Claire Hipps

Features

9/22/2021

Alma’s football program is currently 3-0 after beating Anderson University (51-2) at home for their Hall of Fame Game. They previously won over Manchester University (47-23) in Indiana and Bluffton University (24-6) at home. With promising offensive and defensive programs, they are projecting strength as they prepare to play Martin Luther College in Minnesota and Olivet College at home for Alma’s homecoming weekend.

In the first 2 minutes of the game against Anderson, Trent Devereaux (’24) threw a 12-yard touchdown to Nathan Goralski. Devereaux is a sophomore quarterback with 279 total yards. He has completed 19 passes and thrown 6 touchdowns.

When asked about how him and his teammates felt about the start of the season, Devereaux explained that they feel confident.

“We are feeling very confident…after coming off of a very odd [season] in the Spring of last year,” said Devereaux.

Against Anderson, Alma executed five sacks and forced two fumbles. The Scot defense is powerful and opportunistic; they have pulled out 9 sacks and forced 4 fumbles this season. They have also intercepted 13 different passes over 209 yards, 5 of which occurred against Anderson, and completed 3 defensive touchdowns.

“[One of our strengths] is that we are a young, athletic team,” said Devereaux. “Speed and athleticism [are traits we can] always use to our advantage.”

Their offense has scored 122 points across 3 games, averaging 40.7 points per game. They have rushed and passed a total of 778 yards, completing 7 touchdowns through passes.

Despite a rough start to their game against Manchester, Alma managed to overcome and pull out the win. At one point in the Manchester game, Alma scored 28 points in a matter of 3 minutes and 35 seconds.

“We are feeling much better [than last season] after getting a year of experience under our belts,” said Devereaux. “Some challenges [arise because] we are young, but we can overcome that by being mentally tough.”

In their game against Bluffton University, the defense worked as a well-oiled machine and only allowed one touchdown. They also demonstrated the depth of their team when Keegan Benkhardt, a senior running back, made his first career start and scored on an 11-yard run.

Alma’s special teams units have also performed very well. Devon Frenchko was recognized as a MIAA special teams athlete of the week and as a RET athlete on the D3football.com Team of the Week. He averaged 70 yards on 3 returns against Manchester. Frenchko was Alma’s first ever RET D3football.com player of the week, according to the Athletic Department. . Special teams have made all attempted field golds and averages 37.2 yards per punt.

One of their goals as a team is to win the 2021 MIAA championship according to Devereaux. Alma’s conference schedule will begin with homecoming on the second of October, at home against Olivet.

Dear Gossip Squirrel,

I’ve been hearing a lot of rumors about covid on this campus and barely see people who do something about it. What can I do to stay safe?

-let’s be safe

Dear let’s be safe,

It can be difficult to hear rumors about Covid-19 on our campus. Sometimes it seems that we are getting better and sometimes it seems like it’s out of control. The best thing you can do as a student is make sure to follow the school’s rules and gathering mandates that have been put in place. These have specifically been made to keep students safe and to keep Covid-19 spreading down. If these are followed it can reduce not just your personal chances of getting Covid-19 but also your fellow students and faculty.

Dear Gossip Squirrel,

I’m scared to use the gym here at Alma. I’ve never been to a gym before so it can be very intimidating. Will the gym on campus be good to go to?

-nervousofgym

Dear nervousofgym,

The great thing about going to the Stone Recreation Center is that students of all experience levels go to it to workout. It is a gym that has many options and that is very welcoming. If you are nervous about being around new people maybe go in and just try walking on the treadmill or riding an exercise bike for 10 minutes. Afterwards you can reassess how you are feeling about being in this environment. If it doesn’t feel comfortable throughout those 10 minutes, you can leave but if it foes you can slowly start to transition towards getting to your goal for your workouts.

-Gossip Squirrel

Ella Bright

News

September 22, 2021

A new Texas law went into effect in the early weeks of the month that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, or around the time that cardiac activity is detectable.

Six weeks is well before most women even know they’re pregnant.

This new law, entitled the “Texas Heartbeat Act”, formally went into effect on Wednesday, Sep. 1. It allows private citizens to sue abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood locations. It also allows for private citizens to sue anyone who helps a woman get an abortion, like giving them a ride to the location or provide any financial assistance.

“These lawsuits are not against the women,” said John Seago, a representative of Texas Right to Life, in an interview with NPR. “The lawsuits would be against the individuals making money off of the abortion, the abortion industry itself.”

The law makes no exceptions for victims of rape or cases of incest.

This new law is one of the strictest abortion bans in the whole country. Several other states have tried to pass a law like this, but they haven’t been able to make it past the protests of abortion-rights groups, as well as federal courts.

Employees of abortion providers have expressed concern for their patients, saying that some women don’t have any way to get outside the state if they want to get an abortion. Despite their apprehension, these employees have said that they are still complying with the law as long as it is still in effect.

“This law threatens my livelihood,” said Dr. Ghazaleh Moayedi, an OB/GYN, in an interview with Michel Martin. “It threatens my ability to care for my family. It threatens my career simply for doing what I was trained to do right here in Texas. You know, I went to medical school here. I went to college here. And I went to residency here. This is my state, too.”

The Texas Heartbeat Act has been met with public outcry. Eight days after the law went into effect, it was challenged by the United States Justice Department, claiming it to be unconstitutional. Many more court challenges are underway, including several lawsuits in the Texas state court targeting anti-abortion-rights groups like Texas Right to Life. Abortion rights groups are also organizing protests.

In one specific lawsuit, a group of abortion providers and reproductive rights groups said the law “places a bounty on people who provide or aid abortions, inviting random strangers to sue them.”

If the federal courts allow the law to stand, more conservative states will likely push for laws like this one to be passed. Spokesmen for Texas Right for Life have stated that they are “eager” to replicate the model this law has presented in other states if it proves successful.

“I’m appalled,” said Gwen Magiera (‘25). “This is destructive and completely dangerous. People are going to find ways to have abortions no matter if it’s legal or not. It happened in the 1920s in Australia. History always repeats itself, but this is part of history that shouldn’t.”

Just before midnight on the same day the law was officially put into effect, the Supreme Court refused to block it by a vote of 5-4.

“The court’s order is stunning,” said Justice Sonia Sotomayor in her dissent. “Presented with an application to enjoin a flagrantly unconstitutional law engineered to prohibit women from exercising their constitutional rights and evade judicial scrutiny, a majority of justices have opted to bury their heads in the sand.”

“Banning abortions will only cause more damage,” said Magiera. “You should have a choice in what happens to your body. That choice had been taken away, and I hope that the choice won’t be taken away in Michigan.”

Alivia Giles and Madeleine Kim

Campus News

Sept. 22, 2021

With the Fall 2021 semester in full swing, the Alma College Theatre and Dance department is hard at work preparing for their October production of the musical, The Addams Family.

Scott Mackenzie, Professor of Theatre and Dance is the show’s director. Mackenzie held auditions for the musical in early September before quickly beginning the rehearsal process.

“We did three nights of auditions, [starting with] singing. The next night Professor Ben Munisteri taught a dance combination [and] I held acting auditions. The third night was call backs and catching up for students who could not attend earlier audition nights.”

“We had around 28 audition and we wound up with a company of 23. There are about another 21 kids who will be working behind the scenes from scene building to stage managing. Some of the students in the cast are also working on tech crews.”

Even with Covid-19 precautions in place last year, Alma was able to put on multiple theatre productions. With some of these precautions still in place, the students and faculty involved are looking forward to the large-scale production.

“We will still work to keep distance, but this script calls for 20 performers on stage at times.” Mackenzie said. “Fortunately, we are almost all vaccinated, so we will have a bit more freedom than last year, but not as much as we did before Covid.”

First-year student, Abigail Whitford (’25), is thrilled to make her Alma College theatre debut as a “saloon girl ancestor”. Whitford has enjoyed the intense rehearsal process and learning from fellow cast members.

“I am not used to working so hard on my vocals and choreography because high school is just not the same. I love it though!” Whitford said. “I am learning so much and everyone around me has a lot of talent!”

Despite her previous experience as a performer, coming into her first college theatre audition was a little nerve-wracking.

“I was so nervous especially since I came from a small school where our theatre program was lacking a lot of important parts to keep it running. The whole audition process was something that I was not used to, and I didn’t know what to expect. It was exciting and scary.”

David Troyer (’24) plays Gomez Addams, a character he describes as “a man with sharp wit and a ‘larger-than-life’ personality”.

As a freshman, Troyer performed in three plays at the college. While he was used to auditioning at Alma, with the addition of singing and dancing along with acting, the process looked a little different for this show.

“The audition process lasted three days in comparison to the usual 1 or 2. It was a bit more rigorous in the sense that there was more you had to prepare prior to,” Troyer said. “There were also a lot more people auditioning, people I’d never worked with.”

Troyer enjoys spending time with his friends at rehearsals and the satisfaction of putting in hard work and watching a show come together.

“Rehearsals have been extremely fun and uplifting at this point. It’s been amazing to get back into making art with my friends from last year and making new friends as well. Plus, this cast is extraordinarily talented, so you leave rehearsal confident with how it’ll all turn out.”

Annabelle Avolio (’23) is looking forward to taking the stage as an “ancestor”. She is also the show’s dance captain, so along with rehearsing with the other performers, she has worked with Ben Munisteri to choreograph dances for the show.

As a third-year student majoring in theatre, Avolio has plenty of experience performing on stage at Alma College but scoring her role in this production did not come without challenges.

“For this show we had to prepare a 16-bar cut from a song that would show off our acting and vocal ability. Picking the right song that shows off your vocal range, acting ability . . . is a lot of pressure. This is the most stressful part for me for every musical I audition for.”

With fewer Covid-19 restrictions this year, Avolio is looking forward to performing for larger in-person audiences, “We should be able to have more people in the theatre – which is great!”

Intern BreAnne Servoss works as the Costume Shop Manager. Creating the perfect costumes for each character is a lot of work and Servoss feels that sometimes this effort is overlooked.

“To create a costume takes a lot of steps that most people don’t think about. You have to draft the pattern, create a mockup, fit the mockup, alter the patten and then you can finally cut it out from the final fabric and then after you stitch that together you have your costume.”

Servoss is excited to help bring the iconic characters to life, “I definitely have to say [the costume I am most looking forward to making is] Morticia’s look because it’s a classic look that everyone knows and I’m really excited to bring it to the stage.”

Performances of The Addams Family are set for October 28-31. (The cast and crew encourage the audience to dress in costume – especially on Halloween!) Due to copyright laws, performances of the show will not be recorded.

For more information on The Addams Family as well as future shows, visit the Alma College Theatre and Dance Department Facebook page, inside.alma.edu or contact Scott Mackenzie.

Campus

Emily McDonald

September 22, 2021

After a year of covid closures, the Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery in Clack Art Center has re-opened to welcome campus, community and visiting artists.

Alma College was anything but normal during the 2020-2021 year; athletics couldn’t have spectators; dorms couldn’t have guests and the Flora Kirsh Beck Gallery couldn’t have visitors. The gallery was left bare for most of the year. However, as campus restrictions have lifted in the new year, the gallery was able to re-open and fill its walls with art.

It was hard for staff and student alike to have the gallery walls empty in the past year. It was especially difficult for last year’s seniors who didn’t get to have an audience for their senior show. “It really made me sad that not as many people got to see the seniors’ art,” said Genevieve Morand (‘22), a senior art major and gallery assistant, who sympathized with the experience. “I was lucky enough to see it being created and we have had tons of talented people in the department. They still had a fantastic show, I just wish there had been better circumstances that allowed more people to enjoy it.”

The gallery is currently displaying work from visiting artists Jane Zweibel and Zach Koch. “Jane Zweibel explores themes of feminine identity though the human figure, narrative, and dreamlike juxtapositions, and Zach Koch investigates nostalgia and the passage of time, and often blends Romanticism and anime imagery,” said Professor Marissa Cook, the Gallery Coordinator, about the artists.

“One of my favorite parts of Clack is that you can tell the minute you walk in that it’s an art building, even outside the gallery. Both of these artists we have now work with really bright colors and sort of play around with their backgrounds in a really cool way,” said Cook on how both artist’s works make the gallery burst with color.

The art gallery is literally and figuratively the core of the Clack Art Center. Having it re-open makes the space feel like it is “breathing again” according to Cook. She said, “I hope to see people visiting and enjoying the gallery, and attending gallery events! After the past year and a half, I don’t think we can underestimate the value of viewing and discussing art in person.”

The return of gallery shows means the return of closing receptions. Anyone interested in hearing the artist’s talk can join in person in the gallery, but the artists will be virtual. “I really hope people come to see [the show] in person, and that people come to the artist talk! I hope it encourages people to see the value in art and maybe even make some of their own,” said Morand. The closing reception for the current visiting artists will be September 30th at 4:30pm.

It is important to not underestimate the importance of art and creativity on campus. For anyone interested in exploring creative outlets on campus, Morand advises “Clack is a great

place to explore! If you’re interested in taking art classes or majoring in art, any of the professors would probably be happy to chat during their office hours! Even if you aren’t an art major, you should definitely see what Clack has to offer! We have an art club/ honorary fraternity, Kappa Pi, that hosts some really great events too!”

Other shows to look forward to in the Flora Kirsch Beck Gallery this semester include Sarah Nance and Katrina Majkut in October and April Sunami in November.

Aries: You never do something just because everyone is doing it, Aries, and that’s why you’d be the one to stand up to the villain in a horror movie. You’re a natural trailblazer!

Taurus: Taurus, you’re ambitious and dependable, known as the anchor of the zodiac. In a horror movie, you would be the person keeping others calm and grounded.

Gemini: You’re smart, Gemini, but you also have a curious nature that would most definitely get you into trouble in a horror movie. Don’t go off exploring by yourself!

Cancer: Cancer, you’re known to be extremely intuitive and intelligent, which is why you’d be the first to realize that something sinister is going on.

Leo: You’re a brave one, Leo. You’d be a big part of defeating the villain once and for all. But don’t let your courageousness turn into arrogance.

Virgo: Virgo, you’re always there to lend a hand, and that’s why you’d be the perfect person to set a trap. You’re a perfectionist, and others know that you’d get the job done!

Libra: You’re selfless, Libra. You’re probably working with Taurus to keep others calm and mediate any arguments that pop up.

Scorpio: Your bravery and resourcefulness would do you well in a horror movie, Scorpio. You and Leo would make a great team!

Sagittarius: Sagittarius, you love to adventure, and you aren’t afraid to do your own thing, but in this case, it might be better to stay with other people.

Capricorn: You work hard, Capricorn, and that could serve you well in a horror movie. You get what you set your mind to, so perhaps you’d do well to help set a trap with Virgo.

Aquarius: Aquarius, you’re independent by nature, and it would probably be best for you to stick with a group of people. You see the best in others, but don’t let that hurt you.

Pisces: You’re smart and intuitive, Pisces. Chances are that you know what’s going on before anyone else, and while people might not immediately believe you about whatever horror is lurking around the corner, they will eventually.