Denise Kinney/Brainerd, MN James Kisner/Black Oak, AR Walter Kobisky/N . Olmsted, OH Karen Koonce/N. littl e Rock , AR Linda Krumrei/Haarlem, Netherlands Darrell Kuhn/Marshall , Il Yo Kurabayashi/Tokyo, Japan Juniors Thomas John Kyllo/Shakopee. MN Floyd Eugene Lancaster/Searcy. AR James lankford/Searcy, AR Robert laPierre/Wichita, KS Mary Ann Lawrence/Kettering, OH Sharon Layne/Kensett, AR Retha Leamons/Camden, AR Beverly Lee/ Bedford, IN Anne Michelle Leech/Greenbrier, TN laura LeFevre/Merced. CA Cheryl Jean LewislJac kson ville. AR Philip G. LockwoodlVillage, OK lolayne Loden/Ponto toc. MS David Thomas Long/Dunwoody, GA John Long/Rolla. MO Franklin lott/Searcy, AR Jimmy Carson Love/Dayton, OH Ricky Lowe/Watagua, .TX Gregory lucas/Dothan, AL Vicki Ann luna/Troy, IL Lindy J. Lunceford/ Baton Rouge, LA Rona l. Lyon/Pineville, LA Etta Maureen Madden/ little Rock , AR Alison Mahoney/Raynham, MA Linda Malick/Trenton, NJ lisa Diana Maness/M adison Heights, MI Gregory Mangrum/Memphis, TN Erik Robert Mann/Dallas, TX The More Things Change, Freshman Paul Lockhart was nine years old when his mother gave him a book and asked him to read it. The book was Thorn in the Flesh by William Kay Moser and the setting was Harding College, Searcy, Ark . Paul says he finished the book in two days and announced to his mother that someday he was going to go to Harding. He has made that statement come true. What was it about the novel Thorn in the Flesh that made such an impression on Paul? It certainly wasn ' t the writing because the novel was not a candidate for the best sellers list. Lockhart described it as " colloquial and cute." It probably wasn' t the plot either. The story line is a cross between an old Horatio Alger ta le and a Harlequin romance . So, what was the draw to this little book which Lockhart says has influenced at least six people to consider Harding University as their alma 238/Junio rs They Don't mater? Perhaps it was the innocence of Harding in the ' 50s that was so beautifully described in the book. The lily pool, Cathcart Hall , and other notab le landmarks made an exce llent backdrop for a simple retelling of boy meets girl, boy likes girls, boy marries girl. Those of us acquainted with Searcy of yesteryear also recognized landmarks that are now gone such as the Rendezvous restaurant. Thorn in the Flesh is more than just a romance, however. Written by a former Harding student, the novel records a young man' s spi ri tual growth and discovery that many of us at Harding can relate to. Harding students delight in reading this nove l for the sheer pleasure of finding references to Harding. Clubs are mentioned, the reference room of the library is described in such detail that one wonders if it has changed any in the last 20 years. The story of Bill Wi lks, his friends Mary Helen, Ruby, and Sam, may seem silly and out-ofdate, but for many people thi s same story is being told here at Harding today. Guys can relate to waiting for their dates to come downstairs in the old Cathcart lobby; we all know what it is like to walk to College church when it is freezing outSide; and, though it is certain their names are ficticous, the teachers seem very familiar too. - Christopher Thompson Thorn in the Flesh has a lot of Harding's history and traditions recorded in it. Lockhart has said that he believes it would help many incoming freshmen understand Harding better_ He also believes it would be an excellent tool for recruiting students. ~ - Jane Gore How does the Harding of today com. pare with the Harding of the past? Paul Lockhart reads Thorn in the Flesh to find out.
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