Football wins season opener on road The Chargers defeated Mercyhurst University 1911 on Saturday. A10
Michigan’s oldest college newspaper
Wombstock or Woodstock? Wombstock: students traveled back in time at music festival featuring local and student bands
B1
Vol. 141 Issue 2 - September 7, 2017
Going up the Capitol Hill During the summer swell of D.C. interns, Hillsdale students find a home away from home. B4
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
Cost of Hillsdale College hits eight-year high By | Ben Dietderich Collegian Reporter Hillsdale College’s price tag jumped to an all-time high this fall, with costs increasing more than they have in the last eight years. The total cost including fees, room and board for the 20172018 academic year increased by 4.56 percent to $37,352. While Hillsdale’s costs remain lower than the average private four-year institution, they are increasing at a faster pace. Since 2012, Hillsdale’s costs have increased by 16.7 percent. According to the College Board, the average private four-year institution has increased only 9.5 percent over the same period. “Hillsdale tuition is $25,540 — low compared to similar institutions,” Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said in an email. “This means even a 2.5 percent increase at another similar institution, with much higher tuition, is much more money.” A portion of that comes from a 41 percent increase in student fees, which rose from $852 to $1,202. Patrick Flannery, treasurer and vice president of finance, said the in-
crease in student fees was due to a new maintenance fee to cover the costs of Whitley Residence’s renovations and new flooring in the Suites. Flannery said the fee helps with maintenance of the college’s facilities. It also appears as a separate line item on students’ online bill statement. “One of the good things is that it makes things transparent,” Flannery said. “It lets student know how much of their money goes towards these types of things.” Flannery added that the new fee was not being used toward construction of Christ Chapel. According to the college’s website, student fees go toward Student Federation dues, athletic events admission, health service, a student ID, and graduation cap and gown. The increase in cost will also affect students receiving merit-based scholarships. Financial Aid Director Richard Moeggenberg said the college decided two years ago to no longer award gifts covering a percentage of tuition. Insead, the college is granting awards for fixed dollar amounts. “There’s a finite amount of scholarships,” he said. “To keep that in control, we made
the decision to not tie merit awards to a percentage. If a student has a $15,000 merit award, when tuition goes up by 3.5 percent, essentially the value of their scholarship goes down.” While returning students may face aid packages with lesser value, Moeggenberg said incoming freshmen are receiving more merit awards than ever before. “We’re receiving students with strong academic backgrounds, and we’re awarding more and more merit monies,” he said. “The average financial package for this year’s freshmen and last year’s freshmen exceeded what we had given in the past.” According to Péwé, the college budgeted to increase financial aid funds for five years at an annual rate of 9 percent.
Still, for students such as sophomore James Millius, the fixed system increases the financial burden of attending the college. “Many others and I rely on financial aid to go here,” he
Calvert returning to Hillsdale full-time
By | Chandler Lasch Web Editor When Associate Professor of History Kenneth Calvert was asked to temporarily take on the role of headmaster of Hillsdale Academy, he had no idea that he would be there for more than 15 years. “I was a full-time professor,” said Calvert, who has taught ancient history at Hillsdale College for 21 years. “Then, Dr. [Larry] Arnn asked me to serve as the interim headmaster. It’s been a 16-year interim position.” After the 2017-2018 school year, Calvert will step down as the headmaster of Hillsdale Academy and focus his attention on the college. Calvert said although he has loved much about being headmaster, he always intended to return to being a full-time professor. He said that after a “tumul-
Kenneth Calvert | Courtesy
tuous” first few years following its founding in 1990, the academy has settled down. He said this will be the first smooth transfer of authority the K-12 private school has experienced. The college is just beginning a search for the next headmaster. Along with Calvert and the president’s and provost’s offices, the group dedicated to finding a replacement will consist of members including Daniel Coupland, dean of faculty; Phil Kilgore, director of the Barney Charter School Initiative; and Michael Roberts, assistant headmaster. Calvert praised academy students’ high SAT and ACT scores, as well as its athletics program, in which 97 percent of students participate. “More than anything, we have turned our school in a classical direction, affecting
the hearts, minds, and souls of young people,” he said. “We serve as a model for hundreds of schools across the country.” He said he has enjoyed getting to know friends and donors of the academy and appreciates the “many people across the country who love our little school.” Roberts ’98 met Calvert when he was a student in Calvert’s Ancient World course in 1996. He began serving as assistant headmaster the same year Calvert became headmaster. “Working with him as been a great joy,” Roberts said. “He’s been a great boss and partner all these years. He’s simply one of the best men that I know.” Roberts praised the work Calvert has done at the academy. “He has made huge contributions,” Roberts said. “There have been very positive changes in the academy in every imaginable way, such as student enrollment, the quality of teachers, and financial growth. Dr. Calvert loves the Lord, the academy, and the college and its mission. That’s why he’s had such a great impact in serving as headmaster.” Roberts said he thinks Calvert is an outstanding teacher and that he looks forward to working with Calvert in new ways going forward. Calvert said that leaving the academy is bittersweet. “There’s a sad feeling to it, because I have put so much energy into our great little school and worked so hard to make it worthy of the Hillsdale name,” Calvert said. “It’s particularly sad to leave behind
the kids. But there is a rather large measure of relief to hand the reins of the institution over to someone new. I feel like it’s time to pass that on.” Calvert’s son Ian is a junior at Hillsdale Academy. His two older children also attended the academy and went on to attend Hillsdale: Joel Calvert graduated in 2017, and Claire Calvert is currently a sophomore. “That has been a huge joy and big part of my life,” Calvert said. “Every day is ‘Take Your Kids to Work’ day.” Claire Calvert said she admires the work her father has done and is excited to see him return to working full time for the college. “My father being the headmaster at the academy is all I have ever known,” she said. “It never seemed out of place, and as I got older, I began to notice how well he kept the school running. I was never ashamed of being at the academy with him, because I loved him and I knew how hard he worked to make the academy a great place of learning.” Calvert, who used to be a stand-up comedian, said one of his lessons from comedy also applies to stepping down from the academy. “The rule is always to leave the stage when they’re laughing and clapping,” he said.
Townhouses to be completed by June By | Nic Rowan Assistant Editor Off campus college students can look forward to more upscale housing availabilities starting next year. As a part of the College Park housing initiative, Hillsdale College trustee and Michigan builder Thomas Duke has taken it upon himself to build and fund a townhouse complex on the corner of West and College streets. Duke said he wants to provide more modern off-camFollow @HDaleCollegian
pus housing for students and friends of the college. “I was disappointed with the housing on the south side of campus,” he said. “Students deserve better based on the recent trend of upscale housing in college towns across the country. I want to build something walkable and with an upscale experience.” According to Duke, there will be six townhouses in the new complex. Four will fit eight students and two will fit five students. Every bedroom will be furnished. Additionally,
each bedroom will have private bathrooms. Apartments will also include large kitchens and living areas. “It will be everything a student would want,” Duke said. “You can move in, get to work, get to class quick and have privacy and a really nice environment.” Chief Administrative Officer Rich Péwé said although the school is involved in promoting the building project, the houses will be considered off campus. “The college will give no
guarantees about filling any beds, but I suspect there will be great interest because of the location and quality,” he said. Péwé added that the townhouses are an experiment, and if successful for the owners and the college, more will be built. This development could eventually benefit the city. “Owners will pay Hillsdale City property taxes based on the value of the individual units,” Péwé said. “If they own it as their primary residence, the owner could qualify for the same tax See Park A2
www.hillsdalecollegian.com
said. “When costs go up without an increase in financial aid, it affects a lot of us.” Péwé added that when the school raises its price, it creates additional challenges for the college, as well.
“Every tuition increase is actually a burden, not just revenue, because we have to supply proportionately more financial aid to meet the additional costs — a financial blessing and a curse,” he said.
Reusable thermoses replaces paper cups By | Kaylee McGhee City News Editor Paper to-go cups are now a no-go in the Knorr Dining Room. Instead, Bon Appétit Management Company, the college’s food service, is providing 1,600 reusable thermoses to students, faculty, and staff as a replacement to reduce waste, said David Apthorpe, Bon Appétit’s Hillsdale manager. Discarding the paper cups aligned with the food service company’s sustainability goals, he said. “More than 80,000 cups and sleeves and lids hit the trash each year,” Apthorpe said. “That’s just not manageable.” Bon Appétit decided the solution was to provide each student with a to-go thermos, so patrons can still take coffee, tea, and other drinks after leaving the cafeteria. Bon Appétit, however, has not decided if it will provide thermoses in the future. “We didn’t want to pull the rug out and not give people another option,” he said. “So even though we’re taking away part of a service, we’re also providing a gift.” Bon Appétit Director of Operations Anna Harutunian said the to-go tumblers allow the company to maintain an equilibrium between two of the food service’s main goals: reducing waste and maintaining convenience. “This is a win-win situation for the college and our environment,” Harutunian said in an email. Harutunian said those who weren’t directly given a thermos can pick one up at the front desk of the Grewcock Student Union, and faculty interested in receiving their free thermos can do so at the front desk in the dining hall. Harutunian said Bon Appétit plans on providing incoming freshmen with a thermos each year, and extra tumblers will be available to those who lose theirs. Bon Appétit’s decision received pushback from students, however. Several said it is an inconvenience, especially upperclassmen who were accustomed to Bon Appétit’s previous system.
“It seems as if Bon Appétit spent a significant amount of money purchasing to-go containers which students are going to bring back only on occasion, if at all,” senior Katie Mersereau said. “There is no question that a small 8-ounce beverage to go at every single meal is absolutely justified for the price of the meal plan they’re paying for.” Apthorpe said Bon Appétit expected the complaints, saying it happens each time the cafeteria makes a significant change. “Every time you’re changing a behavior or expectation, there’s going to be pushback,” he said. “As people get used to it, it will be fine.” Apthorpe said he expects Bon Appétit to continue receiving feedback cards demanding the disposable cups back. The cafeteria stands by its decision, however, because part of Bon Appétit’s mission is to provide a food service sustainable for the future. “If we can eliminate 80,000 paper cups going to the trash, we see that as a good thing,” Apthorpe said. Junior Andrea Wallace, president of the Conservation Club, said she agreed with Bon Appétit’s decision because being environmentally conscious is essential in day-to-day life — even at college. “Studies have shown that if one consumes and disposes of one paper cup of coffee a day, they will generate 23 pounds of waste each year,” Wallace said in an email. “Let’s say an average of 500 students consume a to-go beverage from the cafeteria daily — that would result in 11,500 pounds of waste.” A consequence of Bon Appétit’s switch is the increasing number of ceramic mugs disappearing from the cafeteria. Students forget their thermoses and leave with the sit-in mugs available to them, Apthorpe said. He said this is a reality Bon Appétit is willing to face. Apthorpe said the desire to reduce the amount of food being taken from the cafeteria also went into the decision.
See Cups A3 Look for The Hillsdale Collegian