The Hillsdale Forum December 2012

8/11/2019 The Hillsdale Forum December 2012

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3 A Biblical Critique of the Liberal Arts by Rachael WierengaAs her time at Hillsdale comes to a close, a former editor-in-chief re ects onfaith, philosophy, and the liberal arts. 5 Medium and Message by Caleb EatoughThe written word was once highly prized and expensive. The printing pressmade literature easier to come by, but Al Gores invention of the internetdegraded the quality of written discourse. Eatough writes about our virtualtravails and how we might be able to solve them.

7 Point/Counterpoint: Women & No-Shave NovemberWright weighs in on why women should be allowed to seek knowledgeof Truth and Beauty by participating in No-Shave November, whileMcCa ery contends that the month is a manly ritual and, as such, womenshould not be involved.8 Hillsdale: Were The People by Sam RyskampStudents often disparage Hillsdale, Michigan, but the community is vitalto Hillsdale College. Ryskamp reminds us that we need to descend fromour ivory tower and treat townies as people.9 Autocracy Now by James InwoodInwood argues that the true conservative government is autocratic, notdemocratic.11 The Final Frontier: Science Fiction by Devin CreedAmerica has not sent a man to the moon since 1972. Creed argues that thespace race was just a Cold War gimmick and tells us why lessened enthusiasmfor space exploration is a good thing.

Conservative Features

VOLUME XIII, ISSUE III, DECEMBER2012CONTENTS

Campus Features13 Professors iPod by Anna Sho nerAll your quintessential college moments, set to music. Professor Cole shares hisHillsdale soundtrack.14 The Kirby Center Mk II by Charles FryIf you think Hillsdale is awesome now, soon it will be out of this world.15 Campus Smackdown: Public School vs. Homeschool by Sam RyskampHillsdale students explain why they either (a) know absolutely nothing or (b) haveno social skills.17 Glory at Sea: A Review by Forester McClatcheyMcClatchey discusses Benh Zeitlins short lm about post-Katrina New Orleans.It is a raw, emotional, and rather damp lm.21 Alumni.... Where are they now? by Corrie Beth HendonDiana Higbee 96 lives in France and sings opera around the world.22 Spotlight on Dancers by Wes WrightHillsdale College is full of dancers. Three of the best a swing doll, a Towerstar, and a ballroom gentleman discuss dance and the liberal arts.

Editor-in-ChiefWes Wright

STAFF WRITERSSpencer AmaralMike Giles

Sam RyskampCorrie Beth HendonJames InwoodSavannah Tibbetts

ASSOCIATE EDITORCorrie Beth Hendon

EDITORSMike GilesMatt OSullivanChelsey Schmid

PHOTOGRAPHERSLaurie BarnesShaun LichtiCaroline Green

HEAD DESIGNERLauren Wierenga

DESIGN AND LAYOUNathan WilsonDan Mowgli Mummau

BUSINESS MANAGERRyne Bessemer

ADVERTISEMENTMANAGERNate McBride

STAFF


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When SkyBlu of party-rocking duo LMFAO sings, Ifeel like Ive just seen the sun for the rst time / Youmake my life bright cause you shine, he is trying todescribe the way a girl makes him feel, not make anargument about rhetoric in the modern world. Thoughhis lyrics are not intended to inspire philosophicaldiscussion, his use of the phrase I feel like bringsup an interesting point about how the use of wordschanges over time.

SkyBlu uses I feel like in the proper manner,describing his emotion through the use of simile.Unfortunately, people misuse this phrase all too often,sheltering shallow thought behind unclear dialogue. Itis frequently used before opinions or guesses, when

I think or I have a hunch would be more accurate.Now, this isnt just Wes Wright the Grammar Nazikicking down doors and knocking people commatose;misuse of I feel like has major societal implications.

When I feel like is used to describe thought, itindicates that the speaker has visceral reactions toeverything, instead of using coherent logic to come toconclusions. The problem with this phraseology is thatthough such gut feelings are less argumentativelysound than reasoned claims, feelings are deeplypersonal. To disagree with someone who feels likesomething is unjust is as di cult as telling someonethat they are not angry. As abuse of the phrasespreads throughout society, reasoned discussion willmeet an untimely end: two men with di erent feelingscan assume that both are right, but two men withdi erent opinions will debate and discuss, seekingthe Truth of the matter. Relying on visceral feelingto come to ethical conclusions is one cause of themoral subjectivism bemoaned by conservatives.

Indeed, proper use of I think or I bel ieve forcesone to examine ones opinions and learn to explain

them to others. The marked di erence between thee ects of I feel like and its more accurate relativesindicates the existence of a hierarchy of knowledge.At its base is apathy, not caring about the issue.Visceral reaction falls into the next category,dependence. When one has faith that some sourceof authority or feeling is correct, one can act onthe issue, but not e ectively discuss it. The highesttier is understanding, in which one can make thearguments for or against the issue, both for oneselfor others. Reasoned discussion and pursuit of Truthcan only occur once this stage is attained.

The ability to explain ones beliefs to others iscrucial to achieving understanding. Rhetoric and

argumentation are major aspects of this ability; partof The Forums mission is to provide a welcomingenvironment in which students can develop thesetalents and move to higher levels of knowledge. Thismagazine is a place to test out ideas, to discuss, andto learn. James Inwoods piece defending autocracyis a prime example. It is also a place to shareKnowledge that one has gained: Sam Ryskampsarticle contains his insight into how Hillsdale studentsshould interact with the town.

Reading this magazine should help move oneto higher orders of knowledge, but writing for it isstill more e ective. The Forum is always looking forpeople to write, as well as photographers and layoutdesigners to make the pursuit of Truth somewhatenjoyable. I feel like no, I think that it is a greatopportunity to gain practical experience and boostones rsum. We hope to publish two more issuesnext semester. Please join us.

We The Forum thats the crew that Im reppin /On the rise to the top, no lead in our zeppelin. Hey!

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

The Hillsdale Forum is an independent, student-runConservative magazine at Hillsdale College. The Forum,in support of the mission statement of Hillsdale Col-lege, exists to promote a return to limited governmentas outlined in the Declaration of Independence and theConstitution. We publish Conservative opinion, editorials,and campus news. The Forum is a vehicle to bring thediscussion and thought of the intelligent students andprofessors at the heart of the Conservative movementbeyond the classroom and beyond Hillsdales campus.

We at The Hillsdale Forum would like toapologize for neglecting to mention ourgenerous sponsor, The Collegiate Network, inour last issue.

We o er double the thanks this time.

CORRECTIONS

MISSION STATEMENTWES WRIGHT


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A biblical Critiqueof the Liberal Arts

By: RachaelWierenga

those who believe (1:21). God wants belief, not rational,prudent acceptance; the foolish message will save thosewho believe.

Liberal arts education develops a habit ofreverence for human wisdom and the things of the world.The habit of weighing good and evil, seeking the goodlife, and examining moral principles creates a life ofreason, not faith. Veneration of the mind over the Wordof God is problematic in light of Corinthians depictionof the incompatible relationship between divine and

human wisdom. A liberal arts education is the study ofthings of the world, seeking wisdom from the record ofhuman thought and history. 1 John 2:15 and James 4:4suggest that there is a fundamental difference betweenthe things of the world and the things of God, so onecannot simultaneously love them both. Is it not possiblethat seeking the worlds wisdom could make one morelikely to reject God? If God dislikes the pride in humanwisdom and chooses things that man does not so no oneglories in men, should that not inform the study of humanwisdom and societys opinion thereof?

While Corinthians portrayed a relationship ofhostility, the book of Colossians describes the inferiorityof human wisdom. In his epistle to the Colossians, Paulcalls all philosophies and human doctrines that do notcenter on Christ empty deceit, and persuasive wordsthat are of no value, inferior to all the treasuresof wisdom and knowledge that alone are found inknowing God and Christ. He does not argue that humanphilosophies are wicked or hostile to truth; Rather, he saysthat they are imperfect in that they are less than Christ.They cannot yield the same understanding as Christ andthe gospel.

Colossians 2:2-10 is a critical. Paul writes,Beware lest anyone take you captive through philosophy

and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men,according to the basic principles of the world, and notaccording to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullnessof the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him,who is the head of all principality and power (2:8-10).Paul rejects any doctrine and knowledge that does notcenter on Christ. Persuasive words, philosophy, andempty deceit are not according to Christ; rather, they

Many Christians on Hillsdales campussay that their studies here have deepenedtheir faith and their understanding of God.Such a statement implies that a liberal

arts education and the Christian faith t together neatlyand work together for common ends. Unfortunately, thiscomplimentary relationship between the liberal arts andChristianity is too readily assumed.

Three years of re ection on my Hillsdaleexperience has convinced me that the biblical account

should ground, counterbalance, inform, and correctthe habits of thinking acquire during their education atHillsdale. Students should temper their studies with theBibles account of the differences between human wisdomand that of God. Indeed, human wisdom can be hostile to,inferior to, or dangerously heretical to Gods wisdom.

First Corinthians suggests that human wisdomis hostile to or opposes Gods wisdom. In the rst threechapters, Paul says that Christ is Gods wisdom andrighteousness, and the message of the cross is the wisdomand power of God. Yet the world cruci ed Christ whenHe came; the world rejected the message of the cross.The antagonistic relationship between divine and humanwisdom is clear. Christ, the wisdom and power of God,was rejected and cruci ed by men, and the message ofthe cross, the power and wisdom of God, is rejected bymen.

Corinthians 1-3 shows the hostile relationshipbetween divine and human wisdom in many ways. Forexample, Paul argues that society calls wise are not trulyso, nor are the things the world esteems truly wise. Hemakes a shocking statement: Let no one deceive himself.If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let himbecome a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdomof this world is foolishness with Godtherefore let no

one boast in men (3:18-23).These chapters also reveal that God does not like

the pride and glory of human wisdom: he intentionallychose a way for man to reconcile with him that bringswise, mighty men to nothing and despised, foolish mento glory. Paul clearly emphasizes the irrational natureof belief in the word of the cross: For it pleased Godthrough the foolishness of the message preached to save

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are according to the tradition of men, according to thebasic principles of the world.

Pauls critique of human wisdom elucidates thedifference between the lesser and the greater. Accordingly,he exposes two main types of human wisdom as lessand imperfect. Because power and principality, rule

and authority, life and death are all beneath Christ, anyphilosophy founded on the worlds basic principles is less,is weak. In his death and resurrection, Christ triumphedover all worldly power, so study of anything less thanChrist is inessential. Paul also rejects philosophy basedon the tradition of men. This type of study only producesregulations [that] have an appearance of wisdom inself-imposed religion, false humility, and asceticism, butare of no value against the indulgence of the esh (2:20-23). The regulations have no value; they can only limitor contain the indulgence of the esh. Christ puts suchindulgence to death.

Paul then contrasts these lesser, imperfect speciesof human wisdom with the wisdom is knowledge of Christ.He preaches Christ and teaches every man in all wisdomthat every man can be presented perfect in Christ Jesus(1:28). Perfect accords with the other words Paul usesto describe Christ and the message of the gospel: full,complete, and all. When he contrasts the gospel withphilosophy, it is a comparison of shadow to body, abstractimaginings within the mind to physical Head, appearanceto reality. Everything that Christ is, philosophy is not.Philosophies based upon commandments of men or thebasic principles of the world are not full, all, or complete.They are, in fact, the exact opposite: empty deceit and

of no value. The liberal arts centers on the study of the

same philosophies and human doctrines that Colossiansdescribes as inferior. Paul does not revere the philosophicenterprise: philosophy puffs up ones eshly mind withsupposedly profound imaginings that are, in reality,centered on rudimentary, immature principles that Christhas triumphed over and put to shame. Philosophy producesascetic regulations limiting the indulgence of the eshthat are actually ineffective and useless. Much principlesstudied at Hillsdale t this description: rule, authority, andascetic-regulations doctrines designed to promote virtue

and limit vice.This is not to say that there is no value to studyinghuman wisdom. However, the knowledge that all humanwisdom and philosophy is imperfect and that somethinggreater, higher, better, and more perfect exists ought toground the studies of Hillsdale students. Believers shouldseek those things which are above, where Christ is, sittingat the right hand of God.

If Colossians merely calls human wisdominferior to Christ, many other passages in the NewTestament warn that it is outright dangerous tobelievers. First, John 5:19 claims that Satan has chargeof the whole world and non-believers are under hissway. Ephesians 2:2-3 and 6:12 remind believers that

the prince of the power of the air and the spirit whoworks in the sons of disobedience rules the course ofthis world: For we do not wrestle against esh andblood, but against principalities, against powers, againstthe rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritualhosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The NewTestament abounds with warnings about false teachersand their secret, destructive heresies. Many of Paulsletters are written to churches that had adopted theheresies of false teachers.

A liberal arts education does not consider thedanger of false doctrines and philosophy; rather, it callsdeep study of these subjects good. Can we really assumethat it is not problematic or dangerous to read the wordsof unregenerate pagans who, according to 1 John, areunder the sway of the devil? Heresies are doctrines thatcontain half-truths. They may be perversions of truth,not obvious lies. Indeed, most untruths are subtle: Satanhimself is a beautiful angel of light. Spiritual forces andthe false teachers they manipulate often pull men awayfrom belief in God by offering a subtly wrong idea ofHim. Study of human ideas of justice, goodness, andtruth can result in mistaken acceptance and perpetuationof clever untruths. Heretical human notions of justicemay well cause one to reject Gods justice and choose

Hell, Gods ultimate mercy. Hillsdale is devoted to the liberal arts; critiques

of the liberal arts are almost entirely absent. Moststudents implicitly accept that there are no seriousdownsides to a liberal arts education. If students are notaware that human wisdom can be less than, hereticalto, or in contradiction with Gods wisdom, they maynot realize the need for the higher and more perfecttruth that exists in the Bibles account of the personand work of Jesus Christ. They might mistake the goodfor the best. While we should not completely discountthe study of human wisdom, it is only the good, not the

best.

Rachael Wierenga is a Senior studying English.


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BY : C ALEB E ATOUGH

Separated and alone. The only company, thewhisper of ones thoughts. No images ashing beforethe eyes, no music dancing inside the brain. The onlysource of knowledge contained in words on the dustypages of an old, battered book. The rustle and swayof the habit as the scribe copied word by painstakingword. Such was the beginning of widespreadrational discourse on the nature of God and man.

There is a gap between thekind of reading one does todayand the reading in centuries past.Information, once so hard to come

by, has become instantly accessible.Once so precious, it now overwhelms,cascading where it once trickled.The change in medium from booksto the Internet has changed the wayone receives the information, andculture has changed as a result.

Why does one read Plato, insteadof listening to him aloud or watching him on C-SPAN?

There is no interactive content in a book, justthe reader and author. The internet, on the otherhand, is full of pictures, videos, words, and games.Thousands of distractionsFacebook, Wikipedia,YouTubebeg for the last vestiges of the modernattention span. If something doesnt catch theconsumers attention within a few seconds, he moveson to something that will. This is the sound-bytephenomenon. The internet condenses everythinginto an easily digestible piecesshallow thoughtsat best. Where St. Augustine plumbed deep waters,the internet rests on the surface and then its away.

These shallow statements often take the form ofmemes, humorous snap statements with minimal

thought content. Consider Godwins Law: As an onlinediscussion grows longer, the probability of a comparisoninvolving Nazis or Hitler approaches 100%. Not exactlythe kind of environment that encourages deep discussion.

Wikipedia is another good example. It is anencyclopedia, but any page is editable, be it by expertor Scumbag Steve. Subject to public opinions andbiases, it is more a re ection of what the world thinks

about a topic than what experts do. While its makersstrive to keep the website as informative as possible,Wikipedia is subject to the very culture it contributesto. Unfortunately, The Free Encyclopedia hasreplaced primary sources as the basis of knowledge,populating the internet with pseudo-intellectualswho think they know everything about a subject.

The internet is both anonymous and public. The waya person presents himself on the Internetis malleable, meant for entertainmentrather than strictly accuraterepresentation. A Facebook status is

for others; a diary is for oneself. Somedishonesty is involved, both of othersand of self. The internet: Where men aremen, women are men, and little girls areFBI agents. Why would one want to breakthe carefully crafted faade of vanityand pride to debate the deep questions?

On Facebook, the sole motive forposting something is for others to see it, changing onespublic face even while away from the computer. Coupledwith the sound-byte phenomenon, ones identity shrinksdown into what one can say in a sentence. It is a constantthirst for attention rather than genuine personality.

Facebook is a public diary. Those who do not want theirself-image tarnished edit what they post; embarrassingphotos will haunt the less discriminating for decades.Good and bad consequences abound. Facebook isthe greatest source of public personal informationever compiled, and it is accessible to everyone.

The internet is harmless taken in small doses. No

Medium And Message

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one can deny it has been a boon to civilization. Likeanother great invention, the wheel, it has greatly changedhuman culture and environment. But a wheel is a wheel.No one spends hours looking at a wheel. Why do peoplededicate their lives to the latest Kardashian scandalwith Aristotles Nichomachean Ethics a ngertip away?

The Internet is a tool, but it is a tool that shapesthe user in its use. When one immerses oneself in thisculture, it changes the way one thinks, just as books

have done for centuries. The medium affects themessage. Reading a book, be it Plato or Seuss, onemust engage meaningfully with the text. The authorencourages the reader to ruminate about what is written.The Internet is an endless cascade of informationthat can only be sampled with indiscriminate sweeps.Readers can stop and think, seeking beauty in nuance.

The Internet is no vessel of beauty. It is mereargument, not debate. People, instead of enlightening

themselves, lord their pseudo-intellectualism over the

poor, foolish masses. Their arguments end with either ameme or Godwins Law, not a rational synthesis of ideas.

Hope remains, despite this massacre of thought. Thesolutions are simple, but dif cult to implement. Whendependence on the internet becomes mere convenience,half the battle has been won. Abstinence brings rationality;the antithesis of instant grati cation. Weaning oneselffrom the magic box yields perspective. White noisebecomes silence, which gives way to the music of thought.

Educating children away from dependence is theother half. Children must read, play, and think withoutdistraction; learning the beauty of nature and solitudeso they can be their own people, instead of what otherswant them to be. When they can think for themselves,then they will be ready to combat Godwins Law.

The internet is an expedienttruth is truth, no matterthe mediumbut medium affects message, and the webwill never replace the book. If people treat it as they ought,

it may someday become as beautiful as the printed word.

Caleb Eatough is a Freshman struggling valiantly to fnish the core.

The Internet is a tool, butit is a tool that shapes

the user in its use.


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N o S h a v e N o v e m b e r - a n a n a l

y s i s The growing of magni cent facial hair is an art. Men have sought hirsute glory for millennia,both as a sign of manliness and to win the hearts of ladies. Unfortunately, what was once a

rite of passage has fallen out of favor, replaced by urbane, clean-shaven men with Photoshopabs. One month out of the year, college men reject this trend in that fabled event: No-ShaveNovember. This tradition should not be limited to men, however; women should also be al-lowed to pursue knowledge of Truth and Beauty. Plato and his beard discussed the difference between art and the noble art. An art or craftcan be anything from taco-making to music; what makes an art noble is that it is done withintent to pursue knowledge of Form. Sculpting facial hair into manly sideburns, gravity-defyingmoustaches, and billowing beards can be a noble art if it is pursued with intent to betterunderstand Beauty. The goal of No-Shave November cannot be the pursuit of knowledge ofBeauty, however, for it culminates in wild tangles of rather gross hair instead of stylish musta-chios. Though it has this defect, No-Shave November can be a noble art if it pursues modestyand through that, Beauty.One is modest when one minimizes individual success, talent, or beauty. Modesty is chivalric;it is the realization that though circumstance may temporarily distinguish individuals, all menare created equal and should be treated as such. Further, it is the understanding that beautyof character is greater than evanescent reputation or appearance. Rampant facial or leg hairconceals ones physical beauty in the same manner as modesty of dress, forcing society tolook beyond external appearance to focus on qualities of the soul.The modern media lambastes society with its conception of bodily perfection. No-Shave

November is a noble pursuit because it allows one to seek knowledge of deeper Beauty. Be-cause both genders are equally capable of not shaving, the tradition should not be limited tomen alone. To restrict women from pursuing knowledge of the Form of Beauty in this manneris to reject the basis of the endeavor, for it implies that they are not worthy of noble, philosoph-ical enquiry. That women must be allowed to participate is clear. Whether they should actuallydo so is another question entirely. Winter lasts most of the year at Hillsdale, so physical beauty is regularly concealed bybulky coats and lumpy snow gear. Ladies, while you can participate in No-Shave November,you do not need to be as furry as a hare to join in its celebration of modesty dressing warmlywill suf ce. Ultimately, neither gender should be harried for not shaving during the eleventhmonth, but you need not feel gross for others to look at your personality. Just wear sweatpantsonce in a while.

Point- Wes Wright

For men at Hillsdale, November is a sacred time. They stride about campus, chins covered instubble and necks partly cloudy with patchy beards. Some even manage to grow respectablemoustaches or beards. No-shave November is a tradition beloved by young men. It givesthem a common goal and a chance to grow out their facial hair in a socially-acceptablemanner. It is also a distinctly male tradition: what do girls derive from participating? When men participate in No-Shave November or any of the other months of virile virtue(Augustache or Manuary, for example) they bond through common activity with their peers. For a whole month,they and their friends go around looking slightly ridiculous and uncouth, bucking social norms to emulate theirbearded role-models. According to Victoria Sherrows Encyclopedia of Hair, the Ancient Greeks venerated facialhair, offering up the rst growth on a young man to the gods. The Romans of the Republic continued this tradi-tion, growing elaborate beards and linking shaving with femininity. In his Life of Antony, Plutarch praised MarkAntory because his beard was well growngiving him altogether a bold, masculine look. The Encyclopedianotes that after 1900 shaving companies drove beards out of vogue. But ckle fashion should not keep men

from their masculinity.Should girls be allowed to participate in No-shave November? When a woman decides not to shave, its not apublic event; no one will look at a would-be female participant and think of her femininity. As Anthony Esolennoted in his lecture about education, boys and girls have different characters. When guys forgo shaving theyinvite social judgment, sacri cing a well-groomed appearance to participate in some harmless, masculine funwith their peers. This yearly ritual leaves an external mark that identi es them as participants; they can gladlysay they are a part of No-shave November. Which of these bene ts would a female participant gain? Withwomen there is no social element and no corresponding feminine bonding, so the event cannot achieve its goal. No-Shave November would lose something if girls were allowed to participate. For them to be included, thevery de nition of the month would need to change. Without celebration of masculinity, what is left? Neglect ofgrooming is all that remains, and that is not worth celebrating. No, girls that want to take part in this peculiarlymale celebration would be better served with something uniquely feminine, far be it from me to propose whatthey might do.

counterPoint- Chris McCaffery


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ts time for us Hillsdale College students to stopapologizing for our college town. We love to boast aboutHillsdale Colleges rst-rate academics, excellent jobplacement, and award-winning conservative magazines,

but we consider the town to have little value beyond beingthe punch line of our jokes. In fact, Hillsdale Collegestudents surveyed by the Princeton Review recently rankedour college town as one of the worst in America. Ourdispleasure with the town can border upon arrogance towardthe townspeople, as evinced by the condescending monikertownies. We view ourselves apart from the townspeople,as if the town of Hillsdale is divided into two distinctparts: the College and the community. But a successfulcollege requires a strong relationship with its hometown.If we want Hillsdale College to be the best it can be, weneed to stop viewing the community of Hillsdale as anamusing assortment of backward country folk and view itas a genuine community, of which the College is but a part.

A strong relationship with the community has beenindispensable for the college since its establishment. In1853, when Michigan Central College decided to leaveSpring Arbor and look for a new home, it settled upon thegrowing settlement of Hillsdale, mostly because of thegenerosity of its citizens. The townies donated $15,000dollars for the establishment of the college, without which itnever would have survived. Then to bring in further funds,Ransom Dunnthe Grand Old Man of Hillsdale Collegeand one of its rst presidentsrode 6,000 miles across thefrontier, raising donations from small-town farmers andvillagers who believed in the mission of the college. The

college owes its existence to the generosity of a communityof low-income, rural people, just like the one we live in today.Hillsdale College has not outgrown the need for a

supportive community. By nature, a college is a bubble. Itsan assemblage of like-minded 18-22-year-olds who studythe same subjects, live in the same buildings, eat the samefood, and enjoy the same recreational activities. Theresreally only one place students can go to catch a glimpse ofthe world beyond the safely-crafted, picture-perfect bubble,

and thats the town. Interaction with the communityserves as a safeguard against the trap that has ensnaredso many universities throughout the west: becomingso engrossed in the academic world that they lose theirgrip on reality. The town of Hillsdale is the windowthat lets us look out from our ivory towers and see the

We think that being a part of a small community narrowsour world, but in reality, it broadens it. A small townincreases our opportunities to build lasting connections withpeople from the community and make a discernible impactpersonally. As Chesterton wrote, The man who lives in asmall community lives in a much larger world. We pursuea world-class education not only for its own intrinsic worthbut also to gain skills necessary to go out and enrich theworld. A detached and aloof attitude will set us on thewrong track for our future lives as leaders of our respectivecommunities. Do you want to be a doctor? Take a strolldowntown to meet some of your future patients. Do you

want to be a politician? Next time you go to Wal-Mart, dontlook at the young man restocking shelves as a townie. Thinkof him as a constituent. Better still, think of him as a person.Townies are not empty characters whose telos is to be theobject of our jokes. They are humans, rational creatures witheternal souls. They have jobs, families, taxes, bills, friends,struggles, dreams, and regrets. They are real people wecan learn from, or, better yet, we can serve. We cant allowourselves to become so immersed in our quest to changethe world that we forget about those living right next door.

If Hillsdale College is a tree that bears the fruits ofpro table study and service, then the town of Hillsdale

is the soil that gives the college necessary direction andinspiration. Unfortunately, its so easy for us collegestudents to treat the town as nothing more just dirt. But onetime, 159 years ago, our tree was just a seed planted in thatsame dirt. The taller the tree grows, the more roots it mustsend down into the dirt. Let us be those roots; the study ofthe human condition should not be so introspective as toneglect the conditions of the humans in our own community.

8Sam Ryskamp is a sophomore

studying the liberal Arts

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If a land is rebellious, its princes will be many;

but with a prudent man it knows security.Proverbs 28:2

A nation once elected a new, revolutionarygovernment. Its promises were as extraordinary asits incompetence, and country descended into chaos.A military coup overthrew the republic and replacedit with a dictatorship. The new leader implementeda program of economic reform and refused to letrevolutionaries threaten the peace. The nation grewmore prosperous and free than any other in theregion, but the people still hated the dictator for

usurping the republic, eventuallyforcing him from of ce. Whowas right? The despot whorejected populism, or thepeople who rejected despotism?

This, by the way, is the storyof Augusto Pinochet, dictatorof Chile from 1974-1990 and akey U.S. ally in the Cold War.

American conservatives areuncomfortable with autocracy.Our traditional government isa constitutional republic, andhistory has taught us to distrustkings and dictators. But is thisfair? Parliament passed theinfamous Intolerable Acts,not King George. Most of Americas foes havebeen popularly instituted or constitutional states.Further, the Western Tradition is one of monarchy,not American-style republicanism; the few classicalexperiments in popular rule ended terribly. Theages agree with Homer: A multitude of rulers isnot a good thing. Let there be one ruler, one king.

The traditional is not necessarily just, however.Americans have held this axiom since the Revolution:Governments are instituted among men, derivingtheir just powers from the consent of the governed.A self-evident truth only to contemporaries

of the Founders, the idea runs contrary to themillennia of politics before the Declaration.What good is an invented axiom? Indeed, thisassertion con icts with more than tradition: itcontradicts the government of the very cosmos.

God rules the universe as its king; rule amongmen is justi ed by something other than popularconsent. There are three possible theses for the

justi cation of such government: the What,How, and Who questions of the Lords universalgovernment (Where and When are inapplicableto deities). The What argument notes that God

rules perfectly. The Howargument contends that Godrespects human freedom in Hisrule, and so requires no consent.The Who argument is that ofChristian scripture: the Creatoris sovereign. For governmentby imperfect man, authorityis reduced to competence bythe rst argument, respect ofliberty by the second, and theearthly extension of Godswork justice by the third.Conveniently, each of theseoptions is satis ed under thename of ruling well. Thisprinciple relies on the regimes

members, for the wise and virtuous rule betterthan fools and ends. A governments compositiondepends on its number. As of cials accumulate,the state adheres more to the citizenry, just aslarger samples better represent a population.While narrower states like oligarchy or autocracymay vary from the whole, democracy must drawfrom the common. The average man is corruptand foolish, so democracies feature the sameattributes and of cialdom must be narrowed.

Republicans seek to solve this problemby re ning the errant popular will through

BY: JAMES INWOOD

Au t ocr a cy Now

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Au t ocr a cy Now

Photo by Mary Harrsch


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representation and constitutional restrictions.But this offers only modest improvement; thepeople choose the lawmakers and the constitutiondepends on the good will of those it is supposedto bind. Still dominated by the masses, thesegovernments necessarily fall into all the problems

of democracy. This process can only be delayedwhen the republic is as undemocratic as possible.

Autocracy, on the other hand, liberates the statefrom the masses and other impediments to goodrule. An autocrat may be the best among men;democrats and republicans must be common. He mayimplement justice without the approval of interestedparties. Institutions do not stall him when he pursuespolicy, so neither legislatures, courts, nor factionscan prevent the autocrat from doing good. His rmhand not a legion of committees is the bestguide to a well-regulated administration of the law.This same latitude can produce the worst regimes aswell as the best, but history contains many possiblesolutions. For example, the dictator could impressan ideologically republican society into universalacclamation and utilize adoptive succession, likeAugustus and the Five Good Emperors. A thoroughlyindoctrinated guard, unlike the intrigue-pronePraetorians, may provide the answer to checking afallen despotsince tyrannicide is sometimes virtuous.

History lends credence to this theory; mostrenowned leaders were somewhat autocratic.Great kings, emperors, or even presidents, aretypically men who bent the state to their will,imposing necessary reform or standing rm againstencroachment. Though nominally president,they doubtless did more than preside, playing theautocrat despite their supposed republicanism.

More concretely, Four Tigers of the Paci cdemonstrate this principle. South Korea, Taiwan,Hong Kong, and Singapore saw tremendousgrowth and modernization in the aftermath of theSecond World War because their rulers imposed

liberal taxation and free trade against the wishesof the people. Each saw massive and sustained

10

James Inwood is a Junior studying the liberal arts

progress, the British governors even exceeding theprosperity of their proudly republican fatherland.

In the Middle East, many Persian Gulf despotshave encouraged free trade and virtually abolishedtaxation. As a result, their average incomes areoften far greater than republican Israel, despite the

latters educated workforce, tourism, and Americanaid. Although oil isindeed the key driverof their growth,the same is true ofp o v e r t y - s t r i c k e nVenezuela, whoseleft-wing republic hasplanned the nationout of prosperity.

Even communistslike Josip Broz Tito ofYugoslavia can makegood dictators. Afterhe seized power,experience convincedhim that Bolshevismwas deeply awed,so he broke ties withthe Soviet Union andlaunched a program of domestic reform. He grantedgreater civil and economic liberties than any othersocialist government and opened Yugoslavia tointernational trade and migration. He only retainedMarxs internationalism to keep the bickering Balkanstogether. His death in 1980 left Yugoslavia to ineptmen who led the nation into internecine warfare.

These examples and others demonstrate a classictruth of the Western tradition: autocracy works.While democracy and its republican cousin make thestate a re ection of the passions and prejudices ofthe masses, autocracy permits great men to do justiceand secure peace without having to appease thecommon man. Many of these examples are imperfect

avoiding tyranny remains the paramount concernbut such imperfections should not deter men fromembracing the rule of the one, the best of governments.


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Space has been hailed by many as mankinds

nal frontier. The phrase was popularized by thehit sci- television series Star Trek, in which aband of space travelers rove the galaxy lookingfor adventure. Years ago, our own planet was notcompletely discovered and adventurers would seektheir fortunes by setting out into the unknown. In hisessay The Signi cance of the American Frontierin American History, Frederick Jackson Turnerexplains how the western frontier was seminal in thedevelopment of American virtues like democracy andindividualism. But does outer space play the role ofthe rugged frontier that Turner thought the West did?

Turner argued that the frontier shaped the pioneersand forged an American identity distinct from theEuropean ideal. The frontier required settlers tobe enterprising. If they were not, they would notsurvive. It promoted erce individualism that spit inthe face of hierarchical social structures. This erceindividualism gave way to belief in the institutionof democracy. Turner, alarmed by the closing ofthe frontier in 1890, thought that American culture

would dry up without the source of its inspiration.Thankfully, Turner was wrong and American societycontinues to ourish, but there is no doubt that thefrontier had a great impact on the American identity.

Does outer space, the nal frontier, have the sameeffect on the modern American identity? Far from it.In the 1960s, the space race occupied the attention of

leaders and citizens around the globe. Many saw it

as an answer to possible overpopulation and resourcescarcity problems. The fervor died, however, whenthe Soviet Union fell, proving that the space racewas a proxy war, not a solution to a problem.The United States developed space explorationtechnology to appear superior to the Soviet Union.Space did not shape the United States during thespace race, instead the American government ttedthe space exploration story into its larger narrativeof the Cold War. The nal frontier was a meansto an end, not a source of the distinctly American.

The United States has not landed a man onthe moon since 1972. Waning interest in spaceexploration and decreasing NASA budgets (asa percentage of total government expenditures)have removed the nal frontier from the minds ofAmericans. The US government, the former catalystfor space exploration fervor, has chosen NASA asone of the rst agencies to cut when scal times aretough. Mars expeditions are continually pushed tothe distant future. Terrorism and the global nancial

crisis have captured the attention of Americans.Is this decreased interest in outer space a bad thing?Perhaps not. Space exploration inevitably leads tospace colonization. Colonization is the reason manyscientists and governments consider outer spaceprograms. Much theorizing and experimenting hasbeen done to determine which planets or moons could

T F F :

S FBY: DEVIN CREED

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be inhabitable with the right blend of natural resourcesand imported infrastructure. Scientists have hosts ofideas about speci c colonization enterprises.

Is space colonization a good end? In C.S. Lewisspace trilogy, the physicist Weston has grand ideas forspace colonization. He invents a space ship and journeysto Mars and Venus to see if they are inhabitable. Hewishes to wipe out any indigenous populations so thatmankind can spread across the universe. Once earth

Devin Creed is a sophomore studying Economics and History.

runs out of resources, mankind will need new planetsto perpetuate the race. Weston conceives of Man as awhole and not as individual. He does not give a wit forpersons, only caring for the race. When questionedabout this inconsistency, he can only bluster onunintelligibly about the importance of humanity.

Ultimately, any argument for colonization isfundamentally dehumanizing. Putting humanityabove individual humans creates a situation in whichindividuals are not valued. When persons are notvalued, society devolves into a sel sh state. People nolonger care for one another because they themselvesdo not matter. Government feels free to makedraconian regulations if they will bene t humanityas a whole. There is no remorse when individuals aresacri ced for the greater good. Weston admits that he

does not care if individual humans die in his missionto perpetuate the human race. In fact, he brings ahostage to Mars with him because he thinks he needsa sacri cial victim. When colonists are viewed asnumbers in a calculation to determine the ef cacyof long-term survival, dehumanization is clear.

Outer space does is not the West of the future.There are no space cowboys. Space is less afrontier than a giant science experiment. Westwardexpansion must stop at the Paci c (okay, well sayGuam counts). If it turns into colonization of other

planets for the preservation of the race, it losesits American basis and becomes dehumanizing.While outer space may be fascinating, it is not awonderous nal frontier for American settlers.

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Professor Lee Cole is so hip his wife had to make him buy a dinosaur cell phone tokeep with the times. But when Professor Cole isnt discussing Aristotle or Kant he islistening to a fantastic assortment of so-off-the-mainstream-it-isnt-even-funny rockmusic (like songs containing references to Kant). So Prof. Cole and The Forum gottogether and made a soundtrack for all the quintessentially Hillsdalian moments inevery students life at the Dale. This should help you get through these last few weeksof the semester. Enjoy.

iPodProfessors

By: Anna Shoffner

For Monday: Phase Dance, Pat Metheny Group (from Pat Metheny Group)For Wednesday: Running up that Hill, Kate Bush (Hounds of Love)For Friday: Red Sails, David Bowie (Lodger)For Sunday (better known as Semi-Formal Homework Day): Psalm, Roxy Music (Stranded)

Rhetoric and the Great Books: Suppers Ready, Genesis (Foxtrot)Math Class: Pi, Kate Bush (Aerial)Art: Michelangelo, Slapp Happy (Casablanca Moon)Intro to Economics: The Money Song, Monty PythonSpeech Class: Elephant Talk, King Crimson (Discipline)Intro to Philosophy: Seriously Deep, Eberhard Weber Colours (Silent Feet) or Philosophy Now,Scritti Politti (Provision)For Greek Mythology: Orpheus, David Sylvian (Secrets from the Beehive)For Science: Natural Science, Rush (Permanent Waves)Exam cramming: I Dont Remember, Peter Gabriel (Peter Gabriel IIIMelt)Understand Hillsdating: The Word Girl, Scritti Politti (Cupid and Psyche 85)Surviving Hillsdale in the Winter: Topplue, Votter & Skerf, Terje Rypdal (To Be Continued) andSomeone, Somewhere (in Summertime), Simple Minds (New Gold Dream)

That moment when youre on your knees in front of Central Hall screaming, WHY is it soHARD?!: Sat in your Lap, Kate Bush (The Dreaming ) or Tinseltown in the Rain, The BlueNile (A Walk Across the Rooftops)


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14

Most Hillsdale students realize

that while the rst election of Barack Obamawas survivable, his reelection spells absolute doom to

freedom, liberty, and morality. But rather than wallow in despair,they now have the opportunity to make a difference in the world by

leaving it. In a space ship.Due to the detrimental outcome of Americas presidential election, Hillsdale Col -

lege has decided to use its endowment funds to convert its clock tower into a rocketship that will take a select group of students to a newly constructed moon colony. The

ship will launch in early January after the 2012 apocalypse, and will establish a government

similar to what the Founders intendeda free-market, Christian republic isolated from othercountries. When asked for details on the voyage, Hillsdale President Dr. Arnn stated that Thecolony will be like the Kirby Center, but on the moon. It will be a bastion of the liberal arts; a pure

polis of conservatism.The project began at the behest of several major donors who wanted students to have a reason -

able means of living despite this horrendous, irreparable damage to America. One donor commented, Look, if the Israelites had a rocket ship to save them from Egypt, they wouldnt have needed Moses tolead them around in the desert. Now that we have the technology and foresight to allow our children toavoid certain slavery to the Progressives, we should use it.Demand for seats on the voyage has surged; the line of students applying stretches around the block. Asone student pointed out, The Founders realized that England kinda sucked, so they left it. Why shouldntwe do the same with America? I mean, it was salvageable before, but now that Obamas back weregonna have **** like government healthcare and debt. Its better just to start over on the moon.And start over they will. Sources reveal that the new government will be a return to the principles ofAmericas forefathersdispelling the rumor that Dr. Arnn would declare himself King of the Moon. Thecapitol city of the new republic will be called Aristotle D.C., since Aristotle practically wrote the AmericanConstitution. In fact, the Constitution of this new nation will be virtually identical to Americas, but witha few small changes. Some of the more notable of these amendments include banning Progressivism,making Old Crow Medicine Shows Wagon Wheel the national anthem, and installing an AJs Caf inthe lunar White House.

But not all Hillsdale students agree with the new lunar governments policies. A group of hardyyoung rebels are holding a bake(d) sale to fund a spaceship mission to Mars: The Ron Paul. Thiscolony will differ from the moons in several distinct ways. It will take non-interventionism to itsappropriate measure by moving 225 million kilometers away from Earth. It plans to legalize

and carry marijuana on its voyage, making it, as one student puts it, one giant hotbox inspace. These libertarianauts are so committed to their principles that they will not bring

any food on their mission, ending the Fed for good.

While the arguments these groups make are compelling, The Forum has decid-

ed to stay here on Earth. The truth is, acting like America is doomed basedon a single election seems almost overdramatic to us, and if we didnt

know any better we might even say that this sort of mentalityis alarmist. But even if Obama succeeds in his nefarious

mission to burn America to the ground, TheForum is staying right here.

T h e K

i r b y C e n t e r

M k I I

B y : C h a r l e s f r y


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H UMAN I NTEREST 15

PUBLIC SCHOOL Why do you think Public schooling is preferable to homeschooling?Homeschooling is great because it is typically accompanied by a high level of parental involvement.

Anyone with a high level of parental involvement will have an excellent education, be it homeschoolor otherwise, because parents will instill the value of hard work and education in their children. Butpeople are social animals, and public school is the sort of social environment that children need toform relationships with peers.Did you find yourself adequately prepared for the perils of freshman year at Hillsdale College?

I would say I found myself about as prepared as the next freshman. Somewhere between I know howto read and I can write a Jackson English paper.

What do you think are the dangers of homeschooling?Sometimes, parents who homeschool lack time or ability, so their children are only halfway educated.But most of the time, homeschool parents are probably better equipped than the average publicschool parent. The problem is homeschool communities, which do tend to be dedicated and close-knit, are artificial communities that can lead to a cloistered environment in which kids views of societyare narrow and lopsided.How were you able to find the truth despite the overwhelming left-wing indoctrination?Most of what you learn in public school is merely normal education. I still learned math, grammar,physics, American History, economics, etc., and if I picked up any left-wing tendencies, I am sure they

were hammered out by my parents and Hillsdale. My parents took care of the political and social liber-alism, and Hillsdale has taught me what tradition there is to conserve. Or maybe I am a closet liberal.Shhh.

Would you send your children to public schooling? Yes, especially if I end up living in my hometown. I graduated from the same high school from whichmy father and my grandfather and grandmother graduatedin fact, that is where my grandparentsmet. I love the Grandville Public School system because it is such a community focal point and be-cause I had such good teachers and friends.

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HOMESCH Why did you prefer your homeschool education over public schooling?

My public high school was not conducive to learning because of its pervasive drug culture. Home-schooling allowed me to interact with others who were passionate about the liberal arts. I had access

to any AP course I wanted to take, as well as the resources of the local community college.Heres a tough question: are there any drawbacks to todays public school system?

All public schools are not created equal. If you happen to live in a district with a terrible public school,you are stuck unless you want to pay through the nose for a private school. Additionally, the public

school system is a product of mass culture and seeks to inculcate a certain set of values and attitudesin its students. This agenda quashes creativity and promotes an atmosphere at odds with individuality.

Do you believe you were adequately prepared for the rigors of freshman year at Hillsdale? Yes. Homeschooling allowed me to adjust to the rigors of college by taking multiple college classesduring highschool. I was also able to take rigorous AP classes, which prepared me well for Hillsdale.

Was it difficult to go through high school without learning any social skills?Ha! Contrary to popular belief , not all homeschoolers live primarily in their basements. I took classes

with other students in a pseudo school setting, and I also interacted with hundreds of other home-schoolers across the country through speech and debate. Nearly all my social skills were developed

after I stopped going to private school and started homeschooling. Which would you chose for your children: a world-class public school or homeschooling?

The main reason I see for homeschooling is as an alternative to poor conventional alternatives. I wouldnot have a problem sending my children to a rigorous public school rooted in the liberal arts,but those are few and hard to come by. I would have to

evaluate on a case by case basis, but a public school would have to be stellar if I were to send my children to it.

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17

GLORY AT SEA a review of A short film

I try and think about how the storm and allof these people dyin was part of Gods plan. Butmostly I just stare up to the water hopin I can haveone last look at them.

Writer-director Benh Zeitlins 2008 short lmGlory at Sea opens with an underwater view ofa rain-dimpled ocean surface, an eerily beautifulimage that sets the tone for the movie. Zeitlin and

New Orleans art collective Court 13 have createdsomething grounded, moving, and utterly unique.

The ragged gures in Gloryat Sea seem tomerge with the

post-apocalypticwasteland of

New Orleansafter HurricaneKatrina. They

clamber throughthe debris,cobbling togethersurvivalist lives,s c r a b b l i n g

for joy andcomprehension in the wake of such extreme loss. Theystruggle with the words of their preacher, ReverendCarlton, who tells them that the storm was part ofGods plan. Unable to accept this reassurance, theylong to sail across the sea to reunite with their lovedones. When a seaweed-caked survivor named Jakewashes ashore, they have their guide. The villagebands together with moving spirituality to build araft out of wreckage and things with luck on emlike rusted cars, beds, and even a bathtub. They cast

By Forester McClatchey

17

off jubilantly, but not before Carlton pleads Dont you let them sail this! to an unresponsive sky.

The narrator is a little girl at the bottom of theocean, drifting in a forest of lost souls. In the villagersvoyage to the underworld Zeitlin masterfully draws

from myths like the story of Orpheus and Euridyce.The lm is full of beautiful paradoxes: it is at oncegritty and whimsical, real and fantastic, mythicaland original, lighthearted and cathartic.

Zeitlin, the indie lm up-and-comer who directedthe 2012 successBeasts of theSouthern Wild,is renowned forhis mastery of theSouthern Gothic.Glory at Sea

in many waysthe prologue

and genesisof Beastse x p l o r e sthemes of loss,u n c o n d i t i o n a llove, apostasy,

recklessness, and redemption. Its jagged, hodge- podge feel and deftly-controlled scenes give Gloryhuman credibility while retaining its dreamlikenature, allowing it to effectively examine weightysubjects in a fantastic environment.

The villagers, burst with spirituality but strugglewith religion. The storm washed away the rationaland modern; all that remains is illogical love and abroken landscape. The church burns down during a

party the night before they cast off, embodying the


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villages religious confusion. The fragile stoicismin the preachers face as he watches his churchburn speaks louder than any soliloquy. While thevillagers pile liquor into the raft, he de antly af xesa driftwood cross to the stern. Zeitlin questionsreligions role in such miserable living conditions,but does so with Apollonian grace. The lm suggestsbut does not preach, and this delicate orchestrationbuilds an emotional crescendo remarkable for sucha short project.

At 25 minutes, the lm surges forward at a

frenzied pace that matches the fever-pitch love andcraziness of the villagers. The brevity of the lm is aresult of its productionZeitlin and his team spent

ve months and a thinly stretched $100,000 buildingrafts, sinking bathtubs, burning buildings, androoting through New Orleans rubble to reveal thehaunting beauty of the post-storm Louisiana coast.

Like so much else in Glory, the script is sparsebut lyrical. The lines are distilled and forceful, themost obvious example of the lms poeticism. Mostof the emotional cues come from the earthy scorecomposed by Zeitlin himself. It swells, ripples, andcrashes like the sea. The instrumentation is distinctlyCajun; the brass, ddles, and steel guitars playing inraw, fractured harmony. Though he is not from NewOrleans, Zeitlin does a remarkable job of creatinga nuanced sense of place and culture. The script,direction, and score compliment each other to form

a well-textured lm.The characters and landscapes converge: a man

sleeps easily in a bed wedged in the arms of a liveoak; kelp and human hair wave in unison beneaththe surf. The cinematography makes such unlikelyvisions seem natural.

Ultimately, the short lm owes its appeal tocompelling characters and the narrative momentumof a fairy tale. It has an inexorable drive; the oddevents are what must happen, are fated to occur. Amoral lesson must be imparted.

The lm suffers from a few moments of ambiguityand occasionally shaky camerawork, but overall

Benh Zeitlins art succeeds. The images a man pining for his drowned lover, a despairing priestwatching his congregation sail to their doom aredif cult to forget. When the lm ends, one feels onehas witnessed a genuinely special story of eeriebeauty and catharsis.

Forester McClatchey is a Freshmanstudying the liberal arts, sometimes.


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H u n kGarret holt Year : J unior

Major : History MAj orHome Economics M inor

If you could be dictator of any country, which would you rule and why?

Africa, because I love Chinese food and I could daily ski in the Alps and Icould ride my eet of llamas to my palace.

Does Hillsdating do more good than harm to Hillsdalian social life? Well, college is about obtaining owhair ow. And Hillsdating can often getin the way of ow. Take Scott Lantis, for example: he has fantastic ow and heis not Hillsdating. On the other hand, Anthony Manno had illustrious ow,

then he started dating and he lost his ow. Ergo, Hillsdating is a no ow.

Well, I wake up in the morning feeling like P-Diddy and then all the otherboys try to chase meheres my number, so call me maybe: 867-5309.

Whats your favorite part about nals week?

Having absurd amounts of free time which I dont use to study. I can just havea dance party to the Village People in my room, I can run around Simpson ina sumo suit making sure everyone gets bad grades like I do, the amount of joy

about going home that pervades the campus is great, and, most importantly,not seeing Patrick Timmis for a month.

Easy. Bella from Twilight. I mean who doesnt want an extremely needy,super awkward girl who double-crossed a vampire for a werewolf?

Briey describe a day in the life of Garrett.

If you could date any historical gure, who would the lucky woman be?

H i lls d al es

Whats your favorite part about nals week?

Having absurd amounts of free time which I dont use to study. I can just havea dance party to the Village People in my room, I can run around Simpson in

a sumo suit making sure everyone gets bad grades like I do, the amount of joyabout going home that pervades the campus is great, and, most importantly,not seeing Patrick Timmis for a month.

Describe your dream wedding.

Well it would be at Monticello because, in fact, Thomas Jefferson is my greatgreat, great, great, great uncle so I could get married there. Except it wouldcost an arm and a leg. Saga Steve would read my guest list, and I would ride atandem bike off into the sunset.


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tIf you could be dictator of any country, which would you rule and why?Djibouti. Because its fun to say and its in Africa so I wouldnt have to deal with the cold weather all the time.Does Hillsdating do more good than harm to Hillsdalian social life?100% false. All you Hillsdaters out there: dont be afraid of your feelings.

The Video Game sectionbecause Im a player.

If your love life were a movie, how would Family Video categorize it?

Well, I wake up to the sound of that construction for sports complexyou allbetter enjoy that stinkin facility. Then I go on to be amazed by all the Hillsdale

social wonderssuch as capes and incessant inappropriate PDA in the union.

Heath Ledger too soon? And do I have to give a why? its Heath Ledger.

Briey describe a day in the life of Mary Crail.

If you could date any historical gure, who would the lucky man be?

On a scale of one to 24, one being a day in a canoe on the lake and 24 being a 24-hour cross-t workout, how exhausting is it to deal with all of

the men begging to be with you?

Well, when theyre begging appropriately its not stressful at all, becauseof all the presents.

Whats your opinion of boy bandsparticularly One Direction?

They can be entertaining. However, their artistic value is lacking.

Sum up your love life in a Haiku poem .

H o t t i e

an d of the month

Co m pile d b ySavan ah T ibb ett s

Ka ji ga bol ka / Op oppan Gangnam Style / Ehhhhhh sexy lady

Describe your dream wedding .

My dream wedding will involve Tom Hardy and thats as far as Ive gotten.


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Spotlight on...

Compiled by Wes Wright - Photography by Laurie Barnes

Haley PelissierWhat styles of dance do you do?Swing and Ballroom. I have been since I cameto Hillsdale, so for two years. I also go to a clubback home in Seattle. I am the Vice President andDJ of the Hepcats Swing Dancing Club.

What is the Swing Dancing Club like?We get 50-100 people at the beginning of theyear, which drops to thirty regulars the rest of theyear. We play big band music, primarily, but alsoclassic rock like Elvis and the Beach Boys. Andsome medium-tempo modern songs like TikTok by Ke$sha.

What would you say those hesitant to dance?Swing is very Hillsdalian; it teaches courteous-ness and proper interaction between the genders.Its classy, a lot of fun, and something you canuse throughout your life.

How does dance ft into the liberal arts?The liberal arts are supposed to be uplifting andimprove character. Dance does this by teachingthe proper way to interact while training bothmind and body.

Gabe DuttlingerWhat styles of dance do you do?I do American-style Ballroom, which includesWaltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Rumba, Cha-Cha, andSwing, among others. My favorite is Cha-Cha.

When did you start dancing?I started dancing in 2003, when I was in tenthgrade. Everyone did ballroom lessons before Win-ter Formal. When I came back from Iraq I joinedthe Ballroom Dancing Club at Hillsdale and tookSocial Dance every semester. A year and a halflater I was running the club. I also taught profes-sionally over the summer.

What would you say those hesitant to dance?Guys: It is scary, and requires vulnerability. Guysarent comfortable exposing their vulnerabilities,but the girl-guy ratio (usually 3:2) speaks foritself. Girls love to dance.

Also, ballroom isnt just for old people. I try toplay modern dance music you would hear in aclub, so people will say Oh yeah, we can ball-room dance to this! Some good ones are Lowby T-Pain featuring Flo Rida thats a great cha-cha song and Enrique Iglesias. Ring My Bellsis good for rumba.

How does dance ft into the liberal arts?Dance strengthens the body by movement, theheart by discipline, the mind by improvisation,and character by wholesome social interaction. Itcomplements our scienti c, historical, and literaryeducation and strengthens our fraternal bonds.

Dan Thelen What styles of dance do you do?Ive been dancing for seven years. I do ballet,modern, jazz, and Scottish Highland. I also teachhip hop and musical theatre at Studio 55 downtown. No matter what kind of dance I am doing,Im happy. I am a Tower Dancer considering

Hillsdales minor in Dance.

What is the minor in Dance like?The Dance minor requires dance technique classeslike ballet and modern, movement-based theatreclasses, history of dance, pilates, et cetera. Youhave to do Tower Dancers we have a concert onthe rst weekend in February, by the way. It willbe Greek-themed, like all of this years theatre. Iam doing some choreography for the show. TowerDancers only dances to wordless music, instru-mentals; lyrics often serve as a crutch to dancersand choreographers.

How does dance ft into the liberal arts?

Dance is good for ones mental, spiritual, andphysical well-being. One can also look at itacademically: learning to understand music, howto move, and how to avoid injury. Terminologyof movement is a eld of its own. Ballet, for example, has names for all of its moves; you couldwrite down a whole routine and people could readit and do it. It is a language of movement andwords. Rudolf Laban went further and categorizedall movement in terms of words and symbols. Acomplete language for dance it looks at energyuse (bound, contained, free- ow), contractionversus expansion, weighted movement.Its very cool.

Hillsdale has a thriving dance community. From Tower Dancers to Jazz Afterglows, Garden Parties to Regenstudents are dancing all the time. Here are a few stars to watch next time you hit the dance oor. Dancers


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Hillsdale in Photos

Documents

The Hillsdale Forum December 2012