34Academics In an effort to join students and faculty together, the English Department hosted weekly Tea Times on Thursday afternoons. The department also offered a special chapel service for English majors and a crochet club. The English Department loved to involve their students in different activities to stimulate conversations outside of the classroom. Senior English major Becca Kearney-Dunker joined the English Department her sophomore year when she switched her major. KearneyDunker spent time in the department as both a student worker and student, making her relationship with the department like a second family on campus. “The department runs off of our community and connection with each other, so we prioritize it,” Kearney-Dunker said. “The professors love when students come by to chat or ask to go on walks or get coffee.” Kearney-Dunker participated in many of the department’s Tea Times and other events, like the Burns’ Supper and Blind Date with a Book. Tea Time met in the department’s study lounge weekly and provided hot tea and treats for the students and staff that comes. Tea Time has quickly become a place of refuge for people as they found community during busy academic schedules. “Tea Time offers a space for anyone, regardless of major, to come to the department’s study lounge, drink SPILLING THE English Department students and professors fellowship weekly over a cup of tea. some fresh, hot tea, and chat,” Kearney-Dunker said. As important it is for the students, the faculty and staff of the department loved participating in Tea Time as well. English Department administrative assistant Victoria Hutcherson spoke about her experience and the intimacy of the event. “I think that the main focus of events like that are to build bridges for students, so they can build meaningful connections that they can rely on in times of need, but also people that can be their biggest encouragers and can be really a mentor for them or even just a friend that they pass in the hallway from day to day,” Hutcherson said. Hutcherson was not a part of the English Department during her undergraduate education, but in her position as administrative assistant, she appreciated the smaller space where professors could invest deeply in the lives of their students. She encouraged all students, not just English majors, to attend the events held by the English Department. “[The events] are designed for people who are part of the English discipline, but we also want everybody to know that all are welcome at all of our events,” Hutcherson said. Tea Time had became a place where students of all disciplines can share meaningful conversations. Junior interdisciplinary major Jiana Manglicmot felt welcomed by the community developed and loved getting to talk to people outside her discipline. “We laugh, we provide encouragement, we gab and we drink tea,” Manglicmot said. “It’s just a sweet time of fellowship, and I really want to see the community grow. English major or not, everyone has a seat at our table.” Written by Maggie Samples Tea “The department runs off of our community and connection with each other, so we prioritize it.” - Becca Kearney-Dunker “English Department established local Sigma Tau Delta: For the first time at Harding, intrerested English majors organized a local chapter of Sigma Tau Delta. The chapter provided for a deeper study of world literature.” Reprinted from Petit Jean 1973-1974
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