On March 14-15, Harding will host its annual Bloom women’s conference, an event dedicated to bringing women of all ages together for encouragement and fellowship.
This year’s theme, “Free to Be Fearless,” is designed to inspire women to embrace bold faith and live courageously in Christ.
Alicia Williamson, Bible faculty member and Bloom committee member, shared the vision behind the theme.
“I think a part of that was just helping women learn how to live passionately for God without being afraid and just that idea of God equipping us with these spiritual tools to live courageously,” Williamson said.
Previously known as WINGS (Women in God’s Service), the conference has long provided a space for Christian women to connect and support one another. In taking a new direction this year, Williamson and the planning committee anticipate it will be larger than ever. The event will feature keynote speakers Pam Tebow and Tiffany Malone, along with breakout sessions led by students, faculty and staff.
Among the student speakers is senior Allie Grace Matheny, who plans to emphasize the power of personal testimonies.
to be Fearless,” features Pam Tebow, Tiffany Malone
Junior Bailey Mundy, another student speaker, will discuss how the gospel empowers believers to live fearlessly.
“The gospel has changed our life, and our story has power because of what Christ has done through us,” Mundy said. “So I’m really excited because, I mean, we literally get to
“What I really want is for them to hear that, no matter the darkest parts of their testimony,that is the part that’s gonna help someone else through their life,” Matheny said. This conference will provide a space for women to be able to come together and share what is on their hearts and minds. Sessions cover a variety of faith-based topics, attendees will have opportunities to engage in meaningful discussions and reflect on their own spiritual journeys.
talk about the thing that changes us from being in fear to being fearless.”
This year’s conference is free for Harding students and will offer keynote speeches, breakout sessions, a choir presentation, worship, and fellowship with other women of faith.
Williamson hopes the event will not only encourage students but also welcome new visitors to campus.
“I think one dream that we have is that we’ll have people that are coming to our campus that have never been before,” Williamson said. “I think that just extends Harding’s arms wider in our community, which is a wonderful thing. I think that will be a blessing that will come from it.”
Students react to Pope Francis illness, hospitalization
Pope Francis fell ill with double pneumonia in February, and he has since been at the hospital for an extended stay since then. He spent some time on a ventilator, but as of Tuesday, March 4 he only required a ventilator to sleep.
Harding is affiliated with the Churches of Christ, but students of varying denominations attend the school, including some Catholics. Though there are some differences between the Churches of Christ and the Catholic Church, College of Bible and Ministry professor Scott Adair emphasized the similarities between Catholicism and Protestantism.
“The things we agree on are the things that matter most,” Adair said. “For example Catholics and Protestants both believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that he is Lord. We both believe that God is One, and that he is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We both see the death and resurrection of Jesus as the central claim of our faith and basis of our hope. We both believe that God calls Christians to life in the church– which is the presence of Christ in the world. We both believe that in Christ humans are forgiven of sins. We both believe that God gives his Spirit to us to empower us and transform us into the likeness of Christ. We both believe that Jesus will return again to judge and redeem the world.”
Senior and self-proclaimed “cradle Catholic” Emma McDaris spoke of her thoughts about Pope Francis’ lengthy bout of illness.
“Having the head of our national church precariously, maybe hanging onto life is hard because we don’t know who’s going to be the next Pope,” McDaris said.
Senior and practicing Catholic Oscar Aldana expressed sympathy for the Pope amidst his extended hospital stay.
“I felt sad for him,” Aldana said.
Senior Emma Iglesias is a member of the Catholic Church as well, and she conveyed caring communal sentiments toward Pope Francis.
“His illness is deeply concerning, and I am keeping him in my prayers,” Iglesias said.
“The whole Catholic community is concerned about him as he had been a guiding light for so many. I hope
that as a community, we can all pray for his health and well-being.”
The possibility of the Pope’s death or resignation brings questions about the selection of a new pope. McDaris explained
the process of electing a new pope. The cardinals convene in the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City and remain until a new pope is elected. During the selection process, black smoke is seen coming from the chapel. When a new pope is selected, the smoke becomes white, alerting the public to the change. McDaris said how this can be a difficult process for the Catholic Church.
“[The pope is] a major Christian figure in the world,” McDaris said. “So we want someone that is going to speak the language of God, which is love, and we don’t want
someone that is not going to do that.”
Aldana shared his opinions about Pope Francis.
“I like the pope because he addresses topics that are important to our lives,” Aldana said. I like how he cares a lot about
the environment. I like how he says that the Earth is our house, and as such we need to care more about it.”
Iglesias also spoke highly of the pope’s character and his accomplishments.
“Pope Francis has been one of our generation’s greatest religious leaders,” Iglesias said. “He has touched the hearts of young people, guiding them with understanding, love and a firm sense of direction in times of uncertainty.”
Iglesias also shared a quote from Pope Francis directed at young people (such as college students):
“You dream big dreams, but sometimes they are clouded by fear of not seeing them come true. To you who sometimes think you are not capable. To you, young people, who want to change the world — and it is good that you want to change the world. To you who want to change the world and fight for justice and peace. To you, young people, who put passion and creativity into life but feel like it is not enough. To you, young people, who are the present and the future. Yes, precisely to you, young people, today I say; Do not be afraid, do not be afraid. It is Jesus Himself who is looking at you right now, he is looking at you. He knows each of your hearts, he knows your life, your joys, your sorrows, your successes and your failures. He knows your heart, and today he tells you; Do not be afraid.”
HELEN STRICKLAND opinions editor
JULIA JENKINS guest writer
Dr. Andrea Morris speaks at Bloom 2024, Nurturing Community. The theme for Bloom 2025 is “Free to be Fearless” and encourages women to live courageously in Christ.
Women of all ages worship and fellowship at Bloom 2024. This year’s conference includes keynote speakers Pam Tebow and Tiffany Malone, along with breakout sessions, a choir presentation, worship and fellowship.
Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
Photos by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
Graphic by BEN EVANS
HUG celebrates 30th anniversary
Photography study abroad program to visit Greece during spring break
Harding University in Greece (HUG) is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year with a special study abroad program.
HUG started in fall 1994 and has hosted semester-long programs in the fall, spring and summer semesters. The Artemis, the HUG property in Porto Rafti, has been home to many short study abroad programs, including the Honors College, alumni trips, Scholars Abroad and the Harding University in Europe trip. While participating in HUG, students travel around Greece and visit Egypt and Turkey.
Communication instructor Noah Darnell and director of photographic services Jeff Montgomery will take 30 students on a weeklong trip in Greece over spring break. The group will primarily be in Porto Rafti and Athens, with one day in Corinth. Vice President for Student Life Zach Neal and his wife Sarah Neal, and Executive Vice President Jean-Noel Thompson and his wife Tonya Thompson will also attend the weeklong program. The group will stay at the Artemis with the spring 2025 HUG students.
Unlike other study abroad trips, the students will not take classes while abroad. Montgomery said there will be a couple of class sessions to make sure students are comfortable with using their cameras and know the basics of taking pictures. The program will focus on the storytelling aspect of photography more than the technical components of making photos.
“It’s a short-term study abroad group with the idea that we’re going to create some art for the hotel there,” Montgomery said.
Some of the photographs made on the trip will be used to redecorate the Artemis. Montgomery said he wants photos that are deeper than touristy-looking photos to replace the art currently at the HUG property.
“If you see something that grabs your attention, focus on it and explore it,” Montgomery said. “Because if it’s grabbing your attention, it’s a worthy subject.”
Students practiced March 1 this concept at the Mardis Gras parade in Little Rock and photographed various subjects that caught their attention, including dogs, scenery and people. The event was an opportunity for the group to meet one another and practice with their cameras. Many of the students are not experienced photographers and are using cameras from the Communication Department’s checkout room for the trip.
“I like that a lot of the group… [doesn’t] have photography experience, so we’re all kind of just coming together and we’re going to learn,” Carlson said.
Students are excited to explore the new culture and landscape of Greece, and to see how the others perceive it. Carlson said she is looking forward to the class sessions because it is an opportunity for the students to compare their photographs. Sophomore Nate Rabb, another student going on the trip, said he is looking forward to observing God’s creation with like-minded people who have different perspectives.
“I’m excited because in photography you are able to capture a still moment and enjoy it for as long as you’d like,” Rabb said. “Greece is a beautiful place, and there will be lots of opportunities to do that.”
IMC students visit Dallas in new class
of the basic IMC tools utilized for strategy implementation and branding throughout various industries,” Sloan said.
The newly created Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) Experience class is a course designed by assistant professor Lori Sloan to let students step outside the classroom and learn how the corporate world operates. The 20-student class left March 5 for Dallas to participate in a three-day itinerant classroom.
Sloan continuously encourages an environment of professionalism meant to instill in her students the fundamental skills of working in the corporate world.
“The IMC Experience course is designed to open students’ eyes to the multiple applications
“Immersive learning appeals to all the senses and brings textual concepts to life.”
Over the course of three days, the attending students toured Leads Online, the Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium and Southwest Airlines’ Headquarters. Additionally, students met with Johnson & Sekin Agency and RMR Agency in a conference room. Rachel Ragland, owner of RMR Agency, shared some advice for students looking to pursue the direction of marketing and/or communications.
“Success in marketing isn’t just about strategy — it’s about storytelling, adaptability
and relationships,” Ragland said. “Experiences like travel open your perspective, teaching you how to connect with diverse audiences and think beyond borders. If I’d had an opportunity like this as a student, I know it would have shaped my creativity and confidence even sooner.”
Each day ended with a dinner hosted by a different business. The companies that hosted the students were DeLucca’s, Via Triozzi and Topgolf. Senior Audie Isbell said he took away valuable skills he will carry into his professional careers.
“The IMC experience trip led me to a deeper and well-rounded grasp of the aftercollege job world as well as inspiration toward my career goals,” Isbell said.
Junior Wesley Lamberson said the trip impacted her.
“The IMC trip was an eye-opening experience that deepened my understanding of the industry’s dynamic landscape and the power of strategic communication,” Lamberson said. “I learned a lot, made connections and strengthened my love for marketing.”
Senior Denim Lee also described her experience on the IMC trip.
“It was a great opportunity to build connections and learn more about the marketing communications world,” Lee said.
KENZIE JAMES news editor
The HUG summer 2011 students and staff visit the Great Pyramids in Cairo.
Photo by LACEY BORTELL
Photo from Brackett Library Archive, summer 2011. Originally provided by Ashel Parsons.
Students on the HUG spring 2025 program visited the Great Pyramids in Cairo on Feb. 12.
ELLIE HILL beat reporter
Photo provided by ELLIE HILL
Assistant professor Lori Sloan and 20 students visit Dallas for a three-day class touring companies. The IMC Experience is a new course for junior and senior IMC majors to experience the corporate world.
Photo provided by Noah Darnell, Sept. 15, 2024
Harding alumni live the life of a HUG student for two weeks on the September 2024 alumni trip.
Photo provided by Kinsley Jones, March 30, 2024
Students on the HUG spring 2024 watch the sunset at the temple of Poseidon in Cape Sounion.
Photo from Brackett Library Archive, 2000 HUG 2000 is the first to live at the Artemis. Harding bought the hotel in 2000.
Photo provided by Jalaina Hammett, fall 1999.
HUG fall 1999 students sit on Mars Hill in Athens.
Photo provided by Jeff Montgomery, Feb. 16, 2014
Photo from Brackett Library Archive, 2003 HUG 2003 students visit the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens. HUG spring 2014 students eat pizza for dinner at the Artemis.
The HUG fall 1994 group poses for a photo in Greece. This was the first HUG program.
Photo from Brackett Library Archive, fall 1994.
TheLink.Harding.edu 3A OPINIONS
Attending university often serves as a transition period between childhood and complete adulthood, and such a setting is an appropriate time to begin developing routines. A number of students begin to prioritize healthy choices during their college years. One of the primary challenges of becoming self-sufficient is learning how to set priorities, and this includes understanding how to eat properly. Cultivating comprehensively competent individuals is part of Harding’s mission, and I believe that the housing situation aligns with an ideal framework of student dining that is not currently adhered to. Students should be free to decide which meal plan, if any, best aligns with their goals, habits and lifestyles.
Higher education is a significant investment regardless of where a student may choose to study, but not all of the financial burden arises solely from tuition and class materials; a great portion of such costs originates from housing and dining. For the scope of this article, I am focusing on the nature of this university’s meal plans. This discussion is not unprecedented. In an article published by The Bison in May 2014, Kelsey Pierce suggested a notable overhaul of the dining system, and many of her suggestions are our
The problems with a compulsory meal plan
reality today. However, I believe that a current policy should be reexamined.
For students living in a residence hall or apartment with a kitchen, meal plans should be optional. There is no reason to make them compulsory for those who reside in a space with the amenities necessary to cook and prepare meals. Meal plans should certainly
The least expensive meal plan is currently the Block-50, which costs $650 for a semester and allows for 50 swipes and $50 of declining balance (DCB). However, this meal plan is only available to sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduates who live off-campus. The required minimum for junior-level and above students who reside in Pryor or Searcy Hall (as well as off-campus freshmen) is the
Block-75, which costs $1,025 for a semester and allows for 75 swipes and $135 DCB. To clarify, this minimum is for students who have access to their own, individual kitchens. Regardless of whether they eat routinely at the dining hall or prepare their food, they are all spending the same amount of money on dining.
Why is it required for students who have no intention or interest in consuming university-provided food to pay more than $1,000 a semester for a service they do not intend to use? These students’ living conditions empower them to foster healthy routines and practice healthy choices. The cost of a nonessential meal plan can severely inhibit their choice of where to spend their financial resources. Those who would prefer to purchase groceries and prepare their meals are often by necessity made to settle for an unwanted option.
Revisiting compulsory meal plans for students living in housing with kitchens should be a priority; Harding’s meal plan requirement forces students to spend thousands of dollars needlessly.
This is everyone’s reminder to watch “Megamind” this semester. Those who have seen it before, watch it again; those who have never seen it, do not hesitate to resolve this oversight. Why?
The movie “Megamind” was released in 2010, starring Will Ferrell as Megamind, Tina Fey as Roxanne Ritchi, Jonah Hill as Titan and Brad Pitt as MetroMan. Megamind believes himself destined for the role of supervillain, as he fights against MetroMan in Metro City… at the beginning. This movie covers multiple major themes that might be considered deep for a children’s film. Yet, this characteristic is exactly what makes it such an important work of cinema. Let’s break a few of them down:
A foundational theme throughout is friendship; Megamind’s angst with his “Minion” named Fish is the greatest example; they return to each other and forgive for past disagreements and misunderstandings. Throughout the story they support each other (mostly Fish of Megamind’s goals), and grow into their true selves, forging their own path. Such support is beneficial for another set of themes: identity, background, racism and destiny. Megamind and Metro Man are characterized by their unique backgrounds –MetroMan’s wealthy, safe home; Megamind’s childhood in prison – which distinguish them from each other and explain the positions they take at the beginning of the film. The movie covers the racism toward Megamind by the school children, the favoritism (and beauty privilege) given to MetroMan and how each defines their presupposed identities. MetroMan is somewhat predestined to become a hero; his powers and prestige creating expectations
“Maybe I don’t want to be the bad guy anymore!”
of greatness that he spends his life trying to meet. Similarly, MegaMind is a product of his environment. Megamind faces hatred and mistreatment for being different, leading him to believe, “I’m the bad guy. I don’t save the day. I don’t fly off into the sunset. And I don’t get the girl.”
But maybe identity and destiny are not defined by our backgrounds or others’ perspectives? Megamind starts by identifying with the villain archetype, but when true love enters his life, and he faces an opponent much worse than he had ever considered being himself, he is forced to reexamine the labels forced on him and decide if he wants to continue living them or change. Before that, MetroMan introduces a new, pertinent theme: self-care.
After years of fulfilling expectations placed on his shoulders simply for having powers, MetroMan decides he’s done. He’s tired of “going through the motions,” and being what everyone else wants
him to be, so he takes time for self-care; for making music in the privacy of his underground home, refusing to return even when Titan threatens the city’s destruction. Rather, MetroMan shows his colors as a good person and true friend by encouraging Megamind to do the same as him: not live a life of solitude, but to rethink the expectations and assumptions of the people and consider being something new…
Here’s the greatest theme of the film: purpose. Megamind realizes, through his relationship with Roxanne, his interactions with a very tired MetroMan, and also the immediate threat of total destruction from Titan, he needs to rethink his archetypal identity. Without ever sacrificing his exotic personality or presentational strengths, Megamind surpasses labels altogether and achieves his own purpose: helping people. He finishes out with, “Funny. I guess destiny isn’t the path chosen for us, but the path we choose for ourselves.”
Have I convinced you to watch it? For the first or hundredth time? I hope so; I watched it as I wrote this. Here’s a few themes I didn’t extend on: authentic love (Roxanne), with great power comes great responsibility (Titan), “There’s a benefit to losing, you get to learn from your mistakes,” - Megamind, and there are so many more; that is what makes it so good. Need an image of true friendship? A reminder that backgrounds and life situations don’t define you? Need a push to discard labels or stereotypes and consider your true potential and purpose? I’ll save you time, they’re all enshrined in “Megamind.”
CANCELED (or not)
There are many buzzwords I am tired of these days, and “canceled” is at the forefront of those words. For those who have managed to avoid this concept altogether: canceling someone is publicly denouncing/unfollowing/ unsubscribing to them because they said something that a large enough group of people found “problematic” enough to find the person guilty. To be canceled is a devastating blow to more left-wing individuals and a badge of honor for more right-wing ones. Here is my first issue with using this word; it simply encourages division and animosity between political parties. There are several more problems with this idea. Much canceling comes out of social media. Social media is not a source of much accurate information: recently it is primarily a cesspool of misinformation, bullying and conspiracy theories. When people are canceled, those canceling them will post about their wrongdoings on social media — sometimes with proof, sometimes without it. Thus, people can easily be canceled for things they did not do or with things taken out of context.
Canceling also leaves no room for nuance. To some cancelers (especially some online), people who are canceled are dead to the cancelers. The perpetrators are all bad. They cannot apologize in any real way. There is hardly any acknowledgement of situational factors or complications of a situation. Because of this lack of nuance, there is no room for grace. There is no room for forgiveness. To forgive the canceled is always to side with them. This is neither empathetic nor constructive. Put yourself in the shoes of the wrongdoer. We all do things that are wrong — things that someone somewhere would disagree with. Imagine if everything you have ever done was held under an unforgiving microscope, ready to hate you as soon as you mess up just once.
We have established a few problems with cancel culture. However, to dismiss it is to fall down a slippery slope that lacks accountability. This reaction against cancel culture is online, too; people are fans of the canceled simply because they were canceled. This is also a problem and has contributed to bringing felons and downright unethical people into positions of power. Reactionary actions that fully dismiss cancel culture and turn in the complete other direction by dismissing any need for ethical behavior and praising unethical behavior are also unproductive. This lack of accountability can easily be far more dangerous than canceling people. Instead of canceling, I say we turn to good, clean accountability. We hold people in power accountable. We understand humanity’s tendency to fail, but we recognize that some failures are incredibly harmful to other humans. We give grace. We seek to understand fully without leaping to conclusions.
I am tired of cancel culture, and I am tired of reactions to cancel culture. Neither of these things works. Our society longs for accountability in all its nuances.
Camille
Aja Griffin
Julia Jenkins
Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER
Bewley
Jessica Leite
Guest Writer Jessica Leite
Guest Writer Camille Bewley
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Gold in the Sand
Editor-in-chief Maggie Samples
Hi Mom! Hi Dad!
My parents are in town this weekend, and they’ll be reading this particular copy of the Bison fresh off the presses. I am excited to see them and spend some time gabbing with them, filling them in on all the drama and interesting things that have gone on in my life since I saw them at Christmas.
I am grateful to my parents for a lot of things. If I stop and think about who I am and where I am, I have a hard time thinking of a piece of my life that they haven’t influenced in one way or another. The good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful all have their fingerprints all over it.
My mom loves reading, so obviously I do too. She taught me how to read, and I vividly remember how she let me read The Stone Fox as a 7-year-old, a mistake, and how she tried to comfort me as I cried over the horrifying ending of that book.
As I grew older, she turned me into a bit of a book snob. I would sit and watch her annual reread of Jane Austen novels, and I would wonder why people considered them tedious or difficult reading. She put me on to Greek mythology as an 8-year-old, Anna Karenina as a 17-year-old and The Gentleman in Moscow as a 21-year-old.
All of my favorite book clubs have just been living room chats or car ride gabs with my mom.
My mom taught me to be honest and upfront about the things that I believe in and want to stand for.
A seemingly constant refrain in my childhood was “A lie is always wrong,” something my mom was always saying. She lived that phrase herself by telling the uncomfortable truth, as tactfully as possible, even to people she barely knew.
My mom has always stood for what she believed in and she taught me that I was capable of doing that too.
My dad taught me how to work hard. He always puts his all into his job, his ministry positions at church and being a coach of whatever sport season it is.
He always pushed me to do big things and to do them well. Whenever I get a promotion or start doing something cool, he’s the first person to prompt me to mention it to an acquaintance or stranger. When I called him last year, saying I just had to quit my job or I would die, he told me that I could take anything for a few more months and to think of law school.
My dad showed me how to work hard, on many projects, and do my best on them all.
My dad taught me that words have to be accompanied with actions in order to actually express love. My father is a man of few words, but that does not mean he falls short of expressing his care for others.
My dad is the person awake at 6 a.m. to fix a widow’s porch, who brings the donuts to the Habitat for Humanity build, and who stays up all night to volunteer for the youth group lock in.
My dad taught me that love doesn’t require all that many words, so in that spirit I conclude this column.
Hi guys! I love you!
My grandmother always called me the adventurous one in our family growing up. I always wanted to be outside, to see things I had never seen, and to go places I had never been. And I was always asking lots and lots of questions. So, naturally, I have always been a bit bothered by the old proverb that says, “curiosity killed the cat.” I have never quite understood how curiosity could be posed in such a negative light. Though I do believe there is profound wisdom in this old adage, I think it has often been misinterpreted. The proverb is pointing to a problem involving nosiness, nonsensical and misguided curiosity. But I think it has often been used to discourage us from asking good questions and seeking the hidden things of life. Curiosity is not a killer, it is a life-giver. Curiosity keeps us in a constant state of seeking the things we do not yet know. It keeps us from living life with our eyes closed. Though careless curiosity can lead to harm, I believe careful curiosity is evidence of wisdom.
I once heard an older woman talk about an encounter she had with the Lord. She was praying, and asked God how she could possibly worship him for all eternity when she had run out of words in only five minutes. And in her spirit she felt the Lord say this to her:
There’s a scene in “The Muppets Take Manhattan” where Kermit and friends are trying to make it on Broadway. Like many struggling actors hoping to hit the big time, they take jobs in a diner. The owner is a Greek man named Pete, and the new staff is testing his patience. Eventually he snaps and yells in broken English, “Is rats cooking, is frog washing, is pig waitress. Is no coffee shop — is zoo!”
This may not show up on the AFI’s “100 Best Movie Quotes” list, but it will do to kick off today’s column.
At the risk of plummeting in your estimation, I must confess that I am not a pet person. I had a dog as a kid, and as a teen I had a goldfish briefly (Is there any other way to have goldfish?). But as an adult I don’t really wish to share my home with animals. Still, ever since I bought a house 15 years ago, it has been hard maintaining a “humans-only” space. Frogs have shown up in the living room. Hummingbirds have gotten stuck in the garage. The moles built such a network of tunnels in my yard that I suspect they make money down there giving tours. A random cat hangs out on the porch, and the neighbors’ dogs peer through the holes in my backyard fence, heckling me every time I cut the grass.
And now there are raccoons in the attic.
To quote Pete, “Is no residence — is zoo!”
Just two weeks ago, “The Bison” ran a searing exposé of raccoons rummaging through trash in the dorms. When I read that, I smiled and remembered the unpredictability of college life. The next day, I heard something scrambling in the attic.
I ignored it for several days, assuming that a squirrel was hunting acorns on the roof again. But the shuffling noises persisted — clearly just above the ceiling. The pitter-patter got louder and more frequent at night. After all, these are nocturnal animals. The clamor even woke me up a few times.
“The cat came back:” on heavenly curiosity
“When you get to Heaven, I will share with you something about myself that you have never known before. And you will worship me. And then I will share something else, and you will worship me. And I will never run out of things to share with you for all eternity.”
Maybe eternity is an endless state of seeking, learning, knowing and being known. Maybe heavenly curiosity consists of an eternal cycle of seeking and knowing, seeking and knowing. We are so often discouraged from asking questions and from seeking things beyond our reach. But what if it is heavenly to be curious! Just think of what life would be like if we weren’t so easily satisfied with simple answers and shallow reasoning. What if we lived with a hunger and eagerness to know things hidden from our sight.
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Eviction notice
eat? I have nothing in the attic but stacks of cardboard boxes. According to the USDA, that’s way too much fiber for a raccoon’s diet. And I’m certainly not going to leave Ritz Crackers on a tray. I’m not running an Airbnb up there.
A phone call to my local pest control guy had him at my door in 15 minutes. I had not officially gone up into the attic myself to investigate the visitor. Now, lest you think I was afraid, you would be correct. I hid from the hummingbird for three days.
It was indeed a raccoon, and my friend brought a trap — a huge plastic box with
My favorite verse in the Bible is Jeremiah 33:3 which says, “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Our Heavenly Father encourages us to be curious and to seek him and his wonderful creation. One of my favorite things about the Lord is that there is never an end to knowing him. Though we are already fully known, it will take all of eternity to fully know him.
Did you know that the old proverb is longer? The full version goes: “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.” We tend to believe that satisfaction is found in the completion of knowledge, but what if we learned to be satisfied in the act of seeking? Maybe complacency begins where curiosity ends. So, let’s be curious. Let’s ask questions and seek hidden things. Let’s live with our eyes wide open to see heavenly things we may have been missing before.
Which ruined the five-star rating I had worked years to achieve.
The pest-control guy came in the morning to retrieve the trap. Before he loaded it on the truck, I looked inside. The raccoon was staring up at me with a pitiful expression, which seemed to say, “I thought we were friends.”
When I asked what would happen to the guy, I found out he would be driven 50 miles from the neighborhood and released into the wild. Any closer than that, I learned, and he would likely come right back. As it turned out, he was taken to Greer’s Ferry Lake, which hardly seemed to me like punishment for breaking and entering. “He’s living his best life,” I said, to no one in particular. “He came out smelling like a rose.”
Which is more than I can say for my attic.
I will not reveal what it cost me to send the masked crusader to a lake resort near Heber Springs, but I certainly could have gone on
MAGGIE SAMPLES is editor-in-chief for The Bison. She may be contacted at msamples@harding.edu.
I shudder to confess that at one point, I got up at 3:00 a.m. and banged a broom handle on the ceiling. “Great,” I thought, “I’ve officially become a cranky landlord.” But at least landlords get paid. I had a squatter on the premises.
Surely this moocher couldn’t last too long in the rafters, I wondered. What would it
The next time you’re at the lake, if you see a raccoon riding around on jet-skis, tell
Narrative Columnist
Michael Claxton
Illustration by KIT MOORE
Guest Writer Julia Jenkins
Long named national pitcher of the week
The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) named fifth-year baseball player Maddox Long the National Pitcher of the Week for the week of Feb. 22. Maddox is Harding’s career strikeout leader.
Baseball Coach Patrick McGaha said Long’s strong work ethic and understanding of baseball comes from his upbringing by his father, who was his high school baseball coach.
“[Long is] just a really great leader on our pitching staff, just a hard worker who does things the right way, from a baseball work standpoint, always,” McGaha said. “That really is because he grew up in a coach’s home.”
McGaha said Long’s ability to throw strikes makes him a dominating pitcher.
“He is able to stay loose, and he pitches with a lot of confidence because of that and has fun,” McGaha said. “I think that’s a big reason why he has success is that he’s able to manage the pressure of the game that way.”
McGaha said Long isn’t resting on his laurels from last season, but dedicates his time to continuing to grow his skills and helping younger players on the team with pitching.
“He’s a guy that is always trying to help his teammates, and he’s a great team player,” McGaha said.
Long’s father and high school coach Matt Long said in the past he did his best to speak about his son as a coach, to keep from differentiating between him and other players on the team.
“Honestly, right now I’m speaking as a coach, he is just one of the best people with
his attitude that I’ve ever met in my life,” Matt Long said. “When he played for me in high school, he did really well.”
Matt Long said that Maddox has continued to grow in both character and baseball ability in his college career.
“There is nobody that has ever played the game of baseball that loves the game more than my son does,” Matt Long said. “There’s nobody that loves pitching more than my son loves pitching.”
Matt Long said he still gets nervous when Maddox is pitching, despite his skill.
“He’s 24 years old, and his dad’s still got butterflies in his stomach and his heart is still pounding like [Maddox] is that five-year-old t-ball player,” Matt Long said.
Maddox Long said he owes a lot of his success to his family, and specifically his father.
“My dad was a baseball coach my whole life and constantly showed me how the game was supposed to be played, and continues to teach me the game to this day,” Long said. “Having a family that has invested in me pursuing my dream instills a ton of confidence in me.”
Long also thanked his coaching staff at Rich Mountain College and Harding. He specifically expressed gratitude for his four years playing at Harding.
“God has blessed me with a place that has allowed me to thrive on the baseball field, create friendships for life, grow closer to God, and still pursue my dream of playing professional baseball,” Long said. “Also, not to mention, get an opportunity to win a lot of baseball games.”
The baseball team plays tomorrow at 1 p.m. at Jerry Moore Field.
Harding golf teams swing into action in season opener
ABBIGAIL
The Harding University Bisons men’s golf team kicked off their season strong at the Shadow Valley Invitational in Rogers, Arkansas, with the men’s team placing first.
Jose Manuel Peralta, a junior from Madrid, Spain, led the men’s team and won the tournament by six strokes. Due to heavy rain, the tournament was reduced to 54 holes, which did not stop the Bisons. The 21st ranked Bisons men’s team had good performance from everyone on the team giving way to a promising rest of the season.
Senior Fin Cummings said he was excited for the future.
“As a team, I’d say we’re excited for postseason mostly this year,” Cummings said. “That includes conference, regionals and hopefully nationals. The last two years we have made it, and we have built off our experiences, so excited to do it all again.”
The team is strong, with three new additions who have contributed significantly,
and five returning players from last year. The team is close in their ability and faith. The last tournament win was a huge confidence boost for the team.
Peralta said he was proud of his first collegiate win.
“We have been practicing hard, and we’re happy to get the trophy at the last event, but we understand that we’re only halfway through a busy semester with lots of golf to be played,” Peralta said. “So we’ll keep our heads down and work hard. I’m so proud of all of these guys and the efforts they all put into getting better golfers and Christian men.”
The Bisons will compete March 24-25 in the Arkansas Collegiate hosted by Southern Arkansas at Mystic Creek Golf Course in El Dorado.
The Harding Bisons women’s team started their season by taking fourth place at the Diffee Ford Lincoln Invitational, led by sophomore Sydney Kincade who took fifth place individually. Ranked 37th, the Lady Bisons beat the field with 106 pars.
Football videographers win
ELI DEAN sports editor
Members of the Harding University football videographer team took home honors at the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) Festival of Media Arts.
Junior Edgar Cardiel and Harding alumnus
Asa Clay placed first in the student sport competition in “Video Story/Feature (short)” for their work “Harding University Prelude to Playoffs.” The video also got second place in Best of Show out of over 700 total sport entries. Cardiel said the goal of the project was to showcase the football senior class.
“We just kind of wanted to spotlight a little bit more on the seniors whenever they had bigger plays,” Cardiel said. “Like with Wesley Coleman when he was conducting the band for a second, we wanted to make sure that we incorporated the seniors as much as we can, and just to make it memorable for them and their families.”
Looking for the spontaneous nature of a sporting event, like the moment Coleman had with the band, is important to make an engaging and entertaining video. Clay, who has now done this for three Harding football seasons, said that they are always looking for things to add an extra layer beyond the things happening on the field.
“In the week leading up to any home game we’re shooting for, I have no idea what the video will look like,” Clay said. “When I get on the field, I have no idea what the video will look like. When I boot up the computer and start editing, I have no idea what the video will look like. At some point during this 20-30 hour editing process, God reveals the direction I need to take. Many of our best shots are a product of simply being in the perfect place at the perfect time.”
Clay said that the players and coaching staff are supportive of what they’re trying to create and the players often have great reactions when being featured in the videos.
Sophomore Cooper Meyer finished 2nd out of the Lady Bisons team. Meyer commented on the success of the team.
“The season is going really well,” Meyer said. “We have a pretty strong team and have broken our school team record numerous times this season. I am mostly looking forward to taking trips with the team, but also the
big
chapel that we do together every week. It’s a nice time to grow closer as a team and grow in our faith. Our golf schedule is pretty packed once the season gets started. We just got back from Edmond, Oklahoma, and our next tournament is in El Dorado, Arkansas.”
The Lady Bisons are headed for the Arkansas Collegiate next and have high hopes for the rest of the season.
at BEA Media Festival
“The reactions are always fun, but one instance from the 2024 season immediately comes to mind,” Clay said. “I released the video of the team defeating Pittsburg State just hours before they took on Grand Valley State. We were all on the bus, heading towards the tundra, when I heard an all-too-familiar voice of Billy Morgan in my right ear. A player sitting next to me had opened the video I just finished making. Players near him caught on and all opened it as well. Pretty soon, I heard that voice echoing over and over as this bus full of guys were all tuning in to watch the video before the big game.”
The videos serve the team in a variety of ways, including while coaches are on the recruiting trail. Defensive line coach Trevon Biglow said that the team benefits greatly from these videos while talking to potential players.
“The benefit for the Brotherhood is immeasurable,” Biglow said. “Some of their videos on X [Twitter] have been viewed over
100,000 times. We also use these videos in recruiting and have received highly positive feedback from recruits and families. In the long run, these stories will be an absolute blast to look back on and cherish these special memories.”
The time and effort that it takes to create the videos doesn’t go unnoticed by Biglow and the rest of the team, and he said that the players can’t wait for the next video to be published during the season.
“They spend countless hours throughout the week gathering incredible footage to create videos promoting the team’s culture and on-field excellence,” Biglow said. “Our videographers deeply love our players and go the extra mile to highlight what makes our young men among the best in the country to be around.”
Senior Wilmer Haakansson chips a shot into the green Nov. 7, 2024. Both men’s and women’s started their spring season each with top two finishes.
CROCKER guest writer
MAGGIE SAMPLES editor-in-chief
Photo by Jeff Montgomery
Fifth-year senior Maddox Long hurls a baseball towards home plate in Harding’s 4-1 loss against Henderson State March 7. Long enters this weekend with a 0.91 earned run average and was awarded the National Pitcher of the Week for the week of Feb. 22 when he threw six one-hit innings with 10 strikeouts.
Photo by Jeff Montgomery
Robotics teams host tournament in Searcy
The Searcy High School #9067, the Goonies, and Harding Academy #3937, Breakaway, robotics teams hosted the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) robotics competition at the Searcy Lion Arena March 7-8. The FIRST robotic competition is 28 years old and there are 170 competitions across the world. This particular competition is for the Arkansas region.
Regional Director and member of the mentor group for #3937 Breakaway Tod Traughber oversees planning and implementation of the tournament. He works to get financial support from community members and looks statewide for people interested in sponsoring STEM initiatives in Arkansas. He also is the point of contact for FIRST robotics for potential new robotic teams.
Traughber said robotics teaches students more than STEM, including interpersonal and marketing skills.
“Robotics is more than robots, and whereas we certainly do work with students and train them and inspire them to do STEM education after high school, and to pursue STEM fields in their employment, we also work with them
on many other skills, including multimedia production, marketing and social media management,” Traughber said.
Traughber considers the tournament held in Searcy to be one of the best because of the work Searcy High has put into it and the regularity of the attendees.
regional; it is a wonderful environment. It’s a competitive environment, but it’s one where people are truly and genuinely concerned about your own success.”
robot, and we’re also in charge of our service initiatives.”
Braden Traughber, Harding alumnus and former member of Breakaway said his time on the team impacted his choice in career.
“It is a wonderful family environment, where competing at the Arkansas regional means you’re coming to see people from all over the state and the region, and in fact, the United States, with whom you’ve competed for many years,” Traughber said. “I love that about the Arkansas
Traughber encouraged Harding students to get involved working with Harding Academy or Searcy High robotics in a mentorship capacity.
Mary Alice
Brooks is the public relations mentor and coach for Breakaway. Brooks said that robotics teaches students many skills, due to the independence of the team.
“They walk away with skills in programming and computer aided design, in machining, wiring and certainly a lot of computer programming,” Brooks said. “Then on the PR side, we basically sell and market the
“The biggest thing that robotics was clearly able to inspire in me was a desire for data and accuracy,” Traughber said. “When I was on the team, I had a responsibility for data collection, data integrity and data analysis. This skill and passion is clearly evident in my job now as a data analyst and data engineer for Danfoss Power Solutions as I focus on many of the same core aspects of data.”
Brooks said the team, and many other teams in FIRST, are service oriented. Breakaway serves their community both locally and across Arkansas.
“We are a service oriented team,” Brooks said. “We are also in the process of helping write and advocate for legislation in the state of Arkansas for granting funding for competitive robotics.”
Breakaway won the Impact Award at the Arkansas regional and will be going to the international competition in Houston, Texas in April.
Card selling, trading show held at Carmichael Center
The Carmichael Center in Searcy is a hub for community oriented activities. This Saturday, the Carmichael Center will host a trading card event. With cards also available to purchase, this event gives card collectors the opportunity to meet with people who have similar interests.
Robert Horner, the director of this event, has been collecting cards for several years.
“It’s still a very popular hobby,” Horner said. “I used to collect a little bit when I was a kid and then, of course, my mom either threw them all out or I just lost them or something. Anyway, I got back into it a few years ago and then I’ve just progressed up.”
This card show will feature 40 eight-foot tables which Horner considers a huge success. He does, however, hope to continue growing the events and eventually have 100 tables at each trade show. Horner believes that this provides families with a fun and wholesome activity to do together.
Clay Winn, a card collector in Arkansas, spoke about his experience at card show events.
“I’ve been a collector since I was a child–early ’80s.” Winn said. “Trading cards, baseball cards, football cards…I’ve been a dealer some off and on since the ’90s. I owned a card shop for about two years and
recently closed it down for family reasons. I promote my own shows in Conway. [Horner] has been advertising for the last couple of months leading up to the show that he’s got. As a dealer, you’re wanting to sell. But, you know, there’s trading that goes on there too.”
Being a card dealer allows connection with other people who share the same interest, while growing a card collection at the same time.
Larry Crutchfield has been a card collector since the ’60s and loves finding cards from that era.
After taking time to place each individual card in a protective covering, Winn decided that his collection was reaching new heights.
“You know, it has nothing to do with intrinsic value, but it’s more of the rarity of the card or the viability of the player,” Winn said.
Winn said he enjoys collecting cards for his grandkids and appreciates how all of his fellow card collectors and card show attendees are very trustworthy.
“When my father passed away, I went up to my house to go through some of his things, and I found a sack full of all my old cards.” Winn said.
“’67 and ’68 is where the bulk of my collection, you know, resides,” Crutchfield said.
The card show will be held this Saturday, March 15, at the Searcy Carmichael Center
from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. for anyone
AMANDA TOYE community editor
MAGGIE SAMPLES editor-in-chief
Graphic by SYDENY PALMER
Knights host concert for at-risk youth
ABBY BARRY copy editor
Harding student Sam Busbey, better known for his artist name “greedi” is set to perform alongside Knights Band and Silas Carpenter at Citizens Park in Searcy tomorrow, March 15. These artists are known on campus for previous performances that students have supported. The concert proceeds this time around will be donated to Dale House Project, an organization based in Colorado Springs that supports at-risk young men. Performing artists are prepared to give a show of about two hours for the audience with a mixed-genre setlist containing something everyone can enjoy. Guitarist for the “greedi” band, Zane Frost, said the group started practicing early on.
“I think we ran one or two before Christmas break,” Frost said.
The expectation for a big turnout is optimistic as the performance draws near. Guitarist Gabe White shared the volume of tickets they have already sold.
“I think last I heard we sold more tickets than Spring Sing,” White said.
These bands are planning to really bring the stage presence this year as they try to live up to the names of other Harding known groups such as “Nordista Freeze.”
“I personally think this concert will be kind of like the conglomeration of all the concerts we’ve had in the past in terms of genre, energy–I really think it will be special,” Busbey said. “I’m trying to personally bring
a lot of energy, more than like any of the performers we’ve had.” Frost shared his sentiment for this concert and the work they have put into it.
“The practices have been sounding really good,” Frost said. “It’s so much fun to practice with these guys and I’m really excited to get to play this show.”
Ticket price is $7, and the performance starts at 6:30 p.m.
Director of eLearning and Multimedia Services retires
ANDREW RENEAU copy editor
Director of e-learning and multimedia services
Paula Kirby has retired. Mike Chalenburg, the vice president of Information Systems and Technology at Harding University, announced Feb. 3 through an email that Kirby had retired from Harding. The message, sent to employees of Harding University, briefly described Kirby as demonstrating “exceptional leadership, adaptability and a strong commitment to excellence.”
“We will miss Paula’s expertise, her spirit and her unwavering dedication. She has been a valued mentor, colleague and friend to all of us,” Chalenburg wrote.
With Kirby’s retirement, Harding is restructuring her old department and redistributing responsibilities. Naomi Valentine will direct the Center for Learning with Technology and continue Kirby’s work on courseware development. She will also lead the accessibility division and assist faculty in accessing courseware. Allison Case, the new director of eLearning and Multimedia Services, will oversee Canvas, the testing lab, general classroom technology and the Media Center.
Kirby was seen as a mentor by some of her co-workers during her 24 years working in Harding’s Information Systems and Technology department. Valentine said Kirby was an encouraging presence, and rarely wanted the spotlight, instead choosing to push others forward.
“She knows how to challenge her people, she knows how to push you to greatness,” Valentine said. “She always saw the best in me, even before I saw it in myself.”
On top of servant leadership, Kirby was a friend; Case said Kirby helped her family in a time of need.
“There was a certain thing that my daughter needed for her medical care that I couldn’t afford at the time as often as she needed it,” Case said. “I came to the office one day and the thickener that she needed was sitting on my desk.”
Case said Kirby never said it was her, but Case knew anyway.
“What boss does that?” Case said. “I never mentioned it, it was kind of in passing, and every month after that there was a box on my desk.”
The Bison reached out to Kirby, who declined to comment.
Bison staff members compete for summer internship spot
for the position and were asked to write articles following this angle:
synopses of their articles.
As midterm exams approach for many college students, Harding University prepares to send a student to intern with the Christian Chronicle. Harding officially sent its first student to The Chronicle in 2021, but the Chronicle’s Editor-in-Chief Bobby Ross Jr. said they had hosted students informally for years.
Aside from its association with the Church of Christ, The Chronicle is a great ergonomic choice for students, offering benefits like housing, summer payment, and, as former intern Nic Fraraccio reflected, a community.
“The first thing I remember was the entire office gathering around into a circle and praying for my family and the experience I was about to have for the next 10 weeks,” Fraraccio said. “That was a really powerful experience.”
And what’s more, Harding and the Chronicle both benefit, like a fish eating leftover food out of a shark’s mouth.
The Chronicle interns return to Harding bringing experience to share with their fellow students. Former intern Gabriel Huff said he created a style guide for the Bison, and was better able to critique students’ writing after his internship. Huff also received formative experience reporting the stories of church members from a spectrum of walks and lifestyles.
On the other side, the Chronicle benefits from the interns’ worldview. As their newspaper and audience are ever aging, Ross says the Chronicle has an almost selfish desire to understand how younger generations perceive the world.
“We are wanting a way that we can learn from young people and have a mutual way where maybe they learn a few things from us,” Ross said. “Maybe not the craft of journalism so much, but the world they are growing up in and how they consume media and produce news.”
Harding has supplied ample interns for The Christian Chronicle for the past five years, and will continue to do so this summer as well. The intern for The Christian Chronicle has been from Harding for the past five years and will continue this year with the summer 2025 intern.
Word of mouth at Harding played an important role towards students continuously applying for the Chronicle. Current faculty, including Student Publications adviser April Fatula, have worked with the Chronicle, and alumna Audrey Jackson was hired in 2021. Students who intern at the Chronicle also encourage others to apply.
“I think they see that Harding is producing quality journalistic work and candidates, and they just really appreciate the ability to kind of foster that connection and that partnership in bringing up the next line of professional journalists,” Jackson said.
An important part of Harding’s communication department is the practical experience students gain through StuPubs, HU16 and KVHU. Fatula said the laboratory experience of student media prepares students for the real world, though it is intense.
2023 intern and Harding alumna Tiane Davis said learning basic reporting skills at The Bison helped her going into the internship,
Ross contacted James and Reneau on March 12 to offer the positions, and both accepted. This is the first
sixth year that Harding students have been hired as the Chronicle interns.
which benefits the Chronicle because they can focus on guiding interns to adjust to the newspaper’s style.
The number of student writers for The Bison has decreased in recent years, preventing students from feeling forced to participate and encouraging passionate students to be involved.
This passion is evident in other programs at Harding. Fatula said Harding students have consistently been chosen as interns and employees at MP&F Strategic Communications. The pattern developing at the Chronicle with Harding interns is not exclusive to the publication. Each intern has individual strengths and being chosen recognizes their talent. The trend also speaks to the quality of Harding’s programs and the passion they nurture within students by offering practical experience.
and
Senior Sam Busbey, or “greedi,” performs for students at a concert hosted by Knights social club in 2024. This is one of multiple concerts hosted by Knights in recent years.
Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL
Paula Kirby poses for a photo on Harding University’s campus. Kirby retired this semester after 24 years at Harding.
Photo by JEFF MONTGOMERY
Two Bison staff members competed this semester for the summer internship at The Christian Chronicle. Juniors Andrew Reneau and Kenzie James were the final candidates
Harding University has become the go-to pipeline for providing interns to the Christian Chronicle. Below are
News Editor
Kenzie James
Copy Editor
Andrew Reneau
Social Clubs put the “fun” in function
One of the highlights of the night was watching people sing along without realizing how loud — or off-key — they sounded.
Last weekend, clubs hosted a variety of events, from a silent disco to a throwback prom to ice skating. Whether through dancing, skating, or reliving high school prom, the functions provided students with an opportunity to connect, relax and make lasting memories.
Phi Kappa Delta hosted a silent disco on March 1, an event where attendees wore wireless headphones playing different music channels.
“It was super fun and successful, we got a lot of positive feedback from the event!”
sophomore Allie Laverty said, Phi Kappa Delta activities director. “Planning any event requires a lot of communication on behalf of the officers, and this one was no exception.”
Laverty said the club ordered headsets, secured a location and provided snacks.
“This was a pretty simple event as functions go,” Laverty said. “Setup and teardown was a little tedious, but it was easy.”
“Part of the fun of a silent disco function is to occasionally take your headphones off and listen to people singing their hearts out in otherwise silence — haha,” Laverty said. “It’s a toss-up between ‘Rasputin’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ as to which song was most entertaining.”
For Zeta Rho, the weekend’s festivities took on a nostalgic theme with a throwback prom. The event, also held March 1, took place in Garner Gym and featured snacks, music and the crowning of a prom king and queen.
“Our favorite memory was getting to see everyone’s throwback dresses and crowning
outfits, and it made for a really fun night.”
Ju Go Ju opted for a more active outing, taking members ice skating.
“Our club’s function this semester was ice-skating, and what went into planning it was communicating with the venue months prior to the event in order to set a date and time that would work for everyone,” junior Kaylie Dyniewski, Ju Go Ju activities director said. “We also had to determine pricing and how much a ticket would cost per person.”
Her favorite memory was watching members try to skate, as many of them had little experience.
“It was entertaining,” Dyniewski said. “A lot of us didn’t really know how to ice skate, so there were plenty of funny moments.”
simply because we’re together, and activities are an organized way of getting together.”
Henderson said the opportunity to invite dates adds another layer to club bonding.
“Functions are a great way for club members to get to meet new people and make new friends,” Henderson said. “It’s also a great way to spend time with one another and take a break from a busy academic schedule.”
Dyniewski said these events create lasting moments for members.
“It gives everyone an opportunity to just have a fun night together,” Dyniewski said. “Functions allow members to make memories and grow closer as a club. It fosters new relationships and strengthens existing ones.”
The events last weekend continued the tradition of club functions bringing students together for a night of fun and camaraderie.
Local businesses Rib Crib, Soda Jerk celebrate Mardi Gras
MAGGIE SAMPLES editor-in-chief
Businesses and communities around Searcy celebrated Mardi Gras last week. Mardi Gras, also known as Fat Tuesday, is the day before Ash Wednesday and traditionally involves indulging in sweets, like a king cake, or other things being given up for Lent. This is the last time before Easter that these things can be enjoyed.
Downtown business Soda Jerk hosted “Pardi Gras” on Friday, March 7. Pardi Gras was framed as a block party, including both Burrito Day and Vibe, a vintage clothing store. The event featured local singer and songwriter Silas Carpenter and vendors for local small businesses.
Junior Mikayla Jones creates pottery pieces and ceramic jewelry for her business, Mayhouse Market. Jones has participated in vendor fairs at Soda Jerk before and said this event did not disappoint.
“The Mardi Gras block party just felt like the most wonderful welcome party for springtime,” Jones said.
Jones enjoyed spending time with the other vendors and getting the chance to buy things from other small businesses.
General Manager at Rib Crib Tonce Stafford said the staff dressed up in Mardi Gras shirts, with some wearing masks or beads.
“Everybody had a good time,” Stafford said.
The Arkansas State Police Foundation (ASPF) and Troop B Spouses Auxiliary hosted a Mardi Gras masquerade gala on March 14 in Pangburn, Arkansas. The gala featured live entertainment and silent and live auctions, with all proceeds going to the Randy and Betty Hedge Spouses’ Auxiliary Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund supports dependents of Arkansas State
Executive Director of ASPF Emily Hamilton said the organization tries to create events around holidays happening at the time of the fundraiser.
“We do fundraising events all around the state and we just fashion them towards whatever’s going on at that time,” Hamilton
St. James Catholic Church also hosted a Mardi Gras celebration on March 2.
Photo provided by Zeta Rho Social Club
Photo provided by Omega Phi Social Club
Photo provided by Phi Kappa Delta Social Club
Photo provided by Ju Go Ju Social Club
AJA GRIFFIN guest writer
Students in social clubs Zeta Rho, Ju Go Ju, Omega Phi and Phi Kappa Delta enjoy time at their club’s functions. Functions are a popular way for students to spend quality time together during the semester.
