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Theatre presents ‘Tuck Everlasting’ musical
a routine from
This weekend the Theatre Department at Harding University will present “Tuck Everlasting,” a play about a child who stumbles upon an immortal family living near her home.
Ensemble member Jiles Burnham said the ensemble was finished with the show’s structure around four weeks before the show. Since then, he said the focus on set shifted to ironing out small details.
“This last Saturday I was in the Benson for 15 hours,” Burnham said. “We had rehearsal
set and painting stage until midnight. The atmosphere definitely shifts, especially because we are not trying to learn things anymore, we’re trying to perfect them.”
Burnham said Tuck Everlasting is helping him become a better dancer, which is one of his weakest skills.
“Doing a show that is so dance heavy has been really good for me because I feel like as a performer, dance is the weakest aspect of my toolbox, and something I am intentionally trying to improve,” Burnham said.
Production manager Cassie Bennett said she feels the energy as they prepare for this weekend’s show.
“I don’t know that the atmosphere has really changed — as we approach opening night and can see everything coming together, I think there is maybe more of a sense of energy,” Bennett said.
In a reference to John 4:4, Bennett said she hoped their audience would learn how to appreciate the time they have together, and to live in the present.
Senior Aubrey Jones will play Winnie Foster for Harding’s production. She described how the play had been in the works since the spring of 2024.
“They cast four of us back in April, and then they have auditions again right before classes started this semester for the rest of the named roles and the ensemble,” Jones said. “There was also a short choreography audition process for both auditions.”
Jones said working with the show has been a fun mix of support and excitement.
“I especially have gotten to spend a lot of time with the folks playing the Tuck Family, and we’ve gotten to do a lot of rehearsal time together, and I feel like we’ve bonded a lot and had a lot of fun putting the show together,” Jones said.
Tickets for “Tuck Everlasting” may still be purchased online on Harding’s website.
Online tickets cost $20, and tickets bought at the door cost $25. There is no elevator access to balcony seating.
The Theatre Department will put on their next show — “The Taming of the Shrew” — Dec. 5-7 in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center.
Senior Audra Graves performs Oct. 22 during a “Tuck Everlasting” rehearsal. The cast performed their first Homecoming show on Thursday, Oct. 24.
University addresses chapel
Dr. Tiffany Brooks spoke Oct. 10 in chapel about her book, “Holy Ghosted.” Her summary brought strong responses from Harding faculty, staff and students, and the broader Harding community.
A Harding staff member sent a letter to Executive Vice President Jean-Noel Thompson after Brooks spoke in chapel. This letter was also posted on Facebook. The letter focused on the content of Brooks’ message as well as the fact that she was a woman speaking on the chapel stage.
Thompson said Harding responded to the Oct. 10 chapel to elaborate on Brooks’ arguments and demonstrate civil conversations in a chapel presentation on Oct. 18.
“Clearly there was concern about the prioritization of holiness in relation to wellness or happiness, and we felt like that needed some more explanation,” Thompson said.
Harding University is a community of faith where different opinions should be discussed civilly and model a pursuit of truth, Thompson said.
“Social media can be so difficult to have a conversation in,” Thompson said. “Even in direct email, sometimes it can be difficult to convey what one’s intent is. To see it play out in real life in a conversation where there is care for all is so important. It’s not just, ‘Hey, let’s correct something,’ it’s, ‘Let’s really dig in and learn and continue to pursue biblical truth.’ God calls us to that level of care and grace and patience and gentleness with one another.”
Associate professor and chair of the English Department Jon Singleton attended Harding with Brooks. Brooks spoke in several of his classes about her book after giving her presentation in chapel.
“The initial post that kicked it all off misrepresented what I heard in her speech,
having been there,” Singleton said. “Having talked to a lot of students, many students who heard her talk did not see any problem with what she said and didn’t see it as controversial. It was somewhat complex — the argument that she was making. I did not hear her to be saying, ‘Put your happiness over holiness.’ I heard her to be saying, ‘If what people are telling you what it means to pursue holiness is making you constantly unhappy, you might check if it’s also putting you in an unhealthy place.’”
Sophomore Emma Gaskill said she felt like Brooks’ message had been decontextualized and misunderstood.
“I thought she brought a new perspective that I really appreciated,” Gaskill said. “It sounded very rooted in biblical truths and Jewish tradition. I have to remind myself that I come from a different background so just because something didn’t bother me, Harding is rooted in certain traditions that even though I don’t align with, I need to respect.”
Gaskill wished Harding was open about the chapel controversy and the drama on social media such as Facebook.
“I’m glad they [Harding] addressed it and had a whole chapel for it,” Gaskill said. “I wish they would have been more direct in their language. I wish something would have been said more directly about the Facebook debacle,” Gaskill said.
Singleton said it is difficult to run a university and that these kinds of situations force the students to be aware of the tension between a university, parents, students and the community that is normally behind the scenes.
“There are usually a network of churches, there are donors, there are families of students that entrust their students to this school hoping that the school is keeping faith with them and keeping faith with God, and they’re not gonna come out having lost their faith or transformed so much that they’re not recognizable,” Singleton said.
The Bison reached out to Brooks, who declined to comment.
Sophomore Weston Eads sings Oct. 22 in the Benson Auditorium. The play is directed by assistant professor of theatre Ben Jones.
Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL
Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL
ANDREW RENEAU asst. copy editor
ANDREW RENEAU asst. copy editor AMANDA TOYE community editor
“Tuck Everlasting” cast members perform
the musical Oct. 22. The Theatre Department held multiple rehearsals in preparation for Homecoming weekend.
Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Relay for Life raises over $20,000
Relay for Life has been a staple of the Harding community in recent years. The event features an all-night fundraiser put on by the social clubs and organizations with all proceeds from the event going to the American Cancer Society (ACS). Clubs and organizations set up booths Oct. 18-19 on the front lawn to raise money from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. Most booths keep their prices under $10, and include creative entertainment such as baked goods and games. A popular booth over the past couple of years has been the “Theta Jail.” At the booth, students can pay to have their friends “arrested” by Theta
men’s social club, and spend anywhere from one to 30 minutes in “prison” depending on how much you pay. Another way the event raises money is through online donations in the days leading up to the event.
Relay for Life’s goal this year was to raise $20,000, a mark they exceeded much to the delight of one of the co-directors for this year’s event, senior Aja Von Luckner. She said she enjoyed seeing all the students who came out and supported the event. Von Luckner was impressed with how quickly they met the halfway mark during the event.
“All years we’ve done it have been good, but I think this year, at least for me, it happened a lot quicker than I thought,” Von Luckner said. “We hit the halfway mark as soon as
Board announces plan for new HST library at Searcy campus
The Harding University Board of Trustees announced Oct. 2 that they have approved the construction of a new building to host the Harding School of Theology (HST) Library on the Searcy campus. This comes after over a year of discussions between the Harding administration and HST on how best to house the library’s extensive collection, and using the library’s Jack P. Lewis Endowment, which is reserved for books and educational materials.
According to an email release from University President Mike Williams Oct. 2, the Board of Trustees held a special meeting Sept. 22 to approve the $8.5 million construction project, which will connect to the back of Brackett Library between Graduate Hall and the Benson Auditorium. The building will add approximately 18,000 sq. feet to the library space, and the Board hopes this will increase the library’s capacity to support students and result in increased hours of operation.
“For the first seven decades, the hallmark of Harding School of Theology has been a commitment to academic quality, excellence and biblical scholarship,” Williams said. “A crucial part of the vision is our unwavering commitment to affordability and access, which is already apparent in our 30% increase in student enrollment this fall. Our board of trustees and senior administration are absolutely committed to seeing HST continue to flourish as an integral of our Christ-centered University.”
According to Dr. Jack Shock, the interim associate vice president for Communication and Marketing, there is not a very extensive plan for the building at this moment, but the University is listening to concerns from those associated with the library along with concerns from undergraduate students about how the construction of the new building will affect the campus and parking capacity.
When asked about a preliminary plan for the next steps in the process, Shock said that the next step of the process would be moving the library’s collection from Memphis to Searcy safely, but there is not currently a specific plan in place.
“I don’t have a timeline on that,” Shock said.
“Today’s announcement was just about the building, which there were a lot of questions about, about where it is going to go, and is it going to truly be what people call it; Dr. Williams calls ‘the crown jewel of Harding.’”
Bob Turner, current lead minister at White Station Church of Christ in Memphis and former librarian at the HST Library, was happy to hear that the Board had decided on a direction to go with the library and appreciated the commitment by the University to HST.
“This is tremendous news,”Turner said. “It’s important that such a significant collection has a home that is accessible to a critical mass of scholars. This commitment from the University ensures that Harding will continue to become a name that is synonymous with rigorous biblical and theological scholarship. There was a lot of uncertainty of what the departure from Memphis would mean for the library. This decision from the school shows that there is a commitment to making sure the School of Theology can continue to flourish.”
the night was starting, and I think that is amazing.”
Junior Hailey McCullough was one of the co-directors for the Zeta Rho women’s social club booth, which hosted a pay-to-play “Just Dance” video game, in conjunction with the TNT men’s social club’s homemade donuts booth. McCullough said she loves the purpose the money is raised for at Relay for Life.
“We are helping to raise money for cancer awareness and to find cancer services for people that are survivors, currently battling cancer, or have loved ones that have battled it,” McCullough said.
french fries and allowed participants to punch a BOX member with a boxing glove for a price. Rohrback said the silent lap during the event to remember those who are fighting or lost the battle to cancer is reverent and special.
“It’s a great time of remembrance and honor to the people who are currently struggling with cancer and for people who have lost that fight and have gone home. It’s a great way to honor them, and I really appreciate that we do that every year,” Rohrback said.
WESLEY HALL guest writer
AIDEN EFAW guest writer
Students walk amidst tents for various social clubs and campus organizations on the front lawn Oct. 18 during Relay for Life. The all-night function serves as a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.
Photo by JOSEY MYERS
Graphic by MAKAYLA MCDONALD
TheLink.Harding.edu 3A OPINIONS
Guest Writer Lorelai Curtis
As we all know, it’s an election year, and we’ve seen celebrities endorsing candidates through social media posts and YouTube ads. This is the first or second time college students are voting in a presidential election, so we must make it count. Some of us are already registered and ready to make our voices heard in this form of democracy. As young Americans, we should vote because many countries lack this right, and we should not squander ours; voting is essential in a democracy, and the young must vote to have our voices heard in a democracy.
The American government, a representative republic, differs from a true democracy. A true democracy has every member of the society come together to vote on every issue presented. We vote for mayors, governors, senators, representatives within the House, and most importantly, a presidential administration. We are fortunate to reside in a nation with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to protect us. Even though we live in the arguably best country, our system still has flaws. People often don’t fact-check the information they are told; we must become truth seekers, leaders and people who investigate the “why.”
An author said, “Knowledge must be grounded in the incremental work of numerous scholars rather than in dramatic single studies.” Our knowledge and opinions must be rooted in our entire being, not just something superficial.
Many young people in America choose not to vote, often feeling that their votes won’t make a difference or believing they lack sufficient knowledge to make an informed decision. In the United States, the Electoral College functions as a complex mechanism through which electors within each state cast votes for a presidential administration. If a
Everett Kirkman
Editor-in-chief, 2021-22
I got my Bachelor’s degree at Harding nearly two and a half years ago. In a lot of ways, I feel like a toddler in adult years. Yes, legally I became an adult at 18 in many regards, and then maybe again at 21, but in terms of understanding the world around me, I kind of feel like a 2 1/2year-old. It has always been funny to hear parents describe their child’s age in months. But, three years ago I became an aunt, and I have started to understand it more. I can now see the vast differences between a 12-month-old 1-year-old and an 18-month-old 1-year-old. In the past 29 months, I have experienced a lot of growth, and I feel like I have hit countless milestones — some I did not know existed. I moved to a different city; I got a job; I got an apartment; I lived by myself; I paid rent; I got groceries; I took the LSAT; I worked on my cooking skills; I applied to law schools; I got really into the elliptical machine at the gym; I learned how to make friends again; I got into law school; I moved to a new city; I got a new apartment and lived with roommates again; I started law school; I remembered why I loved learning; I questioned why I loved learning. Six months after graduating, I could crawl: I was grateful to be out of school for a
Why young Americans and college students should vote
person votes for the Democratic candidate but the state they live in votes Republican, the Electoral College vote for the state goes to the Republican candidate. This winner-takesall approach, employed by most states, often leads to feelings of detachment, particularly among young voters who may feel that their individual preferences are overshadowed by the dominant political party in their state. Voting, more than a civic duty, is a fundamental right fought for throughout our nation’s history.
Samuel Adams said a person “is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.” By voting, young people can challenge the status quo, demand change and actively participate in the democratic process. Each vote forms a foundation for a brighter future. We, young Americans, must understand our role in shaping the world we will inherit.
Many celebrities, including Taylor Swift, have made Instagram posts stating their support of Kamala Harris. While some may celebrate this endorsement, others express
concern about Swift’s political influence. She is not a politician, economist or stateswoman; she is a performer with a reported net worth of $1.1 billion. Her perspective may feel disconnected from the middle class’s everyday struggles. Nevertheless, her immense following could lead many fans to follow her lead, potentially swaying them to support the Harris administration. Today, many people follow the crowd; they refuse to find out why they believe what they believe. One truly forms an opinion by discovering the facts. On the other side of the political theater, the St. Louis rapper Sexyy Red has voiced her views on Donald Trump, saying, “I like Trump, yeah they support him in the hood.” Societies have used the mob rule mentality for centuries. Mob rule occurs when a minority group within the collective makes decisions on behalf of the entire group. The most classic picture of mob rule is angry townspeople with pitchforks and torches. It’s essential not to rely on any individual, regardless of their status or influence, to shape our opinions. Even those we admire and look up to should not dictate our beliefs or choices.
It is crucial not to allow anyone else’s opinion to influence the political views of others. I encourage you to research and draw conclusions. After all, what value does an opinion hold if it is not truly yours? We all strive for individuality, so why conform to the thoughts of others? Thinking for yourself is a courageous act; it requires confronting adversity head-on. One of the most effective ways to improve our world and country involves standing firm in our beliefs rather than simply echoing what politicians or influencers say.
LORELAI CURTIS is a guest writer for The Bison. She may be contacted at lcurtis4@harding.edu
Learning to walk
season, I was looking forward to going back to school, I was learning corporate jargon.
At 12 months, I started to walk and talk: I had gotten into law school, I got to choose where my path would go next, I began to realize and articulate my goals for my life path. I still had no idea what I was getting myself into.
At 18 months, I started to walk on my own, and talk in phrases: I faced my first final exams of law school. While my undergrad educational experience was challenging and fulfilling, this felt like a whole new world of learning. I was learning a new language. Walking out of my Torts exam, I realized that at “12 months,” I would have read that test and not recognized any torts had occurred. At 18 months though, I was starting to get the hang of it. I was starting to recognize patterns. I was learning to not only recite words but understand what they meant.
Now, looking back to only two and a half years ago, I feel like I have experienced a lifetime. In these short years, I have been challenged: challenged to question my beliefs, challenged to dig deeper and explain why I believe what I believe.
In law school, I have been encouraged to spot issues, apply rules, reason, and research
to those issues, analyze how that research applies and come to a conclusion. I have been pushed to not take a rule, a law, or a judge’s opinion, on its face, but to seek more. Now more than ever before, I find myself looking to the context that surrounds someone’s opinion. I find myself researching the circumstances that created a codified law. These are not novel ideas, but they have struck me this season more than before.
Dear reader, I encourage you to allow space for these feelings. While they may not be novel in the grand scheme of time, if they are new to you, that may be the whole point. Allow space to ask questions. When you think you have the answers, allow space for others to question you. Set your ego aside and let yourself be wrong. Or, if you are right, figure out why. Allow space for reasonable minds to come to different conclusions. Allow space for yourself to learn from others. Allow space for yourself to see the world differently than you have ever allowed yourself to. After all, you might only be 294 months old — you are still becoming.
EVERETT KIRKMAN was the 2021-22 editor-in-chief for The Bison. She may be contacted at everett.kirkman@gmail.com
Slow to speak
How can I be a better neighbor to those around me?
If you have not heard (ha), there is an election coming up. I know this very sentence surfaces thoughts and feelings and maybe you are cringing at the very picture of the next few weeks. Now is as good a time as any, then, to remind ourselves what our role is as individuals participating in an ongoing, active dialogue spanning history — a dialogue that can only be productive when everyone is willing to love and listen first.
The world is full of differing and opposing dialogues. Our opinions always contrast someone else’s, and globalization through social media shoves this fact in our faces (if you read my column about social media, you may already know this, but I do not like it one bit). In a world where everyone is trained to be on guard for their political candidate or ideology, it is so easy to slip into an “Us versus Them” mindset in which we have no common ground with “Them,” and we have no interest in any sort of reconciliation with anyone remotely opposed to our views. A wall is built right in that “versus,” and we make ourselves blind to the needs of our sisters and our brothers. There is no nuance or grace or empathy. We get stuck. We get bitter. We get angry.
We need to grasp the nuance we so quickly dismiss if we want to have constructive dialogues with one another. There are levels to each of us. As much as we hate to believe this, the world is not black and white or “Us versus Them.” Just as you know your thoughts are complex, so are the thoughts and feelings of each individual you encounter. When we can accept the fact that others are thinking too, we get one step closer to good dialogue and community with them.
Being angry continually is exhausting (trust me, I have been there). Be proactive in your kindness, and peaceful joy can follow. It is okay to mute those Instagram stories or delete your Facebook for a few months. It is okay to excuse yourself from an upsetting conversation or to not share your opinions with everyone else. You are not the expert on everything and you do not have to be. Be the bigger person. Love and love and love, and when you are angry, love more.
You are allowed to disagree with others. In fact, sometimes you should. You do not have to be apolitical to be a good Christian, and voting is a civic duty and a privilege that cannot be dismissed. However, when you engage in political (or any) discourse, I encourage you to love first. Have grace. Think critically. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. It is in these rhythms of patience that we participate most beautifully in community as we are intended to.
I permit you to let go of being stuck rigidly in your opinions. You are allowed to change your mind — so are other people. You are allowed to say you were wrong. None of us are always right, and that is okay. Be merciful. Lean into empathy. We cannot hear anything if we are too busy yelling our own points.
Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS
Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER
Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS
Graphic by MAKAYLA MCDONALD
Harding falls to OBU 17-13 in first loss
“Teach us to be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.”
Those words were said during the opening prayer that kicked off one of the toughest, grittiest and quite possibly the most difficult games the Harding Bisons football team has played in years.
When the Bisons won two playoff games last season by a combined two points, it’s easy to forget the moments of desperation. A blocked extra point and an incredible drive to take the lead late can lead the mind of a fan to believe that their team is unstoppable. But Oct. 20, 2024, by the time senior quarterback Cole Keylon hurled the last pass of the game in his own moment of desperation, it was once again a reminder that the teams people root for aren’t unstoppable after all.
The Harding Bisons lost 17-13 against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers in a game that will be remembered for a long time, and not just because everyone who walked into Cliff Harris Stadium got a physical ticket. It is the night the Bisons took a bus ride back to Searcy with a record of 6-1, and began the process of being “gracious in defeat.”
With the loss, the Bisons’ NCAA-leading 25-game win streak was brought to a sudden stop. Despite the disappointing result, head coach Paul Simmons said he is extremely confident about the team’s ability to bounce back.
“For 25 straight games it was us, and tonight it wasn’t, but I promise the best practice of our season will be happening on Tuesday,” Simmons said. “We got to look back and look at things we didn’t do well and correct the mistakes, but we’ll be back stronger than ever I promise.”
Harding’s offense was 1-12 on third-down conversions and had two crucial lost fumbles, which allowed the Tigers to control the game at their own pace, even as they trailed the time of possession. Beyond a 42-yard run up the middle by Keylon on the opening offensive snap for the Bisons, Harding could only muster 176 additional rushing yards the rest of game, a stark contrast to their 461 yards they had averaged during the first six games of the year. When it mattered most, the Bisons failed to gain any momentum on their second-to-last drive that started in Tigers territory, only managing to get
Lady Bisons climb to the top
Following a stretch of one win in seven games, the Harding women’s soccer team has caught fire during the Great American Conference (GAC) regular season.
Led by head coach Greg Harris, Harding rallied to win four GAC games in a row — propelling them to first place in the conference at the time. The success has come on both sides of the ball for the Lady Bisons.
During the win streak, Harding scored 11 goals in four games. Fifth year senior forward Carmen Gunn leads the team with four goals.
Defensively, the Lady Bisons have only given up five goals in seven conference games. The recent success has not gone unnoticed by members of the conference.
On Oct. 15, the team swept the GAC women’s soccer weekly awards. Sophomore midfielder Bailey Bulliner earned offensive player of the week, while sophomore defender Calle Citty earned defender of the week.
Citty said the streak has been a “gratifying” experience for the team.
“This year, everyone has bought into the idea,” Citty said. “We realized this is a team — we have to do this together.”
Bulliner said the early season goalscoring woes was a “mental block” for the team.
“We knew as soon as we got one goal, it was going to start rolling,” Bulliner said. “Getting that one goal just set us off.”
Finally, sophomore goalkeeper Maysa Willis took home goalkeeper of the week honors. In the most recent week of awards, freshman defender Skylar Henley earned yet another defender of the week for the Lady Bisons.
Henley said the back line feels comfortable when playing games with each other.
“I think our back line is very strong,” Henley said. “At this point, we just know how each other plays. When you move, everyone else is moving with you.”
The streak was highlighted by a 2-0 victory against Ouachita Baptist University Oct. 16, the 2023 women’s GAC tournament champion. Citty said it was an awesome feeling to beat an in-state rival.
“We went into the game with a mindset,” Citty said. “If we can control this game, we can make a statement to the rest of the conference as well.”
In their most recent game, Oct. 23, Harding’s win streak came to an end as the Lady Bisons fell to Southern Nazarene University 1-0. As the season continues, Bulliner said the team does not want to get comfortable despite the recent streak.
“We have really made that a central part of our team,” Bulliner said. “As soon as you get comfortable — people start slacking off. We do not want that because other teams will take advantage of it.”
For their next conference clash, the Lady Bisons will host Oklahoma Baptist University
six yards before turning the ball over after an incomplete pass. After a tough offensive performance, Simmons stood firm on his belief in his team’s ability to be resilient, saying that it will all be done “in the right way.”
“Winning is easy, it’s when you lose, that’s when you learn who you really are, and what you’re made of,” Simmons said. “I can promise you that we will respond in the right way, we’ll handle adversity in the right way.”
Playing their most fierce competitor of the year and being on the wrong side of the result is always painful, but positives can still be strung together. Sophomore defensive back Luke Martin said this moment was a learning opportunity for himself and the rest of the team.
“It’s been a really long time since we’ve been in a real slobber-knocker like this, so having this experience and this feeling I think is going to be an advantage going into the playoffs,” Martin said. “Next week we’ll bounce back, we’re going to come in and try our hardest to win.”
Senior defensive lineman Dre Hall echoed a lot of his teammates and his head coach by saying the team will continue to have
the confidence needed to succeed the rest of the season.
“We’ve been through plenty of games like this over the years, this is nothing new,” Hall said. “We just got to make more plays, we left a few out there but we’ll make them next time.”
The road to back-to-back national championships is now tougher than it was before the weekend started. Harding will likely have to play on the road in several, if not all of their potential playoff games. For now, the Bisons will look to carry on and focus their attention on their homecoming game against Southern Arkansas University tomorrow at 3 p.m. All streaks come to an end, but the season has just begun for these Bisons. Their first practice of the week on Tuesday marked two years since their historic streak began in a win against the University of Arkansas-Monticello during the tail end of the 2022 season. The next four weeks of the regular season bring a new opportunity to show just how strong The Brotherhood of Harding truly is. Humble in victory. Gracious in defeat.
GOODDAYS STARTWITH
tomorrow at the Stephens Soccer Complex.
Photo by ELI DEAN
Senior defensive lineman Dre Hall waits for the snap during Harding’s 62-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State University Oct. 12. It was Harding’s 25th straight victory, but an Oct. 19 loss against Ouachita Baptist University ended the streak and the Bisons will be looking to rebound Homecoming weekend.
NIC FRARACCIO editor-in-chief
Fifth year senior Carmen Gunn looks to get past a Ouachita Baptist defender during their home match Oct. 16. Gunn leads the team in scoring this season.
Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
ELI DEAN sports editor
Veterans meet weekly for “Coffee Calls”
of the veterans served in combat in places such as Vietnam, like veteran Scott Sanders.
Local veterans are holding weekly “Coffee Calls” to connect and care for each other.
The group meets every Thursday morning at Chit Chat and Chew Cafe to eat breakfast and recite the pledge of Allegiance.
Veteran Paul Hill said the group has been meeting for five years.
“Our slogan for this was ‘fighting suicide,
“We’re very opinionated as veterans, but everyone accepts that we’ve got different values, different views, different things like that… that’s what military service is, you have to speak frankly and with candor, without masking anything,” Sanders said. “Because if you do, people may die.”
Many in the group have suffered from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Meeting with similar individuals and getting to know each other is a strong resource for recovery. The veterans have an environment to share their experiences and confront their history.
“There were times I talked to my wife every day, I patched through the air base to call,” Sanders said. “But there were times I
couldn’t tell her where I was going or where I would be or how long I would be. It’s hard on you.”
Wives, children and other family members are also a group who suffer during wartime, and many of them also come to Veteran Coffee Calls.
“Not only that, but they suffer when we come home,” veteran Zach Jones said. “They see us suffering with it.”
Veterans who live with PTSD were open and willing to share their stories around the table. Jones described how he was part of a security convoy in Iraq.
“I was up in a gunner turret,” Jones said. “We took a round, and it wound up being a couple of [cluster bombs] chained together. And it blew a pretty good pothole in the
street. The only thing I knew at the time was it got really really bright and really really hot, and then I realized I was flying through the air. And that’s how I got hurt.”
The whole group supports each other. Several feel called to share their experience with others. Hill expressed particular interest in connecting to the Harding community.
“There’s a movie called ‘Battlefield Home’ about just what it is when you go home,” Hill said. “And I’ve had people from Harding like Marc Fager and Shawn Fisher, and we’ve tried to get that film to come over to the college, but we haven’t really found anyone interested enough to drive that side of the train; someone’s got to make the campus [interested]. I liked it, but I didn’t get involved.”
ELLIOTT COOMBES guest writer
Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS
Students visit Van Gogh Experience
the scenes to life with moving images, surround sound, and animation.
The History and Political Science Department sponsored students and faculty to visit the Van Gogh Exhibition: Immersive Experience Oct. 18.
The exhibit, temporarily located in Little Rock, travels worldwide and offers a perspective into Van Gogh’s work.
It features copies of Van Gogh’s most treasured paintings, life-sized sets of his scenery and a 20,000 sq. foot, 2-story, 360-degree screen that transports viewers into the works.
The screens transition from a wide selection of Van Gogh paintings and sketches, bringing
Over 60 Harding students and faculty experienced the exhibit, whose tickets were paid for by assistant professor Kimberly Laing.
Dr. Liann Gallagher coordinated the trip, and said she wanted to inspire her students’ love for history.
“[The exhibit] was going on, and we thought the students would love this, so we decided to try and make it happen,” Gallagher said. “We weren’t necessarily trying to spread Van Gogh, but the goal was to inspire the love of history in students.”
Junior Camille Bewley attended the event and found it an informative and unique way to view the artwork.
“The immersive experience allowed me to see what I believe Van Gogh was hoping for: painting in such a way that the art comes to life,” Bewley said. “By digitizing his work, we can see what [was] likely [seen] in the mind of the artist as he painted famous works like ‘Starry Night or Sunflowers.’” All historical figures offer a lesson. Some lessons we do not want to have to learn for ourselves because they are painful, while others we can use to move forward and expand our knowledge. History is the formula for today, and without it, we would not be the contextualized humanity that we are.”
Junior Arden Cravy found that the study of art goes beyond the mind and into the heart. Art means various things to each
individual, and for Cravy, it becomes an emotional experience.
“‘Irises” was my favorite of Van Gogh’s works,” Cravy said. “They make me think about my mom, childhood and home. We have irises in our backyard, and viewing them in Van Gogh’s artwork brings back an emotional connotation for me.”
The department wanted to inspire students to appreciate and connect with history on a deeper level, visually, intellectually and emotionally.
“We weren’t necessarily trying to spread the love of Van Gogh, but he’s an important historical figure,” Gallagher said. “He’s important in art and history, so it kind of fit the bill.”
The Table hosts cooking class for undergraduate students
reporter
In their most recent effort to build and serve the Harding community, the Table held a cooking class Oct.16. Students and faculty could reserve one of 25 spots to learn how to prepare cheap, quick and nourishing food. The Table event coordinator, sophomore William Tomlinson, said he continues his passion for service.
“Generally, my goal in life is to serve the needs of others around me just in whatever capacity that looks like,” Tomlinson said. “Jesus walked this earth to serve others, and I strive to do the same in all I do.”
The cooking class takes advantage of Harding’s “free grocery store,” providing fresh, free produce daily for their events. In addition to her work as the assistant provost for Curricular and Community Engagement, Dr. Andrea Morris, a sponsor for the Table, picks up these groceries. One can often see her wheeling these vital supplies in a buggy across campus with a smile on her face. Morris believes events like this class are not
just necessary for serving individuals, but for building a stronger community as a whole.
“The Bible tells us that we are the body, that if one of us is hurting we are all hurting,” Morris said. “Resilience in a community is
built by healthy use of the resources available, and that starts with the individual. The most common denominator in the resilience of a community is the individual person, and then household, and then it goes up from there.”
The ultimate goal of The Table is to eliminate food insecurity in the Harding community, which is why they offer free resources like produce and recipes. But these tools aren’t enough unless someone knows how to use them, which is where Morris believes the cooking class comes in.
“One of the most important tools in the fight against food insecurity is making your dollar stretch,” Morris said. “The things that we provide at the Table are things that are nutritious and healthy, but also cheap and will fill the belly. So the next thing you ask yourself is, ‘Well, how do I cook with rice and beans and these staples?’ That’s what we want to demonstrate how to do.”
Freshman Jaden Bowie, signed up to exercise his cooking skills that have gone unused since moving into a dorm. “It brought into my mind how you can make good and healthy food on a smaller budget,” Bowie said.
The Table is offering another cooking class Nov. 13.
Harding students view the artwork at Van Gogh Experience Oct. 18. The traveling exhibit stopped in Little Rock where over 60 Harding students and faculty
enjoyed the display on a sponsored trip by Harding’s History and Political Science Department.
EVELYN FILLEMAN guest writer
JACKSON TRAHANT beat
Photo provided by Evelyn Filleman
Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
Searcy local and community health advocate Katie Cullum and Harding freshman Jaden Bowie teach students cooking skills Oct. 16. The Table plans to host more of these events which are open to all in the Harding community.
Reflecting on the legacy of J.N. Armstrong
Following its centennial year, Harding students, faculty and staff continue to follow the ideals, life and legacy of J.N. Armstrong, the University’s first president.
As Arkansas Christian College and Harper College merged into one, a new era was set to begin. Named after James A. Harding, the college started its journey with Armstrong at the helm.
Armstrong, also known as Nelse, knew he was taking on many responsibilities in the coming years. With his wife Woodson, Harding’s daughter, by his side, Armstrong knew God would lead them and his peers
Editor and designer for the Harding Centennial book Tom Buterbaugh said Armstrong’s servant leadership lives in the Harding community today.
“He just had an incredible work ethic,” Buterbaugh said. “His full life was spent working and giving what he had to help others. He wanted to make sure that the college would succeed.”
Though Armstrong provided the recipe for spiritual growth in students, he never flourished in raising funds for the college. These issues continued until he ended his tenure in 1936, when he passed the torch to George S. Benson.
“Armstrong had the vision and knew Dr. Benson and his leadership abilities,”
Armstrong’s legacy and ultimately created one of the most historic scenes in Harding’s illustrious history.
Three years after Benson’s appointment, he managed to raise over $68,000 to repay a mortgage loan.
The accomplishment called for a celebration on the front lawn during Lectureship. On Thanksgiving Day 1939, Benson and his wife, Sallie, invited Armstrong and Woodson Armstrong to handle the official mortgage documents.
A large crowd gathered to see Armstrong throw the set of papers into a burning fire. Many do not realize that three Harding presidents were present for the occasion.
Harding’s third president Clifton L. Ganus witnessed the event as a student. Ganus and his younger sister watched on as Armstrong burned the financial struggles to the ground.
Armstrong and his good friend Benson were unaware their initiatives would lead Harding to a century of spiritual success.
“I actually think if either [Armstrong] or Dr. Benson walked on campus today, they would be in shock,” Buterbaugh said. “They would have no concept that Harding could Armstrong’s legacy lives on in the campus and the people who occupy it today.
spiritual ideals or the dorm named in his honor, Armstong left a lasting impact on the community.
Wood said students should strive to learn about those who built up the University.
“History is important, especially knowing whose shoulders we stand on,” Wood said. “Armstrong provided the spiritual heart for this University. Benson comes along after and we would not be here today without him as well.”
Wood also said Armstrong’s life should be remembered by those to come in Harding’s next set of centennial students.
“Knowing all of that gives you a richer understanding of why it’s important for Harding to be around for another 100 years,” Wood said. “Yes, we are here to provide a quality education, but Harding’s message is so much deeper than that. You cannot fully appreciate it if you don’t understand the sacrifices and hardships and perseverance of all those people who came before us like Armstrong.”
Armstrong passed away in 1944, but his servant’s heart will inspire future generations at Harding University.
NIC FRARACCIO editor-in-chief
J.N. Armstrong, alongside his wife Woodson and former president of Harding George S. Benson and his wife Sally Benson, burn the University’s payed-off mortage documents Nov. 23, 1939. Armstrong was the first president of the University, and his tenure ended in 1936.
Photo provided by Harding Archives
J.N. Armstrong poses for photos taken throughout his life. Armstrong was born 1870 and died in 1944 at the age of 77, after serving as Harding’s president for 12 years.
Photos provided by Harding Archives
Dec. 1, 1925 was the day that the first issue of the Bison was printed. The work was then called The Petit Jean Collegian. Included is a photo of sites from the original Morrilton campus as part of an article promoting being engaged in your university.
Published Dec. 1, 1925
Published May 25, 1934
In 1934, Harding University moved from Morrilton, Arkansas to Searcy. The Administration Building photographed was one of fourteen included in the original campus that is now Harding University.
J. N. Armstrong resigned as president of Harding University in 1936. He was suceeded by
Published May 5, 1936
Published Oct. 26, 1955
Published Feb. 14, 1975
Far before desegregation at Harding in 1963, this opinion was the first article at Harding speaking about racial discrimination at the school. The Bison is still a way for freedom of speech to thrive on campus.
This graphic was part of a financial advice section featured in several issues throughout the 1970s. These sections were some of the earliest to use color printing.
George Benson.