The Scarlet & Black

The Independent Student News Site of Grinnell College
From left: Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Services Rachel Bly `93, College President Anne Harris and Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations Bernadine Douglas cut the ceremonial ribbon to open the Hannah Alumni House on Thursday, Nov. 6.
Hannah Alumni house opens after three year renovation process
From left: Maria Pinto, writer and mycology educator, and Hai-Dang Phan, associate professor of English and environmental studies. Pinto stayed at CERA’s renovated lodging as an artist-in-residence.
CERA finalizes renovations, hosts first visitor
Monica Ramirez Reyes `26 takes orders from students at the Spencer Grill. The Grill has instated a new meal replacement system this year.
Inside the changes to the meal replacement process
Students allege unequal pay from wage rounding system
Students allege unequal pay from wage rounding system
SGA late credit card access delays events, student involvement continues to assist with purchases
SGA late credit card access delays events, student involvement continues to assist with purchases
Sam Cox, recently elected mayor of Grinnell, poses for a picture.
“I’m here to listen”: Sam Cox becomes Grinnell’s first female mayor
Dan Agnew, 81, Grinnell's outgoing mayor, fills out his ballot inside a polling booth at Drake Community Library, Grinnell, Iowa, on Nov. 4, 2025.
Live Updates and Results: Grinnell voters cast their ballots
Ryan Hollibaugh, 26, fills out his ballot inside a polling booth at Elks Lodge, Grinnell, Iowa, on Tues. Nov. 5, 2024.
The inner workings of a Poweshiek County local election
Kay Balleau, 76, casts her ballot into the machine at Elks Lodge in Grinnell, Iowa on Nov. 5, 2024.
As midterms loom over the upcoming election, Poweshiek County Democrats and Republicans gather efforts
Kum & Go's two stores in Grinnell have been officially converted into Maverik stores. Since the past two weeks, signage is being changed to reflect the new brand.
Kum & Gone: Grinnell’s gas stations rebranded to Maverik
Damianos Mitsis `29 and Achille L’oliva `29 pose in character on Oct. 31, 2025.
Photo Series: Halloween Harris, hauntingly hype
Daniel Immerwahr, last week’s scholar’s convocation speaker, poses for a portrait on Oct. 30, 2025
Historian Daniel Immerwahr draws parallels between 19th-century fires and climate change
Aguibou Bougobali Sanou and Julien Creuzet discuss their incorporation of African masks in their art at the Stanley Museum of Art on Oct. 16, 2025.
Artist Conversation Series contemplates African masks, performance and display
Students gather for Cheese Club's first event featuring platters of cheese, cider and fruit on Wed., Oct. 29, 2025 in Joe Rosenfield `25 Center room 101.
Un-brie-lievable crowd gathers for Cheese Club premiere
Dr. John Thabiti Willis traces “webs not triangles” to reimagine African diaspora
Dr. John Thabiti Willis traces “webs not triangles” to reimagine African diaspora
Damon Davis, St. Louis-based artist, comes back to Grinnell in search of the "secret sauce." He had an artist talk on Tuesday, Nov. 4 in the Grinnell College Museum of Art.
Artists@Grinnell: Damon Davis returns to Grinnell for the “secret sauce”
The milk-jug-princess-soldier made by Nora Hammond, 8.
Stewart Gallery show featuring kids’ art takes visitors to SpookyTown
Poet Ahmad Almallah reads from his poetry collection "Bitter English" on Thurs., Oct. 30.
Writers@Grinnell: An interview with Ahmad Almallah, Palestinian-born poet
During the mushroom walk, Pinto carried a stick with a spout of mushroom growth and a bag for foraging.
Photo Series: A look at Maria Pinto’s residency at CERA
From left: Meet Ethan Reske, Renz Iurino and Nicole Amoah, all `27, the Grinnell Concerts coordinators of 2025-26.
Grinnell Concerts coordinators on building campus music culture
Members of the Svelts pose at a practice.
Grinnell’s Svelts gear up for winter ultimate frisbee tournaments
Forward John Vincent `26 (54) shouts during the men's basketball season opener on Nov. 7, 2025.
Grinnell College men’s basketball dominates in season opening win against Kalamazoo College
Grinnell College women's volleyball played against Cornell College on Nov. 5.
Grinnell College women’s volleyball packs the gym with Party at Darby
Andy Hamilton speaks to students of the sport journalism class on Oct. 30.
Andy Hamilton `85 teaches the art, techniques of sport journalism to students
Jack Reed `27 (10) clashes with a Beloit College player on Sept. 13.
“There’s some obvious frustration”: Football players reflect on the season
Gabriela Rożnawska `26 thinks we need to change the way we talk about Grinnell College.
Opinion: When does a culture of questioning become a culture of criticism?
Peyton Willams wants to demystify investing for students.
Opinion: How to actually invest as a college student
From KDIC to Apple Music to SFMoMA, Garrett Shelton `01 curates music for Devon Turnbull’s (Ojas) HiFi Listening Room Dream No. 1 (2024).
Opinion: Self governance isn’t self abandonment: Where does KDIC go from here?
Horoscope: Which muppet are you?
Horoscope: Which muppet are you?
Opinion: A burnt-out activist’s guide
Opinion: A burnt-out activist’s guide
Horoscope: Which muppet are you?
Horoscope: Which muppet are you?
Horseoscope: Which famous horse are you?
Horseoscope: Which famous horse are you?
Horoscope: What's your biggest secret?
Horoscope: What’s your biggest secret?
Horoscope: What do you spread?
Horoscope: What do you spread?
Horoscope: What's your new zodiac sign?
Horoscope: What’s your new zodiac sign?
Gabriela Rożnawska `26 thinks we need to change the way we talk about Grinnell College.
Opinion: When does a culture of questioning become a culture of criticism?
Peyton Willams wants to demystify investing for students.
Opinion: How to actually invest as a college student
From KDIC to Apple Music to SFMoMA, Garrett Shelton `01 curates music for Devon Turnbull’s (Ojas) HiFi Listening Room Dream No. 1 (2024).
Opinion: Self governance isn’t self abandonment: Where does KDIC go from here?
Opinion: A burnt-out activist’s guide
Opinion: A burnt-out activist’s guide
Hayden Suarez-Davis `25 wants Grinnellians to know what happened to KDIC's FM broadcasting license.
Opinion: What really happened to KDIC’s FM broadcast license?
Letter to the Editor: All I need to say
Letter to the Editor: All I need to say
Letter to the Editor: Required Meal Plans
Letter to the Editor: Required Meal Plans
Sharyn Obsatz `93 is a journalism professor at Santa Monica College.
Letter to the Editor: Support The S&B
Jay Dick `93 works as Sr. Director of Advocacy and Partnerships at Americans for the Arts.
Letter to the Editor: The Vanishing of Printed Student Media?
Sasha Aslanian `90 is a member of the Grinnell College Alumni Council.
Letter to the Editor: Physical papers have pull on Grinnell campus
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
A protester holds a “No Kings” sign during the Grinnell No Kings rally on Oct. 18, 2025.
Downtown Grinnell No Kings protest joins thousands nationwide, draws counter-protestors
From pitch to print: How The S&B gets made
From pitch to print: How The S&B gets made
Supplies for the Puja adorn the central table, framed by a painting of the Hindu goddess Durga on Oct. 2, 2025.
Hindu students launch cultural community
Winner Quentin Patrick Kelly `29 poses with two matchas, labubus, unplugged wired earbuds and jorts.
Performative Male Contest hits Grinnell
Sex and the Cornfields, Episode 1: There's tons of fish in the sea... but is Grinnell a fishbowl?
Sex and the Cornfields, Episode 1: There’s tons of fish in the sea… but is Grinnell a fishbowl?
Damianos Mitsis `29 and Achille L’oliva `29 pose in character on Oct. 31, 2025.
Photo Series: Halloween Harris, hauntingly hype
During the mushroom walk, Pinto carried a stick with a spout of mushroom growth and a bag for foraging.
Photo Series: A look at Maria Pinto’s residency at CERA
As the siren went off just after 9 a.m., the runners ran across the start line, beginning the race.
Photo Series: Hundreds of participants attend Unity in the Community Fun Run
From left: Avaash Bhattarai, Diya Shrestha and Medhashree Adhikari, all `26, gave out Waiwai and phool makhana at the Nepali Student Organization (NEPSO) table.
Photo Series: Around the world with the International Student Organization
Outside Hitter Kinsey Carrigan `29 (15) serves in the Grinnell/Central Volleyball Tournament.
Photo Series: Grinnell College women’s volleyball begins with home tournament

The Scarlet & Black

The Scarlet & Black
All content by Ben Mikek
Hallela Hinton-Williams

Hallela Hinton-Williams

Ben Mikek
May 16, 2021
This weekend will mark the start of the second farmers market held during the pandemic. Contributed photo from 2017.

Grinnell farmers market ready for summer season

Ben Mikek
May 12, 2021
As at many other U.S. colleges, Grinnell saw a jump in application rates in the current admissions cycle. Photo by Ariel Richards.

Grinnell College application rates spike after pandemic-related changes

Ben Mikek
April 30, 2021
New position titles for Ben Newhouse and Sarah Moschenross are a reflection of a larger reorganization of the Student Affairs division of the College, but some students doubt much about the department will change. Photo by Shabana Gupta.

Student Affairs is changing, but it’s not the shift some students have been looking for

Ben Mikek
April 18, 2021
Dari Barn recently installed new outdoor seating and remodeled its service window. Photo by Andrew Tucker.

Business in Grinnell is returning to normal, but symptoms of the pandemic linger

Ben Mikek
April 13, 2021
Dave Maxwell defeated Democratic challenger Sarah Smith and Independent candidate Kamal Hammouda last November to secure a fifth term in office. Photo from WikiCommons.

Rep. Maxwell answers questions about this year’s busy, sometimes controversial legislative term

Ben Mikek
March 12, 2021
Dr. Laura Ferguson, physician at Family Medicine in Grinnell, receiving her COVID-19 vaccine. Photo contributed by UnityPoint.

Grinnell College is ready to host vaccination clinics, when the time is right

Ben Mikek
February 28, 2021
Emily Pftisch, along with members of assisted living communities around the county, have been some of the first people to receive the vaccine. Photo contributed by The Mayflower.

Poweshiek County begins new wave of vaccine distributions

Ben Mikek
February 9, 2021
The pandemic has impacted several areas of Grinnell College's administrative spending and revenue, but the school's financial situation remains overall strong. Photo by Mahira Faran.

How has the pandemic affected Grinnell College’s finances?

Ben Mikek
December 22, 2020
Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) is counting on the vaccine to kick-start Iowa's Coronavirus recovery. Graphic by Tess Kerkhof.

Hope on the horizon as Poweshiek County prepares to receive first batches of vaccine in coming weeks

Ben Mikek
December 17, 2020
Celeste Kaspar '21, seen here in November of 2019, has been practicing her diving this fall. Photo contributed by Ted Schultz.

Swim and dive teams continue practice without hope of a season

Ben Mikek
December 8, 2020
Soaring COVID rates draw global comparisons in Iowa; Poweshiek County

Soaring COVID rates draw global comparisons in Iowa; Poweshiek County

Ben Mikek
November 19, 2020
Graph by Ben Mikek.

By the numbers: the 2020 election in Poweshiek County

Ben Mikek
October 30, 2020
According to Associate Professor and Archivist of the College Chris Jones, Grinnell competed as Iowa College until 1919 before adopting the "Pioneers" nickname. Photo contributed by Chris Jones.

Why the Pioneers?

Ben Mikek
October 13, 2020
Executive Council bans the n-word, but Black students push back on the policy's simplicity, blanket coverage

Executive Council bans the n-word, but Black students push back on the policy’s simplicity, blanket coverage

Ben Mikek
October 8, 2020
Photo by Kaya Matsuura

Local businesses continue to feel the strain of a student-less Grinnell

Ben Mikek
September 17, 2020
Dawn Driscoll, a Republican candidate for the Iowa State Senate, addresses attendees at the Republican caucuses in Grinnell. Photo by Ben Mikek.

Grinnell Republicans caucus overwhelmingly for Trump, cite concerns about abortion and socialism

Ben Mikek
February 3, 2020
Bernie Sanders visits Grinnell for a pre-caucus pitch

Bernie Sanders visits Grinnell for a pre-caucus pitch

Ben Mikek
February 1, 2020
Grinnell students gain health care skills as nursing assistants in training

Grinnell students gain health care skills as nursing assistants in training

Ben Mikek
January 23, 2020
Daria Guzzo '19 goes in a layup against Central College on Thursday, Nov. 8. The team lost 55-59. Contributed photo.

Women’s Basketball ends losing streak in surprising victory against Lawrence University

Ben Mikek
December 8, 2018
Poweshiek County Democratic Party co-chiar John Grennan addresses the caucus-goers on Monday evening. Photo by Sarina Lincoln.

Students clash with residents at democratic caucus

Ben Mikek
February 9, 2018
Robert Marko-Franks '18 explains the stigmatization of mental illness during a NAMI-led talk event in Loose Lounge on Wednesday. Photo by Reina Shahih

Student organization on mental health hosts destigmatization event

Ben Mikek
December 1, 2017

Pioneer Weekend 4.0 continues student entrepreneurship

Ben Mikek
November 17, 2017
SHACS, which provides mental health services to students, is located in the basement of the Forum. Photo by Helena Gruensteidl.

Intersection between mental health and employment sparks discussions on protections for College members

Ben Mikek
November 3, 2017
Rhonda Stuart, performing with her band in The Pub, now Bob's Underground. Contributed.

Rhonda Stuart ’86 and Intercultural Affairs spearhead first Multicultural Reunion

Ben Mikek
October 27, 2017
ITS observes "Cyber Security Week," brings activities to campus

ITS observes “Cyber Security Week,” brings activities to campus

Ben Mikek
October 27, 2017
Clery reports show decrease in reported crimes

Clery reports show decrease in reported crimes

Ben Mikek
October 6, 2017
Campus Climate Survey results show disparities in level of comfort on campus

Campus Climate Survey results show disparities in level of comfort on campus

Ben Mikek
September 29, 2017
Brian Kalt, left, and Andy Grewal, right debated presidential pardons in JRC 101. Photo by Helena Gruensteidl.

Constitution Day features debate over presidential pardons

Ben Mikek
September 22, 2017
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