Harding 1978: one year in our lives at the college we have grown to love. In August , the year lay before us completely untouched. We have now left our mark . 1978 was a new year, a unique year, a busy year. It was a year composed of people; people who circled in and out of our lives and left their mark. It was a year to learn our identity and our purpose here. It was a year to grow closer to our Maker, the Maker of our year and of all things . A lot can happen in just one year! 2 • Prologue
• Take a look at what happened during our year - the traditional and special occasions as well as the routine activities that constitute student life. One day at Harding is included in a special feature. 52 • People Dr. Ganus , the administration , faculty and staff along with freshmen through graduate students make up the very special people of Harding. Some of these people stand out and receive added recognition as they are honored for various achievements. 178 • Sports Competition is at its best as students back the Bisons in every major AIC sport. Not to be overlooked is our excellent intramural program along with an over view of individual sports. 216 • Groups What would Harding be without its groups? The Student Association, publications staffs , music, honor and religious groups all make for involvement. Social clubs' various activities add to the excitement of college life. 294 • Academy Harding Academy - home of the Wildcats. From first grade to the senior class, the Academy plays an active role in our academic community. Here is a look at the Wildcats' year and the people who lived it . 354 • Ads/Index Advertisers support Harding and the yearbook by purchasing advertisements; we in turn support them by patronizing their businesses . For your convenience, the index contains a complete listing of the people and activities that composed our year. ~ Contents .3
4 • Pro
What made the year unique was what makes Harding unique; its people. In late August, the small rural Arkansas town of Searcy witnessed the arrival of 2,841 students from all over the globe as Harding reached its all-time record enrollment . This produced growing problems but with colleges and universities across the nation having the opposite problem, it seemed a good problem to have. 1.000 of the faces on campus were freshmen and transfers , unique new members of the Harding family. Along with the returning students and a Christian faculty and administration, they formed the unique atmosphere of Harding. It was an atmos- . phere unlike that of any other college, an atmosphere where friendli-' ness, genuine Christian concern and a simple " hi" to the visitor on campus were not uncommon . A lot of fellowship can happen in just one year! 1. VIEWING the 21 girls club booths, Carol Brown tries to decide which one to visit next. 2. AFTER SUPPER, David Grady talks with Laura Miller as they walk to the library. 3. PRESIDENT GANUS takes advantage of the free Cokes supplied by the SA during registration. 4. MAIORmE Susan Willis twirls to the atka seltzer theme during half time festivities . S. TAKING the role of a non-participant, Ken Longnecker watches the sack race at Hilarity. 6. CONTRIBUTING to the map showing the vast distribution of the student body, Sara lay pins on her home town, McAlester, Oklahoma. 7. LAUGHING TOGETHER, Kirei beau Noah Lewis and member Dianne Williams recall a humorous event from a club outing. 8. TO PROTECT herself from the sun's rays, Sheri Oliver wears a hat at open house activities in September. 9. A SLlGKTLY BIASED Debbie Land relates Zeta Phi Zeta activities at girls club open house. 10. BISON cheerleaders Laura Willis and Cilia Riley make an announcement at the FreshmanTransfer Talent Show. 11. STOPPING on the sidewalk, Eddie Beene listens to a Chi Sig brother. 12. ENJOYING one of life's simple pleasures, Mollie Cox licks her popsicle. 13. INTERESTED Tri-kappa dub prospects are warmly greeted by Myla Davis. Prologue • 5
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What made this year significant from those in the past? Surely standing in line for everything from registration to cafeteria meals was the same as was the routine of classes. However, change surrounded us and made its contributions to the academic year. Perhaps the first visible sign of change as students returned to campus for the year was the new green and white directional signs erected in Searcy. Noticed next was the controversial closing of Center Street in front of the Student Center. A more important happening was the election of Harding's first woman Student Association president. Susan Brady won a decisive victory over her male opponent . The cry of "back the band" was sounded with results as the marching Bison Band fielded 100 members for the first time and added a flag corps. Problems had to be worked out as the college updated and switched to computer registration. Students were hit by inflation during financial registration as tuition was raised to help meet the spiraling cost of running the institution . The addition of a second Pizza Hut in Searcy enabled the fourth annual Harding Day at the restaurants to raise a record $3,500 for the school. The intramural field was moved south to make room for the George S. Benson Auditorium on which construction began in March . A lot of innovations can happen in just one year! 5 1. BISON BAND MEMBER Tom Nonnan intensely plays the alma mater durilll the closing number of the half time show. 2. CROSSING FLAGS, the 19-member flag corps adds color to the field during the band's performance at the Harding-Ouachita football pme. 3. HARD AT WORK at Pizza Hut's Harding Day, Bible instructor Eddie Cloer takes an order for a large thick and chewy pizza. 4. AmR she introduc:es the Student Association Executive Council in chapel to the student body, SA PYesident s....n Brady tells of comina ilctivities for the faU semest... 5. COMPUTERS are .-used in aU phases of student registration, includina the financial part. Senior Tim Couch's bill is computed by Pat Young of the Business Office. 6. MEETING freshmen and transfers is one of Student Association President SU..n Brady's many jobs .t the beginning of the school ye.,. PIOIogue ·7
The year was bustling . Activity surrounded us . Almost everyone joined in the abundance of activities on campus that ranged from intramural sports to drama productions to social club outings. Tradition played its continued role and contributed to the vast amount of happenings on campus. Students enjoyed the annual allschool watermelon feast during the first week. The Freshman-Transfer Talent Show quickly got the new population involved as did Pledge Week . One of the newest traditions, Spring Sing, attracted thousands of Youth Forum guests and involved more than 550 students . Pretty girls wound the Maypoles and welcomed in spring for the new May Queen. The yearly rituals of Homecoming and Graduation created 8 • Prologue lasting impressions on their participants. Not all activity occurred on campus however. The White County Fair attracted much of the student body to its carnival atmosphere. Wyldewood, with its serene beauty, was popular as a get-away spot . Only 50 miles down the interstate, Little Rock provided shopping malls and banquet spots. A lot of activity can happen in just one year!
1. REPRESENTATIVES from each of the girls social clubs wind the two Maypoles during May Fete activities on the front lawn. 2. INTINSElY, junior transfer Scott Clark performs "Take It Easy" for the audience at the freshman-transfer talent show. 3. GRIMACING as he bites into a piec::e of watermelon, Kenny Stamatis gets a mouth· ful of the juicy treat . The Student Association sponsored the melon feed during first week activities . 4. GRADUATES fill the gymnasium as they participate in spring commencement ceremonies. S. POSING on their way to the auditorium, angel Doug Hudson and devil Nancy HaMa are ready to participate in King's Men and OEGE's presentation of °For the love of Angels, H a Spring Sing production number. king's Men and OEGE took top honors in the show for the second straight year . 6. LIGHTING up the midway, the Rampage is a popular ride at the White County Fair. Prologue • 9
• The smallness of the college allowed for involvement in many activities and for strong friendships to form . Perhaps the most significant feature of the school was its emphasis on the sp iritual side of man . Daily chapel services, mandatory Bible classes and frequent lily pool and dorm devotionals along with private study and talks with our Father were all part of the way of life we have come to value above all else. The realization that God is with us whether we are happy, sad, on the ball field or in the classroom, that He is with us in all our moods and wherever we go, permeated our every action . As the year progressed and it came time to leave, we arrived at a deeper understanding of ourselves, of others and of the God who created us. A lot of inner growth can happen in just one year! 10 • Prologue
1. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES are dosely checked by freshman Bible major Don Mans-- field during his New Testament Survey class. 2. DIRECTING the singing. Eugene Conner takes an active role in the lectureship's Student Day opening adivities on the front lawn. l. TllE WARMTH of • fan aftemoon, the sound of falling water and the trunk of a tree combine to make an ideal study spot for Judy Baird. 4. MAKING his habitat on the school's front lawn, a squirrel perches in one of the giant oak trees. 5. ClASSES meeting on the lawn are not unc.ommon on warm afternoons. Dr. Neale Pryor teaches his Bible class outside in front of the Olen Hendrix Building. 6. DACTYLOLOGY members Judi Garne. and Julie Hogan speak in sign language during the club's chapel program. 7. GOOD NEWS lights up the face of Lori Smith as she listens to a friend. Prologue • 11
Helping make it happenDr. Jack Ryan 12 • Dedication
Some people stand just a Iittle taller than the rest. They serve others and give of themselves with no apparent thought of physical reward. Thus, it seems fitting for the senior class to honor one such man with this dedication as a symbol of gratitude, friendship, respect and love. He is a man who teaches his courses with enthusiasm and concern for each student's welfare. One of his students made the comment, " He explains assignments clearly, he recognizes all work done for the course and he makes tests into learning experiences by thoroughly going over them :' Because of his superior teaching performance he has been awarded the Distinguished Teacher Award twice, once in 1967 and again in 1976. Joining the faculty in 1961, he has been unselfish and untiring in his service to his alma mater . In addition to teaching a full-time course load as a professor of speech, he has been deeply involved with students in various co-curricular activities . For several years he served as director of the Monday Night Meeting. He also served as advisor to Campus Players and has served as the coach for students entering various individual events in intercollegiate forensic competition . Building it into a meaningful annual event , he has served several years as director of the Speech Arts Tournament. When students became interested in having a Spring Sing, he volunteered to serve as the faculty director and, under his guidance, Spring Sing has developed into a major campus event. He has also stimulated student participation in the interpreters theatre. Taki ng an active part in the Lord's Church, he is a frequent song leader and Bible class teacher at the College congregation . He has also served as a member of the Worship Committee and has promoted more extensive reading of the Bible in the worship services. A member of the local Optimist Club, he has assisted in the organization of Optimist Clubs in some near-by towns . Because of his genui ne interest in the students both as a teacher and as an advisor and because of the Christian example he sets before us in all facets of life, the senior class proudly dedicates the 1978 Petit lean to Dr. John H. "Jack" Ryan. t / - 1. A FAMILY MAN, Dr. Ryan ho lds his son on his shoulders as they watch the Homecoming parade tORether. 2. IN THE CLASSROOM Dr. Ryan has good rapport with his students . Here he listens to one of their questions. 3. USING HIS HANDS, Dr. Ryan makes a major point during his Speech 101 Class. 4. PRESIDING <wer the awards after Spring Sing's final performance, Dr. Ryan announces the coveted sweepstakes winner. S. JOINING fellow faculty members, Dr. Ryan enjoys a mid-morning coffee break in the Student Center. Dedication • 13 -- l
14 • Events
This section includes: A Lot Can Happen In a Day • 16 Lifestyles • 26 Spring Sing • 28 Summer School • 30 Campaigns • 32 First Week • 34 Lectureship • 36 Pledge Week • 38 Homecoming • 40 World Scene • 44 Concerts • 46 Plays • 48 Involvement • 50 just one year! EVENTS Events • 15
-- -- ~ " ~ -- 16 __ ~ Day
;;::.ETING THE ~ • • • • • • Looki ng back on this year , there are many things we will forget . A yearbook tries to recall some of the most outstanding events of the year . However, the days themselves will blurr , along with many of the small happenings that made up the bulk of our weeks . Many of the everyday occurrences around which our favorite memories are entwined will never be recorded . CIRCLE • GmlNG T TOGETHER • A TIME FOR HUSTLING • BE ::t Z o .... ::t Our year was not composed of one big Spring Sing or a continual Homecoming. These are the exceptions to the ordinary and sometimes they are the most disappointing. To label a collection of only the outstanding events " student life" is inaccurate. Of course, it is equally impossible for a yearbook to report all , or even most , of the typical. After all .. " A lot can happen in a day Today is Monday, October 24th. Predicted to be a warm day in the mid-70's, it is Veterans' Day and the birthday of Dr. Olree's secretary, Terry Ryan. In a sense, it is a replica of yesterday and a pattern for tomorrow. But things will happen that will make today an origi nal. As the incipient rays of light appear, the day has already begun for many. At 5:00, there is a change in shifts at the Heritage switchboard. The breakfast cooks are going to work . Across campus in Grad Dorm, Danny Cox, who has been out of town for the weekend , shuts off his alarm clock for fifteen minutes of dozing; Sylvia Tuggle, in Dykes' House, routinely blow dries her hair; Doug Hudson, wishing to grow a beard , shaves off last night' s stubble; and a solitary jogger faithfully makes the rounds at College Park. The circle has begun. m ~ Z t: :t m ~ ~ I • • • • • § ~ HUSTLING to morning classes, students on the patterned sidewalks make an interesting ,;ght as seen from the top floor of the Olen Hendrix Building. YOAr GROOVES • :; .... NG IT EASY 0 One Day. 17
Behind the scenes All day long, there are many students that are working behind the scenes. It is these unrecognized services that keep the system going, make life comfortable at Harding and frequently continue traditions. The rewards of their work vary - for some, it's just a job, a way to bring in money; yet , for others it's self-satisfaction as well. Some of the hidden services today are: Pattie Cobb and Heritage dishwashers; mailroom assistants , who distribute the mail ; computer center managers; switchboard operators; the Bison staff, who today begin to compile Friday's paper; and library student workers who patiently re-shelve books. Below are two of the "behind-the-scenes" early morning workers: 1. HEARD BUT NOT SEEN is KHCA disc jockey Steve North trying to cheer on the sleepy disconsolates this Monday morning. 2. STUOENT WORKER Jimmy Martin prepares scrambled eggs for breakfast at Pattie Cobb for the early risers. 18 • One Day
Morning: a time for hustling ~ While many students are just beginning to rise, the 7:00 breakfast crowd at Pattie Cobb is eating to the sounds of the Beach Boys and those at American Heritage are choosing between the usual selection of doughnuts and eggs. The scrambled eggs and coffee are necessary eye-openers to those students who prefer to eat rather than sleep in the pre-class hours . The sidewalks which were once desolate are becoming busy. A few students break into a half-run as the 8:00 bell rings and class commences for Literature of the Western World, in which Dr. Gary Elliott is discussing Anglo-Saxon literature and briefly describing the sounds of the language. In Olen Hendrix 207, Elaine Thompson is explaining the techniques of sewing on the top collar of a jacket in Clothing Tailoring. Kent Pate, Rick Cook, Vickie Carrier and several other art students are completing line drawings demonstrating blind contour in their Two-Dimensional Design class, which are due to be finished at the end of the period . It appears, as one of the students jokes, "The really good artists procrastinate ." Monday mornings are filled with classes for most students . With an average of 57 classes beginning on the hours of 8:00, 9:00, and 10:00, it is an ideal schedule to get most of the classes out of the way in the mornings, leaving the afternoons sparsely filled and with a lot of available time for other activities. A ten-minute interval for changing classes makes more of a dash than a walk for students who must go from the American Studies Building to the distant New Gym, or from Harbin Hall to the Heritage Building. Whatever the distance between classes, however, the tight schedules make Monday mornings a time for hustling. 1. CASUALLY sitting on her desk, Dorothy Wright reads a paragraph in French to her Elementary French class, which meets at 10:00. 2. BOB GUTIERREZ completes an oil painting for his Introduction to Painting class in his spare time. 3. MARK HOOPER begins his Monday morning with an 8:00 Elementary Hebrew class, which meets in room 108 of the Bible Building. 4. ATIENTIVELY, Paul Symanowitz listens into Selected Letters to Christians. 5. LATE NIGHTS make sleepy mornings for David Mitchell, who catches some sleep in his 9:00 New Testarne"t class. 6. CHILD DEVELOPMENT class, meeting at 8:00, provides Home Economics major JuliaWelis with the opportunity to work directly with children. One Day. 19
1. DEAN PRYOR makes the usual long list of Monday morning announcements at second chapel. 2. TO~Y CARR reads a letter while Debbie Fagan checks the Tri Kappa club box for new announcements. 3. GOOD COMPANY makes the cafeteria food better for Eugene Conner and Sylvia Pedol. 4. THE BREAK between chapel and lunch provides Lynn Watson with a good chance to check for mail. 5. LONG LUNCH LINES make students recall the advantages of home. Midday: the everyd~y grooves 20 • One Day
The day is broken by chapel and lunch. This year two chapel sessions are characterize<;l by 1,250 filled chapel seats and foldout chairs down the three floor aisles. The student body divides the whole into two halves - early chapel at 11:00 while the rest eat lunch and then exchange as late chapel commences at 11 :45 and the lines at Pattie Cobb and American Heritage once again lengthen . Chapel means different things to different people . For some it is a time to study, catch up on lost sleep , or a time to sit next to a special person; but to others, it is a chance to skip and complete the overdue. Its purpose, though, however fulfilling to the individual, is to pause in the day for worship - singing and praying to, and meditating on the One who made this mundane Monday so , glorious . The Student Association is directing chapel as they will the rest of the week. Their theme is "God is active in the lives of His children " and In first chapel David Cranford reads promises that God will protect hi s children , from Daniel 6:33 and Psalms 121. A visit to the student center is never complete without checking the club boxes . Fastened to a wall left of the front entrance, it is attended by such a hub of news seekers that those attempting only to enter the student center must shuffle through the crowd. Today the assembly is segregated into cliques of the respective clubs who are conveying announcements of meetings, football games and other club news among Here are some of the students who are "taking it easy" this afternoon: · 1. KENT JOHNSON BROWSES through the card selection in the bookstore. 2. JANE DAVIS AND CATHIE BINNS FIND time for conversation and some refreshments from the snack bar. J. RON DICKER AIMS for a direct shot in his leisure pool game. themselves so that they actually appear to be holding club meetings . The main attraction to the student center are the mail boxes, which are visited by almost every student several times a day. Although today is Veteran 's Day and no mail will be delivered, there are still many students who cannot resist inclinations to check their boxes. The combinations have become as familiar as social security lumbers with most students and the dials are turned almost without thought. Many close their boxes with disappointment after peering into them to find " air mail. " For others, the disillusionment is delayed as they shuffle through a deceiving stack of letters , only to discover that it is all for their boxmates. Accepting his fate, one student removes last week 's,College Church Bulletin and stuffs his competitor's mail back into the box. On days like today, even a job offer from the Financial Aids Office or a bill from the Business Office is welcomed . Campus mail saves the hopes of some, however: a scripture card from a secret club brother or sister, cookies from a friend , or perhaps a romanti c note from a sweetheart. The ones who do receive letters find seats and read them and the ones without have quick conversations . Whatever the outcome, the 12:25 bell rings and the crowd dissipates into various activities. Midday moves into afternoon, having been established through routines of classes, chapels, lunch, and mail checks, the everyday grooves . The 12:30 bell signals the beginning of class for Analytical Chemistry, Russia and the Soviet Union, Principles of Christian Living, and 44 other afternoon classes. Many students , however, remain in the Student Center. The activities here are diverse: some can be found in the snack bar sipping soft drinks with friends; others attempt to study amid the clamor of music and conversation ; the television in the lobby is relating a broken love affair of a soap opera; and in the Bison Lanes, challengers compete in foosball , pool, and bowling. One Day· 21
22 • One Afternoon: a time for special interests Working it out Designed for many simultaneous activities , th e New Gymnasium provides numerous outlets for the physica ll y express ive students o f Harding. Its faci lities are used for differen t reasons to re i ieve frustration , achieve peak physi cal condition , or just to be part of a winning team. For whatever reasons, a 5:00 visit to the gymnasium reveals it as a center of activity this afternoon . Happening concurrently are gymnas tics , f oot ball game rev iews , basketball and swim team practi ces, weight- lifting experimentation for the NASA progr am , and a ri gorous racquetball mat ch between Kent Jones and Chuck Frazier. Working out in the New Gym this afternoon: 1 . THE WATER BUFFALOES listen as Coach Arnold Pylkas assigns team members to swimming events. 2. BURRELL WALTON and other participators in a series of experiments for NASA press weights three times each week from 3:00-5:00. 3. KIM FOURNIER demonstrates her flexibility in the strenuous gymnastic exercises. 4. WHILE THE OTHER basketball players p<actice strategic moves at the other end of the court, Student Assistant Coach Butch Gardner vigorously drills a portion of the team.
Late afternoon brings a typical Arkansas shower . Umbrellas appear over the campus, while some students remain on schedule, never minding the rain . The sprinklers continue to water the grass and sidewalks. As the afternoon wears on into evening, classes continue, but there is a gradual but definite change of pace in the day as extracurricular activities are pursued . Students move from classes, in which they are divided for required courses, into special interests, where they are individuals with each his own particular talents and goals . In the Music Building, at various times of the afternoon, the musically talented members of the Chorale, A Cappella, and Belles and Beaux meet for practice. At 5:00 the Marching Band meets . This evening they are hosting a guest speaker, Ted Altman, Dean of Students . This time of day also provides the chance for many of the student workers to put in their hours . Some are secretaries, such as Cindy Beggs, who works in the Speech Office . Others ate janitorial workers, such as Carol Manley and Susan Balding, who this afternoon are mopping the auditorium floor . Meanwhile, on the Intramural Field behind the Olen Hendrix Building, there is an exciting game of club football. Knights are defeating defending champions Theta Tau in small club division . Their 8-0 victory will advance Knights to the championship finals. Elsewhere on campus, near the Bell Tower, two friends sit in a swing engrossed in conversation. Soon, it will be time for supper, but right now students are taking the time for special interests. 1. JEFF BATIE, a freshman, receives early counseling from Billy Verkler, a professor of sociology. 2. ART CLASSES frequently require many hours to be spent outside of class. This afternoon art major Anita Freeman uses her free time to add final touches to a painting. 3. LIKE MANY STUDENTS, Chris Hertenstein works on campus to help pay her tuition . Her job is cleaning the classrooms of the Bible Building. 4. PREPARIRG a solution in her Analytical Chemistry lab, Janet Jordan seeks an el(act measurement. One Day. 23
1. SEARCHING through the microfilm files , two students look for articles for outside reading for their classes. 2. CHOOSING relaxation over studying in the library, Susan Smith and Tom Cloniger watch televsion in the Kendall lounge. 3. PARTICULARLY crowded tonight is the periodical room. 4. SOLE CHARACTER in this One Act, Shannon Hawkins reacts to the threatening message of "The Recorder ." S. CLOSE TO 10:30, the library empties, and Judy Riley and Brad Watson find among the carrels a quiet place to talk. 24 • One Day
Club meetings are marked by individual participation: 1. BEAU of OEGE, Craig Atterberry smiles as he is chided about his nickname, "Kinky ." 2. JOINTLY meeting, Kevin Granberg and other members of Knights and Phi Delta vote on a Spring Sing Chairman. 3. SECRETARY of Delta Theta Epsilon, Liz Ward raises her hand for a suggestion as the club discusses their outing to Petit Jean mountain. " Getting it together The cl ubs at Harding are one of the ti es that make famil y units from over 1, 500 students. The large room of Bible 100 is a busy center tor club meetings toni ght: 5:45 for the Timothy Club, a spec ial interest club for Bi ble majors; 7: 00 for Kni ghts and Phi Delta, who are meeting jointl y; and 9:00 for Chi Sigs. Also meeting at various times in the Bible Building are Delta Th eta Epsilon , OEGE, and King' s Men. Kappa Phi , meeting at 7:30, are " getting it together" in the Ganus Building. -- Evening: completing the circle It 's 6:00. The cafeterias have closed their serv ing lines and a few students sit around the tables in groups, joking and laughing. Many of them are members of the same clubs . They've already fini shed supper, but the women have changed from dresses to jeans; and since no one has a pressing schedule to meet , they are in no hurry to leave the relaxed conversation. The li ghts are dimmed to encourage their departure, so, hesitantly, the groups break up and, in two's and three's, they string out of the cafeterias . The One Acts, a seri es of short comed ies and dramas (the second set this semester), began at 6:00 in the Little Theatre . Also at thi s time, the videotape of last year's Spring Sing is being shown in the recording studio . In . Bible 100, Gailyn Van Rheenen is speaking to the Timothy Club about preaching to different cultures . The library is occupied by a large number of people tonight, not uncommon for the small building which is quickly becoming inadequate to accommodate the growing number of students . Particularly crowded is the periodical room, where many find art icles for outside reading required in most courses . Joe McReynolds, the librarian for ton ight, is showing a student how to find a parti cular bound periodical. Several men are reading newspapers the headline of one, the Arkansas Gazette , reports that the Panamanians are to vote on the cana l treat ies. In hushed voices, two people discuss an ass ignment in a class after di scovering that they are both look ing for the same magaz ine. Less crowded are the carrels upstairs , which are occupied by t hose who find the dorms too noi sy for concent rat ion. The facilities of the gym are open to students tonight . Others, such as Keith Percell , may be found in the laundry room, studyi ng, wh il e his clothes f inish drying. For just soc ial izing, the Student Center and dorm lounges have ping pong, Monopoly, li vely Rook games , television, and a lot of people. The familiar ringing in the Bell Tower at 10:25 calls students to their respect ive dorms. On the front steps of Stephens, near the pillars of Pattie Cobb and New Dorm, and on the sidewalks near Cathcart and Kendall, couples are scattered, saying their goodni ghts. Almost simultaneous with the turning of the locks to the girl s' dorms, the telephones begin to ring. Most of the telephones w ill be busy until around 12:00, espec iall y the hall phones. In dorms that are not wired for private lines, trying to find a free telephone can be a frustrating task, in spite of the five minute limit on te lephone conversations. The halls are al ive w ith talking, v isiti ng, and blaring music. Around 12:00 the wings are calmer. Many are in bed now. A few with press ing ass ignments are studying. Some who have late permission are checking in wi th the late-duty R.A.'s. One by one, the lights go out. The tired students are closing their eyes for their five or six hou rs of rest after their 25-hour day. Few have trouble gett ing to sleep. The circle has finished itself and begun again. Many have gone to sleep tonight, thinking of what's to be done tomorrow, some reviewing the events of the day . In the sense that it has been a circle, the day of October 24th has been typi cal; yet, the events that were tangent to today's circle have made it unique . When there is this dynamic combination of both the typical and the uniqu~ a lot can happen in a day . One Day. 2S
ADJUSTMENTS: Rick Strickland: dealing with the problems of transferring David McAnulty: . overcomIng cuItural barriers Lee & Sharon Wills: how marriage makes a difference 26 • Adjustments RICK STRICKLAND is a senior history major from Henager, Alabama. Having transferred from Alabama Christian College in Fall semester of 1976, he discussed some of the problems he tackled in adjusting from a small junior college to a senior college. "Most of my adjustments stemmed from transfering from a junior college of about 300 students to a senior college of about 3,000 . "At Alabama Christian, knew everyone - their first and last names, hometowns, and many times even their parents. You knew everyone and everyone knew you. You could be close friends with half the student body. At Harding there's no way you could know everybody. There's an advantage to that, though. " I think it's all . up to the person. If you 've got a pessimistic attitude, you can make excuses and complain. But an optimist will say, 'Well , I've just got more people to make friends with: and he will go through the whole year continually making friends. "There are many more activities at Harding in which you can participate. When you first get here it's easy to get involved in too many things. It's like a kid in a candy store or at grandma's house at Christmas - he makes himself sick by eating too much. Without thinking, you can get too involved . There comes the time when you just have to sit down and evaluate the situation: Why are you here? What is going to be most benefi <;jal to you in the future? You have to place what is most important spiritually first . You feel bad if you don't do that to which you've obligated yourself, but often you don' t even have time to sit down and read your Bible . That's why I went inactive in my club this year - I had to pick those things that were most important to me. I'm taking three langauges - German , Greek, and Russian. I am involved in summer campaigns, and I hope to get a Little Brother. I do the things I want to do most. "Academics are more difficult at HardiDg, but they should be at a senior college. I had a lot of fun my first two years, but when I came here, I had to settle down, and learn how to budget my time .· Perhaps it was just the "process of maturing," Although he was born in Texas, DAVID McANULTY has spent most of his life in Lille, France, where his father is a missionary. Having come to Harding this year as a freshman, David discussed some of his adjustments to a college with a different culture. "The method of teaching in the schools is basically the same. You have to be present in class and listen to the lectures. I think we had to work harder at the French schools . The material was more difficult and we had more homework . I had at least an hour's homework everyday until my last two years of high school. "There was a big difference in the testi ng systems because there was more memorization involved. Here we have true-false and multiple choice. In France we were given just the questions, without a choice of answers. You just had to know them. "Schools in France are stricter and being polite and respectful is really underlined . French people have that deep down inside them because they
are raised that way. It would be easier for a stranger over there because French people are more considerate in general . Americans are more sure of themselves . When you change societies, that is even accentuated. " So many people are outgoing here. They expect you to be the same way they are . I can understand it now, but I didn't at first. They couldn't stop and say, 'Oh , he's French . It might not be the same over there. Maybe we should be ni ce to him,' because they didn't understand that French people were different. They felt they were being nice by being natural. " A characteristic of French people is that they don't want to bother other people . They will never impose themselves . When I first came here and I would see a group of people talking, I would not join them because I felt like that would be imposing myself. You have to be outgoing here. That's the main problem I faced. " American people that are real shy probably have the same problem that I did . I met a lot of people who were real outgoing at first and that's who I compared myself to. Some days it made me feel like not talking to other people because I felt so out of place. Then other days I felt more confident and I found that people were real nice and that made me more friendly . Now I feel more like meeting people and having fun than I did at first. " The humor is different here than what it was in France. I caught on pretty fast , though. I n France, someone who can play on words real well is considered funny , but here it is considered corny . Some jokes, like slapstick humor, are the same. "The churches of Christ are small in France. The church I attended was one of the largest, and they had a mem- ' bership of about 40 . It's small, but the people who go there are strong. In the States - I realize that everyone is not this way - I see a lot that reminds me of the French Catholic. They go to church , but it seems that it stops there. I guess when a man becomes a member of a small church , he must come out of the world . " I guess the first thing you do is compare everything to your home country . Even if you don' t have any problems adj usting, you still get homesick. "American people, except when they study about Europe or some country, don't realize that there's a lot of world outside the States. I guess that is because America IS so selfsufficient. " Lee and Sharon Wills live in 2-6 of the Old Married Students Apartments. It has been their home for their 16 months of marriage . " It's pretty small , but we don't have a whole lot of things, so we have managed to find places for all of it . As far as the rent, you can't beat it . It's fine for a couple." Lee is a senior Bible major from Memphis. Fall semester he preached at Griffithville, and since January he has been the minister of the Batesville congregation. After his graduation in May, he intends to enter Harding Graduate School in Memphis. Sharon graduated in May of 1977 with a degree in special education and is presently teaching junior high and high school classes at Des Arc. She described her first year of teaching as a shock: "There are so many kids that get out and say that they don't like it at all. I was almost like that. I mean , when I got those high school kids, it just almost turned me off." She explained that a good prevention for the maladju stment would be more practi cal experience on the junior or senior high levels, and "a lot of work in the area of discipline. I know they can't tell you what "to do in every situation ; but still , I had to learn for myself ." During the first year of their marriage, before Sharon graduated, they both worked in Heritage Cafeteria . Since their parents have agreed to pay most of the educational costs, the money that they make goes to pay for groceries, gas, utilities and rent on the apartment. "We have to manage our money, though. We try to do it together so we both know how much money we have and where it is going. It helps a whole lot. I have heard that some couples like for just one to manage the money; but that way, the other one doesn't kn~w what is going on ." lee and Sharon Wills Lee and Sharon agreed that one of the main adjustments from single to married life is the social change. " It has been difficult for me this year because I really feel out of it . We don't go and do as many things on campus. We have our own life right here with the other couples in the building," Sharon commented. "The real difference I've found," added Lee, " is that I have to concentrate more on finding out the activities going on during the week. When you' re living in the dorm, you overhear people talking about things; but when you' re separated from the campus, you don' t hear as much." Theta Alpha Gamma, commonly called TAG, is the club for married students. The recent efforts of the club have been to get the couples of the Old Married Students Apartments and the New Apartments together. " I think it is real good fellowship, myself. We have had a lot of fun just getting together with other married people," Sharon said. " Is it true that your grades go up when you get married?" is the question that Lee is most often asked by engaged men. HE!' answers: " It's true. I think the reason why is that you have more time . I figured out that when I lived in Harbin and Sharon lived in Kendall , it took ten minutes to walk over there and ten minutes to walk back, and that's 20 minutes. When you do that three or four times a day, it adds up to over an hour of walking back and forth . Now that I don't have to do that, I have more time to study." "Another consideration is that you can study and rest better," added Sharon. "If you want to go to bed, you can; if you don't, there's no one making noise to hinder your thinking, so you can get a lot more done. " 27 • Adjustments
Summer school provides the 'best educational buy' The first t ime I ever saw the Harding campus was on a hot day in July of last summer. A few minutes in the sun would have made a person feel faint. It was a relief to come in out of the heat into the ai r-conditioned lounge of Stephens Hall. As I reca ll my impressions of Harding that day, I remember most the beauty of the campus, the splendor of the New Gymnasium and the general friendliness of the people that I met . I will never forget what one of them told me . My mother and I were staying in the adjoin ing room to hers in the su ite. She was a fri endly sophomore attending one of the summer sessions and was anxious to answer any of our questions. "Don't form your impression of Harding now," she told us, "no one is here now. The place is dead." I thought at the time it was paradoxical , even a little humorous , since I was transferring from a much smaller junior college whi ch, in its regular sessions, claimed on ly as many students as Harding had on its campus in that one summer session. I understood better what she meant when the fall semester began with its many activities. One of the important lessons I have learned as a college student is to hear the story out. We, as college students (or as human beings). have the funny habit of magnifying a bad point into monstrous proportions, while taking the good for granted. Therefore, when I began to research the summer sessions, I looked for those hidden good poi nts . What made over 700 students spend part or all of their 30 • Summer School summer in the hot Arkansas climate in classes, away from home I To answer that question, I interviewed Dr. James Carr , Director of Summer Sessions. " It' s the best educational buy," he stressed. "A student who attends the 2'1z-week intersession and the two 5week summer sessions may accumulate academic credit equivalent to that of one semester. He saves both time and money. Since he is condensing 17 weeks of academic work . into a period of about 12V, weeks , he saves on food and housing costs ." "It works almost like the trimester system." Intersession was a new addition to last summer's program of studies. In thirteen class days a student was able to acqu ire up to four hours of credit. Beginning immediately after the close of Spring Semester in May, a student attend ing intersession was able to be out of school and entering the job market back home by June 1, before many other co ll eges had dismissed for summer vacation. The new intersession , along with the summer sess ions, a lso allowed students to gain a full semester's credit in one summer, work ing "almost like the trimester system." "We had such a fine response from both the students and the staff for the initial program that we decided to repeat it," said Dr. Carr. "A total of 143 students attended·classes last year and a projected 200 will enroll this year." Dr. Carr also pointed out that the summer sessions were ideal for taking "exploratory courses" in areas of interest, especially by those who were unsure about their majors. Another added advantage is one about which students may not be aware. While there was not as much to do, the grades of those attending summer sessions were normally better than the grades they made during the regular semesters. Dr. Carr felt this was due to reduced distractions . While the acti vities on campus were not completely e liminated , the activities did not re<1!U ire planning by the students, . only their participation . Therefore, students had more ti me to study. There were no club functions , which require so much time durin g the regular semester; however, many social activities were planned for the summer. Opening with a Camaraderie to get everyone acquainted, there were 5
movies almost every weekend, watermelon cuttings, float trips, intramural games, candlelight buffets, and a Saturday trip to Blanchard Spri ngs and the Ozark Fol k Center. Two eariy orientations characterized the summer. Dr. Carr was enthusiastic about the response to these reporti ng that almost 60 per cent of the freshmen attended one of the weekends. A favorite event at each of the orientations was the supper club. Served by members of the faculty, students and visitors enjoyed good meals and "floor shows." The entertainment at these shows included Jack Ryan and his "ragtime" piano, a quartet composed of faculty members' wives, Dot Beck, and student performers. 1. POLITELY, Virgil Lawyer, associate professor of history I helps future freshman Carla Johnson with her chair. 2. THE CALM CAMPUS provides friends with a chance to get to know each other beHer. 3. ART MAJOR Kathy Reichel, from Munich, West Germany, is counseled by Elizabeth Mason at Early Orientation. 4. AN EARLY ORIENTATION VISITOR is assisted by faculty member Maurice Lawson. 5. A HIGHLIGHT of the supper club is a ragtime performance on the piano by lack Ryan. In addition to the regular summer classes, there were also several special programs and workshops offered on the Harding campus in the summer months. There were workshops to fit the needs of upper level and graduate students. Other programs were held for specific groups. For example, there were workshops on social studies, teaching Bible in public schools, environmental science, and to improve readi ng. There was an Advanced Studies Program for high school juniors and a Developmental Program for freshmen. "It was great just to have the thneto spend with friends." Many of the students I talked to had favorable impressions of the summer sessions. Sue Berlin, a senior speech therapy major, said, "I didn't mind that there weren't that many activities on campus. I just enjoyed the time I had to spend with my friends." Less obligations gave students more time to spend on their own. Weekends were often spent at Heber Springs or Little Rock. "Stump devotionals" were held every Tuesday evening by some of the summer students. "The floaCtrip and the weekend we went to Blanchard Springs was a lot of fun," Sue recalled. "The supper buffets were great. I really enjoyed it one night when they had Time of Day play for us during dinner. And oh yes - the movies were free!" "I'm really a summer school advocate. It's a great way of getting an education quick." Beverly Nail, who transferred in the summer from another college, found it a very good time to adjust to a new place. " It helped me get used to the campus and make some good friends before all the fall activities started. I also got to know some of the teachers well." Perhaps the most enthusiastic about the summer sessions were the teachers. Virgil Lawyer, who taught American Government in the intersession and summer sessions, asserted: "I think they' re both marvelous. The students I had really seemed to enjoy it. I'm really a summer school advocate. It's an advantageous method of getting an educatior. quick." He also believes that summer sessions are easier for the students because the sequence of classes are closer together. Jo Cleveland taught Studies in Poetry in intersession. She called tne three-week addition "the greatest thing that has happened to summer school in a long time." - Kay Williams Summer School • 31
Campaigning for Christ overseas "I've come to see that although we can't do much, God can really make something of it." Holland Retuming to the land of his birth, CRAIG RICHARDSON had the advantage of familiarity with the language and the people. Craig, a major in Biblical languages, hopes to finish his education at Harding Graduate School and then return to Holland to spend the rest of his life. Austria Bible major STEVE SMITH has participated in summer campaigns to Austria and its surrounding countries. Last summer took the group of 22 students across the Iron Curtain to Yugoslavia, where Sieve hopes to make his lifetime mission field. "You can be taught the truth, but it will be meaningless unless you seek it yourself." 32 • Campaigns "There's a language much deeper than words. It's the language of love." ,. Germany Preparing for her future mission work, JULIE JONES went to Germany to "get a taste of what lay ahead." This 7-week campaign took 14 students to Vienna, Italy and Hanover, Gennany. LIBBY COCHRAN, a sophomore nursing major fro m Hobbs, New Mexico, was one of the 22 students who spent six weeks in the Brazilian cities of Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte. She plans to study Portuguese and retum to Brazil for the summer campaign of 1979. "They work so hard and are so dedicated . It just puts us to n " same.
How it feels working -in an overseas mission field is only known by those who have had that experience. Craig, Julie, Steve and libby discuss some of the barriers they faced and effects that the summer campaigns in which they participated had on their lives. "Our primary task in Holland was to set up appointments with contacts for the missionaries who are stationeQ there to go back and visit. They're still studying now with those that were made during June. They hold stud ies every night , and on some nights they alternate between homes each week . They just don't have the manpower to contact all of them. "Most people do know the name of Jesus , but they don't have the concept of Jesus that's in the Bible . I believe that for the most part, they view Him as a distant savior who' s not really concerned about what's going on . They view God more as someone who is anxious to condemn , rather than as a loving Father. To be more precise, to them He is simply inactive - practically dead today. He doesn't have anvthing to do with the fact that they' re lonely or that they're hungry or that they 're worried . Religion isnothiog more than a ritual. "One way this summer helped me was in really learning to depend on God. Since I only had a limited knowledge of the language, I realized that what I could do is very small , and I learned to have more faith . I think I'm beginning to learn how to pray, especially since this sum~ mer. I've learned to see that although we can't do much, God can take the little things we do and make something out of it . "I really believe the campaigns are worthwhile for students who are here preparing for their life's work. I think to prepare for the work you are going to do the rest of your life, part of your education needs to be in seeing the needs of other countries, too." "People were constantly coming up to us and saying, 'You have such beautiful smiles. Why do you smile 50 much I' Why you ' re happy is a hard thing to explain to people who don't have Jesus in their lives. The people in Germany are very sad people. They drink a lot and are very materialisti c. They would see something in us , just by the fact that we were happy, and they wanted that. It was a big factor in the success of our campaign work . " You have to realize that their whole coun t ry has been destroyed and so associating God with the idea of protection is hard for them. You have to consider that they have been through much more than we have - ' that they have seen members of their families die right before their eyes in the war, and have had their homes destroyed. There is a coldness there. There is a 'I'm not willing to open up to you because I might be hurt : and as Americans, we had to deal with that idea . There are some people who remembered us as Americans in the war, and regardless of whether we had ever shot a bullet, others had before us, and that was a barrier that we had to overcome. "Five other campaigners and I worked witn the puppet theatre in an un~ derground mall at the main train station in Hanover. We worked all day with these puppets and contacted thousands of people. They would watch and then leave, and sometimes a few minutes later you would see them come back - maybe with a child, maybe with another person. " They didn't always agree with what we said. Some people would shout things at us. Of course, we were lucky - we didn't know what they were saying. But then there were the people you could tell understood. I think there's a language much deeper than words. It's the language of love. " "The main barrier is atheism. We really don't understand why people don't believe in God because we were taught to believe in Him all of our lives and we just accept it . I remember one time a guy told me not to blame him because he didn't bel ieve in God because he had never been taught about God. None of his teachers and friends believed in God, and there aren't that many Bibles in Yugoslavia, although it is more tolerant of religion than any of the other communist countries. "It's given me a whole new point of view about truth. I thi nk you can be taught the truth , but it will be meaningless until you seek it yourself - until you stop saying, 'Well , he's taught me that it's true, 50 I believe it: and start saying, 'He said it's true, I'm going to see if it's right.' "Most importantly, I think, I've gained a more open mind toward the world. I've come to realize that the world isn't just Searcy, Arkansas or the United States. For example, we've been taught all our lives that democracy is the only way, that communism is evil and that they in ~ doctrinate their people . And they say just the opposite. I really feel that democracy is the best system, but we need to be more open~ minded to other types of philosophy. You can see good in almost anything. "I n the same way, I met some people who were atheists and will probably be atheists all of their lives. But I think that God sent Christ for that person just as much as he did for me. I think a lot of times we tend to hold grudges. We need to just love people, no matter who they are " People go to Rio de Janerio and say they've been to Brazil. But we rode on the buses with the people. We went in their homes and drank coffee with them. It's a whole different view of the country . The people, I think, really make a difference. They don' t have the things we have, but they don't miss them. They' re content with what they have . "In Brazil, no one looks at a person for what they wear or for what they have. I really appreciated that about them because Americans put so much emphasis on appearances. This campaign made me realize that it doesn't matter what a person wears or what they look like or what color they are. Brazilians are such a mixture of races that they don't have any racial discrimination. It really helped me to see that God made us all. " The people were very receptive . They were hungry for literature, especially religious literature. Anytime we would pass out tracts on the streets or on the buses, people would stop what they were doing and read them right there. "We really got attached to the young people. They are so uplifted when the campaigners come . It's something they look forward to all year. And then it just puts them on a high until next year. They work 50 hard and are 50 dedicated, it just puts us to shame . " I now recognize our responsibility as Christians to take the gospel to all the world. People hear the gospel all the time here in the States. They get tired of it. They slam doors in our faces and they won't come . They are just turned off by religion. Elsewhere in the world, people are starving to hear it . It's not hard to get Brazilians to listen to you. Language wasn't a barrier. We could express our love to the young people by our eyes . I wouldn't let language stop anyone from going." Campaigns • 33
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