me lights were low; the band was on stage; energy sizzled through the air; and the crowd was chanting "HU Bisons!" to the beat of the drums. Vertical Horizon perfonned in the Benson Auditorium Oct. 2 and gave students like junior Geoff Banks a pleasant surprise. "Wow," Banks said. "TIley rocked harder than I thought they would." To some students, however, having a band like Vertical Horizon play at the university was not only a good show, but also an indication of where future university entertainment may be headed. "Inmyfour yearshere, the only other concert I've attended was Switchfoot [February 2004]," senior Shade Haislip said. "All the other shows were either really country or silly, both of which are styles I don't enjoy." Haislip said he preferred bands that put on a "good 'ole rock concert." However, he did not expect he wouJd get his kind of concert at Harding. "T was worried that we were going to get another country act like Jo Vertical Horizon brings everything stuaents want Dee [MessinaJ-" Haislip said. Haislip and his fellow students got a show they thought was quite different from Messina's, who performed at Harding spring 2003. "The show was nothing like I expected," Haislip said. "1 was surprised by all the heavy guitar solos. Throughout the show they exhibited different stylistic influences and played songs by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and The BeatIes." Haislip said he was also pleased that Vertical Horizon encouraged audience participation. "The lead singer asked us how the football game went that night, and suddenly everyone started chanting 'HU Bisons,'" he said. "The next thing r knew, the drummer was tapping out a rhythm with our chant, and they started playing a Zeppelin song." Haislip said he believed the Campus Activities Board was trying to diversify the musical acts it invited in order to grab a larger college-level audience. Junior Maggie Hlasta, a volunteer member of the CAB, was part of a student security team for the Vertical Horizon show. She was glad Harding put aside the country music this time in order to keep their concert selection eclectic. "It's a totally different genre of music than what we usually get," Hlasta said. Dustin Vyers, student life coordinator, said he wanted to provide concerts students would be interested in attending. "It has been my goal to move away from country to something that most students would want," Vyers said. "When you ask the students what they want to see, many say 'more rock'" After researching the lyrics, personality and showmanship of Vertical Horizon, Vyers determined the group would be a good fit for the campus. Vyers said the concert was a success and the students, as well as himself, enjoyed it maybe more than last spring's Switchioot concert. "I thought it was a little more happening than with Switchfoot," Vyers said. "People were jumping around and really getting into it." ~STACEY CONDOLORA SOPHOMORE DAVID SCRANTON SlIDES down the inflatab leobstaclecourseat the alumni relations-sponsored tailgatepartyOct. 2duringFamily Weekend.Theadmissions office organized Bison Daze. an event for prospective students, onthe sa meweekend,brin gingth ousandsof vi sitors tocampus.•c. ROBERSON ENTERTAINER MARK NIZER jugglesthree ringsand two balls for acrowdof morethan 1,000 in theBenson AuditoriumOct. 1during Family Weekend and BisonDaze. Nizerwasalso aregular performer at Student Impact,the univerSi ty'snew-stud ent orientationprogram, andUplift,a summercampfor high schoolstudents.·c. ROBERSON 21 - CAMPUS ACTIVITIES
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