The annual Man Up event, a day of wrestling, weightlifting, and obstacle courses for freshmen men, was held on Sept. 14 from 2-5 p.m. 

The Dean of Men’s office organizes the one-time event, along with resident assistants of men’s dorms and fraternity leaders, according to Dean of Men Aaron Petersen. 

“We started the program because we wanted to encourage our freshmen men to develop tenacity, grit, and friendship,” Petersen said. 

At the beginning of the event, the freshmen gathered to sing the national anthem and pray, according to Petersen. Associate Professor of Philosophy Ian Church then spoke to them about the value of exercise. 

“Plato said that a balanced soul requires a balanced body,” Church later said he included in his talk. “If you just train your body, you’ll be too savage, but if you just train your mind, you’ll be too soft. You need a whole person approach.” 

Church said how people should live is contingent on what kind of creature they are, and people are physical, embodied creatures. Because of this, physical health is related to mental and cognitive health, so working out is as important to studying as sleeping. He added that the social aspect of the gym is also beneficial.   

“It’s hard to find anyone more introverted than I am, but even I love the social life the gym affords,” Church said. “There’s a kind of communal suffering. Strength training requires suffering, and suffering binds you together. Even just having someone spot you really bonds you.”

Church said the strain of exercise and the act of subjecting yourself to failure is part of the thrill of the gym. It is impossible to flourish as a person without being subjected to strain, according to Church. 

“It is a genuine thrill to push yourself to your limits,” Church said. “To get under the bar knowing you’re not going to walk away from it — that you’re going to have to crawl away, because you gave it your all, and you’re going to get the most growth from that experience. It builds your character. It builds your soul.” 

After Church spoke, the freshmen split into two groups. The first group went to the football field for calisthenics and basic wrestling. The other group went to the weight room to learn how to lift. After around 45 minutes, the groups switched, according to Petersen. 

“Our freshmen varsity athletes already have a training regimen, so we ask them to help lead the various activities alongside their non-varsity athlete classmates,” Petersen said. “They help with calisthenics, weightlifting, and wrestling.”

When the freshmen rejoined, they marched to Hayden Park, where they completed military-style obstacle courses and team obstacle courses. The Hillsdale Fire Department came to hose them down this year, according to Petersen. 

“Completing difficult tasks in the face of fatigue or fear can help a student develop and strengthen his mindset, and a good and strong mindset is important to have at Hillsdale and in life,” Associate Dean of Men Jeffery “Chief” Rogers said in an email.

The obstacle courses replicated confidence course obstacles done in military training, which are designed to develop confidence and courage, test problem-solving under stress, enhance physical fitness, and instill perseverance and grit, according to Rogers. 

“We do it to encourage their health and moral formation,” Petersen said. “Working out requires a commitment to strength and endurance, and men working out together helps build friendship and accountability.”

After the workout portion was finished, the freshmen ate steak together, according to Petersen. 

Freshman Micah Kuester said Man Up was a great experience where he learned how to wrestle, lift, and work together with other guys. 

“It definitely gave me respect for the teachers who came out to show us how to lift, the guys who showed us how to wrestle, and the resident assistants who were helping us out the whole way,” Kuester said. 

Church said that college is one of the best times to start working out. 

“Now’s a good time to get into it,” Church said. “You’re surrounded by good gym equipment, friends to go with, and you have a meal plan that will give you all the protein you need.”