regina's BEST FRIEND Freshman Jamie Dye and her service dog, Gabriel, went through the club process side by side. Freshman special education major Jamie Dye joined women's social club Regina in fall 2019 and participated in club week activities with her service dog, Gabriel. Senior Rachael Jones, president of Regina, said she first met Dye at social club officer open house on the Front Lawn and got to know her better through conversation at sociaJ club open house in the Ganus Activities Complex. Jones said she thought Dye appreciated how the women in Regina were respectful of her service dog because they learned beforehand from Dye's sister and older Regina member, junior Rachel Dye, how to interact with service dogs. "I think part of the reason she chose Regina is because we were prepared for that, and we didn't try to touch him or anything - she doesn't like when people ask to pet him," Jones said. "So, us knowing that ahead of time was really helpful and just like respecting the boundaries. [We] don't get too close to him because he's doing a job, and we can't distract him." Jamie Dye said she chose Regina because they understood her needs during the club process. "It was stressful and overwhelming, but it was a lot of fun," Jamie Dye said. "They were very nice ... not like 'Oh, she has a dog; she has a disability. We don't want her.' They were like, 'How can we help you ... so we can help you get through this?'" Junior Shelby Rhoades, fellow Regina new member, said seeing Gabriel perform his jobs for Jamie Dye throughout the week was fun to watch. Jamie Dye said he performed jobs like deep pressure therapy and standing cover for her. "He did a lot of his tasks, [such as] deep pressure, which is laying··across me to calm me down," Jamie Dye said. "He did a cover, which is being a physical barrier between me and a crowd and a lot of people." Rhoades said she was frustrated by people who only asked about the service dog instead of Jamie Dye. "I don't think people realize what an awesome person she is, and that upsets me sometimes," Rhoades said. "It's rude to walk up to her and automatically be like, 'What's your dog's name? What's he doing here?'" Jones and Rhoades said Gabriel was named an honorary Regina member by the end of club week because he was present through the entire club process. "We actually called him our honorary beau," Rhoades said. "When [Jamie Dye] got jerseyed, [Gabriel] got his own bandana that was for Regina. It was really fun." Jones said having Gabriel with them during club week was fun, and they did not have to modify any activities for Jamie Dye and Gabriel. story by Sarah Barnard Freshman Jamie Dye wears her Regina jersey proudly as Gabriel sits on the Front Lawn Nov. 13, 2019. Gabriel loved to go on walks around Harding's campus. I photo by Madison Meyer people 173
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