I find myself at A.J.’s Cafe three or four times a day, either getting some Grab-N-Go or ordering myself a Chai London Fog. On a recent visit, I was greeted with an ugly black cover where usually pleasantly packaged sandwiches and wraps normally reside. On the cover was taped a paper that says, “Please ask for assistance for Grab-N-Go.” I asked a barista about it and was informed that A.J.’s has been having some problems with theft, leading them to cover the Grab-N-Go. Hillsdale, we need to stand against these actions that are causing this disintegration in our student body.
How have we fallen so far? A.J.’s finds us as a student body so unworthy they decide to take on more work for their employees – particularly so during the busiest of times for them, lunch and dinner – because students are breaking their trust. Where are the bastions of the ideals of Hillsdale College, those who respect the rights of a private business on campus, and who rebuke those who do not?
We all put our names on a piece of paper when we got here on which were the words:
“A Hillsdale College student is honorable in conduct, honest in word and deed, dutiful in study and service, and respectful of the rights of others. Through education the student rises to self-government.”
Our honor code is only as meaningful as the people who keep it. The idea of self-government is one not of “I say what I ought to do,” or “I must be able to do the things I want,” but, more importantly, having the integrity to do the things you ought to do. How can a student possibly rise to self-government if we choose to do those things which we ought not to do?
Along with signing the honor code, every student chose to enter this community. As part of Hillsdale College, each student is subject to the rebuking of professors in terms of work and education, deans and the administration for behavior, and even other students for ideas and actions.
In Matthew 18:15-17, we are called by Jesus to hold one another accountable. We are all brothers and sisters here at Hillsdale. As part of this community, we have all promised to uphold honor, honesty, and the rights of others. If you should find a brother who sins against our community, go to him and tell him his fault. Restore the sanctity of Hillsdale and gain for yourself a brother.
I end, then, with this. Be honest, follow God, and love your neighbor. This is a sacred place, different from all others because of our promise to each other and our community. We must not let our community and the morals that Hillsdale is built on crumble.
