April 24, 2015 Vol. 90, No. 20
@HUStudentPubs April 25,The 2014 Facebook: Link Vol. 89, No. 18
online at thelink.harding.edu
Through an online form and phone line, students, employees and community members can submit tips — anonymous if they choose — regarding “suspicious or criminal behavior, harassment … workplace safety concerns or other hazards.” Because of the rules set forth in the student handbook regarding behavior guidelines, the phrase “anonymous tips” has become associated with students turning in fellow students for breaking rules. However, according to Craig Russell, the director of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), this is not the intention of the system. “I think a lot of students think this was a system put in place to encourage students to kind of tattle on each other and that was absolutely not the reason the system was created,”Russell said. “The system was created to help keep the campus safe … I can also tell you that, yes, you do get some of that tattling back and forth on each other that does happen on occasion. We’ve also had real situations … and
online at thelink.harding.edu
information that was provided made sure something bad didn’t happen.” Junior Corey Bassett said he was pulled out of chapel last year by assistant dean of students Brandon Tittle to go to assistant dean of students Chad Joice’s office. “We small talked for about 15 minutes until he asked me about drug use on campus,” Bassett said. “I told him I don’t smoke and he then told me that someone had tipped that I sold marijuana to students on campus. I told him that I didn’t and he then said that what they usually do next is drug test.” Bassett then took the drug test and found out a couple days later that he had passed. After this experience, Bassett has a strong dislike for the anonymous tip system. “I honestly hate the whole anonymous tip line,” Bassett said. “We are all grown men and women who are completely capable of approaching one another when there’s a conflict.” Although some students may use the tip form to tattle, Russell believes that they misunderstand the intent
of the system. He said that this year, a group of students found a way to subtly protest anonymous tips. “This past year we had a group of students who just did not like the idea of that reporting resource and for a period of several days we would get two or three tips a day of ‘I saw somebody doing an act of kindness or a good deed’ or whatever and they were reporting it on the reporting software,”Russell said.“We read every one. But I think there was a lack of understanding with those students of why we have that resource there.” Russell said that the tip line is used to help students and bring situations to light. The DPS has received tips from students concerned about a peer who was thinking about suicide. Through the tip, that information was forwarded on to Student Life and the student in danger was able to receive help. Russell said another more common report is from female students about harassment. “Those are the types of situations that (the system was) created to deal with,” Russell said. “If we can
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Searcy, Ark., 72149
ANONYMOUS TIPS @HUStudentPubs Facebook: The Link
By Alexis Hosticka Editor-in-Chief
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prevent one suicide or we can step in and intercede where we’ve got one young lady that’s being harassed or feels threatened that’s the reason that resource is there. If I have to wade through 100 silly reports — and we did have some that were kind of silly — to be able to protect one student when there’s a safety issue then that’s what we’ll do.” Zach Neal, the assistant vice president of student life, said all tips regarding student conduct, behavior or mentioning a student’s name are sent to him. He looks into that information and situation to determine the actions, if any, that need to be taken. “The tip itself is never used as evidence against someone,” Neal said. “I look into that situation from a tip line but any consequence is related to information I know is fact.” He approximated he receives five to 10 emails per semester from the tips form. Neal also emphasized that, although the form can be anonymous, people are encouraged to include their name and contact information
in order to help the administration. He also said that he believes the tip line is used mostly in accordance with its original design, which is to keep the campus safe and provide students a secure way to report information. “A tip line could receive information that is bogus all the way to information that could jeopardize an individual’s safety or well-being if they were to make themselves known,” Neal said. “It is important for those situations that they have the option to not include their contact information.” Neal said that he encourages students to confront their peers in a Biblical manner rather than submitting a tip. “I encourage students to be willing to go to each other personally and hold each other to high expectations,” Neal said. “When information comes to me, unfortunately I am not afforded the knowledge of what has taken place up to this point and my role is to then make sure that I am able to have a conversation with the person of concern.”
I think a lot of students think this was a system put in place to encourage students to kind of tattle on each other and that was absolutely not the reason the system was created.” - Craig Russell, director of the Department of Public Safety
illustration by Jewelya Williams
Coping with tragedy, grief
mden -- Henry
Students use time, various resources to heal By Hannah Moore Beat Reporter
courtesy of PATRICK BRIMBERRY
Associate professor of business and faculty adviser Dr. Allen Frazier, senior Bradley Wheeler, junior Austin Yates and seniors Cody Veteto, Zachary Clevinger and Andrew Brackins present their Governor’s Cup first place awards on Wednesday, April 22.
Students win $28,000
Rachel Brackins Asst. Copy Editor
A team of Harding students took first place for the first time since 2006 in the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition on Wednesday, beating 50 collegiate teams and garnering a total of $28,000. The team consisted of senior engineering majors Andrew Brackins, Zachary Clevinger, Brad Wheeler and Alexander Wang, senior sports and recreation management major Cody Veteto and junior accounting major Austin Yates. According to Yates, their winning idea, T.I.R.E. (Tire Inflation and Regulation Equipment), is a system that allows air to pass through the axel of a bike and up into the tire while it is rotating. After the idea was solidified, the team created a
40-page business plan that outlined every facet of what would need to be done to create a working company. According to Yates, out of the 50 teams that submitted a plan, 12 were chosen to present in front of the judges. The teams were then narrowed down to the final six and overall winners were selected. “It’s exciting to represent Harding on what will now be a national scale, because it proves to all of the people who think that Harding is just a place to be spiritually enhanced that we can compete with the bigger colleges that surround us,” Yates said. “I now feel confident going into the workforce.” Clevinger said he and the other engineers were hesitant to get involved, but he is glad they committed.
Engineering project, page 2A
“Through this whole experience I’ve learned so many things that a normal class wouldn’t force you to learn,” Clevinger said. “It has provided me with more practical knowledge for my career than any class has, because I’ve been able to work at things and see the result.” According to Dr. Allen Frazier, associate dean of college of business and faculty advisor to T.I.R.E., the business and engineering departments have been teaming up for almost a decade. “They are talking to people who help startup businesses get funding, and getting to have candid conversations with them, ” Frazier said. T.I.R.E. will compete against the top two teams from Oklahoma and Nevada in the Tri-State competition May 27-28 in Las Vegas, Nev.
In the midst of tragedy, it can be difficult to cope with grief and heartbreak. Even when the loss occurred months or even years ago, many students still struggle to cope and are still working to find ways to deal with grief. Senior Hayley Waldron lost her friend and former student Ty Osman who died in a car accident in spring 2012. “I would want friends of those who are hurting to know that it’s OK to talk about it,” Waldron said. “I wished so many times that someone would have asked me if I wanted to talk about it. I encourage friends of those hurting to be there to help them heal.” Freshman Macy Pate is still dealing with her mother’s passing at the beginning of this school year. “Losing my mother is easily the hardest thing I’ve ever experienced, and hopefully the hardest thing I ever will experience,” Pate said. “The only way I can think to describe it is that it’s like having everything you would consider stable and certain about your life crumble to pieces within minutes.” In January 2014, one of
senior Christy Beck’s best friends, former student Kailey Massey, died in a car wreck on the way back to school. “Losing one of my closest friends was the hardest thing I have ever gone through,” Beck said. “I felt lost. Nothing really made sense. Losing a friend changes who you are. You experience and learn true pain, suffering, exhaustion, hurt and hopelessness while also experiencing and learning empathy, compassion and love.” Many of the students who suffer these types of losses have reached out to counseling services and friends to help make it through the most difficult periods of grieving. Some of these include the grief support group at The Rock House, the university counseling center in the McInteer and local counselors and organizations such as the Dr. Robert E. Elliot Foundation. Director of the university counseling center, Dr. Lew Moore, said it is important to reach out for help in a time of need. Moore said that the university’s counselors have a lot of experience and that is normal for people to need a period of time to heal and to be hesitant to seek help during periods of grieving. “Individuals who may be
Club soccer, page 2B
President McLarty’s summer, page 3B
Due to weather, men’s and women’s social clubs were only able to play a few games of club soccer.
President Bruce McLarty and his wife have summer plans filled with catching up, time with family and relaxing.
I wished so many times that someone would have asked me if I wanted to talk about it. - Hayley Waldron, senior anxious about seeking help are very normal,” Moore said. “I know very few individuals who really want to ask for help. My encouragement to anyone grieving is to view the struggle like a partnership with caring individuals who share our journey of joy and sadness.” It can be difficult to sympathize with a friend who has dealt with a loss, but remember that your friends will ultimately need you for support during this difficult time. Beck said the best way to help friends is to just be present. Pate also emphasized the importance of being willing to listen, even when it is not the easiest thing. “The worst thing you can do is make someone feel like they’re inconveniencing you with their grief,” Pate said. “If your friend wants to talk to you about whomever they have lost, let them. If they want to sit in silence, let them. If they need to cry in the middle of chapel, let them.”
MO summer menu, page 4B