Find Your Community: The Culture of Hillsdale College Men’s Dorms (Part One)
Written by Brennan Berryhill
This is part one of Find Your Community: The Culture of Hillsdale College Men’s Dorms
Dorms are not mere living spaces at Hillsdale College. They are hotbeds of culture and friendship.
As an incoming freshman who knew nothing about dorm life, I selected the “no preference” option on the housing form about which dorm I wanted. When I was sorted into Whitley Residence, I had no idea what to expect. Now, looking back halfway through my college experience, many of my best memories, closest relationships, and deepest conversations have been with my dormmates. My friends in other men’s dorms confirm that this is a common sentiment. College President Dr. Larry Arnn has said that most learning at college happens outside the classroom, and there is no better example of this than the dorms.
Every men’s dorm on campus has something unique to offer. I asked students in leadership at each of the four major men’s dorms to talk about their dorm events and culture. Lance Lintereur is the head resident assistant (RA) of Whitley, Elijah Ahrens is an RA at Galloway, Harrison Layman was the student house director at Niedfeldt, and Jonathan Williams is an RA at Simpson. They each provided insight into what has made dorm life so special during their time on campus.
While you won’t go wrong selecting the “no preference” option like I did, there might be a dorm that would fit you perfectly. These four men want to help you find it.
Q: What are the biggest events you host each year?
Niedfeldt: Harrison said Niedfeldt hosts its largest event each fall: Pumpkin Palooza. The fall-themed party is full of live music, cider, coffee, and food to raise money for Domestic Harmony, a local domestic violence service organization. In the spring of 2025, Niedfeldt hosted Hillsdale Hot Ones, spoofing the popular interview series where guests answer questions while eating progressively spicier wings. The men of Niedfeldt did the same wing-filled interviews with professors and construction workers from around campus. That event raised money for another local organization, Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center. Those events are open for all of campus, but Niedfeldt also hosts Niedformal, a formal event for the men of the dorm and their dates. Harrison noted that the dorm hosts smaller events like Niedex, a Ted Talk-style event where students deliver a presentation on random, hilarious topics.
Simpson: Though a newer event, Simpson Smackdown has quickly become a campus favorite, according to Jonathan. The dorm hosts a WWE-style wrestling event with big personalities, crazy costumes, and guest appearances from professors. Simpson Asylum is a Halloween event where Simpson turns the dorm into a haunted house to raise money for charity. At the end of the year, Simpsonites can be seen playing statue golf throughout campus, where each “hole” is a landmark around the College.
Whitley: Lance said the biggest event Whitley hosts is the end-of-the-year Long Table. The dorm plants an enormously lengthy table in the middle of the hall, and residents dress up and celebrate the year with food, toasts, and awards. In the fall of 2024, Whitley also hosted a murder-mystery date party. At the beginning of the year, there was a donut-eating competition between the residents and RAs. However, some of the most fun events in Lance’s eyes are the spontaneous outings, like sledding nights or trips to Dutch Uncle, a popular donut shop in nearby Coldwater.
Galloway: One of Galloway’s biggest events is Galloween, a massive Halloween party with pumpkin carving, pie-eating contests, and a bonfire. Elijah said the dorm hosts frequent movie nights and baking sessions in its lobby. Perhaps what Galloway is best known for, however, is Feast, a weekly event where Galloweegens (as Galloway residents are known) take off their shirts, sing around the campfire, grill food, run, and wrestle.
Q: What are some ways you build culture in your dorm?
Niedfeldt: Harrison said that one of the biggest ways Niedfeldt builds culture is through a strong dorm identity. Leadership stresses that there is a two-way relationship: residents are representing the dorm through their current actions, and in return, they get to wear the badge of what the dorm has accomplished in the past. Residents are encouraged to live up to that privilege.
Simpson: Simpson builds culture through events and traditions. Jonathan said he found his best friends during his freshman year Homecoming through all the memories they created. He also emphasized the value of late-night conversations, which range anywhere from theological debates to personal conversations and create a very strong community.
Whitley: Lance said the biggest way Whitley creates culture is through dorm activities. Whether it’s playing board games or watching movies as a dorm, spending consistent time together fosters culture. He said that they try to cultivate both a warrior spirit and a faith-filled spirit through weekly weightlifting sessions and prayer meetings.
Galloway: One of the dorm’s main focuses is spiritual culture and mentoring, Elijah said. The dorm hosts weekly Bible studies and has an open door policy to foster relationships with real vulnerability. They also pray together often.
Q: What does Homecoming week and its competitions mean for you and your dorm?
Niedfeldt: For Harrison, Homecoming is the chance for Niedfeldt to prove how serious it is. While not a large dorm, Niedfeldt has an extremely high level of participation, and its residents consistently place near the top of the leaderboard during Homecoming week. Harrison recalled a memory from his junior year, when he served as head RA. Less than a month after the freshmen had moved in, all Niedfeldt residents were competing together during Homecoming and won Mock Rock, the dance competition that all of campus prepares for relentlessly. He said those are the moments when the dorm is transformed from simply a place to live into something men are a part of together.
Simpson: Nobody has a prouder Homecoming legacy than Simpson. Jonathan said that Simpson has won 11 Homecomings, while no other dorm has multiple victories, giving residents a rich tradition. He said that RAs start planning their Mock Rock routine in the summer. Despite this, Jonathan does not see winning as the end in itself, since no matter the outcome, strong friendships are forged through the fires of preparation and performance.
Whitley: Lance said that Whitley cares a lot about Homecoming, but not to the sometimes authoritarian lengths of Simpson and Niedfeldt. He said that Whitley is often seen as an underdog because of its small number of residents, but they have surprised campus with their performance, placing in Mock Rock 2024.
Galloway: The winners of Mock Rock 2024, Galloway has been a force during competitions. Elijah said that Homecoming is one of the prime ways that they bond as a dorm. Constantly competing in team challenges forces them to rely on each other to succeed.
I’m extremely thankful for how the Whitley community has helped me thrive in my time at Hillsdale, and I am grateful that my friends in other men’s dorms have also witnessed positive transformation through strong culture and community. Even amid the well-known benefits of a Hillsdale College education like top-rate professors and a rigorous curriculum, dorm life has proven to be one of the defining features of my time at the College.
I asked the four leaders more questions about what traits defined their dorms and their experience leading the men within them. To learn more about what Niedfelt, Simpson, Whitley, and Galloway have to offer, read more here!
Brennan Berryhill, ’27, hails from Denver, Colorado, and when he isn’t writing or obsessively taking notes, you can find him playing trombone, debating, or nerding out over football.
Published in September 2025