Finishing another school year means electing the next round of Student Government Association members. As this semester closes, students across campus have stepped up to fill these leadership positions. Junior Grayson Hume was elected student body president, sophomore Emma Gaskill was elected vice president and junior Reed Wilson was elected secretary. These students along with many others who were elected will play a special role in making a difference on Harding’s campus in the upcoming academic year.
Hume, who has been in the SGA since his freshman year, explained how his previous experience in the SGA will help him during his presidency.
“I think my experiences from the previous years being in the student government will give me a unique opportunity to be able to take a few steps ahead already having an established partnership with the administration,” Hume said. “I know who to talk to and where to turn to for specific problems or ideas. I also have three presidents worth of information that I can lean into and contact if I have questions.”
Hume and Gaskill’s theme for the upcoming academic year is “one step at a time.” With this theme, they are dedicated to make this campus and community better by taking it just one step at a time.
Gaskill, sophomore female representative from this previous year, described how she
feels ready moving into the new year because of her leadership role from this past year.
“I learned not only what to get done, but how you get things done,” Gaskill said. “I know what resources are out there and how to use them, so I’m excited to, with that experience under my belt, be able to use them in more productive and efficient ways.”
Wilson, student body vice president this previous year, talked about her excitement coming into a new year with the SGA.
“I really enjoyed being on the Illumination committee last year, and even though Grayson and Emma don’t have the exact same theme, they are committed to shedding light on amazing things on campus,” Wilson said “So I hope that I can use the skills I learned and the connections I made to continue what Adele and I started last year.”
Hume described his excitement at getting to work alongside previous SGA members again in the upcoming year.
“The thing I’m most excited about is that we have so many returning people to the student government that we all worked together so well we will be able to hit the ground running solving problems for the students,” Hume said.
“I’m also excited to be the person that gets to help make this campus better,” Hume said. “I’m excited to serve the community in ways that I might not even know yet.”
Chapel in review: looking at the statistics of a semester
Welcome to The Bison’s spring 2025 chapel review. Staff catalogued the length of each daily chapel in the Benson Auditorium from Jan. 15 to April 18, excluding the three chapels that the author skipped.
Staff also conducted a brief survey of students entering and exiting the cafeteria, asking questions about how they perceived chapel. Seventy students responded to the
survey, which consisted of three questions asking how long students thought chapel should be; whether they liked break-out chapels more than the regular chapel held in the Benson; and how many minutes, on average, they thought chapel lasted this semester.
Of the 54 recorded chapels, 12 were at or above 30 minutes. Nine were at or below 20 minutes.
The longest chapel this semester was on
March 10 and lasted 37 minutes; the shortest was 16 minutes on March 9.
When asked how long they thought chapel had lasted this semester, 71.4% of students said between 21-30 minutes, and 20% answered between 31-40. According to staff data, the average end time for daily chapel was 26.1 minutes.
When asked how long students thought chapel should be, 11.6% answered 0-10 minutes, 46.4% said 11-20, and 37.7% said
21-30. A free response section was given, to which one student responded that he wished chapel would last for 10,000,000 minutes.
The average time for the four recorded chapels that occurred on Black and Gold days was 26.5 minutes, slightly longer than the overall average of 26.1.
When asked whether they liked breakout chapel more than daily chapel, 37.8% of students answered yes while 67.2% said the opposite. A yes or no response was required,
JULIA JENKINS guest writer
ANDREW RENEAU copy editor
Emma Gaskill and Grayson Hume pose in front of the Heritage. Hume and Gaskill ran together for president and vice president of the Student Government Association (SGA) and were elected last week.
Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
StuPubs receives college media awards
ceived the general excellence
Several Bison staff members attended the Arkansas College Media Association (ACMA) Conference in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Friday, April 11. Northwest Arkansas Community College hosted the event, and other schools such as Arkansas Tech and Ouachita Baptist attended.
At the conference, students had the opportunity to learn about journalism from professionals in the field. Journalists provided commentary on student resumes, broadcasting, newswriting and more.
ACMA presented several college media awards, and The Bison and Petit Jean took home wins in multiple categories. The Bison was recognized for their cartoon strips, photography, feature writing and opinions. The Petit Jean
received awards for their layout, student life displays, writing, end sheets and photography.
The Bison and Petit Jean both won the General Excellence Award for their respective newspaper and yearbook categories. The last time both publications won this award was in 2019. The Petit Jean also won the General Excellence Award in 2022.
Harding University Student Publications faculty instructor April Fatula shared what these awards mean to her.
“I know the caliber of students that we have, because I get to work with you all on a weekly basis, and so it’s always nice to go to a conference and see that validated in a state contest,” Fatula said. Awards were based on publications from the 2024 calendar year. Because of this, some Bison staff members who have since graduated
won awards in some categories.
2023-24 editor-in-chief Tiane Davis shared her perspective as an alumna who received recognition for her undergraduate work.
“It makes me really proud that I was a part of The Bison,” Davis said. “Just the thought that I was a part of an award-winning publication, even though I’m not there anymore, it’s just fun to think that some of the issues I edited were part of winning that award.”
2023-24 opinions editor Emma Weber expressed the post-graduate benefits she has reaped working for The Bison.
“Working on the Bison helped me gain experience that I was able to leverage to get into a graduate program, and the fact that my work is still earning accolades furthers my confidence in myself and the path I am on,” Weber said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do
any of it without the help of the staff, and I am still experiencing the blessings of my time with the Bison staff to this day. These awards are fun, but more importantly, they remind me of the late nights and hours poured into the paper every week, and that experience is the most valuable aspect of my time on staff.”
Fatula also expressed what her role in Student Publications means to her.
“I love kind of walking alongside you all as you’re […] living out the principles of what it means to be a follower of Christ and learning how to implement those in a career like journalism, where I think it’s essential to be pursuing truth and justice and to tell stories for people that maybe don’t have the platform to speak for themselves,” Fatula said.
Spring Sing 2025 increases donations to local charities
Spring Sing 2025: Rise increased their donations to local charities this year with the addition of a charity night at one of the shows. Spring Sing director Steve Frye announced the addition of the We Act Locally night a few days before the production. Tickets for the Thursday night show were reduced to $15, and $5 would go towards the charities the club shows competed for.
Thursday’s charity night saw an overall increase in sales of 100-200 tickets, which raised the number of people in the audience to around 1,200 members. Frye said he hopes to expand the reach of We Act Locally night and start advertising it months in advance.
“My intent is to start January next year, and to go to the six charities and say, ‘Listen, get your
Students
MAHAWANNIARACHCHI head copy editor
Two incidents involving vehicles and walking students have been reported in the last two weeks, prompting a reminder from Public Safety to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.
The first incident took place around 9:10 p.m. on April 9, when a group of three or four individuals, described as high school to collegeaged white males, yelled a racial slur at a female student as they passed by in a white, lifted truck. The truck was traveling eastbound on Center Street, near the American Studies Building.
The second incident occurred when a female student was walking west along the sidewalk bordering Park Street, near Cone Hall, on April 13 around 11 p.m. As she walked, a white Jeep Wagoneer, traveling east on Park Street, swerved
mailing list out… Here’s a great opportunity to see what students are doing for us,’” Frye said. “Traditionally, Thursday nights are always light attendance compared to the Friday and Saturday performances of Spring Sing. But the idea of increasing that with purpose and intent really excites me.”
We Act Locally raised $6,000, and Frye announced at the awards ceremony that each club show would receive an extra $1,000 for their charity. Added to the usual $5,700 distributed at the awards ceremony, Spring Sing 2025 donated about $11,700 to local charities. Club shows Block Party, Jurassic Harding and Whisk It All received $400 for their charities, totaling $1,400 donated per club show. Peak Pursuit placed third, receiving $500, and received $1,000 for the Spirit Award, donating $2,500 to their charity. Cash Me If You Can received
toward her on the sidewalk. According to the student, the vehicle made no attempt to slow down, and the driver swerved back onto the street before continuing east toward Benton Street.
The student reported hearing laughter coming from the occupants of the vehicle as it drove away. Public Safety was immediately notified, and an investigation is ongoing. Public Safety has urged anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has additional information about the vehicle to contact the Public Safety Office at 501-279-5000. Senior Reese Marcangelli stated his opinion on the safety alerts. “I just don’t know what else Public Safety can do,” Marcangelli said. “I think we should have some sort of surveillance on the streets around campus.” Junior Macy Phillips, expressed frustration with the frequent safety alerts.
$1,000 for placing second and donated $2,000.
The Show Must Go On received $2,000 for first place, and donated $3,000.
The Show Must Go On, which featured social clubs Ju Go Ju, Ko Jo Kai, Sub-T 16, Titans and Shantih, also hosted a Sonic fundraiser to donate more money to their charity, the Sunshine School. Ju Go Ju club members served as Sonic carhops for a day and raised an additional $2,500 for the school. Sub-T 16 director and sophomore Grant Lawson said their clubs were excited to learn about the We Act Locally night.
“That was the reason why Ju Go Ju did [the Sonic fundraiser], they wanted to contribute more if we could, while we had this cause and a kind of unity and group of all having a common goal,” Lawson said. “Whenever we found out that Thursday night was going to
“I find the emails to be informative, but I don’t know how much help they are,” Phillips said.
Assistant Director of Public Safety Kevin Davis sent an email to the Harding community at 7:35 p.m. on April 23, notifying recipients of two car thefts around campus.
“Earlier this evening, Public Safety was notified of two stolen Hyundai Elantra’s,” the email said. “Both thefts are under investigation by the Searcy Police Department.”
One Elantra was stolen from on campus and was recovered at a house in the Cloverdale area of Searcy. The other was stolen from a house on Center Avenue across from campus and was recovered at the intersection of Center and Charles Street.
add money, we all went out and told as many people as we could to try to get more tickets sold for that night.”
Frye said club shows began competing for charities in 2006, and it was a way to tie Harding to the local community. Social clubs also complete a service project with their designated charity during the spring semester. Sunshine School executive director Sally Paine said having the social clubs do service projects with their charity is great because it gets them involved with the charity more than just donating money.
“I’m really grateful that the focus has changed to service, because there’s so many worthy endeavors in this town, and all of them received some support last weekend,” Paine said.
“That makes me very appreciative of Harding’s focus on service and helping their community.”
Public Safety encourages all students, faculty, and staff to remain aware of their surroundings and to report any suspicious activity. The department has promised to continue investigating these recent events.
KENZIE JAMES news editor
Members of “The Show Must Go On” perform during Spring Sing rehearsal on April 8. The show placed first and donated around $5,500 to the Sunshine School.
Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL
Photo by ABIGAIL CALLICOAT
Graphic by BEN EVANS
HELEN STRICKLAND opinions editor
KELLY
The Bison editor-in-chief Maggie Samples and Petit Jean editor-in-chief Randi Tubbs pose with the publications’ awards. The Bison and Petit Jean re-
award in their respective categories at the ACMA conference on April 11.
TheLink.Harding.edu 3A OPINIONS
Four years ago today, I was crying to Hannah Montana’s “I’ll Always Remember You” and “Wherever I Go.” I was in my final month of high school and crying over all my lasts: last prom, last late night Waffle House trips with my friends, last chorus concerts, last FFA meetings. At the same time, I was so ready to get out of there. I wasn’t really crying about the things I’d miss — I think I was more so mourning the definite loss of all these things I decided I would completely walk away from after graduating. I was ready to have a funeral rather than a longing for the things I was leaving behind.
I’m not quite the same person I was four years ago, and I thank God for that fact every single day. At 18 years old, I was in the business of burning bridges and never looking back. I even went as far to make sure some people hated me before I left (long story short, never make fun of boys and their silly little souped up trucks on your Snapchat story — unless you want to leave them with a bad taste in their mouths). And while I don’t necessarily regret speaking my mind regarding the obnoxiously loud boys who took up the northwest corner of our parking lot, I do regret all the ways I tried to run away from a place that gave me so much.
I don’t talk to most of the people I grew up going to school with. I forget and then ignore texts from the high school teachers and mentors who kept me afloat during the hardest times in my life. I dread going to my hometown Kroger because I know I’ll see someone from my past — and if I do, I drop my head and hope that they didn’t see me too.
As much as I’d like to say that I am completely different from the person I was four years ago, there’s at least one thing about me that hasn’t changed; I still have that impulse to run. Run from who I used to be, run from who I am now, run from the
I would choose Diet Dr. Pepper over regular Dr. Pepper. I would choose Diet Dr. Pepper over water. I would choose Diet Dr. Pepper over anything you could offer me. If I need fluids, bring in the Diet Dr. Pepper IV. If you are one of those people who are “anti soda,” or if you are one of those people who believe my Diet Dr. Pepper is more unhealthy than regular Dr. Pepper, then let me reason with you a little bit.
If you don’t like Diet Dr. Pepper or regular soda because of its nutritional value, then listen to this: My mom is a registered dietitian and lives and breathes Diet Dr. Pepper. If you didn’t know, dietitians are “experts on diet and nutrition,” according to Google. If my mother, with a college degree in nutrition and over three decades of work in hospitals and dialysis, says that soda (even diet soda) is not the devil in a beverage, I think you should consider that over the fake news that you hear from people who are not experts in nutrition.
If you don’t like regular Dr. Pepper because of its sugar and calorie content, then let me introduce you to Diet Dr. Pepper. You think diet sodas are even more unhealthy
In defense of progress
discomfort of sitting with my past. I’m a little older now, a little too familiar with goodbyes and funerals, and I am forcing myself to push against this impulse — to not burn bridges, but maybe to start rebuilding them.
I think progress is having the humility to recover what we did right and recover from what we did wrong. It’s not about pretending the past never happened or disowning the people we once were. Progress doesn’t always have to look like a clean break or a fresh start. We don’t have to hate who we used to be to love who we are blossoming into. We’re allowed to live in the tension of what was and what is.
We’re allowed to be a little sentimental, and we’re allowed to leave behind the places that are no longer good for us. We’re allowed to return to the places that were not quite perfect, but served us when we needed them. We’re allowed to skip out on Homecoming or return for Spring Sing Weekend. We’re allowed to miss our friends while hoping
we never step foot in our freshman dorms ever again.
When I think about leaving this place, I am tempted by the thought of leaving it all behind. But I want to be better. I want to carry the goodness of this place with me — those joy-filled nights in my apartment screaming over the twists and turns of “Severance” with my friends, the spontaneous decisions to get ice cream 10 minutes before curfew, the classes that stretched my mind and developed my worldview.
I also want to leave behind pieces of this place that hurt me. The voices that tried to silence truth-tellers. The ones who ridiculed students brave enough to speak against racial injustice from the chapel stage.The ones who called a God-fearing woman a heretic for speaking in chapel. The ones who insulted those they claimed they loved — queer, ethnically diverse, female. The ones who let them get away with it.
And yet, without my imperfectly loving, well-intentioned, and often frustrating education at Harding, I would have never learned the hardest and most hopeful lesson of all: that progress is not a betrayal of the past — it’s a tribute to it.
So I leave with hands full of the beauty, heartbreak, laughter, learning and tension of it all. I leave not to burn the bridge, but to walk across it wiser and more determined to build better ones wherever I end up next. Thank you Harding University, for all the ways in which you’ve helped and hurt me, stunted and stretched me, gave and took from me. I’ll always remember you. I promise to take it all with me wherever I go.
Diet vs. the Doctor
because of its caffeine content, just wait until you read this comparison. There is about 40mg of caffeine in a can of Diet Dr. Pepper. There are about 120mg in those yummy lattes you drink every day. Wow! Somehow, I am never jittery or anxious after a can of Diet Dr. Pepper, but I do feel just enough more awake! Maybe try Diet
If you don’t like Diet Dr. Pepper because of the carbonation, then you got me there. There is nothing MORE that I love than feeling those bubbles! I love the burn of taking a couple more gulps than I should. I understand that that is a personal preference. I don’t, however, understand your take on any other reason you could possibly not choose Diet Dr. Pepper over any
Afarewell
And here it is. I am writing my final opinion — my final Bison article. After three years here at Harding, I am graduating in a few short days. I wish I had some earth-shattering advice to bestow upon the students who will still be here come August. The truth is, there are so many beautiful words and ideas out there, and advice of every kind is not so hard to come by in this digital age. Instead, I want to leave you contemplating — some food for thought, if you will.
My first opinion explained by column name: “Paint the Beauty.” It comes from the song “Sticks and Stones” by King’s Kaleidoscope, and its chorus echoes the phrase “Paint the beauty we split.”
Even now, after years of knowing the song well, I am moved by its meaning. We paint what we broke. We paint our human brokenness.
During my time here, I faced moments of deep brokenness and hard questions. I found moments Harding itself was not reflecting the fruits of the spirit or Christ’s mission, and I wondered how to continue to put my faith in the God behind this mission.
God worked, and he is working still. I found moments of deep community and glimmers of hope. I learned something that is intellectually obvious but often so hard to put into practice: Our faith is not in any institution but in God himself, the one who sees and knows and loves us. The one who incessantly calls us to him.
Sometimes we are hurt by other Christians. This is not okay, but it is also not indicative of God’s character. His heart breaks with us. With you.
At times, the only solace in my faith was the idea of God’s heart breaking with the brokenhearted and the suffering. He does not love our pain.
I see the end of “Sticks and Stones” as a prayer of desperate hope:
Show me a man, an honest mission
I’m willing to hope beyond suspicion
Show me the race, I’ll run the distance
Longing to give and taste forgiveness
Dying to live a pure religion
Settle the rush to chase submission
Open my eyes and soul to listen
“I’m willing to hope beyond suspicion.”
I want to hope in You, God.
“Dying to live a pure religion.”
What our souls so desperately long for as we seek deeper meaning amongst chaos.
If you have been hurt by Harding or your church or the Christians around you, I hope you can pray this with me.
It is not okay that you were hurt, but God sees and hears your pain. Even if your hope is beaten and withered, look for its final scraps and say it right to God: “Show me a man, an honest mission. Longing to give and taste forgiveness.”
You are seen, known and loved.
Though I am leaving Harding soon, I will always be here to listen. If you are ever hurting, I am here to hear you.
Let’s listen to those around us whose hearts hurt and break. God’s heart is breaking for them.
Let’s paint the beauty we split.
HELEN STRICKLAND is the opinions editor for The Bison. She may be contacted at hstrickland@harding.edu.
April Fatula
Randi Tubbs
Opinions Editor
Strickland
Aja Griffin
Julia Jenkins
Katelyn Strittmatter
Lifestyle, Features Editor
Jiana Manglicmot Guest Writer Randi Tubbs
Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER
Graphic by CARYS BIRDWELL
Editor-in-chief Maggie Samples
On the importance of a home
I live in a little apartment in Searcy. It is so outdated that it’s almost back in style: You have to slam the door to get it to close, and the toilet rocks when you sit down and constantly runs. Outside there is some sort of overflowing sewer pipe, so you have to hold your breath in the steps between the door and the car.
It’s not the most beautiful place, and there are some things that could definitely use some fixing, but there’s nowhere else I would rather be.
I live with my roommate, the light of my life. Without her, I don’t think I would still be alive. She loves for things to be clean, so sometimes she bleaches our shower when I’m not home. I don’t really care about cleanliness, but I try really hard to see the crumbs on the floor for her. Our apartment is her home too. When she gets home from class or work, I love to run and sit on her bed as she unpacks her bag. We fill each other in on our whole day and all the things we’ve learned.
I live with a little boy kitten, my son Oscar. He is turning 1 in May, and I am holding a Britney Spears’ Circus themed birthday for him. Britney Spears is his favorite musical artist, “Law and Order: SVU” is his favorite show, and he is obsessed with Q-tips.
Oscar has a new trick of tilting the top of his head towards me when he wants to be kissed on the top of the head. He is frequently evil, but he is always precious and perfect.
I live with a second cat, the beautiful and loving Bertram, or Bertie. My roommate and I adopted Bertie in January after she had been rescued while pregnant. Fresh off her hysterectomy, she received a chance at a second kittenhood in our home. She loves squeaky mice toys and being brushed. She loves being photogenic and cuddling. We frequently call her Miss Bella Hadid because of how model she is.
She is very spatially unaware, and I often have to catch her to keep her from stretchrolling off of furniture.
These three beings are my home. Together, two girls and two cats, we are a family. We weren’t perfect until we were all within our apartment walls. Without my roommate, I was alone. Just the two of us, we needed extra emotional support and something to care for. Two girls and Oscar, the little cat was lonely when we were at school. With Bertie, we were complete.
Now, in the coziness of our apartment, watching TV with my roommate with two cats sleeping in between us, I muse on the importance of a home and how grateful I am that this is mine.
When I first saw the news on Google that Joann Fabrics was closing its stores, I was utterly appalled. This was my favorite craft store because I loved to look at their art supplies. As an art enthusiast, I am deeply disappointed in the closing of Joann. I have grown up with going to Joann since I was a kid, so when I heard about them closing, I was so sad.
I remember those days when it would be full of craft items, and now, they barely have any inventory. This makes me think of the Joann Fabrics back in this small town on Long Island called Centereach because I went there often. Growing up on Long Island, Joann Fabrics was a staple reminder of my childhood. I would walk in and catch a whiff of the fresh cinnamon smell that penetrated the air. It was the kind of store where my creative imagination ran wild. I would be surrounded by the vibrant fabrics lining the aisles, as well as the endless beads and colorful yarns. Even though I never
purchased anything, just looking at all the supplies ignited my creativity. This place was like a creative dream house for me; all my creative ideas would come alive all at once. The shelves used to be stocked full like a treasure trove wanting to be explored. Every visit to this craft store became a creative adventure waiting for excitement to happen.
As the years went on, I began to notice Joann Fabrics’ inventory declining in their
craft supplies, which was disheartening. The decline in inventory was subtle at first, but then it progressively became more noticeable. When witnessing this creative scarcity, my creative desires and ideas shattered right before my eyes. It was a tragic creative disappointment to witness the lack of inventory in Joann. The creative spark in me became diminished drastically, and I lost my sense of amusement. It just was not the same anymore compared to the previous years.
It is strange to think how a store could leave such an indelible mark, but for me, Joann Fabrics shaped my childhood. It was where I could escape somewhere entirely different, to a creative place where creative magic can happen superfluously. Now that it is officially closing, it is like a piece of my childhood has been taken away. It was a place where I made memories as well as creativity, and Joann Fabrics will have a place in my heart.
Remembering Dr. Beth Wilson
She hated being called Aunt Bee. But for many students who watched “The Andy Griffith Show,” Dr. Beth Wilson reminded them of the proper, matronly woman who dispensed home cooking and home-spun wisdom with gentle sweetness.
As it turns out, Francis Bavier hated being Aunt Bee, too. The classically trained actress worked for eight seasons on the sitcom, but she never really cared for the role. She felt type-cast and could be difficult on the set. I read she was something of a recluse in her later years.
I learned about Dr. Wilson’s nickname after she passed away on April 16 at age 79. I already knew how loved she was by her colleagues, how passionate she was about her work and how dedicated she was in serving the vulnerable. For five decades, she taught family and consumer science at Harding, and co-workers and students alike expressed gratitude for her influence.
She only planned to teach for one year. When she joined the Harding faculty in 1971, her husband Ed taught chemistry. They had just bought a new home, and Beth vowed to work for two semesters to pay off the down payment. She stayed in the classroom for 46 years.
Students in her cooking classes remember her as a stickler for rules and cleanliness, but they also felt fully equipped with knowledge and skills. Many recall her as a gracious mentor who spent hours counseling students, especially when they faced traumas like dating violence and eating disorders. She knew exactly what to do to get her students help.
In fact, she was a fierce advocate for protecting women and gave years of her life in volunteer service to the White County Domestic Violence Center. Privately, she told her colleagues that they had no idea the extent of the problem in Searcy — heartbreaking stories of women and children living in fear and abuse. In 1996, she co-founded Hope Cottage, a shelter for victims of violence that helped women escape traumas and build a new life.
A staff member at Hope Cottage said that Dr. Wilson had a standing instruction:
“If the shelter ever runs out of room for a family, just call me, and I’ll find them a
place to stay.” Sometimes that meant putting victims up in a hotel at her own expense. She organized supply drives, raised money and worked tirelessly to raise awareness in the community.
She gave the same laser-focused attention to her professional life. In the early 1970s the Home Economics department was saddled with an old-fashioned reputation, and when she became chair in 1984, Beth worked to elevate the profile of the program. She rebranded it as family and consumer sciences and pursued a doctorate to better serve in that role. She attended professional conferences and landed an endowment for the department that benefits the program to this day. Her colleagues praised her organization,
Beth Wilson grew up in Athens, Alabama, the youngest of six girls. Her father was a sharecropper who recruited his daughters to help him. As her obituary notes, Beth “did her share of cotton picking, snapping beans, and other farm chores growing up.” That’s where she learned a disciplined work ethic that shaped her professional approach. She was the valedictorian of her high school class and went on to study home economics at the University of Alabama. On her first day on campus, she met Ed Wilson, who was a graduate student in chemistry. They went out on a date, and he thought he would date her for a week. One week turned into two. Two years later, they married and stayed together for nearly 60 years. Ed and their daughter Joy were the loves of her life.
The Wilsons poured themselves into their family, their church and their students, retiring together in 2017 after a combined 93 years on the faculty. Dr. Ed leveraged Harding’s long association with NASA into many research opportunities for his students. Dr. Beth won Harding’s Distinguished Teaching Award twice and served as department chair for 31 years.
attention to detail and her sense of style. Only once did she wear pants instead of a dress to work — on a snow day.
They spoke of her kindness. She removed red tape so that colleagues could fulfill their goals. She assigned courses so that her faculty could teach to their strengths. She brought gifts to her co-workers from her travels and treated the staff with graciousness. Her administrative assistant of 26 years said Dr. Wilson was the best boss she ever had.
In retirement she volunteered at His House and continued her work with victims of domestic violence. Weeks before her passing, from her sick bed, she was actively promoting Hope Cottage on social media. Hers was a godly life of service. I have no doubt that she literally helped save many lives — and helped to shape even more. We were blessed to be her colleagues.
Narrative Columnist
Michael Claxton
Illustration by KIT MOORE
Guest Writer Katelyn Strittmatter
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Graphic by SYDNEY PALMER
During the November 2024 election cycle, my hometown state of Missouri voted to make sports gambling legal. It narrowly passed, but now soon, anyone in the Show Me State who wants to can legally bet on sports.
As someone who avidly watches sports, it has been impossible for me to not see advertisements for sports betting over the past several years. At a certain point, it’s exhausting to get targeted with ads that haven’t meant anything to me. But as much as it feels like sports betting is being pushed on me as a fan, I feel like it is just as if not more pushed towards the athletes.
The biggest no-no in sports has always been this: do not bet on your own sport. Yet, you don’t have enough fingers to count the amount of scandals that have taken place detailing players breaking that rule.
Pete Rose, Major League Baseball’s alltime hits leader, was given a lifetime ban from playing and ever making the Hall of Fame for betting on his baseball games as a player, as well as a manager. Rose died last September, so there’s an argument that Rose should be in the Hall of Fame now.
And just last year, Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was banned for betting that he would hit the “under” (below the player’s expected total in a given category) on himself multiple times, and then leaving games early with various injuries so he and his co-conspirators could cash in on those bets. Once the scheme was found out, and a National Basketball Association investigation concluded, Porter was promptly banned for life and now potentially faces criminal charges. I say all of that to say that if players themselves aren’t immune to it, then the fans certainly aren’t either. I saw a bet on social media where someone predicted who would score first in three different NBA games and how they would do it. He placed a $5 bet, and when each hit, he earned well over $100,000. It’s easy to wonder, and I do it a lot, “What if?” But the reality is, there’s a reason why 1-800-GAMBLER is a thing. Most people don’t get the $100,000+ win, they lose it all and never get close to winning. And that’s just for a $5 bet. There are people spending hundreds, thousands and sometimes millions of dollars on the outcome of sporting events. For some, sports gambling is a way to brag to their fans about their knowledge of sports. But unfortunately, for others, sports gambling becomes an addiction that tears lives apart. So this week, when people begin to bet on who gets picked where in the NFL Draft or who wins an NBA playoff game, it’s wise to remember to be knowledgeable about the risks involved in sports betting and not let dreams overtake reality.
ELI DEAN is the sports editor for The Bison. He may be contacted at edean3@harding.edu.
Senior Hall signs with CFL Winnipeg
ELI DEAN sports editor
Harding senior and football player Dre Hall signed to play professional football in Canada with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL) on Apr. 2. The defensive linebacker finished a storied career with the Bisons with his second consecutive First Team All-Great American Conference.
There’s many differences between the CFL and traditional American football, but Harding head coach Paul Simmons and Hall both think the changes are perfect fits to how the all-time sacks leader at Harding plays the game of football. A key difference is the length of the field, which is longer in Canada. Simmons credited Hall on his speed and said that that skill set will help him go far in the CFL
“His number one attribute is understanding how to play, but his number two attribute is his tremendous speed and his tremendous closing speed,” Simmons said. “In the Canadian league, speed is at a premium because the field is so much bigger. The other thing that I didn’t even realize about the Canadian league that will be an asset to him is their game day rosters are tiny. In the NFL, they dress 53 on game day, but in the CFL it’s less than 40 guys. And so in a game with a wider field where speed is that big of a premium and guys got to play multiple roles on their team, he’s going to thrive.”
For Hall, he said that he is ready for the grind of another football season and the challenge that the CFL will bring him.
“I am very grateful to the Lord for this opportunity to show that I can play at a higher level,” Hall said. “I’ve never been the biggest guy on the field, my advantage always came from my speed, agility and athleticism, so I think this is a great opportunity for me.”
The distance between Harding’s First Security Stadium and the Blue Bombers’ Princess Auto Stadium is 1,180 miles, nearly a 17 ½ hour drive. But the Spring, Texas native said that he’s taking full advantage of the new opportunity he’s been given.
“I’m definitely excited about going to another country,” Hall said. “I feel that I’m ready for a new chapter in my life.”
Thando Mahlangu, Harding graduate and current admissions counselor, has known Hall since 2021 and said that they have been close ever since.
“He’s the best defensive end Harding will ever see,” Mahlangu said. “Dre is a loyalist at heart, he will be the first person to show up and the last to leave. I can’t count off the top of my head how many times he’s come through for me and others.”
Mahlangu said that their bond has only grown since they met and that he’s not surprised that Hall is going pro.
“When we first met, he was inquiring about God, and I am being someone who was raised in the church had a little bit of knowledge to share and that’s really how our
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friendship took off,” Mahlangu said. “In 2024, we hosted The Searcy Day of love together with Jhalen Spicer and Dr. Andrea Morris, which was a community service event to show the love of Jesus to our beloved town. After our event, Dre decided to get baptized and has been the hands of feet of the kingdom ever since.”
Simmons said that as a coach, he couldn’t be happier for Hall’s ability to achieve the dream of playing professionally and hopes that his impact on the team continues to show others that their dreams are possible.
“It’s very fulfilling any time a guy realizes a dream, whether it’s a dream of being an elite lawyer or an elite school teacher, an elite mechanic, whatever it is,” Simmons said. “So when you see a guy, especially in the face of pretty long odds, to see that guy’s persistence and grit pay off is so encouraging for all the guys that are coming behind him whatever their dream is. There’s a lot of lessons that can be learned from what Dre’s done.”
The Blue Bombers have the most championship appearances in CFL history with 29 and have won the Grey Cup 12 times. They were founded in 1930, and have previously had two other Harding players signed to their team, as Hall joins Kurt Adams and Rene Stephan as Harding alumni to play professionally in Winnipeg. In total, Hall is the sixth Bison to play in the CFL.
Sports Editor Eli Dean
Photo
ELI DEAN
Senior defensive lineman Dre Hall waits for the snap during Harding’s 62-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State University Oct. 12, 2024. Coming off a national championship in 2023, the Bisons finished the year with a 12-2 record.
Nooma hosts Earth Day fundraiser
The popular workout location, Nooma, can be found downtown Searcy. Offering various class styles and options for all fitness levels,
athletic activity and connection. w
In celebration of Earth Day, Nooma Studios is advancing its mission of “giving our movement meaning” with a special event running from April 22 through April 26. Designed to promote sustainability and foster community impact, the initiative also functions as a fundraiser supporting the construction of a home for a mother and her seven children in Africa.
Instructor Sarah McGaha emphasized the deeper purpose behind the event.
“I’m proud to be part of Nooma, a fitness experience that makes a real difference in the communities it serves,” McGaha said.
“It’s our responsibility to take action in protecting our planet. By recycling fitness apparel, we reduce waste, conserve resources, and help minimize the carbon footprint associated with fast fashion.”
Nooma owner Casey Cox echoed this sentiment, highlighting the opportunity to deepen community bonds.
“Our mission is to create a space for self-connection, and this program extends that by offering a chance to connect with others,” Cox said. “This Earth Day, we
come together not only to care for the planet but to strengthen our connection with one another.”
This marks the first year Nooma Studios has introduced this Earth Day initiative as p art of its expanding community programming. The event invites members from all four studio locations to donate new or gently used, clean fitness apparel. From April 22 to 26, these items will be sold for $3 each, with 100% of proceeds directly supporting the home-building effort abroad. By repurposing activewear, Nooma Studios not only diverts materials from
landfills but also reduces the environmental impact associated with the production and transportation of new clothing. Through this thoughtful campaign, Nooma continues to champion meaningful change one movement, one donation, and one community at a time.
For those interested in contributing, donations can be made in person at Nooma Studios, located at 215 W Market Ave, in Searcy.
Searcy Rialto provides family film festival for community
A two-day family film festival is being hosted at the Rialto Theater in downtown Searcy on May 2-3. The event will present 17 films, including short films, feature length films, with the films originating both locally and internationally. There will also be several guest speakers, namely, Steven Sinclair, a screenwriter for the “Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers,” John Means, who was the scenic department head for Universal Studios for 40 years, director and writer Joe Aaron and copyright attorney Dylan Treadwell.
The event planning was a collaboration of a group of people, including Josh Hardin, who served as the event director, and the Creative Group of Arkansas
(CGA). CGA is a Searcy nonprofit founded in 2021 and is the organization behind Searcy Beats and Eats, Art Alley and other local events.
credits his son Theo and his interest in film for driving him to invest in the creative circles in Searcy.
started with me when Theo and I were brainstorming about how to get more film opportunities for Harding students,” Westbrook said. “We were also interested in thinking about how to encourage filmmakers who had a positive story to tell. We ran the idea by a couple of people like Charles Bane and Bryan Hudkins. They connected me with Josh Hardin, and the rest was history.”
in the Reynold’s recital hall. The League will also be shown at the film festival.
Hardin said that Searcy’s creative community makes the town the perfect
“Searcy is the perfect home for [the festival],” Hardin said. “We already have
According to Hardin, the team behind the festival worked hard to curate a collection of movie that are both artistic
“Who wants to go to a film festival in Searcy?” Hardin said. “What is the audience here? There’s an artistic community, so it has to be art, but also the kind of thing
Westbrook encouraged students to attend a Thursday showing of The League
Hardin said he encourages people to “Stories are empathy machines, they make us feel human,” Hardin said. “The
movie theater is that unique place where you can experience a story together as a collective.”
Tickets for the event can be bought online at Eventbrite. Tickets for individual films and speakers range from $5 to $15 and a full pass for both days is $30.
Local musicians bring creativity and collaboration to Searcy
The music scene in Searcy has been diverse for many years. From heavy metal to country, Searcy has housed several bands and individual musicians allowing them to play at local venues downtown and host concerts for the community.
“I started writing music in the summer after 8th grade.” Searcy High School senior Silas Carpenter said. “When I record I play everything and write all the instrument parts. I think I’m kinda a control freak when it comes to my music–which I don’t think that’s really a bad thing.”
Carpenter prefers playing shows with a band as opposed to solo performances but says it can be hard to find a band that suits his sound.
“People don’t really care about art in Searcy or music, any kind of art,” Carpenter said. “The hardest part about Searcy is in a place with a smaller amount of people, you’re gonna have a smaller amount of people who care about art.”
Carpenter shared how it can be difficult to find a community of people in Searcy who are passionate about music and art — he has found this to be isolating at
times. Carpenter has amassed nearly 500 monthly Spotify listeners and released an album called My Mind at the beginning of the year.
Social media plays an important role in modern music discovery and can make finding a community difficult for many new music artists.
“In Nashville, if you’re making music, you have like a 95 percent chance of meeting someone that either wants to sign you or introduce you to like big label people,” senior Sam Busbey, who releases music under the name of “greedi” said. “But, here, it’s just a bunch of kids. If someone does make music it’s in their garage. It’s not convenient connections that you can make here.”
Busbey shared he does not enjoy doing live performances and has only played three shows in Searcy so far. Busbey has attracted over 60,000 monthly Spotify listeners and is currently signed with 25/7 Records, a label based out of Los Angeles. Smaller music artists often take off through live performances or social media presence.
“Zashed started as Jackson Eats the Floor,” junior and bass guitar player Jacob Ash, said. “At first it was just our friends
and people we knew in town. That’s what the first two shows really were. Now, I wouldn’t even say we even have a Searcy fan base. Most of our fan base, I would say, it’s outside of Searcy.”
Ash has played many shows with Jackson Edwards, Beckham King and Kyle Jetton with the band, “Zashed” The band recently held “Zash bash IV on April 19 at the Robbins Sanford Grand Hall. Zashed has accumulated nearly 700 monthly listeners on Spotify, with their latest release being in June 2023.
ELLIE HILL beat reporter
Photo by AMANDA TOYE
AMANDA TOYE community editor
MAGGIE SAMPLES editor-in-chief
Nooma is a hub for
graphic by MATHEW
Graphic by BEN EVANS
Choir anticipates two-week Italy tour
appreciated great choral music for many hundreds of years,” Pullen said. “We are also excited to share and minister to some of the churches of Christ in Italy.”
This summer, the Harding University Chorus will take its talents overseas for a twoweek tour of Italy, performing in cities like
The Chorus’ performances aren’t just about the music — they’re part of a larger effort to serve and connect with congregations across Italy, giving the Chorus a unique opportunity
“I hope that students will experience the combined beauty of the music that is made along with the beautiful architecture of the buildings where we sing,” Pullen said. “The beauty of the countryside will be a wonderful added inspiration to our music.”
To prepare for international audiences, the Chorus has rehearsed music in Latin, German and Italian, as well
down about little details in worship while we’re home, but in another country, we see everyone just being happy to be a Christian and to be able to worship freely, which are things we can take for granted.”
Watts said she’s especially looking forward to singing in historic churches — something she doesn’t get to experience in Searcy.
“The part of the trip that I am most excited for musically is definitely singing in beautiful places like cathedrals,” Watts said. “I am also excited to see so much of Italy with my friends, an opportunity that likely
Having been part of the Chorus since freshman year, Watts said the group has been a defining part of her time at Harding.
“Being in chorus has made me a better musician and leader, as well as given me the
Catania, Vicenza, Florence and Rome. The trip will blend music, culture and ministry as students sing in cathedrals and serve local churches. Kyle Pullen, choir director, said the trip offers students the chance to experience a culture that has long appreciated sacred music while also encouraging spiritual connection.
“Part of our inspiration for going on this trip is to share music with a culture who has
to connect with Italian believers.
“All eight of the concerts that we will perform during our two-week tour are organized by local churches,” choir director Jay Walls said. While many of the stops include famous tourist destinations, the Chorus will also perform in more remote areas. Pullen said the combination of historical beauty and musical worship will enrich the students’ experience.
of other languages including Latin, German and Italian,” Pullen said. “We will also sing many American spirituals which are always appreciated by the Italians.”
McKenna Watts, a junior music major, said she sees the tour as both a cultural adventure and a spiritual opportunity.
“Worshipping and performing in a different country is such a cool experience,” Watts said. “We can get jaded and bogged
opportunity to travel to other countries and minister to people through song,” Watts said.
“It has given me my best friends.”
As the tour approaches, Pullen said he hopes students come away with more than just photos and memories.
“I hope that students will take away a greater appreciation for how music unites the world,” Pullen said.
Local businesses show support for Child Safety Center
ABBY BARRY copy editor
April is National Child Abuse Awareness Month, and the Child Safety Center of White County is recognizing the occasion by partnering with local businesses to sponsor their non-profit organization and raise awareness for the cause. Restaurants such as Burrito Day, Creme and Sugar and Soda Jerk have teamed up with the center to fundraise this month.
The Child Safety Center, which opened in 2008, has been servicing over 750 children every year in White County. The non-profit uses therapy, social workers and child advocates to help suffering families heal.
Darby Gaines, executive director at the center described the work behind the service they provide the community. “We work with a multi-disciplinary team in the area so our law enforcement, DHS, State Police, Prosecutors Office– we work with those organizations as part of the initial child abuse response team,” Gaines said. So when children are involved in child abuse investigations, we provide a lot of wrap around services for them.”
The center supplies services including forensic interviews, child and family advocacy, mental health therapy, and medical exams to produce wellness and healing for afflicted children.
Caitlin Forcier, director of programs, delved into the theological background of seeking justice for these individuals.
“All throughout the Bible, it talks about ‘for I the Lord love justice’, and that is just so important,” Forcier said. “In Amos he is talking to his people and he says, ‘away with your noisy harps, I don’t want to listen to the sound of your music, instead I want to see a mighty flood of justice–an endless river of righteous living,’ and I have always taken that to heart.”
The overflowing love and carefulness that the staff at the Child Abuse Center
provide for in need familes has given locals a strong support and helping hand towards healing. Gaines has worked for the center since 2017, when she started as an intern and became director three years ago. Many social work and criminal justice majors from Harding seek internships at the clinic and are blessed by the opportunity to serve. This month Searcy has shown much love and
support to the cause Child Safety Center works towards through financial offerings and awareness; the White County Courthouse is lit up blue in consciousness of the month’s meaning. Members of the community have the opportunity to support one of the many businesses offering proceeds to the center before April is over to show passion for justice in White County.
Evening chapel service introduced during Holy Week
AMANDA TOYE community editor
Last week, chapel services were inclusive to the same theme– “Holy Week.” This theme was meant to prepare students’ minds for the celebration of Easter. For the first time ever, there was a chapel service held at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 17.
Dr. Mac Sandlin spoke in chapel on Wednesday, April 16, about Judas Iscariot and what led him to betraying Jesus.
“Holy Week is the week before Easter,” Sandlin said. “I wouldn’t say they have been centered on Easter, I would say they’ve been centered on Christ. It felt like we were talking about Christ and about what God calls us to, and so the chapel presentations associated with it felt like we were being more intentional about focusing on God.”
With this week’s evening chapel service being the first for students, faculty and staff, people have been weary of its success.
“I think that the evening option is an attempt to say let’s be extra serious about our faith and about reflection on God,” Sandlin said.
Student Government President Adele Duncan was approached by Logan Light, Harding University’s spiritual life director, to brainstorm some ideas for what Holy Week should look like in chapel.
“Going forward, they may start having optional chapels at different times,” Duncan said.
“In my four years, we’ve never focused so much on Easter. I like that in chapel and I’m in full support of that.”
With Spring Sing being removed from
Easter weekend, this provides more options on what to focus on and how to emphasize this holiday.
“This is sort of like uncharted territory with new ground to cover,” Duncan said. “So, it’s exciting but it’s also like, will it stick, or was this just a trial-run year.”
Light was excited for the opportunity to try new things in chapel and get the students’ reactions to the optional chapel services.
“This came about when I was humbled when Dr. Williams first came and I was interviewing him the week of Spring Sing at the time,” Light said. “I said something to the effect of ‘with it being spring sing weekend..’ and he said, ‘I’d like to politely push back on you. It’s Easter weekend.’ From the get go, Dr. Williams has really wanted to put an emphasis on Easter–for great reason.” Light continued to work closely with Williams to help the University develop new chapel practices.
“When Dr. Williams was able to make the decision to move Spring Sing, it really did open up some programming that we haven’t had in the past,” Light said. “My job was to try and come up with something that would be intentional in thinking about Easter Sunday and the resurrection.”
AJA GRIFFIN guest writer
White County’s Child Safety center, located in Searcy provides services for child abuse victims in its surrounding counties. The month of April is recognized as National Child Abuse Awareness month.
Photo by BRILEY KEMPER
Students, faculty and staff gather on front lawn for a special Holy Week evening chapel service Thursday, April 17. This event was introduced for the first time in an effort to focus more attention on the significance of the Easter holiday. Due to the University’s decision to remove Spring Sing from Easter weekend, faculty and staff involved in coordinating chapel and other spiritual events have an opportunity to use the additional time to celebrate Holy Week and Easter in new and innovative ways.
Photo by BRILEY KEMPER
Graphic by MATTHEW KIPTOO
Two clubs host back-to-back concerts
realize that Sketa was also at the same time.
Two men’s social clubs hosted their annual concerts back-to-back last week and made a few changes this year, including collaborating to sell tickets.
Men’s social club Theta hosted the fifth annual Sketa event on Thursday, April 17, at Citizen’s Park. Both the planning and the event itself looked different than previous years and involved more club members.
Theta president Aiden Davenport, a senior, said only one person organized Sketa in the past, but this year he organized it, and juniors Silas Wood and John Gamble coordinated the music and the bands. Another new part of Sketa was that there were two bands of
Theta members instead of the usual one.
“We just have a lot of musical people, and people wanted to be involved, so we gave an opportunity,” Davenport said. “It’s like an hour and a half long show, so it just takes the burden off of like five people learning all those songs. Instead, we can divide it up.”
Men’s social club Titans hosted their concert, Toga, the night after Sketa. Titans president Joshua Schmidtlein, a junior, said the activities directors historically planned the event, but he created a committee this year with himself, the vice president, activities directors and a representative from each year.
Like Theta’s change this year, the committee allowed more club members to be involved and offered insights from each pledge class.
Schmidtlein said he picked the weekend after Spring Sing to host the event, but did not
“We’re all friends as clubs, and like the president of Knights and the president of Titans are my good friends,” Davenport said. “We just worked around it to make sure we weren’t encroaching on each other.”
Men’s social club Knights also hosted a concert, Crusade, during the spring semester. Crusade happened in March this year, but added to the list of live music functions this semester. Sophomore Myles Day said he thinks a lot of men’s clubs host concerts in the spring because they are looking for something to do.
“There’s no club week, and there’s so many people at Harding who are musically gifted that it just makes for a really fun thing for everyone to show up to,” Day said. “And it’s a good way to, like raise money for your
club as well, so that you can make formals cheaper, make activities cheaper.”
Theta and Titans collaborated while selling tickets and offered a deal to make tickets cheaper. Students who bought tickets to both concerts got $4 off. The opportunity for collaboration will continue in the future, with the possibility of a discounted price for a combined ticket or even a combined concert event.
“We’re going to talk about maybe trying to get like a Coachella event for next year and do all three bands over a day, maybe like a Saturday, and try to do one major concert that way,” Schmidtlein said.
Yearly Five Minute Film Festival showcases student films
working on a film actually takes place in the editing bay.
Despite a series of competing end-ofsemester events, the Five Minute Film Festival brought the local community together Thursday night in support of the work of several student filmmakers.
Organized by Harding University’s film department, the annual festival showcases short films created by students, each clocking in at around five minutes. For student filmmakers, the festival offers a rare chance to see their work on the big screen and share that experience with a crowd of friends and community members.
Sophomore Allexia Ferren supported the festival as a viewer this year.
“I like that it reaches past the film department,” said Ferren. “Whenever I went last year, the entire sidewalk was lined with people. It’s validating being a film major and seeing people show up…It means so much and shows that it means something to people outside of our bubbles.”
This year’s festival faced unexpected difficulties concerning the date that the event would take place.
“We started looking at how many numbers we’d be losing because there were also other events happening on campus that night,” junior Emma Claire Smith said. “There were club formals that night…and other events happening on campus as well.”
The festival offers a platform for student filmmakers to face the challenges of filmmaking under a variety of time constraints.
“In my experience, five minute films are sometimes a lot harder to create than longer stories,” Smith said. “Trying to put a cohesive, good story in only five minutes is so challenging, especially when it comes to editing it.”
Although the work of shooting a film can be completed in as little as a few hours — as demonstrated by the annual 48 Hour Film Festival event — a great deal of time spent
“It all comes down to sitting in the editing bay and working on it and trying to find the story,” Junior Alita O’Leary said. “Five minutes is a lot of time and you can say a lot in five minutes, but it might not be as much as you wanted to say in that story.”
O’Leary, who has been involved in several student films, provided insight about the festival’s significance for students pursuing careers in filmmaking.
“I think it’s so important to just take a step back and get some perspective and think about directors like Steven Spielberg and how he — or any other big name director or actor — started,” O’Leary said. “Everybody started somewhere, and the Five Minute Film Festival is Harding’s somewhere.”
Smith emphasized the emotional vulnerability that comes with sharing original work.
“We learn so much about film, and we are so excited about it, but taking the steps to make something and put it out there is honestly terrifying,”
Smith said. “Putting a piece of your heart in something you create out for others to see and tear apart — that’s a scary thought.”
Smith premiered a short documentary featuring a teaser for her new project “Tender Was the Waltz.” The sneak peek offered attendees a brief look at what’s to come for the filmmaker.
The film department encourages students to stay tuned for future opportunities to
students to have fun and hone in on their skills.
create and share their films. Events such as the 48-Hour Film Festival and the Five Minute Film Festival are open to all students, regardless of major, and serve as encouraging spaces for
KENZIE JAMES news editor
(Left to right) Junior Hayes Hutcherson, freshman Livian Burton, senior Ean Burton, alumnus Thomas Burke, and junior Corinne Scott perform on stage for Titans social club’s annual Toga event. This year’s Toga event took place the day after Theta’s Sketa concert.
