Heavy-Ha~ded From The Heart Too many chapel skips. Too many late minutes. Troubles in the dorm. Questions about clubs. Students with these dilemmas were referred to the offices of the student deans: L. "Butch" Gardner, Peggy Huckeba, and James Anderson. Besides enforcing Harding's Code of Conduct, the student deans were responsible for managing dorm life and social clubs. Butch Gardner also sponsored Student Impact. It' was Huckeba and Anderson's first year on the job, but while many may have seen their jobs as being "heavyhanded," the two kept positive attitudes about their disciplinary roles. After two months on the job, they had learned and reinforced some lessons. Huckeba found that she saw the positive characteristics in people. She said, "I am more reassured that people are inherently good and will respond appropriately to directives that are right." Anderson felt the need to work together, to talk to others, and to respect individuals. "So many James Anderson Assistant Dean of Students L. "Butch" Gardner Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Peggy Huckeba Assistant Dean of Students . 20 ACADEMICS things come back to relationships - among workers, families and students." Being in the position of role-model and counselor required the deans to remain close to God. "I don 't feel I'm totally adequate to handle it all on my own. My prayer time and Bible study has become more intense, " said Anderson. Huckeba commented that she enjoyed working in a Christian environment with "like-minded" people. Part of what makes Harding special is its " integration of faith and learning. " It was the student deans' job to create an environment conducive to that principle. They wanted to be "approachable, fair, and predictably consistent," Huckeba said. With those goals and qualities, Gardner, Huckeba, and Anderson not only led students to become Christian professionals, but also demonstrated the characteristics of such service in their own lives.+ - Amy Johnson
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