Hillsdale’s Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary will host a senior-exclusive lecture Feb. 12 from 6-8pm in the Hoynak Room. Courtesy | ODK.org

Hillsdale’s leadership honorary will collect phones and other electronic devices before a lecture by an undisclosed speaker at its next senior-exclusive event Feb. 12 from 6-8 p.m. in the Hoynak Room.

Members of Omicron Delta Kappa will impose the Chatham House Rule, which means while students may discuss information they learn from the meeting, they may not attribute it to any specific individual.

The keynote speaker will offer the upcoming class of graduates his thoughts on the college and its role in education and culture, according to Omicron Delta Kappa President Josiah Jagoda. Students will also have the opportunity to ask the speaker any questions they may have about the college after the lecture.

“I think there are pent-up questions and potential frustrations that students can have during their time at Hillsdale, questions with the college’s methodology or its marketing,” Jagoda said. “We thought it would be a really cool idea if the seniors who have done their time got a chance to have an open discussion about those questions, so long as it’s a respectful, genuine inquiry and not, ‘I just want to voice my frustration.’”

In making the event closed-door, Omicron Delta Kappa hopes to create an open environment where students can approach a senior member of the faculty with their opinions on the school and have a genuine conversation, according to Jagoda. 

Assistant Professor of History Jason Gehrke, who advises the honorary, said this year’s members chose “the leadership of Hillsdale College” as their theme for organizing activities. 

“The event expresses that mission,” Gehrke said. “It is an opportunity to come together with one of the college’s most esteemed and senior faculty to reflect upon Hillsdale College, what it has done in the lives of students and what it does or might mean for the larger world.”

But beyond giving students a chance to reflect, the event is an opportunity for seniors to “gather in friendship” and speak openly, according to Gehrke.

“Bring all of your thoughts and questions and stay for the conversation,” Gehrke said. 

Seniors hoping to attend can look for an RSVP form in the Student Activities Office newsletter. It is a formal event with a cocktail attire dress code.

“A lot of people have questions that are a little bit like, ‘I don’t know if I’m allowed to ask that, I don’t want to question the authority of the college,’ but we should talk about those things,” Jagoda said. “I think those are questions that need to be answered so that students can go out into the world and represent Hillsdale in an authentic way.”