,NATE SEAT GOES TO PRYOR • HOWARD WINS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATE POSITION. FLASH FLooOS RAVAGE CENTRAL ARKANSAS • InHUNE IE Today's World: History and Happenings (continued) awareness of our students as well as it did everybody's awareness as to the reality of cults. " With approximately one third of Harding's students participating in campaigns for Christ all over the world each summer, the added awareness should become beneficial in campaign work because, as Sanders said, "In increasing numbers our campaigners are encountering cultists of all kinds. " On the other hand, the world was thrilled by the first trans-Atlantic balloon flight in the American balloon Double Eagle II manned by Macie Anderson , Ben Abruzzo and Larry Newman . President Carter held a February summit meeting with Mexican President Jose Lopez Portillo in an effort to negotiate the purchase of natural gas by private U.S. firms of natural gas that exists in Mexico . Conditions in Southern Africa continued to deterioriate . Concern grew for several Harding graduates serving as missionaries in Zambia as Communist takeover of much of Africa became increasingly evident. In the United States, President Carter ran into major difficulty with Congress in implementing his campaign promises and reached a low in popularity with the American people. Huge balance of trade deficits month after month caused a great decline in the value of the dollar in the major foreign countries, causing Harding campaigners concern as to the possiblity of campaign expenses being driven to the upper limit because of the dollar's poor showing on world markets . Deficit spending by the federal government increased the national debt at an alarming rate while unemployment and inflati o n added to the economic problems. Through F.L.A.G. and other organizations, students and faculty became more deeply involved in the fight against ERA as extension of the date for approval of the amendment by the states added to the polarization that was shackling the nation . A highlight for those involved in the fight was the "Crisis in Morality" seminar on the weekend of March 2 and 3 at which Anita Bryant sang and Congressman Ed Bethune spoke. Newsmen of the state voted the disastrous flash flood in central Arkansas on September 13 as the top story of the year in Arkansas. More than 15 inches of rain in less than nine hours affected thousands of people , killing 10 and causing an estimated damage of $25 million . Some concern was expressed during the flooding for a group of Harding student nurses who worked in Little Rock, which was perhaps hardest hit by the flood , as it was questionable whether they had left ttie city in time to miss the f1oQding. They were all found to . be safe. After the flood , other Harding students, members of AEX and AAA social clubs, assisted the Red Cross in providing relief to flood victims. In second place for top news story was the race for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate seat of the late John L. McClellan, involvjpg political heavyweights David Pryor , Ray Thornton and Jim Guy Tucker. Since Ray Thornton was a member of the President's Development Council and was the brother of Betty Ulrey of the English department, there was greater interest in state and national politics on the Harding campus this year than usual as students and faculty members became involved in Thornton's campaign. Dr . and Mrs. Evan Ulrey and Virgil Lawyer were especially active in operating Thornton 's Searcy headquarters and campaigning throughout the state . Photograph by SEARCY DAILY CITIZEN At the request of former President Gerald Ford , Republican Ed Bethune , a prominent Searcy attorney, entered the race for Second District congressman and defeated Democrat Doug Brandon to become only the second Republican con - gressman from Arkansas since Reconstruction . Both Bethune and Brandon were invited to speak in chapel but Brandon's schedule prevented his accep- ,NATE SEAT GOES TO PRYOR • HOWARD WINS CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATE POSITION • FWH FLooOS RAVAGE CENTRAL ARKANSAS • InHUNE BE 42 ~ World Scenes
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