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The Scarlet & Black

The Independent Student News Site of Grinnell College
The S&B won the Iowa college newspaper of the year award and 19 individual awards at the Iowa College Media Association conference in Des Moines, Iowa on Feb. 8, 2024.
The Scarlet & Black wins Iowa college newspaper of the year award
Learning Environment Policy Update
Learning Environment Policy Update
Ramaswamys talks on the phone as he prepares to walk into the event in Grinnell on Oct. 5, 2023. Moments later, a Grinnell College students accidentally backed into a campaign vehicle.
Ramaswamy’s vehicle was parked illegally during Grinnell accident; police and driver refute misleading accounts of the incident
Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy speaks with Grinnell College students following a televised panel with KCCI at Saints Rest Coffee House.
“It was truly just an accident”: Students who hit Ramaswamy’s car speak out after media frenzy
Juniper Schwartzman `27 joined the football team as a kicker. She became the first woman to play and score for the team during their Sept. 30 game against Lawrence University.
Juniper Schwartzman `27 becomes first woman to play for Grinnell football
Following a national search, Grinnell College has announced that JC Lopez, current interim Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs, will fill his role permanently.
JC Lopez appointed full-time Vice President of Student Affairs
Student Registration Liaisons attempt to calm preregistration storm
Student Registration Liaisons attempt to calm preregistration storm
Students protest outside of Wells Fargo in 2017. Among Grinnell students, 77% said they worry a little or a lot about damaging their reputation because someone misunderstood them.
Grinnell College ranked worst school in the US for comfort expressing ideas
Kyla Miller `25 was elected as the president of Grinnells Student Government Association.
SGA elects president and VPAA for 2024-25
Members of the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers display the first wall-to-wall undergraduate contract in U.S. history. The Union approved the contract by a vote of 162-1. It will immediately take effect after Grinnell College signs it on Friday, April 5, 2024.
Grinnell College student Union ratifies historic contract
Iowans came together on April 10, 2024 to celebrate Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes womens basketball team, deemed the team that changed the game.
Iowans celebrate Caitlin Clark, Lisa Bluder and the team that changed basketball
Its their club. I just run it: Book club leader fosters inclusion and belonging
“It’s their club. I just run it”: Book club leader fosters inclusion and belonging
Grinnell teachers respond to Iowa bill on arming school personnel
Grinnell teachers respond to Iowa bill on arming school personnel
The Veterans Memorial Commission voted to demolish the Veterans Memorial Building in downtown Central Park this past September. Shortly after, the Commission began exploring monument designs to replace the building.
Controversial monument to replace Grinnell Veterans Memorial Building
Local Foods Connection takes on food insecurity in Poweshiek County
Local Foods Connection takes on food insecurity in Poweshiek County
Grinnell is considering rebranding away from the Pioneer identity.
History Takeover: Are Pioneers Wanted Here?
The Black Church and Bible Study work to rebuild a post-pandemic religious tradition on campus.
Students build sacred spaces as spirituality thrives
Sandy Moffet reflects on his legacy
Sandy Moffet reflects on his legacy
For student workers, off-campus work can present a chance to prepare for life after college and build relationships with the community.
Off-campus workers “pop” the Grinnell college bubble
Marina Busby `24
Student speaks: Dorm Hall Defense
Grinnell continued its Disco Harris tradition of a band performance, with students covering high-energy hits on Saturday, April 6.
Photos Series: Boogie down with Disco Band
Karis McCaskill `24 grins in front of the gallery wearing a Kermit sweater — a green frog to match the green leaves in her exhibition.
Karis McCaskill `24 transforms Smith Gallery
Carl Phillips reads from “Then The War: And Selected Poems,” telling the Writers@Grinnell crowd about his writing process.
Writers@Grinnell names Carl Phillips this year’s Distinguished Author
Aisha Saparali, foreign language teaching assistant for Russian, holds scarlet and black ribbons in her hand.
“Songs of the Scarlet and Wayback” chronicles Grinnell across time
The current entrance to the Edith Renforw Smith `37 Gallery shows the name of Ethan Versh `27s exhibition — Cupolitan.
Coffee cup muses on display at Ethan Versh `27’s Smith Gallery expo
Amy Nguyen `26 putts the ball towards a hole at a team practice at the Grinnell College Golf Course.
Women’s golf looks to continue decade-long conference title streak
Irene Agusti `24.5 returns the ball during Grinnell womens tennis March 2 game against Morningside University. The Pioneers won the face-off 5-4.
Nationally-ranked women’s tennis sets the stage for NCAA appearance
The stands were filled with fans. friends, and family during the Grinnell College Mens Basketball Teams Feb. 17 game against Monmouth College. The Pioneers won 111-86.
“They’re my team,” local fans connect with athletes
Clark broke the all-time National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) scoring record this season, en route to her second championship appearance and second Naismith Player of the Year Award.
Photo Series: Caitlin Clark’s season in review
Nathan McCurdy 25 hits the ball while at bat against Monmouth College on March 29. Grinnell won the game 13-6 and the three-game series against Monmouth College 2-1.
Adverse weather throws curveball at Grinnell baseball’s MWC title bid
Horoscope: Which practical mode of transportation are you?
Horoscope: Which practical mode of transportation are you?
Marcy Cassidy-Mapp `24 thinks FoMO is prevalent at Grinnell College.
Op-Ed: FoMO at a Liberal Arts College
Allison Moore `24 believes senioritis can be cured by spending time with the people you are close to.
Op-Ed: Why do all the fourth years seem so anxious?
Sasha Laugen `26 believes wearing a mask when sick should be the norm.
Op-Ed: Grinnell masking culture needs to change
Horoscope: Your Zodiacs Cat Breed
Horoscope: Your Zodiac’s Cat Breed
Members of the womens volleyball team practicing on Wednesday Nov. 8 in preparation for their matches at the Midwest Conference tournament.
Letter to the Editor: Support women’s athletics
Letter to the Editor: Alumni weigh in on student protests
Letter to the Editor: Alumni weigh in on student protests
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor: Alumni support trans athletes at Grinnell after NCAA removes LGBTQ+ protections
Members of Chaverim Elizabeth Collinger, Batyah Selis and Nick Raphaelson (left to right), all 21.
Letter to the Editor: “Pioneers” no more
Comic: False Spring
Comic: False Spring
Comic: You Are What You Eat
Comic: You Are What You Eat
Comic: Ambroos and Wilhelmina van Buskirk the Tulip Fairies
Comic: Ambroos and Wilhelmina van Buskirk the Tulip Fairies
Comic: Spring Break Expectation vs. Reality
Comic: Spring Break Expectation vs. Reality
Comic: The Scariest Things on Halloween in Grinnell
Comic: The Scariest Things on Halloween in Grinnell
Horoscope: Which practical mode of transportation are you?
Horoscope: Which practical mode of transportation are you?
Horoscope: Your Zodiacs Cat Breed
Horoscope: Your Zodiac’s Cat Breed
Horoscope: What the Signs are saying about spring break
Horoscope: What the Signs are saying about spring break
Horoscope: Which residence hall are you?
Horoscope: Which residence hall are you?
Horoscope: Which U.S. president are you?
Horoscope: Which U.S. president are you?
Marcy Cassidy-Mapp `24 thinks FoMO is prevalent at Grinnell College.
Op-Ed: FoMO at a Liberal Arts College
Allison Moore `24 believes senioritis can be cured by spending time with the people you are close to.
Op-Ed: Why do all the fourth years seem so anxious?
Sasha Laugen `26 believes wearing a mask when sick should be the norm.
Op-Ed: Grinnell masking culture needs to change
Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA Womens basketball scoring record on Thursday, Feb. 15, surpassing Kelsey Plum.
Caitlin Clark breaks scoring record, but her legacy was already cemented
Syd Weller `26.
Grinnell and Title IX: How ineffective training breeds discomfort and distrust
Sandy Moffet reflects on his legacy
Sandy Moffet reflects on his legacy
Local Foods Connection takes on food insecurity in Poweshiek County
Local Foods Connection takes on food insecurity in Poweshiek County
From left: Laura Fendt and Kamal Hammouda pose in front of their future co-op housing project at 834 Park St.
Relish restaurateurs cook up new co-op housing initiative for students
The thrill of running, told by Grinnell College cross country runners
The thrill of running, told by Grinnell College cross country runners
Kai Te Huki `27 leads the National Collegiate Athletic Association across divisions in average points scored per game and in three point attempts. He scored 30 of the Pioneers’ 111 points against Knox College on Jan. 23.
KAI IS THAT GUY
Grinnell continued its Disco Harris tradition of a band performance, with students covering high-energy hits on Saturday, April 6.
Photos Series: Boogie down with Disco Band
Clark broke the all-time National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) scoring record this season, en route to her second championship appearance and second Naismith Player of the Year Award.
Photo Series: Caitlin Clark’s season in review
Temperatures swelled to 70 degrees as the false spring beckoned Grinnell students into the outdoors this past week.
Photo Series: False Spring in full swing
Creeping Charlie, a band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, rocked the halls of Gardner Lounge in what was the first concert of the school year.
Photo Series: Creeping Charlie brings first concert of the year to campus
Grinnell College student band plays their debut performance at Masquerade Harris. On the stage from left: Maddie Church `27, Theo Richter `24, Renzo Iurino `27, Grant Anguiano and Noah Mendola `26.
Photo Series: South of Tama debuts at Masquerade Harris

The Scarlet & Black

The Scarlet & Black
Latest Stories
Following a national search, Grinnell College has announced that JC Lopez, current interim Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs, will fill his role permanently.
JC Lopez appointed full-time Vice President of Student Affairs
April 15, 2024
Iowans came together on April 10, 2024 to celebrate Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes womens basketball team, deemed the team that changed the game.
Iowans celebrate Caitlin Clark, Lisa Bluder and the team that changed basketball
April 15, 2024
Student Registration Liaisons attempt to calm preregistration storm
Student Registration Liaisons attempt to calm preregistration storm
April 15, 2024
Horoscope: Which practical mode of transportation are you?
Horoscope: Which practical mode of transportation are you?
April 15, 2024
Students protest outside of Wells Fargo in 2017. Among Grinnell students, 77% said they worry a little or a lot about damaging their reputation because someone misunderstood them.
Grinnell College ranked worst school in the US for comfort expressing ideas
April 15, 2024
Grinnell is considering rebranding away from the Pioneer identity.
History Takeover: Are Pioneers Wanted Here?
April 15, 2024

Students Speak: Unique holiday traditions

December 1, 2017
My+group+of+family+friends+%28made+up+entirely+of+middle-aged+lesbians+and+their+college+kids%29+has+a+tradition+in+which+we+have+a+white+elephant+gift+exchange%2C+which+in+the+past+few+years+has+evolved+into+an+exchange+of+extraordinarily+raunchy+stuff+%E2%80%94+for+example%2C+the+other+year+my+mom+got+sugar+cereal+necklaces%2C+which+were+actually+nipple+tassels.%0A%E2%80%94+Eli+Calalang-Lacroix+%E2%80%9921
“My group of family friends (made up entirely of middle-aged lesbians and their college kids) has a tradition in which we have a white elephant gift exchange, which in the past few years has evolved into an exchange of extraordinarily raunchy stuff — for example, the other year my mom got sugar cereal necklaces, which were actually nipple tassels.” — Eli Calalang-Lacroix ’21

From receiving nipple tassels for a white elephant gift exchange, to playing Yahtzee, to arranging and auctioneering flowers, to viewing neighborhood tours of Christmas lights, Grinnellians have many exceptional holiday traditions. Photos by Mai Phuong Vu.

“Every Friday after Thanksgiving, now that my cousins from India go to school in the States, they come down to Sunnyvale in California (where I’m from) and we go to my mom’s friend’s house, where we have a meal, remember that we’re blessed and that we have a lot to be thankful for. It ends with my dad sleeping really early on the couch because he’s always working, and him wanting to drive home the morning after.”
—A.T. Tambay ’20
“My group of family friends (made up entirely of middle-aged lesbians and their college kids) has a tradition in which we have a white elephant gift exchange, which in the past few years has evolved into an exchange of extraordinarily raunchy stuff — for example, the other year my mom got sugar cereal necklaces, which were actually nipple tassels.”
— Eli Calalang-Lacroix ’21
“My fairly large family plays Yahtzee when we all get together during the holidays. My mom and my grandma will play it until the wee hours of the morning, so it’s fun to watch them make a big deal out of it. Whenever someone gets over 400 in Yahtzee, they get to write their name and date on the lid of the box.”
—Elise Bargman ’21
“We have a tradition on Christmas Eve, in which all the grandkids get together and pick an ornament located in the Christmas tree. Whoever finds it first gets to open their presents first.”
­—Emily Porter ’18
“During Thanksgiving every year, our family gets together with flower arrangements, craftwork or cookies and food that we’ve all made, and we put it all together in one big auction that our family participates in. It’s a fun time, and in the end all the profits go to a charity that we choose at the end of the holiday.”
—Seth Taylor ’21
“Sometime during Christmas break, the entire family [piles] up in a car to drive around for two or three hours looking at all the Christmas lights in the neighborhood. I love my family, but this tradition is always kind of a pain because I’m the kid who’s always tired by the end of the night and I want to go home — but that’s the holidays for you!”
— Jackson Ferguson ’21
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More to Discover
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Iowans came together on April 10, 2024 to celebrate Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes womens basketball team, deemed the team that changed the game.
Iowans celebrate Caitlin Clark, Lisa Bluder and the team that changed basketball
Student Registration Liaisons attempt to calm preregistration storm
Student Registration Liaisons attempt to calm preregistration storm
Students protest outside of Wells Fargo in 2017. Among Grinnell students, 77% said they worry a little or a lot about damaging their reputation because someone misunderstood them.
Grinnell College ranked worst school in the US for comfort expressing ideas
Amy Nguyen `26 putts the ball towards a hole at a team practice at the Grinnell College Golf Course.
Women's golf looks to continue decade-long conference title streak
Its their club. I just run it: Book club leader fosters inclusion and belonging
"It's their club. I just run it": Book club leader fosters inclusion and belonging
Karis McCaskill `24 grins in front of the gallery wearing a Kermit sweater — a green frog to match the green leaves in her exhibition.
Karis McCaskill `24 transforms Smith Gallery
More in Features
Grinnell is considering rebranding away from the Pioneer identity.
History Takeover: Are Pioneers Wanted Here?
The Black Church and Bible Study work to rebuild a post-pandemic religious tradition on campus.
Students build sacred spaces as spirituality thrives
Sandy Moffet reflects on his legacy
Sandy Moffet reflects on his legacy
For student workers, off-campus work can present a chance to prepare for life after college and build relationships with the community.
Off-campus workers "pop" the Grinnell college bubble
Marina Busby `24
Student speaks: Dorm Hall Defense
Despite commitments to the Grinnell party scene, party houses like 1026 High Street face increasing hesitation to host amidst damage.
Party perks and perils: damage creates hosting burdens
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Students Speak: Winter Weather Woes
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Ashley Pacheco `24
Students Speak: Negative Experiences with Registration Process
Two Town Halls took place in JRC 101 to discuss new alcohol policies. Photo by Jeff Li.
Students Speak: Updated Alcohol Policy
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