w£1ronie Youth Youth Forum is the climax of all the recruiting effons put out by the counselors, musical groups and students themselves. It is a time to bring approximately 3,500 prospective students onlO Hard~ ing's campus to experience campus and dorm life for a weekend. "It gives us a chance to show them the spiritual influence of Harding through speakers, devotionals and one ....on-one fellowship," according to Rosemary Wilson, assistant to the director of Admissions. Contrary to the thoughts of most students, Spring Sing and Youth Forum are not synonymous. Spring Sing attached itself to the Forum about six years ago, because "the audience was already on campus" therefore,putting on a musical production would be another form of entertainment for the visitors. Wilson also feels that if Spring Sing was to become the main thrust of the Forum then it would be vendictive to the purpose of the weekend. "We hope that one balances the other in the sense of entertainment, spiritual and informative influence, although some shading of the spirilual aspect s have taken place during the past few years." To the administration and faculty, Youth Forum is a time to meet new students and (:ounsel them. 5 howing them just what Harding could offer them in the areas of academics. This is the reason for the faculty and student conference held each year during the Forum. It also gives the pareots time to talk with financial directors about support for the education of their children. To the resident st udent s. Youth Forum inevitably brings about over-crowded bathrooms, sleeping bags throughout the rooms, never ending screaming and high schoolish talk in the hallways , longer meal lines and possibly the situation of eating off of campus for the weekend and unfortunateIyla huge mess to clean following the completion of the activities. The social clubs on campus view YoU!h Forum as the climax of their year also. but for a different reason. The competition of each club in the musical production over-rides any feeling of recruitment for the Admissions Office. They lose their sense of reality for the weekend and di splay attitudes thaI as Wilson speculates, "have somewhat hin - dered some of the people from bringing their children back to Harding." To the visitors on campus it is a weekend away from mom and dad, a chance to get accquainted with the surrounding of a prospective college, meeting new friends, rekindling old friendships and a time of spi ritual uplifting. Youth Forum's main goal is to bring as many students to visit this campus to grasp the entire concept of Harding , through the activities planned during the weekend, which includes but doesn't high - lighl Spring Sing. - Sue Baj 29 More than Spring Sing
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