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THE
Sept. 23, 2022 Vol. 98, No. 03
Online at TheLink.Harding.edu
Searcy, Ark., 72149
Photo by MADISON MEYER
President Mike Williams talks to students after the inauguration ceremony that took place Sept. 16. The celebration happened on Family Weekend and was preceded by the Legacy Relay from Morrilton, Arkansas, on Sept. 15.
University celebrates Williams’ inauguration BEN LANE sports editor
Photos by MADISON MEYER
(Top) Senior Hayden Bailey lights a flame on the Benson stage signifying the end of the Legacy Relay. (Bottom) Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, President Mike Williams and Lisa Williams pose during the inauguration ceremony.
Harding University inaugurated Mike Williams as president on Sept. 16 as a culmination of a series of events celebrating the beginning of his presidency and also marked the start of a new chapter in Harding history. During his inaugural speech, Williams revealed the University’s new motto, “Inspired Purpose,” which in an email Williams explained that the meaning of the motto “aspires to create the world God intended from the beginning.” “We’re on an inspired pursuit of faith,” W illiams said. “ We’re inspired to be transformed, we’re inspired for a search for meaning, we’re inspired to search for truth, to search for excellence. We’re inspired to think, to discern, and to be reflective…we want to be inspired to courageously lead.” The inauguration celebration was a focus on Harding’s history, Candice Moore, assistant vice president of university marketing and communications, said. Many of the speaker’s themes focused on how Harding came into being, the changes it experienced, race relations, the institution’s future and unification. Moore said inaugurations are rare events because in Harding’s nearly 100 years of operation, there have only been five previous presidents. “It [was] an exciting opportunity to hear from our new president and express gratitude for our heritage and hope for a bright future,” Moore said. The two-day celebration began with a legacy torch relay. Members of the Harding cross-country team ran from Morrilton, Arkansas, to campus along back roads.
“The Legacy Relay is an active symbol of the Harding story,” Williams said. “Just as pioneers of the Christian education passed the torch onto the next generation, this relay began in Morrilton, Arkansas, at Harding’s original campus, and students helped recreate the story of our history as they ran to Searcy.” “We just wanted to be a part of it,” senior Jackson Pruim, captain of the cross country team, said. “We were excited for a new president, and we wanted to have our own little footprint on the history of Harding.” Junior Tiag Campney said the relay was a cool experience because he was able to run part of the original route from Morrilton to Searcy, and he was able to see the University’s changes from its beginning to its present state. “It was kind of a humbling thing just to view it with my own eyes and see where it started,” Campney said. “The torch, the torch of inspired purpose, has been passed onto us,” Williams said. “Each generation has faithfully carried the vision up till now, but this, this is our moment. This is our moment to carry the torch together.” Williams, the sixth president of the University, previously served as president of Faulkner University from 2015-22 (a Church of Christ affiliate in Montgomery, Alabama). Prior to his Faulkner presidency, Williams worked at Harding for 28 years — from 1987-2003 in admissions and enrollment management. Following, he spent 12 years as vice president of advancement. Williams began a presidential tour across the South Tuesday, Sept. 20, in Dallas. Various cities will be visited during the tour, ending in Little Rock on Nov. 17. Williams will open Lectureship this Sunday at 7 p.m. in his first speaking engagement since the inauguration.
Photos by MADISON MEYER
(Top) The Thundering Herd prepares to perform during the inauguration ceremony. (Bottom) President Mike Williams speaks at the ceremony.
Public Safety increases campus patrols EMMA JONES editor-in-chief Public Safety announced via an email sent out Sept. 9 that they would be working in collaboration with the Searcy Police Department to increase patrols on the city walking trail that runs through campus. The decision to increase patrols on certain city walking trails was announced by the Searcy Police Department by a Facebook post on Sept. 8. “With the recent tragedy that took place in Memphis, we wanted to do something here in Searcy to give our local runners and walkers a sense of security,” the Facebook post said. The tragedy mentioned is referring to Eliza Fletcher, a teacher from Memphis, Tennessee, who was abducted and murdered during her morning jog on Sept. 2.
The police department is focusing their patrols on the trails that run from Berryhill Park to the area behind the Searcy High School football stadium. The main times being patrolled are certain weekdays from 8-9 a.m. “We picked this time frame for those that may go for a run or walk after dropping their kids off at school,” the department said in the Facebook post. Craig Russell, director of Public Safety, said the department wanted to provide a message of security on campus by partnering with the Searcy Police Department and patrolling the portion of the city walking trail that runs through campus. “We try to be responsive to what the specific needs of the community are,” Russell said. “We don’t have unlimited resources, but we can make sure we’re targeting those resources in areas they’re most needed.”
Russell also said he encourages runners and walkers to go in pairs and always carry a cell phone and for students to take advantage of the courtesy safety escorts provided by the Public Safety department from 6 p.m. to midnight each night. Junior Julianne Phillips said she appreciates the increased patrols on campus.
“I’m from Memphis, so that plays into my opinions on this, but I do think that as a female college student it is important for us to have increased safety measures,” Phillips said. For any emergencies on campus, call 911 for the Searcy Police Department and 501-279-5000 for Public Safety.