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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 ‘IShake wantShack to beto able Never Never forget forget open in student center search update Presidential and tell their stories’

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 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 continuing “We are conductingJournalists a nationwide search Alumnus Ganus, boardanniversary member U.S.president government’s responsethe in mission real time.of investigation. would often new Sept.

8-12 Charles to observe the 20th memorial, as well visits to affiliated St. Paul’s Photo by JULIANNE BAKER YorkTrinity College, a as school also affiliated continuing of chapel, “We to are conducting a nationwide search Alumnus Ganus, boardanniversary memberon ongoing Church and the Engine 54, For Blackstone, Sept.

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

11, 2001, terrorist attacks 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, Mark and Jeff Trade Tacker (’91) stand in York front for ofenter the new location of Tacker’s Shake Shack in thecontinuing Hammond Center on Jan. 17. The9University location with the Churches of Christ,on announced Harding — forStudent itplane to be the Ladder a president that area will lead Harding andthe chairman of the Center presidential search 4, Battalion firehouse 8th Ave. day off.

Unaware of the initial crash, the Red Cross to find someone World in New the appointment of a new president on June special place it has been.

I look forward University in its vision as a Christ-centered committee, said while the process is ongoing, day off.

Unaware of the initial plane crash, enter the Red Cross area to find someone the World Trade Center in New York Ladder 4, Battalion 9 firehouse on 8th Ave. plans to Each open the of trip Jan. 31. an University 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 whileweek the isfulfilled ongoing, in Fifteen firefighters second plane hit the second tower, 12, willing toof their story. on process the 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 54 went towas the 16 World herOther two cell phones, landline andUniversity BlackBerry “At that moment, that firefighter became contract on ahe topic related to 9/11,purchasing the Tastee-Freez location in 1966-1970; Jeff began at the Mark said Co. thatserved when years the college, ashe president since colleges affiliated with the of in February.

“We are searching for a mature is honors nowEVERETT over.

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

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

11, and none all began to ring at the same time.

After my client,” Shock said.

“It was up me to the events surrounding it and the effects town.

Loretta, as well as her children, in 1987, and Lisa in 1989, where both he created the line of unique burgers 6, 2020, after 20 years Christ havesame recently of the church of“It Christ who ledto Churches members were grateful for the time and member all began of to ring at the time. gone After July my client,” Shock said. was up tois me the events surrounding it the and the effects Trade Center on spending Sept.

11, nearly 2001, and none editor-in-chief Churches of Christ have recently gone member of the church of Christ who is led members were grateful for time and Jeff July 6, 2020, after spending nearly 20 years returned — the most men lost from a single learning of the events, she was advised to ensure he had a safe experience that did felt worldwide.

Tacker Tacker have graduated andtransitions. met spouses. that Tacker’s Shake is from nowSmith’s a variety roles Lipscomb. through presidential the word of Lisa God and theTaylor, Holythat Spirit, effort every committee member put into byensure learning of the events, she their was advised to in heand had a safe experience did siblings felt worldwide. returned —of the mostatShack men lost aknown single through presidential transitions. effort every committee member put into by the word of God and the Holy Spirit, in a variety of roles at Lipscomb.

Smith’s engine company that day.

The firefighters stay home and rest up for the work that not exploit him, that did not put him in a The group visited the Sept.

11 Memorial Tacker Sthe hake S hack of University’s Marion, thetohim, family business alongside Loretta’s grandchildren, for — with toppings ranging anywhere will that take day. place today.

Onhome Aug.five 5, Lipscomb in inauguration narrowing search forSept. the committed the that spread the gospel of a Ofstay and rest up forUniversity the four workhave that not exploit didof not put him in The ’sgroup visited the 11 Memorialcontinued engine company The firefighters there shared their stories with the would ensue in Lipscomb days and weeks to come.in from zone that would unhealthy him, and and Museum at ground zeroto onopen Thursday, On Aug. 5, University committed to thebe spread of theforgospel of attended narrowing the search for the University’s inauguration willpersonal take place today.

Arkansas, announced plans a their children.

Harding. cheese sticks to hot dogs to “Smith has proven himself to bethe a Nashville, Tennessee, announced the Christ and focused on strengthening the next president. and Museum at ground zero on Thursday, zone that would be unhealthy for him, and would ensue in days and weeks to come. there shared their personal storiesbarbeque. with andhas faculty and shared memories “All of the Turner networks, allthe of students also toand accompany him to and throughthe the Nashville, Sept.

9. While there, Dr. Jack Shock, Christ Tennessee, announced focused on strengthening next president.

“Smith proven himself to be a newSept. location in the University’s Student Loretta was the 2019 winner of the Senior Josh Tacker, the youngest Tacker “My dad has helped me out on the 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 9. While there, Dr. Jack Shock, also to accompany him to and through the colleagueslistener that had been lost. them — even like TBS — they were of interview.”in its pursuit of excellence in appointment distinguished professor of communication, of TNT, the university ’s 18th On Oct. 30, 2020, the retirement of Dr. University thoughtful with a visionary spirit,” R. Wayne chairman of the York president Dr.like Candice McQueen, former Bruce McLarty as University president was Arkansas higher education.”

Center on their Facebook page on Dec. Food Hall of Fame “Proprietor grandchild, worked at his family’s business sideWhite, — promoting, managing, them —— even TNT, TBS —restaurant they were Dr. interview.” distinguished professor of communication, of Stinnett colleagues been lost. saidthat onehad of chairman the most memorable all simulcasting CNN, including CNN Shock described the many interviews president wasMcLarty interviewed by multiple news outlets — Dr. Candice McQueen, former higher education.”

Bruce as University president was Dr. R. Wayne White, of the York Board of Trustees, said.

“After Tennessee commissioner ofincluding education and College to the community via of the Two weeks after this all simulcasting CNN, CNN Shock described the announcement, many interviews was by multiple news outlets Stinnett one ofto the most memorable 22.announced As ofinterviewed Jan. 19, theHarding Tackers plan to hold Year,” and her peanut has all through highBlackstone school.

During histhinking junior teaching me a lot of the business side,” moments ofsaid the trip her was reading International,” said.

“The heweeks took part in, where he brittle stood directly about histo experiences at ground zero invia the that Tennessee commissioner of education and announced the Harding community Two after this announcement, College Board of Trustees, said.

“After interviewing several candidates, it former deanhe ofpitched the university’s department Harding constituents received an email year, anabout email from Board of at Trustees International,” Blackstone “The thinking that he took part where stood directly his experiences ground zero in was thebeen moments the trip topeople her was reading a grand opening the week of Jan. Chairman 31.

The featured inin, a and S outhern Living hethere’s said idea of opening said.of “As far2,977 as great cooking goes, Idied have the names of the that was, point inthe ussaid. clamoring over Mark behind the camera theheinterviewer, weeks following the attacks.

Shock former dean no of the university’s department Harding constituents received an emailas of an email from Boardon of Trustees Chairman interviewing several great candidates, it was apparent that Smith’s experiences in education.

McQueen was the first female from the presidential search committee, Dr. Robert Walker behalf of the entire was, there’s no point in us clamoring over behind the camera and the interviewer, as weeks following the attacks.

Shock was the names of the 2,977 people that died new location will Taco instudent, the cookbook.

Loretta is affectionately known aofresources location onMcQueen campus to his family over to teach him.” on 9/11, seeingthat their faces in photos andin right now, we just need to centralize a presence of familiarity. called to Walker Newreplace York byTu a former from the presidential search committee, education. was the first female Dr. Robert on behalf of the entire was apparent Smith’s experiences education wereJeff the best match for input for futurefriends presidential president hirednow, in the Church Christ higher board.

On Feb. 10, Walker the requesting resources right we just need toofcentralize a presence of called toIrby, Newnational York bymarketing a announced former officer student, onBoth 9/11, seeing their faces in photos and pitboard. of theOn Student Center.

“Memaw,” tofamiliarity. her and break.

Mark and said thislives. new learning more about their the message.”

“I couldinput stop the interview if I saw him winter Darren president hired inhistory. the Church of Christ the forfamily, future presidential Feb. 10, Walker announced theofasrequesting higher education were theindividual best match for challenges and opportunities ahead.” school’s 130-year candidates.

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

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

Tacker’s Shake Shack will work customers whoincluded have become her “IBlackstone came130-year here and didn’t really want any location was great step forthose theirahead.” overall “Ichallenges think it’sa easy to define people said the channel stopped in distress, andsurvey I made that clear with the school’s the American Red Cross, to assist withinRedlong-time history. formation of a presidential search committee candidates.

The questions the and opportunities Candidates foreasy the role of Harding president “IBlackstone am confident that her vision, deep regarding qualities inthe a campus-wide email. committee saidbreaks theJosh channel stopped in distress,characteristics and of I made thatand clear with one the part American Red Cross, The toand assist with Redclose “I think to define those people by their death,” Stinnett said.

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

“The number Cross media conjunction withrelations.

Chartwells feature friends.

One her favorite long-time [the restaurant],” “Which progress as it’s a for franchise.

“Iofam confident that her vision, deep will characteristics and qualities in a campus-wide email.

The committee Candidates the role Harding president interview with the of University boardit expertise, passion forbreaks faith-based education included seven board members, three Harding regarding students, alumni, faculty and staff considered running commercial for two full weeks. reporter,” Shock said.

“The number one Cross media relations. by their death,” Stinnett said.

“I mean 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 Searcy’s own Yarnell’s ice cream in milkshakes customers was former University president is kind of weird, because I have been a part Jeff said the hiring process for the students, alumni, faculty and staff considered expertise, passion for faith-based education included seven board members, three Harding will interview with the University board trustees, willand then votefull finalists. love for Lipscomb lead us boldly of most important forsafety a president and time. whatof“ and faculty members three alumni.

“You just hadno torulebook go onwill feeling,” Blackstone issue here isespecially the wellbeing Seated in theand same spotHarding in the New was a huge event, ittheir was aon huge attack — but theywho deserve for stories to said.

“There was for this.

Nothing the subject, at and this brutal Marriott Marquis where he met withYork theClifton and other handmade desserts.

The Student L. Ganus.

Loretta said he would of it my whole life — but then, I saw an new location is ongoing.

Applications and love for Lipscomb will lead us boldly most important for a president and what faculty members and three Harding alumni. of trustees, who will then vote on finalists.

The board not publicly announced a newhad season greatness, exemplified theespecially president should be prepared Upon the announcement of met theSeptember search said.athis “There was noof rulebook forLike, this. when Nothing theDr. subject, at this brutal time. “ into Marriott Marquis where he with the challenges —remembered but theyhas deserve for their fulltostories to be and told.

I want be able like ever happened. is rest of his team each morning in Ginger Blackstone, associate professor Center location will offer hand-crafted stop by Tacker’s Shake Shack anytime he opportunity for my dad right here.” can be found theexpect restaurant’s website, into athis newhad season of greatness, exemplified Upon the announcement of in theSeptember search challenges the president should be prepared The board hason not publicly announced a date on which they to announce a by excellence, diversity and immersion 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 andexpect tell their stories.” itMark okay to run diversity a Josh’s commercial again?

When ofaddress. communication, was besidetoShock in by 2001, Shock told the students of his twoflew excellence, and immersion in to committee, Walker also announced the date on which they to announce a hamburgers and fries, as well, upon the out of Memphis, Tennessee, travel Tacker, older brother, has or requested in person at either location. 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 is appropriate?” weeksShock at ground with the Red Cross.

In the meantime, Ganus said hethe feltstudents. blessed served our asoftogether we work to Mark appointment anzero executive search decision regarding the newishiring. installation aof new vent hood, projected one ofDavid his overseas missions trips. as head chef at Tacker’s Shake said no experience required to transform the lives our students,” David Dr. Burks’ interim CarterBaldwin, to aid the search for afirm, new toby is itcommunity appropriate?” weeks atofground with the Red Cross. the seating area, sharing withpresidency. students. transform the past lives several of our students,” Burks’ aid the search a new by“IfDr. forCarterBaldwin, mid-February.toStudents will for be able weDavid were to have interim a picturepresidency. of who the Shack for the years. David apply. to spend their declining credit balance, matriarch is on the restaurant, it would be “Being a servant is a big part of how “I look at it like the movie, ‘Ratatouille,’” as well as cash or card at this location.

Memaw,” Jeff said. “She’s held the family I view this business — serving people Mark said. “Anyone can cook, it ’s all The late John Tacker and his wife together, and her recipes have kept people good food at a good price, and being able about just learning how.”

Loretta Tacker opened Tacker’s Shake coming back time and time again.” to make someone else’s day better with a Shack in Marion in October 1977, after John and Loretta attended Harding from great shake or a great burger,” Mark said.

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 universities universities Texas abortion ban Texas abortiontemporarily ban University suspends chapel

Brands Association wrote a letter to the GABRIEL HUFF Brands Association a letter to the GABRIEL president requesting clarification, asst. copy HUFF editor problems instead ofwrote attacking the asking woman GABRIEL HUFF president requesting clarification, asking asst. copy editor problems instead of attacking the woman questions such as, “Must an employee who’s already in a tough situation, I think GABRIEL asst. copy HUFF editor such “Must anand employee who’s already inas, atotough situation, think I n a n e f f oasst. r t tcopy o c ueditor r b COV I D - 1 9 questions be vaccinated to work?”

“What “The University continues to emphasize wefully wouldn’t have ban abortions toI make BEN LANE 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 toban work?” and “What we wouldn’t have to abortions to make numbers, Joe said are the consequences of falsifying one’s Court the abortions a rare thing.” the importance of good hygiene and news editor 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 self-monitoring,” Neal said.

“COVID-19 or testing status and does the Sept.

9 tment that isSept. requesting the U.S. United States declined block Texas’ new Skyler Marcellus, secretary Depar of Labor require all vaccination responsibility restfor with the individual abortion lawhe on 1.to to forFreshman HU Students Life, said he agreed Harding Universit y c anceled the screening and testing will continue responsibility rest with the individual Depar 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 first week of with chapel forthan the 2022 spring companies more 100 employees employer?”

Ser vices, and there will The Texas law, coined the Texas Heartbeat with theKlein, Texas law because it aligns with L ori assistant professor of toAct, mandate COVID-19 vaccinations or atorHealth seeks to prevent abortions when a fetal his Christian values.

Furthermore, he be said L ori Klein, assistant professor of to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations orinopportunities Act, seeks prevent abortions a fetal his Christian values.

Furthermore, he said history political science, said Harding weekly testing. semester to to assess the health of the heartbeat or cardiac activity iswhen detected the lawand holds people more accountable for for f ree vaccinations and history and political science, said Harding weekly testing. heartbeat or cardiac activity is detected in the law holds people more accountable for University also be subject to these The mandate affect 80 million the womb, whichwill typically aroundboosters their actions and saves lives. campus community while thebegins omicron on would campus.”

The mandate will affect 80 million University would also be subject to these the womb, which typically begins around their actions and saves lives. em lof o yCOVID-19, e einto s , wpregnancy. h i c h which i s More a l misoknown s t t w o - mandates if that theywebecome effective — sixp weeks specifically, “I believe need to fix the systems variant ethirds m p weeks l oact yofepermitted ethe s, w h i cindividuals h isector s More a l mto o specifically, ssue t tanyone w o - mandates ifmore theywe become effective — six into pregnancy.

“Iitthe believe that need toemployees fix the systems private workforce, since hasgovernment than the that is100 trying to fix with forthirds its high transmissibility rate, spread of the private sector workforce, since it has more than 100 employees — the act permitted individuals to sue anyone that the government is trying to fix with who performs or assists abortions.

The law abortion,” Marcellus said.

“So I believe according to AP News. The task of unless it applies for religious exemption. throughout the U.S. Chapel resumed who performs or assists abortions.

The law abortion,” Marcellus said.

“So I believe according tomandates AP News.

The task of it applies forand religious exemption. allows citizens to produce lawsuits instead of unless we need to gosaid in wean need to fix the However, she such exemption issuing the will fall upon allows citizens to produce lawsuits instead of However, we need to gosaid inbecause, and wean need toasfixto the she exemption issuing the18,mandates will upon necessitating public officials tofall enforce the foster system.

Isuch believe we need go Tuesday, Jan. after the Martin Luther may becare difficult as far she the Occupational Safety and Health necessitating public officials to enforce the foster care system.

I believe we need to go may be difficult because, as far as she the Occupational Safety and Health law.

If plaintiffs win a case, they can obtain in and we need to fix all these systems that Administration (OSHA), a regulatory is aware, the Church of Christ does not King Jr. Day holiday. 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 oflabor $10,000 in they along is the government is fix like, youvaccinations just have an agency of the have a precedent of rejecting “Postponing chapel for a week allowed awith minimum $10,000 in an damages along have is like, youvaccinations have an attorneys’ fees. department. abortion, this other stuff‘Ifwill bejust taken care agovernment precedent of rejecting agency of the labor Biden also said he of would sign executive asthe a group, though individuals can apply thealso University more time to monitor with attorneys’ fees. abortion, this other stuff will beto taken care Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed as ofa ’exemptions. because they areindividuals not trying fixapply those group, though can said he would an executive order to mandate allsign federal employees for theorder of our community,” Texas Governor Greg Abbott of ’exemptions. because they are trying not trying torid fix of those the act into lawcampus inall May, allowing it signed to take for systems; they’re just to get the to mandate federal employees tohealth get vaccinated, exempting them from “You have to have a basis,” Klein said. the act into law instudents, May, it to take systems; they’re just‘Itrying to get rid of the effect Sept.

1.

Some haveallowing criticized the new “You problem that’s those systems.”

Zach Neal, dean ofoptions. said.

“The to get vaccinated, exempting them from “You have tooverloading have aobject basis,” Klein said. weekly testing Furthermore, can’t just say, religiously.’ effect Sept.

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

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

We don’t delay also allowed more time for will clear law, saying six weeks is not enough time for You someone seek abortion.

Thereas are also beginning Oct. 1,animmigrants be to say We don’t have,have sorttoof,bea able history in why. the Churches required toto receive vaccinations well communication prior to startingwill our someone to seek an abortion.

There are also controversies regarding the medical accuracy sort saying of, a history in the required to permanent receive vaccinations of Christ we don’t do Churches that.” to become residents.as well have, normal of aschedule.” term used in the the bill: fetal heartbeat. regarding medical accuracy saying don’t do that.” tocontroversies become permanent residents.

Klein also saidwethe mandate would The announcements supplement the of Christ Students may opt to sit in a masked Some professionals have said a heart does notKlein of a term used in the bill: fetal heartbeat. applyalso to students.

Biden administration’s supplement six-prong plan The announcements the said the mandate would not form around sixhave weeks into professionals said a pregnancy. heartplan does not“ The section. toSome reduce the spread of the coronavirus are not covered by Biden administration’s six-prong applystudents to students.

Senior Julia Carrell said she was disappointed not form around six weeks into pregnancy. and keepthe the countr on coronavirus track.

The that provision,” said.covered “They are “ The studentsKlein are not by to reduce ofythe According tospread the University website, with the Julia Texas Heartbeat Act. Senior Carrell was disappointed plan listed eff or tssaid to vaccinate the that moreprovision,” likely to be Klein affected by testing said.

“They and are keep the countr y she on track.

The 36and students and five faculty members the government should attack the more with“Ideally, the Texas Heartbeat Act. vaccine requirements forby large venues unvaccinated, booster shots, plan listed effadminister or ts to vaccinate the likely to be affected testing and Graphic by COOPER TURMAN wereroots documented to be said. positive for of thethe issue,” Carrell “Lotsattack of people government should the vaccine — football, basketball,for etc.” keep“Ideally, schools open, increasebooster testing, assist unvaccinated, administer shots, requirements large venues COVID-19 ofabortion Jan. 19, 117improve total clinics will and be held Jan. 27 and searching for is said. aand of larger —The roots of theas issue,” Carrell “Lots of people Klein said basketball, states private companies with economic recover ysymptom and keep schools open, increase testing, assist football, etc.” issues like poverty, access to childcare being searching for abortion ispatients. ay10. symptom of larger have recovered since Jan. Neal said 3.filesaid care for COVID-19 The full Feb. may lawsuits the government Klein states and private companies with economic recover and improve limited …

Itin could bepatients. that woman can’t issues like poverty, access childcare being of the plan cantothe be viewed on may will face challenges Biden’s it care issummary tooforearly the semester to know file lawsuits andenforcing the government COVID-19 The full Harding has also instituted the Centers afford another child it the could be thatcan’t the will limited …

It could be[or] that woman the White House website. executive order since OSHA, which summary of the plan can be viewed on face challenges enforcing Biden’s where concentrations of COVID-19 for Disease Control and Prevention’s woman doesn’t havewebsite. emotional support.

There afford another child [or] it could beBiden’s that the executive Many questions arose after serves as the primary enforcer, has only the White House order since OSHA, which infections have occurred among students (CDC) updated isolation and quarantine are so many factors that go into deciding woman have emotional support.

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COVID-19. Students may return to class

if they are symptom f ree for 24 hours me exactly the steps I needed to take,” after the fifth day of isolation and are York said. required to wear a mask for five more York became symptomatic and attempted days upon returning to class. Students are to test for COVID-19 multiple times, not required to wear a mask on campus but she was unable to because each time or during University regulated activities the line was too long at her testing site. if they have not been close contacted or T h e U n i ve r s i t y a l s o a n n o u n c e d received a positive COVID-19 test result. its compliance with President Biden’s Photo by MADISON MEYER “As always, our goal up is tobeneath providean all American O c c u p aflag t i o nataPhoto l S aEngine fbye tMADISON y a 54, n d Ladder H ealth MEYER Flowers are propped the students anare opportunity normalcy Administration (OSHA) emergency Flowers upfor beneath aninAmerican flag at the Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion 9propped firehouse on 8th Ave., Midtown Manhattan commemorating 4, Battalion 9 firehouse 8th Ave., Midtown Manhattan commemorating the firefighters who diedon on Sept.

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This firehouse lost the most firefighters and connection by staying engaged inin temporar y standard requirement for on the9/11. firefighters who died on Sept. 11. This firehouse lost the most firefighters the and campus activities employers with 100 or more workers to onclassroom 9/11. while remaining healthy and safe,” Neal become vaccinated or be tested weekly, said. “We will closely watch all COVID citing fines of up to $14,000 per violation. situations on campus, stay informed of The mandate would have gone fully into Photo by MADISON MEYER CDC guidelines and remain prepared Feb. 9 had thebyCOVID-19 Supreme Court Photo MADISON MEYER Second year pharmacy student Claudiaeffect Sifford administers to make any necessary protocol changes not blocked the policy by a 6-3 ruling. vaccination at the student vaccine Claudia clinic held in the Liberty Room on Aug. 27.

Second yearshots pharmacy Sifford administers COVID-19 vaccination shots at the vaccine clinic heldDavid in theRoss, Liberty Roomvice on president Aug. 27. moving forward.” assistant “Very important,” Kelley said. “Because delivered by law rather than an executive Junior Meleri York quarantined in for human resources, sent an email delivered by law rather than an executive we “Very said.

“Because know important,” that a lot Kelley of folks who haveto order, Klein said.

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22and to robustly did not develop enough of anas A for Disease Control immunedecision systems that 13. don’t respond she wasCenters in close contact with a student Court’s Jan. discuss whopositive should for bemet eligible a immune response; it looks Prevention committee Sept. for 22 to robustly did nottoday develop enough ofthe an who tested COVID-19, “We learned thatlike thefrom Supreme COVID-19 booster dose of the Pfizerdata withresponse; the thirdit booster that they discuss who should be eligible for a immune looks like from the and she later received a call f rom the Court of the United States has blocked BioNTech vaccine.

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17 to (ETS) to get requiring them there.” or older are atshots highto risk of and testing policy. Therefore, effective in65 five days, but who thebooster instructions given approve the and Pfizer those illness but declined tosaid approve 65her or older and who are also at high risk of immediately the mask requirement for tosevere were vague.

York that the shots for other people in the U.S. severe illness but declined to approve during her call with Student Life, the unvaccinated employees is lifted.” of nursing Photo by MADISON MEYER theAssistant shots forprofessor other people in theKaren U.S. worker said the office was overwhelmed The ’s ruling does not affect Junior Emily Stinnett tries on is a Karen firefighter’s gearcourt at the Engine 54, Ladder 4, Kelley said the booster shot ver y Assistant professor of nursing Photo

by MADISON MEYER with the amount of COVID-19 cases q u a r a n t i n e o r i s o l a t i on g u i d e l i n s.

Battalion 9 firehouse on 8th Ave. in Midtown Manhattan. impor for those with immunoJuniortant Emily Stinnett tries on is a firefighter’s gear at the Engine 54, Ladder e4, Kelley said the booster shot ver y Battalion 9 firehouse on 8th Ave. in Midtown Manhattan. affecting the school.

Harding’s COVID-19 case totals are compromising impor tant forconditions. those with immunocompromising conditions.

“I feel like [the Office of Student updated each weekday and can be found Life] could’ve done a better job in telling at www.harding.edu/covid.

2A

NEWS

Friday, January 21, 2022

Photo by MADISON MEYER

Tim Tebow speaks during an ASI lecture in the Benson Auditorium on Jan. 18. Tebow, founder of the Tim Tebow Foundation, was the second ASI speaker of this year.

‘The mission is possible’: Tim Tebow visits Harding for ASI lecture CAROLINE BIRDWELL head copy editor

The American Studies Institute hosted Tim Tebow — NCAA champion, Heisman Trophy winner, ESPN commentator and author — Jan. 18 in the Benson Auditorium at Harding University for a lecture titled “The Power of Persistence: Lessons in Leadership and Life.”

In his lecture, Tebow discussed topics such as encouragement, divine intervention and spiritual gifts, as well as the Tim Tebow Foundation. The foundation’s mission statement is “to bring faith, hope and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need.”

Tebow told stories from his youth that influenced him to begin the foundation, from a young boy named Sherwin who had backward facing feet, to his father taking in

young girls who were at risk of trafficking.

These stories taught Tebow that his mission on earth is to show compassion to those who need it.

“It’s your job, it’s my job: The Great Commission is my job,” Tebow said. “Serving the least, the last, the lost is my job. And it’s your job. That’s what our mission is.”

Associate professor of business Dr. Glen Metheny attended the lecture and said he was inspired by it.

“While as Christians we know we are called to do good and help others, I left his lecture motivated to want to do more and help others,” Metheny said.

In his speech, Tebow said he wanted the audience members to leave inspired.

“While I hope you leave encouraged, I would rather you leave inspired,” Tebow said. “What ‘inspire’ means is to fill someone with the urge or ability to do something. I’d

rather be someone who does something than someone who feels something.”

Senior Cody Porter said he has been a fan of Tebow’s since 2008 when the Florida Gators won the national championship — his first sports memory. Since then, Porter has followed his career and admired his work.

“Growing up and hearing him give motivational speeches on ESPN and watching him do other things, I knew I had to go see him when he came to Harding,” Porter said.

“Whenever he first walked on the stage, I couldn’t help but smile and go crazy. Seeing my first sports idol in person was awesome.”

Additionally, Metheny said it was exciting to have Tebow on campus, not just because of his football career but because of his philanthropic work.

“As a college football fan, it was exciting to have him on campus,” Metheny said. “But, more than football, his message of hope and

healing and helping others far exceeded any expectation I had about his notoriety as a football player.”

Porter said on top of seeing someone as accomplished athletically as Tebow in person, the speech itself was inspiring.

“He’s a great speaker and has an incredible message, especially for those who identify with his message and Harding’s message,” Porter said.

Metheny also said Tebow’s message reminded him how fortunate he is. “[His speech] reminded me about how fortunate of a life I have lived and encouraged me to help those who are not as fortunate as I am,” Metheny said. “God has given me gifts and talents, and I should use them to be the good and do good toward others.”

Photo by JULIANNE BAKER

An Armstrong dormitory hallway under renovation Jan. 13, is the latest of multiple construction projects undertaken by Harding. Residents of the building were required to move out in December 2021.

ETHAN CONN guest writer

Armstrong undergoing renovations

Armstrong Hall, the oldest existing men’s dormitory on campus, is currently undergoing renovations. There have been several changes to the original renovation plans due to budget restrictions, but the current plan is to add a kitchen to the downstairs lobby and upgrades to the bathrooms in each dorm room.

The construction has displaced many f reshmen men to other dorms around campus including Keller, Harbin and Cone Halls. Students started moving out before the end of the fall semester, some as early as Thanksgiving break. Armstrong resident assistant (RA) senior Bryan Rendon described this hectic process.

“Whenever they knew they could get into their new rooms, that ’s when we began to check them out,” Rendon said.

“It wasn’t really hall by hall; it was just more so on them. Whenever they were ready, they would let us know, and we’d take them out.”

This did not come as a surprise as the plan had been in place since the spring of 2021, so the University told incoming freshmen their stay in Armstrong would not be permanent.

“Going into it, I already knew I had to move out, and so it didn’t really affect me,” freshman Trevor Schwiethale said. “Having to move out away from the community that I just built with the guys around me: that part felt, kind of, not so great. Other than that, I was really indifferent, honestly.”

Not only has the construction affected students and RAs such as Rendon, but also the resident life coordinator (RLC).

The Myers family has lived and worked in Armstrong for 13 years but has had to temporarily relocate to the Village Apartments. Armstrong RLC Emily Myers noted the challenges of their temporary move.

“It’s difficult because our family enjoys our place at Armstrong and the community that we have there,” Myers said. “We live on one of the busiest intersections on campus, so we’re usually outside saying hey to people, but now we’re really removed.

We are thankful Harding has provided us a place; however, to know that you’re moving again is not the most fun thing.”

Without her own dorm residents to take

care of, Myers is staying busy by covering for other dorms when needed.

“I still have dorm responsibilities, it’s just not my dorm, if that makes sense,” Myers said.

Rendon also had mixed feelings about not having RA responsibilities this semester.

“It feels good to not have to stay up because I have to check rooms, but I miss the community there, the guys on my hall,” Rendon said. “I miss the liveliness they brought in, the excitement, the joy and fun that made Armstrong. I miss that.”

There is not an exact timeline for when the project will be finished due to the number of changes to the original plans, but the University intends to have it ready to go for a new group of freshmen in the fall.

OPINIONS 3A

TheLink.Harding.edu State of the SA Ethan Brazell

Eight semesters later

SA President

E

arlier this month, I went with some friends to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Heading into it with little expectations, I was blown away by how much I enjoyed the experience and appreciated the exhibits. Learning about the various influences and perspectives that were poured into each distinct art piece left a lasting impression on me. After my visit, I discussed the trip with the group, and one of my friends was surprised I liked it. It quickly occurred to me that visiting a modern art museum would have been something that I found unenjoyable my freshman year four years ago and that this was a new development for me.

My experience at the museum really challenged me. The realization that four years ago, I would have not appreciated this was something I kept pondering several days after the trip. Questions like, “What has changed within me the past four years?” and “What are other things that I used to dismiss but now appreciate?” filled my mind.

This newfound appreciation of modern art was more than just personality growth; I realized it was rooted in something I’ve learned over the past eight semesters at Harding.

Heading into college, I really enjoyed the comfort of confidently knowing things.

I placed a lot of stock in security and safety.

I knew I wanted to graduate with a good degree so I could find a good job. But over time, that began to change. Things that seemed so black and white now seemed

Opinions Editor

gray. That vain confidence began to change the more I came to terms with how little I truly knew. Encountering the hard realities of life, the daily struggles of friends and family and injustices in the world forced me to wrestle with my place in the world.

I also learned that this world can be hard, but also very beautiful and full of things worth celebrating.

My prayer for each of us is that we will one day look back and recognize change in our lives and realize that we’ve all grown in the radical love and understanding of Christ.

– Ethan Brazell, SA president

I believe that college should be a humbling experience. Learning should cause us to realize how big and complex God’s world really is. Despite that, it should also lead us in deepening our love for this creation and the redemptive work of the Holy Spirit. Learning should lead us to pursue change in our world and within ourselves.

Change represents humbling our view of

ourselves and striving to understand others by viewing the world from their vantage point. When we admit that we don’t have everything figured out, there is so much freedom. I’m very thankful for the faculty at Harding who have challenged me to view the world this way.

I used to think that all art should look one way, but now I know each piece of art has its own unique story. Much like individual pieces of art, we each carry our own individual stories. Taking time to stop, listen and appreciate others can teach us so much about our world and ourselves.

I’ve appreciated the journey of these past semesters. Each semester is different from the one before. They each have their own distinctive qualities and have unique lessons to teach us individually. Don’t spend this semester attempting to recreate your favorite memories from the past semester, and don’t wish this semester away. Whether you’re like me and less than four months away from graduation, or maybe yours is just beginning, everyone’s spring 2022 semester has something unique in store for them. Make the most of it. My prayer for each of us is that we will one day look back and recognize change in our lives and realize that we’ve all grown in the radical love and understanding of Christ.

ETHAN BRAZELL is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at ebrazell@harding.edu.

What’s your opinion?

To have an opinion published in The Bison, contact Eric Johnson, at ejohnson7@harding.edu.

Faculty Finds The Bison staff is excited to introduce this new Opinions column, “Faculty Finds.” This column will publish articles written by Harding faculty members who wish to share a book, movie, piece of music, etc. with the readers of The Bison. If you are interested in contributing to this column, please contact the Opinions editor, Eric Johnson, at ejohnson7@harding.edu.

“Maid”

Lee Edwards

Bible & Ministry

A couple of years ago, I came across an essay that was written by a professor at one of our sister institutions where the author argued that there are no good reasons, for Christians at least, to consume popular culture. He even went so far as to say that popular culture is a power that should be resisted. With all due respect, I would like to push back against such a notion.

In the last half of the 20th century, cultural theorists began emerging who made the argument that while popular culture has its weaknesses, it can also serve a valuable purpose.

Specifically, that purpose is to provide a voice to those who often do not have one. Far too often, stories are told exclusively by those atop the hierarchy, or not told at all. But, popular culture can provide an avenue for the masses, the people who are often overlooked, dispossessed, disenfranchised, marginalized or, in other words, the least of these.

Last fall, I came across a limited series on Netflix titled “Maid.” It is about, well, you guessed it, a maid. Surely, I thought, there is no

staffEverett Kirkman

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

A more perfect union Eric Johnson

way that a series about a housecleaner can hold my attention. I was terribly wrong. Although the action was minimal, the suspense was not.

While watching more than one episode, I had to stop in the middle because I could not handle the gravity of the narrative because it was all too real. Alex, a young, single, abused mother with few resources and even fewer prospects, fights and scraps and claws in countless attempts to provide for her preschool aged daughter, as well as provide for her mentally ill mother.

As the series unfolds, we see that the system that is intended to support the least of these, as many of us already know, is broken and in need of repair. I certainly knew that. I’ve lived long enough to watch it happen more times than I can count. But the story sucked me in nonetheless.

It took me a couple of weeks to get through the 10 episodes. I wanted to binge it, and rarely was it out of my mind, but I needed time to process the content. A large part of that was due to the riveting performances turned in by almost the entire cast. But while the acting was stellar, the narrative was, to me, the brightest star. To be clear, it is not perfect. Far from it. It is based loosely on Stephanie Land’s critically

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

acclaimed memoir, “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive” (2019), but great liberties were taken in the making of the series. No doubt, those who have better insights into the complexities of, for example, the welfare system could likely pick apart countless erroneous details. However, I would invite the viewer to focus instead on the larger narrative.

It’s easy for me to feel compassion for Alex, the protagonist in “Maid.” It’s far more difficult, however, for me to maintain that loving sentiment when I am in places such as Walmart, a place where we can find an Alex on every aisle. Unfortunately, I can quickly and even subconsciously look down my nose at many of those I often encounter in such places. But after watching “Maid,” my arrogance is much more difficult to ignore. I emerged from the series reminded that all are created in the image of God, and that Jesus championed the often overlooked. I thank God for that reminder.

LEE EDWARDS is a guest writer for The Bison. He may be contacted at ledward2@harding.edu.

Gabriel Huff asst. copy editor Cianna Jay editorial asst.

Madison Meyer head photographer Julianne Baker asst. photographer

Won’t you be my neighbor?

W

hat does it mean to be a good neighbor? Well, I guess that depends on who you’re asking. A student of U.S. foreign policy might say it means adopting a diplomatic position of noninter vention for our Latin American neighbors. A student of American literature might say that being a good neighbor requires having a good fence. However, a student of Christianity would have a much more interesting and challenging answer to this question.

Not only is the idea of being a good neighbor an important question for Christians, it is identified by Jeus as the second most important commandment of his ministry. I find this to be both a simple and straightforward, yet also complex and elusive, principle to live by. What does it really mean to be a good neighbor? What does that look like?

This question has been on my mind lately. The reason for this is that the desire to be a good neighbor was something that Dr. Roddy Lochala, chief medical officer at Unity Health here in Searcy, mentioned several times in his responses for an interview I conducted with him for the news story I wrote this week (which can be found on page 2B).

When asked about Unity Health’s response to the omicron variant of COVID-19, Lochala responded that, “Determination out of love for our neighbor is our response.”

When asked if he had any advice for the Harding community to safely navigate the COVID-19 pandemic this semester, Lochala said, “Jesus tells us to ‘love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Love yourself by attending to your physical, emotional and spiritual health.

Love your neighbor by isolating yourself from others if you have COVID-19, and look for ways to help your neighbor when they have needs. This way, the good news of Jesus Christ is spread not only by words but by actions.”

I know COVID-19 fatigue is real. I know that wearing a mask is annoying and can feel unnecessary. I know getting the vaccine can be inconvenient. I know it is tempting to say, “ This pandemic has lasted long enough; I’m done.” We could go ahead and stop caring. We could ignore the fact that COVID-19 cases both nationally and in Arkansas are currently almost three times higher than they have been at any other point in the pandemic.

We could ignore the fact that, as Lochala shared with me, 85% of COVID-19 hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients.

We could ignore the fact that the CDC is still insisting that people, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, wear masks indoors in areas of high transmission.

I could give pragmatic reasons for why we ought not do everything I just listed in the previous paragraph. For example, if we loosen up on COVID-19 precautions, that will only prolong the pandemic and make it take longer to go “back to normal.” But at the end of the day, I don’t want to scare anyone into taking COVID-19 seriously.

Instead, I’ll just ask again: “What does it mean to be a good neighbor?” Surely a community such as Harding’s will know how to answer that and will know what to do.

We speak a lot here at Harding about being the type of community that seeks to take the principles of Jesus seriously.

Choosing to take seriously a pandemic that is devasting our community, threatening to overrun healthcare facililites, and continuing to take lives is a critical opportunity for us to prove that we mean what we say.

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

Balazas 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 Brazell Ethan Conn

Isabelle Cutts Lee Edwards

Hannah Hackworth Jake Mooney

Addi Province

Kayleigh Tritschler

4A

OPINIONS

Friday, January 21, 2022

Work in progress Everett Kirkman

Editor-in-Chief

N e w y e a r ’s resolutions I

’m not very good at making new year’s resolutions. Actually, I’m historically pretty bad at making them. It’s not that I don’t want to seek to improve myself each year, it’s more that I get distracted. Or, a month or two in, I get a different idea in a moment of inspiration, and wish I had started with that in the first place.

Broader than that, sometimes it’s hard for me to finish what I’ve started. It’s not that I don’t want to finish — I’m passionate about the things that I choose to fill my time with, and I want to do every area of my life justice. And yet, I often find myself fizzling out right before I see the finish line.

I think part of the bigger picture is that I’m a (self-diagnosed) people pleaser. I value the opinions of those I love and admire, and I want to be able to serve them however I can within my own wheelhouse. Yet, when I don’t say no to anyone or anything, I end up not doing any of the things on my plate well, or anywhere near what I know I’m capable of. Then, when I near the end of each “yes,” my time is so full of other responsibilities, I barely have the time or energy to complete the initial commitment.

So now in my (Lord-willing) final semester of my undergraduate career, I can feel myself starting to fizzle out. You could call it senioritis; you could call it burnout from a two-year-long global pandemic; you could call it restlessness from being in the same environment for so long, and now making actual feasible plans to leave, but having three months of lectures and quizzes standing in the way. Whatever you call it, I hate it. I hate feeling like I’m crawling to the finish line.

I try my best not to hate things — just to strongly dislike them — but I reserve the rights to the feeling for special occasions.

I hate feeling like I’m wishing away this last semester. After all, I chose to be here.

I chose this university, I chose my major, and I chose what activities I wanted to be involved in. Every day since those initial decisions, I have chosen to stay. Through a lot of frustration and painful growth and heartache, I’ve stayed. Of course, I like to think I’ve improved and matured over the past few years, but nevertheless I’ve remained here. So, I now hate some of these feelings toward ending my time here because I’m exactly where I wanted to be — right?

I’ve achieved a lot of what I set out to do, and I’ve gained countless unexpected friends while doing it. On paper, I’ve checked almost all of my boxes, and even added more boxes to check along the way. Graduating college with honors distinction will be the biggest accomplishment I’ve ever made, right? And yet, part of me can’t help but feel regret and frustration for the opportunities I let pass me by. Maybe part of that is human nature, or maybe it’s just my own nature, to have high expectations for myself and the things I fill my time with.

Because, of course, there are thousands of other things I could’ve done with this season of my life (that is, if you believe in free will — maybe I’ll tackle that one next week). Part of what slows me down in the final stages of any big project is chasing after rabbit holes like that. But, for some reason, I’m here. For some reason I’ve stayed.

I typically make jokes out of kitschy sayings like, “everything happens for a reason,” but there is some comfort in believing that. In the midst of the trials, it’s difficult to believe that, as comforting as it may be. In the midst of a seemingly endless season of life, tucked inside a seemingly endless pandemic, it’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s hard to know if I’m in a tunnel at all, or if the world really is just this dark.

And yet, for some reason I’ve stayed. I’ve seen just enough light, I’ve experienced just enough glimmers of hope, that I’m here.

So, this semester, I want to reflect on and celebrate the season I will soon be leaving.

Think of it as my new year’s resolution of sorts — focusing on what has come out of the work that I’ve done here. And, with a whole semester ahead of me, choosing to not tap out of the fight just yet.

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

Sara McClaran

Equal or fair?

Features Editor

A

ccording to the Brennan Center for Justice, criminal fines are penalties intended as both a deterrence and a punishment. If a punishment does not also deter a crime, it is not doing its job. I believe that the American system of fines — especially concerning traffic violations —isn’t doing it’s job.

Let’s do a little thought exercise. Suppose we have two unruly children. One child loves books: He will do anything to get his hands on a new book and spends every available moment he can reading. The other child loves video games. She spends hours in front of the television playing the best the gaming world has to offer. Now suppose they both get into trouble. You could take all of the books away from both of them, or you could take the books from one and the video games from the other. Which is fair?

To give them both the same punishment is equality. To give them different punishments could be considered equity.

These words have been thrown around a lot recently, so let’s define them. Equality means everyone is treated exactly the same. Equity recognizes that people live with different circumstances and aims to treat them to reach an equal outcome. In this case, our equal outcome is deterrence.

Now obviously, it is not feasible to tailor each fine to the individual so it will always deter them. Some people just like to break the law. Some people just don’t care.

However, we should not have what we have now —where, as a Tumblr post says, “An action being ‘punishable by a fine’ basically means ‘legal for rich people.’”

O

Humor me with another thought exercise.

Let’s say Person A drives a 15-year-old junker.

Person B drives a new Honda Accord, and Person C drives a Porsche. One day, all three people get speeding tickets —$250 each.

I would hazard a guess that one parking ticket barely even registers on Person C’s radar of inconveniences, while for Person A, it could mean skipping meals or even going to jail. We have not even considered the added major cost of court fees if jail time becomes a reality.

If a punishment does not also deter a crime, it is not doing its job.

– Sara McClaran, features editor

but it is still the highest percentage for any other recorded country.

Another major way fines are used is funding for the government. Forbes said in 2019 that nearly 600 towns get at least 10% of their budget from court fines. One town, Seat Pleasant, Maryland, gets nearly half of its budget from traffic citations. A small, one mile square town in Louisiana made $570,000 in fines — 84% of its budget. Imagine if fines were more balanced.

Imagine if that $200 speeding ticket for the minimum wage worker was lowered to $100 — but also became $500 for the middle class and several thousand for the billionaire. If we stopped punishing people for being poor and stopped letting the rich get by without anything more than a slap on the wrist, that would be a major step in both lowering our incarceration rate and helping fund our communities.

Despite what you might think, it is possible. In Finland, fines are determined by income. Specifically, they are determined by how much spending money one has in a day. The number of days penalized is then based on the severity of the crime. Finish millionaires are getting $50,000, $61,000 and $103,000 fines — so the punishments are equally weighted for everyone. In fact, sliding scale fines are common in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, France and Switzerland, as well. The United States just happens to be behind the times.

According to a study done by the University of California in 2012, higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior.

Specifically, upper class individuals were more likely to break the law while driving.

CNBC reported in 2015 that, according to data from insuranceQuotes.com, wealthy drivers were more likely to get tickets but less likely to see their insurance prices go up. According to A Council of Economic Advisors in 2015, about 20% of inmates were in jail for failure to pay their debts.

Now, most likely because of COVID-19, SARA MCCLARAN is the features the incarceration rate in the United States editor for The Bison. She may be has fallen to its lowest level since 1995 — contacted at smcclaran@harding.edu.

Remembering Bob Corbin

ne time I was trying to explain something to a friend. I thought it was a simple concept, but he couldn’t catch on. After a while I finally said, “Dude, it’s not rocket science.” And, in most situations, it isn’t. Unless you’re Bob Corbin.

The retired Harding professor — who passed away on Dec. 15 — did many things in his 88 years. He would probably want to be remembered as a faithful Christian, devoted husband and kind father, and as a teacher, coach, missionary, church elder, veteran, athlete and researcher. Oh, and there’s that small business about helping to put the first men on the moon.

If you haven’t heard the story, then maybe you’ll want to get a cup of coffee in the Student Center — as Bob often did with his friends after chapel — and listen to the tale.

Bob Corbin came to Harding in 1964 as director of the testing lab, working under his mentor, Dr. Robert Clark, who had just been named vice president for research. Bob had recently earned a master’s degree in health and physical education, and the two men shared a fascination for the new and growing field of exercise physiology — what ordinary folks might call “staying in shape.”

But Clark, Corbin and their colleagues Dr. Harry Olree and Dr. Carroll Smith, would not only be working with ordinary folks. The U.S. space program was just getting off the ground, so to speak, and Harding made a proposal to NASA to fund research that would evaluate the physical fitness of astronauts and help them prepare for the rigors of space travel.

Sadly, Clark died of a sudden heart attack in 1966, shortly before his team secured funding.

But Harding researchers would carry out his vision in a partnership with NASA that lasted for the next 12 years.

So much science goes into space exploration, from physics to engineering to mathematics,

Michael Claxton

Narrative Columnist

took students on mission trips to Italy for 15 years and helped oversee the Ivanti Italia program that places missionaries in Italy for two-year terms. He often traveled to Bible lectureships in Europe and the Caribbean.

Bob put a high priority on family. He was blessed with two good marriages — nearly 45 years with his first wife Ruthann, and after her sudden passing, he was married for 17 years to Joyce. He and Ruthann had three children, and Bob was blessed with nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, three stepsons and six step-grandchildren. They all knew him as a kind and gentle presence in their lives.

He practiced the same physical wellness that he taught others. A longtime athlete who flourished at basketball, baseball and golf, he took up jogging in the 1960s and for decades ran in the mornings with a cadre of friends, including Harding’s president, Dr. David Burks. An avid golfer, he had seven holes in one during his lifetime.

He believed in service to the country and spent two years in the Navy during the Korean War. He was appointed by Arkansas Governor David Pryor as chairman of the Governor’s Council of Physical Fitness and Sports in 1978.

I knew him from his regular seat on the end of the fifth row in the second east section of the College Church. He was always ready with compliments and gracious encouragement.

Even though he was confined to a wheelchair in his last years, I did not hear him complain.

Bob never flew in a spaceship himself.

But now he’s slipped the bonds of this Earth to greet the God he served all his life.

Arrivederci, friend.

as we all know from the wonderful film “Hidden Figures.” Exercise science plays a big part, too, since adapting to zero-gravity conditions requires highly specific training.

According to Dr. Ed Wilson — who kept us involved with NASA for many more years and who wrote about those early days for Harding Magazine — the team carried out 28 experiments focusing on the effects of long-term space flights.

Our school had a dedicated laboratory where temperature, humidity and pressure could be controlled. Thus, human subjects could be studied under different conditions.

A blood laboratory, mass spectrometer and a huge, specialized treadmill were key to the research. As a result of its experiments, Harding published reports about maintaining physical fitness for prolonged space flight, and the school pioneered research aimed at training female astronauts in the same physical fitness goals as men.

Corbin knew that what he learned in his lab wasn’t just good for people orbiting the planet. He and Olree used their findings to create a wellness course to help students develop lifelong healthy habits. It’s still a required class to this day.

The key lesson Corbin taught his students was that life is best lived in balance, and he modeled that approach in every aspect of his own life.

MICHAEL CLAXTON is a narrative He put spiritual things first. He served for columnist for The Bison. He can be many years as an elder at College Church, 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.

Vol. 97, No. 09

Thoughts of a Hoosier Tiane Davis Sports Editor

January 21, 2022

Lady Bisons anticipate 12 more games

Basketball sounds

Cheerleaders, piercing whistles from terrible referees, angry spectators, the jarring sound of a buzzer, yells from a lively pep section: This is how I imagine basketball games should sound. Above all, when I envision a basketball game, with all its chaotic happenings and necessary racket, somewhere along the sidelines is the athletic band.

When the band is missing, all the crowd can hear is the sound of basketball shoes squeaking on the floor and the hollow bounce of a basketball. Aside from the occasional clapping or booing, or the lonely cheering of the team itself, the school spirit is dead.

Nothing in this world is quite like being in a crowded gym, with the band playing as loud as possible, and the crowd is still able to find a way to clap terribly out of sync.

Something about a crowd full of people with zero musical talent is absolutely endearing, especially when coupled with a blaring band.

I can recall several vague memories of when I was a small child at Indiana basketball games, and I thought — multiple times — the percussion section from the pep band was putting me into cardiac arrest. It was always quite exhilerating. The volume of the percussion section is always proportional to the spirit of the crowd, in my opinion.

On top of all the unorganized noise at a basketball game, the hardwood floors and concrete walls create a ridiculous echo that makes the outdated pop songs and confusing cheers from the band students melt into every other chaotic noise in the building.

Somehow, in some way, it sounds great.

Of course, I cannot let anyone forget the one song that guarantees every Harding spectator stand up and clap. You know the song — the Harding fight song. The song that plays on repeat in everyone’s head days after the clock runs out. The song that sometimes makes the opposing team’s fans clap along with loyal Harding spirit. It is so catchy, yet I can never seem to recall the tune myself, even after having it stuck in my head for days at a time.

Basketball sounds — I love them, but they would never be complete without the sound of the Harding University Bison Pep Band members leading the chaos.

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

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

Photo by JULIANNE BAKER

The Lady Bisons basketball team huddles up during a timeout at their game on Jan. 12. The team defeated Arkansas Tech 85-77 in the Rhodes-Reaves Field House.

JAKE MOONEY guest writer With 15 games under the Lady Bisons basketball team’s belt, their season is far from over with 12 more games to be played in the next couple of months.

The Lady Bisons defeated Southern Arkansas University 95-70 last Saturday, improving to a season record of 9-5 and a conference record of 5-4 as of Jan. 19.

Women’s basketball head coach Tim Kirby said last week that the season has felt like a roller coaster ride, and he and the team have been looking to improve on their consistency.

The Lady Bisons went on a hot streak at the beginning of the season, winning five games straight. However, the team then went back and forth, winning one and losing one every other game. They eventually found their rhythm again, obtaining back-to-back victories last week.

“We try to find reasons why stuff like that happens,” Kirby said. “I don’t know if there’s an answer other than that we need to string together some wins.”

Senior guard Hannah Collins said finding balance is what can fix this issue.

“A lot of times we can get really high, which is good, but then there are also times when we can get very low,” Collins said. “I think once we are able to find that balance and get into a consistent rhythm, we will then be able to put multiple wins together in a row.”

Sophomore forward Sage Hawley said the team was working on knowing their plays like the back of their hands.

“We’ve been working hard to be where we need to be, and all the parts are starting to click together,” Hawley said.

Collins and Hawley have been two of the team leaders statistically. Hawley is averaging 17.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Collins is averaging 15.5 points and 3.1 assists per game.

Kirby said he was very impressed with the way the team melds on and off the court.

“We got really good girls, on and off the floor,” Kirby said. “They genuinely like each other, and they are trying to fight for each other. We got a bunch of good girls, and anytime we got that it gives us a chance to improve and to finish the season right.”

Collins said the team has the potential to go far in the season.

“I believe if we keep working hard, trusting each other, trusting our coaches and really buy in, that we have the ability to make a run in the tournament,” Collins said.

The Lady Bisons’ season is far from over.

They are hopeful and ready for what’s to come in the schedule.

“This season has been a rollercoaster so far,” Hawley said. “We’ve lost some and won some. I see the rest of the season going up from here.”

The Lady Bisons’ next game is tomorrow, Jan. 22, at 1 p.m. against Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Searcy.

Photo by JULIANNE BAKER

Sophomore guard Patricija Peric drives the ball past the opposing team.

Peric played 16 minutes in the Lady Bisons’ game against Arkansas Tech.

2B

COMMUNITY

Friday, January 21, 2022

Searcy schools update COVID-19 protocols GABRIEL HUFF asst. copy editor

The spring semester began in Searcy with schools introducing COVID-19 protocols in response to a rise in cases and updated guidelines made by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).

The Searcy School District, which comprises six schools, implemented an emergency policy to begin the semester, requiring all employees, students and visitors of Searcy Public Schools to wear a mask or face covering when attending school functions inside the building, facility or any other area of any school campus while the Governor’s Health Emergency is in place. Betsy Bailey, community coordinator for Searcy Public Schools, said people have expressed disapproval toward the mask mandate. However, Bailey said the district’s board believes masks are necessary.

“And at this point, our board of directors feels like wearing masks is keeping our students and staff members protected as much as we can against the COVID-19 virus,” Bailey said.

According to Searcy Public Schools’ COVID-19 guidelines, the district also

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

began following the updated COVID-19 quarantining and isolation recommendations of the ADH and the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) on Jan. 10.

The guidelines include only five days of isolation for those who test positive for COVID-19 if they experience resolving symptoms or no symptoms after the five-day span, after which the individual would be allowed to return to school. Those who have a probable close contact with someone positive for COVID-19 are required to quarantine for at least five days after the last contact if they have not taken all recommended vaccine shots.

Bailey said 2.5% or 102 of the district’s students were positive for COVID-19 last week, Jan. 11, to start the semester. She said

she believes 1.5% of the district’s instructors were positive, as well. In addition to these issues, the district was experiencing a shortage of custodial workers, child nutrition workers and substitute teachers, Bailey said. As of Jan. 19, there are 384 students and employees who are either positive or quarantined for COVID-19.

“We know that our students receive the best learning experience when they’re onsite, so we are doing our very best to keep our campuses on site and not have to pivot to remote learning,” Bailey said.

Riverview School District similarly revised its quarantine procedures, according to a Facebook announcement to parents and guardians made by Riverview superintendent Stan Stratton on Jan. 12. The announcement stated that the district recorded less than 73%

attendance primarily due to quarantine and positive case numbers. The school district decided to use an alternative method of instruction (AMI) day on Jan. 14 to allow more time for students and staff to get healthy.

“I firmly believe that the best place for our students is in school, but at the same time we have to approach each individual situation to determine what is best,” Stratton said in the announcement.

Harding Academy is adhering to updated COVID-19 procedures as well. Superintendent Jim Gurchiek said the school had experienced a higher absentee rate at the start of the semester, but numbers are not bad when compared to the percentages of larger districts.

“It may be around 30,” Gurchiek said on Jan. 11. “And that includes staff and students, which there’s not a lot of staff at all. A concern that I was wondering about was getting [substitute teachers], but again, that’s very manageable right now. That’s not an issue.”

As of Jan. 19, the ADH reported that there were 95,378 active COVID-19 cases in Arkansas and 2,177 active cases in White County.

Searcy Public Library fundraising for relocation MAGGIE SAMPLES lifestyle editor The Searcy Public Library is currently working on relocating to a larger building and creating a community hub out of the new space.

“For a long time, we have recognized that libraries are more than just books and that one of the things is really the library is kind of a community hub,” Darla Ino, library director, said. “And with the current location we had, we were really limited in how much of a community hub we could be because we just didn’t have the space.”

The new space, formerly the Searcy Athletic Club, is 33,000 square feet compared to the 10,000 square feet of the current location.

With a community hub in mind, this location is going to offer a variety of new services, like a passport office and a coffee shop. There will be large meeting rooms, along with spaces for art and expanded teen space.

“I knew we’ve always had this potential,” Ino said. “We were restricted because we just didn’t have a way to do it.”

Ino said that fundraising is the next step forward. She hopes to have moved into the new

location by the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023, but said that relies on grants and donations. Jan Smith, the fundraising chair for the project, said the group has been fundraising for several months.

“We are making progress, and we are still contacting potential donors,” Smith said. “We will at some point open this up to the entire public to help us make this new library a reality … We want everyone to have a part in this.”

Smith pictures the library as a community center for Searcy and said she thinks the new location will create a space that encourages the gathering of the community.

“We’re trying to update our library to the 21st century so we can make it really more of a community center for people because we’ll have so much more than just the books and computers that we’ve had before,” Smith said.

“I think it’ll be a new showplace for Searcy.”

The new location of the library promises to be a community hub for the town of Searcy.

Freshman Magdalene Pruitt, Searcy native, said Searcy will benefit from the relocation.

“I think it’s a long time coming and that Searcy has deserved a new library for a very long time,” Pruitt said.

Photo by JULIANNE BAKER

Signage outside the building previously housing the Searcy Athletic Club advertises its new role as the Searcy Public Library on Jan. 13. Progress is being made to raise funds for the upcoming relocation.

Community of Searcy responds to Omicron ERIC JOHNSON opinions editor Searcy is currently experiencing a dramatic increase in active COVID-19 cases, which is consistent with the rest of the state and country, largely due to the new omicron variant. Local health care providers, such as Unity Health, are struggling to keep up with and manage the increasing COVID-19 numbers.

According to Dr. Roddy Lochala, D.O., chief medical officer at Unity Health, over two in every 100 Arkansans have an active case.

These are based on the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) numbers, and therefore, as Lochala pointed out, the prevalence of the coronavirus in reality is even higher than that.

As of Jan. 19, there are 95,378 active cases in Arkansas; 2,177 of those coming from White County, according to ADH. A major reason for these high numbers of cases is the outbreak of the omicron variant, which is significantly more transmissible than past variants.

The first reported case of the omicron variant of COVID-19 in Arkansas came on Dec. 17, 2021. Lochala said they saw an exponential rise in testing and positivity soon after. Due to this spike in testing and active cases, it is not as easy now to get tested for COVID-19 as it has been in previous months.

“Due to the scarcity of tests, we require a prescriber’s order,” Lochala said. “Fortunately,

there are other avenues available, such as retail pharmacies and the Arkansas Department of Health.”

The virality of the omicron variant is forcing many healthcare workers to quarantine, causing healthcare facilities to be short staffed at the exact time that there is the highest demand for their services. Lochala said he expects Unity Health to surpass their records for COVID-related hospitalizations in the near future.

However, Lochala also said he expects that the current COVID-19 spike will peak by the end of January.

“Hospitalizations will peak and be trending downward by the end of February,” Lochala said. “The result will be a community where very few people will be COVID naive because nearly everyone will have had a vaccine or COVID or both.”

Assistant professor of nursing Karen Kelley shares Lochala’s opinion that the omicron spike will peak by the end of January, but is suspicious of how quickly the cases will drop back down due to the relatively low rates of vaccination in White County. Kelley noted how in areas on the East Coast, where omicron first hit, the cases increased quickly and then decreased quickly as well. However, Kelley explained that these areas, such as Washington D.C., have substantially higher rates of public vaccination. Therefore, Kelley suspects that the cases in Searcy might not

drop as dramatically as they have in other places.

ADH reported that, as of Jan. 19, 40.8% of White County is fully immunized. This is almost half the national average, as the CDC reported that 75.2% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Lochala said that 85% of hospitalizations are unvaccinated patients.

Despite these public health concerns, Lochala is optimistic of Unity Health and other healthcare providers’ ability to meet the challenge.

“We are confident in our ability to work as a team to care for ourselves and our community,” Lochala said. “Our neighbors can rest assured that we will continue to utilize every available resource to improve the health and well-being of our community.”

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

FEATURES 3B

TheLink.Harding.edu

Harding students take advantage of Christmas break

Harding goes to New York SARA MCCLARAN features editor

Over Christmas break, 138 Harding faculty and students across several majors and departments spent a week in New York City, touring the city and learning about their respective fields from the professionals who live there.

The Communication Department, the College of Education, the Theatre Department and others have been making this annual trip for several years now. Despite many details being different because of the continued effect of COVID-19, the trips were a success.

“I think it’s a good experience to see other places and how other people interact,” junior elementary education major Savannah Lee said. “So different cultures and just different ways of life.”

Lee said the biggest thing she learned was not from the museums or any of the other places the College of Education visited, but from the need to be flexible in their plans.

“As a future educator, and just life in general, not everything is going to go according to exactly how it’s planned,” Lee said. “Just trying to work through it and plan something else, and that could be just

as fun, if not more, than what was supposed to happen.”

Senior apparel merchandising major Paxton Pojar made the journey in 2020, right before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and took the opportunity to go again before she graduated. Pojar was involved with the planning of her department’s trip, taking the initiative to organize a meeting with designer and fashion influencer Caroline Vazzana while they were there.

“You can either go on this trip and really, really learn or you can go on it and really not learn,” Pojar said.

New York City doesn’t have everyone, Pojar said, but meeting the people they got to meet provided great opportunities for both learning about their trade and marketing themselves.

“I’m never going to have that opportunity here in Arkansas,” Pojar said.

To senior acting major Lydia Black, the most important thing was seeing and learning about New York City outside of television and other media.

“The narrative that you’re told, especially about New York City is: Some people just think it’s the absolute, you know — that’s the best place you could ever go,” Black said.

“If you’re going to succeed you have to go to New York City — especially in theatre.”

Photo by MADISON MEYER

Students from the Harding Department of Communication congregate outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral before a tour in New York City on Jan. 3.

The Communication Department was just one of many departments that took students to New York in January.

In the south, Black said, the narrative is often the opposite: people see New York as mean and unsafe and full of strange ideas and strange people.

“I was disillusioned to the big myths that people tell about New York City,” Black said. “They’re just humans just like anywhere else.”

Knights club members take cruise to Cozumel, Mexico HANNAH HACKWORTH guest writer

Photo provided by THOMAS BURKE

A group of Harding students sit on a boat in Cozumel, Mexico, on Jan. 5.

They spent the day snorkeling at two reefs, while others explored the city or spent time relaxing on the ships.

On Monday, Jan. 3, almost 40 members of men’s social club Knights and their friends set sail out of Galveston, Texas, on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico.

The idea that arose from satirical Facebook posts became reality after nine months of researching, planning and communicating with the large group.

Senior Cody Porter put together the adventure in March 2021. Porter created a Facebook group with Knights members of all ages, later opening it up to some additional friends.

The group of students who went on the cruise was so large that many split off into smaller groups during the day. However, they would come together for big group activities during the evening. Together, they enjoyed trivia nights, family napkin folding, group dinners and karaoke, which was a crowd favorite. During their time in Mexico on Wednesday, Jan. 5, a small group went snorkeling at two reefs, while others explored shops or spent time relaxing on the ship.

Since the four-day cruise was at less than half capacity for COVID-19 precautions, the 40 Knights and friends appeared to take over.

“It was like 1,300 people on a 4,000 person ship, which is funny because the Knights to other people ratio was bigger than it is at Harding,” sophomore Malachi Brown said.

If one sought peace and quiet, it was achievable on the large ship, but there was almost a guarantee they would run into someone else from their group. Porter also emphasized the frequency of seeing his friends.

“You went into a restaurant or passed by a room and you’d see a group of our people,” Porter said.

The handful of people that made up the “friends” portion of the group included significant others, but others were people who heard of the fun in store and wanted to be a part of it. Junior Maci Schmitz was one of the friends included. Although she didn’t know a lot of people signed up when she joined, she said she gained a lot of new friends throughout her days on the cruise ship with them.

“It almost felt like it was a fever dream, and it was definitely one of the best vacations I have ever been on,” Schmitz said.

Although the planning and expenses may restrict this trip to a once-in-college experience rather than annual, Porter said he hopes the Knights cruise will continue in the future and become a tradition in some fashion.

Harding students take over annual Knights ski trip TIANE DAVIS sports editor

The annual Knights ski trip was held again this year in early January in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, but this time only one member of men’s social club Knights attended the trip.

The ski trip was originally organized

by Knights members, but the planning responsibilities eventually passed down to Jarrod Trahin, a member of men’s social club TNT who graduated from Harding in December.

Trahin said that after a few years of other people organizing the ski trip, everything he had to do seemed to fall in place and was very simple. The group was welcomed by a church in the Steamboat Springs area, with some students driving over 20 hours and others flying to the nearby airport to be picked up.

“It was easy for me because they gave me all the emails and numbers for everyone,” Trahin said. “I think the hardest part was getting people to commit, since we had to have 25 to get the group rate.”

With 35 people on the trip, Trahin said the group got a sizable discount for lift

tickets at the ski resort. He said their group did not get to stay at the church last year because of COVID-19 restrictions.

“This year, they decided they wanted to host us, and when we got there, not only did they have food and everything else, but they had also installed a full shower for us,” Trahin said.

Trahin said the trip was still considered a Knights ski trip because it was started by a Knights member, and he expects the responsibilities to be passed back to Knights now that he has graduated.

Senior Nora Waller said a couple people got injured on the trip, including herself.

One girl had to fly out early to get her leg checked on.

“One girl had previously torn her ACL, and on the first full day of skiing, she kind of tweaked it again,” Waller said. “And then — it’s kind of funny — on the first night we were there, I was walking down the stairs and rolled my ankle pretty good. I got an X-Ray, and it ended up not being broken, so I skied on it the rest of the trip.”

Sophomore Nora Vaughn said there were a lot of people that went on the trip that she had never met before or never had the chance to spend much time with. Although

Photo provided by KONRAD HEYEN

A Harding student snowboards at Steamboat Springs, Colorado, over winter break. While the trip is considered a Knights event, only one Knights member attended this year. it might have been crowded in the church at times, she said, it was worth the trouble.

“I know it got really hot in the church just because so many people were in there, but other than that, we all just had a great time,” Vaughn said. “Our time was worth

the uncomfort of it, if that makes sense. I would recommend everybody should go. It’s a really cool experience to go skiing with people because it takes a toll on your body, and everybody is in it together.”

Friday, January 21, 2022

Photo by BALAZAS BALASSA

Violinist Geneva Lewis and cellist Gabriel Martins perform an Arts and Life concert in the Anthony Wright Administration Building on Jan. 13. Their instruments were made three centuries ago in Italy.

Harding Music Department hosts first Arts and Life concert of spring semester SOPHIE ROSSITTO community editor

Two award-winning string musicians performed a concert on Thursday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Anthony Wright Administration Building as part of the Harding Music Department’s Arts and Life Performance Series.

Violinist Geneva Lewis and cellist Gabriel Martins, who both received grand prize awards at the Concert Artists Guild competition in 2020, collaborated to play a series of classical pieces by composers including Maurice Ravel and Zoltán Kodály.

The two musicians performed using historic instruments that were crafted in Italy over three centuries ago.

Senior Chip Ashley said he appreciated the way Lewis and Martins displayed their

musicianship and artistry in order to create a beautiful performance.

“I haven’t heard something of that caliber in, I think, almost all of my time since I’ve been at Harding,” Ashley said.

Arts and Life director and Music Department chair Dr. Jay Walls said he learned about Lewis and Martins after receiving an email from their management agency about arranging a possible performance on campus. Walls said he often received similar emails about other performers, but he was intrigued that Lewis and Martins, who were both in their 20s, were very accomplished yet fairly close in age to students at Harding.

“So I thought that this could be a performance that our students could really relate to,” Walls said.

Lewis, who was born in New Zealand, performed her debut solo concert with the

Pasadena Symphony in California when she was 11 years old. Since then, Lewis has traveled around the world to perform with orchestras and chamber ensembles. She is studying at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.

Martins grew up in Indiana and earned degrees in music from the University of Southern California and the New England Conservatory of Music, the concert program said. Martins now lives in Boston and has performed with orchestras around the world.

He has also earned awards at multiple international competitions, according to the program.

On the afternoon of the concert, Walls interviewed Lewis and Martins during a forum for music students. The performers

discussed topics such as their definitions of success and experiences of dealing with criticism.

Senior music major and violinist Jessica Carden said she liked Lewis’s advice about preparing for performances and learning to appreciate the experience of playing for others.

“I definitely think that has changed my perspective a little bit,” Carden said.

The Arts and Life Performance Series is a program offering professional music performances on campus each semester.

Walls said the next Arts and Life event is scheduled for Feb. 14 and will be a Valentine’s Day banquet and concert. The event is set to feature multiple groups, including a guitarist and soprano singer from Argentina.

CAB hosts ‘Harry Potter’ marathon KAYLEIGH TRITSCHLER guest writer The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is hosting a marathon of the entire Harry Potter movie collection until Feb. 18. The first movie night for the Harry Potter marathon occurred last Friday, Jan. 14, in the Anthony Wright Administration Building.

“I tried to get every Friday night that I could for movie nights; I got almost all of them,” CAB director Abby Stinnett said. “We were going to do Marvel, but there are so many Marvel movies to fit in one semester.

I was just like, ‘Let’s do Harry Potter.’ We can easily fit that in one semester … and I feel like everyone likes Harry Potter. You can’t go wrong.”

Tickets will be $2 at the door every Friday up until two weeks before spring break. With

the exception of Saturday, Feb. 5 when the sixth movie will play for them to be able to fit the entire series in six weeks.

“I have never seen Harry Potter before, so that is why I went and will probably watch the rest,” junior Riley Shepard said. “It’s just something fun to do on Friday nights, and it’s cheap [and] better than just sitting in your dorm.”

The first showing had a turnout of 25 students. Some of those who hadn’t seen the series before then had the chance to see what it was all about. There were also students who attended that grew up with the movies and books and had the opportunity to relive the magic.

“I think the first movie was very heartwarming, seeing everyone come out and their reactions

to the movie,” freshman Lexi Earnhart said.

“You could tell there were some people who have seen this movie a lot and grown up with it and love all of the movies. Then there were some who haven’t seen it before and their friends bringing them in to see the tradition of these movies were sweet to see.”

The Harry Potter series will not be the last movie night marathon CAB plans to put on.

In fall 2022, they want to start the Marvel marathon. Until then, they have another series that will start after spring break.

“After spring break, we are going to do ‘High School Musical’ and fit in one other random movie night,” Stinnett said. “A lot of people suggested ‘High School Musical,’ and that’s easy and fun.”

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

Harding students take on spring semester internships ADDI PROVINCE guest writer

Several students, from a variety of majors, are taking on internships this semester.

Some students will be gone for up to eight weeks, while others for only a week. One such student is sophomore Topher Hearn, an accounting major interning at CBIZ in Memphis, Tennessee.

“My normal day looks like working on client tax returns along with some supervisors,” Hearn said. “I’m interning from Jan. 10 until the end of March.”

With spring classes starting Jan. 10, student interns had to make adjustments to accommodate being absent from campus.

“I’m an accounting major so when I get back, I’ll take two accounting credits, along with an online Bible class I am in right now,” Hearn said. “My internship also counts as credit, and I’ll be staying for intersession most likely, so that will put me at 15 hours.”

Other students are taking much shorter internships that only pose minimal interference with regularly scheduled classes. Senior Hunter Woodall spent the first week of classes in Dallas, interning for Lace Collective.

“I’m doing market help for Lace Collective,” Woodall said. “It’s a showroom at the Dallas Apparel Market. Say you go shop for Nike at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Dick’s will go to the

Nike showroom and pick what pieces they want; they won’t carry their whole line. My job is to assist local companies in picking out pieces that best fit their clientele.”

Woodall is an integrated marketing communications major, with plans to graduate at the end of this semester. She worked at the Dallas Apparel Market in October 2021, fulfilling the internship requirement for her degree, but wanted to continue making connections by spending another week there.

“The most challenging thing about this internship is the pace,” Woodall said. “My retail background has helped a lot, but I have just a week to pick up on the lingo and flow.”

Woodall will take classes upon her return to campus. She said she expects a smooth transition due to communication with understanding professors about her internship and her utilization of Canvas.

Junior Matthew Maynard, is also in Dallas working for Deloitte, a large accounting firm.

Having just completed a week of online orientation, Maynard is anticipating the jump to working with clients and getting hands-on experience.

“All accounting majors have to take a paid internship or take an alternative class, so it is ‘basically required’ but also highly recommended,” Maynard said. “This definitely prepares me for what I want to do, and also shows me what I would be doing after graduation.”

Photo provided by HUNTER WOODALL

Senior Hunter Woodall poses in the showroom at the Dallas Apparel Market, where she participated in an internship. She was one of several students who participated in an internship during the spring semester.