ITraditionsl Magic of Swings If only the swings could talk, what stories they could tell! The white, wooden structures plant· ed in strategic locations around the Harding campus look innocent enough, yet they have witnessed a variety of ex - periences in the lives of Harding faculty and students throughout the years. When asked just how long the swings have been around. Dr. Ganus replied, " Would you believe that, when I came here 42 years ago, they were already here! " Actually , they have been around much longer than that. The 1934 purchase of the Galloway Women 's College in· eluded the campus' swings, and they have decorated the Har· ding campus ever since. One of the more significant aspects of the swings is the aura of romance that surrounds them. They have provided the setting for many a proposal. Barbie Smrth. library secretary and wife of the campus minis' ter, fondly recalls the night in the fall of 1956 that her hus· band, Dwight, asked for her hand in marriage while seated in their "usual swing." "We planned out our lives in those swings, " she said, "even the number of children we wanted. " She added that in those days it was easy to distinguish the girls who were dating someone by the mosquito bites on the backs of their legs - a tell·tale sign ·of swing sitting! The swings cont inue to enhance the lives of present Melinda Ann Preble· Houston, TX. AccouDting. Kitei Na Ai. Treasurer. American Studies; Internet ional Campaigns; Chamber Singers; Chorale. Treasurer; Delta Mu Delta; Young Republicans; Dean's List. DaYld Louis Presley· Harrison, AR. Physica l Education. Ti tans. Iowa Campaigns: Ka Re Ta Beau; Intercollegiate Basketball; PEMM Club. Janice June Priestley. Houaton, TX. Business Systems Analysis. Phi DelhI. Secretary. Society for Advancement of Management. Secretary. Jean Annette Priestley. Houaton, TX. Accounting. Phi Delta, T reasurer. Society for Advancement of Management, Su..n Rebecca Pryor. Searcy, AR. Journalism. Regina, Historian. Athletic Dlrec. tor. President. A Cappella: Biaon Staff. Reporter; International Campaigns. Fighting for People in Chi cago; PetitJean Staff . Editor. Photographer : Society for Collegiate Journalists; Who's Who; Women's Ensemble: Dean's List. Patricia Freeman Puckett - North Ultle Rock, AR. Office Administ ration. Ka Re Ta. Secretary. Alpha Chi; Band, Concert. Marching; Campaigns, May, Northwest; Delta Mu Delle; JOY. Martha Sue Purdom· Purdy, MO. Physic;!l! Education. Tofebt. AlpNi Chi; Frater $od;!llis Q1)«n; Intramural AII·Star; K!ippa Delta Pi: PEMM Club : SNEA. Lauri Lee Pylkas • Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Elementary Educ;!lUon. Regina. Ricky A, Qualla· Camden, AR. Music Education. GelellY, Spr ing Sing Music Dlrec· tor . A Ceppella; Belles end Beaux; May Campeigns; Keppe Delta Pi: Spring Sing Host; Men's Ensemble. Su..n Elaine Quillen - Doyer, DE. Soc;;!I1 Work. Tr;!lnsfer f rom Northe;!lstern Christlen Junior College. Beta Teu Gamma, Secretary. Alphe Chi; Alph;!l Delta Mu: American Studies; Netional Association of Chri stians in Socia! Work. Joel Dayld Ragland · Cookeyllle, TN. Music Educetion. AGO. Scott Shields Ragsdale· Searcy, AR. Management. Buccaneers. American Studies: Delta Mu Delta; Intramural s: Intercollegi;!l te Football. AII ·AIC Honor;!lble Mention: Society for Advencement of Management. Matthew Lane Ramsey - Muncie, IN. Accounting. Tr;!lnsfer from B;!III St;!lte Unlver· sity. Sigma Teu Sigma. Treasurer. C;!Impaigns. Northwest, Spring Breek; Delte Mu Delta; Resident Assistant. Jack Alan Rawlings. McHenry, IL. Management. R, Kea Rea • Idabel, OK. Psychology. Transfer from SouthetlStern Oklehome State University. Berrlsters: Psi Chi. Secretary. Presiden t ; Geil and BUly Ireland Psychology Scholarship. Mell... Terrell Redding · Shively, KY. Nursing. SluIntih. Band, Concert , Merch· ing; GU;!ltemelen C;!Impaigns: JOY; Nursing Honor Society; Student Nurses Associe· tion. Paul Alan Reding - Searcy, AR. Bible. Knights. President. Campaigns. Interna· tional . Spring Break: lntr;!lmurals; Timothy Club; World Evangelism Forum. Lora Ann Reed· Terre Haute, IN. Nursing. Katherine Marie Reeves - Murfreesboro, TN. Nursing. Transfer from Freed· Hardem;!ln College. Kappa Kappa Kappa, Sunshine Chairmen. Student Nurses Association. Rebecca --rami ' Reeyes • Atkins, AR. Speech Pathology. Chi A lpha Rho. D;!Ic, tylology Club: Studen t Speech and Hearing Associ at ion. Secret;!lry. Stephen Wayde Reeves· Memphis, TN. Bible. Rebecca Elise Reid - Cherokee, AL. Home Economics. Transfer from David Lipscomb College. AHEA; Northwest Campaigns; Dietetics Club. Treasurer. Rebecca Kathleen Reinhardt· Sacramento, CA. Nurs ing. Kappa PhI. Secretery. Big Sisters; Campl!igns. Intern;!lt iona l, lowl!; Intr;!lmurals. AII,Star, Jacket Winner: JOY; Resident Assistant; Student Nurses Association. Diane ROM Reynolds. Kouts, IN. Accounting. Tr;!lnsfer from Purdue University. Chi Alpha Rho. Northwest Camp;!ligns; Pi Gamma Psi. Mlchsel Wayne Reynolds · Wlnston·Salem, NC. Bible. 144· Seniors students as well. As she reflect· ed on her four years as a stu· dent here , senior . Jenni Felps commented, "Some of the most special moments of Harding have been spent in those white swings. " She described those times as a peaceful haven out in front of everything, yet private. They allow students to have quiet , intimate conversations away from the hustle and bustle of the dorms, where people are always just an ear's di stance away. They also provide a peaceful place to sit between classes and allow one to temporarily be an observer rather than a participant. • Perhaps it is this feet.ng of tranqu.ility that visitors on the campus are trying to capture when they purchase the minia· ture replicas of the Harding trademark which sell in the bookstore for $17.50 each. Per· haps it is this same yearning that causes alumni from across the country to obtain their very own " Harding swing" by order· ing blueprints through the Public Relations Office. Dr. Ganus even saw one on the lawn of a missionary in the Philippine Islands! It seems ironic that a few pieces of wood, several and some buckets of white paint could sustain such a time - ly tradition. The tradition , however, continues to thrive, and judging from past history , it looks like the Harding swing could be in store for many magical moments in the to come. - KelU Rowlant STUDENTS at Harding, from its beginning until it closes its doors for the last lime, will always know the magic of Harding 's swings.
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