The Bison - Vol. 89, No. 10

HARDING REMEMBERS

After junior Kailey Massey died in a car accident on her way back to Harding for the spring semester, students found ways to honor her memory and help comfort her close friends and family.

Jeremy Daggett, field director for the Harding in Zambia group Massey was in, accompanied members of the group to Texas to attend Massey’s funeral last week. Daggett said the entire HIZ 2012 group except one student, who was out of town, made the trip.

“We didn’t expect to be able to say much when we were there,” Daggett said. “Words aren’t enough with this sort of tragedy. The group sang, and admirably let God work through them in that way. We also hoped that by our very presence God would somehow reach and comfort Kailey’s family. There’s something about human presence, the image of God encountering the image of God, that allows us somehow to be conduits of God’s presence. That

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was our prayer while there, not that we would be able to say anything or do anything ourselves, but that God would convey his presence in a very tangible way through us.”

Massey’s family asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to The Haven, an orphanage in Zambia that Massey worked with while she was there.

In the days following her death, Harding hosted two events in Massey’s honor: a student-led candlelight vigil on Monday, Jan. 13 and a chapel memorial service on Wednesday, Jan. 15. Additionally, Massey’s social club, Delta Nu, and her Harding in Zambia group both gathered to pray, sing, remember and grieve.

“She was your ideal Harding student,” junior Colleen Crowder, one of Massey’s club sisters, said. “If you could go through your Harding experience without ever an unkind word being spoken about you, that says a lot about your character.”

Friends and family remembered PA graduate student Lauren Bump through a candlelight memorial and two memorial runs after she was stabbed to death on New Year’s Eve.

Bump was part of a class of only 35 PA students, creating a tight-knit group, according to PA program director Michael Murphy. About half of those students attended Bump’s Texas funeral where hundreds of pink balloons were released in her memory.

Since one of Bump’s passions was running, she was also remembered with a silent run through the park where she was killed and another memorial run held at a nearby park.

Once students returned to school for the semester, they held a candlelight vigil to honor Bump. During this vigil, Bump’s friends highlighted her mission trip to Guatemala in a slideshow. According to Murphy, Bump was someone who strived to “live a Christ-centered life.”

On Jan. 4, Christian Bautista was arrested and charged with Bump’s murder and is being held on $200,000 bond.

Millions affected by Target hacks

IS&T talks tips to protect students’ online security

by Marianna Woodruff student writer

On Dec. 19, 2013, Target reported that between Nov. 27 and Dec. 15, 2013, 40 million customers had their credit card information stolen by hackers. As of Jan.13,110 million customers had been affected.

According to CNN, further investigation into the hacking of credit and debit card numbers revealed that encrypted PIN numbers for debit cards had been stolen. The investigation also revealed an additional breach involving data such as customer names and phone numbers. This breach affected nearly 70 million customers. Target said it was notifying as many customers as it could, and that they would provide free credit monitoring and identity theft protection.

Junior Natalie Heyen had her credit card information compromised through the Target hacking. She said she was pleased with how quickly her credit card provider, Chase, came to the rescue.

“I got an email from Chase saying they thought that my card had been one that might be at risk,” Heyen said. “They immediately sent me a new card with a new number.”

BY GRANT SCHOL | THE BISON

Public Safety considers police force, increased measures for campus safety

by Alexis Hosticka news editor

The department of public safety is still in the process of deciding if and when Harding will have a university police force.

According to Craig Russell, head of the department of public safety, some of the factors the school is considering are the process, cost and personnel who would be needed.

If Harding does decide to have a police force on campus, Russell said the average student will likely not notice any major changes. He said if there were to be police on campus, they would be able to pull people over and operate like normal police officers.

“The police on campus would have the authority to make traffic stops and give tickets,” Russell said. “But that would not necessarily be our highest priority. We are a service-oriented department and that is how we would remain if we had a police force.”

According to Russell, a decision will likely not be made until at least the end of the school year.

“We think a police department would be beneficial in the future, but it won’t prevent us from being a successful department,” Russell said. “We have wonderful resources at our disposal.”

The police on campus would have the authority to make traffic stops and give tickets. But that would not necessarily be our highest priority. We are a service-oriented department and that is how we would remain if we had a police force.

-Craig Russell, director of public safety

Although there is not yet a conclusive decision, the department of public safety has still been working to improve safety and security for students throughout the past semester and has plans to continue

doing so this semester.

Due to the remodeling of the art building, there are new security cameras being added to the Olen Hendrix building, a feature which the department regularly updates.

Construction on the science building will also add additional security measures including access control and possibly new security cameras.

Russell emphasized that the department of public safety is concerned about the safety of students at all times.

“We are very much a part of the Harding community and we take the safety of students seriously,” Russell said. “We want students to be cautious and safe at all times. Think what you can do to protect yourself, things like wearing your seatbelt every day.”

This semester the department of public safety has plans to host training seminars and is already organizing the annual spring disaster drill which will happen in April.

According to CNN, dozens of lawsuits were filed against Target in the days after it announced the breach last month. Target said that sales dipped as much as 6 percent after it first revealed publicly that it had been hacked. Senior Andrew Emerson, a Dormnet student worker, encouraged students to be aware of new threats. He said to know what websites you are on and keep business to reputable sites.

“When it comes to computers, you’re only as good as your weakest link,” Emerson said. “Hackers are always going to find a way.”

Keith Cronk, vice president of information systems and technology, said in the Target case, it was not a database, but their web server that was breached by the hackers. Hackers gained access to the information by loading malware on the point of sale terminals at the cash registers.

In addition to exercising precaution in stores when using a credit card,Cronk gave tips for keeping information safe while shopping online.

1. Stick to known vendors. Never take an offer from a website you do not know.

2. Look for https:// in a web address. Do not put information on a site unless it has https:// at the beginning of its URL.

3. Do not use public computers to order products online. Do not use WiFi hotspots. There are secured wireless networks all over campus, not just in the dorms. There is also an open network (unsecured) network. You should always use the secured network. You know it is secured because there will be some form of authentication required when you join the network.

4. Check bank accounts regularly. Set up accounts to alert you when suspicious activity occurs within your account. Be vigilant. art by Tyler Carmical | graphic designer

Lyndsey Ruble Nuckols and Alexis Hosticka | READ MORE on Massey and Bump on thelink.harding.edu

Construction projects move forward

by Grant Schol head photographer

The Pryor-England Center for Science and Engineering expansion is set for completion in mid-July of this year and will include 13,400 square feet of academic space including two classrooms, five lab spaces and five faculty office spaces. A proposal document for the project stated that the approximately $4 million expansion will meet the demand for more biology and chemistry classes, which was the main driving force to begin construction.

Not only are the existing science lab and classroom spaces used by biology, chemistry and engineering students, but also by many students from all over campus. Exercise science, psychology and dietetics majors all make use of the space.

According to the proposal document, in the past seven years, the number of students taking physical and biological science classes has

increased four times faster than any other area on campus. Since 2003, lab enrollment for science majors has increased 71 percent. In the same time span, the number of credit hours taught by the department has increased by 32 percent.

Construction began in November of last year and will continue into the summer. However, no official completion date has been set.

With the recent wave of freezing temperatures, work was put on hold due to concern for the workers’ health. With temperatures back on the rise, Danny DeRamus, director of physical resources, said he is confident with the status of the project.

“We are making pretty good progress,” DeRamus said. “Our priority right now is to get the walls and roof up.”

The expansion was not originally part of the administration’s current five-year plan but is the direct result of the increased enrollment

in the graduate programs of the College of Allied Health and undergraduate enrollment in all science majors.

“This (expansion) just had to happen,” President Bruce McLarty said. “It is a direct result of the pharmacy, PA and physical therapy programs. We are catching up to where we need to be.”

According to the expansion’s proposal document, “this project is the most important new space that will be added to campus in the administration’s current strategic plan,” which went into effect last fall and will last until 2019.

“The current five-year plan we are in has very little building projects in it,” McLarty said. “But there are some things we will look very seriously at that could involve buildings.”

McLarty continued by saying the Brackett Library, Ganus Building and the Ganus Athletic Center wellness complex are all being considered for possible updates

Olympics stir up controversy

by Bradley Cain beat reporter

The upcoming XXII Olympic Winter Games scheduled to run Feb. 7-23 in Sochi, Russia, are surrounded by rising controversy and excitement.

Threats of terrorism, Russia’s stance on homosexuality and historical distrust have created international tension in the months leading up to the games.

NBC News reported Wednesday that the U.S., Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia have received emails regarding security threats. International Olympic Committee spokesman Mark Adams says the email had “no credibility” and was not from a terrorist group.

Russian security officials are seeking “black widow” terror suspects believed to be planning suicide bomb attacks aimed at the final stages of the Olympic torch relay. Wanted posters distributed by police say the women have been dispatched by underground groups to attack between Tuesday

and Thursday in Rostovon-Don (about 350 miles north of Sochi), where the torch is expected to arrive Wednesday on its way to the Olympic city of Sochi.

Evan Kohlmann, NBC News terrorism analyst, said the posters point to “gaping holes” in Sochi’s security.

President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the prospect of a “safe and secure” Olympics in a phone call on Monday.

“The United States has offered its full support to the Russian government as it conducts security preparations for the Winter Olympics,” Pentagon spokesman Captain John Kirby said in a statement.

Additionally, the U.S. military said on Monday that air and naval assets, including two ships in the Black Sea, would be made available if needed during the Sochi Winter Olympics in support of Russia, according to Reuters.

Russia’s ban on propaganda of “nontraditional sexual relations” signed into law by Putin in June has been

the source of debate. Critics believe the law discriminates against homosexuals. As a result, Russian authorities have limited the right to protest during the Sochi Olympics, according to the Associated Press.

Pavel Lebedev, a gay Russian protester, was detained on Saturday for waving a rainbow flag during the Olympic torch relay as it passed through his hometown of Voronezh.

“Hosting the games here contradicts the basic principles of the Olympics, which is to cultivate tolerance,” Lebedev said.

With less than three weeks before the opening ceremony, hundreds of thousands of tickets remain unsold. Anastasiya Jenkins, a senior social work major at Harding and a Russian citizen, is “excited to see the spotlight on Russia.”

“I think it’s fine to keep the games going because of the enormous amount of security that’s going to be there,” Jenkins said. “There is always a risk of attack no matter which country the games are at.”

and expansion projects within the next five years. However, none of them have priority to begin in the first year of the current plan.

The administration runs on strategic plans that are each five years long. According to McLarty, constituents from all over campus come together to voice their opinions on what should be focused on. Ideas are taken from faculty, staff, students and alumni and then condensed into a proposal. After the plan is approved by university executives, it must then be ratified by the Board of Trustees.

“Some ideas are dreams for 10 years before they make it to the table,” McLarty said, “Then funding becomes an issue.”

While there is no long-range plan for Harding’s future, McLarty is certain the university will make adjustments as needed.

“Twenty-two years ago we didn’t have email,” McLarty said. “Now there are whole classes based around it. So it’s pretty dynamic.”

BEYOND THE BUBBLE

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A shooting at Purdue University on Tuesday left one student dead. According to the LA Times, the suspect, teaching assistant Cody Cousins, is in custody for the death of teaching assistant Andrew Boldt, 21. Friends honored Boldt in a candlelight vigil held Tuesday night and a prayer service on Wednesday. Boldt would have graduated in May. D.C. — Congress will most likely lose its ability to borrow within the next month, according to the New York Times. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said that after the official debt limit is reached on Feb. 7 there will be little room for maneuvering due mainly to upcoming tax refunds. President Obama said that he will not be involved in negotiating the debt ceiling because it is a congressional responsibility.

KIEV, Ukraine — At least four protesters are dead and 36 journalists injured after demonstrators clashed with police, according to CNN. Protesters are upset with new laws that limit their right to protest. The controversy stems from weeks of relatively peaceful public protests which resulted from Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych’s decision in November to “spurn a planned trade deal with the European Union and turn toward Russia instead.”The president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso has called on all sides to refrain from violence.

Spark of country music, Duck Dynasty

On Jan. 18, Spark of Life hosted a special event at University of Arkansas-Little Rock with guests including country singer Bobby Cool (above) and Duck Dynasty’s Willie and Korie Robertson. Spark of Life is a foundation created to help people through the loss of a loved one. Two of the directors, David Matthews and Gary Hunter, graduated from Harding. About 750 people attended the event on Jan. 18, and a painting signed by artist Trey McCarley and the Robertsons was sold on silent auction for $5,500, with proceeds going to support Spark of Life.

GRANT SCHOL | THE BISON

A construction worker welds the framework of the addition to the Pryor-England Center for Science and Engineering on Jan. 22. The construction will continue into the summer and is expected to be completed by mid-July.

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staff list

Lyndsey Ruble Nuckols editor-in-chief

Jesse Hixson business manager

Alexis Hosticka news editor

Alex Ezell sports editor

Matt Ryan features editor

Cole Mokry opinions editor

Matt Chaffin asst. sports editor

Hannah Robison PR and marketing director

Kristi Soto web editor

Holly Bohnett asst. web editor

Taylor Gleaves asst. web editor

Grant Schol head photographer

Virginia “Vivi” Vitalone asst. photographer

Henry Gonzalez asst. photographer

Tyler Carmical graphic designer

Jewelya Williams asst. graphic designer cartoonist

Jared Dryden head copy editor

Joshua Johnson editorial assistant

Braden Niblock multimedia editor

Bradley Cain beat reporter

Shane Schock beat reporter

Katie Ramirez faculty adviser

guest writers

Meagan Adkins

Michael Claxton

Shelby Daniel

Zach Hailey

Elizabeth Harper

Jeffrey Hopper

Colbie Phillips

Kelsey Pierce

Mandy Valentine

Ben Whisenant

Julie Anne White

Marianna Woodruff

At the Bison, it is our goal to serve the Harding University student body with integrity, truth and open ears. However, we believe that meeting that goal is a two-way street between our staff and the public it serves. We pledge to keep our eyes and ears open to what our community has to say and hope that, in return, that community will be an interactive audience, sharing its stories with us. We also pledge to do the basics: report accurate and relevant information, check our facts, and share them in a professional, timely manner.

If you have any story ideas, questions, comments or concerns for the Bison staff, please email Lyndsey Ruble Nuckols, the editor-in-chief, at lruble@harding.edu.

“The Bison (USPS 577-660) is published weekly (except vacations, exams and summer sessions), 18 issues per year, by Harding University. Periodicals postage paid at Searcy, Arkansas 72143. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Bison, Harding University 11192, SEARCY, AR 721490001.”

Mental Preparations for the Zombie Apocalypse

zach hailey

guest writer

Ever since it first aired in 2010, “The Walking Dead” has fascinated millions of Americans with thoughts of corpses rising and desolating the population.

You could even go further back to 2008, when the Call of Duty franchise released “World at War” with the special extra: “Nazi Zombies.” This craze over rotting flesh and gruesome growls has grown so much that it is not uncommon for an individual to ask himself or herself, “Would I survive in a zombie apocalypse?”

Harvard Medical School professor Dr. Steven Scholzmen once said in an interview that zombie movies reflect our culture’s greatest fear. In the 1960s, the driving force behind all undead films was the Cold War. Radiation would change ordinary Mr. and Mrs. Smith into

savage, hungry and mutilated walking meat bags. This generation expects the beginning of the end as an infection such as influenza or a really bad runny nose.

Needless to say, we as an audience assume deep down that we would be able to conquer a feat as petty as the zombie apocalypse. I mean, it couldn’t be that hard, right? I should be able to run faster than most of them as long as I can refrain from tripping over a root or my untied shoes, which always seems to happen in our favorite shows.

Friday, January 24, 2014| 3A 4B |

group has always proven to extend the lives of those who haven’t been turned. Although stress levels tend to be high, it is important to keep a level head and to listen to those around you. Remember to be courteous to those who are having a more difficult time adjusting than you are.

Instant Adult: Just Add Peroxide

When I was 9 years old I wanted to dye my hair blond. My parents, for whatever reason, allowed it and I think most of my issues today can be traced back to that particular action.

Friday, January 24, 2014

It’s nearly impossible to live in this day and age without being exposed to a few tips on how to survive such a dark event.

First, everyone knows to stay away from the sharp jaws of a zombie. One bite in the unsuspecting shoulder and you’ll be munching away as well.

Second, keep the noise to a minimum; those demons love to be where the party is and will come running at the slightest sound.

Third, working in a

Fourth, having a member of your group with a heavy southern accent and a large handlebar mustache will always increase the odds of your survival.

Fifth, shouting witty catch phrases helps keep a light atmosphere within the group. For example, “Heads up!” would be appropriate to use after a decapitation.

Most importantly, always be sure to end each day with prayer and a meal around the dinner table and remember that it doesn’t always take a bite from a zombie to turn someone into a monster.

Dirty (Part-Time) Jobs

meagan adkins

guest writer

According to the Huffington Post, nearly four out of five college students have a job.

I highly doubt this statistic is any different for Harding students.

Many of us sling pizzas, wait tables, tutor other students, monitor computer labs or have other on-campus jobs. I am sure that most of us are glad to be gainfully employed, but these jobs require us to play a mental balancing game between classes, work and social life. And even though we’re grateful for our employment, that thankfulness does not negate the negatives of part-time work.

On a daily basis, I go to work, where I am supposedly a supervisor of two individuals, but every day I am met with constant defiance. While I am supposed to be “in charge” of them, I catch myself catering to almost their every whim. Any attempt at scolding or discipline is met with floods of apologies that are always followed by the same behaviors. Every day after lunch there are bowls left strewn about,

spoons and cups sitting on tables, chairs out of order and food splattered all over the floor. While it is never my mess, it is always my cleanup. During a normal shift I find the clothes and gadgets I’ve already cleaned up and put away pulled off their shelves and thrown around the room. I cannot count the number of times I have rolled up my sleeves to clean up some of the nastiest things I’ve encountered.

I would not trade any of it.

Alex is 6, loves “Toy Story,” and has Down syndrome. I am his nanny. While all these “negatives” test my patience and make me question my sanity, I have come to find that the numerous positives make up for it.

During my regular nanny’s duties I also work with Alex on number, letter and color recognition. The joy on his face when he witnesses my extreme excitement at his progress is enough to make up for all the defiance in the world.

Alex is non-verbal for the most part, so it’s hard to communicate and understand what he wants (unless he’s telling you no). However, with my elation upon hearing him attempt to say my name for the first time, I am sure an outsider would have thought I

I am sure they knew it was a terrible idea, and they believed that I would one day look back and, after much therapy, learn some sort of lesson and grow from it. That hasn’t happened yet, but I will keep you updated.

This was also before I had been blessed with the orthodontic miracle of braces, so I’m certain I looked like a beaver that had taken a bath in bleach. You’ll have to take my word for it because I have since destroyed all photographic evidence of that era of my life.

My scapegoat for coloring my hair as a fourth grader is that someone gave me permission to do it, so I can’t be blamed entirely for the socially inept monster it created.

Transitioning from 9 to 21 was a long, uncomfortable process that inconceivably only got worse after the blond faded out. I think I missed out on a key part of growing up, because here I am, 12 years later, still making truly regrettable decisions.

was watching my own child win an Olympic gold medal. Academic achievement aside, Alex is also tremendously mischievous. One day, while helping his sister with her homework, Alex managed to get into the high-grade purple icing dye that was left on the counter. As soon as he realized it was on his hand he screeched and wiped the dye on his shirt. When it did not come off of his shirt he did the only logical thing and wiped the rest of the dye through his hair. After he saw the shock on my face and I began to scold him for getting into the dye, he looked me dead in the eye and giggled. I put him in the bath and spent 20 minutes scrubbing his blond hair to remove the purple splotches. The entire time he was laughing.

Working with a special needs child has taught me patience, understanding and joy. Alex is excited and bubbly every time he sees me; he is joyful about the smallest things and reminds me that life does not have to be quite as serious as I think it is. All those “negatives”?

You can take them with a grain of salt. I do.

MEAGAN ADKINS is a guest writer for the Bison. She may be contacted at madkins@harding. edu.

Last semester, I decided finals week was the perfect time to get consumed with “The Young and the Restless.” I am thoroughly embarrassed by this; my ears burn with shame whenever I speak of it. However, that didn’t stop me from getting far too emotionally invested in fictional people’s lives when I should have been studying for exams.

One of the many differences between being a bottle-blonde 9-year-old and a soap opera-obsessed 21-year-old is that I can’t blame my parents for my poor decisions anymore, and that has been something I have had trouble coping with.

Being solely responsible for my choices is a high-pressure task that, most days, I feel vastly unprepared to take on. It was easy to blame the government shutdown for a while, but since that ended, I have been at a loss for who should take the fall for my problems.

The light at the end of the tunnel is we are at an age when it is not the end of the world if we mess up once or twice every now and then. College has so much more to offer than weekly anxiety attacks and mountains of student loans. Namely, we have countless opportunities to get up and try again when our mistakes knock us down.

I don’t expect myself or anybody to make only wise choices because that is just not going to happen. What’s important is, when we choose to do not-so-smart things like watch “The Young and the Restless,” we say: “This is my decision. It’s probably a bad one, but tomorrow I’ll live with the consequences and complain about them on Twitter like a real grown-up.”

Taking ownership for our problems is mature enough. Let’s take baby steps into adulthood.

“I was raised by a television”

Friday,

4A | Friday, January 24, 2014

lyndsey ruble nuckols

The Lightbulb

Friday, January 24, 2014 | 3B

4B | Friday, January 24, 2014

The Benefits of Studying Abroad

jeffrey hopper

Christmas break is never quite as productive as we want it to be, is it? My last column of the semester addressed how to use your break time efficiently, and I hope you did. But Christmas break made me realize something about breaks and productivity: the importance of a schedule.

Often, sticking to a tight schedule seems to be the opposite of a creative and innovative lifestyle. Because creative people are so often associated with eccentric, frazzled and downright weird personalities and practices, it’s difficult to imagine a creative genius with a meticulously detailed Moleskine planner.

Nonetheless, sticking to a schedule or having a daily routine is key to optimizing the time in which you do want to be creative and innovative.

A recent article by 99u, an online magazine dedicated to information about creativity and innovation, discussed the role of routines. The author, a trained hypnotist, said that following a routine can be compared to hypnosis, especially in the case of people who are creators by nature.

Your Routine Can Make or Break You Just the Clax

If you follow a routine before you sit down to write, design, think or whatever else, and if you do that routine enough, your routine will become associated with the creative mindset. So then, every time you follow your routine, you are primed to be your most creative and innovative.

The author of the 99u article suggested saving a specific album for when you are working, or perhaps writing your to-do lists and ideas in two very separate notebooks. Either way, it’s all about optimizing the mindset and confidence associated with the way certain routines make you feel.

However, it’s important to realize that scheduling is a fine line to walk. The point of this piece is not to make you think you need to have every minute of your life planned out; in fact, it would be detrimental to be so bound by minutes and hours. A routine is beneficial to get you through the stuff you can do on auto-pilot and to efficiently manage time to your benefit. In other words, think of your routine as a way to conserve your energy for something you are really excited and passionate about. Like most concepts regarding creativity, it simply emphasizes a change in mindset.

Overall, make sure you are making time for your creativity. It’s easy to fall into a rut if all you do is follow the same schedule every day with no time to wind down and think, write or create. Remember that the entire purpose of the routine is to make those creative sessions more frequent, fruitful and fulfilling.

international programs guest

Harding students delight me. They show kindness, patience and understanding of others. When they look to their own future, they dream about majestic, world-changing goals. They inspire me.

In 1980 some wise administrators founded Harding University in Florence (HUF) on behalf of our students. HUF was conceived as the first international residential program of Harding University. Over the past 34 years our students have gone to Italy, Greece, Australia, Asia, Africa, France and England to live, study and to enact and enliven their dreams.

Working at Harding is rewarding in many ways, but the most significant benefit for me is to see students find themselves while studying abroad. “Finding” oneself can take on many forms; let me offer some examples. One student saw in advance an opportunity to help refugees camped outside of Athens, Greece, and before heading across the Atlantic raised $10,000. He bought blankets and sleeping bags for Kurds who would have otherwise slept

unprotected in the cold that winter. An entire mission team to Uganda formed while studying in Italy. One student who attended our program in Zambia returned with a passion for caring for the needy and raised $35,000 for agricultural starter sets for those under the threat of famine. Eight years later she remains devoted to caring for others. After attending our program in London, one student returned to the United Kingdom to pursue her Ph.D. on the work of Thomas Hardy and was asked by the British National Trust to be the caretaker and curator for the author’s Dorsett county home (Max Gate). This offer was so unusual that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) televised a series of interviews with her. No other U. S. citizen has been honored in this way.

All of our programs feature spectacular examples of God’s creation and as the Apostle Paul said, “God’s invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made.”

Several students who have studied at our program in Chile have returned as missionaries to Latin America. Most students return from the Harding International Programs having seen the value that other cultures place on children and the elderly and learn to embrace those values.

Senior exit surveys suggest that for those who are able to attend one of our

Sticker Shock

My Christmas got a little brighter last year when someone gave me a package of scratch-andsniff gift tags. They came in three holiday scents, and with just one swipe of the fingernail, you could get a hearty nosefull of gingerbread, peppermint or pine needles. I put the tags on all the presents I gave to my family, thinking that they would add to the season’s festive cheer. But even more importantly, these labels took me back to one of the great passions of my childhood.

When I was in the sixth grade, my teacher rewarded good work by placing a sticker on the corner of our papers. It is hard to convey the emotional impact on an 11-year-old of getting a sticker in those days. This was 30 years ago, long before the self-esteem movement came along and every child could have a report card dripping with sticker bling. Oh, no — my teachers subscribed to the Tiger Mom school of education. They were stingy with their praise.

Only truly exceptional work was rewarded with a sticker. And it was a momentous occasion to receive one. By contrast, getting back a sticker-less homework sheet was the 1980s equivalent of having your YouTube video get only 14 views. I suspect that today’s self-esteem movement is heavily promoted by the powerful sticker industry.

But my teacher was a class act. She didn’t just give any old adhesive labels for quality work. She invested in topof-the-line goods—“Scratch-‘n-Sniff Stinky Stickers,” manufactured by Trend Enterprises, Incorporated. This was the Cadillac of scented rewards. Each one featured a brightly-colored picture of an apple, or hot dog or sports car, with a witty epigram of praise beside it. The onion sticker said, “Tear-ific!” The computer sticker said, “Data Way!” The raisin bread sticker said, “I Loaf It!” You get the idea. And the best part of all was that each

michael claxton

one had a different smell. Scratch the sticker, and it smelled like raspberries. Or toothpaste. Or pancakes. This positive nasal reinforcement was a big factor in the appeal. It made you want to do your best in order to perfume all your schoolwork. Granted, a few of the smells were rather odd, and some kids never quite got over the mixed messages sent by teachers who gave out stickers that reeked of skunks, old shoes or salami.

Nevertheless, a diligent scholar could amass quite a pungent archive. And, at the risk of being a tad immodest, let me say that my sticker collection was huge. Out of the 104 different flavors available, I eventually got 89, which I carefully arranged into an album. Even though kids could order an “Official 3-Ring Stinky Stickers Album” directly from Trend Enterprises, I saved $7.99 and made my own scrapbook out of a blue folder and loose-leaf paper.

As I got more and more of these aromatic gems, I put them in neat little rows in the folder, with the flavor written underneath each one in No. 2 pencil. My album reflects no particular order—crab is next to taco, and green lawn is next to leather. But I was immensely proud of this collection and have kept it since 1983. While most of the scents have long faded, I was thrilled just now to scratch one and catch a faint whiff of pickle.

Unfortunately, there is a dark underside to this story. Such was the emotional value of these stickers, and such was the desperation of those whose work did not always merit one, that a seamy black market

programs, a significant part of a student’s university experience was gained through the one semester they studied in another country. Isolation from one’s own culture can promote a period of reflection, questioning, self-examination and resolve that turns lives toward God.The Greece program is specifically pointed toward encouraging this result through reflection, but we observe wonderful evolutions of faith from all of the programs. One student who returned from Zambia last November wrote to our office:

“I came to the conclusion that my life on this Earth in no way is needed by God; he does not operate the universe based on my performance or service. Instead he invites me, as well as all other disciples of him, to partner in the beautiful mission that he has brought about through his son and the church.”

Of course this happens in Searcy as well. Perhaps the journey can be seen more vividly in the smaller groups that characterize our programs.

I hope you enjoy reading reflections from students who are studying abroad this semester in future issues of the Bison.

Next issue: Aristides Ortiz from HUG

JEFFREY HOPPER is a guest writer for the Bison. He may be contacted at hopper@harding.edu.

developed. And I blush now to say that I was right in the middle of it. You see, I went to a stationery store one day and discovered my teacher’s source — there was a rack loaded with Stinky Stickers. You got 24 assorted stickers in a package, all for 99 cents. Since you didn’t have to show a teacher’s union card to buy them, I started doing the math.

If I bought a pack of stickers for 99 cents and sold them for 10 cents each, I could clear over $1.40 in profit. So I borrowed my father’s trenchcoat and sunglasses, and each day during recess I hung out on the shady side of the playground. Business was slow at first. But soon word got around that I had the stickers. The good ones. After a couple of weeks, I was the No. 1 sticker pusher at Conyers Middle School. Every day, my pockets were so full of dimes and nickels that my pants started sagging. It’s a little known fact that I single-handedly started the trend of droopy pants that years later would sweep the country.

The gig was good while it lasted. But I got sloppy. I started selling to a clientele that was indiscreet. So one day when I was out of a particular scent, one of my customers went up to the teacher during study hall and blurted out, “Hey Mrs. Myers—I need to buy a coconut sticker.” Remember the World War II posters that said, “Loose Lips Sink Ships”? Well, that guy was my iceberg. Mrs. Myers swooped in like the DEA and shut down my operation. As a reward for my entrepreneurial scheme, I got two weeks’ detention.

But I’ll have the last laugh. The market for vintage Stinky Stickers is going to explode any day now, and I’m sitting on 89 of those babies. Sometimes it pays to be a stickler for stickers.

LYNDSEY RUBLE NUCKOLS is the editor-in-chief for the Bison. She may be contacted at lruble@harding.edu. Twitter: @lyndseyrnuckols

MICHAEL

Alex Ezell

See ya later, cookie cutter

Recently, I have noticed just how big media is in sports. It can range from on-air interviews to a specific player tweeting, but as fans of the game, we notice how players act. Whether a player is tweeting to thank fans or to retaliate against an opponent, social media sites are an important, but sometimes overlooked side of sports.

It is probably no surprise to you that Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman has been criticized over the past few days for his recent on-air interview with Erin Andrews after Sunday’s game.

Sherman was overly boisterous during an interview after the Seahawks beat the 49ers. The game decided who would join the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII. So, tensions were high on the field. Sherman let the world know (specifically 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree) that he was the “best corner in the game.”

Reactions were all over the place as fans took to Twitter to talk about Sherman’s loud comments. Andrews thought the interview was great. I understand where she is coming from. Why would you want someone to be boring? You want the passion to show. It adds to the content of a story. That is what the media industry is all about: telling a story.

Do I think that Sherman might have been able to conduct himself in a more professional manner? Yes. Do I think he should have felt the need to publicly apologize for the comments? No. Say what you will, but he is not the only player to talk “smack” during a heated game. He is just the player who most recently was caught on national television while saying it.

Sherman took to Twitter after the interview. What might surprise most critics is that he first thanked his teammates and the fans for supporting the team. Then, he went on to say “A lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of a sheep.” I have to say that is a respectable way of responding to all of the negativity that instantly flooded his Twitter notifications.

Sherman took the normal cookie-cutter postgame interview and gave it passion. A player with the amount of intensity as Sherman had is something we have not seen in a while. I hope we continue to see it across the board in all sports.

ALEX EZELL is sports editor for the 20132014 Bison. She may be contacted at aezell@harding.edu

Lady Bisons ranked No. 6 in nation

Arielle

by Colbie Phillips student writer

shoots over

Harding University’s Lady Bisons basketball team jumped two spots to become ranked sixth in the NCAA Division II standings after they defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Jan. 13.

After defeating the Savage Storm, the Lady Bisons continued their winning streak. Harding battled against Southern Arkansas University on Jan. 16, pulling through with a final score of 70 to 59.

Senior forward Kristen Celsor, who was also named GAC Player of the Week, led the Lady Bisons with an average of 18.5 points during the victories over Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southern Arkansas.

“We have set some big goals that we want to reach this season,” sophomore guard Tabitha Haney said.

The Lady Bisons have had a phenomenal season so far. They currently hold a 16 game winning streak. According to Fox 16 News, Monday night’s game was the greatest start in a women’s basketball game in school history.

“I like where we are at, and our team is battling every day in practice and in games,” head coach Tim Kirby said. “I would never say this team couldn’t do something.”

Kirby went on to say that to have a successful team, the whole group

has to be involved. He said winning games is a group effort, and this team’s goal is to get better every day.

“We have to stay focused and not worry or think so much about rankings and focus on each game ahead of us, because we play some really great teams,” junior guard Lauren Crenshaw said. “We have to come focused and prepared for every game.”

According to Crenshaw, the team has great chemistry and it is evident on and off the court.

“I really believe the success of this team has come from us all being connected and having the same mindset,” Crenshaw said. “We know what it feels like to be so close and fail. We do not like that feeling and we are ready to do whatever it takes to be successful.”

Crenshaw said when the stands are packed with fans it gives the Lady Bisons extra energy while they are playing. She appreciates the Rhodes Rowdies who show up to every home game.

“The Rhodes Rowdies are the best fans hands down,” Crenshaw said. “The atmosphere of the game is indescribable when they are there cheering us on. Their commitment to our team is amazing and our team is so grateful for all they do.”

The Lady Bisons will take on East Central University tomorrow in Ada, Okla., at 2 p.m. Check the Harding Sports website for more information on how to watch or listen to the game.

Basketball continues to win despite smaller roster

by Alex Ezell sports editor

This past Saturday, Jan. 18, the Bisons defeated the University of Arkansas-Monticello on the road in double overtime. Sophomore guard Jacob Gibson hit the winning 3-pointer with less than one minute remaining.

Other key players were senior forward Hayden Johnson and freshman Will Francis. Johnson had 22 points and 8 rebounds. Francis contributed 16 points as well as four rebounds.

After losing four players, including two starters, earlier this month due to team and university violations, the team is moving forward. With only eight remaining players on the roster, the Bisons continue pressing toward winning the GAC championship.

According to Hudson, the team has rallied together in the past few weeks and is working to keep the energy up throughout the last half of the season.

“I am very proud of the guys and how we have handled adversity,” Hudson said. “But, we have a lot more to prove to ourselves and others.”

Head coach Jeff Morgan said Francis and junior guard Blake McNair have stepped into more playing time and have let fans see their vocal leadership, while senior guard Weston Jameson continues to be a quiet leader on the court.

The team has made appropriate changes to practices and conditioning to make sure the eight remaining players are prepared for the rest of the season.

“I think they are in the right frame of mind and ready to get after it,” Morgan said. “These

guys are playing so hard and are entertaining to watch. Win or lose, I know they are going to give us great effort.”

In Saturday’s victory, four players scored 14 or more points. Seven out of eight players scored at least four points. Jameson played all 50 minutes.

“I do not think they are forcing anything,” Morgan said. “They are playing great team basketball. We are unselfish and pass the ball well. It is really exciting to watch from a basketball perspective.”

Gibson said the team is happy with the way they have competed in their last two games.

The two victories have given the team needed confidence heading into a tough road stretch.

“We are happy with how we executed last week in a couple of close conference games against good teams,” Gibson said.

The team heads into their two road games this week with a 9-6 overall record. They are 6-3 in the GAC and have won six out of their last seven games.

Last night, the Bisons took on Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. Tomorrow, they will play against East Central University in Ada, Okla., at 4 p.m.

GRANT SCHOL | THE BISON

Junior forward

Saunders

a Southern Arkansas University defender during the Lady Bisons game on Jan. 16 at Rhodes Field House. Harding defeated the Muleriders 70-59. The Lady Bisons next game is tomorrow against East Central University in Ada, Okla.

VIRGINIA “VIVI” VITALONE | THE BISON Senior guard Weston Jameson drives to the basket during the Bisons victory against Southern Arkansas University on Jan. 16.

2A |

Friday, January 24, 2014

2B | Friday, January 24, 2014

Baseball prepares for season to begin Football, risk and masculinity

Ben Whisenant guest space

Football is a tough sport, and there are some who are questioning the ethics of playing the sport at all. Writing for the New York Times, William C. Rhoden denounced football as “evidence of erosion in the American soul.” Now, the knee-jerk reaction to a statement like this, especially in the South, is to merely dismiss this statement, as quite bluntly, “sissy.”

4A | Friday, January 24, 2014

Friday, January 24, 2014 | 3B

Friday, January 24, 2014| 3A 4B | Friday, January 24, 2014

However, if we are to win the argument for football, and I believe that we can and should, we must argue effectively, winsomely and wisely.

First, we must squarely acknowledge that football is a sport, like all sports, in which participants can be injured. I have been hurt playing high school football, like all high school football players; I have, by playing the sport, participated in injuring other players, and I have had friends and teammates seriously hurt in playing the sport. I remember my coach telling us that TSSAA required him to tell us that if we hit with our heads down or speared another player we could snap our spinal cords and spend the rest of our lives watching football from a wheelchair. We all laughed it off, but it happens: it is not a joke, but I still believe in football. Besides, all good things contain risk: swimming, loving, driving, and eating a rare steak.

Football, and sports in general, is one of the last safe havens for masculinity

in a sea of emasculation. Our culture is systematically neutering our sons, but football rewards controlled, disciplined aggression and brotherly sacrifice. Some may point out that some football players are everything except humble, but have you ever seen a guard brag about a block on camera? I have not. Plus, I’ve never seen a player, even Johnny Football, win a game alone. Football teaches teamwork in a very special and very needed way.

Football is an aggressive, violent game; I realize for some this automatically disqualifies the sport, but why should it? All the violence in the sport is secondary to the final goal, which is to score points. There are no points awarded for tackles, no points awarded for shedding a block, and no points awarded for trucking a corner. Football, in its essence, does not glorify injuring another player, and if you contend that it does, then why would we make it harder to hurt an opponent by giving him pads and a helmet with a facemask? Why would there be rules about who can be hit and when they can be hit? Additionally, the aggression and violence in football are not inherently wicked. Watch two little boys play cowboys and tell me that aggression is not hardwired into them, part of their DNA. The solution is not to take the aggression out of little boys; instead, we teach them to channel it for good purposes, using tools like football.

by Elizabeth Harper student writer

On Feb. 1, the Bison baseball team will open up their season against Missouri Western State University at Jerry Moore Field.

Coach Patrick McGaha said the team worked really hard in offseason, and his main goals for the team are to represent Harding well, compete hard and play the game.

“In the fall we worked out five days a week, three of them at 5 a.m., on top of practice everyday,” senior pitcher Cameron Walker said.

McGaha said with 24 full team practices in the fall, they maxed out their time together to prepare for this season.

Missouri Western’s baseball team is ranked No. 17 in Division II collegiate baseball. Senior first baseman Matt Calhoun said the team will be a good opponent, and he predicts it will be a close-scoring game.

Walker said his goal for the team this season is to work on a day-to-day basis and to stay grounded.

“I would like to see everyone play for the guy next to

them and not for themselves,” Walker said.

McGaha said the first game of this season is the earliest the team has ever started. According to the NCAA, the first Saturday in February is when the season is allowed to begin, and this year the first Saturday falls on the first of the month.

McGaha said this season the team is full of hard workers who do their best when challenged. He said he is very pleased with how they have responded in the offseason practices.

McGaha said the seniors are stepping up this season. He said the team is a family, and as a coach he wants to see them believe in the program, build bonds and encourage each other.

With 10 seniors on the team, McGaha said he is expecting a lot from them this season. He also said they preach to the team about doing things the right way even when not on the field, and he is expecting big things from them.

“We have high expectations to accomplish uncommon things for this season,” Calhoun said.

Trending in Sports

Track and Field Edition

Our Athletes’ Views on Pop Culture

Peyton

Best Christmas gift you have ever received?

One thing you could not live without?

What is your favorite joke?

Most embarrassing moment?

I have a lot of respect for Tom

everything

My brother saved up and bought me my very first sparkly Barbie bike.

Probably food.

Q: Why did the blonde stare at the frozen orange juice can for 2 hours? A: Because it said concentrate.

When I booty-bumped Dr. McLarty onto the floor and made him spill his coffee onto Dr. Burks yesterday.

but

I was in kindergarten. Santa Clause left a bike on my roof for me.

Music. I hardly ever have moments where everything is quiet.

Q: Why should you bring an extra pair of pants when you golf? A: In case you get a hole in one!"

I do not really get embarrassed that easily.

Keurig coffee maker. My new car. A smartphone.

I couldn’t live without the people who are close to me. Chapstick.

If you are American outside the bathroom then what are you in the bathroom? European.

I was sitting next to my crush and tooted loudly. Then raised my hand and said it was me.

I have to have my chocolate.

Any and every knock knock joke.

Sometimes I ride my bike in running shorts.

Last night I dreamed I ate my pillow. I woke up and my pillow was gone.

That one time I ran into a chalkboard tray and broke my hand in front of an entire class.

Sarah Coleman Dillon Bagwell Kathryn Phillips

Logan Green Bailey Pearson

Peyton Manning or Tom Brady?

Manning.

Manning is

Peyton Manning. Go Vols.

Peyton Manning. (My boyfriend hates Tom Brady).

Peyton Manning.

GRANT SCHOL | THE BISON

Sophomore Collin Campbell pitches during practice on Jan. 19. The Bisons will open their season on Feb. 1 against Missouri Western State University in Searcy at noon at Jerry Moore Field.

BEN WHISENANT is a guest writer for the 2013-2014 Bison. He may be contacted at bwhisena@harding. edu.

graphic by tyler carmical

- Terry Rice and Deion Sanders drafted players for the 2014 Pro Bowl.

- Spending $155 million on Tanaka stirred up talk of a World Series bErth.

Chorus sings in new year with regional tour

Kelsey Pierce student writer

Forty Harding chorus members went on tour Jan. 4-12, allowing the group to spend time together outside of class before the spring semester began.

God does amazing things through music and he has proven it to me through the reactions we have received from our audiences.

-Richelle Pettit, junior

“We are singing from when the bell rings to when the class ends so we don’t get a whole lot of time to socialize,” senior Melanie Routt said. “So when we go on a chorus tour we all get to have our time to hang out.”

Chorus director Dr. Cliff Ganus said the tour was not only a time for the chorus to spend time together, but it also gave them the opportunity to meet others and have an impact on them through their music. Ganus said the music affects the listeners in many different ways that words are not always able to.

“They really enjoy being together. They really enjoy singing,” Ganus said. “They do it well and they know they do it well and people respond in ways that you don’t really expect. We were reminded a number of times on this trip of the power of music.”

During their tour, the chorus visited the Cincinnati Zoo in Ohio. A group of the chorus members decided to gather in the reptile house and sing a well-known hymn, “Down in the Valley.” A woman took a video of the chorus’ performance and sent it to a Cincinnati news station.

Later that night, the video was broad-

cast on Cincinnati’s News Channel 5, and has since had over 85,000 views on the channel’s website. Junior Lindsey Farley was one of the chorus members who sang in the reptile house that day.

“It is a truly humbling feeling to know that so many people have shown interest in an act that was so normal for us,” Farley said. “We weren’t asking for attention when we did it. We found a place with great acoustics and just decided it was a fun opportunity to do what we love. It is amazing to know that all of this publicity could be used by God to touch just one person, and it is worth it even just for one person.”

Junior Richelle Pettit said music is one of the most powerful forms of communication.

“You can demonstrate so many emotions through music that everyone can find a way to relate it to what you are saying,”

Pettit said. “Our music has been such a blessing to so many. God has used us to communicate his word through our music and it has moved people in ways that we could never do if we were just speaking. God does amazing things through music and he has proven it to me through the reactions we have received from our audiences.”

Pettit said music has the ability to bring people closer to God, and something as simple as singing in a reptile house can really have an impact on someone’s life.

“I never thought walking into the reptile house that day that later that night we would be seen by thousands of people,” Pettit said. “God truly showed me how he makes everything come together in ways that bring him glory. He is constantly working through us in ways we don’t always see and provides us with blessings beyond belief.”

‘Hardingopoly’ on shelves after three years of planning

Julie Anne White student writer

Associate Director of Admissions Mark Pruitt first approached Harding administration about creating a Harding version of the classic board game Monopoly over three years ago, and last semester he watched his dream become a reality. Hardingopoly hit the bookstore just before Christmas break.

One of the main stipulations required by the administration was that all costs for the design and production of the board game — about $43,000 — come out of Pruitt’s pocket.

But Pruitt said he was not concerned about turning a profit when he designed the game, but instead was focused on creating a product Harding students and alumni would appreciate.

“I won’t ever become wealthy doing this, but I’m glad I did it,” Pruitt said. “Whatever money I do make is going to help send my kids to Harding.”

Pruitt said he fleshed out the major components of the board game in the course of just eight hours during an intense

all-day brainstorming session. However, the process for designing Hardingopoly was lengthy, Pruitt said, because he had to avoid product infringement.

He said that after contacting Hasbro, the toy company that currently produces Monopoly,

he found out the best way to avoid a lawsuit was to make the game as different from the original version as possible.

As a result, Hardingopoly has five game pieces instead of six, the spaces and layout of the board were changed and all

of the dimensions were altered.

Hardingopoly also features a different color scheme and pictures of all of the major buildings on campus, which were provided by Director of Photography Jeff Montgomery.

Pruitt said that Harding

employees and students were responsible for the graphic design of the game. Alumni Ben Arthur (‘13) and Laura Fitch (‘13) designed the tokens and many of the cartoon images found in the game while they were still students at Harding, along with graphic designer Rocky Colon.

Pruitt ordered 3,000 copies of Hardingopoly to stock the bookstore. So far, he said he estimates about 300 copies have sold.

Freshman Duncan Michael said he picked up a copy of the game as soon as it was available.

“My dad graduated from Harding, so I got him Hardingopoly for Christmas this year,” Michael said. “Our whole family loves to play.”

Pruitt said that he too plays Hardingopoly with his family.

“My daughter was the first one I played with, as soon as we got the game,” Pruitt said. “I like to play as the bell tower, because that is where I proposed to my wife.”

Hardingopoly is still on sale at the campus bookstore. The game costs $34.95.

Counselors offer support and advice for grieving students

Holly Bohnett asst. web editor

In wake of the recent tragedies at Harding, students should take note of the counseling center when dealing with grief and loss. Counseling is available at no cost to students.

Dr. Lew Moore is the director of the counseling center and chair of the marriage and family therapy program at Harding. He said he plays a role in both arenas but especially enjoys spending time counseling students. He has been involved with the counseling program for more than 40 years.

“I really enjoy the counseling part because you are interacting with people who, at college age, are so dynamic and in the middle of so much transition, learning and maturing, and they bring their life experiences from home here,” Moore said. “It is a type of work and ministry that is so special.”

Moore said he understands the importance of talking with someone during a time of loss and grief, as well as of avoiding isolation and instead exposing oneself to life-giving activities. His initial advice to someone who is experiencing a traumatic loss is to seek out a compassionate friend who will walk alongside them in their journey from grief to recovery.

“What that individual needs immediately is a compassionate form of companionship, of ‘being there,’” Moore said. “Not talking. Being there. Because they need to know that they are in the presence of somebody who cares.”

Through conversation with a counselor or a friend, Moore explains there is a natural verbal analysis process that occurs.

“What grows out of (conversation) is an attempt to make sense of something, to think it through, to process, to ask the questions and reflect on it,” Moore said. “We do an initial form of self-analysis or reflecting. What we’re attempting to do, I think,

is work through it, once the shock subsides just a little bit. We have to start working through it. It is a requirement, naturally.”

Moore believes it is comforting for a person dealing with loss or grief to talk with a counselor who understands the process or a friend who is experiencing some of the same emotions. He also emphasizes the importance of avoiding isolation during times of distress.

“Typically when we get isolated, we struggle more and we stay longer in the struggle,” Moore said. “If you hide from people or hide from your feelings, you’re in trouble.”

Moore said the opposite of isolation is to be involved in the lives of others and to participate in life-giving activities. He described the exchange of loss for life as the continuation of positive activities that push out the act of dwelling on a traumatic event in life.

“You start noticing when you get up and go do things, and you spend time with your friends, pray about (the situation) and you go to class, go to chapel — without consciously knowing it, the life orientation is flowing back into you,” Moore said. “So it is not that the grief is all over, it’s just that life is flowing back in. Fun will not seem the same for awhile but there’s still a life force. You’re still doing things you need to be doing that are part of living. Living has to continue although it’s impacted by the loss.”

Senior Kylie Walton is a psychology major who said she hopes to be accepted into Harding’s marriage and family therapy program and eventually become a licensed therapist and counselor. She hopes to work with families, married couples and individuals both in and out of the church and sees the value in counseling during times of both minor stress and major grieving.

“I find it very important for people to pursue counseling in times of loss or grief,” Walton said.

“Counseling can offer them a safe place to open up about whatever they may be experiencing and can help them learn effective ways to cope at their own pace. It can give them a place of understanding, comfort and encouragement to help them handle their grief.”

Walton said she enjoys learning about the psychological factors that influence the ways humans react to events in life, both big and small.

“Psychology has taught me the importance of finding healthy ways to handle a little stress to serious crises,” Walton said. “It is also fascinating and quite useful to learn the different approaches to therapy and how it applies to the innumerable situations that may come up with each individual client.”

I really enjoy the counseling part because you are interacting with people who, at college age, are so dynamic and in the middle of so much transition, learning and maturing, and they bring their life experiences from home here. It is a type of work and ministry that is so special.

-Dr. Lew Moore, director of the counseling center

Students in the marriage and family therapy program meet with clients from the community but the counseling center is primarily in place for Harding students.

“We exist for (the students),” Moore said. “There’s no other reason why we’re here. We do see some faculty and staff but that’s just a small amount of people. Our job is to be with the students.”

The counseling center is located on the third floor of the McInteer building in room 313 and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Help or more information is available at counseling@ harding.edu.

VIRGINIA “VIVI” VITALONE | THE BISON

Hardingopoly is the brain child of Mark Pruitt, an associate director of admissions. Pruitt funded the game’s development entirely out-of-pocket, and several students and faculty members helped him create its graphic elements and layout. Since it was released on Dec. 11, the game has sold approximately 300 copies.

a boutique for every taste

by Shelby Daniel student writer

When it comes to buying the most up-to-date clothing and home decor, there are many boutiques in Searcy that offer large selections of hand-chosen goods. I went to some of the most popular boutiques in town to find out what made each one special and what exactly they had that appeals to college students.

1.The Boutique

Located in downtown Searcy, the Boutique is unique due to their extensive collection of home decor and gifts. The store sells many items including bedding, wall art, furniture and even technology accessories. Their most popular item is their Coton Colors dish wear collection, which ranges from bright to more neutral colors and prints to solids.

College students are drawn in by the wide selection of coffee beans and fudge. The store sells 24 flavors of coffee beans that can be purchased and ground in the store. Each day, they choose a different bean as flavor of the day and offer a 12 ounce cup of the coffee for 60 cents. They also have between 10 and 12 flavors of fudge every day which sell at $12 per pound but can be purchased at any weight.

2.Bella Couture

Bella Couture is a clothes and accessories boutique located on Beebe Capps and is different in that it operates mainly as an online boutique. The online store was first opened by two Harding alumnae, who after a couple of years were able to open their physical storefront. Their most popular items are their tops and dresses, which include a variety of fun prints and bright colors for the spring season.

Their clutches are also very popular, and can be purchased at $25 for a plain clutch or an additional $7 to be monogrammed. The store is popular among college students not only because of their selection of clothing, but also because they offer a 10 percent discount to all Harding students who bring their student IDs

3.Blackbird

Blackbird is a fashion boutique located on Beebe Capps across the road from the Harding campus. The pieces of clothing that can be found in Blackbird are what make the store itself unique, because many of the pieces cannot be found at any other store in Searcy. They do not buy many sizes of any piece, so the inventory is constantly changing

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and customers can always look forward to seeing something new.

The most popular items sold in the store are the Piko tops and printed leggings. The store offers 11 different colors of Piko tops including red, blue and olive green. Many college students visit the store to purchase spirit jerseys, a popular style of long sleeve t-shirt. Blackbird sells four colors of spirit jerseys which all have either “Arkansas,” “Searcy” or both words printed on the back.

4.Heart and Soul

Heart and Soul is a variety boutique located next door to Blackbird on Beebe Capps. This is one of the largest boutiques in Searcy in terms of quantity and variety of products. The store has an eclectic collection of home decor, beauty products, clothing, accessories and jewelry.

Some of their most popular items include their Capri Blue candles and their selection of Vera Bradley accessories, which is what many college students come in to purchase. The Vera Bradley selection includes backpacks, ID holders and many other types of bags. Other aspects of the store that attract college students are the Lenny and Eva leather interchangeable bracelets and the ability to create a bridal registry.

Tips to stay healthy during flu epidemic

by Hannah Robison pr and marketing director

Though returning to Harding can be a celebratory experience – catching up with friends, reminiscing the long break and sharing in new adventures – the sharing of germs is also prevalent on campus and the flu epidemic is taking its toll on the state of Arkansas.

According to www.arkansasonline.com, an abnormal amount of deaths have already been reported this season, reaching a high number of 15 fatalities due to the influenza epidemic. There are several preventative measures that can be taken on and off campus to stay healthy and stay away from the potential threat of the flu. Vaccinations are recommended and serve as the first protection against the flu. These can be received at Student

Health Services for $15 as well as at local drugstores, doctors’ offices or clinics.

According to www. healthfinder.gov, the flu spreads quickly and from person to person by a virus that infects the nose, throat and lungs. Symptoms include high fever, headaches, tiredness, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle aches. If you are sick, stay in your room for at least 24 hours after the fever has broken, wash your hands with hot water and soap, avoid touching the eyes, nose or mouth and cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Be sure to do so in a tissue or your elbow, not the hand. Be mindful of your body and your friends as the illness strikes. Rest, hydrate and protect yourself from harmful germs and viruses.

In “Long Walk to Freedom,” Nelson Mandela has this to say about himself: “I am fundamentally an optimist. Part of being optimistic is keeping one’s head pointed towards the sun, one’s feet moving forward. There were many dark moments when my faith in humanity was sorely tested, but I would not and could not give myself up to despair.”

With 2013 behind us, it can be easy to look back and despair in the face of death, destruction and countless shortcomings in the arena of life. Turmoil escalated in the Middle East. Progress in Washington came to a halt with October’s government shutdown. Lives were lost, including such notable individuals as actor Paul Walker, novelist Tom Clancy and of course, former South African president Nelson Mandela. Yes, 2013 had its low moments. At the same time, it was a year of happiness and hope in which we can find the strength and promise to move forward.

On a light, happy and relatively recent note, Disney’s phenomenon “Frozen” took the box office by storm in late November, providing many families the magical theatrical romp they needed to end the year with high spirits and happy hearts. “Frozen” helped propel 2013 into the spotlight as arguably one of the top years for animated films in the past decade; notable films such as “The Croods,” “Despicable Me 2” and Pixar’s “Monsters University” were also released in 2013.

Continuing in entertainment news, AMC’s “Breaking Bad” drew to a close this past year, finally allowing millions of devoted fans to sit back and catch their breath after what many already consider to be one of the most enthralling television dramas of all time.

Technologically, Apple introduced the iPhone 5 in mid-September, which tops many charts as the hot gift of 2013. However, it pales in comparison to the revolutionary Pebble Watch, a highly anticipated multi-functional James Bond gadget that, even now, is available to the masses and ready to become a prominent personal life-enhancing instrument in the Tragedies like the Boston Marathon bombing and the train wrecks that claimed the lives of hundreds can seem like insurmountably bleak headlines. But with death always comes life, and even though the world lost many treasures in 2013, new hope was born in England when Prince George of Cambridge greeted the world from the steps of London’s St. Mary’s Hospital this past July. Named only one day after his birth, it is likely that the new prince will reign one day, theoretically establishing a future monarchy under the title of King George.

Along similar lines, new life was elected into the Roman Catholic Church in the wake of Pope Benedict’s February resignation. Pope Francis was instated in March as the 266th leader of the 1.2 billion-member church and is already an overwhelmingly popular leader among Catholics. A CNN/ORC international poll in December stated that 88 percent of American Catholics approved of Francis’ leadership in the papal role.

And within our own borders, although it feels like an entire year has gone by (oh right, it has), President Obama celebrated his second inauguration in 2013, paving the way for four more years of Democratic leadership in American government. Political views aside, election years are monumental occasions that should be celebrated and respected for what they are: not wars between conflicting sides, but rather adjustments in leadership aspiring to usher peace and resolution into the years to come.

Yes, 2013 had its low points, but the silver lining is there to be remembered forever. Let us not give in to despair. Promise awaits, as long as we keep our heads pointed toward the sun and our feet moving forward as we move steadfastly into 2014.

Whatever you are looking for in a local boutique, Searcy’s array of small, home-grown shops has it all.