Hillsdale College Holds Talk on the Honor Code
Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn discussed the Honor Code, which all Hillsdale students sign, with the incoming freshman class.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College President Larry P. Arnn spoke to the class of 2029 about the Hillsdale College Honor Code on Aug. 25. The talk is part of freshman orientation for each incoming class.
“You want to be happy,” Dr. Arnn said. “To be happy, you have to be courageous, moderate, just, and wise. And you have to become those things, and you have to help others become those things because you need their help. And we’re here to do that, and it makes it the most beautiful kind of earthly community. And if we do our work right, you’ll remember these years as the greatest thing you ever did.”
“We joined together to seek the ultimate goods that are available to the human being and build them in ourselves.”
The class of 2029 includes 385 students, representing 40 states, the District of Columbia, and ten foreign countries. Preliminary statistics indicate an average 3.95 GPA and 19% admit rate, with 61% of admitted students choosing to attend Hillsdale, a yield rate among the highest in the country.
All Hillsdale College students sign the College’s Honor Code, which reads “A Hillsdale College student is honorable in conduct, honest in word and deed, dutiful in study and service, and respectful of the rights of others. Through education the student rises to self-government.”
Dr. Arnn said that honor is relative — given based on what the person or community giving it believes to be good.
“We start with that,” Dr. Arnn said. “In other words, we are going to agree among us all to honor these things among us all. And that’s the first step, so we can all help each other do what we all promise to do. College is the most radical form of cooperation. You will discover that we don’t care what your opinions are. We think you’re too young for them to be worth much anyway. But we’re here to find the truth. And that means in our best moments, we don’t really care much about what our opinions are either. But we joined together to seek the ultimate goods that are available to the human being and build them in ourselves. And we start with honor because that’s something we can all understand.”