Tom Alexander Bible and Religion Bobby Coker Education Randy McLeod Business Dean Priest Arts & Sciences Cathleen Shultz Nursing cf)r. cf)ean rJ>riest helps define, shape and carry on campus traditions Dr. Dean Priest, assistant vice president for academic affai rs and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, has been involved in many traditions at Harding. As a student , he helped define and shape some traditions and, as a faculty member, he has he lped continue them. Many traditions have come and gone, but others have continued since Harding began in 1924. Priest remembers many of the traditions when he was a student, some of which still exist. He said he was glad to see some of the new traditions taking place but sad to see some of the old traditions gone. The biggest tradition when he was a student was at Thanksgiving. Now, students have a week off to go home during Thanksgiving break, but students used to stay here at Harding. "I hated to see the Thanksgivi ng tradition go, but some trad itions are in need of change. Harding focuses on the family, so it is right that we spend a week with our fami lies ," Priest said. Some traditions about social clubs have a lso changed, Priest sa id. Clubs used to have three functions, with the third function being a s impler event. Spring Sing was not a tradition when Priest was a student and he said being in a club used to be less expensive. "I think the club tradition is great, but there is some danger of clubs interfering with academics as students are stretched to be involved more and more. Clubs were imporrant when I was a student , but they didn 't take as much time, and I wish it was more like that now," Priest said. Another big tradition was Sa turday classes. Students were required to attend class on Saturdays, and they had Mondays off. "Having time to study on Mondays gave us an uninterrupted day of study which added to our academic strength. I would like to see the Saturday classes tradition back. Sunday was a great day of freedom because Sunday we only had worship, and we could study on Mondays, " Priest said. Priest was involved in chorus as a student , and its traditions have changed also. Genera lly, the chorus now has one big trip each year, but there used to be major trips in the fall and spring. "I counted one time how much I would 've had to take out of my pocket if I had to pay for my chorus trips, and it would've cost me more than my tuition. I'm very grateful for the expenses that Hard ing pays for students to be able to be in choral groups," Priest said. "I got twice the value when I was in chorus because I got to see the world and sing in chorus. It also gave me an awareness ofthe mission field. Chorus trips are good because they help students grow and become aware of the world around them. They show how much the church needs help, and students are able to help the churches ," Priest said. Homecoming has become a tradition recently. \'(lith Harding's move to NCAA Division II , the Homecoming tradition will grow even more. "The new Homecoming is a good tradition because more and more people are coming back to the University. HomeCOming provides old Dr. Dean Priest beckons a student to participate in class by w01-king an equation on the bom-d. As a former student and current faculty member, Priest has watched traditions come and go through the years. Photo by Krisli Burns. memories for those returning and gives students achance {Q be involved in the Homecoming tradition ," Priest said. Harding will continue its main tradition and focus as a Christian university. Chapel added to the Christian tradition by providing opportunities for spiritual growth. "I hope we never give up on chapel because it is our very purpose for existing. Christianity is the mainstay ofHarding University,"Priest said .As Harding keeps growing, so will its many traditions. - Heath Dawson Academics 47 @
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