A gain this year, Sko ti a played an important role in promoting understanding between b lacks and whites on campus. The club, which derived its name from the G reek word fo r darkness, was begun two years ago to help educate students about black culture and black contributions to American society . It was also designed as a support group for blacks who might feel isolated on Harding's mainly white campus. The brain child of Richard King and Shiela (Harper) Allen, a former student, the club grew mainly out of the observance of Black History Month, which was designated as February. Skotia has helped organize and support a program which brings black lecturers to Harding. In past years this has included such distinguished speakers as Alex Haley, Marva Collins, and Eldridge Cleaver. This year students heard from Clarence Pendleton, a leader in civil rights. "I think it's very important for people to take pride in who they are," said King (who is co-sponsor of the club along with Paul Pollard) , "and blacks have made a lot of important cont ributions to American society ." Through the lectures, King hopes that students will realize this and be proud of their rich heritage. Besides a speaker, the club also has organized a singing group which shares some of the musical traditions of black Americans This group , named the "Celestial Singers," takes part in the program and has become an institution in its own right. The main goal of Skotia, though, was to provide fellowship and social contact for blacks as well as whites. It has sponsored meals , parties , and other activities, including a hayride this year. It hopes to educate all Harding students about what blacks really are; to eradicate stereotyping through increased knowledge , contact, and awareness. Also, it wants to show that all people, regardless of skin color, have the same needs, wants and hopes. It was opened to all interested students and was not at all a "blacks only" club. 'We don' t just sit around and talk about 'black' things and what it's like to be black," said King, hinting that if they did, Paul Pollard - white co-sponsor of the club, would feel left out. Instead, they discuss pertinent social issues which affect all students, as well as any day-to-day problems which arose. While it was met with some hostility in the past · both from on campus and off , it seems that Skotia has finally been given some of the acceptance and recognition it deserved. "There are some things we're trying really hard to forget about ," said King speaking of the earlier incidents. "People are always opposed to what they don't understand .. . but the administration has continued to be very helpful and supportive, and we appreciate that." Skotia, now firmly established, looks toward the future. It hoped that through it , some of the longstanding walls which have existed between blacks and whites would be broken down . King even ventured to look farther than that. "I look forward to the day," he said, "when there won' t be any need for special clubs . When the whole story is told, both black and white can appreciate each other's contributions." But until that day is realized, Skotia continued to help us to see that above all, we are brothers. J2tt - Sherry Daniel Floyd Timothy Hicks - l ·owling Green , KY Amy L. Higginbotham - Searcy , AR William C. Hill -Tupel o , MS Martha Jane Hinds - Portland , OR Lynn Ann Hinrichs - Nichols, lA Harland James Hittle - Wichita , KS Thomas Wesley Hobbs - jopli n , MO Gerald G. Hodge - Dolton , IL Julee Ann Holder - Sea rcy, AR Mark Delber Holderbaum - Willard , MO Bonnie Lee Holdren - Mountain Home, AR Deanna Louise Hollifield - Annandale . VA Edith Lafonda Hollaway - West Plains, MO Holly Lyn Hooper - Pasadena , TX Bradley Duane Horton - Mabel val e, AR Susan Evon Horton - Bartlet t , TN Lillian Rosanne Howard -Atl anta , GA Lynn Howe - Dayton . OH James Bennett Humphreys - jackson, TN Michael L. Humphries - N . Little Rock. AR William Todd Hunter - Searcy , AR Monica Irven - Milwaukee , WI Tammy Susanne Irvin - Bentonville, AR Cynthia A. Isbell - Mountain Home , AR Sarah Ruth Jimenez - Alexandria . VA George Eugene Johnson - Des Moines, lA Kevin Wayne Johnson - Akron , OK Susan Ethel Johnson - Searcy , AR Denise Louise Johnston - Vernon, CT Michelle Lynn Johnston - Liverpool, NY Barry Don Jones - Bono , AR Charles Morgan Jones - Corpus Christi, TX Cheri L. Justice - Columbus , OH Susan B. Kearney -Joplin , MO Suzanne Marie Keene - Camp Lejeune , NC Juniors 215
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