1 THEME DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN & DELLA RHODES R E F R A M E Harding University Petit Jean Vol. 98 Enrollment: 4,970 915 East Market Avenue 501-279-4000 www.harding.edu
2INTRODUCTION THEME FORE WORD Foreword
3 FOREWORD DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 CONSTRUCTED A NEW FRAMEWORK. Through my reflections on the past year, I perceived a new normal, complicated by social restrictions and unique challenges. Our routines, relationships and perspectives were subject to change, leaving us to choose between an attitude of optimism, or one of pessimism. One way or another, each of us will find a way to move forward, but it seems pretty simple to me. We can either give in to the feelings of fear, discouragement and discomfort, or we can reframe. Fall 2021 may look the same as it did prior to the pandemic. Gone are the days of Plexiglas and masks. Classes will return to their normal capacities, in their normal locations. But even as we push past the challenges brought by COVID-19, the grief of last year will remain a part of our college experience. Campus will look like the ghost of Harding’s past, but it will feel different, changed. Our best option is to be flexible and willing to change alongside it. We must rebuild a new perception as a community. The key to peace of mind is to apply a new perspective to an old situation. This does not change the situation, yet it gives each person a space to analyze. Everyone at our school has access to a framework of community, and the fundamental pieces that compose the place that we love are still here. The framework has been altered and added upon, but the goodness of our home remains intact. We can reframe our minds to accept the beauty of change and develop our structure in a way that includes it. WRITTEN BY HANNAH KELLUM
4INTRODUCTION THEME
5 EDITOR’S NOTE DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN JUST REFRAME — it sounds simple. Reframe in a time of crisis. Reframe in times of joy. It’s easy. Just reframe, and everything will fall into place. During the 2020-21 school year, I began to unravel what it meant to adjust the way you think. Shifting your thought habits lends itself to better mental health and habits, which I feel is still critical in 2021-22. We are amidst an intense season of change, and that’s unsettling. There seems to be no clear direction these days. The challenge to reframe is daunting at first, but there is a sense of stability that comes with focusing your mind in a different way. By focusing on the fact that things are not as bad as they seem, life gets easier. Hard things are more manageable, and moving forward becomes an attainable option. If we aim to express our thoughts, feelings and emotions in a more positive perspective, we allow ourselves to view situations differently. This will lead us to gain greater peace of mind. I will be the first to admit that 2021-22 has been tough, but I urge you to reframe. As you flip through the pages in this book, I hope you see that the framework of the school you love is perfectly intact. I hope that by reading this book, you are able to reframe your mind to believe that the goodness of your campus is still present. WRITTEN BY HANNAH KELLUM EDITOR’S NOTE
6SPRING/SUMMER SECTION DIVIDER
7 SPRING/SUMMER DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN PRING UMMER S
8SPRING/SUMMER SOCIAL CLUBS Spring Sing dazzles audiences after two years of preparation. SPRING SING 2020 WAS SET to debut on April 9, 2020, with the theme “Once Upon a Time.” Due to COVID-19, the show’s production was halted and ultimately canceled for the year, leaving participants involved feeling lost and disappointed. Hope was restored when the University announced in March 2020 that the show would continue in April 2021 with the revamped theme of “Twice Upon a Time.” With this newly titled theme came the COVID-19 guidelines the show had to comply with in order to safely host the event. Mandatory face masks, limits on the number of people on stage and in the audience, and social distancing in the entire building were just some of the necessary changes. Sophomore ensemble member Jackson Samuel said that it was tedious to follow the guidelines during rehearsals, but the spirit of the show remained unbothered. “During rehearsals, having to follow the guidelines and wear the masks did wear on people,” Samuel said. “Maybe it brought down the spirit a little bit, but when it came closer to performance time, people’s spirits were lifted again, and they remembered why we were doing Spring Sing.” Junior Braydon Letsinger was cast to play in the Spring Sing jazz band for both the 2020 and 2021 shows. In order to best comply with the pandemic’s guidelines, the jazz band opted to pre-record videos of their performances that would be displayed during the show instead of performing live to the audience. These additional efforts granted the health and safety that University leadership sought, but at the expense of a more satisfying performance. “You lose a lot with recordings,” Letsinger said. ”You lose a lot of the energy, the atmosphere and the people. We sounded fine, but it was all a little nuanced. It was as close as we could get to playing in person. I think they did a nice job with recording, but you’re always going to miss something between a live performance and a recording.” Despite the circumstances of Spring Sing 2021, the anticipation for the show remained, especially for the social club directors who had almost two years to prepare. For the Gamma Sigma Phi (GSP), Pi Theta Phi, Theta and friends show, 2021 was especially exciting since it was the first year Theta officially participated in Spring Sing. Their excitement came to its climax when they were announced the winners of the John H. Ryan Sweepstakes Award on April 17, 2021, winning $2,000 for their charity of choice, Sparrow’s Promise. Their show “Can’t Stop the Feelings!” told the story of a college female who underwent the emotions of anger, fear, sadness, anger, jealousy and joy. Senior Sargent Erwin, GSP music director for the 2020 and 2021 shows, said because their show depended on separate groups that represented each emotion, it was easier for them to comply with the COVID-19 rule that limited 30-40 performers on stage at a time. “I actually think [the organization] was part of the reason we were able to win,” Erwin said. “We had the different emotion groups that had 10-15 [members] each, so we didn’t have to worry too much about the logistics of how we would be cycling people on and off stage.” Neither Erwin nor his fellow directors were expecting to win as they were unsure how the judges would react to their “fairly unconventional” choreography. Erwin noted that the true satisfaction came when others on campus told him how much they enjoyed their show. After undergoing the loss of one show and having to plan and wait to perform for an additional year with the pressures of COVID-19, the support and validation from others made all the hard work worth it. “I said this on Saturday night before we went on and were giving our final speeches that I don’t care what the judges say or who holds the trophy at the end of the night,” Erwin said. “Listen to the people around campus. Listen to what they’re saying. We’ve already won. Having all these people say our show was incredible and they loved it was more validation to me than holding the trophy at the end of the night.” WRITTEN BY KATIE COOPER “WHEN SPRING SING WAS CANCELLED FRESHMAN year, I was devastated. I knew for sure I would do Spring Sing the next year, but I had no idea that I would become the lead of the winning show,” junior Mary Frances Burch said. “I am very thankful that everything fell into place the way it did, and I will forever be grateful for Spring Sing and my precious emotions.”
9 SPRING SING DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN THE EMERALD CITY Spring Sing ensemble members perform “One Short Day” from the musical Wicked. The group, led by the hosts and hostesses, performed songs in addition to the club shows. Photo by: Jaxon Nash THE FEELING OF VICTORY Social clubs Gamma Sigma Phi, Pi Theta Phi, Theta and friends celebrate winning the John H. Ryan Sweepstakes Award. The participants watched the awards ceremony from the Rhodes-Reaves Field House due to COVID-19 restrictions. Photo by: Jaxon Nash POWER ON Social clubs Ju Go Ju, Ko Jo Kai, Sub-T16 and friends tell a story of a barrell of monkeys. Each club had to limit their numbers of performers on stage. Photo by: Jaxon Nash MOMENT IN THE SPOTLIGHT Senior Ava Montgomery performs her solo as a hostess. Along with solos, the hosts and hostesses performed short segments of songs to introduce each club show. Photo by: Jaxon Nash
10SPRING/SUMMER ATHLETICS A look back at spring 2021 sports. THE SPRING 2021 ATHLETIC SEASON was full of action at Harding University. The athletes who competed in the spring won championships, broke records and earned individual accolades. Following spring competition, Harding was awarded the Great American Conference (GAC) All-Sports trophy and placed 155 athletes on All-Academic teams. The baseball team concluded their season with an 18-15 conference record and a 23-18 overall record. The team won its sixth straight American Baseball Coaches Association Team Academic Excellence Award, becoming one of eight teams to win the award every season. Several members of the team received notable awards and honors. Senior Ryder Yakel received the GAC Pitcher of the Year honor. Senior Michael Chrisman received the GAC Newcomer of the Year honor. Senior Connor Kelly received the National Golden Glove Award, becoming the first Harding Bison to receive this award of excellence. Kelly was also a Second Team All-GAC selection and a member of the GAC All-Defensive Team. “We were a team that was fully bought in and fully believed that we could accomplish any goal that we had as a team,” Kelly said. “We did not quit and fought every game. We were just a bunch of guys that loved playing baseball together.” The softball team finished their season with a 24-9 conference record and a 34-12 overall record. Following their winning season, the team had six players selected to All-GAC teams. Junior Lily Tanski was named GAC Pitcher of the Year and Head Coach Phil Berry was named GAC Coach of the Year. The men’s and women’s tennis teams experienced significant individual and team success during their 2021 seasons as well. The Lady Bisons concluded their season with a 16-3 overall record, finishing the season ranked 26th in the final Oracle Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Division II Women’s rankings. This was the highest end-of-season ranking earned by the Lady Bisons tennis team since 2003. Spring 2021 graduate Rylie Cox Evans was named the GAC Player of the Year, four players received All-GAC honors, ten players received ITA Scholar-Athlete honors and the team received the All-Academic Team award after posting a team GPA of 3.8. The men’s tennis team concluded their season with an overall record of 9-8. The team ranked 34th in the final Oracle ITA Division II Men’s Rankings, finishing their season with Harding Tennis’ highest ever end-of-season ranking. Three Bison tennis players were named MIAA/GAC Tennis ScholarAthletes. Men’s Tennis Coach David Redding was named the GAC Coach of the Year for both the men’s and women’s divisions. The men’s golf team tied for fourth in the GAC Championships to conclude their season. The team recorded a 3.36 team GPA, earning the All-Academic Team honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America. Additionally, senior Jake Croshaw received the 2021 Srixon/Cleveland Golf AllAmerica Scholar honor with a 77.85 stroke average and a 3.50 GPA. “It was a great honor for me personally and for our team to achieve academic awards,” Croshaw said. “It shows that the hard work on and off the course is paying off.” The women’s golf team was selected as one of nine teams to participate in the Central Regional for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Women’s Golf Championships. This was the second NCAA tournament appearance for the Lady Bisons in program history. The team concluded their season with the second lowest team average ever and had a record six golfers named WGCA All-American Scholars. The men’s and women’s track and field teams experienced great success at the end of their seasons. The women’s team won its fourth GAC championship, and head coach Don Hood was awarded GAC Coach of the Year. Additionally, five Lady Bison track athletes qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Following the NCAA outdoor championships, sophomore Anna Kay Clark and senior Kinga Szarzynska earned All-America honors. This was the first time Harding women’s track and field athletes received All-America honors since 2006. The men’s track and field team finished second at the GAC Track and Field Championships. During his senior year in the spring of 2021, Matthew Hipshire was named the GAC Male Scholar Athlete of the Year and sophomore Dorian Chaigneau was named the GAC Male Athlete of the Year. Chaigneau and sophomores Fallou Gaye, Nikolasz Csokas and Austin Parrish received invitations to the men’s NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Following the competition, all four athletes earned All-America honors. This was the first time in the program’s history that Harding had four athletes receive individual All-American honors. “We did some incredible things in our season last year and it just shows that all the hard work we have been putting in is paying off,” senior track and field athlete Lauren Shell said. “I can’t wait to see what next season holds. Hopefully, both the men’s and women’s teams will come home with conference championships.” WRITTEN BY HAYLEY KATE WEBB A Season In Review
11 SPORTS RECAP DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN SERVING SUCCESS Senior Rylie Cox Evans volleys a return April 10, 2021. Cox Evans was also awarded the 2021 Berryhill Women’s Award, given to the athlete who demonstrates athletic excellence and strength of character. Photo courtesy of: Harding Sports Information VAULTING TO VICTORY Freshman Dorian Chaigneau poses with his NCAA Track and Field national champion trophy. Chaigneau was one of the first Harding athletes to earn All-American honors in pole vault since Jimmy Sloan in 1988. Photo courtesy of: Harding Sports Information GOLDEN GLOVE Senior Connor Kelly prepares to field a ground ball May 5, 2021. Kelly finished the season with a .986 fielding percentage and played 31 games without recording an error. Photo courtesy of: Harding Sports Information
12SPRING/SUMMER STUDENT LIFE GRADUATING WAS THE PRIORITY of any student working on their degree. The spring 2021 commencement ceremony offered familiar celebrations alongside unique procedures due to COVID-19. It was the first open commencement ceremony since the fall of 2019, as spring 2020 was remote, and fall 2020 was closed to the public. Traditionally, graduation consisted of three ceremonies in one day. However, the spring 2021 graduation consisted of five separate commencement ceremonies over the course of May 7 and 8. Guests were allowed to attend with tickets or stream it online. Normally, the commencement ceremony allowed anyone to enter up to one hour before it began. For spring 2021, tickets were issued for all guests, which allowed for social distancing and a smoother entry. Junior Kate Turner expressed appreciation for being able to attend her sister Rebekah Turner’s commencement ceremony. “I just liked being able to go because only four tickets were given out per student, so I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to see her graduation,” Kate Turner said. “I was able to go, and I was grateful for that because I didn’t think that was a possibility at one point.” Alumna Anna Pinson had concerns due to the pandemic, but she agreed the ceremony was a success. “I will say, I felt pretty safe in terms of social distancing,” Pinson said. “I thought it was handled well. They made it seem very much like a normal graduation as much as they could, given the scenario.” COVID-19 precautions included distanced seating, masks available at every seat, multiple ceremonies and ticketed entry. The precautions did not stop the celebration of students and families. “It’s always exciting to see the students when they’re all done and there’s that celebration at the end,” University Registrar Tod Martin said. “It’s really fun, the sense of accomplishment that you see, the pride of students and their parents.” The first open commencement ceremony after a year and a half welcomed much excitement in honoring the graduates with a crowd of people once again. “It was good to be back together,” Wil Perkins, graduate registrar, said. “It was a completely different atmosphere, and it just made a world of difference with graduates.” WRITTEN BY CAROLINE SLATER The spring 2021 graduation commencement ceremony is in person again on the George S. Benson stage. IN THE DISTANCE President David Burks speaks at the spring 2021 commencement ceremony in the George S. Benson Auditorium. This ceremony looked different than previous years because of the precautions that took place. Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery Back On The BENSON
13 GRADUATION DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN BUT FIRST A SELFIE Before the graduation ceremony began, distinguished professor of communication Jack Shock gathered a group of graduates for a selfie in the George S. Benson Auditorium. Graduation was split up into five separate ceremonies for colleges. Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery HANDING IT OFF President David Burks hands graduate Lucas Lawrence his diploma on the George S. Benson Auditorium stage. For the spring 2021 commencement ceremony students were required to wear masks, and guest tickets were secured prior to attending the ceremony for social distancing purposes. Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery
14SPRING/SUMMER INTERNATIONAL Abbreviated summer international programs give students more opportunities to travel abroad. INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS WERE AN IMPORTANT PART of Harding culture. When COVID-19 canceled all study abroad programs for 18 months, new opportunities were introduced in the summer of 2021. On two-week programs in Italy or Peru, students were able to complete a Bible credit that would count for their following fall semester. “We offered three different opportunities to study abroad in August this year, primarily for the students who signed up for a study abroad program over the last 18 months that was canceled because of the pandemic,” Executive Director of International Programs Audra Pleasant said. “We eventually opened up enrollment for the few spots that were left.” Although there had been summer abroad programs before, these shorter trips had a different pace. During semesterlong programs, students formed friendships over the course of three months. For these shorter periods, connections were made immediately. “The most beneficial part of my trip was forming very meaningful relationships with each and every one on the trip,” junior Abby Hinckley, who studied at Harding University Latin America, said. “We all bonded very quickly, and that made traveling all over Peru 10 times better. I now get overly excited every time I see someone I went abroad with on campus. It feels like home when I’m with them.” The University used the summer 2021 abroad trips as trial runs to see if these abbreviated programs could become a more accessible option for students in the future. “Whenever the University thinks outside of the box, I think it is always a good thing,” Jason Darden instructor of Bible and ministry, who taught in the Harding University in Florence summer trip said. “We get so used to doing things the way we have always done them and fail to realize that our culture is constantly changing. When people look outside of the box and try something new, I am always for that.” With the decision to have additional chances to study abroad, leadership adapted to changes that students needed. There were positive results for not only the students, but International Programs as a whole. “For the University, this is something really important to our culture and identity — the concept of international education,” Pleasant said. “As an institution, it is important for us to offer these to as many students as we can, and so it benefited everyone involved.” WRITTEN BY KAYLEIGH TRITSCHLER Stops SHORT
15 ABROAD TRIPS DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN MILES OF MOUNTAINS HULA Students hike around the Colca River and pose in front of the canyon. During the shortened HULA trip, students hiked up mountains such as the Colca Canyon. Photo courtesy of: Emma Steil A PISA HUF A group of abroad students enjoy taking classic tourist photos at The Leaning Tower of Pisa. The Leaning Tower of Pisa survived four earthquakes since its construction in 1280. Photo courtesy of: Abby Foust MASTER CHEF Assistant professor of mathematics Jill Davis, junior Ella Horton, junior Morgan Wrigley, and senior Evan Walls attend a cooking class in Florence. Ten students participated in making chicken, pesto, gnocchi and tiramisu with professional Italian chefs. Photo courtesy of: Morgan Wrigley INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS MODIFIED the summer 2021 program from three months to two one-month sessions due to the COVID-19 guidelines in Italy. There was no certainty of what the students would be allowed to do, so a “normal” abroad experience wasn’t guaranteed. It was unclear if the students would have the opportunity to even leave the HUF villa, much less travel the country. The directors agreed that a shorter time abroad was a better compromise. These one-month programs in June and July were meant to replace the normal three-month program, and appealed to students who had their trips canceled in the past. As the trip got closer, restrictions lifted and the students were able to fully experience Italy. They studied in Florence, took day trips to smaller Tuscan cities, and spent time in surrounding places, such as Cinque Terre, Pompeii, Naples and Rome. WRITTEN BY EMILY STINNETT
16SPRING/SUMMER STUDENT LIFE playing by the COVID-19 rules are modified for the 2021-22 school year. THE 2020-21 SCHOOL year had campus on edge. Quarantine meant isolating in the Heritage Inn or in Kendall Hall for two weeks. Mask mandates and plexiglass were implemented, and every other seat in classrooms was empty. The reality of on-campus learning shifted as COVID-19 protocols changed daily. “There’s been a lot that’s gone on in the last year regarding the opinions of students and parents, of colleagues and media, everyone as they’ve watched the past year,” Dean of Student Life Zach Neal said. “The University still continues to take everything seriously. However, we were able to move back into a setting with more social events while still prepared to adjust as needed. We felt it important to be back together knowing that we would be very cautious every day.” Shadows of normalcy were noticeable over the summer of 2021 as the predictability of the virus increased and the fear of the unknown slowly faded. Fewer masks were used and more group activities were held, including international travel. “Last year we were not able to have study abroad for the whole year,” international communications and recruiting coordinator Steven Chandler said. “In the summer of 2021, we were able to start having [trips], and we have more study abroad scheduled for this fall. In fact, every program is going this fall that would normally go except one.” In-person courses resumed in the new school year, and remote learning was removed. Restrictions in favor of masks, social distancing and plexiglass were no longer put in place. A section in chapel was designated for students opting for a masked and distanced space. Vaccine clinics were offered on campus in an effort to return to ordinary life. The level of restrictions for each student was up to their own judgement. A wide variety of resources and lifestyle options gave campus a balance of pre-pandemic normality and health consciousness. The summer of 2021 served as a checkpoint for members of the Harding community as a hopeful step forward. “We are continuing as we have in years past,” associate professor of communication Jim Miller said. “Because of that, there is renewed energy that I think all of us feel on campus.” WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH FISHER HISTORY IN THE MAKING professor of history and political science Kevin Klein teaches class outside on the front lawn. In order to social distance, many classes took place outside in the 2020-21 school year. Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery KEEPING A RECORD Senior Hallie Carger writes notes while wearing a mask. Many students found masks to match their outfits. Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery rules
17 COVID RULES DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN ZOOMING TO CLASS Quarantined, offcampus, and remote students zoom into class. Students had a tough choice to make in the 2020-21 school year. To be on campus or not to be on campus? Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery MASKED UP Senior Rian Gray listens to her professor while wearing a mask. Students were required to wear masks in all indoor settings, as well as outdoor social events. Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery
18FALL SECTION DIVIDER
19 FALL DESIGNED BY DELLA RHODES F ALL
20FALL STUDENT LIFE IN THE SPRING OF 2020, the University announced chapel would switch from 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. split chapel to one collective 9 a.m. service the following school year for the first time since 2013. When the pandemic spread in 2020, this original plan was stalled with the integration of online and abbreviated chapels in various locations. However, for the 202122 school year, the plan for a full student body 9 a.m. chapel was put into effect. With COVID-19 still present, masks were optional and administration offered a distanced masked section for anyone who felt more comfortable there. Mixed emotions about chapel inevitably arose. “Part of me is so happy that [chapel] is back this year,” instructor of engineering and physics Will Waldron said. “I guess I feel pulled in two different directions, which I don’t think is uncommon in this day and age. It’s really a tight place to be, and I respect and appreciate our administration for wrestling with these questions every day because it’s not an easy job.” Although students chose their chapel seats before the semester began, administration tried to implement the use of the phone app SpotterEDU to track attendance. Due to persisting complications with this method, University President David Burks announced in chapel at the end of the first week that SpotterEDU would no longer be utilized, receiving a roaring applause from the students. “I know a lot of people who complained because they went to chapel but forgot to press the button, or they forgot to bring their phone and couldn’t run back to their rooms,” senior Brendan Burke said. “In theory, it was a good idea, but it didn’t actually work out very well. I think the traditional picking seats on Pipeline was the best way to go.” With thousands of students and faculty congregating for 9 a.m. chapel, the use of the balcony was necessary. Although the trek up the Benson stairwell every morning and the large number of people in one area was not always ideal, one notable positive was a key element to chapel — the singing. “I have sat in different parts of the Benson throughout different semesters,” Burke said. “I’ve sat in the very back, front; this semester, I’m sitting in the balcony, and I noticed that when you’re sitting in the back you can’t really hear the singing normally. There might be two people sitting around you that are singing, and it sounds weird. But when the entire auditorium is full, it sounds amazing [in the balcony].” A full student body chapel was a change that required adjustment for all. Upperclassmen were experiencing something unfamiliar since it had been eight years since chapel was held as one service. For freshmen, this style of chapel was their first experience of the daily event. While outside factors created worry about how chapel would go, freshman Caroline Grover reflected the overall benefit of a full student body chapel. “Chapel really brings everyone together,” Grover said. “There are different clubs and different groups on campus, of course, but chapel is where everyone is together doing one thing at the same time. I have gotten pretty comfortable with the people I’m sitting around, and it’s not even necessarily having a full conversation with them; it’s just sitting next to them every morning and praising God creates that relationship automatically.” WRITTEN BY KATIE COOPER ONE SIZE FITS ALL Chapel resumes with students and faculty together every day.
21 CHAPEL DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN SPELL CAMARADERIE President David Burks speaks in chapel. Dr. Burks was appointed as president in 1987 and a brief haitus from 2013-2020. He returned as interim president in December 2021. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall CAMARADERIE COMES TOGETHER Students sit and listen to the chapel speaker. On the second day of chapel, the chapel committee hosted Brad Montague, who talked about his latest book, “Becoming Better Grownups.” Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall CAMARADERIE IN ACTION Seniors Allie Kuykendall and Emma Hayes socialize while walking out of chapel. With only one chapel, people were on the run for chicken biscuits more than ever. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall
22FALL STUDENT LIFE STICKIN IT Pharmacy student Graham Knight administers a vaccine. Graham worked for the vaccine clinics on campus in the 2021-22 year. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall STEADY EYES Pharmacy professor Julie Hixson-Wallace prepares a shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Hixson-Wallace was one of the professors of pharmacy who helped guide the clinics. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall
23 VACCINE CLINICS DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN Vaccine clinics become a common ocurrence around campus for students, faculty and staff. DEEP BREATH Second year pharmacy student Kaira Cypert talks to a patient before giving her the COVID-19 vaccine. Along with pharmacy faculty, students helped at the clincs on campus. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall RIGHT OFF THE DAVID B. BURKS American Heritage lobby, white coats and masks drew eyes over to the campus vaccine clinic. Faculty from the Harding University College of Pharmacy (HUCOP) gave pamphlets, comfort and encouragement readily as graduate pharmacy students waited for the next member of the community to receive their COVID-19 vaccine. Throughout the spring and fall 2021 semesters, vaccine clinics were hosted in the main hub of the student body. With full endorsement from the University leadership, chairs were filling and vials were moving. “I do feel that the students trust us more because we’re just like them and they view us as maybe not someone in a scary white coat, but a white coat with a friendly face that they recognize,” pharmacy student Kaira Cypert said. “There is a lot of misinformation, especially on social media,” Cypert said. “I tell people to do their own research, and if they have any questions, they can ask me as a healthcare provider. I will do my own research and get back to them with answers. It’s about doing your own research.” Students had to work together for the health of the student body. With each vaccine came an increased chance of staying on campus and participating in the student life activities that were missed the past couple of years. With the added ease of accessible vaccines, collaboration improved. “It’s pretty great how convenient it is,” senior Josh Grisham said. “It’s right here on campus. All my professors said I should get it done, and they did. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to go home again.” However, some dealt with hesitation to receive the vaccine due to personal views, beliefs and feelings. The decision to get vaccinated was a choice for each person individually. “A lot of people are vaccine-hesitant, I would say,” pharmacy student Graham Knight said. “It’s just interesting; you see so many different types of people with so many different opinions about the vaccine, and you have to learn how to relate to people and to communicate with people to quell their fears. At the end of the day, it is everyone’s own choice. In healthcare, we have to respect people’s autonomy.” WRITTEN BY ELIZABETH FISHER HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHO
24FALL STUDENT LIFE The History House reopens with new additions after being closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. BACK IN ACTION Archives and special collections librarian Hannah Wood talks to associate professor and Chair of the English Department Jonathon Singleton while his class visits on Oct. 5, 2021. Wood was a part of the project to update the exhibits in the house. Photo by: Julianne Baker THE HARDING UNIVERSITY BRACKETT Library’s History House reopened Sept. 24, 2021, after being closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The History House’s grand reopening happened during the 2021 family weekend. Students, library faculty and history professors were instrumental in preparing for the reopening and creation of updated exhibits. Archives and special collections librarian Hannah Wood said the History House was a collaborative project that gave students the opportunity to participate in Harding’s heritage. She enjoyed watching the students find interesting historical facts about Harding as they became more involved in its background. “Any student that works in my department, I have them do some reading in Harding history so they can have a bit of a foundation,” Wood said. “If they can learn more about her history, they realize that they’re a part of this larger story.” Wood said they worked on updating exhibits since the History House’s closure in 2020. With each exhibit set up in panels, they were able to remove and replace exhibits easily to keep them relevant. The History House not only kept students involved in Harding’s history, but it gave them a glimpse of what a career in museum curating might look like. Junior Paxton Davis, one of the students who helped create the Preacher Roe exhibit in the History House, said the project aligned with what he wanted to do in his future career. “Designing it was very similar to what you would do in a real museum,” Davis said. “Just trying to think about what would look best for the visitors as they come in, and trying to arrange things and have it look just right was nice knowing I have a lot more knowledge about the exhibit since we did a lot of research finding things about it.” Senior Avery Barnett, a student worker for Wood, said it made her very happy to see her exhibit design class’s work displayed in the History House. “Looking at all the exhibits around, it’s obvious how much work not only went into the exhibit I worked on, but all the exhibits there,” Barnett said. “It’s exciting to know that people not only see all the hard work that went into it but also to invest in Harding’s history and share the story of our school.” WRITTEN BY CHRISTIANE DAVIS Open the
25 HISTORY HOUSE DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN LOOK AT THAT Students gather around an exhibit at the History House Oct. 5, 2021. The History House was closed from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic until the reopening on Sept. 24, 2021. Photo by: Julianne Baker WATCHFUL EYE Senior William Ashburn studies the baseball display in the History House Oct. 5, 2021. While the History House was closed, many updates were made in anticipation of its re-opening. Photo by: Julianne Baker
26FALL STUDENT LIFE The Student Association partners with Canopy for a service project creating boxes for Afghan refugees. LOOKING IT OVER Seniors Ethan Brazell and Josh Shockley sit down in the George S. Benson Auditorium looking through the inventory of the boxes delivered to Canopy. This service project was held for a week and encouraged clubs to come together and pack boxes for those coming to Arkansas. Photo by: Jaxon Nash A PRAYER CHAIN WAS held on Aug. 25, 2021, for Afghanistan and the refugees who came to the United States. Following the prayer chain, University President David Burks and assistant professor of Bible and Director of the Mitchell Center Andrew Baker proposed a campus service project. The idea was passed to the Student Association (SA), who took charge of this project. “It was a quick turn around; it was within a week or five days that we had the idea,” SA Vice President Hannah Hackworth said. “The idea was executed, and then the idea was finished. We truly believe that it was through the power of prayer that the holy spirit placed it in Dr. Burks’ heart to do more than pray about it.” The SA connected with Canopy Northwest Arkansas, a non-profit organization for refugee resettlement that sent the SA a list of supplies needed for the refugee families. “What was deemed a good possibility after a conversation with the Governor’s office was to help Canopy, an organization that is the only resettlement organization in Arkansas,” Baker said. The goal was to send 50 boxes to Canopy for the refugees, and the student body exceeded that. Social clubs and organizations united to pack boxes full of bare necessities like bedding, soaps, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste. To encourage schoolwide involvement, the SA added an aspect of competition for social clubs on who could bring in more boxes. Women’s social club Delta Gamma Rho won the competition, raising over $1,800 for the Canopy project. “People stepped up from clubs, individual groups and offices on campus,” Baker said. “Now they are delivering over 125 boxes to Canopy. The student body did great, and I am not surprised by that; they usually do.” Besides the numerical goal of 50 boxes, there was a goal of reaching beyond the Harding community to touch the lives of others. “For the event itself, I want refugees from Afghanistan to look at Harding University and see the face of God,” junior SA representative Malachi Brown said. “Whether they believe in Yahweh or Allah, I don’t care; I want them to be loved. The church as a whole is the representation of God to the world, and God’s love is not discriminatory. If nothing else, that is a conversation that can come out of this.” WRITTEN BY KAYLEIGH TRISTCHLER Rally Refugees for
27 SERVICE DESIGNED BY DELLA RHODES READY TO GO Boxes are stacked in the George S. Benson Auditorium after a week of collecting goods for the refugees. Canopy was a non-profit organization in Fayetteville, Arkansas where refugees gathered and became equipped to build new lives. Photo by: Jaxon Nash STACK IT UP Freshman Evan Carter stacks the filled boxes up to prepare for Canopy to pick them up. The Student Association held a service project Sept. 6-10 and collected essentials for Afghan refugees who came to Arkansas. Photo by: Jaxon Nash
28FALL STUDENT LIFE Coachcast Billy Morgan and Scott Goode start a new sports podcast for Harding sports fans. THE RETURN OF FOOTBALL IN THE FALL OF 2021 brought a welcome sound back to the ears of Harding fans as Billy Morgan returned to the booth to broadcast football games. In addition to the press box, the voice of the Harding Sports Network was joined by Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information Scott Goode in another booth as they co-hosted the Harding Sports Network Podcast, which debuted in 2021. While the stars of the show were on the field, Morgan was more than happy to give Harding fans backstage passes. “The idea was really to give our fans the opportunity to meet a lot of people that make our sports program work because they are so vital to our success on and off of all of our athletic venues,” Morgan said. “It’s just a chance to sit down and talk with different student athletes and different people on campus that maybe we don’t get to talk to on a weekly basis.” Goode also mentioned strolls down memory lane while working with Morgan. “Billy Morgan and I have been here a long time, and we have been to a lot of places where a lot of fun things have happened in Harding sports,” Goode said. “We talk a little bit about what we remember from those games, or even the trip to the game or something from after the game. My favorite part, probably, is reminiscing about what happened at a certain event that we were at. We just have so many stories.” Associate athletic trainer, Lacy Rush, also mentioned benefits that could be brought to some of the smaller programs. “I think this podcast could help groups like the training staff or the media crew who puts on great sports productions and even clubs who tailgate at the football games,” Rush said. “I think this podcast could really help get the word out about certain organizations and potentially help recruit prospective students to those groups.” The pandemic canceled many things in 2020, and Harding fans missed out on these two voices of the University’s athletics. Although the 2020 season was void of the voices of Harding sports, both Morgan and Goode worked overtime to help Bison fans get what so many missed out on last year, and the Harding community couldn’t be more thankful. WRITTEN BY JACKSON SAYLOR
29 SPORTS MEDIA DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN TOP PLAYS Athletic Director for Sports Information Scott Goode tags along with Billy Morgan in their new podcast. The podcast was created for fans to stay up to date with all things Harding athletics in 2021. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall HIT RECORD Billy Morgan speaks into the microphone while recording an episode of the sports podcast. Along with the podcast, Morgan was also picked to be the voice behind Harding football game broadcasts. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall LISTEN UP Billy Morgan and Scott Goode talk with Tre’von Biglow on the Harding Sports Network Podcast. Biglow was the first Harding University coach and former player to be featured on the podcast. Photo by: Kaitlyn Cutshall IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, the NCAA passed new legislation allowing student athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness. Two Harding University athletes embraced this new opportunity by signing sponsorship deals with AMT Fitness. Bison football player Jay Marshall and track and field athlete Colton Bowman were AMT Fitness’ first sponsored collegiate athletes. Marshall and Bowman were required to represent the brand by periodically wearing AMT merchandise and promoting the brand via social media. In return, the athletes received gear of their choice every four to six weeks, and they earned commission for any merchandise sold. Marshall and Bowman were the first Harding athletes to utilize and benefit from the NCAA’s new legislation. WRITTEN BY HAYLEY KATE WEBB
30FALL STUDENT LIFE Love It OR League I t A Rocket League tournament was hosted on campus with hopes for other e-sports matches. GAMERS UNITED IN FALL 2021 as Harding University hosted its first video game tournament. “When I got to Harding, I started talking to Dean Neal and some others about starting an e-sports [team] for the school because a lot of universities had started up teams in the 2019-20 year,” sophomore Ben Sloan said. With help from the Campus Activities Board (CAB) office, Sloan conceived the idea of a campus-wide tournament to kick off his vision. “Dean Neal pointed me in the direction of the CAB office, and we went through what it would take to host a tournament,” Sloan said. “We posted signups, scheduled it, made a chapel announcement and now, here we are.” After the announcement was made, the gaming community at Harding united in full force, quickly filling up the slots of the first tournament: Rocket League. “I was sitting in chapel when the tournament was announced,” senior Ty Allen said. “I texted my two friends that I play with frequently, and they were on board instantly.” The tournament was set up bracket-style, with eight teams of three competing for the grand championship. “Everyone got behind their screens, joined an actual Rocket League tournament in the system, got put in a bracket and then played,” junior Ethan Leslie said. “My team got eliminated in the first round by the eventual grand champions. It was kind of tough, but it was so fun.” Some students were off campus when they played, which spoke to the accessibility of the activity. “I wasn’t on campus, so I probably didn’t get to enjoy the full aspect of playing with my team members in the same room on campus,” Leslie said. “That’s the beauty of it, though; it was all online, so it didn’t matter if I was actually there or not.” The first tournament’s success set the stage for a slew of possibilities for gaming at Harding. “We’re planning on setting up matches between clubs —TNT vs. [Gamma Sigma Phi]— that kind of stuff,” Sloan said. “Eventually I want to move past intramural competitions to intercollegiate matches with other colleges, maybe even hosted by Harding and held on campus.” Other players were excited about future possibilities as well. “When you do online, lag is a problem,” Leslie said. “In the future it would be cool to do a big [local area network] tournament where everyone gets in the same room on the same consoles.” The participants enjoyed a new and unique sense of community. “With this being the first tournament, I wasn’t expecting too much from it, but I met some new people through it and had a blast,” Allen said. “I’m excited for future tournaments and the growth of e-sports at Harding.” WRITTEN BY ZACH BISHOP
31 E-SPORTS DESIGNED BY OLIVIA DUNN READY TO PLAY Junior Jobey McCurley sits in his desk chair playing Rocket League. Most students heard about the tournament in chapel, resulting in a good outcome of gamers. Photo by: Theo Westbrook LOOKING FORWARD Students play against each other in different locations. This tournament was organized in hopes of having bigger tournaments in the future. Photo by: Theo Westbrook GAME FACE Senior Noah Ray looks toward his TV during the Rocket League tournament. In fall 2021, the first Rocket League tournament took place with help from Campus Activities Board and students who brought the idea to life. Photo by: Theo Westbrook “SMASH BROS HAS BEEN A VESSEL through which I have been able to casually enjoy my friend’s company,” junior Thomas Burke said. “It’s how we hang out on the day-to-day and even is a great release when I’m feeling upset. If I’m sad and can’t find the words to talk about it, we can just play a few rounds of Smash, and I can rest in community. I do want to say that this is not exclusive to Smash Bros. It could be any game. I believe that community always finds a way to express itself, and Smash is just a great outlet for it.”
32FALL STUDENT LIFE It Just Makes CENTS CAB brings in music group Coin for student concert. HARDING’S CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD (CAB) worked with How To Concerts to bring Coin, a band from Nashville, Tennessee, and their opener DoubleCamp to campus on Oct. 8, 2021. This concert was the first since The Band Camino in spring of 2020. “Back in 2020, before The Band Camino concert, [Assistant Dean of Students Logan Light] was talking to me about bands to bring in the fall, and [Coin’s album] Dreamland was just recently released,” CAB Director Abby Stinnett said. “Every single they released before the album was amazing, so I suggested them. With [COVID-19], we waited until this semester; I had no idea Logan was already working on booking them.” Students and outside guests sold out the concert with around 975 tickets, filling the Administration Auditorium. “This was my first Harding concert, and I went because I had heard a few Coin songs before and thought it would be a good time with my friends,” sophomore Elinor Anderson said. “An exciting part of the Coin concert was when everyone freaked out when they started playing ‘Talk Too Much,’ but my favorite song they played was ‘Malibu 1992.’” CAB was a major asset in making the concert happen when they sold the tickets, posted on social media, helped the production team unload the equipment and scanned people into the venue. CAB members were also responsible for preparing the band’s dressing rooms and running errands once they arrived in town. “During the day, I just helped them get around campus while they were getting ready for the show,” sophomore CAB worker Baylie Hess said. “My favorite moment was definitely singing to Tame Impala and taking selfies in the car to Walgreens with the lead singer Chase [Lawrence].” After not having the chance to host a concert on campus since 2020, the performance brought people together again through the power of music. “Live music is really special,” senior CAB worker Eden Henderson said. “It forms a really special community, and it’s been amazing to get to be a part of making that possible. Although it can be a lot of work, it’s a really neat opportunity to create an event that unites students and brings them together.” WRITTEN BY KAYLEIGH TRISTCHLER DREAMERS On Oct. 8, 2021, DoubleCamp opens for Coin on the stage in the Admin Administration Auditorium. DoubleCamp sang their singles that were released on streaming platforms that day. Photo by: Jaxon Nash
33 COIN CONCERT DESIGNED BY DELLA RHODES STRUMMING IT Lead guitarist of Coin, Joe Memmel, plays his guitar during their performance on Oct. 8, 2021. Coin was a pop band based in Nashville, Tennessee, that performed for Harding students and outside guests in the fall of 2021. Photo by: Jaxon Nash FOGGY Lead singer of Coin, Chase Lawrence sings to the Harding students in the Administration Auditorium on Oct. 8, 2021. Coin and their opener DoubleCamp was the first performance since spring 2020. Photo by: Jaxon Nash SING TOO MUCH On Oct. 8, 2021, Coin performs their hit single “Talk Too Much” on the Administration Auditorium stage. Coin sang a lot of their hit songs and even some newly released songs in 2021 to get the crowd singing. Photo by: Jaxon Nash
34FALL STUDENT LIFE WITHIN WALLS Former women’s dorm Kendall Hall is now office space as renovations happen on campus. FEMALE STUDENTS WHO ATTENDED HARDING from 1961-2020 had a high chance of living in the former women’s dormitory Kendall Hall. Alumna Kaylee O’Dell, who graduated in 2020, resided in Kendall. Although Kendall Hall was not her favorite place to live, she said she was able to meet many new people through the experience. “I stayed in Stephens Hall my freshman year, Pryor my junior year and Legacy my senior year,” O’Dell said. “Compared to Stephens, Pryor and Legacy, Kendall was by far the most outdated.” In early 2020, the decision was made to use Kendall for other purposes. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Kendall temporarily housed any students who tested positive for COVID-19. Sophomore Ashlyn Voss was one of the first students to be quarantined in Kendall in September 2020. She said that, given the circumstances, her time in Kendall was enjoyable. She said the social atmosphere was surprisingly welcoming. “We would come out of our rooms and hang out in the hallway a lot, just playing games or talking,” Voss said. “I formed strong relationships with many of the people I was quarantined with since we were such a small group.” Voss said she felt a strong sense of Harding’s community because of all the people that came to visit her in Kendall, as well as the meals cooked for the quarantined students. She said that temporarily living in Kendall created a better quarantine experience. For the 2021-22 school year, the purpose of Kendall was changed yet again. The decision was made to turn the building into a temporary office space for a few different departments — primarily for the office of Admissions Services while the David D. Burks American Heritage building was being remodeled. Admissions counselor Kennedy Barden was one of the first employees of the University to be moved to Kendall. He occupied a dorm-room-turned-office on the first floor. Despite the previous uses for Kendall as a living space, Barden recognized the versatility of his new office. “It doesn’t really feel like a dorm room anymore,” Barden said. “I have offices around all of my friends, so it’s a good atmosphere, even though we’re separate from a lot of people in the main offices.” With the changes made to Kendall, more changes in the future wouldn’t be unprecedented. Although Kendall temporarily housed the admissions office during this time, plans to remodel Kendall as the new office headquarters of Public Safety on the first floor were already in motion. WRITTEN BY CARTER THWEATT WINDOW PAIN Junior Abby Foust sits in her window talking to friends while she recovers from COVID-19. Students who stayed in Kendall Hall found creative ways to pass the time. Photo courtesy of: Jeff Montgomery THE
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc5NA==