Find Your Community: The Culture of Hillsdale College Men’s Dorms (Part Two)
Written by Brennan Berryhill
This is part two of Find Your Community: The Culture of Hillsdale College Men’s Dorms
Living in a dorm is a mark of pride at Hillsdale College.
When a student says that he is from Niedfelt, Simpson, Whitley, or Galloway, that means something. Dorms have flags and relics they display in their lobbies and on their way to competitions to build a sense of shared history. Students invest in the identity of their dorm, and ultimately, in the lives of one another.
Previously, I asked leaders from the four major men’s dorms – Lance Lintereur, the head resident assistant (RA) of Whitley; Elijah Ahrens, an RA at Galloway; Harrison Layman, who was the student house director at Niedfeldt; and Jonathan Williams, an RA at Simpson – about their dorm’s events and culture. I also asked them questions about distinguishing characteristics of their dorms and what their experience was like leading the men in their community. Their answers only reinforced my belief that growing with your friends in the dorm is one of the most formative aspects of the Hillsdale College experience.
Q: What is the one characteristic that sets your dorm apart?
Niedfeldt: Harrison believes Niedfeldt’s concentrated intensity sets it apart. He says the dorm is very intense about the activities and goals it cares about, similar to Simpson, but with a smaller group of guys, so it builds a family-esque bond. The dorm wants to be excellent at what it does and has had a lot of competitive success, and this creates tight-knit relationships.
Simpson: Simpson’s defining quality is striking a balance between silly and serious. Jonathan likes how Simpson focuses on academics and spiritual life while also bringing out the good parts of their youthful energy. They don’t see college as a complete divorce from adolescence, but a process of growing into men without discarding the good parts of childhood.
Whitley: Lance said that being the smallest men’s dorm gives Whitley an advantage in dorm participation at events. He said the community is closer-knit than any other dorm on campus.
Galloway: Elijah believes Galloway’s diversity of students is its defining feature. He said that Galloway residents participate in all kinds of activities around campus, so they have some of the “jockiest jocks and nerdiest nerds.” Yet everybody fits into the dorm.
Q: If a prospective student was reading this piece, how would you pitch your dorm to them?
Niedfeldt: Harrison said that Niedfeldt is where you should go if you want a close group of guys who care about excellence, whether that’s in school, dorm competitions, or staying in shape. It is an intense place to be, so come if you want to “support your brothers and fight for excellence.”
Simpson: Jonathan quoted Hillsdale President Larry Arnn, who said, “Simpson [is] the most Hillsdale part of Hillsdale.” Simpson is part of the liberal arts tradition, teaching the importance of community and loving others. Through events, pranks, and yelling absurd things at football games, Simpson grounds you in a culture that pushes back against today’s crisis of apathy and helps men grow into future husbands and fathers.
Whitley: Lance believes Whitley boasts men of some of the strongest character around campus, and by percentage, has the “most religiously serious guys who also care about their health and academic success.” They care a lot about each other and form very strong friendships.
Galloway: Galloway is the place to be if you want to be challenged, Elijah said. You’ll grow in your relationships, and along the way, you’ll have a wild time.
Q: What is something, however small, that makes you proud to be a leader of your dorm?
Niedfeldt: Harrison said he is proud of the lifelong friendships fostered in Niedfeldt, and he wouldn’t trade that for anything.
Simpson: Jonathan remembered a moment when he was a younger RA, and there were two men on his hall who didn’t seem to find their footing in the community. Then, one day, he found a note one of the men wrote to the other, thanking him for being such a wonderful friend. He said it is tempting to measure success by event participation, but the main focus of an RA should be for his men to thrive—whatever that looks like for them. Those reminders have been some of the biggest blessings to him as an RA.
Whitley: It is an honor to lead “such good people,” Lance said. They are people who could easily become leaders in the real world themselves, making it a privilege to have them in the dorm.
Galloway: Elijah emphasized the blessing it has been to be on the RA team. He is proud to mentor others and receive mentorship in such a Christ-centered community.
The dorm leaders care about the men they serve. As their answers show, they work tirelessly to build a culture worth fighting for. Ultimately, however, community is a choice. These four dorm leaders each tout unique and beautiful cultures, and to you prospective and returning students, there is an opportunity for you to join their legacies. Don’t be afraid to invest in the men around you—it will be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make.
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