OPEN FORUM: Student Fed funded wisely
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Opinion
Joseph McCleary expressed dissatisfaction with Student Federation for its allocation of money from its philanthropy fund to the Christian organizations Athletes in Action and Young Life, creating an excellent opportunity to discuss the purpose of the Hillsdale College Student Federation.
Hillsdale College was established by Freewill Baptists "grateful to God for the inestimable blessings resulting from civil and religious liberty." This language appears in the college's mission statement and is adopted in the Federation Constitution. In the College's Articles of Association, Article Six states: "Religious culture in particular shall be conserved by the College, and by the selection of instructors and other practicable expedients, it shall be a conspicuous aim to teach precepts and example the essentials of the Christian faith."
Nowhere appears mention of the separation of church and state - and incidentally, that language does not appear in the Constitution of our nation, either; rather, the association of church and college is deemed essential for education to flourish.
According to the preamble of its constitution, Student Federation exists "to support the College in its Mission of calling students toward the active cultivation of intellectual and moral excellence, [and] humility before our Creator." It meets this end through the "allocation of student fees for the purpose of improving campus life" among other means.
McCleary concedes that the appropriations for Athletes in Action and Young Life are constitutional because the funds came from the philanthropy budget, which comes not from mandatory student fees but money collected from student donors on a voluntary basis.
I contend that the action would have been constitutional even if the money had come from the Federation's discretionary budget; both organizations are officially recognized, in good standing, and expedite the mission of the college.
Further, if most students support the organizations, as Mr. McCleary asserts, then as a representative body the Federation is doing a good job of representing their constituents by their support. No representative body will please all at once; most is acceptable.
Congratulations to the Federation for faithfully adhering to their governing principles, and to The Collegian for being a forum for this worthy discussion.
-Jeremiah Regan
Hillsdale College was established by Freewill Baptists "grateful to God for the inestimable blessings resulting from civil and religious liberty." This language appears in the college's mission statement and is adopted in the Federation Constitution. In the College's Articles of Association, Article Six states: "Religious culture in particular shall be conserved by the College, and by the selection of instructors and other practicable expedients, it shall be a conspicuous aim to teach precepts and example the essentials of the Christian faith."
Nowhere appears mention of the separation of church and state - and incidentally, that language does not appear in the Constitution of our nation, either; rather, the association of church and college is deemed essential for education to flourish.
According to the preamble of its constitution, Student Federation exists "to support the College in its Mission of calling students toward the active cultivation of intellectual and moral excellence, [and] humility before our Creator." It meets this end through the "allocation of student fees for the purpose of improving campus life" among other means.
McCleary concedes that the appropriations for Athletes in Action and Young Life are constitutional because the funds came from the philanthropy budget, which comes not from mandatory student fees but money collected from student donors on a voluntary basis.
I contend that the action would have been constitutional even if the money had come from the Federation's discretionary budget; both organizations are officially recognized, in good standing, and expedite the mission of the college.
Further, if most students support the organizations, as Mr. McCleary asserts, then as a representative body the Federation is doing a good job of representing their constituents by their support. No representative body will please all at once; most is acceptable.
Congratulations to the Federation for faithfully adhering to their governing principles, and to The Collegian for being a forum for this worthy discussion.
-Jeremiah Regan
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