Harding University 2019-2020 Petit Jean Volume 96 Enrollment: 4,879 915 East Market Avenue 501-279-4000 www.harding.edu
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Karen Kelley, assistant professor of Nursing, Swaid Centerfor Health Sciences Jan. 21, 2020. on her own chil hood experiences to advocate underprivilege communities. In fall 2019, nominated Kelley as the 2019-20 Petit Jean recipient. I photo by Madison Meyer 4 stands in the Kelley relied for and assist Harding students yearbook dedication
dedication recipient Karen Kelley, assistant professor of nursing, advocated for the betterment and education of impoverished communities through her classes. During her 25th year teaching at Harding, Kelley taught community health nursing and culture of poverty courses. Before joining the Harding faculty, Kelley worked in Memphis, Tennessee, as a care coordinator at one of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital's outpatient facilities. While working at Le Bonheur, she administered home IV therapy and coordinated financial logistics of helping patients return home and core education of home-health nurses. Kelley said her passion to advocate for impoverished communities started at Le Bonheur, where she was introduced to people from all socioeconomic classes and deep inner-city poverty. "I've just always had a soft spot for folks who are having trouble and are more vulnerable," Kelley said. Kelley said she grew up in a low-income household. Her mother worked in a factory and modeled a positive work ethic for her and encouraged her to receive an education, which Kelley said was not always the case in low-income homes. To illustrate poverty, she told students her family did not install indoor plumbing until she was 5 years old. Kelley also described the varying differences in opinion that arose while discussing impoverished communities. "It is sort of an 'us and them' discussion at times," Kelley said. "So, I just want to make it clear from the beginning when I talk about that -- I am 'them,' and now I'm 'us.'" Senior nursing major Ally Davis, who was a student in Kelley's community health nursing class in fall 2019, said Kelley's class was unlike any other nursing curriculum. She said that instead of having a single patient assigned to each student like in other classes, each student's patient was an entire community. Davis said Kelley was the perfect teacher for the class because of her work with the local homeless population through a nonprofit organization in Searcy. "Her life is engrossed in community health," Davis said. "She is deeply involved with Mission Machine and the homeless population in general in Searcy. She's instrumental in getting the warming center [at First United Methodist Church] facilitated." Senior interdisciplinary studies major Spencer Wright, a student in Kelley's fall 2019 culture of poverty class, said the class focused on material poverty. "The cycle of material poverty is vicious,'' Wright said. "It's expensive to be poor. It's very easy to get into a really tough situation when you don't have resources." Wright said Kelley hoped the class inspired students to learn more about the culture of poverty and work to positively reform the institutions in place to further aid impoverished communities. He said before meeting Kelley, he first heard her described as a godly woman. "[After] getting to be around her this semester, ... I have no qualms with that assertion,'' Wright said. "I see her love in the way that she continually moves toward people that are in poverty." Wright said while Kelley worked to better the lives of impoverished people, he believed she would say she was the one who benefited from the relationship. story by Caleb Manor dedication 5
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squirrels scurry Men's social club TNT, women's social club Zeta Rho andfriends perform "A Tail of Two Cities" April 21, 2019, in the George S. Benson Auditorium.In the show, squirrelsfound a new home after having theirs burned by a lightning strike, eventually finding their new home at Harding University. The group, directed by seniors Emma Fields, Abbey Giboney, Hunter Gowen and Kyle Raney, won first place, earning the John H. Ryan Sweepstakes Award. I photo by Angelo Felix Sophomores Cameron Paul (above) and Olivia Dunn (right) I photos by Sterling McMichael 10
into 1st place student life 11
12 colony creates history Ju Go Ju, Ko Jo Kai, Sub T-16 and friends had one of the largest Spring Sing shows in the production's history. SSpringSing was a tradition treasured by many Harding students. Social club members and friends alike participated in the annual competition with visuals, songs and skits. In spring 2019, women's social clubs Ju Go Ju (JGJ) and Ko Jo Kai (KJK), and men's social club Sub T-16 (Sub T) and friends combined to form one of the largest groups to ever participate in the program. Junior Garrison Hendrix, Sub T member, was a director of the show and said the support from all three clubs contributed to the size of the show. "I think a large part of why we had so many people interested in being a part of our show was that our clubs believed and supported us directors from the start," Hendrix said. "Ju Go Ju, Kojies and Sub T allwanted to do anything to help the show - withprops, costumes and music -- but most people wanted to be on stage. So the directors thought, the more the merrier!" Sophomore Alyssa Kohl, JGJ member, spoke to the social dynamic among the participants in the show. "None of us really realized how many of us there were until we were in our costumes at dress rehearsal," Kohl said. "There were a lot of people, actually, who weren't in our clubs, so that was fun that we got to meet a lot of different people." The three clubs worked together to produce a show called "NoIfs, Ants or Buts," all about ants. Hendrix said he thought the number of participants added to the visual effect of the show. "Having a large number of people in the show played to our theme and story," Hendrix said. "We wanted the audience to feel like ants were just pouring out from every part of the Benson." Cindee Stockstill, producer of theatre and Spring Sing, said the ants' show was enjoyable but caused some technical difficulties. "First of all, it's hard to herd that many cats," Stockstill said. "The benefit was [that] the sheer number was visually impressive to see that many people dancing well together. We love to have participation. We want everyone who wants to participate in Spring Sing to be able to. However, with a really big club show, sometimes it's hard to tell a story effectively." story by Abigail Rezentes Sophomore Hallie Carger reacts to getting sprayed by the exterminators in the George S. Benson Auditorium April 21, 2019. The show used a specialfog effect to act as poison to kill the ants. I photo by Angelo Felix Alumnae Jacky Matthews and Lexi Hoagland andjunior Claire Nestor perform in "No Ifs, Ants or Buts" April 21, 2019, in the George S. Benson Auditorium. The show featured sparkly crumbs during the song "Ants Just Wanna Eat Crumbs." I photo by Sterling McMichael Junior Ryan Fisher soars across the stage as an exterminator in the George S. Benson Auditorium April 21, 2019. The exterminators arrived to get rid of all ofthe ants in the show. I photo by Angelo Felix
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14 design goes global in GHANA Design and engineering students used their academic perspectives to devise solutions with Ghanaian leaders in summer 2019. Six Harding students from the interior design and engineering departments traveled to Yendi, Ghana, from July 25 to Aug. 6, 2019, to host a workshop dedicated to solving a social issue by way ofthe design process. The Yendi community leaders proposed the idea of solving a social issue instead of a physical design issue, which the Harding students tackled over the three-day workshop. Political leaders, chiefs and youths of the Yendi community attended the workshop. Senior interior design major Joanna Roberts said the social issue presented was the youth of Ghana joining a group called Sakawa, which required members to commit internet fraud. "We called them the youth instead of Sakawa, just because Sakawa has a negative demeanor to it," Roberts said. "A lot of the times, it's just like saying gangsters." Roberts said the Sakawa were typically between 17 and 20 years old. The youth in Yendi did not have the ability to further their education, so they turned to Sakawa as an easy way to make money. "Our goal was to facilitate a workshop or meeting with a group ofleaders in the community, to help teach them or show them a better way to collaboratively solve problems," Amy Cox, assistant professor of art and design, said. The design process was a creative approach that produced solutions to both tangible and intangible issues. Cox said the Harding students narrowed this multistep process down to three questions for the workshop: "What is the challenge?" "What could we try?" and "What works?" The Harding group left the third question unanswered and opened it to the community to find a solution. Junior mechanical engineering major Tim Partlow described the distinct relationship between engineering and interior design. "Oftentimes in engineering, architecture and interior design, it is used for a very specific physical process, but this was actually a great experience for me because I got to see how the design process works outside of just pure engineering field," Partlow said. The department of engineering hosted workshops for several years, but this was the second collaborative effort between interior design and engineering. Both departments taught students about the design process. The engineering group normally traveled to Haiti, but in 2019, chose Ghana due to increased security concerns in Haiti that year. "We are coming to guide you, to teach you how to move through the process, to help you come up with solutions for . " your own community. "The first thing we say is, 'We're not the experts on this,"' Roberts said. '"We are coming to guide you, to teach you how to move through the process, to help you come up with solutions for your own community, and hopefully later on you can do this yourself with other issues and problems that you have."' story by AudreyJackson
Seniors Degnan Lawrence, Joanna Roberts, Hannah Porter and Alexis Haney; juniors Tim Partlow and Mikaela Malec; a Yendi citizen; and Amy Cox, assistant professor of art and design, stand in front of a herd of elephants in Yendi, Ghana, Aug. 5, 2019. Engineering and interior design students developed solutionsfor local needs with Yendi community leaders. I photo courtesy of Joanna Roberts student life 1 5
16 honduran Students and Hondurans competed in basketball games during a 2019 spring break mission trip. During spring break 2019, a group of Harding students went on a week-long mission trip to Honduras through the Journey Mission Camp organization. The group distributed supplies,built cots, and conducted vacation Bible school sessions for the local children, but they were unprepared to compete in a game of basketball on their trip. Wilmer Espinoza, the man who led Journey Mission Camp, surprised the group one evening with an arrangement for the students to play basketball with a local community team. The game started as an ordinary pickup game but grew as more people lined up to play against the visiting Americans. When the game ended and the groups parted ways, the Hondurans challenged the Harding students to a rematch. They planned another game, and when they met again, the Hondurans brought food, cameras and crowds of people. The simple game of pickup basketball had become a full competition complete with referees and substitute players. The game wa broadcast on television, and the Harding tudents wore their mission shirts as makeshift jerseys. Senior Cameron Dodick said he believed the game strengthened the relationships between the mission team and locals in a way routine conversation would not have. "I feel like we've built relationships with these people," Dodick said. "Even the kids that were there were watching us, they were cheering outside." The game concluded with a victory for the Harding students, and the Hondurans presented them with a handmade trophy. Senior Elaine Savage said she was grateful to be part of the mission trip. "We went to go and serve those people, but they taught me o much in the way. ... They are so hospitable and so kind," Savage said. "And they came ... and served us, and so I'm very grateful that the Lord allowed me to experience that and that he taught me all of those things through that." Senior Marissa (Countess) Longley, a co-leader of the trip, said she hoped more Harding students would take the opportunity to participate in missions and serve others. "You can't go and change the entire world, but I believe that you can change the world for one person." "You can't go and change the entire world, but I believe that you can change the world for one person," Longley said. "And so whether that's through a basketball game or sitting down with someone and talking with them via a translator or your own skills, I think expanding and encountering other cultures and God's people is a really good perspective and look into heaven." story by Elizabeth Shores Harding students and Hondurans pose after a pickup basketball game March 13, 2019, at Journey Mission Camp in Honduras. The basketball game was broadcast on television in Honduras. I photo courtesy of Kylie Jones
Senior Elaine Savage holds the handmade basketball game trophy in Honduras on a spring break mission trip March 13, 2019, at Journey Mission Camp. The Hondurans made the trophy to celebrate the victors of the pickup game. I photo courtesy of Kylie Jones Seniors Jesse Beck, Cameron Dodick, Jon Mark Brasher, Brian Trujillo, Elaine Savage, Caleb Kingsley; sophomore Grant Countess; and senior John Rowe smile after winning thefirst-place trophy in Honduras on their spring break mission March 13, 2019. This was the group's second win against the Hondurans. I photo courtesy of Kylie Jones student life 17
Luke Humphrey and Lindsey Bender co-directed Impact for the second year in a row. Junior Lindsey Bender and senior Luke Humphrey made an impact on summer orientation history when they returned as new student orientation co-directors for a second time. Humphrey said he and Bender never imagined they would serve as codirectors for a second time until the subject came up in casual conversation. "The more we thought about our time as co-directors, the more we wanted to do the whole thing over again," Humphrey said. Caitlin Denton, assistant director of First Year Experience, said the University College team did not usually consider previous co-directors as eligible applicants for another year of directing, but they made an exception for Bender and Humphrey because of their work ethic. "Luke and Lindsey are set apart because of their passion for this job and their love for incoming students and for Harding," Denton said. "You can tell they believe in the Harding experience, and they want each student to have an awesome college experience as well." Bender said she believed co-directors were important roles in Impact and Bison Bound experiences because it was the directors' duty to serve as ambassadors for the student body. "When you are a new student coming [to] a new school, it is important to hear from professors, administrators and other faculty, but it also means so much to be able to hear from fellow students who have been in the same place," Bender said. "Luke and I were able to invite people into our student community and say, 'We want you to be a part of us."' 18 Humphrey said a co-director should be someone who demonstrated love, showed up for people and reiterated involvement. He said the leadership position allowed him to form connections that lasted beyond Impact weekend. "Students will seek Lindsey and me out in a crowd because they know they can count on us to guide them in the right direction," Humphrey said. Unlike previous new student orientation co-directors, Bender and Humphrey had the opportunity to build upon the experience they created the year before. One of their visions was to intentionally integrate the year's Impact theme, "Your Story, Our Story," into more activities. "In the past, the theme was always just a little motto that would show up here and there, but we wanted to use the meaning and colorful imagery of this year's theme to our advantage," Humphrey said. "We wanted everyone to visually understand that their story brings a new color to the table, but we can all mix into a beautiful mess of colors here at Harding, so we hosted a color war amongst other activities." Denton said Bender and Humphrey set standards high for future years. She said Humphrey curated a guidebook that would help direct and inspire future new student orientation co-directors. The book incorporated notes from Humphrey and previous co-directors. "Those who read the book will learn from many great role models and leaders and will feel encouraged to meet high standards," Denton said. story by Caroline Lea
(Above) Freshman McKenna Ross crowd surfs at Throm Aug. 16, 2019, on the Front Lawn. Impact hosted two themed dinners: Throm and a monochromatic night. I photo by Madison Meyer (Right) Senior Faith Smith and juniors Katelyn Allen and Eric Conner dance with new students as energy group leaders (EGL) on the Front Lawn Aug. 16, 2019. EGLs were upperclassmen who helped Impact run smoothly. I photo by Madison Meyer (Opposite page) Senior Luke Humphrey andjunior Lindsey Bender pose at Throm Aug. 16, 2019, on the Front Lawn. This was the second yearfor the pair to co-direct Impact. I photo by Madison Meyer (Left) Freshman Seth Hammitt dances in the middle of Thromon Aug. 16, 2019, the Front Lawn. Impact hosted the annual throwback prom-themed dinner during Impact weekend. I photo by Madison Meyer student life 19
Harding University's Student Handbook was revised before fall 2019, 20
allowing students to wear mid-thigh length shorts to class. student life 21
22 students in the Students saw the effects ofthe Small Business Revolution in the Searcy community. In spring 2019, Searcy won the Small Business Revolution. The nationwide contest focused on revitalizing and building town morale and infrastructure. Thousands oftowns across the United States entered the contest, but Searcy rose through the ranks as people around the country voted on each updated list of finalists. It was the voters' job to choose the town, but the Small Business Revolution team selected the businesses that received funds for improvement. Deluxe, the sponsor of the production, supplied the businesses with funds and various services that were included in the victory package. "Along the way, we learned that nowhere are small businesses more under siege than in our small towns," Deluxe explained on their website. "We created the Small Business Revolution --Main Street to help those small businesses, and in turn, those small towns, reignite the spark that drives them and keeps people coming back. Each season, we search for one lucky town and six of its small businesses to win a $500,000 boost from Deluxe and document the transformations in an original series." Past and present residents of Searcy; current Harding students, alumni, faculty and staff; and people who had relatives in Arkansas posted on every social media platform to spread the word: Vote for Searcy. Community leaders hoped to rebrand Searcy and make it friendlier to small businesses. Small business owners from around town got involved -- all hoping to be chosen as a finalist. Members of the community wanted to share what they loved about Searcy and convince a national corporation to fall in love with the town as well. Zion Climbing Center was one of the six small businesses selected to receive renovations. As of fall 2019, junior TK Geter, a student employee at Zion, said there were not any notable changes to the makeup of the building, but new marketing plans were implemented. Geter said the business would wait to announce renovations to the building until the show aired on Hulu. Many possibilities were considered for changes, but the company hoped to land on a plan that benefited the Zion community most. "There is a possibility of going to two different locations as of now," Geter said. "And of course, staying at our own building. All three are really big projects, as you can tell. We're just trying to very carefully decide what would be the best thing to do." Savor + Sip, located in downtown Searcy, was also chosen as a business to be assisted by Deluxe. "I expected to see a whole new business when I came back," junior Kassidy Barden, Savor +Sip employee, said. "But really, the only change you can notice is the walk-in fridge. I think a lot of the money went to behind-the-scenes things in the business realm." story by Everett Kirkman
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double the DUNNE Josie Dunne returned to Harding's campus in fall 2019. 24
Few students were familiar with Josie Dunne before she opened Ben Rector's show in spring 2019. Many left Rector's concert impressed with Dunne's performance and wanted her to return to Harding. After seeing students' reactions to her performance, members of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) invited her back in fall 2019. "It was a no-brainer," senior Valerie LaFerney, co-director of CAB, said. "She was engaging with the fans and loved performing at Harding." Logan Light, director of campus life and CAB, said she was a better performer than he expected. Light said she seemed to be at home on stage when performing, which he said was one reason the crowd enjoyed her performance. "When she is performing, she is all over the place," senior Avery-Kiira Abney, co-director of CAB, said. "You never know what's going to happen, which is exciting to watch." Light said part of Dunne's success was because of her personality and her engagement with fans on and off stage. After Rector's concert, Dunne stayed in the lobby of the George S. Benson Auditorium, meeting fans for hours. LaFerney said she had not seen a line to meet a performer at Harding as long as the one to meet Dunne. Light said as long as someone was there to shake her hand, she was going to stay and meet as many as she could. "I recognize that in artists that are up and coming," Light said. "That kind of personality goes a long way when it comes to the music industry." Abney said when she spoke with Dunne, the conversation felt casual. LaFerney said one of her favorite attributes of Dunne's was her approachability. LaFerney said she was excited for Dunne's return in fall 2019 because of the musical variety she brought to the Harding community. LaFerney said students often gravitated toward folk and indie genres of music, but Dunne brought a more pop and edgy style of music. "It's something different that we're bringing to Harding, and I'm excited about that," LaFerney said. Abney said she was most excited for Dunne to bring her new music to Harding. Other than Rector, who opened for NEEDTOBREATHE in 2012, Dunne was the only opener to come back as a headliner for a CAB concert, according to Light. story by Kylie Jones student life 25
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DORMITORY, NORTH VIEW Pattie Cobb Hall turned 100 years old in 2019. BBuilit n 1919, women's residence Pattie Cobb Hall stood for 100 years. It was first inhabited by students of Galloway Women·s College. Accordmg to Hannah Wood, archives and special collections librarian, Pattie Cobb was originally known as "the new dorm." Galloway College sold its property to Harding College in 1934, after which the dormitory's basement served as a cafeteria. "I love the fact that we have a tie to the college that was here before us," Wood said. "To me, it shows kind of a continuity of education, a connection to the community from even before when Harding was here." Wood said Pattie Cobb had several idiosyncrasies that set it apart from other dorms on campus. In the 1940s, the "dorm moms" of Pattie Cobb and women's residence Cathcart Hall distributed banners for good housekeeping, and the names of the students with the cleanest rooms were published in The Bison newspaper. When the American Heritage cafeteria opened in 1965, the two cafeterias developed a feud. Pattie Cobb's cafeteria made it a tradition to say a prayer every 30 minutes over the food served. In 1989, University leadership decided to renovate Pattie Cobb to make it a larger women's residence hall without a cafeteria in the basement, and it was renovated again in 2006. Its newest features included balconies on the upper floors and a chandelier in the foyer with two staircases leading down into (Left) Pattie Cobb Hall stands as the oldest dorm on campus Nov. 192, 019. Pattie Cobb functioned as a dorm and cafeteria during the early years of Harding. I photo by Madison Meyer (Above and right) Pattie Cobb Hall opensfor its first year in 1920. Pattie Cobb functioned as a residence hall and a cafeteria for 69 years before being renovated to strictly a residence hall. I photos courtesy of Harding University Archives the lobby area. Heather Davis, dorm mom for both Pattie Cobb and Cathcart in 2019, said her father attended Harding in the 1970s when Pattie Cobb was still a functioning cafeteria. Once Davis lived in Pattie Cobb as a residence life coordinator, she said she wished she had lived there as a student. "Our population tends to be a lot of studious girls," Davis said. "They like it quiet and peaceful. Peaceful is a good word to describe it now." Sophomore Annika Asplund said she was glad to live in a historic building like Pattie Cobb and thought it captured the charm of living in the South. "Pattie Cobb really has a lot of history, and I'm glad that I get to be a part of history indirectly in there," Asplund said. story by Elizabeth Shores DORMITORY, EAST VIEW student life 27
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The Homecoming musical featured swings and a 'library of props' to recreate the world of'Matilda.' The 2019 Homecoming musical, "Matilda," reached new heights with a unique set design. Swings, screens and scooters were added to this year's show. Dottie Frye, assistant professor of theatre and director of the musical, said she talked with set designer Britton Lynn, associate professor of theatre, about ideas she liked for set design when they first selected "Matilda" in spring 2019. Lynn said Frye told him she did not want to sit in the dark between scene changes, so she wanted a unit set. This meant the entire set was always on stage, and scene changes were indicated by a change in lighting rather than a physical change of scenery. "You have to be very creative at figuring out how to hide all of the different locations in plain sight," Lynn said. Lynn said the idea for the set was to mirror Matilda's love of reading by having a "library of props" on scaffolding levels that designated different scenes of the story. Lynn added that building the unit set with levels was an easier build than previous Harding productions were because the University already had most of the scaffolding they needed. The set was built in the Ulrey Performing Arts Center and then transported to the stage in the George S. Benson Auditorium. Freshman Keller Montgomery, ensemble member, said he liked the "library of props" idea because it reflected the theme of storytelling and nodded to Matilda's love for the library and how she used it to break free. "Even though bad things are happening to her, she's taking control of her own story, and she gets to decide how it ends," Montgomery said. "She's going to make a happy ending for herself." Frye said she made it clear she wanted to have swings for the show. She said they hired an outside professional company to help fulfill her dream of having swings on stage because the auditorium's previous flight system was removed. She said having playful elements like the swings was important to her to capture the wonder of being a child in the story. "There is something magical [a child experiences] with the freedom of a swing," Frye said. "I never want to lose the wonder of being God's child, and so, for me, a show that embraces the joy of children, it's just right up my alley." Frye said they broke new ground using LED panels to display imagery within the set. Lynn said he used the panels to create scenes that nodded to the original show since the unit set design they chose was different from most productions of "Matilda." "That's actually the really fun part of my job," Lynn said. "The joy of doing set design is figuring out how you can do the list of technical problems that the script gives you in the time frame you have, with the budget you have, with the people you have [and] in the space you have." story by Sarah Barnard student life 29
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Gavin andTatum Davis run on the Front Lawn Nov. 7, 2019. The Cathcart dorm family lived on campus for 10 years. I photo by MadisonMeyer Dorm children lived on campus year-round in residence halls. Every residence hall on Harding's campus had a "dorm family" occupying it. As Harding students came and went, the dorm families stayed. Their children grew up living in a dormitory for college students. The 2019-20 school year was Heather Davis' 10th year as a residence life coordinator or "dorm mom" for women's residence Cathcart Hall. Davis, mother of seven, said she loved the way Harding students interacted with her children and treated them as their younger siblings. "They really love seeing the kids, unless they are being exceptionally annoying," Davis said. "I think that having a bunch of kids running around maybe makes it homier." Davis said sometimes it felt like they were in a fishbowl because of the lack of privacy in their lives. But, overall, the whole family loved living in the dorm, and she enjoyed giving her children a unique childhood. Jana Willis worked as the dorm mom in women's residence Kendall Hall. Willis said she and her family loved everything about living on campus, especially the safety of the environment for her children. "We love the atmosphere because it is a safe atmosphere, and the kids have this huge playground," Willis said. "The kids think they are hot stuff because they know the big kids, and the big kids look out for them, which I am thankful for." Willis said staying up late for work and getting up early with the children was the hardest adjustment, but it was worth it because she got to spend time with her family. "It has allowed me to spend a lot of time witl1 my kids," Willis said. "And to me, that is invaluable, so I am not going to ever take that for granted." Emily Myers completed her 12th year as dorm mom for men's residence Armstrong Hall. Myers' children included five girls, and she considered the men living in Armstrong to be an extension of those children. She said this cultivated a unique experience for her daughters over the years. "It has given my kids a lot of big brothers that they wouldn't have," Myers said. "When we hire [resident assistants], we hire you into our family." Myers said her children loved campus life so much that one of her daughters wanted to take over her mother's job when she retired. All three dorm moms said the most important thing about living on campus was the opportunities it provided their children to make connections. They said some of the strongest relationships they formed were with other dorm families on campus. "It is kind of a community because there are other dorm moms with kids," Willis said. "We just all understand each other because we all understand the life, and it has been a good thing." story by Emma Vaughn student life 31
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Changes to the 2019-20 Student Handbook allowed mid-thigh length shorts to be worn to class and chapel. The Harding University Student Handbook was under construction during spring and summer 2019. Official changes made for the 2019-20 school year were the result of a collaboration between board leadership, student input and faculty discussion as an attempt by the administration to respond adequately to a changing culture with respect to the enduring word of God. "A university is, by its very nature, a dynamic community where discussions are constantly taking place about the ways we organize and regulate ourselves in a constantly changing world," President Bruce McLarty said in an email to the student body in mid-July. McLarty said changes and alterations were discussed with the start of each new school year. In 2019, however, the handbook included more than clarifications and specifications. One of the most significant changes to the handbook, especially visible in the first few weeks of school, was the updated rule on shorts as appropriate daily apparel. The 2019-20 school year was the first in Harding history to allow students to wear shorts to class and chapel. "I think that it'll definitely affect our storytelling ability, because we're going to be the group of students that was here for the shorts change," senior Michael Krupka, Student Association president, said. "I hope that [the change] gives students more opportunities to stay outside longer and chat and mingle in between classes because they feel more comfortable outdoors. That's the main effect that I hope would be happening." The student body had mixed reactions to the dress code change. Though feedback was mostly positive, the trend gained momentum slowly in the earliest days of the fall 2019 semester. By the end of the first week, it seemed a growing number of students sported their shorts Students abiding by the new dress code talk after chapel in front of the Student Center Sept. 10, 2019. President Bruce Mclarty announced the dress code change via email before the fall 2019 semester began. I photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery Junior James Baker and sophomore Braden Mathews walk to chapel Oct. 3, 2019. In addition to dress code changes regarding shorts, hats were also allowed to be worn to class infall 2019. I photo courtesy of Jeff Montgomery enthusiastically in and out of the classroom.' While excited about the progress -- especially in the heat of August -- some students believed the amendment to the rules was overdue. "The [old] rule was supposed to make us look more professional when we went to class," junior Travis Buford said. "Yet, in reality, we did not have to look professional to go to class because we got to wear sweatpants and other unprofessional clothing." Zach Neal, dean of students, said professionalism can be determined on a class-by-class basis. Rather than prohibiting shorts campus-wide, teachers could request students wear specific attire suited to the situation. Despite overwhelming sense of approval of the rule change, a persisting sect of students pushed for more change. While some were comfortable enough with the current state of rules to forgo the push toward reformation, there would continue to be groups yearning for more. "There's always going to be an undercurrent among college-aged kids to reform something," Krupka said. "We are in this age where we want to fix things; we want to make things better. And that's a wonderful thing, and we have the most energy to do it." story by Everett Kirkman student life 33
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HULA students travel by boat in the Amazon rainforest May 10, 2019. The students fished for piranhas for the first time during HULA 2019. I photo courtesy of Easton Davis Senior Jacob Taylor andjuniors James Baker and Easton Davis pose infront ofMachu Picchu May 26, 2019. The group visited the location to immerse themselves in cultural experiences. I photo courtesy of Easton Davis HULA moved to Peru and went on a piranha fishing trip in the Amazon. Vina del Mar, Chile, was home to the Harding University in Latin America (HULA) program for 15 years. In spring 2019, HULA's home base moved to Arequipa, Peru, which opened new opportunities. The change of base to Peru enabled the group to travel to new places such as Lake Titicaca and the Colca Canyon. HULA Director Jeremy Daggett said it was a no-brainer to include these trips on the schedule. "It added so much to the HULA experience and humanities class that deals with pre-Columbian civilizations in the Americas," Daggett said. Junior Easton Davis recalled that Daggett pushed the group to connect humanity and culture through every trip. "We were forced to be immersed in the culture, and whether you like that or not, it was very eye-opening because you couldn't get away from it," Davis said. Junior Ana LaFontaine said the Lake Titicaca trip was more incredible than she expected. LaFontaine said learning how to communicate through the language barrier allowed the group to hear stories from their Quechua-speaking hosts. "Their hearts were good, and they truly wanted us to learn," LaFontaine said. Daggett said he organized the trip with the intention of bringing the culture to the students in tangible ways. "There is so much value in getting so close to the culture, in getting closer to the earth, in participating in new customs in a beautiful place -- even if for just one day and one night," Daggett said. "It's temporary, but the impact is significant." Another excursion Daggett planned for the group was piranha fishing in Lake Valencia, a tributary of the Amazon River. Every semester, HULA students visited the Amazon, but Daggett wanted the group to travel further into it for a chance to see different species of wildlife, like three-toed sloths. Davis said piranha fishing was unlike regular fishing, which made it fun for everyone. Piranhas moved fast, so it was difficult to catch one. Lafontaine was one of the only students who had not caught a piranha when the guide asked if she wanted to hold one to bring her luck. While LaFontaine held the piranha, the fish wiggled loose and bit her finger. Even though she was bitten, LaFontainesaid the piranha fishing trip was her favorite day abroad because of the unique story she was able to tell. Daggett said he looked for new adventures to deepen the group experience. He did not want HULA to be simply tourism but something more personal. story by Kylie Jones international 37
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Sophomore Kara Spencer found ancestors while researching D-Day for her Harding University in England coursework. S ophomore Kara Spencer did not expect to learn her own family history from a class assignment. While studying abroad with the Harding University in England (HUE) program, students in speech class were tasked with finding a personal connection to World War II before visiting Normandy, France, the site of the D-Day landings in 1944. Through the assignment, Spencer discovered she had three great-great uncles who fought in the war. Dr. Jack Shock, distinguished professor of communication, said the faculty wanted to find a way for students on the trip to connect with a soldier in a meaningful way and reflect on their service. Spencer said the person she learned most about was her great-great uncle, Ian MacLennan, who was an Ace in the Royal Canadian Air Force and also turned out to be a war hero. Spencer said MacLennan was a Spitfire pilot on loan to the Royal Air Force and, at one point, was the only defense against the German and Italian forces when they tried to overwhelm the island of Malta. On June 7, 1944, the Germans captured and took MacLennan to Stalag Luft III, a prison camp near Berlin, after he crash-landed. A series of events led MacLennan to escape and hitchhike to Paris, and he eventually arrived in London on the day the war ended. "It was very impactful to me, and it made me closer with my grandparents and made World War II more personal to me." "It was very impactful to me, and it made me closer with my grandparents and made World War II more personal to me," Spencer said. The assignment affected the students in ways beyond a grade. Sophomore Sarah Johnson said she was not in this particular class, but the assignment compelled her to research her own family. "Since many of my friends were finding out about their family connections, that made me curious about my family," Johnson said. "I knew my great grandfather had been there in Normandy, and I knew he got a Purple Heart medal, but I didn't know the whole story." Shock explained the significance and weight the assignment also held for him. "I am the son of a World War II veteran, and I find great comfort knowing that my students represent the next generation of Americans who now know more about the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers," Shock said. Both Shock and Spencer said they benefited from this assignment, and it was a way of gaining more knowledge and empathy toward the people who had gone before them and influenced their lives. story by Madison Scott international 39
HUF spring 2019 students visit Notre Dame April 29, 2019, shortly after thefire. Several studentsfrom different international programs that semester were able to visit the cathedral before itcaughtfire. I photo courtesy of William Philbrick 40
Juniors Olivia Suddath, Mary Katherine Childers and Jordan Hornsby stand in front of the Louvre Museum April 29, 2019, in Paris. The group visited Paris shortly after the Notre Damefire. I photo courtesy of Olivia Suddath • witnessing hist The Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire while students attended Harding University in Florence in spring 2019. Many were devastated when the Notre Dame Cathedral caught fire April 15, 2019. Over the years, many Harding students saw the cathedral through the Europe-based study abroad programs. Junior William Philbrick, who was studying abroad with the spring 2019 Harding University in Florence (HUF) program, was in Paris three days before the fire, allowing him to see the cathedral in its original form. "I had been out all day, and my friend Chris and I had just gotten back from Paris, so we just spent the day in Florence without Wi-Fi or anything, so we didn't get any texts," Philbrick said. "When we got back, I was getting all these texts from my friends and family back home telling me that the Notre Dame was on fire. I thought it was a · joke because we were just there. It didn't feel real." Two weeks later, Philbrick returned to the cathedral to see what remained. "It was blocked off, and there were people standing as close as they could get taking pictures of it," Philbrick said. "It was very odd to see that many people in Paris gather and stop in one place because they're usually very busy and moving around a lot, so for a lot of people to be congregated like that was really weird. It gave me a sense of how much that meant to them and how important it was for them." HUF director Robbie Shackelford was saddened by the tragic event and had not returned to see the cathedral. "I am constantly surrounded by art and architecture that I appreciate, and I have the pleasure of teaching others to appreciate," Shackelford said. "I will say that my thoughts were directed to the fact that the original has been lost to us." Even those who never visited Notre Dame felt heartache after the fire. Senior visual art studio major Anna Milliron related the damaged cathedral to her major courses. "As an art student, we've all heard of it, and even now I'm taking Italian Renaissance Art History, and [Notre Dame] was one of the first things we talked about, so it's really heartbreaking that I'm not going to get to see that ever in its original form," Milliron said. Milliron discussed how the Notre Dame fire revealed a connection between art and culture. "I think it puts into perspective just how important those buildings are, and preserving them is important," Milliron said. "It's more than art; it's a part of culture." story by Grace Baker international 41
jump like an egyptian 42
Harding University in Greece returned to Egypt in spring 2019 for the first time in three years. international 43
continents in days The Harding University in Greece (HUG) program took their first trip to Egypt in several years in spring 2019, visiting three continents in a matter of days. Junior Lizzy McHan said the group traveled from Israel back to Greece for a short period of rest, and then traveled to Africa for a sixnight cruise on the Nile River in Egypt. She said everyone on the trip seemed less tired than expected after traveling so far in only a few days. "I look back, and I'm like, 'I don't remember feeling that tired,"' McHan said. "I just remember being so excited to see what we were going to see that it didn't even matter." Tom Ritchie, assistant professor of kinesiology, attended HUG in spring 2019 and said the trip to Egypt was not added until late fall 2018. He said this was probably why the Israel and Egypt trips landed so close together on the schedule. "Before we even left, Egypt was not on the schedule, so we had a special meeting where Dr. Hopper told us we were going to Egypt," 44 HUG spring 2019 visited Israel, Greece and Egypt in three days. Ritchie said. "But that put it at the end of the program, so I think that's what caused that confluence to come about." Junior Rachel Bible said the semester had interim directors, Jeremy and Diane Myhan, who directed the HUG program several years prior to the trip. Bible said the Myhans commented on how HUG had changed since their last time there. "They mentioned one or two things about what it was like to be back after they hadn't been there for so long and how much more stable the Egyptian government is now," Bible said. "They were kind of surprised at how much they remembered about Egypt specifically." While in Egypt, the group visited the ancient pyramids. Some from the group climbed the pyramids. Junior David Walker was part of this group. "While we were in Egypt, we had the unique opportunity to climb and go inside the pyramids," Walker said. "To be able to climb something that was built 800 years before Abraham came to Egypt in the Old Testament absolutely blew my mind."
Junior Brian Hicks said the HUG group saw other people climbing and asked if they would be allowed to as well. "The coolest part was feeling the wind from the desert hitting us as we climbed a little higher," Hicks said. "Overall, it was a crazy experience, and not many can say they have done it." McHan, Bible and Ritchie said the experience from visiting three continents was spiritually fulfilling. Bible said she decided to go on the HUG trip because Egypt was added, but the Israel trip was ultimately her favorite part of the program. Ritchie said visiting the biblical sites in the countries HUG traveled to gave him a heightened awareness of biblical history. Ritchie and McHan both said their faiths were enriched by seeing how different cultures worshipped. "Just to see all the different people, all the different believers from three very different places; it was just incredible," McHan said. "I would tell everybody, even if you don't pick Greece, go get to learn about other cultures, because it just changes your perspective forever." story by Will Allen & Sarah Barnard The spring 2019 HUG group poses in front ofthe Temple ofHorace in Edfu, Egypt, March 27, 2019. The group spent time at the Egyptian pyramids while in the country. I photo courtesy of Brian Hicks An Israeli flagwaves on top ofMasada National Park in Israel March 22, 2019. HUG spent time in the country on theirjourney to visit three continents in three days. I photo courtesy of Brian Hicks international 45
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Students on the fall 2019 Harding in Zambia study abroad program used. electronic newsletters to keep family and friends updated on their trip. In fall 2019, a group of Harding students engaged in an alternate form of communication to stay in contact with people back home while studying abroad in Zambia. Sophomore Audra Crisler, who attended Harding University in Zambia (HIZ) in fall 2019, spoke about the importance of documenting her experiences through an email chain and communicating those stories to those she was closest to back home. "We were taught by a missionary [about] the importance of telling a story of a person correctly," Crisler said. She said it was easy to share stories and images through social media in a way that did not tell the whole story. She used her email chain as a platform to share the full experience. She included anything from daily activities to ways she saw God working, and it enabled her to stay connected with her friends and family in the U.S. Crisler said around 110 people were included in the email chain, and she tried to send one or two emails per week. "I have been so thankful for the contact and connection these emails have given me," Crisler said. "There are a handful of people who respond each time and ask questions or give encouraging words. I don't have Snapchat or Instagram, so I sometimes feel extremely disconnected while I am here, but I feel like the emails are a good way of reminding people that 'I'm still here!' and when they respond, it makes me feel a part of their lives too." Sophomore Emma Hayes also used this communication tactic to send blog-style emails to a group of around 100 people. Both Crisler and Hayes said WiFi could be unpredictable at times, but the emails consistently helped them stay in touch with people as best they could. "It is encouraging to see who has kept up with me through email and who wants to genuinely know what is happening here," Hayes said. "Even if we are unable to talk regularly, they can count on hearing from me through email." The women described what they learned from virtual communication and how deeply they were affected by the relationships with those in Zambia. They described how relationship-oriented Zambians behaved and how it challenged them to step outside of the American mindset of busyness and to-do lists. "People are always first, and yet, they still get done what needs to happen," Crisler said. "I am hoping this is something I will be able to take back with me: putting people and relationships first. Not thinking of time as something to give and take, but as something to always have. To really look into people's eyes and listen, not just be waiting for the next thing to say." Crisler's words and stories transcended time zones and locations of those who sent and received them, and those involved learned valuable lessons. "I've learned more about God through Audra in the way she is seeing his creation and her words about the people she is coming in contact with and describing around her," junior Hailey Bracey, a recipient of Crisler's emails, said. Moving forward, Crisler and Hayes said they were thankful for the connections they made in Zambia and hoped to create similar relationships when returning to the U.S. "I feel like the Lord has been teaching me just how beautiful his people are," Crisler said. "That the whole point of his creation and story was to be with his people. With me, with these Zambians, with everyone at Harding. And he just wants me to be with him." story by Madison Scott international 49
Junior Morgan Kennon; sophomore Aubin Lacoss; freshman Brandon Herridge; and sophomores Payton Campbell, Emma Partin and Makenna Roehr visit the Weta Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand, Sept. 24, 2019. Fall 2019 was the first semester HUA went on the workshop tour. I photo courtesy of Emma Rose Hill 50 The fall 2019 HUA trip visited a visual .effects and props workshop that made set pieces for films and television. The Harding University in Australasia (HUA) program added a new stop on their semester-long journey in fall 2019. While in Wellington, New Zealand, the group visited the Weta Workshop - a multi-award winning design studio and physical manufacturing facility servicing the world's entertainment and creative industries. Pam Little, HUA director, said the Weta Workshop was an addition suggested by Dr. Jeff Hopper, former dean of International Programs. "Hopper suggested going to the Weta Workshop in Wellington, New Zealand, because we were going to have a film crew from America travel with us," Little said. "The students this year were able to go into the actual workshop and watch behind glass windows the making of swords, weapons, costumes and the various creatures in the 'Lord of the Ring' movies and 'The Hobbit."' Junior Emma Rose Hill had a special connection to the visit. As a sophomore in high school, Hill did a project about the Weta Workshop. She said finally getting to see it in person was exciting. As a mechanical engineering major, Hill said she was interested in seeing the 3D printed models made at the Weta Workshop. ''I'm an engineering major, and so, getting to see the applied engineering and 3D printing was awesome," Hill said. "I actually 3D printed a little hobbit hole last semester, so getting to see that was amazing." Sophomore Georgia Dunning said the Weta Workshop was not just home to props and set pieces from "Lord of the Rings." "The museum was really interesting, and we got to see a.lot of props that were used in not only the 'Lord of the Rings' movies, but all kinds of famous movies as well," Dunning said. "We got to learn how the props for the movies were made, and our guide showed us where some of the swords were made for the 'Lord of the Rings' movies." Dunning said she enjoyed getting to see the sets from various television shows and movies. "My personal favorite part of the tour was the room filled with sets that have been used in famous TV shows and movies," Dunning said. "My 7-year-old self was freaking out at all of the Barbie doll-like houses, and even the guys thought the sets were the coolest part, too." Dunning said she hoped future HUA programs would return to the location. "I would 100% request that this be a trip future HUA students take," Dunning said. ''I'm not even a 'Lord of the Rings' fan, but learning and getting to see all of the hard work that is put into each film was really interesting. Everyone on my trip enjoyed themselves, and our tour guides told us a lot of stories about funny things that happened to the actors on set for 'Lord of the Rings,' which made the tour even cooler!" Little said she did not know what the next year for HUA would hold. The program explored the continents of Australia and Asia and offered students unique travel experiences similar to the Weta Workshop. "We may go there again in the future; it really just depends on what other new opportunities open up as I start to plan the program every year,'' Little said. "With HUA, I like to make each year have an element of surprise and a first for the students. Because we don't have an actual campus, the opportunities to spread our wings are unlimited." story by Karli Williamson & Kyle Raney
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