The Bison - Vol. 100 No. 2

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Harding celebrates Founders Week

Following the University’s Centennial festivities, which began September 2023, members of the Harding community gathered together in recent days to celebrate Founders Week.

Also known as Harding’s 100th birthday, the celebration let participants reflect and connect with others. Whether it was opening the time capsule, or a 15-foot birthday cake on the front lawn, students, faculty and staff found ways to reach into the past.

Director of Alumni and Parent Relations

Heather Kemper said the week served as a time of observance and gratitude for the men and women who shaped Harding’s history.

“It’s been a really special time for us to reflect on the people that founded Harding, and paved the way for us to be here today,” Kemper said.

Student Government Association Vice President Reed Wilson said the observance lets students “illuminate” important memories and experiences.

“I hope that this gives light to the fact that we should all be really thankful that we are here,” Wilson said. “In addition to making change for the better.”

Events ranged from special guests, performances and Bison sports around campus to commemorate the centennial year. The University invited alumni and multigeneration students to speak in chapel. On Thursday morning, students also got to

glimpse inside the time capsule buried in 1979 by Harding’s third president, Dr. Clifton L. Ganus. Kemper said the chapel programs are a significant part of the University-wide celebration.

“I am hoping that this week’s chapel will highlight that you are an important part of Harding’s next 100 years,” Kemper said. “You are here at this very pivotal time.”

Belles and Beaux, the Thundering Herd marching band and the Harding cheerleading squad performed at various locations throughout the week. Sophomore cheerleader Ella George said the “community is different than anything” she has ever seen.

“It is very exciting being a part of something bigger than yourself,” George said. “This is what I love about cheering on the Bisons.”

Harding hosted two soccer matches on the athletic fields Thursday afternoon against Union at the Stephens Soccer Complex.

To close out the 100th birthday, the defending national champion Bisons football team opened the 2024 season against Southern Nazarene University at First Security Stadium. Following the victory, fans enjoyed a fireworks show to end the night.

As Family Weekend and Homecoming approach on the calendar, Harding students are trying to seize the opportunity for fellowship and connection. Wilson said it is a great time to be involved with the community.

“I would just say cherish every moment that you are here,” Wilson said. “Be thankful that you’re here and be excited.”

Harding officials strive to make Title IX more accessible

The University sent an email reiterating information about the Title IX office on Aug. 26 after an overhaul to the process and the team, wanting to make Title IX more accessible to students. Title IX protects students from sex-based harassment, including sexual violence.

Over the summer, the Title IX training program was strengthened in compliance with the 2024 Department of Education Title IX regulations. Deputy coordinators were added to the team and training was redone to be distributed to faculty, staff and students.

”We’d got just about ready to push [the trainings] out in compliance when Arkansas was enjoined from following them, so we’re back to the 2020 regulations that were in place before,” Kevin Davis, University Title IX coordinator and assistant director of Public Safety, said. “But because we put all the effort into strengthening our policies and things like having a bigger team, we decided it would be a really good idea to take as much of the new stuff as we could and still be in compliance with the old regulations.”

Davis said that he hopes that by adding Debra Nesbitt and Amanda Colón as deputy Title IX coordinators, students will feel more comfortable reporting.

According to Davis, the reporting process begins at the Office of Student Life, which is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Student Life determines if it could be a potential Title IX issue. If it is, Title IX coordinators will meet with the student. Student Life provides supportive measures

for students, like living arrangements or class accommodations. The Title IX office handles the formal resolution process which includes a fair investigation to both sides with a collection of witness statements and relevant evidence. After a 10-day waiting period, evidence is presented to a panel of faculty and staff members in a hearing. After the hearing concludes, both parties may choose to appeal. The new policy includes an amnesty policy written into the procedures. If a Title IX issue or sexual misconduct occurs while a student is violating the Student Code of Conduct, the violation of the Code of Conduct will

not be held against the student if the issue is reported.

“If I come forward to report this, but I was violating some other conduct, you’re probably going to get amnesty from that, so that won’t count against you as far as Student Code of Conduct goes,” Davis said. “We want you to report the sexual misconduct that happened because we really want to be able to take some type of action.”

Executive Vice President Jean-Noel Thompson encouraged students to take the policies seriously.

“We want to make sure students know first and foremost your safety and your wellbeing

come first,”Thompson said. “From a university standpoint, from [the president’s office]’s standpoint, we want to get behind anything and everything that keeps our students safe and gives an outlet to address an issue that may have happened so that we can move forward in a positive way.”

Vice President of Student Life Zach Neal said the goal of the team is to have a safe campus and a space that is comfortable for reporting if an incident occurs.

“The policies are not new, but we did more clearly lay out our policies and procedures by adding verbiage and to give clarification,” Neal said. “We consulted with an outside company to ensure our policies and procedures were up to date. I want all students to know about our amnesty policy as well as accomodations and supportive measures that can be made available.”

Chief Legal and Compliance Officer Robin Maynard said one of the goals of the Title IX office is creating awareness and the required trainings are part of building awareness.

“[Other goals of the University are] to make sure that harassment or sexual misconduct of any sort is not tolerated on our campus, and if it occurs, that students have a place to get help and resources and a process for all of those things,” Maynard said.

Maynard encouraged students to report misconduct and communicate with administration.

“Please reach out to us, please,” Maynard said. “We can’t help things that we don’t know about.”

More information on the university’s Title IX office and policies can be found at https://www.harding.edu/titleix/.

MAGGIE SAMPLES news editor

NIC FRARACCIO editor-in-chief

Left: The Harding 100th birthday cake rests on the front lawn. The University celebrated its 100th birthday during Founders Day. Right: President Mike Williams and Executive Vice President Jean-Noel Thompson hold the 1979 time capsule at the Olen Hendrix building dig site. Harding buried the new time capsule Thursday, which will be opened in 2074.

Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER

Photos by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT and Jeff Montgomery

Chandler replaces Light for Campus Life

Logan Light, formerly the assistant dean for Student Life, was recently announced to be filling a new position at Harding. Light is now dean of Spiritual Life and chapel programs. His new office is across from the Harding bookstore. Along with this change, he has handed several responsibilities off to Jane Chandler, the director of Campus Life. Light was director of Campus Life until 2021, when he took on a Student Life role. While performing the new role, Light continued to carry the same responsibilities from his previous position. This included overseeing social clubs and the Stampede experience. Those responsibilities are being transferred back to their original Campus Life office under Chandler.

“Some people have felt shocked or surprised by [the recent announcement], but up until three years ago that’s how it all was,” Chandler said.

Chandler became director in July 2023, and knew from the start that social clubs would

eventually be given over to her. Consequently, she received firsthand experience from Light by shadowing him through club week and meetings during the 2023-2024 school year. Having spent that year learning the details, it is now she who will take the spotlight, while Light will be her shadow, ensuring a smooth transition and providing Chandler any information she may need. Chandler is excited to work with social clubs, but plans to take her time and learn why things run the way they do.

“As someone who was in a club, and was also a sponsor for a club, I’ve seen club week many times, but I had never seen the office work that it takes to get to that point,” Chandler said.

The transition will continue at a steady pace; Light will remain involved for several more months, and then will fully back out.

Executive Vice President Jean-Noel Thompson had high praise for both Light and Chandler, calling them both capable and student-centered people.

“If we’re going to serve our students well, we have to make sure to take various

potions and hone in on that one major thing,” Thompson said, “And not be spread so thin that it doesn’t happen well on either end.”

To that end, Thompson built the deanship of Spiritual Life and chapel programs based on similar positions in other institutions he has worked with.

Originally, both Thompson and President Mike Williams wanted to expand the chapel program, and felt Light was the right choice to do that.

“But we also realized so many other areas outside of chapel that relate to student discipleship,” Thompson said. “Where Logan could create a place of resource, engagement and student involvement, and so we wanted to expand his role.”

One of the projects Light is developing is what he titles discipleship chapels. Returning students will remember breakout chapels, which will also return this semester. Discipleship chapels are similar. They will be pockets of students sponsored by faculty or staff members which meet periodically to spend more personal chapels together. Though mostly in development, some groups, such as ones

run by Harding alumna Peyton

and Bible faculty Carl Williamson, have already been meeting successfully, separate from Light’s efforts. “They were doing that before I became involved in chapel at all,” Light said. “We’re trying to figure out what has been good about those, and seeing where we can duplicate them so that more students are having interactions with faculty and staff in smaller and more intentional settings.” Light will also be in close cooperation with social club and spiritual life directors, who haven’t had someone to handle resources or connect them to local congregations until now. They will be meeting in coming weeks to determine what he can provide for them as they lead their clubs and spiritual retreats. During this exploration, Light wants students to know he is open to their ideas and requests. “If students say they have a way to engage with spiritual growth or spiritual life on campus, I am very much open to having conversations and figuring out where we can be involved,” Light said.

Theological Studies grows to largest major

At Harding University, students are given opportunities to enhance their future careers. One of these is the theological studies program. Theological studies allows students to add a second major to their primary degree plan. The program, part of the College of Bible and Ministry, has its students pick a required course from its selection, in addition to an internship credit and other Bible classes of their choice. It offers an extremely flexible plan, giving students the ability to personalize their courses according to their scheduling needs.

Theological studies is rapidly growing, with it now achieving the title of the “largest major on campus,” as announced in chapel by junior Luke Bensinger, theological studies major and student ambassador.

“In the fall of ’22, when I started working on [the program], there were 46 majors,” theological studies co-director and associate professor Mac Sandlin said. “Last week there were 255, and it’s probably closer to 265 today because I know we signed up several this week. And if we grow as much as we did from the first year, we’ll hit 10% of the

student body by the end of this year.”

The program itself has been around for a long time; Sandlin remembers coming to Harding and hearing about the secondary degree called vocational ministry, at the time directed by now-retired professor Ross Cochran. The program was then handed off to Dr. Andrew Baker, who renamed it leadership and ministry.

Since taking over in fall 2022, Sandlin has rebranded and expanded the program.

“Part of what accounts for the growth is I had to focus on it, and I believe in promoting this major,” Sandlin said. “Part of it was that we revamped the curriculum, we made it a much more flexible degree plan…and that was big, it made it a lot more achievable for students.” By focusing on making the major open and flexible for everyone, Sandlin and his co-director, Meagan Justus, have given new opportunities to students who are looking for leadership roles.

“I am an elementary education and theological studies major,” sophomore Julie Carr, a theological studies lead team member, said. “I added the major because I wanted to work with kids, and feel it is important that I am knowledgeable about my faith. When

I am teaching kids, I can be the hands and feet of Jesus for however they need.”

Students like Carr come from all backgrounds and are finding ways to apply the second major to their personal goals in addition to spreading the word about the program. Senior theological studies lead team member Zavier Waggoner described his role in promoting the major.

“My other major is mechanical engineering, and I take the other Bible classes alongside it,”Waggoner said. “I work on promoting the major, making announcements in Bible class, and meeting with people who are interested in it to give them more information.”

At the theological studies kickoff meeting this past Thursday, Aug. 28, the different majors were highlighted, showing unity across campus. Sandlin declared that 80 majors across every department were involved with the program.

What started as a small concept has now become a major community on campus. Sandlin encourages all to consider the impacts that it might have on their lives.

“Everyone at Harding gets some training at Harding with Bible and ministry skills,” Sandlin said. “But our students are ones who

have declared that they want to do more. The decision to major in theological studies is almost as important as the education you get in the major; a big part of the program is bringing students to see themselves as people called to ministry, in whatever capacity they choose.”

Sandlin would encourage every student to “open wide your hands” (Deuteronomy 15:11), and be willing to consider the calling in their own life.

“I’m a theologian, and I’m a Christian, so if you ask me why this major is growing and why people should join, I think that God is doing something big,” Sandlin said. “I think he’s been working through this program; he was working before it, and when it’s gone, he’ll work after it. I can’t help but see it when I talk to our students about their calling… It’s life-changing.”

Concern, optimism as HST move hits one year

Harding University announced last summer that Harding School of Theology (HST) would relocate from its campus in Memphis, Tennessee, to Harding’s main campus in Searcy. Now, just over a year since the move was announced, HST is hosting classes in the McInteer Center next to the Biblical Archaeology Museum.

A concern that developed over the summer is that of the HST mansion in Memphis, which neighbors Harding Academy of Memphis, a private Christian K-12 school that has a history of partnering with Harding University and HST. Trent Williamson, head of school at Harding Academy, has expressed concern over ensuring the mansion is either sold to his school or a mission-focused organization that both Harding Academy and the University can partner with to continue work in the city of Memphis.

“I think it’s an opportunity to make a very loud declaration to not just the people of Memphis, but to the people of the country that they care and are concerned about their continued kingdom ministry and work in this area,” Williamson said. “And so, there are organizations here who could utilize it–like ourselves–who could utilize it in ways that would just, you know, continue that legacy.”

Williamson also expressed some concern that there hasn’t been much movement on the sale or talks between Harding Academy of Memphis and Harding University, as Searcy administration has stated they intend to wait until the HST library is moved before selling

the property. Harding Academy of Memphis has right of first refusal on any property sale if the University sells it to a third party.

Bob Turner, lead minister at White Station Church of Christ and an HST graduate, expressed similar concerns regarding Harding Academy’s situation, as his family is involved with the school through their children, along with concern for Harding University losing their connections with urban churches, especially in the Memphis area. Many HST students interned at or attended Memphis churches while attending the school, including White Station, and would often go on to use those experiences to work in churches in other urban areas.

Now that HST is more centralized in Searcy, Turner hopes that HST will be able to go into more major cities and “figure out what the needs are and mobilize people to go work and do internships in those kinds of places, offer a curriculum that’s sensitive to those needs, [and] message as a University that multicultural churches are what we care about.”

Despite these concerns, there is also optimism for the next era of HST. Dr. Lance Hawley, a professor at HST who moved with his family from Memphis to Searcy over the summer, expressed hope for HST being able to better connect with undergraduate students while providing lower tuition costs, along with the University being well-equipped to host HST’s large library, which has been another point of concern. Hawley said he hopes they will use the library’s large endowment to better reach online students through digital books, and hopes that once the transition is done, a centralized HST will be able to continue

old efforts while engaging with the Searcy community.

“We fill our churches with people who are trained, it’ll be a blessing to those communities, so the more undergrad students who can have exposure to what HST is about, I’m hopeful–and even our library can be a way–that people find out about who we are,” Hawley said about continuing to partner with churches around the country and growing HST programs with students from the Searcy campus.

Harding University President Mike Williams has been optimistic on the future of HST and new opportunities created by the move to Searcy, and said he has been

hopeful that many current concerns will be addressed once the transition process has progressed further. He expressed support for making a deal with Harding Academy of Memphis once the University is able to sell the property, and has been clear that Harding University intends to remain connected with the Memphis community.

“In fact, [on Aug. 29] I’m going to be in Memphis, and we’re going to launch the new Harding University Center for Church and City Engagement,” Williams said. “We know that the urbanization of the rural population is happening, and the church has got to be present in an urban setting.”

Woodruff

ELLIOTT COOMBES guest writer

EVELYN FILLEMAN guest writer

AIDEN EFAW guest writer

Logan Light and Jane Chandler pose in the Campus Life office on Sept. 4. Chandler replaced Light as Director of Campus Life in 2021 and has taken over responsibilities involving social clubs and the Stampede experience this year.

The HST mansion in Memphis on Oct. 12, 2022. The mansion is no longer the center of HST and will have to be sold.

Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT

Photo provided by Jeff Montgomery

Graphic by MAKAYLA MACDONALD

It all started when John Fortner was loading the Ark of the Covenant into his van and slammed the door on his hand. Well, not really. Honors Symposium and its recreation of the Jewish wilderness Tabernacle had been going on a few years before John’s accident. He survived his indiscretion and continued as High Priest for some time. As I remember, John, Jeff Hopper and Monte Cox all served as High Priest for the first decades of the reenactment of the Tabernacle experience. It was through working with Jeff in Honors Symposium and International Programs that I had my closest association with him. Honors Symposium as an event began in 1993 and was directed by Jeff until 2011. The mark of Jeff Hopper lay over the entire program. He was its life and driver. I can remember the faculty dialogues we had in front of Symposium students. Several of the faculty were role-playing as we discussed certain ethical issues. John Fortner and then Monte Cox were usually Paul or Jesus. I was B.F. Skinner, the notorious behavioral psychologist. As a debater, I liked playing Skinner because I always had THE answer to every ethical quandary…survival value. But I could never upstage Jeff. He was always there, looming behind us dressed in his full-body rubberized Batman costume, daunting as ever and probably sweating like a pig. Remember, this was always in the summer. But wasn’t that Jeff…to be Batman: bold, brash, different, even outré.

The touch of Jeff Hopper was all over the Tabernacle experience. Jeff felt that the Tabernacle had to be built to biblical dimensions and placed directionally as in the Old Testament. The food had to be lamb and the haroset fresh, made with walnuts,

Jiana Manglicmot

Beat Reporter

I remember being a little girl—maybe 4 or 5 years old—and being so excited for my dad when he would go up on a Sunday night to do the communion meditation or the closing prayer. I would run up behind him as he walked down the aisle to the front, stomp clumsily up the pulpit stairs, and hold onto his pant leg as if to say, “I bet it’s scary up here, but don’t worry, I’m with you.”

Dr. Jeffrey Hopper: A Tribute

honey and apples. The costumes reflected Hopper’s hand. The priest’s robes were made according to biblical specifications. Who but Jeff would have dared to have two massive pieces of granite engraved with the 10 Commandments, in Hebrew and placed in the Holy of Holies! The furniture in the Tabernacle was also made to scale. I would guess Jeff’s crowning and most interesting addition to the Tabernacle experience was the manna moment. At a specified time, Jeff would ascend in a plane, leave the Searcy airport, fly over the Tabernacle campground and drop down manna to feed the starving masses.

In 2001, Jeff Hopper assumed the mantle of director, then dean, of International Programs. Whatever Jeff put his hand to, he would do with great imagination and uniqueness. These qualities were surely reflected in his tenure as dean. The worldwide reach today of Harding’s International Programs is the result of his vision and determination. I can remember when we first started the program in Chile. I was excited about it, and I mentioned to him that he should schedule a trip to Machu Picchu as a part of the program. He had no idea what I was talking about. Within weeks he called me….from Machu Picchu letting me know that it was now a part of the Chile program. My defining experience with Jeff occurred the day when he called me and asked to meet and discuss something new in International Programs. During the meeting, as we conversed, he simply announced, “I want you to develop an International Program to be done in Intersession.” “To where,” I asked? “Anywhere,” Jeff responded. What arose from this conversation was one of the most interesting experiences of

my career. I proposed a trip tracing the origin and diffusion of coffee. Our class would travel to Ethiopia, then to Oman, then to Istanbul and end in Paris at the remnant of a 17th-century Parisian coffeehouse, now a restaurant. What a journey! And the following spring we did the same thing with tea. No one else but Jeff Hopper would have conceived of such an academic experience for both the students and for me as a professor. My experience with him was empowering. He radiated an inspiring confidence in me that was absolutely liberating. Three words come to mind when I think of my dear friend and colleague, Jeff Hopper…exuberant, unfettered, unique. I do not think that there will ever be anyone in my life quite like him, or that his presence at Harding University could ever be duplicated.

PAT GARNER is a guest writer for The Bison. He can be contacted at pgarner@harding.edu.

Equally Called, Equally Gifted, Equally Responsible

Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS

Go Reds!

My boyfriend Mason and I have been dating for two and a half years. When our relationship began, he played college baseball at Freed-Hardeman University. He is a huge baseball fan — particularly of the Cincinnati Reds. Prior to knowing him, I knew absolutely nothing about baseball (except for my brief career in Wii baseball). Today, I know a whole lot less than a baseball expert, but I know a whole lot more than I once did. I even have the ESPN app on my phone! My favorite team is (naturally) the Reds, and my favorite (recently retired) player is Joey Votto, though I love Elly de la Cruz and Shohei Ohtani (who doesn’t?).

I watched my boyfriend’s games and worked to learn about baseball because I know it is a passion of his. As our relationship deepened, I wanted to see things the way he did, to learn about what he loves. He does the same for me too — he often reads books about things I am interested in and recommends them to me (he read Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own” before I did!).

that I was no longer allowed to stand with my dad in the pulpit. I figured that my loud display of been a little for him, so I for running quietly to the front pew to support him from a little farther away. From that spot on the front row, I watched the boys my age follow their dads up to the pulpit, greeted by quiet laughs and big smiles from our church family. I watched as they stood up on their tippy toes to be tall enough to reach the microphone and say

From a young age, I had always wanted to use my gifts to serve God. I would practice leading songs at home, copying the same hand motions the song leader would use to keep the beat at church. I would read my Bible out loud to my parents, sure to pronounce each word properly. I would ask to pray for our meals around the table, never forgetting to say “in Jesus’ name, amen.” I, however, could not use these gifts that God had given me in public. As a little girl, I didn’t understand why. Like many young women, I was never explicitly taught as a child that I was not “permitted” to use my gifts in the pulpit during

Sunday service. I learned that the mothers and daughters did not pray or sing or read in the pulpit when men were in the room. I spent a week this past summer working as a counselor for a kids’ Bible camp. During one of the nightly campfire devos, I watched from the amphitheater steps as the worship leaders invited two little girls to the front to help lead their favorite hymn The Greatest Commands. Tears filled my eyes seeing these little girls who felt empowered and permitted to stand in the pulpit and use their gifts to serve God. They grew up watching both their fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, stand in the pulpit to read scripture, pray and sing; and they knew Scripture reveals to us that all of God’s children, regardless of gender, are permitted to use their prophetic voice (Acts 2:17-18; Romans 12:6-8) and preach the gospel because we are all “one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

This truth is revealed to us through women of the Bible like Sarah, Miriam, Rahab, Deborah, Mary, Martha and Lydia; all of whom are gifted women, created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), charged by their responsibility to the mission of covenantal relationship and the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ.

I have witnessed the beauty of women empowered to serve. There is beauty found in those two little girls leading worship. There is beauty in the women passing around the communion trays, closing our gatherings in prayer, and proclaiming the goodness of God as preachers in the pulpit. It is through this beauty that I have become completely convinced of this truth:

Women are equally gifted, equally responsible, and equally called to the work of God.

When we include women in the work of the church, we create spaces where God’s people can find a clearer image of the creator. It is in this image of God that we then find our reflection, empowered to use our gifts for the work of the kingdom. There is work to be done, and we can’t afford to keep any gifted laborers back from the task at hand.

JIANA MANGLICMOT is a beat reporter for The Bison. She can be contacted at jmanglicmot@harding.edu.

This isn’t limited to romantic relationships. In 2022, I was diagnosed with celiac disease, and my mom took courses about celiac just to better understand my diagnosis. My friends and roommates learned how to safely prepare gluten-free food for me. My siblings always wash their hands before they share snacks with me to prevent cross-contamination. Those things we learn for the people we love — they’re funny. I never expected to become a baseball fan; my mom never expected to become a gluten-free cooking expert. Mason probably never considered reading Virginia Woolf or Sarah Bessey before he knew me. Out of our love, though, we learned. We stretched ourselves out of a desire to encourage the people we care about. We don’t need to lose our identity or our own interests in the shadow of the people we love. Instead, we show our care by listening and learning. I think this brings us joy. Every time I see a baseball game, I think of Mason in his baseball uniform or ESPN on his living room TV, and I am happy. I am happy because I love him and want him to be happy, too. My mom thanks the wait staff at restaurants that provide good gluten-free food because she wants to help keep me healthy. To dedicate time and headspace to the interests of another is to show them love. I hope that as we progress in this school year, each of us can learn for the people we love

HELEN STRICKLAND is the opinions editor for The Bison. She can be contacted at hstrickland@harding.edu.

Jackson

Pat Garner Evelyn Filleman

Coombes Oscar Aldana

Wesley Hall

Guest Writer Pat Garner

Dr. Jeffrey Hopper

Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER

Graphic by MAKAYLA MCDONALD

is well

Editor-in-chief Nic Fraraccio

Adrian’s Pottery

You might be thinking to yourself — ‘What is Adrian’s Pottery?’ Don’t worry; it’s much simpler than you think.

Adrian’s Pottery is a group chat consisting of four gentlemen: myself, Adrian Montanez, Austin Corn and Carson Kull.

These three guys are my best friends from back home in Tampa, Florida. These guys have three different personalities, which is something I value.

I have known Carson since I was 3 years old. He might not demonstrate the best social cues, but he has always supported me through all my endeavors.

Some of my friends refer to him as MomKull, which is his gamertag on Xbox. He might play a little too much Overwatch and Pokémon. However, he recently broke “the streak,” so I cannot judge what games he chooses to play.

It does not matter what you call him; something is bound to happen when you hang out with Carson.

Adrian might be the most unpredictable man in the bunch. He is the best Papa John’s worker I know (sorry Carson). When he is not working, you will probably find him in Downtown Tampa.

Adrian, called Amon on occasion, has grown a lot over the last several years. Seeing his physical and mental improvement has been a blessing. Unfortunately, his Florida State Seminoles football team is not improving.

You might be asking yourself — “Does Adrian have to do with Adrian’s Pottery?” The answer is yes. If you want to hear the story, stop by my office in the Reynolds one day.

Austin is the least judgmental member of the group. He loves every single player on the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. More specifically, his favorites to watch are Taylor Walls and Jamel Dean (all of that was tomfoolery).

On a real note, Austin has been an important part of my growth. He can give you advice about anything. Whether it is relationships or who to draft in fantasy football, I feel like his advice has helped me in many situations.

Just a quick side note, I would not trust Austin with your car tires.

Like I said, there are many different personalities within this group. But one important thing has not changed since the formation of Adrian’s Pottery.

The constant love and support has helped me throughout high school and college. Sure, we joke around and poke fun at each other, but it is never meant to harm one another.

During 2020, this bunch kept me afloat. As I mentioned in last week’s column, I struggled throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The late-night conversations, the Playstation parties and the trips to Bahama Bucks all helped keep my mind off things.

I vividly remember watching the Major League Baseball and National Hockey League playoffs with these guys in my living room. Adrian’s team (the New York Yankees) did not fare too well against my Tampa Bay Rays. We have also been brought together by many different activities over the years. One of my favorite moments has to be the baseball trip to New York and Baltimore. Despite watching the Rays play horrible baseball, the trip produced some of the funniest memories.

I never thought I would see a mattress almost fly off the top of someone’s car. Plus, my Aunt Lory had some interesting commentary to go along with it.

I miss being with those guys while I’m at Harding, but waiting for the next break will make that moment even better.

I will leave you with some advice for the next couple of weeks. Cherish the moments with your friends, even if it costs you one or two bucks. It is well, and be blessed.

Growing up in North Alabama my whole life, I became very familiar with the name Nick Saban. Even if you were an Auburn fan, you still knew he was a good coach. Year after year, there was continued greatness from the University of Alabama football team —which became the standard because of Saban and his legacy. Recently retired, Saban will go down as the greatest football coach of all time.

Starting his head coaching career at the University of Toledo, Saban then moved to the NFL for four seasons before coming back to coach at Michigan State University. During his five years with the Spartans, he led Michigan State to four bowl games. In 1999, Saban got hired by LSU, which began his SEC tenure. He coached the Tigers to their first Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship since 1986. During Saban’s five seasons at LSU, his record was 48-16, with three bowl victories and two SEC championships under his belt. From 2004 to 2007, he was head coach for the Miami Dolphins.

Saban Supremacy

On Jan. 4, 2007, Saban became head coach of Alabama, attempting to fill the shoes of football legend Bear Bryant. In 2008, he led the Crimson Tide to an SEC championship, and, over the next five years, they won three national championships. In 2015, the Alabama Crimson Tide won the SEC Championship under Saban. Win after win, fans started noticing what kind of legacy they were living through.

While coaching at Alabama, he won eight SEC championships and six national championships, winning another at LSU, putting his national championship total at seven. Alabama has been ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Poll for at least one week for 14 consecutive years due to Saban’s coaching. In January, he announced his retirement, shocking fans and rivals alike. The statue of Saban on the University of Alabama campus was covered in flowers and oatmeal cream pies; his favorite snack.

Ten years ago this week, I wrote a column in honor of my mother’s 80th birthday. I could not be happier to be writing another one today. I’m already working on the one for her centennial.

When I turned 40 a while back, my family drew up a poster listing “40 things we love about Michael.” It was very sweet, though they later confessed that coming up with the last 10 had been a stretch.

Do I dare attempt to list 90 things I love about Mom? I may have to rent extra space in “The Bison” this week. Here goes.

I love that she gets her hair done every week. I love that only her hairdresser knows her true color. I love that she has been using Merle Norman cosmetics since she was a teenager and that she tells that to every new saleslady who waits on her.

I love her sweet tea. Her green beans. Her biscuits. As well as her fried apples, fruit salad and hamburgers. Plus, her spaghetti, her macaroni and cheese, her roast beef and her layered salad. And there’s the meatloaf, creamed potatoes, chicken and rice casserole, cauliflower with cheese sauce. We all love her yellow cake with chocolate icing, her pound cake, her fudge pie, her pecan pie, her chess pie and her Sinful Sunday pie—frozen ice cream and chocolate sauce on a buttery graham cracker crust.

I love that she still has the flannelgraph figures she used for years to teach Sunday school. I love that women still come to her to thank her for her influence when she taught teenage girls at church. I love that she still uses a Bible given to her over 60 years ago.

My siblings and I love that she and Dad had a beautiful marriage. We love that they seldom raised their voices in our home. We’re happy we laughed a lot, and that they modeled faith and perseverance and how to roll with the punches. She taught teenage girls, and he taught the boys at church. We love that they took the church teens on retreats. We love that they went on antique-buying trips together and came home giddy about it. We love that she took care of him for years.

I love that my parents shared a passion for old things. I love that she knows how to

Saban’s legacy isn’t only for his wins though, he is also known for how he treats his players and coaches. He was supportive

Ninety Reasons

out of glassware. I love that she collects carnival glass and Bessie Guttmann

prints and oil lamps and candlesticks and match-strikers and figurines of children and vintage Santa Clauses. I love that she still reads the newspaper.

I love her spotless house. I love that she still dusts everything on the shelves. I love that she uses an Electrolux canister vacuum but has a lighter one for quick jobs. I love that she does her cleaning late at night when she doesn’t hurt as badly.

I love that she got to travel to Nashville from Georgia to visit with her brothers this summer. I love that they talked for two hours about their childhoods and never got past 1950. I love that she was able to see her

of his players as students and not just athletes. Muhsin Muhammad, one of his players at Michigan State, was arrested in 1993. Instead of kicking him off the team, Saban gave him a second chance. Muhammad co-founded Axum Capital Partners after college all thanks to the act of kindness Saban showed him. With his overall career record of 297-711, seven national titles and countless records broken under his leadership, I think it is obvious to say that he is the best to ever do it. Nick Saban will go down in history as the greatest college football coach of all time.

ADDIE ECHOLS is a guest writer for The Bison. She can be contacted at aechols@harding.edu.

sister, who is 92 and bedridden in a nursing home. I loved watching two women who have known each other for 90 years hold hands and talk sweetly.

I love that she really gets into politics. I love that she watches “Love it or List it” and points out that many of the couples on the show need more counseling than home remodeling. I love watching black-and-white movies with her, and I love that she used to buy a ticket to see “Nyoka the Jungle Girl” at the movies and get popcorn and a Coke, all for 25 cents. I love that she imitated Mae West when she was a little kid, putting her hand on her hip and saying, “Why don’t you come up and see me sometime?” We love that she raised three children with grace and humor. That her siblings and their spouses are our aunts and uncles. That her nieces and nephews are our cousins. And that her aunts lived long enough for us to love them, too. We love that she’s a wonderful grandmother, like her mother was. That she used to check the grandkids out of school to take them to see the next Harry Potter movie. That she baked cookies with them. That in their 30s they still want to come to Granny’s for Christmas Day. We love that her youngest grandson can’t wait to come over. We love that she’s now loving being a great-grandmother.

She wears house dresses. She has a pearl necklace my dad got for her. She wears her mother’s wedding ring. And still has one of her mother-in-law’s hats. I love that she only remembers having one argument with her mother-in-law, which was over where to display the wedding gifts. I love that they had a sweet relationship afterward.

I love her smile, her laugh, her singing voice, her hugs and her kindness. I love her deep faith. I love how well she listens. I love asking her for advice. I love spending summers with her. I love that other people not in our family think of her as a second mother. I could go on, but that’s 90. Happy birthday, Mom.

Narrative Columnist

Michael Claxton NIC

refinish furniture, clean vintage quilts and get stains

Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS

Guest Writer Addie Echols

Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER

Illustration by KIT MOORE

Basketball team surprises Miss Norma

The Harding University men’s basketball team takes a team photo with Norma

12 years as a member of the Bison Hospitality staff.

school year, the team members’ jerseys caught her eye, and she joked with them that she wanted her own with the number 1 on it.

Norma Hilliard works as a cashier in The Caf. Now under the name of “Bison Hospitality,” she said she enjoys this position in the cafeteria because she has the opportunity to see students every day. Hilliard said she loves everybody; she does not need to know who they are to love and care for them. One of the chances she’s had while working at the caf has been to become closer with the players on the men’s basketball team. Last

The men’s basketball team surprised her by doing just that, giving her a jersey even featured her last name across the back.

“I felt very happy, and I cried very much,” Hilliard said.

She said she considers it an honor to receive such a thoughtful gift from the players she greets each day in the cafeteria. While working at Harding for 12 years, she has had the opportunity to connect with students from all over the world, all through the front

and her team-issued jersey.

doors of the cafeteria. She is a strong believer in Christ, and it shows in her interactions with students each day. Junior guard Rylie Marshall thinks that Hilliard is an amazing person, and that everyone on campus loves her because she is nice to everybody.

“You cannot leave or enter the caf without her saying she loves you,” Marshall said.

He said that the basketball team’s coach likes to invite people like Hilliard to the games as added encouragement for the players. Senior guard Keyln McBride said Hilliard is a great person on campus. He said it is

always good to bring people from outside the team to make them feel like family and make them feel like home. McBride said Hilliard is someone who cares about the rest of the people on campus. While he does not go to the cafeteria often, McBride referenced several phrases that she likes to say to the students when they go there.

“My favorite phrase is when she says, ‘I love you,’ because you do not get that when you are away from home,” McBride said.

Defending champion Bisons look ahead to 2024 season

as the most fun he’s ever had on a football field. He said he doesn’t feel the pressure opposing teams will try to bring with extra intensity this season.

This fall, the Harding Bisons football team is coming off the most notable athletic achievement in the school’s history. With all eyes on the Bisons team to follow up last year’s national championship the team is looking forward to running out a new group this year.

The Bisons find themselves somewhere they’ve never been: the defending national champions. For senior quarterback Cole Keylon, the expectations stand the same as they did last year.

“Obviously we never won the national championship before, so being able to do that we know what it takes and how hard it really is,” Keylon said. “It’s a 15-week non-stop grind, and if you take one week off your season might be over just like that. So we know how to do it, now we’ve just got to carry on.”

Keylon described the run-up to the national championship game and the eventual victory

“Personally, I’m not a big pressure guy, I’ve never really felt it,” Keylon said. “I’ve been blessed with the ability to just view it all as fun.”

Leadership was a key component of the team’s success last year. With a new group of guys, Keylon said the growth shown in each of the upperclassmen makes things easier for him and the team as they look to continue where they left off.

“We had really great leadership last year, but I think our leadership this year is even greater when it comes to how many players on the team you could look up to and be like, ‘Man, I want to follow that guy,’” Keylon said.

“I feel like we’ve bonded so well as a team, and we’re ready to get it going.”

One player from last year’s group is taking the extra step this season with his contributions to the leadership department. Senior Blake

Delacruz, whose 21 rushing touchdowns ranked 2nd nationally, was named as one of the six captains for this season. He said he is taking the opportunity to become a bigger voice in the locker room and wellrounded leader.

“It’s a great honor, I’ve always been kind of like a lead-by-example type, and so this is definitely a unique opportunity for me to be in the front of the room a little bit and on the field as one of the five captains,” Delacruz said. “I’m gonna try to do my best, and I’m very, very blessed to have been chosen by my teammates.”

Delacruz said the culture poured into the team through its coaches, players and the University sets them apart from other programs and gives them a path to sustained success.

“Having guys that are selfless for each other, and, you know, playing extremely hard with and without the football, it’s huge,” Delacruz said. “Because most teams are all about the ‘me, me, me’ culture… We don’t have guys

like that on our team, and I think that’s what really keeps us ahead of the competition.”

Freshman Kaden Spencer joins the team after playing high school football in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and being named the Arkansas Preps Defensive Player of the Year. He said that the winning culture shows in each team member and that he’s ready to work on this new chapter in his football career.

“They’ve had a really big influence, they make it so much easier on us as young guys coming in,” Spencer said. “It’s a lot easier knowing that the guys around you went 15-0 and won a national championship, something not a lot of people can do. It drives us every single day to kind of just be the best version of ourselves.”

The Bisons will host their second game on Sept. 28 against Henderson State. The game can be found on the HU16 app and will be streamed live over the air on KVHU 95.3 FM.

Construction completed on new athletic workout facility

On Aug. 28, construction was completed for a new athletic training facility east of the First Security Stadium on Harding’s campus. The room replaces and retires the former training room, which will be renovated and repurposed into a locker room for visiting teams. The previous 80-year-old workout room acted as a concessions stand, studentathlete workout room and bathroom. The contemporary training facility houses fresh exercise equipment for athletes and new bathrooms.

While the previous room served its purpose, athletic director Jeff Morgan said the room had grown dangerous through dilapidation

-– insofar players had begun lovingly calling the room “the dungeon.”

“The weight room was really almost dangerous, I would say, because of the ceiling height,” Morgan said. “The equipment that was in there we were constantly having to tweak.” Morgan said his players thought the room improved over the old workout facility.

“Everybody’s response has been, like, ‘It’s awesome,’’’ Morgan said. “It’s fun to watch them walk in, and it’s almost like Christmas morning.”

Head baseball coach Patrick McGaha said the new facility also allows two teams to train alongside each other.

“It’s a situation now where everyone’s going to have enough space and scheduling will be so much easier because you can actually put two teams in there at the same time and still have plenty of room,” McGaha said. “Whereas, in the old space, it was so small, it was really hard to have more than just one team in there at a time. It’s going to make it a lot easier for our guys.”

A larger training room means less student-athlete overflow into the Ganus Activities Complex (GAC).

Freshman Diego Davis, a member of the Harding football team, said he and his

teammates practice more than 18 hours a week to stay prepared for games.

“And that’s for just a ‘redshirt’ freshman who hasn’t even seen the field yet,” Davis said. “You can only imagine what the seniors do. We haven’t even talked about the recovery, the ice baths in the training room, because that’s training too, technically.”

McGaha says coaches want to keep their training sessions separate from the larger student body and avoid overflowing into the GAC.

“It would definitely ensure that there’s no athletic overflow into the GAC weight room,” McGaha said. “As far as athletes taking up space over there, which typically we don’t do, but I know sometimes maybe if an athlete can’t get in somewhere they might go over there. But now there’s really no chance of that happening.”

Hilliard

Hilliard has worked for the school for

Photo provided by Harding men’s basketball

Senior Chauncey Martin finds a hole in the defense and rushes for a gain of yards against Oklahoma Baptist Sept. 14, 2023. The Bisons ran for a NCAA single-season record 6,160 yards during their national championship season.

Photo by JEFF MONTGOMERY

ELI DEAN sports editor

OSCAR ALDANA guest writer

ANDREW RENEAU asst. copy editor

Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS

MO Miles Club engages Harding students

MO Miles Club is an outdoor, communityfocused exercise group that meets at 6:15 a.m. on Thursdays at Midnight Oil coffeehouse. All forms of exercise are encouraged. The club is free and open to Harding students and the greater Searcy community.

Founder and coordinator of the MO Miles Club Courtney Eby shared her vision of why she started the club.

“It’s a community run club with an emphasis on community where, yes, we’re there to run, but most of the excitement comes from lingering afterwards for coffee and conversation and just continuing to have that space for conversation together,” Eby said. Eby spent several of her summers in different cities, and in each one joined a preestablished running club in order to form a community bond. This summer of 2024 was her first one spent in Searcy, and she wanted to provide a space for community formation over shared passions.

“I just thought that I had been on the receiving end for so long, that I felt very comfortable and also called to give it a shot here,” Eby said.

Eby makes an effort to know each attendant by name, even if it’s their first week joining. She welcomes students from the University to attend, though she shared that this club is bigger than the University community.

“Searcy is much larger than Harding, and I want it to be a space where it feels like the community is meeting Harding, not where Harding is meeting the community.”

Mike Emerson, the official starter for the runs, enjoys watching the attendants get to know each other. He often lingers long after participants return from their runs or walks.

“It’s been fun seeing them all connect, because they all visit with each other before

they run and then afterwards, like now, so it’s more of a social experience than just exercise, which is nice.” Emerson said. “If you’re going to exercise you might as well make it enjoyable.”

Josh Crews, a Searcy local and founding member of the club, shared how he appreciates the community of MO Miles Club in a town that doesn’t have an established running club.

“Running is kinda inherently a solo endeavor,” Crews said. “But I’m a social

person, so it’s really nice to run and then meet up and get to talk and hang out and meet new people.”

Eby is moving to Arizona this winter and will be passing over leadership of MO Miles to Crews. At the time of writing, MO Miles Club meets on Thursday mornings, but both Eby and Crews hope the club expands to fun runs and other events.

Crews emphasized how the club will always be free and open to anyone.

“I would never do like, oh you have club dues,” Crews said. “It would never be, oh you have to pay to be in MO Miles. It will always be a free thing.”

Eby hopes that as the club grows it becomes more diverse in the exercise interests of the members.

“The hope is that people feel really comfortable showing up with what they’re comfortable with,” Eby said.

Burrito Day community meal program allows all to be fed

AMANDA TOYE community editor

Burrito Day in Searcy has a program called “Community Meals.” Co-owners Brandon and Kari Fox spoke about this program they have provided since the start of their business in 2015.

“A community meal is something that allows the community to give,” Brandon Fox said. “We believe that people want to give. Since the first week that we put it up, people’s eyes just light up when they see it.”

Searcy resident Holly Garnett brought the idea to Brandon and Kari. Soon after, the Foxes added community meals to their restaurant’s offerings.

“She did all of it,” Kari Fox said. “We have since transformed it a little bit, but the heart of it is still the same.”

Above the register, the community meal tickets are hung on a magnet so anyone can walk in and see if a ticket is available. With a 28% discount, customers can buy a meal for someone who is in need.

“People who are needing a break — needing a free meal — can come in and see if there’s one available,”Brandon Fox said. “It’s just cool to be able to hand someone an actual

meal that is totally paid for by someone else so that you can be nourished.”

Though the Foxes are currently working on restructuring the community meals, they want to keep the heart of the mission the same. They are attempting to streamline the meal option.

The restructured community meal will come with a 10-inch chicken burrito and will be available from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

“When you choose to give, you will get taken advantage of in some way, and that’s OK,” Kari Fox said. “It’s just part of giving.”

The Foxes both shared their love for every single person in the community which is why they are so passionate about this program.

“I just love the idea of every part of the community getting to come through our store,” Brandon Fox said.

Sophomore JT Simmons, a shift manager at Burrito Day, gave his thoughts regarding the community meals.

“I have seen a lot of good come out of the program,”Simmons said. “They’ve been really impactful to a lot of lives of people who just don’t have as many opportunities as a lot of us do.”

Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre breaks new record

Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre (SSDT) ended their most successful summer with their final performances of “The Drowsy Chaperone” in the Ulrey Center. Their final show on Aug. 24 was one of their biggest ever, nearly at standing room only with seats added in the aisles, and helped push the final ticket sales for the summer to their best ever. The final numbers for the season totaled 105% capacity, a great end to the 41st year of SSDT.

Theatre Chair and Spring Sing Director Steven Frye directed “The Drowsy Chaperone” and oversees SSDT. SSDT gives the Searcy and Harding communities an opportunity for a creative outlet over the summer. Frye was happy to welcome many members of the Harding staff, including University Registrar Tod Martin, who played a bigtime producer with a dastardly plan to ruin a wedding. Frye chose “Drowsy” because it was a great fit for the summer audience with its slapstick comedy, but also had a great message: “Stumble along.”

“I love directing comedies, I talk about it being in my ‘wheelhouse,’ you know,” Frye said. “It’s an easy one for me to go to because I had an affinity for the material, and it had a really nice subtext, you know. That’s what you have to do if you have to choose to live.”

to

However,

As a theater design and production major, Hickman has worked on many Harding productions as part of the technical crew, but this was his first time as stage manager. His role changed from working with the set

and lights behind the scenes, to blocking, setting up tech and keeping cues in rehearsal.

Being the liaison between the director, cast and tech, Hickman said he enjoyed joining the whole crew in rehearsals, hanging out with the whole team and working with the cast on their complex choreography.

“A show that has a lot of music is always fun. I find myself doing my job but, in the brief moments in between calling cues and stuff, dancing along in my chair up above, where no one can see me and how bad I’m doing the choreography, but having fun nonetheless.”

One part of the show was “Man in the Chair,” the leading part played by senior theatre major Ben Bingham. “Man in the Chair” was on stage for the entire production, even starting the show alone for around six and a half minutes. Bingham said he loved experiencing such an interesting role; he gave credit to people like Hickman and Frye for making the process smooth and fun for the cast.

“But really, just like, the rehearsals with this cast were a lot of fun, like every person just got a great grasp of their character and it was just fun to get to play with everybody there, because all the people in the cast are so much fun,” Binghman said.

AIDAN EFAW guest writer

A Burrito Day meal ticket hangs over the register Sept. 4. The meal tickets are available for anyone in need of a meal.

Members of the MO Miles Club, Courtney Eby, Josh Crews, Jenna Lowe, Keegan Johnson and Mason Smith drink coffee together after their run Aug. 29. The group meets together every Thursday at 6:15 a.m.

Photo by JOSEY MYERS

CERRA CATHRYN ANDERSON features editor

Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL

Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS

“Drowsy” was a difficult show

do in the Ulrey, with big dance numbers and a complex set in a small area. Along with Frye, junior stage manager Sully Hickman helped construct the show in a smaller space.

TheLink.Harding.edu FEATURES

Fitch wins McInteer Art Competition

The winning art of the 2024 McInteer Art Competition was revealed in a reception on Aug. 27 in the McInteer Rotunda. The winning works were a series of Lego portraits created by senior Cooper Fitch.

The McInteer Art Competition is part of an effort by the aesthetics committee, chaired by Dr. Mac Sandlin, to feature more creative works in the McInteer Bible and World Missions Center.

“The goal was to acquire art for the McInteer to make the building more beautiful, and a way to encourage students to use their gifts,” Sandlin said.

The theme for the art competition changes yearly. This year, the works were to be inspired by the miracles of Jesus. Fitch’s portraits represent four transformative miracles: the calming of the storm, the cursing of the fig tree, the healing of the blind man and the changing of the water to wine. Assistant professor of art and design Tessa Davidson, another member of the aesthetics committee, commented on the theme of transformation in his work.

“I really love the fact that the form itself embodies the form of the miracles,” Davidson said. “The piece that he created captures that aspect of how the miracles would have been experienced by people living in the first century that had never seen anything like this.”

The works are pixel art built out of Lego bricks which change between two images depending on the angle they are viewed from.

“It was the most effective way I could figure to have this transformative effect for it,” Fitch said. “I wanted to try something completely different from what I did last time, which was charcoal and pastel.”

Fitch is the first student to win the art competition two years in a row, as he won last year with a series of charcoal drawings focusing on four stages of the life of David. The winner of each contest receives a $2,000 prize and $500 for art supplies to complete the pitched work.

“The contest is entirely funded by donations,” Sandlin said. “The University doesn’t spend any money on this. It’s all just people who believe in it, and we’re looking for partnerships.”

The theme of next year’s competition is “trees in scripture,” Sandlin said. Students interested in creating for the contest are

encouraged to submit projects regardless of skill level or experience. Fitch encouraged any students with an idea to enter.

“I would say, go for it,” Fitch said. “It may take a little bit of time to come up with the concepts and everything, but it’s definitely worth trying. We’re given these talents to use and not to just hide away and push aside.

And so this is a great way to utilize those talents and share those with the

community and possibly even the world.”

portraits will be displayed in the

until they are moved into one of the McInteer classrooms.

Two Harding couples teach, disciple in College of Bible

With the addition of instructor Alicia Williamson to the College of Bible and Ministry (COBAM), a new demographic is emerging. Williamson is the second female Bible faculty member in Harding’s history, beginning her new career teaching classes such as a section of freshman Bible, spiritual formation and children’s ministry. Williamson said she feels motivated to start teaching. “I think it’s been a really great start to this year,” Williamson said. “The courses that I’m teaching right now are ones that I’m really excited to teach, and the students have been awesome.”

Along with her husband Dr. Carl Williamson, Alicia Williamson also represents the second married couple composed of two Bible faculty members.. The other couple is Drs. Anessa and Tim Westbrook. Reflecting on their second week of classes this school year, the Williamsons shared what this new and exciting development has looked like for them.

“I remember the morning that we were both getting ready to come for the first day of faculty orientation, I looked over at Carl and said, ‘This is so fun,’” Alicia Williamson said. “It was a moment I realized that God had brought us to this place to do something so similar while teaching into our giftedness.”

Carl sees their work here as an extension of their time spent together as church-planters in the country.

“I’ve found that it’s really exciting to get to do disciple-making together; helping people become more like Jesus takes a team, and we’re a team as a couple that are part of the larger team of the COBAM faculty and then all of God’s church,” Carl Williamson said.

Alicia said she is also writing her doctoral dissertation on the spiritual formation of emerging adults in Ghana and balancing a new family dynamic, with one of their daughters starting her freshman year at Harding this fall. In this busy time, she has leaned on her good friend and mentor Dr. Anessa Westbrook.

“I’m so grateful we have another female on staff; almost 50 percent of all Bible majors are female, and so I’m really grateful that they can see other women in those positions and see that there is a place for them,” Williamson said.

As a fellow woman of faith and COBAM faculty member since 2006, Westbrook offers Williamson guidance.

“I’ve known Alicia for a long time, and I help whenever she asks for help,” Westbrook said.

After graduating in 1995, Tim and Anessa moved to Hungary to be missionaries, led ministry workshops and conferences and parented three Bible majors through Harding. Their youngest is graduating in May.

“In a way, we’ve been involved in ministry our entire professional careers,” Tim Westbrook said.

The experiences of both the Williamsons and the Westbrooks have formed them into two duos passionate about the opportunities they could open at Harding. The Williamsons hope to one day lead a class at Harding that visits churches across the country and discusses the importance of North American missions. Meanwhile, the Westbrooks dream of a study abroad semester that highlights the parts of Eastern Europe they spent their early years of ministry in.

Downtown Singing welcomes new, returning students

Campus ministry is a cornerstone of Harding’s student body. It was prevalent when the school began in 1924, and remains a factor in the school’s welcoming feel 100 years later. A prominent ministry at Harding in recent years is Downtown Singing. This event is hosted and sponsored by Downtown Church of Christ. Downtown Singing began in 1998 and continues to grow in popularity with new generations of students each year.

Sophomore Cole Curtis, a member of the volunteer welcome team, said he enjoys getting to greet people and working on the visuals team.

“Downtown has given me the opportunity to connect with people and with God,” Curtis said.

Senior Bailey Olive, the planning and logistics team leader for Downtown Singing, said she enjoys working with this ministry because of the atmosphere it creates.

“I think the environment just because with it being so late at night and we’re all college kids, we’re not forced to go,” Olive said. “But then seeing 1,000 people show up is like, ‘This is a community.’ This is what church is meant to be, because it’s not just Downtown kids, it’s kids that go to Highway or College or Cloverdale. You see all of the churches from Harding just come together, and I think it’s just empowering.”

common to see people that excited about church, even if you come to Downtown on a Sunday morning. People are not nearly that excited to be at church, but people love to be at Downtown Singing. We’ll get DM’s to the Instagram account like way back in July of people being like ‘I’m counting down the days until we’re back.’” Huddleston said that he did some research of his own, and has figured out that Downtown Singing is one of the largest, if not the largest, late night acapella worship service for college students.

Olive said her favorite way to describe Downtown Singing to people is when the voices of everyone join together it sounds like a heavenly chorus of angels singing as one. She said Downtown Singing is where someone can find their place when they feel lost.

“I would say at first I was so nervous on going because I didn’t know anything about Harding or Downtown when I was coming here,” Olive said. “I think so many people, especially if you’re really homesick, are longing for a place where you feel like you belong, and I feel like that is at Downtown.”

Levi Huddleston has been working with Downtown Singing since 2020. He recalled how strange it was when COVID-19 changed how they did the late night singing. Huddleston said he enjoys leading Downtown Singing because of the excitement he sees in the students when they arrive.

“I struggle to find another event or venue that has that much energy and that much excitement as Downtown Singing does, and so to me that’s a really fun, cool aspect,” Huddleston said. “Especially because it’s not

“The average size of a Church of Christ in America is I believe 35 or 37 people, and most students come from a congregation that’s about 100 to 200 people in size, and so to get 1,000 people together, and all they do is just sing for an hour,” Huddleston said. “Like it’s a pretty cool concept, and it doesn’t really exist anywhere else in the world, and to happen on the frequency of every single week like without fail we’ll have this. We’ll have the doors open on Sunday night, and to me I think that’s a huge draw. It’s just the experience of it. The other thing that I like to tell students is that even… if singing isn’t your thing, still come anyway. There’s so much community and fellowship that happens.”

Downtown Singing continues to meet each Sunday night at 8:30. For students searching for a way to get involved with Downtown Singing, search “downtown.singing” on Instagram and click on the Linktree on their profile page to find ways to volunteer.

WESLEY HALL guest writer

Photo by JOSEY MYERS

Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT

BEN EVANS layout editor

JACKSON TRAHANT beat reporter

Photo provided by Anessa Westbrook

A group of Harding students lead worship at Downtown Singing. Downtown Singing has been a student ministry for 26 years.

Harding

Fitch’s

McInteer Rotunda

Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT

Senior Cooper Fitch presents his work and answers questions at the Artist’s Talk Aug. 27. Fitch won the 2023 and 2024 McInteer Art Competition.

Drs. Tim and Anessa Westbrook pose together Dec. 17, 2023. The Westbrooks teach classes in the College of Bible .

Dr. Carl and Alicia Williamson laugh as they teach a Christian families class. Alicia Williamson is one of two current female Bible faculty members.

Reinert named as head of HU Outdoors

Mary Kathryn “MK” Reinert began as head of HU Outdoors, Harding’s outdoor recreation program, and as the sponsor for the Explore Club, Harding’s student-run outdoor recreation club, this fall semester. Reinert is in charge of planning and leading two overnight adventures each semester with HU Outdoors, and will help plan and offer guidance to students who are organizing several outdoor events throughout the year with the Explore Club.

Reinert attended Harding from 2016 through 2020, graduating with a sports and recreation management degree and a minor in outdoor recreation leadership. She started the Explore Club as a student with nowretired professor J.D. Yingling.

Reinert continued her outdoor education through the National Outdoor Leadership School , earning her Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator certifications. She also has two and a half seasons of professional guiding experience as a white water rafting guide on the Ocoee River in Tennessee. She is currently working at Ozark Outdoor Supply in Little Rock.

“I have always been an adventurer at heart,” Reinert said. “I grew up backpacking with my dad, and my love for the outdoors grew as I did. I have always known that I wanted a career in the outdoor industry.”

Yingling kept the club alive after Reinert’s graduation and eventually, HU Outdoors was started. Yingling reached out to Reinert during his retirement hoping she would take over HU Outdoors and the Explore Club after he left, and she accepted. Taking his job would also mean Reinert would be teaching the backpacking and camping class for the fall and the paddle sports class for the spring.

“I am excited to take the students of Harding on really cool adventures,” Reinert said. “I want to help students who have the desire for adventure gain the confidence and skills necessary to go on their own later in life, and I plan on doing that through HU Outdoors.”

Senior Lydia Radke has been involved in the Explore Club since her freshman year. Radke has held multiple offices, including president, and now serves as media director.

“I’m super excited for the experience, organization and expertise that MK is bringing,” Radke said. “She is planning several trips this semester, like an overlanding trip coming up this month, which are bigger and more specialized than what we’ve been able to plan in the past.”

Radke advocates for the Explore Club and everything that HU Outdoors has to offer.

“Harding Outdoors makes outdoor recreation more accessible to students by offering outdoor gear that can be borrowed for free by all Harding students,” Radke said. “We have everything from sleeping bags to kayaks to tandem bikes, and it’s all

been funded entirely by professors, not the University.”

This semester, sophomore Cole Curtis serves as president of the Explore Club, sophomore Amelia Shoemake is vice president and sophomore Emma Gaskill is treasurer.

“[MK] really has a vision that goes beyond hiking and camping that I’m really excited to see happen for our club,” Shoemake said. “The Explore Club has more to do with a community of people who want to come together and do activities together that involve being in God’s creation and being able to admire and appreciate it together.”

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HU Outdoors has planned an overnight trip from Sept. 21-22 and a three-day/twonight backpacking trip for fall break with gear and food provided.

“I am very excited for our two trips this semester,” Reinert said. “If you are interested in more information, please contact me by email

Also, if you are interested in joining the Explore Club, you can join the GroupMe (Explore Club) and follow our Instagram pages.” Reinert can be contacted at mreinert@ harding.edu and 662-378-6365. HU Outdoors and the Explore Club are on Instagram at @ hu_outdoors_ and @hu_explore. Both clubs are open to all Harding students.

HEAL program unveils new treadmills for walking desks

In July, Harding University’s Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) program installed two walking pads and standing desks. They are on the balcony in the HEAL workout room in the Ganus Activities Complex (GAC).

Kati Kreh, a student leader for HEAL and Harding graduate student, said the walking pads and desks are meant to “encourage students to come and be active while they’re studying.”

Dr. Britney Finley, director of HEAL and associate professor of kinesiology, explained the origins of the walking pad.

“We just loved that little balcony out there, and we were…thinking… ‘How could it be useful?’” Finley said.

Finley said the walking pads are “another little fun, creative study area for maybe, group work to happen, group projects to happen while two walk, or, you know, just studying together … or just individually to move and memorize and study.”

Kreh also emphasized the benefits of the walking pads’ location: “You get to look at the GAC and…people watch while you do it,” she said.

Kreh and Finley emphasized the health benefits of movement while studying.

Finley said the walking pads “get blood flowing and glucose and oxygen in the brain and make those connections happen maybe a little easier and in a different environment.”

The walking pads have been installed as a part of an ongoing initiative by HEAL “to promote wellness, holistic wellness, all across campus, from physical health, to mental health and spiritual health,” Finley said.

This semester, Finley said HEAL is trying to “make it student-led,” focusing on “what students want and what students need.”

Rachel Moore, a student worker for HEAL, said the pads are great for studying.

“The walking pads are an amazing way for students to get some stress release while accomplishing their duties as diligent students,” Moore said. “I personally have used it to study over my notes and flashcards. By moving while studying, it helps me retain the information and ace the tests.”

Kreh said the whole HEAL exercise room is a good space for students. “It’s got workout equipment, and it’s kind of a space for people to just go and work out in a smaller environment,” Kreh said. There is also a workout class that meets some mornings.

There are also benches on the balcony for extra seating or workspace.

Finley said if “students have ideas of how to make it more useful, just that whole area, I would love to have suggestions of just

small things that we could add, or

we could do.”

Harding’s Pied Pipers add four new members to troupe

The Pied Pipers welcomed four new members to their rank Saturday, Aug. 31: sophomore Millie Williams representing orange, sophomore Isaac Linnett representing blue, freshman Brielle George representing red and freshman Noah Sexson representing green.

The Pied Pipers are a children’s theater organization run by assistant professor of theatre wDottie Frye, who is now entering her 37th year of leading it after having joined as a student herself when she attended Freed-Hardeman University. They perform dozens of improvisational shows every year at schools around the nation, giving children the opportunity to exercise their creativity through storytelling.

When asked about the audition process, Williams said, “[It] doesn’t truly feel like an audition, it feels like you’re just hanging out with your friends.” George said.“It was really fun; I honestly kind of just did it to have fun.”

As returning Pipers juniors Kessler Baker and Campbell Gilreath explained, “fun” is the ultimate purpose of the organization.

Williams discussed why she wanted to join the organization.

“I want to be a play therapist when I get older, and Pipers is basically the same thing, so I’m looking forward to the experience,” Williams said.

George said that she is “excited about making new friends and deeper relationships and working with kids.”

As for the returning members, “the best part’s getting to spend time with other Pipers, and then getting to spend time with the children,” senior TJ Brown, sai the longest-serving member of the Pied Pipers. “Watching kids look up to your friends and getting to see how they are actively making an impact on their lives.”

Brown detailed a story that Gilreath once performed which followed the adventures of a mouse with celiac. Following the performance, one child in the audience came up to speak to Gilreath and said, “It made me feel seen.”

Bison Mini Crossword

“You never know when that might be what a kid needs that day,” Brown said. Baker said his favorite part of being a Pied Piper is that he has “grown closer with a bunch of great people—great actors—but also just great people.” Baker said. “The relationships we build are unmatched in almost every way.”

During the summer following the 2024-2025 academic year, the Pied Pipers hope to travel to Scotland to perform shows for children all over the area—a tradition they uphold every other year—but fundraising still has a way to go before they meet their goal. The organization will perform two home shows this school year, the first on Homecoming weekend, Oct. 26, and the second during Spring Sing weekend, April 12.

Both performances will be on the steps of the Benson Auditorium and are open to all students, faculty, staff and members of the community free of charge. The Pipers will have a merchandise table set up after the show to help their fundraising efforts, and they say donations are always welcome.

JACOB BRANSON beat reporter

HELEN STRICKLAND opinions editor

RANDI TUBBS petit jean editor-in-chief

Assistant professor of theatre Dottie Frye leads strecthes before Pied Pipers tryouts. Frye has led the group for 37 years.

Senior Lael Seats uses a treadmill and a standing desk in the Ganus Activities Complex. The new desks allow students to be active as they do their homework.

Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT

Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL