Michigan’s oldest college newspaper
Vol. 143 Issue 7 - October 17, 2019
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Hilldale alumni clerk for Supreme Court justices By | Julia Mullins City News Editor
Manuel Valle ’11 will become Hillsdale’s seventh graduate in the past eight years to clerk for a Supreme Court justice. During the October 2021 term, Valle will clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas. Professor of Philosophy and Religion Nathan Schlueter, who is also the faculty adviser for the college’s Federalist Society, said Valle will be the second Hillsdale graduate to clerk for Thomas. Schlueter said Hillsdale’s core curriculum and professors prepare students for success at
law school. Megan Lacy ’07 is currently a clerk for Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and Michael Francisco ’04 is clerking for Justice Neil Gorsuch. “Hillsdale taught me how to think through problems and be grounded in the matters of the Constitution and Western values,” Francisco said. “It was a challenging education that gave me the skills I needed to succeed as a lawyer.” Valle studied English and Latin at Hillsdale and said there was not a class at law school that pushed him as much as his freshman year
English class with Professor of English Justin Jackson. “Hillsdale’s rigorous liberal-arts education gives you fundamental skills that are necessary for studying law, especially the ability to analyze difficult texts and then write clearly about them in a way that’s easy for people to understand,” Valle said. After teaching at Glendale Preparatory Academy in Phoenix, Arizona, for three years, Valle attended law school at the University of Chicago and graduated in 2017. Upon earning his law degree, Valle began his first
an email. “Manuel entered the clerkship exhibiting all these qualities, which is most unusual because for him as for most clerks this was his first real job in the law.” Valle said he was fortunate to clerk for Jones because she is a phenomenal judge and an incredible mentor. “I would not have considered applying for the Supreme Court clerkship if not for her guidance and support,” Valle said. “Judge Jones helped me understand how to approach the law because I had been just out of law school, where everything is still theoretical. She is so principled in her
approach to the case. Every single one matters to her.” After his clerkship with Jones, Valle moved to Michigan and clerked for Hon. Joan Larsen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Valle said Larsen clerked for Justice Antonin Scalia and previously served on the Michigan Supreme Court. “I learned a tremendous amount from her,” Valle said. “She was also very supportive in the Supreme Court application,” Valle said. “It was an amazing experience to work
See SCOTUS A3
Christ Chapel dedicated
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas speaks at the Christ Chapel dedication. Regan Meyer | Collegian
Former college chaplain a steadfast Christian, friend
By | Abby Liebing Diocese of the Great Lakes when a student here, and in the Anglican Church of I enjoyed seeing him with Associate Editor North America. his fraternity brothers from After many years of Beckwith also served in back in the day: they held faithful service as Episcopal the Chaplain Corps of the him in respect, and one Bishop of Springfield, IlliUnited States Navy Reserve could tell they did back in nois, Bishop Peter Beckwith, for 27 years. He gained the college, too.” Rear Admiral in the United rank of Rear Admiral and Arnn also noted that he States Navy Reserve and the retired in 1999 as the Deputy learned an important lesson former Hillsdale College Chief of Chaplain for the from Beckwith to “Listen Chaplain, died on Oct. 4 at Total Force. carefully. Try to make sure the age of 80, just one day After his retirement in one knows precisely what after the dedication of HillsIllinois in 2010, Beckwith is being said and the modale College’s dedication. returned to Hillsdale, and tive behind it. Then answer “In the chapel there is a though he was 71 years old, kindly on all occasions, even dedication to him. It if the answer is no.” says ‘In thanksgiving Calvert, former headfor Peter Beckwith and master of Hillsdale Acadehis service, class of my, said he always appre‘61,’” Professor of Hisciated the friendship and tory Kenneth Calvert support he received from said. “And I saw that Beckwith over the years. on the day of the Long before Beckwith dedication and then was the college chaplain, he passed away the Calvert remembered next day. He’s the first meeting him at the Episcofuneral in the chapel pal church. and his name is right “Here was a guy who up there.” really was focused on the Beckwith was born right things in the faith Sept. 8, 1939, in Battle and really impressed me,” Creek, Michigan. In Calvert said. 1961, he graduated Beckwith would often from Hillsdale College speak at Hillsdale Acadwith a Bachelor of emy’s weekly chapel Arts degree and was a meeting and Calvert loved member of the Delta seeing Beckwith’s passion Tau Delta fraternity. when he spoke at the In 1965, he married Academy’s chapel services. Melinda (Foulke) “He hated to use a Beckwith. He then got microphone. So he would Former College Chaplain Peter Beckwith his Master of Divinity step away from the pulpit from the University of died on Oct. 4. External Affairs and kind of walk up and the South Sewanee, as he faithfully served not only down the aisle. The Acadewell as a Master of Sacred as the college’s chaplain, but my chapels are pretty formal Theology from Nashotah also as chaplain for Hillsdale affairs, but he would be like House Theological SemiAcademy, from 2010-2016. this evangelical preacher, nary. Beckwith served as the Hillsdale College Presiwalking away from the Episcopal Bishop of Springdent Larry Arnn remarked pulpit and walking up and field, Illinois, for 18 years that Beckwith was known down the aisle,” Calvert said. before he retired in 2010. He for his humor, careful in his “And sometimes he would also served as a chaplain for judgements, and devoted to slip into his admiral persothe Illinois State Police until his faith and country. na, like he was talking to a his passing. “He was friendly to evbunch of sailors.” In 2014, Beckwith was eryone I ever saw him meet,” appointed as an Assisting Arnn said in an email. “The See Beckwith A3 Bishop for the Anglican bishop was in a fraternity Follow @HDaleCollegian
clerkship in August 2017 for Hon. Edith H. Jones of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Houston, Texas. Jones said she was most impressed with Valle’s humility and extraordinary legal talent. “The qualities I most value in clerks are diligence in legal research and reviewing the trial court record and briefs, plus accuracy in all the details of case management, writing conventions, citations, plus the ability to spot issues our court has to tackle, and finally, the ability to write clearly and on deadlines,” Jones said in
despairing,” Thomas said. lege has provided that space By | S. Nathaniel Grime “When life is difficult and where students can come Sports Editor seems pointless, we need to discern God’s calling, to Nearly two years after a safe haven where we can pray through difficult times, construction began, faculty, escape from the storm and and to praise God for his staff, students, and friends find solace. Chapels provide faithfulness.” of Hillsdale College gaththat setting.” The dedication began ered for the highly anticiThomas explained that with performances by pated dedication of Christ the presence of a chapel Hillsdale College’s Choir Chapel on Oct. 3. Headlinon a college campus was and Chamber Choir under ing the attendees was Clarparticularly significant. the direction of Professor ence Thomas, Associate and Music DepartJustice of the Supreme ment Chairman James Court of the United Holleman. The choir States, who delivered opened the ceremony dedicatory remarks. with a performance of “By constructing “I Was Glad,” comthis chapel, the college posed by Hubert Parry. upholds the importance “‘I was Glad’ has of its Christian roots, been sung at every Eneven as it respects the glish coronation since rights of each person to 1902. Its lyrics come worship God accordfrom Psalm 122, in ing to the dictates of which David prays for his own conscience,” peace in Jerusalem,” Thomas said to a crowd junior and Chamber of more than 800. Choir member Gabriel The college broke Kramer said. “Christ ground on the project Chapel is meant to on Nov. 7, 2017 and the serve as a foretaste chapel’s construction of the eternal peace was originally expected that all believers will to be completed earlier experience in the New this year. After nearly Jerusalem.” two years, only minor The choir also sung interior and exterior Johannes Brahms’ construction remains, “How Lovely Is Thy The Christ Chapel dedication included and the building is open. remarks from both college president Larry Dwelling Place,” “When you walk into Arnn and Supreme Court Justice Clarence a choral setting of here, do you not look up Thomas. Regan Meyer | Collegian Psalm 84. and think of the ultimate “It describes the things?” Hillsdale College “The college years reyearning of the soul to President Larry Arnn asked quire young people to make enter the dwelling place of the audience before Thomas decisions that will affect the God,” Kramer said. “It’s an spoke. rest of their lives. They are exceedingly appropriate Thomas shared personal exposed to new ideas, new text for the opening of the remarks about the role of relationships, new distracchapel.” faith in his own life and tions, and new temptations. The dedication ceremony noted the importance of They need a place where was live streamed on both having a sacred space for they can go to be relieved Hillsdale College’s website prayer and praise. of their troubles and what and Facebook page, and “Chapels are particularly they are bearing as so much the video is still available to important in providing a comes at them so fast,” watch. place for the burdened, the Thomas said. “By building broken-hearted, and the this chapel, Hillsdale Col-
Bauman: A “hero for Christ” By | Nolan Ryan thousands of lives,” he said. whose children also took “Many people followed him classes with Bauman, and Editor-in-Chief from Summit Ministries — a this, he said, is his legacy. Whenever Michael BauChristian apologetics conferAfter graduating from man, professor of theology ence — to Hillsdale, and vice high school, Bauman served and culture, looked down at versa, because he had a way in the U.S. Marine Corps. He his class roster, his students of reaching them and chalstudied at Trinity College and knew he was about to eventually earned his call on someone to dePh.D. from Fordham fend a theological posiUniversity. Bauman tion. And this is how he also taught at the Uniwould use much of his versity of Oxford as class time. an associate dean with Bauman, 69, died the Centre for Medion Oct. 2 of complicaeval and Renaissance tions from a stroke he Studies. suffered this summer. Bauman, who also Funeral services were served as the direcheld in Hillsdale on tor of the Christian Oct. 10, officiated by Studies program at his colleague Thomas Hillsdale, arrived on Burke, professor and campus in 1988 and chair of philosophy and taught courses ranging religion, who also gave from the history of one of the eulogies. Christianity to semProfessor of Theology and Culture Michael Bauman’s brother, inars on John Milton Chris, said in a message Bauman died on Oct. 2. External Affairs and C.S. Lewis. He that he heard nothing was also the author of but praise for Bauman from lenging them like they have 20 books, as well as a blog former students. never been challenged.” on theology, politics, and “Because he was a humble Chris Bauman even said person, I had no idea that See Bauman A2 he knows of former students he had such an impact on
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