The Bison - Vol. 89, No. 15

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‘Radium Girls’

Among missing is Oklahoma Christian University alumnus

by Jared Dryden copy editor

On March 8, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 disappeared while en route between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. The flight was carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew members, representing 15 nations. The flight was reported missing after all radar, voice contact and other data transmission failed. Since the loss of the plane, search crews have conducted an extensive search and rescue process. The search has been conducted by six nations, other than Malaysia: Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States, according to the BBC. According to NPR, it is the largest multinational air and sea search to date. The search is primarily looking for “floating objects, oil slicks, floating parts of the external layer of the plane and people that may have fallen into the water,” according to Dong Yan, commander of the Chinese arm of the search effort.

Play tells story of radiation poisoning, glowing watches and standing for justice

by Elizabeth Harper student writer

Camden Henry

The Ulrey Performing Arts Center is featuring the true story “Radium Girls,” starting Thursday, March 27 until March 29.

The story takes place in 1926 and follows the court case of female factory workers who make glow-in-the-dark watch dials.The women contracted radiation poisoning from licking the ends of the brushes to make a fine point.

“You get to see two sides of the court case,”sophomore stage manager Jessica Duren said. “The girl who is dying from radiation poisoning and the company president — who is naive of the effects at first.”

Senior Nate White plays the company president,

Arthur Roeder. He said this play shows how there is good even in the bad. He said this is specifically shown in the actions of Roeder in how he is trying to make his company successful, even at the expense of others.

“I enjoyed working on scenes with (junior) Jenna Light, who plays my wife,” White said. “These scenes humanize him.The audience paints him as the villain of the story, but when you see him interact with his wife and him turn down a chance for corruption, you can see that there exists good and evil within him — just as (good and evil) exist in everyone.”

Junior Tayler Robinson plays the factory supervisor, Mrs. McNeil, and a tabloid reporter.

“The cast had to overcome the notion that people are either good or bad,” Robinson said. “There are a lot of good people in the story who make poor decisions, and I personally had to stop myself from thinking it’s either black or white.”

Robinson said she hopes the audience will be able to recognize the courage that lies in everyday people.

“The story centers around ordinary factory workers who rise up to fight for what they believe is just,” Robinson said.

White said he has fond feelings toward the show and relates to the characters and has grown to love them.

“Sometimes they caved to their fears and selfish wants, and sometimes they did good,” White said. “But you’ll see on stage certain things you’ve battled with yourself.”

Duren said this show is interesting and different

because with the exception of the two leads, every cast member plays multiple characters.

“It’s the actors who make the show perfect,” Duren said. “It’s not by any flashy lights or amazing costumes. It’s all the actors and their message.”

White said “Radium Girls” is a show that would appeal to those who consider themselves deep thinkers or who value self-analysis He said it is worth $10 and a couple hours of your time.

Robinson said although the show is heavy, it is good for people to come see because it is different than anything Harding has put on in the last few years, and it carries such an important message.

Source: CNN

“Radium Girls”is directed by Chair of the Department of Theatre Robin Miller and sophomore Rob Yates and will be in the Ulrey at 7 p.m. tonight and tomorrow night.

HUmanity’s ‘Freedom Week’ raises awareness about human trafficking

by Marianna Woodruff student writer

This week, HUmanity hosted “Freedom Week” to raise awareness for human trafficking.

HUmanity is a campus chapter of the International Justice Mission. Members seek to raise awareness and take action against human trafficking.

“We have three goals for Freedom Week: to raise awareness and educate the student body about the multi-faceted and rapidly growing industry of human trafficking, to raise money for organizations that we work with so they can continue the wonderful work that they do and to train up volunteers,” junior member of HUmanity Dylan Treadwell said.

During Freedom Week, HUmanity participated in and hosted events on

campus and in the community every day.

“Freedom Week allows you to gain awareness for what human trafficking really is, because not a lot of people know or understand the reality of it all,” freshman HUmanity member Alisha Urban said. “It is eye opening but in a good way; it shows you there is a need for you to help.”

Events during the week included: a Texas vs. The World competition to raise money for Partners Against Trafficking Humans (P.A.T.H.), which is a non-profit in Little Rock; an after-dinner tea talk to benefit Not For Sale, an organization that strives to end human trafficking; a silent auction for art donated by students and people in the community; a showing of “Nefarious: Merchant of Souls”; a devotional and candlelight vigil for victims of human trafficking;

Women’s tennis celebrates recent victories.

and a “Stand for Freedom,” in which people signed up to “stand” to raise awareness about human trafficking.

“We have gotten great feedback from people who have been at the events this week,”senior member Bailee Searcey said.“Most people have at least some concept of human trafficking; the biggest shock is knowing that it’s going on in America, and even Searcy.

To end the week, Louise Allison from PATH will conduct a training seminar at Fellowship Bible Church from 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

In order to work with victims at the shelter in Little Rock, the presentation will involve an in-depth look at sex trafficking and a lesson on how to approach victims in public. At the end of the day, participants in the seminar will be certified to work with victims of human trafficking.

China, Malaysia and Australia have all announced finding “debris” or “objects” since the search process has begun, either through air and sea searches or through satellite surveillance. None of the objects have been positively identified as pieces related to the missing flight, according to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Experts, journalists, pilots and celebrities theorized about the fate of the flight and those on board; theories included mechanical or electrical failure, mental health issues of the flight crew, terrorism, hijacking or sabotage, according to CBC.

Phil Wood, 50, was one of three passengers with American passports on the flight. Wood, an executive at IBM, lived in Beijing and was planning to move to Malaysia, according to NY Daily News. Wood was a 1985 graduate of Oklahoma Christian University. Chuck Monan, minister at Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock, was a classmate of Wood’s at Oklahoma Christian. Monan said his wife has known Wood since they were children, having grown up across the street from him. Monan said that although the ordeal has been rough on the family and friends of Wood, it has spotlighted their faith.

“They’ve been spotted and spotted again, those objects in the southern Indian Ocean. Every time a report comes out that something has been seen that may be related to missing Malaysia Flight 370, hopes have risen. And then they have fallen. It’s seemed like a daily exercise.”

Source: CNN

“It is apparent from watching (the family’s) response to the media crush that their deep, abiding faith in God has sustained them through the pain of this tragedy,” Monan said. “What is clear is that the Christian need not fear death, as he serves the one who holds the keys to death and Hades.”

Graphic by Tyler Carmical

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced to the media on March 24 that the flight, and all passengers and crew, was assumed by the Malaysian government to be lost, due to its assumed final position and the lack of any possible landing sites within a reasonable distance, according to The Guardian.

HENRY GONZALEZ | THE BISON

Freshmen Hannah Reimert and Katie Satterfield and junior Angela Duggins act out a scene during rehearsal of “Radium Girls” on Tuesday night. “Radium Girls” is playing on the Ulrey stage tonight and tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Deadly mudslide hits Washington

by Kelsey Pierce student writer

A mudslide tore through the small rural community of Oso, Wash. on Saturday, March 22. The rain-soaked hillside collapsed on top of the town, completely destroying homes and killing several.

According to Reuters, there was also a fear of flooding which would have caused even more damage. The death toll is currently at 25 and 90 people are still unaccounted for.

Missions bring students closer to each other, God

by Tabor Hammond student writer

Approximately 275 students participated in a spring break campaign from March 7-16 to one of eight U.S. locations or one of nine international destinations.

Sophomore Katie Mitchell traveled with her mission team to Ensenada, Mexico, to serve the City of Children ministry on March 7. This ministry began in 1970, and their goal is to teach the word of God to the orphaned and endangered children of Mexico.

According to www.cityofchildren.com, 620 children and adults have become Christians with and 800 people have been reached through Baja Missions.

“The Mexican government allows us to teach the gospel because we are giving their children a good home, good care and education,” the City of Children website reads.

Mitchell said that she had been on this trip before and was very anxious to see the people she had bonded with previously. Mitchell said the community the mission team served in was El Zorrillo.

“This was the day that we were able to hand out the shoes that the student body donated at the basketball game,” Mitchell said. “Let me just say what a blessing that was to those people. Although they were only able to take one pair per family, someone was getting a new pair of shoes

that day, and everyone was beaming about it. It was a blessing to be able to witness that day.”

Junior Ryan Glidden was part of the mission team that traveled to Kingston, Jamaica. The group partnered with a local church to do VBS as well as work on landscaping church property. This was Glidden’s second time to make the trip to Jamaica.

“I saw God through the enjoyment Jamaicans take from the simple things that we take for granted,” Glidden said. “My favorite part was their energetic worship.”

Sophomore Kathryn Phillips went on a mission trip over spring break to Catacamus, Honduras. According to Phillips, the team built a house, worked at a physical therapy clinic and worked at a handicapped orphanage.

“I stayed at the handicapped orphanage all week,” Phillips said. “We did two vacation Bible schools for a school and a church.”

Phillips also explained that her father, Bryan Phillips, professor of exercise and sports science, was the director of their mission trip. She said that the group left the Friday before spring break and was gone for 10 days.

“It’s my home away from home, and when I’m there, I feel true happiness,” Phillips said. “I know everyone else (on the mission team) does too because of the love and blessings those people are to us.”

The small town of Oso is part of the larger community of Arlington.

Junior Tabbi Tregoning is from Arlington and said the area has not experienced a mudslide since 2006, and there was not any sign of it happening again. Tregoning received a notification from a woman on the board of her church camp back home about the mudslide.

It’s a scary thought to think that 36 hours away, someone that I know and care about could have been injured or even died, and I could not be there to help them.

-Brandon Chase, sophomore

“It’s a blessing that I wasn’t there when it happened,” Tregoning said. “But it’s also really scary that my family and friends are there.”

Tregoning heard news about a family friend who discovered her sister and 4-month-old niece were missing. The sister’s body was found on Monday and she was confirmed dead the next morning. The baby has not been found.

“At first I didn’t think

much about it,” Tregoning said. “I never really experienced this, so I didn’t know what it really entailed. When I had heard the news about my family friend, I knew it was more serious than I thought.”

Sophomore Brandon Chase is also from Arlington. He said he thankfully did not know anyone that was hurt by the effects of the mudslide.

“It’s a scary thought to think that 36 hours away, someone that I know and care about could have been injured or even died, and I could not be there to help them,” Chase said.

According to the New York Times, search and rescue teams are still looking for survivors among the wreckage. It has been difficult for them to search because the mud is said to have a sticky consistency like quicksand.

“I have seen photos of the damage and just praise God that no one I know was injured,” Chase said. “But my prayers go out to those whose families were affected by it.”

BEYOND THE BUBBLE BEYOND THE BUBBLE

SAN FRANCISCO —

After a record 46 people committed suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge last year, officials are considering adding a safety net to the structure. According to the New York Times, they would use toll money to install a $66 million net 20 feet below the sidewalk.

CARACAS, Venezuela — In addition to protesting their own government, Venezuelans have begun protesting against Cuba. According to the New York Times, Venezuelans believe that Cuba has “leeched off Venezuela’s oil wealth” and Cuba should stop meddling in Venezuelan affairs.

DENMARK — After killing a giraffe in February, the Copenhagen Zoo euthanized four lions on grounds of genetic purity to accommodate for a new lion. According to the New York Times, the actions caused social media uproar.

Students appreciate donors through ‘Say Thanks Day’

by Holly Bohnett asst. web editor

On March 19, students gave back in a small way to those who have given to them. They expressed thankfulness to donors as part of Generation HU’s “Say Thanks Day,” a day dedicated to showing students the impact donations made to Harding have.

Jordan Roddenberry, young alumni associate and Harding alumna, was the primary event planner and said the goal of Say Thanks Day is two-fold.

“One of them is to educate students about what the donors are doing for them and the other one is to obviously thank the donors,” Roddenberry said. “So the donors get recognition and the students get education.”

Through the education to students on Say Thanks Day, Generation HU aims to spread the message that students only pay two-thirds the cost of attendance due to the financial support from donors.

The day consisted of a variety of activities, which included writing thank you

notes to donors, photos with a life-size cutout of President Bruce McLarty, signing a “thank you” banner, buying Say Thanks Day T-shirts, entering a guessing contest, and making personal phone calls to donors. Harding used social media as well and students entered photos for a contest with the hashtag #SayThanks on Twitter. Various alumni, students, faculty and donors documented their experiences during the day, expressing their personal reason to be thankful or how the day impacted them.

Alumnus, donor and Director of Campus Life Logan Light tweeted, “I’m thankful that @HardingU took a chance on me 10 years ago. I’ve been incredibly blessed working here. #SayThanks” (@loganlight).

Freshman Haley Anzalone tweeted a picture of herself posing with Dr. McLarty and a cut-out of McLarty dressed as a scientist with the caption, “My chemical reaction to my moment with President McLarty! #saythanks” (@haleyanzy).

Anzalone’s photo won the #SayThanks photo contest

set up by the President’s Council (@hardingpc).

The day concluded with “Donor and a Movie,”which included a campus-wide devotional, followed by a showing of “Frozen” on the front lawn. Director of the Mitchell Center Andrew Baker led the devotional and continued the theme of thankfulness with a group of approximately 500 students and donors.

“He had everyone make a phone call to someone in their life that they were

thankful for, and it didn’t have to be a donor — just anyone,” Roddenberry said.

“So that night people were still saying ‘thank you,’ and it was great that Dr. Baker was able to translate the message into a devotional.”

Roddenberry said her favorite part of the day was standing in the back during the devotional and seeing students engaged and participating.

She also enjoyed proofreading the thank you cards and noted that the content

this year was more in-depth and personalized than that of previous years.

The goal for thank you cards was 2,000 and currently students have written 1,889. However, there are still more coming in so the number will not be finalized until next week.

Roddenberry said the day was made possible because of the planning committee and more than 100 students who volunteered their time and efforts. Through her

involvement with the event throughout the years, senior Anna Pentecost said she understands the importance of saying thanks.

“Until Say Thanks Day started, I had no idea how much our donors saved us overall,” Pentecost said.

“They need to know that we appreciate what they are doing for us. I really hope that everyone understands how important thanking our donors is and how much it means to them to hear a simple ‘thank you.’”

Students take time to call friends and family and thank them for something during the devotional on Say Thanks Day, March 19. The devotional led by Andrew Baker, director of the Mitchell Center, was one of the day’s final activities.

“VIVI” VITALONE | THE BISON

Junior Selena Warren spends time bonding with one of the kids at City of Children in Ensenada, Mexico, during a spring break mission campaign.

COURTESY OF TAYLOR CARRELL

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

Shane Schock 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

DJ Lawson volunteer photographer

Tyler Carmical graphic designer

Jewelya Williams asst. graphic designer cartoonist

Jared Dryden head copy editor

Haleigh Edge asst. copy editor

Joshua Johnson editorial assistant

Braden Niblock multimedia editor

Bethany Aspey beat reporter

Bradley Cain beat reporter

Megan Smith volunteer writer

Katie Ramirez faculty adviser

guest writers

Reid Belew

Daniel Casella

Michael Claxton

Shelby Daniel

Paige Hale

Tabor Hammond

Elizabeth Harper

Maddi Nelson

Colbie Phillips

Kelsey Pierce

Mandy Valentine

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.”

Friday, March 28,

Classroom Hopping: The Life of a Student Teacher

maddi nelson

This semester has been a little strange for me. I haven’t been to chapel or a Bible class since December. Also, although I only attend classes on campus once a week, this 13-hour semester is the most difficult one I’ve ever endured. On top of that, I just now started my spring break, two weeks after 90 percent of the student body left for theirs. Yes, I’m still a Harding student, but I have to remind myself of that fact occasionally.

Who am I? I’m a student teacher. I spend four out of five days every week observing and teaching 9th-11th grade English classes at Pangburn High School. Throughout the semester, I’ve been distressed, discouraged and overwhelmed by re-

sponsibilities. I’ve felt the strain resulting from being caught between going through the motions of life as an undergraduate student and preparing myself for a foreboding and rapidly approaching “grown-up life.” On top of that, I’m teaching. While the College of Education does an excellent job of preparing its students for student teaching, no class can fully prepare a student for just how stressful the experience can be.

Yet somehow this has been my best semester ever. This semester, with all its challenges and surprises, has been equally humbling and empowering. I’ve learned that I have a long way to go in order to become the teacher I want to be, but I’ve also learned that I’m far more capable and competent than I thought I was. Most importantly, my trust in God has grown over the course of this field experience. The times when I felt most unable to balance the

responsibilities of student teaching, Harding classes, work, the job search and my social life (if you can call it that) are the times when I’ve had to rely on God the most. I know that it is God who has kept me from completely breaking down on the days when I’ve been the most stressed.

Of course, the support of my friends and family has helped me through a lot of difficulty, too. So I’d like to conclude by giving advice to those of you whose loved ones are student teaching: Let them know you’re praying for them. Listen and let them vent about “that one kid in that one class” or about how far behind in their grading they are. Reach out to them. They may be disconnected from student life, but they need your encouragement and support now more than ever.

MADDI NELSON is a guest writer for the Bison. She may be contacted at mcampbe4@ harding.edu.

A Shift in Focus: Don’t Let Life Pass You By

guest writer

Ican’t tell you how many times I have heard the phrase “I love capturing moments” come out of someone’s mouth. I also can’t tell you how many times I have been guilty of saying it. We throw those words around so freely, but do we ever stop to think about what they really mean and what implications they might hold?

I’m not going to lie — I love taking pictures. And with that comes the love of capturing moments.

I love encapsulating emotions and feelings within a frame so that viewers can experience whatever the subject is at that specific point in time. With this love of sharing beauty, however, comes a tragic downfall.

I often find myself missing out on whatever it is I am photographing. Whether that is an awe inspiring sunset hand painted by God himself, or a nail-biter basketball

Posthumous Popularity

Something I’ve observed about fame is it increases tenfold when you die. Google Trends, a tool that monitors how often a person, event or term is Googled, gave Philip Seymour Hoffman a steady score of 0 out of 100 from 2004 until the week of his death, when the number of times his name was Googled spiked to a perfect score of 100.

I don’t want to reduce a death to a statistic, nor do I want to imply that any celebrity’s passing is anything less than a tragedy. No one wants people like Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse or John Lennon to come back more than I do.

Death is a delicate affair, yet the public’s reaction to celebrity deaths is crass fascination. I think it is important to analyze society’s preoccupation with fallen artists. Here are a few of what I consider the most covered celebrity deaths of the last century.

Whitney Houston — d. Feb. 11, 2012. Whitney Houston has always been an icon in my opinion, but she was the most Googled person in 2012. I’m not saying everyone is a bandwagon Whitney Houston fan, but if this many people liked her when I was in middle school, I would have been stuffed in lockers significantly less often.

Michael Jackson — d. June 25, 2009. In 2013, Forbes named Michael Jackson the top-earning dead celebrity in the world. His estate brought in $160 million. For someone who fewer than 10 years ago was arguably one of the most infamous celebrities due to his legal battles, I would say he has managed to stay pretty relevant.

game in the Rhodes, I often find myself distanced from the action. I fail to truly see what beauty is right in front of me. I’m too focused on the job at hand, and while I might be “capturing the moment,” I am not experiencing it. I’m nothing but a bystander, watching but never participating. At the end of the day, if you have more pictures of other people’s experiences, but nothing for yourself, then what is the point? Pictures may last a long time, but memories last a lifetime. I find myself far too often wishing I had put the camera down, even for just a minute, and soaked in the feelings and emotions of whatever the scene before me had to offer.

I love the quote by Jim Elliot, “Wherever you are, be all there.” Don’t just be physically present; interact and participate in whatever is going on around you. That is the only way to live life to its fullest potential and extent — by making the conscious decision to live everything.

When I traveled abroad in 2012, I set a goal for myself to experience ev-

erything in front of me. Yes, I wanted to come home with photographs that I would be proud of (and not to mention a great looking Italian leather bag), but I also wanted to fully invest myself wherever I might be over the course of my semester in Europe. Looking back on that grand adventure now, it is nothing but a blur. But it is the best looking blur I have ever seen.

Don’t be too focused on capturing moments that you forget to live them too. The point is to live everything, but how can you do that when you’re stuck behind a lens always looking in? Composition and exposure are important, but so are memories, and sometimes you just have to put the camera down and make them, not take them. More often than not, the best memories you have will be the ones where no pictures were ever taken.

GRANT SCHOL is the head photographer for the Bison. He may be contacted at gschol1@harding. edu.

Twitter: @grantschol

Princess Diana — d. Aug. 31, 1997. It’s hard to argue that Princess Di received an increase in popularity after her untimely death because many already held her in high regard. She was affectionately referred to as “the people’s princess” and was admired globally. One million people lined the streets of London on the day of her funeral, which was broadcast to almost 2 billion people worldwide.

Elvis Presley — d. Aug. 16, 1977. Graceland, Elvis’s private residence, was opened to the public as a museum five years after his death and has attracted 600,000 visitors annually since 1982. His estate released a greatest hits compilation in 2002 that stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 for three consecutive weeks. I don’t think this king will be dethroned anytime soon.

Marilyn Monroe — d. Aug. 5, 1962. Maybe it’s because of her glamorous persona, but Marilyn’s death seems to be one of the most romanticized. She became something of a martyr; “the fame killed her,” people said. You would be hard pressed to find a girl who doesn’t have a quote of Marilyn’s hanging on her wall. It would be equally challenging to find a girl who has actually seen one of Marilyn’s movies, which is a point of frustration for me.

Those are just my favorite examples. Judy Garland, Liberace, Sylvia Plath, Kurt Cobain and Bob Marley are a few others who passed before their time and have become immortalized in culture.

It’s a shame that death has become a means to guarantee attention. It is clear that living in the spotlight does not stop when you’re done living. Those on my list of the esteemed deceased are obviously deserving of respect, but let’s not forget to appreciate the living while they’re still here.

Friday, March

28, 2014|

lyndsey ruble nuckols

March 28, 2014 | 3B 4A | Friday, March 28, 2014

Cut the Buzz

“Innovative” is a buzz word. “Creative” is a buzz word. Their meanings are imprecise and up for interpretation. Like anything, it’s easy to say you’re innovative. It’s an entirely different thing to actually be innovative. So what’s a college kid looking for a job to do? You want to emphasize your creativity — after all, employers are in love with hiring creatives — but you don’t want to sound lame and totally uncreative by making empty claims.

Here are some ways to show that you are creative and innovative without actually having to throw out those unattractive buzz words.

1. Join and showcase your participation in organizations that don’t necessarily directly tie to your major. There are dozens of organizations across campus that would love to have you, so choose one and get involved. Meeting and working with people from different sectors of campus will help you stay open-minded and encourage you to think of old ideas and preconceptions in new ways. On a resume or cover letter, this sort of involvement shows that you value a commitment to lifelong learning, which I can imagine is music to any hiring manager’s ears. Bonus points if you take on a leadership position within the organization. Any leader is going to have to improvise and get creative at some point; you’ll have plenty of anecdotes for those tough interview questions.

2. Attend conferences, seminars and networking events. Through organizations I’m involved in, I’ve gotten the chance to attend several amazing conferences. Not only do conferences give you an excuse to get off campus, they also surround you with new, bright people who are pioneers in your field. Some of my best and most exciting ideas have come from sitting in conference sessions and being inspired by the intelligent and creative people around me. In addition to the people, conferences help foster creativity by jam-packing a ton of information into a few days; the prolonged exposure can help you bridge gaps in your knowledge and understand something you may have been previously struggling with. Employers know these things about conferences; that’s probably part of the reason they foot the bill for so many of their employees. Bonus points if you actually execute some of the ideas you brought home from the conference. That makes for an excellent point to bring up in an interview.

3. Be ready to showcase an eclectic reading list. It can be difficult to make time to read for pleasure in college, which means that by doing so, you can stand out as a job or internship applicant. Try to read different genres. For me, I’ve made it a goal to keep up reading in at least two books: one related to my field of study and one either for fun or educational purposes. You might not be able to display your reading list on a resume, but a common interview question is “What’s the latest book you read?” An eclectic reading list will highlight your personality, imagination and intelligence. Bonus points if you keep a blog and talk about what you’ve read. Showing an employer you understand and have struggled and thrived through the writing process will win you tons of points.

If you examine how you spend your time, you may be surprised to see how many innovative and creative characteristics you already possess. Don’t allow them to get swallowed up in a resume, cover letter or interview by ambiguous buzz words.

LYNDSEY

mary vickers

programs guest

As I approach my last few days at HUG, I’m overwhelmed by the experiences I’ve had here and how they’ve all happened in the blink of an eye. One minute I was walking into the Artemis (our campus in Greece), and now I am planning my free travel that is in just three short weeks. Three and a half months sounds like a long time before you get on the airplane, but once you board, you’re in for a wild ride.

Everyone told me that my semester abroad would make me question everything about myself, my life and my faith. They told me it would dramatically change my worldview and open my eyes to new experiences. As you can imagine, I came to Greece with big expectations, and I haven’t been disappointed.

Just the Clax

I guess I expected that going to places of great significance like the Acropolis, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Mount of Beatitudes, the Blue Mosque and more would change me instantly. I thought that going to places where Jesus and his disciples walked would answer all the questions I had about my faith. I assumed that seeing different cultures would help me discover exactly who I am and who I want to be. I’m not lying when I say that HUG has truly changed me, but it hasn’t happened in the way I expected.

I think the most significant ways I have changed have been through the lessons I’ve learned here. The first lesson I learned (and probably the most obvious) is to be grateful for my home, friends and family. More than anything, I’ve learned that there really is no place like home. Although I’m so thrilled to travel all over the world, there is nothing like being home with my family and church. I’ve seen many beautiful sights on this trip, but nothing will ever be as beautiful as home is to me. I also learned how selfish I am. I’ve seen so

many different people on this trip — people so different from me — living their everyday lives. This has shown me that the world does not revolve around me, and it has shown me how small I truly am. My questions about my faith have still not disappeared, but I think God is teaching me to seek him for answers to my questions. He has shown me to not be afraid of the questions I have, but to grow deeper in my faith by searching his word. He has made his presence known to me all over the world and in seemingly “unlikely” places.

Although I never had a moment of realization here, I have been able to see the ways I have grown as I reflect back on my experiences. I’m so grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the countless lessons I have learned. I can’t believe my semester is about to come to a close, and although it was a wild ride, I have no regrets.

Next issue: Junior Charles Stroud from HUF.

MARY VICKERS is a guest writer for the Bison. She can be contacted at mvickers1@harding.edu.

Adventures in Baby-Sitting

It may come as a surprise to many Bison readers that I am a veteran at baby-sitting. I know. That information doesn’t quite match the image you have — the picture of the fussy bachelor who would never risk getting spit-up on his lapel, or the smart-aleck columnist who would be tempted to make fun of the little tykes. But you would be wrong. I earned my stripes in baby-sitting 15 years ago. Yes, it was only one evening. But it was a very long evening.

It all started with a sign-up sheet at church. Over a 12-week period, our minister was taping a video sermon series, one lesson per week. The camera crew consisted of a husband and wife who were members of our congregation. They agreed to do the filming for free, provided the church would send someone to watch their two young boys during each filming session, which usually lasted from 6 p.m. until midnight. When the signup sheet for baby-sitting circulated in our Bible class, I clearly was not paying attention.

I now bring a lawyer with me to church to read anything that gets passed around.

But when my turn at bat came up, I thought, “How hard can this be?” I’m told Napoleon said the same thing before invading Russia. In my defense, this couple had a reputation for being easy going, and only one of the two boys was still in diapers. By contrast, I had heard about other parents who were a bit more particular. One of our deacons and his wife once went out of town and left their children in the care of friends who were given a nine-page, single-spaced handout with instructions on dealing with their children. An entire chapter was titled “Simon’s Bowels.”

michael claxton

But I received no such guidelines when I showed up to this family’s home. Instead I was introduced to the two charming boys, ages 5 and 2. Since it would be indiscreet to tell you their names, let’s just call them Hatfield and McCoy. They started out as perfect angels. Then their parents left.

Since I had no younger siblings, I didn’t have any experience with small children. Hatfield and McCoy sensed this immediately. I could see the look of glee in the older boy’s eye, as if the prison door had been left open and Barney Fife put in charge. The 2-yearold also had a look of zeal, but not according to knowledge. He probably looked giddy all the time. Hey, when you don’t have to pay taxes or wear pants, life is one big picnic.

The next three hours were pure pandemonium. I tried to start off with a board game, but in retrospect, Monopoly may have been a little advanced for these two. After I had carefully set up the board and counted out the money, I saw all my hard work go up in the air. Literally. The children threw the board across the room, and I spent the next half hour picking red hotels out of the carpet. Thank goodness I left my chess set in the car.

Meanwhile, Hatfield went to pour himself a glass of milk. I consented to this, not realizing that a gallon container and a Dixie cup might be more than he could coordinate at one time. I spent the next half hour wiping 2 percent milk off the linoleum.

Which is why I was out of shape for the third event, in which McCoy decided to remove his diaper and run giggling through the house. I grabbed a couple of Dixie cups and took up the chase, trying to get out in front of the little chap before he could hose down the furniture. I did not succeed. On top of that, when I finally seized control, I realized that I had no idea how to reattach the diaper. Out of pure mischief, Hatfield volunteered to get the stapler, laughing like the villain in a Batman movie.

Story time was a disaster. At that time, I had a master’s degree in English literature, but for the life of me, I just could not follow the plot of “Goodnight Moon.” The 5-year-old heckled my timing. The 2-year-old started picking the staples out of his Pampers.

Mercifully, the time came to put the Joker and the Tinkler to bed. I got the boys a cup of water, and Hatfield offered to lead the bedtime prayer. I had no idea how long-winded a 5-yearold could be when he is stalling for time. We prayed for the family. We prayed for the neighbors. We prayed for the dogs. We prayed for the stuffed animals. I can’t remember exactly, but I think we may even have prayed for the ants who were now invading the kitchen floor.

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

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

S

Life Lessons from Greece international

Alex Ezell

Swept Under the Rug

Cam and Cecil Newton, Mississippi State University and Auburn University: What do they have in common? I could spend hours trying to tell you all the details, but I will not bore you.

Basically, Cecil Newton, Cam’s father, accepted money from Mississippi State University for Cam’s commitment to the football program, according to two sources who recruited for MSU in 2010. The NCAA gave Cam “reinstatement” right after the issue was brought to their attention. This did not “clear” Cam from any allegations, but at the time there was no hard evidence that anything had occurred.

The NCAA now enforces a rule informally referred to as the “Cecil Newton Rule.”

It states that no parent can solicit services for their son or daughter. If they are caught, they will be treated as an agent, which is under another NCAA rule.

Why do I bring this up?

The Newtons got away with it. Whether you believe Cecil accepted the money or not (I do), Cecil, Cam and Auburn escaped unscathed.

I am not pointing fingers at any parties involved, but why was nothing ever brought up again after the new rule was set in place two years later?

I wish more people understood that if you came out with the truth right away, things would go a lot smoother. Instead, things are swept under the rug and never brought up again.

Is that the right thing to do? Are the rules not in place for a reason? It seems like certain athletes feel they are above the rules. I get that they might be a phenom, but does that allow them to simply pass by without any consequences?

I could go on and on about why I think things should have been handled differently, but my main reason is that it is just unethical.

All this to say – tell the truth. Just do it. Things will always go smoother. People will stop speculating if the truth is revealed. I cannot promise the result will be what you want, but if things are willingly brought to someone’s attention, then chances are they will respect you for respecting the rules.

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

Tennis defeats last three opponents

by Kelsey Pierce student writer

The women’s tennis team has been celebrating several victories this past week. They beat Henderson State University 9-0 on Tuesday, March 18. The team went on to beat Lane College 9-0 in Jackson, Tenn., on Wednesday, March 19. The women’s team then defeated University of Nebraska at Kearney 6-3 on Monday.

Freshman Arielle Butler won both of her doubles and singles matches on Tuesday. The team did not lose a single match in any position on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week. Butler said the team has to keep their confidence level up and encourage one another for future matches.

“We work hard in practice,” Butler said. “Now that we’re in the conference season, those matches mean so much, and we all know it, so we are extra focused.”

Butler said she prepares herself physically and mentally before every match. She said it is crucial for the team to keep up their determination and believe in themselves when they are going up against good teams.

“Physically, I prepare by doing the exact same things in warm-up in the same order before every match,”

Butler said. “Mentally, I tell myself I can compete with whoever happens to be on the other side of the court and that if I just keep grinding, good things will happen.”

Junior Benyapa Phumtip did not play on Wednesday but said the team did a great job and played hard. Phumtip said the team always prays before a match and always tries

to encourage one another.

“I think our team just needs to play with consistency,” Phumtip said. “We need to stay positive and relax when we play.”

University of Nebraska at Kearney was the team’s first regionally ranked opponent. The women won four of the six singles matches. The match was held at home on Monday.

“The girls played

Softball continues to produce wins

by Colbie Phillips student writer

Harding’s Lady Bison softball team is approaching the last half of their season after Spring Break tournaments.

The Lady Bisons made a comeback during their games against the University of Arkansas at Monticello on March 21 and 22 at home. The team won their double-header Friday, March 21, defeating their opponent UAM 4-1 and 3-2. They continued their tournament Saturday, March 22, winning the first game 4-3 before they were defeated in the final game 7-1.

“We never settle, and as a team we expect more out of ourselves than anyone else does,” sophomore utility player Emily Jones said. “We are committed, and we’ll see how far that takes us.”

While most of the Harding students were on break, the Lady Bisons continued to play, going 3-1 during the break. Their first tournament was March 8 and 9 at home against East Central University. The Lady Bisons won their games Friday, March 8, 4-1 and 8-2. Saturday, March 9 started off with a loss of 12-2, but they finished the day with a win, beating their opponent 8-6.

Jones said the thing they need to focus on in their upcoming games is to start playing without fear and not letting fear get in the way and cause them to fail.

The Lady Bisons were not given much of a break before their next tournament, Tuesday, March 11, which was also played at home against Delta State University. Their tournament ended in a tie. Delta State University won the first game 7-5, but the Lady Bisons came back to defeat DSU 3-2

in game two of the double-header.

“We played phenomenally in our series against East Central University,” junior outfielder Carolyn Clayton said. “We really played and fought together like we all know we can. Southern Ar

kansas University was a rough series for us, we were faced with some situations we weren’t used to.”

We never settle, and as a team we expect more out of ourselves than anyone else does.

- Emily Jones, sophomore utility player

The Lady Bisons played their final tournament of Spring Break on March 14 and 15 against Southern Arkansas University on the road in Magnolia, Ark. The girls fell in their first two games on Friday, March 14, 4-1 and 10-2. They were sent home with a 0-4 record; losing two more 2-1 and 13-1.

“We went back to work this week, trying to increase our intensity and enthusiasm for the last half of the season,” head coach Phil Berry said.

The girls emphasize that this is still the first year of the program, and they are grateful for what they’ve accomplished thus far.

“It is hard enough to start a team, but God knew what he was doing when he brought us all together,” Jones said. “We have been given so much as a team, and we are so grateful for the work and effort our coaches have put in to make us who we are.”

The Lady Bisons swept Arkansas Tech University in a double-header on March 25 at home. They will travel to Northwestern Oklahoma State University today for a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. They will also play again tomorrow at 12 and 2 p.m.

great yesterday against University of Nebraska at Kearney,” coach Marco Ruiz said. “This was the best match some of them played all year.”

Ruiz said the team is going to keep working hard inside and outside the tennis courts to prepare for future matches.The women’s team has two important matches coming up this weekend. The team will be

playing against Northwest Missouri University in Bolivar, Mo., on Friday and against Southern Nazarene University at 10 a.m. on Saturday at home.

“We are going to keep working on our doubles strategy,” Ruiz said. “But mainly all we need to do right now is to keep our level of confidence up and stay positive.”

-Softball: Junior pitcher Amber Rollins was named GAC Pitcher of the Week.

- Softball swept Arkansas Tech University in a doubleheader on March 25. in the Jim Bishop Toyota Classic.

- Women s basketball: Senior Kristen Celsor was named to the Daktronics 3rd Team All-America and Women s Basketball Coaches Association honorable mention.

- Baseball lost 2-3 to Arkansas Tech University on March 25.

- Men’s tennis lost to University of Nebraska at Kearney on March 24, 5-4.

- Men s tennis: Junior Jon Mark Rowden is ranked No. 20 in the Central Region and won his 10th match of the season on March 24.

- Women s tennis defeated University of Nebraska at Kearney on March 24, 6-3.

- Women s track: Harding broke the 4x1600 relay record at the UCA Relay and Multi.

- Women s track: Junior Rachel Domeyer broke the javelin record with 120 feet, 2 inches.

- Men’s track: Harding had an NCAA provisional time of 3:12.36 seconds in the 4x400 relay

- Men’s track: Harding won the 4x200 relay with a time of 1:27.67.

- Men s track: Freshman Trey Adkinson won the pole vault by clearing 15 feet, 1 inch.

GRANT SCHOL | THE BISON

Freshman Piper Huey uses her backhand during a match on Monday, March 24, versus University of Nebraska at Kearney. Huey won her match 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. The Lady Bisons defeated Nebraska-Kearney 6-3. The team will be back in action today at 1 p.m., versus Northwest Missouri State University in Springfield, Mo.

This is the first of a three-column series about ethical issues in sports.

2B | Friday, March 28, 2014

Baseball hopes for redemption after several losses

by Mandy Valentine student writer

With 14 games left to play this season, the baseball team is ranked sixth in the GAC with an 8-7 conference record and a 16-13 record overall.

The team has a fielding percentage of .976, which, according to head coach Patrick McGaha, is higher than the past few years’ percentage of .964. There have been 23 errors in 28 games.

gave us the chance to win the series.”

hard on every pitch to try to win games.

Friday, March 28, 2014| 3A

“Our defense and pitching have been our strengths this season,” Chandler said.

4A | Friday, March 28, 2014

“(Senior first baseman)

Matt Calhoun is playing an outstanding game at the plate, at one point leading the conference in batting average,” McGaha said. “(Senior outfielder) James Anderson has come up in the last three weeks, hitting the ball very well for us. (Redshirt sophomore infielder) Noah Chandler has also carried a lot of the weight, especially the 2-run single at the end of the 11th against Southern Arkansas University that

McGaha said he is confident in his pitching staff’s ability to throw steadily and win games. He said the team has had a very solid bullpen, namely senior pitcher Bronson Smith, who extended his career save record to 20 saves in the series against SAU.

“(Senior pitcher) Logan Holthaus has been a great roster starter on the mound,” McGaha said. “(Sophomore pitcher) Collin Campbell has thrown really steadily for us, as well as (senior pitcher) Cameron Walker. We also had a good mid-week start from (sophomore pitcher) Jacob Stripling a couple of weeks ago against Henderson State.”

Friday, March 28, 2014 | 3B

“Coach (Andy) Schatzley did a great job in the fall getting our defense ready, and Coach McGaha has been phenomenal with the pitching staff. In college baseball, especially since they changed the bats, hitting comes and goes with the wind. To win, teams have to be solid on defense and on the mound, and our coaching staff has done a great job in preparing us.”

4B |

Friday, March 28, 2014

Chandler said he has had a great experience playing at Harding since transferring from Lipscomb University this year. Chandler accredits the team’s success to their unselfishness and playing

Anderson said the team’s strength comes from their willingness to compete and work harder than any team they face. After a tough series loss to University of Arkansas at Monticello last weekend, the team is looking to redeem itself in the remainder of the season.

“We had some high hopes for what could come

from a couple of wins, but unfortunately, we had a bad weekend,” Anderson said. “Luckily, we still have everything ahead of us with 14 games to go. We are just going to work today and keep working to get better

every day until someone tells us to stop.”

McGaha said he believes in the team’s ability to succeed in the rest of the season due to the strength of their pitching and defense.

“It comes down to the fact

that championship teams play good defense and pitch well,” McGaha said. “This group of guys competes really hard; we hope that we’ve done all we can to play hard and try to make it to the championship.”

MLB Opening Day approaches, predictions are made

rivalry, as both teams are poised to make a deep run into this year’s postseason. This has long been the most volatile division in baseball, in which anything can happen, so who knows where this will end up.

Opening Day is creeping toward us. March 31 marks the first day of Major League Baseball’s regular season. This offseason has been full of transactions with big implications for each respective division. Here’s a division-by-division preview of what to watch for in the 2014 MLB season. All stats and figures are taken from Baseball-Reference.com, MLB. com, ESPN.com or FanGraphs. com unless otherwise noted.

AL East – The Yankees stole the show this offseason by spending $503 million on acquisitions. This is great, as the players acquired are capable of high-level production and fill major gaps in the Yankees’ field. The question that remains is whether or not it is enough to dethrone the Red Sox, who are the defending World Series champions. Be sure to watch this

NL East – At the top of the NL East, Washington and Atlanta have all the pieces to bump up against the 95-win mark this season. With the resurgence of Jayson Werth, a young superstar like Bryce Harper and a newly-acquired Doug Fister to bolster their rotation, the Nationals are sitting pretty. Utility players like Nate McLouth and Danny Espinosa will help keep their starters healthy for sustained success. Sitting 640 miles to the southwest, Atlanta is home of one of the most talented teams in the league. If the Braves’ lineup avoids injuries that hindered them last year, this team could make a deep postseason push and look to grab the title. I think the Mets are a few pieces away from making big news this year, and I think Philly is a bit too old to do damage. And Miami… oh, Miami. Goodness, Miami.

AL Central – This division

is Detroit’s to lose. Detroit has a near-complete roster. Detroit’s main issue is the left side of the infield, as the best hitter in the game, Miguel Cabrera has moved to first base, and young star Jose Iglesias is out 4-6 months with stress fractures in both legs. I still don’t think that is enough to stop Detroit’s thick lineup. Detroit will likely be a serious terror on the basepaths with the speed they acquired over the offseason. If Detroit fails to make the postseason, it will be because of their bullpen, which has a propensity for inconsistency (see: ALCS 2013). The rest of the division is difficult to untangle, as there is no clear “second best”team between Kansas City, Cleveland and Chicago. I’d like to see Kansas City take that place, led by first baseman Eric Hosmer, but I don’t think their starting rotation can keep them afloat. I think Cleveland, full of young talent and a winning manager like Terry Francona, will take the second place spot.

NL Central – Another division with a clear leader. The Cardinals should maintain a firm grip over

the entire division with their deep farm system replacing players lost (Carlos Beltran) and their upgraded infield defense. The other two teams that advanced to postseason play in the division, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, lost key pieces of their teams that bode well for St. Louis. Most people label the Cardinals as having the most complete roster in the league. The only visible weakness might be relief pitching. The Reds are still a team filled with talent, but losing Shin-Soo Choo in the offseason and Aroldis Chapman to injury won’t get them the No. 1 spot in the division. I think the Pirates losing A.J. Burnett is enough to mark them as un-threatening. And poor Chicago, the future is bright.

AL West – I’m excited to see the Rangers play this year. They pulled all of the right strings to position themselves to make a run at the World Series. Shin-Soo Choo is now patrolling in left field and will still get on base at a ridiculous rate. Due west, Oakland will give Texas a run for its money. Some people have third baseman Josh Donaldson as their preseason

AL MVP for the season. The A’s are now without ageless wonder Bartolo Colon, which I think is enough to slide them in the No. 2 spot of the division. I think Seattle made enough offensive improvements to help back the hard work done by Felix Hernandez and Hisashi Iwakuma on the mound to challenge Los Angeles for the No. 3 spot. I will be watching this division very closely.

NL West – The Dodgers look more like a team that was fantasy drafted by a fan than an actual team, especially when looking at the pitching staff. Easy call here. The rest of the division is tricky. Each team has a reason to claim No. 2. I don’t think the Giants’ key players will remain healthy all season, and because of that, I think Arizona is the surprise No. 2 of this division with the addition of Mark Trumbo. The Padres made solid progress toward not being the quintessential last place team this offseason, but it isn’t enough to get them to the postseason.

GRANT SCHOL | THE BISON Senior first baseman Matt Calhoun inches his way toward home plate during the Bisons game versus Delta State University on March 18. They lost 1-3. The Bisons play tomorrow at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in a double-header at 1 p.m.

Governor’s race prompts student action

by Lyndsey Ruble Nuckols editor-in-chief

At the end of February, Republicans Asa Hutchinson and Curtis Coleman and Democrat Mike Ross filed to run for Arkansas governor. Before filing day and before most were aware of the candidates and the governor’s race, a few Harding students were already involved and attending a meeting to help plan and coordinate a campaign for governor of Arkansas.

Through their own political involvement and passion for politics, these students are spreading the word about the upcoming Arkansas governor’s race and the importance of college students voting and getting involved in local politics.

“The nation was founded to be of the people,” senior Megan Lehmann, a public administration major, said. “It’s our right and our privilege to be able to vote; and not only vote, but tell (elected leaders) what we think of what they’re doing. This is the best time to get involved so that it becomes normal to be involved.”

Lehmann and senior Chris Pollreis, a healthcare management major, are volunteering for the Curtis Coleman campaign. Coleman is one of two GOP candidates for Arkansas governor. Pollreis said his and other volunteers’ contribution to the campaign is usually coordinating people for fundraisers, door-knocking, phone-calling and putting up signs for the primaries.

“I enjoy getting to know the people that I share Searcy with,” senior Mary Kate Collins, chair of the College Republicans and campaign volunteer, said. “A lot of people who go to Harding only know the people who go to Harding, not the Searcy locals.”

Reference and Theological Librarian

Justin Lillard, who is a supporter of Coleman for Governor and whose wife, Stephanie Lillard, is a volunteer for the campaign, said any student, regardless of major, can benefit from volunteering for a campaign.

“It’s good to know people who understand the community and can help you understand the community,” Justin Lillard said.

Lehmann said the people who work on campaigns and who avidly support candidates are inspiring to her. She said being around such motivated people has made her more passionate about local politics.

In volunteering, Collins said she hopes to not only raise awareness for the candidate she supports, but to also help fellow students achieve a “light bulb moment” in which they realize the influence their vote and their voice can have on those around them.

Specifically in this governor’s race, Collins, Lehmann and Pollreis said they want their voices and votes to be heard regarding issues such as healthcare, education, abortion, gun rights and economic growth.

“This stuff matters,” Justin Lillard said. “If you think that it doesn’t matter who we elect, let’s look at the fate of all the states surrounding Arkansas. With the exception of Mississippi, I would argue that all of them look like they are economically and developmentally a lot better off than us. I refuse to believe that we just happen to be stuck in this situation.”

Additionally, Collins said the winner of this election will influence 2021 reapportionment, which could influence elections and party majorities for years to come.

“I don’t have kids right now, but when I do, I want their schools to be great and I want their neighborhoods to be safe,” Pollreis said. “Elections of today affect that drastically.”

To get involved with a campaign for the upcoming governor’s race, students should contact the campaign they are interested in volunteering for. Lehmann said campaigns have plenty of volunteer opportunities and “would love for you to help.”

“Christians have an obligation to seek the betterment of the world, and this is one way we do it,” Justin Lillard said. “It’s one way we can structure society and encourage human flourishing.”

Kerusso Experience encourages high school students to pursue preaching

by Julie Anne White student writer

This summer, from July 5-12, a group of 50 high school students will gather on campus and take part in the Kerusso Summer Preaching Camp.

The “Kerusso Experience” is led by Assistant Professor of Bible and Preaching Devin Swindle. Swindle said he has a passion for training these young men.

According to Swindle, recent studies show there is a shortage of preachers in Churches of Christ, which caused former university President David Burks to form a panel of preachers and professors who could help solve the problem.

The Center for Preaching was created in 2012, and Swindle said the next step was to recruit young men to pursue careers in preaching. Dean of the College of Bible and Ministry Monte Cox came up with the idea of a preacher training camp that would give high school students a taste of campus life while putting them through a week-long preaching skills program.

The camp is open to ninth through twelfth grade boys who are sponsored by their home congregations. Swindle said the goal is to show them they can earn a living working for God.

“We teach them how to study the Bible; we teach them how to write sermons; we

surround them with examples of good preaching,” Swindle said.

The camp’s first session was last year, and Swindle said it was a success. Thirty students from four states and Belize attended.

Freshman Riley George attended last year and said he was thankful for the skills he learned and the experiences he had.

“I really enjoyed the camp, and it was a really good way to experience good preaching techniques and communication techniques along with some Bible classes I wouldn’t have otherwise had,” George said. “You got to hang out with a bunch of guys who were passionate about what they did and who really expressed a love for telling people about the gospel.”

Although George is a biology major, he said the camp was helpful because it provided him with tools to serve.

“At first I didn’t know what to think of it, because preaching wasn’t really a career goal of mine,” George said. “It wasn’t just about preaching as a career; it was about preaching as a role you take with you in any career you pick.”

Swindle said several students decided to major in Bible due to their camp experience.

One of these students, 15-year-old Josh Moore, suffered a fatal accident last semester. As a result, his family decided to create a Bible scholarship in Josh’s name.

“His dad called me a couple of weeks ago and said ‘We want to do something to make sure that what Josh wanted to do, somebody does,’” Swindle said. “There were a lot of really amazing things that came out of the first year, and we think the sky is the limit for what can happen.”

The total cost of the camp is $700 per student, but Harding usually covers $500 of it. Congregations sponsor students by paying the remaining $200.

Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible Kevin Youngblood recently published a commentary for the book of Jonah through Zondervan Publications, prompting this year’s theme: “The Scandalous Love of God: Preaching from Jonah.”

The camp has expanded to include a smaller session at the Ne-O-Tez Christian camp in DeSoto, Mo. Swindle said he plans to host sessions in different parts of the country to make the camp accessible to students who live far away.

Swindle said he plans to expand to include a separate camp for girls.

“We do very seriously see adding a girls track in the next 3-4 years,” Swindle said. “We are just trying to get it off the ground, so we are not there yet. But that is certainly on our radar, and we intend to do it.” Swindle said the qualities he looks for in applicants are “willingness and desire to serve.”

Student book aids college ministries

by Paige Hale guest writer

Youth rallies, trips and outreach can be considerably easier in cities with multiple churches of the same denomination. However, Junior Jacob Norwood said cities with only one church have a harder time reaching out and ministering to the youth and college-aged members.

Norwood said he realized this after spending time with the “Adventures in Missions” program in Salt Lake City, Utah. In order to help others who are trying to reach out to college students in the west, Norwood and Salt Lake Citybased architect Trent Smith decided to put their ideas in black and white.

Norwood worked as a missionary’s apprentice there after high school, but the church did not have a college program at the time. Within his first three months there, Norwood and Smith (who was studying at the University of Utah) organized the church’s first college group.

“We had very specific ideas of what a youth group looked like and what a college group looked like and what a church looked like, and none of those worked in Salt Lake City, Utah,” Norwood said. “So we kind of had to make things up as we

went along, and Trent just said one day, ‘You know it might be a good idea to keep some kind of record of this stuff.”’

Norwood and Smith eventually published their record as a book through Amazon’s independent publishing company, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

“The experiences that led up to (the book) took about a year or more, but the actual writing of the book (took) three months,” Norwood said.

Miscommunications with the publisher delayed publication for almost two months, but it finally went to press around the time Norwood left Utah. The book, “College Ministry Out West,” costs $18.19 on Amazon, though Norwood said he thinks that may be too much.

Amazon’s printing services allow authors to pay a small fee to publish their works at cost, so the author receives no profit. Even so, independent publishing is continuously on the rise. According to a 2012 Bowker report, annual self-publication of print and e-books has risen 287 per cent since 2006.

In any case, Norwood said the lack of profit does not bother him.

“The idea is that this is supposed to be a personal account of what we did and what worked and what didn’t,” Norwood said.

“It was really more of a tool that people we knew who were doing this kind of thing might find helpful and useful.”

While Smith did most of the writing, Norwood contributed a few essays and all of the book’s photography.

“It gave me a chance to reflect on things,” Norwood said. “It wasn’t hard because I wasn’t trying to present this as an academic thing or a well-researched, well-articulated (essay). It was pretty much just writing thoughts down.”

Norwood said he would like the chance to contribute to another book one day.

“Because I can say I have a book on Amazon now, it makes me want to write something I contributed more to than just a few of the essays and some photography,” he said. “I liked the photography just because it was what I was already doing and what I enjoyed doing. I like the writing because it would be a challenge to do that again.”

With a published book comes many memories.

“Every time I look at the book because it’s all the pictures of places I used to go, I really miss it. It makes me miss it,” Norwood said. “The plan is to end up back there at some point, and maybe another book will come out of it.”

JEFF MONTGOMERY | PUBLIC RELATIONS

Devin Swindle, an assistant professor of Bible and preaching, teaches a preaching class to a group of high school students during Harding’s first ever Kerusso Summer Preaching Camp in 2013. Swindle, who is also currently doing doctoral work focused on preaching at the Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tenn., said he has a passion for training young preachers.

shelby daniel

Small Campus, Big Style

When you choose to live in the South, it means you must accept living with three things: rednecks, barbecue and bipolar weather. This time of year, Arkansas weather is notorious for making 40-degree temperature jumps practically overnight. It is not uncommon to wear a T-shirt to school on a Friday and have to wear a sweatshirt and a coat to class the following Monday. Despite the unpredictable tendencies of warm weather, it is still time to look forward to spring and all the winter dressing habits to be broken.

One of the things I hate most about winter is the lack of bright colors. While I will be the first to admit there seems to be a magnet drawing me and dark colors together, I still have a special place in my heart for ocean-turquoise or sunflower-yellow. The beginning of March signifies it is finally time to bring back those bright, mood-changing colors. My favorite way to incorporate brightness is with pants. (That is applicable to you too, boys.) If you are feeling lazy and do not really want to put an outfit together, a pair of bright pants will practically do the job for you.

Another thing I excitedly welcome back every spring is the floral pattern. (Boys, this might not be so applicable.) While there are certain floral patterns that find their home in winter weather, these tend to be the patterns that can also be found on your grandmother’s suitcase. While there is a certain cool, vintage feel to the floral tapestry look, it just does not compare to the spring patterns covered in colorful flowers and rich green leaves. My favorite way to incorporate floral is in tank-tops or T-shirts. The sweet and feminine print is a perfect combination with the comfortable, flowing silhouette of a tee or tank.

The last winter trend, layering, is something I like rather than dislike, and I love finding creative ways to transition it into spring. In the winter, layering is a great way to add multiple textures and colors to your outfit. Not to mention, you rely on it to keep you warm. In the spring, layering is used more as a tool to mix different patterns to create an eye-catching look that has the possibility to be very unique. I like to go by the rule that there are no rules when pattern mixing. You can’t go wrong in layering by throwing on a fun cardigan over a collared button-up or just a plain white T-shirt.

The winter season is one that I never look forward to, no matter how excited I get to finally wear my corduroy skinny-jeans. To see it go is something I could not be happier about, because it is time to bring back the vibrant colors and patterns of spring. I would choose getting a barbecue stain on my white T-shirt over getting it on my pea coat any day of the week.

Grown-up grilled cheese in Little Rock

The Main Cheese is both sophisticated and reminiscent of childhood

by Bradley Cain beat reporter

The grilled cheese sandwich has been a part of my life since I was a child. It usually consisted of a Kraft American single between two slices of white bread, accompanied by tomato soup and a Disney Channel original movie. Now when I eat a grilled cheese, it is considered “gourmet” and comes with local vegetables and fancy types of cheese and bread. Either way, a grilled cheese is a grilled cheese.

The Main Cheese opened in Little Rock in late February. They offer a wide menu of sandwiches, salads and soups. I decided to indulge in The Farmer’s Market sandwich, graced with avocado, cheddar, Parmesan, grape tomatoes, spinach aioli and arugula on multigrain bread for $7.95. It did not disappoint. A sandwich comes with your choice of slaw, house fries or seasoned chips.

The atmosphere is clean, with exposed brick and modern seating to accommodate the yuppy in each of us.

Servers are upbeat and the kitchen is quick to deliver your meal.

The whole experience is unique, offering a memory of a childhood staple turned into something more sophisticated but still fun.

It is located at 14524 Cantrell Rd., and is open Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., as well as Friday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

ENTERTAINMENT

‘See How They Run’ sure to split sides

by Alexis Hosticka news editor

By the end of Center on the Square’s “See How They Run,” my abs were tight from laughing. The two-and-a-half-hour comedy is full of quirky characters and ridiculous personalities in the midst of improbable situations, making for a hilarious production. The story is set in 1940s England in a vicar’s living room, where multiple visitors (including an escaped Russian prisoner) wreak temporary havoc and chaos in the lives of the vicar and his wife.

All of Center on the Square’s performances of “See How They Run” begin with food prior to the show. Since I attended on a Friday night, I got an entire buffet dinner including herb-roasted

by Daniel Casella student writer

The chemistry between the actors was fluid and not at all awkward. They seemed like they were friends in real life – not just faking it for the stage.

chicken, carrot souffle and endless bread rolls. The wait staff was extremely attentive and the food, delicious. My personal favorite was the carrot souffle, which tasted more like a sugary dessert than a carrot. Meals vary from performance to performance, and some only offer dessert depending on the show time.

Before the start of the performance, the director, Ann Nieto, introduced the show and made everyone feel at home by asking about birthdays and

anniversaries being celebrated at the performance. Her bubbly personality and excitement immediately drew me into the show before it had even begun.

I was skeptical of attending a performance at Center on the Square because it is a community theater, so I wasn’t sure how high the quality would be. However, one of the best aspects of this production was the acting. The actors seemed cut out for their roles – not only did they look their parts, they played them excellently. From Ida, the little British maid, to the escaped Russian prisoner, the actors were completely immersed in their roles. The characters definitely contributed a lot to making this play a successful comedy. They also worked very well together.

The chemistry between the actors was fluid and not at all awkward. They seemed like they were friends in real life – not just faking it for the stage.

I also appreciated the intimate space that is used for the show. I was seated at a table in the front row, but there isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Overall, I really enjoyed this production. Comedy is the way to my heart, so if I can spend a couple of hours laughing, it’s a good evening. The cast did an exquisite job of keeping the audience entertained, and I would definitely attend another production at Center on the Square.

The show runs until April 6. For more information, visit www.centeronthesquare.org.

If you have thought seriously about what it will take to be successful in your academic career (and in life, for that matter), you have likely realized that books play, and will continue to play, a large part in it. Books assigned by your professors (some useful, some not so much) may come to mind. But then there are those books which may not be assigned to you individually that still deserve our attention a group I could call “good collegiate reads.” Here, I will list and briefly discuss works from three genres to consider for this group.

Religious : In “Bruchko” by Bruce Olsen, the author shares his journey of faith and how it led him to live among the then-hostile Indian tribes of the Yukos and the Motilones in the 1950s and 1960s. This story contains life events throughout the narrative that readers may consider either unorthodox, unbelievable or a breath of fresh air. As with all books, readers should maintain a critical mindset while realizing no one person has everything figured out.

Linguistic: Norman Lewis offers “Word Power Made Easy” to aid beginners through mid-level experts in the improvement of English skills. This book takes the reader back to root words to give the reader the skill of

more easily identifying harder, unfamiliar words. Lewis includes a review at the end of each chapter and section, employing techniques such as matching, multiple choice and identification by definition and first letter. Lewis also adds intermission sections to tackle some mistakes common even to seasoned users of the English language.

Literature : In our ever-developing world, reflecting on classics from the world’s history seems to help us better appreciate the present. Assistant Professor of English Jonathan Singleton recommends any of Shakespeare’s works as a good place to look. As Singleton said, “He’ll add lots of layers to the way you normally look at the world.” I can personally recommend “Twelfth Night” and “The Tempest” as interesting plays to check out from the

local library.

Bonus: If you feel repulsed by Shakespeare, I can also recommend anything by 20th century British author P. G. Wodehouse, who will keep you engaged in the story with a tasteful blend of humor and British life in the early 20th century. Or, if you feel like tackling something harder, the anonymous 10th century writer’s “Beowulf,” translated by Frances B. Grummere should do the trick.

Here are but a few good reads that will help to broaden and deepen your perspective of life. Even if you have read all of these, or if none of these appeal to you, the good thing about good reads is they are in plentiful supply. Find another worthwhile genre, branch out to challenge yourself, find a nice spot and time, and read to live.

Jewelya Williams