StudentgJind wafjs to share their talents SCRIBBLERS EXPRESS DIVERSITY, ENHANCE THEIR CREATIVITY Among the many opportunities at Harding was a chance to express one's thoughts, one's feelings and oneself without the fear ofmalicious persecution. This opportunity was provided specifi cally by Harding's writing club, Scribblers. Scribblers was des igned to encourage creativewriting and the sharing of that writ ing, sponsor Sherry Organ sa id. The organization gave its members the courage they needed to do what they love. "A lot of people who write are afraid to show other people what they wrote for fear of criticism. The club gave me confidence in my own writing skills," senior English major and president David Johnson said. "I have always been interested in writing and it was exciting to be with other people who have the same interests," Johnson said. "It helped me to be ab le to understand certain kinds ofwriting - what I like and what I don't like," senior English major and vice president Greg Bales said. "It helped me to be more opi nionated." The club met more often this year than in the past. "This is my first fu ll year to sponsor the group. We have around 25 members and there is so much enthusiasm that they are wanting to meet every Thursday," Organ said. Formerly, the club met twice a month . Besides the members , Scribblers also inspired the club's sponsor. "I love creative writing and even try to do a little," Organ said. "I liked the ideaofthem being encouraged in their writing so I thought I shou ld be the encourager." The group worked hard to improve their writing. ''We got together on Thursday evenings to read our own works and discuss them and to look for help in improving our writing," Johnson said. "I enjoyed hearing other people's ideas and getting comments on my writing," Bales said. The club was not set up as a Jason Jones and MaryG/en Henderson work on a design project for class. Society for Interior Design members offered their services to area residents as a way /0 get hands-on experience in their career field. • 246 ORGAN IZATI ONS service club, but it did try to host a public reading at least once each semester, Organ said. Public readings allowed members to read in front of an outside audience. A book of the students' works was made and dispersed at the reading. The club was not exclusive. "Whoever wants to read can, but we tried to limit each person to onlya few writings so there wou ld be enough time for everyone," Johnson said. Bales had much success with his writing. Hewas a winner in the Jo Cleveland Writing Contest in 1998 and he has also won a couple essay contests. He said he was keeping his goals high. "I would li ke to have some of my works published later on," Bales said. Encouragement was paramount in the club. "Our goal was to create an atmosphere that made criticism a good thing," Johnson said. "Being able to find encouragement from other people and being able to read in public, that was kind of gratifying." - Diane Grubbs "For several years Harding has been the only college ill the state to have an organization like the Poetry Club. The main activity of the club is to publish a small volume oforiginal work. This year the sixth volume of 'HARDING BOOK OF UNDERGRADUATE VERSE' was compiled and dedicated to Mrs. J.N. Armstrong. Each year a contest is sponsored by the club to encourage writing and the appreciation of poe try. The author of the wim1ing poem is given an invitation to become a member. Meetings are held regularly on Tuesday nights at which time each member contributes three original poems ." - 1942 PetitJean
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