Former Harding athletes tell their stories from over 40 years ago

On Sept. 16, a group of Harding athletes put together a panel for student athletes to come together and talk about racism and discrimination. Leading this discussion were former Harding basketball players Butch Gardner and Stan Eckwood, who spoke about their experiences on campus as African Americans in the ‘70s. Both Gardner and Eckwood said they had positive experiences and felt as if Harding was more accepting than any other place they had been to. The panel’s goal was to spark a conversation among all student athletes and create a community that’s inclusive to all.

Student athletes like seniors Amanda Fields and Emily Garrett, both playing on Harding’s softball team, said they walked away from the panel and are now actively trying to apply it to their everyday lives.