Dear reader, As the warmth melts the ice, the heat thaws the snow, and the sun rekindles the spirit of nature’s liveliness once more, it can be tempting to dismiss the tender kindness of the changing seasons in favor of its practical utility. Though it is true that the warm weather means less heavy clothing and more Vitamin D, to fall victim to treating the … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #52
Dear Reader, I find it ironic how winter, a season of apparent stillness and silence, is often the busiest time of year for students. I’d like to encourage you (through what hopefully is not too cheesy of a letter from the editor) to imitate the season and practice intentional stillness in your days as we approach the end of the semester. As academics, we spend … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #51
Dear Reader, Something I have found unique to each of my semesters at Hillsdale is often how specific themes connect between different classes. I like to think of these themes as if they were threads weaving together pieces of knowledge from each of my classes, but the tapestry to which they are being woven into will not be revealed until the end of the semester. … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #50
Dear Reader, As I sit here writing this letter, I can see a flowering white tree out the window. I have watched this tree all semester, and I knew it would eventually start to bloom, but that felt like it would be much farther in the future. Now, as the semester draws to a close and the seniors prepare to graduate, it feels like all … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #49
Dear Reader, As we sit embedded in the frost of this icy winter, we begin to hear in the distance the hopeful sound of birds chirping and to feel the warm sunshine that reminds us of the promise of springtime. It is a time that calls us to look forward with hope and to rejoice in the manifold blessings we are surrounded by every day. … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #48
Dear Reader, My last venture off the beaten path of thematic Letters from the Editor into the world of coffee seemed to go okay. It was even enjoyable. Thence, I shall continue my journey into the wilderness and discuss another topic wholly unrelated to this issue’s content: reading. You should not be ashamed of how few non-homework books you read in college. My reading list … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #47
Dear Reader, An experienced journalist from the Washington Examiner once said, “Nobody reads the Letter from the Editor but your mom.” Taking this advice to heart, I have decided to break the mold and go wild. Instead of trying to contrive an imaginary theme for this issue, let’s talk about coffee. You are not a wimp for liking milk in your coffee. Sure, the strong, … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #46
retrospect (re-truh-spekt) verb 1. (without object) to look back in thought; refer back (often followed by “to”) 2. (with object) to look back upon; contemplate The end of another semester is upon us and with it comes the call to look back and contemplate the semester — the lessons learned, the conversations had, and the friendships deepened. The Forum also calls for retrospection. Whether on … Continue reading Letter from the Editor | Issue #45
William Hazlitt once wrote that the best essayists are those who can “contract or dilate” their attention to see the endless variety in “this huge and proper life,” and then write about it with one stirring quality: gusto. Here, we have a collection of essays with a literary bent—all of them, I am proud to say, written with gusto. Cait Weighner writes about a visit … Continue reading Letter From the Editor, December 2019
Hillsdale Forum 