Prestigous Visitors Speak for American Studies F or the past 25 years, a special program has been developed at Harding - one that provides information, challenge, opportunity and fun. It is the American Studies Program, open to outstand ing students in the fields of accounting, business, economics, history and political science. Program participants were exposed to an impressive wealth of information this year, perhaps even more so than in the past. Guest speakers visited the campus on invitation and readily submitted to investigative questioning and informal talks with students and faculty. These guests spoke to audiences drawn from the campus, the community, Arkansas, and even surrounding states. Aside from the popular speakers, the American Studies Program participated in other events. Observation tours, seminars and classroom instruction were other important ways to learn about America. Upon their arrival at Harding, guest lecturers were usually honored at dinners served in the American Heritage Cafeteria. The dinner provided an opportunity 104 for participants to visit with each other and listen to a few informal comments from the guest. This year's slate of visitors cou ld very well have been the most prestigous of all for the fortunate Harding students. The fall lecture series saw Will Sampson, the Indian movie star who played in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo 's Nest," come to campus and answered inpromptu questions. This was foilwed by an ancient tribal dance that called for audience participation. Another world famous figure to visit Harding was Admiral James Stockdale . The admiral was captured by the North Vietnamese and held captive for eight years, more than four of these in solitary confinement. In hi s speech Stockdale said, "In the midst of my captivity all of the things we deem important like baseball scores and fashions became meaningless. Of course, when I got back to the states, society told me to start caring again and eventually 1 did." Russian dissident Alexander Ginzburg and Malcolm Toon, a former ambassador to Russia, Arts and Sciences-American Studies -Jim Murphy - 5'4/1 Photo
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