The Bison - Vol. 88, No. 13

Tide turns for human trafficking

by MATT RYAN features editor

Governor Mike Beebe signed into law Tuesday new legislation tightening human trafficking laws in Arkansas, updating the state’s original laws passed in 2005. Republican Rep. David Meeks from Conway and Republican Sen. Missy Irvin of Mountain Home introduced the new legislation following criticism of the state by advocacy groups like the Polaris Project, which claimed Arkansas was among the bottom four states in the nation in terms of the quality of its human trafficking laws.

The house passed Meeks’ bill, HB 1203, with a 91-0 vote on Feb. 8. The new laws offer protection to victims of human trafficking, including the right to sue offenders. It also penalizes anyone who knowingly involves himself or herself with a prostitute who is a victim of human trafficking. Additionally, it sets up a task force that will research further measures the state can take to combat human trafficking. The task force will be composed of local police and prosecutors who will work to produce a broader plan for addressing human trafficking in the state.

“We are pleased that Arkansas’ legislators are making significant efforts to strengthen the state’s laws against human trafficking,” Polaris spokeswoman Megan Fowler said. “These are the types of actions we want to see all states take to protect victims of human trafficking, punish traffickers and prevent this crime and human rights abuse from occurring.”

The Senate is also considering a safe harbor act, under which women younger than 18 would be protected from being prosecuted for prostitution and other offenses linked with human trafficking.

“Human trafficking does often have an interstate component, so that would fall under federal law,” Meeks said to the Associated Press. “But in Arkansas, you had prosecutors who didn’t know that human trafficking existed or knew about it but you saw them using other statutes because the penalty on it was not tough enough.”

Senior Ashli Roussel of HUmanity, a student organization largely dedicated to raising human trafficking awareness, said although the group was not directly involved in the legislation, members were glad to see that the issue is gaining a wider audience.

“I believe it is such an important issue,” Roussel said. “Harding students need to get on board.”

HUmanity plans to host a “Stand for Freedom” event in association with International Justice Mission and other colleges and universities around the nation April 11-12. IJM’s goal is to raise $270,000 in honor of the estimated 27 million slaves in the world today. Roussel said HUmanity hopes to recruit 270 students to help raise $2,700 to contribute.

HARDING — In the last few days, students have reported three stolen spare tires from Jeeps on campus. Any suspicious activity should be reported to Harding Public Safety.

HARDING — Generation HU will host a “Hightlighter Run” on Saturday, March 23 for this year’s Say Thanks Day. The race is $15 for individuals or $10 with a group of 15 or more. The race will begin in front of the Ganus Athletic Center and will continue throughout campus.

Opinions:

SEE Pag e 3a A look at the Boy Scouts of America’s homosexuality debate

Features:

SEE Pag e 3b Junior Katey Brawley shares her weightloss success story.

PART I: HOW HARDING GOT INVOLVED WITH DUCK AND BUCK COMMANDER

Business students help build a ‘Duck Dynasty’

by LYNDSEY RUBLE editor-in-chief

Fifteen Harding students in an independent research business course are working with Duck and Buck Commander, the business behind “Duck Dynasty.”

Dr. Phil Brown, chair of the accounting and finance department, said he first had the idea of teaming up with Duck and Buck Commander when Willie and Korie Robertson visited campus in the fall. Brown said Director of Professional Business Studies Glen Metheny organized a special event and Q&A for business and communication students with the Robertsons.

One student asked Willie Robertson what his 3-5 year business plan was. Willie Robertson said they did not have one. Brown said this started the idea that would evolve into a relationship between Harding students, alumni, faculty and the Duck Commander and Buck Commander businesses.

Among the 15 students in the

class, there are representatives from seven different majors — all hand-selected and recommended from their respective departments. In addition, several alumni have gotten involved to assist Brown. Blair Bryan, an alumnus and the director of alumni networking, joined the project after a phone call with Brown one night. Brown said he was in need of another set of eyes and ears in West Monroe, La., where the Duck Commander and Buck Commander businesses are located. Bryan offered his services and headed up the effort to get more alumni involved. Twelve alumni and four faculty members volunteered. Brown said two Harding board members are involved with the project as well.

Grant Taylor, a Harding alumnus and the general manager of Buck Commander, said he hopes that he can help students realize that they are not far away from the “real” business world. He said he is trying to be like a big brother and give them a

“heads-up” about what is ahead.

“For us, from a business perspective, we understood that there is growth to be realized through exposing a little bit of vulnerability,” Taylor said. “From a student perspective, our hope is to convey the practicality of what they’re learning while they are getting their degree. There is some real relevance to these classes.”

John Gimber, licensing specialist for Duck and Buck Commander and Willie Robertson’s cousin, said the project is “one of the least one-sided agreements you’ll ever see.”

He said students get the opportunity to practice upper-level decision-making skills with zero risk and faculty get the chance to advise and shape students throughout the learning process. Gimber said Duck Commander and Buck Commander “get the ability to have a bunch of great minds … giving us advice and working on our behalf with the ability to pitch us ideas.”

“For John and (me) and for our organization, we’ve invested some time,” Taylor said. “And I feel confident if this thing ended today, I’ve been compensated double for my time.” After seeing the well-rounded success and benefits from this project, Bryan said he hopes that more departments and more classes will want to pursue projects like this one. This semester the students are focusing on branding the business. According to Brown, they chose branding as the focus because it is the core of a business and every other project and idea should branch out from the central brand.

Bryan recalled the first off-site retreat with the students in the class. One female student told him: “I think I learned more today than any other single day in my life.” Brown said the project is a “different vision in education” that teaches the spontaneity and flexibility needed to work in business.

Students prepare for Spring Break missions

by KORY HOWARD student writer

With Spring Break quickly approaching, groups for mission trips are beginning to prepare. Harding students had the opportunity to choose from 18 different campaigns this year.

One of the nearest campaigns, and therefore the cheapest, is the campaign to Knoxville, Tenn. This year, Bailey Gammill is a co-leader for the Knoxville campaign along with junior Victoria Sams. Gammill said he originally did not desire to be a mission-trip leader. In fact, he said he rejected offers to lead two other trips before he finally accepted the third offer.

“The third time I was asked to do it, I was like, ‘OK, I see what you’re doing, God,’” Gammill said.

The Knoxville campaign is centered on ministering to homeless people by doing service projects through organizations such as the Salvation Army. According to Gammill, the cost efficiency of the Knoxville campaign gives it a lot of appeal.

Another mission opportunity offered is the Panama campaign led by junior Isaac Alvarado and sophomore Caleb McCurry. Of course, the campaign is costlier and the scope of the mission is different. Foreign campaigns carry a unique set of challenges as opposed to domestic campaigns.

“Taking a group of people who have never been to this country, don’t speak the language and are not familiar with the culture is a challenge,” Alvarado said.

Both Alvarado and McCurry share the same mission experience in that they both attended the Port Angeles, Wash., mission campaign a year ago. According to Alvarado he realized during the Port Angeles campaign that he would best serve God by leading a campaign to his home country, Panama, where he would be able to understand and connect with the culture.

The Panama campaign has a three-fold plan. They intend to work at a school, implementing teachings about Christianity into the children’s classroom setting. They further intend to provide materials for a rural congregation to continue its

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efforts in building either a baptistery or a bathroom. Finally, they intend to evangelize among the local Indian tribe. The work to be done is part of a long-term effort, according to Alvarado.

That in mind, one danger of Spring Break campaigns, according to Gammill, is that people may believe that one week is long enough to make a drastic impact.

“If you are wanting to go on a Spring Break mission because you feel like you are going to change the world in a week, you might want to reevaluate your reasons for going,” Gammill said.

One quality of Spring Break mission trips that makes them special, according to all of the leaders, is the campaign’s power to bring individuals together as a group. One goal that many of the leaders share is simply for the group to have unity of mind in preparation for the campaign.

According to McCurry, it is vitally important that a campaign group find unity.

“We are seeking that each member has every need, every fear and every concern that is on their heart taken care of,” McCurry said.

State of Arkansas considers legislation to allow school faculty and staff to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Pepperdine University introduces a scholarship for students who have shown dedication to outreach in the LGBT community.

nphoto by ASHEL PARSONS | Student Publications

Seniors Alex Finley and Amanda Carroll talk to Jake, the man who took over Si’s old job of making reeds on Jan. 21. Business students are working with Duck and Buck Commander to help develop a branding strategy and business plan.

Class acts

Pope to resign

Benedict XVI announces first papal resignation in seven centuries

by VIRGINIA “VIVI” VITALONE student writer

On Feb. 11, Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation to a gathering of Cardinals in the Vatican City.

“I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” the pope said, leaving the world and especially the one billion Catholics surprised by the suddenness of the news and eager for clearer reasons behind this decision.

Benedict XVI will be the first pope to resign since Celestine V, who abdicated after only five months in 1294. Because of Celestine V’s “Great Refusal,” Dante Alighieri put him at the gate of the Inferno in his “Divine Comedy.”

Pope Benedict XVI, known before his Papacy as Joseph Ratzinger, will officially leave office on

Feb. 28. The Conclave will then meet, and by Easter the Catholic church will have a new pope. After his resignation, Ratzinger will move to a restored monastery on Vatican and for the first time in the church history, two living popes will live within the Vatican walls.

“In 50 years the world will remember the decision of the pope as a simple gesture of humility,” junior Alicia Villafuerte, a Walton Scholar and Catholic student, said. “Mr. Ratzinger will die peacefully, with no tributes, without his body being exhibited in Saint Peter. He will die as a humble pope.”

This event also impacts the Harding students who have visited Rome. Senior Payton Weeks, who went to HUF last spring, is one of the few Harding students who heard Pope Benedict XVI speak from Saint Peter’s Basilica.

“At HUF, Catholicism is the center point of all art and history topics, especially during the trip to Rome,”

Weeks said. “A small group happened to be at the Vatican at the right time. Thousands of people were there from all (over) the world. The pope’s speech was really short, not more than six minutes. During his speech, he spoke in six different languages. Being able to say I’ve seen him now that he is stepping down makes it a more unique experience.”

The Italian newspapers are covering the news with the little information released by the Vatican, but the singularity of the event and the well-known privacy of the Vatican is leaving space for rumors and conjectures from the Italian citizens.

“A few of them think it’s a courageous move on his part but are afraid that it may be because of a scandal,” Lindsey Sullivan, Harding alumna and now missionary in Italy, said. “They are not too worried though. On the other hand, Italians always say that when a pope dies, they just elect another.”

PRETORIA , South Africa — Oscar Pistorius, the 2012 Olympic star and first double amputee to compete in the Olympics against able-bodied runners, is being charged with the premeditated murder of his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius shot Steenkamp in their home on Feb. 14. While Pistorius said he believed he was shooting an intruder, a police investigator told CNN Pistorius was not acting in self defense when he shot and killed Steenkamp.

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty on Wednesday to using campaign funds for personal expenses. The ex-politician and son of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson will face a maximum fine of $250,000 and up to five years in prison according to CNN.

Students take stage for CAB’s ‘Open Mic Night’

by LEXI STUTZMAN news editor

Students showcased their music, monologue and poetry-performing talents from the corner stage of the community room as part of Open Mic Night on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

More than 80 students gathered around tables, lined the walls and grabbed seats on the floor to see the performers take stage in the room beside Starbucks.

Freshman McKenna Futrell had the crowd laughing at her series of short comedic poems on topics ranging from self-discovery

in the form of Harry Potter comparisons to her love for sweets in the grocery store.

Futrell said her friends had been encouraging her to sign up for Open Mic Night for a while before she finally decided to add her name to the list Tuesday morning.

“I was a little nervous about it,” Futrell said. “I usually don’t get nervous about public speaking, but I didn’t know a bunch of the people there so I didn’t know if they would think it (was) funny or if it would be awkward, but overall it was fine.”

Director of Campus Life Logan Light is the

mastermind behind Open Mic Night. Light said he requested the addition of the corner stage soon after hearing about the construction of the community room. Light said he wanted a space that lent itself to stripped-down, acoustic performances: a place with a built-in sound system where students could literally just “come in, plug in and play.”

Tuesday’s event was the third Open Mic Night this semester. This week’s group and solo acts performed original works along with covers of songs by artists like Foster the People, Of

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Monsters and Men, the Avett Brothers and the Dixie Chicks. Among the audience was freshman Christy Delgado. What stood out to Delgado about Open Mic Night was the “hole in a wall” feel of the venue and the unique display of talents students

Quiz Bowl whiz kids place at regionals

by COLE MOKRY student writer

Members of Harding’s academic team Josh Duggins and Esther Samuelson placed second and sixth at their regional competition this month.

Academic team, also called quiz bowl team, is a competitive scholastic experience that meets twice a week and goes on three to four competitions every semester. The competitions are comprised of a series of questions that test each student’s knowledge in math, science, literature, art and other subjects.

“The competitions basically involve four people on two teams and they’re read a series of questions,” faculty sponsor Dr. Mark Elrod said. “It’s not like a trivia contest. The spirit of quiz bowl competitions is

The spirit of quiz bowl competitions is that you should be able to answer basic questions about your discipline.

-Dr. Mark Elrod, Academic team sponsor

that you should be able to answer basic questions about your discipline.”

The academic team also hosts competitions for local high school teams to empower the community with knowledge as well.

Most competitions take place in neighboring states, such as Missouri, Tennessee and Louisiana. Elrod and the team said they appreciated the university allowing them to travel and compete at no charge to the students.

Elrod said the students practice by reading art and history books to prepare for competitions.

Another element of the academic team is writing the questions that are asked at competitions. Questions are about a paragraph long and vary in levels of difficulty. Competitions require a number of questions to be submitted in order for the team to compete.

The academic team has been active at Harding since 2004. Last year, the team qualified for nationals. Due to graduation and the international programs, though, Duggins is the only remaining member from last year’s team.

“Because they did so well, the team this year

lost their amateur status and Josh basically had to compete at a higher level by himself,” Elrod said.

Elrod said some departments have remained consistently under-represented on the quiz bowl team.

“We’ve never had a music major or an art major,” team Duggins said.“I’m a history major, but I’ve taken on the art questions. At first I didn’t like it, but now I enjoy it and it’s fun.”

If interested in joining the academic team, contact Elrod. The team meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. in the basement of the Ganus building.

otherwise would not get to see, Delgado said.

“I really liked the comedy, but I also really liked the piece about cerebral palsy, because it was different and something I wasn’t expecting,” Delgado said. “There was a lot of truth in it so I thought it was really cool.”

Light said he believes Open Mic Night gives student artists, whether they be singer-songwriters, creative writers or performers of “spoken word,” a “stripped-down feeling” that makes performers more comfortable, allowing their personalities be heard in their music.

“Opening themselves up to who they are and letting others see what is inside of them ... when you do that and connect with an audience like that, it makes a real special moment for the person performing and for the audience,” Light said. A long-time fan of hip-hop music, Light said his appreciation for the singer-songwriter genre is pretty new, yet still growing. “What I love about it now is there’s a raw emotion to it,” Light said. “It’s just the artist, their craft and their instrument. There’s no production, its just very simple.”

Photos by SAVANNAH LEE | Student Publications

Sophomore Erik Smith and freshman Nathan Hannum team up to perform “Washed by the Water” by NEEDTOBREATHE as part of CAB’s Open Mic Night on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

It’s not like a trivia contest.

Junior Alison Sutherlin performs “Landslide” by the Dixie Chicks on her Baby Taylor guitar in the community room next to Starbucks.

What I love about it now is there’s a raw emotion to it. It’s just the artist, their craft and their instrument.

Logan Light, Director of Campus Life

Opinions

staff list

Lyndsey Ruble editor-in-chief

Ryan Foster business manager

Hazel Halliburton copy editor

Lexi Stutzman news editor

Alexis Hosticka sports editor

Matt Ryan features editor

Bethany Aspey opinions editor

Matt Chaffin asst. sports editor

Payton Hurst PR and marketing director

Jess Boyd web editor

Ashel Parsons head photographer

Grant Schol Virginia “Vivi” Vitalone Savannah Lee

Hillary Miller asst. photographers

Tyler Carmical graphic designer

Jewelya Williams illustrator

Kasey Coble asst. copy editor

Jared Dryden editorial assistant

Amy Maré

multimedia editor

Brian Petree

Morgan Jones asst. multimedia editor

Katie Ramirez faculty adviser

guest writers

Michael Claxton

Alex Ezell

Kory Howard

Mackenzie Lee

Shaun Melady

Cole Mokry

Bethany Nicholson

Angel Paramore

Shane Schock

Chanhee Song

Kristi Soto

Corey Stumne

Landis Tindell

Virginia “Vivi” Vitalone

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 e-mail Lyndsey Ruble, the editor-in-chief, at lruble@harding.edu

“The Bison (USPS 577-660) is published weekly (except vacations, exams and summer sessions), 18 is sues per year, by Harding University. Periodicals postage paid at Searcy, Arkansas 72143.

POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to The Bison Harding University 11192, SEARCY AR 72149-0001”

Friday, February 22, 2013

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Feb. 22-23 — WINGS Conference

Feb. 22-23 — Young Adult Author Series: Chris Crutcher

Feb. 23 — Glo Run by CAB, the Children’s Safety Center at 7 p.m. afterwards at Zion Rock Gym

Feb. 26 — Lyceum: Swingle Singers at 7 p.m. in the Administration Auditorium; cost is $3

Feb. 26 — Harding School of Theology in Memphis Campus Preview

March 2 — Midnight Oil Porch Series at 9 p.m.

Downfall and Controversy Follow 2012 Olympics

Growing up, the Olympics always seemed so prestigious and the athletes so untouchable. However, now it seems that both of those previous assumptions have come tumbling down and been proven untrue.

bethany aspey Needless to say...

Bless Their Little Hearts

I’m just not great with children. They try to demonstrate their artistic abilities and I kindly inform them that clouds are not purple. I try to imitate the sound a missile launcher might make and they ask me why I sound like such an angry kitten. They try to show off their latest ballet routine and I offer a semi-enthusiastic, “Nice. You are good.” But children are so innocently self-absorbed that I’m usually off the hook for a more imaginative response and they continue the rest of their talent showcase without interruption.

Still though, some people can relate to children more than others. I try my best to encourage their creative endeavors, as well as answer their 10 million questions without losing patience, but sometimes, there is just no good way to answer them.

Questions like “Are you a grown-up?”

Over the past weeks, news of Olympic tragedy spread throughout the sporting world and beyond. Growing up, the Olympics always seemed so prestigious and the athletes so untouchable. However, now it seems that both of those previous assumptions have come tumbling down and been proven untrue. The Olympics were sadly never as respectable and unchangeable as was thought, and even the best of the world’s athletes are not immune to mistakes. For the first time in modern Olympic games history, which dates back to 1896, a sport that dates back thousands of years has been cut from the 2020 Olympics. The news came out last week as the International Olympic Committee made the choice that surprised everyone outside of the IOC; wrestling was chosen as the sport to drop. The short list of sports that were up for consideration of elimi -

nation included field hockey, taekwondo and the modern pentathlon, none of which have the history, reach or participation levels that wrestling has. After dropping wrestling, the committee announced the modern pentathlon would take its place. The Pentathlon had athletes from only 26 countries in London; 71 countries were represented in wrestling in London; lowering what the committee calls the standard of universality as less and less countries are being represented across the board.

The IOC’s decision came as a total surprise to many seasoned viewers of the Olympics. Many viewers are in an uproar over the fact that the basis of tradition in the Olympics is being compromised as the sport of wrestling defines Olympic tradition.

The Olympic experience will change worldwide in 2020. But for the country of South Africa, the Olympic tragedy hits much closer to home.

In the London Olympics, South African runner Oscar

Pistorius broke through an Olympic barrier that many thought impenetrable. The double-amputee athlete became the first Para-Olympic runner to compete in the able-bodied Olympics as he also became a national hero in South Africa.

The fairy tale soon turned nightmare however, as last week Pistorius shot his girlfriend, model Reeva Steenkamp. Originally Pistorius claimed that he thought Steencamp was an intruder, but the courts last Friday charged Pistorius with premeditated murder. Pistorius could be heard sobbing within the courtroom once the charges had been read, and his family continues to deny the charges as they released a statement disputing them. While the trial of Pistorius is still far from over, it is still a reminder to many Olympic viewers and beyond just how truly human athletes really are.

MATT CHAFFIN is the asst. sports editor for the Bison. He may be contacted at mchaffi1@harding.edu.

There are two approaches to answering this question. The first being “Yes, I am a grown-up.” If you take this approach, brace yourself for faces of pure disappointment as you are no longer a prospective playmate. They practically paint you a banner with the words, “Welcome to the land of Old and Boring.” They know few grown-ups can pull off a believable Power Ranger these days. Wait — are Power Rangers still a thing? I told you: I struggle.

The other obvious approach is to answer “No, I am not a grown-up.” This answer can lead to a scary place. In this past I’ve answered this because I either wanted to sound like I can still be fun, but also because I just feel like a pretentious jerk answering any other way. I hope this feeling goes away or I’m afraid I’ll face a life of servitude for “Her Majesty Princess Sparkle.”

It’s really a lose-lose situation. But what I really can’t handle is the ol’ “What do you want to be when you grow up?” conversation. It always backfires. They have answers like “Oh you know — an actress, singer, musician, artist, writer and dancer.” Or boys: “An astronaut. Duh.” Then I answer “Well, I want to work in Public Relations with an emphasis in interpersonal communications” and I somehow lose them every time.

All I’m saying is that those of you who are actually going to be a veterinarian or an actress or an astronaut – you don’t even know the life of ease you’ve had this whole time. Children love you and understand you.

As for the rest of us, I suggest that you continue to express interest in their talent showcase as best you can. Try not to lose patience when 20 questions turns into 10 Million questions, and most importantly, stop trying to entertain them and let them entertain you.

I know this to be a fairly fool-proof method because of a recent conversation I had with an 8-year-old girl in which we were both conned into a baby-sitting situation neither of us were looking forward to. Before I had time to ask if she wanted to watch a movie or play a game, she lost no time with the first of her million questions. The conversation went a little something like this: “Did you know I’ve recently met an owl?”

I unsuspectingly answered, “Who?”

She proceeded to just roll her eyes and mumble, “Make that two.” I’m telling you – fool-proof.

BETHANY ASPEY is the opinons editor for the Bison. She may be contacted at baspey@harding.edu. Twitter: @bethanyaspey

Matt Chaffin guest space

Brittany Tucker: Freshman Jordan Hawkins: Sophomore Shelby Nicholson: Junior Grant Harris: Senior

Opinions

Friday, February 22, 2013

lyndsey ruble

Moral of the Story

Good Health Aided by the Government

On Feb. 14, the BBC reported on a study by Hasselt University in Belgium about the effects of a phase of public smoking bans on premature births.

According to the article, the study of 600,000 births found three successive drops in the numbers of babies born prematurely. Each drop occurred after a phase of a three-prong public smoking ban was introduced.

The ban started in public places and most workplaces in 2006. Restaurants followed suit in 2007 and bars serving food banned smoking in 2010.

Exposure to tobacco smoke in the womb has been linked to lower birth weights and earlier deliveries. In addition, exposure to smoke can drastically affect a young child developmentally.

While most Americans agree with the notion that smoking around pregnant women or children is detrimental, Americans don’t seem too keen on enacting bans on ideas that have been proven to help public health.

For example: Do you remember the uproar after the proposed soda ban in New York City last year?

We all know giant sugary drinks are terrible for health. While I understand the opinion that adults should be able to make those choices for themselves, I am still perplexed by the amount of backlash Mayor Bloomberg received.

With the morbid proportions of the obesity epidemic, we should be doing everything we can to make healthy choices easier. An obese person is much more likely to develop diseases such as diabetes or suffer cardiac complications. Taxpayers spend an average of $190 billion a year on obesity-related medical bills, just as they spend billions on smoking-related health problems.

And then there is the issue of the people being affected. What about babies? Obviously, smoke is detrimental to an unborn baby, but did you know that a mother’s poor dietary and health decisions also influence a developing baby?

As taxpayers, shouldn’t we be encouraging government to be a force for good? Shouldn’t we embrace any entity that finally stands up and says that these health problems are affecting our country far more than anyone might think?

The fact of the matter is that though we would love to think people can make mature decisions for themselves, we cannot always expect them to. When these problems start influencing the unborn, those who have no choice in the matter, we must accept that things need to change.

Moral of the story: I understand the argument for personal liberty. I realize this is “‘Murica” and some people believe being American means being gluttonous, unhealthy and totally unrepentant. But personal rights have always been defined as the right to do whatever you want: so long as you aren’t hurting someone else. With the amount of tax dollars and secondhand effects of smoking and obesity, it is pretty safe to say we are hurting others with our poor health decisions. Doctors should be committing themselves to teaching healthy habits rather than writing prescriptions for medicines that don’t fix anything. People should be holding others accountable for the habits and health problems that are being passed on to children. And the government should do what it can to regulate the rotten health decisions that are crippling our nation.

Equality for Scouts

jared dryden

guest space

The Boy Scouts of America has been scrutinized by the public and the press lately due to their controversial membership policy. The current policy is that no “open or avowed homosexual” is allowed membership in the Boy Scouts of America. A proposed change would place the decision to allow or not allow gay leaders and boys membership in the hands of each troop’s chartering organization (i.e. churches, civic clubs, etc.) The National Council decided to delay voting on the proposal until the annual meeting in May.

The BSA needs to stop dragging its heels on this issue and make a decision. While there isn’t an easily executed solution, the proposed change seems to be the best solution at the moment. Scouting leaders, scouts and their families are divided on this issue. Allowing each chartering organization to choose

for themselves might cause the issue to be prolonged, but it at least will result in gay scouts being able to participate in what is, in my opinion, the best youth organization for boys.

The issue is more difficult when involving leaders rather than boys. Allowing each chartering organization to determine whether to allow homosexual leaders makes sense. Civic or religious organizations sponsor troops because they see the opportunity to instill great values in boys. While the core values promoted by the Boy Scouts can obviously be taught by either gay or straight leaders, the sponsoring organizations may be opposed to homosexuality for religious reasons, so having a gay leader would compromise the missions of those particular organizations outside of Scouting.

If the proposal is to be passed, the language must protect those chartering organizations that decide to not allow gay members and leaders. The BSA is attempting to deflect legal action. That’s fine, as long as the legal action is not deflected onto individual troops or their chartering organizations. The BSA needs to act responsibly and take care of its members.

I have known gay Eagle Scouts and

I can tell you that those scouts deserve their Eagle Scout Award just as much as I deserve mine. Gay scouts deserve the opportunity to grow, learn and achieve through the Scouting program. At the same time, the gay scouts that I have known did not necessarily “hide” their preferences in order to be allowed to participate; it wasn’t really a topic of discussion. Whether a boy is gay or straight should have no bearing on his involvement. The BSA’s membership policy shouldn’t have to draw a distinction between gay and straight Scouts. No troop asks boys their sexual preferences before allowing them to join. I don’t foresee an 11-18-year-old boy joining Scouts in order to push the “gay agenda.” Boys join Scouts to have fun, to learn and to have the opportunity to make significant personal accomplishments. I hope that boys have that opportunity for years to come.

JARED DRYDEN is the editorial assistant for the Bison. He may be contacted at jdryden@harding.edu. Twitter: @JaredDryden

The Bison will feature an opposing viewpoint to this piece in the next issue on March 22.

Wearable Clip Art

Last week it was the French. This week it’s the English. Law, order and common sense seem to be coming apart at the seams all across Europe. You will not believe the latest outrage. According to a report in The Telegraph, a 13-year-old boy was sent to detention recently at the Colne Community School in Essex. His crime? The teenager had the nerve to come to class wearing an ordinary necktie instead of the regulation clip-on required by the school’s dress code.

Max Richmond seems like a perfectly sensible young chap. He found the school’s clip-on ties uncomfortable and childish. So a neighbor loaned him a regular one that featured the exact same color pattern — maroon with blue and white diagonal stripes — to wear with the rest of his uniform. Richmond is hardly the rebel sort, certainly not one to defy authority by brazenly sporting a blue tie with maroon diagonal stripes. Instead, his argument was that wearing a real necktie felt “proper.” As he told reporters at The Telegraph, “When you are wearing a clip-on tie, it is hard to be taken seriously.”

The school claimed that the detachable neck-wear was mandated “for safety reasons.” Apparently, Essex is a dangerous place for a well-dressed gent.

Try as I might, though, I could only come up with a few scenarios in which wearing a clip-on could mean the difference between life and death. I suppose if a lad got his tie caught in an electric pencil sharpener, there might not be time to undo a Full Windsor knot. Or if a boy were spotted trespassing on a

michael claxton

rival campus, he could switch to that school’s tie in a flash, allowing him to blend in within seconds. And let’s not rule out the possibility that someone could be sinking up to his ankles in quicksand and need a classmate to toss his tie to the rescue.

I remember once I was leaving a Chinese restaurant in the rain, and as I tried to open my umbrella, I upset the takeout box, spilling soy sauce all over one of my vintage hand-painted ties. It is almost impossible to get MSG out of silk, but a friend of mine who was a chemist offered to give it a try, claiming that he had access to solvents that had long been banned from the dry-cleaning industry. When he gave me back the tie, the stain was in fact gone, along with a whole square-inch of fabric. I have to admit that perhaps this loss could have been avoided with an easily removable clip-on. And I know at least one international celebrity whose livelihood depends on them. When I was in London in 2009, I went to see the famous Italian quick-change artist Arturo Brachetti at the Garrick Theatre. This modern-day vaudevillian has mastered the art of changing costumes within seconds, and

his two-hour show consisted of more than a hundred such transformations. It was an incredible display of sartorial magic. I don’t pretend to know his methods, but here’s a guy who should get a free pass on clip-ons.

The clip-on tie certainly has its place. As the male counterpart to press-on nails, it has ushered generations of boys into manhood. Countless young men have benefited from using the paper-doll approach to putting on ties until they could psyche themselves up for tying a Half Windsor. Actually, I still have the 15-inch red snap-on tie that I wore when I was six.

But at some point a man has to put away childish things. Max Richmond is right. Dressing like Mr. Potato Head is no way to win respect. If for no other reason, we need the metaphors associated with regular neckties. Can you imagine how long a marriage would last after a couple “clipped the knot?” And what kind of person is “fit to be clipped?”

So let’s tie one on for solidarity with Richmond, a courageous young Englishman making a stand for dignity. We cannot let Richmond walk alone with that albatross clipped on his neck. For all the brave young men who are ready to shed the training wheels of Velcro neckwear, we will support their quest for a man’s tie. We will beat back the forces of kiddie cravats that shackle British youth to perpetual adolescence. We will triumph, for we shall “knot” be moved.

LYNDSEY RUBLE is the editor-inchief for the Bison. She may be contacted at lruble@harding.edu.

MICHAEL CLAXTON is a guest contributor for the Bison. He may be contacted at mclaxto1@harding.edu.

Alexis Hosticka

Out of left field

How do you define a sport?

Dictionary.com defines a sport as “an athletic activity requiring skill or physical prowess and often of a competitive nature, such as racing, baseball, tennis, golf, bowling, wrestling, boxing, hunting, fishing, etc.”

But I beg to differ with that definition.

I think for a sport to be a sport, it must be a competition. If there are no winners or losers and only participants, then all you are doing is participating in an activity.

In order to be successful in a particular sport, you should have to be athletic in some respect.

For example, fishing does not really require any athleticism. Someone who is out of shape and lazy could do just as well at fishing as a person who works out everyday. Fishing is based mainly on luck and therefore has nothing to do with talent.

When luck determines the outcome of an activity, it’s not a sport. Then there is the forever controversial cheerleading.

Cheerleaders generally claim that it is indeed a sport while everyone else says the opposite.

I’m in between. When the cheerleaders are doing nothing but cheering and smiling, I can’t really call that a sport.

However, if they are cheerleading competitively then that becomes a sport. It then becomes about skill and athleticism, and therefore is a sport.

I’ve also heard the argument that if a competition is being judged, such as in gymnastics, then it’s not a sport.

People say that the winner of a sporting competition must be able to be determined based solely on a direct measurement of skill, such as runs scored or a timed race, not the opinion of officials.

I can’t really agree with this one, however.

Maybe I’m a little biased since I used to do gymnastics, but I think that the amount of athleticism required to be a gymnast is much more than or equal to many other sports.

If every participant is judged based on the same scale, with the same rules for deductions and the same formula for calculating score, then there are definite winners and losers, and it is definitely a sport.

Judging isn’t a matter of opinion, it follows strict guidelines so that every athlete is judged exactly the same - it’s just like having a referee or umpire to make close calls.

So all you fishermen and cheerleaders out there can keep on doing your thing, but just don’t call it a sport.

Activities are fun, but real sports have winners and losers.

ALEXIS HOSTICKA is sports editor for the 2012-2013 Bison. She may be contacted at ahostick@harding.edu. Twitter: @alexis_hosticka

NFL potential

Former Bison football player hoping to turn heads at NFL combine this weekend

by SHANE SCHOCK student writer

Harding graduate Ty Powell has recently been put on the scouting grid for the NFL and plans to showcase his talents at the NFL combine this weekend.

Powell, 24, was born in Miami, Fla., where he stayed for a short time before moving and growing up in Jay, Okla. In 2004, as a sophomore in high school, Powell moved once again to Marina, Calif. There he finished high school and went on to De Anza Community College to play football for two years, before coming to Harding.

“Coming out of De Anza I had a number of colleges contact me and offer me scholarships to play football,” Powell said. “When I visited some of the other colleges, none of them had the atmosphere or environment that Harding offered.”

Powell said his decision to come to Searcy was due to his desire to play for the staff he encountered during his visit to Harding.

Powell began playing football at the age of seven. He immediately excelled playing both sides of the ball.

Starting at such a young age, Powell said he has sustained and absorbed a passion for the game of football.

“It’s tough to think about what I love most about the game,” Powell said. “It’s what I am about, I am in control of what I do, and what I do works.”

Powell, humbled by his recent success, said he feels that he finally belongs.

“Playing in the Senior Bowl helped me learn how to play alongside some of the best, the elite,” Powell said. “I felt comfortable out there and knew that I belonged out on the field with the rest of those guys.”

Since the season ended Powell has been on a tight schedule getting ready for the next step into the pros. Powell now looks to continue turning heads at the NFL combine this weekend in Indianapolis, Ind.

“I look to prove that I am not all hype; that although I come from a Division II university, that I have what it takes, that I have the work ethic to get it done,” Powell said.

Powell has finished his career at Harding with awards, honors and outstanding performance on the field, but it is more than just accolades when playing for the Bisons.

“I am a curious individual which led me to find out the true meaning of brotherhood,” Powell said. “I’ve gained more than just experience, I found a brotherhood filled with friends and family.”

In a recent Fox Sports article, Powell was listed as one of “five small school guys you’ll know by next week.”

The article said that one of the major skills Powell’s future is riding on is his speed, specifically his time for the 40 yard dash.

Bison basketball struggles to come back from losing streak

by KRISTI SOTO student writer

With three games left in the season, Bison basketball is ranked second in the Great American Conference, one game behind Arkansas Tech. As of Feb. 20, the Bisons had lost four straight games after a 10-game winning streak, putting the team at 17-7 overall and 10-6 in conference play.

Jeff Morgan, the Bisons head coach, said the main thing the team is focusing on now is having great practices.

“We are just trying to go out each day and make sure we have the best possible practice we can,” Morgan said. “Hopefully it will carry over in playing well.”

Forward junior Hayden Johnson said the next two games on the road will be

No. 4 ranking for Lady Bisons

Women’s basketball aims for conference tournament

by ALEX EZELL student writer

tough to win, but the team has been focusing on defense and rebounding for the past few weeks.

“We know we need to be physically and mentally tough going into those games in order to give ourselves a chance,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the coaches have been challenging the team to step out of their comfort zone on defense to try and work hard on the defensive end. Morgan said the team is battling for a conference championship, so it is crunch time.

“Number one, you have got to win your home games, then steal what you can on the road,” Morgan said. “We have played in the position to have a chance.”

Johnson said that he is excited for the upcoming conference games and going to Bartlesville to try to win the conference tournament.

“It’s my favorite time of the year when every game is a must-win situation,” Johnson said.

Morgan said the team will have to focus quickly on the games against University of Arkansas Monticello and Arkansas Tech University right after they play Southern Arkansas University.

“The main thing is, let’s just stay sharp and make sure we are executing well and let’s see what we can do in these last four games,” Morgan said.

On Feb. 20 the Bisons fell 60-56 at Ouachita Baptist University, who currently stands in third place in the GAC as of press time. Senior Zach Roddenberry scored 23 points and had eight rebounds for the Bisons and Johnson added 14 points.

The Bisons next game is against University of Arkansas at Monticello at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

The Lady Bisons basketball team has won 12 out of their last 15 games. Last Thursday, Feb. 14, the team went up against Henderson State University. Junior guard Lauren Crenshaw said the game exhibited their resiliency as a team.

“Thursday’s overtime win was just a complete team effort … We played from behind the entire game, but never gave up,” Crenshaw said.

The team played consistently throughout the game, but was never able to pull ahead. With only one second remaining in regulation, Kristen Celsor, a junior guard, was fouled and sent to the line to shoot two free throws. Celsor hit both shots to tie the game at 64 apiece. The Lady Bisons went on to defeat the Rangers in overtime, 76-69.

Celsor has been averaging 15 points and eight rebounds per game. Celsor was also recently named to the Capital One Academic All-America Division II Women’s Basketball Team, becoming the first Lady Bison ever to earn Academic All-America honors.

According to Lady Bisons head coach Tim Kirby, Celsor’s competitiveness makes her a stand out on the court.

“Kristen is a great athlete,” Kirby said. “That is probably the difference between her and a lot of other players out there with her ability to run and jump. Sometimes she makes things look pretty easy.

When you include being a very coachable girl and a hard worker then that is a pretty good combination.”

Harding traveled to Arkadelphia, Ark., on Saturday, Feb. 16, to play the Ouachita Baptist University Tigers. The Lady Bisons beat the Tigers with a buzzer beater three-point shot by Crenshaw.

We are capable of doing some great things with the rest of this season if we fight until the end of every single game.

-Kristen Celsor, junior guard

According to Crenshaw, the team played tough defense the entire game to keep them in it. Sophomore guard Montana Lewis hit two free throws to tie the game. That led to senior guard Deshelle Isaac-Boyce making an impressive pass as time ran out so Crenshaw had the chance to take the winning shot.

“Both games were huge wins for us and I think they definitely gave us a fire that had been lacking the week before,” Celsor said. “We are capable of doing some great things with the rest of this season if we fight until the end of every single game.”

The Lady Bisons are heading into the last few weeks of Great American Conference regular season play. With the postseason in the near future, the team is looking to finish with energy.

The top eight teams from the conference will advance to the GAC tournament at the end of the season. Right now, Harding is in fourth place, but the top six spots are all within a few games of each other.

“You want to have some momentum going into the post season and be playing as well as you can play,” Kirby said. “With six games to go you don’t really know where you are going to end up. You take it to the next game and be as prepared as you can be.”

The Lady Bisons will travel to Monticello, Ark., tomorrow, Feb. 23, to take on the University of Arkansas at Monticello Lady Blossoms. Live coverage of the game can be heard on Harding’s own KVHU 95.3 starting at 2 p.m.

photo by GRANT SCHOL | Student Publications

Sophomore guard Montana Lewis keeps Henderson State University from moving down the court in the game on Feb. 14.

photo by GRANT SCHOL | Student Publications

Freshman forward Andraz Kavas goes for a basket in the Bisons’ game against Henderson State University on Feb. 14.

Tennis teams work toward GAC matches

by CHANHEE SONG student writer

The men’s and women’s tennis teams both fell to Oklahoma Christian University last Thursday 0-9 and 2-7 respectively on Feb. 14.

Head coach David Elliott said the women won two matches with one single and one double while the men did not win any.

“The match did not come out the way we wanted,” Elliott said. “I thought we competed very hard and the kids played well. We had two really close matches, but they (Oklahoma Christian) are defending national champions and one of the best college teams around and we were unable to beat them.”

According to senior Helio Hashimoto, this level of competition will strengthen the teams despite the loss.

“The match was tough, but it was good practice for us,” Hashimoto said. “The season is just starting so it’s important to have a good match to prepare for the other ones.”

The next day, the men’s and women’s tennis teams both defeated John Brown University 9-0 in Little Rock on Feb 15. Currently, the women’s team is 3-3 and the men’s team is 4-3.

According to Elliott, the Bisons have a very challenging schedule this month as they are playing nationally ranked teams such as University of the Ozarks on Feb. 27. In the midst of challenging matches, Elliott said he tries to preach one message: consistency.

“Tennis is such an intense sport,” Elliott said. “It doesn’t matter how hard you hit it or how well you hit it. If it doesn’t go in enough you are going to lose. That’s what we try to emphasize. We’ve got to be consistent and keep the ball in play regardless.”

Sophomore Maria Moreno said she also emphasizes everyday practices on the court because it results in better physical fitness and mentality, which will help the athletes stay focused during the matches.

“We get here and we warm up,” Moreno said.

“We play either a set of doubles or tie-breakers and then finish with conditioning every day.”

Tomorrow, both the Bisons and the Lady Bisons will take on Rhodes College at 1:30 p.m. in Little Rock.

The Bisons have played against Rhodes since the 1960s. Elliott said Rhodes is a very competitive Division III school and every time the Bisons have faced them in the past, it has been a

very close match.

“I believe the last time we played was probably three or four years ago,” Elliott said. “We had very close matches with both men’s and women’s teams so they will be a very solid team and we will have to play well to beat them.”

Moreno and Hashimoto said the season is going well and they hope to win their conference matches later this season, since February

Track breaks records

by ANGEL PARAMORE

writer

student

Saturday, Feb. 9 was a record-breaking day for the indoor track teams as freshman Corey Bassett and sophomore Ewa Zaborowska both broke school records in their events at the Samford Multi and Invitational at the Birmingham CrossPlex.

Bassett broke the Harding record in the 60-meter-dash with a time of 6.92 seconds. The previous school record was 7.00 seconds, held by Burt Green in 2003. Bassett’s time landed him fifth place in the finals at Samford.

matches are not part of the conference but serve as preparations for the GAC.

“Our women’s tennis team has a chance to be as good as any of the women’s teams in the GAC,” Elliott said. “There are about five real solid tennis teams with Arkansas Tech being the favorite. East Central Oklahoma, South East Oklahoma, and Ouachita Baptist are good teams as well.”

Why rugby deserves American attention

If you are an American, you may have heard of rugby, but you’ve probably never seen it. If you were bored enough two weeks ago, however, you may have stumbled across the Las Vegas Rugby Sevens Tournament on NBC while flipping through the channels. With seven-man teams playing on a full size rugby pitch, rugby sevens is a fast-paced, exciting variation of American football’s unheralded predecessor. Featuring seven-minute halves and a lot of scoring, it is predicted by many analysts to be the next big thing in the sports world and will be featured in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Played in just three days, the Las Vegas Rugby Sevens Tournament featured 45 matches played by 16 nations.

The tournament represents the midway point in a series known as the IRB Sevens World Series. Comprised of nine tournaments played over eight months, the series is the ultimate

Our Athletes’ Views on Pop Culture

What helps you unwind after a long day?

annual quest for rugby sevens players as they strive to bring glory to their countries. When they don their jerseys and take the pitch, these men represent their countries as they compete at the highest stage of the game.

Despite being recognized as the best in the game, these athletes are different than those selected to represent their countries in sports such as soccer and basketball. Unlike other international sports stars, most rugby sevens players are not professional athletes. They are roofers, farmers and students. They are “normal guys” that play rugby on the weekends. While LeBron and Kobe return to playing in the NBA after competing in international tournaments, these sevens players return to their jobs and schools, anxiously awaiting the next chance to compete.

It’s no different for rising star Carlin Isles.

A high school football and track star from Ohio, Isles found his athletic career coming to an early end despite ranking as the 36th fastest sprinter in the United States.

Having realized that qualifying for the 2016 Olympics as a sprinter was a long shot, Isles started looking for other ways to represent his country in Rio de Janeiro. With the encour-

agement of Miles Craigwell, a former Miami Dolphins safety that decided to pick up rugby after being relegated to the practice squad, Isles decided to take up rugby.

He began playing with the local Gentlemen of Aspen Rugby Football Club in 2012. It only took a few months for the rugby world to notice Isles, and he was selected for the United States international squad that October. He made his international debut against the topranked New Zealand, scoring within his first minute on the field. His success continued in a big way in Las Vegas.

In a must-win match against Spain, Isles played a vital role in sending the United States Eagles on to the next round of the tournament when he scored twice before two minutes had expired.

Isles represents perfectly the appeal of the world’s fastest growing sport. With incredible speed and patriotic determination, he has a chance to score every time he gets the ball, and fans can almost feel the anticipation when he gets loose. As the Olympic debut of rugby sevens approaches, don’t miss the chance to witness the rise of the United States’ first modern rugby star.

“I’ve been running track all of my life and I have broken many records but I feel that this one is a bigger accomplishment being that I am a freshman,” Bassett said. “I just hope I can continue to go up from here, God-willing.”

Zaborowska broke the school record for the indoor mile with a time of 4:49.88. Zaborowska placed fourth in the mile at Samford.

The school record was previously set by Hanna Ritakallio in 2001 with a time of 4:51.85. Zaborowska’s time was the second fastest by a Division II runner this season.

In addition to breaking one school record at the Samford Multi and Invitational, the women’s indoor track and field team also recorded four NCAA Division II provisional times and moved into the U.S. Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association Division II Top 25 last Monday, being ranked 24th.

The track and field teams will travel to Lubbock, Texas, next for the Lone Star Conference meet Feb. 23-24.

“My goal for the conference meet in Lubbock is to place high,” Zaborowska said. “In this meet, we score as a team and most of us run more than one event. It is more important to place high in a race than to get a good result.”

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up? Check the weather
. Brush my teeth. Open my eyes.

Have you ever been told you look like someone famous?

If you could be any animal, what would it be?

No, I’m still in search of my doppleganger.

Yes, Bradley Cooper and stinking Frodo. No.

Hunter Beck

phtoto by AMY MARÉ | Student Publications

Sophomore tennis player Maria Moreno takes a swing at practice on Jan. 23. The Lady Bisons tennis team is currently 3-3.

Hannah Hatcher Rachel Roberts Gabe Fyock McKinley Duke (Soccer) (Baseball) (Baseball) (Track)

Sammy Lhotak (Tennis) Mozart. Adam Edwards.

WINGS conference to convene this weekend

by COREY STUMNE student writer

Harding University is set to host the 19th annual WINGS (Women in God’s Service) Conference. The conference, sponsored by the Department of Marriage and Family Therapy, will be held this weekend on Feb. 22–23.

The weekend will be full of spiritually uplifting events such as singing, guest speakers and break-out sessions. One of the aspects of the conference that makes WINGS so unique is that it is led and put on by women for women.

Student and faculty art show inspired by travel

by KRISTIN BALDWIN student writer

The Stevens Art Gallery hosted the art exhibits of senior fine arts major Angela DeCamp and professor of art Daniel Adams until Feb. 21.

DeCamp, graduating in May, hosted her own art show and a larger group show for bachelor of science majors will take place later in the semester.

DeCamp’s oil paintings focus on portraiture. DeCamp said she paints unusual paintings of people she knows and even of herself.

“When it comes to art, people are going to tell you a lot of different things,” DeCamp said. “They tell me ‘paint what you can sell, paint what people like that way you can sell your work,’ but I really try to go the opposite direction. I paint what I feel at the time or what I’m passionate about.”

The backgrounds of her paintings are inspired by her various travels. They vary from New Zealand and Vietnam to her own front yard.

DeCamp said she has learned many lessons from studying art, but the biggest was not to be afraid what

people want or expect from you.

“Just use the gifts that God gave you,” DeCamp said. “Do what you’re passionate about.”

Professor of art Beverly Austin has worked with DeCamp the past four years. She said she has seen DeCamp’s art develop to a more professional level throughout the time that Austin has worked with her.

Austin said DeCamp has a good work ethic and is driven to create the world around her in a stimulating way.

“Angela is an experimenter and isn’t afraid to make mistakes and learn from them,” Austin said.

“It’s exciting to watch her work and to see her creative process from inception to the finished product.”

Adams also had his work on display in the Stevens Art Gallery along with DeCamp’s.

Adams said that a wood block is used in order to do the type of art that he presented in the show. He draws an image on the block and then carves away the rest of the wood so that when ink is applied only the desired image will be transferred to paper. By the end, the block is useless because

the surface is slowly taken away with each image that is made.

Adams work is also inspired by his travels around the world.

They tell me paint what you can sell, paint what people like that way you can sell your work, but I really try to go the opposite direction. I paint what I feel at the time or what I’m passionate about.

-Angela DeCamp, fine arts student

“In 1996 when we went on our first HUF trip, we got bitten by the travel bug and haven’t wanted to stop since,” Adams said. “You see interesting things in other places.”

Adams and his wife recently decided to travel around America to all of the different national parks. Their travels to Death Valley inspired his Golden Canyon series.

DeCamps’ and Adamss art is for sale. They can be contacted by email for more information. The Stevens Art Gallery is open to the public daily from 1-5 p.m.

Kicking habits, keeping a New Year’s resolution

by HAZEL HALLIBURTON copy editor

Every year people make New Year’s resolutions and for most, these resolutions soon die out, not making it into the month of February. Many set goals for themselves to lose weight and to change their eating habits, but within weeks they find themselves falling back into old habits. That can be said for most, but not all. Junior Katey Brawley made a resolution and has not looked back since.

According to Brawley, she decided in January 2012 that she wanted to try to lose 50 pounds and eventually lose 100 pounds. She was determined to reach her goal.

“I’ve always struggled with weight...” Brawley said. “Everyone always sets a New Year’s resolution, but I was determined to do it. So I went to the doctor in January and told him I wanted to lose weight, but that I also wanted to make it a habit.”

The doctor devised a plan for Brawley to help keep her accountable; once a month, Brawley goes in to weigh in at the doctor’s office. She said she keeps count of her calories on her iPhone using her My Fitness Pal app. Brawley said that losing weight has not

involved doing anything out of the ordinary, but simply exercising, staying away from fast food and starchy foods and keeping track of calories as her doctor suggested.

So far Brawley has lost 112 pounds with her ultimate goal being to lose 175.

“I feel so much better, obviously, and it’s really encouraging when people tell you that they can tell that you have lost weight,” Brawley said. “I know that’s silly, but it makes me feel better that people can notice, and pairing that with just feeling better and having more energy has been my motivation… People have definitely been an encouragement.”

Brawley said being in school has presented some challenges, especially with balancing her school schedule and trying to make time for exercising and cooking her own food. During the breaks, she said she has more time to focus on her goal and to work out and make wise

decisions concerning her diet. Convenience and time are both items that Brawley said have been the biggest challenges throughout her journey, but are things she has learned to overcome and replace with healthy habits.

“Our age is kind of the best time to get in habit,” Brawley said. “We’re at our peak and we’re forming habits that we will most likely hand down to our children, so I think this is really the time to make changes.”

Brawley said one of the greatest achievements for her has been being able to clean out her closet and get rid of clothes that she could not wear anymore. She said a lot of times you cannot really tell how much weight you have lost until you put clothes on and realize they are too big. She has been able to donate her old clothes to people who needed them, which has been a blessing, Brawley said.

Sherry Pollard, assistant director of the Harding University Counseling Center and professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy program, was the original founder of the WINGS Conference 19 years ago. According to her, the weekend is a fantastic way for women to be spiritually uplifted.

“We believe the conference is important because it is a spiritually rich program designed to meet women where they are,” Pollard said. “We have textual studies and practical application (and) inspiring speakers who are capable women. Many congregations do not have the man power or funds to have a day or weekend for women, so they can come to WINGS as a road trip and bonding experience.”

The theme for the conference this year is “Fingerprints of God.” According to Terri Rine, the overall director of the 2013 WINGS Conference, the theme is very applicable to women everywhere today.

“Our theme this year is ‘Fingerprints of God,’” Rine said. “We are incorporating speakers, various activities and testimonials to help the attendees recognize God’s fingerprints in all aspects of our lives.”

Anessa Westbrook, program chairman of the conference, said the theme is not just for helping women see God playing an active part in their lives, but also training them to help others do the same.

“We hope that we will be able to help people recognize how God is working in their lives, and since these women tend to be ministry-oriented we hope that they will learn how to help others do the same,” Westbrook said.

Westbrook said one of the best aspects about the conference is the fellowship with Christian women all across the nation. She described it as one of the high points in her spiritual walk that she looks forward to every year.

We believe the conference is important because it is a spiritually rich program designed to meet women where they are ... Many congregations do not have the man power or funds to have a day or weekend for women, so they can come to WINGS as a road trip and bonding experience

“Any time women can get together and be an encouragement to one another, it is great,” Westbrook said. “Getting a chance to worship with other women and spend a weekend focusing on God and our own spiritual development makes this one of the ‘mountain top’ events that we need to have every once in a while.”

Female students may attend and can receive one hour of college credit.

photo by ASHEL PARSONS | Student Publications

Seniors Mark Kellermeyer and Sierra Crook observe paintings in the Stevens Art Gallery during senior Angela DeCamp’s show reception on Feb. 17.

-Sherry Pollard WINGS founder

Friday, February 22, 2013

kasey coble

life in the fast lane

catching up on the world of celebrity gossip

Every now and then there are weeks where the celebrities lie fairly low, and this past week was one of them. Bear with me, because I have to believe if there were no huge stories this week, there must be something great coming.

It’s unofficially spring, meaning baby news is coming on at full force. comedian Steve Martin recently announced that he and wife Anne Stringfield (I know what you’re thinking, and I’m with you; Anne who?) welcomed a baby in December, which is Martin’s first child. Not only did Stringfield have a baby at age 41, but Martin just became a dad at 67 years old.

When this child turns 13, Martin will be 80, which is old enough to be a grandpa. Then, on Monday, Fergie announced via Twitter that she and husband Josh Duhamel are expecting their first child. Let’s all hope that fellow Black Eyed Peas band members apl.de.ap and will.i.am do not have any say in naming this baby because, from the looks of their own names, there is no telling what they would come up with.

It always seems that with new baby news also comes news of death. On Monday, it was reported that country singer Mindy McReady committed suicide at her home in Heber Springs, Ark., Sunday afternoon. McReady was known to have addiction problems and even had a stint on VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab” TV show. Her life partner, singer-songwriter David Wilson, committed suicide in January, which is what it is believed ultimately sent her over the edge.

It was also reported on Monday that Jerry Buss, the owner of the Lakers, passed away at 80 years old of kidney failure. Several celebrities,

including Shaquille O’Neal, Jonah Hill and Mario Chalmers, expressed their condolences via Twitter.

Beyonce’s documentary, titled “Life Is But a Dream,” aired Saturday night on HBO. In the documentary, Beyonce shared much with us about her life, but I think the best part was when we saw her at home with a bun on top of her head holding baby Blue Ivy. I now know it is acceptable for me to wear a bun on top of my head because Beyonce did it on national TV. Beyonce’s husband Jay-Z has just been announced to be headlining this summer’s Wireless Festival in London alongside Justin Timberlake. While they are each headlining on different days, I can only believe that they will bust out “Suit and Tie” together at some point, because otherwise what is the point in them headlining together?

Lastly, in shorts, London’s “The Sunday Times” magazine compared Rihanna to Princess Diana and even went as far as photoshopping half of Rihanna’s face onto a picture of Princess Diana. If that isn’t the most far-fetched comparison I’ve ever heard, then I don’t know what is.

Though Britney Spears’ representatives have refused to comment on the issue, it appears that Spears has a new man following her break-up with fiance Jason Trawick. Her new man is supposedly not famous and named David. Thanks for all of the details, Hollywood. And, after being snubbed by the Grammys, Justin Bieber received four nominations for The Juno Awards in Canada. Apparently I need to move to Canada, where everyone loves Bieber as much as I do.

While we may laugh at photos of our parents in their high school days, I can almost guarantee that a newer version of what they are wearing will become stylish again in another decade Bell bottom jeans Ray Bans, Wallabies and teased hair are only a few e xamples This idea isn’t just applied to fashion though It can be found throughout our music choices television shows and now even games and toys we played with as children For some unknown reason, Hasbro has decided to bring back the beloved robotic creature from the 90s: Furby You remember, that fuzzy adorable creature that you vowed to love forever? That is, until you discovered it never quit making noise That very reason is why my Furby got thrown into the attic just a few weeks after purchasing it I am a firm believer that some things just need to be left in the past, but apparently Hasbro does not have the same belief The newest Furby has ar rived in stores and is supposed to be an upg raded and better version. However, it still does not have an off switch Aside from that issue Hasbro claims Furby now has a mind of its own E ve r y t hin g you d o to Fur by s h a pes i t s personality and eventually Furby will begin speaking English This new toy can now dance, communicate with other Furbys blink, change eye movements and there is even an app where you can feed Furby and translate

“Furbish” to English With a hefty price tag of $60, Furby is definitely an investment, but has the potential to befriend many children of all ages this year

Another game from our childhood being brought back to life is the new Monopoly board game I’m not sure Monopoly ever stopped being popular, but the game will soon be changed forever Hasbro recently held an election online where a cat was voted to replace the iron game piece Monopoly will never be the same without the iron, but this is one area where change might just be a good thing A cat competing against a Scottie dog makes much more sense than an iron Really, what was the iron going to do in the competition anyway? Steam the other game pieces into failure? When I was young, the iron was never picked as a favorite, so I am actually happy to see it go

On another note, UNO has gone from being a simple card game to something much more There is now UNO Attack, UNO Flash and the newest addition UNO Roboto UNO Roboto is a customizable game with random unpredictable rules that keep players on their toes I don’t know how UNO could get much better than a talking robot but I’m interested to see if they will ever try to top that

So, while toys like Furby, Monopoly and UNO may be getting better just remember those were our toys first

A college girl’s plan to achieve a happy, healthy lifestyle

by HAZEL HALLIBURTON copy editor

One of my favorite movies is “Julie and Julia” with Amy Adams and Meryl Streep. I love this movie and to be perfectly honest, who doesn’t love a movie that completely revolves around food? In the movie Adams’ character decides to spend an entire year cooking her way through Julia Child’s French cookbook “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Each day she tries her hand at recreating French cuisine, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing.

At the beginning of this semester, I remembered this movie and thought how fun it would be to do my own little challenge. While I had no desire to try to conquer the art of French cooking, I did want to challenge myself to eat an entire vegetarian diet for one semester. I had done it before, but only to avoid having to eat the mystery meat in the cafeteria. This time I wanted to do it to challenge myself to a healthier lifestyle.

Then came the girl’s night out

at Chili’s and the honey chipotle chicken. You see where this is going.

So my vegetarian ways fell to the wayside. I failed the challenge and due to my weakness, PETA will continue to target their campaigns toward people like me. That being said, I have challenged myself to eat meat only twice a week, a challenge that I have been successful at thus far.

According to Vegetariantimes. com, 7.3 million Americans are vegetarians, 22.8 million are vegetarian-inclined (that’s me) and only one million are completely vegan. It seems to be a growing trend.

So why are people trading in their 100 percent farm-bred angus beef patties for veggie patties? Well, statistics show that 47 percent of vegetarians eat a vegetarian diet because of their concerns for the environment, 39 percent for natural approaches to wellness, 31 percent for food-safety concerns, 25 percent for weight-loss and 24 percent to try to maintain weight.

According to a study done in 1998 by researchers at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in Oxford,

England, vegetarians were found to have a 24 percent lower risk of dying from ischaemic heart disease than people who ate meat.

Also, vegetarian diets are lower in saturated fats, which the Center for Disease Control advises to avoid since saturated fats have been linked to chronic disease, specifically coronary heart disease.

If that is not enough to persuade you to put down your chicken leg, nutraingredients.com says men who eat vegetarian diets live an average of 9.5 years longer than meat devouring males, along with vegetarian women living an average of 6.1 years longer. Sounds like a legitimate reason to me to change one’s diet.

So while I may not be a gogreen-save-the-rain-forest hippie, I do have enough sense to try to take care of myself. I may not have enough willpower in me to completely give up meat yet, but I am off to a better start.

Keep up with Hazel’s healthy living column on thelink.harding.edu

KASEY COBLE is the assistant copy editor of the Bison. She may be contacted at kcoble@harding.edu or on Twitter @kaseycoble.

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