Hillsdale College is the third most conservative college in the country, according to the Princeton Review. But not all of its students lean to the right. 

College Democrats is a group for liberal students to gather and discuss politics each week. Senior Avery Noel, the club’s president, said it is a place for great conversations across the political divide.  

“It gives something you won’t see anywhere else on campus,” he said.

Despite his politics, Noel was drawn to Hillsdale’s education.

“I was excited to come here. I really value the liberal arts,” Noel said. “That was something that appealed to me outside of Hillsdale’s political leanings.”

Members of the club discuss issues from a left-leaning perspective such as racial justice and environmentalism. He said about 50 people are on the College Democrats email list, and about 10 show up to meetings consistently 

College Democrats treasurer, junior Kelsey Bacigalupi, said she loves the weekly meetings.

“We go there and chat about current events. There’s always something happening, especially in this election year,” Bacigalupi said. “I like the open door policy that we have about it. It’s not a Democrat only club, it’s for everyone. We’ve housed conservatives, we’ve hosted moderates. We chat and have a great conversation.”

Although Noel said most professors at Hillsdale aren’t liberal, he can think of several who he would say lean left. 

“I think there’s a really good number of professors who appreciate what our club does even though they might not be left per se,” Noel said. “I would also say I think that the faculty in general is really nuanced and has a lot of different perspectives that I don’t think are always captured or represented.”

Noel said having a minority viewpoint on campus can be challenging.

“Sometimes it’s hard,” he said. “There are definitely times when I feel misrepresented.” 

As an economics major and politics minor, Noel said he participates in many political discussions.

“My education has been good. Even though there are a lot of things that I’ve heard in classes that I might not agree with or appreciate, it’s still good to have those perspectives,” Noel said. “It’s made me reconsider why I think what I think and has strengthened my viewpoints.”

Bacigalupi grew up near Seattle and was introduced to progressive issues in high school. 

“I grew up in a conservative household, but over time I was exposed to newer ideas. I am a big proponent of equal representation,” Bacigalupi said. “That’s my main issue that I find myself talking with my parents and family members about.”

Bacigalupi said Hillsdale’s conservatism can often create an echo chamber.

Bacigalupi said she loved a 300-level course that she took with College President Larry Arnn at Broadlawn.

“I went over there recently and we just chatted for three hours. I love the depth that we get into with our discussions,” she said. 

Bacigalupi hopes to work in politics after graduation and was accepted for an internship in the UK’s Parliament this summer. 

“I will be spending 10 weeks in the summer working at Parliament House under either an MP or lord. I want to do something international before working for a senator in D.C.,” she said.

Bacigalupi said she wants her fellow students to know that while Democrats do in fact exist at Hillsdale, they aren’t some secret organization pulling the strings. 

“There’s a running joke on campus that the College Democrats control a lot of things but we really don’t, we just chat and get food afterward,” she said.  

Associate Professor of Economics Christopher Martin said while he opposes many policies associated with the Democratic party, he finds value in attending some of the College Democrats meetings.

Martin said there are also areas in which one can find common ground with Democrats. 

“We need dissenters because they might see some truth where we have a blind spot. These dissenters can help us understand our own position better by forcing us to argue for it,” he said.  

Martin said Hillsdale gains honor by encouraging collegial dissent. 

“Even though we don’t necessarily agree on specifics, I admire their courage to swim against the tide,” Martin said. “Think about how it would feel to be red in an overwhelmingly blue environment.” 

Martin said he wants there to be greater unity among those with differing opinions, mentioning his involvement with a nonprofit organization called Braver Angels, a group that builds resources and events that help people communicate across partisan divides. 

“Braver Angels interested me because of what I call the ‘Thanksgiving dinner problem,’”, Martin said. “You’re with relatives or friends on different sides of the partisan divide. If politics comes up, there’s a good chance of a bitter argument that strains or even ruins friendships. Families can even get estranged.” 

Martin said he also hopes that a Braver Angels chapter could be created at Hillsdale. 

“Both major parties are big disparate coalitions. Specific individuals on the ‘other side’ probably aren’t happy with everything people on their team says or does, just as you aren’t always happy with people on your side,” he said.

Martin said he has learned many things from College Democrats.

“You don’t have to agree with someone to appreciate that they come at an issue with intelligence and a base of experience that may differ from your own,” Martin said.