Dr. David B. Burks President PRESIDENT Burks strives to improve Harding-Searcy relations D r. David B. Burks entered his third year of office the same way he entered the first two: making change. Tangible proofs of improvement were seen in the renovation of the American Heritage Center, which housed a fifty-two room hotel, five conference rooms, dining facilities and a 500 seat auditorium all under one roof. A new men 's dorm, housing 260, was completed and a new university telephone service was installed just in time for fall's over capacity enrollment. Reconstruction of the school's library began and was scheduled for completion by July of 1990. A temporary library was set up in the Administration Auditorium and offices left vacant by the Student Affairs' offices moved to the second floor of the Student Center. Burks also set out to meet his goal of 753 doctoral coverage, a plan allowing the majority of faculty members to earn a doctoral degree. Burks sensed a smooth working relationship with the faculty, and described his relationship with the students as "a good one." He continually tried to improve Harding's student-oriented 258 CHATS AND CHUCKLES. Dr. Clifton L. Ganus, Chancellor, converses after chapel. -Photo by Jeff Montgomery. HONORS OF WISDOM. President Burks awards Pauline Alison of Leisure Lodge the Resident of The Month plaque for September. - Photo by Jeff Montgomery services and programs. He affirmed the Bible's teaching of the concept of striving for excelleI).ce, not mediocrity, as he sought to continue improving the overall "Harding experience" for students. He continued to promote a healthy "town and gown" relationship between the Searcy community and the academic community at Harding. The university kicked off a five-year, one million dollar fund raising campaign to support the school; a significant anticipated contribution from a city the size of Searcy. The spiritual atmosphere was at the heart of the institution, and at the heart of all Burk's decisions for the university. It was that spiritual atmosphere that Burks hoped would take Harding through the 1990's. "If we will be distinct, if we will be different, we will be the kind of university that people want to exist." - Melydia Clewell
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