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Sept. 1, 2023 Vol. 99, No. 01
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Holland-Waller Center opens
University launches “Women of Faith” initiative in conjunction
Photo by MACY COX
Construction outside the Holland-Waller Center continues. The building opened for classes with the beginning of the fall semester. Administration announced a new “Women of Faith” initiative during chapel Aug. 30. TIANE DAVIS editor-in-chief University ambassador Lisa Williams announced during chapel this week the new “Women of Faith” initiative at Harding. As part of the action, plans to honor five women will pair with the Holland-Waller Center’s official dedication in November. Dr. Joneal Kirby, founder of Heart to Home ministries; Dr. Cathleen Shultz, founding dean of the Carr College of Nursing; and former Board of Trustees member Lindy Ingram were chosen as three of the five women. The remaining two will be announced Nov. 4. “We live in a day and age where gender lines are kind of blurred for people, and it makes it difficult for people who are coming of age right now to know what that means for their future,” Williams said. “It’s really about investing in our young women in particular, so that when they leave, they can go into a professional setting and be well-equipped and armed to handle a toxic environment or a healthy one.” Williams is chair of a 14-member advisory board for Women of Faith made of Harding
alumni, including five who work at Harding. The board had its first meeting Aug. 30 to discuss its goals for the coming year. “This is about showing people there is a way to live that’s godly, holy, righteous and meaningful, has purpose and can give you a really good life that’s worth living, not one that you might question,” she said. “Today, the No. 1 thing was mentorship on all fronts for men and women.” Williams said the advisory board plans to host a few weekend seminars for men and women that will be specific to each group. However, she said, mentorship is where the initiative needs to start. “I’ve been listening to a lot of people, and they all resonate the same things: ‘I want to be a mentor,’ or ‘I want a mentor,’” Williams said. “I think the time is now for us to kind of pivot and do better for the women of Harding, and not just in recognition but in development and opportunities.” Board of Trustees member and alumnus Rodney Waller, who is the lead donor for the building, named the building after his mother-in-law Sue Holland and his mother Joella Waller. The purpose of naming the
building after them and creating the Women of Faith initiative, he said, was to celebrate and honor the women in his life who have made significant contributions. “We thought it was great to dedicate the
We thought it was great to dedicate the building to the humble servants of God that do not get recognition. – Rodney Waller, board member
building to the humble servants of God that do not get recognition,” Waller said. “They have made big contributions to Harding, their churches and communities.” Waller said the new building is based around Romans 12:1-2, which emphasizes transforming one’s life to become a living sacrifice for the glory of God. “We want the student body to understand and appreciate eternal life and get them thinking about ‘What can I do today and practice in college to be able to really make an impact
on the world?’” Waller said. “What we want to do is help facilitate growth in every one of our students so that they graduate with the self-confidence to go out into the world.” The sidewalk in front of the new building directly connects to the First Ladies Garden, which has historically honored the women of Harding. Construction on the new building went much quicker than originally planned, University President Mike Williams said. “The Ganus building really needed to be replaced,” he said. “It’s really the best-case scenario, even though it kind of pushed people a little bit at the end.” The Holland-Waller Center is “exponentially” bigger than the building it replaced, Williams said. The building “does not have a bad view,” and the community spaces were all the vision of Waller. “The thing I love most about it is that what’s really going to emanate is this Women of Faith initiative,”Williams said. “The building is very symbolic of something much bigger.”
Harding University Bookstore cuts down on inventory EMMA WEBER opinions editor This year, the Harding University Bookstore is going through major changes regarding their offered merchandise. In an email to Harding faculty and staff July 25, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment Services David Hall announced that the bookstore would no longer carry religious materials such as church curricula, communion and church supplies. The decision was made after years of consideration. “The decision has not been an easy one, but the ultimate conclusion was inevitable,” Hall said. The decline in demand is, in part, due to the lingering effects of COVID-19. The increased access to online options has led to lowered options for in-person access to materials. COVID-19 highlighted alternative options that have persisted. “New buying habits post COVID-19 and the rise of online purchasing have caused our church supply sales to decline by nearly 80% over the last decade,” Hall said. “The bookstore is part of the Harding ecosystem, and our profits and/or losses directly impact the cost of education on our campus.” Financial decline was the leading cause behind the pulling of church materials in the bookstore. However, there was a lack of knowledge about the resources available to those seeking curricula and religious materials. Senior Amy Reiser, devotional director for women’s social club Pi Theta Phi in fall
Photo by MACY COX
A textboook lays outside the University bookstore. Assistant Vice President of Enrollment David Hall announced the closing of the Bible and Church Supply Store July 25. 2022, said she had to find resources online or through word of mouth for the events she planned for her social club. “As devo director, I mainly used resources I already had or that were online,” Reiser said. “If I had known about resources in the bookstore, it would’ve definitely been a helpful and accessible option for me.”
The bookstore will make accommodations for churches who relied on their material. Operations Manager Angela Shaw said these churches will all be referred to another supplier. “We are referring all of our customers to 21st Century Christian Bookstore in Nashville, Tennessee,” Shaw said. “They have
been providing church curriculum for 85 years and can be counted on to provide fast and friendly service to all of their customers.The changes will mostly impact small churches who have continued to rely on us for their curriculum needs. Those who were nearby or within driving distance liked to come in and pick up supplies – and save on shipping – so they will be most affected by the change.”