264 STUDENTS FOR LIFE PROACTIVELY PRO-LIFE Students for Life revives under female leadership. In the fall 2020 semester, juniors Sierra Endsley and Sarah Hickerson and seniors Carys Martin and Meghan Hickerson revived Harding University’s Students for Life, a club aimed to protect human life to natural death. The club began in 2016, but had a slow start that led to its repeated dissolvement over the years. Endsley, Martin, Meghan Hickerson and Sarah Hickerson noticed the club trailing off and decided to revive its efforts. The four women made a collective effort to reach out to associate professor of English Dr. Nick Boone, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students Zachary Neal, and University President Bruce McLarty to become an active group on the University’s campus. As the club took off, the four officers made themselves known in the Harding community. “We only want to speak the truth in love and show acceptance in compassion for all people, no matter where they come from because that is what Jesus himself did,” Martin said. “We plan to support single mothers, children’s homes, adoption agencies and foster homes. Sierra, the president, has contacted the national representatives for Arkansas and Missouri for Students for Life, and they’ve helped us with further ideas on what our club can do and how to be recognized as an official Students for Life club.” The club officers sought ways to educate the Harding community on anti-abortion issues and ways to address the sensitive topics in a Christ-like manner. “I think the club has a role to play on this campus because we all can be better educated on life issues,” Boone said. “I would like for the club to take the lead in making and keeping students and faculty aware of what is happening in the world around us with life issues: abortion, euthanasia and suicide. Boone was involved with Students for Life since its founding in 2016. “I follow the lead of the students, helping them succeed in whatever they want to accomplish with the club,” Boone said. With high hopes for the revival of the club, the officers made plans to remain on campus for a long time to educate others about how to be active in helping life issues in a Christian way. “We are planning on having Students for Life be set up for a long time,” Hickerson said. “We are so excited for the next couple years, and we have prayed earnestly that the Lord will put it on the hearts of those at Harding to continue the good work once we graduate. We want to have open, loving conversations with those who disagree with us and better help them understand why we are promoting the pro-life movement.” story by Sophia Toth
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