Hillsdale’s leadership honorary will host two receptions Saturday to connect college students and community members in hopes of strengthening the city-college relationship.
Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary hopes the relationships formed from these invite-only events will produce service projects, strengthen the community, and boost economic development in the city of Hillsdale and local schools.
“Anytime we can have those conversations between the college and the community, it’s always a good thing,” said Mick Ritter, Broad Street Downtown Market & Tavern co-owner, who will attend the business reception.
Associate Professor of English and ODK adviser Patricia Bart said being involved in the community is important to living out a college education.
“We should have a community that is the envy of others here if we are really living by our conservative commitments,” Bart said. “This town is remarkable, and there are many things we can do to make it the astonishment of friends and critics alike.”
According to ODK president senior Sam Ryskamp, the community could benefit from the time and talent of the student body.
“In the Hillsdale community, there’s unfortunately a lot of broken families,” Ryskamp said. “There are a lot of students who are going through school, but aren’t learning very much. There’s a lot of students who get in trouble with the law. It can be a difficult environment for a lot of businesses. I think all those things can be addressed.”
One of ODK’s goals is to facilitate and encourage leadership among students.
“It’s also sort of a recognition in that we’re encouraging people because if you’re invited, it shows we’ve seen what you’re doing on campus, and we appreciate what you’re doing,” Ryskamp said.
In past years, ODK has focused more on leadership on campus until an amendment was passed last year to look toward growing leadership outside of the college, ODK secretary senior Savannah Tibbetts said.
“We’re trying to expand that to the community, not only for us to support, but for us to learn from them,” Tibbetts said.
ODK hopes the networking is also a learning opportunity for students to gain knowledge from community members who have been in town longer.
“It’s community leaders who have demonstrated an active interest in working with college students and are in a position where they would be willing to give us advice,” Ryskamp said. “That’s a big part of it too. There’s a lot of college students who are really excited about making a difference, and they have a lot of energy, but it’s not directed energy, and so, we hope that meeting a number of community leaders who have experienced the problems first hand will help direct the students toward that positive outlook.”
According to Director of Hillsdale Economic Development Mary Wolfram, Hillsdale College has benefitted from the generosity of city residents in the past.
“Institutionally, the history of the college is very instrumental in the history of the founding of the city,” Wolfram said. “Local businessmen donated the land that created the space for the college. Local businessmen donated the money that started the college; they were a huge part of it. Right now, it looks like the college is wealthier or better off than the city. That was not always the case. There were times in history when the college came to wealthy residents of Hillsdale and asked for help to make payroll, the city, not the city government, bailed them out.”
Now, the college is grouped with the hospital and churches as important institutions in the city, Wolfram said.
“The college is nationally, even internationally known,” Wolfram said. “They really put Hillsdale on the map in a lot of people’s perceptions. They bring in hundreds of guests a year, so they’re a huge market source in that way.”
Ryskamp said the college students are a part of the community, and it’s important they act as such.
“We’re trying to bridge the gap between campus and community because it can be very easy as college students to become self-focused,” Ryskamp said. “When you’re in college, everything you do is about yourself, your future, your grades, and your resume. It’s easy to forget about the people who need to be served who are half a mile down the road. As college students, we’re members of the community.”
