Hillsdale College officially kicked off its latest capital campaign yesterday.
The two-day gala aims to raise $470 million over the next five years. The title of the campaign is “The Rebirth of Liberty and Learning.”
George Will, author, syndicated columnist, and Fox News contributor, delivered the keynote address last night in a transformed Margot V. Biermann Athletic Center. He outlined the threats to “the American project,” the pitfalls of progressivism, and how institutions like Hillsdale are important in order to revitalize the republic.
“[Hillsdale College is] defending the American project and the American system,” Will said, addressing the approximately 600 people in attendance.
President Larry Arnn, who introduced Will, said the night was “a chance to bring donors and students together” and repeatedly referred to the crowd, which consisted of donors, students, faculty and staff, as “partners.”
“[We are here] to raise the activity that goes on this campus to the highest possible level,” Arnn said.
The college plans to use the money it raises in the campaign to bolster the endowment, which is used for scholarships and the charter school initiative, among other things.
The money will also go toward capital projects around campus. Some of the buildings the college plans to build include a chapel, an archive building attached to the library, and an indoor turf field. It will also renovate several buildings, including dormitories and the Dow Leadership Center.
Crews have spent the past week transforming the Biermann center from an indoor track to a formal event hall.
They divided the building into three rooms using large curtains and temporary carpet covered the track and tennis courts. Those, in combination with mood lighting, made the arena unrecognizable.
While most of the events surrounding the gala are for invited guests and donors, students are invited to two events this afternoon and evening: a concert by the college orchestra at 1:30 p.m. and, for those with tickets, a speech by the former President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus.
A reception with an open bar and dessert will follow the speech.
Harrison Hensley attended last night’s speech. His late wife sponsored the Dolores P. Hensley Women’s Cross Country and Track Scholarship, and Hensley continues to contribute to the scholarship.
Even though the college is only one day into the gala, Hensley said he’s enjoyed the experience.
“What impresses me tremendously is how friendly everybody is—the staff and the people. No sourpusses have I met yet,” Hensley said.
Lemon James, who also attended Will’s speech, discovered the college through Imprimis. James said she appreciated Hillsdale’s mission to protect the Constitution and educate minds to understand and secure its prominence in the United States government.
“I like the atmosphere, the mood of the education experience seems very genuine and nurturing and sincere,” James said.
For Hensley, Will’s speech hit home.
“I thought it was excellent,” Hensley said. “He said a lot of things that are pertinent to what is going on in the country.”
Will, after outlining a good many problems with the current state of the United States government, ended his speech on a hopeful note.
“We have endured. We shall endure,” he said. “In part because of the help you are giving to an institution like this.”
