Think about these
words for a few moments. If you dont see a connection, I doubt
my little column can help you.
Now then, we need to have a discussion about proper reading
skills. The only people on this campus that I advised to look for
their husbands right now, even to the neglect of their school work,
were senior women in their second semester who already know
how to read!
Secondly, allow me to inquire what a reading day might be
for? Oh, I dont know, perhaps to read? Not only is a reading
day in the middle of February somewhat... strange, but consider-
ing that every Saturday is a reading day, the idea that you spent
the day 'prancing and 'firting makes me want to throw up all
of the carbs that I just wolfed down on account of Fat Tuesday.
Please dont use these words to describe the actions which you
substituted for reading. It makes me quite ill. Need I remind you
yet again that you are here to study?
As for your question, if I was crazy, out of my mind, and ready
to be sent to an asylum, I might say something like this: Im sure
youve found the one man who completes your being in that
18-year-old boy you met two days ago. I cant imagine someone
more virtuous than a kid who spends eight hours straight playing
video games every Saturday in the playground we call the union.
Hold on to him, hes a keeper.
Unfortunately for you, Im quite sane (in some sense of the
word), and therefore must tell you the truth: your quaint, blossom-
ing love will fade, wither, and die in a matter of weeks. Find a
desk in the library (which, surprisingly enough, was created as a
place of peace for proper students to use for study and not a social
hall) and get to work!
And fnally, Ior the millionth time, stop cuddling in the union.
Just stop its not actually a playground.
For reading, not love
possible.
Were not going to endorse a
candidate, he said.
He also emphasized that the
structure of the event was im-
portant if a political candidate
spoke at Hillsdale, his address
was to support the colleges goal
of education, and not stage a
rally.
This is not going to be a
campaign stop that presents
another stump speech, Whalen
said. The fact that this is an
academic institution with an
academic purpose was foremost
in planning the event.
After dozens of phone calls
to each campaign, Walden put
in more than 48 hours of phone
calls alone, student organizers
arrived at an impasse.
We were at this stalemate
position everyone said, Well
come if Santorum comes, and
Santorum said, Well come if
other candidates come, Wil-
loughby said.
To add to the complication,
administrators needed to place an
order for sound and stage equip-
ment to replace Hillsdales own
technology, which was with staff
out at the NLS in California.
The night of Feb. 14, Gaiser
said he got a call from adminis-
trators. They were going to pull
the plug unless students could get
a solid confrmation by 8 p.m.
that night.
It was a no harm, no shame
kind of deal, Gaiser said.
Willoughby said the group
understood the administrations
deadline, but feared it would
push Santorum to back out of the
symposium.
To say we were apprehensive
would be a understatement. We
had countless people praying, on
campus, in our home states, she
said. At 7:41 p.m. we got the
email wed all been waiting for,
saying that Sen. Santorum would
like to attend Hillsdale Colleges
symposium.
We were ecstatic, she said.
Santorum released a statement
to The Collegian on Wednesday,
Feb. 15.
I am excited to again visit
Hillsdale College and have the
opportunity to address the im-
portant issues facing our nation,
Santorum said. I am excited to
share my vision for a brighter
America, and the life experiences
that have helped shape those
positions.
The First Letdowns
AIter the confrmation email,
administrators placed orders for
equipment. Bergen said they
knew that the up-front deposits
might be lost, but placed them
anyway.
We were committed from
that point to spending whatever
we needed to to offer the best
event possible, she said.
Gaiser said he drafted a press
release to publicize the event, but
administrators never published it.
The frst disappointments
came when representatives for
candidates Mitt Romney and
Newt Gingrich did not follow-
through with their verbal com-
mitments to come if Santorum
confrmed.
They were breaking their
word to us, Willoughby said.
We went back to them and said,
We have a publicized commit-
ment from Santorum that he is
indeed coming and they told
us No.
That was frustrating.
On the night of Feb. 15, The
Hillsdale Collegian broke the
story online, eventually get-
ting picked up by GOP blogger
Michelle Malkin and Newsmax,
among others.
Santorum Backs Out
Less than 48 hours ahead of
the Feb. 20 symposium, Santo-
rum backed out of his commit-
ment to come to Hillsdale.
The morning of Feb. 18, a
Santorum staffer emailed Hill-
sdale Symposium members to
expect an advance team. By that
evening, Santorum was reported
as having committed to an event
at Hope College for Monday
night, when he was supposed to
be coming to Hillsdale.
Students said they were not
really shocked.
Campaigns and the strategies
that accompany them are a series
of judgement calls, Willoughby
said. To be honest, I cannot say
that if I was in Santorums shoes,
I would not have done the same
thing.
The school did not release a
press release immediately. Gaiser
said seeing visiting families at
church, staying in Hillsdale to
hear the candidate, was diIfcult.
I had to smile and nod
because I couldnt say, No, hes
not coming. That was sad,
Gaiser said.
Round Two
Whalen said the administra-
tion did not give up on the event,
but encouraged students to
reschedule, making a reconverted
effort to reach out to all candi-
dates.
Monday morning, Feb. 20,
Romneys staff made a golden
offer: he could come to Hillsdale
on Friday, at 4 p.m.
The Constitutional Committee
could not believe the offer.
When I got the phone call
that Romney was waiting for
our acceptance of his offer to
come, I was honestly shocked,
Willoughby said. I immediately
started looking for the strings
attached. It seemed too good to
be true.
In fact, the Romney campaign
did have a stipulation: he would
have to be the only candidate to
speak.
The college faced a conun-
drum.
Whalen said hosting a single
candidate event at this late stage
in the campaign would have two
negative consequences.
It looks like tacit endorse-
ment or favoritism, Whalen
said. And we cant realistically
host a series of candidates and
events without seriously disrupt-
ing the campus, without interfer-
ing with our own essential work.
It became a logical nightmare
that became insuperable.
Monday night, Whalen called
the students in. It was time to
pull the plug.
There was a concerted at-
tempt to reschedule the earlier,
intended candidate forum and it
simply did not work.
The Take-Away
Every administrator working
with the group said the student
groups efforts were praisewor-
thy.
My hat is off to them, Wha-
len said.
Given the timing of the
planning, the students worked
on campus virtually unaided by
administrators. Before the end of
the week, students had spoken
with congressmen, governors,
former attorneys general and
more.
We, a scraggly group of
students from Nowheresville,
Michigan had been so closely
interacting with the potential
leaders of the free world, Wil-
loughby said. That really was
phenomenal.
!
SANTORUM
From A1
READING DAY AT THE REAGAN RANCH
Just outside beautiful Santa
Barbara, Calif., up a windy
mountain road, and past a couple
of old Secret Service stations,
sophomore Harris Wells pulled
up to a modest, adobe ranch
house. Just looking at it, youd
never suspect it belonged to
President Ronald Reagan.
During his presidency, the
ranch was Reagans refuge from
the White House. Wells had the
opportunity to explore it on Feb.
18.
Young Americas Foundation
sponsored the tour as part of its
conservative training seminar in
Santa Barbara.
They showed us where the
Gorbachevs hung out when they
visited the Reagan ranch, Wells
said. We even saw the exact
spot where Reagan signed the
largest tax cut in the nations
history.
The tour gave him a greater
appreciation for the political im-
pact of the humble headquarters.
It was just really cool seeing
that this was an intricate part of
the history of Reagan, the place
where he went to contemplate
a lot of his ideas and policies,
Wells said.
The Secret Service had the
task of making this old ranch
house a secure political facility.
We got to see all the different
Secret Service posts with moni-
toring equipment and cryptic
communication devices and see
the panic phone by Reagans bed
that was a direct line to the secret
service, Wells said.
A secret service that inciden-
tally had surprising diIfculties
securing the fve square mile
ranch.
One time a hiker got lost in
the fog and ended up pitching a
tent thirty yards away from Presi-
dent Reagans house, Wells said.
When the fog lifted the next
morning, they saw that there is
this renegade tent and stormed
it. They detained the man before
they realized he was actually just
a poor lost camper.
The Secret Service had a scare
when Reagan unwittingly put the
ranch security on red alert.
Reagan stocked his pond
with fsh and there was a crane
that would always eat them,
so one day he grabbed a gun
and just started shooting at the
crane, Wells said. But his
security detail didnt know so
they fipped out thinking it could
be an intruder. Just seeing the
personal stories like that and see-
ing that he was just a regular guy
was great.
After getting past the old
security posts, Wells got to ex-
perience the more personal side
oI the ranch, a home flled to the
brim with Reagans books and
littered with family photographs.
I knew he had great policy,
Wells said. But this side of him
has opened my eyes.
Reagan spent lots of time out-
doors on the ranch, laying all the
fencing for the property himself
and working in his woodshed.
Seeing his woodshed, you
could see he emptied peanut but-
ter jars and put nuts and bolts in
them, Wells said. He was just a
normal guy. My grandfather did
the same thing.
Reagans personal letters
were another surprise, revealing
thoughts and experiences beyond
his political views and addresses.
Reagan helped out a family
with a special needs child and
kept in touch with them through-
out his presidency, Wells said.
YAF provided Wells with a
full travel scholarship for the trip.
A tour of the Reagan ranch, par-
ticipation in the training seminar
and a hotel room a block from
the beach in Santa Barbara only
cost him $50 for meals.
Fifty bucks to go to Califor-
nia? Wells said. Ill take that
any day of the week.
The foundation trained him
in dealing with professors and
administrations hostile to conser-
vative speakers and conservative
student activism.
We just had Steve Forbes
in a CCA last semester, Wells
said. It didnt completely apply,
but it was still really interesting
to get a different perspective on
what its like at a more main-
stream college.
Regarding the ranch, Reagan
once said, No place before or
since has ever given Nancy and
me the joy and serenity it does.
Once Reagan was diagnosed
with Alzheimers, the fam-
ily moved, and Nancy Reagan
passed the property on to YAF.
They now preserve the ranch and
use it to achieve one of Reagans
biggest goals: inspiring young
conservatives.
Visiting the Reagan ranch
was spectacular, Wells said. I
was aware of his political stances
before, but as a person it was cer-
tainly amazing to get the real side
of him like that. I would highly
recommend it.
Casey Harper
Collegian Freelancer
(Courtesy of Aaron Wong)
Within about a month, up to
fve local teenagers could Iace
sentencing Ior a sexting case
that has drawn attention to Hills-
dale Irom around the state.
The story broke in Octo-
ber when Hillsdale`s assistant
county prosecutor began in-
vestigating allegations that two
underage women Irom Hillsdale
High School sent sexually ex-
plicit pictures oI themselves to
an underage male student who
attends Quincy High School.
Megan Stiverson, the
prosecutor, said that because
oI statewide budget cuts, crime
labs have a backlog that has
delayed the case`s resolution.
She said she expects to get
results Irom the subpoena oI the
phones` hardware and fnish the
investigation within the next
30 days. She also said that the
results oI the subpoena could
implicate two more students in
the crime.
This isn`t the frst sexting
case Stiverson has prosecuted.
'It`s not just a Hillsdale
County problem, either, she
said. 'It`s widespread, it`s
throughout the state, and it`s
throughout the country, too.
She said that prosecuting
these crimes, which may seem
victimless, helps keep porno-
graphic material Irom reaching
pedophiles.
'II you take a picture, it`s
there Iorever, and some oI this
stuII comes back to haunt these
kids, she said.
It`s illegal to possess, distrib-
ute, and manuIacture sexually
explicit material containing
minors which means that as
soon as minors take sexually
explicit photos oI themselves,
they have broken the law, even
iI they never send those pictures
to anyone else.
Stiverson said that she thinks
the rate oI sexting has increased
in part because growing num-
bers oI high school students
have cell phones.
'It`s a lot easier to firt with
someone or enter some kind oI
relationship iI you don`t have
to look that person in the Iace,
she said.
In 2011, the T.I. Automotive
Hillsdale plant added business
and, more importantly, jobs.
During the second halI oI
2011, T.I. added 29 jobs, in-
creasing its business in Hills-
dale by 55 percent. In addition
to the new jobs, the plant ex-
panded its foor space, moved in
equipment Irom a Mexico plant,
and renovated its parking lot.
'We got to fll up our plant,
said Paula Miller, plant man-
ager. 'Hillsdale is a great place
to do business. The people have
a great work ethic.
T.I. Automotive is a global
automobile parts manuIacturer
based in Auburn Hills, Mich.
The company owns several
plants in the region and the
Hillsdale plant, located at 200
Arch St., produces push rods
and brake lines Ior the Detroit
Three.
The automobile industry was
one oI the hardest hit during the
2008 recession and Miller said a
lot oI T.I.`s manuIacturing was
moved to Mexico during that
time.
Miller said the expansion oI
the Hillsdale plant is a result
oI what she called an 'adjust-
ment oI capacity in all North
America. That includes the
movement oI some oI that
lost manuIacturing back Irom
Mexico, as well the closing oI
other T.I. plants in the region.
Because oI T.I.`s growth, the
Hillsdale City Council approved
a 12-year partial tax exemp-
tion Ior the plant on Feb. 6. The
exempted taxes amount to about
$6,000 over the 12-year period.
'The improvements they`ve
made to the plant are stunning,
said councilwoman Mary Wol-
Iram, who is also in the oIfce oI
economic development Ior the
city. 'We`re thrilled to have this
line oI work come back Irom
Mexico.
WolIram and Miller both
attributed at least some oI the
Hillsdale plant`s additions to
the hard work ethic oI Hillsdale
residents.
Chris Kaltenback, a Concord
resident, is a quality engineer at
the Hillsdale plant and one oI
the hires Irom last year. He was
three months between jobs and
described the current job market
as 'pretty tough, pretty com-
petitive. He considered himselI
'extremely Iortunate to have
Iound work so quickly.
'Hillsdale County has been
hit pretty bad Ior quite a Iew
years, so anything that comes
here is quite welcome, he said.
While numbers are not as
high as pre-2008, Miller said
the auto industry is recovering.
'HopeIully they`ll continue
|to recover|, but right now
they`re strong, she said. 'Last
year was a good year, and we`re
still good in January this year.
Kaltenback agreed with
Miller, saying the auto industry
is recovering but still hasn`t
returned to pre-recession levels.
'So many people went out oI
business, so many small busi-
nesses Iolded, that inevitably
they won`t all be able to come
back, he said.
Kaltenback said beIore the
recession, unemployed quality
engineers were able pick and
choose where they wanted to
work. Now?
'It`s not like that at all, he
said.
Unemployment in Hillsdale
County has dropped to 9.5
percent Irom 12.1 percent at
the close oI 2010, according to
the latest report Irom the South
Central Michigan Works data-
base. This Iollows the national
trend oI unemployment, which
has dropped to 8.3 percent Irom
9.1 percent in 2010.
The data, however, may not
portray an accurate picture oI
the job market in the Hillsdale
area.
Two services that deal with
unemployment here are the
Community Action Agency and
South Central Michigan Works.
South Central Michigan Works
collects unemployment data
on the Hillsdale and Jonesville
areas and helps the unemployed
fnd jobs, and the CAA works to
promote selI-suIfciency among
low-income or unemployed resi-
dents oI the Hillsdale County
area.
Maxine Vanlerberg, director
oI CAA, said that unemploy-
ment statistics can be 'a little
bit fctitious, since they do
not keep track oI unemployed
people who have given up look-
ing Ior work. Those who have
been 'on and oII work long
enough simply drop oII the re-
cord, making the statistics look
overly optimistic.
The CAA has seen an
increase in the number oI low-
income and unemployed clients
coming through their doors
seeking help with childcare,
employment guidance, and tax
assistance.
'I would say that we are
serving about two times the
number oI clients as fve years
ago, Vanlerberg said.
She said that one oI the main
reasons Ior this is underemploy-
ment, which remains a signif-
cant problem Ior those who have
Iound a job.
'A lot oI |people we see| had
a really high-paying job, and are
now getting maybe halI oI what
they were being paid. They are
way underemployed, Vanler-
berg said.
In Iact, a 2011 survey shows
that nearly 13 percent oI their
clients are underemployed,
meaning they have a job, but are
seeking more work.
Dan Collins, a Hillsdale resi-
dent, has been unemployed Ior a
year. Finding a job in the area?
'Right now, it`s hard,
Collins said. His wiIe, Sheila
Collins, is underemployed. She
has tired oI doing temp jobs,
and said that Ior stability, even a
steady Iactory job would do.
'I just want a permanent
job, she said.
When their children were
growing up, the Collins did
Iace unemployment, and they
reminisce about the days when
Hillsdale was in 'Iull bloom,
beIore Iactories began closing.
'Back then, said Dan Col-
lins, 'shops were opening right
and leIt. Now they are closing
right and leIt.
Getting up in the morning
without work is hard, he said.
'You worry about your bills,
you worry about how to Ieed
your Iamily, Dan said.
The job situation sent them
packing to Florida once, where
they spent six months looking
Ior work. They returned Ior
Iamily reasons, as Sheila missed
her grandchildren.
'I was so depressed, she
said.
The Collins looked at each
other and laughed.
'We are getting too old Ior
this, she said. 'We are pushing
55. When asked what keeps
them going every day, Sheila
answered, 'Prayer. Trying to
keep Iaith. Keeping each other.
Anthony Ruden is also
unemployed and has turned in
more than 50 copies oI his re-
sume to employers, but with no
response. Employers 'just aren`t
looking, Ruden said, adding
that the Michigan economy is
not good.
'It`s not easy, Ruden said,
'You gotta fght Ior your work.
Once, Ruden went to Fort
Smith, Ark., where he Iound
work driving a semi-truck. He
came back to be with his Iamily.
'My Iamily is my thing,
Ruden said.
While the data might show
a drop in unemployment across
the nation and in Hillsdale
County, residents are still suIIer-
ing Irom a stagnant job mar-
ket. The trends may show that
people are giving up looking.
AIter almost a year oI
research, Municipal Analytics
presented its fndings on the
Ieasibility oI a city income tax
to the Hillsdale City Council on
Monday night.
The council commissioned
the Ann Arbor-based frm last
April to determine iI a city
income tax could be a viable
option to pay Ior much-needed
road renovation. The frm did
not conduct the study to con-
vince the council to adopt the
tax but only to determine iI the
tax could solve the city`s road
problem.
John Kaczor, the Iounder and
principal consultant Ior Munici-
pal Analytics, presented a Power
Point presentation to the council
at Monday`s meeting.
The tax would aIIect both
city residents and commuters.
Commuters would be taxed halI
oI the amount levied against
residents. Residents could only
be taxed up to 1 percent.
Kaczor determined that the
city`s almost 4,000-person work
Iorce, in addition to the nearly
6,000 commuters, would gener-
ate a net $1.1 million in income
tax revenue every year.
The city`s roads require $39
million worth oI attention
$25 million Ior the local streets,
as in residential roads, and $14
million Ior major streets, like
Hillsdale Street. With only the
income tax, the city would take
35 years to fx all the roads.
As oI now, the city has no
means to pay Ior road recon-
struction outside oI taking
money Irom the general Iund or
acquiring grants Irom the state.
Grants, however, are only avail-
able Ior major streets, and iI the
city were to continue its current
practices, Kaczor said it would
take 76 years Ior all the roads to
be fxed.
Property tax millages would,
Kaczor said, probably be the
best alternative to the income
tax. However, the disadvantages
oI a millage, he said, would be
that the weight oI the tax would
rest solely on Hillsdale residents`
shoulders, rather than sharing
some oI that burden with com-
muters, as the income tax would.
Also, he said, in comparison
to the income tax, it would take
7.3 millages to generate $1.1
million. Over 20 years, it would
take the city 13.25 millages to
generate the needed $39 million.
The council was generally Ia-
vorable towards the tax. Mayor
Doug Moon said that while
people don`t like taxes, the city
has run out oI options to deal
with roads.
'On principal, people may
not like the tax, he said, 'but
by God, we can`t keep doing the
same thing we`ve done Ior 40
years.
The tax can only be adopted
through a vote by the people oI
Hillsdale. The council decided
to table making a decision on
whether to put the tax up Ior a
vote until it can better gauge city
residents` sentiment.
Other news in the city gov-
ernment this week:
The Michigan primary will
be held on Feb. 28. Not only will
Hillsdale residents be deciding
between their preIerred GOP
candidate, Barack Obama, and
an 'undecided bubble, but they
will also be voting to elect a city
clerk. Nominees are Amy Eng-
land, Julie Kast, James Pruitt,
and Adam StockIord. Contact
City Hall at 517-437-6448, or go
to the city`s website Ior Iurther
voting inIormation.
CITY NEWS
A5 23 Feb. 2012
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
The Iollowing is a list oI calls compiled and reported by the Hillsdale
County SheriII`s Department.
Hillsdale City Police
Feb. 17
A 22-year-old man was arrested on the 50 block oI Union Street in Hill-
sdale on a Ielony warrant Ior saIe breaking, breaking and entering, and
conspiracy to break and enter. A $125,000 bond was not posted.
Feb. 15
A 26-year-old woman was arrested on the 3000 block oI Manorway
Drive in Osseo on suspicion oI possessing marijuana. A $500 bond was
posted.
A 22-year-old man was arrested on the 11000 block oI Grass Lake Road
in Hillsdale on suspicion oI possessing marijuana. A $500 bond was
posted.
A 25-year-old man was arrested on the 100 block oI HeathcliII Drive in
Hillsdale on suspicion oI domestic violence. A $1,000 bond was posted.
Michigan State Police
Feb. 18
A 55-year-old man was arrested on the 10 block oI S. Saint Joe Street
in Jonesville on suspicion oI disorderly conduct. A $500 bond was not
posted.
Feb. 17
A 35-year-old man was arrested on the 4000 block oI N. Highland Drive
in Hillsdale on suspicion oI robbery and possession oI marijuana with
intent to deliver. No bond was allowed.
A 45-year-old man was arrested on the 3000 block oI Treat Highway in
Adrian on a Ielony warrant Ior resisting and obstructing a police oIfcer.
A $5,000 bond was posted.
A 34-year-old man was arrested on the 2000 block oI Ardent Highway
in Adrian on suspicion oI robbery and possession oI marijuana with
intent to deliver. No bond was allowed.
Hillsdale County Sheriffs Department
Feb. 21
A 26-year-old man was arrested on the 1000 block oI E. Reading Road
in Hillsdale on a misdemeanor warrant Ior disorderly person and on
three criminal bench warrants Ior contempt oI court. No bond was al-
lowed.
The Hillsdale County SheriII`s Department responded to one suspicious
situation and one animal control oIfcer action.
Feb. 20
A 25-year-old man was arrested on the 11000 block oI Winfeld Road
in Mosherville on a misdemeanor warrant Ior trespassing and hunting
without a license. A $1,000 bond was not posted.
The Hillsdale County SheriII`s Department responded to three animal
control oIfcer actions, two civil disputes, one domestic violence call,
and one car-deer accident.
Feb. 19
The Hillsdale County SheriII`s Department responded to one suspicious
situation, one missing person call, and one domestic violence call.
Feb. 17
The Hillsdale County SheriII`s Department responded to two car-deer
accidents, fve animal control oIfcer actions, and one assault.
Feb. 16
The Hillsdale County SheriII`s Department responded to two break-
ing and entering calls, two animal control oIfcer actions, one domestic
violence call, one health saIety violation, two suspicious situations, and
one harassing communication.
Feb. 15
A 26-year-old man was arrested on the 1000 block oI S. Hillsdale Road
in Hillsdale on a misdemeanor warrant Ior Iailure to stop aIter a colli-
sion. A $500 bond was posted.
A 23-year-old man was arrested on the 30 block oI Glendale Street in
Hillsdale on a Ielony warrant Ior interIering with electronic communica-
tions. A $2,500 bond was posted.
-Compiled by Sarah Leitner
Police Blotter
Unemployment in Hillsdale County
)LUPSUHVHQWVQGLQJVRQLQFRPHWD[
Samantha Gilman
Collegian Reporter
Caleb Whitmer
Copy Editor
Caleb Whitmer
Copy Editor
Sexting case proceeds
Automotive plant adds 29 jobs,
Council approves tax exemption
Betsy Woodruff
City News Editor
OPINION
23 Feb. 2012 A6 www.hillsdalecollegian.com
THE COLLEGIAN WEEKLY
THE OPINION OF THE COLLEGIAN EDITORIAL STAFF
33 E. College St.
Hillsdale, MI 49242
Newsroom: (517) 607-2897
Advertising: (517) 607-2684
Online: www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Editor in Chief: Marieke van der Vaart
News Editor: Patrick Timmis
City News Editor: Betsy Woodruff
Opinions Editor: T. Elliot Gaiser
Sports Editor: Sarah Leitner
Features Editor: Shannon Odell
Arts Editor: Roxanne Turnbull
Design Editor: Bonnie Cofer
Design Assistant: Aaron Mortier
Web Editor: Sally Nelson
Ad Manager: Will Wegert
Circulation Manager: Emmaline Epperson
Copy Editors: Tory Cooney | Morgan Sweeney
Caleb Whitmer | Abigail Wood
Staff Reporters: Emily Johnston
Phillip Morgan | Teddy Sawyer | Sarah Anne Voyles
Photographers: Joe Buth | Shannon Odell
Greg Barry | Bonnie Cofer | Schuyler Dugle | Chuck
Grimmett | Joelle Lucus
Illustrators: Dane Skorup
Faculty Advisers: John J. Miller | Maria Servold
The editors welcome Letters to the Editor but reserve
the right to edit all submissions for clarity, length and
style. Letters should be less 350 words or less and include
your name and phone number. Please send submissions
to collegian@hillsdale.edu before Sunday at 6 p.m.
T
his is a period of civil war.
Carrie Fisher, the actress who played
Princess Leia, has won her frst victory
against the evil William Shatner. With the aid of
special effects, historical correspondence, and pure
mythos, she will defeat the USS Enterprise and
restore freedom to the galaxy
You can say beam me up, Scotty, until youre
blue in the face, but only the Milennium Falcons
hyperspace jump inspired viewers to watch the
original Star Wars movie from different parts of
the theater, facing sideways, upside-down, and
backwards. Star Trek is a convention Star Wars
is a phenomenon.
The musical themes of Star Wars characters
have become cultural icons, like the Imperial
March. Even the major theme of Star Trek cannot
claim the wide appeal of this one musical trope.
Passing over their superior dialogues and
characters, the frst three episodes oI Star Wars still
triumph over the frst series oI Star Trek.
Star Trek`s phasers proved a neat sci-f innova-
tion, but the lightsaber revolutionized hand-to-hand
space combat.
Shatner is right when he says that Star Wars
borrowed the idea of hyperspace, but only Lucas
effects fully expressed that idea. The original Star
Trek jumps show vibration inside the ship, while in
the jump of the Milennium Falcon, stars whiz past
the audience and inspire a genuine thrill.
But Jedi do not live on special effects alone. To
come of age, Luke must face Darth Vader, his fa-
ther, in an epic struggle of freedom against tyranny.
Star Wars debuted in the middle of the Cold
War. It takes no hyperspace jump to realize that the
Empire corresponds to the USSR and the Death
Star to Sputnik.
Star Wars portrays the 20th century struggle
pitting old notions of freedom against a form of
ideological tyranny similar to Fascism, Nazism, and
Communism. The dehumanization of the imperial
stormtroopers fts with the subjection oI Europeans
to Mussolini, Hitler, and Stalin.
As Nazis followed strict orders, even killing
Jews in concentration camps, so stormtroopers
obey the Emperor, destroying the entire planet of
Alderaan.
In contrast to Star Wars historical depth, Star
Treks original series employs philosophical themes
wholesome in themselves which take on a
leftist bent.
Materialism, atheism, and socialism combine
to render Star Trek an ideological critique of Star
Wars. In the Star Trek universe, everything is mate-
rial, technology replaces God, and the Federation
government redistributes wealth.
Star Treks philosophy mirrors the atheistic
materialism behind the 20th century tyrannies while
Star Wars emphasis on freedom deriving from an
old religion corresponds to the struggle against
these totalitarian regimes.
Star Wars centers on the idea of the Force.
Yes, the Force has elements of eastern mysti-
cism. Yes, it is not technically a god. Yes, it has both
good and evil and hints at a dualism reminiscent of
Zoroastrianism. But the light side of this life force
also corresponds to the old religion of the West,
Christianity.
The old religion strengthens the Rebellion and
when corrupted the Empire. The Empires
scientists scoff at Vaders old religion, and the
rebels say, may the force be with you, recalling
the Christian refrain, may God be with you.
Hitler rose in the name of Christianity. Vader
dominates using the dark side of the Force. The old
religion of John Paul II, Margaret Thatcher, and
Ronald Reagan united them against Communism.
The Force enables Luke to destroy the Death Star
and redeem his father.
While Star Wars makes no mention of God, its
narrative turns on Darth Vaders redemption. The
Empire falls because Luke saves his father and his
father kills the Emperor.
Were the Emperor to have escaped before the
second Death Star exploded, the civil war would
have continued. Without Darth Vader, the Rebels
could not have won.
This redemption answers the backdrop of seem-
ingly invincible evil. I have a bad feeling about
this meets theres still good in him, and as Luke
embraces the fact that Vader is his father, evil turns
to good.
Star Trek simply cannot rival this mythos.
Dear Rick,
We are trying to understand why
you decided to ditch Hillsdale
College on Feb. 20 and instead
spoke at Hope College in Holland,
Mich.
Its not easy running for
president no one can be in two
places at once or please everyone.
But you were the one who
promised to come here.
A group of dedicated students
neglected their schoolwork and
committed untold hours to making
your visit possible. The college
spent money for what would have
been a big event, and invited
people around the region to at-
tend. The Collegian even broke
the story of your visit on its spiffy
new website.
Then you canceled.
Some would say that you Rick-
rolled us.
So much time and effort was
wasted books not read, papers
not written, naps not taken.
The college lost money, too. To
prepare for your appearance, the
administration began renting
equipment. It looks like about
$4,000 wont ever be recovered.
That could have helped a
fnancially distressed student pay
for tuition. Perhaps the college
should create a new scholarship
fund worth $4,000. Lets call it the
Rick Santorum Disappointment
Scholarship.
Then again, the recipient prob-
ably wouldnt show up to collect.
Apparently you had something
better to do on Feb. 20. Maybe
you satisfed a liIe-long dream oI
seeing the greater Grand Rapids
area. We hope you were charmed
by Hopes cute Dutch kitsch
they have a lot more tulips and
wooden clogs there than we do.
We understand the appeal.
One last question though: Was
it worth speaking to those 750
attendees? We had 2,000 people
ready, so you must have been go-
ing for quality over quantity. Hope
that works out for you at the polls.
Even then, were confused. If
you are elected president, you will
have to swear an oath to the Con-
stitution. Every student here takes
a whole course on this document.
Were one of the only institutions
of higher learning with such a
requirement.
We wanted to hear you talk
about your commitment to it.
But you stood us up.
So, good luck on Feb. 28. Let
us know if youre ever in the area
again.
Just kidding.
I
m starting to see more and more that the
women around me expect too much from
men or, worse, expect too little. We either
want Prince Charming to ride up on his white
horse and save us or we want to accept major
faws in order to have a relationship. Both are
skewed ideas of what a good relationship should
be; yet they abound in the world as well as right
here at Hillsdale.
It would take a dissertation to explain the
complexities of both views. So, for this article,
it is necessary to focus on the latter view. Say a
girl fnds a charming guy who expresses strong
interest in her, only to immediately learn some
faws that should not be a part oI the healthy
loving relationship that she is seeking to start
with this person. Maybe he just got out of a
long-term relationship and, unsure if he is really
okay, she has to decide if she wants to spend the
most formative part of their relationship waiting
for him to fess up and say he cant handle a
relationship right now.
Or perhaps this girl fnds ChieI Roger`s def-
nition of a dog, charming personality, but with
a character that makes Daniel Cleaver look like
a saint. She knows hes no good, but the guy
says he would do anything to win her love.
The complexities that play into the decision
to accept or reject either of these men abound,
but the common thread is the simple fact that
we feel, and rightly so, that we deserve love and
affection. If a less-than-decent guy offers that to
us right now, why wouldnt we wait for a decent
one to come along? Ill tell you why.
Two people well call them Bob and
Bethany are dating. It is the frst relationship
for both of them, not because theyre abnormal-
ly unattractive, but because all of their previ-
ous almost-relationships never came to fruition
because they recognized deal-breaking faws
and were smart enough to know that suffering
through enough pain to write an award-winning
album Heres looking at you, Adele was
needless and unnecessary.
They waited and waited Ior years. Cut to frst
semester freshman year and Bob and Bethany
fnally meet, fnding an equal in one another.
Enough of this putting up with losers and
hoping theyll change into what we want. We
need to start setting more fre to the rain and
stop trying to paint black horses white.
Expecting
more and
waiting for it
A SUPERIOR FORCE
STAR TREK IS NOT THE EPIC YOU ARE LOOKING FOR
Tyler ONeil
Special to the Collegian
Kelsey Drapkin
Special to the Collegian
D
id you go to Google.com this Presidents
Day? I did, and was quite surprised to
fnd the normal Google logo on display.
The search engine is known for the display of
exciting graphics called doodles on holidays
and famous birthdays, but seemed oddly plain
and barren on a day I consider an occasion to
celebrate.
Their website says Doodles are the fun,
surprising, and sometimes spontaneous changes
that are made to the Google logo to celebrate
holidays, anniversaries and the lives of famous
artists, pioneers and scientists.
Are not George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln pioneers of our country? It seems that,
continuing with the idea of celebrating the lives
of pioneers, those who founded or steered our
country should be among the frst celebrated.
In the week before Presidents Day, featured
doodles included Valentines Day, Serbian Na-
tional Day, Lithuanian Act of Independence, and
Agniya Bartos 106th birthday. Have you even
heard oI these last three days oI signifcance?
And Presidents Day did not make that list?
George Washingtons birthday has become
little more than a shopping day to the average
American citizen, who likely does not even know
the ideals the day represents. As a fxture in our
daily culture, Google has a prime opportunity
to educate, an opportunity they have taken upon
themselves as a responsibility.
I know that, on more than one occasion, I have
seen the Google doodle, clicked on it to see what
it was about, and learned something interesting.
I know many people who have a habit of doing
this. Shouldnt Presidents Day, a day honoring
the birthdays of two great presidents, get at least
the same attention as these other days?
Or could this be an attempt at forgetting our
history as part of a left-leaning agenda? Google
has been exposed in its ties to leftist ideals
and revolutions, not the least of which include
the arrest in Egypt of Wael Ghonim, a Google
executive, for his instrumental role in the 2011
uprising. There have also been questions raised
regarding the organizations and causes Google
supports fnancially.
I am not in any way calling for a boycott of
Google due to possible left-leaning tendencies.
I am under no illusion as to how much easier
Google makes our life and what a highly useful
tool it has become. But I am questioning those in
charge of the company, asking if there was a rea-
son behind the oversight of this national holiday.
They claim The doodle selection process
aims to celebrate interesting events and anniver-
saries that refect Google`s personality and love
of innovation.
Their decision not to celebrate Presidents Day
in the form of a doodle as they do for many other
holidays and celebrations really does tell us a lot
about Googles personality. It is a personality I
am fnding more and more untrustworthy.
A
t Hillsdale College, we have erected statues
of historical individuals to honor the prin-
ciples and courage of those memorialized.
Our most recent honoree is President Ronald Reagan,
whose wonderful likeness was dedicated this past
fall.
The presence oI these statues is quite justifed;
Lincoln, Churchill, Thatcher, and Reagan indeed,
all the fgures sculpted had an immense historical
impact. Their characters, principles, and actions
continue to reverberate today.
Despite their signifcance, however, we must be
careIul not to 'worship these historic fgures. Con-
servatives and other right-leaning minds were rightly
put off by the nigh-religious enthusiasm generated by
Candidate Obama and his cult-like followers. Such a
high regard defes one oI the most important aspects
of the conservative tradition: the fallibility of man.
Yet conservatives cannot be said to be com-
pletely blameless in this semi-idolatry. Ronald
Reagan, a great leader in many respects, has taken
on a status after his death that, by being fashioned
into the distilled embodiment of all that is good and
conservative, has rendered him politically perfect
in retrospect. This status can be seen in virtually
any debate of the current Republican Presidential
candidates, where we can expect at least one question
or response to invoke the memory and legacy of the
Gipper.
This is dangerous for at least two reasons. First,
by making Reagan seem perfect in hindsight, one
ignores the mistakes that not only make him human
but also provide us with the ability to learn from him,
just as we can learn from all of history. Second, it
risks making bipartisan what ought to remain only
a liberal fantasy: an abiding faith in the boundless
wisdom and fnesse oI political leaders.
Those who knew and worked closely with
President Reagan would, I suspect, refect his likely
discomfort with the invocation of his memory by
the current set of candidates or Republican leaders.
President Reagan would probably advise these candi-
dates to stop talking about him and start focusing on
providing leadership for our country into this century.
Thus, it is the duty of conservatives to strike a
delicate balance. Just as we must learn from history,
and from the characters both good and bad of
those who made it, we must also strive, unlike the
Common Man of Bolts A Man For All Seasons to
disparage completely neither the aspiration toward
noble character nor those who have had it.
Jack Butler
Special to the Collegian
Martha Ekdahl
Special to the Collegian
OVERLOOKING WASHINGTON
GOOGLES PRESIDENTS DAY FLUB
A MAN
FOR ALL
SEASONS?
with an injury, and Charney
said freshman Kadie Lowery
couldnt get any shots out.
Senior captain Chelsea Harri-
son led the team with 17 points,
which made her the fIth player
in Hillsdales history to score
more than 1,500 career points.
Junior Lea Jones followed with
13. Together the girls combined
for more than half the Chargers
points but even that wasnt
enough to secure the win.
You cant rely on Lea and
Chelsea to take 33 of your
teams shots, Charney said. We
didnt get consistent play on the
perimeter and they made some
big shots when they had to.
The Chargers will either face
TiIfn University or Michigan
Technological University in the
frst round oI the GLIAC tour-
nament on Wednesday.
The Chargers executed their
offense extremely well in a
close road win over Saginaw
Vally State University on Sat-
urday, 72-63. A clean and crisp
zone offense cut down turnovers
and propelled the Chargers to
victory at Saginaw during the
Cardinals last home game of
the regular season.
We talked about being
smarter with the ball and our
passes, senior captain Katie
Bildner said. 'A lot oI times we
just throw it without making
ball fakes, and from watching
flm, we saw that they go Ior
shot fakes, so we needed to do
that more to draw fouls. We
worked hard at practicing this
and executed.
Harrison said by attacking
the middle, the Chargers were
able to penetrate Saginaw Val-
leys zone and eventually beat
it, which they didnt do well
enough against TiIfn Univer-
sity. Harrison`s NBA-range
3-pointer to close out the frst
half gave the Chargers mo-
mentum going into the second
period, where they led with
confdence Ior the majority Ior
the rest of the game.
The quickness and leadership
of junior point guard Lea Jones
was also key in the Charger
domination of Saginaw Valley.
The Chargers more disci-
plined offensive approach began
earlier than the Saginaw game.
Last Thursday, the Chargers
hosted Ohio Dominican Univer-
sity for the seniors last home
game at Hillsdale College. The
Chargers beat the Panthers 67-
57 in a come-from-behind effort
by Hillsdale.
AIter trailing by two at the
half, Hillsdale regrouped and
reIocused to come out on top. In
the locker room, the Chargers
dedicated themselves to running
the foor more and with higher
intensity, which had worked
against the Panthers the frst
time around.
AIter setting her career re-
cord at ODU the previous week
with a whopping 30 points,
Chelsea Harrison put up 33 to
break her record again.
Even though we were down
at halftime, we regained our
composure and realized we
needed to play our basketball. I
didnt do anything differently,
Harrison said. 'I just played and
took advantage of what they
gave us. We took advantage of
their turnovers, boxed out better,
and played better defense.
'I Ielt in both games we
played very well in the last fve
minutes to secure the wins,
Charney said.
Along with clutch late-game
play, one of the key ingredients
to victory for the Chargers at the
ODU and SVSU games was a
higher level of post play, which
has been essential in the success
Hillsdale has experienced dur-
ing the last leg of the season.
They have won nine out of their
last 12 games.
The last 12 games have
been really fun, senior captain
Liz Brannick said. We have
been having really tough com-
petitive practices and they are
fnally paying oII Ior us. We will
defnitely carry this energy into
the post season.
The loss of sophomore
Marissa DeMott, a prominent
three-point shooter, has forced
other Chargers to step up, most
noticeably Harrison, Bildner,
Jones, and Lowery. However,
the Chargers have learned that
they cannot depend solely on
outside shooting to prosper in
the GLIAC. Their improved
post play has propelled them
to one of the top teams in the
South Division.
Brannick has helped lead
this effort for the Chargers,
with a career-high 20 point
effort against Saginaw Valley.
Sophomore Anglea Bisaro and
Ireshmen Megan Fogt and Lo-
vat have also contributed to the
Chargers improved post play.
One of the major things
we have been doing is mak-
ing the extra pass, looking for
each other more, and executing
inside-out along with stronger
post feeds, Bildner said. Our
post presence has been great,
which is different from earlier
when we were all about the
threes.
The Chargers will most
likely be Iacing Michigan
Technological University or
TiIfn University on Wednes-
day in the frst round oI the
GLIAC tournament.
Senior point guard Tyler Ger-
bers basketball career began at
the age of two. He soon moved
on from the toy basketball
hoop a gift from his grandfa-
ther to the local biddy ball
program.
Hes been playing ever since.
'My parents kind oI pushed
me. I really loved playing
basketball, Gerber said. 'It`s
something I wanted to continue
on.
Gerber began playing on
an American Athletic Union
basketball team in sixth grade.
AAU gave him the opportunity
to travel all over the nation and
even to Italy.
'I pretty much did anything
and everything basketball, he
said.
John Tharp, mens head
basketball coach, frst discovered
Gerber at a tournament in Las
Vegas.
'I`ll never Iorget the way he
competed. He was a ferce com-
petitor, Tharp said. The way
he led that team I was really
fred up about him.
Gerber received an oIIer Irom
Tharp and the Hillsdale College
basketball program soon after
the tournament. Not long after
that, he visited campus.
When he, his mom, and
dad arrived on campus, he had
this great demeanor about him,
Tharp said. Hes the best lis-
tener I`ve ever been around. We
were really blessed when he said
he wanted to come here.
In his Iour years playing Ior
the Chargers basketball team,
Gerber earned several accolades.
The third-year starter was named
GLIAC South Division Player oI
the Week for the second time last
month. He also became the 31st
player in the colleges history to
record 1,000 points in his career.
Gerber said since he lacks in
height, he had to make up for
that in different ways, such as
assists and stifing deIense.
He has great anticipation
skills. He has great feet, and hes
very quick, Tharp said. What-
ever he lacked in size he made
up with how big his heart is.
Tharp, the rest of the basket-
ball coaching staII, and Ger-
bers friends all have praise for
Gerber`s character on and oII the
court.
Senior teammates Brad
Guinane and John Bagge were
in Gerber`s recruiting class and
have played and lived with him
all four years of school.
Hes extremely smart on
the court, Guinane said. 'He`s
always making his teammates
better.
Hes a fantastic leader,
Bagge added.
Bagge and Guinane were
roommates freshman year living
in Simpson Residence, and Ger-
ber was their suitemate. They
have been friends ever since.
'It was pretty quick |becom-
ing friends], Bagge said. We
all had the same backgrounds
and upbringing. It was really
easy to get along.
Bagge and Guinane said that
being on the team and living to-
gether all four years has created
a lasting Iriendship with Gerber
and the other men on the team.
When were away for the
summer, we pretty much talk to
each other every day, Guinane
said. We all get along very
well. Were truly the best of
Iriends, and I think that shows
on the court and what we do for
this school.
Guinane also said that he be-
lieves Gerber has impacted the
basketball program for the next
generation.
'I think Tyler would be a
great example to follow for
some of the young guys on our
team for what hes done on the
court and off, his leadership
capabilities, and his qualities as
a friend, he said.
Tharp agreed that Gerber has
led a great example for the other
men on the team and said Gerber
will be greatly missed when he
graduates.
'He`s been terrifc. He`s
been our leader our heart and
soul, Tharp said. We have a lot
of depth, a lot of guys stepping
up. Tyler facilitates that. He likes
that. He makes everyone around
him better.
Everything about him well
miss.
SPORTS
A7 23 Feb. 2012
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Tyler Gerber
Track team looks
forward to GLIACS
The Hillsdale College mens
and womens track teams
traveled to Grand Valley State
University to compete in one
last meet before conference.
Although Hillsdale rested
some athletes in preparation for
GLIACs, the athletes that did
run at the GVSU Tune-Up meet
were generally successful.
'I had people rest to give
them a week off to get mentally
prepared |Ior the conIerence
meet], but those who did run
set personal records, assistant
coach Amanda Mirochna said.
Sophomore Matt RaI-
fn broke a school record not
just once, but twice this past
weekend.
RaIfn took frst overall with
a record breaking time of 8.38
in the 60-meter hurdles after
running an 8.44 in prelims.
Sophomore Elliot Murphy fn-
ished second place at 8.52, the
exact time of the record before
it was broken.
Senior Nate English also set
a school record in the shot put
after throwing 17.83 meters.
This toss gave him second
place in the meet and moved
him up to fIth in the nation.
Although he has yet to au-
tomatically qualify, he is the
highest provisionally qualifed
thrower.
The mens 4x400-meter
relay team, made up of senior
Michael Finch, sophomore
Maurice Jones, senior Skylar
Dooley and sophomore Jared
Van Dyke, provisionally quali-
fed at 3:18.06 and fnished
second overall.
Dooley won the 200-meter
dash in 22.12, edging out four
Grand Valley sprinters.
High jumper sophomore
Justin Fawley set the bar with a
frst-place mark oI 1.96 meters.
Juniors Kayla Caldwell and
Adrianna Yancho both narrow-
ly missed provisional quali-
fying marks Caldwell was
.2 off in the 200 and Yancho
missed in the high jump by .04
meters.
Senior Chelsea Wackernagel
took second in the pole vault
with a height of 3.62 meters.
Senior Cat Nass provisionally
qualifed and took Iourth in
the weight throw with a toss of
17.74 meters.
Head women`s coach An-
drew Towne said that it is the
time of year that everyones
body is feeling good and they
are excited Ior GLIACs.
There will be a lot of en-
ergy, senior Jeff Wysong said.
'It will be like running through
a tunnel because the inside
and outside of the track will be
lined with people.
One team that Towne hopes
will be using the energy of con-
ference to improve their time
is the womens 4x400-meters
team. Towne said they have
already provisionally qualifed
but will need to shed a few
seconds in order to secure a
chance at nationals.
Roxanne Turnbull
Arts Editor
Sarah Anne Voyles
Collegian Reporter
When most families are
hanging stockings, toboggan-
ing, or downing eggnog, the
Harrisons are shooting threes.
Every Christmas Break
senior shooting guard Chelsea
Harrison and her older broth-
ers, Dan and Bill, walk up the
hill behind their house to a
local schools gymnasium for
their annual 3-point shoot-out.
'It`s a huge deal, Chelsea
said.
Harrison loves competi-
tion. Growing up with athletic
older brothers will do that to
a person.
Who usually wins?
'Me, she said
Understandable. When it
comes to pulling up from long
range, Harrison is good. Two
hundred-sixty times shes
knocked down a three for the
Chargers. Thats 27 more than
any other Hillsdale player in
history
Shooting threes isnt
the only part of Harrisons
game, however. She drives,
passes, and plays defense.
Shes fourth in the confer-
ence in points per game with
16.2, fIth in assists with 3.8,
and grabs 4.2 rebounds per
game. Amazingly she does
it all without rest. Literally.
She leads the conference in
minutes played 38 minutes
per game.
But at the end of the day,
its all about winning the
GLIAC championship.
Shes a warrior, head
coach Claudette Charney said.
Shes someone who leads,
she pushes the team, shes
competitive in practice. Shes
earned her way since the day
she walked on campus.
Harrison, who captained
her high school basketball
and soccer teams in Lowell,
Mich., knew all along she
wanted to play college basket-
ball. AIter a visit to Hillsdale
College she fell in love with
the program, despite how hard
she would have to work for
playing time.
'I knew they were an awe-
some team, Harrison said. 'I
knew I wasn`t going to start. I
wanted to come off the bench
and be a spark.
Although she didn`t
start her freshman year, she
contributed immensely, and
the team won the conference
championship. Harrison also
benefted Irom playing with
All-American Katie Cezat
09.
'My job as a Ireshman was
to get her the ball, Harrison
said.
When Harrison wasnt
dumping the ball into the post
for Cezat, she was learning
from Cezats work ethic.
She taught me hard work
really does pay off, Har-
rison said. 'II she wasn`t in
the gym, shed be downstairs
working out. To be a good
college basketball player, you
really need to work.
Three years later, the roles
have reversed. Harrison is
the seasoned veteran and her
younger teammates look up
to her.
She pushes us hard,
junior point guard Leah Jones
said. 'Playing with her, I`ve
become a better player.
With the regular season
now over, and the team`s frst
playoII game against Michi-
gan Tech University next
Wednesday, you can bet Har-
rison will be pushing hard.
We need to play every
game like its our last, Har-
rison said. We need to have
swag.
Phil Morgan
Collegian Reporter
Chelsea Harrison
oI the team at this fnish oI the
regular season.
Senior Night was a great
way to celebrate the accom-
plishments of this team and
Ior me to refect on the great
Iriends I`ve made over the past
few years, especially my fellow
seniors, he said. Now its up
to us keep focused and win the
GLIAC tournament.
As conIerence champions,
Hillsdale will host this years
GLIAC championships, with
their frst game in the tourna-
ment against the eighth seed,
likely Grand Valley State Uni-
versity or Ashland University,
next Wednesday. The Chargers
closed out the regular season
with a 21-4 overall record and a
15-3 mark in conference play.
In the race Ior an NCAA bid,
the Chargers are also in a strong
position as the regular season
closes. They are placed third in
the Midwest Regional rankings,
along with two other GLIAC
teams the University oI Find-
lay at No. 7 and Ferris State at
No. 9. Hillsdale needs to fnish
the GLIAC tournament ranked
in the top eight regionally in
order to qualiIy Ior the NCAA
tournament.
Were excited to be playing
at home, weve been great there
all year, Eaton said. But we
are still taking it one game at
a time and a goal all year has
been to win the GLIAC tourna-
ment, so this momentum should
really help us going forward.
!
MENS BBALL
From A8
!
WOMENS
BBAL
From A8
(Joe Buth/Collegian)
(Joe Buth/Collegian)
SENIOR CAGERS LEAD TEAMS ON, OFF THE COURT
Hillsdale College mens
basketball team wrapped up the
regular season, and a GLIAC
regular season championship, in
spectacular fashion last night,
defeating Ferris State University
in overtime, 84-83, on a game-
winning layup by senior forward
Brad Guinane.
The win caps off a very suc-
cessful season for the Chargers.
Since last Thursdays Senior
Night win against Ohio Domini-
can University, and Saturdays
road victory at Saginaw Valley
State University, the Chargers
have locked up the best record
in the conference.
The Chargers jumped to a
25-8 lead to start the game, but
the Bulldogs clawed their way
back into the game, entering
halftime down by only four.
Ferris State shot a much
better percentage in the second
half, going from less than 40
percent to 45 percent. The Char-
gers did shoot consistently well,
but lost the turnover margin
14-11, and those extra few shots
allowed the Bulldogs to stay
within striking distance.
Although Hillsdale also
opened the second half strong,
the Bulldogs chipped away at
the lead and eventually were
down fve with only seconds
to play. A three-pointer and
another jumper sent the game to
overtime.
In overtime, the Chargers
allowed the Bulldogs to build
a lead oI fve points. But aIter
Guinane split a pair of free
throws and senior forward Brent
Eaton hit a three pointer, Hill-
sdale drew to within one point
with 1:12 to play. After a missed
shot by Ferris State, Guinane hit
his shot.
It was just a rebound and
put-back on a corner three,
Guinane said. They had a
chance to tie it up with an
out-of-bounds play with three
seconds left, but they missed.
Guinane also grabbed the
rebound on the Bulldogs last
miss.
Last nights win may have
been the sweetest of all; during
a phone interview with Guinane,
he said, Its pretty tough to hear
anything right now, the team is
so excited about this win!
Senior point guard Tyler Ger-
ber also stressed the excitement
Though the Hillsdale Col-
lege womens basketball team
lost last night to Ferris State
University, 61-51, their previ-
ous two wins guaranteed them a
spot in the GLIAC tournament
next week.
The wins mean that we have
secured a winning season (10-9
GLIAC, 14-12 overall) [and]
participation in the tournament
nine of the last 10 years, head
coach Claudette Charney said.
The loss to Ferris, the top
team in the Northern Division,
was Hillsdales only loss to a
Northern Division team this
season.
Charney said the loss was
due mostly to the absence of a
third-perimeter player. Fresh-
man Abbey Lovat was out
Sports
23 Feb. 2012
!
AMANDA
PUTT
Senior Amanda Putt will be graduating with a biology de-
gree in Mav and getting married in June. She holds hve school
records and plans to continue her collegiate distance running
career in graduate school. The Collegian sat down with her to
discuss her work in Hillsdale and her plans for the future.
What events do you run? Whats the longest youve ever run?
Im a distance runner. I put in the miles day after day. The lon-
gest Ive ever run is 13 miles my freshman year. I felt fantastic,
but the next day it hurt a lot. But we work out anywhere up to
four hours a day whether its just straight up running, swim-
ming, lifting weights or work. Its a lot of different stuff. It would
be a struggle if it wasnt for the team. That makes it so much
more fun. My best friends are all there with me.
<RXYHEURNHQYHUHFRUGV"
Breaking these records has been pretty exciting. I started look-
ing at the record boards last year and being like, Alright, maybe
I can start to hit a few of them. I had all these goals that I want
to get all these records, but it seemed kind of like a wish. But
I started hitting them one after another. The 800 was a shock. I
didnt expect that at all. Now were joking about cleaning off the
record boards and trying to fgure out other ones that our team
can get this year. Also, I have one in outdoor thats the 1500.
And then in indoor I have the 800, the mile, the 3k, and the 5k.
:KDWLV\RXUSURXGHVWPRPHQWDWKOHWLFDOO\"
Honestly, one of my proudest moments is my freshman year
oI high school. It was the frst time I qualifed Ior the state meet.
I had to drop 17 seconds from my mile in one week and all my
coaches were like, probably not this year. Good try. And then
I had the race oI my liIe and it was the frst time I realized that
maybe I am good at running, maybe this will go somewhere.
When I got to college, it was exciting getting my frst All-
American last year. That took a long time and a lot of injuries to
get that. But I still think in high school that was one of the best
things ever. Realizing, Alright, this is what I want to do Ior a
while.
:K\GLG\RXFKRRVHWRDWWHQG+LOOVGDOH"
I did not want to come here at frst. Honestly, it was my last
choice. It came down to the middle of May and I was trying
to say No.` But fnancially, it was the best option. I loved the
coaches, and I just didnt really know how to say no to them.
Academically, I didnt know a lot about it. It seemed too close
to home, it seemed too small. But both of those things are now
some of my favorite parts about it.
:KHUHDUH\RXJRLQJDIWHU+LOOVGDOH"
Im not sure yet. Ive applied to several graduate schools for
public health, and Ive been accepted to the University of Michi-
gan, San Francisco, and the University of Texas. Im visiting a
few over spring break and waiting to here back on others. Its up
in the air right now. Im really interested in U of M right now. Its
a great program. Its a great team. Its weird looking back as a se-
nior now. Im not done running. Im going to run in grad school.
That will be different. Im excited to run at the Division I level,
but its going to be different. I would love to coach cross country
at the collegiate level. But yet, Im still getting my masters in
something because its a little more practical maybe. Id maybe
like be starting a Iamily in about fve years, living someone more
interesting than Hillsdale.
Compiled by T. Elliot Gaiser
(Caleb Whitmer/Collegian)
WOMEN HEAD TO FIRST ROUND GLIACS
0HQWRKRVWUVWURXQGRI*/,$&WRXUQH\
Morgan Delp and Sarah
Leitner
Collegian Freelancer and
Sports Editor
Q & A
David Gordon
Collegian Freelancer
!
See A7
Senior Brad Guinane looks for a teammate to pass
to in last Thursdays home game against Ohio Do-
minican University. The Chargers triumphed, 70-59.
(Joe Buth/Collegian)
STUDENTS SUPPORT
PINK WAVE
In addition to the mens and
womens basketball victories over
Ohio Dominican University last
Thursday, the Student Athlete Ad-
visory Committee had an equally
triumphant evening. They raised
more that $2,000 for Pink Wave,
the breast cancer awareness
initiative.
We are happy with the
support and grateful for the
generosity we saw in one night,
said senior Clara Leutheuser,
president of SAAC.
The money raised from T-shirt
sales, two three-point contests,
DQGUDIHVKHOSHGWKH6$$&
raise double its goal of $1,000.
Junior Emily Peltier, a member
of SAAC, sold T-shirts at the
game.
It went really well, she said.
We had a lot of student support
and raised money for breast-can-
cer awareness, which was great.
I think its a good thing. Every
year the students get behind it.
Bailey Pritchett
Junior Lea Jones and freshman Kadie Lowery pressure an Ohio Dominican player at last
Thursdays game. The women defeated Ohio Dominican, 67-57. (Joe Buth/Collegian)
!
See A7
Junior Alexandra (Sasha)
Allen is working on a year-long
sculpture project a statue
of a man chasing after a wild
gazelle using senior Luke
Sanders as her model.
Allen and Sanders are
good friends who met at The
Donnybrook, an off-campus
house located behind Simpson
Dormitory. When Allen started
her project last semester, she
knew she would need a human
model and that Sanders was
looking for job. He immediately
accepted the position.
Both have quirky senses of
humor. Their friendship is full
of insults and teasing, but its
all in good fun.
I call him gazelle boy,
Allen said of Sanders.
Inspired by his long neck
and the time she saw him sniff-
ing fowers, Allen originally
wanted to sculpt him as half
human, half gazelle. Associate
Professor of Art Anthony Fru-
dakis, her sculpture professor,
persuaded her otherwise.
Though the sculpture itself
is nude, Allen made one thing
clear about her model.
He does not stand here
nude, she said. He wears
shorts.
The sculpture looks as if he
is beckoning after the gazelle.
He is calling after his inner
essence, Allen said.
Sanders was not as thrilled
with the pose merely because it
required endurance to keep still.
It was very agonizing,
Sanders said. My arms were
out in this yoga pose
He talks as if he stands
there for the whole two hours,
Allen responded. He does take
breaks.
Although the sculpture is
unfnished, Allen plans to add
stylized lotus fowers beneath
the man and gazelle for an
ancient Minoan motif. Given
Sanders wide shoulders and
small waist (commonly seen in
Minoan art), he proved to be
an ideal model for her desired
style.
When sculpting, knowledge
of the proper anatomy ratios
is key. Much of the sculpture
involves forming the skeletal
and muscle structures.
Hes weird-shaped, Allen
said. There are all these ratios,
and they are suppose to be per-
fect. But Luke has small hands,
a long neck, and long face.
Sasha is harder on herself
than she needs to be, Sanders
said. She is a perfectionist and
good at what she does.
Allen will fnish the sculp-
ture by the end of the semester.
She sculpts using oil-based
clay, which is strictly a model-
ing and casting clay and cannot
be fred. When completed, she
will cover the sculpture with
foil and plaster which can be
fred.
Allen hopes to enter her
leaping gazelle piece into this
years energy-themed art com-
petition. The entire completed
piece will also be in the Hills-
dale College student art show.
Though Allen has a passion
for art, she is a history major
with an art minor.
'I didn`t fgure out I should
be an art major until second se-
mester of my sophomore year,
so thats why Im a minor, she
said. I never thought of art as
a professional option. I knew
I liked art, but never thought I
was good enough at anything to
make a job out of it.
Surrounded by an artistic
family, Allens sister-in-law,
who also loves sculpting,
inspired her to try the Sculpting
101 class last year. Allen enjoys
sculpting; however, her real
love is textile art. After gradu-
ation, Allen is thinking about
pursuing art school and culinary
school.
As for Sanders and his mod-
eling career, he said: This has
been a fun experience. Though
Im open to the idea of model-
ing, Im not actively pursuing
it. But I defnitely would do it
again.
Sanders will be graduating
this spring with a religion and
philosophy degree and biology
minor.
tknopf@hillsdale.edu
B1 23 Feb. 2012 www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Capturing motion in clay
Taylor Knopf
Collegian Freelancer
As technology improves,
the variety of artistic mediums
widens considerably. Film is the
20th century art form, and it con-
tinues to receive more interest as
the years pass.
Hillsdale College does not
have a flm degree, but students
still dabble in this medium,
creating complex pieces. One
such student is sophomore Greg
Carlson, who is currently trying
his hand at stop-action flm.
Stop action is a Iorm oI flm
where the director makes pup-
pets and poses them, taking a
series of pictures where each
puppet is in a slightly different
position. Each second of a stop-
action movie is made up of 60
pictures.
It gives you a lot of freedom
because you can be the actor
for all the different characters,
but its also time-consuming,
Carlson said.
Carlson creates his own
puppets, beginning with a wire
armature and sculpting a char-
acter around it with the help of
fexible latex and a silicon mold.
He paints them, does wigging
and costuming, and also creates
his own set.
Stop action is a totally differ-
ent style. I can see the possibili-
ties in it that havent really been
tapped into, Carlson said.
Professor of Theatre James
Brandon said hats off to Carl-
son`s pursuit oI stop-action flms.
He said the craft was considered
archaic, like animation flms, but
was worthy of respect.
It takes patience and vision,
Brandon said.
Brandon said flm is a unique,
larger-than-life medium. Film
provides the ability to edit, un-
like theater, where everything is
live without a net.
Brandon admits to liking
popcorn movies, but he said
there was defnitely a place Ior
flm as a more serious art Iorm.
We are such slaves to narra-
tive. I like vibrant, experimental
artists. I like movies that chal-
lenge me, Brandon said. It is
vital to see flm treated as an art
rather than a popcorn circus.
Junior Mark Keller created
his most recent work oI flm in
response to an assignment given
in Brandons Movies As A
Medium class. Brandon offered
his students the option of either
writing a ten-page paper for the
fnal, or producing a ten-minute
flm.
Keller chose the flm, and,
under his supervision, the project
turned into a 20-minute flm,
modeled after The Thing, a
play written by Percival Wilde.
The play has two roles, both
of which were acted by Keller,
although he had help from mul-
tiple Iriends in the flming and
production oI the flm.
Keller said flm is a unique
art in that it embodied all the
arts. Not only photography and
acting, but music composition,
visual arts, and even editing
the sequencing of images
together contributed to the
fnal product oI a flm.
Film is the new opera,
Keller said. Its the art form that
takes all the arts and brings them
together as a whole.
awood@hillsdale.edu
Film: bringing art
forms together
Abi Wood
Copy Editor
Amid paper and pencil, one
of Hillsdale Colleges dedi-
cated art students works toward
his dream. In his work, junior
Thomas Lundberg projects
the hopes and aspirations of a
decade-long hobby. Lundberg
is going beyond the simple
acknowledgement of his artistic
talents and intends to pursue a
career in the feld.
It took a while to decide
on an art major, but its what I
should be doing for sure, Lun-
dberg said. Drawing has been
a hobby of mine since grade
school. I understood things
about fgures and animals that
most kids dont notice.
In deciding on a major,
Lundberg was torn between
economics and art.
I chose art because its what
I enjoy, Lundberg said. Im
aware it might be hard to get a
job but its still worth it.
Son of Head Track Coach
and Assistant Professor in PED
Bill Lundberg, Tommy has
lived in Hillsdale his whole life.
The artistic streak also runs in
the family.
My sister was an art major,
Tommy Lundberg said. Now
she works at Anthropology
designing displays. My dad
was an art major before he
switched to physical education.
My grandmother was artistic as
well.
Tommy Lundberg began
nurturing his talent in high
school by incorporating a love
of music into his drawings.
I started out copying the
album covers of bands I liked,
especially Radiohead, Tommy
Lundberg said.
His interest soon spread to
the copying of pop culture im-
ages.
I copied posters, concert
posters from the 60s, famous
works of art, Tommy Lundberg
said. I once copied a page from
the Watchmen comic book. It
took me a whole week because
of the high level of detail.
In college Tommy Lundberg
has made the transition from
popular images to famous faces.
His portraits boast the likeness-
es of celebrities Brad Pitt, Jack
Nicholson, Beyonc, Audrey
Hepburn and other celebrities.
Ive been working on por-
traits for a while now, Tommy
Lundberg said. Im working
on a Bob Dylan still have a
ways to go on that. Capturing a
likeness is pretty diIfcult. The
portraits I do for practice, to
push myself further. Sometimes
I draw things I see, in the union
for instance. I get on these kicks
of things I enjoy doing.
Tommy Lundbergs work
also has attracted the attention
of his peers.
Fellow art student and
sophomore Joseph Craig at-
tended Hillsdale Academy with
Tommy Lundberg.
Ive always thought
Tommys work has been great,
Craig said. In class I cant help
but be jealous sometimes.
Tommy Lundbergs love of
album art gives him favorable
disposition toward the seem-
ingly soon-to-be-obsolete CD.
I still like buying CDs from
bands I appreciate; I dont want
them to disappear, Tommy
Lundberg said. Vinyl is great
for the large album artwork.
Thats something Im curious
about doing some time.
Tommy Lundberg already
has begun to accept commis-
sions for his work.
My aunt asked me to do
a portrait of her husband my
uncle, he said. She paid me
and it was a great deal.
Another opportunity came
as Tommy Lundberg began
drawing buildings around cam-
pus. Senior Sally Klarr saw a
drawing Lundberg made of the
Kappa Kappa Gamma house.
I asked if he would agree
to sell it to the sorority, Klarr
said.
With senior year fast ap-
proaching, Tommy Lundberg
has been giving more thought to
a post -collegiate career.
I have a friend of a friend
who works for Def Jam records
making album art, he said.
So Im hoping to get my way
in there. Right now its just a
hobby of mine, but I would
enjoy it being my job as well.
hsmith@hillsdale.edu
Passion for pop culture
Hayden Smith
Collegian Freelancer
By Roxanne Turnbull and Abi Wood
Senior Luke Sanders poses for junior Sasha Allen. Allen has been working on the sculp-
ture for the entire school year. It represents the body in motion, and she will be entering
the piece into a competition at the end of the year. (Joe Buth/Collegian)
Junior Tommy Lundberg has a passion for transforming
pop culture into drawings. Here he works on his sketch of
deceased actor, James Dean. (Elena Salvatore/Collegian)
Film is the new
opera.
Mark Keller,
junior theatre major
ARTS
23 Feb. 2012 B2 www.hillsdalecollegian.com
!
IN FOCUS
TORY
COONEY
WHAT QUALIFIES AS
FINE ART ANYWAY?
Are we even allowed to write about alcohol on the arts
page? Weddings? What about facial hair? Each of these
topics has dominated the arts page at some point or another,
printed clear as day above the fold. But are they, strictly
speaking, art?
When most people with the beneft oI a classical educa-
tion think of the word art, painting, sculpture, music,
literature, or theater spring to mind. But not painting in
the sense oI graIfti, or 'theater in the sense oI a Las Vegas
burlesque show. Rather, art is considered the forms of these
things that are done skillfully and point towards the good,
the true, and the beautiful. Beauty for the sake of beauty.
Interestingly enough, the Oxford English Dictionary
only defnes art as 'skill in doing something, not even ap-
plying the word to anything regarding an aesthetic prin-
ciple until the eighth and ninth defnitions.
So, in that case, graIfti certainly is an art as long as it is
done well, along with mixing drinks, organizing a wedding,
teaching a class, laying a brick, or grooming ones mustache.
The idea that the arts, by defnition, 'are concerned with
the beautiful and appeal to the faculty of taste inhibit
many from appreciating such quotidian crafts as art. The
phrase that matches the defnition that they may be looking
Ior also provided by the OED is 'fne art.
There is a defnite distinction between Bernini`s 'Da-
vid, and Duchamps Fountain or the work of Alexander
Calder. However, that is not to say that the modern is not art.
Banksy is not Rembrant, but he doesnt have to be. There is
art, and there is fne art. The appreciation oI the latter should
not impede ones ability to perceive the former, even if it is
something as simple as a well-crafted martini.
vcooney@hillsdale.edu
Cathy VanVoorhis is a native
of Michigan with an eye for the
rustic beauty of her home state.
This is a very beautiful
state, VanVoorhis said. 'We are
fortunate to still have wetlands,
Iorests, Great Lake shorelines,
and family farms and orchards.
VanVoorhis` exhibit, 'Land &
Water: Seasons of Color, will
be held in the Daughtrey Gallery
in the Sage Center for the Arts at
Hillsdale College from Feb. 25
through March 16, 2012.
Some of her
current work in-
cludes a 10-foot
wide painting
for Art Prize, an
art competition
in Grand Rap-
ids, Mich. This
painting, A
Walk Along the
Beach, will be
displayed at the
Waters Build-
ing, downtown
Grand Rapids
this fall. She
did several smaller, practice
paintings before beginning on
such a huge project and also ad-
mits that it was very challenging
to adjust her painting style and
color to a the larger surface.
VanVoorhis` inspiration is not
derived solely from Michigan,
but all nature. VanVoorhis` paint-
ings, with their rich colors and
serene landscapes, give an inside
look into the way she sees her
surroundings.
VanVoorhis experimented
with many different types of
art in college. She began with
a Bachelor of Arts from Albion
College.
My experience of being an
artist is richer because of the
breadth of study at a liberal arts
college, VanVoorhis said.
VanVoorhis also spent some
time studying abroad her sopho-
more year. She originally went
to France as a French major and
was not very informed about art
history. While she was in France,
she visited many art museums.
When I was in Paris,
looking at Picasso and Matisse
paintings, I had the revelation
that I must
be an artist,
VanVoorhis
said.
After
graduating
Albion Col-
lege, she took
a detour from
the fne arts
track to earn
her masters
from Michi-
gan State
because of
her fascina-
tion with art
history. After her M.A., She says
she returned to her 'frst love
of painting when she attended
the University of Michigan for
a M.F.A. More recently, Van-
Voorhis attended Washtenaw
Community College to earn a
certifcate in graphic design. Her
expertise is not limited to art,
however, as she also has a Mas-
ters in Philosophy. When asked
about the connection between
her art degree and her philoso-
phy degree, she says,
At the time, I just loved both
subjects. It seemed like two dif-
ferent directions, making things
and reading/thinking about
great questions. Now I would
connect the two subjects as the
same desire for meaning in life,
VanVoorhis said.
VanVoorhis is no stranger to
Hillsdale College either. She had
an exhibit here in 1993. Since
then,
The colors have gotten
richer and more complex, Van-
Voorhis said.
Professor of Art Sam Knecht
agrees with this statement about
VanVoorhis` use oI color.
The spirited technique she
uses involves synthesizing
broad patterns of tone and color
gleaned from her subjects,
Knecht says.
Her paintings are crafted with
a rich and complex palate that
makes a muse of nature for all
who look at them. Most of her
work is oil, but she also dabbles
occasionally in watercolor.
Oil paint has many advan-
tages: richness of color, slower
drying time which allows blend-
ing, and ease of revising your
work, VanVoorhis says.
Her work exudes a passion
often lacking in landscapes. She
said she was inspired in the art
museums of France.
I remember thinking that
what they were doing was so
important that it was worth de-
voting my life to, even if I could
only travel a small distance
down this same path, she said.
For more information, you
can visit her website at: www.
cathyvanvoorhis.com.
hbrinks@hillsdale.edu
Seasons of color come to campus
Hannah Brinks
Collegian Freelancer
BE INSPIRED...
...by buying yourself a
ticket to the Gotye concert
coming to Detroits Pease
Auditorium on April 2. Kim-
bra is the opening act. If you
dont recognize that name,
then you probably havent
heard the song, Somebody
That I Used To Know. If
you havent heard that song
before, then you obviously
live under a rock.
Gotyes musical sound
cannot be contained into one
genre. Rarely do musicians
experiment with so many
different sounds as he did on
his newest album, Making
Mirrors. Seriously, treat
yourself by going to this
concert. It is surely going to
be an entertaining show and
a great way to spend a Mon-
day night. Yes, I am suggest-
ing you go out on a Monday.
Why not? Its worth it.
Roxanne Turnbull
Arts Editor
Cathy VanVoorhis will show her collection of landscape
paintings this weekend in the Daughtrey Gallery in the
Sage Center for the Arts. (Courtesy of Cathy VanVoorhis)
THE FUTURE OF AN ART MAJOR
Hillsdale Colleges art
majors are thinking of new
and creative ways to pursue
their dreams while creating
a lucrative future. The senior
class of 2012 will graduate 16
art majors this year, and these
students are considering every-
thing from a small business to
a foray into the political arena.
Senior Natalie Knudsen
already has an art business she
runs on and off campus. She
works on private or large scale
projects and often personalized
gifts.
I have an arts business
now and would like to grow it.
I do T-shirt designing, air-
brushing, and make plaques,
Knudsen said.
While the feld is seen as
limited and, art majors tend to
pursue other felds, students
strive for a variety of options
for their futures in the art
world.
I would also like to be an
art therapist like if someone
breaks their hand you can get
fne motor skills back or use
it [therapy] to express emo-
tions, Knudsen said. There
are graduate schools for art
therapy, so Im going to look to
those and experience therapy
in general.
The feld isn`t limited to
professional artists and profes-
sors, but reaches into many
other felds such as therapy,
technological advancement and
politics.
Im not going to be a
professional artist, but I know
I can use it in my professional
life and within the conservative
movement to help the aesthetic
appeal, senior Laura Weg-
mann said.
Rather than pursue art as
a career, she intends to use her
background in art to help her
work with the conservative
movement and to improve their
aesthetics.
We really do a disservice
to the truth
if we cant
package it
in the most
appealing
way, Weg-
mann said.
As a move-
ment weve
failed to
understand
that ideas
need to be
made attrac-
tive and we
need to draw
them in for better or for worse.
Thats the way it is.
Similarly, senior Bon-
nie Cofer intends to improve
her knowledge of graphic art
through work experience and
eventually use it to improve
conservative aesthetics.
I feel like the left, more
liberal groups have a mo-
nopoly on arts and aesthetics,
but there are good conserva-
tive organizations as well and
I would like to work with them
to update them and get them
more branded, Cofer said.
A lot of conservative groups
have really poor aesthetics. I
would like to work with them
to improve them so theyll be
taken more seriously.
Before she can pursue
competitive jobs in the graphic
arts feld, CoIer hopes to
strengthen her skills and add
more to her portfolio.
For senior Natalie Kerner,
the frst goal out oI college is
stability, which may involve
putting goals in art on the back
burner.
I
hope to
become
a profes-
sional
artist.
Im not
closed
off to the
idea of
teach-
ing, but
teaching
art is
really
complicated because you
have to see it differently for
each student, she said. For
the frst couple oI years I`m
probably going to teach, Ive
contacted a couple of schools
in Virginia, she said.
One of her dreams is to go
to an art school to study under
Jacob Collins in New York and
to be able to make a living off
of portrait commissions, but
for now her upcoming mar-
riage and living comes frst.
A select few, such as
senior Nell O`Leary, apply to
art schools and seek to further
improve skill and technique to
better prepare themselves for
the professional arena.
O`Leary is still waiting to
hear back from her top-choice
school, Studio in Camminati,
but intends to work to hone
her skills and make a name for
herself in the Philadelphia area
one way or the other.
I heard about it from Dr.
Knecht, he told me to check it
out. Two years ago I checked
out the high school program in
the summer, she said. It was
a week-long intensive program
over the summer founded on
the portrait. I went back the
past summer for the advanced
portrait and fgure drawing. I
learned a lot and found I think
it might be the place for me.
Very similar to a masters
program, the Studio in Cammi-
nati is a very selective school
which only accepts around 12
students each year and signif-
cantly increases the likelihood
of an artists art career being a
success.
While not each student
may be pursing a career in into
the feld oI art, they will all use
the skills they have learned in
their Hillsdale art classes to
further their careers and for
personal enjoyment.
I think its all about pro-
moting yourself and its hard
for artists to get that mindset,
Knudsen said. Be brave! Be
bold!
tsawyer1@hillsdale.edu
Teddy Sawyer
Collegian Reporter
Handheld cameras can
be used to document virtu-
ally anything in todays world:
weddings, sporting events, or
(in the case of this movie) city-
wide mayhem brought on by
psychokinetic powers.
Shot in the found-footage
style popularized by such
pictures as The Blair Witch
Project and 'Cloverfeld,
Chronicle offers a fresh and
interesting take on a superhero
origins movie.
At the start oI the flm, we
are introduced to high school
senior Andrew Detmer (Dane
DeHaan), the angst-flled social
pariah with an ailing mother
and an abusive alcoholic father.
As a way to document his fa-
thers violent behavior, Andrew
buys a camera and begins to
flm everything that he does.
His best friend and cousin
Matt Garetty (Alex Russell) is
concerned with Andrews anti-
social need to flm everything
and convinces him to attend
a party. While at the party,
Andrew and Matt, along with
popular class president hopeful
Steve Montgomery (Michael
B. Jordan), discover a glowing
meteorite in a shadowy cave.
The camera shuts off, and we
are then shown footage from
three weeks later of the boys
developing strange telekinetic
powers. What starts as harmless
shenanigans turns into mass
destruction as Andrews prob-
lems at home and school begin
to mount and he embraces his
darker side.
Chronicle does what many
Iound-Iootage flms have not
done in the past. Thanks to
the efforts of up and coming
screenwriter Max Landis (son
of Animal House director
John Landis) and director Josh
Trank, the movie offers much
in the way of character devel-
opment. We sympathize with
Andrews social frustrations,
we applaud when his powers
gain him popularity, and we are
horrifed when he lets his anger
get the best of him. The char-
acters of Matt and Steve also
are developed well, adding both
humor and serious introspec-
tion to the flm.
While the cinematogra-
phy in other found-footage
movies is often shaky and
nausea-inducing, Chronicle
succeeds in having impressive
camera work. Andrews ability
to levitate the camera, and the
flm-making by video blogger
Casey (Ashley Hinshaw) al-
lows for different angles that is
important in lending a change
in perspective.
While a few plot holes
and a somewhat over-the-top
ending holds the movie back,
Chronicle was surprisingly
well-made and a flm worth
seeing.
rthompson@hillsdale.edu
Richard Thompson
Collegian Freelancer
Chronicle: A Review
Premiere Theatre Hillsdale
Chronicle (PG-13)
Ghost Rider: Spirit oI Vengeance (PG-13)
Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D (PG)
Joyful Noise (PG-13)
Safe House (R)
The Vow (PG-13)
The Woman in Black (PG-13)
This Means War (PG-13)
Coldwater Cinemas
Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Phantom Menace 3D (PG)
In Theaters
(Courtesy of Cathy VanVoorhis)
I think its all
about promoting
yourself...Be
brave! Be bold!
Natalie Knudsen, senior
D
eforce: to take away property from its
rightful owner by force.
Andrew Rodney 05 chose to use De-
force as the title of his documentary, which shows
the disintegration of Detroit, Mich., and the hardships
faced by those living in the inner cities.
I wanted something that contained Detroit but
had a deeper meaning, Rodney said. The rightful
owners of property in Detroit have had it taken away
from them by a variety of sources.
Rodney majored in accounting at Hillsdale but
also studied politics, history, fnancial analysis, and
economics. After graduating, he moved to New York
and began producing flm. AIter a Iew years, how-
ever, he moved back to his home: Detroit.
With his experience in flm-making and his pas-
sion for the recovery of Detroit, Rodney decided to
make a short flm to draw attention to the issues in
the city.
One night it struck me that it was a story that
needs to be told, he said.
While Rodney did not direct the flm, he wrote
the initial script, conducted interviews, managed the
fnances, and researched heavily.
The crew of Deforce tried to choose Detroit
residents who had high character. Rodneys favorite
interview is of Lupe Birdman, who was a University
of Michigan anthropology student. He went to the
inner city and lived with juvenile students, document-
ing their lives.
Deforce also highlights Detroits drug war vio-
lence. Rodney documented that 50 to 70 percent of
the violence has some relation to drugs.
'Drugs are the fnancial resources oI the under-
ground economy. It fuels the violence, Rodney said.
Through research, Rodney also discovered that
since 1969 there have been more than 21,000 mur-
ders in Detroit.
Its probably double the city of Hillsdale wiped
off the map, he said.
Rodney does not seek to gain recognition from the
flm or advance his career. Instead, he seeks to raise
awareness about Detroit and break stereotypes about
people in the city.
Were are just a voice in the wilderness trying to
get more people to realize what is not being talked
about and how bad it is, Rodney said. I hope that
more people see it and more actions will be taken.
Rodney sees his Hillsdale roots become apparent
when he examines the justice system. He attributes
the violence and destruction in Detroit to a broken
system, rather than just socioeconomic conditions.
Going to Hillsdale, one thing that upsets me is
that you hear a lot about economic oppression and
government intervention and how its so problematic.
You hear a lot of anger and fury about how bad it
is, Rodney said. But you dont see conservatives
interacting in the places that are the worst.
Gary Wolfram, professor of economics, helped
Rodney after the production process. Rodney was a
family friend through the Mackinaw Center for Pub-
lic Policy, as well as Wolframs student in Economics
105.
Rodney sent Wolfram Deforce to show to both
students and faculty at Hillsdale.
I said, Wow this is really good. Do you mind if I
send it out? Wolfram said.
After receiving the video, Wolfram gave it to
many people in Detroit who he believed had infu-
ence over public policy, including Dennis Muchmore,
Rick Snyders Chief of Staff, and Howard Morris, a
member of the Michigan Strategic Fund Board.
Wolfram hopes that spreading the video will cause
a discussion of Detroits issues.
What do they say? A pictures worth a thousand
words, he said. You hear there are 100,000 aban-
doned homes. But if you watch the video and you
see two or three blocks of abandoned homes, it has a
greater impact.
eepperson@hillsdale.edu
at Hillsdale this semester. The
students are assigned a re-
search project for the semester
and will learn how to market
the site and increase its user
base.
Seniors Nikki Yancho, Will
Wegert, and Jeff Scarpelli will
design a survey that will give
them information about the
sites customers, competitors,
and perceptions of the market.
From that, they will make rec-
ommendations to Stomps.
After completing this
class, I will be able to tell
prospective employers about a
useful skill set I know theo-
retically, but have also con-
ducted for a real-world client,
Yancho said.
Stomps and Carson have
been largely gathering this
type of feedback as well as re-
search to oIfcially launch the
application. Carson said along
with the staggering amount of
research they have been doing,
funding has also been a chal-
lenge.
Not initially having a huge
fnancial backer proved to be
the largest challenge to starting
the site, he said.
And the development of the
application itself has proved to
be an obstacle.
While Ive largely taught
myself how to design, develop,
and maintain a website, I
have very little programming
knowledge, Stomps said. We
fnally had a breakthrough in
the spring of 2011, and our
application was accepted by a
team of students from Rose-
Hulman Institute of Technol-
ogy in Indiana to develop the
website application.
The group of students, who
turned out to be a group of
Delt Sigs, has been working
with the site since the begin-
ning of the school year.
The hope for the future
is to have a nationwide site
broken down into states and
possibly even further, Carson
said. But as of right now, its
baby steps.
sleitner@hillsdale.edu
Professor of History Mark Kalthoffs
memories of history, science, and free throws
A fresh view of an old problem
SPACES
B3 23 Feb. 2012 www.hillsdalecollegian.com
In Their Eyes
Sharon Barrett
Collegian Freelancer
W
hen Professor of History
Mark Kalthoff 84 came
to Hillsdale College from
Dayton, Ohio in 1979 on an athletic
scholarship, his liIe consisted oI fve
things.
I ate, slept, went to class, studied,
and played basketball, he said.
Since then, the college has been a
huge part of Kalthoffs life. During his
frst year, he met Christy Jones 83, a
fellow athlete who played volleyball,
ran track, and would later become his
wife. They were engaged New Years
Eve of his senior year.
In 1987, aIter KalthoII had fnished
graduate school, the couple returned to
Hillsdale. Christy Kalthoff served as
Director oI Admissions until their frst
child was born in 1989, the same year
Mark Kalthoff was hired as a history
professor.
'I missed class the frst day oI my
Hillsdale teaching career because I was
in the hospital with my wife, he said.
Mark Kalthoff said he and his wife,
who have home schooled their fve
children, consider the college com-
munity, like an extended family.
Kalthoffs second daughter Rachel
Kalthoff is now a senior at Hillsdale,
his oldest daughter takes classes part-
time, and his youngest daughter Phoebe
Kalthoff will enter as a freshman next
fall.
Its great [having them here], he
said. I get to see them around campus.
Sometimes they take a class with me.
Even Mark Kalthoffs twelve-year-
old son is active on campus this semes-
ter, performing in the Tower Players
production of The Merry Wives of
Windsor.
Many of Mark Kalthoffs under-
graduate memories were built with
his fellow basketball team members
making long bus trips to the Upper
Peninsula for a game, or catching study
breaks between practices.
He served as president of the Inter-
Varsity Hillsdale Christian Fellowship
chapter and lived for two years in an
off-campus house owned by former
Professor of English James Juroe. It
stood next to the Kappa Kappa Gamma
house, adjacent to what is now the
Howard Music Building parking lot.
In the 1980s, Hillsdales Greek life
boasted six fraternities and four so-
rorities. Although he did not go Greek,
Mark KalthoII said about fIty percent
of male students were in fraternities.
Since the legal drinking age had
been lowered in the 1970s, parties with
alcohol even midweek parties
were common on campus. By contrast,
Mark Kalthoff said todays students are
less likely to come here for free beer.
He believes the proportion of academ-
ically-talented, committed students has
greatly increased since the 1980s.
While he believes the school has
maintained its emphasis on athlet-
ics from his days as a student, Mark
Kalthoff is proud of his team.
We [the basketball team] were the
best team in college history. We won
28 games, he said.
Mark Kalthoffs wife majored in
history and economics, while Mark
Kalthoff graduated with a triple major.
I came here in love with math and
science, and along the way I fell in love
with history, he said.
He then studied the history and phi-
losophy of science at Indiana Univer-
sity, obtaining his M.A. in 1987 and his
Ph.D. in 1998.
Mark Kalthoff takes particular inter-
est in the intersection between science
and religion.
'Both felds seek |to answer| the
biggest questions, he said. How did it
all begin? What went wrong? How can
you fx it? How will it all end?
At a 1992 Center for Constructive
Alternatives on science and religion,
Mark Kalthoff was featured as the
keynote speaker.
Mark Kalthoff enjoys teaching at a
liberal arts college.
I dont have to be a specialist,
he said. These are human questions
that thoughtful human beings should
be wrestling with. Liberal education
is teasing out those connections rather
than drawing boundaries.
Mark Kalthoff also sees the value
of liberal education in how it prepares
students to make a difference in the
world.
My students are going to go on,
get married, have kids, and be teachers,
pastors, and civic leaders, he said.
Mark Kalthoff is modest about his
role in inspiring his students.
They are amazing people, he said.
I try to get out of the way and let them
do what they are good at.
At the same time, Mark Kalthoff
considers his students a part of his and
his familys life even after they gradu-
ate.
One of the most rewarding things
is to see these people come back to tell
me about how their time at Hillsdale
made it possible to do what they are
doing, he said.
sbarrett@hillsdale.edu

Emmaline Epperson
Collegian Reporter
(Courtesy of Mark Kalthoff)
Hillsdale graduate Andrew Rodney uses his passion and his lens to explore and reveal economic depression in Detroit
!
COMPARE
From B4
Two frames from Andrew Rodneys documentary depict the poverty and economic
depression of Detroit. His documentary seeks to reveal the struggles and violence in
the city. (Courtesy of Andrew Rodney)
SPACES
B4 23 Feb. 2012 www.hillsdalecollegian.com
C OMPA R E T HE C A N DI DAT E S
Sarah Leitner
Sports Editor
J
ason Stomps 10 came downstairs on the
morning of the November 2010 elec-
tions to his dad reading an article in the
newspaper comparing the views of each local
candidate.
I thought to myself, This is no way to pre-
pare to vote for those that will be representing
you at the political level, Stomps said. Not
only were the candidates missing a lot of impor-
tant information, but there tends to be a lot of
bias in the media, especially when its just the
candidates themselves providing the answers.
That very same day, Stomps registered the
website CompareMyCandidates.com. The
site currently provides information about the
upcoming presidential election for voters in
Michigan. The web application that will com-
pare voters local candidates side-by-side is on
track to launch in June.
The ultimate goal for CompareMyCan-
didates.com is to become the primary, non-
partisan, unbiased source of information for
voters across the country, Stomps said. Well
be rolling out our platform to other states across
the nation in the coming years.
Stomps graduated from Hillsdale College in
May 2010 with the frst graphic design minor
given by the college, and a major in marketing
management.
Upon graduation from Hillsdale I played
the typical job-hunting game that many of us do
and many of you will but after a handful
of interviews, I realized that there just wasnt
anything available that I truly wanted to do at
the time, Stomps said.
Stomps already had his business Coldfre
Promotions up and running a business he
started while still in school in 2009.
I knew that continuing with that would pro-
vide me with a near-ideal situation, he said.
Coldfre Promotions is an agency that works
with businesses throughout Michigan and parts
of the Midwest to help them with their market-
ing efforts. While this is Stomps primary job,
he is also an assistant track and feld coach at
Notre Dame Preparatory School in Pontiac,
Mich., and the president of his homeowners
association.
To be quite frank, Im married to my work,
he said. Its been an insane amount of work,
putting in countless 70-plus hour work-weeks
between my two businesses and my other com-
mitments, but I love every minute of it.
Stomps brought on Kyle Carson 11, one of
his Delta Sigma Phi fraternity brothers at Hills-
dale, to help with CompareMyCandidates.com.
Carson, a 2011 graduate, majored in biology at
Hillsdale.
It seems to be on the other end of the spec-
trum from politics, but I always enjoyed it,
Carson said. I couldnt get over how I felt this
idea could help streamline the research process,
as well as ease the data load for voters.
While Stomps could not bring Carson on
right away, he saw that Carsons enthusiasm and
entrepreneurial spirit would beneft the site.
Stomps and Carson are also working with
three students in the marketing research course
Being able to express
yourself with clothing is a
beautiful, wonderful thing.
Hillsdale graduate creates a comprehensive website to provide information to voters nationwide
Compiled by Rachel Hofer; photographs by Mel Caton
CAMPUS CHIC
I like being told that I look
German.
Style Icons: Karen Gillan, Carey Mulligan,
Matt Smith, and Kate Middleton
Designers: Issa London and Burberry
Rachel Heider
Messy Chic or Schick
Sophomore German Major
Lima, Ohio
Outt Details:
Shirt- ried, Sweater- Her
uncles from the time he
served in the German Army,
Pants- PacSun, Boots-T.J.
Maxx, Watch- Fossil
riing is cheap
and Im poor and
I nd that the
clothes are a lot
better made.
!
See SPACES, B3
(Courtesy of Jason Stomps)