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NEWS
November 30, 2012 Vol. 88 No. 9
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Opinions:
After reading one too many research papers, Claxton writes entirely in argumentative theses.
News:
“I Heart Life” week celebrates life and inspires organ donation.
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Faith, family and ducks
OPINIONS . . . .
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SPORTS
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FEATURES
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CAMPUS LIFE
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McLarty plans to maintain Harding mission, ideals
Board explains choice and timing, alumni discuss significance by LYNDSEY RUBLE editor-in-chief
photo by ASHEL PARSONS | Student Publications Willie and Korie Robertson of the TV show “Duck Dynasty” gave a presentation on Tuesday, Nov. 27 in the Benson. The auditorium reached full capacity and an overflow facility had to be set up in the Reynolds Recital Hall. Willie Robertson also spoke on Wednesday in chapel.
Eric Hutchinson to take Admin stage tonight by KYLE REEVES student writer
The Campus Activities Board is bringing in American singer-songwriter Eric Hutchinson for a concert at Harding University on Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. Hutchinson is a rapidly rising artist who has toured with Joe Jackson, Jason Mraz and OneRepublic. He also spent a small amount of time working with Kelly Clarkson. Hutchinson has received many fantastic reviews for his work as a pianist, singer, writer and all-around performer. The Boston native has released four albums; his most popular album “Sounds Like This” hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Heatseekers chart when it released in May 2008. His most recent release “Moving Up Living Down” is currently rising in popularity as well.
Hutchinson’s style of music is very similar to that of Jason Mraz as he has a very heavy acoustic influence to his songs. Some of Hutchinson’s most popular songs include “Rock & Roll,” “Watching You Watch Him,” “Breakdown More,” and “OK, It’s Alright With Me.”
I have a feeling he’s going to put on a fantastic concert for us. It might be the very best concert all year at Harding. -Nolan Watson, senior He is currently touring with another band member on his “Almost Solo” tour where they are performing acoustic versions of their songs. Many Harding students said they were excited for the concert tonight in the Administration auditorium.
“I have a feeling he’s going to put on a fantastic concert for us,” senior Nolan Watson said. “It might be the very best concert all year at Harding, I’m very excited.” Reviews of previous Hutchinson concerts on Ticketmaster.com describe his concerts as fun and energetic. Several reviewers said Hutchinson often talks directly to the audience and that his live performance sounds even better than recorded versions of his songs. For one senior, this will be her last chance to attend a concert at Harding, and she is happy it will be Hutchinson. “I’m so excited that he’ll (Hutchinson) be coming for this show,” senior Mandie Raley said.“I’ve liked some of his stuff for a couple of years now and hearing that he’ll be coming for what will be the last concert I can go to is just awesome.”
Remembering Connor Mobley Girlfriend, friends recall Mobley’s kind, peaceful spirit from staff reports
Harding University lost a caring and much-loved student when sophomore Connor Mobley, 19, died on Nov. 14. Mobley transferred to Harding this semester and suffered from Glioblastoma, a type of highly cancerous brain tumor, which led to his death. Mobley’s girlfriend, junior Colby Butler, said that Mobley’s life motto was “Take it easy,” which came from his favorite movie, “Nacho
Libre.” It was also the theme at his memorial service. “The thing that stood out to me the most about Connor was that he lived every day like it was his last,” Butler said. “But he never complained about anything and never talked about it much. He just fought and never complained.” Mobley was a youth and family ministry major from Southhaven, Miss., and attended Goodman Oaks Church of Christ. One of his friends growing up and at Harding was sophomore Jeremy Howard.
“He was really funny and he cared about people, and he was just awesome and always made me laugh,” Howard said. Butler said that the last song Mobley played on his iPod was “I Will Rise.” “It was hard to listen to that over and over and over while he was dying, but it was also really cool,” Butler said. The Student Association held a memorial service for Mobley on Nov. 15 to offer prayer, write notes to the family and share memories.
Dr. John Simmons, chairman of the Board of Trustees, addressed questions about the Board’s presidential search process and the decision to announce Bruce McLarty as Harding’s fifth president ahead of schedule. The Board planned to announce their decision in January of 2013, but Simmons said the Board reached a decision during Homecoming weekend and chose not to delay the announcement. Simmons said McLarty’s name “continued to rise to the top” during the yearlong presidential search process, which included extensive interviews and psychological and values profiles for several candidates. The Board did not release the names of the candidates. “(McLarty) understands himself and knows his own limitations,” Simmons said. “He is comfortable in his own skin and will craft his own administration in a distinctive way just as his four predecessors did. He had and will have his critics as any leader will, but he will prove himself to be up to the challenge of this work.” Days after the announcement, some notable alumni questioned the appointment in posts on Malibu Church of Christ minister Rich Little’s blog. Little, who teaches at Pepperdine University, summarized the bloggers’ concerns when he surmised that the Board chose McLarty because his religious ideology agrees with the Board’s selection committee and his predecessor, Burks. Those religious ideologies, Little said, are the “very weakness that will continue to isolate Harding from the broader fellowship of Churches of Christ and Christianity at large.” McLarty said in a Nov. 15 Christian Chronicle article that he will maintain the standards set forth in the 2008 expansion of the Harding University mission by the Board of Trustees. The mission states, “Though we live in a time of significant confusion over our brotherhood’s identity, we are determined that Harding University will become captive to neither a rigid legalism on the right nor a formless liberalism on the left.”
However, Little said the Church of Christ fellowship has changed and that Harding’s commitment is more associated with what the middle position was 30 years ago than with what the middle position is now. Simmons responded to critiques of McLarty, saying that the Board appreciated McLarty’s communication skills, compassion and ability to delegate.
He is comfortable in his own skin and will craft his own administration in a distinctive way just as his four predecessors did. He had and will have his critics as any leader will, but he will prove himself to be up to the challenge of this work. -Dr. John Simmons, Chairman of the Board of Trustees “Though (McLarty) is not from an academic and classroom teaching background, his work in teaching in ministry should not be discounted because he has successfully prepared hundreds of sermons and lessons for very discriminating audiences of well-educated people with lots of answers and young students with lots of questions and has been able to communicate to both,” Simmons said. “He has not come from an administrative background, but again he understands people and will be able to delegate to the deans, vice presidents and provosts the work that they are experts in already. As a growing university, we need to be doing more of that anyway.” Burks spoke during the Nov. 1 press conference when McLarty was introduced as the next president. Burks said he could smile with the assurance that Harding would be in good hands. “I’ve known (McLarty) for more than 25 years, and I know him to be a man of deep commitment and deep faith,” Burks said. “(He is) a man whose integrity is without reproach, and I know that he is going to do a very good job at leading Harding into the years ahead.”
photo roundup: volleyball champions, lighting ceremony, Willie Robertson
photos by ASHEL PARSONS, CHANEY MITCHELL | Student Publications