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The Scarlet & Black

The Student News Site of Grinnell College
Now removed graffiti of a Star of David on an arch outside of Dibble Hall, a Grinnell College north campus dorm, prompted an all-school email condemning antisemitic acts.
Star of David graffiti prompts campus response and search for perpetrators
Spring `24 registration delayed despite newly designed system
Spring `24 registration delayed despite newly designed system
The KDIC recording studio hasnt been up and running since the summer. Photo by Sarina Lincoln.
Breaking Radio Silence: Students, staff speak on KDIC
Sexual Health Information Center will no longer distribute sex toys to students for free.
SHIC “shifts away from sensuality and exploration” after restructuring
Grinnell Students for Justice in Palestine staged a sit-in at Nollen House that began Thursday afternoon
Grinnell SJP Challenge President Harris’ Response to Israel-Hamas Conflict
Community Members Speak: Holiday season in Grinnell, Iowa
Community Members Speak: Holiday season in Grinnell, Iowa
Nikki Haley delivers remarks at a town hall in Newton on Friday, November 17.
Nikki Haley criticizes Trump’s “vermin” comment, receives endorsement in Newton
Vivek Ramaswamy revisited Grinnell on Jan. 15. to rally Republican voters ahead of the Iowa caucuses.
Smooth sailing for Ramaswamy’s Grinnell revisit, despite major prior altercations
The Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS) located at 4167 20th St. recently hit full capacity.
PALS at full capacity, needing volunteers
Grinnells Railway Express Model Club members Dave Benson, Jed Peterson, Michael Thorndike and Robin Broders showing off their developing historical Grinnell railway model. Not pictured is Chris Walters.
Back on track: Grinnell’s Railway Express Model Club chugs along
Grinnellians gathered in Stonewall Resource Center (SRC) to share in grief and solemn mourning.
TaG hosts vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance
From left: Professional German Shepherds June and Odin attracted their own crowd of canine connoisseurs.
Therapy dogs deliver a dose of paw-sitivity
Grinnell College Mock Trial leader Kaycie Brookens `26 cross-examines Lily Piede `26.
Mock Trial brings order to the court
From left: Editor Carter Ottele `25 manages Henry Coen `25, Elke Calhoun `25 and a team of serious B&S writers.
Meet the SPARC: Pubs office profiles
Ashley Pacheco `24
Students Speak: Negative Experiences with Registration Process
From left: Ethan Versh `27 and Eli Brotman `25 take turns DJing, showing each other aspects of their respective techniques.
Spotlight on student DJs: Eli Brotman `25 and Ethan Versh `27
From left: Amika Matteson `26, Ché Glenn `26 and Emily Terrell work together on a shift at the Spencer Grill, presumably with fire music playing in the background.
Who’s on aux? Spencer Grill workers serve up fresh vibes
Kathryn Vermeulen `24 sits in the center of Smith Gallery, her art adorning the walls behind her. She enlisted a friend to help her set up the exhibition in time.
Deep Dive: Smith Gallery, behind the scenes
From left: Yoel Hooper-Antunez `24, Dillon Rawlings `25 and Collin Thomas-Green `26 play music from the Yucatan region of Mexico.
Latin American Ensemble plays first concert in anticipation of winter tour in Mexico
On Saturday, Nov. 11, the S&B went backstage at the Queer People of Color (QPOC) fall drag show to get quotes from performers while their adrenaline was still high. This was J Lusts first ever drag performance. Photo by: Zack Walsh
Photo Series: QPOC hosts fantasy-themed fall drag show
Sean Murphy `26 takes a shot on basket. The key tenets of the Grinnell System include taking 94 shots a game, half those shots being taken form the 3-point line, recovering one-third of the missed shots, taking 25 more shots than their opponents and forcing 32 turnovers.
The Grinnell System: Men’s basketball’s defining trait
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Club members rolling during a practice on Monday Nov. 27.
Photo series: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club rolls through another semester
Bryant Nguyen `25 dives for the ball during a volleyball club practice.
Volleyball club bumps record to 1-1 in season’s first competitions
Erin Lillis `24 breaks through two Central College defenders on her way to the basket during the Nov. 15 game the Pioneers lost 62-57.
Women’s basketball brings the energy in home opener against Central College
Caleb Hoereth `24 dribbles the ball in a game against the University of Dubuque on Sept. 5. Grinnell lost 3-0.
Men’s soccer falls short of title in unexpected MWC tournament matchup
Maddie and me, two days into her stay with the Corbins. 2010.
Ode to a childhood pet
Letter to the Editor: Alumni weigh in on student protests
Letter to the Editor: Alumni weigh in on student protests
Horoscope: What your sign says about your Friendsgiving dinner role
Horoscope: What your sign says about your Friendsgiving dinner role
Krista Spies `24 poses in front of her Barbie poster with a vinyl copy of The Runaways self-titled record.
Playlist of My Life, Tattoo Tour Edition: Krista Spies `24
Chica, Freddy, Foxy and Bonnie look more menacing in this still than they ever do in the actual film.
Review: Marcy has five thoughts and they’re all about Freddy
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
Letter to the Editor: The climate crisis
Letter to the Editor: The climate crisis
Comic: The Scariest Things on Halloween in Grinnell
Comic: The Scariest Things on Halloween in Grinnell
Comic: The Feast of the Grand High Ghost to Which All are Invited
Comic: The Feast of the Grand High Ghost to Which All are Invited
Comic: The Spookiest Time of the Year at D-Hall
Comic: The Spookiest Time of the Year at D-Hall
Comic: Donut and Cone
Comic: Donut and Cone
Oh Deer Volume #10
Oh Deer Volume #10
Horoscope: What your sign says about your Friendsgiving dinner role
Horoscope: What your sign says about your Friendsgiving dinner role
Horoscope: We know you dont have a Halloween costume yet
Horoscope: We know you don’t have a Halloween costume yet
Horoscope: Whats your canine star sign?
Horoscope: What’s your canine star sign?
Horoscope: What to add to your living space based on the stars
Horoscope: What to add to your living space based on the stars
The signs on Valentine’s Day
The signs on Valentine’s Day
Josh Paul said weapons transfers give the U.S. leverage with countries.
Ex-U.S. State Department Official Josh Paul provides insider’s view on weapons transfers in first public event post-resignation
Meet your Student Government senators
Meet your Student Government senators
The walkout was part of an international day of pro-Palestine demonstrations facilitated by the Palestinian Youth Movement, an organization with over 200 college chapters in America and Canada.
Grinnell College students stage walkout in support of Palestine
Ramaswamy in Grinnell: Presidential hopeful sparks debate and controversy
Ramaswamy in Grinnell: Presidential hopeful sparks debate and controversy
First years speak on what surprised them about Grinnell
First years speak on what surprised them about Grinnell

The Scarlet & Black

The Scarlet & Black
Latest Stories
Now removed graffiti of a Star of David on an arch outside of Dibble Hall, a Grinnell College north campus dorm, prompted an all-school email condemning antisemitic acts.
Star of David graffiti prompts campus response and search for perpetrators
December 5, 2023
Grinnellians gathered in Stonewall Resource Center (SRC) to share in grief and solemn mourning.
TaG hosts vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance
December 4, 2023
Spring `24 registration delayed despite newly designed system
Spring `24 registration delayed despite newly designed system
December 4, 2023
Sean Murphy `26 takes a shot on basket. The key tenets of the Grinnell System include taking 94 shots a game, half those shots being taken form the 3-point line, recovering one-third of the missed shots, taking 25 more shots than their opponents and forcing 32 turnovers.
The Grinnell System: Men's basketball's defining trait
December 4, 2023
The KDIC recording studio hasnt been up and running since the summer. Photo by Sarina Lincoln.
Breaking Radio Silence: Students, staff speak on KDIC
December 4, 2023
Sexual Health Information Center will no longer distribute sex toys to students for free.
SHIC "shifts away from sensuality and exploration" after restructuring
December 4, 2023

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 in Article
Sean Murphy `26 takes a shot on basket. The key tenets of the Grinnell System include taking 94 shots a game, half those shots being taken form the 3-point line, recovering one-third of the missed shots, taking 25 more shots than their opponents and forcing 32 turnovers.
The Grinnell System: Men's basketball's defining trait
Grinnell College Mock Trial leader Kaycie Brookens `26 cross-examines Lily Piede `26.
Mock Trial brings order to the court
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Club members rolling during a practice on Monday Nov. 27.
Photo series: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club rolls through another semester
From left: Editor Carter Ottele `25 manages Henry Coen `25, Elke Calhoun `25 and a team of serious B&S writers.
Meet the SPARC: Pubs office profiles
The Poweshiek Animal League Shelter (PALS) located at 4167 20th St. recently hit full capacity.
PALS at full capacity, needing volunteers
Bryant Nguyen `25 dives for the ball during a volleyball club practice.
Volleyball club bumps record to 1-1 in season's first competitions
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Grinnellians gathered in Stonewall Resource Center (SRC) to share in grief and solemn mourning.
TaG hosts vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance
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Students Speak: Negative Experiences with Registration Process
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Mealz: It's dinner-Thai at 920 High
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Two Town Halls took place in JRC 101 to discuss new alcohol policies. Photo by Jeff Li.
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