In all honesty, there are too many days where I wish my homework would consist of Netflix instead of organic chemical equations. Not that there’s anything wrong with chemistry, but there certainly isn’t anything wrong with movies either. Good thing Dr. Miller thinks so too – with classes like Christian Faith & Cinema, Screenwriting, and Film Theory & History, you can learn about and watch movies in class and for homework.
The Communications discipline is full of diverse areas of concentration, including the study of film. I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Kimberly Miller, professor and academic advisor to Communications students, who has a passion for teaching and writing film. Dr. Miller has been teaching at Grove City College for over 10 years, and is a wonderful resource in teaching students about the importance of the history and industry of film in our lives.
When I asked Dr. Miller why she chose to teach at Grove City, I was surprised to hear she really never planned on teaching at all. “I studied English writing in college,” she explained, “but I had a professor who asked me to fill in on teaching her film class one day [after graduation] and I just loved the students and their excitement to talk about advanced film theory.” Born and raised in Western PA, Dr. Miller naturally felt at home in Grove City and was amazed at the support and encouragement she received to begin teaching in the Communications department.
With the broadness of the communications discipline, Dr. Miller pointed out, “Flexibility is huge. Our classes support each other and allow for transferable skills to help figure out our paths.” Many classes and electives offered within communications include writing, presentation, and creativity skills that can be used in class and in the real world. Dr. Miller places a huge value in internships as “an opportunity to test drive your career path, and also be flexible to learn the field.” Taking the transferable skills utilized in the classroom to a professional work environment is a great way to prepare yourself for what the industry entails.
The idea of using a communications degree as a way to get involved with film is not something you might expect at a private Christian liberal arts college. One of the great things about offering film courses with the Communications degree is the variety it offers in a new way of writing and telling stories. Dr. Miller explained, “Film used to be a required course, but now it’s a choice elective. People would always ask ‘why do we have to take it?’ If you don’t love film that’s fine, but historically film has impacted us so much.” Even though it’s fun to watch movies for homework and analyze characters, film goes beyond Netflix culture. She continues, “Film tells stories, it’s a cultural language that we can all appreciate. It isn’t a mindless activity.”
Dr. Miller’s film classes are rather popular and often appeal to non-Communications majors. She said she frequently gets biology, political science, and education majors in film classes looking to improve writing and understand how to use film as a learning tool. Dr. Miller elaborated on how the department is focused on including the technical side of communications saying, “We’re looking forward to encouraging more internships and making yourself more marketable. As you take on a lot of things, having practical experience can support the theoretical side of Communications.”
Along with her love of film and enjoying movies with her family, Dr. Miller also relaxes by making jewelry. Whether it’s whipping up a pair of earrings as a gift to a friend or attending a craft show, Dr. Miller appreciated expressing creativity in and outside of the classroom. So whether you need a great movie suggestion, writing inspiration, or just a great person to talk to, Dr. Miller is an amazing asset to the Grove City family.
Interested in pursuing film or photography as a career path? Read about some possibilities here on various jobs in the media industry.
My 12:00 economics class begins in a distinctly odd way.
Before class, a professor who doesn’t belong teaches us something we don’t need to know.
Strange? It’s definitely strange. Annoying? Not at all. To be honest, we can’t get enough of it.
Who is this guy? His name is Dr. Thompson. He teaches mathematics and definitely loves his subject. I can’t think of any other reason why he would bother challenging a bunch of economics students to calculate prime numbers and solve brain-teasers.
Yep, prime numbers and brain teasers. That’s been the name of the game so far.
Here’s how this phenomenon happened…
It was the first day of classes. Monday. My classmates and I cautiously entered “Austrian Economics” about 10 minutes early. As we began to sit down, I noticed a professor up at the front. He was writing on the board. When I looked up to see what he was writing, I got a little nervous. I had signed up for a class on economic theory, but what he had just put on the board was a ginormous number. What could this mean?
Then he spoke: “Do you think this is a prime number?”
Finally one student raised his hand. “I don’t know.”
Dr. Thompson was not discouraged. He cheerfully explained to us how we could know for certain it was a prime number, going through a few simple tricks. Then he left, and our econ professor entered. We looked at each other again. That was unusual.
Next class, Dr. Thompson had another one for us. “What words can you write upside-down, and they’re still a word?” We decided to engage and came up with several of them. Dr. Thompson was pleased.
By the third class, we were eager. We tackled an unscrambling word challenge. Since then, it’s been a jolly old time in econ class. The few times Dr. Thompson’s missed, we’ve sorely missed him.
What do I conclude from this?
I like that professors here at Grove City College are so passionate about their subjects. Even more commendable is the fact that students are willing to tackle challenges outside of what they signed up for. College isn’t just about learning facts for a job. It’s about learning how to learn, in whatever form that takes.
So even though Thompson doesn’t really belong in our class, we welcome him there. He shakes up the routine and gives our brains a bit of a warm-up to do economics.
As Dr. Thompson himself put it when our professor entered: “I got them all primed for you.”
Dr. Hülsmann addresses students at Freedom Readers
In what has become an annual tradition at Grove City, we recently had the honor of welcoming Dr. Guido Hülsmann, professor of economics at the Université d’Angers in France and a Senior Fellow at the Ludwig von Mises Institute for a two-week visit. During his stay, he guest-lectured in Dr. Jeff Herbener’s ECON 456 Financial Markets and Institutions class, and on the evening of February 10 spoke at The Center for Vision and Values‘ Freedom Readers lecture series. In his talk, entitled, “Refugees: Social Bane or Economic Boon?” Hülsmann addressed the issues facing Europe due to the recent mass migrations of Middle Easterners to the European Union.
In introducing Dr. Hülsmann, Lee Wishing (Administrative Director of the Center for Vision and Values) said, “This is one of my favorite times of year, because this is when Guido comes back.” This remark received nods of agreement from many in the audience who had heard Dr. Hülsmann speak in previous years, and that evening he did not disappoint. His unique perspective as a German native and French resident certainly intrigued the students and faculty gathered ’round, who showed hearty approval with thunderous applause.
Dr. Hülsmann’s English language writings include The Ethics of Money Production and Mises: The Last Knight of Liberalism. I had the privilege of listening to Dr. Hülsmann’s lectures in Econ 456 and at Freedom Readers, and he graciously agreed to sit down with me and share a few details about his career, his research interests and his opinion of our economics department, which I am happy to now share with you.
[The following is a transcript of the interview conducted on February 10, shortened and edited for clarity]
Matthew Leverknight: To begin, can you tell me a little about your background and how you came to economics?
Guido Hülsmann: I started studying in Germany at the Technical University of Berlin, a program double-majoring in mechanical engineering and economic science. Then I discovered pretty quickly that economics was the field that interested me the most, so I began specializing as far as possible in economics, still graduating with degrees in mechanical engineering, business studies and economics. Then I studied more and more economics and did a Ph.D. in economics. At the beginning of my Ph.D. studies I discovered the Austrian school of economic thought and decided to do my dissertation based on Ludwig von Mises’ monetary work. That proved to be very stimulating intellectually and helped me a lot to advance my knowledge of all things related to money and finance, but, it was a big bane on my professional development in Germany because nobody at the time was interested in Austrian economics. Today things have changed, fortunately – a little bit. So then I decided to go abroad and fortunately I got post-doc scholarships which permitted me to go first to France and then the US. In the US I was first at the University of Buffalo (SUNY), went to work for five years with the Mises Institute in Alabama, and eventually returned to Europe. It was then that the demand for the services of Austrian economists began to increase.
ML: Your resume says you like researching the conceptual and philosophical problems of economics. Can you elaborate a little on what that means for you?
Dr. Hulsmann explains the effects of mass migration to GCC students
GH: I was always interested in this, and in my economic research this is reflected in the fact that I’m interested in questions related in methodology and epistemology, how do we know what we know in economics, what is the basis of this knowledge? What are the objects and things we have knowledge about, and then as far as the economic analysis is concerned, I was always interested in the question of what philosophers would call the ‘primitives’ of economic analysis, the basic elements beyond which you cannot go. One example would be the analysis of profit and loss which is related to the concept of equilibrium. I think that you have a dichotomous category at the basis of this whole analysis: the difference between success and failure. So these are basic categories of economic analysis which then show up in the equilibrium, show up in profits and losses and so on. Beyond which you cannot go. There is a tendency some economists have to explain why you have success and failure, but I think that it is not possible to do this, precisely because this dichotomy is a primitive, you cannot go beyond it.
ML: So you’re saying economics can only answer so much, and then we have to cut it off there? That because economics is designed to function a certain way, to answer questions beyond just who won and lost can’t really be done?
GH: Yes, such questions cannot be answered with the tools of economics.
ML: One thing I noticed during your lectures to the ECON 456 class, was your mentioning the “moral and political elements of economics”. What role does your own moral belief play in how you look at economics – or what prescriptions you would prescribe?
GH: Of course your own moral beliefs always bias you in your life in favor of certain activities, and in favor of certain things that you’re interested in. Also they bias you in favor of certain political solutions that you think appropriate and so on. There’s not a difference I think in my case compared to anybody else. Of course for a scholar that’s a tension, because as scholars we are supposed to go beyond these biases and to fact-check them. But I guess that’s of course what I do, like all serious scholars are supposed to do. But I also like to stress that scientific inquiry leads you to understand mechanisms though which our spontaneous moral dispositions are reinforced or undermined. I’m interested in these kinds of questions: How do policy changes, or policy stances that we take, through mechanisms that we deal with in economics modify the moral disposition of the population.
ML: So would you say that the study of economics can clarify individuals’ own moral sense?
Dr. Hulsmann chats with a student post-lecture
GH: Right. On the one hand, it clarifies the importance of certain moral attitudes that we have, and it helps you to understand the potential threats that come to the moral foundations of the free market economy, coming from different sources, but in particular from government intervention.
ML: To talk a little bit about your relationship with Grove City, how many years have you been coming here to visit on a regular basis?
GH: The first time was – on a regular basis, I would say since 2006. Dr. Herbener has invited me exactly in the same way, to give a couple of lectures and to teach segments of a class. At the time I think it was ‘International Economics’ or something of the sort, and he’s found funding for this undertaking every single year since. So this must be the tenth or eleventh year now in a row that I’ve come to Grove City College.
ML: You’ve worked in several different countries in Europe, you’ve worked here in the United States, and so based on your travels and your interactions, how would you say that Grove City’s economics department stacks up against other undergraduate economics programs you’ve interacted with?
From left: GCC econ department chair Dr. Jeff Herbener, GCC professor of economics Dr. Shawn Ritenour and Dr. Guido Hulsmann
GH: I think it’s excellent. I mean, both as far as the level of students is concerned, but also the professors. All people teaching in professorships, in particular Dr. Herbener and Dr. Ritenour are excellent pedagogues [dedicated to teaching, not just research]. And this not just my personal impression, but can be measured in terms of student output, papers that they’ve been writing and have been presented at conferences. In Grove City you have the annual Austrian Student Scholars Conference, some people have become professors themselves, in economics and also in other fields, so I think the quality is demonstrated.
And plus, here you have the opportunity, which is unique as far as I can see, that you have a whole department that teaches economics around Austrian economics. The core of your curriculum is Austrian economics. You learn the Neoclassical approach as well, of course you have to learn this, but the core is Austrian. There’s no other school in the world where you can do this. I know of no other school, maybe except for the Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala, of which I have heard but which I have not yet visited. Maybe there’s also one in China, Russia, some language that’s not accessible to me, but I doubt it.
ML: Thank you very much for your time, you’ve provided us with some very interesting and valuable perspectives.
If you are interested in learning more about the GCC Economics Department, please visit their page on the GCC website. To watch streaming video of Dr. Hülsmann’s 2015 Freedom Readers lecture about the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France, you can visit the Center for Vision and Values’ page here.
When the papers pile high and stress hits hard, laughter may indeed be the best medicine—especially when you get a good dose of PhD-caliber antics. Grovers got their fill a few weekends ago when a professor boy band by the name of Un-Direction took the stage of Crawford Auditorium, making its grand debut with a “gob smacking” rendition of a One Direction classic renamed “What Makes You Love This School.” As Un-Directions’ manager, I had a front-row seat to the making of Faculty Follies 2015—an experience neither I nor the 800 in attendance will soon forget.
As an annual event that premiered in the late ’70s, Faculty Follies has become a longstanding tradition that not only provides comic relief for the hardworking, but also strengthens community on campus.
“We learn together, we eat together, we pray together—it’s good to laugh together as well,” says political science professor Dr. Coulter (’91). As a seasoned participant, he’s seen Follies evolve from its early days as a departmental variety show to its current status as a cross-disciplinary compilation of outlandish skits.
In 1977 the Chapel Staff birthed the event, which was soon adopted by the honorary societies Omicron Delta Kappa and Mortarboard. Representing ODK, I got to work with the student-faculty team that made it all happen. Though quite a project to tackle—from skit and video development to recruitment of faculty, prop collection, and advertising, as well as the pressure of pulling it all together in just two short rehearsals, somehow it turned out alright. Aside from learning some lessons in event planning and collaboration, I got a unique chance to be part of a Grove City legacy and make a few memories in the process.
As an event that “allows students to see the faculty’s lighter side,” in the words of ODK Advisor Dr. Smith (’72), Follies 2015 did not disappoint. In the opening act, “Evolution of Dance,” fancy-footed faculty broke down the decades from “The Twist” and “Thriller” to “Can’t Touch This” and “Bye Bye Bye.” Additional musical talent was showcased in the “Lip Sync Throwdown,” and English professor Dr. Harvey comically shed light on mopeds, mullets, and more in his “Very Serious Poetry Analysis” of Macklemore’s “Downtown.”
Other acts poked fun at campus culture, such as “Snapple Facts with a Grover Twist.” For instance, according to Snapple Fact 890 “The number one or the word one appears on the dollar bill 16 times,” while Grover Fact 890 revealed that “The words ‘faith,’ ‘freedom,’ and ‘no alcohol’ appear in the Crimson student handbook 16 times per sentence.”
In a parody of Rob Cantor’s “Shia LaBeouf,” prominent historian Andrew Mitchell terrorized the audience with his infamously tough grading, causing students’ GPAs to “topple to the floor, eviscerated.” But Un-Direction soon lifted the crowd’s spirits with their hilariously heartwarming hit single, the lyrics of which quickly reminded everyone of “What Makes You Love This School,” from Starbucks in the Student Union to professors who teach students to “avoid the booze” and “seek the Truth.”
“The Coulter Report,” came next, featuring none other than the distinguished Dr. Coulter, who had the crowd roaring with his sarcastic commentary on Campus Safety’s black bear avoidance strategies. Student-produced videos also sparked some snickering, including “Faculty Fight Club,” “McLachlan’s Papers,” “Just Do It,” “Drake and Dr. Drake,” and last but not least, “The Most Interesting College President in the World.”
In the final act, “Test of Knowledge,” a team of students challenged professors’ proficiency of pop culture. After guessing that “bae” stood for “bacon and eggs,” it was clear that faculty needed assistance to fight off such culture savvy collegians. In a flash, President McNulty came to the rescue, conquering every question with ease and scoring the win for faculty, sending defeated students stumbling back to their seats.
To celebrate their victory and eternal prestige, the entire cast of faculty swaggered off stage to “Downtown” and hopped on kiddie bikes and scooters to wheel their way up the aisles and out the door.
… And not one in the crowd could have asked for more.
Homecoming at Grove City is a time of fun, hanging out with old friends, and networking with alumni. However I had an opportunity that put all of those on the backburner….I was asked to drive President McNulty and Mrs. McNulty in the homecoming parade! (Let me just begin by saying they are without a doubt the
sweetest, most humble couple!)
Having never met Grove City’s First Family, I was extremely nervous about the prospect: President McNulty was Deputy Attorney General of the United States and Mrs. McNulty is a style icon! If that isn’t intimidating enough, I was driving them in someone else’s 2014 Stingray Corvette…no pressure right? As time drew near for the parade, I began to think about what I would say to them; as a senior graduating in December, this may be my only chance to talk with the couple one-on-one. I began reminiscing about my time at Grove City, my professors, all the classes I had taken, but how do I begin to shed a light on how much I have grown since coming to this wonderful school? Grove City is more than a school, it is a community of people devoted to their values and the pursuit of education.
As I woke up on the morning of the Homecoming parade, I realized what I would say: nothing. Nothing I say could ever fully, adequately describe my experience at Grove City. Instead I would focus on actively listening; the amount of wisdom the McNulty’s have surpasses anything I as a 21 year old college student could ever comprehend. So as the day passed and we prepared for the parade, I listened. I listened as they spoke with former GCC President Dr. Charles S. MacKenzie, Marathon Executive Vice President Donald Templin ’84, and other Grove City legends. As I drove them down Broad Street past the crowd of cheering people, it all began to hit me. Grove City will always be with me. The information I have learned and the people I have met will stay with me throughout my path in life. President McNulty never imagined that his path would lead him back to Grove City one day, but to him it is home now. That is what Grove City will always be to us whether we move away to follow a career, choose to settle here, or simply return once a year for Homecoming: it’s home.
The Communications discipline is full of diverse areas of concentration, including the study of film. I’ve had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Kimberly Miller, professor and academic advisor to Communications students, who has a passion for teaching and writing film. Dr. Miller has been teaching at Grove City College for over 10 years, and is a wonderful resource in teaching students about the importance of the history and industry of film in our lives.
g at Grove City is a time of fun, hanging out with old friends, and networking with alumni. However I had an opportunity that put all of those on the backburner….I was asked to drive President McNulty and Mrs. McNulty in the homecoming parade! (Let me just begin by saying they are without a doubt the
