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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 ‘IRemembering want to beNever able Never forget forget the life of Mike James search update Presidential their and tell Beloved professor, mentorstories’ and friend

Photo courtesy of HARDING UNIVERSITY

Photo courtesy of HARDING UNIVERSITY

STAFF NOTE

Dr. Mike James died on Saturday, Oct. 9, at age 75. Dr. J was a Photo from

by MADISON MEYER professor at Harding for 47 years. After graduating Harding Photo by MADISON MEYER Dr. Jack Shock, distinguished professor of communication, and Dr. Ginger Blackstone, associate professor Dr. Jack Shock, distinguished professorCollege of communication, and Dr. on Ginger Blackstone, associate professor of of in 1973, he went to serve as campus photographer, 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 distinguished of communication, co-founder of the students. Students and faculty visited the 9/11 memorialprofessor 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.

Harding TV station, chairman the Department of Communication, Junior Emily Stinnett was a student on Blackstone worked as a producer for CNN “My job was to bring the storyof out,” Photo

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

by JEFF MONTGOMERY 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.

HARDING UNIVERSITY EVERETT KIRKMAN dean of the College of Communication and dean of the Honors Photo courtesy of presidential Charles Ganus, head of the Harding 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 HARDING UNIVERSITY editor-in-chief the board of trustees, leave the American Heritage building Sept.

10. Beth (Mama it. A shorter version of her work, specifically team haveB) since received an Emmy Even national correspondents College.

Dr. NBC, Jnews andABC his wife were directors at Award for“ There’s their reporting work over the course of Solomon, from outlets like and CNN Eleven honors communication students University focused on theofreflection of students, chair the Lipscomb Board of a number of good things president.

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

This marked the firstas from Harding University Greece (HUG) 2010 until 2015. served KIRKMAN shown in chapel Friday, Sept.

10.of the 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,” outside executive was editor-in-chief Her project documented the visit to the learned about the terrorists’ motives and the the National Guard patrolled what was an members traveled to New York City from time as a sponser for Chi Sigma Alpha social club and led a weekly 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 in mission real time. ongoing investigation.

Journalists often new Sept.

8-12 Charles to observe the 20th York College, “We are conducting a nationwide search Alumnus Ganus, boardanniversary member Wednesday night Bible for overcontinuing 20response years.the U.S.president government’s response in mission real time.of investigation.

Journalists would oftenstudy Sept.

8-12 Charles to observe the 20th memorial, as wella school as visitsalso to affiliated St. Paul’s YorkTrinity College, school affiliated new continuing the 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 aDr. president that will lead Harding and chairman of 2001, the presidential search For Blackstone, Sept.

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

11, terrorist attacks on chapel, Trinity Church and the Engine 54, J was full a to contagious joyHarding and excitement.

He invited with the Churches9of Christ,on announced — continuing for itplane to be the Ladder for a president thatof will lead Harding andthe chairman of the Center presidential search 4, Battalion firehouse 8th Ave. day off.

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

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

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

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

Each on process the tripisfulfilled his home as old said friends, and he treated histhe 2020. Dr.Manhattan.

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

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

Dr. Samuel A. Smith, an alumnus from Engine has Co.served 54 went to the World herOther two cell phones, landline and BlackBerry “At that moment, that firefighter became contract on ahe topic related to 9/11, in February. like“We family.

Hisfirefighter loss felt in the Searcy community and in the the college, as president since colleges also affiliated with the of are searching for is a mature is honors now over.

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

He said and other board inmy February.

“We aresaid. searching for a to mature of the Center college, as2001, president since on Sept.

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

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

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

11, 2001, and none communities he part of worldwide.

Christ recently gone Christ who is led members were grateful for the time and member July 6, 2020, after spending years — the most men lostnearly from a20single learning ofofthe events,have she was advised to returned ensure of hethe hadchurch a safeof experience that did Churches felt worldwide. a variety Lipscomb.

Smith’s through presidential transitions. the word of God and the Holythat Spirit, effort every committee member put into byensure learning of the James events, she was advised to inreturned he had a safe experience did felt worldwide.

—of theroles mostatmen lost from a single Photo courtesy of Memorials may be made to the Mike and Beth Scholarship through presidential transitions. effortThe 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 group visited the Sept.

11 Memorial UNIVERSITY Photo of will that takeHARDING placeThe today.

Onhome Aug.and 5, Lipscomb in inauguration narrowing the visited searchthe for the courtesy University’s committed the that spread the gospel of a stay rest up forUniversity the work that not exploittohim, didof not put him in The group Sept.

11 Memorial engine company day. firefighters shared their stories with the would ensue in Lipscomb days and weeks to come.in there zone that would be unhealthy him, and and Museum at ground zero on Thursday, committed On Aug. 5, University to the spread of theforgospel of narrowing the search for the University’s inauguration willpersonal take place today.

HARDING UNIVERSITY Fund at Harding University, BoxNashville, 12238, Searcy, ARannounced 72149.

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

Museum at ground zero on Thursday, Christ there sharedhas their personal stories to with also toand accompany to and throughthe the Sept.

9. While there, Dr. Jack Shock, Christ focused him on strengthening next president. in its pursuit excellence in On Oct. 30, 2020, the retirement of Dr. University also to accompany him toofand through the Sept.

9. While there, Dr. Jack Shock, interview.” distinguished professor of communication, inis itsno pursuit of excellence in On Oct. 30, 2020, the retirement of Dr. University There ‘was’ with Bruce McLarty as University president was higher education.” interview.” distinguished professor of communication, Shock described the many interviews wasMcLarty interviewed by multiple news outlets higher education.”

Bruce as University president was announced to the Harding community via Two weeks after He this announcement, Mike James. on.

Shock described thelives many interviews was interviewed by multiple news heweeks took part in, where he stood directly about histo experiences at ground zerooutlets invia the that announced the Harding community Two after this announcement, Harding constituents received an directly email anabout emailhis from Board of Trustees Chairman that he took part in, where he stood experiences at ground zero in the behind the camera andreceived the interviewer, weeks following the attacks.Chairman Shock was Harding Generosity and goodness constituents an emailas an email from Board of Trustees from thethe presidential search committee, Dr. Robert Walker the on behalf of Shock the entire behind camera and the interviewer, as weeks following attacks. was a presence of familiarity. called to Walker New York by a former student, from the presidential search committee, Dr. Robert on behalf of the entire are not subject to death. input for future presidential board.

On Feb. 10, Walker announced the requesting a presence of familiarity. called to New York by a former student, “I couldinput stop the if I saw him Darren national marketing officer forinterview future presidential board.

On Irby, Feb. 10, Walker announced theof requesting candidates.

The survey included formation of a presidential search committee “I could stop the interview ifquestions I with saw him Darren Irby, national marketing officer ofThank you, Mike, for being the in distress, and I made that clear the the American Red Cross, to assist with Red formation of a presidential search committee candidates.

The survey included questions regarding characteristics and qualities inthe a campus-wide email.

The committee in distress, and I made that clear with the American Red Cross, to assist with Red reporter,” Shock said.

“The number one Cross media relations. regarding characteristics and qualities in a campus-wide email.

Thethree committee of both toand me and soone included seven board members, Harding conduit students, alumni, faculty staff considered reporter,” Shock said.

“The number Cross media relations. issue here is the safety of Seated the same spot in the Harding New York students, alumni, faculty andand staffwellbeing considered included seveninboard members, three most important forsafety a president and time. whatof“ faculty members three alumni. issue heremany isespecially the and wellbeing Seated in theand same spotHarding in the New York others. the subject, at this brutal Marriott Marquis where he met with the important for a president what “ faculty members and three Harding alumni. challenges theespecially president should beand prepared Upon the announcement of met theSeptember search theDr. subject, at this brutal time.

Marriott Marquis he with the most rest of hisannouncement team eachwhere morning in Ginger Blackstone, associate professor Upon the of the search challenges the president should be prepared We will pass it on. toofaddress. committee, Walker also announced the Dr. Ginger Blackstone, professor rest of his team eachthe morning in September communication, was associate beside Shock in 2001, Shock told students of hisof two to Photo courtesy address. committee, Walker alsostudents announced the In the meantime, Ganus said he felt blessedin appointment of an executive search firm, of communication, was beside Shock 2001, Shock told the of his two – Mark Moore HARDING UNIVERSITY the seating area, sharing with the students. weeks at ground zero with the Red Cross.

In the meantime, Ganus said hethe feltstudents. blessed appointment of to anzero executive search Dr. David Burks’ interim CarterBaldwin, aid the search for afirm, new bythe weeks at ground with the Red Cross. seating area, sharing withpresidency. alumnus CarterBaldwin, to aid the search for a new by Dr. David Burks’ interim presidency.

“All of the Turner networks, allthe of Nashville, Tennessee, announced appointment the university ’s 18th “All of theofTurner networks, all of them — even like TBS — they were appointment of TNT, the university ’s 18th president Dr.like Candice former them —— even TNT,McQueen, TBS — they were all simulcasting CNN, including CNN president — Dr. Candice McQueen, former Tennessee commissioner of education and all simulcasting CNN, including CNN International,” Blackstone said.

“The Tennessee commissioner of education and Dr. James’ imprint onthinking former dean of Blackstone the university’s department International,” “The thinking was, there’s no point in ussaid. clamoring over former dean of the university’s department ofwas, education.

McQueen was the first female there’s nonow, usneed clamoring over Harding ispoint everywhere... right we in just centralize ofresources education.

McQueen was theto first female president hired in the Church ofcentralize Christ resources right now, we just need to theand message.” president hireddecades inhistory. the Church of Christ two after I school’s 130-year theBlackstone message.” said the channel stopped school’s 130-year history.

“IBlackstone am confident that vision, deep said the her channel stopped graduated, it was Dr. James running breaks for two full weeks.

“I amcommercial confident that her vision, deep expertise, passion forbreaks faith-based education running commercial for two full weeks.

“You just had tofor gofaith-based on feeling,” Blackstone who brought me back to expertise, passion education and love forwas Lipscomb lead usNothing boldly just hadno torulebook go onwill feeling,” Blackstone said.“You “There for this. and love for Lipscomb will lead usNothing boldly continue the TV legacy he into a new season of greatness, exemplified said.

“There was no rulebook for this. like athis had ever of happened.

Like, when is into new season greatness, exemplified by excellence, diversity and immersion inis like this ever happened.

Like, we when it okay tohad runstarted. a commercial again?

When and Lou I hope by excellence, diversity and immersion in our community as together we work to it okay to run a commercial again?

When is itcommunity appropriate?”as together we work to our do it justice. transform the lives of our students,” David is it appropriate?” transform the lives of our students,” David

students andhas faculty and shared memories “Smith proven himself to be a thoughtful listener with visionary spirit,” students and faculty anda shared memories of colleagueslistener that had been lost. thoughtful with a visionary spirit,” Dr. R. Wayne White, chairman of the York of Stinnett colleagues been lost. saidthat onehad of chairman the most memorable Dr. R. Wayne White, of the York College Board of Trustees, said.

“After Stinnettofsaid ofto theher most memorable moments theone trip was reading College Board of Trustees, said.

“After interviewing several candidates, it moments tripgreat topeople her was reading the names of of the the 2,977 that diedit interviewing several great candidates, was apparent that Smith’s experiences in the names of the 2,977 people that died on seeingthat their faces in photos andin was9/11, apparent Smith’s experiences higher education were the best match for on 9/11, seeing their faces in photos and learning more about their individual lives. higher education were the best match for the challenges and opportunities ahead.” learning more about their individual lives.

“Ichallenges think it’s easy to define those ahead.” people theCandidates and opportunities foreasy the role of Harding president “I think it’s to define those people by their death,” Stinnett said.

“I mean it Candidates for the role Harding president will interview with the of University boardit by their death,” Stinnett said.

“I mean was a huge event, and it was a huge attack will interview with the University board of trustees, willand then votefull finalists. was a huge event, ittheir was aon huge attack — but theywho deserve for stories to of trustees, who will then vote on finalists.

The board not publicly announced a —remembered but theyhas deserve for their fulltostories to be and told.

I want be able The board hasthey not publicly announced a date on which expect to announce a be remembered and told.

I want to be able to help remember andexpect tell their stories.” a date on which they to announce decision regarding and the new hiring. to help remember tellPhoto their stories.”of courtesy decision regarding the new hiring.

HARDING UNIVERSITY

For 36 years, I’ve been Students respond tofield of Students respond to surrounded by a force Possible vaccine vaccine mandates to affect private companies, Possible mandates Mike’s charisma, patience and to affect private companies, Supreme Court’s Court’s ruling on Supreme on relentlessruling dedication to young There is plenty of universities universities people. That shield will forever selfishness, cynicism and Texas abortion abortion ban Texas ban sustain me even though Mike negativity in this world. The

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 is, who’s impossibly unthinkably, already in and a tough situation, I think GABRIEL asst. copy HUFF editor such “Must anand employee 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 bewho’s vaccinated to work?”

“What wefully wouldn’t have ban abortions toI make Right now, I’m reading I n Ina na 5-4 ePresident f f ovote, r t tthe o cSupreme u r bBiden COV I D -of1on 9 gone. be fully vaccinated work?” and “What we wouldn’t have totoban toone’s make numbers, Joe said are the consequences of abortions falsifying Court the abortions a rare thing.” numbers, President JoetoBiden saidU.S. are the consequences of falsifying one’s In9a 5-4 vote, therequesting Supreme Court ofon the my abortions a or rare thing.”

Sept. that hedeclined is the vaccination testing status and the last text from Mike.

‘I does love United States block Texas’ new Freshman Skyler Marcellus, secretary 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 and Students Life, said he agreed miss you.’ 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 – Jack Shock companies with more than 100 employees employer?”

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

Furthermore, he said dist. professor of communication L ori Klein, assistant professor of to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations orin history Act, seeks to prevent a fetal his Christian values.

Furthermore, he said political science, said Harding weekly testing. heartbeat or cardiac abortions activity iswhen detected the lawand holds people more accountable for history and political science, said Harding weekly testing. heartbeat or cardiac activity is detected in the law holds people more accountable for would also be subject to these The mandate affectbegins 80 million the womb, whichwill typically around University their actions and saves lives.

Dr. Jactions was a ball ofsubject energy, Photo courtesy of The mandate will affect 80 million University would also be to these the womb, which typically begins around their and saves lives. em l o y e einto s , wpregnancy. h i c h i s More a l m o specifically, s t t w o - mandates if that theywebecome effective — sixp weeks “I believe need to fix the systems HARDING UNIVERSITY goofball.

He loved 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.

“Ia believe that need toemployees fix the systems private workforce, since itthe hasgovernment than the that is100 trying to fix with thirds 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 unless it applieshe formet. religious according to AP News. The task of everybody Heexemption. didn’t— who performs or assists abortions.

The law abortion,” Marcellus said.

“So I believe according AP News.

Thefall 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 thetomandates will upon love everybody hean met allows citizens to produce lawsuits instead of However, we need to gosaid inbecause, and we need toin the she exemption issuing the mandates will upon necessitating public officials tofall enforce the foster system.

Isuch believe we need go may becare difficult as far asfixto she the Occupational Safety and Health necessitating public officials enforce the may foster care system.

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

If plaintiffs win a case, they can obtain inaware, and we need to fix all these systems that Administration (OSHA), atoregulatory isa the Church of Christ does not way just like, ‘Oh, you’re go law.

If plaintiffs win adepartment. case, canBiden obtain in and we need to all systems that Administration (OSHA), adamages regulatory aware, the Church of‘Ifthese Christ does not a minimum $10,000 in they along is the is fix like, youvaccinations just have an agency of theoflabor have agovernment precedent of rejecting an acquaintance.’

It was awith minimum $10,000 in an damages along now is like, youvaccinations have an attorneys’ fees. department. abortion, this other stuff‘Ifwill bejust taken care have agovernment precedent of rejecting agency of the labor Biden also said he of would sign executive asthe a group, though individuals can apply withsaid attorneys’ fees. abortion, this other stuff will be taken care Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed immediately ofa ’exemptions. because they areindividuals not trying to fixapply those as group, though can also he would an executive order to mandate allsign federal employees for you were part of Texas Governor Greg Abbott of ’exemptions. because they are trying not trying torid fix of those act into law inall May, allowing it signed to take for systems; they’re just to get the order to mandate federal employees tothe get vaccinated, exempting them from “You have to have a basis,” Klein said. his family, immediately.

Photo courtesy oftake the into 1. law inexempting May, allowing itthe to systems; they’re just trying to get rid of the effect Sept.

Some have criticized new “You problem that’s overloading those systems.” to getact vaccinated, them from “You have to have a basis,” Klein said. weekly testing options.

Furthermore, can’t just say, ‘I object religiously.’

HARDING UNIVERSITY effect Sept.

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

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

We don’t –be Andrew law, saying six weeks is not enough time for You someone seek abortion.

There are also Chi Sigma Alpha member beginning Oct. 1,animmigrants will be toof, bea able to say why.

We don’t have,have sort history in the Churches required toto receive vaccinations as well 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, of a 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 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 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 thespread countr on coronavirus track. The that provision,” said.covered “They are “ The studentsKlein are not by to reduce ofythe with the Julia Texas Heartbeat Act. Senior Carrell was disappointed plan listed or tssaid to vaccinate the that moreprovision,” likely to be Klein affected by testing said.

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

The 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 roots of thethe issue,” Carrell said.

“Lotsattack of people “Ideally, government should the vaccine — football, basketball,for etc.” keep schools open, increase testing, assist unvaccinated, administer booster shots, requirements large venues searching abortion is said. aysymptom larger — Klein roots of thefor issue,” Carrell “Lots ofof people said basketball, states and private with economic recover and improve keep schools open, increase testing, assist football, etc.” companies issues like poverty, access toand childcare being searching for abortion ispatients. aysymptom of larger care for COVID-19 The full may filesaid lawsuits the government Klein states and private companies with economic recover improve limited …

Itthe could bepatients. that woman can’t issues poverty, access childcare summary of plan cantothe be viewed on may will face challenges Biden’s file lawsuits andenforcing the government care forlike COVID-19 The being full afford another child could be thatcan’t the will limited … could be[or] that woman the White House website. executive order since OSHA,Biden’s which summary ofIt the plan canit the be viewed on face challenges enforcing 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 only the White House order sinceenforcer, OSHA,has which are so many factors that go into deciding woman have emotional support.

There announcement as the administration didto serves 800 enforcement officers for the as the primary enforcer, hasentire only Many doesn’t questions arose after Biden’s Graphic by COOPER TURMAN take ofafactors adetailed child. And we of attack those country. COVID-19 are socare many goifinto deciding mandates not release course action. enforcement officers for the would entire announcement as thethat administration didto 800 Graphic

by COOPER TURMAN take care ofato adetailed child.

And if weConsumer attack those country. have beenCOVID-19 easier to enforce if they were According CNBC, the not release course of action. mandates would According to CNBC, the Consumer have been easier to enforce if they were Photo courtesy of HARDING UNIVERSITY

– Ginger Blackstone assoc. professor of communication

world doesn’t need more of that. The world needs more people like Mike.

People who selflessly give Photo courtesy of HARDING UNIVERSITY of themselves to others.

People who encourage and uplift others with their joy.

Photo by MADISON MEYER People who always seek the

by MADISON MEYER Flowers are propped up beneath an American flag at Photo the Engine 54, Ladder Flowers are9propped upon beneath at the Engine 54, Ladder 4, Battalion firehouse 8th Ave., Midtown flag Manhattan commemorating opportunity to reach out to aninAmerican 4, Battalion 9 firehouse Ave., Midtown Manhattan commemorating the firefighters who diedon on8th Sept.

11.in This firehouse lost the most firefighters others and who whodied love on 9/11. the firefighters onwith Sept. 11. This firehouse lost the most firefighters on 9/11. fiber of their being. every – Steven Chandler international programs

Photo courtesy of Photo by MADISON MEYER HARDING UNIVERSITY

Photo byCOVID-19 MADISON MEYER Second year pharmacy student Claudia Sifford administers 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 held in the Liberty Room on Aug. 27.

“Very important,” Kelley said. “Because delivered by law rather than an executive delivered by law rather than an executive we “Very said.

“Because know important,” that a lot Kelley of folks who have order, Klein said. we knowsystems that a lot folksrespond who have order, Klein said. thatofdon’t as A Centers for Disease Control and immune Prevention committee metControl Sept. 22and to robustly not develop enough of anas A Centers for Disease immune did systems that don’t respond discuss whocommittee should bemet eligible a immune it looks like fromofthe Prevention Sept. for 22 to robustlyresponse; did not develop enough an COVID-19 of the Pfizerwithresponse; the thirdit booster they discuss whobooster shoulddose be eligible for a data immune looks likethat from the BioNTech vaccine.

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BioNTech vaccine.

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17 to to get them there.”

65 or older who are atshots highto risk of approve the and Pfizer booster those severe illness but declined to approve 65 or older and who are at high risk of the shots for other people intothe U.S. severe illness but declined approve of nursing Photo by MADISON MEYER theAssistant shots forprofessor other people in theKaren U.S. Junior Emilyprofessor Stinnett tries on is a Karen firefighter’s gear at the Engine 54, Ladder 4, Kelley said the booster shot ver y Assistant of nursing Photo

by MADISON MEYER 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 4, Kelley said the booster shot ver y Battalion firehouse on 8th Ave. in Midtown Manhattan. compromising conditions. impor tant9for those with immunocompromising conditions.

Photo courtesy of HARDING UNIVERSITY

2A

NEWS

Friday, October 22, 2021

Anthony, Wright, other Black alumni to be honored Saturday in dedication ceremony BEN LANE news editor On Saturday, Harding University will host the dedication ceremony of the Wright and Anthony Administration Building in honor of Dr. Howard Wright and Elijah Anthony at the front of the administration building at 11 a.m..

Wright and Anthony — the first Black students to obtain an undergraduate degree from Harding — graduated in May 1968. A bronze three-dimensional plaque honoring them has been placed in f ront of the administration building. Separate monuments honoring Lewis Brown, Walter Cunningham and David Johnson — the first three Black students enrolled at the University — and Thelma Smith and Curtis Sykes — the first two Black students who were awarded graduate degrees — have also been placed in front of the building. Brown, Cunningham and Johnson, who did not graduate from the University, will be awarded honorary degrees.

“This occasion brings us to a great point in our lives … all of the buildings that have names on them are names of White people with money,” Wright said. “I’m a Black man, and I don’t have any money. Only God could turn a table like that.”

University president David Burks and the honorees or representatives of the honorees will speak at the ceremony. Of the seven honorees, only Wright and Anthony will be in attendance. Brown is not able to attend due to health reasons, and Cunningham, Johnson, Smith and Sykes are deceased.

However, family representatives of Brown and the deceased will attend the ceremony.

This occurence brings us to a great point in our lives.

– Dr. Howard Wright distinguished alumnus

The announcement to name the administration building, now officially known as the Anthony and Wright Administration Building, came in February of this year at the recommendation of the University-created task force for recognizing African American Achievement.

Tiffany Byers, director of diversity services, said the decision to name the administration

Photo by JILLIAN JARVIS

The names of Elijah Anthony and Dr. Howard Wright have been dedicated on the administration building. The dedication ceremony will be held Saturday, Oct. 23. building after Anthony and Wright is “perfectly fitting” for two reasons. One, the administration building did not previously have a name, and two, naming the building after the first Black alumni of Harding carries symbolic meaning. In the 1960s, students were required to go through the administration building to enroll, and prior to 1963, Black students were not accepted at Harding. Now, a building which at one time would have rejected Black students is named after Black students.

“I can speak from the perspective of what [the dedication] means to the Black community,” Byers said. “You recognize me as your sister and as your brother now,

regardless of what color my skin is, and you’re allowing me to come and learn with you …

This is helping to tell a more complete story.

– Tiffany Byers director of diversity services

This is helping to tell a more complete story.”

Senior Phallen Reed, president of the Black Student Association, will pass out programs during the dedication of the monuments.

Harding has not adequately recognized students of color in the past, Phallen said, and the naming of the administration building and

the monuments which recognize students of color has been a “long time coming.”

“It is important for me to be there to honor and recognize that without a lot of their efforts, I would not be here,” Reed said. “A lot of us would not be here, and a lot of the doors that are currently open for us probably would not be. This is my thank you to them.”

Phallen said she hopes this dedication will reduce the stereotype of who the typical Harding student is: a conservative White person.

“When other Black students come to visit Harding,” Phallen said. “They can see, ‘Oh, I do have a place here, Harding does care about me, Harding does want there to

Homecoming musical returns Gabriel Huff asst. copy editor

Photo by JILLIAN JARVIS

Students practice their performance of the Homecoming musical “Elf” on the Benson Auditorium stage Oct. 18. The musical premiers tonight, Oct. 22.

Christmas is coming for the people of Searcy as the Department of Theatre at Harding University presents “Elf the Musical” tonight and tomorrow in the Benson Auditorium for Homecoming at 8 p.m.

After being canceled in fall 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Homecoming musical has returned to campus. A Broadwaystyle musical, “Elf the Musical” was adapted by theatre actor and writer Bob Martin and playwright Thomas Meehan.

Professor of theater Britton Lynn, director of the show, said he and others were initially hesitant to produce the same show they intended to perform last year.

“And so we had planned for it to be a holiday experience last year, and then when they canceled Homecoming, and we looked at the dates for this year, we realized that it was even earlier in the fall, so we were not super crazy about doing a Christmas musical that early,” Lynn said. “But as we looked around and looked at other alternatives and tried to find another show that fit the slot, we just kept coming back to this show being a really good fit for where we are in the season and with the students that are in the program right now, and because it is a show about family, and Homecoming is about bringing your family back and reconnecting with Harding family.”

Lynn said the process of producing the musical began in March 2020 when he first viewed the script for “Elf the Musical.”

Auditions for the primary characters of the production began in spring 2021 while auditions for secondary characters commenced this fall. As the director, Lynn worked with

design teams, helped select the cast, staged the show and worked with actors.

Junior Asher Patten — who plays main character Buddy in the musical — said he and others spent about 25 hours rehearsing every week.

“Which is no small commitment, and I think that’s something that people don’t understand or realize is that we are working pretty much just as much as student athletes are and nobody sees that final product of all that work until the very, very end and it’s very, very short lived,” Patten said. “But the reward is very, very satisfying, and we haven’t quite reached that point yet, but I’m excited to share it.”

Patten added that he learned a lot from working in the show.

“It’s definitely taught me a lot about what it means to not only lead a show, but to be the leader of a show, and knowing that my cast members are watching me to be the driving force of energy and morale and different things like that,” Patten said.

“So that’s been a learning process for me.”

Senior Lydia Black — playing Emily Hobbs — said the musical celebrates life and family.

“I hope that [audience members] enjoy getting to laugh a lot because it is very funny,” Black said. “I guess to not take themselves so seriously because if we’re going to celebrate and live well together, you can’t take yourself too seriously and you have to be able to recognize when you’re wrong. And when someone ... is more childlike or like an actual child, they can show you how to live with joy. That’s a really good picture of what happens in this show ….”

Tickets for the musical range from $18-20 each and are available at hardingtickets.com.

OPINIONS 3A

TheLink.Harding.edu State of theHalle BSA Miller

A more perfect union Eric Johnson

The colors we speak

BSA Public Relations

I

am an artist. I didn’t truly discover it until my first art class freshman year of college, but I think that I always have been. I am always aware of highlights, shadows and the constant presence of linear perspective. Everything is just shapes and colors — seemingly simple but profoundly complex. Despite this, I am not defined by my color.

So, you can imagine my surprise when my grandmother told my siblings and I that, “You speak like White people,” to which we could only respond with silence and puzzled expressions. I, along with other Black people, struggle with being “too much” or “not enough,” when held up to the boxes that people want to put us in. Too Black. Not Black enough. It’s impossible to strike a perfect balance.

M y g r a n d m o t h e r ’s s t a t e m e n t , i n context, is understandable. She grew up picking cotton in the middle of Sunflower County, Mississippi, surrounded by golden brown hands and golden brown faces that created their own culture and forged their own language. I grew up in the suburbs, surrounded by middle class people and with so many beautiful cultural backgrounds.

I was able to watch my friends celebrate Diwali or Eid and get a glimpse into how

Callie Crabb

Opinions Editor

so many different kinds of people groups live and worship.

This is what the BSA has been to me: a mosaic of color amidst the often homogeneous flow of life at Harding.

– Halle Miller, BSA public relations officer

Now I am surrounded by a different culture: Harding culture. We can talk about how every enneagram is represented at Harding, or how there is a place for every kind of person in different clubs, but as a group, we are quite homogeneous. I do feel that I have a place at Harding in all of the different circles I am a part of. I have questioned if that makes me “less Black,” fitting into a homogenous, predominantly White culture.

I have learned and grown so much during my time at Harding, yet I also wish that I could be surrounded by an array of colorful

faces — in chapel, in classes, at church. I do wonder if I am missing out on some rich cultural experience that I would gain at a university with more diversity. Have I assimilated into a culture that won’t fully accept me? Have I abandoned the language of my ancestors?

Black people come f rom different classes, come in different shapes and have a different level of fluency in the language of our grandparents. No matter where I am planted now or where I end up, I will always be part of the Black community.

What holds us together is the shared experience of being in a country that has oppressed our ancestors, but has allowed us to put down roots and create culture.

We are a people of art and music and poetry — always using words and colors to craft a brighter world. This is what the Black Student Association has been to me: a mosaic of color amidst the often homogeneous flow of life at Harding. A place where code switching isn’t necessary, and I’m not concerned about being “too much” or “not enough.” I can just be.

HALLE MILLER is a guest writer for The Bison. She may be contacted at hmiller10@harding.edu.

A golden homecoming

Guest Writer

W

hen I was 8 years old, my family and I visited the Golden Spike National Historic Park in Utah at Promontory Summit: the site of the joining of the transcontinental railroad. We visited the museum in the visitor’s center, and I learned all about the impressive feats that were the completion of the railroad and how it changed our country. I also learned about the special commemorative spike that signaled the completion of the railroad and inspired the name of the park.

The spike was removed from the railroad so it could not be stolen, as pieces of the last railroad tie were. It was presented after ceremonial speeches, and the nailing of the spike was even wired through a telegraph so the country could hear it being placed.

It was solid gold and engraved on all sides and the top.

At the end of the museum, I was eagerly anticipating seeing this golden piece of our nation’s history with my own two eyes. I was incredibly disappointed when I found out it wasn’t there. The golden spike does not reside in Utah, where it was originally placed and where there is a national park dedicated to its history. Eight-year-old Callie could not understand this. I later learned that the history of the spike is complicated, and that there were actually

staffEverett Kirkman

four commemorative spikes. Two of these are golden, and neither are in Utah. One is at Stanford, the other at the Smithsonian.

Current-day Callie still does not understand this.

The golden spike should be in the Golden Spike National Historic Park museum, where it will be appreciated, and not in a dusty corner of the Smithsonian.

– Callie Crabb, guest writer

Seven years later, I was lucky enough to visit the Smithsonian, where one of two golden spikes is held. There was a crowd of people back where the exhibit was. I was gratified so many people also found it important, until I realized the crowd was for Dorothy’s red slippers. The spike was back in a poorly lit corner under dusty glass, with no one surrounding it. Unvalued and alone. After seven years of waiting to

see the golden spike, I was disappointed in the realization that in a museum full of historical significance, in a city full of history, the spike was just not a priority.

The important question here is not one of recognition. A museum at a national park dedicated to the golden spike is recognition enough. The question is when will the spike get to live where it will receive this recognition? An entire museum about a piece of history surely merits the museum owning its namesake. Imagine walking into the Dead Sea Scroll museum and being met with photos of the Dead Sea scrolls in place of the scrolls themselves.

While the golden spike might not be as important as the Dead Sea scrolls or maybe Dorothy’s slippers, it is a piece of United States history and deserves to be at the site of its placement. I imagine there are many 8 year olds that still walk through the museum, eager to see a shiny golden railroad spike and instead only find photos of railroad workers in the 1800s.

The golden spike should be in the Golden Spike National Historic Park museum, where it will be appreciated, and not in a dusty corner of the Smithsonian.

CALLIE CRABB is a guest writer for The Bison. She may be contacted at ccrabb1@harding.edu.

I

Give PC a chance

think political correctness (PC) gets a bad rap. While there are many who applaud the rise of PC culture, most speak of this trend with confusion, annoyance and disgust. I think it would be worthwhile to explore why political correctness is so unpopular for so many.

First,let’s define our terms.Political correctness is a term used to describe language, policies or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. In other words, political correctness is about trying not to offend people. I imagine most would agree in the virtue of such a goal; yet, we have surely found that there are certain social limits to this rule. As much as the idea of being inoffensive seems like a good principle in theory, political correctness does not enjoy such a status of popular support. I find this disconnect interesting. What went wrong?

Part of the answer is quite obvious: There are lots of people who don’t care much about whether something is offensive to others or not. These people are the easiest to criticize from a moral standpoint, as the underlying motivation is not one of honest concern for nuance, but rather is one of ignorance and pride.

But I don’t think that most people who complain about political correctness fall into this category (at least I hope so). As I mentioned earlier, I believe most Americans would say that they see the virtue in not being needlessly offensive. Therefore, I think most people who take issue with our country’s PC culture do so because they either don’t understand it, or they think that it is going too far. I would say we all fall in to these categories at one time or another. In both of these categories, there is often an appropriate appreciation for how complex issues of political correctness can be.

When we find ourselves unable to understand a new PC measure being taken, I think it is always best to make a conscious effort to be patient and open-minded. Give it a fair chance.

It is good to remember that these efforts are being made in an attempt to be respectful and inclusive; thus, it is not a good look to respond to such actions with disrespect or rudeness, even if it doesn’t immediately make complete sense.

Then there are the people who, despite their concern for offensive language, find themselves unable to get behind some of the actions being taken today in the name of political correctness. This is a very important group to consider; for despite all the good that can come from political correctness, it most definitely poses certain dangers and has its extremes. At times, political correctness can be weaponized in ways that betray the principles it is meant to encourage, and at other times it can prescribe changes that are entirely unreasonable and unnecessary. Like all things, political correctness exists on a spectrum, and therefore we need caring and conscientious thinkers to protect us from going too far in any one direction.

With all of these things being considered, I conclude that despite its potential dangers and abuses, political correctness doesn’t deserve the mockery it often receives. My sympathy for political correctness is directly tied to the reasons for its necessity. One of the great tests of the American experiment is whether a truly egalitarian and multicultural democracy can survive the internal conflicts that such a system is bound to incur. The language we use about each other is not only critical for maintaining social harmony, but it reflects our deeper commitment to diversity and heterogeneity. When we fail to accommodate each other with our language, we fail to make our union a more perfect one.

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

editor-in-chief Sara McClaran features editor Ben Lane news editor Tiane Davis sports editor Sophie Rossitto community editor

Eric Johnson opinions editor Ryan Gallagher lifestyle editor Emma Jones digital content editor Caroline Birdwell head copy editor Gabriel Huff asst. copy editor

Cianna Jay editorial asst.

Julie Record layout editor Madison Meyer head photographer Caroline Palmer asst. photographer Jillian Jarvis asst. photographer

Theo Westbrook video/social media Hunter Woodall pr/social media Cooper Turman graphic designer Blue Billingsly illustrator Eden Henderson beat reporter

Erin Booher Callie Crabb

Abby Long Halle Miller

Addi Province Jada Robison

Hayley Kate Webb

Michael Claxton narrative columnist April Fatula faculty adviser

guest contributors

4A

OPINIONS

Friday, October 22, 2021

Work in progress Everett Kirkman

Gabriel Huff

Editor-in-Chief

Asst. Copy Editor

Me, a princess? A Shut up!

M

y favorite princess growing up was not Cinderella, or Belle — it was Mia Thermopolis. (Amelia Mignonette Thermopolis Renaldi: Princess of Genovia, if we are being specific.)

Alongside “The Princess Diaries” (2001), I credit several movies in doing some of the grunt work in raising me, and influencing different areas of my life: “The Parent Trap” (1998), “Holes” (2003), “Freaky Friday” (2003), “What a Girl Wants” (2003), and “A Cinderella Story” (2004), to name a few. I was introduced to all of those films — well, cinematic masterpieces — by my sisters. I was apparently under the age of 5 when all of them came out, but they are connected to many of my most core early childhood memories.

I quote all six of these movies frequently, especially when I am around my sisters. A lot of our shared inside jokes are tied into the plots or deepcut references to one of these movies. These inside jokes have become such an integral, longstanding part of my personal humor that I sometimes do not realize the bit that I am referencing probably will not land with a broader audience. For example, mimicking Vice Principal Gupta’s phone call from “The Princess Diaries” — during which she hears that the queen is coming to Grove High School — to a tee, might only get a confused, sympathy laugh in response.

All six of these movies are funny to me, but they are also comfortable. They are familiar.

They are warm. They are loving and forgiving.

They exist in charming cinematic universes where nothing can ever go so wrong that it cannot be made right again. While my life is often hurried and stressful, these movies have provided me with a sense of comfort, plenty of laughs to build my sense of humor around, and they have shaped my view of the world and my own place in it.

Their themes speak to the broader human experience, and give voice to some of the unspoken experiences of American teenagers.

– Everett Kirkman, editor-in-chief

“The Princess Diaries” helped tell a young Everett that even the unlikeliest of people deserve to be treated with love and compassion — regardless of if they are royalty. “The Parent Trap” showed me that family, and community, can be found in unlikely places, even with people you once saw as an enemy. “Holes” made me more passionate about fighting systemic injustice in the court systems. “Freaky Friday” changed my view of my relationships with those closest to me, who I often butt heads with the most. “What a Girl Wants” taught me about complicated familial relationships, and the type of love that can pierce through oceans and years of conflict between people.

“A Cinderella Story” continues to remind me that goodness can prevail, even against all odds.

Movies like these are prone to ridicule. Some of the acting comes across as cheesy, the plots may seem too simple, or the characters may be underdeveloped in some viewers’ eyes. A critic might even stoop to calling them chick flicks.

I have never said these films are perfect, but they have stood the test of time, at least in my lifetime. These movies are more than nostalgic relics. They are formative pieces of who I am and what I believe. Their themes speak to the broader human experience, and give voice to some of the unspoken experiences of American teenagers.(Regardless of unrealistic circumstances, common themes remain.)

All six titles also feature multiple strong female leads, (Yes, even “Holes.” Think about it.) who handle their issues with an air of grace, and an abundance of humor. None of them are waiting around to be rescued by a man either, love is an addition to their already noteworthy lives.

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

little under a month ago, Coldplay — a British rock band — released “My Universe,” an upbeat song that always has me singing aloud. It’s very catchy and highly recommended. However, I am not playing the role of music critic today, though the song is good. I’m writing about the young men who co-wrote the song: BTS. Who is BTS? Firstly, let me tell you: I am saddened that I have to answer this question because everyone should know them. Nevertheless, BTS is a South Korean boy band that debuted in 2013, consisting of seven members — Jin, Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jimin, V and Jungkook. These boys are arguably the largest boy band in the world right now and were named the biggest recording act in the world in 2020, which was even more amazing considering the world was experiencing a pandemic.

They also broke a total of 23 Guinness World Records. You may have even heard their most recent hit songs “Dynamite,” “Butter,” “Permission to Dance” and “My Universe” on the radio at some point. By the way, all those songs reached number one on the Billboard Global 200 at one point. “Butter,” which was released May 21, claimed the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart for nine consecutive weeks during the summer.

There is not enough space to convey the amount of success BTS has experienced, so I will continue.

Now we come to the main point of this article. Despite all the above, I know many people here in America do not know or care very little about BTS. I attribute this lack of interest primarily to the fact that BTS is a foreign group — and no, I am not insinuating people are prejudiced against

Welcome to my universe Koreans singers. Because BTS mostly produce Korean-dominated songs (three of the four above tracks are BTS’ only all-English songs out of dozens), people do not initially understand their music.

Additionally, South Korean pop (Kpop) is a relatively new genre in America, so many have not simply been introduced to them. To those in this category: consider this your introduction. Let me offer you a few reasons why you should give this Kpop band a proper consideration of appearing in your song list.

By listening to their music, you can tell the members of BTS have a mission to change the world for the better.

– Gabriel Huff, asst. copy editor

Firstly, lyrics should not become a barrier. My best friend once said music is about the lyrics for him; therefore, he only listens to BTS’ English hits. I completely agree: Music is about the lyrics and their meaning for me too. However, you can easily read the English translation just by searching the lyric version of any BTS song on YouTube. After listening to the lyric version one to a few times, you will not need that assistance any longer.

Secondly, BTS’ songs have deep meaning.

If you cannot tell just by listening to their voices, the lyrics will definitely get the point

across. Are you feeling sad or struggling with worry? BTS’ “Zero O’Clock,” “Magic Shop” and “So What” will encourage you to keep going. Are you facing an endless amount of assignments, tests, commitments and heartache? After listening to “On,” you will feel like you can handle anything. Are you having trouble loving yourself? Do you look at your peers or professors and think you are not good enough? “Epiphany,” “IDOL,” “FAKE LOVE” and “Answer: Love Myself ” will knock you back into reality. By listening to their music, you can tell the members of BTS have a mission to change the world for the better.

Lastly, BTS has great choreography.

Please do not stop with the music. The members are probably some of the best dancers you will ever witness. You will even be tempted to dance alongside them when you are sure no one is watching. You will probably even wonder whether they are lip syncing because surely no one can sound as good as them while dancing at their level. This debate is an opinion piece for another day.

I hope after this brief introduction you will give BTS a chance and learn to enjoy their work. I was in your shoes a couple years ago when my sister introduced me to BTS, and I have been listening to them ever since. Just like my sister welcomed me to her universe, I now welcome you to my universe.

GABRIEL HUFF is the asst. copy editor for The Bison. He may be contacted at ghuff2@harding.edu.

Remembering Dr. Mike James (1946-2021)

O

ne Tuesday night I got to the Honors House early to unlock it for the poetry club. All the lights were out, so, thinking I was alone, I fumbled around for the switch and flipped it on.

That’s when I saw the life-size cardboard cutout of Mike James smiling in the corner. First, I jumped. And I yelled. Then I smiled. Even when he wasn’t there, Mike James could fill a room.

As the tributes have rolled in from around the world since his death on Oct. 9 at 75, friends and family have celebrated a man who was truly larger than life.

His resume was full. He served 47 years at Harding in a host of demanding roles: campus photographer, Distinguished Professor of Communication, co-founder of Harding’s TV station, department chair, dean of the College of Communication, director (with his wife Beth) of Harding in Greece, and dean of the Honors College.

He co-sponsored Chi Sigma Alpha for 20 years and led a home Bible study for almost twice as long. Dr. James was a Vietnam veteran, an 18-year shepherd at the College Church and a Rotarian.

As a photographer, he estimated that he and Beth took pictures at over 3,000 weddings.

But no paper resume could ever capture the man. He was a dynamo who drew his energy first from faith and family and second from being around people. He was easily one of the friendliest men I’ve ever known. When you met Mike, you were a stranger for about two minutes, and forever after a friend. During the memorial celebrations at Harding and at College Church, speakers said over and over that Mike had an incredible gift for making others feel like they were his best friend.

Simply put, Mike James put the “extra” in extrovert.

There are so many Dr. J stories. Like the time he drove 100 miles per hour so he wouldn’t be late for traffic court to contest a speeding ticket. Or the time he got several people stuck in the elevator for an hour at the Artemis in Greece. Or the time he ran down the hallway of the Reynolds

Michael Claxton

Narrative Columnist

building holding a dog in labor. Or the time he was calling a home basketball game at Harding and forgot whose side he was on. Head men’s basketball coach Jeff Morgan laughs about the game. The Bisons were playing against a team with an unstoppable shooter, who sank nine threes in a row. When he drained his next one, Mike shouted “Wow! That’s his 10th three-pointer!” into the loudspeaker.

The man loved technology and was the first to have any new gadget. His colleague Lou Butterfield recalled that Mike had proudly shown off his new word processor back in the ‘80s. “It’s got 128K of memory!” he boasted. “I’ll never use all that.” Of course, he upgraded, and often. The iPhone, the Apple Watch, the gizmo that helps you find your car keys; he had them all. He even had a license to fly drones. When I told him I never used a cell phone, he looked at me with what can only be described as tender pity.

He brought the College Church into the 20th century. He operated the PowerPoint often during services. He once experimented with mood lighting, dimming the lights during a prayer (at the “Amen,” one church-goer looked up in the dark and said, “Did I just have a stroke?”). Incredibly, he set up the church’s live streaming capabilities just three weeks before the pandemic forced us all online.

His life seemed like one long adventure.

A slide show at the memorial showed image after image of Mike living large. We saw him wearing togas and turbans, riding atop camels and elephants, and even catching a tiger by the tail. He taught a family dog to play pool. He drove convertibles. He bought an Italian restaurant. He once told me about going to a Turkish bath, where he experienced the latest in spa treatments.

He had a chocolate wrap, which was not a dessert but a skin therapy. He even had his eyebrows threaded. I asked how that went. “As soon as I wiped the blood from my eyes,” he said, “I could see.”

When he became chair of the Communication Department, he worried about following Dr. Jack Ryan, the beloved founder of Spring Sing. Yet as Mrs. Ryan said, only Mike could have stepped into his shoes. “He’s an ever-ready battery,” she added.

One possible source of his megawatt personality was his high-octane consumption of pepper. Anyone who has ever eaten with Dr. James has seen him take the lid off the shaker and dump the contents onto a plate of scrambled eggs. There was no point in having him pass the pepper afterwards. He believed in full immersion, not sprinkling.

Mike was married to the love of his life for 50 years. He and Beth raised four children and cherished eleven grandchildren.

No one was closer to his family than Mike James. But he also extended that warm home to guests 24-7. Anyone was welcome to come eat, to chat, even to sleep on the couch. For years, the family did not have a key to the f ront door.

They never needed it. Mark Moore called their house “a crazy, wonderful, generous circus,” and Dr. Bruce McLarty pointed out the oxymoron that Mike and Beth had “a large circle of intimate friends.”

I knew Mike for 18 years as a member of the Barnabas Class at church. When he and Beth came back after serving five years at HUG, he taught us a little Greek. On Easter, a traditional Orthodox greeting is to say “Cristos Anesti,” which means “Christ is risen!” The other person responds, “Alithos Anesti!” (“Truly, he is risen!”). That is the reason we can celebrate the passing of a Harding icon, as he speeds heavenward in his convertible.

“Cristos Anesti!”

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

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

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

Vol. 97, No. 05

Thoughts of a Hoosier

THE

A H A R D I N G U N I V E R S I T Y S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N

October 22, 2021

Online at TheLink.Harding.edu

Searcy, Ark., 72149

Tiane Davis Sports Editor

Fall Sports

As a person who grew up in the Hoosier state — the home of Larry Bird — I feel I have the authority to share my opinions on basketball. Unfortunately, we have not reached basketball season just yet, so I am stuck in quite the tough situation: I am the sports editor for a newspaper, but the only sport I have the slightest opinion on is not in season. So, we will just have to wait for basketball season while I talk about football or something.

To be fair, I was a cross-country runner for eight years before I came to Harding, so I can tell lots of stories about that. I have so many good memories of going to cross-country races in the cold weather. There’s nothing like finishing a race, bundling up in as many layers as possible and taking a nap on a bus ride to Cracker Barrel. Some people would bundle up before the race even started. They would put their thin tank top uniform over all the layers and run with their sweatshirt sleeves over their hands. My coaches were too hardcore to ever let me do that, sadly. My knowledge of fall sports pretty much ends at cross-country, so I feel a little lost when people start talking about football games.

I never got to experience the excitement of watching high school football games while huddled in the bleachers with my friends.

– Tiane Davis, sports editor

When I was in seventh grade, the school board at my high school had the choice to make the field in the middle of our track either a soccer pitch or a football field. After much discussion (I assume), they voted to paint the lines to make it a soccer pitch and start a soccer team for the high school. On one hand, my high school probably was too small to even have a football team, but on the other hand, a lot of us were disappointed since football seems to be an essential sport for any school. Regardless, we got through it by following the basketball team around.

So as much as I hate to say it, I never got to experience the excitement of watching high school football games while huddled in the bleachers with my friends.

Fast forward to my time at Harding.

It seems all of Harding revolves around its Saturday football games; I feel like a complete fraud when all the excitement for a weekend game begins. The tailgate, the rivalries, the cheers — it seems all I can get excited about is the marching band. Not to mention I have a short attention span when it comes to things I don’t quite understand, and I don’t need to tell you how much I do not understand football.

Regardless of my immediate personal feelings, it definitely means something to watch all the excitement. Maybe I don’t always share the same level of appreciation as my friends, but I love to hear them share their favorite memories and hear about their days in high school. It reminds me of my own favorite fall memories. I also have to point out that there is definitely something special about being outside on a night during the fall season; the chilly air makes everything so much more cheerful and nostalgic.

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

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

Photo by HAYLEY KATE WEBB

Senior running back Cole Chancey and head coach Paul Simmons pass off the signed football to Jad Dixon, the son of Alan Dixon. Chancey broke Alan “Snake” Dixon’s 38-year-old career rushing record of 4,214 yards at the game on Oct. 9.

Chancey breaks 38-year-old record

RYAN GALLAGHER lifestyle editor

As of nearly two weeks ago, the Harding Bisons have a new career rushing leader after 38 years. Senior running back Cole Chancey currently sits at 4,665 yards in his Harding career from 2017-21. The previous record was held by Alan “Snake” Dixon who accumulated 4,214 yards during his time on the team from 1970-73. Dixon died in 2012.

The record was broken on Oct. 9 when Harding was home against Southern Nazarene. Chancey only carried the ball 11 times, rushing 52 yards. His 5-yard run in the second quarter was the yardage that allowed Chancey to cross the line and break the record, which was announced live at the stadium. Offensive line coach Kevin Chism said he appreciated that the record was broken on a short run and how Chancey acted after he broke the record.

“I did love that it was a 5-yard grounded out run because that is Cole,” Chism said.

“Cole hates the attention and that’s just his

personality. They announced it, and everyone is cheering, and Cole is out there making the signal for, ‘Let’s go; let’s run another play.’”

Redshirt freshman Wesley Coleman respects Chancey for how humble he is as a person on and off the pitch.

“If you talk to him, he is a very humble guy, and he is so funny,” Coleman said. “If you go to any other school, someone who has broken records at a school, they try to give you the highway treatment, but he is not like that, he will talk to anyone. He may be quiet, but that man is hilarious.”

Chancey said the team helped him achieve this accomplishment.

“It was an honor to say the least,” Chancey said. “This is all to the guys — past and present — [and] the work they put in everyday, every play. I wouldn’t be me without them and the coaches getting us in the right positions.”

At halftime of the game, there was a moment to honor Chancey’s record and Dixon’s legacy as the team presented Belinda Dixon — Dixon’s wife — with an autographed

football signed by the team. The Bisons then went on to win the game 49-10.

This past week Chancey rushed for 231 yards and four touchdowns in the 46-21 victory over the No. 9 ranked Henderson State. That was Harding’s second victory over a top-10 ranked team this season. Harding and Henderson State both sit at 6-1 for the conference season.

The Henderson game brought a plethora of records, especially for Chancey. This game was the third game in Chancey’s career that he recorded over 200 yards in a single game.

The 231 yards is the fifth best rushing effort by a Harding athlete in a single game, as well.

Chancey put away four touchdowns in the game, which is the third time in Chancey’s career that he has done that. Lastly for Chancey, this past game was his 13th straight Great American Conference game with a rushing touchdown. For the rest of Harding, the team recorded 471 yards: 438 yards coming from running, which is the first time in the past 57 meetings with Henderson that Harding recorded over 400 rushing yards.

Photo by MADISON MEYER

Harding cheerleaders get in formation to perform their cheers in front of the student body. Students gathered in the Rhodes-Reaves Field House for the Midnight Madness hype rally for the Harding basketball teams on Oct. 19.

Tipping off with Midnight Madness

HAYLEY KATE WEBB guest writer Homecoming week festivities kicked off on Monday, Oct. 18, with the return of Midnight Madness to the Rhodes-Reaves Field House. Doors opened at 10:30 p.m., and the events and activities continued until 12:15 a.m.

Midnight Madness kicked off the beginning of official practice for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, signaling that basketball season is approaching quickly. Prior to the event, junior men’s basketball guard and transfer Sam Henderson said he was looking forward to experiencing Midnight Madness for the first time.

“For my first ever Midnight Madness, I [was] most excited for the opportunity to meet our student body that we can rely on for support at games throughout the year,” Henderson said. “[I] heard nothing but great things about Midnight Madness, and [I was] thrilled to see for myself what it’s all about.”

Former men’s basketball player and current women’s basketball assistant coach Dawson Yates recalled the excitement that he felt toward Midnight Madness during his time as a player.

“I enjoyed the anticipation of waiting in the lobby for our fellow classmates to enter through the front doors of Rhodes-Reaves Field House, knowing they were going to have as much fun as our team,” Yates said.

The events of the night inc luded performances from the Thundering Herd, an appearance from Buff the Bison, roster introductions, a relay competition, a dunk contest, a cheer routine, musical pillows, a half court shot attempt for full tuition and a surprise beatboxing performance by freshman men’s basketball guard Hrvoje Majcunic.

In the past, the reward for sinking the half court shot attempt was half tuition.

However, in chapel on Monday morning, head basketball coach Jeff Morgan and University president Dr. David Burks announced this year’s shot would be worth full tuition for the 2022 spring semester. The participant was

given three attempts and failed to complete the shot.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, Midnight Madness did not take place during the 2020 fall semester. Midnight Madness was one of the many elements of the basketball season that was compromised by the pandemic. In addition, the teams played an unconventional schedule and stadium capacities were limited.

Senior women’s basketball guard Jasmine Barnes said she is excited for the return of a normal basketball season complete with full capacity stadiums.

“I’m most looking forward to the fans returning to our games,” Barnes said. “COVID took that excitement away, and I think our fans make a difference in our games.”

In less than a month, the Bison basketball teams will begin their competition schedules.

The men’s basketball team will tip-off their season on Nov. 9 in an exhibition game against Arkansas State University. The women’s team will travel to Joplin, Missouri, on Nov. 12 for their season opener against Emporia State University.

2B

COMMUNITY

Friday, October 22, 2021 Businesses to visit in Searcy Eden Henderson beat reporter

Renewed Vision Counseling

City officials condemn Zion Climbing Center

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

EMMA JONES digital content editor

The Searcy City Council made the decision during this month’s council meeting on Oct. 12 to declare the Zion Climbing and Event Center building a nuisance property.

A public hearing was held shortly before the meeting, but no one representing the property was present, and the council passed a resolution condemning the property.

Searcy City Attorney Buck Gibson said during the meeting that this decision means the owners of the climbing center have 30 days to take action regarding the building, and if no action is taken then it can be torn down.

“There will have to be a few more steps in that though,” Gibson said. “Any repairs planned will have to be approved by the city because we don’t want something that they are going to do to actually make things worse.”

Gibson also said during the meeting that the Searcy Code Enforcement Department

advised that the property be declared as a nuisance because the “structure has become severely dilapidated and has started falling in on itself,” which has become a safety concern for neighboring businesses and for the public.

Zion, one of the featured businesses on season four of “Small Business Revolution,” closed spring 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns and also because business declined steeply with Harding University students being sent home for the remainder of the spring semester.

Although the nonprofit climbing center reopened in October 2020, it was closed again during summer 2021 after an inspection in which an engineer found structural issues with the safety of the roof and one of the walls of the building.

Daniel Ockay helped reopen and run Zion after owner Sean Hudkins moved away from Searcy last year. Ockay, who has been involved at Zion since around the time it opened in 2005, said the Zion board of directors have made an effort to buy the building from Hudkins but to little avail.

“There were just a lot of little problems with the building, and since Zion rented the building [from Hudkins], it wasn’t really our responsibility to fix,” Ockay said. “I’m not optimistic about it reopening [elsewhere].”

Junior Carson Hayes said he had a season pass and attended the climbing center weekly during the fall 2020 semester so he could keep up with the sport and his climbing ability. He said when Zion began the closing process permanently this summer, he was shocked and saddened by the news.

“Zion was the only gym near here besides Little Rock and Memphis, and it provided a place of great culture and commonality during the majority of my college experience,” Hayes said. “In an ideal situation, I would want repairs to be done instead of the building being condemned — not only for the community of climbing that Zion provided, but also the fruits that it produced through being a nonprofit organization.”

said. “I have cherished the opportunity working with Audra to plan a community event. I am excited for the space to get to know more of the Searcy community.”

Highway Church of Christ — located on 128 Hwy Church Rd. — is hosting a Trunkor-Treat event on Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for its church family and the surrounding community. There will be hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and a devotional immediately following.

Bridget Smith, a member of Highway church and director of Disability Services and Educational Access at Harding, said she plans to attend and decorate a trunk with her family.

“That’s a good time to look around and meet our visitors,” Smith said. “Our prayer is that they feel welcome and encouraged to come back.”

Several other churches in Searcy will be hosting trunk-or-treat events, including First United Methodist Church on Main Street.

Their event will be on Halloween from 2-4 p.m. on the corner of Main and Center streets.

Lauren Schrepfer, the communications director at First United Methodist Church, said the church and several other churches in the area will have staggered times so that

children in the neighborhood will be able to trick-or-treat at more than one place.

“I think people will be able to jump from one to the next and kind of hit everywhere,” Schrepfer said. “Of course, part of our goal with this is that it’s a safe alternative for people who maybe don’t want their kids to go to people’s houses that they don’t know.”

Even with several other Halloween events happening in town, Schrepfer said, the church is planning to have around 250 kids come through to collect candy. Schrepfer said while the event is mostly directed toward the Searcy community, Harding clubs and organizations are welcome to set up trunks and hand out candy.

Other Searcy events during Halloween week include College Church of Christ’s fall festival Oct. 24, 2-4 p.m.; Cloverdale Church of Christ’s fall fest Oct. 30, 2-4 p.m.; West Race Baptist Church’s fall festival Oct. 30 at 6 p.m.; Caring for Kensett Kids Trunk-or-Treat in downtown Kensett Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m.; and Searcy’s annual Trick-or-Treat on the Square event on Halloween, 5-7 p.m.

Searcy organizations to offer Halloween activities ADDI PROVINCE guest writer TIANE DAVIS sports editor

Halloween falls on Sunday, Oct. 31, but the Searcy community is celebrating all weekend long.

On Saturday, Oct. 30, the Maple House will host a Halloween festival from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The Maple House — located on 406 S. Maple St. — is an outreach ministry that offers tutoring, after-school care, gardening and worship services for the Searcy community.

“We hope to connect with the Searcy community through fun fall festivities that will lead to fellowship,” senior Maple House volunteer Jacqueline Whitaker said.

Whitaker said that the festival would have multiple stations offering face painting, caramel apples and mystery boxes. The Maple House staff and volunteers will also be grilling dinner for those in attendance. Whitaker and sophomore Audra Bradley are in charge of planning and coordinating the festival.

“We hope Harding students and faculty will come be a part of the fellowship,” Whitaker

Graphics by COOPER TURMAN

Dr. Michael Jones is the CEO of Renewed Vision Counseling on Race Avenue, a counseling center that offers mental health services to Searcy residents.

Jones and his family moved to Searcy in 2008, and he did some freelance work until 2010 when he established Renewed Vision Counseling. When Jones’ family moved to Arkansas, he was looking for a therapist for himself. When he had to drive an hour each way to find a therapist that looked like him, he realized that there may be a lack of services provided by people of color in Arkansas.

Renewed Vision’s counseling provides mental health services to anyone who needs them. Jones said he desires “to give people a place where they feel like they are being heard.” He wanted to also give people the option of seeking help from someone who is a minority, especially for the minority members of the community. Jones sees his work as a filling of the existing gap in Searcy, and on a larger scale, in Arkansas.

Renewed Vision is a place where people won’t be judged despite their background or history. “ That ’s what we’re called to do as Christians,” Jones said. “Ser ving and meeting people where they are.”

COVID-19 had a big impact on Renewed Vision and the way that they were able to operate. Most of their work had to transition online, which was difficult because some clients were skeptical about online therapy sessions. COVID-19 also required Jones and the Renewed Vision staff to make some difficult decisions regarding their business.

“We can still provide services, but not in the same way that we used to,” Jones said.

Jones also teaches full-time at Regent University.

Running a business as a minority in Searcy has been interesting, Jones said.

“There’s not a lot of professional businesses run by minorities in this town,” Jones said.

Jones said most minority-run businesses are in the service industry.

These businesses are also extremely important and pour back into the community.

“It’s important to give people options,” Jones said, especially when they are seeking services that regard their mental health.

Jones pleads with the members of both the Harding and the Searcy community to continue to support minority-run businesses.

He said it is important that the people in the community help one another.

“We all pour into each other,” Jones said.

EDEN HENDERSON is a beat reporter for The Bison. She may be contacted at ehenderson@harding. edu.

FEATURES 3B

TheLink.Harding.edu

Photos by CAROLINE PALMER

Cancer survivors took the first lap around the front lawn at Relay for Life on Oct. 15. Relay for Life is an annual event on Harding’s campus that raises money for the American Cancer Society.

Harding hosts Relay for Life

SARA MCCLARAN features editor

Harding University’s annual Relay for Life event was held last week, Friday, Oct. 15 to Saturday, Oct.16. Relay for Life is a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, raising funds through activities held during the night.

“All of the funds raised [through] Relay for Life go back [to] the American Cancer Society, and it is used for education, advocacy, research and different services for folks battling cancer and families dealing with cancer,” said associate professor of education Lisa Bryant, who has been the faculty advisor for Relay for Life for the past 10 years.

Senior Brittany Tate and junior Kaitlyn Rigsby, along with about 20 other students, had prepared for Relay for Life since school began. The event was from 5 p.m.

Friday night to 5 a.m. Saturday morning and involved a lot more than raising money.

“The different times of the day provide insight into what it’s like to have a cancer diagnosis,” Bryant said. “We do it at dusk when it starts to get dark — that kind of represents when someone gets a cancer diagnosis, they think it’s going to be dark and going to be terrible. Then through the night it gets colder, and it gets dark, and you get tired, and you kind of feel a little bit what it’s like to have to go through treatment and be in that place with your family members and your friends. Then it

gets even colder, and it’s darker, and you’re not sure how you’re gonna take one more step, or you’re tired, and you don’t want to do this anymore, but then the sun rises, and that gives us all hope.”

According to Tate one of the most important things about Relay for Life is the community outreach it fosters, while Rigsby points to the honor paid to those who have dealt with cancer.

“I think Relay for Life is important because I think outreach is a big thing that’s missing at Harding — just outreach [with] White County and the Searcy community — and since there’s no White County Relay we kind of take that role,” Tate said. “Survivors come from all over.

It’s really great to, you know, see them on

campus and kind of connect our school with those people.”

“The point of what we’re doing — like, it’s not just to stay out past curfew,” Rigsby said. “It’s really to honor the people who have fought with cancer, or are fighting with cancer, or have lost their fight to cancer.”

Relay for Life is an annual event on Harding’s campus and has been running for over 15 years.

“We appreciate [if you] participated in having a team, if you made a donation, if you just came out and joined us,” Bryant said. “And the offer always stands to participate with us next year if you missed it this year.”

Photos by MADISON MEYER

Tim Hamilton and Mark Prior record the Coaches’ Show in the HU16 studio on Oct. 18. HU16 streams content 24/7, and the station produces a live 30-minute broadcast at 5 p.m. every weekday.

ABBY LONG guest writer

Faculty, staff work behind HU16

Harding’s own student-run television broadcast HU16 started in September 1983. While many students know what HU16 produces, many important staff and faculty members stay behind the scenes working to produce the 24/7 streaming content.

Mark Prior, director of HU16 and Videoworks, began working at Harding in 1999.

“After some restructuring by the University, Video Services was combined with TV16 to save money for the University,” Prior said. “At that time, I

moved over to the Reynolds building and joined the communication department.

From there, I have worked my way up to become the director of HU16 and Videoworks.”

Tim Hamilton, assistant professor of communication and multimedia producer in the Department of Communication, also plays an integral part in running HU16. He spoke highly of Prior and the role he plays behind the scenes.

“He is a tireless worker and makes sure everything works on the technical side,” Hamilton said. “Mark is great at keeping the technical equipment working and is a talented troubleshooter when problems arise.”

Senior Sydney Bryant has worked alongside Prior in HU16 productions for the past four years.

“Mark is the guy you want in your corner every chance you get,” Bryant said.

“When we’re having issues on a broadcast, we know Mark is going to do everything he can to get us back up and running.”

Hamilton spoke highly of not only Prior, but his other colleagues at HU16 as well.

“Billy Morgan is a wonderful mentor to our students who work in the sports program,” Hamilton said. “Scott Goode and Nathan Looney provide invaluable assistance as we produce sports content.”

Both Prior and Hamilton noted the

critical role of students in the production of this broadcast. In addition, Hamilton notes the reliance HU16 has on its student crew.

“We have an outstanding crew of students who work long hours in the production of our sports programming,” Hamilton said. “We would be left with single-camera productions instead of the many that we do with four cameras if it wasn’t for our talented students.”

The Harding community can watch HU16 content 24/7 or tune in for its weekday 30-minute news broadcast, weekday chapels live from the Benson or athletic events through Harding’s Sports Network at thelink.harding.edu.

Student Spotlight: Harding cheer captains

SOPHIE ROSSITTO community editor The Harding cheerleaders helped kick off the basketball season at the Midnight Madness pep rally on Monday, Oct. 18. Cheer captains senior Addie David and junior Haley Claire Mathis have played key roles in helping their team work together and lift people’s spirits on campus.

Mathis said her job as captain has been fun and rewarding so far, partly because her teammates have been easy to work with.

“There’s a lot of openness on the team that we carry forward, and so it’s been really nice,” Mathis said.

David said she and Mathis make a good pair, especially since they both have backgrounds in gymnastics and did competitive cheerleading in high school.

“We both can identify with each other, and it just meshes really well,” David said.

The cheer captains’ responsibilities include running practices, helping teammates to execute stunts and making sure routines look cohesive, Mathis said. The cheer team typically practices twice a week for two hours each day.

Mathis added that the captains also serve as a mediator between their teammates and the cheer sponsor, Kellee Blickenstaff.

For a typical home football game, the cheer captains decide what time their team should arrive for the tailgate pep rally, David said. The captains also lead warm-ups, and they coordinate cheers and stunts on the sidelines during the game.

Mathis said the team sometimes goes to instate football away games, depending on factors such as the game time.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed a number of challenges for the cheer squad last year, Mathis said. Since there were no football games during the 2020-21 school year, the cheer team only performed at one event: the Homecoming parade.

Mathis added that coming into this year, only five members of the cheer team had ever stepped onto the track for a Harding football game.

During the week before Midnight Madness, Mathis said the cheer squad met every weekday to prepare for their performance. Leading up to the event, David said she was eager to perform with her teammates at the pep rally after not having that opportunity last fall.

“I’m so excited, and I’m excited for the girls who were on the team last year that came in as freshmen that didn’t get to experience that,” David said.

Blickenstaff, who has served as Harding’s cheer sponsor since 1998, said she chooses team captains each year based on their scores at a tryout in front of a panel of judges, their Christian character, their commitment to staying in the cheer program and other factors. Blickenstaff said she appreciates the close attention to detail and wealth of knowledge David and Mathis have brought to the table this year.

“They’ve done just exactly what I thought they would do,” Blickenstaff said. “We’ve had no problems this year, everyone gets along and they’re just a joy for me to be around.”

Photo by CAROLINE PALMER

Cheer captains Addie David and Claire Mathis cheer on the Bisons at the First Security Stadium during Family Weekend at the Sept. 25 football game against Ouachita Baptist University.

The captains help run practices, as well as coordinating cheers and stunts when on the sidelines of games.

4B

LIFESTYLE

ERIN BOOHER guest writer The Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosted “I Heart HU” week to energize students and build up to the Homecoming events occurring this weekend. Each day of the week featured a different event and theme; students were encouraged to dress each day’s theme outfit and come to events like “FLUF” (Front Lawn Fun with U in the Middle) and a Glow Run. Abby Stinnett is in her first year as the director of CAB. She said the pandemic prevented I Heart HU week from reaching its full potential last year, so they wanted to make it a week that would be both exciting and easy for students to participate in.

“We didn’t have any events last year, so we’re just trying to get people involved in

Friday, October 22, 2021

I Heart HU week is back

the community,” Stinnett said. “For example, monochrome was an easy way to get people dressed up in the theme, because most people have a monochrome outfit in their closets.”

The week featured familiar events, like FLUF, which was initiated by assistant dean of students Logan Light a few years ago and featured a bounce house, knocker balls, spike ball and more.

I Heart HU week also celebrated the return of Midnight Madness, an event that had not taken place since 2019.

Stinnett, having gone to a number of Midnight Madness events as a student before becoming director of CAB, said the atmosphere for this year’s event was the best she had ever seen.

“The stands were super packed, just full all the way to the top,” Stinnett said. “There was a lot of crowd involvement, and the

[Rhodes-Reaves Field House] was really loud and hyped-up, so it went really well.”

Some students experienced Midnight Madness for the first time, some as audience members and others as performers.

“This was my first Midnight Madness, so I had no idea what to expect,” sophomore cheerleader Evie Boyd said. “When the lights turned off and the crowd started pouring in, I realized what a fun night it was going to be.”

A new event featured for the 2021 I Heart HU Week was a trunk-or-treat, with collaboration between CAB and the Student Association (SA). It was open for all students to come, with organizations and social clubs encouraged to decorate a car and pass out candy.

SA president Ethan Brazell said trunk-ortreat aimed to remind students that they’re not too old to have fun trick-or-treating.

Graphic by COOPER TURMAN

“Part of planning events in college is to help people know they can still dress up and have fun,” Brazell said. “A trunk-or-treat is something you can’t really go wrong with.”

Brazell also said having social clubs participate in the trunk-or-treat would be a great way to see them interact without the goal of recruiting, as the club process is coming to an end.

CAB has been excited about the response to I Heart HU Week and has aimed to foster an atmosphere of celebration leading up to the Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 23. Stinnett said this week has been a good way to connect the community.

“We have been asking students their favorite thing about Harding, or what made them come here, just to help people remember what a great place they’re at,” Stinnett said.

Harding hosts 21 businesses at IMC Expo TIANE DAVIS sports editor

Photo by CAROLINE PALMER

IMC students gather in Cone Chapel to network with several businesses on Oct. 19. Twenty-one different businesses display their table and over 100 students attended.

The Department of Communication and College of Business Administration worked together to host 21 different businesses Tuesday, Oct. 19, from 1-3 p.m. at the IMC Expo in Cone Chapel.

Approximately 107 students attended.

Students in six different areas of study were invited to the event: integrated marketing communication, sales, marketing, advertising, graphic design and public relations.

Assistant professor of communication Lori Sloan was in charge of planning, and she said the goal was to encourage students to network and get more excited about potential options for careers and internships.

“I didn’t have any students lined up to help work it or anything,” Sloan said. “I wanted to put this expo on for the students so that they could connect with businesses.”

Sloan said she worked closely with Brian Harrington, director of the Center of Professional Excellence, and Elizabeth Rush, the administrative assistant for the Center for Professional Excellence. The group had been planning for the event since the start of the summer, calling businesses and ordering tables for each of them.

Sloan said Rush helped with creating invitations to send to businesses, designing posters and working with the businesses to set

up displays for their tables. Rush graduated from Harding in December 2020 with a degree in advertising, and she said she attended the first IMC Expo as a student in 2017.

“It’s a little surreal,” Rush said. “Just knowing that I came from the communications department and getting to help other students get connected like I did.”

Rush said it was a little different this year than other years, since some businesses expected to connect with students virtually like they had during the pandemic. Aside from the in-person expo, she said, they plan on doing individual info sessions with those businesses later in the year.

Officers of the Integrated Marketing Communication Organization (IMCO) ate brunch with the business representatives earlier that day. It gave them a chance to talk to the business owners before other students arrived at the start of the expo.

Junior Jayne Gilbert, one of the vice presidents of branding for IMCO, said the officers and students did not have a major role in preparing the event, but that it was very helpful for her as a junior searching for internships to be able to talk with so many businesses. She said she was very grateful to Sloan for putting in so much work.

“It is honestly really cool that she has taken all the time to do this, because we all appreciate it, I know,” Gilbert said.

Photo provided by Lisanne Cheatham

A photo of Zeta Rho members from a previous year. Zeta Rho is reuniting with past and current members for brunch this Saturday.

JADA ROBISON guest writer Among the many things being celebrated during Harding’s Homecoming week is the 60th anniversary of women’s social club Zeta Rho. Zeta Rho began in the fall of 1960 as a result of clubs that were formed to handle increased enrollment at the school, and in October 1961, they celebrated their first birthday.

Grace Winfree, a junior in Zeta Rho, said both her mother and her aunt were members of Zeta Rho, and the legacy affected her connection to the club.

“My mom was in Zeta Rho, and I saw how it impacted her and made her who she is today,” Winfree said. “She never put her identity in that, but she always gives credit

Zeta Rho celebrates 60 years

to those women [who] carried her through those four years.”

Senior Addison Boyle is in charge of the celebration of Zeta Rho’s 60th birthday and expressed the importance of this anniversary and bringing together both active members and alumni.

“With it being our 60th anniversary, there are generations of members that have devoted time and memories into the club,” Boyle said. “For the most part, it has been 60 years of fun, outgoing, people-loving women, and when meeting past members in Zeta Rho, it is [an] instant connection of talking about memories and traditions that still live on, along with the reputation that has stayed with us all these years.”

Boyle spoke about the gift Zeta Rho has been to her during her time at Harding

and how her role as alumni relations has blessed her.

“I have never had to [question] who I am for the girls in Zeta Rho,” Boyle said.

“One of the biggest reasons that I wanted to be in Zeta Rho was for the community and the girls that represented the club in the past and present. As alumni relations, it has been so special to talk to and work with older members and connect with them about our times in Zeta Rho ... Something about being in a community bigger than ourselves with women from all generations is such a beautiful gift.”

Shanna Jones, instructor of family and consumer sciences, joined Zeta Rho as a member over 20 years ago and said she is grateful to continue to be a part of the club as a sponsor.

“My journey with Zeta Rho started over 20 years ago in a small apartment, when a group of seniors in Zeta Rho invited me to Wednesday night prayer group,” Jones said.

“I came to [Harding] knowing a handful of people, and Zeta Rho brought me instant community before I even joined the club.

I have built many friendships with people through my time as a member and now as a sponsor. I am still very proud to be a part of this club and mentor this incredible group of girls. It’s a privilege. I hope to continue to contribute to the legacy and tradition of Zeta Rho as the years go on and watch the web of community continue to grow.”

This Saturday, the women of Zeta Rho will be celebrating their 60 years with a brunch featuring both old and current members.