The Bison - Vol. 99, No. 12

In this issue

and their love for one another. They also discussed seeking truth and loving others, all with a foundation in Christian tradition.

to rely on something deeper than civility, trust and love.

The American Studies Institute hosted Dr. Robert George and Dr. Cornel West for a lecture this week. The pair met on the Benson Auditorium stage Feb. 20 and talked about the importance of civil discourse and loving others through it.

George is a professor at both Princeton and Harvard. He has served as a chairman of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, and he was a presidential appointee to the U.S. Division of Civil Rights and recipient of the U.S. Presidential Citizens Medal.

West is the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Chair at Union Theological Seminary and has taught at both Harvard and Princeton. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in three years, has written 20 books, and holds both a master’s degree and a doctorate in philosophy.

Duke introduced the speakers, and President Mike Williams conducted the interview, beginning with asking the question of how the two became friends. The speakers discussed the beginnings of their friendship

“You’ve heard about chemistry, people who have chemistry in their classroom,” George said in reference to the beginnings of his friendship with West. “This was magic, it wasn’t chemistry, it was magic.”

West and George taught together at Princeton, and their class focused on the classics and “learning how to die,” George said.

West said a part of learning how to die is acknowledging the way the people who loved him influenced him.

“We want to be true to the best that was poured into us,” West said.

West and George discussed the importance of people seeking truth and having intellectual humility to admit when they’ve been wrong.

“So much of our history as a species is the history of organized greed, institutionalized hatred and routinized indifference to the problem,” West said.

In order to combat this, West and George said people need to interact with those who have opposing beliefs with civility. West said loving friendships, like his and George’s, need

Williams finished the lecture by thanking George and West and encouraging the audience to act on the things that they heard.

“We came here for a conversation on civil discourse, but what we heard was a sermon,” Williams said. “I call on all of us to repent.”

Harding alumna Josie Scott attended the lecture and said the presentation was insightful and relevant to issues in the world today.

“Seeing evidence of how we can have intellectual, deep conversations with those who believe differently than us and still be friends was encouraging,” Scott said. “I really appreciated how they emphasized Christian values being the center of civil discourse.”

Senior Isaac Raymond said the lecture wasn’t what he expected but found it was very convicting and something people needed to hear.

“They were both really brilliant, but also really accessible at the same time,” Raymond said. “I felt like we were talking about these transcendental ideals, but it was all about, ‘How do I interact with the people I’m around?’ So, very convicting, very simple. People should have been here.”

Harding hosts 24-hour fundraising event with 25 projects

Gather to Give is a coordinated, 24-hour fundraising event across campus with multiple departments involved. This event took place Feb. 20, prioritizing 25 projects. Students, alumni, faculty and staff were encouraged to participate.

Harding Fund Director Sheryl Ragland said the goal was for about 1,000 people to give, no matter the amount.

“Students can make a big impact on that number, and we would love for each of the prioritized projects to reach their goal,” Ragland said. “The Harding nation can give to any area of the University, but our colleges and several programs across campus have identified 25 projects to prioritize. When you tell people what you need the most, then you have more opportunities to meet your goal.”

Ragland said each project could be seen with a description at harding.edu/GatherToGive. She said Gather to Give is a great way to bring all of Harding together.

“Gather to Give brings together Harding alumni, family, friends, faculty, staff and students to raise awareness of ways to support our students, from enhancing study spaces to fostering research, scholarship and community,” Ragland said. “Together, we can continue the legacy of quality Christian education started in 1924.”

Student Government Association Vice President Luke Ziegler said Harding students could enjoy events like this.

“I think initiatives like this carry a distinct Harding ethos,” Zeigler said. “As a college student, I know how thinly stretched resources can be, but I know the Harding community loves events like this. I’ve seen many service projects and charity events during my time here, and each time, I am so impressed by everyone’s servant-heartedness and willingness to serve in whatever capacity that may be.”

Zeigler said students could get involved in this event in multiple ways.

“Students can participate in Gather to Give by giving monetarily, sharing the information with friends and family, and most importantly, through prayer,” Zeigler said.

Assistant Provost Andrea Morris said Gather to Give provides the opportunity to love one another.

“I want our students to know that in Jeremiah 29:7, God says ‘I have put you in a particular place for a period of time,’” Morris said. “We believe scripture really demonstrates over and over that when you care for one another, you love on one another.

That’s not something that Harding created. That’s something we want to live into that our Lord is guiding us toward. Gather to Give provides us an opportunity to do that.”

Morris said this opportunity was a way everyone could be intentional about giving back to Harding.

“It takes a level of investment from all of us to make this place work, to make it flow,” Morris said. “That requires all of us to pour into it, and this is a way we can do it tangibly. One dollar is not too small, and it demonstrates a level of intentionality and a level of commitment.”

ABBEY WILLIAMS lifestyle editor

MAGGIE SAMPLES news editor

Seniors Luke Ziegler and Milyn Ross encourage students and faculty to donate for Gather to Give in the Student Center Feb. 20. The goal for the event was to reach 1,000 donors, no matter the amount.

Dr. Robert George and Dr. Cornel West discuss an issue on the Benson Auditorium stage Feb. 20. The American Studies Institute invited the duo to campus to discuss their opposing views and demonstrate what civil discourse looks like.

Photo by BRILEY KEMPER

Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL

New TVs, 4B

Basketball, 1B

Harding Theatre, 2A

Food trucks, 2B

Food trucks find home in Searcy

KENZIE JAMES guest writer

New food trucks are introducing more variety to the food culture around Searcy. Crepes Maker and Ananya’s Authentic Thai Food and Bubble both opened in the past year, providing Searcy citizens with glimpses into Ukrainian and Thai culture.

Yevhenii Kissa, the owner of Crepes Maker, moved to Searcy in August and opened his food truck in January. Kissa makes crepes with a variety of sweet or savory fillings, including spinach, egg, cheese, strawberry, banana and Nutella. He also offers coffee and espresso drinks.

“When I lived in Ukraine, it was my dream to open my own café,” Kissa said.

Moving to the United States provided Kissa the opportunity to pursue that dream, and the food truck is the first step toward a storefront.

Kissa said he also hopes to use Crepes Maker as a way to introduce dishes from other cultures to the community.

Ananya Reeves shares Kissa’s goal of introducing new foods to Searcy. She opened her food truck next to Stu’s Brew on Beebe Capps Expressway in October 2023.

Reeves said that in Thailand, cooking is passed down each generation among the women in the family.

“All of the women in Thailand know how to cook,” Reeves said. “I learned from my mom. I like to cook, too.”

Reeves said she wants to introduce authentic Thai food to Searcy residents. She also said some Thai food is spicy, but not all of it is. In addition to Thai dishes and appetizers, she offers a variety of milk teas and specialty teas.

The Joyful Baking Co., which opened their food truck in 2019, has been in Searcy longer than Crepes Maker and Ananya’s Authentic Thai Food and Bubble but offers another unique taste to Searcy.

Searcy native Ben Robinson helped his wife Kaytlin Robinson open Joyful Baking Co. because of her love for French macarons.

“We would go to Little Rock at Whole Foods and get them there,” Robinson said. “One day she was like, ‘I don’t feel like driving, and I feel I’m going to make them myself.’”

The macarons were a success, and their friends soon started buying them, he said, which launched the business.

Joyful Baking Co. serves a variety of macaron flavors from chocolate peanut butter to the “Joy” — their bestseller blueberry cheesecake macaron. Robinson said they also started baking chocolate chip cookies at the start of the new year and plan to keep them on the menu.

Searcy food trucks are featured in community events like Get Down Downtown and Beats and Eats, but the day-to-day community is what helps them grow.

“It’s fun watching it grow, seeing new things come in and … all the small businesses grow and get bigger,” Robinson said.

Searcy Library starts brick inscription fundraiser

ELLIOTT COOMBES beat reporter

A fundraiser is currently being held for the new Janett and Larry Crain Memorial Library. Participants can purchase a personalized brick with the patron’s choice of inscription. According to whitecountylibraries.org, the library is opening in September and plans to use the funds to furnish the new building.

“Whether you choose to inscribe your family’s name, honor a loved one, commemorate a special date, or inscribe a favorite literary quote, each brick purchased contributes essential funds for our new library,” the site said. Each brick can be ordered online or with a postal form. Pricing is either $125 for a 4” x 8” brick with 3 lines or $275 for an 8” x 8” brick with 6 lines of text. The deadline for orders is March 31.

The renovation project has been active

since August 2023, and has been in planning since 2020. Searcy Public Library director Darla Ino explained the planning process for the change to a bigger facility.

“We’ve been thinking about this a long time, and we are working on staffing as far as who will be in what spaces and the additional need that we have,” Ino said. “We will have two or three positions that will come open and we’ll have to get additional staff, but we have a lot of people right now that are just crammed all together, so they’ll actually be able to spread out.”

Teresa Scritchfield, the library branch manager, talked about preparing the current library stock for the change.

“We are weeding so we don’t have as many books to move,” Scritchfield said. “If they’re in really bad shape we’ll take them out, or if they haven’t been checked out in three years then we try and weed them.”

Scritchfield also said that a new order of nonfiction will be delivered to the new library to help with moving concerns. In comparison to the previous library, which is 10,000 sq.-ft., the Crain Memorial Library is 33,000 sq.-ft. With that space, Ino and the other planners have come up with several new services to offer. Included is a passport office, where people can apply for a passport; a computer lab with 25 public access computers, more than double what is currently available; a business and career center; and a new art exhibition. Formerly a basketball court, this room had its walking track remodeled to serve as a public gallery for art pieces. Other rooms will include new reservable study rooms, an expanded children’s wing, and a brand-new wing for teens, including their own media room, study room and recording studio.

“We’ve never had a teen library of any kind, but we’ll have the space for teens upstairs.” Ino also pointed out the upgrade for the meeting rooms,” Ino said. “We have one small meeting room that holds about 20-25. This one, when it’s all opened up, can seat 200.”

In addition, the city will lease the adjacent building to a coffee shop so library goers have a coffee setup right next door. The walkway of purchased bricks will be presented from the front entrance of the library to the coffeeshop. The library will have an outdoor pavilion with access to Yancey Park, as well as a butterfly garden. The intent is to use not just the indoor, but the outdoor space of the library so it feels connected to the area and community around it.

Gaphic by BEN EVANS

Crepes Maker food truck owner Yevhenii Kissa hands a fresh crepe to a customer Feb. 21. Multiple food trucks have found success in Searcy, with Ananya’s Authentic Thai Food and Bubble opening in 2023 and Crepes Maker opening in the past month.

Photo by MACY COX

TheLink.Harding.edu FEATURES 3B

The Bison Fund offers stock market experience

The Bison Fund is a project that involves different aspects of the stock market. This program has about one million dollars in which different teams research and invest in stock options. The experience has been unique for the students involved. Junior Management major Gloria Zelaya said she has been encouraged by the impact it has had on her.

“Fall 2023, I received an email from Ellis Sloan giving us a brief description of what the activity/project was about,” Gloria Zelaya said. “It is challenging and fun at the same time. I have never before had the opportunity to really evaluate a stock, and to think that this stock will be purchased for the benefit of Harding … It makes me know that I am really having an opportunity not only to contribute something positive to the University but also to acquire new knowledge and skills. Participating in this activity motivates me to give the best of myself.”

The teams meet twice a week under the supervision of Assistant Professor of Business Administration Ellis Sloan. They are given the responsibility of managing a 1 million dollar portfolio, and each team targets a specific sector to research, analyze, and select stocks to build a diverse and profitable portfolio. One team leader is senior Luis Zelaya, who is majoring in finance and pursuing a master’s in information systems. Luis Zelaya enjoys the rewarding feeling of making real decisions.

“I’m in charge of the information technology sector, and along with my teammates my work involves research and analysis. I spend time studying company financials, researching industry trends, and making recommendations about potential profitable investments,” Luis Zelaya said. “The most impactful part for me has been learning how to navigate the world of investments; it’s challenging, but rewarding. Plus, actually making decisions that affect real money brings a whole new level of understanding.”

During their meeting time, the teams research and present on different information about their sector. The teams look into stocks and companies that seem to have good valuation. After the presentations, they decide whether or not to purchase it.

“I consider this program to be like a work experience, where I get to practice working in a team, divide tasks, get together and look for solutions in order to obtain a specific result,” Gloria Zelaya said. “The objective of presenting and evaluating statements has allowed me to develop and affirm my communication skills, responsibility, coordination and collaboration to obtain a common result and seek excellence in each of the required aspects.”

Junior finance major Nick Aziamov is also involved in the program. Aziamov keeps spreadsheets organized and said he enjoys watching how the stocks are doing. The experience has enlightened his view of the market as well as given him practical experience for the future.

“At some point after college, I would love to help people invest their money and plan financially with them, so this is really good and applicable for learning how to determine what would be best to invest in and then be able to communicate why that is,” Aziamov said. “It’s challenging to actually know what the future

will be. A lot of it is educated guesswork, but at any point the market could shoot up and get lucky or crash and get unlucky. It’s not all luck-based though. We still take lots of steps to put ourselves in the right positions and balance risk and everything we need to do, but you still can never be 100% sure.”

Students create ‘Studio 1924’ art organization

EMMA MCDARRIS guest writer

A group of students banded together over their shared passion and created a space for them to have a community and opportunities to grow in their skills.

Studio 1924 is a student-led art organization that began in the fall semester and encourages students to have a community of creative expression and participate in trips and workshops that sharpen their artistic skills.

Creative director Kit Moore, a junior, helped shape the club and organizes events for the club members to participate in.

“Our goal is to create opportunities for students to connect with one another and to encourage creativity in all forms,” Moore said.

“While we meet in the Stevens art building, membership is open to anyone on campus. If you love to do coloring books in nursing class, or if you whittle while listening to your engineering lectures, this club is made for you.”

Moore’s involvement in the group has given her an outlet that she said she has used as a form of gratitude.

“For me personally, I see this as a chance to give back to a group of people who have given me so much,” Moore said. “I gotta brag on the people in Studio 1924; they are the best, and I want to give them the best.”

Faculty sponsor Enrique Colón said he wants to foster a space of collaboration and learning from one another.

“I dream of creating a space for students from different programs to connect and

a Studio

collaborate on self-driven projects that allow them to try new things, master what they are learning and glorify the Lord with their talents,” Colón said.

Vice creative director senior Lila “Blue” Billingsly said establishing a new club and getting it off the ground was a rewarding but difficult experience.

“It’s exciting to be a part of something new,” Billingsly said. “I’ve found it difficult, at times, to build community in the Art Department’s little corner of campus; this club has opened doors to meeting and fostering a community of Christlike creatives. There are so many people with ideas they want to realize, and it’s been a joy to learn about and encourage those ideas.”

Studio 1924 offers monthly meetings that all students are invited to attend to enjoy art and community together.

“We engage in a range of activities,” Billingsly said. “Some evenings are spent playing games or watching movies; other times we’re participating in the spring/fall markets and going on museum field trips. More often than not, we’re snacking and making art together. It’s a laid-back environment, but we also provide opportunities for internships and revenue through our Etsy and Redbubble shops.”

The group’s Instagram account,@hustudio1924, updates members on events and meetings, and the leadership team only plans to keep growing.

“Studio 1924 has a ton of things going on right now,” Moore said. “This semester, we hope to offer many more opportunities to create something awesome.”

At

1924 meeting, junior and creative director Kit Moore talks with junior Cassell Stewart. Monthly meetings, trips, and workshops offered by the art club are open to all students.

Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL

Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL

Junior Adri Davis, senior Hannah Logsdon and senior Blue Billingsly sit at a Studio 1924 meeting Feb. 18. The organization was founded in the fall to give a space for creative expression.

EMMA WEBER opinions editor

Photo by BRILEY KEMPER

Juniors Gloria Zelaya and Nick Aziamov stand back-to-back in the Mabee Business Building. Zelaya and Aziamov are involved in the Bison Fund, a program that researches and invests in stock options.

“Back in the Day” is a special section in The Bison newspaper in celebration of Harding’s centennial year. Each print issue during the 202324 academic year will have pieces related to the centennial, connecting our readers to Harding’s past.

This week, we get a glimpse at the banter between students at faculty from years past. We also see a bit of satire connecting the Searcy community with Harding’s culture.

This week, we look back to when Campus Players performed Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” March 5, 1954. Wilde’s play was the first production ever performed by Campus Players and has been repeated under various modifications.

“Back in the Day” is a special section in The Bison newspaper in celebration of Harding’s Centennial year. Each print issue during the 2023-24 academic year will have pieces related to the Centennial, connecting our readers to Harding’s past.

Friday,

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ returns to Harding Theatre in celebration of 100 years

The Harding Theatre Department performed The Importance of Being Earnest” Feb. 8-10 and 15-17. Director C. Robin Miller said the show has an important role in the history of Harding theatre, which contributed to why it was chosen to be a part of the 20232024 season.

The Theatre Department has been a part of Harding since the University was founded, and “The Importance of Being Earnest” was the first production they performed. The encore of the play this year honored the Centennial year celebrations, but the cast and crew also brought some changes to the show.

“The big thing, is we’ve got Dr. Michael Claxton from the Department of English to write some additional introductory material that we’re using as part of the show, and that’s going to be very fun,” Miller said.

Miller also described how the monologues Claxton wrote for the character Oscar Wilde use many of Wilde’s own words from quotes throughout his life.

The added monologues are used to help cover transitions throughout the show, stage manager Sully Hickman said. This is partly due to the adjustment of being in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center compared to the Benson Auditorium.

Senior Janie Shasteen, who plays the role of Gwendolyn, was previously Mary Poppins in the 2023 Homecoming musical. She explained how she also felt the adjustment between the two stages and said it was difficult for her not to fall back into old habits from playing Mary.

Wilde’s comedy has plenty of scripted laughs for the audience, but both Hickman and Shasteen reflected that their favorite moments were the unscripted laughs among cast and crew.

Hickman described the first read-through and how the script surprised them as they read it, “very much discovering the show as it unfolds.”

Starting this fall, students will be able to take a new course discussing the topic of artificial intelligence. AI in business will be a threehour elective credit class taught by instructor Joe Faith in the Mabee Business Building. As artificial intelligence is becoming more integrated with everyday life, the College of Business Administration is choosing not to shy away but to equip Harding students for Faith, who is working on a doctorate in artificial intelligence, said he is enthusiastic about offering students a Christain business, especially

“For our students, we need to do something to help prepare them for what they are going to see in the workplace,” Faith said. “We have to figure out how to live with this. It’s the scariest and most exciting thing.”

Faith emphasized that one of the things he loves about working in the College of Business is they are always adapting and looking forward to the next step. That next step is artificial intelligence, he said. Faith explained how applying knowledge and skills with AI is inevitable in the workplace for the future, especially in business. Students who enroll in the course will be shown how to use AI as a tool and to help others.

“We create things to augment what we can do [to] make us more useful — more productive,” Faith said. “That’s what people have done all through history. This is a great tool if we know how to use it.”

Two senior accounting majors, Sei Kondo and Aurora Berryman, said they are excited for this new course offering in AI.

“Interacting with AI in business will become inevitable in the future,” Kondo said. “I believe it is important to learn AI to be and responsibly.”

As the two seniors have been preparing to enter the workplace for the past four years, AI has only continued to develop since arrival at Harding.

“AI is already being implemented into people’s lives to make things easier,” Berryman said. “Businesses are using AI to provide value to consumers. Understanding how it works and, more importantly, its ethical implications will provide many advantages not only in life but also in the workplace.”

Students across campus are already showing their excitement about this course that will be added in the fall. Registration for classes for next semester opens the week of March 25.

“My favorite memories have been [when] something unexpected happens and someone breaks character and we’re all trying to get through a scene but we’re all laughing,” Shasteen said.

Rehearsals for “The Importance of Being Earnest” started mid-November, so when opening night finally came, the cast and crew were ready for an audience to see the play. “The art of theatre is incomplete without an audience,” Hickman said. “We have to have an audience there to see it. We can do theatre by ourselves, that’s what a rehearsal is, but it’s not the same.”

Students perform in Centennial play College of Business offers course on AI

“The course cap is at 40,” Faith said. “I hope it is full. I want people to be excited about it.”

ALAINA WOLF guest writer

KENZIE JAMES guest writer

Seniors Janie Shasteen and Denereus Beneby perform in “The Importance of Being Earnest” Feb. 16. The play was the first play produced by the Harding Theatre Department, so it was chosen to be performed again for the Centennial year.

Photo by MACY COX

Graphic by BEN EVANS

For Love

Editor-in-Chief

Whole people

When I was younger, the first Pokemon game I played was Pokemon Emerald. One of my brother’s classmates had given it to him, and the game was already finished when I received it. My brother had told me I could restart the game, as long as I made sure to send all of the best Pokemon to his newest DS game.

For those of you who are not familiar with Pokemon trading between Gameboy Advance games and DS games, you can only trade six Pokemon every 24 hours, and you have to be on WiFi to do it. My family did not have Wifi at home when I was young, so the process took me months.

When I finally got to restart the game under my own name, it was maybe the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me in my eight years of living. After waiting for weeks and weeks, I felt like I was opening an awesome present on Christmas.

For my starter, I picked Mudkip, the water type. I named her Mudkip, because I thought it was a cute name already. I developed a vicarious crush on my in-game rival, Brendan — he was just an NPC, but I knew he and my character were meant to be together forever. Every new plot point in the game felt like the most exciting and dramatic thing I could experience. I have always loved a good story, and any encounter with villain grunts from Team Magma or Team Aqua was never excluded from that love.

My 8-year-old self quickly became attached to Mudkip, and she never left my party. I had a lot of fun in Emerald’s Hoenn region, even in the endgame. I alternated my obsessions between competing in the contest hall, growing berries, decorating my tree fort, collecting and hatching eggs at the daycare and rematching gym leaders. Everything I did in the game was the funnest activity I had ever done.

Over the years, I probably replayed the game at least half a dozen times. As I’ve gotten older, the game serves as a connection between the feelings of childhood joy and comfort as well as entertainment.

A few weeks ago, I found an artist on Spotify called Chippy Bits, which mostly has a list of remade chiptunes albums from video games. I found three full albums from the Ruby/Sapphire/ Emerald games, and when I listened to them, I could not believe I had forgotten how much I enjoyed playing Pokemon as a kid. I also found albums from the Black/White games, which was another generation of Pokemon I loved to play in elementary school. After listening to each town’s song and picturing the games in my head, I felt an urgency to find my old DS Lite and start up in Littleroot town again. I was shocked I had let that joy slip away from me.

I think a part of me always wants to feel guilty or embarrassed for returning to activities or hobbies from my childhood, because “growing up” feels like having to say goodbye to who I was as a child. One crucial part of getting older I am trying to embrace is that “growing up” just means parting with the bad parts of my old self, not every part. If I only allow myself to keep new interests that I discover or new pieces of knowledge that I learn, I will not grow — I will just continually tear myself into new pieces — and I will not be whole.

Any joy that can stand the test of growth and time is a joy worth keeping around. I know I will not always have the time to spend on childhood joys, but that never means I have to say goodbye to who I was when I felt them.

For the longest time, I thought in order to grow up I had to throw away young Tiane to make room for older Tiane. However, I am still as much myself as I ever was as a child and more, and making space to include 8-year-old Tiane in my 20-something life feels necessary. Reliving good memories from my childhood makes me feel more whole, and if occasionally fighting gym leaders on my DS or listening to old soundtracks is what it takes to feel whole, that is what I will do.

I am a whole person. We are whole people. If we are living life right, our hearts will have room for our whole selves.

TIANE DAVIS is the editor-inchief for The Bison. She may be contacted at cdavis27@harding.edu.

Ellen and Me

Some fathers take their sons fishing. Others throw footballs with them in the yard, or work on old car engines, or go hiking in the mountains. My dad and I went to yard sales. Since my parents bought and sold antiques as a hobby, I had the pleasure of getting up early most Saturday mornings and hitting the garage sale circuit with dad. We were on the hunt for anything dusty that we could resell.

While some teenage guys are hooked on video games, rock bands or weightlifting, helpless nerd that I was, I was obsessed with sleight of hand. Which was weird because I was terrible at magic. The magician who came to my school made it look easy, but whenever I tried to shuffle cards, my hands shook, my heart raced and I broke into a cold sweat. So, I retired from the stage early and instead combined my parents’ hobby with mine. That’s when I started collecting vintage magic stuff.

One afternoon in 1986, my father and I stumbled into a bookstore in Atlanta and found a faded 1950s poster of Ellen Armstrong. I was 14 years old and had no idea that Ellen was a pioneering African American magician, or that she was part of a dynasty of Black performers from South Carolina. I just knew I had become obsessed with collecting magic memorabilia — a hobby my friends never understood — and I had to have that poster.

I did not know it would start me on a 35-year journey of researching the family.

John Hartford Armstrong (1874-1939) was a Black man from Columbia, South Carolina, who started performing magic with his brother around the turn of the last century. Later he partnered with his first wife Ida, and as “The Celebrated Armstrongs,” they toured the East coast with a magic act, playing primarily to Black schools and churches. Unlike some

African American magicians of the time, who adopted Hindu dress to disguise their ethnicity, the Armstrongs proudly proclaimed their race and never tried to hide it.

Two days after Christmas in 1904, Ida gave birth to a daughter and died soon after. But as soon as she was old enough, Ellen joined her father and her new stepmother as part of the act. The family performed throughout the South, bringing magic to audiences at reasonable admission prices. Their scrapbooks are full of letters from African American schools and churches, where audiences were delighted with their magic.

The family naturally faced prejudice in that era, as in the time that Armstrong was turned away from a performance because the white men who booked him did not realize he was Black until he arrived for the show. Ironically, the venue was at a Native-American reservation.

Armstrong died in 1939, and his daughter took over the business, with her stepmother still assisting. For three years, they toured the segregated South with a two-woman show — a fact which still blows my mind. I know of no other such show at the time. She continued in her father’s tradition, performing magic for the African American community to rave reviews.

She did a variety of tricks, like restoring a torn umbrella and pulling coins out of thin

air. She also performed with a ventriloquist figure, made rag pictures (similar to the flannelgraphs once used in Sunday school) and created clever cartoons with chalk.

The show emphasized comedy, and her posters offered a half-price discount for “oneeyed people” and warned, “If laughing hurts you, stay at home.” In 1949 Ellen appeared in the December issue of Ebony, in a five-page spread on Black magicians. She married a real estate developer in the 1950s, working out of Spartanburg, SC. Like her father, she received hundreds of testimonials, all of which she pasted into her scrapbooks.

For years, Ellen was the only African American woman in the United States with a touring magic show. She performed regularly at several HBCUs, and her half-century career lasted until around 1970. She spent her final years in a Spartanburg nursing home, no longer able to communicate. When she moved out of her house, her scrapbooks were set on the curb. Fortunately, the person who bought the property rescued them from the rain.

Ellen Armstrong died in 1994 at the age of 88. I’m sorry I never met her.

When she took her own show out on the road in the Jim Crow South, her race and gender were against her. Few women were magicians, and even fewer Black women were. Ellen Armstrong’s remarkable courage earned her a place in the history of show business.

In 2022, I started sharing information with two filmmakers who are creating a documentary about the Armstrong family. I can’t wait to see it. Ellen’s story deserves to be told.

MICHAEL CLAXTON is a narrative columnist for The Bison. He may be contacted at mclaxto1@harding.edu.

Tiane Davis

Illustration by Gracie Cornett

Narrative Columnist

Michael Claxton

Graphic by BEN EVANS

Graphic by BEN EVANS

Bisons roll through conference schedule

the victory, the Lady Bisons

Photos

As the Great American Conference tournament approaches, the Harding basketball teams will look to gain confidence and momentum as their regular season concludes.

The No. 5 Lady Bisons continued their conference success Feb. 17 as they defeated Southern Arkansas University by a final score of 80-67.

Senior forward Sage Hawley tallied her 51st career double-double, and sophomore Harley Harbour notched a career-high with 21 points. With this win, the Lady Bisons extended their winning streak to 11 games.

Harbour said the Lady Bisons must continue to work as a team as the regular season conference schedule comes to a close.

“Staying together as a team and playing for each other is the most important thing,” Harbour said. “We know we have a target on our back, and obviously we are expected to win, which adds more pressure. We try to keep it relaxed and enjoy the games in the moment.”

During the win streak, Harding knocked off two ranked opponents within the GAC. Most notably, the Lady Bisons defeated No. 5 Southern Nazarene University Feb. 10 by a final score of 77-57 to hand the Crimson Storm their first loss of the season.

Following the victory, Harding joined Southern Nazarene at the top of the regular season conference standings.

Junior guard Kendrick “Bugs” Bailey said it was a great feeling to defend their home court against the Crimson Storm.

“Protecting our home court means a lot to us,” Bailey said. “A lot of times we think, ‘Okay, we gotta do it for the people that are here for us and always there when we need them.’”

Following their recent home victories against Southern Nazarene University and Arkansas Tech University, Harding has extended their home winning streak to a school-record 25 games.

As the Lady Bisons pick up steam heading into the conference tournament, the men’s basketball team has gained important momentum during the second half of the season.

Tennis teams begin season

As the spring semester continues, the Harding tennis teams have begun their non-conference schedule for the 2024 season.

The Bison men’s and women’s tennis teams each have started this season with an overall record of 2-2. The most recent women’s matches was at Hendrix with the win of 9-0 and a loss of 7-0 against ranked No. 24 Mississippi College. The men’s team defeated Hendrix with the win 7-0 and dropped their match against Mississippi College with a score of 5-2.

Senior Bryce Walker, captain of the men’s team, has a record of 3-5 in singles and 1-3 in doubles with sophomore Edoardo D’Arrigo. Walker said he is hopeful to lead the team on and off the court throughout the 2024 season.

“I’m honored that this team has chosen me as their captain,” Walker said. “It is my hope to be the leader and motivator that can help us have a successful season on the

The Bisons have won five out of their last seven conference games. In their most recent matchup, Harding took down Southern Arkansas University 77-66 to climb to fourth place in the conference standings.

The Bisons caught fire from behind the three-point arc, shooting 53 percent as a team against the Muleriders.

Sophomore guard Rylie Marshall said the Bisons are a tough team to guard if they continue their three-point success.

“When we are hitting shots from out there, you gotta respect it,” Marshall said. “It makes us tougher to guard considering we have guys who can score at all three levels.”

The victory against the Muleriders served as an important milestone for the Bisons winning nine conference games for the first time since the 2016-2017 season.

Despite the recent success, the Bisons are searching for a clinching bid to the GAC tournament. Marshall said the team is not satisfied with the season despite the improvements made on and off the court.

“We’re hungry for it,” Marshall said. “We’re all trying to go hard every day in practice, and it is starting to pay off in our games. Everyone wants it, and we are not done yet. We still got something to prove.”

The men’s and women’s teams will travel to Weatherford, Oklahoma, tomorrow to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State University. A win for both teams would increase their courts. Although tennis is an individual sport, as a team we will always encourage and support each other from the sidelines. Each member of this team is dedicated to working towards a good representation on and off the courts for Harding University.”

Returning this season from a ruptured tendon surgery, senior Grace Dodd has started this season playing doubles with sophomore Georgia Plunkett with a record of 3-3. Dodd will be cleared to play singles at the end of this month.

Dodd said the team learned valuable lessons from their match against Mississippi College.

“Our matches were really close, and you could have never known the score from the outside and get six to one,” Dodd said. “Basically, we lost by five points, and overall on the team there were so many matches that were really close. We could not execute and get to that other level. We definitely learned from that match. We’ve realized that we need to be tougher, and we need to be more together and cheer for each other louder.”

Plunkett, currently holds a singles record of 1-5. This is Plunkett’s second season with the women’s team. Plunkett said the team has grown together throughout the beginning of the season.

“I feel like as players and as a team we have grown and have become a lot tougher and stronger,” Plunkett said. “I feel like last semester everyone was getting settled in again by having new teammates and getting to know each other again, whereas now I feel like we are all together and are playing really good tennis, and by the time we get to conference matches, I feel like we will be tough to beat.”

Both men and women tennis teams play this weekend in Dallas and Frisco, Texas, against Lubbock Christian, Pratt Community College and Metropolitan State University of Denver.

The Great American Conference tournament will take place in Bentonville, Arkansas, beginining April 25.

Senior forward Robert Chougkaz dunks a ball during pregame warmups Feb. 15. The Bisons will take on Southwestern Oklahoma State University tomorrow in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

ELI DEAN community editor

While the indoor track team pushes through the last few meets of its season, the outdoor track team is ramping up practices in preparation for the start of the season, including several provisionals before they begin their season March 14.

Senior Dakarai Bush helped set a school record along with other teammates in the 4x400-meter relay Feb. 10 and has his eyes set on global recognition after placing first nationally in DII in the individual 400-meter race last season.

“As a team, I feel like you are way more mature than last year,” Bush said. “I’m looking forward to improving my 400-meter time so I can qualify for Olympic trials and possibly make a team for the US.”

Multiple indoor track athletes are working on finishing their season and getting ready for the outdoor portion of the schedule as the weather gets warmer this spring. Freshman Everett Mumme said he has had a successful indoor season and is looking forward to improving his pole vaulting scores to get to the next level.

“Through this indoor season, I was able to set personal records twice in the pole vault,” Mumme said. “It was a lot of fun competing with my awesome teammates, and I hope to get the qualifying mark for Nationals during the outdoor season.”

Among other teammates, one who is ramping up his work as an outdoor track team member is sophomore Casen Hammitt. Hammitt, who placed first in the javelin throw at the Great American Conference championships last season, is preparing to make a run at defending his title.

“Lots of people think track is simply an individual sport,” Hammitt said. “In reality, it’s very much a team sport. Yes, we each have to compete individually, but ultimately it takes every athlete performing at the best of their ability to win. The team as a whole has been grinding all fall, as well as the first half of this spring semester, to get better.”

Aside from the individual achievements Hammitt and the rest of the team will be up for this spring, Hammitt said there are a lot of different areas he and the rest of the team is looking to improve on, from on the track to in the classroom.

“Much bigger than winning, though, the coaching staff and athletes truly care about helping grow the hearts of young men and women,” Hammitt said. “Whether that is in the classroom, in relationships, in work settings, marriages, the track itself and in our faith journeys … we are surrounded by a community that chases after teaching us what it means to be the best version of ourselves; the version our father in heaven desires for us.”

MACY COX head photographer

NIC FRARACCIO sports editor

Senior Bryce Walker prepares to return a serve at the David Elliot Tennis Complex. Walker finished the 2023 season with a 19-7 singles record.

Left: Sophomore guard Keyln McBride looks at the Harding bench before shooting a free throw against Arkansas Tech Feb. 15. The Bisons have won seven of their 11 home games this season at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Right: Junior guard Aubrey Isbell prepares to shoot a free throw in an 8065 victory against Arkansas Tech Feb. 15. With

extended their home winning streak to a school-record 25 games.

Graphic

The Harding University Black Student Association, or BSA, is alive and well. We as an organization are developing into a catalyst for cultural awareness that the Harding University community has not witnessed before. In the last year, we have been able to reach more students and support more programs, such as the singing group “Justified,” who have had the opportunity to perform in different venues including Harding University’s Sankofa Gala, the AGAPE conference, Beedeville Church of Christ and other churches in the Little Rock area. We have also been blessed with the ability to host culturally enriching trips to The Lorraine Hotel, Central High Museum and the University of Central Arkansas for the showing of “Far East Deep South,’”a film about one Chinese family’s faithful journey to becoming American citizens.

This semester, change of leadership in the BSA has led to some differences in operation. I believe these changes were made in good faith and will reap great benefits in the following weeks. By utilizing our current student body, we can better promote activities and get the larger part of our community engaged via more strenuous use of social media. We will need to put more effort into making the organization attractive to students and devising a stronger motivation

A culture of community

for higher levels of engagement. There is a possibility of strengthening the presence of the BSA through community interaction, such as partnering with local entities for event planning and idea development going forward. The largest threat to our organization is alumni involvement, which has been on a decline since 2020.

activities that are designed to support student success as well as post-graduation processes. In addition, we are also tightening up on contacting alumni and working directly with graduate students and the Harding University African American Alumni Association to better strengthen our network by connecting those who are, have been and will be attending Harding University.

By utilizing our current student body, we can better promote activities and get the larger part of our community engaged...

– Zalen Robinson, president

In this next year, students should expect to see more events, activities and ventures, all of which will be hosted and planned by the BSA. We plan to host chapel, basketball tournaments, game nights, movie nights and even bring in speakers to contribute to the star-studded list of speakers that have already spoken at Harding University. Students can also expect more academically-driven

As we are dedicated to the promotion of leadership, cultural awareness, understanding and appreciation of Black cultures within the student body of Harding University, one key indicator of our success in this term will be overall student satisfaction, more than 100% participation and the perpetuation of an innocuous environment for students of the African diaspora that is conducive to their success both inside and outside of Harding University.

I would like to stress that the Harding University Black Student Association does not discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status regarding public assistance, sexual orientation or membership or activity in a local commission as defined by law.

Let’s have a great year!

ZALEN ROBINSON is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at zrobinson1@harding.edu.

Shared narrative: what is the bigger story?

Recently I heard one professor say to a faculty group, about a new challenge or initiative (I forget which), “Let’s keep discussing this — we want to make sure we have a shared narrative.”

I thought, “What does a ‘shared narrative’ mean?” I guess the phrase gets thrown around to mean “using similar words to explain our decisions” or “staying on-brand.” But because I study narrative structures in fiction, I started imagining how having a “shared narrative” could run deeper than “on-brand” wording.

Having a shared narrative might mean we know our bigger story: the struggle we face, who is guiding us and what monsters we must overcome.

Above all, who is the hero of the story? For us professors, we cannot be — this is crucially important — we must not be the heroes of our shared narrative, nor is Harding as an institution the hero. (Administrators and academic leaders, sit up and listen, because losing sight of this next bit may be our biggest present danger amid all the risks and pressures of finance and enrollment and market competition facing higher education in 2024.) You, our students, are the heroes of our (your professors’) shared narrative. We, the staff, the institution and the faculty, are (at our best) the guide — Gandalf, Obi Wan.

It’s your adventure that’s at the heart of our shared narrative.

And this also means our own disappearance from the picture — hard

but inevitable — must be part of the story we’re living out.

You’ve left behind the comfort of a childhood home, and you’re headed into a harsh, chaotic world. The foes ahead already threaten to tear you apart, eat you alive. Surviving them and restoring order and justice to your kingdom — that’s our shared narrative. We hope that when you do, when you establish peace and prosperity for yourself and those you love, your kingdom will be an outpost of God’s kingdom.

Everything we do in the classroom, everything we ask you to study and internalize through your assignments and homework, only matters to the extent that we are equipping you with wisdom and the right weapons for the task ahead. This is not about us making you do what we tell you to (lectures, assignments, assessments). This is not about us standing in judgment over you (grading, rubrics, exams). Those are just the ropes around our practice field, the way of being together in order for us to give you the real gift — and for you to be able to receive it. Here is knowledge; here is skill; here is wisdom. Here is your sword: Learn how to use it as best you can, as best we can teach you. And then go and find other sword-masters to teach you what we couldn’t. And then when you must, stand firm and fight.

What dark cave will you have to enter that we cannot foresee? What waits for you there in the darkness, hungry, devouring? The bones of others are heaped all around its lair. But you

have what it takes — the expertise, the character, the discipline — you will have what you need when the time comes. You are the one we need. You will struggle, you will suffer, but you will slay your dragons and return to life in the light.

This “hero’s journey” (which you may have recognized, above) is just one (and maybe not even the best) way to tell the story. But the story really is only one. A seed has been planted in you, Jesus said; what fruit will be seen when autumn comes? A fortune (“talent,” “mina”) has been given to you; how will you invest it? A storm is coming; what foundation will you build? I hope you can see that our shared narrative really comes from the master storyteller, the master teacher, and he has a lot more to teach us all as we learn to listen. Crowds around you are letting themselves be herded to a very bad place, but there’s a hidden path to what you truly seek; will you find it?

We see more in you than you can probably see in yourself right now. More people notice you than you realize. What you do matters, and what will matter most is what you do when we, Harding, have faded into your background.

And whose side-character will you give up your life to be?

JON SINGLETON is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at jsingleton@harding.edu.

Itried really hard not to get a cold this spring. Normally I get sick at least once a semester, more than likely twice during the spring, but this time around I knew I didn’t have the time to get sick. I have been eating a good portion of vegetables, getting sleep and taking vitamins. When my roommate got a cold, I stayed on my side and cut off all high fiving and shared cups.

On Sunday, Feb. 18, I succumbed to a week’s worth of fighting. My final blow was an evening with friends outside on my friend’s back porch. I had forgotten a jacket.

Whenever I got sick when I was younger, I got angry. I would watch the clock and think, “Right now all of my classmates are in English.” I would spend all day on my couch knowing that life was moving differently somewhere else, and I was stuck feeling achy. I would inevitably go to school the next day because I was afraid of what else I would miss — not because I missed my friends, but because I was afraid of getting behind.

I tried really hard not to get a cold this spring because I am afraid that my timeline will get off. I would go into detail about where I think I should be, but I don’t actually know. That is the irony of my fears. I don’t want to get a cold; I want to keep pushing myself to the next thing, because I know there is something great I am supposed to be doing, and I’m afraid I’ll miss it and ruin my chances of achievement.

Plato had the theory that the perfect form of something exists outside time and space, and we are constantly pulling from the ideal to describe what we perceive. This concept haunts me –– that my form is somewhere out there, watching me accidentally load a dishwasher with the wrong soap, screaming the wrong lyrics to songs and getting a cold during a time in which I wanted to not have one. How do I move forward if I am the version of myself that is wrong?

After I adequately spiral, I am always grounded in something real. This time, it was a new kitten my friend Willie pulled from his coat pocket. I held the mere days-old thing in my hand, and I realized I actually do have the time.

I have the time to slow down my life and take care of my sick body. I have the time to be a confused 20-something. I have the time to admire a fresh kitten. I have the time because the best version of myself is actually who I am when I choose to be good and kind. When my eyes are fixed on what I have, what I have been given, I can unravel the blessings before me.

Reminding myself that I have the time takes more than the blanket statement, “I am enough.” It takes a deep desire to revel in the love that has been around me from the beginning. It takes knowing that I am going to catch a cold and need to rest and still accept that I am doing good things. It takes looking at the person beside me in Harps and allowing their best to look different than my idea of them. It takes valuing my community enough to look at what it truly needs, not simply what I think it should have.

Of course, my faith shapes this view as well. I no longer hold onto the control of needing to make something worthy out of my mess, because that has already been done. I am the recipient of an overflowing share of grace. My job is to take long moments to show this to others, because I know I have the time.

Tacker’s Shake Shack donates five TVs

Tacker’s Shake Shack donated five TVs last semester to be installed in the Student Center. Campus Life began using them for activities as of late January, when they were installed.

There are a plethora of shorthand terms for places around campus that remain dear to the hearts of students. For instance, “the Crack” refers to a small parking lot between Cathcart and Kendall Hall, while “the Stu” is used for the Student Center. Tucked away at the back of the Student Center is “the Pit,” where Tacker’s Shake Shack found its home in February 2022.

Since then, Tacker’s has been on a mission to attract more visitors to its side of campus. Senior Lisanne Cheatham, media director for Campus Life, spoke to her excitement of the new addition of TVs to the Pit.

“As an organization, we have been searching for ways to make the Pit a more lively place,” Cheatham said. “We had initially started weekly bingo nights and monthly trivia competitions to start moving student traffic down into the area, but we believe that the new TVs are really going to draw more students down into the Pit. Since getting the new TVs, we have hosted a student Super Bowl party, and we are looking forward to playing basketball games during March Madness in the Pit. Campus Life is trying to create a central place for students to meet and watch their teams play.”

As important as the Pit is to Tacker’s, it is also important to Campus Life, whose offices are located just adjacent to Tacker’s. Senior Brenley Colbert, who has worked with Campus Life for several semesters, elaborated on Tacker’s vision to revitalize their corner of the student center.

“At the beginning of the year, Mr. Tacker expressed his desire to improve the Pit’s vibe,” Colbert said. “He envisioned creating a lively atmosphere similar to Buffalo Wild Wings

and offered to donate the TVs under the condition that we manage them and use them for various activities. Tacker’s represents good food and a welcoming environment, fostering a sense of community. This collaboration holds significant benefits for Campus Life, allowing us to offer entertainment and foster connections among students.”

Hank Noblin, a senior who is also actively involved with Campus Life, expressed his gratitude for Tacker’s donation.

“They donated five 70-inch TVs, which is just super generous, and we’re really thankful for that,” Noblin said. “I feel like when you think of the Pit, you just think of people getting food and leaving, and they wanted more of a sports restaurant vibe. Instead of being a place to just grab food and go, Tacker’s is trying to create a gathering place for students across campus.”

New yoga room offers female-friendly environment

the decoration process.

so that they can be confident in their skills,” Finley said.

Dr. Britney Finley, assistant professor of kinesiology and director of the Healthy Eating Active Living program, opened a workout room in room 242 on the second floor of the Ganus Activities Complex. Last school year, Finley was approached and asked about a workout room or separate hours in the GAC for women only, and neither were available at the time. She heard of the relocation of ROTC from the second floor room and leaped at the chance to make a space for women to work out judgment-free.

“I want individuals who aren’t comfortable in the main workout room to learn how to do basic exercise moves to gain their confidence

Freshman Sydney Hardy teaches a Jazzercise class in the room every Tuesday from 4:30-5:30 p.m.

“I grew up in Jazzercise starting with when I was about 10 years old,” Hardy said. “I have always loved Jazzercise. It is my stress reliever and just fun. You don’t realize you are working out. I became an instructor when I was 18, and I love it even more. I think the yoga room will help students a lot with having their own space to work out and be able to take different classes to find what suits them and what they like to do.”

Finley gave professor of kinesiology J.D. Yingling a tour of the women’s workout room. Yingling said his wife, adjunct instructor of

kinesiology Kim Yingling, teaches a yoga course each semester and promotes mental health. He said he hopes the new yoga room will enhance students’ “physical, spiritual, mental, emotional and social wellness.”

“Dr. Finley heads up the HEAL program and has a passion for encouraging high-level wellness for all of our students, but especially the young women on campus,” Yingling said. “Britney is a dynamo and very spirit-led in her leadership of HEAL as well as other spiritually focused activities on campus. Britney’s many efforts to promote wellness on campus impact students and faculty/staff through their bodies, minds and souls.”

Remodeling began May 2023, and with the help of students from the interior design department, Finley successfully created the

space. There are videos in the process of being created that will show workout basics like pushups, sit-ups, planks, lunges and exercises with various equipment. There are TVs available with adaptors for students to hook up their phones to play music or workout videos. The room was designed and decorated with women in mind, but will not always have exclusive hours for women.

“There are quotes that you see on the walls that promote that we are not exercising to make our bodies look better, but for the glory of God,” Finley said.

There will be an open house in the room, GAC 242, Feb. 26 from 8:30-9 p.m. where snacks and activities will be held to bless the new workout space.

Dot-to-Dot Dash: Bisons in The Bison!

RANDI TUBBS features editor

BAILEY COFFMAN guest writer

Room 242 of the GAC has been turned into a women-friendly yoga space. The space is used for various classes but is also open to personal use. Interior design students at Harding were a part of

Harding students enjoy the five new TVs donated by Tacker’s Shake Shack. The TVs were installed Feb 8 and are run by Campus Life. Junior Gabe Jones and others are pictured with the new TVs.

Photo by BRILEY KEMPER

Photo by EDGAR CARDIEL