The Bison Newspaper - Vol. 97, No. 14

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Searcy, Searcy, Online atatat TheLink.Harding.edu Searcy, Online TheLink.Harding.edu Searcy, Ark., 72149 Online TheLink.Harding.edu Online at TheLink.Harding.edu Searcy,Ark., Ark.,72149 72149

Searcy, Ark., 72149

to help remember ‘IStudents want to gather beNever able Never forget forget for candlelight vigil search update Presidential their stories’ and tell in honor of classmate

Photo by MADISON MEYER Photo by MADISON MEYER

Dr.Jack Jack Shock, Shock, distinguished distinguished professor professor of of communication, communication, and Dr. and Dr. Dr. Ginger Ginger Blackstone, Blackstone, associate associate professor professor of of communication, share share their their firsthand firsthand experiences experiences in in media media from from Sept. communication, Sept. 11, 11, 2001, 2001, with with honors honors communication communication Photos by MADISON MEYER students. Students and faculty visited the 9/11 memorial in Downtown Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 9.

Photos by MADISON MEYER students. Students and faculty visited the 9/11 memorial in Downtown Manhattan on Thursday, Sept. 9.

Junior Emily Stinnett was a student on “My job was to bring the story out,” Blackstone worked as a producer for CNN Photo

by JEFF MONTGOMERY Junior Emily Stinnett was a student on “My job was to bring the story out,” Blackstone worked as a producer for CNN Photo

by JEFF MONTGOMERY EVERETT KIRKMAN Charles Ganus, head of the Harding presidential president the board Lindy aIngram, member of the tripand and created video documentary of Atlanta in Septemberof2001.

She andof hertrustees; Shock said.search committee; Dr. RobertinWalker, EVERETT KIRKMAN Charles Ganus, head of the Harding presidential search committee; Dr. Robert Walker, president of the board of trustees; and Lindy Ingram, member of the trip and created a video documentary of in Atlanta in September 2001.

She and her Shock said. editor-in-chief the board of trustees, leave the American Heritage building oncorrespondents Sept. 10. team have since received an Emmy Award it. A shorter version of her work, specifically Even national newson editor-in-chief the board of trustees, leave the American Heritage building Sept.

10.

Even national news correspondents team have since received an Emmy Award it. A shorter version of her work, specifically for“ There’s their reporting work over the course of Solomon, from outlets like NBC, ABC and Eleven honors communication students University focused on theofreflection of students, chair the Lipscomb Board of a number good things president.

This marked theCNN first for“ There’s their reporting work of over the course of Solomon, from outlets like NBC, ABC and CNN Eleven honors communication focused on theofreflection of students, EVERETT KIRKMAN students University chair theon Lipscomb Board a number of good things president.

This marked the firstas the KIRKMAN was shown in chapel Friday, Sept.

10.of weeks following the attacks, as America hadan restricted access at ground zero, and fiveEVERETT communication department faculty time Trustees, said in a statement at the time happening here at Harding right now,” outside executive search firm was editor-in-chief the weeks following the attacks,right as America restricted access at search groundfirm zero, as happening and five communication department faculty hadan was shown in in chapel on Friday, 10.

Trustees, said a statement at Sept. the time here at Harding now,” outsideGuard executive was editor-in-chief Her project documented the visit to the learned about the terrorists’ motives and the the National patrolled what was an members traveled to New York City from time ofHer theproject announcement.

Ganus said.

“I’m looking forward to the hired by the University for thiswhat process. learned about the terrorists’ motives and the the National Guard patrolled was an members traveled to New York City from hired documented the visit to the Photo by MADISON MEYER of the announcement.

Ganus said. “I’m looking forward to the memorial, by the University for this would process. as wella as visitsalso to St. Paul’s U.S.president government’s responsethe in mission real time. ongoing investigation.

Journalists often new Sept.

8-12 Charles to observe the 20th York College, school affiliated continuing “We are conducting a nationwide search Alumnus Ganus, boardanniversary member U.S. government’s response in mission realElizabeth time.of ongoing investigation.

Journalists would often tonew Sept.

8-12 to observe 20th memorial, as on wellaMarch as visits toElizabeth St. Paul’s Students gather for a the candlelight ceremony onto the Benson Auditorium steps remember the life of11, junior Soisouvanh 16.

YorkTrinity College, school also affiliated president continuing the of chapel, “We are conducting a nationwide search Alumnus Charles Ganus, boardanniversary member Church and the Engine 54, For Blackstone, Sept.

2001, was her speak Shock as a liason, who would then of the Sept.

11, 2001, terrorist attacks on with the Churches of Christ, announced Harding — continuing for it to be the for a president that will lead Harding and chairman of the presidential search For Blackstone, Sept.

11, 2001, was her speak to Shock as a liason, who would then of the Sept.

11, 2001, terrorist attacks on chapel, Trinity Church and the Engine 54, died inchairman aWorld car accident near Hartington, Nebraska, on the evening of Harding Wednesday, March 9. continuing with the Churches9of Christ,on announced Harding — for itplane to be the Ladder for a president that will to lead andthe of the Center presidential search 4, Battalion firehouse 8th Ave. day off.

Unaware of the initial crash, enter the Red Cross area find someone Trade in New York the appointment of a 9new president on June special place it hasof been.

I look forward University in its Cross vision area as a Christ-centered committee, saidTrade while Center the process isNew ongoing, day off.

Unaware the initial plane crash, enter the Red to find someone the World in York Ladder 4, Battalion firehouse on 8th Ave. place it has been.

I look forward theMidtown appointment of a new president on June inshare its vision as a Christ-centered special committee, saidstudent while the ongoing,an University in Fifteen firefighters second plane hit the second tower, 12, willing toof their story.

Each on process the tripisfulfilled 2020. Dr.Manhattan.

Samuel A. Smith, alumnus the the next president on that.” theCity. presidential search committee’s rolean institution higher education,” said towhen when the second planebuilding hit the second tower, 12, willing toof share their story. Walker Each student on the trip fulfilled in Midtown Manhattan.

Fifteenan firefighters to the next president building on that.” institution higher education,” Walker said theCity. presidential search committee’s role 2020.

Dr. Samuel A. Smith, an alumnus from Engine has Co.served 54 went to the World two cell phones,also landline and BlackBerry “At that“We moment, that firefighter became herOther contract on ahe topic related to 9/11, in February. the college, as president since colleges affiliated with the of are searching for a mature is honors now over.

He said andrelated other to board two cell phones,also landline and BlackBerry “At that“We moment, that firefighter became herOther contract on ahe topic 9/11, in from Engine has Co.served 54 went to the World colleges affiliated with the Trade is honors now over.

He said and other board February. aresaid. searching for a to mature of the Center college, as2001, president since on Sept.

11, and all began to ring at the same time.

After my client,” Shock “It was up me to the events surrounding it and the effects July 6, 2020, after spending nearly 20 none years of Christ havesame recently gone member of the church of“It Christ who isme ledto Churches members were grateful for the time and commission all began to ring at the time.

After my client,” Shock said. was up to the events surrounding it and the effects Trade Center on Sept.

11, 2001, and none EVERETT KIRKMAN as an officer and become an Hannah Hale, a childhood friend of Tiffany Elam, Elizabeth’s hairstylist Christ recently gone Christ who is led members were grateful for the time and member July 6, 2020, after spending years — the most men lostnearly from a20single learning ofofthe events,have she was advised to returned ensure of hethe hadchurch a safeof experience that did Churches felt worldwide. a variety of Lipscomb.

Smith’s transitions. byensure the word of upon God the Holythat Spirit, effort everyeditor-in-chief committee member put into Air learningpresidential of the events, shebeen was advised to inreturned he had a safeand experience did through felt worldwide.

— theroles mostatmen lost from a single Force nurse graduation. said therest twoup had said often picked her through presidential transitions. effortThe every committee into bynot theexploit word of God Spirit, in Searcy, a variety of Elizabeth roles Lipscomb.

Smith’s engine company thatatday.

The firefighters stay home and for the close worksince that in him, thatand didthe notHoly put him in a Elizabeth, group visited themember Sept. 11put Memorial will that take place today.

Onhome Aug. 5, Lipscomb University in inauguration narrowing the visited searchthe forSept. the University’s tohim, the that spread the gospel of a middle stay and rest up foron the work that not exploit didof not put him in The group 11 Memorial committed engine company day.

The firefighters On March Harding school. a post Elizabeth’s up their from school and would always there shared stories with the would ensue in In days and weeks to come.in daughter zoneWednesday, that would unhealthy him, and and Museum at ground zeroUniversity’s on Thursday, committed On Aug. 5, Lipscomb University to thebe spread of16, thefor gospel of narrowing the search for the inauguration willpersonal take place today.

“Smith has proven himself bethe a Nashville, Tennessee, announced the andwould focused strengthening next would ensue in days weeks come. zone that be on unhealthy for him,the and Facebook andpresident.

Museum at ground on Thursday, Christ there shared their personal stories to with Elizabeth died zero on community gathered Haleand said she to does herand laugh during appointments. students faculty and shared memories “All ofpage, the Turner networks, allnot of make also toand accompany to and through the Nashville, Sept.

9.Soisouvanh While there, Dr.Wednesday, Jack Shock,students Tennessee, announced the Christ and focused him onmembers strengthening the next president.

“Smith has proven himself to be a thoughtful listener with a visionary spirit,” appointment of the university ’s 18th University in its pursuit of excellence in On Oct. 30, 2020, the retirement of Dr. “All of the Turner networks, all of students and faculty and shared memories Sept.

9. While there, Dr. Nebraska, Jack Shock, also to accompany him to and through the March 2022, near Hartington, colleagues thatwas had been lost.a client them — even like TNT, TBS —Elizabeth they were of interview.” distinguished professor of communication, in its pursuit of excellence in appointment of thethen university ’s 18th On9,Oct. 30, 2020, the retirement of Dr. University thoughtful listener with aonly visionary spirit,” a candlelight a memory since that “[Elizabeth] not but R. Wayne White, chairman of the York president Dr.like Candice former Bruce McLarty professor as University president was for higher education.”vigil in memor y of have them —— even TNT,McQueen, TBS — they were Dr. interview.” distinguished of communication, of Stinnett colleagues that had been lost. said one of the most memorable all simulcasting CNN, including CNN Shock described the many interviews wasaccident. interviewed by multiple news outlets in Bruce a car Daughter of Ouphavanh president — Dr. Candice McQueen, former higher education.”

McLarty as University president was Dr. R. Wayne White, chairman of the York Andescribed ROTC cadet prayed, many was a part of. CNN,ofincluding an amazing friend to my daughter,” Board of Trustees, said.

“After Tennessee commissioner educationCNN and College announced to the Harding community via Elizabeth.

Two weeks after this all not simulcasting Shock the announcement, many interviews was interviewed by multiple news outlets Stinnett said one ofme theand most memorable moments of thewas trip to her was reading International,” Blackstone said.

“The thinking that heweeks took part in,some where he stood directly Tennessee about hisSoisouvanh, experiences atElizabeth ground zero invia theof her commissioner of education and interviewing announced to the Harding community Two after this announcement, College Board of Trustees, said.

“After and Victor was friends shared of their favorite “You were the first person I called when Elam said.

“She one of the most kindest several great candidates, it former dean of the university’s department Harding constituents received an email anabout emailhis from Board of Trustees Chairman International,” Blackstone “The thinking he took part in, and where stood directly experiences atattacks. ground Shock zero in was the that moments trip topeople her was reading names of of the the 2,977 that diedit was, there’s no point in ussaid. clamoring over the behind the camera theheinterviewer, as former weeks following the dean of the university’s department Harding constituents received an email an email from Board of Trustees Chairman interviewing several great candidates, born July 19, 2000.

She was 21 years old. memories her andand the group sang heras Iofgot into medical school,” Hale said.

“You and sweetest ladies I know.

Her laugh was was apparent that Smith’s experiences in education.

McQueen was the first female from thewith presidential search committee, Dr. Robert Walker the on behalf of Shock the entire was, there’s no point in us clamoring over behind the camera the interviewer, weeks following attacks. was the names of the 2,977 people that died on seeingthat their faces in photos andin rightMcQueen now, we just need centralize a presence of familiarity. called to Walker New of York by aElizabeth former from the presidential searchpresidential committee, president ofresources education. was theto first female higher Dr. Robert on behalf of the student, entire was9/11, apparent Smith’s experiences The youngest four, is education were the best match for requesting input for future hired in the Church Christ board.

On Feb. 10, Walker the favorite “Blue Skies and Rainbows.” knew exactly what to say make infectious, andabout her smile would light up resources right now, we just need toofto centralize a presence of familiarity. called toIrby, Newnational York bymarketing a announced former officer student, on 9/11, seeing their faces in photos and learning more their individual lives. the message.”

“I song, couldinput stop the interview if I saw him always Darren of requesting president hired in the Church of Christ for future presidential board.

On Feb. 10, Walker announced the higher education were the best match for survived by two their husbands and of candidates. the challenges and opportunities ahead.” school’s 130-year history.

The survey included questions formation of a sisters, presidential search committee the message.”

“I could stop the interview if I saw him Darren Irby, national marketing officer learning more about their individual lives.

Cheryl Lee, assistant deanclear of clinical smile and laugh when I was having a the“Iroom. in peace, sweetthose friend, until thinkRest it’s easy to define people Blackstone said the channel stopped in distress, and I madeincluded that with the me the American Red Cross, to assist with Red candidates. school’s history. formation of a presidential search committee The survey questions theCandidates challenges and opportunities ahead.” foreasy the role of Harding president “I amor130-year confident that her vision, deep regarding characteristics qualities inthe a campus-wide email. committee a brother (Alice Price and The her husband Blackstone saidbreaks the channel stopped in distress, andthat I made thatand clear with the bad American Red Cross, to assist with Rededucation, “I think it’s to define those people said Elizabeth was a joy day was willing to listen to me rant we meet again.” by their death,” Stinnett said.

“I mean it running commercial for two full weeks. reporter,” Shock said.

“The number one Cross media relations.

“I am passion confident that her vision, deep characteristics andconsidered qualities expertise, in a campus-wide email.

Thethree committee Candidates for the role of Harding president interview with the University board forbreaks faith-based education included seven board members, Harding toregarding students, alumni, faculty staff running commercial for two full weeks. will reporter,” Shock said.and “The number one Cross media relations. byElizabeth’s their death,” Stinnett said.

“I mean it Cody Price; Olivia Wood and her husband know. for hours.

You always gave the best advice. funeral ceremony was held on was a huge event, and it was a huge attack “You just had to go on feeling,” Blackstone issue here is the safety and wellbeing of Seated in the same spot in the New York students, alumni, faculty and staff considered expertise, passion for faith-based education included seven board members, three Harding will interview with the University board of trustees, who will then vote on finalists. and love for Lipscomb will lead us boldly most important for a president and what faculty members and three Harding alumni.

“You just had to go on feeling,” Blackstone issue here is the safety and wellbeing of Seated in the same spot in the New York was a huge event, and it was a huge attack Jake Wood; and Archibald Soisouvanh).

— but they deserve for their fullon stories to said.had “There no rulebook this. the subject, especially at this brutal time.

Marriott Marquis whereHarding he metalumni. with the most “She had a positive and loved thewas most contagious laugh, and Sunday, March 13, inthen Waldron, Arkansas. and Lipscomb willfor lead usNothing boldly important for a attitude president what““ You faculty members and three of who willpublicly vote finalists.

The board not announced a into newfor season greatness, exemplified theespecially president should beand prepared Upon the announcement of met theSeptember search said.alove “There was noof rulebook for this.

Nothing theDr. subject, at this brutal time.

Marriott Marquis where he with the challenges —trustees, but theyhas deserve for their fulltostories to She was better known as Lizzie to her be remembered and told.

I want be able like this had ever happened.

Like, when is rest of his team each morning in Ginger Blackstone, associate professor serving our the country andshould serving your smile litseason updiversity any room youimmersion walked into.

A celebration lifeexpect was held on Sunday, into athis newhad of greatness, exemplified Upon the announcement of in theSeptember search challenges president be others,” prepared The board hasof not publicly announced a date on which they to announce a by excellence, and in to address. committee, Walker also announced the like ever happened.

Like, when is Dr. Ginger Blackstone, associate professor rest of his team each morning be remembered and told.

I want to be able to help remember and tell their stories.” a it okay to made run diversity a commercial again?

When ofaddress. communication, was beside Shock in You 2001, told the students of histhe twoLee family andShock many of her friends. by excellence, and immersion in to committee, Walker also announced date on which they expect to announce said.

“She would have touched so always sure everyone knew how March 20, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. regarding and the new hiring.

Incommunication, the meantime, Ganus hethe felt blessedin our community together again? we work to decision appointment oftold anzero executive search firm, it it okay to run a as commercial When wassaid beside Shock 2001, the students of his two of to help remember tell their stories.” the seating area, sharing with students. is appropriate?” weeksShock at ground with major the Red Cross.

Elizabeth, a junior nursing In the meantime, Ganus said hethe felt blessed our asoftogether we work to decision regarding the new hiring. appointment of to anzero executive search lives byarea, her nursing care.

She will much theythe were loved and supported.

A transform lives our students,” David bythe Dr. David Burks’ interim presidency.

CarterBaldwin, aid the search forfrom afirm, new many is itcommunity appropriate?” weeks at ground with the Red Cross. seating sharing with students. transform lives of our Dr. David Burks’ interim presidency.

CarterBaldwin, to aid search for new bebygreatly Waldron, Arkansas, wasthe a member ofathe missed.

I am thankful for the piece of methe still wants to students,” call you toDavid hear Air Force Reserve and had planned to time I had with her this semester.” you say ‘I love you honey’ one last time.”

Honoring the life of Elizabeth Soisouvanh

Students respond respond to to Students Possible vaccine vaccine mandates mandates to affect private companies, Possible to affect private companies, Supreme Court’s ruling on Supreme Court’s ruling on Community garden approved to be built on campus universities universities Texas abortion ban Texas abortion ban

Association (SA) who were tasked “I have full confidence that this garden Brands Association wrote a letter to to the lettuce, tomatoes, carrots and peppers.

GABRIEL HUFF KAYLEIGH TRITSCHLER Brands Association wrote letter to the GABRIEL HUFF create a plan on howofto bringa the garden “ We will begin with a few raised can be a tool used to further the kingdom president requesting clarification, asking asst. copy problems instead attacking the woman guest writereditor GABRIEL HUFF president requesting clarification, asking asst. copy editor problems instead of attacking the woman questions such as, “Must an employee to life on campus. beds across the street f rom the Public of God, and I am ecstatic to watch that who’s already in a tough situation, I think GABRIEL asst. copy HUFF editor questions such as, “Must an employee who’s already in a tough situation, I think I n a n e f f o r t t o c u r b COV I D 1 9 be fully vaccinated to work?” and “What have to ban abortions make Safety house,” Ayers said. “We will focus happen.”

Seniors Lily Beth Ayers and Emma “we Wewouldn’t have been planning sincetolast asst. copy editor I n Ina na 5-4 ePresident f f ovote, r t tthe o cSupreme u r bBiden COV I D -of1on 9 be fully vaccinated work?” and “What we wouldn’t havething.” totoban toone’s make numbers, Joe said are the consequences of abortions falsifying Court the abortions a rare Hayes brought the idea of a community August,” junior SA representative Megan on helping those few beds thrive and numbers, President JoetoBiden saidU.S. the consequences of falsifying one’s In9a 5-4 vote, therequesting Supreme Court ofon the are abortions a or rare thing.”

Sept. that hedeclined is the vaccination testing status and does the United States block Texas’ new Freshman Skyler Marcellus, secretary garden to9Harding’s campus after a summer said. “My committee last semester Growing produce that vaccination or testing status and does the increase the crops once we successfully Sept. that isSept. requesting the U.S. United States declined block Texas’ new Skyler Marcellus, secretary Depar tment of Labor require all Sledge responsibility restfor with the individual abortion lawhe on 1.to to forFreshman HU Students Life, said he agreed of Depar interning and working with the Micah put in over 100 hours of work on this keep those alive.” responsibility rest with the individual tment of Labor to require all abortion law on Sept.

1. the100 HU Life, said he agreed companies with more than employees employer?”

The Texas law, coined Texas Heartbeat orfor with theStudents Texas lawforbecause it aligns with can be given to the companies with more than 100 employees orwith employer?”

The Texas coined the Texas Heartbeat the Texas law because it with aligns with L ori Klein, assistant professor of toAct, mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or project.

6 Community inlaw, Pontiac, Michigan.

We havevalues. collaborated There are still a few things being thought seeks to prevent abortions when a fetal his Christian Furthermore, hethe said community of Searcy is L ori Klein, assistant professor of to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations orinscience Act, seeks to prevent abortions when a fetal his Christian values.

Furthermore, he said history and political science, said Harding weekly testing. heartbeat or cardiac activity is detected the law holds people more accountable for through for this garden to stay alive.

“As interns we got to work with the department, physical resources history and political science, said Harding weekly testing. heartbeat or cardiac activity is detected in the law holds people more accountable for University would also be subject to these The mandate will affect 80got million the womb, which typically around their actions and saves lives. a great way to connect garden every day,” Ayers said.begins “I to department, HEAL, Sustainable Harding “We are currently working on a schedule The would also be subject these the their and saves lives. em p weeks lwomb, o mandate y e einto swhich , wpregnancy. hwill i ctypically h affect i s More a l begins m80 o specifically, smillion t around t w o - University mandates if that theywe become effective — six “I actions believe need to fix thetosystems citizens in our town to our seeethirds how ayofecommunity brought worked the to make m p weeks l oact ethe s, w h i cindividuals h garden isector s More a l mto o specifically, ssue t tanyone w o - and mandates ifalongside theywe become effective — for this summer,” Sledge said. “A set six into pregnancy.

“Iitthe believe that need toSA fix the systems Photo by MADISON MEYER private workforce, since hasgovernment more than employees the permitted that is100 trying to fix with thethirds neighborhood inThe an effort dream come to fruition.” maintenance the garden bybody.

MADISON MEYER thetoprivate sector workforce, since itthe more than employees — schedule the permitted individuals to sue anyone that government is100 trying toI fix with Flowersfor are propped upofbeneath an American flagstudent at Photo the Engine 54, Ladder whoactof performs ortogether assists abortions.

The lawthis abortion,” Marcellus said.

“So believe unless ithas applies for religious exemption. according AP News. task of Flowers are beneath aninAmerican at the Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9propped firehouse 8th Ave., Midtown flag Manhattan commemorating who performs or assists abortions.

The law Marcellus said.

“So I believe AP News.

The of it applies forand religious exemption. to according combat the effects of living infall atask food Aabortion,” proposal was needed begin in the fall.” upon allows citizens to produce lawsuits instead of unless we13-page need to go in we need to fixtothe will However, she said such an exemption issuing theto mandates will upon 4, Battalion 9 firehouse 8th Ave., Midtown Manhattan commemorating firefighters diedon Sept.

11.in firehouse the most firefighters allows citizens to produce lawsuits instead ofpresent we need to gosaid inbecause, and weBurks need toasfix the However, she an exemption issuing the mandates will upon –lost Megan Sledge necessitating public officials tofall enforce the foster system.

Isuch believe we need to go the may be difficult as far she the Occupational Safety and Health desert.” tocare President David and his This garden iswho not only aonchance for This the9/11. firefighters who died on Sept. 11. This firehouse lost the most necessitating public officials toregulatory enforce the may foster system.

I believe wesystems need go on SA junior rep. firefighters becare difficult because, as far as to she the Occupational Safety and Health law.

If plaintiffs win a case, they can obtain in and we need to fix all these that Administration (OSHA), a is aware, the Church of Christ does not A “food desert,” as defined by the cabinet for the garden to move forward. students to have easy access to produce, law.

If plaintiffs win adepartment. case, canBiden obtain in and we need to all systems that Administration (OSHA), adamages regulatory aware, the Church of‘Ifthese Christ does not a minimum $10,000 in they along is the is fix like, youvaccinations just have an on 9/11. agency of theoflabor have agovernment precedent of rejecting United States Department of “ We h ad t oother pof s e n‘If twill a cvaccinations ljust e taken a r a ncare d but for the Harding community to be awith minimum $10,000 in Agriculture damages along have isrelike, you attorneys’ fees. department. abortion, this stuff be agovernment precedent rejecting agency of the labor Biden also said he of would sign an executive asthe a group, though individuals canhave applyan (USDA), is a region that features large practical vision, create a budget, find a immersed into the Searcy community. withsaid attorneys’ fees. abortion, this other stuff will beto taken care For it to take off, the SA invites Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed as ofa ’exemptions. because they areindividuals not trying fixapply those group, though can also he would an executive order to mandate allsign federal employees for Texas Governor Greg Abbott of ’exemptions. because they areaccess not trying torid fixand those act into law inall May, it signed to takegood systems; they’re just trying to water get of the proportions of households withallowing low incomes, location with to “ I re a l l y p u s h e d f o r t h i s i d e a t o everyone to joinPhoto order to mandate federal employees for tothe get vaccinated, exempting them from “You have to have a basis,” Klein said. in on project. by the MADISON MEYER the into law intransportation May, itthe to systems; they’re just to get rid of the become a realit y because I think … effect Sept.

1.

Some haveallowing criticized newget“You problem that’s those systems.” to getact vaccinated, exempting them from “You have tooverloading have aobject basis,” Klein said. weekly testing Furthermore, can’t just say, ‘Itrying religiously.’ inadequate access tooptions. and atake approval f rom the administration,” Photo byCOVID-19 MADISON “This administers project is open to the MEYER entire Second year pharmacy student Claudia Sifford effect Sept.

1. have criticized the problem overloading those systems.” law, saying sixSome weeks is not enoughwill timenew for “You weekly testing options.

Furthermore, can’tthat’s say, ‘I religiously.’ beginning Oct. 1, immigrants You have tojust be able toobject say why.

We don’t growing vaccination at the vaccine clinic held in the Liberty Room on Aug. 27. limited number of food retailers providingbe SA president Ethan Brazell said. that canstudent be givenClaudia to student Secondproduce yearshots pharmacy Sifford administers COVID-19 body to participate in,” Brazell law, saying six weeks is not enough time for You someone seek abortion.

There are also beginning Oct. 1,animmigrants will be to say We don’t vaccination shots at the vaccine clinic held in the Liberty Room on Aug. 27. have,have sorttoof,bea able history in why. the Churches required toto receive vaccinations as well freshsomeone produce and healthy groceries for With the approval to continue this the community of Searcy is a great way “If important,” you are interested in“Because helping, seek an vaccinations abortion.

Thereasaccuracy are also have, regarding the medical “Very Kelley said. delivered by law rather than an executive said. sort saying of, a history in the required totopermanent receive well of Christ we don’t do Churches that.” tocontroversies become residents. affordable prices. project, the committee will begin the next to connect citizens in our town to our of a term used in the bill: fetal heartbeat. controversies regarding the medical accuracy please let someone in the SA know.” delivered by law rather than an executive “Very important,” Kelley said.

“Because we know that a lot of folks who have order, Klein said. saying don’t do that.” to become permanent residents.

Klein also saidwethe mandate would The announcements supplement the of Christ Some professionals have said a heart does of a term used in the bill: fetal heartbeat.

The idea was given to the Physical stages of bringing this garden to life.

The student body,” Sledge said. we know that a lot of folks who have order, Klein said. immune systems that don’t respond as A Centers for Disease Control and applyalso to students.

Biden administration’s supplement six-prong plan The announcements the notKlein said the mandate would not form around six weeks into pregnancy.

Some professionals have said a heart does Prevention committee met Sept.

22 to robustly did not develop enough of an A Centers for Disease Control and immune systems that don’t respond as to reduce the spread of of the are not covered by Biden administration’s six-prong plan garden not“ The apply to students.

Resource committee the coronavirus S tudent willstudents include practical foods like Senior Julia Carrell said she was disappointed not form around six weeks into pregnancy. discuss who should be eligible for a immune response; it looks like from the Prevention committee met Sept.

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A U.S. Food and Drug are.

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“Lotsattack of people “Ideally, government should the vaccine panel voted Sept. to to getSothem there.”

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Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

2A

NEWS

Friday, March 25, 2022

Student Publications recognized at national media conference

Photo by MADISON MEYER

Meyer’s photo of senior lineman Mason Hutto running down a path of teammates during the football senior ceremony before the game on November 6, 2021, placed first in the Best of Show Photojournalism category for the Associated Collegiate Press.

Bison places sixth, Petit Jean fifth in respective categories

ERIC JOHNSON opinions editor The Best of Show Awards were announced at the Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Spring National College Media Conference on March 5, and Harding Student Publications placed well in several categories.

The conference was held in Long Beach, California beginning March 3 and concluding with the Best of Show award ceremony.

Among the 500 collegiate journalists and advisers who attended the conference were seniors Everett Kirkman, Caroline Birdwell, Hannah Kellum and faculty adviser April Fatula.

Both The Bison newspaper and the Petit Jean yearbook placed in their respective categories. In the newspaper category for

four-year universities with 10,000 students or less, The Bison placed sixth overall. In the yearbook category, the 2021 Petit Jean placed fifth. Additionally, The Link, Harding’s student media network, placed eighth in the website category.

Head photographer for The Bison Madison Meyer earned awards in the photojournalism category. Three different pictures of Meyer’s earned first, second and fourth, respectively.

“I was kind of shocked when I heard that all three of my submissions were placed so well, but I was also excited because it felt like my hard work was finally paying off,” Meyer said. “I love my work as a photojournalist, and these awards definitely encouraged me to keep working hard.”

During the conference, the Harding group attended several breakout sessions held at the

convention center. Notably, one of these was led by former editor-in-chief of The Bison Elizabeth Smith. Smith graduated from Harding in 2000 and is now an assistant professor of communication at Pepperdine University.

“We got to hear f rom advisers f rom award-winning programs at universities across the country in breakout sessions, and award-winning journalists at general sessions,” Kirkman said.

Her favorite session, “Where the First Amendment ends and the private university begins,” was led by Smith and Peg Achterman, faculty adviser of The Falcon at Seattle Pacific University.

“It was encouraging to hear more about each of their paths to where they are now, each coming from similar experiences in

their undergraduate years,” Kirkman said.

Both The Bison and the Petit Jean also attended evaluation sessions where a selected critic gave individualized feedback on recent publications.

“Having an unbiased perspective on our work really helped me see what we are doing well and what we can do better,” Birdwell said. “Going to the conference was a great experience, and it is such a great feeling to be complimented on our work.”

Kirkman thought similarly, saying being recognized among a large number of schools is high praise.

“It was also affirming to be recognized with awards,” Kirkman said. “Competing against that many schools, I was ecstatic to place sixth for our paper overall.”

Gas prices break 2008 record for all time high

Illustration by COOPER TURMAN

GABRIEL HUFF asst. copy editor Gas prices in the United States have been increasing for months, reaching highs not seen since 2008 and leaving people pondering the cause of the spikes.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average price of regular gas is at $4.237 as of March 23, lower from a week ago when the average was $4.305. The average price for regular gas in Arkansas reached $3.821 as of the same date. According to USA Today, the AAA reported that the nation reached a previous high of $4.11 on July 17, 2008, which was broken when average prices rose to $4.17 earlier this month.

Dr. David Kee, assistant professor of the College of Business Administration, said there are multiple factors that caused gas prices to rise in the nation for months. The main factor is the matter of supply and demand.

“Our supply in the United States has been cut back,” Kee said. “So when your supply is down, your price goes up because the demand is not really changing.”

In January 2021, U.S. President Joe Biden made an executive order to pause oil and gas drilling on federal land. He also canceled production of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Kee said the diesel price increase has been the largest resulting problem because 70% of U.S. goods move by truck.

“And because of that, trucks are paying more for diesel gas,” Kee said. “And therefore gasoline is one of those ‘pass through’ expenses because it passes through the company and it ends up making the consumers pay for it.”

The average price of diesel fuel in the country is $5.042, according to the AAA. The average price was $3.957 a month ago.

Many pointed to the war between Ukraine and Russia for reasons behind the price increase.

On March 8, Biden banned all imports of

Russian oil and gas energy in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Kee said the war only played a small factor in the gas prices because the U.S. does not purchase a huge amount of oil from Russia, though enough is purchased to cause a panic in the market. The U.S. imported less than 10% of its oil from Russia.

Some may expect for oil companies to increase production to help prices go down and obtain more revenue, but issues such as a shortage of workers and equipment are in their way. Reports from NPR and CNN said oil producers are having trouble attaining materials such as sand and steel.

Farzin Mou — vice president of intelligence at Enverus, an energy analytics company — said increasing supply was difficult before the COVID-19 pandemic caused problems with the supply chain, and she does not expect more oil to become available on the market until next year, according to NPR.

“The point from which you drill a rig to the point that you can turn it online, it takes about six to eight months typically,” Mou said.

Junior David Judd, an accounting major, said he drives from Searcy to Little Rock six days a week for his job, and the traveling is making him spend a lot of money on gas.

“So that comes out to $150 or so a week just to go to work, which is frustrating; not my favorite,” Judd said.

Kee advised students to plan for transportation expenses to become a much higher percentage of their budgets and find ways to cut long distance traveling.

“I’m not a prophet, but I expect the prices to keep going up steadily until we start producing a lot more,” Kee said.

According to a report by the New York Times on Thursday, the average price of gas is now declining nationwide except in California, where fuel taxes and regulatory programs increase the average cost of fuel.

OPINIONS 3A

TheLink.Harding.edu

Julio Montenegro

A more perfect union Eric Johnson

What’s the truth?

Guest Writer

W

e live in a world where we can get our news from every source, place and language we want. Living in our modern times means having access to an incredible amount of information. At least, for me, when growing up I witnessed the change in my own society when suddenly I started researching to write papers from internet sources. Nonetheless, the greatest, most important lesson that I had to learn academically had to do with using this access to information for truth’s sake.

As a Christian I have that calling, to look for the truth, to speak out of truth and to live a life in the truth. Believing in a God that calls himself as the way, the truth and the life summarizes this call of every Christian, yet inevitably we see ourselves surrounded by doubts, anxiety and mistrust. Although these aspects have always been part of our society, never have human beings been exposed to the amount of information that each of us receives. Are humans meant to know it all?

Frankly, I believe that God did not intend for us to understand or know all that exists.

Why do we want to take his place?

It seems like trying to know and master all around us makes us forget a biblical truth.

God reigns above all that exists. Our job is limited to being stewards of the gifts he has given us. Critically thinking about our lives takes a big role in letting God reign over us and in our personal search for the truth.

God gave us a mind capable of doing great

Opinions Editor

things. Just stop for a moment and see how much improvement science has brought to humanity. However, doing great things is not the goal of our lives. Our goal must be a life of service that resembles the life of the perfect servant: Christ.

Don’t let the noise of the world make you forget how fearfully and wonderfully you were made, unique before God and unconditionally loved as his child.

– Julio Montenegro, senior

We don’t need to know it all. We don’t have to master it all. We don’t need to control it all. That has never been our job. However, in all that we know, in all that we learned to master, in all that we control, in our limited human power we can glorify a creator that gave us a reason for being. Whether that is getting people to a new planet or raking the leaves at a park, God meant for that to be our joy and our fullness on earth.

Likewise, it is correct to say no, or even recognize that we can’t do something. Our job is to make wise use of our time. In a

society that is constantly pushing toward planning every single minute of our lives, we are constantly concerned about the things that will come next that we forget about the present. This summarizes our lives, a collection of present moments that transform us, that shape us, that change us.

Don’t let the noise of the world make you forget how fearfully and wonderfully you were made, unique before God, and unconditionally loved as his child. This is my advice: next time you feel like the world is falling apart, next time you feel like you can’t do more, sit down for a moment and remember: God does not expect that you take his job. Let him work through you, let him take charge of your life and above all, let him love you.

It is there, in the midst of all our concerns where the love of God penetrates our lives, for in our weakness God makes all things new. Dear reader, I may not know how many things you are going through right now. However, I can assure you that in a society where everything seems to change, the truth endures, lives and reigns, for the truth exists before time, and it is our daily reminder that no matter how different the world tells us, the truth will never change.

In Christly love, J. JULIO MONTENEGRO is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at jmontenegro@harding.edu.

Faculty Finds

Jaws

Mac Sandlin

Bible & Ministry

J

“ aws” is a virtually flawless movie. I’m

not saying that it’s the best movie ever made or anything, but every shot, every scene and every line of dialogue manages to succeed in accomplishing exactly what Steven Spielberg intended it to accomplish.

What makes “Jaws” work as a scary movie is how well it frightens at every level. In “Dance Macabre,” Steven King’s analysis and history of the horror genre, he describes three levels of fright that a piece of literature can attempt to instill in its audience. The first is the gross out. “It’s when the lights go out and something green and slimy splatters against your arm.” The second is the horror, which he associates with the unnatural. This is the realm of monsters. Horror in this sense is what the ancients were going for when they combined animal parts together to create biological mashups like the Minotaur, that bull-headed man of Crete who feasted on Athenian youths every year. King says horror is, “The unnatural, spiders the size of bears, the dead waking up and walking around; it’s when the lights go out and something with claws grabs you by the arm.”

The last and most intense kind of fright is what King calls terror. The gross out and the horror are about external things, but terror is internal, the dread of something that can’t be quantified or examined rationally in the light of day.

“Terror [is] when the lights go out and you feel something behind you, you hear, you feel its breath against your ear, but when you turn around, there’s nothing there ...”

“Jaws” excels at every level. It uses the gross out as the basis for its most effective jump scares –— blood in the water, a dead body floating up when you don’t expect

staffEverett Kirkman

editor-in-chief Sara McClaran features editor Ben Lane news editor Tiane Davis sports/digital editor

it, etc. It horrifies when the audience sees just how insanely huge the shark actually is and realizes with the characters, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.” The sight of that gigantic head with its “lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll’s eyes” is an offense against nature that leaves us reeling. But most of all, “Jaws” terrifies.

Scary stories keep us humble, force us to look at the parts of life and death that we’d rather forget and push us toward real bravery – Mac Sandlin, asst. professor of bible

Spielberg is so patient. He lets you feel the shark long before you see it. By far the scariest scenes of the movie are, absent their context and that fabulous music, happy pictures that you might put on a postcard.

But Spielberg manages to get way down deep into our minds and remind us of all the ways that the ocean with its bottomless depths and its unseen creatures lurking just beneath the three feet of water in which we swim can swallow us up.

Scary movies, whether a thriller like “Jaws” or a psychological horror flick like “The Sixth Sense” offer the same sort of fun that a roller coaster does. It’s exciting to feel that thrill of adrenaline in an environment without any real danger. But they can do more than that, too. Literature, whether film or novels or even something

Sophie Rossitto community editor Eric Johnson opinions editor Maggie Samples lifestyle editor Caroline Birdwell head copy editor

like scripture, frequently grosses us out, horrifies us or fills us with terror and thereby reminds us that we are not as safe as we like to imagine we are. Scary stories keep us humble, force us to look at the parts of life and death that we’d rather forget and push us toward real bravery — not the faux courage that says, “I’m not afraid to get in the water. More people die from lightning strikes than from shark attacks.”

But the real courage that says, “I’m scared of the water, but I’m going out anyway.”

I re-watched “Jaws” most recently with my 15-year-old son, Elijah. Fifteen is a great age for discovering old movies with your dad, and I’ve been trying to make the most of it by giving him two or three films to choose from every couple of weeks. He loves sharks so he picked “Jaws” a few weeks ago, and it was wonderful to see things that worked in 1977 when the film was first released still work in 2022. ‘Lijah was great during the jump scenes. If he’d had popcorn he would have thrown it up in the air I’m sure. He crawled backwards in his chair when the massive head of the shark first came out of the water, and when the movie was over (at 1 a.m.) he said, “We’re gonna have to play Smash Bros or something; I’m way too freaked out to go to bed.” We’ll put the film to the real test when we go to the beach this summer.

MAC SANDLIN is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at mssandlin@harding.edu.

Gabriel Huff asst. copy editor Cianna Jay editorial asst.

Madison Meyer head photographer Julianne Baker asst. photographer

Look closer

O

ftentimes, things are more complicated than they might seem at first. We like to simplify the world down into terms that are easy to understand and compartmentalize. Such a process of simplification is not inherently bad; in fact, it is necessary for proper human functioning. If we refused to ever move on f rom a topic until we exhaustively understood every grain of nuance to be found in an issue, we would never get anything done and drive ourselves insane.

On the other hand, there is danger on the other side of the spectrum, and this is a major problem facing our society today.

In particular, our lack of appreciation for complexity is preventing us from properly understanding each other and major issues in the ways they ought to be.

Of course, this has always been a problem for humans; this is not a new phenomenon. What is newer, however, is how advancements in technology have progressively exacerbated this problem. With internet sound bites and the proliferation of media sources to choose from, it is easier than ever to have the world explained to you in just the way you want it to be. Again, these developments are not inherently bad for our culture. However, they do make it much easier to fall victim to groupthink and confirmation bias.

When we fall into this trap where our preexisting worldview is constantly reinforced and never challenged, we can become close-minded and arrogant. Has this ever happened to you? I know it has to me. I start to feel like only I, and people like me or on “my team,” truly understand the issues and how to properly solve them.

Not only does this lead me to become overconfident in my correctness, but it also makes me assume that the people who disagree with me all think alike and are all wrong. In essence, I fail to understand alternate, valid perspectives and also fail to understand the people who think differently from me. This is a dangerous road to go down, and the influencing forces of social media and modern technology often make this road all the more tempting.

One of the key issues with this trend is that it fails to appreciate just how complex major issues and people in general truly are.

Every issue has two sides, and every person has their own story. When we forget this, or choose to ignore it, we are effectively working to create a lazy and dangerous culture to live in. For one, it is easier to degrade and dehumanize someone or some group that you fail to properly understand.

Once we become comfortable dehumanizing someone or an entire group of people, bad things are sure to follow. Secondly, failing to understand and appreciate complexities makes compromise all that much more difficult to obtain, if not completely impossible. I am a firm believer that in order to create a better future, we must do a better job at hearing, understanding and working with each other. This is a tall order and goes against many innate human sensibilities that would tell us to tribalize and attack, as opposed to being open and cooperative with so-called “enemies.”

It is easy to oversimplify; let’s be better than that. Let’s commit ourselves to giving people the benefit of the doubt. Let’s seek out the best argument for a position we disagree with, instead of the worst and easiest to scoff at. Let’s remind ourselves that it is better to be intellectually honest and socially agreeable than close-minded and self-righteous. Let’s remind ourselves to look closer.

ERIC JOHNSON is the opinions editor for The Bison. He may be contacted at ejohnson7@harding.edu.

Balazs Balassa asst. photographer Theo Westbrook video/social media Hunter Woodall pr/social media Cooper Turman graphic designer

Blue Billingsly illustrator Michael Claxton narrative columnist April Fatula faculty adviser

guest contributors Ethan Conn Hannah Hackworth

Julio Montenegro Jake Mooney

Addi Province Mac Sandlin

Kayleigh Tritschler

Charles VanOrder

4A

OPINIONS

Friday, March 25, 2022

Work in progress Everett Kirkman

Editor-in-Chief

Build your own table

D

iversity is vital to all of humanity.

Diversity allows space for new ideas and a variety of experiences. One of my favorite facets of humanity is the shared experience of it, the community that can be found within it. In a true community, people can learn from each other. Every person can bring their own ideas, perspectives, and experiences to the table, and benefit from knowing one another more fully and more truly. The value of diversity is evident in the workplace, in education, and in personal lives and communities — diversity promotes creativity and opens up greater dialogue.

When I say diversity, I don’t just mean race. Race is, of course, a crucial aspect of diversity. But, the term diversity encompasses and can be applied to gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic background, schools of thought, systems of belief, and religion, amongst countless other qualifiers.

As the world becomes more interconnected, the ability to communicate globally and integrate the ideas and ideologies of people from a variety of cultures broadens. As countries become more diverse, places of education, businesses, and the governments that lead the countries themselves should follow suit, and be similarly representative of the environment that surrounds them.

In the U.S. specifically, elected and nominated officials, as a whole, should look more like the sum of our parts.

This week, America has watched Supreme Court confirmation hearings for Biden’s nominee to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer, D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Jackson, if confirmed, would be the third Black person to serve on the country’s highest court, and the first Black woman.

She is the first Black woman to have been nominated for the position.

I would love to see the court diversified in that way. But, as I’ve said, diversity of race is not the only avenue for diversity. Amy Coney Barrett, graduate of Notre Dame Law, diversified the court in 2020 when she became the sole current justice who did not receive their J.D. from Harvard or Yale. That’s a step towards future diversity, as it makes Supreme Court justice positions more achievable for more groups of people.

As a Harvard Law graduate, Jackson would not diversify the court in terms of education — she would actually fit right in.

It’s something of a modern phenomenon, but of the other eight justices (including Stephen Breyer, not including Barrett) the Harvard/Yale graduates are split 4-and-4.

Before Jackson’s nomination, Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC), Congress’ highest-ranking Black member, recommended that Biden consider the court’s lack of educational diversity in making his pick as well as racial and gender diversity.

“We run the risk of creating an elite society,” Clyburn said, himself a graduate of South Carolina State University. “We’ve got to recognize that people come from all walks of life, and we ought not dismiss anyone because of that.”

As the hearings continue, I’m encouraged at the step in the right direction, and f rustrated (but not surprised) at futile attempts to stop the confirmation.

But, while the SCOTUS affects each of our lives in the U.S., every citizen cannot directly vote on appointees to the court. Critiques of the Constitution and foundation of our legal system aside, I urge you to seek out diversity in areas of your life that you do have agency over.

I challenge you to diversify your own life. Diversify the information you consume.

Diversify the type of people you surround yourself with — both in racial and ethnic identities and in political and social identities.

If you don’t see enough diversity in your own circles, in your own businesses, in your own churches, in your own elected officials — do something about it. And if you have tried to fight for diversity in these areas, if you have fought for more seats at the table, and have faced pushback from those around you — build your own table.

EVERETT KIRKMAN is the editorin-chief for The Bison. She may be contacted at ekirkman@harding. edu.

Charles VanOrder Guest Writer

C

limbing a mountain is a completely useless endeavor; in fact, it is less useful than climbing a set of stairs. When you are at the top, you look around to see a view you could have seen just as easily in a photo on Instagram, and then you go right back down to where you started.

What a pointless escapade. Does this not highlight the most pompous and pretentious elements of our culture? To climb a mountain is not a divisive issue — a person either feels the religious impulse flaring up within themselves upon witnessing the summit of a grand mountain or feels nothing whatsoever.

The only argument against climbing a mountain is that, because of the effort required, it’s a complete waste of time. But could there be another way of looking at it? Perhaps, it is a grand analogy for what we fight against. Mountains are the point at which heaven and earth meet. When we climb a mountain, we come closer to God in every sense. We do these things to attach to the eternal nature of our existence — to know if we are capable and if we are worthy.

With this, we gain a deeper understanding of why we do anything at all. If we are not here to climb mountains, to overcome nature and to love fiercely, then why are we here? These are the things that drove

Why we climb mountains and why you should, too men like the Wright brothers to invent heavier-than-air flight, or Columbus to sail west instead of east, or Fermi to harness nuclear energy, or Julius Caesar to cross the Rubicon. If men did not climb mountains or desire to conquer the unconquerable, the civilized world as we know it would not exist. It is by climbing mountains that

When we climb a mountain, we come closer to God in every sense.

– Charles VanOrder, guest writer

we built civilization. The mountain is the place of the ascetic, of the wise and of the strongest for a good reason. Those who feel nothing when they climb a mountain are not against it, but they are apathetic.

They see no utility, and in truth, they are correct. There is no utility in climbing a mountain, but this is why we do it. It is a pure journey within oneself.

As we rise higher, we dig deeper into our own spirit. Our flesh weakens, and even the air we breathe thins in our lungs.

We feel ourselves less and less present in the world. Everything we know drifts away

from us and is lost beneath the clouds we have surpassed. And yet, every bit of what was lost is made up infinitely at the moment of final conquest. When we finally glance upon the distance we have scaled, we are not in this world. Everything is a shallow reflection of a higher realm of being. Few things are as satisfying as traversing and physically conquering nature.

At the top of a mountain, we are relieved of our earthly form and are no longer just ourselves. The mountain is a place at which we transcend who we are. We may all have our individual stories and struggles, but at the top, we have enacted the archetype of the hero — to suffer, to conquer and to overcome. We are more than ourselves, we’ve experienced a sliver of the state of being which the greats before us have experienced, and we inch closer to them in this. Those who are apathetic toward pointless overcomings are our opponents.

Not because they oppose us, but because they wish to make the mountain into nothing more than simply an elevated clump of dirt and stone.

CHARLES VANORDER is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at cvanorder@harding.edu.

Crossing over

I

remember when my favorite professor in college turned 50. It just so happened to be the same day that I was inducted into the English Honor Society, and my parents came to the ceremony. When my dad found out that Dr. Brightman had hit the half-century mark, he jokingly offered to help him up from his seat. My teacher smiled. He didn’t need assistance just yet, but he said he would call my dad when the time came.

While some college students might be mortified at this teasing, I just chalked it up to the kind of bantering that old people do. Very old people. At 20, I struggled to imagine how anyone could reach the frail age of 50. It seemed the stuff of legends, the kind of thing that would take forever to happen to me, like dentures and social security.

When my uncle turned 50, I gave him a card that said, “This card contains no jokes about your age, no wisecracks about you being over the hill, no smart remarks about Medicare. It’s just a friendly reminder that today is the day that you were born.” Then on the inside it read, “Years and years and years and years and years and years ago.”

When my brother turned 50, my taste in cards had gotten even edgier. On the outside: “Happy Birthday to someone who is the perfect age.” And on the inside: “Not dead.”

Back then it was hard to visualize that someday the chickens would hobble home to roost. Last week my sister gave me a card with a news anchor on the front, saying, “This just in.” The headline?

“You’re old.”

A friend of mine told his physician that he had just turned 50, and the doctor rubbed his hands together and said, “Now, you’re all mine!” My doctor was kind enough not to act so giddy about it. When I announced I was crossing the

Michael Claxton

Narrative Columnist

great divide, he just put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Bless.”

So now I have joined the group of people who universally mark each birthday by saying, “Well, it beats the alternative.”

I just hope that I can be like the late comedian George Burns. He made it to 100, but he spent the last 50 years making jokes about being old. He’s the one who used to say, “I’ve reached the age where if I bend down to tie my shoes, I think, ‘What else can I do while I’m down here?’”

And now that I’m officially dependent upon reading glasses to see anything smaller than the Hollywood sign, I use a line from the late Red Skelton, who said he had reached the age where curiosity was greater than vanity.

I’m told that quoting dead comedians is something else that very old people do. I would take offense at that, but I’m too busy reading the newspaper in my house slippers.

That reminds me of an essay by one of my favorite writers, Joseph Epstein.

He described buying a new pair of house slippers at age 80 and deciding they would probably be the last pair he would need. “These will see me out,” he said. Six months ago, the watch I’ve used for the last 25 years quit on me. So, last week, my sister-in-law gave me a new one just like it for my birthday. Since the average life expectancy of men is 76.3 years, this watch may see me out.

One thing I have learned in my first five decades: never complain about your

age to people older than you. This explains why I’m looking forward to talking with my 8-month-old great-nephew about my sciatica. He just learned to say, “Da Da” this week, so I think it will be a while before he fires back with, “Tell me about it. My hip is killing me.”

That’s why I don’t think I will move to The Villages. Yesterday I read an article in the newspaper (while I was sipping Ensure and watching Lawrence Welk) about the famous retirement community that now boasts over 65,000 seniors.

“Florida’s friendliest hometown” — as it’s called — features lavish amenities, shopping, golf, conga dancing and all the fine dining you want, as long as you don’t mind eating dinner in the day-light.

A classic episode of “Seinfeld” spoofs The Villages by showing Jerry’s parents in a retirement community where everyone heads out for the “early bird” dinner special.

Jerry refuses to “force-feed” himself a steak at 4:30 “just to save a few bucks,” so the family waits until 5:30. When the senior Mr. Seinfeld is seen strolling into the restaurant just when the prices switch over, his friends suspect him of, at best, putting on airs and, at worst, stealing from the condo treasury.

I don’t think my nerves are up to that kind of pressure. So, I’ll just stay here, where I’m surrounded by young people who can help me up from my chapel seat and listen to my stories. Did I tell you about the card I gave my uncle?

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

At The Bison, it is our goal to serve the Harding University student body with integrity, truth and open ears. However, we believe that meeting that goal is a two-way street between our staff and the public it serves. We pledge to keep our eyes and ears open to what our community has to say and hope that, in return, that community will be an interactive audience, sharing its stories with us. We also pledge to do the basics: Report accurate and relevant information, check our facts, and share them in a professional, timely manner. If you have any story ideas, questions, comments or concerns for The Bison staff, please email Everett Kirkman, the editor-in-chief, at ekirkman@harding.edu. “The Bison (USPS 577-660) is published weekly (except vacations, exams and summer sessions), 20 issues per year,

by Harding University. Periodicals postage paid at Searcy, Arkansas 72143. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Bison, Harding University 11192, SEARCY, AR 72149-0001.” BYLINE POLICY: The Bison provides an opportunity for class writers to contribute work under the byline “guest writers.” Due to this arrangement, staff writers may rewrite a portion of the guest writers’ stories as they deem necessary, while still identifying the work as the guest writers’ own.

TheLink.Harding.edu Thoughts of a Hoosier Tiane Davis Sports Editor

SPORTS 1B

Lady Bisons hammer spring tennis season

A method to my madness

With all the March Madness going on, I feel I once again have to resurface my credibility as a basketball expert by reminding you all that I am from Indiana, the home of Larry Bird and Orville Redenbacher.

Just to remind you, Orville Redenbacher is credited for revolutionizing popcorn, the most popular concession stand snack at basketball games. There is no way he was not a big basketball fan.

Now that I can rest easy knowing I have gained your trust, I will talk about March Madness. Before anything else, I would like to point out that March might be the least mad month of the year, taking a close second to February. The phrase “March Madness” is in itself a contradiction. The only mad thing about March is March Madness, and the most exciting part of March Madness is actually in April, but I digress.

The second point I would like to make is not much of a point, but rather a few pieces of advice. I know it’s about two weeks too late to give advice on how to create the best tournament bracket, but I will give it anyway — you can keep it in mind for next year.

I would like to preface by saying I won the March Madness bracket contest for my math class when I was in sixth grade and that I am currently in the lead for The Bison Staff tournament challenge this year. I am an experienced tournament bracket virtuoso.

My strategy in sixth grade was to pick every team with the highest rank. As I have already mentioned, it was a pretty foolproof plan, because by the time all the madness was over, my school desk inventory had gained another unmemorable prize.

With only a few small alterations to my strategy since 2014, I have compiled a few more pieces of advice for those inexperienced in creating tournament bracket predictions.

Not completely as foolproof as my chockpick plan is always picking a team that I have some kind of personal connection with. This year, I picked Duke to win. To be completely transparent, I thought it was the Duke in Indiana. I almost picked Indiana University, since I have friends that go there, but my mental coin-flip left the fates to Duke. I’ll pretend I already knew Duke is a North Carolina team. And with family in Wichita and Houston, it’s only natural that I pick Kansas or a Texas team to make it further than their ranks would otherwise allow. Thankfully, Kansas is usually a No.1 ranked team, so I can usually sleep peacefully picking Kansas to go far.

Another important part of the tournament season is picking a clever name for your bracket — preferably an alliteration, like “Bruce’s Best Bracket,” or “Tiane’s Terrific Picks.” If you would rather stay anonymous, ESPNFAN8675309 is always a classic and will probably get you just as far.

Another approach that usually works for me — I am not sure if everyone else does this too — is making sure to forget watching the tournament altogether. Sometimes I’ll remember to watch a game or two, but my knowledge of the final score or even who is playing is never a guarantee. Checking my bracket score the next day to see if it affected my ranking usually works just fine for me.

Now that you have all the tips you need to create the best tournament bracket in the universe, all you have to do is sit back and wait for the prizes to roll in. Last time I won a prize for March Madness, I humbly received a Dum-Dum sucker. It was root beer flavored, too — my favorite. As you can see, the stakes are always very high.

In case you follow this detailed plan of mine, I feel it is only fair that I warn you of all the haters. Annoying basketball fans will turn green if you win a bracket challenge with only top ranked picks. That is why picking a random team every now and then — just in case there might be an upset, or in the offchance your friends see through your plan — is critical. Of course, you’ll have to wait an entire year before carrying out these plans.

To all the haters out there, I know I am a nuisance for putting almost zero thought into March Madness. At least I am joining in the excitement. For next year, I have one recommendation for those who never participate in the March Madness fun: make a bracket, and make it as terrible or as great as you want. No shame. In the meantime, I will be rooting for Duke.

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

Photo by BALAZS BALLASSA

Sophomore Grace Dodd competes in the Women’s Tennis tournament against AUM at the David Elliot Tennis Complex in Searcy on March 17. The Lady Bisons have won eight of their past 10 matches.

JAKE MOONEY guest writer The Lady Bisons tennis team is three quarters of the way through the season, and have been on a roll over the past 10 games.

The Lady Bisons have won eight of their past 10 matches giving them a season record of 10-4. The team lost their last game against Auburn University with a score of 2-4. They have a home record of 6-1, an away record of 1-1 and a neutral court record of 3-2.

“So far, I’m ver y pleased with our performance,” assistant coach Ricardo Rodrigues said. “We’ve played tough colleges and won most of the matches.”

Though the team has been pleased with the season thus far, there is still some room for improvement in the team.

Senior Emily Carpenter said one thing that they are working to get better on is

being more consistent, and to get better, it all comes down to practice.

“If you want to get better, you’ve got to put in the work,” Emily Carpenter said. “Each one of us is trying to get better, and we are constantly pushing each other.”

Senior Lindy Carpenter said confidence was something that at the beginning of the season the team needed to improve on, but after the season was underway it became less of a problem.

“We’ve been able to win against teams who were considered better than we are, and that’s given us a lot of confidence,” Lindy Carpenter said. “We were not playing the best at the start of the season, but now we have already improved so much since then, which I think will help us when we start our conference matches in a few weeks.”

Things that the team says they do well

are playing together as a team and making the most out of every game.

“I think our whole team has really been pushing each other,” Emily Carpenter said.

“We are really fighting for each point to help us get through the close matches.”

Lindy Carpenter said she has been trying her hardest in practice and matches, but even when she is not playing her best, she tries to change her play style to “attack the weaknesses of her opponent.”

Going into the rest of the season, the Lady Bisons believe that they will be a hard team to face, especially into the post-season.

“This mid-season showed how stronger we are than we thought,” Rodrigues said. “I’m excited for the rest of the season.”

The team’s next match is March 27 at 1 p.m. in Searcy.

Cheer team to hold tryouts April 1-2 HANNAH HACKWORTH guest writer The Harding cheerleading squad is entering its tryout season with two tentative dates in place: April 1-2.

Junior Riley Shepard said current members of the squad are aware of the pressures that accompany trying out again.

“Tryouts can be nerve-racking,” Shepard said. “It’s been a thing in the past where people have made it freshman year and then try out sophomore year and don’t make it again, and it’s like, ‘What changed? What happened?’ So, you kind of have to always know that’s a potential.”

To be ready for the judges, those who are trying out are starting to work on their tumbling skills and other strengths to ensure confidence for the big day. Despite being on the squad all year, regular practice before tryouts are important to get their skills the way they need to be. Sophomore Evie Boyd is currently studying abroad at Harding University Florence and is already considering the preparation she will have to make in order to be ready for tryouts.

“Most of the cheers and dances I know by heart at this point, but as for the stunts, kicks and jumps, I’ll need to get stretched out again,” Boyd said. “We’ve been staying fairly active over here, but starting soon I’ll begin stretching and preparing for summer tryouts.”

However, she said the most stressful part of tryouts isn’t the training, but the anticipation of the actual date.

“You can do everything in your power to be prepared, but as soon as you step out on

that floor in front of the judges, you have to be ready to show them what you got,” Boyd said. “There’s also just a lot to be practicing for, including a cheer, chant, band dance and pom routine as well as kicks, jumps, tumbling and stunts.”

Coaches utilize online resources in order to make learning the tryout material easier for the candidates.

“The material for tryouts should go up on the Harding sports website under cheer tryouts the week of tryouts so you can also work on it in your free time,” freshman cheerleading member Dakota McJunkin said.

“Last year, we had a week of clinic to learn the fight song, a dance, a cheer and a chant you had to make up your own motions to.”

These anxieties do not stop current cheerleading members from returning every year as their fond memories outshine the stress.

“My favorite part of cheering at Harding is all the memories we make in practice,” McJunkin said. “I also love cheering at the tailgates and walking around and seeing all my friends and family coming out to support the Bisons.”

Students who aren’t on the cheer team are encouraged to try out, as well.

“I’m a firm believer in just doing what you want to do and doing what you love, so if it’s something that you’ve been passionate about in the past or something that you want to do, why not put yourself out there and give yourself a chance?” Shepard said. “The worst that could happen is you get turned down, and you can’t say that you didn’t try.”

Photo provided by SPORTS INFORMATION

Sophomores Emma Brantley, Kadyn Harris, Evie Boyd and junior Aleah Person perform a stunt. Tryouts will be held April 1-2.

2B

COMMUNITY

Friday, March 25, 2022

Photo by JULIANNE BAKER

Flute players Lisa Brandon Doss and Tish Kennedy Davenport play a musical selection on Monday, March 21, during the Lenten Lunch Concert Series at the First United Methodist Church. Organizers have planned to host a concert each Monday during the season of Lent.

Local church hosts weekly concert series during Lent SARA MCCLARAN features editor

For the first time in decades, First United Methodist Church is once again hosting a Lenten Lunch Concert Series.

The series involves 20-minute concerts every Monday at noon through the season of Lent. The concerts cover a variety of music styles from organ and piano to flute, guitar and voice.

Music director at First United Methodist Church Tish Davenport said she started the concert series in response to requests from community members. The lunchtime concerts had been run by a previous music director, Don Mooney, and Davenport finally felt it was a good time to start them again.

“These Lenten lunchtime concerts could provide a wonderful opportunity to bring music lovers in our community together, because music can inspire and comfort us through so many different styles and sounds,” Davenport said. “I think it provides a needed respite from an often hectic day.”

Davenport said the purpose of the weekly concerts was to encourage people to look inward, to be still and to be in the presence of God. “For me, I find music is the best way to do that,” Davenport said. “It provides a way to focus on just being in the present moment as you listen to a musical composition unfold, and you watch a performer take you through [that] process of the notes from the beginning to the end.”

One of the performances will be by students of associate professor of music Scott Carrell. Carrell said he and his fellow professors connected with Davenport through her music experience, as well as her participation in the Searcy Community School of Music. Carrell said most people have to take lunch breaks, so he expects there could be an appreciative audience at the concerts.

“Business people downtown can come over and get a little concert and then go eat a quick lunch,” Carrell said. “I think it’s a nice thing to have in the community.”

One of the vocal performers, senior vocal music education major Camille Overman, said the series gives people an opportunity to see the beauty of God in music.

“I personally will be singing an aria about giving glory to God and magnifying his name,” Overman said. “Not only can God’s beauty be seen through song, this series in particular will help the listener to focus their mind upon God, his Son and the cross.”

The First United Methodist Church has more plans for the future. Davenport said that because of this concert, she and guitarist Anthony Lytle have begun planning a community acoustic jam during the lunchtime hour of Monday, May 2.

“It gives people the chance to just bring their own instruments and come and play together as a community,” Davenport said.

The Lenten Lunch concerts are live streamed and can be found on YouTube or Facebook with Searcy First United Methodist Church.

“Searcy KLIFE is run completely off of donations by the community,” Bussmann said. “This fundraiser will help allow us to run day-to-day operations, but also allow us to host events for the youth in town.”

People who participate in the tournament make a team and then play in two games of “pool play,” Bussmann said. Each game has three rounds that last five minutes. Then, the teams move into “bracket play,” which is determined by the number of wins a team has during pool play. Each bracket game lasts 10 minutes until there is only one team left standing.

“Kids love the tournament,” Bussmann said.

“We are excited about this year’s turnout. Kids get together a team, name it something fun and always show up wearing their version of a uniform. Some teams are already practicing, getting ready for the big day.”

Another aspect of the tournament is that team members can purchase “extra lives” if

they get hit during a round. All proceeds go toward KLIFE’s ministry.

Bussmann said she is excited to see the community gather again to help support KLIFE and to spend time with one another.

“I’m excited to see the community gather for something as fun and simple as a dodgeball tournament,” Bussmann said.

“There’s also an adult bracket, so I hope to see good competition out of parents and college students.”

Sarah Oxner, former board member and mother of three students involved with Searcy KLIFE, said the dodgeball tournament started out as a simple activity for students, but it has turned into one of the ministry’s biggest fundraisers.

“Many businesses in the community have put their full support behind this event with sponsorships to help make it a successful fundraiser, and its growth has been unbelievable,” Oxner said.

Oxner said she encourages anyone of any age to form a team and join in on the fun, or volunteer to referee.

Anyone interested in joining the tournament can find the signup form on KLIFE’s Instagram page (@searcyklife). Each team requires six people, and members can purchase extra lives on the KLIFE website (www.searcy. klife.com) starting tomorrow.

TIANE DAVIS sports editor

“It’s a nod from the judges that they see the positive benefits we’ve had on the community in STEM,” Jones said. “We always use our program for the mission of spreading God’s kingdom, but from their side, they’re seeing STEM and how we’re really working hard with kids even through COVID.” The team qualified for the wor ld championship in 2020, but COVID-19 left them disappointed — the tournament was canceled that year and was virtual the following year. Traughber said the team is eager to finally compete again at such a high level.

“This will be the first tournament that has been hosted since 2019, and although we have been really sad about losing two opportunities over the 2020 and 2021 seasons, we are super excited to use what we’ve learned over that time period to prepare and get ready for a great run at the world championship,” Traughber said.

Jones said the team is much different than teams from previous years because even their most experienced members were out of practice by the time COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. He said a majority of the team members are underclassmen.

“We are young — we’ve got a lot of freshmen and sophomores, but we’re also growing into our roles as leaders,” Jones

said. “We struggled at the beginning of the competition; we struggled at the beginning of the season, but the kids rose up. They found their leadership, and it was really cool.”

Jones said at each tournament, the team’s schedule is unknown until they get there. He said even the robot each team uses is unknown, so their skills have to be transferable to any possible situation. With each match being only a few minutes, the team has to focus their attention to every present moment.

“So I always tell my kids, we focus on one match at a time,” Jones said. “Part of what I teach the kids is how to respond to failure, how to respond to things not going right, and there are things that are out of our control that constantly happen in this and I teach them how to respond to that in a positive way.”

Harding Academy alumna Aubrey Jones, who graduated in 2021, said the bond she has with the team is still strong. She said it is a good feeling to see her previous team members compete so successfully after having the past two years of tournaments stolen from them.

Jones said a lot of the team’s past success should be credited not only to the members, but to the coaches, too.

“I think that the organization itself has been just built so strongly that we have created a culture of success,” Aubrey Jones said.

Searcy nonprofit to host annual dodgeball tournament, fundraiser

CAROLINE BIRDWELL head copy editor

Searcy KLIFE — a nonprofit youth ministry — is hosting its sixth annual community dodgeball tournament and fundraiser on Saturday, April 2.

Jacob Keith, chapter director of KLIFE, said the tournament helps bring the Searcy community together for competitive fun, and anyone can be involved.

“We’ll have kids, parents, college students, grandparents — and even random members of the community of Searcy come out to the tournament,” Keith said. “This event is fun, not only because of the dodgeball, but because we also have a concession stand for those who come to watch and hang out.”

The tournament is a fundraiser for KLIFE, bringing in money for the dayto-day operations, women’s director Katie Bussmann said.

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

Harding Academy robotics team qualifies for world championship

Photo provided by STELLA JONES

Brian Jones and Mattie Grace Watson of the Harding Academy robotics team hug at the Orlando Regional on March 12 to celebrate their team’s qualification for the world championship. The robotics team received the Engineering Inspiration Award at the regional.

Harding Academy’s robotics team secured a bid for the world championship nearly two weeks ago at the Orlando Regional in Florida.

Although the team, Breakaway 3937, did not come home with a first place trophy, they received the Engineering Inspiration (EI) Award, which is an award held in high regard.

Assistant robotics program director Tod Traughber said the EI award recognizes the team that best spreads the message of STEM in its community, region and state.

“It’s a huge honor for Harding Academy because it shows that we are exhibiting some of the best qualities of what an FRC program should do in that we don’t just build a robot for our own satisfaction, but we also help spread the message of some education within the community of Searcy and within the state of Arkansas, and that recognition is a huge thing,” Traughber said.

Robotics program director Brian Jones said the students competed in several twoand-a-half minute matches, followed by the students separating into groups and being interviewed by the judges to decide which team would be the best fit for the EI or Chairman’s awards.

TheLink.Harding.edu

FEATURES 3B

History honors society to host interactive event for children outside History House SOPHIE ROSSITTO community editor

An academic honor society has prepared to host an interactive event for children outside the local history house Saturday to help kids explore different time periods in history.

Members of Eta Phi, Harding’s chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta historical honor society, collaborated with academic departments and local organizations to plan their third annual History Faire, Eta Phi faculty adviser Julie Harris said.

Junior MaryKyle Bartlett, who coordinated the event, said the History Faire will take place March 26 from 9-11:30 a.m. at the Harding History House lawn and will include a variety of themed booths for kids to explore.

Bartlett said she looks forward to working with children in the community and getting them excited about learning.

“It’s so much fun to be able to welcome kids and familiarize them with our campus and just to have a very hands-on experience with them, where they’re going to have a blast doing different activities and then also learn some about history at the same time,” Bartlett said.

Children ranging from 3-year-olds to fourth graders can participate in the event, Harris said.

Historical society members will give each child a drawstring backpack, plastic pith helmet and blank passport for them to fill by receiving an ink stamp at each table, Bartlett said.

Harris said themes for the booths include ancient hygiene, medieval history, the French Revolution and more. Workers are also bringing back the archeology booth, featuring an activity in which children can search for objects in a swimming pool filled with sand.

Harris said people from academic departments such as foreign language, communication, history and math plan to set up booths at the History Faire. In addition, Bartlett said organizations such as Harding’s ROTC program and the Arkansas State Parks will have stations.

Bartlett said many students helping with the History Faire hope to pursue a career in teaching. Harris said students from education professor Amy Adair’s class on social studies for elementary teachers will be operating a booth, which will give students valuable experience working with children.

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

“These are people who are going to go out and teach these very age groups, and so they need to find a way to integrate history into their world and into their classroom, and this is one way to do that,” Harris said.

Junior Mason Spivy, the assistant coordinator for the History Faire, said he plans to dress up as George Washington and take photos with children at the event. Spivy said although he would like to teach high school and college students after graduating, the History Faire will provide examples of creative teaching methods that he can adapt for older audiences.

“It’ll show me kind of how to make things interesting for students,” Spivy said.

Harris said former Eta Phi member Hannah Clifton kickstarted the society’s first History Faire in 2018.

The society received funding from the Ganus Chair of History and Political Science endowment this year to help cover costs of supplies for the event, Harris said.

Harding strength coach wins strength competition MAGGIE SAMPLES lifestyle editor A Harding strength coach set personal records and won best overall lifter at a strength competition on March 12 in Texas.

Nick Stone, graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach, won his weight class and best overall lifter at the USAPL TSS Houston Rookie meet. Stone has trained with the soccer teams, the men’s golf team and the baseball team.

Stone said he had been training since the fall for this competition, the second one he has participated in, and that the training hasn’t always been fun, but the most important thing is focusing on the end goal and consistency in training.

At the USAPL TSS Houston Rookie meet, Stone lifted a total of 1,630 pounds. He beat several personal records, and he squatted 606 pounds, benched 402 pounds and deadlifted 622 pounds. Stone won his weight class and best overall lifter, which takes into account body weight and the weight lifted to compare across weight classes.

Stone said this win is part of his journey in strength training and not the ultimate goal.

He said doing well in this competition has pushed him to work harder and do better in his next competition.

“Strength training has been a staple in my daily routine since high school,” Stone said. “I am always looking to improve myself physically and mentally, and strength training

is essential in that. I also strive to have a great work ethic and great discipline when it comes to training and hope to inspire others through those.”

Stone has worked with Harding since August 2021, and he said he has really enjoyed the experience.

“The athletes and coaches are so supportive and hard working, and everyone has a great ‘we before me’ mindset,” Stone said. “It would be near impossible to find a better environment to be in daily. I am looking forward to seeing their growth as a team and individuals and their success in the current or upcoming seasons.”

James Barber, former Harding graduate assistant strength coach, was at the competition supporting Stone. He said Stone’s deadlift was impressive and shut down the competition.

Barber and Stone have the connection of strength coaching for Harding.

“We lived in the same house and bounced ideas about how to train athletes,” Barber said.

Senior Carter McCall, a baseball player, said Stone has made a significant impact on the Harding baseball team.

“Coach Stone is the best,” McCall said.

“He is clearly very passionate about what he does. He likes to try to find creative ways for us to get better, and is excited when he sees we are making progress. He has been an awesome addition to the Harding baseball family, and I think he has made every one of us better.”

Photo by BALAZS BALASSA

Nick Stone in the Hatcher Soccer Complex on March 17. Hatcher won his weight class and best overall lifter at the USAPL TSS Houston Rookie meet.

Harding hosts fashion show ‘express yourself ’ CIANNA JAY editorial asst.

Because of COVID-19, it has been two years since Harding last had a fashion show.

Students from the apparel merchandising program and campus club H.U. Fashion decided it was time to bring fashion back into the spotlight by planning a fashion week at Harding March 21-25. The theme of Fashion Week 2022 was “Express Yourself.”

Senior Danaisha Wester, one of the model coordinators for the fashion show, spoke on the chosen theme.

“The phrase ‘express yourself ’ means to be authentic,” Wester said. “To have confidence to share to the world who you are and what you are about.”

The organizer behind fashion week, senior Paxton Pojar, said people express themselves through their hobbies and interests, but they can take this to a different level with fashion.

“I want to show people how they can really be themselves if they choose to wear what they want, because then they’re their most full, authentic, free being,” Pojar said.

“We’re basically just challenging people to do what they love, even if it’s uncomfortable.”

Students could follow a dress-up theme each day and attend three events throughout the week. The first event was a formal gala and exhibit sponsored by the ESSE Purse

Museum and Store on March 21. The event was called “IN-NO-VA-TOR.” Pojar said this event focused on the history of pioneers in fashion, the innovators who chose to express themselves, regardless of what the norms were at the time. “[Innovators are] the people that choose to wear what they want before it’s popular, before anybody else is wearing it,” Pojar said.

“They’re the icons of fashion, so they’re the people that we look up to for inspiration.”

The second event of the week, Fashion Fest, was postponed to Tuesday, March 29, from 4 - 6 p.m. The theme of Fashion Fest will be reducing, reusing and repurposing.

Students can bring a piece of clothing to the front lawn to learn and apply techniques ranging from tie-dye and fraying to patchwork and embroidery. Members of H.U. Fashion and students of the apparel merchandising program were there to teach anyone who wanted to learn one of these techniques.

Pojar said part of people embracing their style has recently involved a rise in the popularity of secondhand clothing. Fashion is about making something your own and this event could provide students with that outlet, Pojar said.

The third event of the week is the fashion show, Color Outside the Lines. It will be tonight at 7 p.m. in Cone Chapel. Tickets are $5 at the door, and the proceeds will go

to a woman in the community who recently lost everything she owns in a fire.

Pojar said the trend of colorful clothing inspired the theme of this show.

“I think [color trending] definitely has to do with the parallel to, like all of us, kind of feeling sad and drab because of the events in the past two years … It’s really a way that people are being revived right now,” Pojar said. “We wanted to really hone in that boldness of color and that confidence and the audacity almost to just do what we want to do rather than do what other people say.”

Junior Trinity Peveler, the marketing lead for fashion week, said she hopes these events will help students gain confidence in their clothing.

“I kind of hope this whole thing is like a confidence booster, for everybody, honestly, to just wear what they want to wear and express themselves in any way possible, and not be afraid to be judged by what they wear,” Peveler said.

Photo by JULIANNE BAKER

A fashion display in the Freeman Center on March 21. “IN-NO-VA-TOR” was sponsored by the ESEE Purse Museum and Store.

Friday, March 25, 2022

Photo by MADISON MEYER

The Harding University Chorus and Concert Choir performed a joint concert at the Rhodes-Reaves Field House on March 22. This is their second performance together this year.

Concert Choir and Chorus host joint concert

ADDI PROVINCE guest writer xx

The Harding University Concert Choir and Chorus gave a joint concert on Tuesday, March 22, in the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. This is the second annual joint concert between the two performance groups. During the 202021 school year, neither group could perform publicly due to COVID 19 precautions.

Now, both groups are able to participate in overnight trips and many public performances throughout the school year.

The Concert Choir is directed by Dr. Susan Shirel, who has been on faculty since 2011.

Shirel directed Belle Canto for four years before taking time to complete her doctorate.

This marks her fourth year back at Harding since receiving her doctoral degree and her second year to direct the Concert Choir and serve as director of choral activities.

“Both chorus and concert choir are a mixture of music majors and non-music majors,” Shirel said. “That ratio is probably a little bit higher regarding music majors in chorus, but both are overwhelmingly made up of people that are not music majors. We have students that are involved in about 35 different majors.”

Dr. Kelly Neill directs the Harding University Chorus. Clifton L. Ganus III previously directed the Chorus for many years before his retirement when Neill took over. Chorus is a smaller group with more upper-level music majors.

“We had not done this concert before, and then we had the COVID year where we couldn’t sing publicly,” Neill said.

“Everything was masked and spaced. Last year we thought, ‘What’s the biggest space that would still sound good?’ Rhodes-Reaves came to mind. We tried that last year and it was a huge success. We had a huge audience,

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

Harding Outdoors springs into life BEN LANE news editor

With spring officially beginning last Sunday, the Farmer’s Almanac predicts warm weather and less rainfall during April and May, which presents students with the opportunity to participate in Harding Outdoors, the University’s outdoor recreation program.

Harding Outdoors sprang into life last September informally under the initiative of Dr. J.D. Yingling, professor of kinesiology, and Luke Cullins, assistant professor of kinesiology, whose emphasis is in recreation, and the equipment rental program was officially launched in February after a “substantial” donation from an anonymous faculty member, Yingling said.

The program offers students outdoor equipment free of charge, such as backpacks, paddleboards, kayaks and sleeping bags to use for recreational purposes.

Yingling said he has dreamed of creating this program for years because it will broaden Harding’s influence and reach among the student population.

“We need to get out in the wilderness,” Yingling said “That’s where we connect with God.” The program intends to “reach those students and minister those students who thrive in that environment and who struggle in on-campus environments,” Yingling said.

Outdoor recreation is a positive activity that benefits mental health and spirituality, Yingling said, and he hopes that as the program is getting off the ground, the new administration set to begin July 1 will capture

the dream of advancing to the level of other Arkansas universities’ outdoor programs like Lyon College, University of Central Arkansas and John Brown University, which have dedicated spaces for their programs where students can meet, learn and participate in activities through the programs.

Senior Caily Moore said she was surprised at the quality and amount of gear available.

She heard of the program through Yingling and used equipment over her spring break to Florida. Moore, who camped at Grayton Beach between Seaside and Destin, borrowed a sleeping bag from Harding Outdoors.

Moore said she thinks Harding Outdoors will be popular among students when more become aware of the program’s existence because of Arkansas’ large number of camping opportunities.

“A lot of people come to college, and they don’t really have [outdoor recreation equipment], or they didn’t bring it with them … just being able to have that for free, check it out really easily and go to a bunch of different places [is a benefit],” Moore said.

Junior Jonathan Wall rented tents and sleeping bags for his spring break camping trip to Tennessee, and like Moore, Wall said he thinks Harding Outdoors is beneficial to students who are trying to do outdoor activities, but may not have the resources to do so.

Wall said his tents and sleeping bags suited his needs, but he would like to see a greater variety of outdoor equipment that will be suitable for all weather conditions.

the acoustics are very warm, very reverberant, very forgiving.”

Sophomore, concert choir vice president, Liliana Derr is finishing up her second year in Concert Choir.

“I grew up in a very musical family, and it is something that I wanted to pursue in college but not as a music degree,” Liliana Derr said.

“Concert Choir gave me the opportunity to pursue music to the point that I wanted to, with people who are like-minded.”

Photo by JULIANNE BAKER

Dawson Teague and Nicolle Randall play Peter Pan and Wendy Darling in “Peter and Wendy.” The play is showing this weekend.

HU Campus Players performs ‘Peter and Wendy’ ETHAN CONN guest writer HU Campus Players is performing “Peter and Wendy” this weekend, directed by senior acting major Jamie Hall. The HU Campus Players is an extracurricular theater organization aside from the main Harding Theatre Department. It is not exclusive to theatre majors — anyone on campus can participate. Each semester the group puts on an entirely student-directed and casted show.

The show uses the same source material and characters as the classic 1953 Disney film “Peter Pan,” but with some creative differences. Sophomore Dawson Teague plays Peter Pan. Teague explained how this play adaptation differs from the traditional storyline.

“It takes a little bit more of an artistic perspective of ‘Peter Pan,’” Teague said.

“It’s written with the source material from ‘Peter Pan,’ but it’s a very minimalist show with staging and with characters moving, especially the ensemble going back and forth between some characters. It’s really just more of an artistic interpretation of the original.”

Because Campus Players is not part of the Harding Theatre Arts Department, there are differences in preparation for a show.

“Because it is student-run, there is a lot of room for the students to apply what they’ve learned in classes,” junior Nicole Randall,

playing Wendy Darling, said. “To be in a creative process with your peers makes it different from a normal production because people are not all theatre majors. It is not a competitive process. It’s just very encouraging and a creative outlet for everyone.”

Hall said she has been directing theatre since she was 14 and is excited to be able to direct this show for Campus Players.

“It’s children’s theatre, so I’ve really enjoyed getting to lean into the imagination and the creativity of the cast,” Hall said. “I’ve really enjoyed working with all of the cast members because they’re all so willing to play, try new things and experiment.”

Randall also emphasized how fun Campus Players shows can be.

“I have loved the cast members,” Randall said. “They are all my closest friends, so just getting to be in this process with them has been so much fun. I just love seeing people enjoy theatre and seeing people have their own ideas to bring to the process.”

The show opened last night and runs through tomorrow. Tonight and tomorrow’s performances will be at 7 p.m. in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center. Tickets are sold at the door for $5. All proceeds go toward Sparrow’s Promise; extra donations are welcomed.