Provost announces policy change for degree programs
The Office of the Provost announced a change in University policy March 29 that will more easily allow undergraduate students to add a minor to their degree program.
The email, sent from University Provost Marty Spears, stated that courses counted in a major can also be counted toward a minor as long as the degrees are in different academic departments. Previously, policy upheld that the same course could not be counted toward both a major and minor.
Along with the policy change, the email also announced the addition of three new minors that can be used as an accelerated pathway to a master’s degree.
Students who add the accelerated minors to their degree program can take up to 12 hours of graduate classes as part of the minor that
counts for both undergraduate and graduate credit. The new accelerated minors are counseling, history, and leadership and innovation.
“When we created the accelerated programs, initially we weren’t thinking about the minors,” Spears said. “We were thinking about students taking 12 hours and being able to count those both for the undergrad and the grad. So we created these programs like in the College of Business with students being able to earn a BBA and MBA. … Really the idea for the minor started because we had several programs outside the College of Business who wanted to take advantage of that.”
Along with the three accelerated minors, four new minors that can be used to supplement an undergraduate degree
were added. The four new minors include communication sciences and disorders, human-centered design, mechanical engineering and speech-language pathology.
Spears said the University’s intention with the new minor programs is to potentially open doors into more specialized areas for a student’s future career.
“We’re really trying to innovate and think about all our programs … we could offer that would lead directly to a job,” Spears said.
Registrar Tod Martin said adding a minor to a degree program can be a benefit to students if they choose wisely.
“Now that the rule of ‘majors and minors cannot share courses’ has been done away with, students have many more options open to them … but it’s now
up to the student to make wise choices in what their combined major and minor communicate to potential employers,” Martin said. “We definitely want students to add minors if they can, but they should be strategic about it and have a good reason for doing so.”
Senior media production major Gabe Hosticka had dropped a minor in light and sound design after finding out earlier this semester that he wouldn’t be able to graduate with the minor due to the overlap in his classes. He said after he found out about the policy change, he contacted his advisor about potentially finding a way to add the minor back to his transcript.
“I’d still like to add it if [my adviser] can figure it out,” Hosticka said. “I had done pretty much everything for the minor already.”
Cox appointed associate dean of arts, sciences
University administration announced April 12 the appointment of Amy Cox as the associate dean of the new College of Arts and Sciences.
An email with the announcement was sent to the faculty from Associate Provost of Academic Affairs Dana Steil, who will be serving as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences when the colleges of Arts and Humanities and Sciences merge, starting in the 2023-24 academic year.
“Amy was selected for this position because of her proven leadership and management skills, professionalism, care for our students and faculty, experience with program development, excellent communication skills and ability to challenge the status quo thoughtfully,” Steil said in the email. “Associate Dean Cox will
work closely with the dean and department chairs to provide academic and administrative leadership.”
Cox currently serves as an associate professor and chair of the Art and Design Department, where she started as faculty in 2001 and as chair in 2020. She is also currently the Faculty Leadership Council vice president and will be serving as FLC president next year.
“I have been incredibly fortunate to work alongside many talented and dedicated fellow faculty members, and I look forward to continuing my service in this new role,” Cox said.
According to Steil, the majority of Cox’s role at the University will continue to be teaching. As associate dean, her main duty will be ensuring faculty members have a voice and play a role in the administration of the college, and assisting Steil as he develops
policies and a strategic vision for the college.
“My roles as both a program director and chair have given me a better understanding of the unique responsibilities and workload these important jobs require,” Cox said.
“One of my goals is to foster a collaborative environment between faculty, departments and administration as we enter this next chapter in Harding’s history.”
Steil, who currently serves as an associate professor of computer science, said he thinks his and Cox’s varied backgrounds will work well together.
“I believe we bring together a combination of artistic design [and] creativity and analytical design [and] creativity that God will use as a blessing for the college,” Steil said.
Assistant professor of art Tessa Davidson has worked with Cox since Davidson began teaching in the art department in 2011. Davidson said Cox’s traits as a strong, caring
and personable leader will lend themselves to her role as associate dean.
“We are excited about this opportunity for her, and we are glad her skills and gifts can be used for the broader community,” Davidson said. “We will miss having her as our department chair — but I guess we can’t hog her gifts all to ourselves.”
The leadership team for the College of Arts and Sciences will consist of Steil, Cox, Drs. Debbie Duke and Jim Miller as assistant deans, and department chairs. Steil said in his email that a chair search for the Department of Art and Design will begin soon.
Harding hosts college media conference
Harding University hosted the Arkansas College Media Association’s annual conference April 14 as the organization sought to honor the state’s best collegiate output media. Both The Bison and Petit Jean yearbook won numerous awards, including second best of show for both publications.
The conference featured prominent figures in the communication industry, such as Rick Trujillo, an Emmy-winning Harding alumnus, and Mitch Bettis, owner and president of Arkansas Business Publishing Group.
Twelve institutions were in attendance, including Harding University, University of Central Arkansas, Ouachita Baptist University and Arkansas Tech University. Over 100 students registered to participate, attending multiple breakout-sessions of specialized content areas prior to an awards ceremony. The sessions covered topics such as ethics in journalism, freelancing and podcast journalism.
Along with Bettis, Arkansas Business Publishing Group was represented by Lance Turner, editor of the Arkansas Business weekly journal; Tiffany Mattzela, director of events; Mandy Richardson, publisher of Soirée magazine; and Katelyn Allen, staff
writer and Harding alumna. Their panel spoke on niche marketing.
“We have about 30 read magazines, a digital marketing team, a whole collection of web, digital products and event division, all that focus on that niche, hyper-targeted, small audiences, providing exceptional experiences and exceptional content to a very focused group,” Bettis said during the panel.
As editor of Arkansas Business, Turner said he looks to market to CEOs in Arkansas.
“That’s the audience that we’re writing for, and so when you think about that audience there’s probably not a whole lot of those kinds of people,” Turner said. “So it’s a very small audience. It’s not the 100s
of 1,000s of people who might subscribe to the Arkansas Democrat Gazette or watch daily television news. It’s kind of a sliver of that audience.”
Tawni Haley, a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant, and Tish McClure, a freelance graphic designer, spoke on freelancing. Haley and McClure both began their careers in the traditional market before moving to freelancing.
“There’s never a lack of opportunity,” Haley said. “It just grows and grows and grows because all brands, people and businesses and nonprofits, everybody needs to be able to communicate very well with audiences, and that’s never gonna change.”
University to implement cyber security measures for students
DormNet announced that the University is requiring all students to use multi-factor authentication (MFA) beginning this fall, in an email sent to students April 11.
MFA has been required for employees since fall 2021, according to an article from The Bison on Sept. 30, 2021. Chief information officer Keith Cronk said the next phase is requiring it for students.
“There is no specific incident that prompted the implementation of MFA for students,” Cronk said. “This is something that needs to be done to help prevent potential cyber security breaches that could expose student information to bad actors.”
There has been an increasing number of cyber security breaches at schools, Cronk said,
and some of those schools have been close by. Five colleges in Louisiana had to shut down their internet to address security last December. In November 2022 the Little Rock School Board authorized paying a ransom to end a cyberattack.
“This has happened to other universities around the world,” Cronk said.
MFA is not a new concept and has been used for decades in banks, hospitals and many other places that handle sensitive documents. Cronk said one difference at Harding is the use of an authenticator.
“We are using the Microsoft authenticator because we use the Microsoft
system to log in to our accounts,” Cronk said. “This involves adding an app to our phones. After the initial setup, it is really quite simple. It is also quicker than waiting for a text code and then entering that code.”
Junior cybersecurity major Nathan Collier said while many students may not understand the need, and many professors get frustrated with the system, it is important.
“I do think that it is a very necessary precaution,”Collier said. “MFA may take just a few more seconds to log in to Canvas or Pipeline, but it makes it that much harder for a would-be attacker to gain access to someone’s account.”
In the future, MFA will be required for alumni accounts as well, according to the DormNet email. The goal is to have every harding.edu account using MFA by the end of 2023.
“I think that it will continue to become more widespread because account usernames and passwords are being sold and bought for malicious purposes,” Collier said. “These accounts can have user data that can leave someone vulnerable to identity theft and other various cybercrimes.”
In the meantime, MFA is available for students to opt in, and any questions can be answered by the DormNet Help Desk at 501-279-4545.
“It’s not complicated and will only take a few minutes,” the email said. “DormNet is here to help you get it set up.”
‘Steeling the Show’ steals the show
Last week I was reminded of a great part of my childhood. I did not realize the influence Mario had on my life until the sweetest memories of my child were unearthed in the Searcy Cinema as I recognized references from games like Super Mario Galaxy, Luigi’s Mansion, Mario Kart and many more. I think we all need to feel like a kid again sometimes, and watching “The Super Mario Bros Movie” was the perfect remedy for me.
I was a little skeptical about the cast before I watched the movie. With Chris Pratt as Mario and Jack Black as Bowser, I pictured the movie being a little overpowered by their personalities. While there were definitely a few scenes where I thought, “Wow, this is such a Jack Black scene,” or “That sounded like a line Chris Pratt would say,” I think the actors are talented enough that it wasn’t too distracting. Many of the voice actors in the movie are so lovable anyway, that any scene where their personalities bled through was welcome.
Having Black play Bowser added a muchneeded layer of character development. Rather than seeing the basic scary villain with no feelings, the audience got to see Bowser in moments of vulnerability during his heartbreak over Princess Peach. The scene where Black sang his self-produced song “Peaches” made Bowser seem harmless, which I think is a good trait for an antagonist to have in a children’s movie.
According to YouTuber Charles Cornell, “Peaches by Jack Black is unironically good.”
Feeling like a kid again
In the comments section of a video he posted about the song, a few people pointed out that the song has a suspiciously similar chord progression to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.” Whether or not Black did this on purpose might forever be a mystery, but the thought that he might have Rick Rolled us all makes his casting as Bowser even more genius. The movie seemed to have a similar character setup as the recent “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,”with a strong female character, a brave but insecure male character and an airy supporting character. However, instead of a closed off, emotionally unavailable female lead, Princess Peach served as a supportive yet readily vulnerable character. I think it is safe to say that I have a new cartoon role model, and she happens to wear a poofy pink dress. I expected her character to be a walking cliche — the classic damsel in distress with no personality — but she had substance. Who can blame Mario for falling in love?
I have seen several movies based off of video games, so I know it takes talent to create a good storyline without getting too caught up in the irrelevant side quests or excessive inventory of power-ups. To be honest, I do not remember much of the plot because it was so predictable, and I am sure lots of people will complain about that. For me, however, part of the appeal of the Mario franchise is having a stress-free and predictable storyline — I think
that is why all of the games are so comforting. I think anything more than a basic plot would have been a crime to the Mario world.
The movie was a great sensory experience. Nothing compares to hearing familiar sound effects, seeing long-forgotten game maps, or being reminded of overused character phrases. All it took was hearing the old GameCube startup jingle as Luigi’s ringtone to remember how iconic the Mario franchise is. The movie was sprinkled with classic “WAH-HOO”s and “MAMMA MIA”s from Mario and Luigi as well as characteristic NPC (non-playable character) Toad phrases such as “Thank you Mario, but our princess is in another castle!”
The thought that was on my mind as I walked out of the theater is that no matter how different each Mario game is, every version of each character has the same backstory. Every version of Mario we have played is essentially the same man, which gives us so much room for our imaginations. Any time I play Super Mario Bros, I can think about the other parts of Mario’s life, like how he actually hates eating mushrooms. Or every time I play Mario Kart, I can have fun thinking about how my character is not stuck in an endless Grand Prix mode — she has a life outside of racing. Feeling like I know the lives of the characters in the Mario franchise makes me love it even more.
TIANE DAVIS is the sports editor for The Bison. She can be contacted at cdavis27@harding.edu.
Parking pains
The current parking arrangement for students at Harding needs to be updated with new rules and guidelines to accommodate the current number of students who drive and need to be able to get to their residence halls and classes.
The parking lots next to the dorms do not have enough spots for the students who live there. Residence halls — including Sears Hall, Allen Hall, Searcy Hall and especially Cathcart Hall — have limited spaces near the buildings. Many students must drive around and eventually pick parking spots several buildings away from where they live because all of the spots closest to the halls fill quickly. Residence halls like Shores Hall and Pryor Hall have bigger parking lots
to accommodate the students there, and even if they don’t get a spot in that specific place, they are close to other buildings like the Swaid Center for Health Sciences that consistently have open spots.
One way student parking needs to be updated is by allowing more times throughout the day when students can park in faculty spots and not get a ticket. The number of students in many buildings outnumber the faculty who need the parking spots. Many of the faculty spaces are never utilized, and they could be taken by students who need them more because they do not have the time to walk across campus to class. I also think it is not fair to give students who take a faculty parking spot a ticket anyway,
Student Writer Mattie PowersWelive in a world where almost everything within reach is digital. Technology has given us many advantages to life, from the internet to video calls with people across the world. However, along with the benefits, technology has also come with many disadvantages.
One of the many advantages of technology is the idea that everyone can stay connected with everyone, but I would argue the disadvantage is that technology actually makes us lonelier in the grand scheme of things.
First, I believe loneliness can develop when people get addicted to technology. Almost everyone uses technology in their everyday tasks, such as setting alarms, schoolwork, scheduling their week and more. However, people use it for more than these essential tasks. They play games, surf the internet, scroll through social media and watch videos.. This is fine, but it is a constant use of technology and has the capability of becoming a distraction from reality.
staff
Emma Jones editor-in-chief Sara Hook features/layout editor Sophie Rossitto news editorTo be or not to be
Iam an introvert. Many of my dearer friends know this, but a lot of them have only found out more recently as I’ve more often come straight back to the dorm and gone to bed. Especially in the past, and especially to people who observe me from afar, sometimes it was a shock to find out that talking to people really takes energy out of me. My roommate since freshman year has been instrumental for my mental health — we’ve roomed together for six semesters, and we’ve probably said less than 1,000 words to each other the whole time. It’s refreshing to know that once I’m in my room, I have no social obligations (until one of my residents locks himself out of his room).
It would actually be very fun for me to put in my AirPods, keep my head down and just keep walking forward throughout my day. I would certainly save a lot of my energy that way, but I know that is no way to live.
We talk of God as our avenue to existence, the trunk that gives us water to produce fruit. If this is the same God that 1 John says “is love,” then we know that for us to exist means to partake in and carry on this love.
To love is to be like our creator, and to exist is to be loved by our creator.
– Malachi Brown, opinions editorespecially if there was nothing else available at the time or if they did not occupy that space for very long.
Parking on campus has been a topic many students on campus have had an issue with for the past few years. The University needs to revise or come up with new ways they can accurately and comfortably accommodate the number of students who drive and need more parking options.
SOPHIE THIBODEAUX is a student writer for The Bison. She can be contacted at sthibodeaux@harding.edu.
The downside of technology
For example, someone may be sitting with a group of friends and instead of actually talking to them, that person is focused on their phone. While the person is there physically with friends, the individual is not really there perceptually. These kinds of situations can isolate people because this habit takes them away from what is truly occurring before them, and they are missing out because they are entranced by their devices.
Second, I believe technology can make people lonely through social media. Honestly, I think social media is a whole other can of worms, but it does fall under the technology category and needs to be addressed. Social media’s purpose is to share about one’s life, see what other people are posting and connect with people all over the world, but social media could also leave people feeling depressed, anxious and, dare I say, lonely. While it’s fun to share current events, see what others are doing or watch funny videos, sometimes — and I know that I
Tiane Davis sports editor Malachi Brown opinions editor Emma Weber community editoram definitely guilty of this — people just keep scrolling for hours when they could actually be out doing something. Even social media companies recognize the addiction that comes with their networks.
Take TikTok for an example. They have videos for users who are scrolling for too long that tell them to get some sleep or take a break. I feel like when the source of the problem is telling their own user to leave their platform and take a break, then it is truly problematic.
Do not get me wrong, I love technology as much as the next guy, and I do not plan on giving it up any time soon. However, it is important to recognize the dangers that come with technology’s use so that one can steer clear of them and use it wisely. So, yes, I do think technology makes people lonelier, but if used efficiently, then it can be a true asset to anyone.
MATTIE POWERS is a student writer for The Bison. She may be contacted at mpowers2@harding.edu.
Perhaps you’ve noticed what I have: People who pray, fast, study scripture and worship are more aware of their surroundings and of the brokenness around them. Yet, we often hold those who volunteer at food banks, donate to nonprofits, buy food for the unhoused or stay at the hospital with their friends in even higher esteem as someone who “gets it.” The command to love God is an invitation to exist, to feel the presence of sin all the more deeply, to be saddened or enraged by the incomplete state of creation. The command to love thy neighbor is an invitation to exist outside of yourself, to help heal sin where we can see it and to live as if we have already reentered the Garden of Eden.
I think Socrates was on to something when he said “to perceive is to suffer,” because the man who understood more than anyone else the sins of the world suffered as much as anyone could. To perceive is to partake in the suffering of Christ, to look at sin, to feel it in your body, your mind, your relationships and your words. We can only love as Christ did if we exist enough to feel what is wrong. We only experience the new creation by knowing the old one. We are only resurrected when we are crucified by our own sin.
Perhaps we should all take our AirPods out, give an awkward smile to the person we bump into on the stairwell and ask forgiveness from the person we insulted. Only when we look up and perceive can we know where our love is needed — and it happens to be needed everywhere. You’ve asked me all year long, “What’s good, Malachi?” and I’ll tell you. There are no things greater than to love and to exist. To love is to be like our creator, and to exist is to be loved by our creator.
MALACHI BROWN is the opinions editor for The Bison. He may be contacted at mbrown33@harding.edu.
Maggie Samples lifestyle editor Gabriel Huff head copy editor Cianna Jay asst. copy editor Ava Bramlett editorial assistant Balazs Balassa head photographer Macy Cox asst. photographer Gracie Cornett cartoonist Bonnie Spann business manager Theo Westbrook videographer Cooper Turman graphic designer Wagner Valdez asst. graphic designer Stacy Roibal beat reporter Emily Stinnett historian April Fatula faculty adviser Michael Claxton narrative columnistguest contributors
Spencer Aiello Caleb Chunn Nic Fraraccio Mattie Powers Bailey Ridenour Sophie Thibodeaux Abbey Williams Morgan WrigleyTen Thousand Words
JonesEditor-in-Chief Emma
Meeting my word count
After four long, wonderful, challenging, beneficial years, my time with The Bison is coming to an end.
I struggled deciding what to write about for my last column — do I write like normal and not acknowledge the closing of this chapter of my life, or the equivalent of a sappy graduation speech detailing what a wonderful Harding experience I had? I’m hoping to land somewhere in the middle here.
If I could tell 18-year old Emma that she ended up as the editor-in-chief of The Bison, I think she’d be surprised. I chose to major in journalism on a whim at the end of my senior year of high school because I liked reading and editing and it sounded interesting. I only joined the newspaper staff my freshman year after not getting in a club. I’ve worked an assortment of different positions on staff, some of them invented just for me to stay involved after the study abroad trip I was signed up for got canceled and moved three separate times.
Though my experience working for The Bison hasn’t been typical, I’ve been so grateful for the variety of positions I’ve been able to fill and the experiences I’ve had — not to mention the various Hardingfunded trips to journalism conferences across the country. Though I decided my major without giving much thought to it, I’ve truly found a passion for journalism, and I have The Bison to thank for that.
For my younger peers, my word of advice is to get involved. Your Harding experience is truly what you make it; there are many different ways to get plugged in around campus and the community, and taking advantage of those will make your experience here worthwhile and memorable. I hope for some of you, that involvement is with Student Publications; for the rest of you, I hope you continue looking forward to future editions of The Bison and the Petit Jean.
Now to the sappy acknowledgements of the people who made Harding worth it. You can skip this part, if you want, because it gets a little embarrassing after this.
To Joshua Milnes, my fiancè, thank you for your support the last four years and your confidence in my ability to serve in this position. I love you.
To Mrs. Fatula, our Student Publications adviser, I’m honored to call you both a mentor and a friend. Thank you for your constant encouragement.
To my Bison staff, especially to my head copy editor Gabriel Huff, it’s been a pleasure working with you all, and I can’t wait to see what you do in the future.
To Kayleigh Tritschler, my fellow editor-in-chief, thanks for being my travel buddy this year and for keeping me sane while dealing with deadlines. Shameless plug here to everyone else reading — pick up your yearbook next week! Kayleigh literally slayed, and also it’s free, so why wouldn’t you get one.
To the members of Knights and Pi Theta Phi, thank you for the support and endless laughs. GGK!
To Camille Smith, thank you for being the best roommate I could have asked for these past three years and for always doing my dishes.
To the Communications Department, thanks for teaching me everything I know.
To Dr. Williams and Dr. T, thanks for making my job easier when I had to write hard news stories. Great work this year.
And finally to my successor, Tiane Davis, you’re going to do wonderful. I’m already so proud of you and can’t wait to see what you do.
I may not have reached exactly ten thousand words this year, but I think I got pretty close.
XOXO, Madame Editor.
EMMA JONES is editor-inchief for
Evolution of the outcast
Student Writer Morgan Wrigley
In the words of Stephen Sondheim, “The outsider is basic to a lot of dramatic literature. This country is about conformity, and so nonconformity is a fairly common theme.” Sondheim was referring to the character type of loners, misfits and outcasts so often portrayed in literature.
From the vain, pompous Malvolio in Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” to the deformed and frightening Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera,” to the tortured, maniacal Joker in Todd Phillips’ 2019 film, outsider characters have taken the stage in plays, books and movies for thousands of years. I chose to do my senior research study on the evolution of these characters over time. As society changes, the perception of what makes a character an outsider changes with it. Studying this led me to ask two questions: What defines an outcast character, and how has that changed over time?
When exploring this topic and reviewing previous research, I found that in the early days of cinema, these misfit characters often reinforced shallow, negative stereotypes about people who did not fit into the societal norm. They were often portrayed as having a onedimensional personality, with their outcast status being their only defining characteristic. Failing to explore their backstory and
experiences limited the humanity of these characters and created mere caricatures. As society became more accepting of diversity, the cinematic portrayal of outcast characters began to evolve. Characters who were once viewed in a negative light became heroes, and their differences were celebrated rather than mocked. In the 1980s, movies like “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink” depicted teenage misfits who found strength in their individuality and stood up against the status quo.
In recent years, the portrayal of outcasts has continued to change. The focus has shifted from mental and physical differences among characters to other types of marginalization and standing up against oppression. For example, movies like “The Hate U Give” explore the experience of protagonists who face racial discrimination in their communities. Others such as “Call Me By Your Name” depict the struggles of gay teenagers coming of age in a homophobic society.
Ultimately, what defines an outcast or misfit character in film is not about their physical or mental characteristics as much as it is a reflection of societal expectations and norms. As the push to embrace diverse perspectives has continued, outcast characters are more often portrayed in a positive light with substantial backstories. The portrayal
Resurrection racket
In 2016, I went to see “Rogue One:
A Star Wars Story,” which is set in a time slightly before the original 1977 classic. The plot involves Rebel spies stealing plans for the Empire’s battle station. Remember Grand Moff Tarkin, the evil governor who wants to blow up Princess Leia’s home planet? He was played originally by veteran horror-movie actor Peter Cushing.
Cushing died in 1994. Imagine my surprise, then, when his avatar showed up in “Rogue One” to reprise the Imperial villain role. “How in the world,” I asked myself, “did they find a guy who looks exactly like him?” As it turned out, they didn’t. It was all CGI, with a voiceover supplying the dastardly British accent. The effect was eerie, to say the least.
I noticed later that the credits thanked “the estate of Peter Cushing.” Given that the film brought in $1.058 billion, I assume the estate got a hefty residual. And so began the debate over the ethics of recreating the dead onscreen. It’s hard enough for the children of bygone celebrities to decide whether dad would have wanted them to license those T-shirts and bobbleheads. But now they must choose what parts he would audition for beyond the grave.
But that quandary is child’s play compared to the latest AI outrage. A Korean company has now created a chatbot that can resurrect the dead.
For $10,000 or thereabouts, the company will come to your home and film you for several hours. The goal is to capture your voice, your speech patterns, your gestures and your mannerisms. Then, after you die, the company will create an artificially intelligent hologram that can speak with your family in your voice. It is being marketed as a source of comfort for the bereaved.
Columnist Michael Claxton
After the initial fee, I believe you pay extra for each viewing. Just like Redbox.
This, my friends, is a racket. As long as there has been grief, there have been swindlers trying to cash in on it. Back in the 1840s, a pair of sisters in upstate New York started pranking their parents. They discovered that they could secretly snap their toes together and blame the “raps” on ghosts. Kate and Maggie Fox did not intend to start a religion, but as reports grew of their alleged ability to contact the deceased, so did the movement they accidentally inspired.
Spiritualism was huge from the Victorian era through its peak after World War I, when grieving family members were anxious to have one final word from a son killed at Gallipoli. Seances, levitations, automatic writing, spirit manifestations and other flapdoodles swept the world. Gullible clients often paid through the nose to sit in a dark room and be duped by con artists who pretended to be in sync with the dead. Professional magicians like Harry Houdini were incensed and labored to expose rampant séance fraud.
Then as now, manipulating sad people is a rotten way to make a buck.
Set aside how creepy this new AI horror show is. No chatbot, no matter how good, can authentically recreate a person. If it filmed our beloved Great Aunt Vera for weeks, it couldn’t capture everything she knows or prepare her hologram to answer any question her relatives want to pose. If
of these characters in films over time also speaks to the goals of society. In a time when the goal was to silence voices that did not conform to the status quo, characters who stood out from the vast majority in different ways were portrayed as shallow and unpleasant, sending a message that it’s wrong to be different. In a time when diversity is more and more widely accepted and celebrated, outcast characters take the spotlight as empowered protagonists who inspire others.
we want her to tell the story she hadn’t told in years — about the time she and four of her sisters were riding on the back of a horse and all fell into the lake when the horse stopped for a drink — will she be able to? Of course not. Will the hologram make up a fake story? Probably.
Consider the opportunities for fraud or spite. With a slight tweak in the programming, we can get a late relative’s hologram to announce he’s changing the will. Or to say something vicious to the cousin we don’t like. Or to confess to something he never did.
At the very least, a glitch in the system — there are always glitches in the system — could have the dearly departed behave in a way that confuses, bewilders or upsets her loved ones.
Life teaches us many things. One is that death is inevitable. We ache, we mourn, we grieve and yet we continue living. We must move on. Now, AI allows us to circumvent another crucial stage of human growth. Why seek closure and learn to let go, when we can pop in a $10,000 DVD and simulate one more chat with our old friend?
When it works as it should, life teaches us how to respond maturely to what happens. Are the folks who create our technologies on board with that plan?
Last week marked 12 years since my father died. I think about him every day. I would dearly love to see him again, to hear his laugh, to hold his large, warm hand. But I am confident that, someday, I will. And I can wait.
I look forward to telling him how much money I saved. He’ll love that.
MICHAEL CLAXTON is the narrative columnist for The Bison. He can be contacted at mclaxto1@harding.edu.
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 Emma Jones, the editor-in-chief, at ejones19@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.
Coach Reeves celebrates 100 wins
NIC FRARACCIO guest writerThe Harding softball team has continued to win games, earn awards and make history throughout the 2023 season.
The Lady Bisons are currently tied for second place in the conference standings with a conference record of 20-7. The players and coaching staff have continued to provide memorable moments during this historic season.
Lady Bisons head coach Ashley Reeves earned her 100th career win as a head coach after the 3-0 victory against Ouachita Baptist University April 7. Reeves began her collegiate coaching career at Abilene Christian University in 2011. Before coaching in Abilene, Reeves coached the Harding Academy softball team for three seasons.
Assistant coach Chris Wiman said Reeves tries to communicate self-confidence and competitiveness when coaching the Lady Bisons.
“When these girls leave softball, they’re going to understand that you’ve got to compete in everything you do,” Wiman said.
As Reeves and the Lady Bisons racked up wins, sophomore outfielder Macy Smith contributed to the team’s success by leading the team in batting average and sitting in second for fielding percentage.
Smith said it was a special moment to be a part of Reeves’ 100th career win but
expects more success to come as the season concludes.
“Getting to be a part of her 100th win is a big deal,” Smith said. “We’ve broken a lot of records this year, and I think we’re looking forward to breaking a lot more.”
Junior Abby Burch also made school history on Tuesday against Christian Brothers. Burch broke the all-time school record for career saves after recording her 23rd career save against the Buccaneers. Burch surpassed Emma Dwyer’s record of 22 saves during her four-year career as a Lady Bison.
Burch said she loves being able to close games for the Lady Bisons and is motivated to pitch well as the season concludes.
“It’s motivating me to do better and continuously get wins for my team,” Burch said.
The Lady Bisons have also gained attention from the Great American Conference (GAC) committee.
Sophomore pitcher Riley Price was named GAC Pitcher of the Week in three consecutive weeks. Price joined the Lady Bisons in the fall after transferring from University of Texas at Tyler.
Price has thrown eight complete games during her first season as a Lady Bison. Price also leads the team in wins and strikeouts during the 2023 season.
Harding will continue conference play today as they travel to Ada, Oklahoma, to face the East Central University Tigers.
Jones jumps 7 feet, breaks 47-year-old high jump
Amid a record-breaking season for the Harding track and field team, sophomore Antiwain Jones became the first Harding student to clear 7 feet outdoors in the high jump earlier this month at the Harding Open, breaking a 47-year-old record.
Jones woke up April 6 hoping he would set a new high jump record that day. Before the track meet commenced, he had the opportunity to talk with event official Steve Celsor, the man responsible for setting the record at 6 feet, 11 inches in 1976. His daughter Kristen Celsor currently holds the high jump record for the women’s team at 5 feet, 8 inches, set in 2013, according to her father.
“I talked to him a little bit before the meet, and he was like, ‘Will today be the day?’” Jones said. “And it ended up being the day.”
Jones first cleared 2.16 meters to top his personal best, but his teammates were not satisfied. They encouraged him to go for 2.18 (7 feet, 1.75 inches), the record. He only received three attempts, missing the first two.
“And then my last jump, I cleared it, and it was really exciting,” Jones said.
Celsor said he was the first person to meet Jones to give him a hug.
“It was pretty cool,” Celsor, who graduated from the University in 1977 with a degree in nursing, said. “And he’s got a lot left. I think he can break his own record. I think he’s talented enough to do that.”
record
The following week, Jones was named the Great American Conference (GAC) Men’s Field Athlete of the Week. His efforts established a conference record and ranked him second in the NCAA Division II this season, according to the Harding Sports Network.
Assistant track and field coach Odaine Lewis recognized the challenges Jones faced as the only male high jumper on the team to obtain his current status.
“It’s kind of hard for him going up there each and every day, training by himself, because he’s a lone high jumper,” Lewis said. Lewis, who began his role last fall, said he believes Jones has more to accomplish.
“I think Antiwain has the potential to be a national champion,” Lewis said. “Right now I think he’s on the pace of breaking the school record again.”
Senior teammate Dakarai Bush said he knew Jones was going to break the record.
“He’s a great guy, and I hope to see him at nationals, and I hope he wins,” Bush said.
According to the United States Track and Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association, Harding men’s outdoor track and field currently ranks 11th in the NCAA Division II national rankings. The GAC Championship is set for May 4-6. Jones has his next target in sight.
“To get All-American at nationals,” Jones said.
Bison tennis teams celebrate graduating seniors
TIANE DAVIS sports editor
As the tennis season ends, the men’s and women’s tennis teams are preparing for their six senior players to graduate and move on. To celebrate these graduates, head coach David Redding brought the seniors on the court after their April 11 game. Seniors presented parting speeches about their time on the team and at Harding, and family and friends were given the opportunity to attend the closing ceremony.
Redding said the end of the season is always difficult because each player has left an impact on the team. The men’s team is losing two seniors: Milosh Petrovic, one of the top six players, and Ricardo Rodrigues, the assistant coach for the women’s team last year and for the men’s team this year. The four graduating seniors from the women’s team are all part of the top six players. Redding said this will leave the teams with a void that will need to be filled, but he is excited about the future.
“It’s always tough to say goodbye to players that you’ve become close to over the last four years, but at the same time, I’m excited about the type of people they are and what they’re going to accomplish out in the world,”
Redding said. “And so it’ll be great to see what they can do after they leave here.”
Senior Ashley Nilsson said preparing to graduate has been a bittersweet experience for her because of the memories and relationships formed from her time on the team. She said
she has been most proud of seeing the other players on the team finding determination in tough situations, both on the court and in their personal struggles.
“Watching the girls, when they’re in really tough situations, just being able to stick it
out … I think it’s really cool to see,” Nilsson said. “So I’m really proud of them and their determination in every area.”
After her experience as a junior player in Canada, where tennis was an individual sport, she has learned in her time at Harding how to work with a team to create a strong dynamic.
“Everything you do in practice every day, working towards the greater good of the team — like every decision, every team dinner that we have — it’s all to build us together because we can’t win unless everybody on the team is rooting for each other,” Nilsson said.
Senior Lina Romero said she has learned a lot from being a collegiate athlete.
“College tennis taught me how to care about every single person’s opinion and helped me to understand that every single person in this world deserves an opportunity,” Romero said. “My collegiate tennis career is a chapter that is about to close, and I am very sad to say that it is over. In saying that, I am happy because the opportunity and experience happened and I learned so much from it.”
The men’s team will end their season competing in the MIAA Tournament this weekend. The women’s team will play their final game of the season today at 2 p.m. against Henderson State University in Bentonville, Arkansas.
New 7 Brew opens on Race Avenue
A new 7 Brew officially opened to the public April 17, bringing its coffee, sodas and energy drinks to the Searcy community.
7 Brew, located on 2843 E. Race Ave. where Nova Joe’s coffee shop resided before closing last September, is a drive-thru coffee company that boasts more than 20,000 unique drink combinations. Founded in Rogers, Arkansas, 7 Brew now has 71 franchise locations across the country.
The new Searcy location also featured “community hours”throughout the week, when any customer could receive a
free small drink. The last community hours will be today from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m.
Junior Brenley Colbert is a Northwest Arkansas native and has been around 7 Brew since its creation in 2017.
“I think what gives them the upper edge is the fact that they have so many different types of drinks,” Colbert said. “So I always get the energy drinks. And I can’t get that at a Starbucks or Einsteins or something like that. And so while it’s kind of harder because i t’s not on campus, it’s kind of worth the trip if you want a fun drink.”
In addition to bringing a new menu and experience to Searcy, 7 Brew is also being managed by a recent Harding alumnus: Dylan Johnston.
After graduating in 2022 and joining the “Brew Crew” this past fall, Johnston was named manager for the new Searcy coffee shop.
“I had to work in Little Rock starting November last year, so I’ve been working there for a few months — just every day driving to Little Rock,” Johnston said. “I became a certified trainer, and so I’ve helped open three stands in Little Rock. So they’re like, ‘Here, now it’s time for Searcy,’
and they offered me the Searcy location.”
Prior to his job with 7 Brew, Johnston managed the Searcy Nova Joe’s and had the opportunity to work with several other Harding students like sophomore J.P. Gumm.
“I just like [Johnston] as a co-worker, and I like him as a person,” Gumm said. “It felt like he cared about each individual person but also the company, too. So it was just a good influence to look up to.”
7 Brew has also hired 60 employees as this particular stand is the first ever retrofitted stand, and it is over double the size of any of their other 71 locations.
“Saturday Morning Scramble” aims to fundraise money
MATTIE POWERS student writerThe Searcy Lions Club is hosting “Saturday Morning Scramble” Saturday, April 29, at First Baptist Church in Searcy, inviting the community to a time of fellowship to raise money for those the organization serves.
Founded in 1947, the Searcy Lions Club organization works to provide the community with eye examinations and eyeglasses. Along with this, the club also offers training and other resources for individuals who have lost eyesight.
One of the Searcy Lions Club’s members is Cliff Ganus, retired distinguished professor of music from Harding University.
“Once we had over a hundred members, now it’s down to a dozen or so who are very active,” Ganus said. “Our primary purpose is eye care, and each month we’ll assist maybe eight people to have eye exams or glasses as they need them, so we raise money for that.”
This Saturday Morning Scramble breakfast will provide breakfast to anyone who buys a ticket, and people can come and go as they please within the allotted time slot of
“I used to work over at Lowry Eye Clinic, so I’m really familiar with eye care and everything,” Heaton said. “Yeah, it’s just something that I’ve been passionate
and accreditation in the College of Pharmacy, is another member of the Searcy Lions Club. Hixson-Wallace described how the Saturday Morning Scramble is beneficial to the club.
“It is one of our main fundraisers for the year, and all of the funds that we raise go directly towards buying more eye exams and glasses for those in our community who need that,” Hixson-Wallace said.
She added that the organization has struggled with fundraising since COVID-19 occurred because events involving food service were not able to be executed.
“We are operating kind of close to the deficit,” Hixson-Wallace said. “And so we’re really hoping to raise a lot of funds so we can continue providing the eye exams and glasses for those in our community who need them.”
The Saturday Morning Scramble will be from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Tickets can be bought for $5 at the door, and children under 6 years old can eat free with an adult meal.
Test your news knowledge
DOWN
ACROSS
7.
12.
1. A panel from Arkansas Business Publishing group spoke during a conference on campus last week about ______ media.
2. Head softball coach Ashley Reeves began her college coaching career at which Christian university?
4. Students can contact the _____ Help Desk for assistance with setting up the multi-factor authentication system for their accounts.
5. The show “Living Color” donated to which charity?
8. Provost Marty Spears announced that students have three new options for accelerated minors on campus: counseling, ______, and leadership and innovation.
10. Where does the new SA motto offer to give everyone a place at?
SA president, vice president elected
Juniors Ella Duryea and Luke Ziegler won the majority of the student body’s vote last week, becoming next year’s new Student Association (SA) president and vice president, as announced on April 13 in chapel.
Duryea, a communication sciences and disorders major, said she wants to work toward positive change within Harding.
“I think the SA is a really special thing, especially in the place we’re at right now in administration,” Duryea said. “It’s like we’re on the same page as them, and we’ve got a lot of momentum. I think somebody needed to step in who really cares about this place, and I really care about this place, to continue that momentum and work with them toward positive change.They’re doing really great things already, and they just need someone to partner with them and represent the students well.”
Duryea said many of her initiatives are geared toward helping students feel included and providing resources they need to thrive.
“I am excited because I feel like everything students bring to me, I’m gonna take it to heart and listen to it well and try to make this place the best it can be for everyone,” Duryea said.
Ziegler, a history major, said he wants to make sure students feel like their voices are heard.
“Something I’m really committed to is the culture and traditions of Harding and [to] serve Harding’s legacy in its 100th year but also to advocate for the change necessary for the students,” Ziegler said. “I really want to continue the SA theme for next year, which is ‘At The Table.’ I want to make sure every student feels like they have a space at the table and that their voice can be heard.”
Ziegler said he is also advocating for more transparency between administration and students, adding that students know little about Harding’s board.
“I think that the board is reasonable and have students’ best interest at heart, but we don’t know anything about them,” Ziegler said. “They make such important decisions about our lives and the state of the University that affect our lives and the future so much. I’m not trying to change any of that, and I think they’re doing a great job, and I support them, but I would like to know who’s making the decisions — more about their lives and stories and the rationale behind the decisions.”
Duryea said her campaign, “‘At The Table,”’ was inspired by a family tradition.
“Something special I got to enjoy throughout my whole childhood was that my family ate dinner together every single night,” Duryea said. “Some days we would have our best stories, and some days I would be crying my eyes out, and some days we wouldn’t say anything at all. It’s like we lived our whole lives; the whole range of human emotions can be seen by us sitting around the table.”
Duryea added that she wants students to feel that they can experience life together.
“I want to experience all the good parts and the bad parts of life with you all, and I want everyone to feel like there’s space to do that together,” Duryea said.
Logan Light, assistant dean of Campus Life and chapel programs, said he enjoys working with the SA and other student organizations, helping to incorporate them into chapel. He added that he loves creating with self-motivated students.
“I really like Ella,” Light said. “I like her theme for the year. It’s something that I’ve heard Dr. [Mike] Williams share in his vision, and I think she embodies this genuineness and generosity about herself, and I’m really excited for what the student body can experience through her this year.”
Harding sports producer set to retire at end of semester
Tim Hamilton, assistant professor of communication, announced his retirement from teaching and media production this semester after more than 30 years in the TV industry.
His career started and took place mostly at KATV 7 in Little Rock, Arkansas. He covered the presidential race of former president Bill Clinton. Hamilton was assigned to follow Clinton as the race progressed, and he got to visit many different places around the country. During his time at KATV, Hamilton met many famous individuals, including former governors, presidents and athletes.
In 2011, Hamilton decided he would return to work at the school he graduated from, Harding University. He started as an adjunct professor and main producer for the sports production on campus, later becoming an assistant professor in the Communication Department, while still running the sports production on HU16.
Working with many students over that time has taught both Hamilton and his students many different things about themselves.
Senior Collin Slatton is a student who works with Hamilton on sports productions and said that before working with him, he didn’t know what he wanted to do for a career.
“Tim bringing me onto the broadcast crew helped me to find myself,” Slatton
said. “Before I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my life, but now I have comfort in having somewhat set a path.”
Mark Prior, the current chief engineer at HU16, has worked with Hamilton since he first came to Harding and said he is a great coworker and great toward the students.
“One of the best things about working with Tim is seeing how he deals with students and coworkers on a daily basis,” Prior said. “He models the fruit of the spirit every day dealing with everyone.”
Hamilton has won many awards in his career as a videographer, most recently being inducted into the Silver Circle of the MidAmerica Emmys. This award is for people who have devoted 25 years or more to the television industry and have made a significant contribution to broadcasting in their community. Hamilton said he was surprised when he received the notification that he was being inducted.
“When I got the call about being inducted into that Silver Circle, I was stunned,” Hamilton said. “Because when you really think about broadcasting, that’s kind of the Hall of Fame.”
As Hamilton is retiring, he said he wanted to leave students with a word of advice.
“Say yes to opportunities when they come your way,” Hamilton said. “That allowed me to experience a lot of great stories and great assignments.”
Acting major lands apprenticeship in Atlanta
Senior acting major Asher Patten said he has never reached a specific point in his life at which he knew he wanted to be a professional singer or actor.
However, his sister, sophomore Sienna Patten, said her brother has always shown a natural musicality that extends beyond the stage into his everyday life.
“He thinks in music,” she said. “He is always thinking of tunes, humming tunes.”
Patten’s theatre credits at Harding have included starring roles in the Homecoming productions of “Elf: The Musical” and “Cinderella,” as well as back-to-back stints as Spring Sing host in 2022 and 2023. Patten
said his natural gifts have pointed him toward a passion for acting and performing.
“When I am doing those things and doing what I love and decorating myself and other people and uplifting a group in what I’m good at and what the Lord has given me, then that’s when I feel most like me and most like I’m doing good work,” Patten said.
Patten accepted an offer last month to work as a performance apprentice at the Aurora Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, starting this summer. The company’s website said its apprenticeships help participants bridge the gap between education and professional theater through workshops, understudy roles and more. Patten said the 11-month position will give him chances to perform onstage during the season and learn under professional actors and actresses.
Patten said he got this opportunity by auditioning in early March at the Southeastern Theatre Conference, which the Harding theatre department takes students to each year. Patten said he had 60 seconds to sing and give a monologue in front of representatives from at least 40 companies. Afterward, Patten visited interested groups and did an interview with the Aurora Theatre’s casting director. He later sent the company additional audition materials.
Patten said he felt relieved and excited when he got the offer. Although he received other offers, Patten said he chose the Aurora program because of its location in a bustling city and the good impressions he had of the company during the hiring process.
Dr. Susan Shirel, chorus director and music professor, said Patten has taken voice lessons
with her since fall of 2020. She said Patten is very teachable and focused on the goals he wants to accomplish, and she is excited for him to continue to grow during the apprenticeship.
“I think that it’s a great next step for him,” Shirel said. “He’s fully equipped and prepared to take on this next level of work.”
Patten said he is not sure where his career will take him, but he would like to keep performing in some way after his apprenticeship ends.
Sienna Patten said she thinks this new position will be a good fit for her brother. However, she said the two are very close, so it is bittersweet that he is going far away for a long period of time.
“He is my dearest friend,” she said. “I’m very proud of him.”
Theta holds third annual concert
The third installment of Sketa, a concert hosted by the men’s social club Theta, took place Friday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. in Citizens Park.
The concert was priced at $10 with a wristband entry that students could pick up in the Hammond Student Center throughout the two weeks prior to the event. The concert opened with the Nippleless Cage band, which consists of Theta members freshmen Russell
Leach, John Gamble and Silas Wood, and sophomores Reese Lane, Luke Bensinger and Eric Rice.
The concert featured the Avon Park band, who had also performed the previous year at Sketa.
Freshman Theta member Benjamin Shappard helped to sell the wristbands in the Student Center in the two weeks leading up to the concert.
“We take in all different types of people, and it’s a place where we can all just come together and have fun,” Shappard said.
The turnout was much better than the expected 100-150 people, Shappard said. Hearing the stories about the first Sketa from April 2021 as an unsanctioned event, Shappard and others were looking forward to a relaxed, fun concert.
Junior Theta member Gabriel Mahon compared the first unsanctioned Sketa to last week’s event.
“The first year was just completely chaotic,” Mahon said. “There was no control anywhere. Now we at least have organized the chaos. … I enjoyed it a lot because Theta is a group of
guys that can put something together where everyone’s just going to have fun. It allows you to be wild and let out that energy that may have been pent up for a week.”
Sophomore Emma McDaris said she really enjoyed her first experience at a Sketa concert.
“I thought that the combination of a beautiful night and some really great bands that played some covers that I knew really amplified the night,” McDaris said.
Spring Sing participants recover from injuries
MORGAN WRIGLEY student writer
In the aftermath of Spring Sing, the directors and performers involved in the “Living Color” show reflected on how they worked together to persevere through some particularly turbulent times during the week of the show.
Spring Sing week brings an intense schedule for many students, and “Living Color,” the show that included women’s social clubs Delta Gamma Rho and Pi Kappa Delta and men’s social club Omega Phi experienced some unprecedented challenges right off the bat.
“We had two cast members get injured on Super Saturday, one who went to the ER and one who was able to perform for the shows, but he marked his choreography up until Thursday,” said “Living Color” director sophomore Aubrey Jones.
Jones said there were at least four other injuries that happened over the course of the
week. The only other one that resulted in an emergency room visit happened when a cast member dislocated her knee during the Thursday matinee performance.
“I said something kind of jokingly about not getting hurt, as like a real ‘Please don’t get hurt,’ but kind of as an off-handed thing before the show Thursday night,” Jones said. “And then for Saturday’s shows, we were very adamant that our cast continued to drink water and to stretch. We stretched a lot extra before Saturday shows because we were all tired of the directors having to come out of the audience and say, ‘Who got hurt this time?’”
Freshman Reagan Marks, who was carried offstage and taken to the
emergency room after dislocating her knee during the Thursday matinee performance, said the damage resulted from a previous knee injury.
“To not be able to perform and do the big shows that were actually for points was really heartbreaking,” Marks said. “One of my directors went in for me because she had learned all the choreography, so she just took my costume and ran with it.”
Marks said the cast joked that the show was “cursed” due to the injuries that kept happening.
Jones added that the injuries seemed to be a combination of preexisting conditions and unfortunate timing.
“Each individual injury had a logical explanation,” Jones said. “As a show, we weren’t doing anything wrong. Each individual
injury could have happened to anybody, to any show. It was just really unfortunate that it kept happening to us.”
One of the “Living Color” choreographers, junior Eli Smith, emphasized that everyone involved in the show effectively made sure all of the performers were taken care of. “Freak accidents happen, and you just manage that,” Smith said. “And I think it was handled very well.”
Jones said everyone who suffered injuries during the performances is recovering well, and the cast was thankful to persevere through both shows on Saturday with no further injuries.
Despite the unforeseen challenges, the cast of “Living Color” finished strong Saturday night and took home the title of second runner-up and an $800 donation to their charity, Jacob’s Place.
‘Grungeon’ residents to host yard sale, spring market
Members of men’s social club TNT will hold a yard sale and spring market tomorrow at their East Market Avenue home called the Grungeon. The yard sale is scheduled from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., with the spring market occurring from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
In summer 2019, a group of seniors from TNT found the house and began renting it, not realizing that four years later the house would still be occupied by TNT affiliated residents. Because of the vault located in the basement and the ‘grunginess’ of the house, they named it the Grungeon.
Senior AJ Hudkins moved into the Grungeon in July 2022 after the previous group of seniors graduated and moved out of the house. Currently, seven men live there, but over the years Hudkins said there were always between five and seven men living in the Grungeon. Current residents also include seniors Ryan Simpson, David Martinez, Bo Webb, Wilson Parker, Davis Cofer and Watkins Kelly.
“Our landlord is not renting it out to people next school year, and she is possibly planning on tearing it down,” Hudkins said. “Over the last four years, the house has accumulated lots of different home items that have been passed down, and now we have to get rid of it all.”
According to Kelly, a sign appeared in the yard of the Grungeon on April 18 notifying
the house members of a public hearing for the property.
“I think basically they are having a hearing about it but the plan is to tear it down and put townhomes or apartments on that lot,” Kelly said.
Hudkins said the event is more than just a yard sale. It’s a farewell party for the house.
“The Grungeon over the last four years has been more than just a house for people,” Hudkins said. “It has been a community space for literally anyone to come by to hangout and fellowship. So, we dubbed it the spring market so people can come out and hang out there for one last time. Also, several of our friends will be vendors and will be selling different kinds of food and plants.”
The event will host Honey Bee Bakery, Davis Eats, Claire-a-bon, Four Friends Pottery Studio and Bailey’s Bread. Hudkins said all of the vendors are people who are friends with or connected with someone who lives there.
“I was familiar with the Grungeon before the spring market through connections of friends,” junior Bailey Hammond, founder of Bailey’s Bread, said. “When I was asked to be a vendor at their garage sale, I felt honored and was excited at their idea. It was expressed that they want their sale to be an event for everyone in the community. … Just excited to share some bread with people.”
