Harding alumnus, UFC fighter in hot water after pro-Hitler comments
public school education indoctrination,” Mitchell said. “I really do think before Hitler got on meth, he was a guy I’d go fishing with.”
Harding alumnus and current Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter Bryce Mitchell has faced backlash for alleged proHitler comments made on his podcast Jan. 30. Mitchell, who goes by the UFC name Thug Nasty, has since apologized for the comments that drew criticism from many, including UFC president Dana White. Mitchell’s podcast, ArkanSanity, is co-hosted by Roli Delgado. The episode containing the controversial comments was the first iteration of the podcast. The conversation began by discussing the alleged Nazi salute made by Elon Musk at an inauguration event on Jan. 20.
This prompted Mitchell to discuss his opinions on Hitler.
“I honestly think that Hitler was a good guy, based upon my own research, not my
Mitchell also seemed to support the actions taken by Hitler during his time leading Germany. Specifically, he defended what he deemed actions to purify Germany.
“He fought for his country,” Mitchell said.
“He wanted to purify it by kicking the greedy Jews out, that were destroying his country and turning them all into gays.”
When Delgado attempted to push back on the conversation by reminding Mitchell of the six million Jewish people murdered in concentration camps under the Nazi regime, Mitchell claimed that the Holocaust was not real.
“That’s what your public education will tell you Roli, because you believe your public education, because you haven’t done your own
research,” Mitchell said. “When you realize there’s no possible way they could’ve burned and cremated six million bodies, you’re gonna realize the Holocaust ain’t real.”
White told reporters he was “beyond disgusted” by Mitchell’s comments.
“Hitler is one of the most disgusting and evil human beings to ever walk the Earth, and anyone that even tries to take an opposing position is a moron,” White said. “That’s the problem with the internet and social media, you provide a platform to a lot of dumb and ignorant people.”
White said Mitchell will not face disciplinary action from the UFC and cited freedom of speech beliefs as the reasoning for the decision.
Mitchell apologized via an Instagram post on Feb. 1. The statement was accompanied by a photograph of him shirtless and wrapped in an American flag.
“I’m sorry I sounded insensitive,” Mitchell said in his post. “I definitely was not trying to offend anybody, but I know I did.”
Mitchell then refuted his previous statement about the existence of the Holocaust.
“Hitler did a lot of evil things, I think we can all agree on that,” Mitchell said. “I’m definitely not a [N]azi, and definitely do not condone any of the evil things Hitler did.” Mitchell holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Harding.
Junior Jackson Richardson has been a fan of Mitchell and followed his UFC career.
“My perception of him has kind of changed,” Richardson said. “Not so much as how good of a fighter he is, but his ability to express his opinion. I don’t think he’s very smart.”
Impending federal freeze affects Harding students, programs
On Jan. 27, 2025, the Trump Administration issued an executive order to freeze all federal loans and grants. The order directed several agencies to review their federally funded assistance programs. The Trump Administration sought to target financial assistance related to initiatives such as foreign aid; nongovernmental organizations; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives; and gender-affirming services.
By the morning of Jan. 28, multiple programs reported difficulties accessing federally funded grants. Later that day, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. temporarily halted the order to freeze federal loans and grants, and as of now, federal funding continues to be accessible to many loan and grant recipients.
The executive order raised concerns for many within the Harding community, particularly among students who rely on access to federal student aid programs in order to pursue higher education. Senior associate director of Financial Aid Services Jay Simpson provided the following information via email concerning the executive order’s effect on federal student aid:
“When the president signed the executive order freezing grant and loan aid, it was unclear if this applied to student aid or not,” Simpson said. “Later we received word from the Department of Education that this freeze did not, in fact, apply to federal student aid programs such as Pell Grant and student loans.”
office’s Facebook page on Jan. 28. to inform students about the status of federal aid.
Concern and confusion surrounding the temporary freeze also affected programs such as the McNair Scholars Program. Upon receiving the news of the potential pause,
“Prior to its rescission, the temporary pause was exclusively limited to programs, projects, and activities that are implicated by the following Executive Orders,” Hill said.
Hill cited initiatives such as “Reevaluating and Realigning United States
potential freeze on federal loans and grants. Arnold, who was in the midst of conducting research funded by a federal grant, received word from her grant coordinators that there were concerns about being able to continue accessing funds for their project.
In response to this information, Harding’s Financial Aid Services promptly updated the
Representative French Hill responded to Meredith Feb. 3 and included the following information in his email response:
and
Senior Chelsei
“We had an emergency meeting the next day,” Arnold said. “We were in the data collection phase, and we were afraid that we would not be able to access funds and continue our work.”
To Arnold’s relief, the federal judge’s ruling on Jan. 28 temporarily blocking the executive order allowed her team to continue accessing funds for their research.
“Our data collection includes compensation for people who participate,” said Arnold. “Without federal funding, we cannot continue our work.” Several recipients of federal loans and grants have expressed anxiety over the broader implications of the executive order. The possibility of a freeze on federal funding and the withdrawal of these resources has heightened fears about the stability of programs that rely on this support.
“Government grants and loans are given to those who need it,” Arnold said. “Without federal funding, the margins will just continue to grow. What I think we need right now is compassion and empathy.”
Wasteful Government DEI Programs
Preferencing.”
MAGGIE SAMPLES editor-in-chief
JIANA MANGLICMOT features & lifestyle
Bryce Mitchell poses in a headshot provided to Bison staff in 2019. Mitchell is a professional UFC fighter and graduated from Harding in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in economics.
Photo from Harding Bison April 26, 2019, Vol. 94, No. 20, originally provided by Bryce Mitchell
HST breaks ground for library
The Harding School of Theology (HST) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony last week to begin construction on the HST library on campus.
The ceremony was Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. Dean Peter Rice, retired HST librarian Don Meredith, Board of Trustees representative Charles Ganus, President Mike Williams and HST student Tyler Burdette gave remarks. In his remarks, Williams said the 18,000-square-foot library is estimated to be completed in March 2026.
HST coordinated and executed most of the ceremony. Assistant Vice President for University Communication and Marketing (UCM) Jack Shock said UCM helped manage the media and information about the event, but HST took the lead for the groundbreaking.
“HST has joined our campus, and so in this first sort of move into the public consciousness where we’re blended together… [HST] has been calling all the shots, and we are helping,” Shock said. “We’ve done a lot of work with constituencies, alumni… current students, just trying to give them the story that the move is successful, we recognize the importance of the collection, we are building a suitable home for it.”
The HST library is known as the crown jewel of theological libraries in churches of Christ in the mid-South. Harding undergraduate students and faculty have remote access to the HST library but will benefit from having in-person access. Associate professor and codirector of theological studies Mac Sandlin said his students regularly request books from the Memphis library for a seminar class, so he is excited for them to easily access those books on campus.
“[Dr. Rice’s] constant push was students need to be able to walk the stacks,” Sandlin said. “And the fact that we’ll be able to do that rather than having the books just away in a warehouse or something is going to be monumental.”
Assistant professor Kevin Burr and Sandlin, both HST alumni, said walking the stacks and looking for research is a key experience for HST students.
“My master’s thesis in its entirety happened because I happened to see a book with a title that caught my eye while I was walking the stacks,” Sandlin said. “I was like, ‘[Why] is there a book about Captain America in the Memphis theological library?’ and it turned out it was about the way that America thinks about redemption and its relationship to violence… I wrote my whole master’s thesis on it.”
Burr said that several programs outside of theological studies and the College of
Bible and Ministry on Harding’s campus benefit from the addition of the HST library, including the English Department, Honors College and History Department. Burr said Dr. Larry Hunt teaches a class on C.S. Lewis’ literature, and the HST library has resources to study his works.
“Our church history holdings are really strong, particularly things related to the American restoration movement and development of churches of Christ… all of that is deeply rooted in American religious history, which our colleagues across campus in the Holland-Waller would appreciate,” Burr said. “The kinds of stuff that we were doing with a cross-section of scholars… in the Honors College, they’re going to be able to find things like that in the HST library that will continue to benefit their work.”
Students attend seventh annual IMCO exposition
Children’s Hospital, Cintas, Tennessee Titans, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Apptegy, CJRW, Stone & Ward, SWA, Johnson & Johnson, and Think Idea Studios.
The 7th Annual IMCO Exposition, held last Wednesday, February 5th, brought together more than 25 local organizations and over 100 students from the IMC department for an afternoon of networking and professional development. Launched in 2017 by Lori Sloan, with the support from Brian Harrington at the CPE, the event was created to foster collaboration between departments and programs, giving students the chance to connect with potential employers.
“This event was designed to build confidence and help students engage with organizations in a professional setting as they look for internships and job opportunities,” Sloan said. “Our goal is to create an environment where students can build soft skills that will carry them into their careers”.
The Expo has grown exponentially since its beginning, when just 15 companies and around 75 students attended at its start. With having nearly doubled in those numbers, some of the notable organizations that attended this past event included FedEx, Memphis Grizzlies, Dale Carnegie, YellaWood, AR
Each year, students walk away with valuable connections and a broader understanding of their career possibilities. The goal of this yearly event is for students to capitalize their opportunities pertaining to thinking towards their future and “Trust that God will guide them on the right path”, Sloan said. “Soft skills build strong bridges.” This is an encouraging message that resonates with both students and employers.
Senior Adele Duncan said she enjoyed the expo, especially talking to Harding alumni.
“The alumni that were there were fun to talk to, and they gave good insight on how to go from post grad transition to the real world,” Duncan said. “Hannah Hood talked, from Walmart, and she gave us great advice.”
Duncan said that the expo had many attendees, requiring students to wait in lines to talk to organizations.
“You had to wait in lines, which honestly was a good thing, so you had time to think about and prep,” Duncan said.
Duncan appreciated the diversity of age displayed in the organization representations.
“There are people of younger ages that were
“There are people of younger ages that were right out of college, that had just gotten the job and there are people that had been in the workforce for, like, 30 years,” Duncan said.
This was the third time attending the expo for senior Cailynn Clayton and she said it always leads to new connections.
“It’s been a great opportunity to build my networking skills, while exploring what career paths I’ll enjoy most after graduation,” Clayton said.
ABBI CROCKER guest writer
From left to right, Board of Trustees member Charles Ganus, President Mike Williams, Board of Trustees member Dr. Harold Redd and retired HST librarian
Don Meredith pose for a photo at the groundbreaking ceremony. The new building will house the HST library previously at the Memphis campus.
KENZIE JAMES news editor
Photograph by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
Photograph by EDGAR CARDIEL
A representative from DePuy Synthes speaks with two Harding students at the IMCO Exposition in Cone Chapel on Feb. 5.
ELLIE HILL guest writer
TheLink.Harding.edu 3A OPINIONS
State of the BSA
BSA President Zalen Robinson
The Harding University Black Student Association made great progress this year. Our vision statement, “Begin with the end in mind,” was evident in every decision we made. We have reached many of the goals we set out to achieve last year, and have begun developing plans for next semester. The effort put into developing our organization garnered us much success.
Some of our highlights from last semester include dining at the Sankofa Gala, multiple tailgates, networking at the C12 Christian business conference, hostile sessions of UNO, meeting with alumni at Homecoming, participating in the funeral of Thelma Mothershed of the Little Rock Nine, fellowshipping with McCrory Church of Christ, placing a letter in the school time capsule and having Sheriff Higgins from the hit Netflix series ‘Unlocked’ come on campus to share his life story. What a year to have been here!
Another year around the Sun
In addition to our organizational success, I would like to give an update on some personal success stories that have developed since our last address. Chelsei Arnold, who completed her McNair Scholars research internship over the summer, has now begun to pursue her doctorate of psychology and is now working under the esteemed Dr. James Huff (a former Harding faculty member) and Dr. Usen Akpanudo. Dakarai (Dak) Bush, who won the NCAA Championship in the 400-meters and holds the school record, has begun his professional career in track and field. In addition to this, we had four members graduate.
Opening up this semester, we watched the movie “Boycott” to commemorate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Day. (You should definitely watch this if you haven’t already.) In the coming weeks, there will be a multitude of activities. We plan to prepare Valentine’s Day cards for
those at Harding Place, take a trip to the Mosaic Templars cultural center, have more “Late Nite” chapels and participate in other campus activities. Students should look out for two events in the coming weeks: the Gospel Explosion on March 1 from 4-8 p.m. in the Admin Auditorium, and Afro Jam, a culture expo, on March 18.
During my time as president of the BSA I have had some wild and unforgettable moments, yet the moments I have cherished most were much more simple. I enjoyed sitting down for breakfast with our group and laughing, crying or just being dog-tired together. Together. To-gether. To-ge-ther. As I transition into my next step of life, I truly hope that my constituents uphold these values within our organization.
Guest Writer Jeremiah Sullins
“I’m not good at math, so I apologize if I probably just messed up your study.”
The previous quote reflects a type of thinking that suggests there is something inherently wrong with this individual. The word for this type of thinking is “shame.” For the last eight years, gaining a better understanding of this distressing emotion has been the focus of research in my lab (i.e., the Center for Cognitive Studies).
The Bible presents shame as an emotion tied to sin and disobedience, as seen in passages like Genesis 3:7, where Adam and Eve felt shame after disobeying God. However, not until Darwin (1872), Thompkins (1962), and Lewis (1971) did you start to see shame examined through scientific research. Studies conducted over the last eight years in my lab have shown that shame rarely has any beneficial effects. For example, having a disposition to
A research overview: On shame
shame can lead to significantly less learning, increase negative emotions when recalling past experiences, and is reflected in the words we use in everyday language. To make matters worse, I have also discovered in recent studies that the same individuals likely to experience shame are also the ones more likely to be perfectionists and subsequently experience imposter phenomenon (i.e., feeling like a fraud). In other words, shame, perfectionism and imposter phenomenon are interrelated psychological constructs that often reinforce each other.
Overall, I believe that perfectionists are setting unrealistic expectations for themselves, and when they fail to meet their goals, they experience shame, which in turn triggers feelings of being a fraud. Now for the good news. Although a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t exist as a “cure” for shame, I have
found that certain strategies do work for some people. For example, simply an understanding of what shame is and what causes it to occur is enough to work for some people. Additionally, negating shameful thoughts with thoughts of previous successes works for others.
The goal in my lab is not the complete elimination of shame. I believe that shame is a universal emotion like happiness or anger, and therefore, my goal is to help people recognize and move through shame constructively. Finally, let’s not forget that Scripture also addresses some good news regarding moving through shame. It assures us that those who trust in God’s forgiveness won’t remain in shame. Romans 10:11, Psalm 34:5 and Isaiah 54:4 highlight that believers are free from shame and guilt through redemption in Christ. Ultimately, the Bible shows that shame is overcome by God’s grace.
Lose-lose
A few weeks ago, I watched three boys in my Christian Business Ethics class make fun of a Bison opinion they seemed to disagree with. I must admit that it made me angry. (There is an irony that this was happening before a Christian Business Ethics class, but I need not go there.) If you disagree with an opinion in The Bison, then why have you not written your own opinion for The Bison? To write is an act of courage.
I struggled to decide if I should say something to them — people are allowed to disagree, of course, but something about the careless judgment of their remarks frustrated me.
I deliberated, and I sank. No matter what I do, I lose. If I speak up, I am emotional or dramatic or sensitive; I fit the mold of a stereotypical angry woman. If I do not speak up, their derogatory actions are reinforced or at least accepted. It is a trap.
There is a line from Jean Valjean in the “Les Miserables” musical:
If I speak, I am condemned If I stay silent, I am damned
Situations like this one are not quite so dire as Jean Valjean’s, but the sentiment still stands:
I can lose, or I can lose.
There is a funny paradox here. To call out injustice is to forgo a positive image — I have seen the most moderate, balanced women be dismissed as “angry feminists” for engaging in critical thought. To not call out injustice is to do a disservice to those around us who are hurting.
My very writing about this matter is a lose-lose. People may assume I am overstating things or overreacting. Though it is not ideal, it is worth it to me.
A Nike Super Bowl ad addressed this same thing. It featured some of the most athletic women of our time — women who have been told that they cannot, so they do anyway.
I will always seek to prove that women, like men, are incredibly complex human beings. Women are not delicate emotional rollercoasters. Women have moments of intense emotion — so do men. Women are thoughtful. They are wise. They are empathetic. They can be rude or mean or kind or loving. I like to picture a world in which we listen to others without dismissing them — it is a different world than this one. We listen without political assumptions or gender stereotypes. We listen because the words of every human being are perceived as valuable. Women are no longer the butt of a joke about emotion or drama but instead are respected as valuable contributors to the ongoing discourse of the human race.
When you disagree with an opinion in The Bison, instead of debasing it, write your own opinion. Your input is valuable, too, and I welcome constructive, thoughtful, ethical dialogue.
HELEN STRICKLAND is the opinions editor for The Bison. She may be contacted at hstrickland@harding.edu.
Katherine
Abigail
Fatula
Aja Griffin
Julia Jenkins
Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER
Jeremiah Sullins
Zalen Robinson
Graphic by MATTHEW KIPTOO
With Love, Zalen Robinson
Gold in the Sand
Editor-in-chief Maggie Samples
Girls’ night!
One thing about me, I love a girls’ night. It’s genuinely one of my greatest pleasures in life to gather my closest friends in my living room, put Cocaine Bear on the TV and then completely ignore it for the pleasure of a yap and a gab.
Girls’ night generally occurs on a Monday night, after social club meetings, but who am I to box in the female spirit? Girls’ night is a state of being, rather than a set of rules defining a space and time. Girls’ night can be on a Thursday afternoon. Girls’ night
can become a girl breakfast at 7 a.m. on a Friday at Wild Sweet William’s. All that is required for girls’ night to exist is that there is a gathering of the girls and a good gab. Even the “girls” is a fluid concept. Every girls’ night hosted at my small apartment this year has had a slightly different grouping of people and even can change on the hourly, as a few people leave early and some show up late. The girls can be just me and my roommate, locked in for the night, accompanied by our cats (for transparency’s sake I must confess that one of them is a boy), watching “Love Island” way too late into the night. I have
invited people I have known for less than an hour to girls’ night before.
So what is required for this elusive place, this state of being?
First and foremost, is love. Love has to be the foundation of community, and girl’s night is no exception. An assumption for girls’ night is that everyone loves, supports and wants the best for every other girl present. The first step to listening carefully and laughing genuinely is to love fully.
Another requirement for a successful girls’ night is a capacity to read the room. Some nights are boisterous, full of loud laughter and overlapping conversation; for those I would like to apologize to my neighbors. Other nights are composed of tears, words of advice and comforting hugs. Some nights
are brimming with words, others are nearly silent. Some are simply study sessions. Most girls’ nights contain multitudes and the ability to shift between tones and emotions as per the needs of the group, is imperative for building a strong community.
The final requirement is elusive, nearly indescribable, some may say it is the same as love, but I recognize a difference. It is sisterhood. It is girlhood. It is womanhood. It is that moment when you look around a room full of women you love and just have to smile, because you have built this space of love, care and laughter. It’s when you can say, we were girls together.
Ask any student their complaints about rules at Harding University, and they’ll have a list of rules ready. No boys in girls’ dorms and vice versa, chapel at 9 a.m., curfew at midnight, etc. But despite all of these things that seem to encroach upon student freedoms, the parts of Harding that I have found the most oppressive are not written in the handbook, but passed around by the students.
The easiest example I can think of is the dating culture. Harding is the school equivalent of The Love Boat, and students are expected to find their match, date them for a year or so, and be engaged and married to them within their four-year experience. While this has worked out for many students, to many it creates an expectation that cannot be met, and I have seen many a senior graduate without a “ring by spring” left feeling like they did something wrong. When in reality, there’s nothing wrong with that at all. The average
The Harding Expectation
age of marriage in the U.S. is 30 years old; there is no reason a Harding student should feel upset for not finding their partner at 22. Another unreasonable Harding expectation is the idea of graduating within four years.
I have seen students shamed for taking an extra semester at Harding because we expect every student to graduate within a traditional four-year period. Here’s a reality check: 59% of students in the U.S. take six years to graduate, while 19% finish in four
years. Every member of my family except for myself took more than four years to complete their college education outside of Harding, and none of them felt guilt or shame. And yes, this is being written from a member of a club notorious for its super seniors, and yes, we should not all take 10 years to complete our schooling, but I genuinely believe that Harding students lack an amount of grace toward other students with more time intensive majors or struggles with learning. In short, there is not much we students can do about Harding’s policies, but we can do something about the way we treat each other and the expectations we set for each other. Things like dating, education and many others that I don’t have time to mention are complicated, multifaceted, beautiful things that a Harding bubble cannot capture. So we should have grace with students, relationships and our school.
If I could talk to the animals
For years I have tried to convince students that the study of literature makes us more empathetic. As we encounter real or fictional characters in stories, we make an imaginative leap to consider things from their point of view. We wonder what we might have done in their shoes and venture a little deeper into a world beyond our own.
In a sense, we get to practice empathy in a trial setting so that we can approach real people with heightened awareness. If we stretch ourselves to understand Madame Bovary’s motivations, we exercise the muscles we’ll use when our in-the-flesh friends need compassion.
But is it possible to carry empathy too far?
Scientists in Denmark are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to decode the language of pigs. All those grunts and squeals and oinks, so they tell us, mean something. And we’ve got to crack the code if we want any chance of getting in touch with Wilbur’s feelings. Photos available online show researchers standing around a farm in Copenhagen with boom mikes, listening in on the latest chatter from the pig pen. All of this is fed into an AI algorithm that classifies emotions.
According to a story from Reuters, “The algorithm demonstrated that pigs kept in outdoor, free-range or organic farms with the ability
to roam and dig in the dirt produced fewer stress calls than conventionally raised pigs.”
The scientists don’t say whether the algorithm can detect the stress calls of college teachers trapped under a stack of comparison-and-contrast essays. But still, the work continues.
OK. I know what I’m supposed to think about this: Isn’t it wonderful that science has advanced to the point where we can finally give our porcine friends the emotional support they deserve? Instead of privileging the human species as we’ve done for centuries, it’s about time we shared the planet more equitably with these animals, validating their needs. Now we can truly see them for the first time.
Here’s what I really think: Hogwash.
If my scientific friends are free to mock English departments for our lunacy in offering courses in Superhero Comics and Lady Gaga, then surely we can have a chortle when Dr. Doolittle seeks federal grant money to parlay with the pigs.
The “Onion” headlines write themselves: “Scientists get to the bottom of Miss Piggy’s anger issues.” “The Three Little Pigs dish on the Big Bad Wolf.” “Porky’s toxic positivity.”
“In sync with Peppa at last.”
We’ll have to revise o ur nursery rhymes. “This little piggy went to market.
This little piggy stayed home. This little piggy opened up emotionally about being left at school twice when he was seven.” It is difficult to forget that pigs on the farm are not pets. They are being raised so people can have a BLT or pork tenderloin with hollandaise sauce. One would think their feelings would largely trend in one direction: “Am I next?”
Reuters is fully aware of this fate and sees the new algorithm as helpful to shoppers: “The researchers believe that this method, once fully developed, could also be used to label farms, helping consumers make informed choices.” I imagine woke diners sending back a grilled pork chop, demanding to see how the pig scored on the BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory.
I’m reminded of an episode of the TV series “Portlandia.” Warning: if you are from Portland, you may want to skip the next few paragraphs.
In this episode, a pair of diners goes to a restaurant that prides itself on organic, farmto-table, free-range, fair-trade, pesticide-free dishes. When the customers order a chicken sandwich, they ask to see a biography of the bird. At which point the waitress brings a laminated rap sheet eulogizing the brave chap. His name is Colin, and she assures them he’s been raised locally on soy milk and hazelnuts.
To soothe their conscience, these justice warriors excuse themselves to go check out the farm where Colin was allegedly raised, just to be sure it’s legitimate, and not some capitalist poser. “It tears at the core of my being,” the woman says, “the idea of someone just cashing in on a trend like organic.”
The waitress does her best to respond to the barrage of guilt-induced questions. If only the restaurant had been in Copenhagen, she could have provided a transcript of Colin’s emotional health in his own words.
Trust me, I’m all for empathy. But you have to draw the line somewhere. I’ve got dozens of students trying to recover from the flu. I don’t have the headspace to ask Piglet whether or not the Hundred Acre Wood makes him claustrophobic. I guess I just don’t have room on my plate for a pig.
Narrative Columnist Michael Claxton
Illustration by KIT MOORE
Graphic by ANNA CLAIRE CURTIS
Layout Editor Ben Evans
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Graphics by BEN EVANS
Luka Doncic Trade
In an NBA trade deadline move that shocked the basketball community, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired five-time NBA All-Pro Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks in a three-team trade that included the Utah Jazz. In the trade, the Lakers also received Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris. Dallas did not walk away empty-handed, as they received 10-time NBA AllStar Anthony Davis, along with Max Christie and a 2029 first-round draft pick. The Jazz received Jalen HoodSchifino, the LA Clippers’ 2025 second-round draft pick, as well as the Mavericks’ 2025 second-round selection.
A focus on defense is what Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison told reporters.
“I believe that getting an AllDefensive center and an All-NBA player with a defensive mindset gives us a better chance,” Harrison said. “We’re built to win now and in the future.”
The response falls on deaf ears in Dallas, as fans hate to see their 25-year-old superstar, who led them to a finals appearance last season, leave in what the world can only assume is the front end of a Hall of Fame career. In Dallas, fans expressed their displeasure with a protest outside the American Airlines Center before the first home game following the trade. Concerns about Dončić’s conditioning and “defensive mindset,” as well as his relationship with the team’s strength and conditioning staff, played a role in the decision. News of the Mavericks firing several staff members in late 2024 was reportedly aimed at Dončić in a move to force him to change his conditioning habits.
The trade marked the first time two reigning All-NBA players were traded for each other midseason. Many figured Dončić to be untouchable and a trade involving him to be unfathomable. After averaging 33.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 9.8 assists per game in 2023-24, it was obvious that Dončić was preparing for another stellar season once he returned from a calf strain injury that has benched him since December.
Davis showed he was tired of the media treating him like he wasn’t a game-changing asset, contributing 26 points, 16 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in a victory over the Houston Rockets. Davis is not to be undermined as just the other player in the “Luka Dončić trade.”
What does this mean for LeBron James’ legacy? As the retirement of one of the game’s greatest players grows ever closer, questions arise regarding what James’ role will be with such a prolific superstar in the mix in Los Angeles. A driving question in James’ greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.) debate is whether a championship with Dončić in the leading role helps or hinders James’ legacy.
Softball dazzles in opening set of road games
NIC FRARACCIO guest writer
The Lady Bisons kicked off their season two weeks ago with five straight wins at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Lafayette, Louisiana. Harding produced a historic weekend in the Bayou State, which included two ranked wins against No. 7 Augustana College and No. 12 Mississippi College.
The Lady Bisons also picked up victories against the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Miles College and Texas A&M University-Kingsville.
The 2-1 victory against No. 7 Augustana College was Harding’s first victory against a top-10 opponent since 2023. Senior outfielder Macy Ham walked off the Vikings with her RBI double in the 8th inning.
Ham said she was seeing the ball well going into the at-bat.
“The pitcher was really good, but I was able to burn the centerfielder,” Ham said. “That is probably the furthest ball I have ever hit — it felt great.”
Senior infielder Emma Curry, who kickstarted the weekend with a grand slam against the University of Alabama in Huntsville, said the team has shown “devotion to get better.”
“Everyone has fully bought in so far this season,” Curry said. “It is humbling to see — it makes me feel better as a player knowing we have the same goal.”
In the circle, the Harding pitching staff controlled the pace of the games. Senior Riley Price, redshirt freshman Brooklyn Gobble and freshman Avery Booker combined for a .90 ERA. Furthermore, Booker produced a no-hitter in a 20-0 victory over Miles College. It was the fifth no-hitter in program history.
Junior infielder Zoey Neal said the pitchers have settled several games for the Lady Bisons.
“I think all of our pitching staff can go in at any time and shut the game down,” Neal said.
Last weekend, the Lady Bisons entered tournament action yet again — this time in Bentonville, Arkansas, at the Alvy Early/ UAM Softball Classic.
Harding won four of its five matchups to improve to 9-1 on the season. The victories came against Newman University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Central Missouri and Upper Iowa University.
During another successful weekend, the Lady Bisons found themselves in the history books.
The team broke a school record for hits in a single game during their 18-1 victory against the University of Missouri-St. Louis. The 20-hit performance was fueled by a pinch-hit grand slam in the second inning by freshman utility player Emaline Pearson.
Neal also tacked on two hits, including a three-run home run in the fourth inning. Neal said any player can make an impact for the Lady Bisons.
“All of us were good offensively,” Neal said. “Anyone can come in and hit for us.”
The hot start has boosted the confidence of the players and coaches for the Harding softball team. Ham said the beginning of the season has been a “confirmation” of the teams’ talents.
“This is the best team I have ever been on,” Ham said. “Everything has just felt very under control.”
The Lady Bisons will continue their season today at the NCAA Division II Battle in Branson, Missouri, against Maryville University and McKendree University.
Men’s tennis team has strong start to season
KELLY MAHAWANNIARACHCHI head copy editor
Harding’s men’s tennis started their season off strong with a victory over 23rd-ranked Drury 5-2 on Feb. 7 at the Cooper Tennis Center in Springfield, Missouri. They also achieved a 5-0 win over Southwest Baptist University on the same day.
Head coach David Redding said the wins are historic for the team.
“Our opening weekend in Springfield, Missouri, against perennial national powers Drury and Southwest Baptist University proved historic for our program,” Redding said. “To knock off both teams on their home courts, defeating Drury 5-2 and SBU 5-0, should increase our confidence as we move forward playing other nationally ranked opponents, but keep us hungry for improvement to reach our team goals.”
Sophomore Florian Gayme was pleased with the way he competed. He secured doubles wins at Drury and Southwest Baptist with his partner, Cian Mikkelsen.
Gayme said the win meant a lot to both him and the team. He also said he was pleased with the way the team has bonded over the past few months.
“The season started well for the boy’s team,” Gayme said. “We won our first two games. I was pleasantly surprised by the
energy brought by the team, our new players integrated very well and it was immediately felt in these games.”
Sophomore Caleb Folse also performed well in both matches. While he won his doubles match at Southwest Baptist with his partner Edoardo D’Arrigo, his singles match went unfinished as the team clinched the match before Folse could complete his match. He finished the singles match with a 5-2 lead.
Folse said the two wins give the team motivation and are an indication of the hard work they have put in during practice.
“We beat two really good teams on the road to start the season, and all the guys seem to be playing really well right now,” Folse said. “I think it gives the entire team some excitement and motivation going into the upcoming matches this weekend.”
Harding students react to Super Bowl LIX
ELI DEAN sports editor
The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Kansas Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX in the most-watched Super Bowl of all time. Among the 126 million people across the world who watched the game, Harding students spent time with friends and family taking in the annual event that only seems to get bigger every year. Junior and big Eagles fan Melody Stanley watched the game with her friends and said that being with friends when the Eagles began to pull away with the game was a special moment for her.
“I debated whether to watch it alone or with my friends as I knew that if we had lost it would’ve been super sad,” Stanley said. “But I had the hope that we could win, and I would get to celebrate with all of my friends, which made it worth it to me. I was even able to get most of them to wear green to the party.”
One of the most pivotal moments of the game came in the second quarter when the Eagles had a 10-0 lead. After back-to-back sacks, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a pass intended for wide receiver Deandre Hopkins that was intercepted by rookie cornerback Cooper DeJean. DeJean was able to take it back for a touchdown which put the Eagles on a straighter path to victory. DeJean became the first player in Super Bowl history to intercept a pass or score a touchdown on his birthday, as DeJean
turned 22 the day of the game. Stanley said that the play was her favorite of the game, and being able to celebrate with her dad after the game is something she’s going to remember forever.
“Cooper DeJean’s pick-six was my favorite part of the game and came at the perfect time,” Stanley said. “Another moment that was really awesome for me was getting to FaceTime my Dad after. I grew up watching the Eagles with him, and even though I wish I got to be with him when they won, it was still sweet to get to talk to him after.”
Even for non-Eagles fans, DeJean’s play meant more than just an extra touchdown. Sophomore Madison Shields got to watch DeJean play high school football in Iowa as well as for the University of Iowa and said that the recent rise of athletes from Iowa has been fun to see as someone from The Hawkeye State.
“I’m from a small town in Iowa and knew about Cooper DeJean before he became famous,” Shields said. “It’s always cool seeing people like Caitlin Clark and Cooper DeJean represent Iowa and show we are more than just a farm state.”
One major difference between the Super Bowl and any other football game is the product off the field. Halftime shows and commercials dominate a lot of the conversation as well, and this year was another example of that. Millions of dollars were spent on advertising, targeting a variety of audiences, and some stood out better than others. For sophomore Carter Fuller, he said that he enjoyed the
UberEats commercials, but nothing really felt super memorable for him a few days after the big game.
“I really loved the UberEats commercial with Matthew McConaughey that revealed that the Super Bowl is one big conspiracy to make people hungry,” Fuller said. “A lot of the commercials this year didn’t seem as funny as the ones in the past. They seemed to be more on the creepy or unhinged side of things. But overall, I just really enjoyed hanging out with my friends with some good food.”
For Shields, the patriotic Rocket.com commercial stood out.
“The best commercial was the Rocket.com commercial,” Shields said. “It sang ‘Country Roads Take Me Home’ and the military men on the plane singing it showed how much we take our freedom for granted.”
On the weird side though, Stanley said that the multiple Tubi ads with people with heads shaped like cowboy hats came off as bizarre for her.
“I didn’t really pay attention to many of the commercials, but the one that did stand out to me though was the Tubi one,” Stanley said. “I was just very confused about why the hat was his head.”
Overall, there were many ways to enjoy the Super Bowl, and many different aspects for any type of person, from the big football fans of the two teams playing to the people who just wanted to have a fun time with friends, there was something for everyone.
Guest Writer Luke Martin
LUKE MARTIN is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at lmartin16@harding.edu.
Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
Seniors Riley Price, Macy Ham, Emma Curry, Brooke Johnson and Kaya Lee pose for a photo together before they start their last season as a group. The Lady Bisons have opened their year off on fire with a 9-1 record.
Photo by ELI DEAN
Sophomore Nathan Britt returns the tennis ball to the other side of the net during a practice Oct. 29, 2024. The Bisons are 2-0 during their spring season.
Target set to open fall of 2026 in Searcy
Target has been long awaited in the Searcy community, and it’s finally coming to town. This development was initiated by Stuart Dalrymple, founder of Dalrymple Commercial. Target is planned to be built next to Academy Sports and Outdoors and expected to open in fall 2026.
Searcy has been seeing more businesses move in over the past few years such as Whataburger, Chipotle and Texas Roadhouse.
However, the introduction of Target is an even bigger step in growing Searcy as a community.
Jose Colunga, from Dalrymple Commercial, said the addition of the Target will draw daytime movement to Searcy.
“It’s a natural stopping point,” Colunga said. “So with Harding being here, and Unity Health being White County’s biggest employer, it draws a lot of daytime traffic.”
Searcy is a perfect spot for a big retail store such as Target. People from neighboring towns often stop in Searcy, and adding this
shopping center would further boost business across town.
“We’re excited about the fact that the addition of Target is going to help shape the shopping experience for Harding students as well,” Colunga said.
One of the goals of Dalrymple Commercial is to improve the shopping experience for the community. The typical shopper will visit multiple stores, so Target will boost local businesses rather than take away from them.
For most Target lovers in Searcy, it has been an inconvenience to drive long distances to get to one. Since the announcement of its coming, Target fans in and around Searcy have been incredibly excited. The Harding crowd has also shown excitement in this news.
“I was really excited because Searcy is such a small town,” freshman Hope Gill said. “We only have Walmart and smaller stores. I’m excited that we’re going to have more of a variety.”
Many Harding students come from towns with a Target. For students on campus when it opens, it will be a game-changer. It will offer more options as well as the fun, familiar shopping experience that students love.
College students have always been key contributors to Target’s revenue, and this theme won’t change in Searcy. The only thing Harding students have to fear might be the dent in their bank accounts.
Freshman Lexi Howell is excited about the audience that Target caters to.
“I think Walmart has a lot of good basics and stuff, but I think Target is very geared toward a college audience.” Howell said.
Dalrymple Commercial, doing business in Searcy since 1990, has earned much praise in bringing many beloved stores to town. Target is another step toward making Searcy an even better place to live, and Colunga said there is more to come.
“We’ve got some big things in the works, and we’re not done,” Colunga said.
Searcy landlord sentenced to 20 years in federal prison
A Searcy landlord was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison Jan. 29 for sex trafficking female residents of his apartment complex.
According to a press release from the United States Attorney’s Office, 74-year-old Thomas Ray Kelso was initially investigated due to the methamphetamine he was distributing from the Briarwood apartment complex. The Central Arkansas Drug Task Force carried out the investigation.
The investigation also found that Kelso was forcing the female residents of the apartment complex to perform sex acts to keep the power on in their apartment, pay rent or to get illegal drugs. In one case, cutting power for a woman who refused his advances. Kelso also employed a woman to recruit other women, in order for them to perform sexual acts on him.
Kelso was arrested on April 18, 2023, after a search warrant led to the discovery of drug paraphernalia on his property. He was charged in June “with trafficking of persons, rape, and an assortment of drug and firearms crimes,” according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
On Aug. 14, 2023, Kelso was found guilty of three counts of sex trafficking and one count of possession with intent to distribute by a federal grand jury.
The 20-year sentence was accompanied by a $50,000 fine and $50,000 in restitution. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge James M. Moody Jr and announced by U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Johnathan D. Ross.
“The conduct exhibited by Kelso is reprehensible and the jury’s verdict sends a clear message that these crimes will not be tolerated,” Ross said.
Singh wins White County spelling bee two years in a row
The White County Spelling Bee was recently hosted by Harding in the Anthony and Wright Administration Auditorium, where 5th-8th graders from participating schools gathered to compete.
Karen Wright of the college of education at Harding University is a coordinator for the White County Spelling Bee and shared that the students have a difficult task in this tournament.
“The experience of standing alone–it’s a little different from a team sport–the pressure
is on you individually, so I think it’s a good experience, so we try to do it for as many students as we can,” Wright said.
My parents also helped me alot, they quizzed me and they helped me with everything I was struggling in.
– Daksh Singh, Two-time White Co. spelling bee winner
However, Harding Academy’s own 7th grader Daksh Singh stepped up to the plate and delivered a winning performance for his school, two years in a row. Singh won on the word “goliath”
He detailed his lengthy preparation for the tournament for which he created a 75 page list of all the words to study.
“I started preparing around September or October, and I prepared literally by typing in a ginormous document with the definitions and pronunciations,” Singh said.
He has done well in the competition continuously, taking home first place this year and last.
“All three times I’ve finished podium,” Singh said.
He expressed his gratitude for the support he received from others.
“My parents also helped me alot, they quizzed me and they helped me with everything I was struggling in,” Singh said.
Singh’s English teacher at Harding Academy, Maleah McNeal, commented on his performance at the previous state spelling bee, which he will be competing in again on March 8.
“He finished third in state last year,” Mcneal said.
ABBY BARRY copy editor
JULIA JENKINS student writer
MAGGIE SAMPLES editor-in-chief
Thomas Ray Kelso poses for a booking photo taken upon his arrest on April 18, 2023. Kelso was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his crimes of sex trafficking and drug possession.
A rendering created by Dalyrmple Commercial showing the future location of the Searcy Target. Target is expected to open in fall 2026
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Photo provided by White County Sheriff’s Department
Photo provided by Dalrymple Commercial
Graphic by MATHEW KIPTOO
Graphic by MATHEW KIPTOO
Social club creates Minecraft server
who had also created a Minecraft server together a few years before.
This past winter break and into the spring semester, students in Theta men’s social club created a Minecraft server. Servers are platforms in the mobile game Minecraft that allow people to play the game together while they are far apart.
The Minecraft server began with only a few players. At its peak, however, the Minecraft server saw 30 players, including both Theta members and the club’s belles.
Junior James Heiman began the server, and he described its beginnings.
“I was bored one day over Christmas break, so I decided to set up a server and invite all of Theta to join,” Heiman said.
Katie Shanks, a belle for Theta, said that the idea originated with past Theta members
Shanks said that on many nights–six to seven people can be playing on the server at once. She and others were especially active during winter break thanks to their extra free time.
She said that during Christmas break, she was “bored at home,” so she joined the game on her iPad and played Minecraft almost every night.
Minecraft is a building and survival-based game. Those playing on this server built multiple structures: smaller ones such as homes and larger ones such as the Statue of Liberty, a castle (built by Russell Dimmock) and a cookie monster-shaped cookie factory (built by Aiden Wright).
Heiman spoke of other creative details within the server.
“The server had been split into two different
towns,” Heiman said. “The town I spent my time in was built in a valley between two mountains. We built the town center in a medieval cottage style.”
Junior Tucker Allen spoke of the community offered by this activity, describing the server as “getting together and hanging out and kind of having communion whenever we are away from school.”
Shanks echoed Allen’s sentiments, telling of the new friendships she forged through the game.
“A lot of [Theta] freshmen would play,” Shanks said. “That was good because it was freshmen that I hadn’t gotten to know yet.”
Sophomore Zach Bath played on the Minecraft server often, and he connected with fellow Theta members.
“Playing the server over break ended up connecting me to some members of Theta I was not close to beforehand,” Bath said.
“The server had a lot of unexpected memories and laughs — some of my favorite memories since joining Theta.”
Heiman also said the server brought people together.
“The Minecraft server was a great way to bring so many people together over Christmas break even though some live far apart,” Heiman said. “For me personally, it was a great way for me to get to know many of the freshmen in Theta that joined earlier this year.”
Wild animals invade student housing in campus dorms
RENEAU
ANDREW
copy editor
Harding University has fought against animals since Arkansas Christian College and Harper College merged into Harding College in 1924. Animals are not normally allowed on Harding’s campus, but students may submit a request for an animal if they meet the criteria listed in the Harding Student Handbook. Aside from a few exemptions, Harding prohibits keeping domesticated or tamed animals in dorms.
A second group left unmentioned in the student handbook are the ones infiltrating students’ dorms: wild animals. Junior Bayli Nash said she saw a raccoon repeatedly entering her room through her ceiling tiles the weekend of Feb.1.
“It happened a little bit last semester, but it wasn’t causing any problems,” Nash said. “It
woke me up, I think I was the only one that woke up, and I opened the door, and it was just right there—going through the trash.”
A video of the raccoon rifling through Nash’s trash was posted on Facebook and circulated through Harding-related pages.
Nash said Public Safety placed a trap in their kitchen and gave a number to call if they caught the raccoon.
“I think it really helped that we had a video so we could show them this is happening,” Nash said. “I feel like a video gets more response than just a story.”
Senior Alexis Davis said she found a rat eating a pumpkin she carved and left outside her room on the second floor of Shores for Halloween.
“I saw that there was a huge hole eaten out of it, and I was like, it could be a bird, most likely a mouse,” Davis said. “By the next day like half of it was eaten. It was kind of gross because it was feeding what seemed like a lot of them.”
Davis said she found an expended trap a few days after she threw away the pumpkin, and also remembers seeing mouse traps placed in her dorm back before Christmas break.
Some students report animals to Harding while others turn a blind eye. Some students deal with the animals themselves. Shores resident and junior Emily Etzig said she saw a rat in her dorm’s trash room but kept quiet. She said she would report the rat if she saw another one, but refrained because Public Safety was already working on the problem.
“It was a good group of us, and we all yelled, and we were
scared, but we realized it was dead,” Etzig said. Sophomore Trinity McAuliffe said she frequently sees bugs and geckos in her dorm and removes them herself.
“You can’t control a gecko,” McAuliffe said. “They’re going to get in through the door, and it’s just a lizard, it’s not going to hurt anyone.”
Graphic by BEN EVANS
HELEN STRICKLAND opinions editor
Graphic by CARYS BIRDWELL
Local coffee shop hosts Ladies’ Night
For 28 years Midnight Oil has been a beloved Searcy staple full of funky decor, an ambient studying environment and good coffee. Midnight Oil has brought constant joy to the community by hosting different music artists inside their building and on their backyard stage.
Hannah Carpenter and Sarah Cox, the managers of Midnight Oil, want to bring fun activities and diverse groups of people into the coffee shop.
“When I was in school, this place was like a hub of activity in the evenings, and it was open till midnight every night, and people hung out every night,” Carpenter said. “But, something has happened culturally, and people don’t come here unless they’re just sitting and studying, and so I kind of just want to find ways to create fun things for people to be part of.”
Sophomore Millie Williams attended the Ladies’ Night on Saturday.
“The vibes in here are immaculate,” Williams said. “I think it’s so kind of them to open it up for all of the girls to come have a place to have fun and dance around and have good food. I wish it was more of a frequent thing. More places in Searcy should do things like this because we want to just dance and have fun as college girls.”
Senior Rahamatu Blake owns a small thrifting business where she sells gently used clothes at different events in town. Blake
had her inventory displayed for purchase in the Kibo room on Saturday night during the
“It was so fun,” Blake said. “I was planning on doing a pop-up sometime soon, and
when I mentioned it to one of the baristas, she suggested I come do it at Ladies Night. I was really apprehensive because I didn’t know what the turnout would be like, but I was astonished at how many people came to
participate and how involved people were at the Ladies Night. Everyone was really excited to be there and really into it.”
Students travel to Nashville for annual Space Prom event
Every year, students from Harding University and beyond travel to Nashville for Space Prom, an event that blends nostalgia, high-energy performances and a unique atmosphere. Hosted annually by singersongwriter Nordista Freeze, the event is a large-scale dance party featuring a lineup of guest singers performing covers of ‘80s hits, set in a venue filled with neon lights, elaborate costumes and an energetic crowd.
For Harding senior Alyson Voigt, attending Space Prom has become a tradition.
“This was my second year going to Space Prom,” Voigt said. “My group had such a blast last year that we knew we would go again this year and had been looking forward to it since.”
The event took place Feb. 1 at Brooklyn Bowl, a venue that doubles as both a concert space and a bowling alley.
“Everyone dresses up either ‘80s promthemed, space-themed or a mix of both, so everyone is complementing each other on how awesome they look,” Voigt said.
Space Prom is about more than just the music—it is an immersive experience that keeps attendees coming back. Freshman Andrew Tindoll described the night as a whirlwind of excitement.
“There were five of us, and we were really excited when we got there,” Tindoll said. “Brooklyn Bowl is such a great venue, and I heard there were around 2,000 people there, which is insane. The energy was so good.
Everyone was moving, all of the performers really interacted with the crowd, and they put on a great show.”
A major highlight of the night for attendees was the music. While Space Prom
traditionally features covers of ‘80s classics, this year’s setlist was particularly memorable.
“They played two ABBA songs. The one that went the craziest was ‘Money, Money, Money’—everyone was singing along, dancing
and then the people on stage threw out fake money into the crowd, so that was so fun,” Voigt said.
For Tindoll, the standout performance was a rendition of “The Winner Takes It All.”
“I moved my way all the way up to the front, and I had tears flowing. I’m not even joking,” Tindoll said.
Nordista Freeze is not only the host of Space Prom but also its central performer. Known for his high-energy stage presence and ability to engage the crowd, Freeze curates the event and performs throughout the night, creating an interactive and dynamic experience for attendees.
Harding senior Austin Johnson has known Freeze for years and has followed his career.
“I grew up going to the same church as him,” Johnson said. “It’s really awesome to see him be successful, put on a cool show like this. His energy is unmatched. He’s just a crazy performer.”
Part of what makes Space Prom unique is the community it creates. Johnson noted the camaraderie among attendees and performers alike.
“The atmosphere is incredible—everyone seems to know each other,” Johnson said. “There are so many artists, even those not performing, just in the crowd having fun and supporting their friends. It’s such a great vibe.”
With another successful year in the books, Harding students who attended Space Prom are already anticipating next year’s event.
Whether for the high-energy performances, the creative costumes or the shared experience with friends, it is a night that continues to draw people in. The countdown to next year’s Space Prom has already begun.
Ladies’ Night attendees gather under a disco ball for a night of dancing. Midnight Oil hosted the event Feb. 8 as part of an effort to bring fun activites and diverse groups into the coffee shop.
Photo by BRILEY KEMPER
AMANDA TOYE community editor
event.
Junior Ava Swearingen and seniors Katie Green, Alyson Voigt and Kaci Greer stand outside the Space Prom venue. Attendees are encouraged to dress to fit the unique theme, which is a mix of ‘80s prom and outer space.
