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NEWS
November 9, 2012 Vol. 88 No. 8
Features:
After reaching his fundraising goal, Joe Aaron of ‘Guttersnipes’ talks about what comes next.
News:
New Yorkers comment on the effects of Hurricane Sandy.
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OPINIONS . . . .
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SPORTS
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FEATURES
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CAMPUS LIFE
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Obama wins, students react by AERIAL WHITING opinions editor
After a hard-fought presidential race, Barack Obama was re-elected president of the United States on Tuesday, Nov. 6. Obama ear ned 332 electoral votes and about 60 million popular votes, beating out Gov. Mitt Romney, who earned 206 electoral votes and about 57 million popular votes. The incumbent carried several battleground states, including Ohio and Virginia, while Romney won North Carolina, a state that Obama carried in his 2008 presidential run. The president was optimistic as he addressed his supporters after being named the victor. “Tonight in this election, you, the American people, reminded us that while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long, we have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back,” Obama, quoted in The New York Times, said to his supporters early Wednesday. “We know in our hearts that for the United States of America, the best is yet to come.” Gubernatorial and congressional elections were also held yesterday,
photos by CHANEY MITCHELL | Student Publications Students and professors gathered Tuesday night to observe poll results. In addition to this gathering in the Ganus building, students also assembled at the Holiday Inn for a College Republicans watch party.
and while the makeup of Congress will remain essentially the same — with Republicans controlling the House of Representatives and Democrats controlling the Senate — the majority of governors are now Republicans. Other changes occurred at the state level as well, including the fact that Republicans now control both houses of the Arkansas General Assembly — “a
statewide shift toward Republican control that is unprecedented since just after the Civil War,” according to Assistant Professor of Political Science Lori Klein. Obama’s re-election comes at a time when America is headed toward what has been ter med the “fiscal cliff,” in which mandatory spending cuts are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, while President
George W. Bush’s tax cuts for the middle class are set to expire at the same time. Obama and Congress must pass a budget deal in less than two months to avoid the tax hikes and spending cuts that will necessarily follow. Because the executive and legislative branches remained relatively unchanged and divided after the elections, Assistant
Q&A with Bruce McLarty Q: Walk me through the application and interview
Personnel decisions, the things that determine process of applying to be the next university the jobs and livelihoods of people, are the most president. difficult and sometimes heartbreaking parts of the Chancellor Ganus has a favorite quip about the A: The Board asked everyone who wanted to have job. presidency. He said, “When I was president, I slept input on the selection of the next president to submit like a baby; I would wake up every two hours and their recommendations through the Presidential cry.” Selection Process tab on the Harding website. Every Board member had access to everything that was Q: What is the next step in preparing to replace submitted, and the Board members read thousands of Dr. Burks? What do the months leading up to June pages of input. hold? Sometime around April, I received a letter from A: I will continue serving as the Vice President Dr. John Simmons, the chairman of the Board of for Spiritual Life, but I will start looking over Dr. Trustees, informing me that a number of people had Burks’ shoulder immediately to learn what he does submitted my name for consideration. The letter as president. The timing of the announcement, for informed me that if I were interested in pursuing this, me, is perfect. The budget process takes place JanI would need to meet the June deadline. uary-through-March, so I will get to see how that is The final piece of the process took place when the handled this year. Also, we are in the middle of the Board met for their standard Homecoming weekend university’s five-year plan, so I will get to have a hand meeting. This year, they spent most of their time in in setting the goals and establishing the priorities for Executive Session (Board members only) to discuss this plan. the candidates. All along, they had indicated that they Q: How will you benefit Harding? would have the decision made by early Feb. 2013. When Dr. Simmons told the people at the A: With God as my help and strength, I pray that Black-and-Gold banquet on Friday night of HomeI can have the same No. 1 accomplishment as Hardings coming weekend that the Board was well ahead of first four presidents — to be a faithful steward of schedule, I suspected that they had reached their Harding’s Christian identity. My administration will have decision. unique strengths, emphases and accomplishments, but Q: Why did you want to be the president of the those are all secondary to being a faithful steward of our Christian identity. university?
A: Whenever people have asked me in recent years
if I was going to apply to be the next president, my standard answer was that I wanted to be ready if called. I haven’t viewed the presidency as my “dream job” or as something that I needed to achieve. Instead, applying was more of an expression of my love for Harding. If I could serve the students, faculty, staff and alumni, then I would be delighted to lead Harding into the future.
Q: What do you expect out of the presidency? What challenges and rewards will there be? A: I have learned so much by watching Dr. Burks and Chancellor Ganus. Both men have found a great joy in leading Harding.
Q: As with any big decision, there is always
controversy. What might you say to your critics?
A: I don’t ask that my detractors trust me; I only ask that they be open to the possibility that I can earn their trust. I am confident that through the strength of the Lord I can successfully lead Harding into the future.
Check out more of the Q&A on The Link.
story by LYNDSEY RUBLE, graphic by TYLER CARMICAL
Provost Cheri Yecke said she thinks “the current lack of will to implement meaningful fiscal reform won’t change.” Harding students named the economy as one of the issues that were most important to them for this election, as well as foreign policy, abortion and health care. Freshman Laura Rowe said she did not think the
economy would improve during Obama’s second term. “I think that we will lose our standing as an economic powerhouse,” Rowe said. “I think that our debt will increase. I think that our currency will be highly inflated. And I do not think that we will create any more jobs.” Rowe also said she attributes Obama’s victory to America’s changing demographics and shift toward government dependence. Freshman Andrew Newman said he found it “disturbing and puzzling” that America re-elected Obama and that he viewed the Nov. 6 election as a sign of the U.S.’s division. “I was definitely hoping for Romney, but I think it just shows you how divided our nation is, and that’s a sad thing,” Newman said. “And it’s just something we need to work on as a country and for us to stand up for Christianity as well before politics.” Senior Doug Lyons said he was glad that the president won the election. “I’m really excited about it,” Lyons said. “I think he’s the best candidate available at the time, and I think that we have a bright future going forward.”
Local election results Searcy A&P Tax
Hotel and restaurant tax for Parks and Rec development For 43%; Against 57%
Searcy City Council
Ward 2, Position 2 Steve Sterling 62% Robert Allen 38% Ward 4, Position 2 Q: What is the next step in prepari Dr. Burks? Mike Chalenberg 56%What do the months lead hold? Shannon Derrick 44%
A: I will continue serving as the V Quorum Court
for Spiritual Life, but I will start look District 5 Burks’ shoulder immediately to learn Jimmy L. House D 57% as president. The timing of the anno Sam Hailey R 43% me, is perfect. The budget process ta District 7 (to runoff)uary-through-March, so I will get to David W. Freppon 40% handledDthis year. Also, we are in the Kenneth Horton I 39%five-year plan, so I will ge universitys Lesli ChestnutinRsetting 20%the goals and establishing t this plan. District 8 Layne Vaughn DQ: 57% How will you benefit Hardin Greg Niblock R 43%
A: With God as my help and stre
State HouseI can ofhave the same No. 1 accomplis first four presidents — to be a faithf Representatives
Hardings Christian identity. My admi District 46 strengths, emphases and acco Mark Biviano unique R 61% those are all secondary to being a fai Kyle Osborne D 39% our Christian identity.
Q: Have you started brainstorm missions and goals for the presidentc coming years?
coming soon: Why McLarty was chosen and why you should care
The last issue of the Bison will address the criticism and discussion sparked by the announcement that Dr. Bruce McLarty will be Harding’s fifth president. Check it out on Nov. 30 for information from alumni, student reactions and answers from the Board.