October 24, 2014 Vol. 90, No. 7
2A
NEWS
@HUStudentPubs April 25,The 2014 Facebook: Link Vol. 89, No. 18
online at thelink.harding.edu
Harding prepares for accreditation @HUStudentPubs Facebook: The Link
online at thelink.harding.edu
OPINIONS
3&4A
SPORTS
1&2B
FEATURES
3B
LIFESTYLE
4B 2A
NEWS
Searcy, Ark., 72149
OPINIONS
3&4A
SPORTS
1&2B
FEATURES
3B
CAMPUS LIFE
4B
Searcy, Ark., 72149
Committee to visit in February
By Alexis Hosticka Editor-in-Chief
In February, a team from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) will be on campus to evaluate the university on a number of criterion and make sure it meets standards for accreditation. According to Associate Provost Marty Spears, accreditation is more about bettering the university than a pass or fail. “The process is intended really to be a process where institutions of higher learning work together to improve and hold each other accountable,” Spears said. “As an institution, we want to be looked at by other institutions. We have to meet minimum standards and the process is to help improve beyond that.” The accreditation process encompasses a wide range of criteria. In chapel on Oct. 15, Spears went over five of the HLC criteria: mission; integrity demonstrated; quality in teaching and learning; evaluation and improvement; and resources, planning and institutional effectiveness. They also polled students about these categories. “I think what they are doing with involving students in the accreditation process is a great idea,” sophomore Logan Beasley said. “Although we as students may not get exactly what we want we have the opportunity to have a say ... and it gives administrators the opportunity to make
accommodations.” These categories include sub-criteria and many more details, but according to Spears, the university is well prepared. He said that the focus is to get students to graduation and what the university can do to help them reach that point. The committee that will come is made up of leaders at other universities, many of which are similar in nature to Harding. For example, the provost from another private university could be on the committee. “We feel very confident going into this,” Spears said. “Their job is to evaluate and look for issues, we are well prepared and don’t expect anything big. This isn’t a ‘gotcha’ kind of process. It’s time consuming but they’re not out to get you.They come in to evaluate and make improvements. We definitely feel confident but nervously confident.” After the campus visit in February, the school will not know for a few months what the formal results of the evaluation are. When the HLC visits, there will be a group of students randomly selected to participate in the visit. Spears said the committee will ask about their experiences at Harding and if the university is providing tools to help them be successful. “We have quality programs and quality faculty,” Spears said. “And as Christians we’re already striving to be the best we can be.”
LINDA FERELLE | The Bison
Women’s social club Phi Kappa Delta cheers on Monday, Oct. 20, at the group’s first-ever all club devotional. The club is inducting 47 new members to add on to a charter class of 33.
Forming new traditions By Cole Mokry Opinions Editor
Club week is built on years of traditions, but for new clubs Phi Kappa Delta (PKD) and Sigma Nu Epsilon (SNE), club week is about creating new traditions. PKD, a women’s social club founded in 2013,is participating in club week for the first time this year. The charter class of 33 members is inducting 47 new members this week. “We did not expect the interest that we got,” junior Emma Word, co-president of PKD, said. “It was very humbling. As a freshman, I would not have gone for a new club. I think a lot of people like us because we don’t have a stereotype. We’re very diverse. We’re not getting all of one
type of person and I hope it stays that way.” Word said interest for a new women’s club had been generated for some time when she and co-president junior Bekah Sanders approached dean of social clubs Kara Abston about starting PKD. “Dean Abston directed people to us and they brought their friends,” Word said. “Bekah and I only knew a few people and it spread from there.” PKD has one of the largest induction classes this year. Taking on a class of 47 new members was not the original plan, but Word said she did not mind. “In order to stay alive as a club, we had to grow,” Word said.“We had about 100 people
The Hunts family band to perform
come to our 3rd round mixer, and if I could have taken everybody, I would have.” SNE was founded in 2012 and is welcoming its second induction class this week. President senior Ryan Short is a charter member and said joining a club with a blank canvas was a big draw for new members. “Everything we do is built off of strength, heart and courage,” Short said. “Tradition is good, that’s one reason why people join large clubs, but being able to mold a club into what you want it to be is a big advantage of ours.” Club week can define what a club is about, and in deciding what SNE was going to do during club week, current members chose not
to rely on their previous experiences with club week prior to forming SNE. “We know every club is going to have a stereotype, but we basically went back to the drawing board for inspiration (for club week),” Short said. PKD is placing the focus on its new members and their relationships with each other. Word said she does not believe that club week has to be excessively difficult as long as the new members bond. “Club week isn’t about me or the charter members,” Word said. “It’s about our first pledge class. I want them to come out of it saying, ‘I grew so much closer to a group of girls I didn’t even know a week ago.’”
mden -- Henry
By Julie Anne White Asst. Web Editor
The Hunts are coming to campus Tuesday, Oct. 28. A folk-indie band made up of seven brothers and sisters whose ages range from 16-24, The Hunts are just beginning to gain traction on the music scene. Holly Bohnett, the administrative assistant for the Office of Campus Life said she is excited the Campus Activities Board (CAB) is able to present this free concert to the student body. “I am thrilled about The Hunts,” Bohnett said. “I love the fun energy that a larger, fuller band brings to the stage, and the fact that they are brothers and sisters makes them all the more endearing. They are truly a talented family.” The concert is Tuesday at 8 p.m. on the Front Lawn or in the Administration Auditorium in case of bad weather. Band member Jenni Hunt said she and her siblings are thrilled to be head to campus. “Oh we’re stoked about coming to Harding,” Jenni Hunt said. “Gotta say that universities and colleges are one of the band’s absolute favorite venues to play.” Hunt said that while on stage, the siblings use a multitude of different instruments. “At any given show, the stage will be packed full with violins, a viola, cello, mandolin, banjo, acoustic and bass guitars, keys, an accordion, hand drums, percussion, a drum kit, even a uke,” Hunt said. “We can’t get enough stringed instruments in our hands.” The Hunts are no strangers to performance. Hunt said the siblings have been traveling and performing for crowds for years, even when they were very young. Eventually, they performed so regularly that they decided to go ahead and form
Praying for ISIS, page 2A
Courtesy of The Hunts
The Hunts are made up of seven siblings and will be performing on the Front Lawn on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at 8 p.m. an official band. Light found The Hunts and thought they “Music was a part of our lives even as would be good candidates for a concert. young kids — we’d pack up all the fiddles “Logan was researching bands to bring and instruments in the van and play at any and mentioned them as a possibility to and every local event in our community,” some students nearby, and they were Hunt said. “It wasn’t like we woke up already fans of The Hunts and eagerly one day and said ‘Hey, we should start a gave their approval,” Bohnett said. “It’s a band,’ it was more like we woke up one privilege to get such a talented band on day and said ‘Hey, we’ve been doing this one of our stages at no cost to students.” music thing for a while, all of us enjoy it, Hunt said part of what excites her we think we’ve got something here. Let’s most about performing is the emotional work a little harder, play more music that connection fans make to the music. She we love, and see where it takes us.’” also said a second album is on the way, The band released its first album in 2012 hopefully debuting next spring. and garnered more success after the track “When I hear stories of fans being “Make This Leap” was featured in a Milk uplifted by our music — relating to it, Bone commercial. Jenni Hunt said it is being encouraged by it, when it brings surreal to hear one of their songs on TV. them joy, it feels like all this is worth “Never thought our song would be something good,” Hunt said. “It’s actuused for a dog treat commercial, but it ally not all about us you know? When I received lots of air time and it’s a common hear that the effect of what we’re doing note that fans make when we ask how is bringing good in people’s hearts and they found us,” Hunt said. lives, then I’m really glad and proud to Bohnett said CAB Director Logan be a part of it.”
Fall TV Shows, page 4B
Wet State, page 4A
See what’s going on in this season’s new and returning top TV shows.
Editor-in-Chief Alexis Hosticka shares her views on the Arkansas alcohol amendment.
according to www.relay.acsevents.org
Football, page 1B