46FALL ACADEMICS Ganus Faculty and students remember the revered Ganus Building fondly for years of service. GO FOR GANUS The Ganus Building sign marks the entrance to memories in August 2021. It served as the former student center and foreign language building. Photo by: Jaxon Nash AFTER OVER 70 YEARS, the Ganus building was to be torn down after the 2021-22 school year. Previously used as the Student Center, the building was completed for the 1950-51 school year and named after Clifton L. Ganus, the third president of Harding. Students favored the Ganus for its section named “The Hub,” where a fountain and booths were located. Dr. Deborah Duke, the daughter of Ganus, recalled her time in the building while she was in college and the food served there. “It was a wonderful eating place,” Duke said. “They cooked short order items like hamburger. There were great cinnamon rolls. It was a great place to be with friends.” In 1973, the Hammon Student Center was built, and the Ganus was remodeled to serve as an academic building with classrooms and offices. Ava Conley, professor emeritus of the Department of Foreign Languages and International Studies, shared that in recent years, departments of modern foreign language, political science and history were in the Ganus. After the summer of 2022, a new structure would be built in its place, and the departments would be temporarily relocated until the new construction was complete. Conley taught in the Ganus for approximately 48 years, with a portion of her time relocated for remodeling of the building. ”The Ganus holds a lot of nostalgia, but there is no way to safely repair and preserve it,” Conley said. Alex Kenne, a senior French major, had at least one class in the Ganus building every semester of his Harding experience. “I love the building because it’s home, but it’s good to see care being given to the foreign languages,” Kenne said. “There are great professors in there who have done so much work that are being rewarded by getting a new building.” Conley and Kenne both spoke highly of the family created in the Ganus building over the years. They agreed that the physical standards of the building weren’t as reputable anymore considering the age of the building. From devotionals to the view of the Christmas lights on the front lawn, many reminisced fondly of the Ganus. WRITTEN BY HANNAH HACKWORTH Days Glory
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