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ON THE NGSOF 8GLES editor-in-chief Heather Allison adviser Kay Gowen head photographer Aaron Gillihan 1997 Petit Jean • Volume 73 • Harding University Searcy, Arkansas
Mona Trickey dismantles a light switch. Trickey was one of the freshmen who helped tear down a garage during Student Impact's community service project. Photo by Brian Hendricks. Katie Dixon and Ryan Holl is enjoy a conversation on the Administration Building steps. The Administration Building steps were home to many conversations and student gatherings. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Pass me the ball. During Student Impact, freshmen, transfers and upperclassmen participated in games and activities that brought them closer to one another. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. 2 Opening
"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31). Each new school year is accompanied by its own changes, adventures and stresses. To predict the outcome at the beginning would be a difficult task and yet, at an established university with a mission like that of Harding, one year is pretty much like any other - the base is solid because its foundation is built on a Person who is "the same yesterday, today and forever." In spite of its sameness, however, each year realizes some change - new construction; new faces of faculty, staff and students; new programs; and curriculum changes. An older building is remodeled and construction begins on a new one. A class of seniors who graduated is replaced by a class of new freshmen from all around the United States and many other nations. Transfers enroll to replace the students who decided not to return. Faculty return from academic leave, and new ones join the ranks. New athletic fields allow more playing time and better competition. New courses better prepare students for pre-professional programs and careers. Just sing it! Chi Omega Pi, TNT, Zeta Rho and Friends give the Spring Sing audiences "Just What They've Been Waiting For" during their winning performance in the 1996 Spring Sing show. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Opening 3
Adventures - new, scary ones and renewed, exciting ones -faced the administration, faculty and students as they launched into the 73rd chapter of the Harding story. Fiber-optic computer networks had to be conquered. Seniors registered with the Career Planning and Placement Center to begin interviews for job searches. Freshmen made choices about whether to join a social club and which one to pursue. All adjusted to roommates, living arrangements, classes and teachers. The stresses ofcollege life accompanied these changes and adventures. Some stemmed from having to finally decide a major. Others grew from lack of rest as students postponed the inevitable study sessions only to end up spending long hours in the library. Conversations with a hurting friend and the breakup of dating relationships contributed extra pressure. Struggles with development of personal faith in God seemed to underlie all the other sources of stress. As these changes , adventures and stresses found their resolution in the hope of eternal life, members of the Harding family waited for renewed strength, knowing that their differences paled in significance to the solid foundation of faith in the God who carries them through this temporal life on His "Wings of Eagles." Heather Allison AR,AMARK provides breakfast for students and guests during the WorldMission Workshop . The37th annual Workshop, this year's held at Harding, helped many "want-tobe" missionaries make contacts. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. 4 Opening
Dr. David Burks presents Captain Scott O'Grady with a certificate of appreciation. O'Grady was one ofmany distinguished guests who visited the campus during the year. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Ashley Hamilton, Jim Miller and Chandra Harrell stop for a chat before going to the library. Students found many possibilities to fellowship with one another. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Jamael Harris and Andre Rush converge for a tackle. The Bisons smashed the OuachitaTigers 50-21 in the Homecoming game. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Opening 5
Dr. Delores Carson and Dr. Jan Morgan discuss future plans for the School ofEducation. Carson was appointed Associate Dean ofthe School ofEducation last spring. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Dr. Delores Carson helps Tyson Ledgerwood with an assignment. Many ofCarson's students appreciated her use ofmany different teaching styles in the classroom. Photo by Brian Hendricks. Dr. Delores Carson interacts with her students in the classroom. Carson's students praised her classroom techniques and genuine concern for them. Photo by Brian Hendricks. 6 Dedication
~ dediealed ~lo~ jladen4 fl)z fl}efrJWM ~n~ ~iea/ p//997 ?e/H feundedicalion When a student at Harding thinks back on his or her educational experience, a portion of those memories always includes the dedicated teachers and professors. Harding students are blessed with an abundance of extraordinary teachers willing to go that extra mile to ensure that knowledge is gained. For some students, there was that one special teacher. The 1997Petit Jean is dedicated by the seniors to one such person, Dr. Delores Carson. "She truly cares about every student that comes into her classroom," Kelly Averitt said. "Dr. Carson goes the extra mile to be involved with her students. She wants every student to feel important in her classroom," Ami Merritt said. Dr. Carson touched many student's lives while they were in her classroom. Many of the students appreciated her interactive approach to teaching. "Her variety of teaching methods catered to all learning styles. This has inspired me and let me experience her classes rather thanjust attend them," Valerie Ford said. "She was genuinely concerned that each future teacher really wanted to be a teacher. Dr. Carson wanted to produce teachers who were effective and could touch children's lives," Leah Pease said. Dr. Carson serves as the Associate Dean of Educat ion in charge of curriculum, certification and accreditation. She has been a professor at Harding since the summer of 1994. Before coming to Harding, she was a teacher, administrative assistant and math supervisor for various school districts. Active in her membership at the Cloverdale Church of Christ, she has taught ladies Bible classes and serves with her husband, Joe, as "I Care" group leaders. She and Joe have two children and six grandchildren. "Dr. Carson's personality goes hand in hand with teaching. She is a loving, caring servant who takes all Christian values and combines these into teaching," Celeste Walker said. Dr. Delores Carson participates in the opening convocat ion. Carson helped her students fo cus on their future , not only as teachers but as Christian teachers. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Dedication 7
Stephanie King and J ennifer Long discuss their day's activities near the Bell Tower. Harding has provided its students with many opportunities for a busy student life. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. 8 Student Life
Lofty goals realized through students' college experience Upon their graduation from high school, young people everywhere were asked, "What are you going to do with your life?" They shared lofty goals ofgoing to college, studying, making good grades and becoming campus leaders and popular students. Yet, for those who chose Harding, student life was to be so much more! Although dependent on what each student made ofit, student life was wonderful for the many who grasped the opportunities that Harding offered. There were jobs to do, clubs to join, dates to make and break, and dorm rooms to share with that "awesome" roommate. Life was not just sports and academics, but experiences shared with others. It was people who brought cherished friendships, inspiration and encouragement. Students found lab partners , running buddies, roommates, and of co.urse, spouses. Many students participated in the all-school retreat and others spent time at home Bible studies and private prayer. Some saw campus movies such as "Phenomenon," "Mission Impossible,' ' "Independence Day" and "Twister." They went to the concerts of BLACKHAWK, They Might Be Giants and Straight Company. The year was an expression of students' hopes, dreams, joys and passions. Yet, it was gone in the whisper of an eagle's wing, leaving the student marveling at God's gift of it for them to experience. Lovie Watson Studen t Life 9
Show heads for the future Spring Sing 1996 , with the theme "Headed for the Future ," proved to be another occasion for great entertainment. The club shows offered themes that varied from vampires in "Another One Bites At Dusk" to waterlife in "Atlantis ... More Than Just A Fish Tail." The winner of th~ sweepstakes award was "Just What You've BeenWaitingFor,"performed by Chi Omega Pi , TNT, Zeta Rho and Friends. The hosts and hostesses for this year's program were Chris Wagley of Sikeston, Mo. , Micah Parkhurst and Angela Sholl from Tulsa, Okla. , and Rochelle Rose ofHockessin, Del. Achange was made to one ofthe numbers this year that literally left the audience on its feet. The finale became the "Megamix," an arrangement that was conceived and arranged by Stacy Harris. After seeing a similar curtain call on Broadway, Harris and Spring SingDirector Steve Frye discussed the possibilities of using the megamix in Spring Sing. Harris had two goals in mind. He wanted something new and fresh for the audience, and he wanted to show them that Harding means what it says in "United We Stand." The new megamix allowed each club to pick one song from their show. Harris made a new arrangement of "United We Stand" that would serve as the backdrop for the curtain call. He then took each club song and the other songs that had been performed in the show and arranged them into the Chris Wagley and Angela Sholl perform in an act between shows. Wagley and Sholl were two of the four Spring Sing hosts and hostesses. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. 10 Spring ing new song. The megamix brought the whole Spring Sing show together so the audience could remember each number they had seen that evening. It also allowed each club's finale dancers to be a part ofthe other shows, which promoted bonding among groups. Harris worked closely with Frye and Host and Hostess Director Dottie Frye in order to unite his vision with their visions for the megamix. Mrs. Frye said, "This megamix came the closest to achieving the image I had in my head and the goals I had set than any other thing I've done." Dr. Frye said, "Stacy did an outstanding job and we hope to work with him in the future. This megamix was such a powerful dynamic that we hope to continue it for at least two years." "Spring Sing was what brought me to Harding when I saw the show my senior year in high school," Harris said. "My experience working with Spring Sing since then has taught me that, if a show is good to even one person and the audience becomes your focus rather than winning, then you can really have an impact on people. "The megamix was a culmination of a lot of stage time with Spring Sing. It was a good way to end my performance time here because it is such an expression of what Harding is to me. The fact that the audience did stand was really a plus." - Christina Weber
Never underestimate the pDwer Dfa kindwDrd Dr deed. - H. JacksDn 8rDwn, Jr. The stage explodes with the megamix finish. Spring Sing's finale was changed for an exciting new look. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. April Travis and Christy Cate present "Just What You 've Been Waiting For," their winning show. Chi Omega Pi, Zeta Rho, TNTandFriends were the winners of the sweepstakes award. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Delta Chi Delta, Kappa Gamma Epsilon, Delta Gamma Rho and Friends perform "Hey Mon, Just another Day-0." This club show was one of the runners-up in this year's Spring Sing contest. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Spring Sing 11
A group of Walton Scholar graduates stop to capture the exciting moment on film. Graduates and parents were generally relieved and excited on graduation day. Photo by Kristi Burns. Dr. Don Gardner, chancellor emeritus of Oklahoma Christian University, compares the students' education to the apple and its seeds. Gardner was the commencement speaker for the May graduation. Photo by Jeff Montgomery . · Drew Rouhana is congratulated by Dr. David Burks as he receives his college diploma. Rouhana was paralyzed in a fall during a spring break campaign to Jamaica his senior year. Photo by Jeff Montgomery. 12 Graduation laugh a lot. A good sense ofhumor cures almost all oflife's ills - H. Jackson 8rown, ~
Graduates leave to impart their Misdom Every year a new class of Harding graduates ventures out into the "real world." For those who watch it happen time and time again, it really takes something special to make one class stand out from all the others. The class of 1996 proved to be an outstanding class. Jerry Atkinson, president of Alabama Christian Academy, challenged the August graduates to apply what they have learned both academically and spiritually at Harding to their future lives. "You have some wisdom that has been imparted to you; I hope you will go out and impart it to others," he said. Among May's largest class ever to graduate from Hardingwas Drew Rouhana, from Westerville, Ohio. Rouhana was left paralyzed from an accident during his senior year while on a spring break campaign to Jamaica. At the time of his accident, Rouhana was just about a month away from graduating, but the accident forced him to quit school and put all his efforts into recovering. His determination to recover and finish school was applauded by the record-breaking crowd of commencement guests. He led th e opening prayer, asking God to, "...be with us in our travels and allow us to be productive Christians and good stewards so we will be able to spread the word and bring people to Christ." Also among the graduates was 16-yearold Christian Coon, the youngest person to ever graduate from Harding. Previously, the record was held by Dr. Joseph E. Pryor, who graduated in 1937 at the age of 19. Coon who graduated with a near perfect 4.0 grade point average, speaks three languages and completed the requirements for his bachelor's degree in international business in just two years. Beth Spurlock, senior music education and special education major, remarked, "Our class was one ofmany talents, but our talents went far beyond the academic world. We were a class that was willing to do whatever it took to go beyond the expectation of our peers and faculty." Many graduates and parents ofgraduates sighed with relief as the graduates reached this monumental milestone in their lives. Speaking on behalfofthe Board ofTrustees, Chairman Pat Bell said to the May graduates, "You know there is much growth yet to take place, but I see potential in this great graduating class." - Hallie Bell Jesus Carias flashes an excited smile on his way into the "real world." Graduation was an exciting time for friends, family andgraduates. Photo by Kristi Burns. Graduation 13
the Gospel is for all ' Go into all the world and pr ach th good new to all creation. " At Harding tudent and faculty alike rose to thi challenge. With campaign group traveling during both pring and summer br aks udents were able to take the gospel to all ar a of the world. Led by Harding facul y and friend tudent group traveled o di er e place uch a Finland Uganda Hawaii and weden . Th HardingUniver ity Choru directed by Dr. lifton L. Ganu III goes on an international campaign every other umm r . Thi umm r the group traveled to Au tralia . Reagan Weaver a freshman m mb r ofthechoru de cribed theirwork: W we r e inging working with the Au rali a n churche holding benefit cone rt and promoting go pel meeting and ariou church activities. We were trying to encourage the people in any way that we could. Whil the Australian were definitely ncourag d the choru member benefited from the rip al o. 'The trip helped me under tand what it i like to be a Christian alon W a er aid. ' It i able ing to be h re in arcy be ca u e of all the encourag m nt we receive to tay true to hri t. Going to Au tralia opened my eye to how li tl the world know about Christ and how we n ed to pread Hi message. Faculty member Chuck Hicks and hi family 1 d a ix-week campaign to Bremen, Wendi !(, ll r bonds with the children of Ja - maica. The pring break campaign group to Jamaica pent a lot of their time wi th the kids. Photo b Amanda McKnight. 14 ampaign Germany. Junior Brent Bates, a member of the Germany campaign group, said, "The theory of relativism is really strong in Europe and Germany. The theory of no absolute i greater there than it is in America. We are bringing the absolute of Jesus Chri t to them, and it can be hard to accept. ' Bate also aid that the Germans are a very analytical people. "Although many did not re pond while we were there, great numbers showed up for our classes and are continuing with them even now. " Bates is planning to return to Germany next summer and i considering committing two years to this mi ion field after graduation. Some campaign groups focused on service projects. Rick Blair, a senior who went on a campaign led byWinfred and DottieWright to Switzerland spoke of their experiences. "We passed out fliers that advertised the church and special church teaching session . Blair continued, "I got a letter the other day aying how the people had been attending the sessions that we adverti ed. We were not in Switzerland long enough to ee all of the benefits of our work o it wa good to hear that it was going ucce sfully. " Blair and the others who go on campaigns are not looking for appreciation. "I'd love to go back he aid. The sacrifices are worth it. ' - Sara VanRheenen
trliBBiDnB invDfvement iBn r BentimentalphifanthrDP!f lt8juBf an hDneBf man paying hiB deht. -bJarren Shibley Campaigners teach the children of England to let their lights shine. The children also performed for the students. Photo by Laura Hamilton. Robert Logsdon tends to the needs of Chicago's youngsters. Several Harding students went on spring break campaigns to inner cities in the United States. Photo by Lee Hankins. Molly Luten and Melissa Watson play Scrabble with their Finnish friends. The campaigners spent time reading with the people of Finland, teaching English using the Bible. Photo by Ruth Sellers. Campaign 15
James Mulvany tears down a wall. This year, student impacters tore down an abandoned building in earc for their service project. Photo by Brian Hendricks . Mark Nizer exhibits his juggling talent. Nizer was part of the entertainment for Student Impact. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Kyle Brice instructs the new students concerning their next activity. Brice and Cara Wilson were the co-directors of Student Impact . Photo by Aaron Gillihan. 16 tudent Impact that man is no roof tiJhO gives tiJhat he cannot f<eep to gain tiJhat he cannot lose. ... Jim Elliot
"bJefcome to the Next level" Aweekend of action introduced a special group of freshmen and transfers to college life at Harding this year. As usual, almost 190 upperclassmen and most of the staff and faculty returned to school early to help coordinators Cara Wilson and Kyle Brice with Student Impact, a program designed to help new students establish themselves before being overwhelmed by crowds and classes. "With 835 new faces on campus, our main focus was to help them to bond and to make sure they felt like a part ofthe group," Brice said. Using the theme, "Welcome to the Next Level," the freshmen and transfers were challenged to make their years at Harding a time of emotional and spiritual growth. And the students responded well to the challenge. Karl Kukta, a freshman from San Diego, thought that "if anything came across strongly from the Impact leaders, it was that Harding is a place to make friends and to grow spiritually; it's for us to find out how these two fit together." "The workers' encouragement made me want to work even harder and take advantage of all Harding has to offer that my junior college didn't," said Renee Vann, a transfer from Grapevine, Texas. What was the most enjoyable part of Impact? Opinions varied. For Jenny Shepard from Anchorage, Alaska, the devotionals were the most important aspect. "It was good to know that many of us at least shared our faith in God, if nothing else. That really makes a difference," she said. Others benefitted most of all from the energy groups. "You had a chance to talk to upperclassmen about problems you might run into and to get their 'insider tips' about dating, dress codes and dorm life," Kukta said. But the group games and activities in the Benson may have been the biggest factor in creating the relaxed atmosphere that made the difference in the freshman class this year. "I felt like I could just be myselfwithout constantly trying to act cool. We could spew chubby bunny marshmallows all over the stage of the Benson, and it was OK!" Vann said. Brice, who has seen five freshman classes go through Student Impact, also noticed that "this group was especially fun-loving and enthusiastic. They didn't try to prove anything like so many freshmen seem to do. I've enjoyed seeing how well they made the transition." This year's new students accepted the challenges that came with life at Harding and tackled orientation eagerly. - Karin Springer Deans James Anderson and Butch Gardner and Dr. David Burks perform the "chickey-chickey." Student Impact provided a lot ofentertainment, even by administrators. Photo byAaron Gillihan. Student Impact 17
Oisifafion weekend is a success for Hll Homecoming weekend saw the campus overflow, not onlywith numerous returning alumni, but also with crowds ofhigh school students from across the nation. Instead of hosting several smaller high school weekends throughouttheyear,suchastheTexasRoundup, Bison Daze and Volunteer Weekend, the Admissions Officedecided tocombine allofthese intoone event called ''VisitationWeekend." According to Mike Williams , director of admissions ,"combining theweekends helped displayHardingasthemeltingpotitis,withthe studentbodymadeupofpeoplefromeverywhere inthe nation-ormore accurately-everywhere in theworld." Almost500prospectivestudentscheckedinto the dorms onThursdaynight,October24, some excitedandothersa littleanxious aboutplunging into college life for a few days. The anxiety soon disappeared. ''Ididn'tknowexactlywhattoexpect, butoncelgothere,Iwas surprised that somany students talked tome andwere reallyinterested inme. Theyevenletusstayintheirrooms,''Jana Roads,fromPortLavaca,Texas,said. To start theirweekendoff, the studentswere invited to attend chapel and any classes that interested them. Afterwards , they had the opportunity to find outmore about the various departments inquestion-and-answer sessions with the departments' chairpeople. The real fun startedafter classeswere over. TheHomecomingactivitiesprovidedcontinuous action all overcampus.MikeRobbinsfromAustin, Texas felt that "therewas somethinghere for everyone togetexcitedabout- thefootball game forthe athletes,themusical andBelles & Beaux for themusic types and the service project for Several high school students help with the cleanup around His House. Each year, high school juniors and seniors from all areas ofthe country visit HU's campus. Photo by Jeff Fall. 18 High School Weekend peoplewho enjoy that kind ofthing." Having Visitation Weekend during Homecomingmade it possible for the students to see more of the 'show-case activities' and things theycouldbe involvediniftheychoose to go to school here,' ' Williams said. "This was a goodwaytomaketheirtripworth the effort." One ofthe activities planned specificallyfor the highschool studentswas the serviceproject, acarnivalinSpringPark. Theypassedoutfliers advertisingthe event onFriday. More than 300 local children and teens came out onSaturday for games and clowns. ShawnThornton from Beaumont,Texas, said that the service project was one ofthe things that impressed him most. "It really showed us what kind ofthings are importantatHardingandwhatwe'relikelytobe involved in if we come to this university,''he said. The admissions staffthought the weekend was a huge success. "Judgingfrom the positive response,we can assume that 75to80percentof the students will be back to attend Harding,'' Williams said. ' 'Whatmade theweekendwork washavingtheguests stayinthedorms.Harding students aregreathosts!Actuallybeinginvolved inthe students' dailyroutinebrought to lifewhat thehighschool studentshave readandheardus sayover the phone a thousand times." The guests left campus on Sunday with decisions to make. For some, the decision had already been made sometime during the excitementofVisitationWeekend. "I've been running into people from all over the United States these past few days. I like to think I'll be seeingthesepeople againnextyear atHardingbut as a college student,"Thornton said. - Karin Springer
b.Je toDrry about tiJhat a child liJill he tDmDrrDliJ, yet iue forget that he is someDne tDday. - Stacia lauscher A high school student assists with stocking shelves in the His House pantry. Many other young visitors spent a portion of their weekend helping others. Photo by Jeff Fall . The students who visitedHarding's campusparticipated in a carnival for the children ofSearcy. This year, many high school weekends were combined into one fun-filled weekend. Photo by Jeff Fall. Vernetta Hilliker uses herartistic abilities at the fair in Spring Park. The fair was one of the service projects that the high school studentsparticipated in while visitingHarding's campus. Photo by J effFall. High School Weekend 19
Ross Cochran explains about vocational ministry. The 37th annual World Mission Workshop had speakers from every continent on the earth except Antarctica. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. LeoncioDominguez and Sophia Cuarezma form an assembly line to produce the notebooks for the World Mission Workshop. Hundreds of volunteers assisted in producing the workshop. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Kelly Collins checks out the information board on Venezuela. Many people decided to becomemissionaries as a result of the workshop. Photo byAaron Gillihan. 20 World Mission Workshop
Students direct mission tnorkslwp The 37th annual World Mission Workshop involved 2200 people, including 1350 students and more than 100 registered adults from the United States and abroad. With Harding serving as the host site and senior John Cannon serving as director, more than 650 Harding students were able to participate in this year's three-day seminar. ''Theworkshophelpedmepersonallybecause, before the workshop, mywife and I had been planning to go to Ecuador to do missionwork, butwe couldnever get a whole team together to go with us. Two days after the worshop, we got three couples to commit to going with us. It was all directly related to the workshop," Cannon said. Cannon worked with faculty advisers Mark Berryman, Bill Richardson and Gordon Hogan to plan and direct the workshop, which rotates between Christian universities from year to year. He became involved in the leadership role at the request ofMonte Cox enroute to last year's workshop at David Lipscomb University. Berryman attested to the enormity ofthe task when he said, "Planning was a lot of work, but we had more than 400 people to commit to missions somewhere in the world, and that made it worth the effort." Cannon and his team ofstudent planners scheduled missionaries from every continent but Antarctica and many who were involved in stateside missions to provide a broad spectrum of missionary experience. "This workshop is the only place that like-minded students from the different • universities can come together to give each other encouragement ," Berryman said. "Every school has a small amount of people interested in missions, and here, they can get a unique kind of encouragement to enter the mission field." Murphy Crowson, a recent Harding alumnus who addressed the need for missionaries in West Africa, said, "The best thing about this workshop was all the networking with missionaries and people who have already been in the field." Student guests came to Harding from Pepperdine [California], Lubbock Christian and Abilene Christian [Texas], FreedHardeman, David Lipscomb and Harding Graduate School [Tennessee], Oklahoma Christian, Michigan Christian, Cascade [Oregon], Faulkner [Alabama], Ohio Valley [West Virginia] and Western Christian [Canada]. Others attended from Western Michigan State, Texas A & M, Southeast Missouri State, Louisiana Tech, Northeast Louisiana, University of Arkansas and University ofArkansas for Medical Sciences. "I learned that there are several ways we can be missionaries. You don't have to go across the world; you can be a missionary in your own back yard," Courtney Barnum, an Oklahoma Christian junior, said. Attendance peaked at the keynote lecture on Saturdaynight by Stanley Shipp, director of a mission intern program in St. Louis. "We have heard nothing but good comments about the workshop," Berryman said. - Hallie Bell Molly Luten andRuth Sellersprepare a booth about the Finland summer campaign. Each campaign group set up a table in the Mclnteer rotunda. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. World Mission Workshop 21
lectureship explores eternal truths The annual Bible lectureships have been a Harding tradition throughout its 73-year history. Focusing on the theme, "Christ's Church in a Chaotic World," this year's lectures provided an in-depth look at the New Testament book ofl Peter. Planning for the lectureships startedwell over a year before the actual event occurred. Manypeoplewereinvolvedinplanning, including the student spiritual life committee, area preachers and a lectureship committee. Reflectingon all thehardworkthatwentintothe planningofthe lectureship, directorAllen Isom said,''Planningthelectureshipis reallya laborof love." Morethan80speakersand3,500studentsand guests participated. "The purpose of the lectureship is to bring informed speakers to campus who can challenge both the student bodyandguestswiththerelevanceofthemessage ofChrist," Isom said. The themewas meant to make participants looktoGodfor eternal truths andkeep themselves fromthecontaminationof the world, he said. ThelectureshipsbeganonSundaynight, Sept. 28 ,with Ken Durham, a minister from Falls Church,Va. ,speakingabout the pressures that Christians face. About 145 sessions later, including classes, lectures, forums, special programs andchapels,MarkHowell finishedthe lectureship with a compelling call for all Christians to discipleship. For the third year in a row, students were Charl ie Hester,guest chapel speaker, discusses his devotional with Jimmy Allen. Hester, along with many others, were speakers for the lectureships. Photo byAaronGillihan. 22 Lectureships among the speakers. Sixmen and sixwomen, chosen from the spiritual life committee or teacher nominations, shared lessons in the programs.JasonFulmer, ajunior from Searcy, spoke on "Living the LifeWorthy ofthe Name Christian.""I really learned a lot from studying and preparing to speak. I feel that I benefited even more than the people who attended my lecture,"he said. Throughoutthe lectures, theArtDepartment displayedworks related to the theme ofl Peter. Christian Service awards were presented for "exceptional commitment to the kingdom of God."Thefirststudentevertoreceivethisaward, seniorAllisonRector, was honored because of herworkwith theLittleRockinnercitycarnival and Feed Arkansas. "I was extremely honored and surprised to receive the award," Rector said. "I look at it like a challenge to other students. We have the ability to serve God now; we don't have to wait until later." The lectureship provided a great opportunity for students and guests to spend extra time in the Word of God. Zrinka Rukavina, a Canadian student, said, "The sessions I attended gave me the information I needed to start making decisions for myself. A lot of things I didn't understand in Bible class were cleared up for me by Dr. Neale Pryor during the session that he taught. I really enjoyed the lectureships." - Hallie Bell
Dnn ~use time Dr lJJDrds carelessly. ff either can 6e retrieved. - H. Jacl<sDn BrDMn, Jr. Like many ofthe Lectureship visitors, these ladies andgentlemen enjoy the nice weather and the companyofothers. Hundreds ofpeople traveled toSearcy for the Lectureships at Harding. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Henry McDaniel delivers his lesson aspart ofthe student lectures. Each year, students are invited to give a lecture as part of the Lectureships. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Ginger Goff helps two visitors register for the Lectureships. Students were involved in many activities as part ofthe lectureship series. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Lectureships 23
The entire cast has fun with the "Lambeth walk." This year's musical was aplay that interacted with the audience. Photo byBrianHendricks. Sally,playedbyAngelaSholl, singsabouttheguys and gals from Lambeth. The Homecoming musical, Me and My Girl, was set in England in the 1930s. Photo by Brian Hendricks. .. &· ~ .. ·: , . ·::,·~, ·:~ .· , .... ' • t • - •••••• ' . ~: .· ........ , ..... ~ .. · . .. ' ,. . ... .. . . ..· . . . . • I .- I'" •: I·. 0, f: ·.• ~·:= :,·,::··: ',. .. , ... ',.. . . :·.:.: :'· If •• f I ' • • • t ·::::· , ... ::··· .. ......... ~·.',,:·.·.::·: . '. . . . ......... ·. ' .II··.·. I W I t • • t t ........ . . : : . ··. •. . ·: ...·... · .• : ·:.··:1• ~ -_,· .•·...•. ,,, . :== f) . ... r..~ =·/·.. · ·~•.,,.,.~~!!!"'-_ ._. · _.... .,i.i·.···~·~. Lady Jaquie, portrayed by Eve Clevenger, sings about wanting everything money can buy. Clevenger's character persued the new Earl of Bareford for his money. Photo byAaron Gillihan. 24 Homecoming
Cast searches for heir of Hareford Singing, British accents, tap dancing and many costume changes were among the highlights ofthe 1996 Homecomingmusical, "Me and My Girl," by L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber. One ofthe many activities that kept guests and students entertainedduringHomecoming weekend, October24-26, "MeandMyGirl"was different in style from the musicals that have been performed in recent years. "We realized that we have had a lot of dark, serious and dramaticmusicalsanditwastimeforachange. So,wedecidedonalighter,morecomedicmusical and the audience seemedtoreallyappreciate it," producer Cindee Stockstill said. The light-spirited story revolves around the inheritance of the title and fortune of the Earl of Hareford. The surviving duchess searches for a legitimate successor who is the rightful heir and finds one in Cockney "cut-up" Bill Snibson, played by freshman Tim Pell. He is preyed upon by gold digger J aquie, played by senior Eve Clevenger. Bill's low-class fiancee, Sally, played by senior Angela Sholl, is told that Bill can never gain the inheritance if he marries her. Add audience participation, "The Lambeth Walk," tap dancing servants and butlers in tutus, and the musical left the audience laughing and on its feet. "I was very pleased with the cast. They are a talented group that has an exceptional attitude and work ethic. It made the entire process a joy," director Robin Miller said. The leadroles ofBill, Sally, J aquie andGerald werecastinJanuaryofl996inordertogivethem a head starton learningto tap dance.The rest of the cast, totali.T. lg 48 members,were cast the first week of school in August. Two tap numbers in the musical had an ensemble of20. Of those, only two had had any previous experience with tap dancing. The task of teaching all of the novices was left to senior Ellen Jones, who successfully brought together two numbers in four weeks. "The tap dancing was outstanding. I think that it was great that they could all pick it up so fast. All of the tap and dance routines in the musical were very together and looked very professional," senior Debbie Cooper said. Each cast member wore five to seven costumes, many of which they made themselves. "I think that the audience would be even more impressed if they knew how much time and energy the cast invested in this show. They rehearsed about 20-25 hours per week, with an additional three hours of required technical work per week spent building sets and making costumes," Stockstill said. The sets were elaborate and versatile, such as the car that became traveling luggage. Donna Weselius, a 1966 alumna from Birmingham, Ala., praised the work of Morris Ellis, technical director, and his crew, saying, "The sets were incredible!" The orchestrawas made up of35 Harding students under the direction ofDr. Warren Casey. They rehearsed four or five hours a week for six weeks in order to be ready for openingnight. Audiences experienced a show that entertained them with catchy songs, hilarious dialogue anddance routines that showcasedthe students' talents. Young and old left the Benson "doing the Lambeth Walk." - Christina Weber Henry McDaniel, playing the part of Gerald, tells all the towns people that the family solicitor has found the heir. The cast of "Me and My Girl" presented an excellent show. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Homecoming 25
HDmecDming hrings hack Did friends Homecominggave Harding a weekend that was a change ofpace. With the musical, the footballgameagainstOuachitaBaptistUniversity and the alumni activities, theweekendwas far fromnormal. With all this activity, many students were overwhelmed. "There were too many folks around! It was a busyweekend, but itwas pretty fun. IenjoyedmyfirstHomecoming,"freslnnan JohnShuttlesworthsaid. SophomoreDanielleEvans said, ''Thisyear, I was able toenjoyHomecomingina differentway because I wasexcitedaboutmyfriendswhowere comingbackfor theweekend. I alsohad a better idea ofwhat to expect and how to deal with it. This year, I knewto avoid the cafeteriaat certain times!" LyndsayAllan and BrookeBennett shared responsibilities as co-directors of activities surroundingthefootballgameandHomecoming court,includingthevotingprocedures, thechapel program decorations at the game, the football throw game in chapel and other behind-thescenejobs. "Lastyear, I didn't knowhowmuch went into it. BeinginvolvedmadeHomecoming alotmorespecial tome,"Allansaid. "Igottohelp out in everypart ofit." The gamewas crowded. Many fans were on hand to cheerHardingon to a 50-21victoryover OBU. During halftime, senior Jody Rhoten was crowned queen. "The neatest thing about it was seeing my dad standing beside me and being so proud. He was adorable. It was such a fun day," she said. TheBlackandGoldbanquet, held for alumni onFridaynighteachyear duringHomecoming Alumni of the Thundering Herd take the field during the halftime performance. The band and choruses were among the groups who held special reunions during Homecoming. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. 26 Homecoming weekend,wasorganizedbytheAlumniRelations Office. Presentation of the Distinguished AlumnusAward is a part ofthe programeach year.The1996awardhonoredMildredandWinnie Bell, sisters whoworked at Hardingfor many years. ' 'Littledidweknowthatadreamwastocome true when we left Waxahachie, Texas, in December, 1945, tobeHardingCollegestudents," theywrote for the Harding magazine last fall. "Eventually, we both returned to Harding to workformanyyears, Mildred as chairmanofthe home economics department andWinnie as directorofthe library-occupations inwhichwe could serve the Lord and make a living at the same time. Adreamcome true!" The Golden Circle is comprised ofalumni for 50 or more years. Mark Moore, director ofalumni relations, said, "The Golden Circle is really interesting. Great stories were told when the graduates reminisced. Some people who come for their induction haven't been to Harding in 50 years . Needless to say, Harding has really changed since then. ''We give thema name tagwith a picture on it from their college annual. Theyget a yearbook thathas oldpictures and stories oneachperson. This year, we had about 125peopleattend the GoldenCircle dinner,''Moore said. Other activities for alumni includedreunions andspecial dinners. ''Theseniorclasspresidents are in charge oforganizing the reunions every five years,"Moore said. ''Whatmost people don't realize is that, when someone is elected to that office, it is a lifelong job." - Sara VanRheenen
No matter t.Uhat a man 8 past may have been, his future is Bpotless. - JDhn R. Rice Wil Allen and Rob Stroud complete a tackle against a Ouachita runner. The Bisons won the game 50-21. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Jody Rhoten was chosen as the 1996 Homecoming queen. Each year's nominees are chosen by the football team. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Friends ofall ages reunite during the Homecoming weekend. Every year, hundreds of Harding's alumni return to see old friends, former teachers and the changes on campus. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Homecoming 27
Dr. Jack Thomas, chairman of the Behavioral Science Department, leads singing in chapel. Many people contributed to chapel each day and all year. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Chapel is dismissed! Students often traveled to the Student Center for a little breakfast after chapel. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Heather Little helps hearing-impaired students "hear" chapel. Many students help with the signing during chapel. Photo byAaron Gillihan. 28 Chapel
8choof is dedicated to Christian values Harding is a school set apart from others by a dedication to excellence and strong Christian values. Daily Bible classes and chapel keep this spiritual emphasis in the lives of the students. According to Rich Little, Harding is the only university of its size that has mandatory chapel. Little held the new position of assistant to the president this year, and one of his main responsibilities was overseeing chapel. "We really strive to keep a strong spiritual emphasis in chapel. Every chapel contains a devotional, and most of the chapel programs after the devotional are of a spiritual nature. We try to stay true to the mission of the school and not waste the student's time," he said. Achapel committee spends a considerable amount of time working with Little to have chapel programs planned a whole semester in advance. Little spends several hours every day making sure that everything is organized for chapel the next day. Students are often unaware of all that goes into planning a chapel, but most still enjoy it. Leah Chaney, a freshman from Hobbs, N.M. sa id, "I like chapel because it is a nice break between classes. It helps me regain my thoughts and get refocused. " Chapel is also somewhat of a social occasion. Students have assigned seats, but most people get their seats with friends. "I like the opportunity to meet with my friends early in the morning and see my pals. I also like the idea of worshiping," sophomore Patrick Stiles said. Some students, however, see room for improvement. "I sit on the floor. I got a horrible seat," freshman Corey Harvison said in reference to the tradition of all freshmen sitting in the balcony. Jose Yunez, a transfer student from Mexico, said , "Maybe chapel should be just three days a week, or not so long. Or maybe it shouldn't be so early." Freshman William Anderson agreed. "I like the singing, but I don't like that it's so early in the morning. If it was a little later, I would like it better." Little's favorite thing about chapel is the potential for impact on students' lives. "There is a great potential to do good every day with 3,000 people . It reminds me of the early church. "But, it can also become monotonous. We have to remember how blessed we are with this opportunity and remember how exciting this is," he said. - Sara VanRheenen Laura Hamilton and Amy Smallwood lift their voices in praise to God. The chapel experience is most often cited by alumni as the thing they miss from their Harding days. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Chapel 29
Dorm life builds great friendships The first thing that all students have in common is moving into their new home - their dorm room. This is the place where they must cram everything that they need in order to survive. It is sometimes quite an ordeal to get settled. Belongings have to be put in the places they are going to stay for at lea t a school year. "Will it all fit?" is often heard in the girls' dorms. Once the "moving in" trauma has ended, another one is ready to take its place - the roommate. This is the person the resident will be sharing his or her intimate space with for the year. "Will it work? Will they be someone I can get along with or will they steal my stuffwhen I'm not looking?" These fears are generally put to rest as the two new friends get to know each other and find that they have a lot in common. Having established a new residence and befriended the new "roomie," there are suitemates, hall mates, and dorm mates to meet. They become friends through latenight room gatherings and informal parties that are held at all hours ofthe night. Many fond memories are the result ofnights when people tayed up way too long. Junior Scott Loftis said, "Four or five of u stay up until all hours of the night, ometimes doing homework, but most of the time just having fun and unwinding. Those are my favorite dorm memories." Jon Carroll works at his computer in Graduate Hall . tudents spent agreat deal oftime surfing the Internet. Photo by Jeff Fall. 30 Dorm Life Other fond memories are ofpranks that have been played in the dorms. One senior told ofa night when her roommate wouldn't get offthe phone with her boyfriend. As she talked to him from the closet, the prankster used a lamp chord to tie the closet shut so her phone-friendly roommate could not exit. This proved to be effective, as the prisoner had to get offthe phone in order to negotiate her way out of the closet. Another fond memory involved a prank played on an entire freshmen girls' dorm. Two roommates traveled around the dorm and wrote messages on every door that instructed the residents to put their chairs out in the hall by noon the next day. The notes explained that the chairs were all going to be cleaned. The messages were signed with the name of the dorm's janitor, which apparently made the note believable to most of the girls. The next day, halls were lined with chairs, all ready to be cleaned. It proved to be a hilarious sight for the two who planned the prank, especially since they didn't think that anyone was going to take their notes seriously. No matter what dorm a student lived in or with whom they lived, it seemed impossible to leave Harding without fond memories of dorm life. - Christina Weber
lde are allmissionaries. bJherever we go, we either 6ring people nearer to Christ, or we repel them from Christ. - Eric Liddell Lee Janssen, with the help ofMary Kay Lemons, prepares a special treat in her new kitchen. The apartment dorm was finished just in time for school in August. Photo by Kami Wentz. Holly Mullins spends her extra time studying for a big test or two.or three. Dorm rooms are often a hide-away when serious studying must happen. Photo by Kami Wentz. Randy Thomas prepares his assignment for tomorrow's class. Although they preferred the social scene, students found it necessary to dig into their books in order to keep up in classes. Photo by Jeff Fall. Dorm Life 31
Carey Dowl talks with students at the All-School Retreat about responsibility and racial relationships. The retreat is held at the beginning of each year for the entire student body. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Dr. Debbie Duke opens her home to students for a Bible study each week. She and her husband, Richard, are among several faculty who conduct Bible studies each Wednesday night. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. John Grimsley and Jeremy Blair perform a skit on evangelizing in chapel. Grimsley and Blair are members of Conquerers, a group that has been visible in its spiritual leadership on campus. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. 32 Spiritual Life
lktivifies enwurage closer lJJalk lJJifh God In its quest to educate for eternity, Harding overflows each day with opportunities for students to hear and become involved in spreading the gospel or simply to gain encouragement for a closer walk with God. Activities for spiritual growth are both extracurricular and curricular in nature. With more than 20 social clubs and more than 10 service organizations, students are given the chance to experience the meaning of servanthood and fellowship. "When you decide to join a club or any other organization, you must first look at and consider the values that are promoted by them. The different thing is that, at Harding, Jesus is the center and the standard for living, and all organizations will enhance you spiritually and personally," Hank Bingham, a member of TNT, said. The spiritual life committee of the Student Association strives to connect students with an organization or opportunity to meet and challenge their spiritual needs. Andrew Baker, director of the committee, said, "We are here to let students know that we have many ministries in which they can participate. Not only will their participation encourage and help others, but it will be an encouragement to them as well." In fact, it seems that every aspect of Harding is designed to aid students in deepening their relationships with fellow Christians , even in the classes. Senior Julie Hall said, "It is good to know that you and your teachers share the same belief as to what truth is; I cannot tell you how many times a classroom prayer has changed my day." Harding has something for everyone: a time-out devotional in front of the Benson, a home Bible study or a mission campaign. Senior Scott Thibodeaux said, "Those Thursday night devos are a lifesaver. Sometimes I'll go just to escape homework or my roommates , but whatever the reason I go, I always leave blessed and with better insight." Brandon Smith went on a missionary internship to Jinja, Uganda. "I would venture to say that going to Africa is the highlight of my college experience so far. I saw, first hand, how real the spirit world was. I would tell anyone who has not been on a missions campaign to go because God will change your life." Harding provides many options from which students may choose to gain spiritual growth, but one daily routine has been built into the schedule and required ofall students since the university's inception in 1924. Chapel brings the entire student body together each day for a brieftime ofworship and announcements of interest to all. "Chapel is a great way to prepare for the day. Sitting in a room with more than 2000 other students and hearing them lift up the name of Jesus in song is just incredible. It will be one of my favorite memories of Harding," senior Wendy Frye said. - Rebecca West Robert Logsdon takes advantage of a few extra minutes to study for his Bible class. Bible classes were one of many facets of spiritual life for every full-time student. Photo by Aaron Gillihan. Spiritual Life 33
HUF transcends student harriers Florence , Italy. Birthplace of the Renaissance and home of Harding University? Harding University has been thriving in Florence (HUF) since 1980 and the two are a dynamic partnership. Each semester, the Italian campus offers challengingclasses,housinginits ownvilla and Europeantravel to40 students.Thecampushas some full-time faculty members and a few teachersfromtheSearcycampuseach emest;er. HUF supports fall , springand summer classes eve:ryyear. In the spring of 1996, Dr. Ken Hammes took 24 women and 18 men to Florence. Junior TiffanyWatkins said, "Just being in the villa with our group was the best experience. We all got to be so close." Scott Schwieger agreed. "We had no cliques in our group. We all would do things as a group. Traveling with each other was so much fun.' However, traveling during HUF is no ordinary thing. "You have to get used to not showeringandlivingon trains. Onetime Iwent 11 days without showering,"Schwieger said. "You also have to learn how to live out ofyour backpack and survive on crackers and peanut butt;er. The experience is amazing. It's almost too bigfor words. It's somethingyou've seen all your life in pictures and then you're seeing it right there in front ofyou." Al though the experiences were wonderful , students did have some adjustments to make. ''Before Iwent overthere, I was almost angry about things whichwere different from America, like having to pay to go to the restrooms. I learned to blend Randie S eeber, Melissa Gilmore, Rhonda Jump and Kellie Davenport help with the harvest ing of olives from Harding's property during the fa ll . The olives are used to make oil which the school uses throughout the year. Photo by Dr. Carl Mitchell. 34 HUF with them and not try to Americanize them. I didn't mind the differences at the end of the trip because I had accepted their culture," Watkins said. The summer program is designed for students who are unable to attend any other time. Junior David Richmond said, "I was signed up to go in the spring but, as a chemistry major, it wasn't possible. The summer programwas great because, instead of losing a semester that I needed to be here I gained an extra semester toward graduating. And since it was during the summer, the whole trip felt like a huge summer vacation." The fall groupwas accompaniedbyDr. Carl Mitchell. "Having the Mitchells on our trip was great because they knew the area really well. We got to do a lot of neat things that most groups don't get to do, like seeing Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius ," Sonua Bohannon said. Students found that goingtoHUF in the fall canbe beneficial becausemoney from summer .~obs is still plentiful. "I worked three jobs Lll summer just to be able to make the trip. 3ut it's all worth it, every dime ," Russell 3rown said. ' Getting to know all the peoplewas a great ~xperience," Brown said. "It's not likeHarding Nhereboys are on one side ofcampus and girls :ireon theopposit;e side.We all livedright there. Everyonewas 3,000 miles awayfrom home. We broke outofourHardingcliques andmet people we neverwouldhave ever talked to otherwise. We're like family now." - Sara VanRheenen
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