Haley in front of the White House.
Courtesy | Bradley Haley

Bradley Haley is a junior English major from Gallipolis, Ohio. He is a George Washington Fellow, president of Hillsdale’s Federalist Society, and founder of an online publication called New Guard Press. His writing has been featured in The Daily Signal, The Federalist, The Daily Caller, and Crisis Magazine. In his free time, Haley enjoys playing the guitar and organ, reading G.K. Chesterton, running, and drinking good coffee. 

If you could have dinner with any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would have dinner with G.K. Chesterton so I could talk with him about modern things like iPhones and Taylor Swift to get his perspective on them.

Why are you majoring in English?

When I came to Hillsdale, I was undecided between philosophy, politics, and English. But in my Great Books classes, I discovered that really all the things which I was interested in were most contained in literature. So I decided I wanted to spend my time studying great authors and reading literature.

What has been the most formative class you have taken at Hillsdale?

Victorian and Modern Literature with Dr. Lindley was by far the most formative class for me. Seeing the philosophic beginnings of the industrial age really changed how I see the modern world.

What is the most valuable piece of advice you have been given?

“A students work for C students, and B students work for the government.” I hope none of my professors read this, but perhaps some freshmen will ponder this when they are in the library at 1 a.m. during Hell Week.

If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?

I would donate it to the college and tell them to expedite the construction.

If you were running for president, what would your campaign slogan be?

Don’t Be a Fundie.

What is your go-to AJ’s order?

Smashburger and fries with hot sauce and barbecue sauce on the fries.

What is your favorite hobby?

Hunting — specifically squirrel hunting in West Virginia and preparing the squirrel legs to be fried.

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

My dad and I have always had very interesting conversations about theology and politics and everything else. I would say those shaped me a good deal.

What is a book quote that you think everyone should memorize?

I think it would either be, “We have sinned and grown old and our father is younger than we,” from G.K. Chesterton, or “You have never met a mere mortal,” from C.S. Lewis.

If you were in a reality TV show, what character stereotype would you play?

The strategist, and I’d be called Desmond.

What is the most formative group you have been a part of at Hillsdale?

I have met a lot of my closest friends at the Grotto and Catholic Society events. The Catholic Society leadership team does a really good job and hosts a lot of wonderful events. And most importantly, the Catholic Society banded together to crown our rightful sovereign, Andrew Winter, at homecoming.

How would you rank the top three coffee shops in Hillsdale?

Well, I’ve only been to three, so I’d say, 1) Rough Draft, 2) Penny’s, and 3) Checker Records. I am loyal to Rough Draft though — some say I am part of the decor.

What do you think is one of Hillsdale’s most underappreciated qualities?

I think people underappreciate how good it is to be in the middle of nowhere. The fact that my car gets muddy every time I come and go from Hillsdale says a lot about Hillsdale. We get to spend four years in a relatively normal, rural town, studying under great professors and alongside incredibly intelligent peers. We all choose to come here for the education, and for the people, not because it is convenient. That means everyone is bought in, and as Nathan Furness says, locked in.

What is your favorite type of music to play?

I really enjoy playing folk music, especially Mumford and Sons, and lately some Zach Bryan.