Aliza Kwiatek
John Hamood
Every Saturday, sophomore Aliza Kwiatek travels to Ann Arbor to celebrate her Jewish beliefs as member of the University of Michigan Hillel.
“It’s a little intimidating, their Hillel community feels as big as Hillsdale,” Kwiatek said.
Kwiatek is one of the only Jewish students attending Hillsdale College. She said Jewish tradition encourages group celebrations of the Sabbath and important holidays.
Like many Hillsdale students, Kwiatek goes to great lengths to strengthen her religious beliefs, but has the added struggle of finding like-minded believers on campus.
Hillsdale’s student body is overwhelmingly Christian, but a close look reveals lively debates within Christian theology and rifts among different denominations and between Protestants and Catholics.
A student like senior John Hamood remains in an even smaller minority.
Hamood, a Muslim, said he often recognizes his uniqueness, but was prepared to face scrutiny at Hillsdale.
“I think it takes people back to meet a Muslim that doesn’t look like an extremist on television,” Hamood said. “I’m glad that I’m out here and that my parents taught me how to represent my religion. I don’t mind letting anybody know who I am.”
Besides a Center for Constructive Alternatives lecture series on Islam, which Hamood called insensitive, Hamood said he does not feel specific animosity.
“Most of the people I have discussions with are very respectful of my religion,” Kwiatek said. “People are pretty civil about it, and if it does get heated people can agree to disagree. As a representative people look at you and equate that to the whole Jewish community.”
Kwiatek said despite her parents’ nervousness about her entering a campus without many Jewish students, she has been well-received.
The Collegian series on diversity has explored the presence, opinions, and available statistics on the makeup of the studentry. Statistics are especially difficult to explore areas of religious diversity and political thought.
The Princeton Review pulls no punches in its college rankings, naming Hillsdale College the institution where “Students Most Lean to the Right.”
Administrators such as Admissions Director Jeff Lantis admit the dominance of conservative thought on campus. Lantis said the conservative reputation attracts students.
Although the college advertises events such as CCAs that host notable conservative thinkers twice per semester, political activity in the past two years has shown a growth in other political groups.
The Hillsdale Classic Liberals have hosted more events this year than last, and the campus witnessed the birth of the Hillsdale College Democrats last year.
According to an Oct. 13 article in The Collegian, Hillsdale College Democrat membership increased from five to nearly 50 members over seven months.
In the same article senior Justin Roebuck, president of the College Republicans, said the diversity of political thought keeps each political group in perspective.
“Last year it was the same people showing up for each event,” sophomore Classic Liberals officer Stacy Edwards said. “This year we’re getting a wide variety of students with very different interests and even different viewpoints. We’re trying to incorporate a few more serious, big-name speakers while at the same time maintaining our traditional humorous and light-hearted events.”
The College Republicans have also maintained their presence on campus, hosting events like a celebration of Ronald Reagan, and a memorial for victims lost in Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
David Landow, Events Director of the College Republicans, said their events are not organized in reference to other groups.
“[Increased activities] have motivated some people to come to our events who wouldn’t normally come,” Landow said. “We would definitely be open to debates, but when we plan we don’t look at other groups.”